Okay, I had one version of this that I wrote after reading this really long new-gen fic, and it completely changed how I did this chapter. So basically the same thing happens, but I've updated Al and Scorpius's talk about girls, and naturally, Rose, into a version that makes more sense to me.
The part where Lily realizes that the Riddlers are far too Slytherin to let things lie at the regular, we'll-just-duel-in-the-hallways-like-usual frame of mind is the same. I'm actually quite excited, because this is the segue way into the dangerous, Legacy/Riddlers conflict confrontation I'm planning. :D Please, tell me what you think! Also, can you tell where I'm going with this? Is it predictable?
Disclaimer: This world and these characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The only thing I own is the plot.
"Al!" called a voice, and he and Scorpius turned to see Raphael Cardell, a tall, good-looking Ravenclaw in their year who had almost as many fangirls as Al and Scorpius themselves, grinning at them.
"Can I help you with something?" Al asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Listen, mate – help me out. I really like your cousin, and I want to ask her out, so I was wondering if you could put in a good word for me?" Raphael looked a little sheepish as he added, "I mean, usually I wouldn't need it, but she's a Weasley – your girls are in a league of their own." Very true - not only were they terrifying themselves, but they had all of Legacy to back them up. They still remembered the time someone made Alice - yes, Alice - cry during second year and was promptly threatened by Dom before getting frightened by a horde of Slytherins, courtesy of Lucy and her friends, and then hexed to oblivion by Rose, Scorpius, and Al, before James, Fred, and Louis got their revenge in a very Marauder-esque way. Finally, Alice stopped being sad and got angry instead, and now Timmy Sykes was too terrified to look any of them in the eye.
Al's other eyebrow came up to meet the first arched one. "Sorry?"
Raphael raked a hand through his hair and gave them a slightly apologetic grin – he could have taken it off Scorpius or Al's face; was it any wonder they broke hearts, looking like that? Not to be arrogant or anything.
"I want to ask your insanely gorgeous cousin out," Raphael repeated.
Scorpius laughed a little. "Which one?" he asked. It was true – good looks just seemed to run in their generation of the family. It wasn't that, really - I people just couldn't help but be drawn to them. Legacy had sparked something in them that made them almost shine with how promising their futures were. They were confident, charismatic, and most of all, they had the kind of closeness that was a privilege to witness. Not that their absolutely stunning good looks didn't help.
"Rose," Raphael said, and Scorpius immediately stiffened, snapping out of his inner monologue of the family's physical attractiveness.
Scorpius was a good actor. They all were, after all, out of necessity and from years of practice. So his expression gave nothing away as he cocked his head and drawled, "Our Rose?"
It was a stupid question, but he wanted Raphael to repeat himself – he had to be very clear about this. Not recognizing the danger, Cardell nodded. "Yeah, Rose Weasley – can you blame me, mate?"
Yes. "Half the guys in our year are after her," Raphael continued. How had he gotten sorted into Ravenclaw again?
Scorpius's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and Al, who knew him as well as he knew himself, turned to Raphael and said, "I can't help you, mate. No offense, but I don't think Rose is interested in you."
Raphael's eyes showed his disappointment. "Well," he joked, "I've never had anyone say that to me before." He sighed. "Do you think I could still ask?"
"No," Scorpius said firmly. "I really don't."
He caught the look Al gave him and tilted his head. Later. Raphael didn't notice anything and said instead, "Well, thanks, I suppose. I'll see you around." He turned and walked away, and as soon as he rounded the corner, Al stared hard at Scorpius.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"He's a player," Scorpius lied smoothly. "You know how many girls are after him. I'm not going to let him do that to Rose. We look after our own."
Al rolled his eyes. "You're really going to try this with me? Me?"
Scorpius looked at him strangely. "What?"
"Nice try," Al snapped, losing his patience. "I know you're lying. By that way, 'you know how many girls are after him' is not a good argument, considering who we are. Raphael Cardell is a perfect gentleman, and you know it. He's as respectful of girls as we are."
