Star-Crossed Rivals

Rose and Scorpius were destined to hate each other. She was a Weasley, he was a Malfoy. Children of the longest-rivalling families in the Wizarding World. And when they're both at Hogwarts, it's bound to lead to chaos. Right? Definitely. And when both are sorted into their family houses, it's the same old story - Gryffindor vs Slytherin. But with Rose and Scorpius involved, things can never be so normal.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. If I did, I would be rich and famous and blonde, meeting famous people. But sadly, it wasn't to be.

Chapter Eight: Fifth Year – Truce?... Almost.

"This year, you will be placed with your Potions partners based on skill. These partners will be yours for the whole year," Professor Zabini declared in his deep voice.

"Oh great," Annabel sighed, leaning to whisper in Rose's ear. "I guess that means I'll be stuck with Dixon."

The pair giggled as they looked over at the blonde Slytherin who was playing with strands of her hair. While Alice was pretty 'blonde', she couldn't beat Celina Dixon. While Cara Hart, leader of the Slytherins, was kind of smart in a manipulative way; Celina, one of her followers, only managed to get Acceptables.

"Shut up," Rose whispered back, rolling her eyes. "No way will you get partnered up with Celina Dixon." She paused, pointing over at the blonde. "Potions admittedly isn't your best subject, but you aren't terrible. You get Exceeds Expectations. That's still good."

"Yeah, good," Annabel said, pursing her lips. "Not excellent like you." Rose rolled her eyes. She hated when her friends said she was perfect or excellent. "I am not excellent," she insisted, pushing a strand of her red-brown hair behind her ear. "I am far from excellent."

"Rose, you've never got any other grade but an Outstanding."
"So?"
"Even your mother never did that."
"How do you know?"
"Hermione told me herself."
"Oh."
"Yes... oh."

"Annabel Clarke and... Rochelle Finnegan!"

The friends smiled and Annabel moved to sit next to Rochelle. Since the fight they had last year, they'd been getting closer and closer.

"Lorcan Scamander and... Lysander!"

"Angelo Zabini and... Gino Valentini!"

"Ethan Williams and... Zona Bell!"

"Maya Carter... and Vincent Goyle!"

"Alice Longbottom and... Cara Hart!"

Rose winced as Cara moved to sit next to Alice. She couldn't help but feel sorry for...

"Rose Weasley and... Scorpius Malfoy!"

Herself.

Rose sighed, and began to move to sit next to the blonde Slytherin when she was stunned by the sight of him making his way to her.

"Hey, Weasley," he greeted her, his voice silky smooth as usual. Rose envied him that. "Malfoy," she snarled, turning her head away from him. She was surprised to feel his hand on her shoulder, and spun around to face him.

"Why not call a truce this year?"

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes, I'm serious."
"Why would you do that?!"

"Because..."

Rose looked at him intently as Scorpius paused. "Your cheeks are going pink! You're blushing!" He shook his head. "I am not," he barked, but his cheeks were getting even pinker.

"Are!"
"Am not!"
"Are!"
"Am not!"
"Are!"

"Okay, I am!" he admitted. He smiled sheepishly at her. "It's just... don't you find all the arguing tiresome?" "A bit..." Rose confessed, biting her lip and rocking on her stool nervously. "So why not call a truce?" the Malfoy boy said, holding out his hand. "The arguing is getting too much, and... and... I think we should get along civilly if we're Potions partners this whole year."

Rose nodded and shook his hand. "Friends?"
Scorpius nodded. "Friends."

"What were you and Malfoy talking about Rose?"

"Yeah, he was staring at you really intensely."

"Really intensely."
"So what?"

"We called a truce!" Rose admitted, as she and her friends made their way to the Gryffindor Common Room. She got the expected reaction. Screaming, cursing and protesting.

So, she decided to tire them out. Rose made her way up the staircases, running as fast as her legs would allow me to.

By the time they reached the Common Room, her friends were tired, panting and breathless. She smirked triumphantly, one that would've made any Malfoy proud, and said, "Pumpkin Pasties" to the Fat Lady who nodded and let them in.

