Harry Potter : Next Generation

Chapter 23 Scorpius

I really didn't know how to feel. It was three weeks into summer hols and I hadn't spoken to Rose much. I mean, we had spoken, but we hadn't really had any one on one conversations and we had only talked when we were hanging out with her cousins which, given how many of them there were, there wasn't really much time for us to be alone. I was relieved that she had stopped dating Damien, especially since I'd had a gut feeling all along that he was up to something. Okay, maybe I hadn't, but I hadn't always been suspicious of him and it had nothing to do with the fact that I fancied Rose, no matter what Al may have said. Ever since I had come clean about my feelings for Rose, Al wouldn't stop bringing her up around me. Even when she was there!

And now I had a moral dilemma. As much as I was happy (one might even go as far as to say ecstatic) that she and Damien weren't together anymore, I couldn't tell her my feelings. Don't misunderstand, I really really wanted to, but I couldn't do that to her.  I knew she had fancied me before what I had dubbed as the New Years Fiasco, or at least, I thought that she had fancied me based on several accounts from the girls and her cousins (namely Albus and Lily). But I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted to tell her, but I knew it was too soon. It had been less than a month since Damien had broken her heart (from what I hear it was because he was only using her to help him study while getting a good snog out of it the bloody wanker) and we hadn't even had a private conversation yet. I couldn't just pull her away for the first time in a while and say 'Rosie I've fancied you since fourth year, date me!' Could I?

So I sat alone in the backyard of the Burrow, trying to figure it what to do. Albus had ditched me, the prick, to go play quiddutxg. Actually more likely to snog Alyssa, but don't tell him I said that because he'd kill me.

"Hey Scorpius" someone said, pulling me from my thoughts. I know you're utterly astonished at this, but it was Rose.

"Hey Rosie" I tried to sound casual, "how're things?"

She snorted. "'How are things?' You've got to be kidding me." Then she took a look at my face, which probably read scared out of my wits, because I was. "Sorry" she said, "that was probably harsh. I'm actually doing quite well considering my ex boyfriend was only dating me to get a tutor to snog. And how are things with you?"

Ha! I had definitely been right. However, being the good person I am, I attempted to hide the triumph I was feeling so as not to offend her. "I'm fine" I told her, "though a little disappointed that you haven't spoken to me this summer." I faked a pout.

"What do you mean?!" She exclaimed. "I have!"

"And what did you say then?" I smirked, it was so fun riling her up. She turned all red with her Weasley blush.

She thought for a while. "I asked you to pass the sausage at lunch." She smirked back at me.

"You know that's. It what I meant Rosie. Something that constitutes a real conversation."

"Okay fine" she gave in reluctantly, "I'm sorry we haven't had a real conversation this summer. I've just been a little... preoccupied. "

"You can talk to me you know, Rosie?" I said in a softer voice.

"I know" she replied with a weak smile, "but I'm almost over it now and I don't think it would help to bring it up again."

"Okay" I said,  "but for the record you could do so much better than him." Namely me. I added in my head.

"What was that?" She asked. Apparently I had muttered it out loud. I blushed. "Scorpius Malloy blushing??" She exclaimed, "Scorpius Malloy is in fact not a vampire and can have the slightest bit of color in his skin? I never would've known!"

"Hey!" I said, "I'll get you back for that one. That was a low blow Weasley."

"I don't believe you" she smirked, "you can't hurt me, you don't have the guts."

"Who said hurt?" I asked, before proceeding to pounce on her and tickle her.

"Scorp stop it!" She screamed. "You.... know.... i hate it when you do that!" She said in between laughs.

"I know" i grinned, "that's why I'm doing it. Revenge." I faked a maniacal laugh.

"That was the worst evil laugh I've ever heard!"

I tickled her more until we heard a cough behind us. I jumped away from Rose, as best as i could seeing as we were rolling on the ground, and saw James and Fred smirking down at us. Oh no, let the endless teasing begin.