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Stop Right There
Chapter Three
Scorpius
I was an idiot. A complete idiot. How did I let my grandfather and those stupid Slytherin boys get to me? Why had I lashed out at Rose?
Sitting alone during break beside the Lake, I saw Rose and Albus Potter looking at me. When they saw me look at them, they turned away. That was when I realized what I had done. I had let my anger at the taunts directed at me consume everything I did. I had gotten mad at Rose because they were taunting me because of our friendship.
I wanted so badly to reconcile with her and Al, to talk to them and tell them why I had acted so inexcusably. But, I couldn't. I just couldn't let them see me like this, all mixed up. I was so pathetic, trying to pretend that I cared to get the other Slytherins off my case instead of standing up for my friendships and myself.
There was a knock on the door and I was suddenly brought back to reality. I didn't know how long I had been alone, sitting- no hiding in this abandoned classroom. Minutes? Hours? Unfortunately, my hiding space had been discovered.
Turning to face the door that had just opened, I saw Rose Weasley's silhouette in the doorway.
"Hey," I said, looking at the floor. I wasn't worthy enough to look at her.
I heard footsteps, and I realized only when I saw her feet in front of my eyes that she had walked up to me. "So, I guess you're not ignoring me anymore?" She asked, and I could sense the small hint of a smile in her voice.
"No," I replied, "Just hiding from you." I looked up at her in time to see her smiling face turn into an expression of puzzlement.
"Why? I just want to talk to you."
I took a deep breath and said: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Rose. I'm sorry for everything I said, for ignoring you, for what happened yesterday. I just…. I just got so confused because of everyone trying to make me into a kind of bigoted pureblood Slytherin that hates Gryffindors. I want to be your friend. I've realized that now. I don't care what anyone says." I smiled sadly, "I hate who I've been for the past few months. The person who didn't respond to your owls, who let those stupid idiots, Zabini, Bole, and Goyle get to me, isn't who I am. I'm sorry and if you don't want me as a friend anymore, I completely understand. I'm sorry for the person I became."
Then, when I expected her to walk out, she did something surprising. Rose hugged me. "Why wouldn't I want you as a friend?" she asked, "You're my best friend. And whatever you said before, you've apologized for it. What kind of a person would I be if I didn't forgive you?"
"I'll never let this happen again. I don't care what anyone else thinks." I said, starting toward the door, "Come on, we don't want to miss Potions, Slughorn loves you, but I doubt he'd be pleased if we came in late and missed his beginning of year speech to the class."
Following behind me, Rose smiled and we headed for the dungeons.
