Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR. But you knew that already. And I apologize for the delay in updating; I recently signed for a busy project. Anyway, here's the next chapter, please enjoy—
7 September 2024
Tower Infirmary
9:10 PM
My humiliation is complete. Fates, if you're there, consider this my terminal leave. I will not be your butt monkey anymore.
Please?
I should have stayed away from Portus Magi, tried to reason with my father, convince him that there are other ways to infiltrate the organization. Instead, at a quarter to six, I stood in front of the apothecary on Tower Alley, waiting for my second. Speaking of, I have come up with a couple of reasons why he attempted what he did yesterday. It took me all day, but I can now take comfort in the fact that yesterday's non-event was not a burp in the fabric of reality. Nor did I hallucinate it all.
The first reason came to me twice—once during free time, and another before going to Portus Magi.
Ten minutes to six. He was walking the bookshop owner's assistant. She was riveted by him, and he had one arm wrapped casually around her shoulder. Stopping in front of the bookshop (two stores away), he leaned in to whisper something terribly funny to her. At least, I assumed it was funny—she giggled shyly at him, before rushing back into the store.
Earlier today, he was at the independent practice courts, "teaching" a second level initiate how to target the boards properly. I'm pretty sure all she was learning were the color of his eyes and the cologne he uses, because Scorpius is rubbish at Marksmanship.
Yup. I felt better about myself. This just proves that I am a healthy young woman, prone as any to the guiles of healthy young men, with whom I am not necessarily willing to settle down. I was congratulating myself at my being so well-adjusted, that I didn't notice I was smiling at the lamppost across the street.
"What are you so happy about?" he said, folding his arms across his chest, an amused look on his face. I did not notice him arrive.
"Nature," I sighed, meeting his eyes. "I am happy for nature." Before he could press me for details, I walked towards Portus Magi's headquarters down the street.
The headquarters' façade resembled a storybook brick house. It even had the white picket fence and wraparound porch. In front of the house stood an older student I assumed to be with Portus Magi. He was a little taller than Scorpius, and had brown hair that curled around his neck. His dark eyes were sharp, calculating, but a smile stretched tight across his face when we came closer.
"Good evening. Come in—you're in time for the banquet." He shook our hands. "I am Sean Althen, from Internal Affairs." I grinned at his hand for a bit, and saw Scorpius shake it. I don't know if I should have taken that.
"Good evening. I'm Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley's second," he said, gesturing at me. Althen's eyes flickered at Scorpius' surname, and his grin became larger. He nodded perfunctorily at me, but turned back to Scorpius.
"A Malfoy! Chancellor Fowler will be pleased to know that a Malfoy is trying out this year. We hope you find the headquarters adequate." I found myself thinking, I'm here too! He's my second!
As if he could hear my thoughts, he turned to me. "And we are also pleased to have you here, Miss Weasley. Such brilliant parents, we could expect no less from you," he said oilily. Hoo boy. Althen was looking at me expectantly—should I have said something to that?
"Well, I hope I'm half as bad as they are," I managed, and he laughed loudly, ushering us in.
Portus Magi's headquarters looked smaller on the outside. We were standing in a foyer, and facing two identical marble entryways. We took the one where voices were coming from and found ourselves in an expansive dining hall. The ceiling was painted with scenes from mythology—satyrs running after shrieking nymphs, sirens beckoning at awestruck sailors, the battle at Troy raging at the far end. Down below were two long tables with about two dozen chairs each, some of which were already occupied. I saw Ricky Lyons on the far end of one table, and I turned excitedly to Scorpius.
"There he is! I'll say hello." I waited for him to glance our way. When he did, I gave a small but hearty wave, one that hopefully said I'm glad you remember me, but not too glad.
He called out to someone named Graves, who had just entered and was behind Scorpius and I.
"Maybe Prince Charming has a short memory," Scorpius said with a wry smile, and I battled a sinking feeling in my stomach.
"Maybe he didn't see me wave. And he's not Prince Charming."
We took the other table, the emptier one. Ricky's table was filling up with older students, who seemed to know each other very well. They were clapping each other on the back and laughing; from what I gathered, this is their first official assembly of the year.
