The Dursley Girl

C.32 I'm Sorry

"Lannah, are you sure this is a good idea?" Rose asks me.

We were in my dormitory, getting ready for the Slytherin party. The one Isla had told me about earlier. I hadn't spoken to Scorpius since our fight, but I needed to get out of my room and do something. And I couldn't stop thinking about what Isla said. What is Scorpius going to say if she tells him she likes him? Am I enough for him to resist her?

"I'm sure," I say as I fasten on an earring. "If Isla is going to confess her love for Scorpius, his girlfriend should at least be there to see it, right?" I say this as a joke but Rose notices my bitter tone.

"I don't know why you guys just can't talk to each other and figure this out," Rose sighs.

I stay quiet. She doesn't know what Scorpius said to me, she only knows we had a fight. If she knew that he even suggested I deserved what Cian did to me, she would quite possibly kill him.

"Are you ready?" I ask, avoiding her question.

We grab our wands and sneak through the hallways, making our way to the dungeons. Before we've even opened the doors I can hear the music pulsing underneath my feet. Slytherins may
not have the best reputation, but they know how to throw a party.

The door swings open and we see a cluster of people already dancing and laughing around the common room. I eye the table holding all sorts of bottles and decide I've learned my lesson, no more drinking for me. At least not tonight.

"Rose, Lannah! You came!" Isla stumbles towards us, holding a red cup in her hand.

"Hi Isla," Rose smiles. "Nice party."

Isla takes a swig of her drink.
"Drinks are over there," she points to the table. "Dancing is, um," she looks around the room and breaks into a grin. "Well, dancing is everywhere I suppose!" I can tell this is likely not her first, second or even third drink of the night. She's already far beyond that.

"Where's Scorpius?" I ask before I can even collect my thoughts.

A strange look washes over her face.
"I don't know. Quite frankly I don't care. Anyways, have a good time." She walks away, joining another group of girls who are dancing by the fireplace.

"That was weird," I say to Rose.

She nods in agreement.
"She goes from wanting to declare her love for Scorpius to not caring where he is?" She wonders.

Right then, we hear a loud crash that startles everyone. We turn around and see a couple boys helping Albus to his feet off the ground. His face is plastered with an aloof grin and he offers everyone a thumbs up.

"I'm okay!" He declares.

I shake my head in amazement at his ability not to get embarrassed. Me and Rose make our way over to him as he fills up his cup with a mixture of firewhiskey and pumpkin juice.

"Someone is having a little too much fun," Rose sighs.

"Rose, please. Have a drink. Or have more than one drink, however many it takes for you to loosen up," Albus says, thrusting a cup into her hand. She rolls her eyes but accepts the drink.

"Lannah, what are you drinking?"

"Nothing, thanks."

"Here," he hands me a cup filled with a clear liquid.

"No, Albus really-"

"It's sparkling water Lannah. Relax," he says as he takes a sip from his own cup.

"Right," I say. "Um, listen. Where's Scorpius?"

"He's been acting weird," Albus says. "He disappeared for a bit and then when he came back he looked all bothered and went up to his dormitory."

I share a look with Rose.

"Excuse me," I say, pushing past them. I make my way up the small set of stairs that lead to the dormitories. I find the door decorated in Slytherin Quidditch merchandise and recognize it as Scorpius and Albus' dormitory that I had been in so many times before.

"Alohomora," I whisper, nodding my wand at the door. It quietly clicks open. I slowly push the door open and find the room empty, except for Scorpius, asleep on his bed. I walk over to him and stand there for a moment, watching him sleep.

"Scorp," I whisper, gently touching his shoulder. His eyes slowly flutter open.

"What..." he says groggily. He then opens his eyes fully and sees me. "Alannah," he says, almost shocked. He rubs the sleep out of his eyes and sits up.

"Hi."

"What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" He asks, full of concern.

"Yeah, everything is okay. I just... I don't really know why I'm here. I wanted to see you," I say. I look at him and see he has a slight look of confusion still on his face. "Um, I can leave if you want?" I say, suddenly feeling unwelcome.

"No! No!" He snaps out of it shaking his head. "Please, stay. God, please stay." He stands up and is now standing inches away from me. "Alannah, I feel horrible. I didn't know what to do. I-I didn't want to come find you, because I knew you'd be upset with me. Rightfully so," he says, avoiding my eyes.

I take a deep breath.
"I just don't understand why you said what you did," I admit. "Do you really think I deserved that?" I ask.

He looks hurt as I ask this and nervously runs his hands through his messy hair.
"Alannah, I would never wish that upon anyone." He takes a step closer to me and puts his hand on my arm gently. "Least of all, you. I could kill Cian for what he did. I don't know why I said that before, I just lose my temper sometimes. I say things I don't mean. I get that from my dad," he chuckles nervously. "I don't know if I've said it enough but I'm really, really, sorry Alannah."

I look down at my feet and take a deep breath.

He gently puts a hand under my chin and lifts it up to look at him.
"I'm sorry," he says again quietly.
I nod softly.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. I should have never said that," he says. "If I could take it back I would. Because I'd never want to hurt you like that Alannah."

I look into his green eyes that shine with sincerity. I know in my heart he's sorry, and even if he wasn't I don't know that there's a power strong enough on earth to make me not love this boy the way that I do.

I slowly lean in to him and press my lips to his. He gently runs his hand up through my hair as his other snakes around my waist.

"I love you Alannah," he whispers as he pulls away from me. "And if you don't want to tell people about us, that's okay. I understand."

