A/N: Once again my apologies for the late update.

I'm still pretty tired from the incessant studying so it's kinda hard to settle down and write.

Looking on the bright side it's never taken me more than 2 weeks to update.

Thanks heaps for all your support and reviews.

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I don't own Harry Potter

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Chapter 9: The Devil to Pay

"I could tell you but you wouldn't believe me." I sing song at the communication mirror. An almost identical –minus the green eyes- face scowling at me.

"So you mean to say there's more?" I nod. I can just tell it'll be too much for him, all this drama.

James is, above everything else, simple-minded. And I don't mean this as an insult. Believe me if I wanted to offend my brother I'd chose much worse –much more appropriate- adjectives.

But, no. In this case fighting with that loser of a brother is not one of my priorities. On the other hand, explaining him the situation is quite crucial.

And his simple-mindedness is so getting in the way of my job.

That guy just can't imagine all this mess people have gotten themselves into, trying to avoid their feelings.

He's the kind of person who, when encountered with love, accepts it without a question.

No matter how hard it might look –and back at the day it did look hard to persuade Alice to go out with him- he wouldn't give up until he got his way. Even though she had rejected his date-offers for years and years he just kept going unaffected, sure she loved him and hadn't yet realized it.

No one believed him.

Turned out she loved him and hadn't yet realized it.

And finally he got his way.

So it's just impossible to make him understand the minds of messed up cowards.

I mean, I've been talking for ten minutes and all he can say is 'That's so complicated. So complicated…'. Except for that moment when I let him known about Edgecombe's deeds two weeks ago, during which his sentences consisted mostly of swears.

"So tell me, what has this blonde ferret gotten my cousin into this time?" I open my mouth to reply but end up just gaping at him.

"How did you know Scorpius did something?" He scoffs proud at himself as I scrutinize him with a suspicious look.

"She was at the Broomsticks with that traitor who –by the way- is gonna get hexed so bad his mother won't recognize him, Goyle and him. Then she walks out devastated, Malfoy sees her and follows her." I confirm his words with silent moves of my head.

"It's obvious he did something I'll have to owl uncle-Ron about." He concludes and I sigh deeply. Again with his simple ways.

James just can't understand that even if Scorpius likes Rose there is no way he'd make a move. Because he's scared out of his wits she might hex him and ridicule him and just… not like him back.

"He did nothing like that." I point out in a low tone.

"If he didn't then there's nothing for us to talk about. In which case, you will excuse me, but I need to go find a certain Wonder Boy grab him by the throat and cut off his…-" I curse under my breath. Maybe I shouldn't have told him about Edgecombe cheating after all.

"James!" I interrupt quickly, snapping my finders in front of the mirror to catch his attention.

"Hm?" He stares at me.

"Scorpius, he…he didn't hit on her. That's what I meant when I said…" I mess my hair awkwardly.

"He didn't kiss her?" He leans closer to the glass and narrows his hazel eyes.

"Nope." I reply.

"Nor did they lock up at some broom closet, right?" I step back shocked.

"No!" I mean, ew, we're her cousins, we shouldn't speak of those stuff, we shouldn't even think of those stuff in fact.

"Then what happened?" He seems exasperated once again. "Man, this is so complicated." I nod this time agreeing with him.

"I could tell you but you wouldn't believe me." I say matter-of-factly, having already predicted his reaction.

"Try me." He challenges me. I'm telling you, bad idea. But anyway, at least I tried to warn him.

"They became friends." I announce and James suddenly disappears from the picture. I look carefully around at the part of his apartment that my mirror is allowing me to see. He is nowhere to be found. But I can still hear this hissing sound like something is seizuring on the floor.

"James are you alright?" I call out rolling my eyes in the process.

"Ye-yeah…" My brother chokes on his saliva making a fruitless effort to stand up and sit on the chair he was occupying some minutes ago.

"Bro, are you serious?" He grabs the chair with his hand still fighting gravity.

"Yes. They're friends. For almost two weeks now." I cross my arms. Honestly what do I have to do to explain this? Draw a picture ?

"What do you mean by friends?" He points an accusing finger my way.

"I mean that they study together, they sit for hours alone in their Common Room chatting about muggle books, Rose eats dinner with him-" I pause to catch my breath.

"In the Slytherin table?" He inquires devastated. I hurriedly agree to my brother's utter shock. He opens his eyes wide trying to prevent his jaw from falling on the floor at the same time.

