A/N: Oh Reviewers, you are just so lovely! I just couldn't wait anymore, here is a lovely chapter for you all :) A teensy bit longer than normal too! All for you guys :) Thanks for making me smile.
Onwards!
CHAPTER 14
"I don't care what you say Rose. I swear Sacharissa Tugwood was the inventor of the Pepper-Up Potion."
"No Al, I told you it was Glover Hipworth. Sacharissa Tugwood invented beauty potions. She also discovered the use for Bubotuber pus. You should have known that one!"
"Well there goes my Outstanding in Potions," Albus groaned at his cousin.
"So you got one wrong. Big deal! I bet you answered the rest correctly! I mean you had Scorpius and me tutoring you since Christmas!"
Albus ignored his cousin, letting his forehead fall onto the surface of the table beside his mashed potatoes and gravy.
"Why so glum Potter?" Scorpius asked with a grin, "Spelled your name wrong on the exam again?"
"That was one time Scorpius! You know how tired I was, the History of Magic exam just wasn't worth my effort," Albus protested with his excuse.
"He's still docking you a mark. And he's a ghost," Scorpius teased his friend, ruffling the black locks on his head. "Besides we all know you got an Outstanding on that one, just like the two of us. We had you listing off every detail of the Great Goblin War by memory before you went in. What's one mark?"
"Behave boys," Rose chastised.
"Yes mum," they replied in unison.
A pregnant moment seemed to pass before the trio burst out with long held in laughter. The relief of OWLs being completed mixed with the fact that they were finally NEWT students and it was now summer time gave them a sense of euphoria.
Just the day before they had had their final meetings with Professor Duke who had instructed them on exactly which classes they should or shouldn't continue with, and advised them on their career choices.
Rose found that her meeting had been quite informative and successful in helping her finalize her visions about her future. She was stuck between being an Auror or an Arithmancer. Both were very important jobs; one required field and desk work, the other involved working almost as a philosopher, only dealing with numbers.
Albus was hell-bent on Quidditch, although Professor Duke was adamant in convincing Albus that he needed to have a back-up plan in case he wasn't drafted. Albus had simply scoffed, but read through the offered pamphlets on curse-breaking, the Ministry of Magic departments and Obliviators, the latter seemed to grasp his interest the most.
Scorpius, on the other hand, had made up his mind. After having chatted with Rose's aunt Angelina over Christmas, he had decided being an Unspeakable was the job for him. He assured Professor Duke that he honestly wanted no other job, but filled out Auror applications as back-up.
All of them would continue on with all of their core subjects at NEWT level, as well as continuing with Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. It would only be Scorpius and Rose who took the NEWT Arithmancy though.
The three did everything together lately, not daring to leave either alone in case something else was to happen. Rose was even sent to the washroom with another female friend so the boys could "keep watch" as they so kindly put it.
There was still a week before the train ride home, the last days being allotted for the Graduation Ceremony of the older students, and for final goodbyes. James, Lucy and Fred would graduate this year. Rose knew the school wouldn't be the same with that troublesome group of cousins, and she was sad to see them go.
James had already been accepted into the Auror program, his father had never been prouder. James' training started in two weeks. Naturally, Fred planned to work with his father in the shop for several years to gain experience, as Uncle George was planning to have him run the branch in Hogsmeade. Lucy had received an internship with the Daily Prophet and would be shadowing several writers over the summer.
"Scorpius?"
"Yeah Rose?"
"After Hogwarts, even if we were to ever break up, or if we were to stay together, can you promise that we'll keep in touch?"
Rose had been having a nostalgic moment, thinking of the fact that in two years they would be putting this place behind them. Hogwarts would be a part of their past, filled with their fondest memories.
"Of course Rose!" he grasped her hand in his, "Don't go getting all upset on me now. We still have two years left to terrorize this school! You, Albus and Dominique will be the oldest Weasley/Potters in the school then! You've got to show everyone who is boss! Not to mention, live up to the legacy those three are leaving behind. You've got big shoes to fill!"
