Bonjourno readers :D Editing this while watching Chamber of Secrets :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter 5
Over the next week Scorpius and Rose had steadily been spending more time with each other. Rose would often sit at the Gryffindor table, along with Lorcan for breakfast and lunch, and the Heads Alastair Nott and Violet Zabini had put Scorpius and Rose on Tuesday patrols together. This meant that Rose would have to meet Scorpius after Quidditch practice, except Rose didn't understand time and came much too early and distracted the team with her suggestions.
Albus' dislike of their new friendship continued to grow, as they would often begin talking about subjects he was not interested in, therefore leaving him to talk to Hugo, or worse, his own sister.
During a Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T level class on Wednesday, Albus had attempted to start a duel between Scorpius and Rose by spilling ink all over Rose's work and blaming it on Scorpius. However it backfired when Rose easily siphoned the ink from her work, and forgave (a confused) Scorpius. The main confusion being that Scorpius sat 2 tables away. Albus had the smallest feeling that Rose knew he had spilled it, and didn't react just to keep her flawless behavioural record clean.
Albus' second attempt during the class involved taking a Doxy carefully from the jar the class was studying them in, and putting it on the back of Rose's robes. It ended with Marianne (sitting next to Rose) screaming, the Doxy flying deliriously away from the screaming, and landing on Albus' face. The Doxy then proceeded to bite Albus' nose, and he screamed. Rose turned around wand in hand, pointed at his face and using a charm she lifted the Doxy away from Albus and put it back in the jar.
The professor stood in front of Albus, his arms crossed and frowning. He had taken 10 points from Gryffindor, sent Albus to the hospital wing for the Doxy antidote, and given Rose 20 points for acting calmly and responsibly.
When Scorpius went to find Albus after D.A.D.A. he was pouting in an arm chair of the common room, carefully touching the bite mark on his nose, and groaning.
"Serves your right really Al, a Doxy. Really? I think your idea of a prank has truly crossed the line." Scorpius said casually, jumping into the arm chair next to Albus.
"This whole situation is annoying me, just stop being friends with Rose." Albus said huffing.
"Stop being so immature Albus, you have other friends, you just hate thinking you are losing to Rose, and that's hardly the case." He looked at him frowning.
Albus breathed out quickly, "I'm not being immature!"
Scorpius laughed and got up, "get over it Albus," he patted him on the head and walked off to the boys dormitory, Albus glaring after him.
He wasn't being immature, he was being perfectly reasonable. Rose had a best friend, she didn't need to take his. Albus couldn't help thinking that it was always like that. Albus had something, and Rose just had to take it and smash it to the ground. It always happened. Albus would get an E, and Rose would better him and get an O, and everyone would crowd around her and praise her genius. Including his own parents. He wouldn't ever admit it to himself, but he resented Rose for it. It was like she was perfection personified, and anything he did, would never compare to what Rose did. That's why he had started the pranks. It got him attention at least, from those he cared to get attention from. The Howlers he sometimes got made him feel better, at least then he knew his family cared, and instead of talking about Rose being the smartest witch ever to grace the steps of Hogwarts since Hermione Granger. They would talk about Albus, and how his behaviour is slowly deteriorating.
It wouldn't make any sense to anyone else. But Albus just wanted to win against Rose, for once in his life.
Albus didn't speak to Scorpius or Rose till Friday, collecting his thoughts for his plan, which he would go through with on Saturday.
"The fact is Weasley, there is no way that stirring Draught of Living Death once more clockwise, would make a significant difference to the transparency of the potion. It would be whether the maker has managed to get the right shade of lilac beforehand." Scorpius said, sounding uppity, as himself and Rose made their way to the entrance hall from the great hall on Saturday, followed by an angry looking Albus.
"I have tried it, and I'm always right, it gives an additional 10 minutes sleep, even if your pathetic eyesight can't tell the different between slightly transparent, and completely transparent." Rose retorted, giving herself a smile.
Scorpius shook his head, "If you take Draught of Living Death, an extra 10 minutes will make little difference, you still would have slept for a ridiculous amount of time."
She shook her head, "well Malfoy, you would have to ask someone who takes the Draught that question." Rose replied smoothly, grinning at Malfoy.
