Tonight is our last brewing session before we bottle some of that trickster Felix Felicis to test. Sadly, the testing will probably be next week. This being the eve of the Ravenclaw vs Slytherin quidditch match, naturally that has been the main topic of discussion. Malfoy has tried rather hard to not tell me explicit details of the manoeuvres and plays the Slytherin team are planning to pull off; insisting that I'll have to see it with my own eyes tomorrow. Alice's words have been bouncing around my head for most of the day. It's not like me to be like this about a guy. Malfoy is just an unusual character. He isn't all over me like some of the tactless oddballs from the years below but he's also not afraid to be flirtatious and did I mention he oozes charm when he wants to. Yeah I thought so. He did pull a curl of my hair gently earlier to get my attention. I was too focused on the tingling at his touch to even realise what he'd said when I looked at him.
These little touches and unnecessary grazing and nudging from someone who just wants to be "friends" are piling up. I'm not normally a person who can sit around and wait for things to happen. I'm impatient and just a tad impulsive. So right now, my best idea of cornering Malfoy and asking him whether there is anything behind those lingering stares I've got to get myself an invitation to the post-match Slytherin party (they're that confident it's already planned and will no doubt go ahead no matter what the outcome.) It's either that or I burst in unannounced once the butterbeer is flowing to congratulate or console him.
To conclude it seems my mind has rather taken to the idea of fooling around with Scorpius Malfoy. There I said it. The entire world can hear my confession now. Snog me silly if you really want to Malfoy.
It's at this point I'm pulled from my rather sordid ravine as Malfoy disappears behind me into the ingredients cupboard, arms laden with boxes of things we've finished with. I'm stirring the fluorescent yellow liquid when I feel his breath on my neck as he leans over my shoulder to inspect the cauldron's contents. I struggled to repress a shudder, instead shuffling slightly down the bench.
"We're doing alright here Weasley." Again he's moved across from me once again and is bent over the cauldron inspecting the contents. He closes his eyes and inhales the fumes deeply. "I can't put my finger on what this potion smells of." He takes up a cup we've had heating separately for an hour containing shrivelfig juice and slowly adds this into the cauldron. I continue stirring; watching as he takes another deep breath, the fluid turning the colour of egg yolk. "There! That's what I've smelt in Slughorn's room before a few weeks ago."
I raise an eyebrow in response; "It's not like Amortentia you know?" he looks up catching my eye and grins slightly.
"I know Weasley, but Felix isn't odourless is it? Nothing like Veritaserum. You remember what the book says? We'll have to put it in our assessment of the aroma at the very least. Aaaaannnnd this also indicates the end of this potioneering venture!" The disappointment must be evident on my face as he nudges me gently in the ribs. I switch stirring arms, my right one getting stiff from continued movement.
"Well it's not quite finished yet." I say, stirring the contents of the cauldron anti-clockwise as the book instructs, scanning the previous page for some hint of the appropriate smell of the final outcome. Malfoy is doing the same and I see his eyes widen at the bottom of the previous page. He looks up at me, his face showing what I could only describe as giddiness. He turns the book and pushes it towards me, a pale index finger pointing at the final sentence.
"The aroma of the potion, if successful should mirror that of-" my eyes widen as well and I feel my cheeks heat up, reddening under the torchlight.
"Go on Weasley." He urges, his face now resembling that of a small child delighted at Christmas.
I take a deep breath almost hearing the inevitable mocking to ensue, "-butterscotch." He whacks the table with a fist and keels over laughing, holding his stomach. I just stand there looking flushed with embarrassment at the previous joke a few days ago. I sigh and shake my head.
"Weasley-" he gasps, "how appropriate-" I silently wish he chokes on his own laughter and I leave his lifeless body in the dungeons "-it's your flavour." He wipes his eyes as his laughter finally slows.
"I'm glad you find this so hilarious," I snap angrily, "I don't have a flavour." I cannot bring myself to look at him. I'm both annoyed and frustrated. Realising that he has no possible idea of what's going on in my head I have to mentally shake myself. This evening has still been full of the light flirting that I've become accustomed to but I just want a bit more of an obvious signal before I really put my foot in the fire. Mocking back and forth doesn't really feel like enough.
