Chapter 34: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw

"Harder. Scorpius."

I cried out and arched my back as my head fell forward and my hands gripped Scorpius's sheets tightly.

I was on all fours on his bed, my long hair pulled to one side and hanging down in front of me, while Scorpius gripped my hips hard enough to bruise and drove into me unforgivingly.

I was moaning loudly and uncontrollably as he hit that spot within me each and every time he sank into me. He was grunting as he thrust into me, and the sounds our bodies were making were erotic as he slapped into my behind with a wet sound. I was so wet—everything was wet. He'd woken me up with his fingers trailing along my back softly as he admired my flesh. He had lifted my shirt up so that he could have access, and I had shivered violently and arched into his touch, scooting closer as my body craved closeness. At the same time that his fingers moved below the waistband of my underwear and sank into me with me still lying on my front but spreading my legs willingly for him, his teeth had sunk into my shoulder and I'd cried out.

He'd twisted his fingers inside me, bringing me to a quick climax before moving behind me and lifting my arse up just enough so that he could yank my underwear down and put his mouth between my legs. I had been helpless, my hands fisting his sheets, half clothed and on fire for him, while he kept a firm grip on my hips to keep me from moving.

The night before, after we'd finished talking in the astronomy tower, he had convinced me to come back to his room, but he hadn't tried anything. We'd gotten undressed slowly, and I didn't look at him because I'd known that if I did, I would have lost it. So I kept my back to him while I slipped out of my jeans and pulled my bra off before slipping one of his t-shirts over my head. He was down to his boxers when I turned to face him and it took all my will power not to jump him when I saw his strong arms and rippling abs tempting me.

I couldn't really say why I'd decided not to, but I had decided much earlier in the night that I couldn't sleep with him last night. I had too much to think about, and when he was taking me to new heights, there was no way I could concentrate on anything but that. Last night, I just wanted to be with him. I just wanted to look at him and talk to him and understand him. So we'd stayed up late in the dark, our eyes adjusting, and laying on our sides just looking at each other as we talked into the night. He'd kept apologizing about what he'd done on Halloween, but I had forgiven him long ago, and then he kept telling me he loved me, which made my heart hurt. He had always been touching me in some way—a hand on my shoulder or my waist or my thigh, trailing and teasing and igniting my skin—but that was as far as it went.

Perhaps that was why now, the morning after, we were both so desperate for each other that we'd hadn't even spoken as we'd ripped what little clothes we'd both been wearing off of each other before ending up like this.

His thick length was sliding in and out at an unforgiving pace, and I wanted him faster, deeper, harder, and he did everything in his power to comply.

Everything was so sensitive. My skin was tingling and even the slightest touch from him had me shivering and moaning. My walls and my bundle of nerves were sensitive after having come twice already and from having him pushing into me like this for so long. I needed release—I wanted to come so badly again—but I also never wanted him to stop. I wanted him like this—pounding into me and bent over me, whispering words of love and affection harshly into my ear.

But I couldn't hold back anymore. My body quickened. As much as I wanted it to go on forever, there was only so much I could take. "Scorpius. Baby, I'm coming," I told him as I pushed back against him, meeting each of his thrusts. He growled and went deeper—almost so deep that it hurt—and I clenched around him before my breath caught in my throat and my orgasm tore through me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I cried out and moaned loudly as he continued to thrust, extending my pleasure until one orgasm rolled into another and I was sobbing. My body couldn't take the pleasure, and it felt so good that I felt tears leaking from my eyes as I came and came, my legs wobbling uncontrollably before they gave out.

I hardly registered Scorpius spilling himself inside me and pushing in a few more times before pulling out slowly and turning me onto my back and brushing my hair away before he began trailing kisses all over me while he whispered words to me that I couldn't make out.

It was still early, and I had a long time before I had to be in class, so as I felt my eyes drifting shut with exhaustion, I gave into it. I curled into Scorpius's arms and pressed my cheek against his chest as he continued to whisper. My mind was incoherent—I was overwhelmed with everything we'd just done and all of my emotions from the last few days were spilling over into this moment. I could feel tears leaking out of the corners of my closed eyes, but I didn't feel sad or upset in any way—it was just my body reacting to everything inside me.

Scorpius was pressing his lips to the top of my head, and I finally caught some of the words he was saying.