Scorpius and I are the only first years around. He had no problems with it, though—he turned his chair, facing someone at the other table. They were comparing wizarding hotels in New Delhi. Everyone seemed to be talking about some vacation or another, in the Alps, or Sao Paolo, or somewhere as interesting. Maybe if I keep my mouth shut, I thought, they won't talk to me about my trips. I don't want to admit that the farthest I've been from home is Hogwarts. I did not have to wait long for fellow first years, though—Lionel Dawlish sat at our table with Lorcan Scamander. We were also joined by Beatrice Farley, the tiny girl Professor Shacklebolt chose on the first day of Magic Resocialization.
"Hi, Rose," she whispered.
"Hey, Bea. Who are you here with?"
"Oh—my sister Carlota is automatically my first." She gestured at the front of Ricky's table, at a girl with a squarish jaw and a long neck. "Her own first graduated last year."
"Lucky you," Lionel said. "I'm stuck with Lorcan; he's the only one in our dorm room who agreed to come tonight." At this Lorcan's back straightened, and he glared at Lionel.
"Lucky you, Dawlish," he said, shoving Lionel jokily. "Have you seen me in Magic Resocialization?"
"Yeah. Agnes wipes the floor with you, usually."
"Why did you not ask her, then, if you're so keen on her skills?" Lorcan was looking crosser by the second, Bea had her head bowed low, and I scrambled for a way to turn the conversation around. I was bracing for another response from Lionel, and the fallout that might happen, when he just picked up a fork and mumbled incoherently. I couldn't believe it.
"You like my roommate?" I said, and he sputtered a refusal, but it was too late—we spent the next few minutes dreaming up scenarios for her and the steadily reddening Lionel.
Just as we were discussing the names of their children, Althen walked in and closed the dining hall doors. He stood at the head of the two tables and pointed a wand at his throat.
"Welcome, everyone! To our new recruits, we are pleased you decided to come. To our old farts, what are you doing here?" The other table laughed at this, and he continued.
"You all know me, but before I let you eat, I want to introduce our other officers."
He started with the Secretariat, a nervous-looking witch named Artemis Wimple, who gave a furious nod at random points across the room before sitting down. Next was Eric Flourish, head of External Affairs, and the person Scorpius was talking to, Vice Chancellor Ram Vaswani.
"And finally, our Chancellor—Andrea Fowler."
Fowler rose from her seat, and the entire club fell silent. She looked like a queen, with smooth dark hair in a plait, china doll features, and robes that looked like they came from the same dressmaker as Scorpius'. I wondered how she became the head of a dueling club. She drew her eyes around the room, and they landed on us first level initiates. She stared at us appraisingly, not speaking the whole time, but when her eyes met mine I felt like she was memorizing my face. Alright, that's why she's Chancellor. I don't think I'll enjoy facing her in a battle anytime soon. Or ever, really.
"Now that's magnificent," Scorpius muttered appreciatively, and I kicked his ankle sideways.
When Fowler sat back down, Althen clapped his hands, and the second years hurried out of the room. They came back moments later, levitating plates heaped with food and jugs of pumpkin juice. Once they set the food and drinks down, we digged in, and the hum of conversation returned.
I was starting to form plans for how I can gather leads for dad. Excusing myself and heading for the "ladies' room" seemed like a good option. Also, I imagined that after the dinner, there'll be more chitchat in the front hall before we leave. Maybe at drinks, I can talk to a few senior members, I thought. When Althen stood up and called our attention, I had a plan ready.
"It is customary," he began, turning to our side of the room, "for new recruits to show their talents on the first night at Portus Magi. Thus we begin the second part of tonight's programme, which will be held at the independent practice courts on Ratchet Drive. Officers, lead the way."
Bugger it all.
"You seem distracted," said Scorpius as we filed out of headquarters and walked to Ratchet Drive, the first street intersecting Tower Alley.
"What do you mean by that?" I said.
"Well, you weren't your usual prickly self at dinner. I threw a couple of bones your way—easy pickings, really, but you weren't biting. Not one peep from you. What's up?"
"Nothing's up. And I don't need bones handed out. I'm capable of tearing them off."
"Ooh. I'm scared."
"You're wise to be."
We entered the practice courts and walked to the open range. I did not see any targets set up, and was asking Scorpius about it when Fowler raised her hand. Again, the silence, and without a single word from her. I should learn how to do that.
