Chapter 15: Explanations
Sixth year
(Scorpius's pov)
If there one thing every Hogwarts student dreads in between their fifth and sixth year, it's O.W.L results. Luckily though, mine were fairly good. I got E's in History of Magic, Divination, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and O's in everything else I took. My parents were quite proud of my, but my Grandfather only shrugged and said, "I'm sure you could have done better." There's just no pleasing that guy. Getting my results naturally makes me think of Rose, and I wondered how she did. Stop it! I scolded myself. Don't think of Rose. But I just couldn't help it.
Why had I embarrassed myself by kissing Rose? Then I made it worse by running away, with the idiotic excuse that I had detention with Professor Flint, and then not talking to her for weeks. I guess it's best to keep ignoring her unless she talks to me first, but how long can that last?
As usual, on the train ride back to Hogwarts for sixth year, I sat with Luke, Ben, and Albus once he got done with patrols. During the entire train ride, and even well into the first feast, I was forced to glance at Rose every so often. She was just so beautiful, and I actually wished that she would bring up the kiss so that I wouldn't have to. Merlin, I was in for a long year.
(Rose's pov)
My O.W.L results were even better than I had expected. I got O's in every class I was enrolled in, which according to Mum, was even better than her, as she got an E in Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's ten O.W.L.s! After receiving my O.W.L results, my parents asked me what I wanted to do after I graduated from Hogwarts. Quite honestly, I didn't really know. Maybe I'd be a reporter for the Daily Prophet, or the Quibbler, since I like writing so much.
One thing I noticed upon returning to Hogwarts was that Scorpius was avoiding me, and I wanted to know more about that kiss. Why did he kiss me? Did the kiss even mean anything to him anymore? A few weeks into the school year, I couldn't stand it anymore, so one day after classes, I hide around a corner near a broom closet and grabbed Scorpius by the shoulder. I pushed him into the broom closet and followed him in, even though it was a very un-prefect-like thing to do. I backed up against the door so that he couldn't escape and flicked on the lights to reveal Scorpius's surprised face.
"Hi Rose." Scorpius said awkwardly. "Look, I'm sorry about the kiss. I didn't mean to kiss you."
"What do you mean you didn't mean to kiss me?" I snapped. "How do you not mean to kiss someone?"
"I really am sorry, Rose. I regret doing it." Scorpius muttered. "Can I go now?"
"No, you absolutely cannot go!" I snapped. "I'm sick of you always avoiding me, Scorpius! Do you mean to tell me that the kiss meant nothing to you, that it was pointless? And it's kind of too late to regret that kiss, because you can't take something like that back, no matter how much you lead a girl on." I was on the verge of tears, but I just couldn't help it. Scorpius was making me angry, and I was beginning to regret trusting him in the first place.
"I'm not leading you on, Rose." Scorpius said softly, and then he sighed. "I really am in love with you, and I have been for at least a year. There, I said it. Happy?"
I stared at him. That's not what I was expecting at all. Yet, I still wasn't completely convinced. "Then why didn't you tell me?" I whispered.
Scorpius sighed. "I was afraid that you would reject me, or worse, hate me again. And I couldn't handle that."
It was my turn to sigh. "Scorpius, do you really think I'm so cruel that I would reject you? I would never do that, because, the truth is, I'm in love with you too." Just to prove my point, I learned forward and kissed him, much to his surprise.
This kiss was so similar to the first one Scorpius and I had shared, yet it was also very different. For one thing, this kiss I was obviously expecting, yet it was just as, if not more, natural as the first one. The feeling of Scorpius's lips against mine just felt right. When we broke away, Scorpius was staring thoughtfully into my eyes. "What?" I asked.
Scorpius shook his head lightly. "Nothing. It's just, I never thought that would happen, not in a million years."
I smiled. "Aren't I convincing enough for you?"
Scorpius grinned back. "Not yet…"
I frowned. "Not yet? Why not? What else do I have to do to prove that I'm in love with you?"
"You'd convince me one hundred percent if you agree to go to the Halloween party with me, as a real date."
I smiled. "Of course I will." I replied, and gave him another quick kiss.
Suddenly, Scorpius laughed. "What?" I asked accusingly, placing my hands on my hips.
"I just realized that snogging in a broom closet is an extremely un-perfect-like thing to do." Scorpius replied.
I frowned. He was right, of course. This was the kind of thing that I should be stopping, not be involved in. "I guess we should leave then." I said.
Scorpius nodded, almost reluctantly. "I go first to make sure the coast is clear. Scorpius opened the broom closet door slowly and peered outside.
"Come on," he whispered, and I followed him out into the corridor. Then together, with our hands intertwined, we made our way back to the Gryffindor common room.
Author's note: Thanks to 21 (or so) wonderful reviewers, this story has broken records for me. So far it has 55 reviews, 11 more than my previous record holder (which is complete with 20 chapters) and currently has an average of 3.9 reviews per chapter. My goal is to have a story with more than 100 reviews, and only you readers can make that happen. So, please, once again, review. Your review is greatly appreciated.