The Flower and the Snake

[OOC: I need someone to be Rose. If you really dont wanna read the whole first post, just check out the last few paragraphs in it :p]



It wasn't every morning that Scorpius Malfoy's Daily Prophet was used as a landing pad: only on the days his paternal grandparents sent a letter. Their snowy owl, Maleficus, refused to drop the envelope and fly away like a common messenger. He swooped down onto the table and remained until fed a treat. During seven years at Hogwarts, Scorpius had only once tried to reward the owl with an appreciative pat instead of food. He still carried a scar on the tip of his right index finger.

On the first day of March, after Maleficus delivered an envelope and left behind the usual pile of shredded newspaper, Scorpius said, "Hand over your business section, Nott."

Across the table, Nathanial Nott's horsy face turned mulish. "Why is it always mine? Why not take Goyle's?"

"He's still reading the political cartoons."

Nott handed over the section of paper. "The cartoons are in the business section?"

"No." Scorpius plucked a green apple from a fruit bowl to eat later. "Double Potions today, Edgar. You set up, I'll clean up." He'd be on time, but not early, and needed his Potions partner to assemble the ingredients.

Beside him, Edgar nodded and took an enormous bite of muffin.

"Only half? Why not stuff the whole thing in your mouth?" Scorpius asked when he bent to retrieve his schoolbag.

"Uncouth." Edgar's smile displayed berries stuck between large teeth.

Scorpius shook his head as he walked away. They'd sit their exams and leave school in a few months. Maybe then, his best mate would stop pretending he was another Gregory Goyle. That would be a welcome change. In Scorpius' opinion, it was one thing to be underestimated by adversaries and quite another to be called the missing link between man and troll. Edgar never seemed to take offence at slights, but Scorpius wasn't as forgiving. Although he didn't misuse his authority as Prefect, he still settled scores, albeit in a more subtle, untraceable manner.

In the Entrance Hall, instead of heading for the Slytherin common room, Scorpius ducked into the chamber reserved for first-years before they were Sorted. It was quiet, and better yet, private. He wouldn't have to guard his reactions.

Scorpius recognised Grandfather Lucius' handwriting on the envelope, so he broke the seal with extra care. The anti-tampering charm prickled his fingertips as it disengaged. He wondered what would happen if someone else had tried to open the letter. Would it have exploded in their face? Burnt their fingers? He decided he didn't want to know, and that he was stalling.

It was only a letter, thin and flat. There were no objects inside that, while not Dark, per se, could become so if a wizard had the right spell—which always happened to be included. Mere words on parchment; how bad could it be?

Scorpius read the letter and cursed. Then he read it again.

In three weeks time, an elite order will hold a ceremony to initiate new members. It will be my very great pleasure to share further details when I meet you at Kings' Cross.

No greeting, no signature, no naming the group: he was expected to know who was writing and what was implied. And he did. Scorpius had grown up hearing stories from the grandfather who slipped into the nursery after parents bid their son goodnight. The tales of clever Slytherins amused and enthralled until the night of his eighth birthday.

The tip of Grandfather Lucius' wand illuminated the smile Scorpius never saw him give to anyone else. "Are you too old to be read stories now?"

"No, sir." Like the smiles, the stories made Scorpius feel special. "Is that a new edition of wizard tales?" he asked eagerly. Bound in black dragon hide, the book had a red snake on the front.

Grandfather sat on the edge of the mattress and opened the book. "This is better than made up stories. Unlike those Muggles with their round table—yes, I'm aware of what your mother gives you to read—wizards created a circle of power. They became the Knights of Walpurgis."

"Real knights with swords?"

"Spells that cut like swords, wielding magic Muggles only dream of." Grandfather's voice took on a far-away tone. "Their name was changed to suit a powerful leader, but when he died in battle, bold knights who remained loyal to old ways reformed the circle and reclaimed their heritage."

Scorpius was unsure. "This isn't about . . . Voldemort . . . is it?" His mum and dad wouldn't like that.

"No. The Knights of Walpurgis formed centuries before the Dark Lord was born and they will continue as long as wizards draw breath." Grandfather's smile became conspiratorial. "Shall I begin?"

