The Flower and the Snake

Rose stiffened as she listened to her friend. Anger rising yet again in her breast at the callous words of another. Such anger was not usual for Rose. She was usually so even tempered. What is he doing to me? She wondered amazed, as the anger continued to rage within her.

“Not all of them….are like that.” she said softly, her voice strained at the amount of control she was exerting to remain calm. Yet, her words carried to the offending voice who had spoken so callously.

“The Malfoy’s are simply concerned about the youngest of their family as is there right. I’m sure your families would be furious too if their child was in he hospital wing.”

She spoke with much more calm that she would have thought possible given the circumstances, but one thing was resounding in her head. Why was she defending them? She’d been raised to mistrust the entire Malfoy family her entire life. Her mother and father had fought against them in the war. Her uncle had been rivals with Draco Malfoy throughout school, and it was rumored that Draco Malfoy was the one that was actually charged with the murder of Albus Dumbledore, the previous Headmaster and not Severus Snape. Yet here she was defending a family that looked down on her and her family. Even a few moments ago Lucius Malfoy had looked at her like she was absolute filth. Yet, the truth of her earlier statement came back to her head.

‘Not all of them are like that…especially one particular boy who currently was missing an eye.’

"If you say so Rose." the girl said, simply it seemed to appease the head girl.

"But you know, I heard a few professors discussing Scorpious. They seem to think it's good he's lost an eye... Say it'll make him less of a threat should he ever go bad."

"What a horribly crude thing to say." Lilly frowned. "And from a professor none the less. I suggest we all go pay him a visit once his parents leave."

"What? Why?" Albus had arrived.

"Well after last nights display you don't really think anyone from his own house will come to visit now do you? And besides." she put an arm around Rose like an elder sister might. "He was defending Rosie."

Rose nodded weakly, deciding not to argue with Lily on visiting Scorpius. Truth be told she had wanted to visit him again anyway once classes were over and his overbearing family wasn’t around. Yet, at the same time she was hesitant. With all the commotion she’d forgotten what he’d said about her practically to the entire student body. The Slytherin prince had defended the Gryfinndor princess. When did that ever happen?

Albus however, did not look pleased at all at the idea of visiting Scorpius Malfoy. In fact he looked downright unpleasant, a look that was not natural on his face at all. He was normally so even keeled and passive that it was odd seeing him almost murderous.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He said softly.

Lilly frowned. "Why not?" she argued. "He just stood up for your best friend- if anything you owe him a thank you." she scolded her brother.

"Yeah, except when you thank a Slytherin you become their puppet." another boy frowned.

"What's the matter with going to visit him?" a different girl argued. "I mean, he's obviously going to be in hot water with a lot of people, he deserves some people there. Besides- he told off that wicked Bint of the west."

"He threw pumpkin juice in a girls face and made her cry. I don't see how that warrants praise."


While the group bickered a small first year decided to speak up. "Has anyone else noticed how quiet the Slytherin table is being?"

Almost collectively they turned and looked at the Slytherin table, conspicuously two people short. Rose looked anxiously over at Scorpius’s empty seat. Suddenly she felt the burning gaze of someone on her, and looked around to see Celina glaring at her with a hatred that was so fierce that Rose immediately turned away from the girls orbs.

“Yeah its silent alright.” Rose muttered, taking a bite out of her toast.

“Well, Malfoy showed once again what a complete arse he is. No matter how much a bitch Boulise is you just don’t throw juice in her face. No wonder his house is pissed at him. Probably tired of his hoity toity crap.”

"... Well, it could be there was something in it." one boy spoke up hesitant to get on Albus' bad side. "I mean, we all know how good Malfoy is at potions.... if his drink was spiked he would notice."

"Uh oh.... trouble." Lilly frowned.

A blonde haired girl was approaching the table beside Celina. Neither seemed happy.