"I love you, Rose. I know you love me, too. Just… baby, tell me you love me."

I shivered at the desperation in his words. Why hadn't I said it back yet? I loved him. I had for weeks. But it was like when he told me, suddenly I became terrified. I was scared of what it meant. I was scared that everything was going to change if I told him. As much as I had longed for him to tell me, now that it had happened, I didn't know if I was ready for it.

"Just sleep, baby," he whispered, running a hand through my hair. "But tell me soon… Tell me you love me…"

A bit later, I woke up and showered alone in Scorpius's quarters. Scorpius had to leave early. I didn't have class until later, but he had to get to the Great Hall for breakfast and then back to the classroom for his first class of the day. He'd kissed me on my forehead before he left and told me he loved me. As it did each time when he said it, my heart clenched painfully. I knew he was saying it so it could sink in and so that I would know that he meant it, but I couldn't tell if my heart was clenching with joy or fear.

I finished my shower and dressed into my school clothes. I had a few extra pairs stashed at Scorpius's for when I stayed over. I didn't put on any make up or fix my wet hair. I was just so tired. I'd hardly slept the night before—I was too busy watching Scorpius sleep and wondering why I hadn't told him that I loved him yet. I thought about everything that had happened over the past few weeks and everything that Scorpius and I had talked about the night before.

He loved me.

I tried to hide my smile as I put on my trainers and yanked on my school skirt and white shirt. I yanked my robe over my head and grabbed my bag, and headed out the door.

"Rose?"

I jumped when I heard my name, and I turned around to see Samson Svenson—a beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team and one of Albus's housemates—coming toward me from the direction of Slytherin House.

"Hey, Sam."

Sam jogged a bit to catch up with me, and I slowed a bit to wait for him. He was one of Albus's more friendly housemates. It wasn't to say that all the Slytherins were rude—it was just that they weren't really the type to go out of their way to strike up conversation with a member of another house—least of all, a Gryffindor. Sam was different though. He had dark hair cut short and olive skin and a strong, firm build. He had sharp features—a strong jaw always smattered with stubble, intense hazel eyes that pierced when he looked at you, thick eyebrows, and a blade of a nose. He was actually quite good-looking. His parents were originally from Russia, and occasionally when he spoke I could hear traces of the accent that he grew up with, but normally he spoke with a raspy, somewhat jovial voice. He was several inches taller than me, so when he spoke, I had to actually look up at him.

"What are you doing down here? I didn't see you in our house this morning. Didn't see Albus either…" He muttered, trying to frown, but only succeeding in failing to hide a smirk.

"I left something in the Potions classroom," I said automatically. It was the stock lie I had created for if anyone saw me down here and asked questions. Sam was only the second person to ever question it, and the other had been another Gryffindor who had a Slytherin boyfriend. The only people who ever saw me down here were Slytherins, and they always assumed I'd been hanging out with Albus, or they just didn't care enough about what I was doing to ask. "Albus hasn't been around lately?" I then said with a small chuckle as we began to walk in step with each other. I didn't really feel like chitchat, but I wanted to change the subject quickly since I was dealing with the one inquisitive Slytherin on the planet.

Sam smiled. "He's been too busy with Bossenen."

I returned his smile. "Yeah, they're pretty serious."

"That's good," Sam said. "Better than Scamander." I glanced up and saw the dark look on Sam's face. He looked at me and gave me an apologetic half-smile. "I know he's your friend and all"—not really—"but the two of them were always fighting. In Slytherin and in Ravenclaw. I never got any goddamn relief."

Sam spent a lot of time in Ravenclaw because he also happened to be dating my spectacularly beautiful cousin Dominique. She was tall and thin with long blonde hair and aristocratic, part-veela features. They made an impossibly fucking gorgeous couple. After his last sentence, Sam had looked over his shoulder as if half expecting Dominique to pop up behind him. She hated when he swore.

"Hmm," I said thoughtfully with a smile, shaking my head. "I bet."

"Oh, and Nic told me about your father," he said. "I'm really glad he's okay."

I let out a huff of air in an expression of my own relief. "Same here."

"He's doing all right?"

"Yeah, he's doing well," I said, nodding as we turned a corner. "I got to see him a few weeks ago after he was out of the hospital, and he and Her—my mum have been writing and keeping me updated."

Sam nodded sagely. "Good. Good. You aren't still with that Underwood prat, are you?"