Mum and Dad still might not like it. They said the past was buried and people should live for the future. He looked at the book. His grandfather really wanted to read him the stories, and Scorpius was curious. "Were you a knight?"

"I still am."

"Is father?"

"No, he isn't like us." Grandfather gave him a meaningful look.

Scorpius felt thrilled and disloyal at the same time. He loved his father, who wasn't bold or daring. Father worried about Scorpius being safe and wouldn't let him have a racing broom. "Yes, sir," he said. "I'd like to hear a story."

The memory caused Scorpius to curse again. Loudly. It didn't relieve his frustration. He would do almost anything for his grandfather, but not this. Understanding someone's beliefs didn't mean sharing them, and tales of cunning and adventure didn't change the fact that the Knights of Walpurgis were wizard supremacists. They revered purity of blood and married cousins—even ugly ones they didn't like. No way would Scorpius accept "knighthood."

There was no way to tell Grandfather, either. Lucius Malfoy's word was law. Everyone in the family did as he said and if someone disagreed with him, he acted as though he or she hadn't spoken. It was fiendishly effective. Scorpius had used the tactic himself on his dorm mates, Nott and Willoughby.

He found it easy to imagine Grandfather tossing his letter of refusal in the rubbish bin, discounting it as nerves. Scorpius would get off the train and find himself railroaded into so-called knighthood.

Unless he didn't go home.

The idea was radically appealing. Malfoys didn't stay at school over holidays, so if Scorpius broke tradition and remained at Hogwarts Grandfather would know why, and he'd have to deal with it.

Long distance.

Cheered, Scorpius entered the dungeon with a minute to spare. Every classmate looked in his direction except one: Rose Weasley. She arranged implements on the table she currently occupied all by herself. That was interesting. Albus Potter had never missed a class before.

At the blackboard, Professor Blackwell halted writing in her elegant script. "You have made your grand entrance, Mr. Malfoy. No need to linger in the doorway. Be seated."

A few Gryffindors snickered; amused the Head of Slytherin House didn't give Slytherins preferential treatment, no doubt. They'd heard too many Professor Snape stories from their parents.

Scorpius knew the way to get on her good side. He said, "Beg pardon, professor, I was reading the list of ingredients."

Thin brown eyebrows winged upwards. "And have you deduced the potion you will be brewing?"

He quickly scanned the list. Monkshood, Echinacea, wild hops, elderflower, porcupine parts, a drop of dragon blood . . . "A version of Pepperup Potion, ma'am?"

"Ten points to Slytherin. Along with a generous monetary donation, Glover Hipworth bequeathed Hogwarts the right to brew his formula for non-commercial use." Professor Blackwell smiled a little. "Each seventh-year Advanced Potions class is invited to help replenish the hospital wing stores, with fifteen points awarded for successful brewing."

When the professor resumed writing instructions, Scorpius took his seat. He pulled his hair back and tied it with a band. "Where's Potter?" he asked in an undertone, glancing at the table diagonal from theirs. Weasley was lining ingredients up in what appeared to be alphabetical order.

Edgar said, "Sick."

Scorpius' gaze flickered to the girl whose reddish brown hair flowed over her shoulder. Not looking up when he walked in; extra-compulsive organization; no ponytail—the pieces of her unusual behavior abruptly clicked into place. Rose Weasley, Head Girl, was nervous about brewing a potion without the Head Boy standing by.

Edgar clearing his throat brought Scorpius' attention back to the potion he was supposed to be brewing. He picked up a silver knife and reached for a jar. "I'll handle the porcupine pâté," he said. His friend was squeamish about body parts.

Although the instructions given were minimal, Scorpius didn't doubt his ability to brew the potion. Seventh-years were routinely expected to complete the practical portion of the lesson and then discuss theory. Besides, a failed potion didn't necessarily equal a low mark. Professor Blackwell was strict, but fair. She allowed students a second chance to achieve success.

As Scorpius raised the temperature of the magical flames beneath his cauldron, he couldn't help notice that Weasley had failed to do likewise. What was she thinking? Blackwell hadn't specified temperature, but the potion was curative and left steam dribbling out the ears. Obviously, the brew had to boil, not simmer.

The handle of his wooden spoon clanged against iron when he stirred. Weasley threw him look of irritation, and then her eyes slid to the flames licking the sides of his cauldron. She turned away. Within seconds, her fire matched his.