Rose giggled and hugged her friend, pulling Albus into their hug. "Good," she said with finalization.
Wiping a fake tear (or a real tear, who would know?) from her eyes, she hauled the boys from up from the bench in the Great Hall.
"Where are we going?" Albus complained as he tried grabbing one more roll to shove in his mouth, "I ha-vphhent funnushedd eatun yepht!"
Rose just laughed at her cousin's complaints. "We have work to do! I mean I need to research more on being an Arithmancer. Albus, you need to start making decisions on your back-up job. And Scorpius, well you can research more into being an Unspeakable. I bet there are some books in the library…"
"NOO!" both boys called out in protest, attempting to run from the devious girl who had their arms in a death grip. "Rose we don't want to study." Albus hissed the last word as if it were vile. "Let's go play some Quidditch!"
"Oh alright, but tomorrow you boys are going to the library, no complaints!"
Scorpius and Albus hung their heads in shame for a moment before simultaneously dragging Rose in the direction of the Quidditch Pitch.
…
Rose bounced in her chair. This was her usual morning routine for the last week and a half. Almost on cue, a screech of an owl could be heard. Rose bolted for the window, opening it as wide as possible and waited for the owl to arrive. It wasn't a school owl, and this instantly saddened the girl.
"Just the post mum…" she said disinterestedly, a frown on her lips.
"Don't worry Rose. We didn't get our results until mid-July. You might have a few days to go yet," Hermione smiled at her daughter.
"But I think I did positively dreadful on my Charms theory essay. I feel like I missed a few points when I described the exact effects of a cushioning charm. And then there was that question on pin cushions in Transfiguration…and then there was the differences between a Sleeping Potion and the Draught of Living Death. I just know I messed that one up, I can feel it."
"Rose dear, calm down, or I'll have to administer a Calming Draught…" Hermione continued to smile at her frazzled daughter, remembering her exact reaction almost thirty years ago now. Hermione sighed, that had been one of her worst years at Hogwarts that she could remember. Ron having been involved with Lavender; Harry involving himself with Ginny. She had been left alone a lot that year, having only her letters to Viktor Krum to satiate her loneliness. "I hope Albus gets Quidditch Captain. I'd feel dreadful if he didn't. The only rival he has is Scorpius."
"Oh, he'll get it," Rose said with a grin, "I was talking with Uncle Harry, and he got Professor Longbottom to let it slip one day." Rose grinned devilishly at her mother, "Uncle Harry is having a hard time keeping it a secret from everyone. Only reason I know is because they didn't know I was hiding from Albus and Scorpius in the closet of the drawing room."
"You are so much like your father," Hermione said with a smile, before muttering something about Polyjuice Potion and floating cupcakes with a small shake of her head. Confused, Rose let her mother fawn over her memories before running upstairs.
Even though it was only July, she already had Scorpius' birthday present bought. To anyone it would look simply like a regular memory box. But to the beholder it was something more. When Rose had purchased it, it only needed one spell to open, but she didn't find that secure enough.
So with the simple addition of an undetectable expansion charm, a few organizational spells, a tampering hex, and several other protective spells, the box was ready. Now only she (as she knew the spells) and Scorpius could open the box, and he could put anything he wanted kept secret inside. This would come in handy if he did ever become an unspeakable.
Rose would get Albus' gift over Christmas or Easter break.
Every morning following Rose would be waiting in the same fashion, and Hermione would chastise her daughter for her lack of patience.
Finally Rose's waiting paid off. The following Monday morning a school screech owl was hurtling towards their window along with their regular owl.
"IT'S HERE!" Rose screeched. She had her arms out the window, ready to rip the scrap of paper off of the owl's leg.
When the letter was finally in her possession, she hesitated.
"Well, open it already!" Hermione snapped at her daughter, although a smile was on her face.