I shake my head as I look up at him.
"No. I'm not letting my parents' relationship ruin this for me. I love you too much," I admit.
He smiles at me and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Do you want to go back to the party?" He asks.

"No. I want to stay right here."

He guides me towards his bed and we lay down together. I rest my head on his chest as he softly rubs his hand along my arm. At this moment, I decide this is what makes me happy. And that I never want to be loved like this by anyone else. I don't care that my parents are falling apart. What me and Scorpius have is stronger than anything they ever did.

We lay there for what seems like minutes, but as the music and noise from the common room dies down I realize hours have passed and I should get going. I slowly get up from the bed, trying not to wake a now sleeping Scorpius.

"Where are you going," he asks sleepily, grabbing my hand as I get off the bed.

"I have to get back to my common room," I tell him.

"Why?" He groans. "Just stay here with me."

"Now, you know I can't," I smile at him as he gets off the bed. He walks towards me and places a hand on my cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asks.

"Of course." He places a soft kiss on my lips and I dread the fact that I have to leave him so soon.

"OH MY GOD!"

I jump apart from Scorpius and see a red faced Albus standing in the doorway of the dormitory.

"Albus-"

"Since when has this been going on?" He exclaims, stepping towards us.

"Albus, you're drunk mate," Scorpius says, trying to calm him down. He steps in front of me, guarding me from Albus.

"What are you doing with my cousin?" Albus steps closer to Scorpius, staring him down.

"It's fine, Albus," I protest as I begin worrying about what he'll do to Scorpius in such a drunken state. Scorpius however, looks calm as Albus stares at him, demanding an explanation. Albus is a tall boy, almost inching above Scorpius with an intimidating glare. Scorpius remains silent and waits for Albus to calm down. After a minute of antagonizing silence, Albus turns to me.

"You and Scorpius?" He asks.

I nod slowly.

He looks back at Scorpius and then back at me. I wait for a reaction from him and share a nervous look with Scorpius. Suddenly, Albus breaks out into a huge grin and engulfs Scorpius in a hug.

"Took you six bloody years but you did it!" He exclaims.

"You're not mad?" I ask in shock.

"Why should I be mad? My best friend! And my cousin!" He steps towards me and hugs me and I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I realize he may have a different view tomorrow in a sober state, so I should appreciate this momentary happiness. Even if it is caused by his sloshed up thoughts.

"Thank you Albus," I smile. "Well, I really should get going. So," I pull away from Albus and smile at Scorpius one last time before heading to the door. 

"Wait, Alannah. I need to tell you something," Scorpius says. He pauses for a moment and looks at Albus then at me. "You know what, it can wait until tomorrow."

As I leave the dormitory I hear Albus continue shouting about how great this is and I walk through the halls with a smile. 

***

"Now tell me," Albus says, sitting down at the table joining us at breakfast the next morning. "Did I have a really messed up dream last night or are you two really dating?" 

"You told him?" Rose exclaims. 

"So it really is true?" Albus asks once more. 

I share a smile with Scorpius and nod slowly. 
"And you were quite happy about it too," I tell him. "Overjoyed really." 

"That was after about three bottles of firewhiskey," he replies, rubbing his forehead. 

"So I take it hangovers aren't kind to you?" Scorpius teases him.  

"I doubt Madam Pomfrey has a single thing to help me," Albus groans. 

"You would think that after falling of a table you'd slow down the drinks," Rose scolds him. 

"Wait, when did that happen?" 

Before I can catch him up on the parts of last night he can't remember, we're interrupted by a new presence at our table. 

"Isla," Scorpius says, giving me a sideways glance.  

"Scorpius," she says plainly. She looks back and from him to me and our joined hands. "So I take it this is a thing now?" 

I look at Scorpius in confusion. I suddenly remember Albus telling me about his disappearance last night. Did Isla have something to do with that?

"I told you last night Isla. Why are you acting so surprised?" Scorpius says coldly. 

She scoffs and walk away without another word. I look at Scorpius and remove my hand from his. 

"What happened with Isla last night?" I ask. 

Scorpius shifts uncomfortably in his seat. 

"I tried to tell you last night," he starts. I immediately feel my heart sink and pray another obstacle isn't about to arise between me and Scorpius. 

"What happened?" I ask again. I catch Rose and Albus sharing an uncomfortable look. 

"She pulled me aside at the party. And I knew what she was about to say, because you warned me," Scorpius takes a deep breath. "So before she could say anything, I thought- well I thought I better save her some embarrassment so I just blurted out the first thing I thought of."

"Which was?" I press. 

"I told her I had a girlfriend. Well, that I was dating you," he looks down. "And I'm sorry, I know at that point we had said we weren't telling anyone. And you were mad at me- I shouldn't have said-" 

I cut him off by placing a kiss on his lips. He kisses me back and then pulls away with a confused expression. 

"You're not mad?" He asks. 

"Why would I be mad at you for telling her you're dating me? I promise you Scorpius, that makes you a very good boyfriend," I laugh. 

He smiles back at me and is about to lean in for another kiss when Albus interjects. 

"Ok, ok! Enough of public snogging please. It isn't helping my headache," he says with a grimace. 

I roll my eyes. 

"I for one, think this is great," Rose says, matter of factly. "Have I mentioned I knew this day would come?" She asks proudly. 

"Only about a hundred times," Albus says. He looks at Scorpius and narrows his eyes. "I am not in a good state right now, but when I am I know I can take you," he says. 

"What- is that a threat?" Scorpius asks, trying not to smile. 

"No, more of a promise if you ever hurt her. She is my cousin after all."