Those actions were enlightening. Scorpius had wondered over the years whether Miss Top of the Class actually had the instinctive grasp of potions making she and her cousin were credited with. The two were always whispering. Professor Blackwell never caught them at it, and he had never cared enough to tell anyone except Edgar, who figured Weasley was continuing her mother's tradition of assisting her Potions partner. Covert observation gave Scorpius the opposite idea, now proven.

Rose Weasley wasn't like him, only needing to read information to utilize it. She was probably the type that learned by doing—that was why she was always taking notes, even when the assignment was silent reading. She excelled in Potions through imitation and practice, and now here she was, faced with a new potion with no partner to imitate. How would she do?

Not well, he decided near the end of class. His potion poured into the flagon like liquid smoke. From her slumped shoulders, Weasley's potion would not do likewise. How would she handle it?

If he hadn't been watching, Scorpius wouldn't have believed it. Rose Weasley deliberately tipped her cauldron over.

Gasps echoed against stone walls.

"I had an accident," Weasley told the teacher who hurried to 'Evanesco' the dripping mess. She looked down at her spoon as though evil spirits possessed it. "I—I need to start again. May I stay after class?"

"I prefer my students to eat lunch," Professor Blackwell said. "You may wait until your partner returns to class to brew the potion."

Weasley's jaw clenched. "Please ma'am. I want to make up my work right away. I'll—I'll have sandwiches with tea this afternoon."

"Very well, but remember, my next class starts at one o'clock sharp."

"Yes, ma'am." Weasley lugged her cauldron over to the basin in the corner to scrub it by hand.

Scorpius absently labelled his flagon, unable to get his head around what had happened. Why didn't Weasley take Blackwell up on her offer? Why did she insist on trying to brew the potion without Potter?

He tried to put the whole thing out of his mind. It didn't work. Halfway through lunch he told Edgar, "I'm going to the library," and left.

A Disillusionment Charm allowed Scorpius to slip into the dungeon unnoticed. He watched Weasley put elderflower into her cauldron and then read the notes she must have written down after class. In a sudden move that made him blink, she picked up the notebook and hurled it across the room. "I did it wrong, this won't work!"

"Of course it won't," he said, breaking the charm. "You don't know what you're doing." He retrieved the notebook and flipped through the pages. "Look at the other notes. They're detailed. Precise." Scorpius found the instructions for Pepperup Potion. "Half the directions are missing. Only a Gryffindor would think she could muddle through with this."

((omg I am so joining this!!!!! I've been waiting for an hp thread FOREVER!!))

Rose was the spitting image of her mother except for two things. One was fairly obvious. Her flaming red hair proclaimed her heritage as obviously as if she had a banner over her head screaming "Weasly!" The other one happened to be so shameful that she refused to admit it aloud to anyone. Only Albus knew of her "problem" as she liked to dub it, and he had only found out about it when he happened to catch on to it. Ironically enough Albus Potter was incredibly clever, with even his parents astounded by where his brain might have come from. Certainly not them. Rose on the other hand, she came from the cleverest witch that Hogwarts had ever seen. Top marks in everything. Rose however, just like her red hair, took after he father is this one way. She was not clever at all.

Her entire life she had been told how well she would do in school, how much she looked like her mother. Her grandmother was certain she do much better in school then her brothers had. The truth was, she simply couldn't do it. She studied incessantly so that she could pass her exams with good marks, and pushed herself far beyond her limits to taken extra classes and get into advanced ones. Mist of the students didn't know but she had barely made it into the advanced potions class at all, and it if hadn't been for the late night studying with Albus she probably wouldn't have made it at all.

When Albus couldn't make it to class that day she almost wanted to ditch herself. But she couldn't let herself run away just cause she was afraid ti fail. So calling on her Gryffindor courage she forced herself rough the class and found herself at a loss almost immediately. She tried to do the potion right, but there was no help for it. However, she did get her mothers insane stubbornness and found herself determined to finish it no matter what.

Of course no matter how hard she tried she couldn't figure out the stupid potion. "This isn't going to work!" she yelled throwing the notebook against the wall. Of course she couldn't have a fit on her own. Nope no private displays of anger. Malfoy was never very good at keeping his nose out of other peoples business.

