Chapter 9: A Shocking Discovery
(Scorpius's pov)
Every day after classes, Rose and I continue to visit the still unconscious Albus in the hospital wing. After a few days, I realized that Rose had begun to trust me, and we were actually becoming friends, something I had wanted since first year. I also noticed that something about Rose's appearance was different, but I wasn't quite sure what. Rose was skinny, but not too skinny as some girls were, but she had always been that way. Her red, flowing hair ran down her back in a silky cascade, but that too was a usual for Rose. I just couldn't figure out what had changed.
Even though I was worried about Albus, I was finding visits to the hospital wing to be quite enjoyable. Surprisingly, Rose seemed to enjoy them as well. We sat side by side together as we waited for Albus to wake up, laughing, talking, and doing our assignments at the same time. Sometimes we were joined by Ben, Luke, Alana, and Sahara, James, Lily, and Albus's other cousins but shockingly, it was Rose's presence that I enjoyed the most.
On Wednesday afternoon, four days after Albus had been hurt, I brought my wizard's chess set with me to the hospital wing, hoping Rose would be willing to play a game with me. "I brought wizard's chess. Do you know how to play?" I asked Rose as soon as I walked into the room.
Rose smiled. "Yes, my dad taught me. But I must warn you Scorpius, I'm quite good."
When had she started calling me by my first name? Choosing to ignore it, I smiled back and said, "We'll just see about that."
The game progress rather quickly. It was a close match-up, until the very end, when I realize Rose was going to win. Right as Rose was about to say, "check mate", however, we were interrupted.
"Rose? Scorpius?"
(Albus's pov)
I woke up with a sharp headache. The pain was so excruciating, that I moaned. Yet, I couldn't seem to be able to open my eyes. Where was I, and what how did I get here? Where ever here was. And wasn't I playing Quidditch a minute ago. More importantly, why was I hearing voices? With a start, I realized the voices belonged to Rose and Scorpius. Even stranger, they were in the same room together, and they actually seemed to be enjoying themselves. Suddenly, I heard Rose laugh. Rose almost never laughed at something Scorpius said. Curious, I forced my eyes to open. When they finally did, I saw that I was in the hospital wing, with Rose and Scorpius sitting at the head of my bed, playing wizard's chess.
"Rose?" I asked in a weak voice. "Scorpius?"
"Albus!" Rose shrieked as she leapt from her chair and flung her arms around me. "Are you alright? We were so worried about you? Can I get you anything, some water or something…"
"Rose, slow down." I said, somehow managing to laugh weakly.
"Sorry." Rose replied. "Firstly, are you alright?"
"My head hurts." I said with a sigh. "What happened exactly?"
"Zabini and Goyle confounded some Bludgers to attack you, and they knocked you off your broom. They could have killed you, so Headmistress Clearton suspended them from their next game, which is against Ravenclaw." Rose replied angrily. "Oh, I almost forgot. Madame Pomfrey wanted us to tell her when you woke up. I'll be right back."
Rose rushed off to get Madame Pomfrey, and I took the opportunity to talk to Scorpius. "How long have I been passed out?" I asked.
"Four days." Scorpius answered.
That long? "And you have been here every day?"
Scorpius nodded. "Rose too. She actually broke her arm trying to save you from falling, but it's completely healed now.
Before I had a change to reply, Rose returned to the room, with Madame Pomfrey close behind her. "I'm glad to see you're finally awake." Madame Pomfrey said. "How are you feeling, dear?"
"My head hurts a little bit." I admitted.
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "I thought it might. Here, this potion will help. It might make you a little drowsy though."
She handed me a small bottle filled with a clear liquid, and I hesitantly drank it before handing it back to her. Madame Pomfrey smiled, and said, "Let me know if you need anything," before leaving the room. When she was gone, I turned to Scorpius and Rose, who were gazing at me expectantly.
"So are you guys friends now?" I asked, propping my elbow up on the bed and resting my head in my hand.
Rose and Scorpius looked at each other and smiled. "Yeah, I guess we are." Scorpius finally replied.
I smiled too. That was something I never thought could happen. For the next half an hour or so, the three of us just sat and talked about everything I had missed over the past four days, until I began to grow drowsy. Rose and Scorpius soon notice this.
"Are you tired, Al?" Rose asked suddenly.
I hesitated. "No… well maybe a little."
Rose smiled, and stood up. "It's alright, you should probably get some rest." She paused to glance at the clock hanging on the wall behind my bed. "Besides, I should start my prefect duties. It takes twice as long now that you're stuck here and I have to do them all by myself."
"Sorry about that." I replied. "But I can't really help it. I mean, I'd help you if I could, but… well, you get the point."
Rose laughed. "It's fine, Al. Don't worry about it. See you tomorrow, okay?"
I sighed. "Alright."
"Bye, Al." Scorpius chimed in, and together he and Rose left the room.
As I allowed my eyes to close, I couldn't help but think that something good had actually come out of this.
(Scorpius's pov – about 2 months later)
A few days before Christmas break, everyone was full of excitement, because Hogwarts had just experienced its first snowfall of the season. The snow arrived late this year, and everyone was talking about it, excited that it had finally came. This is what mostly everyone was talking about when Professor Flint, our Potion's master, called the class to order.