Rose grinned in anticipation and ripped the wax Hogwarts seal open and pulled the letter out.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
PASS GRADES:
OUTSTANDING (O)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E)
ACCEPTABLE (A)
FAIL GRADES:
POOR (P)
DREADFUL (D)
TROLL (T)
ROSE CHARITY WEASLEY HAS ACHIEVED:
ANCIENT RUNES: O
ARITHMANCY: O
ASTRONOMY: O
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES: O
CHARMS: O
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS: O
HERBOLOGY: O
HISTORY OF MAGIC: O
POTIONS: O
TRANSFIGURATION: O
Rose's smile grew larger with every grade she read.
"How'd you do Rosie?" her father asked as he slid into the kitchen beside his wife. Rose simply handed her father her transcript, unable to wipe the smile from her face. "Well Hermione, looks like someone's finally beaten your record. Ten OWLs, all Outstandings!"
Hermione gasped in shock and disbelief, reaching for her daughter's transcripts, "Let me see!" she cried.
"How were your results mum?" Rose asked her mother out of curiosity.
"Well I personally got seven, and I was proud of that. Your mother got ten as well – "
"Yeah, but only Exceeds Expectations on Defence Against the Dark Arts. I knew I had done just dreadful in that practical…"
Rose smiled at her mother, "Now I just have to beat your NEWTs."
Hermione frowned at her daughter, but there was pride in her eyes. "You'd think they would save on owls and just send your Hogwarts letters along with the results." The woman shook her head, "Poor birds have to make the trip twice."
Rose simply rolled her eyes at her mother. Leave it to the woman who was once head of the Magical Creature Welfare division in the Ministry.
The owl was currently perched on the back of what had previously been her mother's chair at the kitchen table, a scrap of toast in its beak.
"Well I better owl Albus and Scorpius, see how they did!" Rose rushed to her room and proceeded to furiously scribble two notes, one to her best friend, the other to her boyfriend. In both she refused to reveal her marks, not wanting to brag straight away to avoid seeming stuck up about her grades.
It didn't take long for a response from either, but rather than them telling her their grades, they agreed to meet at the Potter residence that afternoon to compare them and then play some Quidditch.
After lunch, Rose practically threw herself into her fireplace without any hesitation and Flooed to the Potter's home.
"Rose dear!" her Aunt Ginny cried in surprise as Rose stumbled into their living room, she calmed almost immediately though and then pointed upstairs, "They're up in Albus' room."
"Thanks Aunt Ginny!" she cried, before running up the stairs, pushing past a confused James, who smiled at the sight of his cousin in such a fluster, she had to wiggle her way past Lily on the stairs who was crying out dramatically about no one ever caring about her, and how her life was so over. Rose knew what Lily was doing. James was off to his first day of real training today, so his father was giving him a lot of attention. James had been subjected to test after test, checking every one of his strengths and weaknesses and now he would begin his tactical training.
Albus, on the other hand, had received his OWL grades, so his mother was paying particular attention to the boy, and was clearly making his favorite meal for dinner considering the delicious scent of roast chicken in the air.
Lily felt like she was being ignored, which she absolutely abhorred. Lily loved attention, and when she wasn't getting it, she had to find other ways to get it; even if that meant wailing like a first year and getting in everyone's way.
Rose knocked on Albus' door before bursting in. "Hi boys!" she said with a grin on her face. "Swap?"
Albus and Scorpius didn't need her to explain, they understood. Rose grasped Albus' grades in her hand, and read them over with a smile.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
PASS GRADES:
OUTSTANDING (O)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E)
ACCEPTABLE (A)
FAIL GRADES:
POOR (P)
DREADFUL (D)
TROLL (T)
ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER HAS ACHIEVED:
ANCIENT RUNES: O
ASTRONOMY: E
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES: O
CHARMS: O
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS: O
HERBOLOGY: O
HISTORY OF MAGIC: E
POTIONS: E
TRANSFIGURATION: O
"Not bad Al!" Rose clapped him on the back. "Nine OWLs, and six were Outstandings!"
