SCORPIUS
"I don't feel well," Daisy whines. She's been hanging around my bed more and more often lately, and it honestly sickens me. Whenever I look at her, I can't understand why Rose can't be mine, and why I'm stuck with such a dull person for the rest of my life. Honestly, I'd let Daisy die if it meant spending one night with Rose.
"I don't understand what you want me to do about that," I mutter.
Daisy gives me a steely gaze. She bites her lip. "Scorpius…" she mutters, kissing my shoulder.
"What?" I question. Even looking at her frustrates me, she's beautiful, but that's honestly it.
"I really don't feel well," Daisy continues.
I pull away. "Then go to the Hospital Wing. I'm not a damn Healer."
Daisy rolls her eyes and pouts. "You're so mean to me. I do my best to be kind and loving to you, and you ignore it." If that's what she calls being irritating and rude to everyone who's close to me, then she's doing it very well.
"Is that it?"
"Scorpius…" Daisy pouts. She rests her chin on my shoulder and runs her fingers through my hair. "You don't love me anymore."
"I haven't for a while." I have too much stress to deal with without Daisy adding to it. Christmas Vacation is in two weeks, meaning Isobelle is finally going to murder Simon, and I'll have to be there to pick up the pieces. I'll have to face going home with my parents after everything I've done with Rose. I know it can't continue at home, but I truly wish it would.
"We're going to be together forever. I can't make you love me, but maybe you should," Daisy suggests.
I want to laugh. "You don't love me."
"I would if you loved me."
"This is going in circles. We had sex, and that was wonderful, but I don't want you for anything more than that. I understand your skull is impossibly thick, but please try to comprehend IT." I roll over so my back is facing Daisy. Her face is simply infuriating.
She mutters something unintelligible under her breath.
"What was that?" I ask.
"As if you'd care. "
"I don't, but I hate when you feel the need to speak under your breath."
The weight shifts on the bed as Daisy sits up. She sighs dramatically. "Scorpius, I'm late. Again."
My blood runs cold. "What do you mean?"
"And you call me stupid," Daisy says acerbically. "It means I haven't had my-"
"I don't need an explanation. Just get rid of it."
Daisy makes a sound of protest. "But-"
"You've whored around so much it's probably not even mine. " I begin to get dressed, suddenly less in the mood for Daisy than I believed humanly possible.
"It is," Daisy persists. "I'm careful with everyone else, but with you, I figured since we're going to be married it didn't-"
"We aren't married yet, you stupid bitch! Is there not one thing you can do correctly?"
Daisy pulls her robes on and pokes her lip out. "I didn't do this by myself…"
"Well, you know, you led me to believe you were on the Potion!" I shout. I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You know, we don't even know if this is for certain. Don't speak to me until you know. Leave!"
"Fine," Daisy mutters. "I'm glad to know you're looking forward to having children with me."
She honestly doesn't understand anything. Daisy gets up and nearly runs out of my room. I don't feel bad for her at all. Actually, I'll be glad for my time away from her, seeing as a portion of my Christmas Vacation will involve her hanging off my arm. Our engagement party is on Christmas Eve. However, since Simon's due to die around then, I'm hoping it will be canceled.
I sigh as I pull my clothes back on, trying to go through what I have to do for the day. Isobelle wrote me a couple days ago saying she needed to speak to me about something important, but we haven't really been able to coordinate a time. We've practically been playing Floo-Tag, and I dearly hope she's all right for the time being. In addition, Liliana's taken the liberty of doing a Charms assignment with me, since she has the idea we'll be able to do Prefect's work at the same time. I've got no intentions of doing any of that, and she'll probably end up doing the project for me anyway.
A knock on my door jars me out of my thoughts. I'd know that knock anywhere. I get up and answer the door, trying not to appear too eager, or as if I care.
"Rose."
Rose frowns slightly as if she instantly regrets laying eyes on me. I wonder what she has to say. "We need to talk."
"Come in."
My step-sister enters my room, surveying it quietly, probably imagining what it would have felt like to be Head Girl and have her own room. She probably deserved it over Liliana.
"You can't tell anyone," Rose says stiffly, giving me a serious look. Her eyes are the exact same as Isobelle's, wide, brown, and innocent, although neither of them actually are. They look a lot alike, although Rose is far more subtle about her appearance than Isobelle. Her wild hair is in a boring braid, and a few curls stick out to frame her face. Her cheeks and nose are dusted with freckles, just like Hugo and Nina. She also has a delectable tan, one that makes her tall, athletic build all the more enticing.
