A Forbidden Love (REMASTERED 2022)

CHAPTER 15: NEW

Rose

     There were two days left before Christmas break and we still hadn't been able to figure out what was on with Teddy and Victoire. I was hell-bent on cracking the case before we all headed to the burrow for festivities. As soon as Teddy got the chance to be around Uncle Harry and the rest of the adults, the chance of us finding out what was happening at Hogwarts was slim to none.
     "Rose, I really don't know what else we're supposed to do," James called towards my pacing frame. I scowled and waved off his lack of determination. The whole lot of us were scattered around the common room. Hugo, Lily, and a few of their friends were on the other side of the room trying out the new Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans' latest flavors. Dominique was off Merlin knows where. Other Gryffindors busied themselves were their studies and activities while my family stared at me pacing across the length of the room. Everyone had cleared a path for me to walk and was avoiding getting in my way. Rightfully so.
     "We've tried to talk to him, follow him, talk to Victoire, follow Victoire, nothing has worked," Fred said from his spot on the couch next to James.
     "There is one thing you haven't tried yet," Cheyanne sing-songed. She was seated on the arm of a chair that Albus was sitting in. My cousin was tracing patterns in the skin of her arm with his finger, absently minding the conversation at hand. Cheyanne shivered every now and then at his touch, to which he grinned. At her voice, Albus looked up and furrowed his brows, only for the look to be replaced by a scowl.
     "No."
     "But-"
     "No."
     "Come on, Al! Not like you ever use it!" James shot at him, turning to face him. I stopped in my tracks, confused by the sudden change in discussion.
     "What are you going on about?"
     "Well, there's the matter of the cloak-" Cheyanne began.
     "There is no matter of anything because I said no."
     "-but your cousin here isn't willing to let us use it." I frowned at Albus.
     "And why not?" Albus snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
     "Because next thing you know it's being confiscated by a teacher or you lot get caught or it gets lost, I don't know! But I don't like it."
     "First off, we're not gonna lose the bloody cloak, Al, give me a break," Fred told Albus with a roll of his eyes, who just shook his head rapidly.
     "And we're not gonna get caught! Do you know who I am?" James asked, pounding a fist to his chest. I scowled at him and whacked the back of his head with my hand to which he jumped a foot in the air with a yelp.
     "Oi! Watch it!"
     "Oi! Don't be a dimwit," I retorted and sat down in an empty arm chair. I was beginning to grow agitated by the whole ordeal. I stared off into the fire. I could understand why Albus didn't want us to use the invisibility cloak to follow Teddy but at the same time, it was looking like our only option. Besides, we would be careful.
     "Where's ole Malfoy? Bet he could convince, Mr. Stuck-up," Fred called, dodging a pillow thrown by Al. I turned my head towards them at the mention of Scorpius.
     "He's at Quidditch practice. Arabella keeps them a bit longer sometimes to go over plays for the games. Bet they're going over the ones for the match this week," Cheyanne replied. The mention of Arabella Robins did nothing for my bad mood as I pursed my lips and returned my gaze to the fire. Cheyanne noticed and approached me, blocking my perfectly firey view.
     "I'm fine," I grumbled.
     "You're stubborn and a little arrogant, but certainly not fine," Cheyanne said with a laugh that lacked humor. I rolled my eyes at her and sank farther into the chair, listening to the bickering of my cousins beside me.
     "Why do you care so much about this, Rose? Surely you trust Teddy to take care of the threat, whatever it is, if there even is one."
     "I trust him. That's the thing, I trust him but he doesn't trust me! I want to help, Chey. I can help and he won't tell me a bloody thing. After the whole thing with the Bellatrix sighting you'd think he would stop keeping things from me," I said, too many emotions bubbling to the surface to turn back now.
