wl_mods (wl_mods) wrote in wizard_love, @ 2008-03-18 15:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | *fic, rose, scorpius |
Special delivery for wizard_love
Title: A Pureblood Courtship
Author: faynia
Recipient: wizard_love
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Scorpius Malfoy/Rose Weasley
Word Count: 9,138
Warnings (if any):
Authors notes: I tried to fit in as many of my recipient's wants as possible within a pairing I've never, but was delighted to, write. I hope you enjoy!
The heavy book slid off his lap to the floor with a resounding thud. Anger burned through him as he kicked the offending tome across the room and under Albus' bed. His father had to be mocking him. Any other reason was unfathomable. There was no reason his father believed he would follow those asinine rules.
Scorpius Malfoy laid down onto his bed with a dramatic huff as he stared up into the navy curtains. "I asked for suggestions on how to date a girl, not repulse her."
"Asked who? Not my dad, yeah?" Scorpius scowled up into the sunny face of Albus Severus Potter. It was so like him to be smiling like a loon in his time of need. "He's got some dreadful theories on the whole thing. Stupid romantic claptrap like carrying a bird's books and so forth, real chivalrous stuff."
"Al--"
"James got slapped for it, did you know? It was great."
"Al--"
"Got a black eye and Miss Hannah didn't even heal it for him. He was so angry."
"Potter, shut up!"
Al fell silent and had the audacity to look hurt. Scorpius wished he wouldn't do that. He compromised instead of apologizing and budged over on his bed, patting the free space beside him. Al didn't even hesitate before leaping onto Scorpius' bed, causing them both to topple over as the mattress undulated beneath them.
"Idiot. We're not eleven anymore."
"True, but who could resist such an opportunity?" Al beamed, flashing all thirty-two of his pearly whites for Scorpius' inspection. Scorpius shoved him. "Fine. So, what'd your dad have to say that's got you in such a snit?"
Scorpius sighed. "Go look under your bed. I'm going to kill him, if she doesn't kill me first."
"Why?" Al got off the bed with a confused expression, and went over to his bed across the room. He hovered beside it, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Scorpius lifted a brow as he waited for the inevitable explanation of Al's hesitation. "He didn't give you a new pet, did he? You're not going to get me bitten, are you? Cause the last time your dad sent you something that got you this up in arms, it got me bitten. My pinkie finger doesn't thank you for that."
"If your pinkie had lips, it'd be singing my praises," Scorpius commented loftily, before throwing a pillow at Al's face, "now look under the bed."
Al dropped to his hands and knees without another question. There was silence as he dug around, flinging out stale socks and what looked like a bag of crisps. Scorpius leaned back on his bed and waited for his best friend to pull out the book that resided there, and possibly half a salami sandwich. Scorpius was never too sure what happened to the rest of Al's food when he pestered Knobby into bringing him something. He'd never understand the Potter affiliation with House Elves.
"What the hell, Score?"
Scorpius snorted at Al's whiny tone. "Yeah?"
"What the hell is this crap? 'The Gentlemen and the Rose Garden'? What the hell, mate? I mean, no offense or anything, but it was a book that got your knickers in a twist? A ruddy old one at that? You're cracked."
"Thank you for that stunning sojourn into my mind," Scorpius drawled, giving Al a two fingered salute. "Now read the introduction. Moron, you're worse than your brother sometimes, you know? I blame Lupin."
Al frowned. "You blame Teddy?"
"Course I do." Scorpius gestured for Al to get his scrawny arse back on his bed. "The git's an idiot, and his idiocy is clearly rubbing off on you."
"If I sound like Teddy, you sound like your father."
"I do not!"
"Do so!" Al said, tossing the hard-covered book onto Scorpius' lap. "And your grandmother. Come to that, you sound like that portrait of your great aunt as well."
"I do not!" Scorpius scowled. He did not. He hated his father, today. He did not sound like him. "Shut up, Al!"
Al smirked and folded his arms across his chest. "Then stop saying I'm stupid. I made it into Ravenclaw same as you."
"And so did Lysander, and his mother was Loony Lovegood," Scorpius snapped. "Read the goddamned introduction already."
"Touchy," Al grumbled, snatching the book back off Scorpius' lap as he flung himself down onto Scorpius' bed. "Fine," he said, flipping through the yellowed pages. "Let's see what the moldy book has to say."
From here on, you are about to make the journey from a child to an adult. Acquiring a suitable partner is hard work and takes careful selection and determination. Your chosen lady must be special to you in some way, so you will be able to cherish her forever. The rose of your garden, your young lady must compliment your temperament and abilities.
In order to successfully win your lady's favor, I have complied the necessary steps to courting with the prospects of marriage by the end. Be warned, you will need to take each step slowly, and calculate each move or your endeavor is destined for failure before you even begin.
The lady is a delicate flower and must be treated as such.
"You're right." Al closed the book and set back on the bed, grasping both Scorpius' hands in his. With the widest green eyes, he said, "Your dad hates you, Score."
Scorpius whipped his pillow into Al's face.
~*~
A proper young man shall never reveal his true feelings until he is certain the young lady in question is willing to receive then. Until this time, there are many methods the young man can employ to capture the object of his affection's attention.
Try to keep eye contact with the young lady when greeting her.
Scorpius found Rose in the library at her usual table; the one towards the back right under a window. There had been some mention of the perfect amount of sunlight at optimum studying hours, but Scorpius hadn't paid it any mind. The sun reflected off her hair at that table, turning it a fiery red. That he had noticed immediately.
