Title: All's Fair in Love and Quidditch
Gift For: Rotae
Summary: Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Weasley bond and fall in love while at Hogwarts thanks to their mutual devotion to the game of Quidditch. Family politics and the pressures of playing professionally, however, eventually threaten to tear their relationship apart.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, Angst
Word Count: 3620
Lyrics/Quotes Used: "The caterpillar does all the hard work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity." - George Calin
A/N: Written for the livejournal 2010 SMRW_FICAFEST exchange. Rotae asked for Rose and Scorpius in Ravenclaw as best friends who fall in love. I had a really hard time coming up with a believable plot about BFFs that turn into something more because in most of my rl experiences it's usually just ½ of the friendship that is in love and the other half is all WTF? So I was forced to steal my plot from the movie Love and Basketball. I also stole probably half-a-dozen lines from the film, too. I also stole borrowed names of many supporting characters from some of my favorite fanfics. A great big hug and lots of kisses goes out to queenb23more who agreed to beta this for me. Also a big thanks to birdseyeview for not crushing/cursing me for turning this in so late.
Part 4: Catching the Snitch
Scorpius lifted his wine glass and smiled at his father. "You didn't have to come all the way to Heidelberg just to have dinner with me."
"I was hardly going to miss celebrating my son being named for Most Valuable Player in the Continental Cup's semi-final game."
"I would have preferred someone else winning the title if it meant that my team could have advanced to the finals," Scorpius stated sincerely.
Draco Malfoy shook his head. "There are times when selflessness and teamwork are important and times when it is necessary to accept all the accolades that are one's due."
"I had a good season and I played hard, however, most of the other guys on my team could say the same thing."
"You are too modest. You've only been playing professionally for two years, yet you are already described as the heart and soul of the Harriers. They never would have been this successful without you. Next year should be even better. With the retirement of Gerard Grimston from Quiberon, you'll have no real competition on the continent."
"Don't buy tickets to next year's European finals yet," Scorpius told him. "I'm thinking about quitting and coming back to England."
"What?"
"I'm just tired of living abroad. I miss my home, my friends, and my family."
Draco frowned. "I'm certain you'd also miss all the perks of being a successful Quidditch player – the money, the fame, the girls – if you gave it up."
"There is a good chance I'd get picked up by a team in the English/Irish League."
"A desperate team. You could kiss good-bye your chances of making the playoffs next year."
"Come on, Dad. You're the one who always told me there are more important things than Quidditch."
Draco's brow furrowed. "Rebuilding the family name was the most important thing. You've done that by playing Quidditch. Our family's history is only a footnote these days to your incredible performance on the pitch. Why would you want to jeopardize that accomplishment by returning to England?"
"Merlin, Dad! Does my entire life have to be about making up for the Malfoy family's past mistakes?"
"Of course not! But you have a career you enjoy, that you are good at, and that has raised our family's prestige. How can you even consider giving it up out some general feeling of restlessness?"
"It's not just restlessness. I'm lonely. Maybe if I was married or in a solid relationship I wouldn't be so unhappy, but I want there to be more to my life than just Quidditch."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me that out of all the attractive witches in Germany, you can't find at least one that you might want to date seriously?"
Scorpius' shrugged. "I still think about Rose."
"Dumping Rose Weasley was one of the best things you ever did. I shudder to think about what it would have done to your career had you gotten dragged through that gambling scandal. At the very least, you would have ended up getting benched for most of the season like she did."
"Rose protected me."
"Was there something you needed to be protected from?"
"No, but I'd had conversations with her aunt about the Harriers. That could have easily been twisted into something illegal or suspicious if the press had gotten a hold of it. Rose made sure they never did."
"You are giving the Weasley girl too much credit," Draco stated coldly. "You didn't get hounded by the press or investigated by the Ministry because you had done nothing wrong."
"Rose was innocent, too. But that didn't prevent the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports from suspending her for eight months during the investigation. I know she kept them from coming after me."
"Then send her a thank-you card or a posh Christmas gift. Do not throw away your career on the slight chance she might take you back."
"Returning to England is not about getting her back. It's about reevaluating my life and recognizing that there are many things that are more important than Quidditch."
Draco sighed, but rather than continue arguing, he poured himself another glass of wine and took a sip. "Just promise me you won't do anything rash."
Scorpius nodded. "Sure, I can promise that."
L*O*V*E*&*Q*U*I*D*D*I*T*C*H
Scorpius sat in his flat, packing for his return to England. Although he'd promised his father not to act rashly, he'd decided less than three weeks after the Harriers were knocked out of the playoffs that he was going home. As he listened to the Magpies' final game of the season, he was positive he'd made the right decision. Despite telling his father that he didn't expect to get back together with Rose, hearing her name over the wireless made him wonder whether or not they could have another chance at a romantic relationship. He missed her as a friend, a lover, and even as a competitor.
