Hello all! Thank you to the reviewers and those patient enough to keep reading and even following. I'm flattered and humbled. I've been distracted by a few stories myself for a while. Recently discovering a series by an author called Slide, which had me hooked in about half a chapter. I'm halfway through the second part and I recommend to anyone who enjoys a damn good story and narrative; along with Scorose. Also the writing and story telling is a lot better than mine. I just want to write a bit of fluff at the end of the day (albeit long-winded fluff). Also while I'm on recommendations there is a story called A Fight for Love and Glory that I absolutely love (I can't remember the author), another Scorose if you've not come across it - worth every minute it takes to read it!
And so ... on with the show.
The past week or so has gone by in a blur. While the majority of the student body has been increasingly excitable about the forthcoming Quidditch match, my focus has been on my developing friendship with one Scorpius Malfoy. We've spent another four evenings together, three in the small potions room and one on Monday evening patrols again. The past two evening potions sessions had involved a lot of hand grazing when passing ingredients and by Sunday night I'd somehow managed to get my blush in check when it happened. I believe he was just doing it as my flushed, silent embarrassment was clearly amusing to him. The same evening had found us heatedly debating the rights of goblins since the beginning of the 20th century and culminated in me stood on a stool in the small potions room pledging my allegiance to wizard kind while promoting relations between all magical creatures. He'd shaken his head muttering, "When the goblins come for blood Weasley, don't say I didn't warn you."
The potion itself is actually coming along rather well. Somehow, when we can keep from laughing at one another we appear to indeed make a rather reliable team. Slughorn did not seem at all surprised to hear our progress was exceptional. It definitely doesn't really hurt that both me and Malfoy have found a balance alternating between stroking each other's egos with simpering sarcasm and quick wit put-downs to put each other in our place again. This chatter somehow doesn't distract but somehow promotes efficiency in our teamwork. When I went to bed last night I had to remind myself that we'd actually only been on such friendly terms for about eight days. I put our close rapport down to attending a boarding school and therefore spending an unusual amount of time together in such a short space of time forms bonds in a rather condensed manner. Well that's my excuse for accepting the mild flirting in favour of guilt feelings for Malfoy's failed relationship. He appears to be putting it behind him at the very least.
The Monday evening patrol was easily the most unusual of our recent encounters. I hadn't expected him to appear in the office instead of Albus. With the amount of work piling up I needed to get done I'd actually forgotten he said he might keep the Monday night shift. But then he waltzed in, bookbag flung over one shoulder suggesting he'd just come from the library.
Signing the parchment with a flourish and a casual, "eeeeevening." He dropped his bag and literally dragged me by the neck of my robes out the door.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" I question as we stroll down the corridor in step with one another.
"Ah, well. Firstly I get to spend the evening in the company of the butterscotch flavoured Weasley and secondly if we play like we did in practice last night, we'll absolutely crush Ravenclaw on Saturday." He was rubbing his hands together looking rather pleased with himself.
"Well, firstly you have to stop referring to me as that. It's not a flattering name at all. Secondly, I don't doubt it. I've seen how hard you work to beat me in defence, I'm sure you're aiming to crush Ravenclaw into a pulp of blue robes and twigs." He laughed, conjuring a shiny bronze goblet from thin air and handing it to me.
"Nice one Malfoy. Aguamenti," I said, pointing my wand at the rim of the goblet, filling it close to the brim with water.
We walked in comfortable silence for a while. I sipped the water I'd made musing on the warm feeling in my belly when we spend time in each other's company. I can't get too attached it I know, but it feels far too pleasant to quash right now. It'd been stopping me shivering down the chilling corridors.
"You know," he pipes up, pulling the same tapestry away from the passage leading down to the dungeons, "I never thought we'd actually become friendly, Weasley." I light my wand and descend the steps slowly. I mulled over this comment before he spoke again. Instead he just chuckled to himself while shaking his head.
"What?" I tried to prompt. He was silent for a while. All that was heard was our slow footsteps padding on the stone floor of the dungeon. His face was screwed up struggling it seemed to form an understandable sentence.
"Well," he began, "nah Weasley it's just too weird."
"Go on. How about I promise I won't laugh?" I throw him a positively wicked grin that I hope he won't be able to refuse.
"Fine. I shouldn't have said anything to begin with. Should have known you'd not let it drop." He smirked, what looked like more to himself than anything.
"I never made an effort to speak to you before last week because….well…. you were like this…forbidden fruit or something." I could see him blushing, even in the pale green glow of the dungeons, so I dread to think the flush that showed up on my cheeks.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" I managed to splutter.
