(A/N: Hi there. I'm back with the third installment. The fourth should be up in two or three days max. I hope you guys enjoy!)

The Funeral Bells

Chapter 2

Romantic Speculations

Attention, all of my worst critics

Who were once the best of friends

You're all just crows on the power lines

I found it difficult in my excitement to keep from floating off

Rose was an excellent Quidditch player. She learned to love the sport growing up with her father, who was known to pull his daughter out of a class or two to watch their favorite team play - without telling her mum, of course. Some of her fondest memories involved Quidditch games. Whether the entire Potter-Weasley clan would have barbeques before the matches, or whether it would just be her and her father, who would often teach her rules, regulations, and tips of the game.

She will always remember the look on her father's face when she told him she made Gryffindor team as a chaser, as well as the shock of her mother - she never told either of them that she was even trying out.

Al and Scorpius - both big fans of the sport - never showed a particular interest in joining Quidditch. Albus and Scorpius' fathers had both been renowned seekers for Gryffindor and Slytherin respectively, so it came as a surprise when both of them decided not to try out. Instead, they showed interest in another club.

Even though this club did not meet on Quidditch practice or match days, the boys still devoted their full attention to it, including meeting up with the professor in charge of the club on off-days, Professor Longbottom.

The D.A. club met up in 3 volumes. 2nd and 3rd years, 4th and 5th years, and 6th and 7th years. However, the 3rd volume on the club proved to be far more intense than the first two.

"I'm sure you can see the drastic change of popularity of this club as of late," Professor Longbottom told the club members just after the meeting began. "It is barely December, and we only have ten 6th years and six 7th years left."

The room stood silent, although some students took a look around to confirm Longbottoms's claim.

"As I said in the beginning of the year," Longbottom continued, with a straight face. "Volume 3 does not tolerate any lagging. We are now dealing with intense dueling techniques that involve your undivided attention. If you miss just one club meeting without a valid excuse, then don't bother coming back."

Professor Longbottom was known in the green house to be somewhat of a softy, so it came to most student's surprise that he ran the D.A. club. Moreover, he chose to teach only in Volume 3, the most intense and unforgiving. (Volume's 1 and 2 are handled by other professors) Although most students didn't understand how Professor Longbottom made a transformation from a nature loving softy to an instructor of drill sergeant caliber, Al and Scorpius had been told enough stories by their parents to understand.

"Now, begin with your guarding exercises for ten minutes," the professor continued. "Afterward, there will be a duel-off."

The 6th and 7th years let out a small cheer just before they paired up with their practice partners. Guarding exercises were something the D.A. club did for ten minutes before their lessons. One student would fire a very small disarming charm, while the other would try to deflect it. It would go back and forth until Professor Longbottom decided it was time for the lessons of the day.

However, that day was different. Once every two or three weeks, the professor would decide that the day was a dueling day. A day were everyone gathered in a circle, two students would stand in the center of the circle, and duel. On a normal day, the professor would teach the club knew tricks, but dueling days are more of a day to review of what you had learned. Moreover, dueling days happened to be very fun for the students.

"She won't stop asking about tomorrow night," spoke Al as he and his (obvious) partner, Scorpius began their exercises.

"Really?" asked Scorpius after successfully deflecting a charm from Al. These exercises had become so habitual they practically became second nature to them. "And what did you tell her?"

"That I had no idea," Al assured his friend.

"Saw right through you, didn't she?" Scorpius wasn't stupid. The couple's one year anniversary was tomorrow, and there wasn't a shot in hell that Scorpius wouldn't tell his best friend what his plans were for his girlfriend. Besides… "Lying to us was never a specialty of yours."

"Don't worry," Al assured. "She doesn't know anything."

"Good."

They went on with their exercises for a minute or two before Al broke the silence once again.

"So everything's set up?" The raven-haired boy asked the blonde. "You were able to get a table up to the bell tower?"

The Hogsmede Bell tower. Rose - being a sucker for views - loved visiting the bell tower with Scorpius. It had become their own little place to get away. Since it was located in Hogsmede, the couple would get in serious trouble if any of the Hogwarts staff ever found out that they were out of the castle at least once every couple of weeks. However, they were never worried about being caught.