"What do you want?" she said, refusing to look at him.

The blonde raised an eyebrow at her attitude. ""My duty as Prefect. If there's some brain fever going round, I need to know whether it's contagious or only strikes Head Girls." he teased lightly. "You must be out of your mind to be trying to brew this on your own..." he flipped through the notes and couldnt help but grin. "Snob stirred counter clock wise three times after adding Monkshood.'" he read aloud with amusement. "Would 'Snob' be code words for me?"

His cool blue-gray eyes looked down at the muddled mess she had attempted to make into a potion. "It certainly looks like you could use some help." he added as an after thought, looking around the desk. He picked up a small glass bottle of monkshood, adding a bit to the brew before stirring it. "You used too much dragons blood. Thats why it's so thick."

He didn't bother to point out how horrible she failed at the assignment. Rather he took not of it and instead chose to critique her.

He looked back to the red head. "So then, did you want a hand?

Rose stared hard at her mess of a potion and sighed. The prat was right. She really did make a mess of it. At this point the recipe said it should be a fiery golden color and be the consistency of a warm glass of milk, not grayish and thick like syrup. But while she could admit to herself that she had no clue what she was doing, it didn’t mean that she had to admit it to him.

“What do you mean I must be out of my mind to try and do this potion?” she said hotly, finally turning to face him. “If that meathead friend of yours can brew it why can’t I?”

Rose really didn’t have a problem with Edgar, but some truths were hard to ignore. Edgar was not exactly the brightest crayon in the box as Uncle Harry would say, and everyone knew it. For the most part the only thing the guy was truly good at was following Malfoy around like a love sick puppy, but Rose would never say that aloud.

While Rose liked to insult Malfoy and his friends the truth was she really didn’t mind him at all. Sure he could be pompous sometimes, but so could Albus when you caught him in the right mood. Malfoy had a certain grace and charm that none of the other boys had. Something her mother said was genetic in the family. Her father absolutely despised the Malfoy family and had never let go of his boyhood grudge against Scorpius’s father. In fact, her dad had warned her and all of her other siblings as well every year before school to stay away from Scorpius.

“The Malfoys are no good. You hear me? Stay away from them.” Her father would say to them, and obediently they would all nod and say yes before boarding the train. Only Rose couldn’t look at Scorpius with hatred or mistrust like her dad wanted her too. In fact, she couldn’t help but find him infinitely intriguing.

So before she lost her nerve, and before he withdrew his offer she said so quietly it could have almost gone unheard, “But… I do need help and… I’d appreciate it…if you …. could…”

"The only reason Edgar hasn't flunked out of school period thus far would be because I tutor him." the blond said simply, as if it were common knowledge. he kept his eyes on her, watching her expressions as she thought. He always had found her faces quite amusing. As far as he was concerned she was as easy to read as a book.

He took her silence as a 'Stop bothering me' and shrugged about to get up and leave when he heard her response, ever so quietly. He couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips. He could picture his father now, scolding him for helping anyone who belonged to a family that so disgraced the name of wizards, but then, that gave him a sort of adrenaline rush. Knowing his father, and more over his grandfather, woudl not approve of his actions.

"When ever you add too much blood to a potion, adding a flesh will counter it." Scorpious said pulling a rat tail out of his pocket. "Same principal as a potato soaking up too much salt from a soup." he attempted to explain the logic behind it as he tossed the tail into her cauldron. Sure enough after a few moments the brew turned into a golden honey color, though still remained about as thick as honey as well.

"When you need to thin something out, don't add water, it'll evaporate too quickly. Add some more Echinacea." he instructed.

He hardly seemed to be trying. Though, potions was by far his best class, he wasn't as good in Transfiguration. If she was impressed enough with his potions skills, perhaps he could call in a favor closer to NEWTS in that department...

Rose watched his explanation carefully, committing everything he said to memory so that she could use the information later on. Slowly but surely her potion went from a gray blob back to what it was supposed to look like. She couldn’t believe how much he knew about potions. No one in her family was really good at the subject, though her mom knew how to make quite a lot of them. She said that it was a product of the times not of her own skill. Rose never asked beyond that. The War was not something any of the Weasly or Potter children asked about.