I laughed. Every time I talked to Sam, I forgot how blunt he was and how all of his conversations were constant non sequitors.

"No. Just friends," I said.

"I didn't think so. You've seemed really happy lately, and I feel like being happy and dating Underwood are mutually exclusive."

I threw my head back and laughed loudly. He was right.

I forgot how much I liked Sam. It was also strange because he was so kind and funny and friendly—not really traits that Slytherins were known for—and Dominique was serious and a bit snobbish. But the two of them seemed to fit perfectly. They'd been together for years.

"Very true," I said. "But no, that's over."

"You ready for the game tomorrow?" Another non sequitor.

"Most definitely," I said with a nod. "Hugo has been a slave driver these past few months."

"And you're the new seeker, eh?" He gave me a small nudge with his elbow. "Congrats."

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

"But I still don't think you have a chance against us."

I rolled my eyes and Sam laughed. "Albus seems to think so, too, but I think you might be surprised."

We walked down the corridor and ascended the short flight of stairs that led to the entrance hall and walked into the Great Hall together, talking Quidditch. When we got inside, my head immediately jerked to my right, toward the sound of hushed, upset voices, and I saw a pair of people arguing in the corner. Of course—of fucking course—it was Lysander and Albus. I thought this bullshit would be done once they broke up, but apparently not.

"Typical," Sam said with an eye roll.

Albus spotted me and waved a hand in front of Lysander to tell him to stop. Lysander looked up and saw me, and I saw his pale cheeks pink a bit.

"I'm gonna go deal with this," I said to Sam, jerking my head toward Al and Lysander.

He shrugged. "Good luck."

"Tell Nikki I said hi."

"Will do," he said with a smirk. "See you around, Rose."

I gave him a small wave and then turned back to Al and Lysander. Lysander was gone, having apparently ducked out of the Great Hall, and Albus was standing rooted to the spot, looking at me quizzically. I just gave him an angry look and shook my head before turning and storming out of the Great Hall.

I heard him call my name, but I ignored it as I practically ran around the corner and saw Lysander walking quickly up the stairs.

"Hey!" I called after him. "Scamander!"

He looked over his shoulders and sagged in defeat when he saw me at the bottom of the stairs.

"What, Rose?"

"Get the fuck down here," I said, stomping up the stairs to meet him, which essentially defeated the purpose of my command. Lysander walked down a few steps to meet me, and I stood on a step above him so we could be eye level.

"God damn you, Lysander," I said, shoving at his shoulder. I was pissed, and with good reason. Not only was I on edge about everything happening between me and Scorpius, but I was sick and tired of Lysander and Albus. Albus was finally—finally!—in a good place in his love life. He had Fergie and he was happy, and of course, Lysander Scamander absolutely hated to see Albus Potter happy. He saw to it that Albus was miserable for two fucking years. I was just tired of men thinking they could say and do whatever they wanted and that they would get away with it.

"Rose—"

"Shut up!" I shouted, cutting him off. "You need to leave Albus alone," I said at a lower volume, shoving my finger into his chest on the last word. "Stop trying to ruin his life. He's happy, Lysander. He's happy without you, and you need to. Move. On. Dammit!" I ended with a shout, throwing my hands in the air. Lysander appeared to be speechless—his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide. "Goddammit, Lysander. Don't you see what you're doing? No, of course you don't," I said without allowing him even a second to respond. "You don't see how terrible you are for him. Surely you don't or you would have stopped this bullshit two fucking years ago!"

"This is between Albus and me," Lysander said, finally finding his voice and trying to sound firm.

"No," I said, shoving my finger in his chest again. "You don't get to say it's between the two of you because when you're trying to hurt two people who I care about, it becomes my business, too."

"Well—"

"You said you wanted to be a better friend to me, well, how about being a better friend to Albus—how about being a better fucking person IN GENERAL—"

"Rose." I heard a voice behind me, but I held up a finger to silence whoever it was.

"I've had enough of it. And I swear to god if you try to pull any bullshit again, I will fucking—"

"Ms. Weasley."

I whipped my head around and saw Scorpius standing there, looking impossibly beautiful with his blonde hair tousled and his gray eyes bright with concern.

"Sco—Prof—Professor."

"I think Mr. Scamander got your point."