Scorpius gave him a doubtful look. "You once made Marie Gerald cry."
Al looked irritated. "Well, she asked me out in front of my girlfriend. Like I'd ever go out with anyone who isn't Serena."
Scorpius smirked. "And so the candle falls to me. Or whatever that saying was."
"Pretty sure it's 'mantle,'" Al mused thoughtfully, "but that's not the point."
Scorpius sighed. "Al, how do you feel when Serena's around?"
Al gave him a shrewd look. "Kind of tingly," he admitted. "Like the feeling you get before a Quidditch game. A mixture of anticipation and nerves and just a sort of warm comfort. Don't you dare repeat a word of this to anyone, but I bloody adore that girl."
Scorpius swallowed. "Well," he said slowly, "that's how I feel when I'm around Rose. I mean, I've always kind of gotten more cheerful as she approached, but now that I've realized I fancy her like mad, it's gotten worse – because I'm aware of it, you know."
Al didn't look very surprised. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I think you'd make a good couple."
Scorpius choked on air. "What?" he demanded. "No! You're supposed to rationalize this and talk me out of it. You don't even seem surprised. Did you see this coming?"
"Nah." Al waved a hand. "But really, why is it a big deal? So you fancy a girl. Doesn't everyone?"
Scorpius stared at him. "But it's not just some girl! It's Rose! She's my best mate, and I know she doesn't feel the same way, and this could ruin everything. Also, of all the girls I could possibly feel this way about, it has to be someone I can't argue myself into not liking?"
Al looked at him in amusement. "Honestly, I think she doesn't realize she feels the same way. But she does things for you she wouldn't do for anyone else. I mean, yes, she's really close to me and Alice, and she's given us both meaningful things, but she never backs down, you know? She backs down for you – swallows her pride, and all that. Do you remember the time she took detention with Filch for you because Dennis Jordan told you the previous year that he was sure you'd make Beater next year and wanted to give you some tips to make sure Gryffindor's reign didn't end? And he said it might be unfair, but he thought you were Gryffindor's best chance, so he gave you tips and said if you showed up, he'd mention it to Dom, because while she wouldn't be biased during tryouts, if it came down to dedication, she's know she could count on you? Rose knew how much it meant to you and took the blame for you and then, instead of confessing after that first detention, finished off the punishment for a whole month."
"She would have done that for you, too," Scorpius pointed out.
"For the first detention," Al conceded. "But for the rest of the month? She would have admitted why she did it to McGonagall and let you take care of the rest of it; it wouldn't matter, we'd have already gone to the practice."
"I–" Scorpius broke off miserably. "Well, she's still absolutely amazing, which means I can't ignore this, which means everything will be weird. And why would she possibly like me? We're best mates! Just because I've gone crazy, doesn't mean she's not sane." We'll actually, their sanity was arguable in the first place, but that was beside the point.
Al hit him over the head. "Mate! Did you eat something weird this morning or hit your head or, I dunno, lose your memory?" This was not Scorpius Malfoy, his best mate, prime example of Gryffindor-Legacy-I-don't-do-worried charm. This was his modest, unconfident Hufflepuff twin.
"Well, she's gorgeous –"
"As you've told me at least a hundred times before, so are you –"
"And intelligent –"
"Funny, I seem to recall you being top of the class –"
"And a great Quidditch player –"
"Because it's not like you haven't won us loads of games with your incredible Beating –"
"And she cursed Boris Morris and Miles Corney and left them in that vanishing broom cupboard, sending them to Nova Scotia for two weeks with no recollection of how they got there, all because they landed me in the hospital wing unconscious for three days."
". . . not your best duel," Al admitted. "Why are you freaking out so much?"
Scorpius leaned against the wall. "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care much," he told Al. "I mean, I've never been turned down before. Ever. I know how people react to us; all of us in Legacy. It's just that the kind of friendship we've got is rare and I know it. I need you guys, you know? All of you. And I'm afraid it'll be awkward and put a wedge between us if she has to turn me down. I can't just ask her out, because I know she probably won't say yes."