"You know what you two, I don't care!" Albus shouted from behind them, his hands stuffed into his pockets, he growled and pushed past them both, hurrying towards the exit off the grounds.
"What's got his knickers in a twist?" Rose asked, looking at Malfoy.
"I would know that why exactly?" Scorpius said, wrapping his scarf around his neck and pushing his hair from his eyes.
"Well because you're his best friend you idiot," she replied, rolling her eyes.
Malfoy frowned and pulled her hat down in front of her eyes, and ran ahead of her.
"Hey! Come back!" she shouted, lifting the hat from her eyes and running after Scorpius who was already 10 metres away from her.
Albus turned around and sneered, thinking of several jinxes he wish he had the guts to perform on them both.
Scorpius slowed down next to him, and Albus' face smoothed out.
"So Albus, what is this plan of yours?" Scorpius asked, nudging him with a shoulder.
Albus looked at him questioning his meaning, Scorpius started to laugh.
"Have you already forgotten? It doesn't take much." He said laughing.
"I haven't forgotten, thank you very much, I was just very sure you weren't a willing participant." He replied not smiling.
"Al, cheer up, go on, treat me, what's this plan you've thought up?"
Albus turned around, Rose had stopped running, and was just walking quite far behind them, her wand waving about and what looked like her singing. Most probably practising non-verbal spells with a distraction, oh how perfect of her he thought.
He cheered up seeing that Scorpius was anxiously waiting for his plan, at least he hadn't completely lost his best friend to Rose Weasley.
"I was thinking, our very own fireworks display, just for Miss Rose Weasley." He said slyly.
Scorpius raised an eyebrow, "that doesn't sound like much of a prank, have you gone soft on me Albus Severus?" he asked.
"Of course not, these fireworks happened to be made specifically for my cousin, they'll leave her jumping, I'm certain of that." Albus replied easily, now grinning.
"Very well, just as long as we won't have to take Rose to the hospital wing afterwards." Scorpius said, now looking at Albus studiously.
He frowned, he'd called her Rose. He never called her Rose.
"No, it shouldn't do, I wouldn't say completely harmless, but she'll survive." He said though slightly disheartened.
"Good," Albus smiled weakly at Scorpius' reply, and they exited the castle grounds.
XxX Rose XxX
Rose had been reciting a song she had learnt to remember the 12 uses of Dragon blood, pretending she was some sort of composer and her wand was a baton. The songs were one of the techniques she used to remember important things.
Once she reached the exit she swiftly put her wand away, and began her way down to Spintwitches to buy Christmas presents for Fred, Louis, Lily and James, all of whom were avid Quidditch players and she decided she would do them a favour, and buy them all personalised Quidditch goggles. Though she did at times admit that she detested her cousin Albus, she still loved him, and in some way they were closer than herself and her other cousins. So she decided on getting him new Quidditch robes. She had no doubt that Albus would probably get her a box of chocolate frogs, and then proceed to eat them all himself, but she didn't mind.
She wondered whether she should get Malfoy something, she was in unchartered waters with Malfoy. Their friendship was at its early stages and for all she knew, it could crumble before Christmas.
Rose had decided on buying her Christmas presents while Lorcan was off on his date with Emma, most probably at Madam Puddifoot's, Lorcan being a beginner at picking the Puddifoot kind of girls out from the Three Broomsticks kind of girls. Emma was definitely a Three Broomsticks kind of girl.
Lorcan however, would receive a selection of several Muggle thrillers. While the rest of her younger cousins would receive a simple box of chocolates, her three cousins Victoire, Roxanne and Dominique would be happy with nothing less other than something unique, like themselves, something which Rose would not be able to purchase in a shop.
Her parents and several uncles and aunts were happy with the mince pies she made them every year. Having taken over the duty from Nana Weasley.
Rose opened the door to Spintwitches, noticing the young shop-assistant Ciarán. Rose had been to the shop a couple of times before with Louis and Lily, Ciarán had started working there at the beginning of the year.
"Good morning Ciarán," she said politely, making her way over to the till.
"Hi Rose, long time no see," he replied smiling, "how can I help you today?"
"I would like to purchase some goggles," Ciarán nodded, and opened up a small book.