Rose nearly groaned aloud as she stared at the butter on the table, looking as if she was trying to melt the butter with her mind. Celina was most certainly talking with another blonde Slytherin, and she could feel their glares on her back like a heat targeted laser. Before she could even count to ten Albus swore under his breath and muttered.

“Crap, there on their way over.”

“Man, what does the Queen bitch want?” One of the other boys muttered, looking over at Rose curiously.

"Most likely a fight." Lilly said standing up, already pulling her wand out.

"Students- If I could have your attention." a professor called from the front of the grand hall. The new head of Slytherin House. "Last night's episode was deemed unacceptable ad due to your reckless behavior, one of your class mates is currently being transported to St. Mungos. Because of this we are holding a School wide mandatory Conflict prevention lesson tonight at Seven. All conflicting classes have been canceled at request of the Head Mistress. Should there be a repeat-" her eyes landed on her two students aproching the gryfindor table, "The students in question will not simply be facing detention but legal charges."

Lilly frowned and put her wand away, glancing to Rose.

Rose had frozen at the announcement, her mind immediately jumping to Scorpius. He must be the student that was being transferred to St. Mungos right now. She felt horrible at that moment, and looked back to Celina. Celina glared at her like it was Rose’s fault that any of this was happening at all, and Rose glared right back. Both had the same thought at almost the same time.

‘This is your fault.’

For the first time Rose felt a rivalry with another student, felt the cold shoots of anger, and yes of revenge stirring inside her. As Celina and her blonde friends made their way out of the Great Hall, she looked over at Rose and said clearly, “This isn’t over Weasly.”

Hugo for once was silent in awe as he watched the most beautiful girl in the castle leave the hall.

“You just made one hell of an enemy.” Jasper said quietly, speaking for the first time.

"Sure as shit did..." Lilly frowned, looking at Rose. "You ever need any help, you be sure to tell me, understood?"

As Lilly spoke, four tall well dressed people passed by the entrance of the Grand hall, leaving the school. The Malfoy family- Draco and his wife walking arm in arm with Lucius leading the way beside the Headmistress. Sure enough seemed like Scorpious was the one being moved...

[come on AIM?]

((on Aim now))

Rose sighed and stood abruptly, grabbing her bag.

“Lets just go to class okay?” She said softly, her voice strained. She didn’t want to think about Scorpius being sent off to the hospital. She didn’t want to think about Celina hating her and becoming her enemy. She didn’t want to think about anything right then.

So she just grabbed her stuff and made her way out of the Great Hall, her red hair swaying slightly before dissapering around the corner.

"This isn't good." Albus said, watching her go. Lily murmered her assent thinking that he was talking about how upset Rose obviously was, but Albus wasn't thinking about that. No, his own dark thoughts were forming in his head. Except his were not revolving around Celina. No they were revovling around a blonde haired boy who was causing Rose so much distress.

The next day the school was all on edge. No one had gotten any word about the missing Malfoy, good or bad. Students and faculty alike were beginning to get curious.

It was dinner hour by the time the blonde made his grand reappearance. His blond hair was tied back and his pale skin looked all the more pale with the new accessory he wore; a black leather eye patch, complete with a silver serpent crest on the front, spiraling up a rose.

He was not dressed in his typical school robes, but rather a regular button up white shirt and long black jeans. He was wearing his usual leather shoes and his wand was sticking out of his back pocket.

The prince had arrived, in his usual grace, though with a new hint of ruggedness to him. naturally, all eyes were on him as he attempted to slip into the dining hall.

Rose had spent the whole day in a kind of stupor, trying to ignore the whispers of the other students as best she could. She buried herself in her school work and tried to forget what had happened just the night before. That night she went through the mandatory peer counseling grimly, not joining in with the rest of the grumbles about having to do it. She knew that the other students were glaring at her, feeling that this whole thing was her fault.