"Then they take broom rides together and I even saw them visit Hagrid the other day." I finish mimicking his reaction.

"That's impossible. I mean passionately snogging their eyes off I could understand. But this..!" James shakes his head in denial.

"I think you're missing the point here…" Taking a deep breath I shift a little on my dorm's bed. I push aside the curtains for a second making sure Jordan from the bed on my right is still sleeping.

"Fine, but no matter how you see it, it's weird. To tell you the truth I always sort of wished they'd hit it off and 'couple down'. Yet, never had I imagined them to be best mates." He stresses the last word stubbornly.

"Me neither. I knew Scorpius had a soft spot for Rose that his pride prevented him from revealing. However, if he ever got the courage I'd imagine he'd go for it all the way, not jerk out and settle for a friendship." I hiss getting angrier at the blonde with every second that passes.

"Then again maybe he decided to take a more diplomatic approach for once in his life." James tries an encouraging smile.

"Nah, you shouldn't have such high expectation of him." Because everyone just knows Scorpius' ability to handle a relationship of any kind with Rose is just as great as his ability to demonstrate modesty. Of course this colligation in itself gives off a good picture of the situation.

"Odds are we're giving it more thought than he is." I sum up dejectedly.

"Okay, I get it he's oblivious. What about our dear cousin? She's smart." James smiles proudly as he always does when talking about family.

"Till lately she, too, was at cloud nine. But I don't know… these last few days she seems a bit off." I put a hand under my chin.

Up until James asked I hadn't even considered Rose's reaction to all this. To me she looked simply delighted, as if she had suddenly figured out the big mystery of life or something.

Yet now that I think of it, since yesterday she looks different. A little too thoughtful. I guess she's starting to see the absurdity of it all.

"Something bad is going to happen..." From the back of my head I hear my brother mutter. I shrug my shoulders.

"Dunno. Maybe. This is indeed too good to be true." I mutter back.

"It wasn't a question." I snap my head upwards to face one of the most serious faces my brother's ever made.

"What?" I question.

"I wasn't asking Al. I just informed you; something bad is going to happen. When Rose begins to over think stuff, something bad always happens." Now how he say something as grim as that? Ok, fine we both think it's weird for Rose and Scorpius be friends. However it's too mean to just forfeit like that.

"Don't be so negative. It could end up well." I put in half-heartedly.

"Hope so." He doesn't look like he means it one bit but I still comply and with a goodbye I put the mirror down.

I guess only time will tell. For now I'm just glad I get to have Ethnie all for myself.

I stupidly smile at myself. Strangely enough I seem to be doing this quite a lot lately. People -mostly my friend Will actually- think I'm just being ridiculous acting like a nerd. Of course the fact that I have chosen to combine my newly acquired nerdiness with Rose's isn't helping my case either.

But as I have previously stated screw them all.

At least Andy understands me. And that's pretty much all the approval I seek for at this point.

To be honest, though, I hadn't planned for this to happen. At the start of the year all I wanted was to graduate with my pride and my head on my shoulders.

I had it all figured out. I would spent yet another year barely opening a book and achieving the highest marks in class, I would snog as many girls as I could, I would beat Al in Quidditch, pull a couple of pranks just for the sake of it and at the end of the year the world would be mine.

As for Rose Weasley?

She could go jump off the Astronomy Tower for all I cared.

Ehem…

Yeah, that's what I call an 180 degree turn.

Nowadays I study four hours a day. I haven't snogged one girl since that deal started and the way I almost missed practice the other day cause I was playing Exploding Snap with Rose there is no chance I'm beating Al (if we actually make it to the finals) in Quidditch. Oh! And of course I'm too busy for pranks.

If someone had informed me of this change in the plan a year ago I would have preferred to drown myself in the Black Lake than go through with it.

Yet right now I'm standing outside my dorm patting my foot on the floor and smiling goofily. And frankly, it feels nice.

I can't remember the last time I openly admitted something was nice before becoming friends with that weird redhead.

Somehow until lately I was numb. I liked stuff, I enjoyed stuff but nothing really touched me. I didn't quite care.

But now it's nice.

She's…nice.

"Rose! Come on we're going to be late!" I knock the door impatiently. She's been in there for hours. I mean, really, how long does it take for her to get ready?

