A/N: Again my apologies for the late update.
I needed some time off.
I honestly wish you enjoy this chapter and you review even more than in the previous one (a girl can hope!)
I do not own Harry Potter
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Chapter 10: Daredevil
"Shit, shit, shit!" I cannot believe this. Honestly it's getting ridiculous.
Scorpius, you bastard, you never told me I would have to face all this when I agreed to become 'cool and mean'!
Oh, yeah, that's exactly what I wish I could tell him. Accompanied by the right kind of hex that is.
But I can't. Because, he is just too depressed to see me and I am in too bad a situation to look for him.
Meaning, he is moping about Rose rejecting him full force and I am running for my life.
"Albus… Where are you?" A high-pitched female voice is echoing around the hall.
Merlin I need to run. Cause if she's gonna catch me I'll be in deep trouble.
Violet Bole is not the kind of girl you'd like to have running behind you with date offers. Even more than that's she's not the kind of girl you'd want to catch you…
"What's wrong?" With the corner of my eyes I spot Ethnie leaning against a wall, like she so much likes to. Without slowing down I grab her forearm and drag her down to hell with me.
If I'm going to risk harassment I'd rather have someone who can use a wand nearby.
"Al, what the-?" Ethnie exclaims before I push her inside a broom closet and put a hand over her mouth.
I motion for her to be quiet.
"I'm being stalked." I whisper bringing my face dangerously close to her.
She easily removes my hand from her face and attempts to take a step back. The operative word being 'attempts'…
I mean, we're that close. I guess I didn't think of that when I pulled us both in here. I try to stop my heart form racing and return to 'coherent thought' land.
"Oh woosh. How old are you six? Who's stalking you anyway?" She rolls her eyes at me.
"Violet Bole." I mutter looking at my feet.
"She's like a million inches smaller than you." Ethnie puts in patting my shoulder in a way that shows pity and disbelief.
"She shouts a lot. And she wants to snog me!" I say loudly and then shut my mouth, shocked.
"Do you want to snog her?" There's something in her voice that sounds a little out of place when she asks that, but I chose to ignore it. I really shouldn't start jumping into conclusions while I'm in a broom closet with her.
"Yeah, sure. That's why I'm hiding…" I retort ironically. She let's a small smile crawl upon her face before taking her business-like look.
"Well, we can't hide here forever. Tell her 'no'." I grimace at her suggestion.
"I already rejected her but she just won't accept it." I assure trying and failing to raise my hands. Bloody broom closet.
"Aaaalbus…" I close my eyes and make a face.
"Here we go." Ethnie tries to put her hands on her hips but she ends up knocking down an old broom.
"Ow! Damn." Stupid broom. Why did it have to fall on my back like that?
"Are you in there Albus Potter?" Violet's headache-producing voice penetrates my ears. Exchanging desperate looks with Ethnie I prepare myself for the impact.
With a faint 'creack' the broom closet door opens only to reveal the blonde head of none other than Violet.
Looking down at Ethnie I catch her throwing sneaky glares at the girl. Then, as she meets my eyes we come to a silent agreement.
I raise my eyebrows suggestively and she shrugs blushing.
I ignore my stomach that's practicing its jumps; this could hardly be worse than what I've lately experienced anyway. Maybe it'll be more awkward but surely not a bigger failure than…
Ethnie's soft delicate fingers wrap around my neck sending shivers down my spine. I, taking the hint, pull her closer and moving her small body upwards with my hands clutching her shirt I land my lips on hers.
And…
Sweet Merlin!
Worse?
Not even close. Rather, I'd say every other kiss was worse than this. Every other girl, every other time…
I can barely hear Violet muttering something like 'Wow, you could have mentioned you were seeing someone Al… Ok, ok, I 'm off', which I proceed to ignore and just continue what I'm doing.
I let my hand sink in her perfect short hair and she moves even closer to me, in a mutual attempt to leave nothing unsaid.
I cannot understand how I enjoyed kissing before. My whole life feels blurry and dim until this very moment.
Scorpius might have had a point when he said girls fall for bad guys. But there is no way someone would ever be truly happy pretending. Content perhaps, or safe and relieved. Still, not happy.
A man who cannot even begin to picture the rush of feeling I am now experiencing.
When the threat of losing all control becomes apparent I pull apart in a desperate try to breath.
Yet, I don't want it, or need it. All I need is her.
And how awful of me to not have realized that till lately!
I copy the silly, sweet smile which she is trying to sweep away from her face.
"So…" I cough in embarrassment. How do I explain myself now?
