A/N: What's up everyone?
Thanks a ton for the reviews and the love.
Al fans (apparently there are lots despite it being a Rose/Scorpius story) might find this chapter a little unfair.
Still stick with the story. Al is going to have a grand comeback.
This is a chapter for ThereIsSuchAThingAsLove. x , jasmineflower27 , brooke73 , Saoirse Darkwind , RoseScor90 , Gii3. Kipit-Sicret and everyone else who has followed me around all those weird/crazy stories that I have.
I appreciate it immensely and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm forgotting some times.
I have a bunch of other people to thank.
Next chapter then.
I don't own it.
Notice: Check the sneak peak in my profile- tell me what you think of it!!
Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Angel's food cake
I look around me with Quidditch-trained eyes. Alice, who's just a few meters in front of me, hits the bludger, which barely misses Hugo and ends in Weston's bat. As Weston rushes to injure Seb with it, Susan throws the quaffle to the second hoop. Rose flies down and catches it effortlessly. Then she sends it to Carl, who is supposed to give the ball to our third Chaser, Pete but instead flies above his normal height and… Well, and that's where I come in.
"Carl! What the hell are you doing?" I hollow angrily. I might be quiet and shy in real life but Quidditch is an entirely different business. Quidditch is a matter of pride. And in matters of pride there's no place for kindness and tranquility.
"Wha-?" Carl stares at me perplexed. He never was the sharpest pencil in the box but he's got a good left hand.
"Damn it, you're supposed to pass the ball to Pete not run around the pitch like a fool." I mutter approaching him. And then suddenly I hear cheers from underneath my broom.
I sigh desperately as I notice a bunch of girls shouting 'Go Al's. They're starting to get on my nerves I swear. How Scorpius has been managing for the past four years is beyond me.
I look up only to come across Rose rolling her eyes. I take a good look at her. From the moment she mounted her broom I knew something was off. Now the more I inspect her the more obvious it seems to me. She's injured. Probably at the back or something.
It is quite easy to tell actually, especially when you've spent eighteen years with a certain James Potter who, when playing with his friend and fellow beater Fred, always ends up at least one bone down. But, Rose is not a beater. She's a Keeper and you hardly ever see one of those with bruises. So I'm guessing this is a result of something entirely different. Well, I'll have to wait till the end of the game to ask her. Or perhaps I should tell her to drop practice and go rest.
Gaah, who said being Captain was easy?
"Sorry Al." Carl mumbles and returns to his official place. I sigh and fly towards the hoops. I guess for the Weasley-Potter clan it'll always be family first and everything else second.
"Rosie, are you ok?" I ask in a hushed tone. It really won't look good if I start acting like a worried overprotective relative – a. k. a. 'Uncle-Ron' - in front of everyone.
"What do you mean? I'm fine!" She hurries to excuse herself. I give her one look that clearly says 'cut the crap' and she pouts.
"It's just my back. Nothing much." I nod.
"How did it happen?" I inquire making sure I don't sound too fatherly.
"Just stumbled on a book and fell." She laughs awkwardly and I mess her hair playfully.
"Malfoy was right after all. You are going to have a brutal book-related death. Just don't try to speed it up, ok?" I add and move away with a smile.
"Oh, you can go if you want." I shout at her and upon seeing everyone glaring at me, I hurry to explain.
"It's a special day today." I wink at Rose who beams at me and heads down to the ground.
"Al, you're the best." She exclaims and runs away.
"Just make sure you do what you have to do!" I call at her back and before I loose all sight of her she gives me the thumbs up.
Man, I hope she manages to do it. And persuade Scorpius as well… Well, that's the hard part really. Not that my task is easier though.
And in this case having spent eighteen years with James hasn't proven to be as helpful. I still suck at mischief and rule breaking. My brother always says he got all the wit in the family and Lily all the looks and the temper and I got all the… and that's when he just pretends to cough and choke and never really finishes his sentence.
