Chapter Nine

Rose is told a tale

The lesson didn't get much better for the Gryffindors they lost a subsequent seventeen points. Rose lost ten for healing a large gash on Max's forehead. The other seven points were lost by various Gryffindor's trying to ask Max about the fight and inevitably getting caught by Professor Cain. By lunch the fight had already done the rumor mill Rose overheard one second year tell another that Max had broken Scorpius' leg. Abi Longbottom informed her jovially that Scorpius was obviously unstable. Roses mind was confused Scorpius' family had certainly earned a name over the years but all her years in Hogwarts Scorpius himself had been fairly certainly he had even outdone her on the potions OWL but he had never been openly antagonistic with the Gryffindors off the Quidditch pitch. Yet she couldn't deny that he had been rude about her at the ball and despite what Max had said and whatever it meant it was Scorpius who had instigated the fight. Prof McGonagall had caught up with Max and Rose before lunchtime giving him detention for a week and chastising Rose for not looking out properly. Rose was slightly indignant Max was well built and over six foot tall if he decided to get into a fight there was next to zero she could do about it.

The questions continued from other students throughout the day. Max took Marianna's usual seat beside Rose for their afternoon classes. Rose tried to catch Marianna to say sorry and hoped her best friend didn't think she was abandoning her. But each time she looked up Marianna hid herself behind her curtain of brown hair and looked at her desk as though amazed by it's contents. After a while Rose thought that Marianna was avoiding her.

After dinner Rose had planned on getting her charms essay done but as she went to leave the Gryffindor common room for the library she heard Albus shout to her,

"Come on Rose, leave the books Max is going to tell us about the fight." Rose's curiosity peaked and despite her growing homework load and the voice in her head telling her she ought to know better (for some reason it sounded like her mother) she sat down on the sofa opposite Max. It was a tight squeeze Albus, Roxanne and Hugo where already sat on it with a number of younger students gathering around the carpet in front. Rose was surprised that Max was willing to talk in front of people after keeping quiet all day.

"I was brought up by the Malfoy's." That was not a sentence Rose had expected and in spite of herself her mouth dropped open. Max either didn't see it or ignored it. "My parents died in the war, at least my mum did I don't know who my father was. So I was left to my godparents Astoria and Draco Malfoy."

"The war?" interrupted Roxanne "the battle of Hogwarts was over twenty years ago you're the same age as Rose and Al aren't you?"

"Yes my mum wasn't killed in the war proper but one if those skirmishes that took place afterwards about eight years later."

"Oh," Roxanne added she knew those little battles had often been as dangerous as the war itself with another fifteen or so dying on the side of light before the aurors finally captured all Voldemort's supporters or in a couple of occasions killed them.

"Anyway at about one I was unceremoniously dumped on the steps of the Malfoys. They were so kind to me brought me up like their son, Draco even put me before Scorpius sometimes I think that is where the resentment came from. My mum had apparently specified I was sent to one of the European schools of magic so I went to Beauxbatons paid for by Mr. Malfoy. During this time I was growing close to Arabella Malfoy, Scorpius' little sister. Then in my fifth year Draco died suddenly bad case of pneumonia muggle disease but before they knew what it was he passed away. Astoria died six months later exhaustion the healers said but I think it was heartbreak. I have never seen a couple so in love as they were she simply couldn't live without him. Before Astoria died Scorpius cut off the funding for my education and forbade me ever to talk to Arabella again. I sent owls but after a while they began to be returned un-opened."

"So why the move to Hogwarts?" Albus asked.

"Well I had my birthday in October and came of age I want to settle in UK so I decided to come to Hogwarts."

"Nothing to do with Arabella Malfoy?" Albus asked inquisitively and Rose wondered if he had gone too far with someone he barely knew. Max issued a dramatic sigh.

"No," he almost whispered eventually "I loved Arabella call it puppy love, teenage crush if you wish but leaving her was the hardest thing I ever did. It's taken me a year to get over her."

The younger female students sat in front of the sofa sighed looking at Max with large eyes. Rose chuckled a little to herself. The story was over and as no one had any wish to add one of their own which couldn't really compete with Max's. The younger students dispersed and Albus went off in search of Alexandra leaving Roxanne, Rose and Hugo sat with Max opposite Max who was staring into the embers of the dying fire. Rose made her own excuses gathering her books, parchment etc that she had left on the floor and headed for the library. She felt a little guilty a story like that had no doubt left Max feeling tumultuous but she really did need to get her essay done. She resolved to make it up to him later. Walking down the corridor in this fashion she bumped into someone.

"Mari," she smiled happily once the parchment had stopped fluttering I haven't seen you in ages.

"Err hi Rose," Marianna stammered.

"Are you ok?" Rose asked I have a feeling that you have been avoiding me.

"No I have just been busy NEWTs you know so much work,"

"Yes are you-"

"I am seeing Louis," Marianna burst out before she had really thought about it

"Louis Weasley ?" Rose asked screwing up her nose "my-"

"Yes your cousin Rose don't say anything don't look at me like that don't judge me. I am plain Rose with three older more talent and prettier siblings for someone to even glance my way is rare so don't you judge me don't you dare." With this Marianna left Rose in the middle of the corridor paper fluttering around her. Deciding she certainly couldn't concentrate now Rose headed back towards the common room.

"Anyone else?" She thought aloud "anyone else got an issue they need to vent with me?" Thoughts like this really should never be spoken aloud they just ask for trouble. At that moment Lily came rushing past Rose knocking her again and sending the paper spinning throughout the air. Her face was tearstained and her eyes red rimmed. Rose gathered her papers a second time and went after Lily.