"Just wait til you see Scorpius'," he grumbled before taking his back, and reaching for Rose's from Scorpius, and then proceeding to hand Scorpius' over.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
PASS GRADES:
OUTSTANDING (O)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E)
ACCEPTABLE (A)
FAIL GRADES:
POOR (P)
DREADFUL (D)
TROLL (T)
SCORPIUS HYPERION MALFOY HAS ACHIEVED:
ANCIENT RUNES: O
ARITHMANCY: O
ASTRONOMY: E
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES: O
CHARMS: O
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS: O
HERBOLOGY: O
HISTORY OF MAGIC: O
POTIONS: O
TRANSFIGURATION: O
Rose beamed. She had beat him, by one Outstanding.
"Yeah yeah, rub it in now Rosie," Scorpius grumbled, but he was smiling nonetheless.
Rose just smiled wider, "Hey, I only beat you by one. Not like there's anything to rub in. Besides, my mum 'the smartest witch her age' only had nine of her ten owls as Outstandings. She only got Exceeds Expectations in Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Seriously?" Albus asked, "Auntie Hermione didn't get an Outstanding in DADA? My dad did!"
"Really?" Rose asked, curious now.
"Yeah! Even got bonus marks because he could produce a corporeal patronus. He's been teaching me, you know!"
Rose looked at him incredulously, but then it turned to a look that was a mixture of sadness and jealousy. "Why hasn't he been teaching me? My examiner asked me to try, and all I got were wisps of silver smoke. I made a complete fool of myself, I'm amazed I even passed!"
Albus looked at her, guilt clear on his face, "I'm sorry Rose, I never thought – "
But Rose interrupted him. "No, don't worry about it Albus. Look, I better go. I'm only halfway through the last bit of homework. Bye. Bye Scorpius," she gave him a peck on the cheek before leaving Albus' room.
"Shit." Albus was tugging on his hair with his hands, "I messed up that time, didn't I?"
Scorpius only nodded, wondering if he should follow Rose. But he knew her too well, and realized she'd be better off blowing off some steam. She'll probably ask her mother to teach her how to do a patronus now.
"So, can you do it?"
"Do what?" Albus looked at him in confusion, having already forgotten the topic.
Scorpius rolled his eyes, "A corporeal patronus?"
Albus grinned and nodded. "It took a long time. Nearly all of Christmas and Easter break of last year. But I finally got it just before exams. That's how I got my Outstanding," Albus winked at his friend, who smacked him subsequently on the back of the head.
"Well," Scorpius prompted.
"Well what?" Albus' confusion was back.
"Show me you dolt!" he said with another smack.
"I can't! It's summer holidays; I'm not doing magic outside school!" Albus looked at his friend in shock.
"Albus, your parents are in the home. The trace only detects magic near an underage witch or wizard. They're not going to suspect anything from the son of Harry Potter," Scorpius said, his teeth gritting on the last sentence.
Albus looked at his friend in concern, "Oh, alright!" Albus stood up and grabbed his wand off of his nightstand. He stood still for a moment before swishing his wand in a jerky motion and saying, clearly, the incantation Expecto Patronum.
A silvery mist began to swirl from the tip of his wand before forming the solid form of a snake, long and slithering; it reared its head back, hissing at Scorpius as if he were a threat. The cobra was large and made Scorpius jump back a little.
"Awesome!" the blonde congratulated his friend, "So…what's your memory?"
Albus knitted his brows together.
"You dolt, your happiest memory! For the spell?"
Albus nodded, and then he smiled. "After the battle last summer. When I held Rose in my arms and dad was telling me she wasn't dead. That she was alive. I don't think I could have been happier than that moment. If she had been dead…" Albus left his sentence hanging, both not knowing what would have happened if Rose had not survived that curse.