"So." She adds looking down at her feet.
"There you are!" We both gasp and turn a deep crimson.
"Andy?" I cry out shocked. Who is that guy, anyway, Sherlock Holmes?
"Look, sorry to be interrupting…. your private sessions," Again both I and Ethnie gasp. "But we need to do something about those two miserable…" He moves aside to let us get out of the eventful broom closet.
"Rose and Scorpius, yeah we got it." Ethnie sends a sad look my way. Well, it can't be helped I suppose.
"So what's your plan?" I ask.
"You see, I was talking to Scorpius yesterday and…" We sigh heavily and decide we have to do something about this.
The previous day
"Impossible. Do you hear me it's-" I scream at Andy with all my might.
"…Impossible, I know." He grumbles.
"Yeah…" His fast response renders me speechless for a second. You know, just like that crazy redhead did the other day… yeah again.
"But you have to admit she wasn't mistaken to have drawn that conclusion." I send a death glare at my best friend across the Slytherin Common Room.
"Are you trying to make me hex you? Cause I swear I will." I hiss furiously. He can't seriously think I only pretended to care for her after he's seen me going through a full breakdown like this.
"Relax mate. That's not what I meant. I meant that it would make sense if you acted nice to her as part of the deal." I take a deep breath as Andy raises a calming hand my way.
"No it wouldn't! What reason had I to pretend in front of her? She knew of the deal." I retort. I'm telling you I've thought of every possible scenario.
"Good point." He agrees meekly.
"So she's just being stupid." I conclude in a grim voice.
"And she's ruining my life." As simple as that.
"Hold on Drama Queen. Don't you think that's a bit too much to charge her with?" Drama Queen? Oh, please! I was merely being angry at my life and the universe. That hardly makes me a Drama Queen…
"No! She will drive me crazy." I point at my miserable self.
About 6'3" inches of messed hair, tired muscles, pale –paler than usual- skin and black-circled eyes. Pure bliss, I tell you…let alone the awfully paired clothes.
"Not really. I mean now she's not talking to you so how is she supposed to drive you crazy?" Will puts in with his ever so logic thinking. Note the sarcasm.
Sorry, but friendliness is not my first priority at the moment.
"By not talking to me!" I cry out exasperated.
"I think I'm missing something." He mutters. I press my lips together to stop from saying something I will regret. Though times like this I honestly think Will deserves it.
"No, don't worry Will. It's not your fault. It's Scorpius that's missing stuff in this case. Like his brain for instance." Then again maybe it's Andy I should kill first. Yeah, not really possible…I could never handle this guy anyway.
"I haven't lost it Andy. I meant everything I just said." I try a little more relaxed.
"Yeah, I know. I was referring to the past six years of brainless activities." He smirks my way and I nod defeated.
"I can't really deny this, now can I?" I look away as soon as I feel my face heating up.
"But why didn't you tell me something? Just a hint would do." I exclaim. "You know 'Scorpius stop hexing that girl and just kiss her.'…something in those lines." With those words I sink lower in my seat to muse some more.
"Kiss her?" Andy laughs out, heartlessly teasing me as usual.
"Shut up." I glare at him again. Trying not to think of what it'd in fact be like to kiss Rose Weasley.
"Mate, you should just stop this now. That chick's not worth it. She's just a bookworm, I mean it's you who said so just a couple of weeks ago…" Will comments. Merlin, is he really listening to what he's saying.
"First of all I'm not stopping this. Second of all Rose's not just a chick, she's woderful. And third of all you should stop repeating whatever I say. If I jumped off a cliff would you follow? Have you no mind of your own?" There it is. I snapped. It was about time, for I've been holding back for three days now.
I look at Will's direction only to come across him staring at me disgustedly. Oh, great. I don't even know why I started hanging out with him I the first place. Andy and I were just fine on our own…
"Says the man who is claiming to like the girl he said he hated two weeks ago." Now I have to admit he is spot on about this one.
"As if Weasleys would ever allow their little princess to go out with a Slytherin. And a Malfoy at that." He spits with venom while I feel the need to raise my wand and just Avada myself.
"Personally I don't even understand why you thought this could work in the first place." Will stands up and begins leaving. I look away trying hard not to grimace in pain. Andy, for his part, is glaring at Will.
"Why do you care anyway?" He asks standing up too.
"Why don't you?" With a quick move Will twirls around and faces the brown-haired prefect. Both of them being of the same height and equally pissed off by now, they end up staring angrily at each other.