I clenched my jaw and took several deep breaths. Scorpius gave me a stern look and my anger at Lysander dissipated just a bit. Scorpius seemed to have a calming affect on me. I couldn't focus on hating Lysander when all I could think about how much I loved Scorpius and wanted to throw my arms around him. I whipped my head around to Lysander.

"Just leave him alone, Lysander," I said, my voice low. "I mean it."

Lysander looked at me sadly and then just shook his head and turned to sulk up the stairs. I rolled my eyes and then turned back to Scorpius.

"Hi," I said. I was a few steps above him on the stairs, and all I wanted was to throw myself forward into his arms. I was so on edge, and even though he was part of the reason, I still needed the comfort of his arms.

"Hello, gorgeous," he whispered. "Everything okay?"

I shrugged. "Not really." I moved to walk down the stairs and he walked beside me. "I really wish you could put your arms around me," I whispered honestly.

I was looking down at my feet on the stairs, and I heard his sharp intake of breath. "Rose."

I looked up at him.

"I love you," he mouthed. My heart leapt, and I couldn't help it—I reached out to squeeze his hand briefly. He returned the squeeze and then pulled his hand away quickly. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk about it?"

I didn't know if he was referring to him not being able to put his arms around me, or what had just happened with Lysander, but I shook my head. I didn't want to talk about either. "How was class?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Fine. The first years make me laugh," he said with a small smile.

"Because they're such idiots?" I asked with a smirk. He shook his head at me, but he didn't say anything, which told me the answer. He just couldn't voice it because he was their professor.

"You have Transfiguration in a bit?"

I nodded, feeling my mood lift by just being able to talk normally with Scorpius. "Yeah. Ugh, Loodle gave us so much work. You need to have a talk with your bestie."

Scorpius smirked at me. "My bestie?"

"Yeah, well besides Flitwick."

He rolled his eyes at me, trying to contain a smirk, and shook his head. "Whatever. Have you heard from your father?"

"I got a letter yesterday morning. He's still doing fine."

"Good, Rose," he said sincerely with a nod. "I'm glad." He paused, and I could tell he wanted to say something else so I didn't fill the gap. "You look beautiful," he said quietly.

I gasped and looked at him. "Don't."

"What?" He frowned.

"I already want to jump your bones as it is."

He grinned, and we made it to the doors of the Great Hall. "Come by after class if you want to hang out or something."

I arched an eyebrow at him. "Hang out?" I smirked and walked ahead of him so I could go and sit with Albus at the Slytherin table. "Yeah, right," I said with my back to him. I could sense his grin.

When I sat down next to Albus, he didn't look up at me.

"I don't want to talk about it, and I don't need to hear a lecture."

Fine. Whatever, I thought to myself. We can play it like that. I raised my eyebrows and sat down next to him without a word, scooping stuff onto my plate once I sat. Several moments of silence passed before I saw Albus turn his head out of the corner of my eye. I didn't say anything, and I didn't look at him. If he was going to snap at me and say he didn't want to talk about it or "hear a lecture," then he wouldn't get a peep out of me. I was tired of talking about him and Lysander anyway.

"Well?"

I glanced over at him before looking forward again and shoving a bite of potatoes into my mouth. "Well, what?" I said with my mouth full.

"I hate when you talk with your mouth full. Well, what do you want to say about Lysander?"

"Nothing I didn't already say to him."

Albus sighed. "I wish you wouldn't have gone after him. What did you say?"

I shrugged. "I thought you didn't want to talk about it."

"Rose—"

"Albus, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of this shit with the two of you. If you want him, then just fucking be with him. But don't string Fergie along because you're lonely. He loves you, and you owe him at least that much."

"That's what we were arguing about," Albus said quietly. "He wants me back, and I told him I loved Fergie and that he couldn't keep doing this."

I raised my eyebrows and looked at Albus. Well, that was something completely different. I didn't expect that at all. "I take it he didn't take it well."

Albus snorted. "Of course not. What did you say to him?"

"I told him to leave you the hell alone," I said forcefully. "And if he doesn't, he'll have to answer to me."

"I'm sure you have him shaking in his boots," Albus said sarcastically.

I scoffed. "I may have stopped being the biggest bitch in school because I'm all happy and in love now, but that doesn't mean she isn't lurking inside me somewhere."

"In love, huh?"