That night it came back to her in a rush, and she couldn’t help the tears that fell silently down her cheeks as she cradled Andavil against her. The bird called softly, trying to comfort its forlorn master, and yet failing miserably. Edgar had still not shown himself, and she knew without a doubt that she had hurt him pretty bad.

The next morning was worse than yesterday, though waking up without the Malfoy family around was an improvement. She dressed slowly, knowing that today would be like the yesterday. She was right of course. Every hour that passed by that neither Scorpius or Edgar showed themselves brought Rose down even further.

By the time dinner came around she wasn't even hungry and decided to go straight to her dormitory instead. On her way she passed by Lily, who looked at her worriedly.

"You gotta eat Rose. He'll be okay ya know."

"Yeah I know Lily. I'm just tired right now. I'll see you later."

So Lily headed down to dinner alone, ignoring the look on Albus's face.

Scorpious made his way to his usual seat and sat down, seeming as calm and collected as ever, ignoring any odd looks or glares sent his way.

"You know- you could at least say hello." one girl frowned. "What's with the gaudy eye patch? Did Edgar really burst your eye?"

"I told you the way muggles fight is uncouth."

"And how would you know? Spend your days watching them?" a girl teased.

"I don't. Though some people do, I'm sure."

Scorpious frowned, not bothering to pick up his fork. "If you two idiots are done babbling, I woudl like to actually enjoy my meal." he said testily, grabbing a bun.

For a moment the group fell silent before one boy piped up. "So what now? You don't really expect to have the same respect you always got. I mean- you spat in the very face of slytherin." he glared.

Without missing a beat, Scorpious looked up, sporting his heart stopping grin. "Funny, seeing as how I am the face of Slytherin."

The boy went silent immediately, stunned that a guy wearing an eye patch could still act like he was the same as ever. Yet, there he was. He acted like nothing had changed at all, even with Edgar his trusty sidekick gone, and wearing a gaudy eye patch. Then again, the rest of the Slytherins had to admit he had style. Only Scorpius could sport an eye patch and still look hot. Celina of course could not keep her remarks to herself.

“The face of Slytherin? Why he must be kidding himself.” She said loudly to her companions, all of them hanging of her every word. “Salazar Slytherin would never want a muggle lover as a poster boy.”

Her companions giggled lightly. the girls looking at him with a mixture of shame and disdain in their eyes. It was in their nature to follow the strongest, and Celina was the strongest by Slytherin standards. She at least had never betrayed her heritage.

"A muggle lover?" he echoed her words, grinning. "Strange choice of words coming from you. If it were not for muggle medicine you would have died as a child as I recall."

Oh yes. He was a Malfoy alright. He had done his research. He knew every flaw every one of his house mates had. Ever small defect in their blood line, their heritage and history. He knew it all, and kept the information fresh in his mind at all times, ready to whip it out to shut someone up.

"And at least I can say I have a lover, unlike you- who seems to believe that all men should worship the very ground you walk upon. You aren't Aphrodite after all."

As slytherins who had been earlier considering Scorpious with a new view were listening in intently now. yet again he had told that heartless bitch off, and without batting an eyelash at it.


--

Lilly looked over at the Slytherin table and frowned. "Just look, Albus.... I doubt he even KNOWS the kind of pressure he's gone and put on poor Rose."

Celina could have hissed if it wasn’t beneath her. Instead she raised her head if even possibly higher, trying to appear unaffected by his words. He was right of course. She had contracted a type of cancer as a young girl, a disease that wizards had never been able to remedy. The muggles of course had found an experimental drug that ended up saving her life. If her parents hadn’t put away their pureblood pride their daughter would have been dead. She would never admit to that of course.

“You should check your facts Malfoy. You’re losing your touch, much like you lost your eye I suppose.”

The people around her tittered lightly at her joke, believing instantly that their idol couldn’t possibly have relied on muggles for anything.

The other Slytherins however, the ones who hated her with a passion saw her for what she was, a liar. They looked at her with disdain, wondering what Scorpius would say next.