"Firsts, step forward." She nodded at the five of us who did—Lionel, Bea's sister, two other first years, and I. "No target practice. You are to battle your seconds. The one who loses his or her wand loses the match. For the first round, let us have—" she walked towards me, and it took all my willpower to not look away.
"You. Your name?" she asked.
"I—uh—Rose. Weasley."
"Ricky, she's the one you told me about?" He stepped forward and came up beside her, smiling.
"Yes. She had Demetria Lane's book in her bag. A first level initiate reading Professor Lane!"
"I hope you recommended her because you saw something other than a book in a bag," she said, and I heard several senior members titter. My cheeks felt hot, and I did not dare look elsewhere.
"I remember reading in the Portus log that her uncle turned down an invitation when they were here at the Tower," she added. "What makes you think she'll stay?"
"Trust me, Andy. When have my instincts failed? I found you Sean and Ram, didn't I?" he said. He winked at me. "Want to say something, Rose?"
My throat felt thick with peanut butter as I shook my head. "I'll let my dueling speak for itself," I said.
"Let's start, then." Fowler gestured for everyone to clear a space for Scorpius and I. My heart was threatening to burst from my chest as we took our positions. We whipped our wands out and bowed. Scorpius looked relaxed—how dare he look that way—as he waited for my first strike.
"Pertusis," I said, and arrows shot out of my wand and headed for him. He cast a Shield charm on himself, and my arrows bounced off. I kept firing the wand arrows, but his shield just repelled them.
"This is so boring," I heard Fowler say, and I wanted to shove one of my arrows up her long nose. Ricky laughed. "Give them a chance, love," he said. Oh man, he called her what?
Well, they kinda look good together, anyway. Like Arthur and Guinevere or something.
I tried to change my approach. "Glisseo," I shouted, pointing at the dirt under Scorpius' feet, and he slipped, his shield dissipating as his concentration wavered. He pointed his wand at me shakily.
"Confringo!" he said, managing to tear a hole through my robes. He cast a counter curse on the ground I hexed, and he managed to stand up straight again.
We rained Blasting Curses on each other, scattering grass and dirt everywhere. People were backing away for fear of getting hurt by a wayward blast, but Fowler, the other officers, and Ricky stayed put.
"Incarcerous," I said, and thick ropes wound around his torso, binding his arms to his sides. I was walking towards him, an apologetic look on my face, my hand reaching for his wand, when he looked directly at my eyes. It was then that I realized the second reason why he tried to kiss me.
I did not see defeat in his eyes. Scorpius played to win; always, with anyone, in anything.
"Stupefy!" He yelled. I saw red light rushing towards me before I blacked out.
When I came to, I was here at the Infirmary, with Scorpius on a chair beside my bed. The clock read five minutes to nine. "I've been out that long?" I croaked, and he turned to me.
"Well, yeah," he said, and I groaned. I remembered what I said to Fowler before the start of the duel. My dueling did speak for itself—it's saying I'm a bag of hot air.
"I won't be able to show my face there again," I said. "No thanks to you." He raised his hands in mock surrender, and I buried my face in the pillows.
"That's ridiculous," I heard him say. "It was a good duel, that's all they wanted. It's not like it was graded or anything. Plus, I'm happy you didn't use my fears against me, or I would've done it too, and I don't want to do that."
I took a deep breath. He seemed genuinely sorry, but I could not find it in me to be nice to him right now. Especially since he defeated me in front of all those duelers. And what exactly did he want me to say about that last statement? Thank you for not exploiting your knowledge of me?
"Thank you for bringing me here, but I think I can manage from here on," I said. He shook his head.
"Let me make it up to you. How can I do that?"
"You can start," I growled, "by leaving me alone."
"Hey, I said I was sorry, alright?"
"Accepted. Now leave."
"What has gotten into you, Rose? This isn't like you!"
"How would you know what I'm like? Couple weeks with me and you think you know me inside out? We are not friends, Scorpius. We train together. That's it."
As soon as those words left my mouth, I regretted them. He looked furious and disappointed at the same time, if that's possible. He stood up, and I prepared myself for an outburst. Only, all he did was nod, and head for the door, closing it behind him.
I have a feeling treacle fudge won't cut it this time.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think!