Scorpius sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating what type of memory he could use for his own Patronus. There were many happy memories, sure. But the spell called for something great, something no other memory could compete with. He thought back to making the Quidditch team, but his heart told him it wasn't strong enough. Then there was when his father announced they would be travelling to Romania for the holiday, but that only made him think about his grandfather. Scorpius shuddered involuntarily. So many times Rose and Albus could have been killed, and it was all his fault. Romania, Diagon Alley, even in the school. They were in danger because of him, and he felt powerless because of it.
"Having trouble mate? You look like you're constipated," Albus squinted at him, only to let out a bark of laughter as he couldn't keep a straight face.
"I just cannot come up with a happy enough memory," Scorpius sighed. "Not even making the Quidditch team made me happy enough."
"You'll think of one, don't worry. S'not like we're going to run into a dementor this afternoon now, is it?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he sighed again. "Are your brother and sister around? Maybe we could play some Quidditch."
"Lily is, but James is at Training. LILY!" Albus yelled out his door. "WANT TO PLAY SOME QUIDDITCH?"
"ONLY IF I'M A CHASER!" she yelled back, her despair from earlier seemingly gone.
Scorpius grinned, playing against Lily can be fun sometimes, and it would give him practice, letting him see how she played. Albus would probably do a joint effort of Seeker and Keeper, in absence of Rose. No beaters were needed it would seem.
"SURE!" Albus grabbed a sweater, as the air was chilly today.
…
"I just don't understand! Uncle Harry taught Albus how to do a Patronus, and no one told me, let alone offered to teach me!" Rose pouted at the table as her mother fixed herself a cup of tea. "Does he think I can't do it? Or that Albus is better than me?"
"Rose, think about it. Albus is his son, but Harry never got to know his father. Harry is probably just trying to be the best dad he can. Harry knows you're smart, he probably just assumed you know how to do it already, and he wanted Albus to not fall behind."
"I'm smart, but I'm not a genius…he could have just asked me," Rose looked down at the table.
"Don't blame this on anyone, especially not your uncle."
"But everyone's learned it from Uncle Harry, even you and dad! He's even begun teaching Lily already, and James already knows how! I bet he'll even teach it to Hugo," Rose's eyes filled slightly with tears. She wanted to learn from the best, not from some teacher at school.
"Do you want me to talk with him?" Hermione sighed; Rose nodded furiously. "Alright then, I'll Floo him tonight."
Rose beamed, "Thanks mom!" Picking up the rest of her sandwich, she raced up the stairs, hoping to finish off the last of her homework for the summer. She had fallen a little behind in the anticipation of her OWL results, but now that they had arrived, she felt she could resume her natural order of things. Especially homework.
…
"ROSIE! ROOOOOOSE!" there was something heavy bouncing on the end of her bed, screaming her name like a banshee. Cracking her eyes open, she groaned at the sight of Albus holding something glittery in his hands.
"Quidditch Captain? Congrats!" she drawled in her sleep voice. "Told you so."
"He picked me! Duke picked ME! I can't believe it!"
"I can," Rose yawned, speaking sarcastically.
"Oh shut up Rosie, now I've got something you don't," Albus stuck his tongue out childishly.
Rose winced. Uncle Harry still hadn't mentioned anything about teaching her the Patronus charm. In fact, she hadn't even seen Uncle Harry since his, Uncle Neville's and cousins Lucy's and Frank's joint birthday celebration two weeks ago, and he'd barely spoken to her then. Rose was convinced he was avoiding her, probably assuming she needed to cool down after getting upset.
"Sorry Rose," Albus immediately apologized, "You know what I meant though."
Rose simply nodded. "Let me get up now, you're on my feet."
Albus stood up quickly allowing her to pull herself out of bed.
"Scorpius is downstairs you know. We were going to go into the town and shop for some muggle clothes. Ours are out of style now," Albus smirked.
