"I wanna go too!" the whining had been going on for ages and Scorp had an unpleasant feeling that not only was this not the first time he had heard this it would not be the last. "Well you can't!" he snapped, "Because you're just first years!"
Lily's eyes filled with tears and Hugo glared at him. Lorcan and Lystander just looked stunned and Cassidy? Well she just kept on reading, not getting involved in what she saw was a fight between four children and a baby.
Scorp sighed, trying to remember how he ended up as baby sitter. He was sure Rose, Al and Evanna had said that they would only be gone for a minute but there he sat, half an hour later and still no sign of them. And the brats were getting annoying.
He wasn't sure what the fuss was about. They had been to Hogsmeade before, it wasn't a big deal. But the girls had insisted that they should get dressed up. He, of course, had refused and told them that they could do whatever they wanted but they weren't touching him. He wasn't sure where Al was, it wasn't like he was going to get dressed up. Al hated formal occasions, purely because of getting dressed up.
Cassidy came up beside him, "Why don't you just Gaze and see where they are?"
"I promised I'd stop Gazing at them, unless it was an emergency. Something stupid about privacy…"
The portrait swung to the side and the trio walked out of the common room. Scorp had to catch his breath. The girls looked… amazing didn't some it up, nor did beautiful. Evanna was wearing a simple yellow sundress with sandals, a yellow headband pulling her hair back and a shinning silver sun hung from her neck. Rose had gone virtually the same but with green, and leaf necklace.
"Bout time," he grumbled. "Where were you Al?"
"Working on Charlie's report," Al said quickly… too quickly. Scorp got the feeling his friend was up to something. But he never got to ask since the brats immediately jumped up and started begging to be taken to Hogsmeade too.
"No," said Rose firmly, "You have to be a third year. Those are the rules and no exceptions." She said it without the slightest guilt.
They groaned as Rose ferried them back into the common room. She turned and smiled at Scorp.
"You weren't too bored were you?"
"Huh? Oh umm no, it was fine…" he couldn't stop staring. Rose had gone from his tomboyish mate to a woman and he hadn't even noticed.
"So what needs to be done?" asked Al, always the planner.
"I need some butterbeer," said Evanna wistfully, "And a new quill. Mother said that they may have some Bliopy feathers in." No one asked for an elaboration.
"I'm going to see Dennis. He said he had an opportunity for me," said Rose.
"I'll go with her," said Scorp, "I'm interested to see if the famous Dennis actually exists." Rose flushed, "Of course he exists. And he's awesome, so shut your trap."
"If you two are going to fight again we won't get there in time so can you fight in the carriage?" said Al irritated.
They nodded so Al took the lead walking down to where Professor Longbottom was collecting the permission slips from students. They joined the end of the queue and waiting while each person moved in front of them off to the awaiting carriages. Finally they got to the front.
"Hey there 'Vanny. Excited for your first Hogsmeade trip?" bubbled Neville.
Evanna grimace, "Dad, I told you to stop calling me that."
"Yes, yes of course. Sorry. Now let's see. Yep, one permission slip signed by your beautiful mother. And who else have we got?" Rose held out her slip. "Yes. One slip signed by Ronald. I'm surprised he remembered… oh well I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Next?" Al handed him his slip, "Yes, signed by Ginny, check and now Mr Bloom," Scorp grinned at his favourite teacher and handed in his slip. "Signed by our wonderful Headmistress, more than okay. Well have fun kids. Don't get in trouble!" He waved them off cheerfully while Evanna's face gained a beautiful blood red colour.
Scorp gave Evanna a playful push. "He's not that bad."
"He's not your dad," she retorted as she climbed into the carriage. Rose and Al followed her while Scorp held back for a moment. He glanced at the front and sighed. The skeleton horses were still there. He had ridden them before, in his first year coming back from Christmas break and he had not seen them. But that was before… well before a lot of things and when he had returned to Hogwarts he had started to see them. It drove him insane to be seeing something others couldn't. A year on it wasn't any easier.
"Hey Scorp? What's wrong? What are you looking at?" Rose still didn't know he could see them. She thought he hadn't seen Zane die, he had told her that he hadn't so she wouldn't worry.
Al gave him a sympathetic look. "Scorp was probably just lost in thought. Come on dreamer, get in." Scorp smiled at his saviour and hauled himself into the carriage sitting next to Evanna.
Scorp couldn't help but grin. It was a beautiful spring day, he was with his best friends, going to Hogsmeade legally for the first time. What was there not to smile about? He'd soon find out.
-ooo000ooo-
"Creevy Publishing House," Scorp read loud. "We're here why?"
"Dennis floo calls me every so often when an opportunity arises. Like a column in a newspaper, or an editor who is looking for a new find."
"How come you never told me that you're a writer?"
"Because I'm not," she snapped, "Not yet anyway. Not until Dennis finds me someone willing to take me on." She pushed the door open and walked straight to the stairs.
"Can we take the elevator?" Scorp whined.
"Not fast enough!" she yelled back. She rounded the corner and Scorp lost sight of her. Sighing he ran after her narrowly avoiding the many people carrying stacks of paper. He was surprised to see it was in fact paper. Printed-paper, from computers, most British wizards used parchment. He knew that the Americans had adjusted some computers to resist magical interference but he didn't know that it had spread to Britain. He quickly dashed up the stairs chasing after Rose. Thankfully the building was only three stories and he saw a flash of yellow on the second level going up. He slowed as he reached the third floor.