"Sod this," I say throwing the spoon down on the counter where it smokes slightly from potion residue, "now I'm hungry. Wanna come to the kitchens?"
"Aww come on Weasley, it is a little funny." He grabs his book while I start packing up my things.
"As I said; absolutely hilarious," I deadpan.
"Why are you packing up?"
"For laughing you can put the potion away after our little detour." He doesn't argue but narrows his eyes. After turning the heat down to a light simmer we exit the potions room pulling the door shut behind us. I shoulder my book bag, rummaging around for anything I can possibly eat on the way. I pull out a rather dusty looking sherbet lemon and my nose instinctively wrinkles.
I can almost feel the grin emanating off Malfoy as he falls into step beside me.
"What?" I say, unable to resist smiling right back at him encouragingly. I should know better by now of course.
"I'll give you a sickle if you to eat it." I look at him wide eyed and back at the fluff stuck to the sweet. I screw up my face.
"You're alright Malfoy. I'll give you absolutely nothing to watch you eat it though." I waggle it in front of his face as he draws himself away.
"S'alright, I'm not a fan of sherbet lemons. More of a liquorice wand man myself." I nod in approval and continue down the corridor with a chuckle. After a few minutes I stop short as I hear a muffled clatter down the corridor and instinctively take out my wand. Malfoy also stops but instead his brow furrows.
"That came from a broom cupboard." Malfoy hisses across to me barely moving his mouth. I match his frown. I've not seen him look this serious in days, which in itself puts me a little bit on edge.
"So realistically we should check it out. As prefects it's part of our duty. It's probably only students." I try to avoid using the phrase fooling around as it would be rather hypocritical given the thoughts I've been recently having. I'm glad my voice sounds steady as the longer we wait the more I become aware of my heart pounding heavily in my chest. The dungeons are without a doubt the creepiest place in the castle and I'm glad I'm not stood here alone making this night-time discovery. Just incase.
"We aren't on duty." He replies scathingly staring blankly down the corridor.
I can't help but look at him in surprise. Throwing caution to the wind I stride around the corner of damp brick to hear what now sounds like giggling and scuffing behind a tatty wooden door set into the stone. I turn around to find Malfoy shuffling towards me, reluctantly taking out his wand. I raise my eyebrows and wave a hand in front of his face to get his attention. I then point at the door as animatedly as I can to try to humour him and mime being terrified and jogging away. One side of his face twitches and he shakes his head before pointing at the door handle. I nod in reply to his silent communication and grasp the cold metal before throwing the door open, spilling the green glow onto the couple entwined within.
My heart stops and my jaw drops. Of course it's Davies and Patricia; eyes wide and clothes crumpled. I daren't look at Malfoy as I feel myself flush in the darkness. We stand there for a few moments before I hear Malfoy speak.
"My, my Trish. So embarrassed of Davies you have to hide him away in the dungeons?" It's a cheap blow, and obviously a lie. He's speaking in an uncharacteristic drawl. One I'm almost certain he's never used when speaking to me; something I'm now glad of. It makes him sound cold and uncaring, nothing like his usual almost jovial self. Neither of them say anything. Patricia looks at him with mild distain before pulling herself into the corridor as gracefully as she can re fastening the top buttons of her shirt.
"Scorpius. May I remind you that you don't own any parts of the castle. No matter how much money your father still has." I gasped quietly from the shadows and I saw Malfoy's knuckles whiten around his wand now pointed at Patricia.
"I think it's time you leave Trish. You have no right by all of Salazar to speak about my family like that." He spat, voice shaking.
Unfortunately for me Patricia appeared to have noticed my presence in the corridor and rounded on me. She smiled and cocked her head at me.
"Rose. What the devil are you doing down here with my ex boyfriend?" she was smiling sweetly which I knew was rather dangerous. I'd slept in a dormitory with her for a fair few years and knew she could be a rather vindictive individual when she wanted to be. I opened my mouth and closed it a few times, no words coming to mind. What could I say? Oh yes I was kind of hoping to get with your ex at some point in the near future He is just so charming afterall. No there'd be no blunt truths tonight.