     "Have you ever considered that because of that whole debacle, Teddy doesn't  want to tell you what's happened? Curiosity killed the cat, Rose, and if whatever has happened is dangerous then I would bet a couple of galleons that Teddy just wants to protect you. I bet he's doing everything he can to make sure that you especially don't find out what's going on."
     I pulled a face at this, ultimately letting out a heavy sigh. She was more than likely right. I knew I should let it go. But I didn't want to. I wanted to help. I stood up from my chair and moved around Cheyanne, headed toward the portrait hole.
     "Where are you going, Rose?" Albus groaned, noticing my demeanor. I threw him a look.
     "For a bloody walk." And with that I climbed out of the hole and slammed the portrait behind me.
     "Be careful, you ungrateful child!" the Fat Lady cried, fixing her hair that had shaken undone. I ignored her and headed down the staircase. I was angry. Angry that Cheyanne was right. Upset that Albus wouldn't hand over his cloak, no matter how good of a reason he had for not doing so. And most of all, I was upset that I couldn't help. Whatever the threat was, it was a danger to my family, and my friends. And all I could do, because I was just a bloody fourth year, was sit on my arse and wait for news that seemed as though it would never come. I couldn't do it.
     I stormed toward the Quidditch field, feeling the urge to see Scorpius. He was probably the only one that had a chance in the world at calming me down. I walked onto the field and slowed, peering around for any sight of a streak of silver-blonde hair. I walked towards the edges of the space where the stands where and heard the murmur of voices. I neared the source and peered around one of the ginormous legs of the Hufflepuff stands.
     "I mean it, Scor! You keep doing those drills I showed you every day and you'll be breaking record times every match," Arabella remarked. I bristled at her use of his nickname and glared at the scene.
     "You think so? I never really imagined going pro for Quidditch. Always thought I'd be a Herbologist, honest," Scorpius laughed.
     "I know so. You've got a fantastic chance at going pro. With your speed and agility, hasn't been a seeker like you since Harry Potter. What irony," she laughed herself. She reached out and grabbed Scorpius's hand, making my blood boil to unthinkable heights.
     "I meant what I said. Keep working. You have a great shot at beating the seeking record next match. You are brilliant," Arabella gave him a dazzling white smile and squeezed his hand before walking off. I ducked farther behind the stands to avoid being seen as she passed. I peeked out again to see Scorpius smiling after her as she left. Once she had disappeared, I came out from behind the shadows of the stands and crossed my arms.
     "Seems like you lot get along great."
     Scorpius's smile faltered and he gave me a puzzled look. "Rose, darling. What are you doing out here?"
     "I came looking for you, figured you could right this cursed mood I find myself in. But you seem to be busy chatting up Arabella," I sneered, sounding very unlike myself. I hated that I was getting upset with him. I knew the interaction was harmless, at least on his part. But the anger I was holding inside was quickly bubbling to the surface and there was no way for me to hold it back.
      Scorpius frowned and approached me, "Rose, what are you talking about? The team meeting just ended and Arabella needed to speak to me about some drills we had gone over. "
     "Not just about drills but about a future in Quidditch. She seems very concerned about your future endeavors, maybe she should be your bloody girlfriend," I said, snatching my arm away as he reached for it. Hurt crossed Scorpius's face and his arm fell back to his side. I regretted it as soon as it flew from my lips but it was too late to take it back.
     "Maybe because she's my captain, Rose. She cares about the whole team. I don't think it's fair for me to have to keep assuring you that I've only got eyes for you when I've done nothing that warrants such mistrust," he said, his voice growing cold. For some reason, that only fueled my rage.
     "Well then, maybe I'll just leave you the bloody hell alone!" I yelled. I turned on my heel and stormed back toward the castle. I didn't stop until I made it to the foot of the stairs that led up to the Gryffindor common room. I sat on the last step with my head between my knees and tried to breathe, screwing my eyes shut.
     Stormed out on my family, had the stupidest fight with Scorpius, and I still had no idea what kind of danger was threatening Hogwarts. I felt like I was having a bloody panic attack. I didn't even register the sound of footsteps approaching.