“You’re really good at this Malfoy…” she said, before she could stop the words. Quickly she wiped the awed expression off her face, setting her features in a more neutral tone. Walking over to her fallen notebook she picked it up, and read the rest of the instructions that were left. All that needed to be added now was the tail of a fire newt, and a drop of Skrewt puss. All of these ingredients were giving Rose a horrible nauseating feeling. This was why she needed Albus as her potions partner. He could deal with the really disgusting stuff, while she stirred or heated the cauldron.

“So after I add the next two ingredients, it just needs to boil for….2 minutes?” she guessed, hoping that she had gotten the time right from watching him earlier. Not that she would readily admit that.

"Two minutes. Stir twice every 20 seconds." he said simply, sitting down to watch her finish it off.

"It's funny." he mused. "We've been in the same classes since first year and yet I still know nothing about you." He smiled a bit. "Other than that you dislike potions of course."

He wasn't belitteling her. If anything he might have been flirting, had she not been a Weasly. Oh, he could see Grandfather Lucius now....

The thought made him shudder slightly. The letter kept pleauging his throughts, like he had put a forget me-not charm onto it. He woudl have to fix that later.

She laughed lightly at his teasing words. In truth he was right, they had known "of" each other for a long time. But, as far as she could remember, this was the first time they had ever actually talked to each other outside a required interaction in class. As much as she knew her father would blow a gasket if he found out, she couldn't help but enjoy the banter.

"I don't dislike potions." she said, stirring the potion. "I'm just rubbish at it." She laughed a bit and turned to him. "As you can probably see for yourself."

"What about you? You seem to do well, do you like potions?"

"I loathe Potions class." he said simply. "I prefer care of Magical Creatures. Or would- if the professor fancied me a bit more."

He knew hagrid had quite a good reason not to like the malfoy family. he lost a dragon a hippogriff and numerous other creatures to the blonds knowledge thanks to his grandfather and father. Infact, He had asked a multiple occasions for a pet dragon himself. Possibly the only thing his father ever denied him when directly requested.

Rose giggled a little at Malfoy’s choice of subject. She would have never taken him for a lover of magical creatures. Then again, it wasn’t like Professor Hagrid ever gave him much of a chance. His dislike of Scorpius was pretty pronounced. But no one really knew why. Students speculated of course, and some whispered it was because Scorpius was a Malfoy and Hagrid needed no better reason than that.

As much as it was obvious that her dad didn’t like the Malfoy’s Rose had never been told why. Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny had decided together that they would raise their children with the least amount of bias they could. Hermione and Ginny especially didn’t want to teach their children to hate certain families just because of what had happened in the War. A lot of what Rose and Albus knew about the Malfoy’s, Goyle’s, Crabbes, Notts, and various other wizarding families involved in the war they had learned from their history classes or from other students in the many rumors that flew around the school.

Rose wasn’t a fool. In fact, though she struggled sometimes in her studies, she was extremely observant. She saw how hard some of the professors tried to be neutral with Malfoy and his friends sometimes, and she would never forget 2nd year when Malfoy and some boy from Ravenclaw fought when he called Malfoy’s father a “skull sucker.” Her mother had been furious when she heard the word and it was the first and only time that she had ever really told Rose anything that had to do with the war.

“ A skull sucker rose…was a servant of Voldemort. It’s something akin to when girls call each other sluts and whores. Basically a skull sucker was a whore for the Dark Lord.”

She wasn’t blind to how school couldn’t have been easy for Scorpius, so she wasn’t going to even bother trying to say something stupid like “Im sure he likes you just like everyone else.” Instead she said, distinctly and clearly,

“Well, I personally would love a more exciting Care of Magical Creatures class anyways. All we study is things like Unicorns and Fairies. Why not do something more interesting like Phoenixes or…maybe even dragons?”

The last word brought out a gleam in her eyes that was obvious to even the most unobservant onlooker. The truth was Rose loved dragons. Ever since she had gone to Romania to visit her Uncle Charlie and saw what he did with his life. Even with his missing finger and burns. She had never been more enchanted with the magical world than the moment she had seen her first dragon.