I gave Malfoy a grateful look as he answered for me, "We're now doing the potions project together since you weren't….an appropriate choice of partner anymore." His eyes never left her face. She barely glanced at him but continued to look me over.
"Oh of course. Brains," she gestured towards Malfoy, "meet Brainiac." She chuckled darkly still looking at me. "Never thought you'd go for a redhead Scorpius. Your track record has been nothing but blondes after all." I felt myself flush again as she whipped her hair over her shoulder.
"I think it's time we left Trish." Davies muttered tugging at her hand unable, it appeared, to look any of us in the eye.
"Yes. You still want to be able to ride on a broom tomorrow don't you Davies? Time for bed I think. Now run along." sneered Malfoy pointed his wand threateningly to the crotch of Davies' trousers. Patricia stepped in front of him in one flowing movement.
"Let's not be childish Scorpius. We'll leave you and dear Rosie to your potion brewing. If that's what the kids call it these days. I know you'll be sleeping Scorpius, Rosie here certainly won't be keeping you up." She flashed another grin at me before turning on her heal dragging Davies with her. Anger riled in me at that moment. How dare she imply…remember you'd rather keep your private life private…..yes but I'd rather Malfoy not think that of me…if he thinks less of you because you're potentially innocent then he truly isn't worth it is he Rose?
Finally regained the ability to speak I yelled after them. "Detention for both of you for being in an area of the castle, prohibited entry without a Professor's permission. Four Saturday afternoons starting tomorrow is an appropriate punishment." I relied on my good memory for choosing a suitable punishment that might make Malfoy feel a little better as well as me getting some mild revenge for hurtful and quite frankly untrue comments.
"You can't-" Patricia began, swirling round to storm back towards me but Malfoy raised his wand.
"Leave it Trish. Weasley picked a fair punishment for you, a prefect, someone who should know better. Be grateful it wasn't me doling out punishments." His voice like ice in the gloom. Paticia looked at him for a moment, realising he was right she huffed and strode out of site.
I didn't dare say anything at this point. But I knew I had to get Malfoy out of there. I waved my wand silently closing the broom cupboard door and put my hand on his shoulder. He was still watching the corridor where she'd disappeared. He glanced down at me and his fury seemed to melt slightly.
"Let's get you the biggest muffin the house elves can carry." Was all I could come up with and steered him towards the kitchens once again. I tickled the pear, engaged and exchanged pleasantries with the house elves and lead Malfoy to a small table in the corner of the kitchens with two giant triple chocolate muffins. After a few bites of his muffin he spoke.
"She can be a nasty piece of work for a Gryffindor. Sorry she spoke to you like that."
"Yeah, I think the Sorting hat struggles when some people's characters blur the lines so much. I don't remember when she became so nasty."
"Oh she always has been. She's just very…. sneaky about it." He takes a giant bite of muffin and chews silently.
"You know the rumours that Davies might have an WSI?" I blurt out. I almost slap myself in the face for my crudeness. Talking about Wizarding Sexual Infections over a muffin. There is some horrible truth behind that as the fact is not lost on Malfoy as his eyes sparkle darkly between chewing.
"All the better that she's with him after me eh?" he says clearly. He takes a deep breath to calm himself before attempting the muffin Everest once again.
"You must have really liked her?" I forced myself to say it. Get knocked down before I get attached to the idea of something happening between us, especially how he reacted to finding Patricia and Davies together tonight.
"No Weasley. It was a fun fling. I just can't accept infidelity. I think it's one of the worst things you can do to someone else. Breaking their trust. Unforgiveable." I raise my eyebrows surprised by his brutal honesty.
"People seem to think that I'm this ladies' man, but don't believe it." I take another bite of muffin. "Also I'd rather not waste my time speaking about her any more than I need to. Let's just enjoy the free sweets these house elves always so generously provide." He high-fived a passing house elf as he spoke, gradually regaining his usual cheerful self.
"Also for the record; I'm not just into blondes." I'd been distracted watching a house elf carry four trays between his tiny arms each laden with a collection of polished cutlery, but this got my attention. I tried to calmly look him in the eye. He wasn't smiling this time. Just looking at me. I had to try my usual awkward attempt of wit in response to cover my thudding heart.