But whatever, it's for Rose's sake so I'll have to do my best.
I return back to practice only to see Carl getting hit by a bludger and Alice and Weston cheering.
Oh, shoot!
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to find a comfortable spot in this trunk. Man, today's practice was tiring. What with Freya having anger-management issues and McLaggen trying to hide his tears every time I looked at him and apologizing to every bloody Chaser he hit with his bludger. I mean I was the one behind Albus' change of attitude and I was pleased with the fact that he got Thomas, but hell I had not expected Zack McLaggen, bulldog extraordinaire, to have such a breakdown over it.
Who'd have thought he actually fancied her? He is so pitifully miserable. Thank Merlin I've never been in love. Imagine what that would do to my already wounded reputation!
Wounded because since two days ago almost all my house-mates are pissed at me. Thankfully the 'blood-traitor, muggle-lover' comments have stopped but the glares are still here.
Moreover I cannot stop being pissed at myself.
And why you ask?
Well, it's not like I did something surprisingly bad. I assure you I didn't even touch her! She just freaked (by the way what sort of Gryffindor is she?) stumbled and fell down. Just cause I might have screamed at her a little bit.
Oh, big deal! Like she's never screamed at me. If I had a galleon for every time I have heard her shouts I would be rich by now.
Oh, wait! I am rich… well, rich-er then.
But have I ever fallen down? No, I haven't. Unless of course the shouts were accompanied by hexes, but that's a whole different case.
Yet she fell. And when I offered her my hand (well, a gentleman can't help himself) she didn't take it. She looked at it as if it was disgusting to her, then she tried to touch it and as soon as she did she withdrew. And she had that look on her face, like she had seen Voldemort himself rising from the dead.
Cause I'm that scary.
Yeah…
I really don't get it, though. Why not take my hand?
I am not infected. She could take it. Or at least say 'it's ok, I can stand on my own' or something and not act so… repulsed.
But that's not what pisses me off. It's what happened afterwards.
Cause my pride was so unreasonably affected by this that I wanted to do anything –everything- to make her see. See that…I'm not infected and disgusting and worthless. I know stuff, I can do stuff and If I wish to, I can help. And she doesn't get to question that.
So I helped her with her Potions' essay and let her sit by and… didn't manage to read one page of my book for the rest of the night.
I stand up decisively from my spot under the tree and take my broom. It's starting to get cold out here and I do not like the path my thoughts are taking. I look away to the pitch and come across some black figures flying fast. Gryffindor's got practice right after us. I remind myself. Poor sods. They're gonna freeze on their brooms. And having Albus turn into Hitler when it comes to Quidditch isn't gonna help them one bit.
I begin marching towards the castle. I could use a bath now.
"Tri-Wizard Tournament." I mutter to the black-haired knight and as he nods I enter the Common Room.
And then I make a new revelation.
This place… smells weird. And when I say weird I don't mean who-transformed-this-place-to-a-dragon-nest weird. I mean good weird. Like vanilla and chocolate and butter. Despite myself, I sit there for a moment and enjoy the scent. Then, reality dawning upon me, I look around troubled.
Have I by any chance entered the wrong room?
No. The room is the same familiar Common Room with my favorite couch near the fire and Wealsey's armchair facing it. But the scent remains.
Suddenly I notice it. On the table at the corner of the room there is something like a bowl and a large spoon. I pull out my wand fully prepared to show the intruder just how painful my hexes can be. But instead of the hordes of Dementors I was expecting Weasley comes out, her untamable hair up in a plait and her sleeves lifted over the elbows.
I scowl at her and she shrugs.
"What is going on here?" I spit.
"I'm just cooking something." She declares shrugging for the second time.
"Why? Who has a death wish?" Otherwise why would she of all people cook?
"Funny. I might not be very good at cooking but cakes are my specialty." She puts her hands on her hips and glares. Typical.
Sometimes I wonder is she capable of doing anything but glaring and putting her hands on her hips. Merlin, fine, she's got nice hips. Big deal. There's no need to demonstrate them like that.
