Chapter 12: An Adventure in Hogsmeade

(Scorpius's pov)

"Here's a good spot." Rose said, leading me to an empty table in the Great Hall. We were looking for a nice, quiet spot to work on our transfiguration homework. Not long after we opened our books, I said, "It's too quiet. Let's play a game while we work."

Rose set down her quill and looked at me curiously. "What sort of game?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Let's just ask each other questions I guess. I'll go first. Would you rather snog the giant squid or Hagrid's half brother, Grawp?

"Scorpius!" Rose cried, half appalled and half amused, "You can't be serious!"

"Just answer the question."

"I can't!" Rose replied with a laugh. "It's too hard!"

I grinned. "Answer the question, or else I'll tell everyone that you fancy both of them!"

Rose frowned. "Fine. The squid, I guess, he can't kiss back, and Grawp might take it the wrong way."

I smiled. "Okay. You're turn."

"Hmm…. What's your deepest secret?"

I froze. Why did she have to ask that, of all questions? My deepest secret was that I was in love with her, but I wasn't about to tell her that. "Scorpius? Is something wrong?" Rose asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. Um… sometimes I wish I wasn't a Malfoy. That I had been born a muggle-born instead." This was only partly true. I may not agree with all my family's views, but I really do love them, and wouldn't trade my life for anything. Except for Rose, of course. Then again, if I ever got her, she would be my life.

Rose studied me suspiciously, as if she knew I wasn't telling the full truth "Why do you say that?" she asked.

I hesitated, not expecting that question. "They're just so prejudice against anyone who isn't a pure-blood is all, and I don't think that way."

This "game" continued for a while, until we realized it was almost curfew.

"Well, so much for Transfiguration homework." I said with a sigh.

"At least we have the weekend. Today is Wednesday, and our assignment isn't due to next Tuesday."

I smiled. "Thank Merlin for that."

I walked back to my dorm with a huge smile on my face. This was the most fun I had had in a long time, and I got to spend it with Rose.

(Rose's pov)

During the spring Hogsmeade trip in early May, I decided to walk around with Albus and his friends. It was a tricky decision because while Al and Scorpius were pulling me one way, Alana and Sahara were pulling me in the opposite direction. In the end, I decided to go with the boys, although I can't explain why. Almost immediately, however, I began to regret my decision.

The first place we went was Weasley Wizard Wheezes, which would have been fine, except for one thing. Normally, the shop was owned my Uncle George, and his wife, Aunt Angelina. My dad, however, was now a semi-retired auror, and when he wasn't working in the Auror department under my Uncle Harry, he helped out Uncle George and Aunt Angelina in the shop. If Dad saw me and Scorpius even in the same room together outside of Hogwarts, I don't know what he'd do. Uncle George was more laid-back – he owned a joke shop for Merlin's sake – but Dad was another story.

Uncle George, and my late-uncle Fred had started Weasley Wizard Wheezes in the late 90's in Diagon Alley. After Uncle Fred's tragic death, Uncle George continued running the shop, and it had become very successful. Just recently, Uncle George decided to expand his business, and so he bought Zonko's Joke Shop, and opened a second Weasley Wizard Wheezes, located in Hogsmeade. Now, Uncle George and Aunt Angelina traveled back and forth between the two.

When we walked into the store, Dad was thankfully nowhere to be found. Uncle George saw us right away and smiled at us as he waved us over. "Hey guys." Uncle George said cheerfully. "I see you brought friends."

Albus smiled. "Yeah, this is Ben Wood, Luke Phillips, and Scorpius Malfoy."

Uncle George smiled at all of them, but turned his attention to Ben first. "Are you by any change related to Oliver Wood?"

Ben nodded. "He's my dad. Do you know him?"

"I played with him on the Gryffindor quidditch team for a few years." Uncle George replied, and then turned to Luke. "Phillips, I don't recognize that name."

"I'm a muggle-born." Luke replied. "That's probably why."

