-Chapter 3-
The List
"What!" Dom gasps, laughing in shock. I've finished recounting the story and events of Malfoy Manor, and I don't think she's coping very well, but then again I'm not sure I am.
"What about Ron? I mean HOW, is he ok with this?" she says, pacing the room.
"I don't even know. I mean he's not happy about it, I can tell you that much, but overall he just avoids the topic and seems fine with it." Silence. Dom bursts into laughter and I just sit there looking like a very lonely child.
"Oh shut it Dom"
"Well you never know, Scorp is single-"
"DOM! That's disgusting." I say, cringing at the thought of it. It's weird. Isn't it? I guess I've never thought about.
"Well come on, he's pretty hot. Not pretty hot, he's like a God"
"You sure you don't fancy a Malfoy, do you Dom?" I hint, putting on my best girly voice, but Dom just gives a snort.
"Oh please, he's dreamy and muscular and all that." She says putting on a goofy voice, "But even if I did like him how could I date him? Every time I get near him he pulls a prank on me and the rest of the school. Last time I saw him his name was branded on my underpants. I can't remember the last time he pranked you on the other hand." She says, pulling her 'but that's none of my business' face.
"That's because I think half of them up and he goes and does them without asking!" I respond defensively.
"Just saying…" Dom smirks and I roll my eyes.
"Let it go." I say with some finality in my voice.
"Fine," she grumbles. "Who do you like anyway?"
"I dunno. I don't like anyone really, but I'm sure everyone is just dying to date the walking bush" I say pointing at my hair which is taking a rather long time to dry after my shower.
"Rose there are tons of people who would want to date bushes no matter how- leafy they are." She says, and I raise my eyebrows. "Ok this metaphor is really getting out of hand- but what I'm trying to say is that you're beautiful and tons of boys want to date you. Scorpius just could be one of them."
Things like this happen all the time, seeing as it's her duty as a friend to remind me to 'treasure myself' but when she says it, it just goes in one ear and out the other, like the pie of dung it is. "Fine, but I really disagree" I maintain, and with that we drop the subject. There follows a moment of silence that rarely makes an appearance in our relationship, before Dom moves on.
"I heard Daniel Brown just got a bunch of pimples because he is going through puberty." She says, chimes in, and I look up at her mischievously.
"Get the list" I say in a dark and mysterious tone, a creepy smile stretching across my face. The 'list' goes back a long way in our relationships- it was a stupid thing me made in fourth year during one essentially boring History of Magic lesson, and despite it's really stupid pretence, in my mind I've made a vow not to get rid of it, and I think she has too. It's all the guys in Hogwarts rated by their good looking-ness in one epic list. Since we made it we've treated as a sort-of bible, and hex anyone who says it's stupid.
"Blimey- It's been months since me last looked at this." Dom muses, pulling it out of her drawer. To add effect, a thin layer of dust lies across the top of it. Eddie Chang is dead last on the list.
"Right- is Daniel Brown with pimples hotter than Luke Patil?" Dom says, quill in hand, and ready to do business.
"Hang on-"I say, and she stops, just about to wipe Daniel's name of his rank of 68.
"What?" she says impatiently, eyeing the parchment excitedly.
"Is this stupid- two 16 year olds obsessing over a list they made ion fourth year." I put in, and she sits back on her bum. We both look at each other sadly, before she snorts.
"Nah. So, Daniel or Luke." She continues and I laugh. I put both faces across my mind, and the answer comes to me.
"Put him below" I say and Dom gives an evil giggle, before pausing.
"Wait- which one." She inquires.
"Darth Vader." I cackle sarcastically, before seeing her confused expression. "Muggle humour." I mutter to myself, smiling. Dom proceeds to sway the list around, before a voice interrupts her.
"Hey!" Lily shrieks from the doorway. Dom gives a scream and I jump higher then I would be able to naturally.
"JESUS Lil how long have you been standing there?" I puzzle trying to hide the fact that I peed a little.