He seemed to struggle for the right words again, "Look at our families history. Us sorted into different houses meant friendship would be difficult in itself. Especially for the outlook of a first year. Basically you're pretty cool Weasley. Better late than never us hanging out eh?" A little bit of my heart died in my throat at that moment. Damn, thought I'd get a saucy confession of some kind then there. Hold the phone Weasley he used the phrase 'forbidden fruit'; I'd say that's a win.
"Right." I nodded in response. I was honestly shocked into silence at this point.
In the end, that night we forgot about rounds altogether, and to defer from where the conversation was heading due to my innate ability to avoid the obvious I directed us towards the portrait leading to the kitchens which meant us arguing over what was the better snack food. His blueberry muffin or my extra juicy tangerine. I quite literally had to lean on the nearest table in the kitchens when he leant with a finger to gently graze the right side of my mouth removing some juice and then licking said finger. That was easily the most sexy moment of my life so far. Something that I would never tell Malfoy, but my inability to use my legs for a while may have been a tad giveaway.
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Right now it's the Friday before the Ravenclaw Slytherin match and I'm sat at the Gryffindor table with my Charms textbook propped up against the milk jug. I'm trying to concentrate but Albus and James are having some sort of heated argument involving galleons with one of the Scamander twins. I could only tell by the voice. If I'd only seen them I would never have been able to decide which twin was which. I rub my temples gently. I need to chat this little problem I'm having with Malfoy over with someone. I don't think Albus would appreciate it all that much if I confessed where my thoughts were leading with Malfoy. Although I don't think he'd judge based on surname or house, I'd still be worried about him getting protective; no, he's not the one I can ask for advice.
I scan the Great Hall contemplating who I should ask for help. Then I have to slap myself with my Charms book for being so stupid. I do have other friends. No matter what I've lead you to believe. I've just neglected them a little with my ridiculous work load at the moment. At the moment the guilt sets in as I catch her eye at the Hufflepuff table. I grin and bounce over on the balls of my feet like an eager puppy dog. She raises an eyebrow and grins herself.
I should elaborate a little. The girl I'm off to drag away to gossip with is none other than my female partner in crime, Alice Longbottom. We've been there for each other since we were toddlers. Quite literally considering our parents fought together in the war against Voldemort. But somehow we'd have been friends otherwise, I'm sure of it. She's the sassiest Hufflepuff I know and she's so god damn bloody loyal she often stays a little too neutral if me and one of my other cousins is arguing. We've spent most summers together for the past 16 years, even those I don't really remember. It's not til now that I realise just how long it's been since we properly spoke. All that NEWT work overloading most working seconds, that you're not spending being all doe eyed with Malfoy. I know I'm not bloody doe-eyed. You gotta admit, that grin… I'll have to owe her if she's happy to chat. Clearly I need it. Big time.
"What do you want Rose?" she asks bluntly as I straddle the bench opposite.
"Can I have a word Alice?"
"So you barely speak to me since term started and NOW you want to talk? What's in it for me?" she waggles an eyebrow, biting the end of a sausage with vigor.
"A…Alice I'm sorry. I've just been ridiculously busy. And we don't share many lessons anymore. And oh god you're messing with me aren't you?" I notice the grin twitching the side of her face, a tell I've seen many a hundred times.
"Of course you idiot. I had to spend most of the summer with you. And we get a chance it's always good." My heart sores at her honesty. This is why I love Alice, she's bloody damn reliable. "So go on whats the sitch?" she probes.
I look over my shoulder towards the Slytherin table but turn quickly back, not wanting anyone to get the wrong… you mean right …idea. "Erm….can we go somewhere a little more private?" I'm clearly blushing as her eyes light up and she nods knowingly.
"Ooooooohhhh I like the sounds of this. Don't miss me too much fellas!" she gestures with her hand towards the other end of the table, only one chap sat in the group of four girls looks up as if he wasn't even paying attention to the exchange.
We meander out towards the lake, exchanging pleasantries and a few complains about various teachers.
"So overall synopsis of first term?"
"Oh you know, I've already found three grey hairs and received a detention for a late homework hand in. But all in all I'm surviving. I had it in my head as this huge stepping stone but it's just an uphill struggle with an even greater reward."
"You sounds like you're in great shape." I say, kicking a small pebble into the lake.
"Well, to an extent I guess, but this isn't why I gave up my morning free period. School chat can wait for another time. What's your issue? The last time you actually physically removed me from the hall to talk was when you'd lost Al's invisibility cloak and you feared Peeve's had stolen it back in third year. I know full well this isn't one of those issues. Not with that blush I saw back in the hall. So spill."
"Ha, the issue ain't quite that bad I guess."
"Go on Rose. It's me you know I hold no judgement. Unless you've started a new DADA to be "just like your parents" I'm going to throw you, by hand into the lake." I chuckle, considering this is the second threat I've recently received threatening to throw me in the lake. I wonder if it really is as bad as people seem to think it is, as to dish it out as some sort of punishment.
