4. Sanctuary
Author's Note: The title of this story is a song by Kelly Clarkson, this chapter title is a song by Delta Goodrem. I don't own these, and I don't own Harry Potter either.
Enter another of my OCs: Noel Hunter! As much as I despise adding totally new characters in, he's pretty important.
This chapter totally reminds me of the Girl's Aloud version of 'Teenage Dirtbag', so go listen. xD You'll know exactly what I mean.
Over the next couple of weeks, Rose found out some useless but nevertheless interesting facts about Scorpius Malfoy. Apparently, he had been born with really odd auburn-brown hair, which had all fallen out before the age of one and left him bald as an egg until the white-blond sprouted through. His father, Draco – a subject which had been most carefully breached considering the history between the Weasleys and the Malfoys – owned a company that made magic-powered devices, including Wizard's Wireless radios and was hardly ever at home. His mother, Astoria, was a 'vain and hard-faced bitch' – a quote from Scorpius himself – who didn't work and spent all her time going out with fancy ex-Death-Eater wives for brunch. Scorpius didn't go home during any of the school holidays because, frankly, he was happier at school.
In turn, Scorpius had found out that Rose had a fear of spiders that she'd inherited from her father and that when she was five she had broken her cousin James' finger when he wouldn't stop prodding her. Scorpius had found that fact particularly hilarious. He had discovered that her father, Ronald, (another subject that they had found uncomfortable to talk about) was a terrible driver who only passed his test because he Confunded the examiner. Her mother, Hermione, worked for the ministry and handled her charity for house elves (S.P.E.W.) in her spare time.
They swapped trivia about one another as often as they could- in lessons, at break times, whenever they casually bumped into one another in the corridor. What they hadn't done, however, was come public about their friendship. Scorpius had no problems with letting people know that he and Rose Weasley actually got on, but Rose was worried about James. Why risk ruining a good thing by getting James involved? She also worried about her Gryffindor friends. Whereas Scorpius had no friends to lose over their situation, Rose did. Plenty of the people she hung around with were wary and distrusting of the Ravenclaw. They could very well ditch her if they found out she was good friends with him. It was a selfish thing to feel, she knew, but she couldn't help it.
Rose was thinking about the things she had learned as she walked to the library – her safe haven – on a chilly, late-October Sunday morning. Since it was the weekend, she had dressed casually in jeans, a printed tee and a long cardigan. The stone corridors of Hogwarts were cold and difficult to brave, but Rose needed something new to read. There hadn't been a Hogsmeade trip so far – it was too early in the year – and she hadn't been able to acquire any new material. Her dorm-mates' steamy witch romances got boring after she'd read the same story by different authors over and over and over again. She needed something challenging and interesting to pore over.
So, off to the library she went.
She was immensely shocked to find the crowd of people gathered around the library and inside it, but slightly relieved as the temperature had gone up. It was a Sunday, though- these people were usually in bed. What were they doing all over her sanctuary, along with unsightly orange fliers? She received an answer to the former the second she walked through the doors and saw the blinding white smile behind the librarian's desk. Letting her suddenly dazed eyes crawl upwards, she took in the wide tanned face with the strong jaw line; the round pink lips; the dark, dark brown eyes; the wonderfully wavy, shining mahogany hair and the heartbreaking smile that was aimed straight at her.
"Rosie!" Noel Hunter called out, bounding from behind the counter and rushing up to her. He pulled her into a hug so hard it made her blush, and affectionately ruffled her loose red locks. "Oh, my Rosie. Isn't she pretty?" he asked nobody in particular. Nobody replied. "You've grown up so much since last year, babe. How are you?"
"Um, great," Rose replied, attempting to subtly straighten her mussed hair. "How're you?"
"I've never been better, sweetheart. It's been so weird to come back here, though, not even a year after I left, and start getting treated as staff. I get to actually prowl the forbidden section of the library without getting a pass from anyone, and I'm telling you: that has been awesome."
"So, what are you doing here then? Roxanne said something about you wanting to be a teacher," Rose said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was becoming increasingly clear that she fidgeted when she was nervous.