Of course, whether or not she still thought about him was questionable. She was probably focused on trying to rebuild her career. Although Scorpius could tell from the Quidditch commentator's words that Rose was having an excellent game, he could imagine her being anxious to prove to her coach, teammates, and the Magpies' fans that they had made a good decision keeping her on the roster throughout her suspension.
Scorpius smiled as he heard the crowd go wild after another of Rose's scores. Suddenly, a loud crack came over the wire, followed by screaming fans. The commentator babbled anxiously: Rose Weasley has been fouled in the back by Puddlemore's Vaughan Jenkins. Her broom made hard contact with the center hoop and apparently disintegrated from beneath her, causing her to tumble to the ground. Play has been halted as the Magpies' trainers and healers attend to Weasley's injuries.
Scorpius' heart was racing. He dropped the box he'd been packing and moved to hover over the wireless as if that would somehow change the news. He wished he could Apparate directly to England, directly to the stadium. He needed to know what was going on. It wasn't until the commentator reported that Rose was conscious but being transported to St. Mungo's for evaluation that Scorpius felt himself take his first deep breath in several minutes.
Less than twenty-four hours later, he stood outside of Rose's hospital room, trying to gather his courage to go inside. He suspected she wouldn't be happy to have him see her all banged up. Of course, given their most recent history, there was a chance she wouldn't be happy to see him under any circumstances. Still, they'd been friends a long time before they started dating so maybe she wouldn't immediately throw him out.
As he slowly opened her door, Scorpius heard Rose cursing.
"Merlin's saggy left nut!"
He looked into the room and saw her sitting in bed, her hair covering her face while she tried to pull it back in a ponytail one-handed.
"Nice look. Is this how all the fashionable London witches are wearing their hair these days?"
Rose blew her hair out of her eyes and looked at him in stunned silence for several seconds before finally smiling. "Scorpius Malfoy, you no good gormless blighter, get your arse over here and give me a hand."
Scorpius smiled, put down his bag, and moved behind Rose. He gathered up her hair and pulled it back into a dark navy hair band. The gesture disconcerted him because it felt much too familiar. He moved quickly away from the bed once he finished. "How's that?"
Rose gave her head a shake, seemingly pleased that her hair didn't fall back down. "It's good. Thanks."
"So you dislocated your right shoulder?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "Also broke my ankle, bruised my kidneys, and got one hell of nasty concussion."
"But that's all fixable, right? None of those injuries is career-ending."
"Probably not, but I will need to devote the entire summer to rehabilitation exercises and training if I want a chance to be a starter when the season begins."
He nodded. "Well that's good. I heard that Jenkins has been banned from post-season play because of the malicious manner in which he fouled you."
"Really? Maybe Jorkins will have suspended all Quidditch players for one offense or another before she retires as head of Magical Games and Sports."
Scorpius smiled weakly at her sarcasm. "I guess you are still carrying a grudge."
"Only if hoping the woman's nipples fall off from frostbite can be considered a grudge."
He chuckled. "I tried to owl you during your aunt's trial. I thought that Jorkins was way out of line keeping you from playing considering the Wizengamot never charged you with any crime in relation to the gambling ring. However, my owl returned with the parchment unopened."
"Sorry about that. I was getting so many howlers from people who thought I was guilty or from Magpie fans who were upset that their team's name was getting dragged through the dirt that I eventually warded my flat to prevent the delivery of all mail."
"I wouldn't worry. You'll be everyone's favorite players again once you've won the team a couple of games."
"I suppose. It's weird, though. When I imagined what life would be like playing professional Quidditch, it was all fame, glory, and fun – utter bliss. Yet now, during just my second season in the League, I can only recall a few times when I've really been happy on the pitch." She chuckled to herself before looking up at Scorpius. "I suppose that sounds strange to you, Mr. MVP."
"Not really. I have some idea of what you mean."
"Oh please! You're a star, beloved by all who've watched you play. I bet the entire nation of Germany anxiously awaits your return to Heidelberg in the fall."
"Hopefully they aren't waiting too anxiously," he told her with a small smile. "I resigned from the Harriers."
"No! You love Quidditch more than anyone I ever met. There is no way you would voluntarily quit."
"I assure you that's what happened. Playing Quidditch isn't fun anymore. I'm tired of being so far from home, of being lonely, of focusing my entire life on the game. I hoped that by returning to London, I could maybe restore a little balance to my world."