It's not like anyone's looking anyway. Course not!
"Why won't you just let the house-elves handle this? You're bound to blow something up." I sigh. It's true. Give Weasley a wand and a bowl of chocolate and you don't need Voldemort or armies of Dementors. You've got you mass-destruction weapon right there.
"I've done this before." She explains like an expert and marches to the table. I run there and put a hand up to stop her.
She stares at me questioningly.
"And I'm guessing noone lived to tell the tale. Now step back and put your wand down…" I order in a serious tone.
"Is everything I'm gonna say going to be used against me?" She mocks and ducks to avoid my hand. Shit!
"Fine, then go kill yourself. See if I care." I call back at her but she ignores me.
I walk annoyed to my dorm, take my towel and go to take a shower. I walk out in a fresh pair of jeans and a sweatshirt of the Cannons fully prepared to put the fire off. But I come across no fire. On the contrary Weasley seems to be doing just fine with her baking. The sweet odour is even more prominent now and on the table there is a mini oven.
Weasley is leaning over something that looks like a cake and is sniffing it ecstatic. She has her eyes pinned on the cake and a she's smiling widely and proudly, trying to prevent some strands of hair from falling on her face.
And suddenly it hits me.
She's not the only one staring.
Agh! I shake my head and take a few steps towards her. This thing doesn't seem half as bad ad I expected.
I see her taking a new bowl filled with hot chocolate and preparing to throw it on the cake. And then she notices me, widens her eyes and before I know it her bowl of chocolate has freed itself from her grasp. I lay a hand and catch it.
"Didn't I say you shouldn't cook?" I mutter. Well, at least that chocolate smells awesomely.
"You startled me!" She breathes out trying to calm herself down.
"What's with all this baking mania anyway?" I discard her accusation and ask.
"Oh, about that!" She exclaims and I just know I'm going to regret this.
"Well, I kinda have my birthday today." She does? I nod.
"What no 'happy birthday', no 'happy anniversary'?" She pouts.
"You've stayed alive for another year. Congratulations Weasley." I roll my eyes and so does she.
"Thing is, I'm expecting some people and I wanted to have a cake for them." She finishes in super-speed.
"No way. First of all you're not having a party here. Second of all this cooking thing stops here. And third of all I am not leaving so that you can have your friends here to celebrate." One by one I spit all my oppositions on her face.
"First of all it's not a party, it's just a couple of people. Second of all this is my Common Room too so you have no right to forbid me to bake." She stops to catch her breath.
"Oh! And no one said you have to go." She adds. Wait! I don't? Really? Well, that's… unexpected.
I feel anger abandoning me. Ok, maybe I overreacted a bit. She hasn't burnt anything yet and I don't have to disappear and leave the Common Room to her and of course Weasley doesn't have the number of friends required to have a party.
"Fine. But please try to be mature about this. You're an adult now." I mutter, "Merlin help us."
"I heard that." She puts in irritated.
"Oi, Malfoy! Where are you going with the chocolate?" I stop dead on my tracks. Really where am I going with the chocolate?
"Oh, right, here." I raise my hands causing the insides of the bowl to stir a bit.
"Watch it." She growls. I use both my hands to hold the bowl. Man, that thing is dangerous.
Like explosives or something.
"Could you, like… hold this for a moment?" She mumbles trying to chop something that looks like strawberries. I want to shrug in indifference but I don't. Hot chocolate on my Chudley Cannons' sweatshirt would be a disgrace.
"So, Malfoy, I always wondered…" She starts conversationally and I practically feel the comeback on my tongue but I resist the temptation. As I said before the girl is holding a knife and a wand. So you will forgive me for being a bit unwilling to annoy her.
"What is it that you're planning to do after we're done with school?" She asks without even sparing me with a look. I raise an eyebrow at her question and even more than that at the curiosity about my future which is hiding behind the question.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't care about it, but there's just something troubling me and I wanted to hear what you'd have to say." Now, really, am I that that transparent?
