It's official - I've got the nicest reviewers on the site! Thanks for your kind words.
Two more chapters to go! ~ Louisam
Quidditch, decided Scorpius, was possibly the best thing in the world to get rid of sexual frustration. There was nothing like hanging upside down off a broom, high in the air, going at what felt like a hundred miles per hour, to dampen one's ardour.
He had definitely gotten to Rose that day, he knew it. He'd pretty much caressed every exposed piece of skin he could find (neck, earlobe, forearm) and he had watched, entranced, as she flushed a becoming pink every time. When he'd tucked a loose strand of soft, curly hair behind her ear, she'd gazed up at him with her mouth slightly open, and then the tip of her tongue had slipped out and wet that pink, plump lower lip. He groaned at the memory – he'd never wanted to snog someone so much in his life. Then when she'd pressed her breast up against his arm, his trousers had tightened painfully and he'd looked deep into her eyes, wanting her to press even closer. She'd looked back at him with those innocent blue eyes, and then slowly eased away. That in itself was, he was sure, going to feature prominently in his dreams tonight.
Scorpius heard an ominous whistling and dived sharply just in time to avoid being thoroughly clobbered by a bludger, which had been sent his way by one of his Beaters, Lysander Scamander. The guy might be odd, but he had one hell of an arm on him.
"Nice one, Scamander – try and it save it for the Slytherins, yeah?" shouted Mark, who was a talented Chaser. "We don't want to kill our Captain before the big game." He flew over to Scorpius's side.
"Of course, it doesn't help that our dear Captain's head isn't exactly in the game, is it?" he said slyly.
Scorpius shot him a filthy look designed to shut him up, and then remembered belatedly that Mark didn't possess a sensitive bone in his body would therefore be oblivious.
"I'd say your head is somewhere in Gryffindor tower, finishing what you started today!"
"So what did you think?" Scorpius asked, trying for casual but dying to know what his friend thought. "Oi, Scamander – the Bludger went that way!"
"Oh, she's hot for you alright," said Mark matter-of-factly, as he lobbed the Quaffle at the new Chaser, Abby Butler. Performing a mid-air handbrake turn, she seized it and hurtled towards the goals, scoring effortlessly through the centre hoop, dark hair flying out behind her. "She seems a bit nervous though – not sure what that's all about, but since when have I ever attempted to understand the workings of the female mind?"
Scorpius rolled his eyes. Mark was usually into female bodies, not minds, and had gotten himself into a lot of trouble that way. "So I'm not imagining it?"
"Not a chance," chortled Mark, laughing at the antics of the two Chasers below as they tried to forcibly remove the Quaffle from each other. "Hey, I like this new Chaser – she doesn't back down from a fight. Knock it off, you two – we're supposed to be on the same side!" And he sailed down to referee.
Scorpius finished the practice in a daze. After another half hour of drills, he shouted to his team to get themselves to dinner before it was over, and took a final quick spin around the pitch by himself, trying to calm his racing thoughts. Suddenly, he spotted a figure sitting in the stands, and recognised the ruffled dark hair and glint of spectacles. He flew over and dismounted his broom, walking up the stairs to where Albus Potter was sitting.
"Checking out the competition, Potter?" he asked, with a touch of heat. "Our game's not for another month."
"Actually, I'm here to talk to you about something else," said Albus, looking at him square in the eye.
Scorpius raised an eyebrow, and went over to stand in front of him. "Yeah?"
Albus sat back and crossed his arms. "So, I gather that your aim in life right now is to get into my cousin's knickers, right?" he said, gazing out at the goal hoops.
For a second, Scorpius felt like he'd swallowed his own tongue. "What? NO!" he protested, once he'd gotten control of his voice again.
Albus looked sceptically at him, and said nothing.
"OK, Potter, she's gorgeous and I'm a normal sixteen year old male!" complained Scorpius, going redder than he'd ever been in his life. "But I'm not sure I'm comfortable having this conversation with you – are there more of your lot here, waiting to hex me into pixie dust?" He looked anxiously over his shoulder.
