Chapter 7

Gonna grow up, Be someone.

Draw a map, find a path.

Take a breath and run.

And run.

And Run- He Is We

The Halloween Hogsmeade visit was upon us, and many people were still hung-over from the night before. Some older students had decided to remain recovering in the castle, rather than go out into the chilly fall afternoon.

Hogsmeade is one of my favorite places, and I wasn't about to pass up the first trip of the year. I also needed to refresh my supply of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes products.

I tied my hair up into a messy bun, and began the trek from the castle to the village, with Rose at my side.

I'm surprised she decided to come with me. I figured that she would be one of the people choosing to remain behind in the castle drinking water, trying to get their hands on a hangover potion, and sleeping until the feast.

She surprised me when she came down to breakfast, saying that she wanted to come. Her blue eyes looked tired, but I couldn't see them anymore since she was currently wearing a pair of dark sunglasses to shield her eyes from the piercing rays of the "mother fucking sun"…Her quote, not mine.

"So Rose how were the kitchens? Make any new elf friends?" I questioned. The last time we went there when she was inebriated, she had at least fifty new elf friends just by simply mentioning who her mother was.

When she didn't respond, I glanced over at her only to see that her checks were tinged pink.

"Rose?" I asked.

"We didn't end up going to the kitchens," She replied softly, the pink in her cheeks deepening into a dark red.

"Where did you end up going then? I didn't see either of you at the party again after you left."

"I went back to the dorm," Rose paused as if she was choosing her words carefully.

"After we snogged for a bit".

"What!" I exclaimed. I stopped walking and turned to face her. "The two of you finally snogged and it took you until now to tell me?"

"What do you mean finally?" Rose asked turning to face me her hands on her hips. I'm sure that behind those sunglasses, her blue eyes were narrowed into sharp slits.

"Well you've been talking about how you fancy him for over a month. And judging by the way I saw him looking at you at the party last night, I'm sure he feels the same way!"

"But that doesn't mean shit. Just because I fancy someone doesn't mean I can snog them in a broom cupboard!"

Rose clapped her hands over her mouth. Clearly she had revealed more than she had meant to.

"A broom cupboard, huh?"

"Oh piss off."

I smirked.

"Quick question. If you snogged the boy you fancy the pants off last night, and I'm guessing that since you ended up in a broom cupboard, he reacted positively," Rose blushed crimson at this "Why on Earth are you here with me, instead of off with him?" I asked.

"Well I... How do I put this? I kind of ran off after he told me he fancied me," Rose said her eyes cast downward towards the ground.

"Oh Rosie," I said sympathetically

"I know, I know I'm such a bloody coward. I mean can handle snogging him, but I can't handle him saying that he fancies me".

If we hadn't continued walking, I'm sure Rose would have buried her head in her hands.

"Maybe it's not that bad?" I said encouragingly.

Rose looked at me, tilting her head so she looked over the top of her sunglasses.

"You didn't see his face when I ran off. I heard him call my name but I didn't stop." Rose said he voice catching. I could see tears beginning to pool in her blue eyes.

I stopped again.

"Oh Rosie come here," I opened my arms wide.

Rose stepped into them, resting her forehead on my shoulder.

"I fucked up, Riley," she sobbed into my shirt.

"Everything will work out. It always does in the end."

I gently stroked her red hair until her sobs began to subside.

After sniffling a few times, Rose pulled away from me. Her eyes were a little red, but over all she looked ok.

"Would you like to go back to the castle?" I asked.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, the fresh air will do me some good. Also I plan on avoiding him, and hanging around the castle is one way to guarantee bumping into him. He never goes to Hogsmeade."

"Ok. If you want to go back just let me know." I said.

Rose nodded, the sun bouncing off her red curls, making it look as if her head was on fire. We continued our walk towards the village, the frosty grass crunching beneath our feet.

"So, did you have fun at the party?" Rose asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah I had a good time. Chatted with Al and Liam a bit, hung around with Morgan and some of her friends, danced, saw a couple of other people, and get this, Claire apologized to me."

"Really? The ice queen herself, apologized?" Rose asked.

"Yep, in person as well," I responded.

"Wow. Maybe she's starting to defrost." Rose said with a smirk.

I started laughing.

"This is why we're friends. You always know how to make me laugh," I said.

"Are you sure it's not because my family's incredibly famous?"

"Oh no! You figured out my biggest secret! Is there any way you could get me an autograph?"