Scorpious grinned looking at her. "Oh, you like dragons, do you?" He asked.

That one question held alto more behind it than he had meant to let slip out. He couldn't help it though. he had seen that spark in her eyes, the same as his own when speaking about the fantastic reptiles of the sky. Infact, he heard once that his distant family in China actually raced dragons like one in Europe might race broom sticks.

"I personally have a Kooraisu." he said. The ice counterpart to the Phoenix, though it was more reptilian than bird in apperance. He didn't elaborate on it, knowing if she liked magical creatures as much as him she knew what it was. It hailed from Russia on the Northern boards of the Sea of Okhotsk. "She's roosting at the moment, though if you wanted a chick I could arrange to let you have one."

Rose's jaw dropped. He was just offering for her to have one of the chicks! Kooraisu were not only rare but their magical properties matched those of a phoenix's. Once again, she was fully reminded just how different there two families were. More than anything she wanted to say yes, and never let Malfoy out of her sight until he gave up the chick he promised. But then again, two things held her back. One, the fact that her mother would throw a fit if she found out that Rose had accepted a gift, let alone what her father would do when he found out it was a Malfoy, and two, how could she be sure it wasn't a trick of some kind? Scorpius seemed like a nice guy, he was helping her out after all, but he still liked to play pranks, and this could be just an elaborate trick.

"I-I would kill to take that chick from you." She answered honestly, having the feeling that she wouldnt be able to lie to him easily. "But, I cant. Those birds are so rare, and they imprint on the first human that handles them. If I took one and couldnt keep it for any reason, I dont want that birds death to be on my hands. Besides, you could sell those chicks for a lot of money, and I dont have the galleons to pay for one."

The Weasly family was far better off than it was when Ron was a Hogwarts student, but that was more thanks to Hermione than Ron. They were still strecthed for money sometimes, and she doubted they would ever have the pure opulance that was Malfoy's upbringing.

"Trust me, money wouldn't be an issue." he assured her. "I would have no need to sell them. And if you want one I don't see any reason for you not to have one."

Spoken like a true aristocrat. "I'll just owl my mother, have her send one straight away. It's no problem." he assured her. "And if you are worried your parents wont let you keep it just send it out often enough you wont have to worry about it."

As he spoke, he pulled a slip of parchment from his bag and a self inking quill. "Afterall, you wont have this chance again. They only have a clutch of 5 once a life time."

ON the paper he already began writing. Small neat letters spread from the quill flawlessly. Mother, have one of the house hands gather a chick from Spindely, I've promised it to a friend on campus. Much thanks, Scorpious.

Rose was speechless. All her arguments against the idea went out the window. He literally just took the decision out of her hands, knowing what she wanted but was too afraid to ask for. He was so matter of fact and nonchalant about it all, that she couldn’t help but be flustered.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice subdued. “Helping me I mean. We havn’t spoken a single word to each other since we started school, and now…the potion…and the Kooraisu…”

Trailing off she blushed again, trying to look at anything but those stormy gray eyes he had

He shrugged. "I hadn't realized I needed a reason.' he stated honestly as he stood up again. "But if you need one, I helped you with the potion because it looked like you needed a hand. And as for the bird- consider it a friendly gesture from a fellow dragon advocate." he shrugged.

It looked odd for such a proper person to shrug. It just seemed like too common of a practice for him to do.

Really, he himself didn't know why he was doing so much for the single girl in all of Hogwarts who always turned a cold shoulder to him as though he were no more than a shadow.

Maybe part of him wanted her to see him as something other then a Malfoy.... Though that was first and foremost what he was.

"I'll send this out later today. Tomorrow you should have your Kooraisu." he comented neatly folding the letter before pressing his wand to it. from the tip dripped what looked like blue wax, sealing it shut with a large M stamped onto it.

“Thank you Mal… I mean Scorpius.” Rose said, smiling brightly. Some part of her still wondered what he was hoping to gain from this. After all, he was a Malfoy, and Malfoy’s never did something for nothing. She nearly wanted to slap herself for that thought though. Why couldn’t Scorpius just do something nice for someone? Yeah, he had never really been all that nice before, but then again he was never really given a chance. Maybe all he really needed was a chance. A chance to show everyone that he wasn’t like his father or even worse his grandfather. That he didn’t hate others based on their blood. Maybe, all he needed, was someone to be his friend that wasn’t ordained to be since birth, like Edgar or the Nott kid. Maybe, just maybe, Rose could be that friend.