"I want to be a professional-…" This time she does look at me. No, correction. She glares at me.
"Don't you dare say you want to be a Quiddtich player cause I know for a fact that you don't." She says through gritted teeth. Ok, it's not even funny anymore. How did she know what I was going to say?
"I-…" I stumble upon words pathetically.
"I, for my part, have no freaking idea." Weasley sighs.
"I mean it's ridiculous isn't it?" She adds and I look at her expectantly.
"Top grades, good in all subjects, well all minus Potions. And still I'm lost." Lost? I turn my eyes away from her.
Lost…
'It's our last year and you still have no clue what you'll do next or what you really like. And I'd give you my Quidditch gear if you could prove me all this snogging around is not just another case of uncertainty.' Andy's words from our previous conversation come back and hit me.
"That makes two of us." I mutter grimly at her. Then I see her looking up with surprised blue eyes. I feel my breath getting caught up in my throat. Cause she…she shines a weak smile at me. Just like that, she just smiles and gives me a side-glance of uncertainty. As if she's still not sure I'm telling the truth.
Man, that girl is infuriating.
I mean she obviously has no right to do that to me. Right?
"I find it quite peculiar that the almighty Scorpius Malfoy hasn't come up with a life plan just yet." Weasley recovers from her 'smiling disorder' and comments mockingly.
"What is it going to be then? Shagging girls till the end of your days?" She smirks and I roll my eyes. Well, that was mean, even for my standards.
"I've told you before, I'm not half as heartless as you think. Shagging is not a laughing matter, you know." I point out, uneasy, despite myself.
"Oh, are you going to give me the 'talk' now? Cause mum has already explained to me babies are not brought by storks." She keeps cutting strawberries as she speaks.
"Very funny. All I was going to say is that, contrary to popular belief, I don't shag everything with legs. It's one thing to snog someone and another, far more serious to sleep with someone." Ok, why exactly am I explaining myself to her? It's not like I care or anything. Besides it's not actually bad for my reputation to have people thinking I've slept with every girl I've dated.
"Well, that's a shock." She whispers.
"Oh, wait! I know!" Suddenly she stops with her baking and leaves the knife on the table excited.
"This is great. I'll use that." Now hold on a second.
"Use what?" I ask curtly.
"You know this little piece of information you just provided me with." She replies with a devilish grin. Ok, that's scary.
"I'm gonna tell everyone that all this time you've been lying about having slept with many girls." She declares and I gape at her. No bloody way!
She adapts a sneaky smile and pretends to be a nosey teenager.
"You see girls Malfoy is perfectly inexperienced in those matters. He told me himself, the only reason he acts like that is to fit in." She declares to an invisible audience and I feel my face taking up a terrified expression.
"Weasley, you're saying no such thing." I hiss angrily.
"He's holding back till he finds 'the one' . I guess there are still those people who want to wait till marriage." I look at her disgusted as she plots my disgrace.
"Weasley!" I hollow menacingly. Fortunately that makes her stop.
"You think that 'marriage' comment is too much huh?" I glare at her and she chuckles taking back her knife and resuming with her work.
"You're not going to say any of this." I state coldly.
"I mean if I wanted to commit suicide I'd just eat your cake." I smirk. She sniggers.
"What you think I won't say it just cause you forbid me to?" She challenges.
"Do it and face the consequences." I retort quickly.
"Oh, look Malfoy I'm so scared!" She pretends to tremble and sticks out her tongue at me. Well, that's quite enough!
"You should be!" Yeah… I'm quite ruthless if I wish to.
"Why what are you going to do?" She dares me. Well, I- I will… I will do something very, very… erm… I look down thinking exactly what kind of torment is awaiting Weasley if she rats me. And then I see it.
The bowl of chocolate. My smirk widens noticeably.