He knew better than to make mention of it though. There were some self preservation genes buried deep beneath his cheerful disposition.
Slipping into the seat opposite her, Scorpius dumped the contents of his book bag onto the table with a charming grin. He tried to catch her eye, but she wasn't cooperating. "Rosie, my light, are you studying?"
"Scorpie, pain in my arse--" Rose tucked her wand behind her ear and scowled down at the pages of her text book--"I am studying, so shove off already, I'm not in the mood for your dull chatter."
"You are never in the mood, my Rose," Scorpius bemoaned, pointing the feather end of his peacock quill between her eyes. They were glittering malevolently at him, and for a split second he wondered if she was about to lean forward and bite the quill straight in half. His father wouldn't approve of that.
By Merlin, he missed her.
She rarely talked to him or Al any longer, so caught up in revising before Easter hols. He wasn't bored, yet. He had found a new thrill in torturing her into capitulating to his demands. "You're a ball of brilliant sunshine this week. You do realize NEWTs aren't for another four months?"
"Yes," Rose answered, flipping to the back of the book, trailing one finger down the index. A triumphant smirk lit her face as she flipped back into the text, "and you do realize your mother expects high marks from you in everything but musical arts?"
Scorpius shook his head. "It is not my fault my father never paid for someone to tutor me in piano."
"It is your fault that you never let Ma tante Fleur teach you when she was teaching the rest of us. Even Al learned how to play at some point although he isn't exactly Mozart material."
"He plays well enough." Did he really just defend Albus' pathetic piano skills? He did.
"Yes, because he practices unlike a certain blond prat in glasses before me." She twined a strand of hair around her finger and sighed, "Don't you have something you can be doing? Like feeding yourself to the giant squid?"
"I'm too gamey for the squid."
Rose slammed her book shut with an angry snarl. "Either shut up and do your potions essay, or go bother Al, but if you're going to continue to be annoying, I'm going to leave!"
Scorpius swallowed thickly. This was not going at all how he'd planned. "Rosie, you wound me."
"Scorpius," she hissed, standing. Scorpius eyed her for a long moment as he tried to determine just how serious she was. Her book bag flew into her hand without her summoning it.
"I'll do my essay."
Her jaw clenched and she fell back down into her chair. "Good." Rose tugged at her pony tail and sighed as if that single, small movement had deflated all her anger. "Good. I need your help. I was afraid I'd have to go ask Al, and you know how hard it is to get a proper answer out of him in a reasonable amount of time."
"He's the eccentric smarty-pants, not me."
"No, you're normally sane, I will give you that, although recently…" Rose trailed off and shrugged. "You're acting moronic really."
"I only act moronic for you, my dear. Surely you do not believe I act this way for Albus." Scorpius wrinkled his nose, because he did, in fact, act just this way for Al as well. However, Al was usually better at coming back with something equally absurd and funny to say.
He was going to miss that. He was going to miss them. Scorpius knew Albus planned on going professional with potion making and hopefully one day be the personal supplier to St. Mungo's, and Rose wanted to travel abroad and meet with foreign wizards and witches and learn their culture as well.
Scorpius had little to no idea what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, beyond chase Rose's skirt. It was absurd. No wonder his father had been sending him weekly letters. He hadn't gotten so much mail since his first year, when he'd been the first Malfoy ever to be sorted into Ravenclaw. Scorpius had insisted it hadn't been his fault he was smart, but not entirely pretentious or ambitious.
He liked to learn, but there was no such career that suited his jumpy moods. Al was in a perpetual state of happiness, Rose was serious about everything, but laughed easily. Scorpius though, he was all over the map, the smallest thing set him off on a completely different track and there was little to predict it.
"Well, if you're going to continue to be moronic, our study dates may have to be cancelled until a mediwitch can examine your head."
Scorpius' stomach bottomed out. He had to have heard her wrong. Surely, she hadn't just said what he thought she had?
"Now, explain to me what that blasted potion we're supposed to be doing next week is all about."
Scorpius sucked in a breath and dragged out his Potion's text and began to flip towards the correct page.
~*~
Some young ladies may prove to be difficult to win favor. Never fret, young men, there is a simple solution to make the young lady of your choosing more amenable to your proposition. Simply carrying her hat box while she is shopping is enough to place you in her good favor.
Scorpius ducked under thirty elbows, dodged twenty book bags, and seven Firsties just to be at the door of the Ancient Ruins classroom in time to see Rose leave. He caught sight of her frizzy red hair and melted. It was up in that pony tail he loved to play with. It sprang like a spring when he pulled it. Not that he'd ever be caught admitting something so undignified.
Nevertheless that was the property of Rose Weasley's hair and, Merlin, he loved how her blue eyes lit up when he did it. He doubted she knew what her eyes revealed when she let her guard down or was sleepy. More times than he could count, he and Al had her sandwiched in between them on the sofa in the common room and watched as she fell asleep over a text book. He suspected she thought she had something to prove, following in her mother's footsteps, but anyone could tell that while school work was important to her, it wasn't as half as important as staying in her mother's favor.
Al once told him that Rose had replanted the flower garden before the Weasleys' home to be in perfect geometrical squares much to his aunt's and her mother's delight. He also told him that Rose never let up trying to impress Mrs. Weasley.
Scorpius waved jovially as Rose came through the door. Her beautiful blue eyes rolled heavenwards and he saw her lips part in a small sigh.