Hogwarts was more than just a castle. It was a fortress. Especially in the late hours of the night, even the most ingenious student in the school couldn't find his or her way out. Luckily for the trio, however, Al "inherited" a certain map that revealed all of the secret passageways out of the castle, some of which were unknown even to the most experienced teachers. It wouldn't be so surprising if Headmaster Flitwick was oblivious to some.

"Actually," Scorpius admitted. "I decided to just make dinner reservations at Clark's"

"Clark's!?" Al almost dropped his wand. "You mean the steak house?"

"Yeah," Scorpius responded casually. "Why?"

"Do you have any idea how expensive that is?" Al grew a little annoyed his with friends' casualness.

"I still have some money saved up from my birthday-"

"But you don't need to be blowing it all on dinner!" Al interrupted. "Rose wouldn't mind it-"

"I know," Scorpius interrupted him back. "But Rose has always talked about dressing up nicely. You know, going to a fancy dinner…having a real fancy date."

"She never seemed like the type to me," Al commented.

"She is a girl, you know," Scorpius responded.

"Good thing too. I'd be worried about you if she wasn't."

"Funny," The blonde rolled his eyes.

There was another moment of silence before Al broke it once again.

"So that will be her present?" Al continued to inquire. "The dinner?"

"Well, that's the better half of it."

"Oh lord, there's more?" Now it was Al's turn to roll his eyes. "Maybe we should start dating. I could use some new books."

"You're not my type."

There was another moment of silence.

"Well?" Al continued once more. "Tell me! What's the other gift?"

"Promise not to laugh?" Scorpius asked with sincerity in his voice.

"Oh no," Al sighed as he lowered his wand. "It's not going to be some kind of mushy, gushy, sentimental thing, is it?"

"And you wonder why you're still single?"

"Fine." The blonde seemed to hit a soft spot. "I won't laugh. What is it?"

Scorpius lowered his wand as well and signaled Al to come closer. Al approached him as the rest of the students continued with the guarding exercises. After making sure no one was looking, Scorpius pulled out a small box in his inner robe pocket and opened it.

"A necklace?" asked Al.

In the box was a neck-length lace made out of pure silver. On the lace was a small pendant. The pendant was made out of some kind of a dark red gem - possibly a ruby - with an inscription of a small bird. On the left side of the pendant, the gem seemed a little cracked and jagged.

"I got it from my mother a while ago," explained the blonde Slytherin. "She told me to give it to the woman I love."

"It seems like it's broken in half," Al commented upon noticing the cracked piece of ruby.

Without a word, Scorpius reached into his white uniform shirt and pulled out a necklace of his own. It looked exactly the same as the one he planed on giving to Rose, only this lace was gold and the cracking on the gem was on the opposite side.

"My mother is a fan of these keepsakes," the blonde explained. "She says, when a man and a woman who truly love each other wear these, their souls will be bound together. Even if one of the two dies, their souls well always be as one."

Scorpius put his half of the pendant underneath his shirt again.

"And you truly believe that?" Al asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nah," Scorpius admitted, "I don't even think my mother truly believes in it. She's one of those hopeless romantics, you know?"

"And how did she get paired up with your father?" Al asked with slight sarcasm in his voice.

"A good question," Scorpius responded just after laughing at the question. "…that I don't have the answer to."

"Hey, you two!" The two Slytherins froze in their tracks upon hearing the sound of Professor Longbottom's voice. "Is there a reason you two aren't practicing?" The boys were about to answer him, but the professor didn't give them a chance. "No matter," he continued. "Everyone line up! We'll start the sparring."

Every student in the room rushed into a circle leaving Professor Longbottom in the middle. Each of them waiting anxiously, wondering who would be chosen first. Actually, everyone knew who the first one chosen would be. He'd been the star of the D.A. club since his 3rd year. In fact, he was practically prodigal in the sport.

Every year, the 7th years had a tournament to determine, who among them was the top duelist of the year, resulting in a fake prize, notoriously nicknamed, the 'Longbottom Cup'. However, this year's case was practically a shoe-in; everyone knew who would be this year's winner, since his win-loss record was remarkable.

"Potter," Longbottom shouted. "Front and center."

Everyone knew the professor would call him. Potter had always proven to be the best duelist of his year, as well as the school. The raven-haired headed student had already made his way to the center of the circle, with a smile on his face and casually tightening his red and gold tie.