Thanks to my Quidditch reflexes I catch her waist and drawing her to me, I raise the chocolate bowl right over her head.
She opens her mouth in shock and failing to free herself, she crosses her arms. Well, as far as her captivity allows her to.
"You wouldn't!" She says confidently though I can still feel her trying to escape.
"Promise you won't say a word." I propose, shaking the bowl just a little bit.
"I won't submit to blackmail." She insists.
"Last chance." I sing song satisfied.
"No." Ok, fine. Have it your way.
Without another word I turn the bowl upside down, emptying its contents –yeah, I mean the chocolate- on her face, hair etc. At first I take a step back to enjoy the view. Weasley, just a little too surprised to react is just gasping and staring at her brown and sticky self.
"You didn't!" She growls, finally returning to earth from denial-land.
"Oh, yes I did." I nod frantically. How cool is that?
"I'm going to kill you! Where's my wand?" And just to justify her words she looks around the place for it. Yet, once again I beat her to it. I run to the table and take the wand, keeping it out of the dangerous psycho-killer's –a. k. a. Weasley's - hands.
"Ok, ok, chill. It's just some chocolate." I manage to chuckle out.
"Chill?! I'm expecting people and you just ruined both my cake and my clothes." I raise an eyebrow at that.
"People?" I inquire.
'Of course you idiot. Al is sneaking them in the school." Albus? The goody-two-shoes? Can't be…
"And who exactly is he sneaking in?" I ask shaking my head with pity for the poor people who will have to depend on Albus' mischief abilities to get in and then out alive. Odds are he's going to get caught and get into serious trouble with this. What was she thinking asking him of all people to sneak people in?
"Well, you know, James, Fred, Roxy, Lucy, Luis, Noah…" She whispers the last name but I catch it anyway. Aha! So that is why she is doing all this. Edgecombe, the super-boyfriend, is coming along.
Pitiful. How desperate is she exactly?
I fight the urge to spit out something really mean to her and decide to play with her instead.
"What was the last one? Noah?" I lean forward, trying to listen better. She blushes profoundly and looks away. Pathetic!
"Yeah…" She mutters, still crimson. And then upon remembering what she was talking about before I interrupted returns to her old angry self.
"But that's none of your business now is it? Now, give me back my wand so I can kill you and then start making a new bowl of chocolate syrup.
I glare at her and pulling out my wand, I cast her a cleaning spell. Here, it's wasn't so bad anyway. I hand her the wand and begin leaving.
"Where are you going?" She calls back at me.
"I'll just leave you to your baking. Prince charming will be expecting something extraordinary." I reply not even looking at her. Who'd have thought Weasley would make such a pathetic girlfriend? I mean she acts all independent and strong to others but when it comes to Edgecombe she's all blushy and giggly and stupid. A perfect housewife.
It's so…
Disgusting.
"What did you just say?" She shouts at me and this time I do turn around, fully prepared for battle.
"Nothing much, just that I cannot believe you're tuning into such a sap over some guy." I bellow.
I've kept silent for long enough now haven't I?
"Nothing much, just that I cannot believe you're tuning into such a sap over some guy." Malfoy's annoying voice seems to be echoing in my head. Sap? Am I really acting like one?
I mean, it's true. I am quite excited to be dating someone so…so special and accomplished and I do often sit there just thinking of him. Not to mention that I have began giggling. But I haven't transformed into a bimbo all of a sudden now have I?
No, wait! Have I?
"It's not some guy. It's my boyfriend." I cut him off.
"Yeah, good luck with that one." He shoots back.
"No, actually it's him I should be telling that to." I grumble at this. Trust Malfoy to ruin your birthday for you.
"You're not going to make me hex you today. You're not…" I speak more to myself than him.
"Very well then, I'm off." He turns away again, start walking to his dorm again and I speak to stop him. Again.
"You're not leaving until you help me with this mess you've created." I motion the table which is half-covered in chocolate.
"Why don't you ask that pansy boyfriend of yours to do that?" He crosses my arms.