"Woman move your feet, remember you promised you'd come with me to hang out with Andy and Will." I mean, I know Will is not really her cup of tea and he'd rather don't have her around but since I spent the entire Saturday with her, Ethnie and Al she just owes me.

"By the way I've had three more date offers while you were trying to fix your hair. I'm now officially over thirty." I smugly look at the door trying to imagine her reaction. She's probably be furious, her face all red from jeal- Oh shit!

What am I saying?

Why on earth would she be angry that I have many date offers?

On the contrary she should be glad she's going to win the deal. That's right!

"Please, if you stay in there for a little longer I'm going to have a fourth one." And that will get her even more ahead of me in the deal.

"Rose! You do know that no matter how much you brush them they're only gonna turn bushier right?" I try a fatherly tone, which apparently works because finally the door opens slowly and she walks out.

"At last! I was-…" I stop midsentence.

Something is off. Her long thin fingers are entwined and pressed together so violently they're turning white. She doesn't look at me. Not for one second. Instead she's just staring at the floor.

She quickly walks past me.

"Are you avoiding me?" I ask incredulously. This can't be. Right?

I narrow my eyebrows as she nods. What the hell?

Rose sits on the couch where I've been sleeping for almost three weeks now and motions for me to follow her.

The closer I come to her the more clear it becomes that she's not feeling well. I try to swallow down my worry and act cool. Whatever this is I must stay calm and under control.

Suddenly she speaks with a drained voice.

"You're faking it." She breathes out helplessly.

"Come again?" I scratch my chin and comply by sitting down on the sofa.

"You're faking it Scorpius. All this 'good-guy' thing. It's an act." I raise both my shoulders to show my puzzlement.

"Well that was the deal wasn't it?" She gasps at me flabbergasted.

"No!" Suddenly she flinches violently.

"No. I don't mean the acting nice to the girls. I mean being kind to me." I blush expecting her to be a little less frank at announcing that. Is she trying to make me feel embarrassed, or what?

"You? What does the way I treat you got to do with the deal?" Those two different facts. The deal was made in order to prove a point. But being with her like this came afterwards. It was not something I planned for… as I previously explained.

"But of course it does. You know it does." Rose gives out forcefully.

"I..?" Do I?

"It was only I that didn't see it. I was just blissfully sitting there the other day; thinking how much your attitude has changed and how nice you can in fact be." I gulp. She's going all out huh?

So what will be next? Should I admit having such a behavior?

Then again even if I try to act it out cool now and deny this, it doesn't change the truth. The truth, that, I have been nicer and more caring towards her.

Actually, the only thing I could add to her observation is that you just don't become caring overnight. Which in turn would mean me admitting I felt this way since long before last week. Boy, is that a mess?

But I don't really get the chance to carelessly and shamelessly confess this. Because she hurries to continue in a whole different way than what I feared.

"And then it hit me." So obviously now it's going to 'hit' me too.

"I was admiring your change in character just like every other girl in school. But those girls could be excused. They don't know why you've began acting like a good person all of a sudden." She points her hand at the direction of the door probably referring to the rest of the girls.

"They don't know, but I do." Now her voice earns more depth. It somehow makes me feel like it's no longer coming from her throat but from a place much deeper.

"What are you saying?" I cut through worriedly. All of a sudden it feels like the fears of my feelings being exposed dissolve into thin air.

"Have you really forgotten, Scorpius? I know about the deal. I know why your attitude has improved. I bloody trained you to be that way." Hearing my name I cannot help but look up in her eyes. I find them burning holes through my chest with a pained demand for me to pay for what I've done wrong.

But what have I done wrong?

"I taught you that you're supposed to care for a girl. That you should be good to her. That you should comfort her when she's in pain." I nod in agreement at her comment.

"And that's what makes me such a huge idiot. Cause I knew that this new, caring, sweet side of you is an act. And still…" Her voice cracks terribly.

"…Still I fell for it. When you cared for me I didn't even question it for one second!" This is my time to be surprised. I gasp, a great weight falling upon my shoulders.

"It's really all my fault. I'm the one who took this too seriously." It's as if she likes hurting me. Honestly I have no other explanation for it. In order for her to say such heartless, disparaging words.

"Rose!" I exclaim, selfishly demanding she stops acting so foolishly.

"Let's go back to Weasley. Ok, Scorpius? Wait-… no. It should be Malfoy. That's what it always was. Right?" I had no idea it would feel that way, I swear.

I never suspected that what everyone said about stabbing someone with words would really bear such a realistic resemblance to an actual wound.