"Nope, just me," said Albus, stretching his legs out in front of him.
"So this is the 'big brother' talk, is it?"
"Yeah, you can take it as that," said Albus, fixing him with an eagle stare.
"I thought it would that would be James's job, since he's the oldest."
"James," declared Albus, "has his head so far up his own arse he's about to get a look at his tonsils. Nope, Rosie is my favourite cousin and my best friend, so I thought I'd just come and have a little chat to you."
"Don't ask me to declare my intentions, because I haven't got a sodding clue. She's all hot and cold on me – no idea what's going on inside her head at all. Girls are a mystery to me, and damn it, she's got me chasing my own tail. But Potter, I do actually like her a lot too – and that, I can assure you, has nothing whatsoever to do with her knickers."
Again, Albus said nothing, just looking at him with that cool green stare.
"Do you think she's pretty?" he asked eventually, after an uncomfortable silence.
"Again, let me just state for the record that talking about this to you is making me seriously uncomfortable," said Scorpius crossly. "But yes, I do. I think she's stunning." He flopped down on a nearby seat.
Albus sighed and looked up at the stars that were starting to appear. "Let me give you a bit of insight into Rose," he said slowly. "She works twice as hard as everyone else to keep up her marks, because her mother is so clever and everyone expects her to be as smart as the great Hermione Granger-Weasley. Rose is the sensible one who takes care of the rest of the family, and I have to tell you, that's no picnic. She's given up Quidditch, which she loves, because she thinks people won't take her seriously, and she's honest, and caring, and the best friend I've ever had.
"The last thing, however, that Rose sees herself as is attractive, and I'm willing to bet she cannot understand for the life of her why a bloke like you – who could have anyone – would show an interest in her."
Scorpius was dumbfounded. "Why, in Merlin's name, doesn't she think she's pretty? Haven't any you ever told her that she is?"
"Yeah, all the time, but we're family so she thinks we're just being kind," said Albus. "You need to understand what it's like for her. Aunt Hermione puts more stock into brains than looks, and she's never really been into make-up and clothes and that sort of stuff... so neither is Rose. On top of that, Rose is the next-oldest female cousin to two part-Veelas – you remember Victoire and Dominique, don't you?"
Indeed he did, as did every other boy in the sixth and seventh years, usually in dreams of the more x-rated variety. Victoire Weasley had been in her last year of Hogwarts when he was in his first, but he clearly remembered her perfect fall of silver-blonde hair and alluring smile. Dominique Weasley, who was a redhead and a complete knockout, could vanquish male hearts with just a glance, yet Scorpius had always thought that using Veela blood for getting conquests was playing with an unfair advantage. Rose, who had softer, more girl-next-door looks, was much more his type.
"So Rose looks at them, and she looks at herself, and she just doesn't rate herself in the attractiveness department at all," continued Albus. "On top of that, she's got Lily – who's not backwards in coming forwards when she likes someone – catching and discarding boyfriends left, right and centre. Can you see why Rose is the way she is, and why she might be nervous around someone like you?"
"Yeah, I can. But this isn't a one-time-only deal for me, Potter – I think she's amazing. She's smart and funny – and one of the few people who can hold her own against people like James, and that's just brilliant. I can't believe she hasn't had a boyfriend yet!"
"Only one – a Muggle she met on the summer hols in fifth year," said Albus, pushing his glasses up his nose. Scorpius struggled briefly with a searing flash of jealousy. "Nothing serious, bit of hand-holding and snogging, but then at the end of the holidays he went back to Ireland and that was that. She didn't seem too heart-broken about it, I must say. But you ..." and he observed Scorpius keenly, "I think she could get quite hung up on you, if she isn't already. And I think you could end up hurting her badly, considering her lack of self esteem."
"I've got no intention of hurting her," said Scorpius with as much dignity as he could muster. "If she ever gives me a hint that she's interested, that is."
Albus sighed and got to his feet. "You want to win her over?" he asked. "Shit, I can't believe I'm going to help you, but the tension between the two of you is ridiculous."