"Cause you did this. Besides you don't really want to piss me off more do you?" He really doesn't. Cause I'm inches close to murder right now. Inches!
He inspects me for a moment and I begin considering the fact that he's going to attack me. Try to take out my eyes with the tip of his wand, or something…
But he doesn't.
He performs another cleaning spell, to the table this time and looking away from me, he presses his palms to his forehead as if he's got a horrible headache.
"Just so that nothing blows up." He hisses at me.
Wow! He didn't just agree to help me did he? I mean, surely I insisted he assisted me but I was certain he'd just ignore me and leave without a word. Or perhaps that he'd say something insulting –well, something more insulting- and make me hex him to his room. But I didn't expect him to agree.
And well, that's just… wow…
I take some pieces of chocolate and turn on the small oven. A gift from grandpa Arthur. He says it looks just like a mini muggle oven, only it works with magic and it can be shrinked to fit everywhere.
"Chop those into smaller pieces." I hand Malfoy the knife and the chocolate pieces as I clean the bowl.
He complies and we keep on working quietly like that for over an hour. He doesn't speak and nor do I. But all this silence that could kill two normal people makes us two rather peaceful. Or at least he looks peaceful. He is concentrating all his powers to cutting off the chocolate pieces and I stir the already melting pieces in the pot. A couple of times I feel the urge to explain to him that this is just baking not rocket-science so he doesn't need to be so careful, but I think better of it.
Why interrupt him? He looks so… un-Malfoy now. His hair are falling on his eyes and once again I come to notice just how long and nice his fingers are. And he cuts the pieces so smoothly and easily…
Ok, Rose, stop staring at your arch-enemy! Like… now!
"Who's my favorite cousin of them all?" I jump up alarmed. After two hours of absolute silence it can be very unnerving to have someone shouting in your ears like that.
"James." I move my head up to observe him with a tired look. Isn't this guy supposed to be training all day long? Now, tell me how does he get to be so energetic so late at night?
My cousin gives me a bone-crushing hug and messes my hair with his hand.
"Happy Birthday Rosie." Lucy smiles and hugs me too.
"Hey, girl. Happy anniversary." A breath-takingly handsome Luis –damn that veela charm- greets me from his Heeler uniform.
"Rosie, I've missed you so. Dad is so making me work overtime in the shop and I had no time to write!" Roxy kisses my cheek and whines at the same time.
"Is this Rosie-posie or are my eyes deceiving me?" Fred opens his arms wide expecting me to hug him. Which I don't, of course.
"People who call me Rosie-posie don't get a hug." I declare defiantly and Fred pouts.
"Oh, sorry dear cousin. Here, here, come, may I bribe you with a gift?" He tries, searching his pockets for something.
I open my eyes wide as I see every one of them taking out a gift. I start opening them one by one with a smile. Those people are really reckless with their money.
"Oh, Rosie, I forgot to tell you. Noah's not coming. He really wanted to but he said his sister got sick and he had to take care of the kids." Suddenly the smile falls off my face. I really wanted to see him. It's been about two months already. Well, at least this Saturday is a Hogsmeade trip so we'll meet then. I sigh and force the smile back to my face.
"Well, well, what's Slytherin like you doing here?" I hear James speaking and I look up. He is staring at Malfoy and Malfoy is glaring back.
"Potter, you do know this is a Heads' Common Room don't you?" Malfoy lets a smirk break off and so does James.
"So you became Head-Boy didn't you little ferret?" James smirks back and everyone else just chuckles.
"You can hardly call him little..." Albus intervenes.
"Well, you became an Auror, didn't you? Life is full of surprises." Malfoy retorts. James seems to be thinking of it for a moment and then…
"Good point." He shrugs and shakes the hand Malfoy's offering with a real smile this time.
"So, how's it going? I've heard of a couple of very intriguing deals here. Do you take bets?" James asks sneakily.