"Oh I know. I saw you wink at McGonagall once, whether she was looking or not. I'd say even at her age she'd pass for a brunette." His lip twitched as his eyes twinkled.
"Just don't believe everything you hear alright Weasley?" he asked sounding mildly amused.
I pushed the rest of the muffin into my mouth to avoid having to come up with a quick response and exaggerated a shrugging gesture, pointing towards the door to leave. You're being given a possible in here Weasley! What do you think you're playing at? Having managed to swallow the muffin without choking I stood up to leave, hoping he'd be following close behind.
"I mean, I can't imagine why you'd want to be with a fiery redhead anyway. They're often stubborn."
"I can be persuasive," I heard his reply as I climbed through the kitchens entrance.
"They can be irrational."
"It's a good thing I'm calm in a crisis."
"Most of them in Hogwarts are related to Ron Weasley." I try turning to face him, unable to wipe the challenging and cheeky grin that I've got plastered on my face. He looks at me for a moment, clearly considering how best to answer this.
"I can run rather fast." He stated. That's when the laughter came. All the tension of the night seemed to be lifted in this moment. And although I was thinking about my father chasing him down Diagon Alley, again with a spoon for some reason I am pretty convinced that that little exchange was Malfoy making his move. Oh universe, do correct me if I'm wrong.
I was leant against the wall for a few moments opposite him bent over laughing for a good solid minute before the laughter subsided. I gasped for air holding my chest grinning widely across at him. Malfoy is clearly just as mental as me. Our breathing seemed to ease somewhat and we just stood leant against each wall just beaming at each other. I'd bet a few Galleons that my uncle would never believe that a Malfoy could have this good a sense of humour.
He pushed himself off the wall towards me suddenly and the air seemed to still. The corridor was deathly quiet now without our trill laughter playing off the stone walls. He took another step as I straightened up; preparing for a standoff. This time I would stand my ground. See what happens. My human and perhaps teenage hormone fuelled curiosity getting the better of me and I know exactly how I'd like this scenario to play out.
Another step and he was only a foot away. Alice's words repeated themselves in my head: 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. His eyes dropped down to my lips once again, I hoped this was him making his intentions painfully obvious. I could feel my stomach clenching with nerves. His eyes lock with mine and I see them darken once again, instinctively, my eyes drop to his lips for a moment, noticing the slightly parted mouth and pale pink lips. It seems like an age he stands there looking at me, while I stubbornly stand my ground, waiting for whatever he's planning on doing. The left side of his mouth quirks up as I hear myself audibly gulp, clearly he's amused by this compromising position and its effect on me. I ask you: who wouldn't be a little anxious when a rather handsome gentleman is edging his face closer and closer to yours? No didn't think there'd be many complaints from the audience.
I don't know how long we stand there, still just looking. It's almost as if we expect the other to back down. But this time I don't. It's a challenge. The choice is his. I'm not moving, so if he really wants to get well acquainted with the wall behind me he might have to do something, anything, physical to make me move away from it.
And he does, the other side of his mouth quirks up in what can only be described as the most adorable smile I've ever seen on a man and he bends his head down pressing his lips full to mine. There are no arms wrapped round the waist. No fireworks. Just his lips on mine for a moment before he moves away. I'm left with my lips tingling with the echo of his touch. I didn't even have a chance to close my eyes. There is an unmistakeable flush across his cheeks now and a searching grin. That bastard. That's all I'm going to get without going for it myself. He's definitely cunning this one. I take back what I said. I resist every urge I have to grin back cheekily in response and just walk away from such a pathetic attempt at amorous for a Friday night but my body's in control now. The previous meetings of the night forgotten entirely.