"Merlin Al! You should have told me that to start with. Out! I need to change!" Rose was running around her room then, grabbing some jeans from her drawer, and ripping a shirt from the hanger in the closet without even looking at it.
Albus chuckled, but let the raging girl change in her room, meeting up with Scorpius downstairs. The blonde and Hugo were in a heated debate over who would win the up and coming Quidditch World Cup that they all planned to attend in two weeks.
"Hugo, how many times do I have to tell you, the Cannons are going to lose. And badly," Scorpius smirked.
"If they could make it to the cup for the first time in over one hundred and thirty years, and lose, I'd still be impressed," Albus laughed.
"The Cannons will win, just you wait and see. They beat the Wasps by more than one hundred points! Not to mention slaughtered Puddlemere by over two hundred points! I'm telling you, their new chasers are like lightning, and they've got the fastest brooms!" Hugo was panting now, he'd barely taken a breath his entire argument.
"Yeah, but the Tornadoes have beaten every team they've played this year. The Cannons already lost to the Harpies – an all-girls team – and to the Arrows!"
"Give him a break Scorp, his hopes are up, don't crush them!" Rose chided, coming down over the stairs.
"Ten galleons says they win," Hugo bet, ignoring his sister entirely.
"You're on," Scorpius and Hugo spit on their hands and shook, as if it were an Unbreakable Vow that they were performing.
"Gross!" Rose wrinkled her nose. "Wash your hands!"
Hugo and Scorpius exchanged looks as Rose turned into the kitchen, creeping up behind her and placing their hands on either side of their face.
"EURGH! GROSS! EW EW EW EW EW!" Rose grabbed a cloth and began scrubbing at her face while the boys continued to profusely laugh at her expense. Moments later found them covered head-to-toe in purple slime, as Rose had accidently knocked over some Mrs. Scower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover. Now it was Rose's turn to laugh as she turned into the small bathroom in the hallway to wash her face properly with soap.
When she had come back out, the boys were cleaned off, Scorpius having illegally used his wand to siphon off the mess.
"Albus!" Rose hissed at him.
"Rose, I told him to! He won't get caught, and I doubt they'll expel him, he's in my home they won't know the difference. Besides, he'll be seventeen in less than a month, nothing they can do then," Albus grinned.
Rose just grumbled under her breath before grabbing her jacket from the hall closet. "Hugo, tell mum we're gone into town, OK?" Hugo nodded, running out to the living room, probably to turn on the television.
The walk to town only took several minutes, as Rose's home was only just on the outskirts. Rose had her arms linked through her best friends' as they walked, keeping them close to her. It may be a muggle town, but there were several known wizarding families in the area that her mother had warned her about.
They entered the first shop they came to, not really caring to look at the name, just knowing it sold clothing was enough for them.
Several purchases later found the trio sipping drinks at the nearby bistro.
"I should be heading home soon, father will be worried," Scorpius grumbled.
"Alright, you can Floo from my place then," Rose smiled paying for the food she had eaten with her leftover muggle money, and exiting the restaurant, the boys in tow.
Albus left first to give Rose and Scorpius a minute alone, Flooing to his home and dumping his bag in his room. He had only purchased one pair of jeans, as he could always have his mother duplicate them, and just a few shirts, and one sweater for the winter.
Scorpius said a quick good bye to Rose, pecking her on the lips quickly, in case her parents were to enter the room, and then he Flooed to his home.
The moment Scorpius entered the safe-house that his family currently resided in, he knew something was different. It was quiet and eerie, almost cold and unwelcoming. Drawing his wand, he crept down the hall, careful to avoid the creakier floorboards. When he arrived at his father's office, Scorpius could hear faint voices inside.
"Draco, he will join us, there is nothing you can do to prevent that. Mark my words, if he doesn't join us once he's graduated, I'll begin taking away everything that is precious to you. Starting with your wife."