I assume she's talking about what happened between us. Who would I be stupid enough to tell?
"I have no plans to," I promise her. "I don't think it would be received well. I can keep a secret as good as you can."
"Good," Rose mutters. There's sadness in her eyes, and I want to make it disappear. Only, I have no idea how.
"What's wrong?"
Rose shakes her head. She used to tell me everything, and now she doesn't like to speak to me anymore. She doesn't speak to anyone that I know of. Perhaps she's more like me than she realizes.
"Just tired."
"We've been downright attacked with schoolwork. At least you don't have to worry about running a school on top of that," I say, trying to make her feel better.
Rose bites her lip. "I would have liked to." She takes a deep breath. "But that's not what I meant. I don't want to go home. We aren't the family we used to be… and not just, not because of what happened."
"I'm not going to tell, if you're worried about that."
"I'm not," Rose assures me. "I wasn't taking about that. You can't say anything about Nina, especially to her. It would crush her."
I completely forgot about that. I don't know how I feel, knowing now that Nina isn't related to me in anyway. It's slightly hurtful, and I wonder why Dad couldn't have told me. I know it doesn't matter, but I'm old enough to understand. Nina deserves to know who her father is as well. But if Mum and Dad don't want me to say anything, then I won't. It's only for Nina's sake, though. No matter what she's still my little sister.
"I promise I won't say anything. But maybe you're so upset because you push yourself away from the rest of us. It's as if you blame us for where you are."
"I don't," Rose says defensively. "I know Mum loves your dad, and that my dad couldn't handle that or whatever, but it's hard. It's sort of like we don't really belong anywhere. Hugo doesn't care, and neither does Nina, and for some reason Isobelle's been put on this pedestal-"
"She isn't." I don't understand why Rose hates Isobelle so much. Of course, I've claimed that I hated Isobelle too, but I don't think I ever really have. I've disliked her and been fed up with her at points, but I couldn't be without her forever. I know now she's the only true sibling I have, as horrible as she can be.
Rose looks as if she wants to laugh at me. She sits on the edge of my bed. I want to sit beside her, but I don't want to make her uncomfortable. "Why do you think that?"
"She's always acted like she's better than the rest of us- Hugo, Nina, and me, I mean. She's always been so spoiled and condescending when she's really just a damn mess."
That isn't her fault. Isobelle was given almost the same upbringing as me: a pureblooded one. Dad never told her she wasn't a pureblood until she learned that Mum was her mum. We grew up with money, and because of that Dad's spoiled us to no end. He doesn't do it on purpose, but it's sort of the way he shows his affection. Besides, he was about my age when Isobelle came into his life. It wasn't as if he was prepared for any of that. He did his best, and that meant letting Isobelle get away with a lot. It didn't help her at all, so I don't understand why Rose sounds so jealous.
"She was raised differently than you and between you and me, you got the lucky end of it. You're independent and brilliant, and you're able to stick up for yourself. I love Isobelle, but she isn't at all the person you are," I remind Rose. "But she's still your sister."
Rose nods solemnly, like she doesn't want to be reminded that her and Isobelle are related. "I don't know how Dad feels about me either," she admits.
I don't think Dad and Rose have much of a relationship. She's always kept to herself much more than Hugo has, and Dad isn't the sort of man to go out of his way for people. He loves Rose, just like he loves all of us, but I don't know how comfortable they feel around one another. The only time I really see the two of them interact is when Mum is around or when Rose is in trouble. That must be difficult to handle.
"He's not a warm person," I assure her. "He's that way with me too sometimes. He gets on with Hugo and Nina much better. They're different than we are, they search for that kind of relationship, and I guess we don't."
Rose looks down and fidgets with her hands. I don't understand why she looks so upset and defeated when she was never this way before. "Lorcan and I are taking a break."
"Why?" I'm excited about that, but I have enough tact to not say so.
"I don't want to put him in the middle of what's going on in our family. I don't want to put him in the middle of me and you. He isn't safe that way, and it's unfair to hold on to him," she admits sadly.
I believed I'd be more triumphant when Rose finally agreed to leave the sniveling wanker alone. In reality, I'm feeling like much more of an asshole that I believed I would. I won't tell Rose, though.
"He wasn't worth it anyway." I tell her.
"I know what you think of him," Rose says bitterly. "And I know you're probably happy, but could you for once have sympathy?"
I shake my head. "No. I couldn't. He wasn't right for you anyway. You can find someone like that now. You aren't tied to anyone, not like I am."
