Stars Hold Our Fate (SCOROSE) ~ Editing ~

Out of Your Comfort Zone

Rose's POV

     I took a deep breath as I looked from Albus to Fred. I tried to keep a straight face.

     "No. There isn't," I replied calmly.

     "Are you sure?" Albus asked. "Because I just want to be prepared the next time I interrupt a snogging session —"

     "We weren't snogging!" I sputtered, my cheeks glowing red. "We were ... he was handing me my bag."

     I slung my bag over my shoulder, "Thank you Scorpius," I said loudly, before turning back to Albus and Fred. "Come on, then. I'm sure Lily and Roxanne are waiting in the common room."

     I started to drag both boys down the hall, ignoring their protests and Albus's outraged glowers. Just before we turned a corner, I looked around to see Scorpius one last time but he was gone.

$$$

     "Rose, we're not leaving without an explanation," Albus said, folding his arms. "What is going on between you and Malfoy?"

     "He's my student," I said curtly, heading for the girls dormitories when Roxanne stepped in front of me.

     "And?" She encouraged.

     "And I teach him," I quipped impatiently, desperately trying to duck past Roxanne.

     "And?" Everyone demanded.

     "And what?" I swivelled around to face the lot of them, eyes wide with hysteria. "What would you like to hear?"

     "That you two secretly admire each other and are sharing secret moments but aren't telling anyone and is using the tutoring excuse to go see each other," Lily said.

     I blinked, "Yeah, I'm not saying that."

     "So it's true?" Fred taunted.

     "What, I didn't - Stop putting words into my mouth!" I shouted angrily. "No! I don't admire Scorpius ... okay?"

     No one answered, but all eyes were staring intently at me.  I crossed my arms over my chest, "Okay?" I repeated, a little louder.

     "You're blushing," Roxanne pointed out.

     "Who is?"

     Everyone turned to see Hugo skipping down the steps towards us.  He threw himself into the couch next to Fred, only then seeing everyone staring at him.

     "What?" He asked.

     "Hugo," Lily started. "Rose has something she needs to tell you."

     "No I don't!" I snapped. "Hugo, it's late.  Go to bed."

     "You can't order me around like that," Hugo answered defiantly, staring at me with hard eyes. "I'm not a baby."

     I gave him a pleading look.

     "What are you guys talking about anyway?" Hugo asked, looking from one Cousin to another.

     I just glowered at all them, "Fine!" I yelled. "Go on! Tell the world for all I care!" I stomped up to my dormitory, slamming the door before anyone could answer.

$$$

     Around 9:30, the doorknob started to turn.  I heard a few muffled talking outside and more knob turning before they realised it was locked.

     "Rose?" Roxanne called. "You can't lock us out of our own dorm."

     I didn't answer. I continued to stare hard at the door in amusement, watching in satisfaction as they repeatedly tried to open it, every time failing.

     "Rose, please," Lily begged. "We're sorry for teasing you about Malfoy."

     I still didn't reply.

     "Rose, are you there?"

     "I saw her come up here," Roxanne muttered to themselves.  Loud bangs started hitting the door.  I imagined Roxanne throwing herself against it in frustration.

     "Rose!" Lily yelled, her voice hitching. "Please let us in!"

     I should have felt the guilt in my stomach but I didn't.  They weren't completely locked out.  Do they know they're witches?

     At 9:36, I heard Roxanne chant, "Alohomora!" The door swung open, both girls panting.

     "Rose!" They both called in relief.

     "About time," I flashed them a smug look, glancing briefly up at them before reverting back to the book in my lap.

     "Rose, we're really sorry," Roxanne said, sitting on my bed next to me. "We didn't know you'd take it so seriously."

     I ignored her, staring down at my book.

     "We weren't going to tell anyone," Lily said, sitting at the foot of the bed. "None of us were."

     I kept on 'reading'.

     "We shouldn't have assumed things with you and Malfoy," Roxanne continued.

     "You weren't assuming things," I finally said, still not looking at them.

     "We weren't?" Lily and Roxanne exclaimed in shock.

     "Not really, anyway," I said.  I looked up at them, "If I tell you guys, you have to promise you won't spill it to anyone.  Not even the guys."

     "We promise!" They both yelled excitedly.

      So I told them every tiny detail from the first study session to the scene in the prefects bathroom.

     When I got to the part about Slughorn they stared at me.

     "You obliviated him?" Lily repeated.

     "It was an accident!" I groaned, leaning against my pillow. "I did it so quick I barely knew it."

     "I can't believe it," Roxanne said, sharing an amused look with Lily. "Malfoy is actually pulling you out of your comfort zone."

     "Well," I said. "I wouldn't say -"

     "Think about it," Lily said. "You stayed up past curfew, you sneaked away with the Marauders Map ... you obliviated a teacher."

     "And you're the one who's always trying to discourage Albus from using the map," Roxanne added.

     I sighed, "It was one night," I said defensively. "And besides, aren't you guys supposed to be preventing me from liking Malfoy?"

     "We never said that," Roxanne said.

     "And you guys are cute together," Lily added.

     I blinked in surprise, "You really think so?"

     They nodded.

     "But ... he's a Malfoy."

     "So?" Roxanne said.

     "Our family hates them," I pointed out, eyebrows raised. "What about the whole blood status thing?"

     "We're too far away to be thinking about that yet," Lily said. "Just live in the moment.  Then we can figure out all the little details. "

     I couldn't stop staring at them, "You're serious? You're not just messing with me?"

     "Why would we mess about with something important like this?" Roxanne asked.

     "You guys are the best!" I threw my arms around them and we all fell back onto the bed, laughing.