"Let me get that for you," he said, smoothly taking her books from her arms, before helping her readjust her school robes. Or he tried to anyway. Instead of the smooth and suave action he'd intended, Rose had held tight to her books, causing him to take her scrolls of notes from the top and scatter them messily about the hall.
Rose's face turned a blotchy, unattractive shade of red. "SCORPIUS!"
Scorpius cursed roundly in his head before doing the only thing a true descendant of the Malfoy line could-- he bolted. Rose screamed after him in a language he was sure must have been English only he was too busy dodging a Bat Boogey Curse that had been aimed at his head. That woman had excellent aim and Scorpius felt the spell sizzle by his left ear.
His eyes lit upon a familiar face a fraction of a second too late. He yelped as a stinging hex hit his buttocks. "Al! Help!" he cried, diving behind the taller boy. He wrapped his arms around Al's waist, fearing the worst, but hoping that Rose wouldn't hex her own cousin. He peeked out to see Rose storming down the hall like a vengeful goddess, hair flying out of the once tight ponytail and hanging around her face in wisps and waves.
Al shuffled them backwards until Scorpius' back hit the wall. He whined as his butt felt like it caught fire. "Stop gawking, and tell me what happened?" the brunet demanded in a hurried whisper. "Score? What the hell did you do? And is it gonna get me killed?"
"Maybe?"
"Score," Al whined, bouncing on the balls of his feet as Rose drew up level with them. Her scowl frightened Scorpius. What had he done to deserve such a look? He'd only been trying to help. That stupid book and its stupid advice were going to get him killed now. This was the end, and possibly the end for his best friend as well. He supposed there were worst ways he could die than at the end of Rose's wand.
He could have drowned, or fallen off his broomstick, or been bitten by a mad dog, gotten rabies and died before they could stop the madness from setting in. Surely death at the end of Rose's wand was a much more dignified and befitting end to a Malfoy.
"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, step away from the cousin."
"Now, Rosie," Scorpius began, ducking back behind Al when her wand was suddenly pointed at his forehead. That wasn't fair at all. Especially not now, since the entire school knew his awful middle name. His father clearly and without a shadow of a doubt hated him, and the near silent sniggering around him proved it more than the dreadful book that was going to get him killed had.
"Now!" Rose shouted, the word bouncing off the stone walls and down the halls. A hush fell over the passing students as they turned to watch what was going on. He felt Al tense in front of him and knew his friend wanted to bolt. For all his boisterous, bouncy bliss, Al was a frightened mouse when it came to being in the spotlight for too long, and Scorpius had just inadvertently dragged his best friend right into a situation that would inevitably keep the gossip mills churning for days on end.
There weren't too many duels in the halls anymore, which, on most days, Scorpius would have thought was a pity, but was perfectly content to avoid at the moment. He wasn't the most skilled opponent, and Rosie knew how to hit where it hurt. But she was gorgeous angry like this.
Taking a fortifying breath, Scorpius stepped out from behind Albus to meet his untimely demise. He was too young to die!
Rose flicked her wand in his direction and he froze, but nothing had occurred. It wasn't until he saw the coy smirk on her mouth did he realize he'd been had.
"Buggering hell, woman!" Scorpius snapped, temper fraying.
"Go get my notes," Rose said. She pointed back down the corridor where the parchment laid in wait. "Don't make me go to Professor Flitwick because so help me, I will. Even if it means Ravenclaw loses its bid at the House Cup."
His eyes widened. She wanted their entire house to hate him? "But!"
"Score," Al cautioned.
"Al? You too?" Scorpius would deny he was whining if asked later. Horribly unfair, both of them, with their stupid freckled faces and their cocksure grins, making a Malfoy do all the work. He wasn't a house elf! "Fine."
"Good boy," Rose purred, folding her arms across her chest. His eyes were habitually drawn to the v of her sweater vest. Unfortunately, he couldn't look for too long or he'd be in worse trouble than he was now.
Hurrying through the hall, ignoring the sniggers of the smarmy bastards still loitering about, Scorpius began to run back and forth scooping up every sheaf of parchment, not even daring to draw his wand in case he got hexed again.
The young lady is a shy creature and at times nervous around the opposite sex. Try to put her at ease by asking her questions about her day, and her interests. If all else fails when the questions run dry, try a compliment or two. This way you will learn more about her and her wants in life. Listen well, gentlemen, for the lady is a delicate flower and must be treated as such, do not ask her questions that insult her. If you would not ask it of your mother, do not even think to ask it of your intended.
"Scorpius, go away."
"No." Scorpius sank down on the sofa next to Rose and grinned, but failed. He couldn't grin. She'd been ignoring him, purposefully now for over a week. She hadn't been this opposed to him since their first year and it sort of stung really to be ignored like he was being now.
No one ever ignored him. He made it a point to not let them, but with Rosie, the more he pushed her the harder she pushed back.
"Scorpius, please, please, go bother someone else," begged Rose. She tucked a thin strap of ribbon inside her book and closed it, obscuring the cover. "I promise once I finish this section of the text, I'm yours for the afternoon."
"Do you plan on keeping that promise?" Scorpius asked too quickly. Hope welled within him as she smiled at him. She meant it. Merlin, she was going to actually pay attention to him again! He wanted to hug her and never let her go. Well, he wanted to do quite a few things to her, but hugging stayed his safest bet. "I don't think I can take the heartbreak, my Rose. If you're lying to me, I may have to go grab Al and cry on my bed until you come and apologize."
"I'm sure Al appreciates the gesture," Rose commented, leaning over and kissing his forehead. Scorpius' cheeks flamed red. "But, yes, I promise. Now go bother Hugo into playing a pick up match with you on the pitch."
