A snake in a clan.

Flowers and forgiving

Usually, my dreams were filled with mayhem and chaos, sprinkled with a bit of romantic interest. But as soon as I fell asleep by the lake it was as if my mind was too tired to conjure up such dreams. It was a little disappointing really. My seemingly never-ending silent darkness was interrupted after what seemed like a millennium. A soft crackling and quiet murmurs drifted through the air.

"It's been a week Scorpio, why aren't they awake?" The voice sounded so sad and hurt, I wanted to reach out and comfort it, but my limbs were bricks. Wait, a week?

"I don't know, Cat. They've never been out this long."

"You mean this has happened before? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I figured they did!" All this shouting, I wish it would just fucking stop.

"No. No, they didn't." I felt a warmth start at my hand and spread through my body. It changed from a comforting warmth to a sheering hot pain as if whoever had touched me grabbed me a little too hard. But it stopped as soon as it started. "You should go Scorpio. It's getting late." There was a slight pause with no reply. "It's okay we will be okay."

I heard light footsteps disappear into the distance until all that was left was a gentle warmth and a crackling flame. I felt tired, so so tired, but I wanted to wake up. I wanted to comfort whoever was quietly sobbing next to me. I wanted to tell them that t was going to be okay. Fuck Quiche, get your shit together.

I forced my eyes open regardless of their fight against the act. I expected to be greeted by a blinding light but instead was met with a dim lamp and the orange glow from the fireplace. It was calming and pleasant.

I looked around only to figure out where I was. I hated the hospital wing, I was here far too often. I felt a weight on the bed and noticed Cat's head resting next to my legs. I smiled a little and raised my hand running it through her soft hair. She jumped up with wide puffy eyes. I froze unsure of what to do.

"You're awake?" I smiled a little at her silly reaction.

"Apparently so," she smiled back at me then frowned looking down. I furrowed my eyebrows, not impressed seeing such a beautiful face looking so sad. "Hey, what's wrong?" I touched her face gently, moving her hair behind her ear so I can see her properly.

"Do you want me to leave?" Cat sounded so sad and so concerned, refusing to meet my eyes.

"What no of course not!" She looked unsure pulling away from my hand. "Please stay?"

"You lied to me." I rushed to defend myself but the last few days (or at last the few days before I passed out) ran through my mind. Shit.

"Cat, I'm so so fucking sorry." She still didn't look at me.

"You said you wanted to do this, to do us properly," she lifted her head and looked directly at me with tear-filled eyes. "But that's not true." Before I could open my mouth to protests, she got up and picked up her bag. "I'm glad you're okay." She turned to leave but I grabbed her wrist, careful not to show my desperations through my grip.

"Wait please.... Don't go. I want you I-I want this. "She kept her back to me but didn't pull away. "Please?" My voice came out way quieter than I expected. I could see her thinking things through so didn't interrupt her. She turned back around with an unreadable expression and leaned over the bed to kiss my forehead.

"Get some rest, I will see you tomorrow." She mumbled against my curls and pulled away, her wrist dropping from my hand. She smiled at me a little.

"I love you." My voice sounded very confident, but Cat's little smile made my heart sink.

"I know," and with that, she walked away. I wasn't sure what to do or how to react, but I tried not to let it get to me. Honestly, with how I've acted I'm surprised she even acknowledged the statement.

I snuggled back down into the thick, scratchy duvet of the hospital's beds and tried to get some sleep. There was never anything to do in here other than sleep and read anyway so I didn't see much point in staying awake.

The next morning Madam Pomfrey allowed me to leave which I was more than happy to do. It was still very early, and breakfast wasn't ready yet which gave me far too much time to think. I thought about how awful I had been to Cat and how the fuck I was going to win her over. It was a task I needed to nail so that I could nail her.

I walked out onto the frosty lawn. The fresh air was a privilege I had missed out on the last week. I can't believe it had been that long. The sun was starting to rise so I headed over an old oak tree that had become my favourite spot to watch the sunrise, something I find myself doing a lot lately. The frosted tips danced under the sun's early morning beams, highlighting the stubborn flowers that grew at the base of the tree. They were pink and purple and reminded me of Cat. I leant down and picked a few looking intently at them. I want to make things right.

I checked my watch and noted that it was about now that she would be waking up. I raced back up to the castle, careful not to drop or damage the flowers clenched in my hand. Once I was inside I didn't stop running. Not when I smelt the freshly baked goods on display in the great hall, not when my wet jeans started chafing and certainly not when Miler shouted at me down the hall asking why I was heading towards the Hufflepuff common room.

Why I arrived outside the entrance I paused to catch my breath. This was as far as I could go without the password, so I had to wait for Cat to be ready. My jeans were soaked up to my knees and my face was bright red, both from the running and the coldness.

The entrance opened, and a comforting smell wafted through from the common room, filling my lungs. I saw her grey hair, she had recently dyed it, before I saw Cat followed by Isla. The latter noticed me first and glared at me.

"What the fuck is your whore arse doing here?" Her words stung but I accepted them. I looked at Cat who looked surprised then back at Isla whose glare was making me uncomfortable.

"I'd like to talk to Cat." Isla crossed her arms. "Alone please." She looked back at Cat who nodded. Isla groaned but walked away, looking back at me suspiciously.

"Are you supposed to be out of the hospital this early?" Cat sounded genuinely concerned and moved closer to me, making me smile a little.

"It's okay, I was allowed to go." I looked down at the flowers and handed them to her, bowing a little for effect. "For you, my love." Cat took them blushing a little but didn't say anything. I stood back up straight. "I'm sorry for being a dick. I do really love you and I... I want this to work." She started to smile. "I know you've already given me chances upon chances," I moved towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her cheek softly, "but I'm asking you for another."

"Have breakfast with me?" It wasn't a straight forward answer like I wanted, but I nodded eagerly. I laced my hand with hers as we walked through the corridors to the great hall. When we passed by a group of older Slytherins I could feel Cat's grip loosen as if she was expecting me to let go, but I just held her hand tighter which made her move closer. I'm so freaking proud to love her and I don't give a damn who knows anymore.