"What the hell does that mean?" Andy growls unlike himself. Because usually he is the most pleasant little Slytherin. Unless you get him mad. Then he turns into this. And if that happens…well let's just say that Will had better start praying.
"It means you obviously aren't as good a friend as you say. Hell, half of the time it seems like you actually enjoy the fact that Scorpius is ditching us to be with that dork." I narrow my eyes at this. Hah, you see that's the kind of thing Will should not have said at this situation.
"I'm not jealous of Rose, if that's what you're implying. Scorpius had been itching to talk to her freely since third-year, I wasn't going to ruin it for my own pleasure!" I manage a half-smile for my best friend. Times like that remind me why I, with my messed up antics, never stopped admiring that guy.
"Whatever." Will hisses and before I realize what's happening he pulls out his wand and fires a hex at Andy.
Shit!
Andy falls backwards clutching his stomach. I pull out my wand and prepare for battle.
"I'm off, but remember Scorpius you're just wasting your time with her. She's making you an idiot." With those departing words Will pushes the door open and disappears.
"Dude, are you ok?" I turn to my friend and offer him a hand to stand up.
"Yeah, but he's not." Andy dusts off his clothes before returning to him seat.
"What's gotten into him anyway?" I mean, I don't get it. He was fine a while ago. Sure a little annoying and stupid, yet he was not acting like a lunatic or anything.
Merlin, I cannot take more drama…
"I guess he got mad cause you were no longer interest in sneaking out and drinking with him." My best friend, who has finally recovered his old self, reasons.
"I feel used." I mutter, childishly putting a hand at the spot of my heart.
"You should. The way I see it the only reason he was friends with us was to have a good time and look cool." Sadly Andy doesn't really feel like joking so I drop the hand and nod seriously.
"Good riddance then." I wave dismissively at the door that a few seconds ago Will had shut on our faces.
"Hm..." I cock an eyebrow at my friend's reaction.
" 'Hm' what?" I inquire. He's always being suspicious like that…
"Nothing, just keep moping about Rose." He smirks and motions for me to speak like some sort of shrink.
"Well, as I was saying, this is impossible!" Frantic gestures accompany my words as I confess my despair.
Yet, from the corner of my eye I see Andy smiling encouragingly at me and take a deep breath. At least he's here to smack me in the head from time to time.
The next day
I'd rather he didn't even look at me. It'd be a million times better if he ignored, or hated me, like he ought to.
Then I wouldn't mind. I would gulp down the pain and tried to distract myself with homework and N. E. W. T. s .
But now day in, day out, I have to face him, looking hurt and offended at me. He does that dreadful thing with his mouth too. He bites his lower lip, then sighs and pushes his lips together stubbornly.
As for his eyes… yeah. Only once did I happen to look right into them, and that was –I assure you- just because, the moment I raised my head he was staring at me intently.
They were as gray as ever and yet they had burning sparks in them. I could not tell if it was anger or sadness that lightened their fires. But there is no doubt that those fires were for me.
The only thing that keeps me from weeping every time I think of what has happened is that the deal ends in three days. So all I have to do in the meantime is keep my mind off him and stop questioning whether I was right or wrong before.
Ethnie and Al insist I got it all wrong. They maintain that the fact that the deal was to make him act good and the fact that he actually became nice to me are two unrelated events.
I still refuse to believe it.
And for that I have been called a stubborn dimwit many times in the past week.
After all maybe that's exactly what I am.
Maybe this cheating thing Noah did was not as hard to swallow as I thought at first. Maybe now I see cheaters everywhere.
Nevertheless Scorpius – no, Malfoy- well… whatever… Nevertheless he still looks after me. Even though I tried going to bed really, really early I always found him sleeping in my couch, his dorm's door open for me.
Thankfully McGonagall will be back soon and I'll have my dorm unlocked with her spare key. And after that…
"Hey Weasley!" I stop walking slowly, still uncertain if someone spoke to me or not.
"Yeah, you." The same male voice barks at me.
What did I do now?
Turning around I come to face a dark-haired Slytherin almost twice my height and size. Oh, great! Denvers…
As if I didn't think of that blonde enough, his friend had to go and bump into me all of a sudden!
"Yes?" I cock an eyebrow. For some reason or another I never really liked that guy. Goyle is decent, I agree to that. Actually in some ways he's even more level-headed than Scorpius himself. William Denvers on the other hand…
"I need a word." He says through gritted teeth.
"Make it quick." I mutter. I don't even wonder what this is all about.