"Bloody hell," said Rose, coming around the corner in time to catch that last sentence. "Is that the first time you've ever said that?"
Scorpius tensed. "Obviously," he drawled. "I can't believe I, Scorpius Malfoy, even said it once." But inwardly he wondered how much she had heard.
Rose seemed to notice something was wrong. "Are you all right? I've never seen you worried about not being able to do something before." She rolled her eyes. "Just ask whoever it is out! What is it you always say? You're rich, tall, famous, a Quidditch player, and sexy as hell. Who could resist you?"
Al snorted. "One moment of doubt and you think it's a good idea to inflate his ego even more? A little larger and the Muggles will declare it another planet."
Rose grinned. "Well, I say go for it, Scorp. Anyway, I was looking for Alice. She borrowed my Transfiguration book, and I need it for the essay."
"She'll be at the library," Al answered. Rose nodded and walked off in the opposite direction, Scorpius staring miserably after her.
"See?" he asked despairingly. "She just told me to ask someone else out. I can't do it, Al. I can't lose her."
"Then don't!" Al exclaimed, fed up with the conversation. "Oh, sod off. You can come back when you're my real best mate and not some strangely self-conscious drama queen of a clone."
He turned to walk away, then abruptly spun on his heel and slammed his fist into Scorius's jaw. "Damn!" Scorpius gasped, cupping his jaw gingerly. He could tell it was starting to purple. "What was that for?!"
Al, mate, if I ever begin to even look like I'm thinking a sappy thought like that, I want you to beat me senseless until my sanity returns, understood? Al gave Scorpius a blank look. "You'll thank me for it later," he said flatly.
Later that night, Scorpius came to the realization that he didn't need to tell Rose anything, and he didn't need to act any differently around her. He had fancied her for a while before he realized it, and the affectionate, familiar way he acted with her had been normal.
And that weird moment of thinking Rose was too amazing to bother with him – what the hell? Was he, or was he not, Scorpius Malfoy? She didn't have to 'bother' with him; they conversed every day! He made her laugh, he knew her inside and out, and they were close. Rose was amazing, but she was Rose, and that didn't change just because he fancied her. She was still the girl he once had an eating contest with that hated lasted for an hour, each refusing to give in, before they both threw up.
Oh. He brushed his fingers across the bruise he'd received from Al earlier that day.
"Thanks, Al," he said aloud.
"Potter," Devienne called as Lily made her way to her dormitory. She looked up to find that the tall seventh year was confidently and elegantly relaxing in an armchair.
He curled a finger towards him, and Lily made her way towards him, jumping the center table like a cat. "Yes?"
He lowered his voice and cast a Muffliato before leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "I've already told Scamander and Wood this," he murmured, "as they came in just a few minutes earlier. But I couldn't help but wonder if you still wanted revenge on your family?"
Lily's eyes widened and she cocked her head. "Revenge that goes further than the dueling, the House Cup, and the Quidditch Cup?"
"Real revenge," Devienne affirmed, still keeping his voice low. "Your family pretends to be good –they think they're better than us; that we're evil. But they don't understand." He stood in a fluid motion and offered Lily his hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
Lily grasped his hand and allowed him to pull her up, her curiosity piqued. During her time with the Riddlers, she had faked a lot of duels with Legacy members, and had actually participated in duels with Gryffindors who targeted the wrong people – innocents who had never done anything but be sorted into Slytherin; the sort of people who used to follow Lucy Weasley and Will Raven but now looked to her, Morgan, and Lorcan, despite the fact that they were only third years.
She had never once picked up on their actual plans, and she didn't really know their ideals. There was an upper ring of the Riddlers, a sort of inner circle that were mostly the older kids, but also involved several useful, important younger ones.
For the rest of the Riddlers, they were fighting Gryffindors because they were pretentious scum, and of course, for pureblood elitism. But was that really the motivation behind the actions of those of the upper ring? What plans were they formulating against her family, and why?