Uncle George nodded. "Well, enjoy your time at Weasley Wizard Wheezes. And remember, Al and Rosie, all products are twenty-five percent off for family members." I couldn't help but notice that he didn't even acknowledge Scorpius.

Just then, I took the opportunity to ask the question I had been thinking about ever since we arrived at the shop. "Is Dad here?"

Uncle George shook his head. "No, he's at the Aurors office today." He leaned in closer to whisper something in my ear, so that no one else would be able to hear him. "And it's a good thing too, because if he saw you hanging around that Malfoy boy, he'd probably light the shop on fire in his rage."

I managed a weak laugh, even though for once, I didn't find Uncle George's joke the least bit funny. "Thanks, Uncle George." I said.

"No problem, Rosie." Uncle George said, and then turned to a group of third years who were messing around with one of his displays. Chasing after them, he yelled, "Oi! What are you doing over there?"

Grinning, the boys and I set off to explore the shop. Weasley Wizard Wheezes was filled with dozens of joke products from extendable ears to portable swamps. What caught my attention most was the display of little Pygmy Puffs, sitting right beside all the other WonderWitch products. "Oh, look!" I exclaimed, leading the boys to the display, Scorpius following shortly behind me. "My aunt Ginny had one of these named Arnold, and my cousin Lily just got one for Christmas. Aren't they cute?"

"Yeah, they are." Scorpius replied, a little absent-mindedly. "Hey, where's everyone else?"

I frowned. Sure enough, Albus, Luke, and Ben were gone. We searched the shop for several minutes before we decided that they must have left. After saying goodbye to Uncle George, we quickly followed them. We searched all over Hogsmeade for them, but couldn't find them anywhere. We checked at Ollivander's, the Hog's Head, the post office, and even Madame Puddifoot's, but our friend's were nowhere to be found. After a while, we began to get thirsty, so we stopped at the Three Broomsticks for something to drink. Just as I was about to order something, I realized I didn't have anything to pay for it with.

"My money!" I gasped. "It's gone."

Scorpius frowned. "Did you have it when we left Hogwarts?" he asked.

"Yes, I know I did."

Scorpius thought for a moment. "I guess I'll just have to pay for yours then." He said with a smile.

"Scorpius, I can't accept that!" cried.

"Too bad." Scorpius replied. "We're not leaving until I buy you something. What do you want?"

"Fine." I sighed. "I'll have a butterbeer, please."

"Two butterbeers, please." Scorpius told Madam Rosmerta, and once we were served, went to find a table by the window.

I'd never been this alone with a boy before, so it felt kind of weird to be at The Three Broomsticks with Scorpius. It felt as if we were on a date. Stop it, Rose! I scolded myself mentally, horrified I was thinking such a thing. What are you thinking?

"I just don't know where they could be." Scorpius was saying, clearly still talking about Albus and the others. "We've looked everywhere that was even remotely interesting."

"What about Honeydukes?" I asked. "We haven't tried there yet."

Scorpius slapped his forehead. "Of course! How could I forget Honeydukes? We'll go there next."

After we finished our butterbeers, Scorpius paid and then we set out for Honeydukes. When we arrived, however, we found dozens of different sweets, but none of our friends. I eyed the sweets hungrily, but then remembered I didn't have money. Unfortunately, Scorpius seemed to notice this. "Do you want some of those?" he asked.

I hesitated. "I don't have any money." I reminded him, without really answering his question.

"I'll buy you some." Scorpius said, and before I could protest, he grabbed about six of the largest bags - three for me and three for himself – and began filling them with sweets.

"Scorpius," I sighed. "You don't have to buy me all this, you know. It's as if…" as if you were my boyfriend, I was going to say, but I stopped myself just in time and quickly dismissed the thought from my head.

Scorpius gave me look of curiosity. "As if… what?"

"It's as if you had enough money to buy all of the English and Scottish population sweets."