Scorpius smiled at her and shook his head. How could she be so wonderfully dense about this whole ordeal? How could she not notice that he didn't want to go play with her little brother? He wanted to stay here and watch her. Certainly, he supposed it'd help if he actually asked her out, but the thrill of the chase remained too strong and too new for him to give up quite yet.
"And have him embarrass himself in front of the delightful women in Gryffindor tower?"
Rose's eyebrows shot upwards at that declaration. Scorpius mused that the startled look didn't do much justice to her oval face, but regardless, one day he'd have the right to kiss away that look. He would have to play his cards carefully though, and begin to act more on instinct and less on that book.
Rose was an entirely different species of woman than the book claimed. "You have yet to win a race against him," she said, shaking her head. Her fingers ran along the edge of the spine as she stared at him. "What are you talking about?"
Scorpius smirked. "Nothing! I'm just feeling incredibly lucky today."
Chuckling, Rose gave Scorpius a light shove. "Go find something to do. I'll come and find you. Or do my promises mean nothing to you anymore?"
Scorpius caught her hand in his and, catching her eyes, he brought it to his lips. Rose's eyes widened a fraction as he dusted his lips gently over her knuckles. He cupped her hand in both of his and set it back on her lap, giving it a squeeze. Screw the book; the faint blush and parted lips made the gesture worth breaking those ancient rules. "It means more than the world, Rosie. If you want me to go and make nice with Hugo, I'll do it, but I'd much rather stay here with you."
Rose's eyes narrowed in suspicion and that unnatural red color returned to the tips of her ears. That wasn't the reaction he thought he'd receive. Backing away from her quickly, he tumbled off the couch and gaped up at her.
Her eyes flashed like cold sapphires as she directed her ire upon him. Scorpius' hands clenched in fists as her words washed over him like an icy blast. "Go find Al, Scorpius, and tell him to keep you away from me. I'll see you at dinner."
By now your young lady should be taken with you. If you are feeling emboldened by your success now is the time to initiate casual touching: a pass of your hand over hers when walking, or a kiss to the back of her hand. Now is the time to make your intention towards her known, or you may lose her to another.
Scorpius hugged his pillow so as to prevent himself from tearing every bloody page from the book. It was all the book's fault, and therefore his father's fault and it was especially Al's fault that his eyes were leaking.
He wasn't crying. Malfoys don't cry. His father told him this in the fiercest of tones when he was ten that he was never allowed to cry at Hogwarts, ever! It was the only rule he'd ever been given in terms of his schooling from his father and he wasn't about to break it now eight years later.
Rose hated him. She hated him, there was no other explanation, he'd been trying so hard for months to get her to notice him in any way that wasn't just a good friend and he'd blown it. All because of the stupid book!
"Score? You okay? You sound like hell, mate."
Scorpius growled into the pillow. "Go away."
"What?"
"GO!" Scorpius whipped his pillow with all his might at Albus' head with a near scream of frustration. "Go and tell Rosie that I'm done. I give up!"
"Score," Al tried, taking a step forward and around the pillow.
"Albus," Scorpius hissed between gritted teeth, "if you have a single brain cell firing, you would have been gone five seconds ago."
"Are you crying?"
Scorpius glared. Al was the thickest thick person to ever be thick around him. "Do not make me owl your mother."
"Christ, Score, I'll go."
Al backed slowly from the room, hands raised in defeat and Scorpius did not drop his glare until the door shut with a definite click. Not wanting to have to deal with any other unwanted company, Scorpius rolled over and nicked his wand off his bedside table and cast a few locking and silencing charms on the door. No one could get in now, at least not without him knowing.
He flopped, with a sigh, back down onto his pillow-less bed and gazed up into the navy blue bed curtains, willing them the familiar green of his bed at home. They remained stubbornly the same shade of blue. Scorpius squeezed his eyes shut and imagined himself elsewhere. Somewhere where Rose Weasley no longer existed with her strident temper and her gorgeous set of breasts.
He had always known she was smart and had a pretty face, but, by Merlin, he had never seen below her neck, nor had he cared to look. The first time Scorpius had noticed such perfection had been the summer before in the pond behind the Potters' house. Her shirt had been the perfect shade of white and the water saturation had been at optimum level and he was gone before he even knew what hit him. Then and there he swore he would share those breasts with no others, although now it seemed like he might have no choice in the matter at all.
They really had been lovely to look at, Scorpius mused, running a lethargic hand down his face. He left it splayed on his stomach and shifted on his bed. Her nipples had stood pert and proud against the soft cotton fabric, stretching it tight from the cold. She laughed at the gobsmacked look on his face, which caused a delightful wiggling motion that he ached to reach out and touch, to feel her chest heaving beneath his wrinkled palms. He had wanted to feel that malleable hardness for himself and listen to her breath hitch in her throat as her giggles turned into a moan. If he'd had his way, her tee-shirt would have been gone, melted off and floating away on the gentle currents of the pond before she could have given him a token protest.
Scorpius snaked his hand under the waistband of his trousers, groping for the sole part of his anatomy not angry with his current situation.
Rose's smile played about in his mind like the bloody tease that she was, all coy and happy and kissable. He'd run his thumb along her lower lip and feel triumphant only when her lips part beneath his fingertip. She'd suck in his finger, fellating the tip without meaning to, driving him madder with want. His swim trunks clung to his inner thighs, rubbing against his hardening cock and he groaned against her cheek.
