Scorpius
Blast it all! I can't believe I almost slipped up and let her know how I feel. Now how do I feel about Rose Weasley? Well…At first I thought she was a nuisance, just like I should have. And I did, until fourth year that is. Fourth year.
The Christmas ball.
And stupid, stupid Finnigan, who escorted her to the bloody thing. It all began when we first got to Hogwarts in fourth year. I walked into the Slytherin common room to hear snickering and low whistles. There was a cluster of guys sitting on the couches so I headed towards them.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" I asked.
"Rose Weasley is what's going on." Said Eli Zabini, a popular fourth year.
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" I asked. I mean what did Weasley—bushy haired, freckle covered, awkwardly tall—have going on? I mean her hair was a pretty color of red, but the good traits stop right there.
"Here," said Eli as he handed me a motion picture of Weasley and Al. Al and I had been best mates since first year despite the fact that he was a Potter and I'm a Malfoy. Surprise right? The only thing that I could do without was his blabbering cousin Weasley always buzzing about. Her nose was always in a book and she's pretty much the cover girl for teacher's pet. But when I looked at the picture, I had to take a breath. Her once bushy hair had been tamed into perfect red waves. Her once annoying freckles had faded on her creamy skin and only a few were visible now on the bridge of her nose. She was once awkwardly tall, but all the girls around her shot up and now she was quite petite at around 5' 3" from what I could tell from the picture. And her smile. It was breathtaking to say the least. But my favorite part about Ro-Weasley was her eyes. They had darkened into a stunning electric blue that seemed to pierce me through the picture.
"Woah." I mumbled. Slightly wishing that I hadn't seen the picture in the first place. My heart was beating rapidly. Why? I had no idea. It was just Weasley for crying out loud.
"Yeah I know right," responded Eli.
"I would totally get with her." Pitched in a sixth year I'd never seen before. It didn't help when all the boys nodded saying that over the summer, some freakish miracle had occurred making Weasley the hottest girl in fourth year—no Hogwarts. There was no way that I was going to take part in this madness. Weasley, the hottest girl? That picture had to have been charmed or something. Yea. Must have.
"ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Wha-SCORPIUS!" Screamed Al in reply.
We were so happy to see each other that I'm pretty sure I crushed him in a hug. Pshh totally manly. What okay? We hadn't seen each other the whole summer and he was my best mate. Boys can have feelings too.
"Dude what's up? How was summer?" I asked.
"It was great! I went with the Weasleys to France to go visit Aunt Fleur and Uncle Bill. It was great, other than the fact that Rose spent more time with Dom and Lily than me…She's different now I guess. I mean in a good way, but still. Well, it doesn't matter. How was your summer Scorp?" Al replied.
"Uhh, well the usual I guess. We went to Milan where mum was all excited about some fashion show. Dad was gone on business like every other time. I was pretty much alone but there were some hot girls if that counts for anything." I answered. Those girls didn't count. Summer sucked. Completely.
"Come on Scorp, we have to get to potions on time or we'll get murdered." Said Al.
"Okay, okay. Somebody's excited for school. That's a change." I smirked. We ran to potions where we sat down at our normal spot. Al and I always sat together. I mean we were best mates after all. That's when she walked in. Weasley I mean. She walked in with two of her friends, Alice (who I'm pretty sure that Al likes), and that Finnigan kid Will. He was always with her. For some reason it irked me. I mean it's not like I even cared about whom she was friends with.
"Al!" She yelled, making her way over to us. "Malfoy." She nodded curtly to me. According to Al she was going to attempt to be more civil with me for the sake of Hogwarts. Especially after a certain potions incident last year…
"Hey Rose!" Replied Al. He was talking to Rose but his eyes were glued on Alice. Apparently Alice noticed too and flushed a deep red. Not as red as Rose's blush though. Her blush was like a scarlet red. It was always really adorable whenever she got really mad and blushed. Wait, why did I care about how she blushed? Gahh stupid teenage hormones. Yea that's the reason for all of this madness. Because there is no way in bloody hell that I actually like Weasley. It's just unnatural. Rose and Alice waved goodbye as they went to go sit back down at their table.
Potions was boring as usual. Weasley's hand was constantly up in the air. I mean honestly did she have to answer every question like a bloody know-it-all? It was like no matter what I did, even playing games with Al, I couldn't get her off my mind. Professor asked another question and I looked to Weasley for her to answer, but she wasn't even paying attention. She was leaning in closer to Finnigan who had whispered something in her ear. Her face flushed with the famous Weasley blush and whacked his arm playfully.
"Hey Scorp, you okay? You look kinda funny." Asked Al.
"Yea. I'm perfectly fine." I muttered bitterly. I quickly brushed off my spite though. There was no way that I was going to let Weasley of all people get to me.