"Yeah, we're interested." Fred adds.
And if you're one of those people that could never believe my cousins are friends with Malfoy please raise your hand now… As for me, yep it's been six years and a half and still…both hands up.
They talk about some time while I catch up with my female cousins on their interesting adult lives.
"Rosie you look so tired. Why don't you just take a break from all this studying of yours?" Lucy asks. Of course that is rich coming from Lucy who –back on the day- used to miss even Hogsmeade trips to study.
"Nah, it's not that. I have this deal with Malfoy and it's proving out to be a real pain." I mutter motioning the blonde who is trying to free himself from Fred grip at the other side of the room.
"But Scorpius is a perfectly nice boy. Surely he likes pranks a bit too much but that's pretty much as bad as it gets." Lucy adds with an encouraging smile. I snort.
"Don't make me laugh." Roxy pops in and saves me from the time-consuming sport of naming all of Malfoy's flaws.
"He's a little devil that guy." She comments and then as if trying to prove her statement she turns around and shouts.
"Hey, Malfoy! You're a back-stabbing ferret aren't you?" Malfoy raises an eyebrow at her words and upon seeing her cheerful face he nods.
"Whatever you say Roxanne." He shouts back and Roxy returns to us with a satisfied grin on her face.
"You lot really do like him, don't you?" I ask shocked. I mean why is it that I'm supposed to be the only one who dislikes that person?
Lucy and Roxy shrug together.
"But he's arrogant and conceited-" I start. Lucy rolls her eyes and interrupts me.
"And self-centered and annoying-" She recites.
"And a real idiot who treats girls like shit." Roxy take over next.
"Precisely! How did you know what I was going to say?" I question.
"Call it a hunch." Roxy's voice reeks of irony. Which is totally inexplicable, because it was an honest question on my part.
"Rosie! Cake!" Fred calls out and walking to him, I poke his shoulder.
"People who give orders don't eat cake." I announce and he gasps.
Nevertheless I bring the cake over and call everyone. I blow my candles but make no wish. Honestly I never understood that custom. I mean when you're in a room full of people who are cheering like crazy just because you –how did Malfoy put it before? Oh, yes!- 'you've stayed alive for another year' I think it'd be rather stupid to begin making foolish wishes. Ask for what anyway? Success, endless wealth, eternal love? Pff… give me a break.
I just hope they'll be here to celebrate with me next year. That's all.
"How's that cake called anyway Rosie?" Luis asks tasting the chocolate covered cake.
"Angel's food cake." I reply smiling.
"Well, it sure tastes as such." Fred mumbles eating his third piece.
"Oi, Malfoy! You're not eating?" James yells over at the blonde who is sitting alone and secluded in his corner next to the fireplace.
"Scorpius doesn't eat sweets." Albus says in a mocking tone.
"He thinks that way he'll catch the Snitch before me this year." Albus laughs out loud at this joke that is visible only to him, cause even I acknowledge the fact that it is quite possible that Malfoy will catch the Snitch before Al this year.
"That's nuts." Fred comments taking his fourth piece.
"Weirdo." Roxy agrees.
"He's mental." James whispers in my ear as I realize that even though Malfoy doesn't eat sweets as a rule, never did he mention to me he didn't want to try the angel's cake. And then it hits me. He didn't refuse to eat because I didn't exactly offer him a piece.
As if acquiring its own mind my arm stretches itself and takes a plate. I put a piece of the cake in it and slowly walk through the uncommonly silent room towards the blonde.
"Here." I offer. Now he can in fact say he doesn't eat sweets and give it back to me with a sneer. And that way I will get rid of that pinch of guilt my conscience is putting in front of me.
"Huh?" He breathes out after five whole minutes in total silence. Remind me again why isn't there anyone talking in here?
"What happened? Don't tell me you didn't reply all this time cause you were just staring at the fire?" I joke trivially but he looks at me weirdly.