"Look, I know the snow is exciting, but we have a lot of work to get done if you want to score well on your Potions O.W.L, and as you all know, I have high standards that I expect people in my sixth and seventh year classes to meet, and I won't let people in who can't meet those standards." Professor Flint was saying. "Today, we will be working on Amortentia potions, which may or may not be on your O.W.L.s. Now, who can tell me what Amortentia is?"
Rose and I both quickly raised our hands, and playfully grinned at each other, but Flint called on Rose first. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world that causes an infatuation or obsession in the drinker. Its smell varies depending on what the smeller likes." Rose recited quickly.
"That's more than enough information, Ms. Weasley." Flint said, giving Rose a glare. "Five points to Gryffindor. Now, everyone, find a partner and turn to page 142 in your Potions book, where you will find the ingredients you will need. Get started immediately."
The class rushed around the room as everyone found a partner. Albus immediately paired up with Rose, while Ben and Luke and Alana and Sahara formed their own pairs. Everyone else seemed to be paired up too, so I was left with Thomas Simons, the shy, socially awkward boy from our dorm. It was alright though, because Potions was my best subject, and I was sure I could handle myself if I needed to. Knowing this, Thomas quickly offered to gather all the ingredients for me and read off the directions. Hoping to be the first one done, I quickly set to work.
Finally we were done. I called Flint over to examine my work, and I could have sworn I saw a smile creep onto his lips when he saw it. "Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Simons have successfully finished their Amortentia potion. Ten points each. Tell me what you smell boys."
Thomas smelled the potion first. "I smell… pumpkin juice, apple pie, and… my mum's freshly-knitted socks that have never been worn." He announced timidly.
Flint nodded. "Mr. Malfoy?"
I leaned forward to smell the potion. "I smell sweets from the trolley on the Hogwarts express…" I froze suddenly. I couldn't believe what I was smelling. I was smelling cat hair, but not just from any cat, but from Mittens, who just happened to be Rose's cat. His hair was constantly on Rose's sweaters that her grandmother made her. In addition, I could also smell Rose's perfume, the one that her cousin Lily had bought her for Christmas last year. Merlin, I was in love with Rose! Rose Weasley! My best mate's cousin! It couldn't be true, it just couldn't. Suddenly, I realized people were still staring at me, waiting for an answer, so I knew I had to make something up, and fast. "I also smell freshly cut grass and… my broomstick." Hopefully that would be believable enough.
"Very good. Now everyone form a line with your partner and record what you smell." Flint announced.
While everyone else formed a line, I sunk down in my chair and tried not to hyperventilate. I was in love with Rose Weasley. Could anything be worse? Rose and I had just become friends, and now I in love with her? There was no way in a million years that Rose would want me. Suddenly, I felt sick, and I knew I wanted to leave, but I knew I would make people suspicious if I did. So I stayed, and waited for my torture to be over.
(Rose's pov)
As Albus and I soon discovered, making an Amortentia potion was not as easy as we imagined it would be. While our potion was supposed to have a distinctive mother-of-pearl-sheen with steam spiraling from it, it was a totally different color than it was supposed to be, and there were absolutely no spirals coming from it at all. What was even more frustrating was while Albus and I struggled to figure out what we had done wrong, Scorpius had finished.
Scorpius and his partner, Thomas, were each required to say what they smelt in their potion. When it was Scorpius's turn, he started out fine by saying he smelt sweets from the Hogwarts Express, but then he froze up as if he was shocked by what he smelt. Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, he reported that he smelt freshly cut grass and his broomstick. I knew he was lying, and was trying to figure out why when it was mine and Albus's turn to smell the Amortentia.
Albus went first. "I smell Grandma Molly's cooking… that smell that is always in the air in the fall when we leave for Hogwarts… and my broom. What about you?"
I leaned forward and inhaled deeply. "I smell Grandma Molly's cooking as well, as well as the air right after a spring rain shower, and Mittens." I said. At least this part was easy for me.
"Ms. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, I would like to speak with you." Professor Flint called as everyone was leaving the room. "Ms. Weasley, I realize that you struggle in my class. You know the information, but the potion-making appears to trouble you. I know from experience and the other professor that you especially bright, and I expect better from you."
"I'm sorry, Professor, I'll try to do better next time. Potions just isn't my subject, I suppose." I replied.
"I understand that, Ms. Weasley, but sometimes even the brightest of students need help. That's why I want Mr. Malfoy to tutor you in Potions, since he seems to excel in it."
"But, Professor," I cried, "You're not making Albus have a tutor, and he was my partner. Why me?"
"Mr. Potter did most of the work today, and in other situations, he at least has proven to be a somewhat satisfactory potion maker, something I would have expected of him. You are not even that, when your intelligence shows more." Flint snapped. "Are you fine with this, Mr. Malfoy, or should I find someone else?"
"No, Professor, I'll do it." Scorpius muttered, keeping his eyes to the floor. What was up with him?
"Good. Then set up a time after break where you can both come here and work. You may go." Flint said, and I darted out the door with Scorpius close behind me. To my horror, I felt tears streaming down my face. How could I be tutored by Scorpius? Sure, Scorpius and I were friends now, but the point was, I didn't even need a tutor. Mum never needed to be tutored, so why would I. This was going to be something I was not looking forward to at all.
Author's note: I know the Amortentia scene has been done before, but I just had to add it. Sorry for any typos, but once again, I was in a rush to post this.