Scorpius moaned quietly, rubbing his prick through his y-fronts at the imagined sensation.
He'd swim her backwards to the wooden dock hidden amongst the reeds, sucking at her neck, lips grazing every bit of the freckled skin before he'd push her up onto the end of the dock. A flush colored Rose's body a dusty pink as he gazed at her. Smirking, he'd snap the bottom elastic of her underwear before giving them a swift tug till they came down to her knees. Her blue eyes would grow big in shock as he pulled them the rest of the way off, casting them into the greenery. Scorpius'd grasp her knees gently in each hand, his thumbs tracing soothing lines.
Rose's eyelids fluttered and a lazy grin graced her lips and she nodded.
"Yes?" he mouthed, heart rate picking up. He squeezed her knees tightly. "Yes?"
"Yes," she would laugh and shake her head, leaning back to rest on her palms. He'd relax his hold, and her legs would spread further revealing a nest of dark red curls.
He slid his hand inside his y-fronts and grasped his cock firmly, swiping his thumb over the head. A hiss escaped his clenched teeth as he thought of Rosie's laughter, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Scorpius'd let out an incoherent shout of joy that made her laugh harder, but one quick flick of his tongue over her clit would end that fast. He would eye the blush that stole into her cheeks as she watched him, her long fingers curving into the old, worn wood. Scorpius'd grin and repeat the action once more before pulling back. Or he would try to. One of Rose's hands would come and grasp the back of his head, pulling him back in as her fingers tangled in his damp blond locks.
He groaned low in the back of his throat, hand picking up speed on his cock and, with one sharp tug, Scorpius came over his hand and into his trousers.
He gasped for breath as his body trembled through his orgasm, once more staring up at the blue bed curtains. The back of his eyes burned with a sudden fierceness that wrenched a choked sob from his throat. Dragging his covers up from the foot of his bed, Scorpius rolled onto his side and fell asleep.
~*~
Dinner that night was horrible. Scorpius shifted in his seat, staring down into his plate of yams and carrots. Rosie wasn’t even sitting with him and Al. Rosie'd chosen to sit as far away from them as she could, which meant she was sitting with her brother and cousin at the end of Gryffindor table.
"She hates you, mate. What did you do?" Al asked, taking a bite of his flaky dinner roll. "She wouldn't tell me either." Green eyes were suddenly glaring at him reproachfully. "I thought you two were my friends."
"We are!"
"Then why don't either of you talk to me anymore. About anything!"
"I talk to you!" Scorpius shouted, feeling unfairly accused of something he didn't do. "I talk to you all the time!"
Al twisted on the bench with a look of such frustrated sadness that Scorpius couldn't even begin to understand what he'd said to get that reaction. This wasn't his Al, it was clearly a Polyjuiced clone sent to trifle with his head. It worked as well. Scorpius could feel his mouth running dry as guilt ate at the little food in his stomach. When Al replied though, all the guilt bled out to be replaced by renewed anger. "Yeah, about her!"
"Of course I talk about her!" Scorpius got up off the bench, nearly tripping over it in his haste to get into the aisle. No longer hungry, all he wanted to do was go back to his room and sleep. "She's all I bloody think about, you moron! Maybe if you brought up something else to talk--"
"Like now? When do you ever let me get a word in edgewise? I don't want to even bloody think of Rosie in that way! Merlin, Score, she's my cousin! It's hard enough nodding along to you, when all I want to do is gag at the thought!"
"Then—then maybe we shouldn't talk."
Al froze, his retort dying on his lips. "Maybe we shouldn't."
"Fine," Scorpius spat.
"Fine!" Al spun on the bench so his back was facing Scorpius and with loud grunt, Scorpius stalked from the Great Hall. Too many eyes followed his retreating back on the way out.
He stopped just outside the doors, swallowing around the rapidly growing lump in his throat. What'd he just done? Why had he—He couldn't do this alone! Slamming his fist against the rough wall beside him, Scorpius stormed off in the direction of Ravenclaw tower. He needed to talk to Rosie before anything else could go wrong.
~*~
Scorpius cast nervous glances at the portrait hole every time it opened. Each time he half hoped and feared it would be Rose or Albus coming at last, but neither had shown. How long were they going to ignore him? This couldn't go on long or he'd likely go insane. Naturally, he had other people he could be holding conversations with, but there were only two people he wanted to. Despite Al's whinging about Scorpius not paying attention to him, he was worried, greatly about the other boy. It didn't take him too long after he started to think of Rosie in slightly less than innocent ways for him to realize Al wouldn't take it well, but Scorpius wasn't going to deny himself something he wanted just because it grossed out his best friend.
The Gentlemen and the Rose Garden lay open across his lap to a page about proposals, but the chances of him ever getting that far with Rose were slim. He'd hoped, when he went to retrieve it from beneath his bed, that it might have a passage somewhere on how to convince Rose that his intentions were, well, perhaps not pure, but at least well intended. Scorpius didn't want to hurt her, he never wanted to hurt her, and he couldn't understand why she thought he'd start now. Did seven years of friendship really mean that little to her? It clearly did. Scorpius was at a loss now more than he had been when he'd asked his father for help.
His father's help had been the epitome of unhelpful and that left a very disagreeable taste in his mouth. He could ask his mother, but her advice would likely be no less helpful unless he told her who it was he wished to be with. Merlin, did he want to be with Rosie, more than anything, but, without Al's advice, he had no clue who to turn to any longer.
"Malfoy!"