"I was just enjoying the warmth and tranquility. Actually you should try it sometime." He replies with half a smile and I am sure I've heard those words before.
No, hold on a minute. I've said those words. That night we stayed in front of the fire. It was I who told him to enjoy the fire. I cannot believe he remembered that…
"I will. Now what do you say? Wanna try and see if it's poisoned?" I smirk and he takes a look at the cake. Then he just shrugs. I hand him the plate, out of fear I might drop. Yeah, Malfoy being polite and positive can do that to people.
He takes it and after contemplating his choices for a second he tries some. Then eats some more and more… I turn around and return to my cousins.
As for them they stare at me dazzled by my deed and as soon as they notice me noticing them they try to act cool and all wrapped up in conversation.
"So, Rosie, Albus was just telling me you had a bit of a problem today in practice. Something about your back hurting?" I roll my eyes at James' miserable attempt to pretend they weren't listening to the conversation I had with Malfoy.
"It's killing me. Thing is, I kinda…" At that I take one side-look at Malfoy and catch him watching me closely with a serious look. "…stumbled on this book and fell." Everyone laughs at my clumsiness and soon I follow suit.
The night passes peacefully with my older cousins' telling stories about their out-of-school adventures and misfortunes till the clock strikes twelve and they, just like Cinderella, decide to go. Luckily we had no slipper losses.
I yawn coming out of the bathroom with my pajamas on. Back to my couch I guess. I walk to the fireplace quite content with the fact that a fire is still burning there –Merlin it's a cold October- when I come to realize my 'bed' is occupied.
"Malfoy, wake up, you need to go sleep to your dorm." I growl but he doesn't stir one bit. I pause for a second hesitant before putting a hand on his shoulder and shaking him a little.
"Back to bed." I order. At that he finally moves some inches.
"Agh, I'm sleeping. Leave me alone." He says in hoarse, sleepy voice.
"Yeah, sure you're sleeping. In my couch." I put my hands on my hips and glare at him, even though he cannot see me.
"Go sleep somewhere else." He doesn't even open his eyes.
"Do you think that if I had any other place to sleep I'd come here?" I point out and yawn again.
"Don't care. I'm not getting up now." That sod! And to think that I offered him a piece of my cake.
"Malfoy I cannot sleep to the armchair, like the last time. My back's hurting." I mutter.
"Then don't." He turns around to the couch trying to get more comfortable.
"And where will I sleep then?" I hiss, pretty annoyed by now.
"Up the stairs, first room to your right." He replies… Wait, what?! Up the stairs… first room, on the right? But that's…
"But that's your room." I whisper perplexed.
"Yeah, I know. Now let me sleep." I look at his sleeping form and then at the room up the stairs and then back at him. Seriously now?
"I couldn't…" I protest like the polite person that I am.
"Fine then." He replies and motions for me to leave. I take a few uncertain steps to it. But I thought I said I should never enter that room. Maybe he's just dreaming. I walk inside the room.
Well, it looks pretty decent. Thankfully Malfoy is not one of those boys whose rooms look as if they've been bombard. He does have some stuff scattered around, like his Quidditch gear and a couple of books but nothing too extravagant.
I sigh. I cannot sleep here, now can I? But the bed seems so inviting and I am so tired and my back hurts. Besides he did offer, didn't he?
I sit on the bed undecided. Wow, it's soft.
Slowly I remove the covers and lay down. It smells like peppermint here and it's warm and cozy. Gaah…
I snuggle comfortably forgetting of all restraints.
Apparently the Angel's food cake did wonders on Malfoy.
And now I'll have to thank him for it too.
Well, whatever.
A/N: Well, at least no one can complain that I write small chapters…heh
The dialogue between Rose and Scorpius was a bit big.
I hope it wasn't tiring or boring or whatever.
The huge Scorpius POV was a bit of a risk I'll admit.
Tell me if I failed or did well with it.
Please review!!
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And the poll people. Don't forget the poll!
Once again love y'all
Kisses
Sarah