Once we got to the Great Hall for lunch that day, I couldn't help but notice that Weasley didn't have a seat at the Gryffindor table. Al was about to call her over to Slytherin, I mean it's not like she hasn't sat here before, but Finnigan grabbed Rose's wrist and pulled her towards the table nonetheless. I wondered where she was going to sit. My questions were answered when Finnigan was going to give up his seat for her. I saw Weasley protesting and shaking her head. All was settled when Weasley sat on Finnigan's lap. Wait what?! I could see Finnigan's blush from across the room. I'm pretty sure everyone but Weasley noticed. She just acted like nothing was weird at all, like she had done it before. That made me furious. For a second I thought Weasley would slip off of Finnigan's lap but he secured both his hands around her waist, making her flush noticeably.
Al began mumbling and I asked him what was wrong. "We trusted that little git and now he has his slimy hands all over Rose." He mumbled. Even though I was furious I couldn't help but laugh. James, Fred, and Lily all began approaching the Slytherin table.
"Why. Does. That. Kid. Have. His. Hands. On. MY. Little. Rosie." Shrieked Lily. It was ironic because Rose was older than her.
"That git will pay." James said. Fred nodded in agreement.
"Guys, calm down. She's getting up right now." I said. I was cut off by Ro-Weasley giving Finnigan a peck on the cheek. That prat!
All of the Weasley and Potters growled. "Has he not realized that every single Potter/Weasley is right here? We can see everything. Everything!" Yelled James. "You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to rip him apart!"
"Wait, James…I thought you liked Will?" asked Al.
"I mean yea, but it's Rosie we're talking about. She hasn't had a boyfriend yet. I mean I guess it is better that it's Will than anyone else, but come on! It's Rosie!" He replied.
"I guess she only really thinks of him as a brother though. Poor kid. He's obviously hopelessly in love with her." Said Lily nonchalantly.
"WHAT?!" yelled all the Potter and Weasley's simultaneously.
"Nothing." Lily replied with a smirk. Then her smirk turned into a scowl. "He must have learned his antics from his mother, if you hear Aunt Hermione talking about her; Lavender Finnigan might as well have committed murder."
Most of the Potters and the Weasleys left the table after Rose and Finnigan left the Great Hall. I was still really annoyed from the series of events at lunch. Why? I still had no idea. I mean it was just Weasley. Al and I started heading to our next class when Al decided he was going to go run after Alice Longbottom, again. The kid was hopeless. He needs to learn some tricks from me. I'm pretty liked by girls. I mean I could have any girl I wanted in Hogwarts, except Weasley. Not that it really mattered; I mean once again, it was Weasley. Right when we were about to reach our next class, McGonnagal announced that we had to return to the Great Hall. Great, just great. Now I was in a bad mood and extremely tired. I don't know if you have noticed but Hogwarts is huge! It takes forever to walk from place to place. I looked around for Al but I couldn't find him. That's when I saw a flash of reddish orange in the crowd. It was obviously Weasley. Or another Weasley. They're all the same I guess. But if Rose was there, most likely Al was too. I mustered all the energy I had left and broke out into a sprint to catch up to her. I tapped her on her shoulder and she turned around startled.
"Oh. Hi Malfoy." She said, slightly uncomfortable. We had always bickered in fought, but never once had it actually been uncomfortable. I'm not sure I like this new "being civil" thing. I held it in until I couldn't anymore.
"Weasley what are we doing?" I sighed.
"Honestly I have no idea. This," She pointed back and forth between us, "is really awkward."
"Well in that case, I think you're a know-it-all teacher's pet." I said with a smirk.
"And I think you're a slimy git who needs to learn his manners." She replied with a slight smile. This was more like it. I don't know what it was, but bickering wasn't mean between us, it was almost fun.
"Hey guys!" Yelled Al as he caught up to us.
"I see that you two are back to whatever it is that you two normally do." Said Alice who followed Al at a rather surprisingly close proximity. Scorpius and I both looked at each other with agreement in our eyes and turned back to the conversation.
"Yea. I guess we have. Hey do you guys know what this is about? Why would McGonnagal call us back when we were just there?" I asked.
"I don't know. Apparently the heads and the prefects came up with some great idea and she's going to announce it. It better be pretty big." Alice said. We all entered the Great Hall where everyone was gathered. We split into two groups and headed towards the Slytherin and Gryffindor table. We were all friends, but we didn't exactly want to get attention from sitting at each other's tables during a meeting.
"Hello students. You are all probably wondering why you are here. Well, I have a wonderful announcement. This year, we shall have an event that Hogwarts hasn't had in many years. This year, we shall have a Christmas Ball," said McGonnagal. Whispers flooded through the room. Everyone knew what the Christmas Ball was. "The ball will include dancing, eating, and other activities. And yes, for those of you that are anxious to know, it is acceptable of you to bring a date. I'm talking to you young men!" I couldn't help but let my eyes slip to Weasley at hearing this. So did basically half the male population in the room. I wanted to ask her to the ball more than anything. I don't know why, but I did. "Oh and one more thing. Only fourth years and older may attend.