Rose and I entered the village in hysterics.

"Stop!" I stammered clutching my side.

"You really don't want a signed photo saying, 'live long and fuck off' do you? Cuz I'm sure my dad would be more than happy to write that."

The two of us stumbled into Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, still laughing uncontrollably.

It took a moment for me to realize the Rose wasn't laughing any longer. I glanced over at her to find she had paled and her eyes were wide, staring at something over by the counter.

I followed her gaze.

Scorpius was leaning against a display, arms crossed over his chest. His cool gray eyes were locked onto Rose. He took a few steps forward until he was standing directly in front of Rose.

So much for avoiding Scorpius.

Finally after a few tension filled moments in which I stood awkwardly by Rose's side the silence was broken.

"Hi," Rose whispered.

"Really, you're going with hi?" Scorpius asked, sounding bitter.

"What do you want me to say?" Rose spat, her voice rising.

Scorpius laughed.

"There are thousands of things you could say, love. Take your pick."

I felt Rose stiffen beside me, gearing up for a fight.

Before she could say anything, I stepped between the pair.

"As much fun as this conversation sounds like it's going to be, why don't you take this outside, yeah?"

The two of them looked at me.

"Alright," Scorpius said. He reached over grabbing Rose gently by the elbow and walked her out of the shop.

A few seconds later, I could hear the dull sounds of shouts making their way in though the door. So much for taking their fight some place private. From the sounds of it, they were arguing in the middle of the street. Shaking my head slightly, I began my shopping.

After finishing up my shopping in Weasley Wizard Wheezes, I began making my way back to the castle. Being in Hogsmeade alone is not the same as when you're with a group of people. I also wanted to see how the whole Rose Scorpius thing turned out.

"McCarthy!" someone called out, as I was making my way down the street.

Turning around, I saw Al walking towards me, cheeks pink from the cold.

"Do you know how hard it is to get your attention? I've been calling your name since you passed the Three Broomsticks!"

"Sorry, I was thinking." I said absentmindedly.

"Care to tell me over a drink?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.

"Why would I want to do that?" I questioned.

"Clearly you don't remember. I seem to recall a bet being made a few weeks back, in which the loser had to buy the winner of said bet a drink during the next Hogsmeade visit," Al said smugly.

"Right, I forgot about that. Would you care to go now?"

"If you're up for it, I am." Al was smiling, as he gestured behind him towards the Three Broomsticks.

I smiled back and started walking back towards the bar.

The two of us walked in comfortable silence. Al held the door open for me when we arrived.

"So would you like to tell me what you were thinking about earlier?" Al asked, as we settled into our chairs.

"Rose… and Scorpius," I told him.

"Rose still fancies him then?" Al asked.

I nodded my head.

"What's the problem then? Does he not fancy her back?"

"No. That's not the problem. Apparently they snogged last night," I began

"What!" Al blurted, sounding shocked.

"Let me finish."

He begrudgingly crossed his arms tight over his chest, but he nodded at me to continue.

"Apparently Rose ran off, and now the two of them are sorting through things. I also would like to state for the record that Rose kissed him first. And you know Rose fancies him, so no plotting against him. I can see a plan forming in your mind."

Al smirked.

"You know me too well, McCarthy"'

"Well, Potter, maybe if you weren't so predictable, I wouldn't know what you're thinking," I said as I smiled sweetly back.

"Oh, Great One."

I rolled my eyes. He really needed to let that go. It wasn't going to happen.

"What will it be, loves?" the waitress interrupted.

"Two butterbeer's please," I said turning to her.

She smiled back, glancing between Al and me. I felt my face heat up.

"I'll have that right up," she said with a wink to me.

"So, enough about Rose and Scorpius, tell me about you. You're kind of a mystery, Riley McCarthy," Al said, his green eyes steadily holding my blue.

"What would you like to know?"

"From what I've heard, your Mum is from America?"

I nodded my head.

"How did she end up here?"

"Well, like I told Claire-"

"You told Claire?" Al asked his brow crinkling in confusion.

I nodded my head again.

''I told her last night at the party while you and Liam went and got drinks. Anyway, my Mum went on a study abroad trip the summer after her seventh year of school. She met my Dad in a pub in Ireland. They started dating while she was here. She went back home and they kept talking. Over time when they realized their relationship was more serious than either of them had planned, my Mum moved here to be with him. They got married and decided to live here. My Nana wasn't too happy about it, but we still see her as often as we can."