"You don't get to decide about it." He hisses in all his slimy Slytherin glory.
"Excuse me?" He has got to be kidding me!
"Well, here's the thing," I back out on the nearest wall as he moves quickly towards me. "I want you to stay away from my friends."
I blink, once, twice, three times… What the-?
"Scorpius?" I ask with wide eyes.
"Yeah." He nods blatantly. "He doesn't need stuck-up bitches like you to boss him around." Stuck-up… Boss him around… Is this some sort of joke?
"Look here, mate," I growl at him fearlessly and put my hand in my pocket in search of my wand. I open my mouth to charge him with a week's detentions for calling the Head-Girl a bitch, when, to my great astonishment and –what the hell?- dismay I realize I don't have my wand with me. Brilliant, Rose!
It seems that, rushing to grab that Potions book from the library, I left it in the Heads' Common Room. And it also seems I am in trouble.
"No, you look," He cuts me off effortlessly. "Nobody asked you to go and make him the pitiful, boring sod of your fucking dreams! Got it? He was better off without you." I almost choke from distress, me back hitting the stone wall repeatedly.
"But-but..." I stammer. "I stopped hanging out with him." I mumble, feeling just a little more scared than I'd care to admit.
Having that huge, furious, guy towering over me looking like a lunatic isn't exactly helping. If you get my drift.
"Oh, I must admit you that was well played on your part." I narrow my eyebrows at his response.
"Meaning?" I spit out at his face, despite my better judgment.
"Meaning you knew well that you could never make him yours if you just agreed to snog him at once. So you played hard-to-get. And it worked well for you. That idiot is one step from begging you to come back." With a killing glare he pushes me harder towards the wall. Instinctively I try to free myself and escape.
I manage a blow in his shoulder to which he doesn't even flinch. Shit! I must go. Wandless like that I'm the easiest target possible.
I move sideways to skip from my right.
Not a chance.
He throws a huge hand right next to my head and blocks my way. Then he uses his other hand to grab my left wrist and clutch it with his fingers.
I make a failed attempt to keep my mouth shut and not cry in pain.
"Ah…" No use.
"I'll say this only once." He lowers his voice eerily. "Stop your little 'come and get me' games. If you meddle with Scorpius again I'll personally make sure you regret it."
"Release my hand." I adopt a tone as dangerous as his. He just dismisses my words.
"You know what Denvers?" I put on a smirk and look up from my swelling wrist.
"You're lucky I don't have a wand with me." I straighten up as much as my position allows me.
"If I did you'd be dead by now." An deadly laugh escapes my lips.
"If you plan on doing something worse, then do it now. Cause as soon as I'm out of here, you will need to run real fast." He should not have gone that far with this. Now he'll pay for this.
"Let go of me!" I order him.
Let go…
A very painful memory returns to me with those words.
Suddenly I remember how I said the exact same words to Scorpius a week ago.
And yet he had not been violent. He hadn't lied or hurt me on purpose.
He had just been holding the same hand Denvers is now twisting, tentatively, as if he cared. Not like he wished to kill me.
And he did let go when I asked him. He'd do whatever I asked for. It now dawns on me. Even if it were against his own will.
Even if he didn't want to let go of me…
Will Denvers takes a step back, shocked but doesn't let go of my hand. He just presses it, harder and harder, literally crushing my bones. I feel tears welling up my eyes from pain and fear.
"I don't think you know your place Weasley." He shouts and I jump up. I sense my body shaking and I look around for help.
Damn it, how did I end up in this deserted corridor?
"Your place," I gasp as a great force throws me to the floor. Not expecting this outburst I don't even manage to react. I fall down with a 'thud' as he finally let's go of my hand.
"Is right there." He points at the floor with disgust. Then he turns around and leaves as if nothing happened.
For a second I consider going after him right now. However acknowledging the bruises in my arm and legs as well as my lack of wand I decide otherwise.
"Just you wait Denvers. When I get my wand you –agh- won't know what hit you." I say whilst trying to stand up. After losing my balance a couple of times I finally make it. Brushing the dirt off my skirt and shirt I begin plotting my revenge.
No one has the right to act that way. I might look like defenseless kid but I am far from it. I didn't get an Outstanding in DADA for nothing.
I start walking slowly towards the portrait with the two battling knights to get my wand.
"Rose! Oh, Merlin, we were looking all over the place for you." I curse inwards for the interruption of my plans and lower my sleeve so as to conceal the purple handprints. I'd rather not make anyone worried over me. At least not until I give that little daredevil exactly what he needs.
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