"Personalised I suppose?" Rose nodded in reply, "I suspect you want 3 wizard sizes, and 1 for a witch." He asked, knowing exactly who Rose was buying the goggles for.
"Yes, and for Albus, I was thinking some new Quidditch robes, I have his measurements here." Rose shuffled around in her pocket, and pulled out a small roll of parchment. "Oh, and my specifications for the goggles are on here," she took out another roll and handed it to Ciarán.
Ciarán eyed it, and began to laugh, "now who exactly supports the Grodzisk Goblins?"
"That's Fred, he has taken a fancy to Anka Michalski." Rose replied smiling. He nodded, and attached the sheets to the small book.
"That will be 3 galleons for each pair of goggles. Equalling 12 galleons, and the new Quidditch robes will be 6 galleons. So that will be 18 galleons please." Ciarán wrote in a few more things, "I suppose you would like this delivered to your home?"
Rose nodded, and went through her pockets, taking out a small pouch, and emptying half of its contents into Ciarán's outstretched hand. He placed the money in the till, and wrote down the sending information.
"All done, they should be completed by Friday the 5th of December, and will be delivered the very same day.
"Thank you very much," Rose put her money pouch away and sent a beaming smile Ciaráns way.
"No problem," he smiled back, placing the book inside the register, "bye, and have a good Christmas." He spoke after her as she exited the shop, and breathed in. It had started to snow again.
XxX Lorcan XxX
"Uh, so would you like some tea?" Lorcan asked slowly, eyeing Emma.
Emma tried to hide her sigh, "don't they have Butterbeers here or something less... lame." She finished, trying to nicely hint to Lorcan that she did not like Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop one bit.
"Well it is a Tea Shop," he replied smirking, and combing a hand nervously through his dark blonde hair.
She smiled and rolled her eyes, "how about we do something unexpected and strange." She asked, putting her gloves back on, causing Lorcan to raise an eyebrow at her.
"What do you mean?" he asked, following suit, "we just got here."
"Yeah, and it's a good time to leave, we still have the whole day left." She replied, standing up. "Seeing as you Lorcan, truly don't know the type of girls' who like this hell-hole."
Emma pointed around her, and Lorcan following her finger saw several couples sitting at the other tables, kissing each other. Most of the girls who were there were easily identified as girly girls, giggling away, swooning at whatever their boyfriends said. Emma definitely not being part of that group of girls.
"Oh," he said frowning and standing up after her.
"It's fine Lorcan, we can forget about this whole situation, if you turn this whole date around." She said smiling and taking the crook of his arm, leading him towards the exit of Madam Puddifoot's.
"Okay, so you want strange and unexpected? How about The Hog's Head, is that outrageous enough for you?" Lorcan said grining.
Emma burst out laughing, causing couples in the shop to look her way, they quickly exited and Emma continued laughing.
"You are sort of funny Lorcan, but I have the slightest feeling that The Hog's Head would be the wrong choice today, it's a bit too outrageous for me." She said stopping her laughter, and squeezing Lorcan's arm.
"Very well, I suppose Potage's will have to do then," he looked down solemnly and shook his head, "I thought you could take it, I thought you would have liked seeing the scarier side of the magical community."
She grinned and then stopped herself, "wait, what on earth would we be doing in a cauldron shop?" she asked, truly confused.
"I know a few people, it can get pretty interesting in there, me and a cauldron is a very exciting mixture." He said smiling.
"I see," she nodded, however glancing at Lorcan out of the corner of her eyes.
"Oh, and we can grab some Butterbeers before we get there." Lorcan added.
Once they had grabbed a couple of bottles of Butterbeers from The Three Broomsticks, they made their way to Potage's, Lorcan trying to make himself sound exceptionally skilled in potion making. Though he was, it was a difficult assumption to prove while walking.
Lorcan entered the store from a side entrance, strangely holding a key for the door. He led Emma down the hall and through a dimly lit room in the cellar.
He lit a couple of candles with a box of matches left on the table, and started to open up some drawers, taking out ingredients and setting them on the table.
"You're going to be amazed Emma, trust me," he said smiling, and lighting up the medium-sized cauldron that was on the table.
"Why? Are you going to make liquid luck?" she said peering into the empty cauldron.
"You know that Felix Felicis takes 6 months to brew." He replied grinning, and starting to throw things into the cauldron.