Rose nods like she's never thought about this. "It's hard, isn't it? To feel like you're stuck to someone. I couldn't imagine."
"It is hard," I agree, finally joining Rose on my bed. She doesn't push me away or say anything about us being barely two centimeters apart. "But I have a few months left until things are official. I'd like to make the best of them that I can."
"How?"
I give Rose a small smile. She doesn't return it. "I think you know."
Before either of us has time to say anything else, I bring my mouth to Rose's, kissing her like I've never kissed any girl before. She ends up under me, and I'm fumbling with her robes, trying to get them off her as fast as humanly possible. I pray that she doesn't ask me to stop, because I don't think I can stand to be without the feel of her for another second. I feel a bit guilty for being with Rose when I slept with Daisy the night before, but Rose isn't stupid. She knows what Daisy and I do.
Rose pulls my shirt over my head and I crane my neck to kiss her collarbone and just above her chest. Rose sighs and closes her eyes.
"Scorpius," she says quietly, stopping me for a second. "Please be gentle." Her voice is small and unsure of itself.
I kiss her again. "I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise. We're probably going to miss first class, if that's all right with you."
Rose nods her head. "I have a free period."
"Even better."
Rose pulls her skirt up to her waist and takes my hand, guiding it to her underwear. "I'm… I'm ready."
"Are you sure? Because you sort of just decided-"
Rose nods and presses her lips to mine. Merlin, she's intoxicatingly beautiful. "Before I change my mind," she mutters, reaching for the zipper of my trousers. She can't unzip them fast enough. I'm not sure whether this is truly right of me to do, whether Rose really wants this or if she's just clouded by sadness. Either way, she isn't saying no.
Rose's fingernails dig into my shoulder. Her eyes are pleading. "Do it quickly."
I don't particularly want to. I try my best to get out of my boxers as quickly as possible. "Merlin," Rose breathes throatily.
"Are you ready?" I ask again, just to be sure.
Rose rolls her eyes, acting like her normal self for a moment. "Would I just lie here if I wasn't?"
"Good point. Um, it might be a bit uncomfortable, but I'll do my best to-"
The fireplace roars and lights up the room with the acid green flames. I'm frozen in disbelief and anger as I hear Isobelle's shocked voice say, "Oh, my." She chose now to Floo back?
Rose shoves me off her and covers herself with her robes as quickly as possible. I pull up my pants at lightning speed and turn around to face Isobelle. She looks as if she may vomit, and not from pregnancy.
"Rose, Scorpius?" She asks, tentatively, her face screwing up into a frown.
"Give us a moment," I mutter. By the time I turn around, Rose is already dressed. Her face is a deep shade of red, and she looks angry. "Rose."
"Leave me alone," she mutters, not even bothering to look at me. It's not as if we were just about to sleep with each other or anything.
"This isn't my fault. I didn't know she was going to Floo right now," I say calmly, trying to take Rose's hand. She shakes me off.
Isobelle's eyebrows furrow. "Don't you have a boyfriend, Rose?" she asks accusingly.
Rose wheels around so quickly it makes my neck hurt. "Scorpius has a fiancée!" she says defensively. And you had no problem cheating on Holden! You aren't any better than me!"
"I didn't say I was. The two of you are brother and sister."
"No, we aren't," I remind Isobelle stiffly. I want to bring up the fact that she has a relationship with Teddy, who's actually related to her. I won't do that in front of Rose, though.
"I'm leaving," Rose announces dramatically before slamming the door behind her.
It's only Isobelle and I now. I'm rather annoyed Rose and I couldn't follow through on what we were about to do, but Isobelle's judgment makes me feel a bit dirty. She blinks a few times, unsure of what to say. "Um, how long…"
"It doesn't matter," I mutter under my breath. "She's going to blame me for this, I know it."
Isobelle purses her red lips. Although she's much older than me, she looks like a child with makeup on. "When I said you should find a girl who made you happy, I was assuming you'd reach a bit further."
"You didn't," I remind her coolly.
"I don't live in the same home as Teddy. He wasn't raised as my sibling," Isobelle reminds me.
"The two of you are blood related. Rose and I aren't."
Isobelle makes a face. "How are you going to explain this to Mum and Dad?"
"I don't plan to. It was stupid, and I doubt it's going to continue."
"Hopefully not." Isobelle reaches down and lifts a glass of champagne, bringing it to her lips.
"Are you drinking?" I ask in disbelief. It isn't a secret Isobelle has a drinking problem. It's gotten out of hand quite a few times.