"How often do you visit her?" he asked.

I paused for a moment, as our waitress delivered our drinks. I handed her the money for both of them. She smiled as she nodded her head at us. I took a sip of my butterbeer before continuing.

"We spend Christmas Holidays over there and at least once a month in the summer."

"Do you like it there?" Al questioned after taking a sip of his drink.

"Yes and no. I love seeing my Nana and my cousins. My Nana lives in North Carolina in a house right off the Atlantic. When we go in the summer, the beach is my favorite place; the smell of the salt in the air, the feel of the water, the breeze blowing my hair around, it's quite wonderful. It's very different there then here though and there's something's I miss, but I'm only there for a short time and then I come home." As I said this, part of me wished I was on the beach right then.

Al nodded his head.

"Will you be going there this Christmas?"

"Yeah, that's the plan as of now."

"Well this year, my family is going to the States as well," Al said smiling.

"Really, why?" I asked.

"We're going to visit James, and possibly catch one of his games. We've been planning to do this for weeks. I'm surprised Rose didn't tell you this."

"Why would Rose tell me?" I asked.

"Because she's coming with us."

"Really?"

"Yes. Maybe you could come stay with us, or possibly come to a match with us?" Al suggested.

I smiled.

"That does sound fun. I'll ask my Mum about it."

Al nodded his head, and took another swig of his drink. I felt a silence descending upon us.

"So Albus," he winced when I said his first name, "What is there to know about you? I would ask you about your parents, but everyone knows all about them."

He gave hollow laugh.

"Yeah, no idea why that is."

I grinned at him.

"What would you like to know?" He asked, repeating what I had said to him earlier.

"What do you plan on doing when you leave school? Are you going to play Quidditch like James?" I asked.

Al sighed, before shaking his head.

"Nahh. I love Quidditch, but I never could see myself playing professionally. My Dad wants me to get a job in the ministry, but that doesn't feel right either. To be honest, I want to teach."

"Oh," I never pegged him for the teacher type "What subject?"

"I really like Transfiguration and Charms. I've been talking to Professor Longbottom about what I would have to do to become a teacher here when I graduate."

"Sounds like you have something figured out. I mean you're talking to Professor Longbottom. That shows him that you have interest."

"Yeah I know, but it's not what my Dad wants me to do."

"You should do what makes you happy. If you're happy, your dad will be happy for you. You shouldn't do something to make others happy, because otherwise you're just going to be miserable."

Al was looking at me with that same hard look he gave me during the Quidditch match.

I was about to ask him what he was thinking; when we were suddenly engulfed in large pink bags with light pink scented tissue paper.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" Claire said as she set her shopping bags down. She then proceeded to give Al a very long kiss.

After a few long uncomfortable seconds, I cleared my throat and the two broke apart.

Claire's cheeks were tinged pink from the cold, her blue eyes bright. Her hair was back to being long, blond, and poker straight.

"Fancy seeing the two of you here together. Alone," Claire said as she conjured up a seat next to Al.

"Rose was here, but she had to leave," Al said before I could say anything.

I looked at him confused. Rose was never here. With a subtle shake of his head, that Claire didn't catch, I understood he wanted me to drop it.

"Oh, sounds lovely. I was out shopping all day. I got some marvelous deals. Pity so many people stayed in the castle today, they're really missing out."

Claire continued to prattle on about her morning, and what she had been up to. Over time I tuned her out, focusing more and more on finishing my drink quickly.

A few minutes later, my glass empty, I stood up, cutting Claire off about how she had to write an essay for Care of Magical Creatures later that night.

"Well it's been lovely, but I really have to be getting back."

"So soon?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, I have an essay for Charms that I need to finish."

"Oh, well good luck with that," Claire said. She then turned back to Al, picking up right where she left off.

"See you later Al," I said.

He gave me a quick wave, and then returned back to his conversation with Claire.

I made my way back to the castle with my cloak drawn tightly around me, wishing that I really did have an essay to finish. Anything to get my mind off the fact that Al and I had more to talk about than I had ever thought possible.

Hello lovely readers,

First off thanks for reading I really appreciate it. Reviews are always welcome. I love hearing your thoughts about the characters and what's happening or what you think is going to happen. They also help me improve as a writer :)The song at the top is And Run by He is We. Their a really awesome duo. You should check them out if you're interested in music thats not played on the radio all the time.