"Any hints would be helpful, yeah," said Scorpius cautiously.
"You need to get past her logical side, and make a grand, romantic gesture," said Albus. "But you need to mean it, Malfoy – if you're just playing with her I swear I will pound you into Thestral food with my bare hands."
Albus got up and started down the stairs. As he got to the bottom, he turned around.
'Oh, and one other thing," he called. "My sources tell me the Slytherin Keeper, Argyle, flew into his own goalposts yesterday afternoon and cracked three ribs on the right side. If you get your Chasers to aim for the hoops on his right, he's less likely to go for it because he's protecting his injury."
"Thanks," said Scorpius. "Er... why are you helping us?"
Albus shrugged. "If you beat the Slytherins in this game, it adds to the chances of them not being in the semi's or the finals," he said frankly. "But Malfoy – as I said, don't you dare hurt Rosie. Dumbledore himself wouldn't be able to save you if you do."
"Got it."
"And one last thing? Tell your mate Goldstein to stay away from Beth Macmillan – that one's mine. She just doesn't know it yet."
Saturday morning dawned crisp and clear. Autumn was on its way in, and the first cool breezes had begun to creep through the castles in the early mornings and evenings. Today's match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin was scheduled for 3 o'clock, to take advantage of one of the last afternoons of summer.
Rose had slept heavily and woken late, thanks to some Dreamless Sleep potion Beth had given her. Beth was prone to getting the vapours around exams (usually due the fact that she never did enough revising), and her mum had given her some of the potion to ensure she at least got some rest during those times and didn't get a home as a gibbering mess.
On waking, Rose stretched, feeling refreshed. On the table next to her bed was a napkin containing two slices of toast with marmalade, an apple and a note.
Thought you could use the sleep so I didn't wake you for breakfast. Scorpius was looking for you (and looking divine in Muggle jeans, I might add) and gave me a parcel for you. It's at the foot of the bed. See you later! ~ Beth
Rose sat up quickly, and immediately spotted the brown paper parcel lying on her bed. She grabbed it and found a note attached to the outside, in Scorpius' elegant script.
I hope I'm not assuming too much, but I'd like to think you'll be supporting Ravenclaw this afternoon! If I see you wearing one of these, I can win anything. Love, Scorpius.
Rose felt a thrill run down her spine, and she quickly ripped the package open. Inside was a Ravenclaw scarf and jumper – clearly belonging to Scorpius, as they both smelt deliciously of his earthy cologne. She gathered up the scarf and buried her nose in it, inhaling his scent. Rose put it around her neck, then read the note again. Love, Scorpius.
Today was going to be absolutely fantastic.
She spent the morning in her room, going through some Potions notes, and then at lunchtime met up with Beth to go down to the Great Hall to get something to eat. She proudly wound the Ravenclaw scarf around her neck, hoping to spot Scorpius so that he would see her wearing it.
Her wish was granted when she arrived for lunch and found the Great Hall louder than usual. Things always got very excitable on match day, and today was no exception. Scorpius was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, surrounded by his team and supporters. Suddenly shy, Rose couldn't bring herself to go over to him, so she walked over to the Gryffindor table to sit with her friends.
After a few minutes, the Ravenclaw team stood to go and do warm-ups, and Rose looked up at Scorpius. His eyes searched the Gryffindor table, and when he saw her wearing his scarf, his face lit up. She beamed back at him and mouthed "good luck", to him, and then, feeling a little more daring, she blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it and press it to his lips, and she felt herself go pink with delight. He gave her a small wave, and then was gone on a tide of blue and bronze.
Shortly afterwards, Albus and Beth suggested they head for the Quidditch pitch, to make sure they got good seats.
"OK, I'll meet you there – just need to stop at the girls bathrooms," said Rose, hopping over the bench. "See you now!"
She was just washing her hands in the bathroom when she heard whispering from outside.
"She's in there!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I just saw her go in alone."
Suddenly, three girls from the Gaggle, lead by Annie Fairweather, burst in, and Rose suddenly found herself on the business end of Annie's wand.