Scorpius heard his mother sob, and Draco shushing her gently. "You will do no such thing," Draco hissed at the man.
"What will you do to stop me? Move to another safe-house? I already located this one, I'll find you again. You know I will."
Astoria Malfoy sobbed harder then, and Scorpius wanted to do nothing more than comfort his mother.
"I will come for him the day of his graduation, good night son," Scorpius knew the man was exiting the office so he quickly scurried into the linen closet beside the office, praying to Merlin that he hadn't been seen.
Peering through the crack between the two French doors, Scorpius saw his grandfather glide from the office and heard his heels click down the hall before the tell-tale sign of the Floo sounded his exit.
Had Lucius been talking about him, Scorpius? What use was he to their side of the fight? Why even bother, they knew he would never fight for them. Scorpius would rather die than fight against everyone Rose loved, and Rose herself.
Exiting the closet, he approached his father's office.
"Father?" he questioned, ensuring the fact that he had heard everything was eminent in his voice.
"Oh Scorpius, I tried. I don't know what to do now. Potter better catch him, and fast. Could you untie us?"
Draco and Astoria were bound onto the leather couch of the office, their wands on the desk on the opposite side of the room.
After releasing them from their bonds, he approached his mother, enveloping her in a hug. "Shh mum, it'll be OK. I won't fight for them, I'd rather die."
This only made Astoria sob harder. "I c-can't e-even pr-protect my own ch-child! What k-kind of a h-horrible mother am I?"
"You're not a horrible mother; there was nothing you could do." Draco rubbed his wife's back, "Shh darling. Potter will get him before then, don't worry."
Draco looked at his son, worry laced in his gaze. If he knew his father well enough, then Potter was no match. Sure he had defeated the Dark Lord, but only by luck and some stupid prophecy. It wasn't because he was better.
Draco kept this speculation to himself.
…
"That would be ten galleons please."
"No fair! They didn't even catch the snitch! How did they even manage to win?"
"More like how did they not manage to slaughter your team. They only caught the snitch to lessen the embarrassment!"
Albus laughed as Scorpius grumbled and handed Hugo ten galleons. For the first time in over one hundred and thirty years, the Chudley Canons had won the Quidditch World Cup, without even having to catch the snitch. They had beat the Tornadoes by a whopping two hundred and seventy points with a final score of four hundred and sixty to one hundred and ninety. Scorpius couldn't believe it when the Tornadoes seeker just gave up on the game and caught the snitch to put them out of their misery.
"I am never going to hear the end of this, am I?" Scorpius groaned into his hands.
"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, TORNADOES DROOL! CANONS ARE THE WINNERS, TORNADOES ARE FOOLS!" Ron Weasley's voice could be heard above all. "See Hermione! I knew one day it would pay off! The Canons WON!"
Rose shook her head at her father's antics. But she was proud of her father's team. Personally she preferred the Harpies, like her Aunt Ginny, but somehow the Canons had managed to knock them out of the play-offs.
Sighing in content, Rose followed her family back to their tent. Scorpius was conversing with Albus now in low whispers, making Rose narrow her eyes. Surely they would tell her after what they were talking about.
However when Rose questioned them later about it in the tent, they simply shook it off, saying they were just discussing the match. Rose frowned, but let it slide for now.
Tomorrow they would return to their homes and in a week's time they would be returning to Hogwarts anyways. Rose would confront them again once they were away from their parents. But for now, she planned to enjoy the celebrations, grabbing a Butterbeer from their supply and dancing around like a fool with her father.
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Let me know! I know it was more of a filler, but it was crucial :)
I'm also a little overjoyed because my friend is sending me an autograph from James and Olliver Phelps as well as Stanislav Ianevski. She would have got me Tom Felton's but the line was way too long and she had to be somewhere, but she got me some pictures *squee* ... I wish I lived in a place that they would potentially visit. But no, sadly my province probably doesn't even exist in their eyes *ho hum*.