The Dursley Girl

C.25 The Arrival

The next day when I woke up I nearly forgot about what happened the night before.
Did Scorpius really say he loved me? And I told him to fuck off?

"Ugh," I bury my head into my pillow, not wanting to face the day. And definitely not wanting to face Scorpius.

"What's wrong with you?" I hear Alicia's voice.

"Nothing," I say, my voice muffled by the pillow.

"Well, I suggest you get up or you'll miss breakfast.

I internally curse her for making me get up, but I know she's right. I get ready slowly, trying to prolong the time I have before seeing Scorpius. Once I'm in my robes and have my wand, I have no choice but to go to the Great Hall for breakfast.

I spot my friends at the Slytherin table and make my way towards them.

"Thought you'd miss breakfast," Albus commented as I sat down.

"Yeah, what happened, you slept late?" Rose asks.

I glance at Scorpius before answering, but he's conveniently avoiding eye contact.

"Bad sleep," I said simply.

Scorpius stays silent as Rose and Albus begin talking about the Ball.

"Can we talk about something else?" I ask. "I feel like the Ball is all we've been talking about lately."

"Don't be so grumpy about it just because you have no interest in going," Albus says.

I roll my eyes and continue eating my toast. The real reason I have no interest in talking about the Ball is because it just reminds me that soon the Ilvermorny kids will be here, which means Estelle will be here which means Estelle and Scorpius will be together again.

In a few minutes we're gathering our things and heading off to class. As we're walking Albus pulls me back from Rose and Scorpius.

"What is going on?" He asks.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say casually.

"Lannah, I'm not an idiot. You and Scorpius have had enough fights for me to tell when somethings wrong between the two of you. Now tell me."

I contemplate telling him, but I'd be betraying Scorpius' trust. And sure, I'm mad at him but that's not right. If he wants to tell his best friend, he can tell him himself.

"If you want to know so bad, ask Scorpius. But really, it's nothing," I lie. "Just another small fight we'll forget about in a few days."

I don't believe I'll forget him saying 'I love you' though. In fact it's all I can think about.

"Fine," Albus says, knowing how stubborn I can be. "Change of topic. Alicia. I need to ask her to the Ball, but I don't exactly know how."

"You say 'Alicia, will you go to the ball with me'. Really Albus, I thought you were smarter than this."

He hits me in the arm.
"I can't just ask her out of the blue- and especially not when she's with her friends. You need to help me get her alone, so I can ask her in private," he says.

"Aw, are you afraid of her friends seeing you get rejected?" I tease him.

"Please," he scoffs. "Of course she'll say yes," he says in his typical egoistic fashion. But I can tell that he's worried she just might say no.

I give in and tell him I'll help him. I find it slightly ironic how I'm helping my cousin get a date but I can't even get one myself.
****
"Albus, I said I'd help you but if you keep pestering me with questions like that will personally tell Alicia not to go with you," I snap at Albus.