Author's Note: I actually have zero idea how the schedules and classes at Hogwarts are set up but I'm trying my best to stay true to the books. :)
January 2019
A bright, shiny "P" was written in red ink at the top of the essay in front of her. Like most of the essays she had already passed back, Rose grimaced at the sight of it and handed it to Andie to give it to another student. But Andie froze and looked at the corner of the paper.
"Er— this is yours, Rose." She extended the flimsy parchment to her friend, almost afraid of her reaction.
Rose recognized her own loopy scrawl and shook her head. "Merlin, Binns has messed up the grading, hasn't he? It's all right." She raised her hand.
Professor Binns continued to float around the room with his back turned to the class and finally with an exasperated sigh called on Rose.
"Excuse me, Professor, but it appears you have made a slight mistake with the grading on this essay," said Rose politely. A few students in the back voiced their agreement.
"I haven't," he said curtly, turning to face the group of students. Everyone seemed mildly disappointed with their scores. "The essays I received from the class as a whole were absolutely dreadful. And it was quite an easy topic, really. Analyzing magical trading standards. You have all truly surprised me, I expect next time will be better."
Rose opened her mouth to retort but Professor Binns dismissed the class and everyone rushed out of their seats, eager to toss their essays and go to dinner.
"Come on, then, Rose. You can't fix your grade by boycotting dinner," said Andie, putting a gentle hand on her friend's arm.
Rose slung her bag over her shoulder and snatched the essay off the table. "You're right." She marched to the front of the empty classroom and put her hands on her hips. "Professor, surely there's been a misunderstanding."
"Nonsense, Miss Weaselton, you received the grade you deserved," he droned.
"I worked really hard on this essay, sir. I think I did a perfectly good job discussing the limitations on potions ingredients and I even went into great detail right here" —she pointed at about halfway down the parchment— "about the how many dead blowfish are allowed in one jar when crossing the border."
"That all sounds excellent. Perhaps that is why you didn't get a 'Dreadful' or a 'Troll'."
Rose huffed. "But I've never failed anything! Ever!" The formality was slipping from her words.
"Well, there's always a time for firsts." He was preparing for his next lesson, flipping through texts, or rather the texts were flipping themselves and he seemed to be fighting sleep.
"Perhaps the Prefects graded them wrong? Perhaps they misheard you?" she asked.
"No, I did not require the assistance of the Prefects for this particular assignment," he murmured. "I used a special charmed quill to grade them."
"Perhaps your quill was faulty!" said Rose. This accusation was a bit too far and Professor Binns drew away from the books and floated so he was right in front of her. "Sorry, sir."
"Miss Weaselton, I think it's best that you head to dinner. I promise you I checked thrice to maintain the accuracy of the scores." He drifted away, calling back: "If it's any consolation, most of the class failed."
Rose stood, defeated with her essay hanging limply at her side. Andie gently tugged on her arm. "Let's go. I reckon your cousins will have eaten up all of the good turkey legs by now," she said, giving her a small smile. But Professor Binns words echoed in Rose's head.
"Professor?"
A beat and then, "Yes?" Irritation laced his tone.
"You said most of the class failed. But not all. Then who did pass?" she asked, cocking her head to one side.
"Why," he wrinkled his already wrinkly forehead, "I believe the blond boy, Mister Malenfant, was the sole recipient of an 'Acceptable' on this assignment. In fact, I remember his essay was only marginally better than yours—"
That was enough. That was all Rose needed to hear before she tore out of the room, her blood pounding in her ears. She was incensed, to say the least, and was bounding down the steps two at a time, making it difficult for Andie to catch up. Of course, it was Malfoy. How could he get a higher score than her?
"Rose! Stop! What are you going to do?" Andie was panting, her shoes clicking on the steps behind her.
What would she do? She would show Malfoy how angry she was, she would show him he wasn't any better than her, just because he could get a passing score on an essay. She would show him what happened when he tried to outshine her, she would show him...
So that's little Scorpius. Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie.
Her vision blurred with anger and her hand was curled into a fist around her essay as she burst into the Great Hall. Everyone was talking cheerily and eating with their friends, it was only when she strode purposefully past the Gryffindor table that some people looked up at her. And Andie yelling her name didn't help either.
"Rose?" Roxanne was surprised as Rose stopped at the Slytherin table, but moved sideways to create a space for her. "Did you want to join us?"
"No!" Rose slammed her fist on the table, her eyes burning a hole into the damned blond boy's forehead. "GET UP!"
He started, dropping his fork. "Wha- Rose?"
"I SAID GET UP!"
"Rosie!" Roxanne shouted and Dominique was making her way down the table, most likely being nosy than trying to stop it.
Scorpius stood, albeit slowly, and half-raised his hands in surrender. "What's happened?" he asked innocently.
"Don't act like you don't know!" she cried. "You did this on purpose! You knew and you used me!"
"Merlin's pants, Rose, I have no idea what you're talking about!" His eyes widening in horror at the thought of being in her line of fire.