"What are you doing, Fairweather?" Rose demanded, trying to reach behind her to her back pocket to get her own wand. "I am a prefect – how dare you?"
Annie poked her wand under Rose's chin. "Don't move, Weasley, or I'll give you boils from here to kingdom come," the Hufflepuff girl sneered. "I just want to know – what potion did you use?"
"What?"
"What love potion, idiot? The one you've used to trap Malfoy! I know he'd never look at someone like you otherwise. Was it Amortentia?"
Rose was astounded. "I haven't used anything, you idiot! Scorpius and I are just friends!"
Fairweather laughed, the sound harsh and echoing. "Don't believe it. Not for a damn second, Weasley! He's hardly even spoke to you before, but now he's all over you and I'm going to find out why!"
Rose had had enough. Grabbing her own wand, she pushed her face into Fairweather's and spoke slowly and clearly. "Have you ever thought about how much you've intimidated him, by behaving the way you do around him? He hates it, Fairweather! All that giggling and whispering – he feels like a fool when you behave like that. And why would a guy want to date anyone who does that to him? Yes, we've become friends, and yes, it might turn into something more, but it's because I treat him normally, not the way you do. You should try it sometime."
She straightened up and glared at the speechless girl. Fairweather was staring at her, shocked, her mouth working, but no words were coming out.
"Now let me go, and I'll forget this ever happened," said Rose firmly, pushing past the girls, who parted to let her go. She was just breathing a sigh of relief when she heard a shriek of "Petrificus Totalus!" from behind her, and her body fell stiffly to the floor, wand clutched and useless in her hand.
Fairweather stepped over her, eyes blazing, and turned Rose over. "You bitch," she spat. "You'll pay for saying that."
She fingered the Ravenclaw scarf. "Is this his? It is, isn't it? Well, it's mine now – and try and prove that it isn't." She grabbed the scarf from Rose's neck and wound it around her own.
"Enjoy the game, Weasley!" she sniggered, and then the three of them walked out of the bathroom laughing, leaving Rose Petrified on the cold stone floor.
Struggle as she might, Rose was helpless. Time ticked slowly past and she felt tears of frustration leaking out of her eyes. Scorpius said he'd look for me, and I won't be there, she railed silently. What on earth is he going to think?
Suddenly a voice spoke from above her. "Well, what have we here? It's the little Weasley girl, isn't it?"
And there, floating spectrally above her, was Moaning Myrtle. Rose stared pleadingly at her, trying to beg silently for help.
"Shouldn't you be at the game? I'd love to go, but I can't, you know," said Myrtle conversationally, settling on the top of the nearest stall and crossing her transparent legs.
Rose looked at her for a bit longer, then realised that she was fighting a losing battle and began to get really angry. They'd been practicing non-verbal incantations for some time in class, and Rose was on the brink of getting it right. I've got to do this... I'm holding my wand, even though I can't feel it. Come on, Rose!
Myrtle started prattling on and on about how nice it was to have company, and why didn't she say anything, when the dam of frustration and panic finally burst.
FINITE INCANTATEM! she screamed in her mind, so hard she thought it might have actually popped a blood vessel in her temple. And to her complete amazement, the spell loosened and she went limp on the floor.
"Oooh, however did you manage that?" asked Myrtle curiously as Rose staggered to her feet, rage surging through her.
"Thanks for nothing, Myrtle," she snarled, before taking off at a full tilt run.
She headed down to the Quidditch pitch as fast as she could, and she could hear the roar of the crowd getting closer and closer.
"And we're at a tie, folks – 60 points each, and no sign of the Snitch!"
Rose went skidding into the stands, and stood still for a second, searching around. There! she thought, seeing Annie Fairweather standing cheering with a group of friends. She pointed her wand directly at the Hufflepuff girl.
"Accio Scorpius' scarf!" she yelled, and it unravelled rapidly from Fairweather's throat, nearly strangling her, before sailing through the air where Rose caught it deftly with one hand. Annie turned around, grasping her neck where a vivid fabric burn was starting to appear, and stared uncomprehendingly at Rose.