     "Hey, are you alright?" a voice asked, startling me. I lifted my head in a flash and sniffed unattractively. Florence Wright looked down at me with concerned eyes. My fight or flight senses kicked in and I was itching to pick a fight. Florence was one of the many girls Scorpius had...associated with last year. She was the last person I wanted to see me sniveling and sniffing like a pathetic child. I wiped my face furiously and attempted to clear my throat.
      "I'm fine, thank you."
     "You don't look fine."
     "Well, I am."
      She sat down next to me and folded her hands in her lap. I swiped at my face again, wiping away whatever snot residue I hadn't gotten before. I glanced at her only to see her staring at me intently.
     "What?"
     "Why are you crying?"
     "Literally why do you bloody care?" I snapped. She only smiled and turned her gaze straight again, staring down the empty corridor.
     "Because when I cry, I always wish for someone who might comfort me." I frowned and thought about that for a minute.
     "You cry a lot?"
     "Sometimes," Florence shrugged, "Don't we all?" I frowned again.
     "I try not to."
     "All you Gryffindors try not to," she laughed, "Ravenclaws know better than to try to hold in the sadness, even if you are one of the smarter Gryffindors I know. All that does is make the rain worse when it breaks through the clouds. You need a little darkness to have the brightest sun, Weasley."
     "Dumbledore said something like that. It's in the latest addition of Hogwarts: A History. Something like..., "Light can be found even in the darkest of places..."
     "If only one remembers to turn on the light," Florence nodded. "Yes, I know that one. Wise man, that Dumbledore." I nodded and looked down.
     "Why were you crying?"
     I glanced back up at her, "Just a disgrace of a day, really."
     "Scorpius?" I stiffened as she said his name. She only laughed, which made me throw her a puzzled look.
     "I don't think you realize how truly gone he is for you," she remarked fondly. I felt my cheeks flush at that, not because of her words, but because someone else thought so. Florence noticed and smiled.
     "You needn't worry about a wandering eye from that boy. He loves you something fierce." I cleared my throat again and pulled my fingers as I usually did in awkward situations. I fingered the silver Slytherin that shone upon my hand and sighed.
     "Didn't you-?"
     "Date? Go out? Make out once or twice?" Florence said with a small laugh. "Yes, yes we did as young people do. But Scorpius has always had his eyes set on you. Part of me knew it when we had our little fling, but what's the matter with having a little fun?"
     I blinked at that, not knowing how to feel about her statement. She gave me a small smile.
     "Besides, when two people look at each other like you do, it's love. Through and through." The word love sent a lightning bolt through my spine and more blush crept onto my cheeks. She furrowed her eyebrows at my discomfort.
     "You-you knows he loves you, don't you?" I shifted on the hard marble of the step awkwardly, suddenly aware that my backside was extremely sore from sitting on it for so long. Florence only smiled again.
     "Well, he does. And you love him too, Weasley," she got up from her seat next to me and held out her hand. I stared at her for a second before taking it and letting her help me up. "Take it from me, dear. When you find a love like that, try and hold on as hard and as long as you can. I didn't have the luxury of finding something so pure," she gave me a sad smile and squeezed my hand before turning and walking down the corridor. I didn't know what to make of what she said but somehow, it made me a little sad.
     "Wait! Florence?" she turned and raised an eyebrow at me.
     "Thank you. You're...you're pretty brilliant." Florence smiled and gave me a mock salute before continuing down the corridor. I sat back down on the step to think for a moment.
     When you find a love like that, try and hold on as hard and as long as you can.'
     Love like that. Was it really love? The thought scared the wits out of me. I adored Scorpius. He was the most brilliant person I'd ever met and I thought the world of him. I'd go to war for him, fight for him, maybe even die for him. The more I thought about how I felt about him, the more terrified I became. My feelings for him were huge, much bigger than the ones a normal 14-year-old girl should have. And the thought that he may not share those feelings was as terrifying as ever. I looked down and realized I was tugging my fingers again. I stopped, knowing Scorpius wouldn't like me doing that. It worried him that I'd break them, pulling so hard, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.