I stand up and catch her arm, tentatively, making sure I'm not hurting her. Luckily she turns around.

"Could you…" I can feel her shivering under my touch.

"Could you let me go?" She whispers in a fainted tone, causing my chest to hurt even more that it already did. She looks up, her blue eyes shining with a soft plea.

"Let me go…" She repeats with no power whatsoever.

But I don't want to. I wish to whine like a little kid.

This is new to me. Totally unexpected.

How do you call this thing when you wish you never had to let go of someone?

This painful feeling of knowledge that you just have to… cause –obviously- you can't force yourself to somebody.

I count to ten inwardly.

Hoping something will change.

Wishing that somehow she'd understand.

Praying I could find the words to explain this feeling.

Begging her with my eyes to stay.

Then I let go. What a cowardly way to handle this! But I know no other. There has been no one to teach me a way to love.

To love?

I must be turning nuts. Using such big words. All this drama, honestly, is it justified? Just because things didn't work out, because she decided to not believe in me, because she got this all wrong. Is this worthy of all this pain and drama?

It shouldn't. She's just another girl.

Six years I've passed without giving a shit about her. It shouldn't be a bother to keep this up for some more months.

But have I not really cared? That's what I've been telling myself even now but… have I in fact discarded her all this time?

And the fighting? What was it? Why was it so hard for me to stop it? Why did I needed this so much that I sought her out just to see her face getting all red from fury? I needed it. Yes, I think so.

I needed her to call me an idiot, to hex me, to laugh at my stupid way of doing things. I needed her to call all my bluffs and say that there is no way I 'want to become a professional Quidditch player'.

I need her to shout that I'm a self-centred, arrogant, cheap, unethical dolt, because sometimes, I am. And it scares me too much to admit.

I needed her to snort and smile and brighten my day.

I needed her.

Period.

The door cracks and closes behind me and I fall on the couch heavily.

Messed up.

That's what this is.

"Let me go." I mouth truly exhausted to the blonde in front of me. Even though all I want is to stay right where I am.

No, better yet, I'd like to be closer, just a little closer to him. Still, deep down I know that some inches –some more contact- won't help. It's not like others haven't been in his arms before, it's not like he hasn't stared at any other girl with those stormy gray eyes.

So what if, in my untrained eyes this thinly-veiled indifference looks like love?

Love? Yeah right…

Way to make things better Rose.

I grit my teeth as I watch feelings akin to despair and realization going through his face. Inwards I pray he doesn't say anything to stop me. And when I just know he isn't going to, I run.

Quickly out of this place.

Breaking up with Edgecombe felt nothing like this. Back then I was angry. Now I'm hurt. I hear the door closing at my back and I stumble a few feet away from the two battling knights before I finally extend a hand to the nearby wall.

My other hand comes to my mouth, trying to keep the sobs from being heard. I let my shoulders shake up and down, releasing the tension, the unspoken feelings.

How the hell did I end up in this position, I wonder?

Out of nowhere and right at the moment my body has lead me to believe I have recovered control, my eyes begins to burn. I blink back tears repeatedly as I walk cautiously around the school.

When I finally reach the Fat Lady I begin to accept defeat.

I let tears flow down my cheeks, sickly enjoying the way I look just as miserable as I feel. It's not like I cry often. And that is exactly why, it is really a blast when I do.

For a moment I consider the possibility to go up the Gryffindor Tower and ask Ethnie for a hug. Quickly I dismiss this option though.

She's probably hanging out with Al right now and I'd hate myself if I ruined it for her. Besides, it's not like she can fix this. It's not like I'm gonna feel any better if I sadden her as well.

"Rose?" I gasp at the voice that calls my name. I hate it when you think of someone and then they suddenly appear before your eyes…

"Hey, Al, Ethnie…" I take some deep breaths to recover my normal tone.

"Rosie, what's wrong?" Ethnie sounds concerned, which means it didn't work.

"Nothing. I was just going out for a walk. See ya." I start walking fast away from the two of them.

"Hold on a second!" My cousin's strong hand wraps around my torso forcing me to move backwards. I let my hair fall on my face, in a desperate attempt to hide my red puffy eyes and my tears.

"What's wrong?" Ethnie repeats giving a thankful glance at Al over my shoulder.

"I told you, it's nothing." I cast her away with what was supposed to be a glare but comes out as a pout.