I looked over at Albus and he was smirking. I punched him in the shoulder and went back to sulking into my plate. I didn't have time for this.

I spent the night with Scorpius again. He was still doing everything he could to make up for Halloween, and I didn't know if my body could take much more of his "apologies."

It was the day of the first Quidditch match of the year—Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw—and I was exhausted from the work out Scorpius had put me through the night before and this morning. Hugo wasn't going to be pleased if he knew I hadn't gotten much sleep. And I felt a soreness between my legs that only aroused me when I thought about the cause of it, which was another thing Hugo wouldn't appreciate—distractions.

The memory of Scorpius wishing me luck was also clouding my brain, making me smile and giggle like a stupid idiot as I walked down to the pitch.

"I think you're trying to sabotage Gryffindor."

Scorpius smiled at me sweetly from his spot on the bed, bending his arms and putting them behind his bed and stretching out his bare torso. I looked at him through the mirror, and I tried not to stare. But it was just so hard not to.

"Why in the world would I do that?"

"Because you want Slytherin to win the cup, and you know Gryffindor is their only real competition."

Scorpius laughed, and I watched his Adam's apple bob as he did so. It gave me the urge to run my teeth down his neck.

"And how, pray tell, am I trying to sabotage the Gryffindor Quidditch team?"

"By exhausting their seeker with sex."

Scorpius laughed loudly again, and I rolled my eyes at him before turning and going over to hop on the end of the bed near his feet so I could face him. God, he looked so good, stretched out, with the blanket just resting at his hips, threatening to slip down at any moment.

"Rose, you're going to be incredible today. I just can't help it that you make me constantly hard."

I gasped and reached for a pillow so I could smack him with it. He blocked it and laughed, but it wasn't really meant to hit him. It was mainly to distract him so I could hide my blush at his words. It always made me shy—but also hot as hell—when he said things like that.

When Scorpius smacked the pillow away, he reached forward and grabbed my wrist, yanking me toward him. I yelped but had no choice to give in, and before I knew it, I was cradled in his arms, my head resting on his chest and his arm around my shoulders. The hand attached to that arm was playing with a lock of my hair, while the other hand was resting on my wrist while my fingers splayed out on his chest and explored the blonde hair there.

"I'm nervous," I said quietly, voicing my fear for the first time. I felt like I was back in fourth year, playing my first game. I had never played seeker before in a real game, and I was afraid I was going to make a fool of myself.

Scorpius gave my wrist a small squeeze. "Hey."

I tilted my head back so I could look up at him. "You're going to be great," he said. "Hugo knows what he's doing, and if he has faith in your abilities, why don't you?"

"I—I guess I do. I just—"

"He made you seeker because you were the best one for the position. And I've seen you play, and he's right. You are incredibly fast."

I smiled shyly and he tapped my nose with his finger and smiled back. "Always keep your back to the sun." I felt my smile slip, and I tensed a bit as Scorpius began to give me advice. I knew I probably looked eager for the information he was giving me, but I didn't care how I looked. Scorpius had been an incredible seeker back in his day, and any advice he gave was welcome.

"That's an elementary thing that people often forget," he was saying. "When the sun is in your eyes, you won't be able to see the snitch as well. But if your back is to it, a little glint off the snitch can win the game for you."

"Okay," I said breathlessly, hanging onto his every word.

"Only pay attention to what you see. Ignore the other seeker. This is risky, but if you focus on yourself and what your own eyes see, you won't be fooled by a distracted seeker or one who's trying to distract you. Okay?"

"Yes. Okay."

"And if you see that the snitch is near the other seeker and you can't possibly get to it in time, feint. Most other seekers spend too much of their time focused on the other seeker. If it's too close to him and he doesn't see it and you feint, nine times out of ten, he'll come flying in whatever direction you go in." He nodded at me, and I nodded in return to let him know I understood. His voice was a bit quieter on his next sentence. "Don't be afraid to take risks. You may miss out on something amazing if you don't."

I grinned like a fool. I knew he was talking about me—I was a risk he took—us—and he was glad he took that risk. I recognized the double meaning in his words. Today I would take risks. Today I would drown everything else out—the crowd, the other seeker, and the fact that I still hadn't told this man I was crazy about that I loved him, too. Today I would put my back to the sun, and its heat would blanket me and protect me from everything.

Today, I would catch the snitch.

Next chapter:

Rose has a secret...