Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters…
Chapter 6: An apology
Fact #6: Rose Weasley faced her problems dead on
It had been a week since the incident, and, a week, consequently, since I had met Scorpius Malfoy.
Waking up early, skipping meals, coming just in time to classes, leaving before any one could even notice her, always being around a group of students, escaping to the library's restricted section, I had even resorted to borrowing Albus' cloak to avoid him.
And with considerable success, I'm proud to say.
And that was why you are now with me, in a dusty corridor in the seventh floor, and if I just exit here, I'll escape the eyes of people.
Yes!
Rose entered the Gryffindor common room leisurely, sure that she wouldn't encounter any one she knew.
And so, you can imagine her surprise, when she spotted Diane in there, on a couch, seemingly waiting for her.
"Hi Rose! What happened to you? Your robe is all dusty? Were you helping the House Elves clean? Is that why we couldn't see you for the past few days?" she asked as she helped Rose dust off the dirt.
"Let's go to the dorms" she said and before Rose could get in a word, dragged her towards the stairs.
In the dorms, the situation was the same. Diane didn't allow her to get in a word, gave her not a chance at apology, instead fussing about this and that.
"Diane! Diane! Stop it!"
"Hmm?"
"Why won't you just yell at me? I deserve it, for ignoring you! Why don't you tell me that you hate me?"
"Because I don't?"
"But…"
"Rose, I might have been angry with you if I hadn't known about the…circumstance between you and Scor…"
"Don't"
"…and him, if I hadn't expected your reaction, if I hadn't known the two of you would have to face this one time or other, if I hadn't known you half as well as I do, but, that's not the case"
"I know perfectly well why you are doing what you are doing. I have no regrets or disappointments, Rose. If you ever feel up to talking to me about it, you know I'm always there for you"
"Diane!" Rose cried as she hugged her, and it was a moment before Diane hugged her back, patting her, consoling her as she cried.
Once Rose had gained back her calm, they sat down on her bed, Rose leaning against the head board, and Diane on one of the posts, while she related to her all that had transpired between her and Scorpius that fateful day.
Diane listened to her intently, and, at the end, said, "You've thought a lot about it, haven't you?"
"No! I…yes. I couldn't help it! It keeps going on in my head!"
"You must have come to some conclusion?"
"I'll avoid him for the rest of my life"
"That's highly impractical and you know it"
"What do you suggest, then?"
"Just be your normal self. Show him that he hasn't affected you. If he is as sensible of his feelings as I think him to be, he'll come talk to you"
"You sound horribly like a prophesizer" Rose couldn't help but add, as she giggled.
"Whatever. So, what do you say?"
"When have I ever gone against my de…ar friend's wishes?"
"I could site quite a few instances"
"Those must have been a few lapses. Let's go to diner. I'm hungry!"
Diane wondered how some one could change so many emotions in such a short span of time as she went to dinner with her.
A few days passed without incident and Rose was almost back to her normal self, laughing with her cousins and being the know-it-all every one knew and liked.
"That must have been a sight to see!" Rose exclaimed as she laughed at Albus' descriptions of a prank he had pulled on the Slytherins while she had been on 'exile' as he put it.
"Sure, was! And McGonagall literally had smoke coming out of her ears! Hey, Scor!"
Rose's eyes snapped up to the form before her in equal measures of alarm and hope.
"Hey Al! Time for detention"
"Oh, is it eight already! Sorry, Rose! Gotta go!" he hurriedly apologized and ran out of the common room.
Scorpius stayed behind, and it seemed to Rose that he was trying very hard to say some thing.
"Rose…"
"Yes? Malfoy" her answer was aloof though she felt nauseous from the amount of flip flops her stomach was doing.
"I'm sorry?"
"You finally found that there was some thing called apology?" she said as she rummaged in her book bag, trying to hide her trembling hands in them.
"No, I knew I had to, some time, but, I just thought that you'd think I didn't mean it"
"What brought on the change?" she asked as she began writing on the piece of parchment she had found.
"I bloody missed you, alright!" he grabbed the piece of parchment from her before she could turn back to it.
Rose didn't know what to say to this. If he had been off handed, she could have been remote.
If he had been apologetic, she could have been forgiving.
This, though, was not some thing she knew how to handle.
But she needn't have worried, for, he appeared as surprised at this declaration as she and said some thing about detention and rushed away from there.
May be she could have called him back.
May be he could have explained to her.
But, neither happened, because he was too detached and she, too pusillanimous.
A/n:Review!