Chapter Five - What A Bloody Mess
"What a bloody mess! You two are the dirtiest, the most disorganized people I've ever had the unfortune of sharing a room with!" I threw my hands into the air with exasparation.
"If it bothers you, don't look at it," Georgiana sniffed, her nose in one of those gossip magazines that destroy your brain cells.
"Get off of your arses and clean your areas!" I fumed, gesturing towards Veronique's messy bed and Georgiana's ridiculously dusty shelf. "This is absurd! Don't either of you care?"
Veronique shrugged; an evident no. Georgiana didn't bother answering. Giving them each a glare that would frighten the Dark Lord, I snatched up my pocket book. "If this dormitory is not clean by the time I get back from the Slug Club's social... don't make me finish that threat."
They both got up and started cleaning as soon as I closed my mouth. Grinning, I didn't bother saying goodbye before exiting our dorm. "Oh, it feels good to be the one in charge."
"Oi, what are you so happy about?" Albus Potter asked me from the common room couch. Scorpius sat beside him, a leather-bound book in his pallid hand..
I smirked. "Its not happiness, little Potter. Its smugness."
"Ah, I see," Albus responded, smiling crookedly. "Are you off to Slughorn's club thingy?"
"How'd you know?"
"James told me about it," he explained. "He's been invited to join the Slug Club, too."
I clutched my purse a little tighter. "Well, thats just dandy, isn't it?"
Albus asked, "Why are you two always fighting?"
His green eyes looked at me with curiosity and innocence, and I sighed. "Because we're always at a disagreement, I suppose."
"So compromise. Everyone's a little sick of the enmity between the two of you," he said, and Scorpius gave a nod.
"Who gives a shit about everyone?" I asked, rolling my eyes, and he smiled again.
"So," he began, changing the subject. "When do practices start?"
This perked Scorpius' full attention.
"We have an introductory practice next Friday night, then full practices start the Monday after. We'll practice at least 3 times a week," I told him.
"Alright."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to ask if you made the team or not? Vandevort's been up my arse all week about it."
A small gleam of Potter arrogance gleamed in his eyes. "Oh, please. I already know I'm on the team."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Just like your brother," I said. "I'll see you two later. Look for the team roster; I'll be hanging it up when the weekend's over. Bye, Albus. Scorpius."
They both nodded and I dismissed myself. My eyes scanned the room until I found Matthias and Blake standing near the common room exit. I hurried over to them, heels clicking on the cold stone floor, and took my place next to my boyfriend.
His eyes scanned me, dragging themselves from my feet and halting on my chest. His steady, greedy gaze made me uncomfortable and I started playing with my thumbs.
"Hey, Rose," he finally drawled, opening up his arm for me.
I drew closer to him, allowing him to put his arm around my shoulder. "Hello. How was your afternoon?"
"Boring without you, babe," he said softly, whispering in my ear.
Blake watched us with bored, slanted eyes. He was dressed in a simple blazer and nice pants, and his expression was solemn and passive, per usual. Matthias was dressed similarly, but his outfit was a darker shade. His brown hair was neat and tidy, and he smelled like aftershave, a familiar but cold scent I'd gotten used to.
"Ready?" I asked, placing my pocket book over my shoulder.
He nodded, and we left the Slytherin common room. My fingers traced the cold walls gently as Matthias talked to me about his day, gripping my shoulders tightly. My purple dress rubbed against my thighs as we walked towards Slughorn's office.
Horace Slughorn irked me, and I wasn't afraid to admit it freely. I was, no doubt, one of his finest students, and one of his favorites, too. I earned his favor by hard work and determination. But then there were people like James Potter, who was invited to Slughorn's parties merely because of his fame. Slughorn desired to establish connections with the wealthy and famous for his own personal benefit. While my parents had quite a bit of money, we weren't bloody rich like the Malfoys or the Potters.
It bothered me that people of a higher social status could get whatever they wanted while I had to work for it.
There were a lot of familiar faces in the Slug Club: Matthias, Blake, Potter, Roland, and Dominique Weasley. I knew most of the members personally, if not formally. Most of the students in the club were Slytherins, therefore easily identifiable.
Suddenly, I found myself in front of Slughorn's study. Matthias dropped his arm from my shoulders and I fixed my hair, then my dress, and finally a brief breath check. As Blake pushed the door open for us, Matthias took my hand, grasping it tightly.