Scorpius jerked in surprise at the loud bark and tilted his head to the side to see Hugo Weasley standing in the doorway. Unfortunately, it meant he was also blocking Scorpius' only means of escape.
He closed his book and set it aside, turning down the corner of the page he had been reading. "Yes?"
"We're going flying, get your broom, put on a thick cloak and meet me outside the common room."
Scorpius' mouth dropped open, and for a few seconds he could only gape like an idiot. "We're what?"
"Going flying," Hugo repeated with a smirk that was decidedly wrong looking to Scorpius. Hugo Weasley could not smirk. Something about the adorableness of his freckled face made the entire thing seem bizarre and foreign.
"Why?"
"Merlin, Malfoy," Hugo snorted, raking his fingers through his brown hair, "I don't think I've ever heard you speak in monosyllables quite so much. Get your ruddy broom."
"I hate it when you parrot your mother," Scorpius muttered, climbing off the couch with more wariness than he supposed the move warranted. Hugo didn't look ready to set his trousers on fire for hurting his older sister, nor did he appear to want to punch his face in. That begged the question though of what exactly made Hugo decide to go flying today.
"I hate it when you make my big sister and cousin cry," Hugo countered, his normally cheerful expression going dark for a second. "Well?"
"You're not going to push me off my broom, are you? That wouldn't be a pleasant experience and falling off my broom once is enough to last me a life time."
"For fuck's sake, get your broom," Hugo snapped, wand jumping to hand. Scorpius frowned at that. What was it with the Weasley's trying to hex him this week? "We'll talk when we're outside!"
Scorpius took one long look at Hugo, before hitting the stairs. He had nothing to lose from this, but his life, and really? Was his life that important at this point? Scorpius doubted anyone would even notice right away if Hugo pushed him off his broom when they were 50 feet up. The brat could probably even stage it as an accident, claim his broom was going to fast and he banked a corner and fell off. Then he'd let his broom fly straight into the Whomping Willow and no one would question it.
He really had best stop thinking. Thinking hurt.
Opening the chest at the foot of his bed, Scorpius rummaged through bits of broken quills and half used parchments. Setting aside the shirt Al had torn two weeks before, doing Merlin knew what IN HIS SHIRT, Scorpius opened the leather casing surrounding his vintage broomstick. It had been his father's, and Scorpius needed no other. He wasn't on the team, nor had he ever felt the urge to try out, he just liked to fly, and his father's broom did so wonderfully well.
Hugo was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for him, and Scorpius saw no reason to say anything as they headed out of Hogwarts and down to the Quidditch pitch.
"You're sure you're not going to kill me?" Scorpius asked, swinging his right leg over his broom. "My father would be mildly upset with you if that happened."
"Your father is a bloody ponce, Malfoy," Hugo said, settling on his own broom. He kicked off to hover a few feet above Scorpius' head. "And my mum would punch in his nose if he insulted my da'."
Scorpius' mouth pulled down into a scowl as he watched Hugo circle above him like an irritating bug. "You're a bloody ponce."
"What was that?" Hugo let go of his broom to cup one ear.
"You are a ponce," Scorpius repeated, punctuating each word, before rocketing into the air. When he was safely 30 feet above the youngest Weasley's head, he continued, "and your sister confuses me greatly. I don't recall her being this odd before."
"That's because Al's oddness overshadows hers, and you spend more time with him."
"We liv—"
"Yes, yes, same rooms, but you still should know Rose as well. I mean, don't get me wrong, but why are you even chasing after her if you know so little about her?"
"I know plenty about her!" Scorpius cried, not surprised by the accusation, but he didn't approve of it either. He'd known Rosie just as long as Al and he figured he knew both of them equally as well as they knew him. Al only had a marginal advantage because Scorpius unloaded on him nearly daily since third year. If he didn't, his brain ceased to function until he could muddle out his thoughts.
Hugo folded his arms across chest and arched a brow. "You do? What's her fav—"
"Color? Perwinkle. Tea? Earl grey with just a small bit of cream, no sugar. Outfit? The sweater her grandma knit her last Christmas with a pleated skirt that shows off her lovely ass. Book? Emma. Shall I continue?"
"Favorite parent?" Hugo finished, zig-zagging forwards and backwards below him.
"Her mother?"
"No," Hugo said, with an infuriatingly superior grin. Scorpius didn't know if he wanted to hit Hugo or the ground. "Our dad."
"And your point is?"
"Ask her yourself, or Al because you're not going to get anywhere with her if you don't know. And Malfoy?" Scorpius looked up from his broom handle inspection. "She may be my older sister, but if you hurt her again, I will end you."
~*~
Scorpius wouldn't call himself stupid, but as he watched his owl fly off out of the owlry he felt spectacularly idiotic. It might have been easier to ask Rose directly about what her brother had told him, but why go through her when he could go right to the bloody source of his problems. Scorpius and Mr. Weasley had never exactly seen eye to eye on things, but Scorpius figured that having not been screamed at and driven from the Weasleys' home during summer break was almost a ringing endorsement from a Weasley to a Malfoy. Scorpius never once brought up the fact that his dad had let Rose into their house without as much as a second look. There had been a raised eyebrow and incredulous mouth drop, but no second look.