"Go away Al. I need to talk to Rose." I sigh. She just can't understand the meaning of privacy. I mean, honestly I can handle this. I just want some space to take it all out and then pretend nothing's wrong. It's no big deal really.

"So what happened?" I wipe my eyes and take deep breath which proves to be a rather bad idea because with that sobs come back to the picture.

"I told him we couldn't be friends anymore." I mumble looking away. Since I've worried her I might as well explain myself.

"What? Rose, why?" I bit my lip.

"Al, didn't I tell you to get lost?" Ethnie shouts at my cousin as I sink down on the floor and bury my head in my hands.

"Rose, why?" She resumes.

"I-I…" I close my mouth again to keep from crying loudly.

"I couldn't have him pretending to like me." After some well-spent moments I manage to utter.

"Pretend?" Ethnie doesn't get it. No one does really…

"You know Ethnie, he's just doing what I told him to do with a girl." She looks at me with a look that reeks of disbelief.

"You mean about the deal?" I nod solemnly.

"That's absurd." I shake my head with passion at her observation.

"But, Rose…" I've had enough.

"I'm right. You know Scorpius is not that way. He's not the way I'd want him to be. He's being the guy of my dreams because I have spent two bloody weeks tutoring him, not because he's really that way!" I feel a sharp pain on my stomach making me lean forward and begin crying again.

"You don't know that!" Ethnie turns and hugs me tight.

"Sure I do. Otherwise why would he start acting like this just now? He could have done this years ago." I try to stop my lower lip from moving as I speak in a broken voice.

"You could have done so too. Why did you start being civil to him just now? Are you in some sort of deal as well?" I open my mouth and close it quickly, unable to come up with a satisfying answer.

"Well…" I rack my brains for an explanation.

"Well, it wasn't I that started this. He followed me and he was nice and caring to me first. I just mimicked his example in the process." Finally I retort.

"You just mimicked his example huh?" I can practically feel her irony in my skin. I nod staring at my feet.

"And since you're not pretending to be nice if it was up to you, you wouldn't have run after him and worried about him if he was in trouble." Again without facing her I shake my head in denial. She lets go of me and crosses her arms.

"So you don't give a damn if he's happy or not." I nod, skillfully hiding my teary eyes.

"In other words to you Malfoy means nothing, those past few weeks had been a lie and now you're crying because…" She pretends to be at a loss for words while I taste new tears in my mouth.

"Because I'm an idiot. And because I've been happier hanging out with my arch-enemy than I was dating Edgecombe. And because for one moment there, I knew very well that he was just pretending to be nice and yet I considered tolerating it just to be with him till the deal would be over next week." I put a hand to conceal my face. I hate it when I sound like a cry-baby.

"Rose, I don't think he was acting those past two weeks with you." Her words come to me slowly like a breeze. I let them sink in for a while until I recover.

"There's really no other explanation. He hates me. " I put out the most powerful of my arguments.

"You don't and you've always treated him bad." Ethnie reminds me.

"I did it cause he did it." Like a little kid I rush to put the blame on others.

"In other words you're telling me you have no power over your actions and you just mimic his." I can tell she's scolding me but I can hardly find the strength to reply accordingly.

"Well, I think you're lying to me and yourself. I believe you have more faith in him than you claim." I finally meet her eyes which are full of disapproval. That girl really is ruthless.

"Actually I think you have so much faith in him and you understand him so well it scares you." Something in her words rings true but again I force myself to discard it.

"But, mate, it's not gonna get any less messy if you don't decide to admit how you really see him." She advises wisely.

"And stop expecting Malfoy to do this miracle that will persuade you he's being honest. For once let him know you have faith in him without being sure he's worthy of it." But… I don't know if I can do this…I'm really not that strong willed.

"It's too hard to risk it." I whisper.

"Why so?" I gasp at this and hug my best friend tighter. And with my voice muffled from her cloak and the sobs I dare to speak again.

"Because I love him." I'm not sure if she heard me, but soon it doesn't even matter.

All I can think of is just how complicated this is and how unworthy I am of the golden and crimson crest on my chest.

I should have known when I agreed to this deal that it'd be the devil to pay.

A/N: An extra angsty chapter for you.

I must say I do enjoy pain and despair… hehe

But not as much as I enjoy your reviews.

So please don't hesitate to comment and let me know if you didn't like something or if you got bored or anything!

Love you all,

Kisses,

Sarah