Scorrose

one - edit

"Go to the Yule ball with me."

Rose jumped at the voice, nearly dropping her books in surprise. She turned to look at Scorpius, who had somehow appeared from around the corner. "Excuse me?"

"The ball," he said again, turning to look her straight in the eye. "Go with me."

The forwardness of the request caught her slightly off guard. He had suggested this before in the Great Hall once, in a sort of off-handedly manner while passing by with Albus, but she had ignored the question altogether and thought he had forgotten about it.

Now, she stuck up her chin and pressed her books closer to her chest. He had been asking her out since fourth year, so she knew how this would go. She would say no, he would ask again another day, she would repeat her answer, and it would continue in a non-stop cycle. Although they had become friends since the first time he'd asked her out, it was a bit of a tiring game; one they'd been playing for almost a year now, and he seemed to be getting bolder by the day.

"No," she answered simply.

Scorpius remained adamant. "Come on. Go with me. Please?"

She refrained from sighing. "I don't think so, Scorpius."

He gave her a wide, teasing grin. "I love it when you say my name, Rose Granger-Weasley."

They reached a staircase and with a newfound determination to ignore this yellow-haired pest, she quickly marched upwards towards the Gryffindor commons. Unfortunately, he kept up with her pace.

She'd learned by now that any sort of reply would just add fuel to the fire and his incessant flirting would only double in intensity. All she had to do was reach the commons, and she'd be rid of him.

"I know you want to," Scorpius continued, Rose's attitude failing to deter him. He hopped off the last stair and went ahead of her, turning around to face her as he walked so that she had no choice but to meet his gaze. He raised his eyebrows when she finally did. "You're not denying it."

Rose shot him the most withering glare she could manage, though his smile only widened in response. She found this highly annoying. Just a few short years ago her glares had him running in the other direction, cowering with fear. Now, he didn't even so much as flinch. Whether this was bravery or stupidity, she could not quite tell.

"Just because you cannot find any other girl to go with you," she said coolly, unable to help herself from replying, "does not make me your backup."

"Backup?" Scorpius repeated, pressing a palm to his chest as if the words physically pained him. "You would never be a backup." Rose rolled her eyes. "And I'll have you know, I have been asked. By Polly Chapman herself, actually."

"Oh really?" Rose said dryly.

"Yes," he answered, scratching his ear almost uncomfortably. "To be honest, she's been a bit bothersome lately."

Rose's first instinct was to believe he was making this up to get under her skin, but she had noticed Polly sitting next to him in potions these past few weeks and giggling at his every joke, however lame. She frowned, her hands tightening around her textbooks.

"I'd think Polly would have more sense than to flirt around with you, what with all of her other suitors," Rose said. She raised her eyebrows at him. "You know, the ones who are put together and actually bother to fix their hair in the mornings, might I add."