Isobelle nods shamelessly. "The Healers said I could still drink champagne and wine, things of the like, as long as I diluted it with water," she explains, as if this is something very important to her.
"And are you?"
"Of course," Isobelle nods. "I'm being very careful."
When Isobelle stops speaking, I can see the sadness she has in her eyes. She must be afraid that things aren't going to work, and what that could men for her future. However, it's something that has to be done. "What's the matter?"
Isobelle takes a deep breath and does an awful job at forcing a smile. "Nothing, I'm actually very happy at the moment. I've had a wonderful day. I had tea with Mum earlier."
"You're lying."
"I did have tea with her."
"No, I mean about your happiness. What's wrong? I'm your brother, you can tell me."
Isobelle scoffs. "As if family means anything anymore."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask, wondering why Isobelle seems so cynical all of the sudden.
"Dad refuses to speak to me, and he says I'm not welcome back to the Manor as long as I have Teddy's children. He doesn't know they're Teddy's but he knows they aren't Simon's."
I can't believe this. How the hell would Dad even find out? Isobelle isn't good at hiding things, but I thought this would be different. "Did you tell him?"
Isobelle shakes her head vehemently. "No, he sort of put the pieces together and- oh, he said some very mean things to me, and it's scared me. What if when we kill Simon, he thinks I did it just because I was pregnant with someone else's children? What if he blames me automatically?"
Those were exactly my thoughts. "Then we can't give him any reason to think that. You have to be very convincing." I'm scared Isobelle may back out, but perhaps she won't, considering she'll be spending as much time in Azkaban as me, if not more.
"I will be," Isobelle promises. "You know I'd do anything for Delphine… and for my other daughters."
"They're girls?" I question. Perhaps Isobelle isn't meant to have any sons.
Isobelle nods, smiling genuinely for the first time. "They're identical too, so hopefully I'll be good at telling them apart. Don't tell Teddy, I think he'll be very excited to know, but I don't want to spoil it. He said he always wanted a little girl. Delphine will be so excited, too."
"Congratulations," is all I can think to say. Hopefully without Simon in the way, Isobelle can be the mother to her other daughters that she should be to Delphine.
"Thank you," Isobelle says proudly, placing her hand gently over her stomach. "I love them very much already. Teddy said he always wanted to name his daughter after his grandmother, and isn't Andromeda such an elegant name?"
"It's a good choice," I agree. Seeing Isobelle so happy makes me feel even more intent on helping her out her marriage with Simon. If I can't be happy, she at least deserves to be.
"I have no idea what we'll call the other one. We'll think of something. Listen to me, only talking about myself. How are you doing?" Isobelle asks.
I actually rather enjoy hearing about her. It distracts me from all the shit I have to deal with. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Isobelle questions. "You know if there's ever anything wrong, you can talk to me."
"I know," I say shortly. "I'm not much of the talking type."
Isobelle purses her lips. She looks away for a second, and I hear a shrill voice and a loud crash. Isobelle stands in a hurry.
"Delphine!" Isobelle chastises. "What did I tell you about playing the curtains when the owls are trying to come through?" She pulls her wand out of her robes and mutters something. An owl squawks loudly. "Poor thing. Delphine's going to break his wing someday."
"Sorry, Mummy," Delphine laughs. She throws herself into Isobelle's lap. Only when she turns her head does she recognize me. "Uncle Scorpius! You're in the fire again!"
"I am. Are you behaving yourself?"
Delphine looks at Isobelle with a sheepish grin. "I'm being good for Mummy."
Isobelle rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "I'm not sure I would go that far." Isobelle kisses the top of Delphine's head.
"Do you come home soon?" Delphine asks me , turning to me expectantly with those eyes that every female in my family seems to have. Curse Mum and her strong muggle genes.
"Next week. I'm sure Isobelle will take you to come see me as soon as I step off the platform."
"I certainly will," Isobelle agrees. She glances at the clock above her head. "You know I'll have to lay you down for a nap soon."
Delphine pouts. "Big girls don't take naps," she protests.
"But big girls who are an absolute terror without their naps take them," Isobelle counters. Delphine huffs.
"I would kill for a nap," I tell Delphine, hoping that will make her a bit more compliant. It's true. I don't get nearly enough rest. "And besides, you have to be on your best behavior and listen to your mother. You know Christmas is right around the corner and Santa Claus doesn't bring gifts to naughty children."
Isobelle gives me a small smile and mouths the words "thank you."
