Chapter 14 - First Hogsmeade Weekend of the New Year
The teens parents were right, the break was hard on both of them. Even inviting the Malfoy's over again on New Year's, and Scorpius visiting almost daily while Hugo, Rose, Hermione, and Ron all staying at the Burrow for the rest of break didn't all the new couple to feel like they had enough time together. Thankfully, they were back in school again and it was their first Hogsmeade weekend of the new year, a second date for the two. After how their first date began, they decided to avoid the Three Broomsticks for a bit, instead going to Honeyduke's the restock their supply of their favorite treats. After that, they picked up a few new quills and new ink to last them till hopefully the end of the school year, and finally then did they go to have a nice lunch at the Three Broomsticks.
Each ordered a butterbeer to drink, before ordering their food. They spend the time while waiting for their food comfortably talking, and excited for their next Animagus lesson, both could now manage at least half transformations and Albus and Alaine weren't far behind. Though, their friends were the last thing on their mind as they became absorbed in each other.
The moment was shattered somewhat when their drinks and food were brought to them, Rose thanking the woman before turning back to her boyfriend. They smiled as they ate, Scorpius feeding Rose a bite or two of his food every once in a while, a feeling of love surrounding them and making them feel like they were the only ones in the restaurant, or possibly in the whole world.
In reality, of course, they knew that the area was crowded with their fellow students and Albus and Alaine were somewhere around the village. All the same, at that moment, the only important beings were each other.
The adult patrons gave the two odd looks the entire time, obviously stunned to see a Weasely and Malfoy so very in love, a Daily Prophet article proclaiming the couple was sure to be on the front page by the end of the week. Though none noticed the promise ring glimmering on Rose's finger. Though once the article came out, Rose would end up contacting her Aunt Luna to have the Quibbler produce the true story, complete with a picture with them gazing at each other with clear love in their eyes and the ring on display.
After the Three Broomsticks, the two went to a few more shops before meeting up with their friends and heading back to Hogwarts, content and more in love than ever. At least, that was how they were planning to end the day. Several people, it seemed, had other plans.
As they began to look for Albus and Alaine, their way was blocked by several admires each had picked up over the years, people who wanted them for themselves. For Scorpius there was 3 girls from Slytherin that believed that a Malfoy should marry someone of his "standing", aka pureblood girls who's mothers had wanted his father when they were in Hogwarts. There was also a few Ravenclaws from Rose's dorm who had had crushes on him for a long time, especially in the past few years when he got more and more muscular.
Then there were the men who had followed Rose around with puppy-dog eyes since third year. A few Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Ravenclaws made up that group. She had gone on a few pity dates with a few of them in fourth and fifth year. None lasted longer than the first date, because they honestly just bored her by talking about only their interests, or had habits that made her sick, or even said things that insulted her.
These two groups must have got together and plotted to get the people they believed should be with them. Rose and Scorpius drew their wands and Rose raised an eyebrow, calling out the ones she had gone on dates with, "Kyle, Robert, Shaun. What do you think you're doing?"
The three went all googly-eyed for a moment at being called out, and in the pause Scorpius muttered to her, "Are the ones you went on a few dates with a couple years ago? The ones who you couldn't stand?"
She gave a small nod and murmured back, "They would be the ones, apparently they didn't get the memo that I hated every moment of the dates with them."
Scorpius snorted, just as one of the boys, the one Rose called Shaun, regained their composure, "Showing you, lovely Rose, that any one of us is better for you than that Slytherin and death eater's son."
A few of the girls hissed at that statement and Rose stiffened, "Draco Malfoy was forced by his father into being a death eater, if you knew the man, you would know he didn't want to serve Voldemort any more than any sane person did, and he still regrets every moment of it."
The boys took a step back and Scorpius sneered in a typical Malfoy way, calling out the Slytherin girls, "Helen, Florence, Phoebe. I thought you three were more intelligent than this, I've been ignoring your attentions for years, especially since I fell in love with Rose in fourth year. Everyone in the school can see that we're happy. Why can't you see it and leave me alone? I'm no more interested in a pureblood marriage than my father, or most Weasleys are."
"That's a lie Scorpy!", cried out a simpering girl, Florence, daughter of Pansy Parkinson and Adrian Pucey, "She's given you a love potion all those years! Otherwise you wouldn't say such things! And you would love one of us, not than half-blood."
Scorpius's eyes changed in color as they did when he was this angry, to a color that seemed icy and cold, "Do not dare insult Rose. You say one more bad thing about her and you'll regret that you ever met me, Florence Pucey."
Her eyes went wide and helpless, causing his eye to twitch, it irritated him to see her act so innocent when he knew she was anything but, "Get out of my sight, all of you. Any who refuse will meet my wand and see why I'm only behind Rose in all classes."
The girls all fled, but the boys paused until Rose said in a cool voice, "Leave, now. None of you are half the man Scorpius is."
Emotionally exhausted, the two quickly found Albus and Aline and headed back to Hogwarts, Scorpius's arms around Rose's waist the entire way back.