Rubies & Emeralds (Scorose Fanfic)

XI: The Overprotective Family

After getting over the initial shock of seeing a Slytherin in the Gryffindor common room (and not to mention, four seemingly angry Gryffindors to accompany him), Rose realised that Scorpius was still in his damp clothes. He hadn't even had a shower yet. She said, "Why is he wet?"

"Really? That's the first question you ask?" Lily said, rolling her eyes.

"Also, we think you have a pretty good idea about why he's wet, Rose." Alice said. Rose then realised that Hugo wasn't there. But before she could ask, Lily said, "Hugo is at the library, finishing his Herbology essay." Rose nodded stiffly, wondering for the hundredth time if Lily had the ability to read minds.

"Okay. Why are all of you here?" Rose said, shifting from facial expression to facial expression. Their facial expressions weren't really different, though: All of them had disbelief written all over their faces. Fred was the first to speak, "Al said that he caught you and Malfoy snogging." The way he said Scorpius's name made Rose feel a strong urge to hex him.

"Really? He said that did he?" Rose said, coolly. She eyed Albus, giving him a once over. She decided that she could take him if she had to. All of them must have noticed the coolness in her tone because they looked at her, slightly frowning. She said, "And does dear little Albus here have any proof? Or is it just his word?"

"Just his... word." Alice said, in response. But it sounded like an echo. Rose smiled and said, "Well then forgive me if I don't believe him. I tell you that we decide to call each other by first names and you jump to the conclusion that we were snogging?! Really, Al!"

"Well I did catch you kissing someone!" He protested.

"Yes, you did." Rose said, pretending to be thoughtful about it. But, in reality, she was trying her hardest not to blush.

"Well?!" Lily said after the silence was too much to handle.

"Well what? It's not going to work. That's all. Now, would you mind if a Slytherin used the Gryffindor showers?"

"Yes." They said in unison.

"What if that Slytherin was the Head Boy?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. They shared a quick look (something that Rose didn't miss) and then glanced at Scorpius. They seemed to come to a mutual understanding without words and Albus said, "Fine." Elongating the "i". Rose smiled a real smile and nodded at Scorpius. Surprisingly, Fred offered to escort Scorpius upstairs. But Scorpius declined the offer with an air of hostility. He started up the stairs but was quickly joined by Fred, who had received a very pointed look from Rose. He said, "Why did you follow, Weasley?"

"Because I received a very pointed look from your girlfriend." He said.

"She's not my girlfriend." Scorpius said through gritted teeth, trying to sound annoyed.

"What happened between both of you?"

"Can we not do the whole bonding thing?" Scorpius said, taking a turn into what he hoped was the seventh year dorm. It thankfully was. Fred gave him a flat look but dropped it. Scorpius went into the bathroom, peeled off his wet clothing and got into the shower. And that was probably the first time he had ever hated taking a shower. Because it gave him time to think and kick himself for being so stupid:

After kissing Rose--- the memory made him smile goofily--- he had started down the corridor to go to the Prefects' bathroom. But on his way, he had been ambushed by none other than Albus Severus Potter. And his trusty sidekick (not to mention, sister) Lily Luna Potter. The interrogation had begun almost immediately: "Why are you wet?" "Did I see you in the woods today?" "Have you seen Rose?" "Do you know where she went?" "Were you snog---" "Lil! Have you seen her at all today?" "Are you sure you haven't?" Needless to say, Scorpius barely had time to answer the questions and was mostly confined to "yes" or "no" when an opportunity for response presented itself. And when he did reply, there was a pause which was filled with some intense whispering between the siblings before the resumed their pointless interrogation. Finally Albus said, "It could have been him. It was blonde-ish." Just loud enough for Scorpius to hear.