"Well then Lorcan, what will you be making me?" she asked, trying to catch everything Lorcan was putting into the potion with her eyes.
"It's something surprising, you'll like it."
Lorcan continued adding things from random jars, cans and packets. The potion turning from bright blue, to pink, to red, and started smelling of red liquorice, the potion surface glittered and made quiet whispering sounds.
He pulled out a piece of parchment and swiftly wrote down something in charcoal and threw it into the pot.
"Surprise number one, finished." He said grinning and pouring the contents into separate vials. "Now surprise number two," he began again, adding things in a blur.
"This better be impressive Lorcan," Emma said softly, opening a bottle of butterbeer and drinking it, Lorcan replied with a smirk and mixed the potion rigorously.
"Trust me," he replied smiling, and again poured the turquoise liquid into vials.
Emma was sipping at her butterbeer. Lorcan turned towards her and handed her a red potion and a blue potion.
"The red one you have to throw on the ground, the blue one you have to drink."
"Hmm, and do I trust you enough to drink this unknown potion?" Emma asked, looking at the blue potion with a raised eyebrow.
"Well that's up to you, but it's less fun without it," he said grinning, and opening up his own Butterbeer. "Come on, and I'll show you exactly what I mean." Lorcan took her hand and led her back out of the shop, and through to the small park off the main street.
XxX Rose XxX
Rose had reached the small park in Hogsmeade after picking up some sweets for herself and a couple of extra quills. She had her notebook laid out on her lap and was writing various equations and runes in preparation for Victoire, Dominique and Roxanne's presents. She had the idea of making 2 way mirrors, the idea stemming from a conversation she had heard her mother and Uncle Harry having.
Unable to find the contraption in any shops, she deemed it acceptable for her three cousins. It had proved somewhat difficult, Rose had the mirrors, however the various charms she needed to cast were written in runes.
Rose started humming to herself as she worked, just about noticing Lorcan and Emma walk past her and into the grassy area of the park. However they were still in view, but oblivious to her.
She watched as Lorcan drank a blue potion (which was familiar to her), and Emma did the same. They both dropped the red potion, and out of the mixture a series of gas-like wisps of colour escaped. Twisting and turning in the air, making shapes and creating pictures. The array of colours wrapped around the pair, and Emma was looking around herself in awe.
Rose knew that with the potion they had drunk, it would have been something else all together. The potion enhanced the consumers' vision so they could see things invisible to the naked eye for a couple of minutes.
She sighed and started to write again, oblivious to Albus and Scorpius entering the park, Scorpius rolling his eyes as Albus crept closer to Rose as he hung back. The snow slowing to a halt.
XxX Albus and Scorpius XxX
"I hope Rose kills you for this," Scorpius whispered as Albus moved away from him, approaching Rose from behind.
Albus glared at Scorpius and then turned back around, taking the small objects (which looked like mini firecrackers) from his pocket. He carefully placed them under the bench Rose was sitting on, and backed up.
"All done, they should react with the snow," he whispered to Scorpius who was slowly shaking his head.
The firecrackers slowly ignited, and began to let off a white smoke. Rose twisted in her seat, smelling the smoke. She frowned and stood up, placing her things inside her bag. The small fireworks fully ignited and with a loud sound began to explode.
They flew out from under the bench and began to explode around Rose, not touching her, yet getting very close, so close that she thought they would hit her.
Rose squealed as the fireworks trapped her in a circle, spinning and exploding around her, leaving ash on her cheeks. Rose was turning quickly her hat flying off and her hair swinging around her face.
Lorcan and Emma began to notice, and were momentarily shocked because of their enhanced vision, but quickly ran over to her, attempting to help her.
After spinning a couple times, and some of the firecrackers exploding in her hair, she stood completely still and slowly breathed out.
"Albus Severus Potter, you come out right now! Or there will be a howler coming your way in the very near future!" she shouted out into the park.
Albus was too busy laughing and Scorpius pushed him. "It's not that funny Al, now get rid of the fireworks." He said frowning.
He rolled his eyes in reply and made his way over to Rose, whose eyes were shooting lasers at him. Albus gave her a smile, and she glowered even more.
"I was being serious about the howler Albus," she said adamantly.
