SLITHER IN! → S. MALFOY

ACT II, SCENE III: TREAT ME

C H A P T E R  T H I R T E E N 

ROSE FOUND HERSELF BEING dragged though the halls, flailing against the cold marble of Malfoy's muscles, as they slipped further and further down, towards the Slytherin common rooms.

She heaved for air mutely as he almost pushed Rose down the stairs, catching her by her waist in the last seconds of her fall, and she heard him chuckle.

This way, in a rather organized manner, the pair made their way down towards the dungeons.

                  Rose thought of the fact that the boys must be looking for her, and, horrified, realized that the classes might have already started.
She attempted once more to throw a punch onto Scorpius' shoulder and almost succeeded.

            Muttering a password in Latin, Malfoy entered the room, and, for a second, Rose was mesmerized by the beauty of the Slytherin common room. The tone of the walls and the gleam of emeralds matched Scorpius' eyes incredibly well.

                   He pushed her into one of the black leather-bound chairs, and sat down gracefully into one opposite her. She watched as he cast a Muffliato spell onto the common room door helplessly, and heard as he muttered another one - probably a lock spell, from the way a smirk escaped his lips.

Folding his legs over and throwing his head back, (Rose thought that he must be doing that often), Malfoy threw her one of his signature piercing looks.

She felt her voice climb up her throat once again, and sighed with relief.

"Now, Rosie, dear. Where is the Map?"

The manner of his tone and the way his eyes sparkled mischievously reminded Rose of a snake.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Somewhere safe."

Malfoy's gaze slipped down her robes.

"You know that my manners will not stop me from thoroughly examining you and your attire, Granger."

Feeing naked under his gaze, Rose pushed her legs under herself and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Are you going to use Crucio on me?"

Malfoy's smirk deepened.

"Is that.. excitement.. I hear?"

"Answer my question."

                "I'm the one asking here, Rose. Where is the Map?" She could sense that Scorpius was growing impatient, and, to be honest, it was rather amusing.

"Let me go. I have History of Magic.. right about now."

"Answer my question, Rose, or these walls will be the last thing you see in your lifetime."

"Are you threatening me, Malfoy?"

                                      "Are you that thick, Granger? I've been threatening you for the past several years." To this, he flipped the wand between his fingers like a cigarette, and pointed it at her, amused at Rose's immediate reaction. "You know me well enough to realise that I am able to use the aforementioned curse you are afraid of so incredibly much."

The way he stretched his words deliciously made rose realise that not only was he serious, but he was also thoroughly enjoying it.

"Fine," She raised her eyebrows, taking the carefully folded Map out of her pocket. Malfoy's eyes darted towards it as if she held something much more precious in her hand. "If you want it, fucking have it."

With that, Rose threw the map into the fireplace of the Slytherin common room.

        Cursing loudly, Malfoy reached the fireplace in seconds, and, grabbing hold of the still burning Map, didn't notice that Rose's wand had fallen out of his pocket and rolled towards her. Not losing any time, Rose darted towards the wand, and, grabbing it, shouted 'Alohomora!', her hand pointed towards the door.

           Before he could turn around - for he was too busy reciting spells that could aid him in repairing the Map - Rose opened the door hastily and ran out of the room, panting as she sped up the stairs back into the familiar authentic scent of the Hogwarts grounds.

      "Rose fucking Granger!" She heard behind her, although as she sped through the halls, no footsteps were behind her and no curses were thrown her way. Triumphant and a little afraid, Rose found refuge in the girls' bathroom, desperately attempting to fix the mess that were her hair.

She didn't realise someone had already occupied the bathroom.

         "Hi,"  Myrtle Warren, better known as Moaning Myrtle, slipped out from behind one of the stalls, her glasses smoked over with the presence of her everlasting tears. "Why are you so.. messed up?"

Holding the urge to roll her eyes, Rose turned towards her.

"Myrtle, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't sneak up on people like that."

There was a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"I don't normally. I let people.. do whatever they like.." At this, she giggled. Rose didn't like that.

"Whatever they like?"

           "Fine, I'll tell you!" Excited, Moaning Myrtle flipped her braids behind her, slouching in one of the sinks comfortably. "There's this one boy, and he comes to the abandoned boys' bathroom and cries, and cries, and cries.. Truly exciting."

"Who is this boy?" Rose asked, alert.

"You'll never believe me if I tell you."

"Myrtle, I don't have time. I have to leave." Rose glanced at her reflection once again before turning back towards the translucent girl.

The ghost rolled her eyes. There was the deathly feverish flush to her cheeks which none of the other ghosts possessed, and that was all that caught Rose's attention before Myrtle opened her mouth.

"Albus Potter."