James Sirius Potter was somewhat of a legend in Hogwarts, and he hadn't even graduated yet. Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, one of the best Seekers ever to attend the school since his own father, a real looker according to the ladies, a sense of humor so notorious, his teachers had formerly compared him to the Marauders, and of course, the reigning duelist extraordinaire. "King James" as Al so-often calls him.

"Surprise, eh chaps?" he said as he made himself comfortable in front of a crowd, as usual.

Al rolled his eyes. The second child of the famous Harry Potter spent most of his life tailing his older brother at almost everything they've done. During Al's first four years in school, the two couldn't get along if you paid them a billion Galleons. However, as the two matured, they seemed to begin to tolerate each other, though they were still pretty far away from being close.

"You love this, don't you?" Scorpius asked sarcastically.

"Would you?" Al asked him.

"I find it rather funny," The blonde admitted.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it."

"Well, someone has to."

"Try living with him."

"I think I'll pass."

"Malfoy!" exclaimed Longbottom.

Scorpius stiffened.

"You seem to be quite the talker today," The professor continued. "Let's see if you can put you wand were your mouth is."

Professor Longbottom was a great teacher, but even he was slightly in the dark about James' problem with Scorpius. Sure, he was fully aware that most of the Potter's and Weasley's didn't take a great liking to the Malfoy, but his kind - slightly naïve - character didn't allow him see the full picture.

Scorpius was rather close with a certain professor in this school, who also happened to be close to the Potter-Weasley clan. The Slytherin could remember that the said professor had a lot to say about him and his problems.

"I know James may seem a lil' hostile toward yer," Professor Hagrid, the Care for Magical Creatures teacher. "But I want yer to remember somethin'. He's not a bad lad. Sure, here get's into some trouble here and there, but he's not all bad, and I'll tell ya why. Sure he may be "King James", but his most defying quality is respect. You show him that you're worth it, and he'll give it to yer. I promise."

Sightings of shape shifting

Dissolved into the darkness

A final opinion is of less value

Than an appreciation of and tolerance

"Could have been worse," Al commented casually as the two made their way to the Slytherin common room.

"Oh yeah?" Scorpius asked his friend, not at all amused. "How? He could have cursed me into oblivion had he wanted to."

"Well, at least he respects you little more," responded Al, much to the shock of Scorpius.

"What!?" The blonde asked in disbelief. "He pummeled me in front of the entire club!"

"But you put up a good fight," insisted Al, who was not telling a lie.

The truth was, James happened to be very impressed with Scorpius' spirit. The two fought fairly and fiercely, not to mention that there were a few instances that Scorpius had the upper hand against "King James".

"He helped you up from the ground, Scorpius," Al reminded Scorpius just after submitting the Slytherin password. "He offered you his hand. He doesn't just do that to anyone."

Al did have a point, Scorpius realized. Although the two have never spoken on good terms, the blonde always knew that James, being good at almost everything he'd ever tried, rarely had a match, and although his arrogance sometimes seemed to get the best of him, he - like his father - always appreciated a challenge.

"Besides," continued Al as he took a set on the common room couch. "We would have never gotten the map if it weren't for him."

Scorpius cocked an eyebrow at that comment.

"Hey," Al began once again. "It's not my fault he could never figure out the password…"

"It's not just him…" Scorpius' trailed off just before taking a seat on a very comfortable green chair.

He didn't need to say anymore. Al knew what he was talking about. Needless to say, the Potter-Weasley clan were fairly shocked when they discovered that Rose Weasley began dating a Malfoy, of all people. Although most of the adults of the clan were understanding - minus, of course, Rose's father - most of the younger ones were not.

They all new the story of the Deathly Hollows very well, not to mention the actions of the Malfoy family many years prior to that. They went from a family respected very much by the Wizarding World, to nothing be traitors. Their sins have since been forgiven (Mostly since Draco Malfoy had donated a lot of his time and money to rebuild the Ministry), however the Malfoy name still had an obvious taint to it.

Scorpius didn't want any of that. He loved his father. He loved his mother. His grandparents frightened him. But he has decided a long time ago that he didn't want the Malfoy name barring him anymore, especially when it came to Rose. Al knew that already, though the two never actually talked about it.

"You really do love her, don't you?"

Scorpius didn't respond verbally. He just gave him a slight nod.

"You're a git."

(A/N: Next chapter: the real "fun" begins)