Eyes turned to watch us enter, and I realized we were a few minutes late. Drinks had already been poured and bread had already been buttered. Slughorn said a brief "hello" to each of us before turning back to his conversation with Dominique.
The first person I noticed was Potter. His brown hair was perfectly messy, and he was wearing a cheerful expression. He watched me as I sat across from him at Slughorn's table, Matthias taking a seat beside me. Uncomfortable under his gaze, I made a face at him.
He instantly made a face back at me, and Rose Weasley promptly hit his arm. Wincing, he pouted childishly at her.
With flaming ringlets of red hair framing her oval-shaped face and bright blue eyes, I hadn't hesitated when I had decided that Rose Weasley was beautiful, all those years ago. She was also a talented, intelligent Ravenclaw. I didn't despise her like Potter and her other cousin, Weasel, but I wasn't particularly fond of her. She was a bit of a know-it-all and an over achiever, and that got annoying at times.
Beside me, Matthias helped himself to a roll. I stared at my plate almost blankly, not exactly hungry.
From across the table, Potter waved at me.
I rolled my eyes, wanting so badly to flip him off. His trademark, cocky smirk played on his lips, obviously enjoying my budding frustration. I scowled, turning to look at the dancing flames in the fireplace.
James
James Potter was sitting across the table from Rosalie, noticing how they were sitting together, in the same room, almost civilly.
He couldn't help but notice how pretty she was that night: her black hair was flowing down her back, her hazel eyes were glinting under the dim light of the chandelier, and her purple dress complimented all of her features. Rosalie looked exceptionally bored, playing with her food and every once and a while glancing at her boyfriend, just to see if he was watching her.
Matthias Avery was a big, frightening bloke with cold features and a bitter personality. What Rosalie saw in him, well, James wasn't sure.
And by the looks of it, she wasn't sure either.
She noticed him staring at her, and she scrunched up her nose in distaste. James retaliated with a grin, and she turned away once again, annoyance plain on her face.
When the large clock in Slughorn's study chimed nine times, it was time for all of the students to leave. Slughorn bade them all goodbye, telling them how he was glad they'd come.
"Phew, I'm glad to get out of there," my cousin Rose said, walking up to my side.
"If you hate Slughorn so much, why did you accept his invitation?" James asked her.
"To get in his good graces, of course! If he doesn't like me, he won't give me good grades and you know its true," she said, pulling her Weasley red hair into a messy bun and yanking off her heels. She decided to carry them in her hands, instead.
"I suppose so."
Rose eventually parted ways with James, retreating to the Ravenclaw dormitory for the night. He continued walking until he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Long night, boy? she asked.
James nodded. "I'm exhausted. Fary minigins."
Her portrait swung open at the sound of the password and James stumbled into the Gryffindor common room.
"Hey mate. How was the party?" Fred asked from the couch, his arm slung around some girl James'd never met before. She had blond hair, small blue eyes, and a Hufflepuff tie was loosely hanging around the nape of her neck.
"It wasn't an actual party. It was more like an old ladies tea party, except with Slughorn and Rosalie."
Fred laughed.
"Well, I'll just leave you to... whatever you're doing, Freddie. I'm going to-"
"James! There you are!" Justin Goforth ran up to James, panting and trying to catch his breath. "I have a DADA essay that needs to be finished by tomorrow, and I haven't even gotten halfway through. Can you cover for me and do my patrol tonight?"
James sighed. "What's in it for me, Goforth?"
"Ill give you 15 Sickles," he told him.
"Alright, Ill do it," James said.
Justin grinned. "You're a saint. You'll be patrolling until 12 tonight. See you later!" And with that, he rushed out of the common room, books tucked under his arm, presumably heading for the library.
He rolled his eyes and took out his wand. "Never mind bed. Looks like I'll be patrolling."
It didn't take long for James to get bored. He finally decided that no mischief was happening at Hogwarts that night, so he might as well create some. He chose the old 'Change the Slytherin Common Room Colors Into Gold and Scarlet' trick, one he'd performed millions of times. He crept down the dungeon stairs, wandering in the corridors until he found the enterance to the Slytherin common room.
It had never been hard for him to get the Slytherin password out of his brother, Albus. All he had to do was offer him information about Sadie Wood, the girl he fancied, and he caved.
