Well, this is the first fanfiction I've written in about 8 years. I'm definitely rusty so I'm going to keep this to just a few chapters. Don't want to over-do it. I have about a bazillion ideas for Scorpius/Rose fics as that's all I've been reading for a while. And I just cannot get enough. So I've run out of stories to read and wanted to try writing again.
The older I've got the more I've enjoyed the slow build stories and less so the one-shots. So I guess that's why the idea of writing a one shot seemed harder than a short multi-chapter fic. Anyway, I digress, there will be more to follow. Sooner rather than later I hope.
Disclaimer: J K Rowling made this world and I'm eternally grateful. I'm just toying with the heart strings of her characters.
Chapter 1
All I've heard for the past ten minutes is squeaking and giggling coming from the bed next to mine. I've was trying to get my head around chapter seven of Advancement in Modern Human Transfiguration for the past hour, to little avail. My crimson curtains drawn around my bed aren't exactly muffling whatever fooling around is going on. About ten minutes ago I heard someone ease the door open to our dormitory with my first thought being: "how on earth has a boy got into our dorm at the top of the tower?". My imagination jumps first to him asking bulky Claire Underwood to lift him so he doesn't touch the stairs and then to a more realistic yet humorous method of a friend of his levitating him up the spiral staircase bumping him into walls until he finally finds the door handle.
I find myself give an involuntary chortle through my frown at this thought as the giggling continues. What kind of idiot would levitate their friend up a magical staircase? And why is it necessary to fool around at 2 in the morning. I'm a prefect I should really just tell them to stop, but the idea of me finding Patricia in another compromising position with Malfoy is not something I wish to witness for a third time. The thought occurs to me that maybe it isn't Malfoy in her bed tonight, as there is no way his pride would allow him to ask a friend to actually levitate him up the Gryffindor girls dormitory stairs.
I finally give in after hearing the bed springs particularly loudly, opening my curtains and to my disgust seeing a pair of black trousers peeking out from behind Patricia's curtain and whisper a silencing charm. I'm utterly baffled as to why they couldn't have cast one themselves. Patricia at least is a sixth year who should use such a simple charm without much thought. Perhaps it's because I'm the only other patron of our dormitory who actually sleeps in their own bed at weekends anymore and she assumed I'd already be sleeping. Either way, I won't be helping her with the potions assignment when she's bound to come and ask me for help on Monday.
Though I can't hear them anymore, I turn over onto my side so I'm not facing them in any way shape or form through the darkness. I briefly think of Malfoy and whether it is him only a few feet away. As far as I'm aware he's never been into our dormitory and only a few times has he visited Patricia in the common room. It seems so unlikely that he'd use some elaborate spell so he could visit her when the previous year it was well known that Malfoy invited a few girls down to his dungeon dorm; at different times might I add. He may have had a fair few conquests over the last 18 months but he's not some sort of Casanova. It seems a little beneath him coming to visit her in here if I'm honest.
I wish him the smallest of sympathies at the thought of him possible asleep and none the wiser in his dormitory below as sleep washes over me.
XXX
I'm currently sat in the library with some potions books scattered around on a table in the north facing corner. It's by far the coldest area of the library so I'm less likely to be disturbed.
I've already broken two quills this afternoon, frightening some second years as I cursed a little too loudly when I snapped the second one. If Madame Pince wasn't now officially a "deaf old bat" I'd probably have been thrown out. It being a late night last night I can already feel my concentration ebbing and my temper becoming short – I'm down to one quill and have a lot more research to go. My nearest new quill is in my trunk which I'm extremely uninclined to get as I've made a nice nest for myself with these potion books. I'm feeling falsely studious, even though I know I'm not processing as well as I could be. Sadly, I can hear brisk footsteps coming down the aisle on my left and I have a horrible feeling I'm about to be interrupted as I strike through yet another terrible idea of an advanced potion brew from my list.
"Weasley." He states it politely with a nod in greeting that I'm just about familiar with these days.
"Yes?" My tone rather clipped. He was probably the one canoodling in my dorm last night and I feel slightly bitter that I'm the only one single of my dorm mates. There is no reason to parade the fooling around late at night to a one man audience. Did I mention I'm tired?
He raises his eyebrows at my short tone but continues "Any chance you can swap my patrol night Thursday?" I merely blink in acknowledgement waiting for him to elaborate. He clearly thought this would be a 5 second conversation, he huffs, "Oscar's wanting us to train an extra night in the next two weeks for the Ravenclaw match." He's frowning now.
"You've got some nerve asking me for a favour." I say returning to my notes, I'm irritated by his presence.
"What are you barking on about?" He pulls the chair out across from me and sits down leaning in.
"I'm only asking you as I can't-"
"Ask Fiona or Gwen for obvious reasons." I finish a little smugly. Two of those conquests I mentioned.
"Don't be petty Weasley. It doesn't suit you."
"I mean it. Why should I swap with you when you were the one keeping me up last night?" I realise the mistake in my phrasing a little too late. The smirk appears at lightning speed.
"Thoughts of me keeping you awake Weasley? I'm quite happy with the Gryffindor girl I've got thanks."
"Yes." I say through gritted teeth now, again glancing at my parchment instead of his taunting eyes. "I mean the least you could do would be to use a silencing charm."
"Seriously Weasley, what are you on about?"
"Last night in our dorm. Next time use a god damn silencing charm and then the next time you want to switch patrol hours I might say yes." That for me is the end of the matter and I try to focus on the dwindling list of potions on the sheet. After a moment I realise he's still sat there, clearly not about to move.
"Anything else?" I sigh.