"Oh that's so kind of you, you know how much I like those things." He replied, putting his hand to his chest.
"Albus Severus Potter, you better stop these things right now!" she shouted at him again, he put his hands up defensively.
"Oh come on Rosie, enjoy it, it's like your own personal firework show."
Rose began to hit away the fireworks, slowly stepping closer to Albus, the fireworks now hitting her in the face, but not burning her.
Albus was still grinning, until he noticed how much closer Rose had gotten to him, so he began to back up, backing away from her menacing glare.
He was not paying attention to wear he was walking to, causing him to trip over a branch, and land on his butt in the snow. Rose smiled and then jumped at him, tackling him to the floor, the fireworks hitting them both now as she began to slap and poke Albus, him squirming and trying to reach for his wand.
"Don't even think about it Albus, you're not 17, remember," she sneered, poking him in the side, probably leaving a bruise.
"Ow, Rose! That hurts, come on, it was only a joke, ask Scorpius." He said between pokes, causing Rose to slow and get up looking towards Scorpius.
"What?" she growled towards Scorpius, the last fireworks slowly disintegrating around her.
"Hey, it's not that bad if you think about the usual Albus jokes," he said grinning her way.
Rose frowned and crossed her arms, "fine, Albus, I doubt that you will ever stop pestering me, which is quite depressing, but do not expect me to just take it okay, I saw what you tried to do with that Doxy. You are just very lucky that we are not currently in the school grounds, Mr Potter." She finished, pointing him in the chest, him squirming back at her sharp fingers.
"Glad that we have reached an understanding Rosie, this will never end."
He smiled, though inside, Albus felt even worse, the actual reaction he wanted (which he didn't even know what that reaction would be) wasn't this.
Emma and Lorcan had already started talking again, now sitting on the bench that Rose had got up from.
Rose frowned and pushed past Albus, exiting through the gates and making her way back to school. Completely forgetting her hat which was discarded on the snow.
Scorpius shook his head as Albus gave him a thumbs up and joined him at the exit.
"I think that went according to plan, despite that little fight we just got into," Albus said smoothly, glancing towards Emma and Lorcan and opening the door.
"Except she really beat you up Al, I don't think the firework show was to her taste." Scorpius replied laughing, drawing a hand through his hand. "You do realise the girl is much better at hexing and jinxing than you are," he added.
Albus held back a frown and shook his head, "doesn't matter," he muttered under his breath, being downgraded once again, this time by his best friend.
XxX Lorcan & Emma XxX
"Despite that distraction, I must say you have outdone yourself Lorcan, I actually really liked that." Emma said, sounding surprised. The effects of the potion finally wearing off.
Lorcan rolled his eyes and smirked, "and here is something to finish our date off with." He went into his coat pocket and took out a small red paper bag.
Emma took it and it opened it up, grinning at its contents. "Another sugar quill, why thank you Lorcan."
"Don't mention it," he said nonchalantly, getting up and placing Rose's hat in his pocket.
"Oh so modest you are," Emma replied getting up and carefully tucking her hair behind her ears.
It began to snow again, though only in light flurries.
"It's one of my valued attributes; maybe we should get back to school before it gets heavier." Lorcan suggested turning himself towards the gate.
"Wait a second," Emma said quickly, looking to the ground, her cheeks quickly turning a deep shade of red. She mumbled something to herself, Lorcan only hearing the words 'Gryffindor' and 'brave'.
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, turning back to her.
After a few moments, Emma looked up and smiled. Her hands reached up slowly and pulled Lorcan's face down towards hers, she lightly kissed his lips, and let go again.
Lorcan slightly disorientated by Emma's sudden action, stood still, a shocked look in his eyes. Emma had broken into a grin, and she started to laugh at Lorcan's face. After a couple of seconds he too was laughing with her.
"Thank you Lorcan," she said again, taking his right hand and lacing her hand through his. "I'd like to do this again."
"Hmmm," Lorcan murmured in reply, "I'd like to do that again," he added.
Emma chuckled and tightened her grip on his hand, and began walking him towards the exit, "maybe later." She said, pulling him through the gate and onto the main road.
A/N: Ahhhhh, now that was a pretty long update! :D
I hope you enjoyed it!