I take one last glance directly into those blue eyes before I throw all caution to the wind, heed Alice's words; I grab a handful of the front of his robes and pull his face crashing into mine. I immediately don't know whose hands are whose as I'm lost in his touch as our lips sear together fiercely. He thrusts me against the wall, pushing his body flush against mine and I bite down on his bottom lip to stop from letting out a low moan from the back of my throat. Instead I've exerted some sort of strangled sound from him which leaves me grinning against his kiss. Which, by the way, is becoming more rushed and frantic by the second. My hands are under his shirt grazing the skin of his torso and both his hands are woven into my hair pulling me even closer. I've never felt like this when kissing someone. Like that's all they have to keep hold of on the earth's surface from floating away. Every inch of my body feels hotter with each passing second we keep this up but eventually as his tongue glides past mine one last time I lean back, catching his eye. It's quite clear, having felt him get hard against me what effect this is having on him. So, being as nonchalant as ever, I decide to get him back for his "I'll give you a quick peck and you can do the rest thing." I think snogging me senseless proved that the Malfoy boy might just have a thing for me.
I lean in once more pressing our lips together; hard. Pulling away, but not before I bite and tug on his bottom lip, feeling his nails dig into my back in response. His eyes are dark with lust, trained on me as I manoeuvre away from the wall and out of his grasp while straightening my shirt. His mouth is open a little and he reaches for me as I grab my bag off the floor, swing it over my shoulder and stalk back towards the staircase to the Great Hall.
I glance back over my shoulder and see him watching the swing of my hips as I walk, eyes fixed on me. It appears he's lost the ability to move his legs.
"Good luck in the match tomorrow Malfoy," I grin cheekily, leaving him looking completely dumfounded outside the kitchens. I look long enough to see him blink a few times as if he can't quite fathom what's just happened. I hear a very muffled response as I see him lean against the wall for support. His head leant on the cold stone brick.
"Weasley…. I better see you at our after party." Is all I manage to hear as I ascend the stairs to the floor above.
I have to resist the urge to shudder as I reach the entrance hall. Or even do a little fist pump in the air or even skip away in this euphoria I'm feeling right now. I feel flushed but ecstatic and have to resist the urge to run back down the stairs leaping into his arms as my legs wrap round his waist….no get a grip Weasley. Somehow you managed to play that in a ridiculously nonchalant manner. Don't ruin this mysterious air you've left behind. A shiver does go down my spine as a cool wind blows through the hallway. In my entire life I never thought I'd snog a guy in a corridor at school and clearly leave him wanting more. Right now I'm both embarrassed and rather pleased with myself. So as it turns out, Malfoy made the move on me. That has to mean he's interested right… well that small burst of self-confidence seems to be fading rather fast.
Somehow I manage to make it to the seventh floor without bumping into a teacher or Mr Norris. I feel like I almost floated down the corridors in a daze. Still seeing the look in his eyes after we'd kissed. I'm just finding it rather difficult to process. Malfoy. Scorpius Malfoy. Hogwart's closest thing to an Adonis is apparently wanting my company. I say closest thing, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I guess I've been thinking about it far too long to dismiss it now. I can definitely give whatever just happened a chance to happen again. I mean, currently I'm lent against the wall near an empty picture of the Fat Lady, letting these thoughts wash over me. If I close my eyes I can almost feel his hands on my sides and in my hair and my legs suddenly feel weak. So much for nonchalance and all that, Weasley.
"Dear, isn't it about time you were in bed?" I crack an eye open and see the Fat Lady has returned. Sighing I stutter the password and the portrait hole swings open, revealing an empty common room with embers burning in the grate. I had no idea just how late it was. As the portrait closes behind me I hear the Fat Lady muse to herself,
"It's been many an age since I was as flushed as that from a passionate embrace." At this jarring reality I rush up to my dormitory, draw the curtains around my four poster and collapse. Fear that anyone might see me looking flushed from a passionate embrace which could prompt awkward questions. I mean really, that's just terrible phrasing.
I just hope it doesn't put him of his game tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing or giving any time for my mediocre writing! I have so many freaking ideas that if anyone is short of any and has a little more prowess than me with a keyboard then message me! All Scorose as everytime I think of another story, another one sort of branches off from it.
Anyways, finally a little action! Well a lot of action. I don't plan on dragging this story out. It'll somehow come full circle with a bit more drama to ensue. Probably no more than 10 chapters total. Happy reading.
Please review even if it's bad.