"Enough to know that you think Dan with pimples is uglier then Luke. Luke has a nose the size of a mammoth and besides, Dan's pimples aren't even that bad."
"Someone fancy's a certain Mr Daniel Brown" Dom says poking fun at Lil. Lily gives an embarrassed sort of laugh. She sort of reminds me of mum sometimes.
"Well if you must know" she pauses, looking down on both of us before continuing "He asked me out a while ago and since then we have been on a few dates but-"
"WHAT?!" Al roars, appearing in from the doorway. This time all three of us look like we've seen a basilisk. "Who is this Daniel Brown, because we have some talking to do- NOBODY dates my little sister without asking me first!" he says staggering into the room.
"Al, what the HELL? Get out of here!" shrieks Dom who is wears a very light nighty. Al doesn't even acknowledge her presence let alone talk to her.
"I'm not leaving until somebody explains why Lily is suddenly in LOVE with this 'Daniel' out of the blue!" Al continues, while Lily looks enraged. This is going to be good.
"First of all I'm not in love with him, and second of all ITS CALLED PUBERTY!" Lily yells kicking him out the door. Dom and I just sit there looking shocked with our eyes wide open. Lily however, looks very smug. She picks up the list, rubs out Dan and puts him back where he was at '68'. "What?" she says looking at Dom and my faces. I swallow.
"When did you get here?" I say slowly, trying to digest the previous events, not quite understanding.
"Dad came to talk to your parents about going to Bulgaria and hence" she points to her body, "I am here. What were you two doing anyway?" she says looking at down in her nighty and we in my fluffy bunny slippers which I stroke protectively like an evil man and his cat.
"Celebrating Roses last night of being sane." She says smiling as if it was the first time she made a joke.
"Oh shut it." I say.
The next morning is hectic. Dom and Lily ended up the night but somehow both slept in until 12. Dom refuses to leave without giving me a goodbye ceremony and all the while my parents are running around the house trying to pack Hugo's bag because he neglected to do it yesterday. Dom and Lily finally leave when Fleur arrives to take them home, and I somehow manage to finish getting ready. Mum and Dad are also ready to take there portkey to Bulgaria downstairs. It's all travels at the Weasley house. "Now are you ready? I've organised for you to floo there with Hugo. Now I want you," she points to me, "to take care of your brother. You- are in charge" Oh this will be fun.
"Mum-"says Hugo looking very depressed.
"Oh- alright well we better get going" Mum says. She looks like she's about to burst into tears.
"Er- Hermione maybe we should get going" dad expresses as he looks at mum with a worried expression. The mug on the table starts glowing so dad turns and gives me a kiss and Hugo a hug. He grabs mum before the mug stops glowing and within seconds, they're gone. It's silent for a few seconds before I start "Right, let's go."
Hugo picks up some luggage and takes a handful of floo powder moaning "Gee- don't get too excited" I murmur sarcastically. He scowls and drops the powder saying "Malfoy Manor". I'm reminded how the last time I did this I was wearing a nice dress and actually resembled something human, whereas now all I am wearing are some tracksuit pants and a plain top. I take a handful of Floo Powder and step into the fireplace, luggage in hand. "Malfoy Manor" I say and I feel a soft tickling sensation, before opening my eyes and seeing myself in the fireplace of Malfoy manor.
"Ms Weasley" addresses Scorp, almost as soon as I regain balance. He stands with his hands in his pockets, smiling.
"Malfoy!" I bellow, embracing him in a hug smiling. He doesn't seem to let go for a while but at some point I pull away. "Uh Scorp" I'm finding it hard to breath "We're not dating you know so- you don't have to do this whole, hugging thing." He gives a sigh and then pulls me into a head brace.
"Hugging was better" I say almost choking. He lets me out grinning and picks up my luggage. "Shall I give you a tour?" in a very posh accent.
"I know this place like the back of my hand" I reply but he still takes my arm and drags me off in a different direction. Hugo looks like he's about to cry though he wouldn't be caught dead doing it in front of me.