Noel flashed his brilliant smile again, glancing over to the librarian's desk where Roxanne herself stood. "Ah, Roxie- she's been an absolute babe to me since I've come back."
I bet she has, Rose couldn't help but think venomously.
"But yeah," Noel went on. "I'm sticking around as library assistant for a couple of years while I get my shit together and then I'm getting proper teacher training at the Ministry of Magic."
"That sounds really cool," Rose admitted. Teaching had been one of the things that she had considered as a career after school, as well. She hoped that Noel would return to Hogwarts after his training so that she could grill him on what it was like- among things.
"So anyway," Noel said, changing the subject so quickly that it almost made Rose's head spin. "You got yourself a boyfriend yet?"
Rose blushed again, and waved a hand. "No."
"No?!" Noel repeated disbelievingly. "You're kidding! I'd have thought you'd be stringing hundreds of boys along by the time I got back, Rosie. You're so pretty." Another blush.
"Noel!" Roxanne called from the front desk, leaning over it to gesture at him. "C'mere a sec! I want to introduce you to Callie- she's a complete star."
And then, disappearing almost as quickly as he had appeared, Noel Hunter was gone. Rose sighed, turning and heading for the bookshelves. She browsed, picking up a book now and again to skim through its pages. When she opened Potions for Pilferers, a neon orange piece of paper fluttered out. When it hit the polished wooden floor, it stood out brightly, positively screaming 'read me' at her. She retrieved it, and glanced over the message.
WICKED WITCHE'S HALLOWEEN PARTY:
Come in fancy dress if you dare!
31 October!
That explained the sheer amount of fliers littered about. The Wicked Witches were a group of seventh year girls who were in charge of organising all of Hogwarts' balls and celebrations. They were putting on some sort of disco to celebrate Halloween, by the looks of it- the witch or wizard in the best costume received a prize. Rose looked up and glanced around. Almost half of the people in the library were reading the fliers. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed when she came in. From the other side of the room, Noel laughed loudly. Rose remembered why she hadn't noticed the posters.
Glancing back down, she considered – for a brief moment – attending the party. Dancing, free food and drink, a chance to dress up and have fun... it could be alright. Then she reconsidered. It was the end of October – less than a week away – and she wouldn't have time to make a costume. Not only that, but she already had a ton of homework to complete by September. She didn't have time to party. Running her fingers over the thick, bold black lettering, Rose sighed.
"You going?" somebody suddenly asked over her shoulder, making her jump. She spun into the chest of Scorpius Malfoy, who caught her by the arms to steady her, chuckling.
"Are you stalking me, Malfoy?" she asked with a grin. "That or you've got a time-turner. You're everywhere at once."
Scorpius' grey eyes shot from side to side, as he said jokingly, "Damn, I think she's onto us!" He laughed, dropping the act, and switched back to his original question. "Are you going to the Halloween ball, then, or what?"
"Well-," Rose began negatively, shaking her head and shrugging at the same time.
"Oh," Scorpius said knowingly, interrupting her before she'd even really began her denial. "It figures." He turned to leave the aisle.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Rose asked, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.
Scorpius shrugged easily out of her grasp, and answered, "Nothing. I just guessed you wouldn't be going."
"Why?" Rose demanded, shoving the book she had retrieved the flier out of back onto its shelf.
"You've probably got an essay on the qualities of frog eyes to do, or something. And there's no way you'd have a costume worth wearing."
Though his points were valid and extremely true, Rose felt immediately offended. How dare he assume things like that about her? She scowled, and felt an immediate longing for the party. If she did go – putting her essay and priorities aside for one night – she'd be able to prove him wrong, right? And a chance to prove Scorpius Malfoy wrong was worth a possible detention for unfinished homework.
"As a matter of fact, Scorpius Malfoy, I will be going to the party- and I will have one of the best costumes there." And with that, Rose spun on her heel and left the library, forgetting all about her book. Her mind was firmly focused elsewhere.
She left so quickly that she didn't see Scorpius' triumphant smile. Mission accomplished.