He stayed in the owlry most of his Sunday afternoon, watching the sun track across the light blue sky, before falling behind the purpling mountains. What if Mercedes had become lost? No, that was absurd, Rose had taken ill last term and him and Al had sent daily letters to her, many of them whiny, but all of them received and a new one sent back. What if Mr. Weasley had torched it on sight? No, that was more ludicrous than his owl becoming lost. Mrs. Weasley would never allow her husband to burn a letter on sight, at least not without finding out who it was from first. Mrs. Weasley did like him, or at least tolerate him, so Scorpius doubted that she'd let him burn it at the tip of his wand. All his hopes and dreams going up in a ridiculous puff of smoke.
The idea of going to Rose about her problem made no sense. This was clearly something between her and her father, and at least he couldn't be hexed at this difference by her father. He had never seemed to have had a problem with him before, beyond the requisite Weasley's and Malfoy's loath each others existence. That rule was rapidly dying out, Scorpius had begun to realize. Seeing how he was the youngest Malfoy, it seemed fairly inane to believe that all Malfoy's and Weasley's hated each other. He certainly didn’t hate Rose, and perhaps, if Hugo hadn't been lying, she didn't hate him either.
A petit little owlet came swooping in from the glassless window and landed on his knee, wiggling his tail as it settled. Scorpius froze and stared down at it, before gently stroking the fluffy white downy on its head. It hooted in appreciation as Scorpius ran two fingers down the baby's back. To his amusement, he thought he might have just been adopted, not the other way around.
Scorpius looked about him for a speck of dead animal on the ground he might offer the mite creature and pulled his wand, feeling nauseous thinking about what he was doing and summoned a field mouse.
Something small and brown flew across his vision and before he could catch it the baby owl had hopped up and snatched it in his beak with a disturbing crunch. Scorpius was never going to wear these trousers again.
"Score? You in here?"
"Just us birds," Scorpius drawled, bristling when Al's head popped around the doorframe. A nervous frown graced his features, and Scorpius sighed. "What'd you want, Al?"
Al fidgeted with his jacket for a few moments, pulling the garment closer and then releasing it a few times as he gazed around the disgusting room. "Hugo tackled me, and then Lily sat on me."
"They did what?" Scorpius asked in dumb shock. "Sat on you? Why?"
A tiny grin appeared and Scorpius attempted to scoot over enough for Al to sit next to him, without having to dislodge the busily munching owl. "I've apparently been something of an arse to you."
"Potter, you're always an arse," Scorpius groaned, wondering what else the brats were going to do in an attempt to fix things. If they went after Rosie next, he'd gut them. He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. Even that wouldn't be enough, and Rose would hate him for trying it.
Al sniggered. "Your bird just shat on your leg."
Scorpius shrieked and jumped up, sending the little owl rolling in the hay strewn ground. It hooted indignantly and nipped at his shoe, but didn't leave him alone. He turned his gaze onto his now ruined pair of trousers with a look of mourning. They weren't by far his favorite pair, but that didn't excuse the excrement on them now. Glaring had no effect on the teensy white bird, but a well placed hex might.
"Why are you here?" Al asked, dashing his plans for revenge. The puffball would be around to deal with later. "It was hell trying to find you."
Scorpius looked away uncomfortably. The first person he normally would have told would have been Al, but they'd been fighting that morning. Doubt began to gnaw at the back of his mind. Those earlier 'what if's all came back again in an angry barrage. "I wrote to Mr. Weasley."
"And?" Al bent over and scooped up the obnoxious little owl in his hands and set it beside him. Scorpius couldn't discern anything but honest curiosity in Al's voice, but that never meant anything with his friend.
"I think he set the note on fire."
"He didn't. He sent an owl to Rosie not even an hour ago."
Scorpius' eyes widened. "And?"
Al rested a hand on his shoulder and shook him. "You need to calm down and talk to her. She's not angry, mate. Not really, not more than normal at least. Rose is always sort of angry, you know. But you ought to talk to her. She was nearly in tears when I left to go find you." Al looked at him curiously. "What'd you ask Uncle Ron?"
"Nothing!" Scorpius denied, unable to even formulate an appropriate response. He hadn't thought his letter had been offensive. Merely inquisitive. "I might have asked why Rosie thought I was trifling with her affections, but otherwise nothing!"
"Oh Score, you didn't, did you? Fucking Merlin, you did. I—Let's go." Al suddenly grabbed Scorpius by the wrist. He dragged him out of the owlry at a hurried pace.
"Where are we going?"
"You and Rosie are going to the ruddy Room of Requirement and you're going to fix this," Al said with a growl, "Now."
Scorpius allowed himself to be pulled through the halls of Hogwarts because it meant he could think. The last time he'd thought too hard while walking, he'd walked straight into a Firstie and scared the pants of him. Scorpius reckoned Al wouldn't let him walk into anyone this time, which meant he got plenty of time to sort out a charm that might protect him from the black eye he was destined to get.
He had no idea of how Al intended on keeping them in the Room long enough to say anything of substance, but he suspected his taller friend had a plan. Fearful of what lay before him, Scorpius kept his head bent, taking the stairs one at a time, even when Al tried to get him to hurry.
He'd have to apologize for one thing, but even that might not be good enough for her. Scorpius never intended for her to get in trouble with her father, but that sounded exactly like what had happened. Why else would she have been crying? Rose and crying never equated to extreme happiness. It was near always frustration and anger. How many times had he seen her come back from a class with a paper with anything lower than an 'O' only to see her sit down in her armchair and curl up to cry?
Al had always been better at comforting her, and now he was abandoning him to deal with it himself. He supposed if he truly wanted to be with Rose, he ought to make the extra effort to learn how to cheer him up, but the thought frightened him more than a whole cage full of dragons could ever accomplish. Rose was fiercer than any wild creature he ever met, and more prone to attack him unprovoked.