Scorpius shrugged. "Well, my family does have plenty of money to spare. They'd probably just assume I'm spending it all on myself. Besides, I want to treat you."

"Alright," I said with a sigh. Scorpius paid for the sweets, and then we left the store. Deciding to take a break, Scorpius and I found a grassy hill to sit on. Below us, we have a clear view of Hogsmeade, and behind us, the Shrieking Shack could be seen in the distance.

"Do you believe the myths about the Shrieking Shack?" Scorpius asked as he lay on his back in the grass.

"No, I don't." I replied. "But I know the real story."

"What is it?" Scorpius asked curiously.

"Well, my Mum said that back in the seventy's, the Shrieking Shack was home to a werewolf named Remus Lupin during the full moon. That was the howling people heard."

"I've heard of him. I think he was married to my Dad's cousin, Nymphadora Tonks."

"I didn't know you were related to Nymphadora Tonks. Nymphadora's my middle name. Apparently, my parents knew her, and Remus, really well. What's your middle name, anyways?"

"Hyperion." Scorpius replied.

"Why?"

"It's a family tradition to name children after stars and constellations. I guess my parents just like the name Scorpius Hyperion. Scorpius is a Scorpion, and Scorpio is the horoscope for October 23rd to November 21st, which makes sense, since I was born November 3rd. Hyperion is one of the twelve titans of ancient Greece, so I'm not really sure why they chose that one."

As we talked, I couldn't help but think that there was nowhere else I'd rather be at that moment. Don't be silly, Rose, of course there are places you'd rather be, I told myself. Unfortunately, I couldn't even convince myself of that.

The sun began to set, and Scorpius and I decided to head back to Hogwarts. I had a fabulous day, but what was strange about it was that I had spent it with Scorpius. I had actually enjoyed spending an entire day alone with Scorpius Malfoy? Merlin, what was wrong with me?

(Scorpius's pov)

After my day at Hogsmeade with Rose, I felt as light as a feather. The day was perfect, and despite my effects to stop myself, every minute I spent with Rose, I fell deeper in love with her. When we returned to Hogwarts, Rose announced she was tired, and went up to her dorm for the night. A few minutes later, Albus, Luke, and Ben returned. Albus waited until Luke and Ben were out of earshot before he spoke. "So, how was your day with Rose?" he asked with a grin.

I let out a happy sigh. "It was perfect. We looked for you when you disappeared from Weasley Wizard Wheezes, but…" Suddenly, I realized what Albus had done. "You ditched us on purpose, didn't you, so I could have some alone time with Rose."

Albus smiled deviously. "Maybe."

"What did you tell the guys?" I asked, slightly concerned.

Al shrugged. "I just told them how funny I thought it would be if we left you and Rose behind. Don't worry, Scorp, your secret's still safe with me."

"And Rose's money? Did you have something to do with that too?"

Albus smiled. "Yep. I took it out of her pocket when she was looking, thinking you would buy her things. You did buy her things, I hope."

I nodded. "Of course I did. And thanks, Albus. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"No, problem, Scorpius." Al said with a smile. "But I think you should tell Rose about your feelings."

My face probably paled at that moment. "Albus –" I began, but was interrupted.

"No, Scorpius, don't give me that." Albus said. "I seriously think you should tell her. While I was trying to make sure you and Rose didn't see me, I was also staying hidden under my dad's invisibility cloak and watching you. Rose seemed happier than I'd ever seen her, and I've seen the way she acts around you. She's acts different around you than she does other people, she just doesn't realize it yet. Do you promise me you'll tell her soon? As in, before the end of the school year?"

I sighed. "I promise." I said, just to get him off my back. Albus was a great friend, and loyal as a St. Bernard too. He just didn't understand how difficult it was to be in love with a girl who despised my in first year, and had only really been friends with me for about six months. Would Rose accept my love for her if I told her my feelings, or would she withdraw from me again? I was guessing the latter.

Author's note: Just to hopefully get as many reviews as possible, here is a preview for the next chapter:

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