"I'm not naughty!" Delphine protests. "I'm good!"
"So you've got to listen to your mother, right?"
Delphine nods her head. "Yes…" She yawns and rests her head on Isobelle's shoulder.
Isobelle gestures to Delphine. "Do you mind if I put her in the next room before we keep talking? There are some other things I wouldn't exactly like for her to hear."
I nod. "That's fine."
The entire school reeks or holiday festiveness, which I'm not exactly in the mood for. The Great Hall has been enchanted with a constant snowfall, which makes eating meals less than enjoyable. Large Christmas trees are shoved in nearly every corner, and the ghosts have taken to singing Christmas carols I didn't even know existed. If the sodding things weren't already dead, I'd kill them myself.
"My soup's gone cold," Nina mutters in annoyance. "Stupid snow." She rolls her eyes and turns to speak to some of her younger friends. I don't exactly like when they sit near me, because they stare at me quite a bit.
"Any plans for the holidays?" Al asks me. "Other than coming over so I don't have to suffer through Mum's meat pies alone, of course."
I turn to look at him. "You know. That certain party I've been dreading."
"Oh, yeah," Al nods knowingly. "I've picked out my dress robes for it." Since Al's going to be my best man, he's coming to the party as well.
"I haven't." I haven't exactly felt too pressed to do anything regarding the party. It seems my father and Daisy's want to do everything anyway. "I'd like to think about it as little as possible."
"Fine, then," Al says, changing the subject. He takes off his glasses and wipes the snowflakes on the front of his robes. "This was a fucking stupid idea."
"I second that."
Al glances over at the Ravenclaw table. I can't tell if he's looking a Liliana or Rose. They're sitting beside one another, poring over a book of some sort. Probably some stupid homework for a stupid class they have together. "Did you hear she broke up with Lorcan?" Al questions.
"Something of the sort."
"I don't think he minded much, seeing as how you tried to kill him- what was that about anyway?"
I shrug. How could I possibly explain that to Albus? "He's an asshole. I don't like him."
"Yeah well, next time you don't like someone, make sure injuring them doesn't cost our House fifty points. "
I roll my eyes at Al. Is he serious? "Who cares about points? You sound like a bloody First Year."
"I don't like losing. No matter what it is," Al protests.
"Then you should be happy our quidditch team is number one right now, whether or not someone had to take a tumble for that to happen."
Al doesn't say anything else. He must realize I have a point.
I've been dreading Transfiguration all week. It's horribly uncomfortable to look at Teddy knowing how Isobelle feels about him and that she's pregnant with his children. I'm sure Teddy feels uncomfortable around me as well. We never talked much before any of this happened, and we still aren't exactly on personal terms as it is.
Teddy takes a deep breath and turns around after writing a spell on the board. He's been looking more and more tired lately. He doesn't appear to have shaved in a couple days either.
"I'm sure all of you are wondering why I instructed you to leave your textbooks in you rooms this lesson," Teddy begins. His voice is dull, not as lively as it usually is when teaching. "In a second you and your partner will use the spell on the board and have a go at conjuring them onto your desks. I'll admit it's very difficult, but not impossible seeing as this is a N.E.W.T. level class."
"Another failed lesson," Al mutters under his breath. "I don't even know how I ended up in this class."
It isn't that Al is a bad wizard, Harry Potter's his father for Merlin's sakes, but there are certain classes he has absolutely no talent in. Transfiguration's one of them.
"That's what you get for copying off me for six years."
Al makes a face at me. He picks up his wand and holds it over his desk. "Here goes nothing." He moves his wrist in a clockwise motion above the desk. "Appareo."
Al makes a face and curses as he looks down to see half his book sticking through the top of his desk. He tries to pull it out, but it won't budge. "Are you kidding me?" He questions. "Guess I won't be doing the homework for a while, though."
"How'd you even manage to do that?" I ask, cracking a smile.
"Do you think I really know?" Al looks up, making sure Teddy hasn't noticed. Al messes up so often in class it's common for him to be made an example of.
"Perfect, Ms. Thompson. Five points to Ravenclaw," Teddy says from his desk.
I roll my eyes inwardly. Of course, Liliana didn't have any trouble. She turns around with her stupid smug little smile. "Albus," she says quietly. "How…?"
"I don't know," he admits again. "I should have let Scorpius do it."
Liliana gives Al a sympathetic smile. It irritates me just how much affection is in her eyes when she looks at him. "Well, it's nothing that can't be fixed, right?"