"Shite, Scorpius. You are much more screwed up than me and you can't even blame a concussion."
He laughed. "Don't hold back, Rose. Tell me how you really feel."
Before she had a chance to answer, the door flew open and a tall, sandy-haired wizard rushed into the room. "Rose," he said, hurrying over to the side of the bed and kissing her lightly on the lips. "I came home as soon as I heard you'd been hurt. How are you feeling? How long do you have to remain in the hospital?"
"I'm fine. I'll only have to be here a couple more days."
"Thank goodness," he murmured leaning over her again to press his lips to her forehead.
Scorpius cleared his throat.
"Hello," the sandy-haired wizard said, cocking his head slightly in surprise.
"Matt," Rose said. "This is Scorpius."
"Oh, your teammate from Hogwarts!" He reached over to shake Scorpius' hand. "Nice to meet you at last. Rose has spoken of you often."
"Scorpius, this is Matt Finnegan. He was in Gryffindor a couple of years ahead of us. He's a distributor of the Cleansweep racing brooms. He travels all around the world demonstrating and selling the newest models."
"Sounds like an interesting job."
"Definitely," Matt smiled, broadly. "I'll tell you a secret, Malfoy. It is great for business having a fiancée who is a professional Quidditch player."
"Fiancée? You two are engaged?" Scorpius was stunned.
Rose nodded.
"Wow… that's… that's great. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Matt smiled, squeezing Rose's shoulder. "I'm one lucky bloke."
"Yeah, she's a special girl." Scorpius replied, avoiding Rose's eyes. "Well, I should be going."
He picked up his bag as he headed toward the door.
"Scorpius, I really appreciate you coming by," Rose said softly.
He turned to her. "No problem. Just get better."
Before she could answer, he was out the door and striding down the hall to the lifts.
L*O*V*E*&*Q*U*I*D*D*I*T*C*H
When news of Scorpius' resignation from the Harriers became public, the press went wild publishing stories trying to explain his decision. The Prophet ran a column by their new sport's editor, claiming that he'd cracked up under pressure of being the leader of a winning team, The Quibbler speculated that Scorpius had been infected by Wrackspurt, and a Which Broomstick editorial saw it as a ploy by Scorpius for a bigger salary. They even suggested that such player antics might become commonplace if professional Quidditch didn't adopt a draft and free agent system of recruiting and trading players.
Scorpius' refusal to grant any interviews increased, rather than put to rest, the rumors. By the end of his first week home, not a single English or Irish team had offered him a position for fear that he either was about to be indicted by the Germans for spying or had gotten an Italian princess pregnant and was dodging his responsibilities. His father, of course, never lost an opportunity to remind Scorpius that he had told him this would happen.
"Would you like to see the help-wanted ads?" Draco drawled one morning while Scorpius brooded over his eggs and kippers.
"Thanks, Dad," Scorpius replied, trying not to roll his eyes. "But I have enough savings to survive a few months without seeking immediate employment."
"Wonderful. So your plan is just to wallow at the manor until you run out of Galleons?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Of course not. Nothing says contented and successful like hiding out at your parents' home for months on end."
"What do you want from me?" Scorpius asked angrily.
"I want you to get out of this funk you've been living in since returning to England. I thought quitting the Harriers was about finding something that made you happy. You seem more miserable now than I've ever seen you."
"It's Rose."
"What?"
"Rose is engaged."
"To that broom salesman?" Draco sneered.
"You've met him?"
"I saw a picture of them together in the paper. She could do better."
"So what should I do?"
"Buy them a wedding gift then write the Harriers and tell them you want your job back. It isn't too late to salvage the Malfoy family's reputation."
"Bloody hell, Dad! Can't you stop caring about Malfoy name for even one minute?"
Draco looked offended. "If you didn't want my advice, why did you ask?"
Scorpius threw his napkin down next to his plate and stood. "Maybe because I hoped that, for once, you'd give me advice that would focus on solving my problem instead of yours."
"Sit down!" Draco barked.
When Scorpius didn't respond, Draco spoke again. "Please, son. Sit down."
Scorpius reluctantly returned to his seat.
"For as long as I can remember, Scorpius, you've cared about two things: Quidditch and Rose Weasley. While I have at times found your passion for these things incomprehensible, I admired how you never let anything get in the way of your pursuit of either of them. Now, however, it looks like you are just going to give up. If you want Rose Weasley and if you want to play Quidditch, then go after them. Stop pitying yourself and do something to change the situation."
"But what if I fail?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "What if you don't?"
Scorpius' mind raced over his father's words for several minutes. Finally, he nodded. "Thanks, Dad."