After McGonnagal finished talking, the room erupted in shouts, hollers, yells, awes, and well, a lot of noise. I did a quick scan of the room for Al, but I saw that he and a bunch of other Potters and Weasleys had formed a somewhat shield around Rose. It didn't help that a lot of them were being bombarded too. When I finally saw the mob of reddish hair disappear I took a deep breath. I had to figure out what exactly I was doing.
The next day I walked into divination, which was possibly the most irritating class ever, to find a stressed out Weasley, who also happened to be my partner.
"Today, we will be looking into our near futures." Announced Professor Trelawney. I swear the woman has a few loose screws in that jumbled brain of hers. "We will be reading our tea leaves, also known as the art of tessomancy."
"Okay…So that's like a sun I guess in yours…Umm…Oh goody, looks like you have happiness in your near future Weasley." I said, my voice dripping sarcasm.
"Well that's good I guess," responded Weasley as she looked aimlessly into my cup of tea leaves.
"So what do my leaves say?" I asked.
"Uh, wait what? Sorry, I was a bit distracted."
"What's wrong Weasley? You seem even weirder than usual." I asked.
"It's none of your business Malfoy." She spat out. My eyes widened for a minute at her bitterness but I quickly regained my cool. "Sorry, I'm just so sick of everything right now." She mumbled.
"It's fine. Look, I know that we aren't exactly 'besties,' but you can talk to me if you want to." I said quickly. My face flushed and I put one had behind my head and the other in my pocket. It was a habit of mine when I got nervous.
"Thanks. I guess I'm just stressed out over this whole ball thing. I haven't said yes to anyone, but I don't want to seem, well honestly I don't to go with someone my family won't approve of." She mumbled sheepishly.
"That's what you're worried about?! Listen here Weasley. Go to the stupid ball with who you want to go with, not who you feel like you should go with."
"Wow. Surprisingly, that actually helps Malfoy." Said Weasley happily. "Okay, so your leaves look like a…what in buggers name is that?" Asked Weasley.
"It's a doe my dear. It symbolizes love." Pitched in Professor Trelawney. Weasley giggled a bit and I blushed even more.
"Wh-whatever. Stupid tea leaves. Probably some mistake." I muttered under my breath, making Weasley giggle even more. I realized that this was probably the best time I would get to confront Weasley about my newfound feelings, but before I could, Finnigan appeared in front of her. He was a decent bloke, and a great quidditch player. Something clawed at me as Rose blushed red at his appearance.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
"Yea!" She said and they walked out together. Okay, so I wasn't trying to be stalkerish, but I couldn't help but follow them. They turned the corner and headed into the library where I followed them. They settled down in a cozy corner, and I hid behind a bookshelf so that I could hear their conversation.
"So, have you thought about my offer Rosie?" Asked Finnigan. Rosie? Ro-Weasley didn't let anyone but her family and her best friends call her that!
"Yes, I actually have." Replied Weasley.
"Before you give me your answer, I want you to know that I'm going to be persistent. Even if you don't say yes, I will always be waiting for you. I really like you Rose. In fact, please don't let this scare you off, but I've liked you for the past two years." Said Finnigan. Weasley looked utterly dumbfounded.
"B-but girls love you. You're always getting asked on dates and sent love notes." She said quietly.
"Yes, but never once have I returned those feelings or actually went on those dates. Please give me a chance. I promise you after this, if you really don't like me, we can go back to being just friends," Finnigan was cut off by Weasley giving him a massive hug. I couldn't really hear well, but I knew well enough that she had agreed to go with him to the ball. I slumped and slid down the bookshelf. This day was just getting better and better. After Weasley and Finnigan left I kicked the wall in frustration. I hated how the day was going.
By dinner in the Great Hall, everyone knew about Weasley and Finnigan going to the ball together. They were the instant "hottest couple." They didn't even look that good together! Okay, so maybe that was a bit of a lie…
"So Al, are you and the rest of your family furious about Finnigan going with Weasley?" I smirked knowing that he would probably be scared off by the Weasleys and Potters before the ball.
"Actually, we all like him now. He asked James and Hugo if it was okay to ask her before he did, and it's quite apparent that he's really serious about her. Plus, it makes us all feel better that even if it doesn't work out; he's the kind of guy that will probably always have her back. I mean he's not a player like you Scorp. I don't know what I would ever do if you ever told me you liked Lily or Rose. You, liking Rose!? Ha! That will probably happen when the world ends." Replied Al with a chuckle. I was not expecting that. I mean earlier he was threatening to kill Finnigan! By then, I was fuming. Not only had he said he liked Finnigan, but he said that he wouldn't be okay with me and Weasley together. That obviously meant I that I would have to keep my feelings to myself, which sucked because Al was my best mate. Just when it couldn't get worse, I realized that I still needed a date for the ball…