Just then the bell began to toll, marking the end of lunch and the beginning of the afternoon classes. Rose quickly bottled the potion and labeled it neatly. Placing it on Professor Blackwell’s desk she turned back to Scorpius and smiled brightly.

“Thanks again for all your help. Ill see you around right?” The last question was rather tentative, her knowledge on how things would be now rather vague. Were they friends? She didn’t really know.

"I suppose. we've seen each other since first year." he reminded her. "Tomorrow Ill bring the chick to you." he promised though, holding the door for her.

In the hall other students had already begun to file out of their classes, rushing to get to the next one. "be sure to let me know if you need any more assistance with potions." he added, headed off up the stairwell near by.

He felt suddenly unnerved. He had, as some might refer to it, let his hair down around Rose. Why though? He had no clue. And it made him nervous. If his grandfather found out...

Damn that old man. he really needed to get his mind off of all of that Knight buisness...

Rose nodded, with a twinge of sadness in her eyes. If he figured that things would be like they always were then she supposed that this was probably a one time thing. She tried to shake off how sad it made her. Hell it was the first time she had ever really talked to him, she shouldn’t be upset that he didn’t seem to want to really be friends with her.

She perked up a bit at the mention of the Kooraisu again though. She was really looking forward to having that bird, but she also looked forward to talking to him again.

With his last words though, a small glimmer of hope began to form in her chest. Rose always needed help in potions, and if Scorpius really meant it, then she had every intention of asking his assistance again. Who knew, maybe she could help him with his dismal performance in Transfiguration too. It was one of her better classes after all.

The rest of her day went by in a blur, barely taking notice of Professor Longbottom’s lecture on the proper use of Mandrake root. When she finally made it back to Gryffindor tower, her mind had already hatched a dozen different plots to talk to Malfoy again, each one of them systematically thrown out as stupid or lame.

When she went to bed that night she was still thinking of those stormy gray eyes, and looking forward to talking to him again the next day, and getting the new chick. She completely forgot about asking Albus if he was feeling better, or if he would be in classes the next day she was so preoccupied in her thoughts. Albus knew that look though. He had seen it on his sister’s face enough times. Rose liked someone, he thought to himself and decided it was probably in his best interest to let it well enough alone unless she decided to talk to him about it.

The following morning, Scorpious was late to breakfast. He haddn't been one of the first peopel present like he normaly was. When the blond finallydid shuffle into the dining hall, he was carring a small basket with him, attempting to keep back the grabbing hands of a fellow slythering. She seemed insistant on seeing what was inside, even more so when he stated it wasn't for her.

"If you do not back off, I'll have no choice but to deduct points." he threatened the girl.

The raven haired slytherin pursed her lips and huffed before storming off.

"..." Scorpious frowned after her. Lord, he hated ex's...

The small basket in his hands had a cap on it, though a light mist seemed to slip through the cracks in the wicker. He had kept his word and was attempting to keep anyone from touching the chick untill he was sure it imprinted on its rightfull owner. Why he was so determined to present the gift to the red head, who knew. He himself didn't even understand it himself.

He grabbed an apple off the table, noting the seat his friends had saved for him. "Be right back." he informed them before walking off, giving no urther explination as he headded to the Gryffindor table.

Rose woke the next morning groggy and irritable, having gotten very little sleep the night before. Her mind had been so occupied by Malfoy that she had barely slept, and then she realized in the wee hours of the morning that she had forgotten to study for Transfiguration the next day. So she got out of bed and studied for a few hours before falling asleep for a few hours before classes. When she finally made it to the Gryffindor common room, Albus was already waiting for her with his bag slung easily over his shoulder.

“Hey there sleepy head!”

Rose grunted as she pulled her red hair back into a ponytail, ignoring his amused expression. Grabbing her bag she walked out of the common room without a backward glance as Albus ran to catch up to her.

“Hey come on now. Not even a good morning, or how are ya feeling buddy? I was sick like a dog yesterday ya kno?”