Later than evening, Scorpius sat in the stands of the Magpies' stadium, waiting for Rose to finish her rehabilitation workout. As he watched her practice, he was reminded of their first Sunday at Hogwarts when she'd invited him to join her family's Quidditch game. He probably would have fled in terror if he'd had any clue what the decision to join that game would mean for his future.
As Rose flew down from the hoops and dismounted her broom, she caught sight of Scorpius. "Hey!" she called up to him. "What are you doing here?"
He stood and walked down to her. "I've come to talk to you."
Rose frowned. "Alright. But if you're here to tell me about some princess you knocked up, you're too late. I already read all about it in The Quibbler."
Scorpius smiled at her. "No, that's not it. I did want to tell you the real reason why I quit the Harriers though."
"It wasn't because playing stopped being fun?"
"No, it did. But the reason it stopped being fun is because you are no longer a part of it." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Rose, I've loved you since I was eleven years old. I don't know how to separate what I feel for the game from what I feel for you. And if you aren't in my life, I don't really have the desire to play any longer."
"Scorpius, I'm engaged!"
"I know my timing sucks."
"You think?" Rose asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I understand why you broke up with me two years ago. I didn't have my priorities straight. I didn't get that without you, Quidditch doesn't mean squat. But I know it now and I'm not going to let you go without a fight."
"You're crazy," she growled. "I'm not yours to let go. We haven't been together for over eighteen months. You are no longer part of my life!"
"If you don't care about me, why are you so upset?"
"Because you don't pull this shite on someone who is about to get married." Rose turned to head towards the locker room, but Scorpius grabbed her by the arm.
"I'll play you."
"For what?"
"Your heart. One-on-one, winner takes all."
"You've lost it, Malfoy."
"You used to say that the only way I could beat you was if you let me win. So let's play. If I win, it will be because, deep down, you want me in your life just as much as I want you in mine."
"Forget it."
"Are you scared?"
Rose glared at him. "What is in it for me? What do I get if I win?"
"I'll buy you an expensive wedding gift and never bother you again."
"Fine," Rose spat. "Grab your broom and mount up. First one to five wins."
When they were both in the air, Rose fired her first three shots at Scorpius' weak side. He blocked them all easily. "Looks like somebody loves me," he taunted.
"Fuck off," she told him before performing a fake that was so beautifully done, he was lunging right before he even realized she'd shot for the center hoop.
"One to three," she called out, then dove by him and scored again through the center hoop. "Looks like someone still allows himself to get distracted during a game."
Scorpius glared at her and then closed in defensively, trying to drive her toward the right hoop. Rose allowed herself to be pushed to the side, but right before she was out of position, she shifted the Quaffle to her left hand and shot around her back toward the right hoop. It sailed right past Scorpius' outstretched hand.
"Three all," she said in a cold voice. "It's time to get serious, Malfoy."
"I'm more serious than any man you've ever known, Rose," Scorpius said through clenched teeth as he made an athletic save that knocked her next shot over thirty feet away from the hoops. "Four to three."
Rose rolled her right shoulder, a twinge of pain crossing her face. However, when she streaked by Scorpius, lobbing the Quaffle through the left hoop, it was obvious that she could play through the discomfort.
"Four all."
Scorpius' stomach began to churn, his hands were sweaty, and nerves were making him stiff. As he got into position in front of the hoops, he was determined to stop her shot. It would be the most important save of his life. He tensed as Rose flew toward him, heading straight up the middle of the pitch. She bumped him hard, knocking him backwards and out of position. As she faded right, he knew in his gut that she'd aim for the left hoop. When she shot left, he barely managed to get there. His fingers brushed the underside of the Quaffle, deflecting it slightly. It wasn't enough, however, to significantly alter its main trajectory. It hit the edge of the goal before sailing through for the point.
"I win," Rose stated, sitting upright on her broom. "All's fair in love and Quidditch, right?"
He nodded jerkily, unable to talk past the lump that had formed in his throat. It was over. He had lost her. She no longer cared for him. The pain of it hit him like a Bludger to the gut. He had to get away from her immediately.
"Hey!" Rose called out as he started to descend to the ground. "Double or nothing?"
Scorpius froze and looked into her eyes, noticing for the first time that they had softened and were staring at him with love and compassion rather than hostility. She was giving him another chance.
Rose flew toward him, her arms outstretched to clasp him in an embrace. When he reached her, her lips covered his and her hands threaded through his hair.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips.
She climbed on his broom with him, straddling his thighs with her legs, and letting her Cleansweep fall to the ground. "I love you, too. I love you so much, Scorpius."
TBC