"I wasn't in your dorm last night." His tone is unreadable. I'm surprised that my guess was right. He really is too proud to levitate himself, or ask someone else to levitate him up our staircase.
"Oh." The realisation of what this actually means hits me a little too full on. I've basically just confessed that his girlfriend is cheating on him. It was an accidental admission.
He gets up and leaves without another word. I can't really concentrate after that very well. My thoughts and slightly increased sympathies going out to Malfoy right now. These sympathies will only be short lived as most of the girls in our year know the difference between Malfoy in a proper relationship and out of one.
When Malfoy has a girlfriend he's actually tolerable. He's generally hard working and a good partner in classes; being in a relationship seems to ground him. He's top in a few subjects, and he's helped me out with Runes a couple of times since he's been with Patricia. Not that I'm jealous or anything, but it actually helped me out a lot. It's just when he's single he becomes quite insufferable. The arrogance just oozes from him then. Stalking around the castle appearing like he's just waiting for another eligible woman to fall at his feet.
It's at this point I realise I'm staring into space and realise that there are more pressing things than the escapades and conquests of Malfoy. Choosing a potion for my first year NEWT project.
A short while later, I'm adding Veritaserum to my list with a small question mark beside it when I hear the same shuffling sound down the row of books. He looks a little put out and I really don't think before saying-
"That was quick." He scowls at me before pulling the seat out, one away from me this time and lowering himself onto it his face changing to look a little dejected. "Sorry."
"I don't need your apology Weasley." He says with vehement. I have no words of response. I've already been about as insensitive as it's possible to be.
"I've just dumped my girlfriend after confirming what you just informed me." I'm not sure if I'm only just noticing how formally Malfoy speaks or whether it's aiding him process the situation.
"Luckily for me I just found some Ravenclaw up to the hilt inside her." I inhale sharply and I see him almost crack a grin at how completely obtuse I am. "Naturally this means I cannot possibly work with her in this potions project."
"And given that you are the bright young witch who gifted me with this information I'm taking it upon myself to appoint you my new potions partner." He's getting books out of his bag and I'm thinking of something empathetic in response. This does not happen.
"First the hours then potions partners?"
"You just broke up my relationship."
"Not intentionally!"
"How tactless can you be? Everyone knows you're the only Gryffindor sixth year in the dorm room at the weekends. You definitely could have not said anything." The formal nature of this speech has broken quicker than I expected.
"You're really going about winning me over as your new potions partner quite well." The phrase is delivered dripping with sarcasm as I cross my arms over my chest leaning away from him. My tiredness returning as quickly as my sympathy fades.
"I'll drop the patrol hours. I'll ask Fiona. I'd probably not want to be potions partners with Davies if I were you anyway. He was the one up to the hi-"
"Alright I get it." I sigh again. This is probably the most personal thing I've ever spoken to Malfoy about. It's a little unsettling as to how easy this conversation seems to be going. And it's been basically completely involuntary on my part. "Let them do whatever they're doing in the hope they bring each other's grades down."
"Ha! That's not what I was going for Weasley but it'll do. For now." I concede. He's just found his girlfriend, whom he clearly liked quite a bit fooling around with someone else. And being told about it by someone you barely know can't really help. He's hiding any embarrassment he might feel rather well. I stick out my hand while nodding curtly.
"Potions partners." I state as he grasps my hand shaking it quickly before releasing. "Potion partners." He confirms.
We work quietly for a few hours until we can hear smatterings of chatter as students head downstairs for dinner. We've decided on Felix Felicis to brew. It took some debating back and forth on the amount of time we'll need, the expense of ingredients and then the benefit if we can use it once it's brewed. I can't deny that having some liquid luck seems awfully appealing. I'm also thinking Malfoy already has plans to use it in some wild revenge scheme. Somehow he's managed to not burst out in any angry rants about what's just happened to him, but I guess he's saving that for the Slytherin friends who'll no doubt be able to foster much more cunning ways of revenge. I can't deny my respect for Malfoy's studying traits. Deciding to work to distract himself from the situation. I actually feel myself grinning in response to this epiphany.
We pack up and leave the library, reaching the end of the corridor when I realise I promised I'd meet Albus in the common room before dinner.
"I actually said I'd meet Albus in our common room." He shrugs and goes to walk down the hallway.
"Sorry again Malfoy." I blurt out. He turns round and takes a step or two back towards me. He's looking at me like he's conflicted about being nice, or thankful or even gushing some hatred slur about her to me. It's rather hard to read his face at the moment. He reaches out and unexpectedly squeezes my shoulder.
"Don't be."
"I knew you'd not levitate yourself up those stairs," I mutter as he turns to go again.
"What?"
"Oh nothing. Tuesday night we'll finish planning the brew for potions class on Wednesday morning?"
"Yeah. I'll be here. Same table at 7."
"Cool." He turns and strides down the corridor ruffling the back of his dirty blonde hair as he goes. I watch him effortlessly pull open a thick tapestry and in the blink of eye his black cloak whips behind it and vanishes.
It's then, left alone I realise that Patricia is going to probably know that it's me who let it slip what with me being the only one in the dormitory at night these days. Unless Malfoy was completely subtle about how he found them, or what was said during said break-up. It doesn't seem like it would have been that difficult to end it if she was indeed found in such a compromising situation. Either way I'm not looking forward to returning to my dormitory tonight just in case. At least Malfoy has the dungeons in which to hide and plot his revenge. I might end up sleeping in the prefects bathroom tonight to escape any further drama. I really need a good nights sleep.
Reviews and feedback are always welcome by those who wish to provide it.