After, when they were up in their dormitories, and they'd regained their breath, Annabel folded her arms and pursed her lips. "I don't think this truce is legit," she declared, shaking her head. "I think Malfoy is just making this up so you let your guard down." "I agree," Rochelle said, nodding. "I mean, why does he suddenly want to make up with you?"

"It's OWL year!" Rose protested. The two merely shook their heads and snorted in response.

"Hey, maybe he isn't making it up," Alice said timidly. "Maybe he actually wants to make peace with Rose... and us. He seemed a lot happier after Potions. He practically skipped to his Common Room." Alice's comment turned into an argument between the four, which continued for five minutes or so; until Alexis yelled, "HEY!"

Once she had the attention of her friends she shrugged and got up. "I am fine with whatever Rose decides," she stated simply. She rolled her eyes at the looks on Rochelle and Annabel's faces. "Come on, you two. Since when has Rose not backed you two up about something?" The two opened their mouths, but Alexis shook her head. "Never."

Rose beamed at her. "Thanks, Lex." Rochelle and Annabel nodded, though slightly forcefully. "Yeah," Rochelle insisted. "I guess we'll just have to trust you on this one, R."

"Hey, Slytherins!"

Scorpius smirked as each and every one of the Slytherins (well, the ones in fifth year – you could call them his friends) looked up and sat up straighter.

"Yeah, Scor?"
"Hey, Mal!"

"What d'you want, S?"

"What?!"
"Hiya, Scor!"
"Hey, Scorpie!"
"Hi, Scor!"
"What's up, Scorp?"

"I've made a truce with the Gryffindors," Scorpius declared smoothly. "A truce. That means no fights, no insults, no yelling. Capice?"

"Really?" Ethan Williams said, a smile on his face. He was famed for being the first Muggleborn to be placed in Slytherin and was firm friends with the Gryffindors. "What's brought this on Mal – I, mean, Scorpius?"

Scorpius shrugged. "Just a change, I suppose." He rolled his eyes as the guys raised their eyebrows. "Don't tell me you weren't sick of it all." The boys shrugged and nodded.

But the true reason, Scorpius wanted to call a truce? Rose Weasley. That girl managed to get to him in ways other girls had always failed. She was smart, witty, sharp-tongued, quick, sporty – and stunning too, though he'd never admit that to anyone but himself.

The boys were okay with Scorpius' decision. In fact, they were all rather happy for certain reasons. Ethan, because it meant maybe his housemates would become friendly with his friends. Angelo and Gino, because everyone knows the Gryffindor girls are the most naturally pretty girls in the school. And Vincent was happy because he was sick of Scorpius getting loads of detentions.

But the girls weren't. The brunette Zona Bell was inwardly happy, because she shared many classes with the stunning Rose Weasley, and everyone knew Rose was lovely and willing to help those who she liked. But Cara Hart, the leader of the girls (some would call her the female Rose Weasley – but Rose was leader of her entire group), was fuming.

"You fancy her don't you, Malfoy?" she yelled, as he turned to leave. He froze and she scowled. "You fancy Weasley. That's the reason to this stupid truce. You wanna go off and play with Weasley."

Scorpius scowled. He didn't fancy Rose Weasley! He ached to defend himself but knew that would only satisfy Cara. So he turned and walked out the Slytherin Common Rooms, but not before glaring at the girl he despised, but was expected to go out with.

Cara watched angrily as Scorpius walked out. That stupid Weasley girl, she thought. She's always ruining EVERYTHING! "I've got a plan, girls. A plan that'll bring Weasel Face down."

"So, how d'you think you did on that Muggle Studies 'pop quiz' then?" Rose asked breezily, as she led her friends to the Great Hall for lunch.

Alice scowled. "It was so mean of Rickman to give us a surprise test. He knows we forget all his dumb stuff over the summer." She gasped as she realised what she said. "No offence, Rose!" Rose giggled and shrugged it off.

"The only way I'd be able to get above a T on that is if I slept with him," Alexis said thoughtfully, before shuddering at the thought. Rochelle laughed. "I swear you said he was the fittest teacher we have?" Alexis rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean he's good-looking. All the teachers at this school are way too old for us!"