"This is the dining room" He drawls. "This is the kitchen" he continues, as me make out way around the house. He takes me through every room and it turns out that I did not know this place like the back of my hand. You would think that the Malfoy Manor would be filled with Slytherin banners hanging everywhere and snakes painted on every wall but really, their entire heritage was moved downstairs to be forgotten. Draco was the first Malfoy to marry someone who was not a Slytherin and have a child in Gryffindor so it makes sense that he doesn't parade around his Slytherin background. That, and it makes it easier to forget the war.
After a full tour of his house we finally make it to Scorp's room, though Hugo takes this opportunity to find his own room. Every wall in Scorp's room is painted in red and gold with Gryffindor banners hanging everywhere. On the far side of his very large room is a board full of photos, some moving and other's still. The majority of the photos are of Scorp with Al, Leo Fred or me. I'm happy because between all of them, most of them have me. There is one with Dom and I the first time we had alcohol in the corner of the board, and the sight of it brings back bad memories. We were sitting on a Gryffindor coach holding up glasses half full of fire whiskey. I remember that the time this photo was taken, I had just drained a whole cup and was acting completely drunk, even though I was mildly intoxicated.
There are more, like one with me and Leo by the lake. I remember the day that photo was taken like it was yesterday. We had just finished our OWL's and had all gone outside for a bit of relaxation. The sun was shining and the sky was cloudless. In the picture you can see Leo and I laughing as Al attempted to prod the giant squid (he failed and fell in the lake). The board of pictures is huge and I love every single one of them, each moving with a different story.
"You know Malfoy; you don't have a single picture that is embarrassing on this wall. It's kind of the point of a photo wall."
"You know I could never ruin my reputation as a Malfoy" The irony in that just kills.
My eye catches on a picture of 5 year old Scorp holding an ice cream. A bee stings him while he licks it, so he drops it and begins to cry. I really can't tell if he's more in despair about the sting or the ice cream. I burst into laughter and I swear I am about to roll around on the floor.
"Oh Scorp- I think the illusion is ruined." I say with tears in my eyes. He just shakes his head sadly.
"Rose, I've been thinking-"
"Well that can't be good" I reply smirking. God I'm funny.
"Ha Ha- anyway, this is our final year of Hogwarts and we must pull our best pranks and jokes or we will not be remembered as the great jokers we are." He says.
This boy can be so annoying sometimes. "I don't pull the pranks- you do"
"Then how do you explain why you are the culprit of all the best pranks in Hogwarts history?" He replies with a very smug look.
"First of all- they are not the best pranks in Hogwarts history and second of all, I don't plan them." I say getting seriously annoyed.
"Prove it" He says, and I sigh.
"Remember that time I wondered what Neville would look like bald?" I say.
"Yes" he says slowly and mischievously.
"The next day the whole school went bald- including Neville" Scorp looks defeated. "And that was only weeks ago- this has been going for ages. Remember that time I said it would be weird if we couldn't see what we ate- The next day everyone in The Great Hall ate in darkness because nobody seemed to be able to light the candles."
"Coincidence?" Scorp asks looking up from the ground with puppy eyes.
"I think not." I reply
"Oh Rose- when will you learn?"
"Learn what"
"To have fun" he replies exiting the room,
"Way to make a big exit!" I yell after him. His head appears around the corner.
"You thought it was sexy didn't you" he says in a raspy voice. I snort.
"You wish"
"I'll show you to your room" he says. We walk for a minute around the giant halls of Malfoy manor, or as Scorp calls it, 'home' before we reach two doors. I can tell it is Hugo and my own room seeing as Hugo has already posted the 'Leave Me Alone' banners on his door.
"Thanks for the tour" I say at my doorway and walk into my bedroom. It's huge- practically the size of my house, and I'm not even exaggerate. Ok, maybe a little bit. I run and jump on my four poster bed, looking around. Outside, the sun shines on their perfect grass lawns, and even a little fountain sprinkles into a pool of water. I smile, and realise for the first time the potential of the holidays.