"No no. Ok, well, this is difficult to explain."
"I've now only got over half a free period. Stop stalling!" she prods me aggressively in the arm.
"Well, I think there is something sort of going on with me and someone."
"Wow ….. could you be more vague?"
"Ok," I take a deep breath, "It's Malfoy."
There is silence. I scrunch up my eyes for the inevitable arguments against pursuing this venture. He's a Slytherin, he's a Malfoy and all those other loose and frankly terrible excuses. What I don't expect is her following question; "Draco?" I burst out into hearty giggles. It takes Alice two seconds before she succumbs to them as well.
"No his son you tit." I splutter best I can. How Alice has made the situation so light hearted has made me feel like a weigh has been lifted already by this small confession.
"I know, I was just pulling your leg. This must have happened pretty quick. Wasn't he with Patricia like last week?"
"Well two and a bit weeks ago. I was the reason they broke up." I didn't think the last bit was necessarily needed, but the shocked silence that followed showed I could have delivered this confession better.
"I probably gave the wrong impression there. As in, I'm the one who accidentally let slip that Patricia was cheating. And it all sort of got a little out of control from there." My shoulders sagged and I sighed, looking up to the castle.
"And Malfoy just jumped into your arms?" Alice was clearly teasing me at this point and I was thankful. In my head I've elaborated this situation into far more than what it is. She was bringing me slowly down to earth.
"Not exactly. Through patrols and now being potions partners we've been thrown together quite a lot the last few weeks. And I never thought I'd say this, but me and Malfoy get on unusually well."
"You mean more so that you'd expect due to your families? Or at least, correct me if I'm wrong but that's what the issue is here isn't it? What it boils down too?"
"Well, yeah." I admit. We turn and begin to trace our steps back up to the castle on instinct.
"I can't believe you and Malfoy!"
"Nothing has actually happened yet you know. Think you need to remember that one!"
"But you want something too?" I nod. "Imagine what your dad would say." Alice grins so evilly at that moment that I have to promise Helga that she doesn't in fact belong in Slytherin.
"I think the undertone to this is that it's actually part of his appeal." She barks a laugh as we come about twenty or so metres from the castle and we stop. There are a few students milling around the entrance, adorned in scarves and hats to combat the cold. I draw my robes tighter around myself.
"Of course, his grin is gorgeous, and it can't hurt to let of some steam with a guy right? Relieve some stress of all this work in those few fleeting moments of free time."
"That's a pretty bold claim Rose. Just….you don't want to get hurt right? I don't want you to get hurt either, just to be clear. Be careful."
"I know, I know. Malfoy the heartbreaker. He really ain't that much of one."
"But you are right, his grin is freaking amazing."
"Ok, so I have the girl seal of approval then?" I smile warmly at her in thanks.
"Of course Rose. My lips are sealed as usual. But seriously, your dad finding out that you're seeing a Malfoy. Can I please be there when you tell him? He'll do his nut."
"Nothing has happened yet Alice!" I cringe at the thought of my dad chasing Malfoy out of my house with a wooden spoon in place of a wand. I'm not entirely sure why in my imagination my father does not brandish his wand as Malfoy stumbles down our garden path and out of sight. I guess it makes Malfoy seem a little safer if my dad doesn't have access to his wand.
"Clearly something is in the pipeline though. There is this unmistakable conviction in your voice as if something has happened already."
I just look at her helplessly, not really knowing how to respond.
"You just better tell me when something does!" I hesitate and it's as if she's reading my mind, "You are a teenager Rose. Sometimes that thing that you don't think is a good idea might be just what you need to let loose. You said yourself." I give her a hug in thanks and we promise to grab a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks the following weekend during the Hogsmeade visit. The butterbeer is most certainly on me. It doesn't even surprise me that Alice barely batted an eyelid that it was Malfoy that I was trying to become involved with. The supportive friend is in, my cousin doesn't think he's a bad guy. I clearly am becoming attached to that charming smile of his. What could possibly go wrong? You shouldn't have said that.
Evidently, I'm just going to have to be my usual suave self to win him over.
You must all be mad. Nothing has happened between our two stars just yet. So much for a short, but long-winded Scorose fic. But ... drum roll ... something WILL happen shortly. Half the next chapter is written and just needs some edits and additions.
A few things from questions/queries and just FYIs. Firstly this story will remain in Rose's POV. This is mainly because easing myself back into writing I'm putting a lot of myself into Rose before I try something more elaborate. I do really want to do a Scorpius POV story at some point though. We will have an encounter between Patricia and the lovely Rose Weasley in the next chapter. And we might get some Quidditch. A lot is going to be going on!
Reviews are always welcome. If anything constructive criticism is, in some ways, even better!
