Scorpius and Rose

Chapter 8- Senior Prank But It's Third Years

Too soon, the Christmas holiday is over and everyone returns to Hogwarts. I'd never realized just how loud everyone was. Even just people studying, their quills scratching across parchment, is louder than I thought. It's only the second day back and teachers have already started piling on the homework. Deciding to ignore the mountain of homework on my bed, I opt for a walk outside.

Scorpius joins me on the grounds while snow falls around us. We walk next to each other, the ground littered with big soggy flakes.

He shivers. "It is so cold out here." He tugs his cloak around him. His muffler hat is wrapped tightly over his head, but his nose is pink.

"And that is exactly why we're out here." He looks at me, a mixture of confusion and betrayal on his face. "Nobody else is out here because it's so cold, which makes it the perfect place to plan a prank."

"Who are we pranking? And why?"

"We are gonna give James a taste of his own medicine."

Scorpius giggles a little bit at that. "What?"

"You said it yourself. James is a Gryffindor bully. But what if we made him pay?"

"Rose, what are you talking about? I mean, I can get behind making him stop, but what are you planning?"

"So I say that we use my Uncle George's swamp spell and put it in his bag. Or even better, his bed, but that would be too hard because we can't get into the Gryff-unless!" I turn to face him, excited. "We had a spy on the inside."

"Or..." Scorpius adds, slowing down our conversation. But he looks as if a light bulb just went off in his head."We could put it in his goblet at dinner. Of course, we'd have to make sure the swamp was harmless first, but imagine having a swamp in a cup! That would be so cool!"

"Okay, so-new plan. You go talk to Professor Longbottom about a harmless swamp. He's the professor, so he should be the best source. And I'll talk to my uncle."

"Rose." He gives me a sly smile. "I have an idea. When the Gryffindor house wins house cup again we could put it in James' cup."

I nod at him. "Vengeance."

...

"I'm sorry. You're doing what?" Victoire exclaims, confusion and anger in her voice.

"Look, all we need is details. Who could put it in his cup?" I ask.

"Why are you two doing this?"

I faux sigh. "Victoire. He's basically just a Gryffindor bully."

She half shrugs, her light blonde hair brushing against her shoulders. "Yeah, he's a bit annoying and all, but I don't think he means to hurt anyone."

"Except for the Slytherins," Scorpius mumbles.

Victoire ignores him. "Look, you two should just stop. Trust me, you don't want to get on his bad side," She says definitively and walks out of the Room of Requirement, leaving Scorpius and me alone together.

"Do you think we should stop? She seemed pretty serious."

"The one time that she ever got on James' bad side was when she and Teddy started dating. James ignored her for three months." I exhale. "But, I trust her. So if she says we shouldn't we shouldn't."

...

Scorpius and I are awkward around James for a bit afterwards. Victoire keeps eyeing us in the club as if she's assessing us. James gets suspicious though.

"What are you two up to that I don't know about?"

"No-nothing." I blurt out.

He side-eyes me. "You're lying." He glances over to Victoire who is looking at us, her eyes pleading as if she thinks that just that is enough to keep us from pranking my cousin. He looks back at us and looks us both up and down. "This is gonna sound repulsive, but are you two dating?"