“Yeah yeah. Sorry. You know how I am in the morning.” Rose sighed, slowing her pace.

Albus slowed down as well, laughing a bit as they made their way to the Great Hall. They talked amiably to each other, discussing classes and how Albus was doing after his puking experience yesterday. By the time they sat down at the Gryffindor table they were laughing and joking around like they always were.

After a while though Albus suddenly stopped laughing, his expression turning serious.

“Hey, whats up?” She asked, concerned.

“Malfoy. I..I think he’s coming over here.”

Rose didn’t say a word. Her breath caught in her throat as she spun around to look straight into those stormy gray eyes.

"Morning Ms. Weasley." Scorpious said, his gray eyes bearing into her own hues. "Potter." he nodded a slight agknowlagment to Albus though for the most part wrote him off as he held out the wicker basket. "It arrived this morning, around 7. It'll likely be hungry." he stated, though didnt bother to explain what 'it' was.

The chilled mist comming off of the wicker basket chilled the blonds hands to the point of his finger nails having a small build up of frost on them.

A few people had stopped eating to watch the odd exchange.

Hogwarts most eledigable batchlor was giving a mysterious gift to the Head Girl.

Why?

Rose couldn’t help but stare at Scorpius for a moment while she tried to gather her wits. He really had a Kooraisu in that basket if the frost coating it meant anything. He had come through on his promise to her. She was speechless. When Albus poked her in the side discreetly, reminding her to breathe, she smiled warmly. Her delight was obvious to everyone in the hall, though they couldn’t tell if it was because of the gift or simply because it was Malfoy giving it to her.

What the hell was going on? The whispers in the hall were getting louder and louder as people speculated what was going on between this unlikely pair. Rose of Gryffindor with the snake.

“Thank you so much Scorpius!” She said excitedly, wanting to take the basket from him. She didn’t want to just snatch it from him and make him think she was rude or ungrateful. For those who weren’t gossiping before, the fact she said his name, his first name, set the room ablaze. Even Albus couldn’t conceal the shock on his face as his best friend spoke to Malfoy like they knew each other well.

"It's a bit cold, so if you wouldn't mind--?" he held it a bit closer to her, grateful when she took it. He blew on his hands to warm them before rubbing them together.

He didn't seem fazed that she had used his first name, though even most members of his own house didn't take such liberties. "It's still nothing but quills, fuzz, and frost, but it should grow up soon enough ." he explained, stuffing his hands into his pockets to warm them up. "You'll want to cast a chilling charm on it every now and again." he added as an after thought.

"What gives, Malfoy?" Hugo asked from across the table raising an eyebrow. "You coming onto my sister?"

Rose could have killed her brother at that moment. No, death wouldn’t suffice. She’d have to torture him first. Yup. That would be the only way to satisfactorily take out the menace that was Hugo. Before she could enact her murderous plans however, Albus once again jumped to her rescue.

“What Hugo? Jealous that Malfoy isn’t talking to you?”

With those words, Hugo colored as red as his hair, which started a very heated argument between him and Albus about how Hugo wasn’t gay, and even if he was would never go for a prat like Malfoy, and so on. Rose mentally reminded herself to thank Albus later for the distraction.

Turning back to Malfoy, she stood and carefully cradling the basket said quietly, “I’m going to go take of this little one and get it comfortable. Talk later?” She would have asked him to come with her, but she figured that he probably hadn’t eaten yet. Before she could take a step away however, Jasper, another of her many brothers piped up over Albus and Hugo.

“Seriously though Malfoy. Don’t fuck around with my sister. I know what you do to girls.”

Scorpious glanced at jasper and raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought first years were too young to know that sort of thing." he grinned at his shocked expression, looked at Rose before offering a smile, purely to show he was joking of course and made his way back to the Slytherin table, ignoring the whispers.

After all, what did he care? he was the sole heir to quite the hefty fortune. He came from one of the strongest blood lines of wizards still alive, and had connections far deeper in the ministry than most other students.

Why would he care?

Perhaps because he didn't want to see Rose put into a rough spot.

"Scorpious... Where does she get off calling you Scorpious?" Edgar asked shocked as his friend sat down.

"It is my name you know. You could stand to use it a bit yourself." he shrugged, picking up a biscuit.