"What...what happened to your hair?" He stammered, feeling his face burn. Rose pretended not to hear him as several of the Beauxbatons students turned curiously to her.
Then, when their attentions had been diverted, she whispered "It's only magic."
He eyed her brown tresses with apprehension and slight distaste. "I like your old hair."
"Really, Scorpius?" Her tone suddenly grew dark. "I remember only last term you asking me who'd squashed a tomato on my head? Oh, and didn't you also once chuck a bucket of water over my head because you said my hair was on fire?"
His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. "Well...I...it was only a joke..." he spluttered.
"Yeah, it was hilarious, Malfoy." He noted the use of his surname, and it stung. "Why do you care, anyway? You've always taken such pride in giving me crappy insults."
Before Scorpius could answer, someone interrupted him. "Mr Malfoy, sir, there's a letter for you!"
"Oh, piss – I mean, hello, Timmy!" Scorpius gave a half-smile that was definitely more of a grimace. The little Slytherin was nearly shoving an envelope up his nose. "Thanks. Oh, look, your friend wants you!" He gestured randomly over at the Hufflepuff table, and Timmy scarpered. "Twat."
"I forgot how much of a cruel bastard you are to him." Rose's voice was full of venom. "The poor kid does everything for you."
"And in turn, I make sure he doesn't end up exactly where he belongs – in the trash." Scorpius drawled, tearing apart the envelope. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if this were a picture of his penis."
As Rose opened her mouth to respond, Lorcan cast her a curious glance and she hastily turned away, calling out to one of the few Beauxbatons girls she recognised. "Helene? Pouvez-vous me passer la bouillabaisse, s'il vous plait?"
Helene looked at her as if wondering who she was, but shrugged and passed her the platter all the same. As Rose looked down into the bits of meat floating in some strange sauce, she realised she probably should have asked for 'le poulet'.
"Since when have you spoken French?" Scorpius asked, incredulous.
"Since I spent the last two months around French people!" She hissed, glancing up to check that Lorcan wasn't looking at her. Fortunately, his attention had been claimed by the girl next to him.
"Are you going in for the Triwizard Tournament?"
"We don't have a choice." She replied, her tone suddenly turning dead. "Madame Maxime is forcing us to enter. I think she's still annoyed about the last time, and wants to make sure she sees a Beauxbatons winner."
"Well, she may not be in luck. History will probably repeat itself if Albus Potter gets put in. Prat. He thinks he lords over the school just because he's Harry Potter's son. If I were a part of that family, I'd-" he stopped, but realised he'd gone too far.
Rose's eyebrows were pulled together, her mouth hanging slightly open. She let out what sounded like a small laugh. "You haven't changed one bit, have you? And don't take that as a compliment."
Scorpius made a few incoherent noises, sounding a little like a mouse being trodden on. Rose ignore him completely, turning back to the bouillabaisse and seeming not to notice as she piled heaps of it on her plate.
The feast seemed to last for centuries. She didn't touch her food, her stomach churning too much for her to swallow anything. To think, all this time, she'd festered a tiny crush for him inside her...but now, he'd proved her father's warnings right!
On his part, Scorpius was having just as hard a time keeping his emotions on track. Did she realise how hard it was for him to like a blood-traitor?
As Professor Kopf rose to his feet, Rose was relieved for a distraction from the bile she could feel boiling in her insides. "Welcome, honoured guests, to Hogwarts! Two times we have tried to reinstate the Triwizard Tournament, and two times we have failed. But now, let this year be the year!"
A smattering of applause met this statement. A few Durmstrang students let out loud cheers, evidently too thick to comprehend the dangers of the Tournament.
"It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you, wizarding schools of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to our school! And now, because I'm sure you have things you'd rather do than listen to an old man wheeze on, I have one last announcement! However, I am not the one to make it!"
"Your safety is of the greatest concern to us." The Hogwarts students gasped as they realised it was Professor Lycon speaking. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang pupils noticed this reaction and stared at the man in trepidation. "Though you shall be risking your lives in this, we expect the students selected to possess a clever enough mind to not accidentally get themselves blown up."
From anyone else, this statement would have produced a terrified outburst, but no one dared make a sound as an overwhelming sense of power radiated from the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Obviously, there are three champions. I would have expected even the dumbest of you to have made the connection between Tri and three. The selected Champion from each school shall face three tasks, each designed to test the champion in different ways. It shall take more than bravery to win this competition, mark my words." And with that, he stepped back and resumed his seat in a swirl of black.
"The champion of each school shall be picked by an impartial judge, as it has before." Professor Kopf's voice sent a wave of calmness back over the Hall. "Mr Filch, would you please bring the judge forward?"
Many people turned (the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students doing so a little late, as they hadn't immediately understood what had been said) to see the caretaker hobbling towards the Headmaster. However, he wasn't leading a person. He was carrying a heavy casket that he appeared to be struggling enormously with. A small chuckle disturbed the silence.
"Thank you, Mr Filch." Professor Kopf said, laying the case on the floor. The caretaker made a strange noise that sounded disturbingly like 'meow' and scurried away to the suppressed laughter of many students. "And now, let me present the impartial judge – the Goblet of Fire!"
He pulled out a large cup from the depths of the chest. Several people near the front shielded their eyes from the blinding blue flames that spewed from the top. A murmur of surprise and awe tingled on the air.
"Champions wishing to enter merely place their name in the Goblet and, assuming they are of age, shall be taken as a nomination. Each school may only have one champion, and you can only submit your name once! I advice no one underage to try and cross."
No one needed telling. All of the pupils below seventeen were already looking terrified at the very prospect of being entered in the Tournament. It was clear to those old enough to compete that the stakes were high. Only a few really wanted to be entered. But who would triumph?
Across the hall, Albus Potter looked up to see Scorpius giving him a scathing glare. He merely smiled and turned back to his sister.
"Shall we go, Rose?"
Scorpius spun round and saw Rose getting to her feet, a boy dressed in silk robes helping her. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Since when is your name Rose?"
"Er...it's not. I wasn't...nothing." He looked down as he saw the mystery boy take hold of her hand and led her out the Great Hall.
As the students surged like a tidal wave into the Entrance Hall the following morning, they were stunned to a halt by the sight of the great Goblet dominating the room. As they watched in silent awe, the Durmstrang students marched through the front doors and, one by one, all dropped their names into the flames. To the curious eyes of the Hogwarts pupils, they noticed each one hesitate slightly before drawing near to the Goblet.
Next, it was the turn of Beauxbatons. With almost inhuman grace, each one glided forward and had their sheets of parchment engulfed by the fire. No one noticed the old Hogwarts student amongst their ranks.
Finally, it was the turn of Hogwarts. From the spectators, a handful of students broke free. Gradually, more followed their lead. Great cheers rose up as the favourites entered their names with ease, whatever charm had been placed on the Goblet not threatening them. Last to add their entry was Scorpius. He swaggered towards the Goblet of Fire, holding his parchment tauntingly. Several Gryffindors muttered under their breath that they hoped it didn't take it.
There was a second's stillness after he released the parchment. Then, a stampede broke out from the Slytherins. He was bombarded with hugs and shouts as they relished in their hopeful champion.
From a corner of the hall, Rose Weasley watched him in disgust.