     "Love," I mumbled. The word seemed too big for life, too big for me. And yet...I was almost sure I was in it.
     It took an age but I finally got up off the step and walked up the stairs to the common room.
     "Bezor," I said to the Fat Lady, to which she swung open revealing a much calmer room than when I had left. Everyone was still present, besides Hugo and Lily, who were probably off and about with friends. Cheyanne was snoozing, (as usual) curled up in an armchair by the fire and Al (never far from Cheyanne) had his back against the very chair, sitting on the floor. Fred and James were dominating a nearby couch.
     "The prodigal son returns," James drawled. He was sprawled out with one foot on the arm of the furniture and the other long leg hanging off of it. Fred popped his head up from the floor and eyed me.
     "If you're going to have another tantrum, tell me now. So I can leave," Fred said with a sniff. I clenched and unclenched my fists, telling myself that they were simply being their dimwitted selves.
     "I'm not going to have a tantrum. I wanted to apologize for my attitude and demands. It wasn't right of me. I just...I want to help. I don't like that my family could be in danger and I don't know anything about it. That I can't do anything," I confessed. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm myself. Admitting when I was wrong was hard enough but admitting it to my family? Grade A difficult.
     "Aw, Rose," Fred sighed, sitting up from his spot on the floor. "We know you mean well, we do. You just gotta try to remember that there are adults who's literal responsibility is making sure we're safe. And I know you wanna help but they wanna keep us safe. Sometimes, you just have to wait until it's your turn to shine. And right now, it just isn't time."
      My lip began to wobble at his words and I felt like crying again. Albus gazed at me from the floor and stood, rushing to envelope me in a hug at the first sign of tears. I hugged back and cried a bit into his shirt. James and Fred joined and eventually, so did Cheyanne, somehow sensing the emotions in her sleep one way or another.  They pulled away, and Chey wiped the stray tears from my eyes and kissed my cheek.
     "Thank you," I sniffed. I was beginning to turn into such a baby. How horrifying.
     "Don't mention it, Rosie dearest," Al said, pinching my cheek. I swatted his hand with a smile.
     "I...I messed up with Scor...," I confessed, dropping my gaze at the thought of what I'd said. The lot of them threw me identicial looks: explain. I told them the  whole story to which James let out a low whistle. I left out the part about Florence. I wasn't ready to talk about what she'd said. I still needed to process all of that myself.
     "Yep that'll do it," James said. Albus nudged him and scowled. I buried my face in my hands and heaved a sigh.
     "I don't know what to do. I didn't mean it. I was just upset and I took it out on him. Merlin, I don't deserve him. I don't. How could I do that to him? He looked so bloody hurt, I could murk myself," I groaned.
     "Scorpius is very understanding. Just apologize and tell him what happened," Chey said gently.
     "You didn't see the look on his face. He said it wasn't fair that he had to keep assuring me he's all for me and then I told him I'd leave him alone then. I don't want you to leave me alone. I bloody miss him already. I'm a right idiot, swear it," I muttered.
     "Say that again, and maybe I'll consider listening to an apology."
     I twirled around, almost giving myself whiplash, and faced Scorpius. He was standing mid-climb at the portrait hole, the tiniest of smiles etched on his face. His Quidditch robes still adorned his form but he had put away his broom. I blinked and tried to breathe before more tears could fall. He approached me but stopped short a foot away.
     "Let's have a talk, Rose."
     I nodded and blinked away the tears threatening to spill. I glanced back at my family as I followed Scorpius back through the portrait hole. Fred and James nodded and gave me encouraging thumbs-ups and Al looked at me reassuringly. Chey just winked before turning back to her respective armchair.