James was about to mutter the password when he heard something out of sorts. It was almost like someone was struggling, muffled and unintelligible words echoing quietly in the halls. He took out his wand, holding it offensively in front of him, and he took several steps towards the sounds without creating too much noise. There was a whisper that he wasn't able to make out, but he could identify the person as a girl. A familiar girl.
James continued down the corridor, wand at the ready, until he found two figures struggling against a wall in the shadows. The dominating figure was forcing the smaller one into a suggestive position and finally, James figured out who they were.
"Matthias, get off of me!" Rosalie hissed, trying to shove him off of her.
He was too strong. "Shut up, you bitch! Someone will hear you."
"Get off!" she repeated desperately.
"I said shut it!"
James heard a slap and a cry of pain, and then he couldn't just stand there any longer. "What's going on out here?"
Immediately, the large student forced himself off of Rosalie, who was panting hysterically.
"Avery," James spat. "I suggest you get back to the Slytherin dormitories now before I get McGonagall this instant."
"Is that a threat?" Matthias said venomously, challenging James.
James shoved him. "Go. Now. You could be expelled for what I just witnessed."
The Slytherin boy was fuming. His eyes were like ice, but burning with fire at the same time. His nostrils were flaring and his messy, dishevelled look just gave him more of a dangerous look. "You better watch your back, Potter."
And he was gone.
James turned and saw Rosalie sitting against the wall quietly, still breathing heavily. Tentatively, he asked, "Flint? You alright?"
When he didn't get an answer, he slowly approached her, and finally sat next to her. They were silent for a second, and realization sunk into both of their stomachs.
Rosalie had almost been raped.
Raped.
Rosalie
I sat on the cold floor next to Potter, finding some mind boggling comfort in his presence. I knew he wasn't going to hurt me, like Matthias, and that was enough for me.
"Did he... does he do that a lot?" James asked lamely.
I gulped and ran my fingers through my hair. "Why would I tell you?"
He sighed. "Where did he hit you? Does it hurt?"
"The side of my face. Hurts like a bitch," I admitted. My cheek was throbbing, stinging from the blow Matthias had delivered only several minutes ago.
He looked down at me, and reached over to touch my cheek. His cool fingers felt good against the sore sensation. "I'm sorry I didn't get here quicker."
I hit his hand away and sighed, too. "Don't touch me Potter."
There was an edgy silence, and I began to feel uncomfortable. "Please don't tell anyone about this."
He looked at me, confused. "Why? Rosalie, he almost hurt you. He did hurt you."
"If you tell someone, you'll only make it worse," I warned him.
He pursed his lips, obviously weighing his options. Finally, with an exasperated expression, he told me, "Fine. I won't tell anybody. But can you just... just stay away from Matthias, alright? I don't like the bloke."
I laughed without humor. "Funny, thats what he said about you."
"But I didn't try to rape you, Rosalie."
I buried my face into my arms, feeling ashamed.
"It wasn't your fault," he told me, tenderly patting my shoulders as if he were trying to comfort me. I hit his hand away, again.
"Why are you being nice to me?" I snapped. "All I've ever been to you is a bitch. You don't have to sit with me, y'know. You don't have to talk to me or say anything to me or even look at me!" My voice was shaking, a violent mix of rage and hysteria.
"What if I said that I didn't mind?"
I paused, then replied. "Then I wouldn't believe you."
Another silence. I rested my head on my forearm and looked at the dungeon wall across the corridor, identical to the one I was propped up against. My bare feet were starting to freeze, as were my fingers. Finally, I stood, brushing off my dress (I still hadn't changed out of my formal attire).
"Don't think this changes anything between us, Potter," I said as he stood, too.
He crooked an eyebrow and frowned. "Alright then."
"Tomorrow, you're going to pretend this never happened and I'm going to go back to hating you."
He rolled his eyes, annoyed and frustrated. "Whatever, Flint. The least you could have said was thanks. For, you know, saving you." And he stalked off.
I stood in the center of the corridor,finally letting my guard down and letting the pain and the guilt finally sink in.
"Thank you, James," I whispered, after he'd stormed up the dungeon stairs. "I'm sorry I'm so terrible to you."
A/N: Ok, so I hope this doesn't seem too out of character to you. I just wanted everyone to see that James had a kinder side to him, but so did Rosalie. James was just more open about it. Also, I hope the story isn't moving too fast that its unrealistic.
Leave a review; tell me what you thought; tell me if you have any ideas! I'm always open for new ideas! Thanks!