"The essay! The bloody History of Magic essay!" She threw the piece of parchment at his chest and it fell to the floor, the gleaming red "P" clearly visible.
His face softened with understanding. "I didn't write what you wrote."
"Bullshite!"
Someone, who sounded faintly like James, whistled and made a comment. Later, I'll kill him too.
"I wouldn't lie! I don't know why I got a better score than you, I'm fairly certain you put much more work into it than I did. But I swear to you, I didn't cheat." There was something about his tone that made her want to believe him.
"Isn't it suspicious that the only time you ask me for help on an assignment, you do better than me?" Rose was near tears now. "I didn't pass because of you! I hope you're happy," her voice cracked on the last word and her cousins sat frozen at the table, debating whether or not to comfort her.
Scorpius's face reddened with anger. "Why would I do that to you? I didn't even use what you told me to put."
"Right, then. Do you have your essay?" she said, near hysterics. As a response, he merely shifted uncomfortably.
"Why am I not surprised?" She turned on her heel and walked in the direction she'd come from as he shouted after her.
"I threw it in the rubbish bin. I didn't think to keep it! I'm sorry—"
"Sod off, Malfoy!"
"It'll cheer you up, Rosie, please!"
"I don't want to play, Hugo. I've got to study."
Rose sat in the Common Room on one of the couches by the fire with her Herbology text open in her lap, unable to read because of the steady stream of anger that came from remembering she had the class early the next morning with the Slytherins. And after their first lesson, Scorpius had grown accustomed to sitting with her, Andie, and Roxanne even though they no longer had group assignments. She'd managed to avoid him the rest of Wednesday night, and today had been blissful, for Defense Against the Dark Arts was with the Hufflepuffs and Double Potions was with the Ravenclaws, so she had ranted to Albus while ignoring his claims that Scorpius was truly sorry.
Hugo lay on his stomach on the floor in front of her resting on his elbows, frowning at his chess set. James, Vaughn, and Fred were tossing Quaffles to each other in the middle of the room, Molly was curled up reading a romance novel in one of the other chairs nearby, and Roxanne was picking apart Chocolate Frogs that had melted into one giant glob.
"You know everything by heart!" Hugo protested. "You can't sulk forever."
Rose looked up from her book. "I'm not sulking, I'm getting ahead."
"Uncle Neville loves you, he wouldn't let you fall behind. Just one game, please!"
Rose snapped her book shut. "There's things you don't understand, Hugo. No matter how good I think I am, there will always be someone one step ahead of me. I learned that lesson the hard way and I'm not going to let it happen again. Now, if you'll excuse me." She stood up, smoothed her skirt, and carried her book up to the dormitories.
"He's really upset her," Roxanne said sympathetically.
Hugo let out a noise that sounded much like a growl and stood up. "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
"Who? Malfoy?" laughed Molly. "If he's as shifty as Rose said, he's not going to be fazed by her little puffball of a brother."
"I'm not a puffball!" Hugo cried, sticking out his chest.
Roxanne giggled and mussed his hair. "You're truly a Gryffindor at heart, Hugo."
"Roxie, I want you to take me to Slytherin. I want to speak to Malfoy."
"You're just House hopping today, aren't you, little cousin?" said James, approaching them and trying to balance the Quaffle on a finger. "What business have you got with Malfoy?"
"I'm defending my sister's honor!" He nodded towards the portrait hole. "Come on, then, Roxie."
Roxanne arched her brow and looked from Molly to James, as if to ask them if this were a good idea, before finally clambering out of the portrait hole behind Hugo.
The Slytherin Common Room was just as green as Hugo expected it but far more lively than he had anticipated. It was almost an exact reflection of the Gryffindor common room: couples sitting in corners of the room, younger students playing Gobstones, and others gossiping and laughing with their friends. Scorpius Malfoy was sitting in one of the chairs by the window, the Daily Prophet open in his lap and glanced up slowly when he noticed the younger boy walking up to him with Roxanne in tow.
"Scorpius, this is my cousin Hugo. I don't know if you've properly met or not but—"
"You're Rose's brother, right?" Scorpius smiled, it was a kind smile, and Hugo was almost fooled.
He crossed his arms. "Yes, I am. I'd like to have a word with you."
Roxanne gestured to the other side of the room. "I'll be over there."
Scorpius watched her leave curiously, before turning to look at Hugo. "You're not here to off me on Rose's behalf, are you?"
"Let's hope not." Hugo was at Scorpius's shoulder when he stood but the younger boy was giving him a hard glare.
"Is she all right? She still doesn't believe me, does she?" Scorpius bit his lip.
"She has no reason to!" Hugo squeaked.
"I've been nothing but honest." The blond set down the newspaper and put his hands in his pockets. "I said I'm sorry I hurt her, but from what Albus told me she doesn't want to hear it."
"It's because you've yet to prove just how sorry you are." Hugo physically resembled his mother but the anger flaring in his words and his eyes was nothing short of his father's Weasley temper.
"I've got this." Scorpius pulled out a folded piece of parchment with an "A" written at the top. "It's my essay. I pulled it out of the rubbish bin before I went to lunch today. Had to clean it off a bit but it's all intact."
