Glory |A. Potter|

Fifty-Two

Scorpius seemed almost surprised when Jane smiled at him when she saw him in their next meeting to patrol. He did a double take, blinked as she gestured to him to join her by the exit of the common room. Ramona was behind Jane, heading right for him as he stood up, regretfully sent a look at Albus sitting opposite him, the chessboard in a disarray from the game of chess they had started.

"Don't you worry, Scorpius, I'll crash him for you," Ramona told him as she instantly took his previous seat opposite Albus. Albus raised a brow, looked at her over his glasses.

"Overconfident, I see."

"I've reason to be," Ramona smirked, and with the assurance the two of them would be fine on their own, Scorpius walked back to the exit, where Jane stood, waiting for him. He offered her a small smile as he reached her side and together they left the common room.

"How have you been?" she asked the moment they had left. Scorpius was confused at the sudden change of behaviour, still stuck on her being withdrawn, but he didn't want to ruin their exchange so he didn't say a word about it, acted the way he would have if nothing had happened.

"Oh, you know," he glanced at her, "studying, sleeping, eating, the usual. You've always led a more interesting life than I did."

"That's not true," she protested, "I've done the same things you did with the addition of going for a morning run, there's hardly a difference."

"There is one, though."

"If you want, you could always join me. It would be good for your body."

"I'd rather not," his lips curled into a smirk, "if I get any more attractive I'm afraid I'll start having victims."

Jane laughed at the comment, having not expected it even though she really should have, and Scorpius couldn't help but smile at her reaction as he kept looking ahead. She spoke again when she had stopped laughing. "In any case, I wouldn't mind your company."

"I'm really not the ideal person to take with you to exercise."

Jane knew it was true. Scorpius hated the idea of running and was deathly bored of sports in general. The last person one should take with them for such activities was him. There was a pause as they turned down a corner, the torches around them shedding light to the corridor. Jane ensured there was no one around and then softly spoke up.

"I've been meaning to apologise for my behaviour the last couple of days."

Scorpius blinked, his eyes widened slightly and he couldn't help but turn to face her. "What?"

"You just wanted to help and I was harsh," she continued, "I appreciate your concern and I'm glad you care about me. You don't need to worry so much, though. I have things under control."

"I know you do," he assured her, "you always have everything under control and it's something I like about you."

Jane lifted her gaze to meet his own, a smile playing on her lips. "Really? Some would say my need to have everything under control is bothersome."

"Well, I do like order in my life," he pointed out, "besides-"

There was a clung, and at once, they realized someone had hit a piece of armour. Jane and Scorpius exchanged a mere look before they rushed down the corridor, moments after they heard quick footsteps rushing down the corridor, further away from them. Jane took off running for a moment but she stopped in the turn of the corridor when there was no sight of the troublemaker, only a fallen piece of armour. With a shake of her head, she took out her wand and wordlessly levitated what had fallen back to its original position. Scorpius watched the display of magic with a small smile, pride blooming in his chest as he reminded himself just how talented and powerful Jane was.