"Thankyou Dennis! Thankyou! Thankyou!" Rose had her arm around a tall man who was grinning and hugging her back. Scorp felt a flare of something but pushed it away thinking it was hunger.
Rose turned to him, "Scorp! He did it! He's found someone to publish me!"
He grinned, "I can see that." He stepped towards Dennis and held out his hand. "Hello, I'm Scorp-"
"Scorp Bloom, previously Scorp Nom and Scorpius Malfoy. The disinherited son of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. Adopted by Charlotte Bloom a week ago." Dennis smiled. "I was a reporter for ten years before I started this joint. I have access to a lot of resources and it pays to keep tabs on the new man in Rosie's life."
Scorp's eyes were so big you could have served a steak up on them.
Dennis laughed, "Don't look so scared. Come on and sit down, I'll tell you about this man."
They walked over to Dennis's table and sat down. Dennis clasped his hands together and stared at Rose intently.
"You're not going to like this. Either of you."
"Just spit it out," Rose said eagerly.
Dennis shifted worriedly in his seat. "Look, I want you to know that despite who the person is this is a great opportunity for you."
Rose was getting wary, "Just tell me."
"Draco Malfoy," muttered Dennis.
"WHAT!" scream Rose, slamming her hands on hands the table and jumping up.
"Look, Rosie. It doesn't matter who. It matter that someone is taking you up. Your work is great but no one wants to take on a rookie still in school." He reached into his drawer and pulled out a large brown package. "This is the contact he sent. Get your mother to look through it for you."
"Merlin no!" screeched Rose, "I'm not even going to touch that thing. Come on Scorp we have to meet Al and Vanna at the Three Broomsticks." She got up and left, not waiting for his reply.
Dennis sighed, "I wish she'd give it more thought. Malfoy's a git but this could be great for her."
Scorp nodded understandingly. He picked up the contract and stood up. "I'll talk to her. Make her see sense."
Dennis smiled, "Thanks Scorp. I know he's probably doing this to irk you but still…"
"Yeah I get it. See you." He turned, placed the contract in his bag and ran after Rose. She was waiting for him outside the building.
"What took you so long?"
"Had to tie my laces," he lied.
She nodded and started to walk off. They walked in silence for a while until she couldn't take it anymore.
"What an asshole! He's trying to make you suffer. You! The son he abandoned! Hasn't he done enough? Argh, if I ever get my hands on that man…"
Scorp chuckled, "Thanks for caring Rosie but it really doesn't matter. Nothing he does surprises me anymore. But… you should sign the contract. It's not going to bother me and it's a good move for you."
She groaned, "There you go again being all noble. Maybe it would bother me, did you think of that?"
"Now who's being noble?"
Thankfully their argument was brought to an end by the arrival at the Three Broomsticks. Scorp pushed the door open and his eyes, magically, went straight to the counter and the most horrible, disturbing thing he had ever seen. And he's seen Rose sing in the shower. Charlotte Bloom holding hands with none other than Charlie freackin' Weasley.
A gagging motion shot through his throat. A giggle snapped him out of the daze. He whipped his head around to see Al and Evanna sitting at a table laughing their heads off. "They've been there like that for about an hour. You're lucky you walked in now, they were snogging five minutes ago." Chuckled Al.
He sat down, "No. No! We are not talking about this! Those two over there do not exist."
He held up his hand and waved to Mary the barmaid. She smiled at him.
"What can I getcha my hero Scorpio?"
He winced, "Stop calling me that."
She ruffled his hair, "Well you pulled me out of a burning building then spent countless weekends helping us build this place back up. I count that as a hero. And why else would we give you free drinks every time you come in here?"
"Because of my amazing charm?"
"Good try but no. Now what can I getcha?"
"A butterbeer please."
Mary turned to Rose, "And you?"
"Same thanks."
Scorp rested his forehead against the table and groaned, "I never get a break."
Evanna nudged him in the ribs, "Hey, be happy for your mum."
"How can I be happy for her if she's dating Satan?"
"Hey that's my uncle you know," snapped Rose.
"Yeah and your uncle is Satan."
"Actually I do believe that Satan is supposed to be a big red demon who tortures evil souls in the under world. Now Charlie may have red hair but there is no way that he could be Satan since he doesn't have the mark of the beast-"
"SHUT UP AL!" Sometimes Scorp and Rose did agree. But not often.
A/N: Ok I know a lot of you will have objections to Charlotte dating Charlie and I have a completely selfish reason for it. The real world Charlotte was annoying me and this was the only way I could get back at her apart from killing Charlotte Bloom. I thought you all would appreciate that a lot less. As for Rose being a write I have two reasons. One, she needed some more character development since I've focused on Al, Evanna and Charlotte in the last few chapters. And two, I need to relate to characters a lot of the time to write them with out losing it. This was the only way I could think of.
For today's review ploy lets try compassion. I just had my last NAPLAN test today and I also have two assignment due next week. So boost my spirits, review and get the nice warm feeling in your belly you get when you do something nice for someone.