"Blaise Zabini's gorgeous," Alice said, smiling as she thought of the Potions teacher. "And he's only our parents' age." "That's still gross," Albus sneered. "I mean, Professor Corner's pretty hot too – only every time I was kissing her, I'd imagine kissing my mum."

Everyone groaned at the thought. "Point taken, Al," Rochelle chuckled, tossing her ringlets over her shoulder. "Now can we go in the Great Hall? So we can eat?"

Rose pushed open the doors of the Great Hall, a bright smile on her face. That smile vanished once she took in the scene before her. The Slytherin girls were kissing... her friends boyfriends?!

Celina Dixon, the ditzy blonde, was sitting on Bradley Branstone's lap. The strawberry-blonde Hufflepuff was Rochelle's current boyfriend.

Maya Carter, the raven-haired quiet one, was sitting next to Heath Rosso, Annabel's boyfriend. You couldn't see much, her long hair was blocking the view quite a bit, but by the flush of Heath's cheeks, she was definitely kissing him.

Zona Bell, the brunette Slytherin, who Rose shared many classes with, was sitting next to Daniel Jones (Alexis' boyfriend) and was awkwardly pecking his cheek. She didn't look too pleased about the situation, like the other girls did, Rose noted to herself.

Ciara Hart, Cara's sister in the year below, was kissing Raymond Jackson, Alice's boyfriend, over at the Ravenclaw table. Rose turned away in disgust. Using your friends was one thing. But using your sweet, naive little sister to do your dirty work?!

And Cara herself was kissing Rose's close friend, Kevin Entwhistle, another Ravenclaw. But the brunette boy wasn't enjoying it as the other boys were and was trying to squirm out of Cara's reach. Thank Merlin for one decent male, Rose thought.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BRADLEY?!"
"HEATH!!"
"DANIEL! GET AWAY FROM HER!"

"RAY! SERIOUSLY?!"

As her friends screamed at their boyfriends, who had now sheepishly pulled away from the Slytherin girls, Rose walked up to Cara Hart at the Ravenclaw table. Cara, noticing her walking towards them, pulled away from Kevin, a satisfied smirk on her face.

"I see why you've got your girls to kiss the guys," Rose said, her voice dripping with venom. "But why on earth are you kissing Kevin?"

Cara's mouth dropped open. "He's your boyfriend, isn't he?!" she squealed. Her eyes widened as both Rose and Kevin shook their heads. "But... but... you're always together!"

"We're friends," Rose and Kevin chorused, smiling at one another. "But we're only ever going to be friends. That's it." Rose moved closer to the bitchy blonde and smirked as she shivered. "So... why did you get the girls to do this anyway? I mean, you can't tell me you just liked our boyfriends..."

"Scorpius made us do it!" Cara blurted out. "It wasn't us! Really! He just did this so you Gryffindors could fail your OWLs! He thought you'd be so depressed –"

Rose didn't stay to listen to anymore. She spun on her heels and walked out the door, towards the Slytherin common room. Her friends slapped their (now ex-)boyfriends round the cheeks and followed her.

"Rose, we're gonna kill him!"
"Urgh, can't believe him!"
"I can't wait to get my hands on that twerp!"
"I'll kick him where it really hurts!"

Rose laughed coldly. "No," she said, as she saw the blonde boy further down the hallway. "He's mine."

"OI! MALFOY!"

Scorpius spun around, only to see Rose Weasley flick her wand at him. He recognised it from the stories his father had told him.

The Bat Bogey Hex.

That evening, Scorpius was taken to the Hospital Wing whimpering. And Rose Weasley? She was given a detention.

But the redhead didn't really mind. "It's all worth it."

I imagine Rose as a Hermione/Ginny kind of character (in this story, at least). So it's fun to see her switch between the two :)

It's 17 days 'til my birthday and you know what I'd like to get?

"A NEW LAPTOP?"

"Yes, but you guys can't give me that."

"CHOCOLATE?"
"I do love Honeyjukes chocolate, but no."

"LOTS OF REVIEWS?"
"Yes! Lots and lots!"

;D x