Devienne took her to a part of the Slytherin common room she had never seen before. "We're going to challenge Legacy to a mass battle – not random duels in the corridors, but a collected war at night. Do you want this revenge? Or will you shy away from truly fighting them because they are your family?"
"But they aren't," Lily breathed fervently, looking up at Devienne. She shoved her hand through her fair in frustration. "They stopped being my family when they turned their backs on me. I know. . . I know that you don't know if you can trust me, even after all this time. But I can't ever trust them. Family is supposed to always support you; a place where you are a part of something larger than yourself. I never felt that with them . . . but I feel that here. And I understand that they aren't good people. They aren't evil, but they deserve to know what the other side feels like."
Devienne was watching her through narrowed eyes. "Well," he spoke at length, "I lied, darling. We are not going to have a battle with them in the dead of night. We aren't stupid; they are very much academically capable. What we do have planned is retribution of the Slytherin kind; it is justice that Helga Hufflepuff would deem worthy. We will, as you said, teach them what the other side feels like."
The look in his eyes wasn't hateful, or jealous, or indignant. It was spoken with a calm certainty; as if stating an unavoidable fact; that chilled Lily to the bone. Devienne took an envelope from the inside of his robes and gave it to Lily.
Feeling a sense of dread, she opened it and began to read the letter:
The Gryffindor Tower is up on the seventh floor. You will find the common room behind the portrait of the Fat Lady, and you will need the password to enter, so you must acquire it from a Gryffindor surreptitiously, without giving yourself away.
~ The Vengeful Lion
Lily looked up at Devienne. "What is this?" she demanded.
Devienne looked at her patiently. "We truly are not bad people, Lily," he told her softly. "Yes, I hate Gryffindor House and most of its people, but sometimes you'll find one with the same drive as you. This Gryffindor's name is Andrew Danforth, and he was in Teddy Lupin's year at Hogwarts. He and Lupin were vying for the Keeper position on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team; Lupin got the position and Danforth was made reserve. Danforth made marks that were consistently just under the academically gifted Teddy Lupin, who was top of his class. He was made Prefect and Head Boy in place of Danforth, and Danforth hold a grudge at him for that because Teddy Lupin was the arrogant sort of person who flaunted his name – he kept his hair that ridiculously conspicuous turquoise to show off that his mother was the metamorphmagus Nymphadora Tonks, famous war hero, and his last name is a testament to his father, the famous war hero Remus Lupin. So he joined the Riddlers after he graduated and he was cut from the Auror program, while Teddy Lupin made the cut.
"Those of us in the inner circle – as I know you've observed exists – have a different drive. I have seen Muggle-born witches who are far brighter than purebloods; the Dark Lord Voldemort himself was a half-blood.
"Nor do we care," Devienne continued, keeping his eyes locked on Lily's wide brown gaze, "about werewolves and centaurs and whatnot. What we are really concerned with is the fact that people like James Potter, Teddy Lupin, Rose Weasley, Alice Longbottom, Rowan Wood, Lysander Scamander, and Scorpius Malfoy strut about believing they're better than us because of things our parents did.
"We only mean to show them that it isn't true. They will get what they deserve."
Lily's mouth had dropped open, and she snapped it shut, lowering her gaze to the floor. "That was all I ever really wanted," she admitted. "That they get what they deserve – I don't care about pureblood elitism and all that."
Devienne smiled charmingly at her. "I know you don't," he said softly. "I need you to do something for me, Lily. We've got something special planned, and tomorrow night, anywhere between 3:00 to 4:00 a.m., I need you, Morgan, and Lorcan to sneak into the Gryffindor common room and leave behind a note where that family is sure to see it. I know you're more than capable, so I'm trusting you."
Lily almost smiled. Appealing to her Slytherin ambition – it would have exhausted someone who wasn't a Slytherin; all the manipulation, the careful politics of the House – but it thrilled her. "I won't fail," she promised him, holding his gaze.
Devienne nodded once and retrieved another piece of parchment. As Lily put it away safely, he placed a hand on her back and steered her back into the common room. Lily closed her eyes as he left.
It was time for Legacy to meet.