     We exited the room and headed down the steps. I followed close behind him but made sure to give him a bit of space. The tension of the words exchanged a meer hour ago hung between us. We headed downstairs and made our way toward the deserted corridor on the third floor. He slowed his pace to a stroll as we made our way down and I came to walk at his side.
     "What happened today, Rose?" I immediately launched into an explanation of the whole thing. From the Teddy situation and Al's cloak to my frustration about being sidelined, to seeing him with Arabella. I again left out the bit about Florence. I still couldn't wrap my head around that conversation.
     Scorpius listened and nodded but didn't speak a word til I was done. When I finished, he stopped walking and gazed at me.
     "Do you think I would ever be unfaithful to you?" he asked.
     The question floored me. I blinked and gaped, unable to answer for a moment. Then, finally, I said, "No."
     "Do you think me unloyal?" a step closer.
     "No."
     "Do you think I would hurt you?" another step closer.
     "No."
     "Then why, why do you still question the depth of my feelings for you?" Scorpius whispered. We were nearly pressed against each other now. His breath fanned my face and his cologne inavded my nostrils. All I could see, hear, and breathe was him. His silver-grey eyes bore holes into sapphire orbs. He held my gaze as he sneakily snuck his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
     "You intoxicate my every thought. You built a home in my head four years ago on that train when we crashed into each other and you haven't left since. I wanted nothing more then to have you as mine and now I do," he mumbled. Scorpius ran his fingers lightly up my arm, moving over my shoulder and up my neck to swim in my mass of hair. He held me tightly as if savoring every inch of the way I felt. He pressed his cheek to mine and nuzzled my face. All I could do was hold onto to him and try not to faint from all that I was feeling.
     "Darling, you have no idea the power you hold over me," he rasped out, lifting his face to state at me again, desire in his eyes. My breath caught in my throat as my heart hammered out of my lungs. His face dipped down and his lips grazed mine. So much and yet not enough. I made a foreign noise in the back of my throat. He gazed down at me again and let out a groan of his own, tilting his head back . "You're bloody dangerous. And I love it."
     Love. There was that word again. But right then and there it wasn't scary. It was magic.
     Scorpius reached out his hand and grasped mine, pulling it to his mouth. He kissed from where the sleeve of my school shirt was rolled upon my elbow down the length of my arm and wrist to my fingertips. Things I'd never before felt were rising in me and I couldn't control the utter desire I felt for him.
     "Scorpius, please," I begged, although I had no idea what I was asking for. He glanced up at me before leaving a final kiss at the center of my palm. He tapped his Slytherin ring that adorned my hand idly.
     "This doesn't just mean you're mine, it means I am yours. Do you understand?" I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
     "No. You'll say the words. Because we've had this conversation before and I didn't drill it into your head enough that you. Are. Mine. And I am yours," Scorpius rasped, his voice similar to a growl. He leaned forward and nipped the lobe of my ear in that thrilling way he did. I let out a small yelp at the sensation.
     "Say it."
     "I am yours," I breathed.
     "What else, darling?"
     "You're mine."
     "Again."
     "You are mine."
     "That's right. Don't let me catch you forgetting it again. I won't be so forgiving," Scorpius promised. He dropped my arm and pulled me against him again. He pressed a soft kiss to my jaw and nuzzled my face again with his nose. I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes, a goner for his touch.
     "I'm sorry," I whispered.
     "Don't apologize. We all have bad days, Rose."
     "No. What I said, wasn't right. I hate what I said to you and I can't take it back so...I'm sorry." He looked down at me, nothing but love in his stare.
     "I forgive you," he assured me. Scorpius pressed another careful kiss to my forehead and pulled away slightly. "Are you alright?" I thought for a moment about what Florence had said.
     'When two people look at each other like you do, it's love. Through and through.'
     I looked back at Scorpius and smiled at him. If this was love, then I wanted to bask in it.