"Let's hope not," Al sighs.
She glances over her shoulder to make sure Teddy isn't looking. "I'm sure Professor Lupin doesn't mean to embarrass you," she says kindly. "He's only trying to help you out."
"I'd much rather you helped me," Al says with a sheepish smile. Liliana smiles back.
If they continue to flirt like this, I may just vomit. Liliana takes out her wand. "Appareo." Al's textbook wedges itself out of the desk and places itself neatly on top.
"Thanks," Al says with relief, as if Liliana's just rescued his family from a burning building.
"You're welcome. Remember you're coming to my common room tonight to study."
Al makes a face. "I'd rather snog."
"Albus!" Liliana gives him a scathing glance and cuts her eyes at me. As if I care what she does with Al.
"Joking. Only joking," Al mutters. "I love studying."
Liliana rolls her eyes. "Of course you do." She turns around for a brief second and grabs sheet of parchment off her desk. She hands it back to Al. He doesn't let go, and they hold hands for a second. "You should take notes during class. I've told you that."
"Sorry, I can't exactly see past the back of your head," Al replies. "Not that I'm trying to."
Liliana gives Albus a smile. Her front teeth cross a bit. "You know, as Head Girl, I would like for my boyfriend to have pretty decent marks."
"That's what I have you for," Al reminds her. I may be sick.
"I can't be there to make you study all the time."
Al sighs. "Maybe I'd study more if I had an incentive for doing it."
Liliana purses her lips. "Fine, then." She stands on her toes and whispers something into Al's ear. From the look and his face and the way his cheeks turn red, I know that I have absolutely no interest to find out.
Teddy stands up and clears his throat. Liliana turns around quickly to face front. I'm glad I don't have to listen to her and Al speak to each other anymore. Surprisingly, my lunch remained inside my stomach. "All right, I think I've given you quite enough time. Now I'm going to have one of you come up to the front and demonstrate."
Teddy walks around to see who's actually mastered the assignment. Not many of us have. He goes back to his desk. "Albus, great job. Will you come up here and demonstrate for the class?"
The color drains from Al's face. "Just your luck, huh?" I mutter with a smirk.
"I think I'm feeling pretty lucky," Al says under his breath, glancing down at his lap. "For once it's not the spell I'm worried about."
"What are you- oh, you tosser. Liliana's got you a bit worked up, has she? I doubt she said anything that enticing…"
Al raises his eyebrows at me. "I wouldn't put any galleons on it."
Teddy gives Al an expectant look. "Any day now, Albus."
"Can I let Scorpius have a go? He hasn't gotten to try yet," Al asks, his voice cracking.
Teddy shakes his head. He gives Al a small smile. "No. You've finally done something on the first try. You should show the class," he says encouragingly. "We haven't got all day."
Reluctantly, Al curses under his breath. He stands up, taking care to hold his textbook in front of his neither regions. He walks to the front of the class and joins Teddy at the board. Some of the boys in the class begin to laugh. Liliana's shoulders tense up. I'd like to see how she handles this.
"I'll take your book and put it in the cabinet, and I want you to make it appear on my desk," Teddy tells him. He reaches for Al's book.
"You don't want to do that," Al tells him, backing away. "If you've got an extra book lying around, that would be spectacular."
Teddy frowns at Al. "Are you all right, Albus?"
"I think he's more than all right, Professor," Sebastian jokes. Al gives him a death-glare. The class bursts into laughter, catching wind of what's going on. The only one other than Liliana who doesn't seem to be slightly amused is Rose. She's such a bloody stick in the mud.
"Then let's go, Albus. Wand at the ready."
Al coughs slightly. "Believe me, professor. It already is."
Teddy seems to understand at once. "Please take a seat, Mr. Potter," he says with slight irritation in his voice. Al hurries to his seat, nearly tripping over his robes on the way. The class roars with laughter. "Ms. Weasley, please come demonstrate for the class."
Rose stands up, and she looks like she has a stick shoved up her ass. She makes a point not to even look in my general direction. I consider that funny since she was ready to have sex with me this morning. She pulls out her wand. "Appareo," she says in a bored-sounding voice. The textbook appears on Teddy's desk. He checks the cabinet to make sure Rose has done it right.
"Well, done, Rose," he says, but Rose is already on her way to her seat.
"What's her problem?" Al whispers. "Didn't think she'd take things with Lorcan that hard."
I sigh. "It's probably something to do with me," I say, playing dumber than I actually am. "It usually is."
*Leave a review!