When they arrived before the Room of Requirement, Al finally released him, and if Scorpius wanted to, he could have fled. Instead, he stared at the door standing there as if waiting for him. With a jolt, he realized it had been.
"Do I have to?"
"Do you want her to hate you?"
"No, of course I don't," Scorpius hissed, grey eyes flashing behind his glasses. "But I also don't want a black eye or a severed hand."
Al grabbed his collar after spelling open the door. "Get in there," he grumbled, before jerking Scorpius forward, letting him stumble the rest of the way out. Scorpius turned around, knowing he must look atrociously pathetic, and not particularly caring. "I'll check on you two in a half hour."
"But—" The door swung shut and to Scorpius' own horror disappeared.
Soft sniffling caught his attention before he could hatch a revenge plan, and he spun around to finally take in the interior of the room. It looked like their common room, right down to the atrocious floral patterns on the navy carpeting. He was almost disappointed, except it offered them privacy and familiarity, two things Scorpius appreciated greatly.
"You had to owl him, didn't you?" Rose's soft query was barely louder than the crackling pop of the fire. "You couldn't have just asked me?"
"You weren't speaking to me," Scorpius pointed out, crossing the short space between him and Rose. He sank down on the opposite end of the sofa from her, hoping the action didn't get him hexed. "And your brother—"
"Hugo's an idiot," Rose dismissed. Scorpius ached to reach out and touch her, to hold her, but he had to wait for her. He'd seen his mother and father interact enough to know how to behave in these situations, but the feeling didn't go away. She was in pain, he could fix it. Only, this time he caused it. "Scorpius, you could have asked me. I would have answered."
"You would have hexed me." Scorpius immediately wished the words back when her spine stiffened, but instead of suddenly being blind or mute, or purple, she choked on a laugh.
Rubbing her nose on her wrist, she looked over at him. "You're right, but I would have answered afterwards." Gazing down at her hands, Rose continued, "You're my friend, you've been my friend for ages. Didn't you know I wouldn't stay angry at you forever?"
Scorpius flinched. "I'm sorry, Rosie, I didn't--"
"Think? That's nothing new. But the letter to my da', were you serious?"
"Possibly?"
"You mean, you really want to…with me?"
Scorpius tried to recall a time Rose's tone had been so meek and hopeful. He was sure he must have heard it before, but he kept drawing a blank. No, this Rose was new to him, and if he messed up now, he messed up for good, not even Hugo, Lily or Al could fix it if he got this wrong.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Scorpius grinned, unsure if he wanted to know what her response would be to his confirmation. "Yes, if you…you know."
"I do."
Scorpius blinked and leaned forward, "You do?"
"You wrote to my father to ask why I couldn't," Rose said, instead of answering. Scorpius' heart stopped. "and he sent me the letter you wrote back." What was she talking about? "My first year? Before I got onto the Hogwarts' Express, my da' got a promise out of me that I've regretted for so long, and he finally said he was joking. Joking, can you imagine that?"
"What did he say?" Scorpius asked, scooting closer to her side. He couldn't have stayed away from her any longer even if she rejected him.
Rose turned her blue eyes on him, and for the first time in two days, hope filled him. She reached over and picked up his hand, settling it in her lap. She traced her fingers down his palm, following the tiny lines in wonder. "He said, 'Rosie, Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood.' I was so excited to just be going to Hogwarts I agreed without questioning it."
"But—"
Two fingers were touching his lips before his protest could finish. Bloody hell, marriage?! He hadn't thought—well, yes, he had, but—marriage?! Rose's smile was brilliant as she took in his shocked expression. Slowly, she lowered her fingers to his chin, but they moved no further. His lips burned at the sensation, and he found his eyes hypnotically drawn to her own lips. She was wearing that sheer gloss that she liked to apply when no one was looking as if it were a crime to have clear chapstick keeping your lips kissable.
"I wasn't thinking, I told you. I took it to mean dating as well." Her grin turned contrite and she leaned her forehead against his, bringing her so close, he could feel the gentle puffs of her breath against his lips and nose. It would only be too easy to pull her in the rest of the way. "There's a reason I only dated half-bloods and Muggleborn students."
"Very noble of you," he teased, threading his fingers in her red hair. "Have you revised these thoughts yet?"
Her eyes danced in delight, before they fell closed. "I'm beginning to think there's an exception to every rule."
"Good." His lips dusted over hers, barely feeling her skin. "Very good."
Rose pressed herself forward until their lips collided. Her hand snuck up his back to grip his shoulder as one of his hands plunged into her hair, pulling gently. Her tears mingled in their kiss, salty and painfully sweet as they took their time exploring each other's mouths. It was hard to imagine, he'd never done this with her before. They fit so perfectly, so wonderfully perfect and Scorpius wondered for a moment if perhaps he hadn't fallen asleep in the owlry, waiting for Mr. Weasley's letter that would never come.
His lip was bitten and he gasped in shock, unaware of anything but the fact that Rosie's tongue was suddenly and extraordinarily in his mouth. His Rosie, his Rosie.
"All right guys, 30 minutes is up!"
Scorpius' eyes flew open, and he couldn't remember when they'd fallen shut when the door flung open, and Al strode in through it.
"Did you guys—Oh, Merlin. Can't you guys? Just—never mind."
Scorpius' eyes met Rose's in shock when the door slammed shut just as abruptly as it had opened. They stayed frozen in time, lips still pressed against each other's but not moving.
They would never get a moment's peace.