Rose touched her wand to her throat and spoke in a whisper while maintaining eye contact with the shocked girl. "That's fifty points off Hufflepuff for attacking a prefect, Fairweather," she whispered, knowing that it would carry directly – and only- to Annie's ear. "And if you come near me or Scorpius again, I promise I will have you in detention every Friday night for the rest of the year, shovelling Hippogryff manure from the paddocks. Are we clear?"
Shocked, Annie simply nodded and sat down with a thump. Rose looked towards the Gryffindor section, where she quickly spotted Albus and Beth. She negotiated her way through the cheering crowds, as the commentator announced another goal for Ravenclaw. Finally she made it over to her friends, and sat down with relief.
"Where on earth have you been, Rosie?" said Albus, not taking his eyes off the action on the pitch. "That was a long bathroom visit."
"Tell you later," muttered Rose, not keen to share her humiliation. "How are things going?"
"Better now – the Ravenclaw Chasers are working together and – yes! Another goal!" shouted Albus, nearly deafening her.
"I think Scorpius has been looking for you – he keeps checking over here," said Beth in a low voice. "See – he's doing it again!"
Rose looked around the pitch for Scorpius, and spotted him on the other side, where he was being tailed closely by the Slytherin Seeker. He did seem to be scanning the Gryffindor section, and when he saw her he smiled broadly and gave her a thumbs up. Not caring who was watching, Rose leapt to her feet and waved back wildly, taking off the Ravenclaw scarf and flapping it around her head.
It wasn't twenty minutes later when the action started heating up. The Ravenclaws had scored twice more ("Yes! Scorpius obviously passed on my intel," said Albus smugly) and the Slytherins were getting frustrated and resorting to some dirty play that saw one of their Beaters being sent off. An argument erupted between Mark Goldstein and Silas Greengrass (who was indeed looking stripey – James had obviously done his worst), and it looked to be heading towards fisticuffs when the commentator shrieked: "Yes! And Malfoy has spotted the Snitch!"
Her heart in her mouth, Rose leapt to her feet along with the rest of the crowd as Scorpius performed a steep dive, heading straight towards the Slytherin goalposts. The Keeper, Argyle, gaped in horror as Scorpius bulleted straight towards him, the Slytherin Keeper hot on his tail. Performing a complicated twist and roll manoeuvre, Scorpius shot straight through the centre hoop, grabbing the Snitch from where it had been hiding close to Argyle's shoulder. To the roar of the crowd, he raised his hand in triumph, holding aloft the small golden ball.
Screaming in delight, Rose turned to hug Beth, and was a bit surprised when her friend pushed her away. "Look, Rose, look!"
Scorpius was flying towards her, grinning broadly. He stopped to hover right in front of her. "For you, my lady," he shouted over the noise. "You're my good luck charm, so I want you to have this."
He pressed his lips to the Snitch, and then held it out to her, and damn it if he wasn't blushing as hard as a Weasley.
Openmouthed, Rose took the Snitch from his hand, while every girl around her chorused: "Awww!" She couldn't tear her eyes away from his, and he looked into hers so intensely that she almost melted right in front of him.
"You're coming to the party tonight at the Ravenclaw common-room, right?" Scorpius yelled. "You too, Potter, and Beth? Be at the entrance at seven – I'll let you in!" And with that, he gave Rose another beaming smile, and then soared away to join the melee in the centre of the pitch where his team was already wildly celebrating.
Rose watched him go, speechless, and then looked down at the tiny Snitch she held in her hand. And she might have been wrong, but she could have sworn she heard Albus mutter "nice one, Malfoy", but when she looked at him he was simply watching the Ravenclaws tear around the stadium, a small smile on his lips. Sometimes, that boy was like a Sphinx.
Beth hugged her around the shoulders. "So now do you believe me that he's interested?" she said into her ear. Rose stared at her, and nodded dumbly. "Right, it's back to Gryffindor tower with you. We've got some work to do on you for tonight!"