Hugo faltered, "Why'd you do that?" It was a nicer action than he had expected Malfoy to be capable of.
"I had to show Rose I really didn't copy her. She's my friend and I don't want to lose her over something this trivial," said Scorpius, sheepish.
Hugo lowered his eyes to the essay. "So you really didn't cheat?"
"No, of course not. And I think I've got another idea on how to fix it as well."
"Well, do what you have to do," Hugo said lamely. He was prepared for Malfoy to be much more aggressive and unrelenting; he hadn't been prepared for him to be this... nice.
Scorpius smiled again. "I do hope it works. Your sister is, ah, passionate about her beliefs."
"Stubborn, you mean?" Roxanne said at Hugo's shoulder, finally deeming the conversation safe enough to join. "That's our Rosie. If you don't agree with her ideas, prepare to feel her wrath." She threw an arm around Hugo. "And prepare to feel her little brother's wrath too."
Scorpius nodded. "I wish I had a sibling as loyal as you," he said to Hugo.
"Do you have siblings?" Hugo piped up. Scorpius shook his head.
Roxanne shrugged. "I mean, who needs siblings when you and Albus are practically joined at the hip. I hear you may be going to Uncle Harry's and Aunt Ginny's for Easter. Is that true?"
Scorpius lit up at this statement. "Hopefully. I was surprised my parents actually didn't mind... I didn't think they'd... er..."
"Maybe you could visit the Burrow too!" Roxanne suggested, sensing his discomfort. But Hugo drew away from her and looked at her with alarm, no doubt picturing his father's reaction to a Malfoy showing up at Grandmum and Granddad's home.
"I think I'll pass for now. Wouldn't want to overstep my welcome," said Scorpius, giving Hugo a knowing look.
Herbology was enjoyable, for the first fifteen minutes at least. It seemed Scorpius had decided not to show altogether and Rose was happily repotting Mandrakes with Roxanne and Andie, as they shouted to each other, not being able to hear over the cries of the baby Mandrakes and the earmuffs that covered their ears.
"WHEN ARE THESE MANDRAKES GOING TO GROW UP?"
"WENDELL BELBY'S GOING TO THROW UP?" Andie nearly dropped the pot she was holding when she turned to look at the Gryffindor boy, who was fast asleep beneath one of the tables. "DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT!"
"YOU DON'T LIKE IT?"
Professor Longbottom adjusted his earmuffs and bent over a Slytherin girl's row of Mandrakes. He was opening his mouth to speak when he looked up to the entrance of the greenhouses. Following his line of vision, Rose spotted Scorpius's face contorted in pain until he slipped on a pair of earmuffs and hurried to hand a note to their professor. She felt annoyance surging through her when the boy turned to look at her and made his way towards her.
She made a show of turning away from him until he produced another sheet of parchment and placed it in front of her without a word. It was a History of Magic essay with an "A" written at the top. Renewed anger was stirring in the pit of her stomach. Was it necessary for him to brag? Rose shouldered him and was heading towards another row of Mandrakes when he gently grabbed her arm and pointed at the top of the essay. It was her essay.
Puzzled, she shook her head and Scorpius gestured for Rose to follow him. They walked through the entrance to another greenhouse where all of the already potted Mandrakes were being housed. This greenhouse was quiet, save for the few students who were organizing pots and rearranging the flowers that grew there, so they were safe to remove their earmuffs.
"I don't understand," she whispered, her eyes dancing from the assignment to him.
Scorpius let out a low breath. "I spent all of breakfast and part of this class trying to convince Professor Binns to change your grade."
"What?"
"It took a long time, mind you, so a thank you would be appreciated."
"But— How did you do it? I tried to convince him myself! It didn't work!"
"Well, the first ten minutes were fruitless. He actually fell asleep while I was talking to him." He raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Then, I told him I'd sit in and wouldn't leave until he listened to me, that resulted in a detention—"
"You got a detention?" She felt a rush of affection for him.
"Yes, and then he finally listened while I tried to justify almost every line of this essay, which, by the way, is extremely dull." He laughed nervously. "Er— but where was I? He fell asleep again, of course. I had to wake him up and then he said he'd heard enough and the essay wasn't as awful as he thought and he changed the grade. So, that's that. Oh, and here's my essay, in case you wanted proof that I didn't write what you said you were going to write about." Scorpius pulled out his own essay as evidence but Rose batted it away and leaped into his arms.
He stiffened. "Er—?"
"Thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me," she said, squeezing him tighter until he eventually wrapped his arms around her.
Scorpius coughed awkwardly, finally pulling away. "Yeah, don't start spreading around that I'm nice or anything."
"I'm so sorry I ever accused you of all of this. Merlin, I was a total—"
"Don't." He shook his head lightly.
Rose looked up at him, appreciation shining in her eyes. "How can I repay you?"
Scorpius looked at her solemnly. "Being my friend is more than enough."
Hello! Please let me know what you think of my characterizations and story so far!