“And a lover? Is it really that Weasly bint? You must have really lost your touch then to have to be with that ugly, freckled mud blood who cant even be bothered to see her lover when he finally shows his face again."

Scorpious paused, his food halfway to his mouth before frowning. it only lasted for a moment before he smiled, setting his fork down as he stood. "Celina; please forgive my bluntness, but I should warn you." he said trailing off as he turned his gray eye onto her. "Firstly, you should always remember a Malfoy never has to be with anyone. Which is why I choose to leave this table. Secondly.." he said stopping behind her seat, resting one hand on her shoulder as he stooped down whispering into her ear so only she could hear. "Should you ever insult Rose or her family again, I wont hesitate to kill you."

A few slytherins looked curious, wondering what he cloud possibly have said to make the french girl go ridged like she did. His voice was so cold, so honest....

Scorpious Malfoy never got caught in a lie, they all knew that... And the entire house knew it was because he did not tell a lie.

With a bright smile in place, he clapped her once on the shoulder. Happy supper then, Celina." he said, bidding her good night as he walked off, leaving behind him an eerie silence in his wake.

The Slytherins were shocked to say the least. Scorpius was known for his ways, but they’d never quite seen him so hostile to anyone. It was no secret that there was no love lost between him and Celina, but the look on her face was shocking. She looked genuinly surprised and almost fearful. When they asked what the hell he had said, she simply shook her head no, refusing to speak a word.

Lily Potter was watching Scorpius and how he reacted to the Slytherins with special care. She nearly gasped aloud when he heard what he called Rose. She was a little miffed that Rose never told her they were that serious but she couldn’t exactly blame her. ‘No wonder she’s been so upset that he’s gone…’ she thought to herself.

When he took off from his house table Lily got up quickly leaving her dinner half finished.

“Lil’ where you going?” Albus asked, his mouth full of food.

“Just remembered something I forgot to do…” she said absentmindedly, leaving her brother with no further explanation as she chased after the Slytherin boy.

“Hey! Wait up!” She called out once she got out of the Great Hall.

Scorpious stopped walking, looking over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" he asked, curious as to why Lilly Potter of all people woudl be following him.

Eye patch or not, Scorpious could easily be a model for Witch Weekly... While he held that hair of authority he didnt seem to be threatening- at least not to most people...

He had been on his way to the Gryffindor tower- hoping to catch Rose coming in or out.

“What you said about Rose. Do you really mean it? I mean…do you really care about her?” Lily asked, crossing her arms. If there was one thing that she had inherited from her parents, it was Ginny’s ability to make anyone feel guilty. She wanted to make sure her friend was going to be okay, and that she wasn’t just falling for Scorpius’s good lucks.

Yes she could admit that even with that eye patch Scorpius was hot as hell. He could have anyone and he knew it, and from the rumors that floated around school it was obvious that he had taken advantage of that on occasion. She wasn’t going to let him anywhere near Rose if that was his intentions. Girls stuck together, that was for sure.

"Do I really care for her?" he raised an eyebrow then nodded. "I would say so. I did lose an eye defending her good name. And even so I'm still going out of my way to see if she is alright after my grandfather's words got a slice at her. All in all I would say that means I care for her." he eyes Lilly hesitantly. "Why?"

Ever specious. He never really did seem to trust anyone, even his supposed best friend. Even Rose he wasn't confident enough in yet to confide in honestly.

((I just realized that Albus and Rose are cousins. Ginny and Ron are brother and sister. I feel rather stupid.))

Lily watched him carefully, trying to tell if he was lying to her or not. When she completed her inspection she nodded, feeling that he really was sincere about his feelings for one of her best friends.

“I don’t think that whatever your grandfather said affected her all that much.” Lily said chuckling, “She nearly ripped someone’s head off yesterday morning for saying anything bad about your family.”

She sighed then and leaned against the castle wall, her black hair that she had inherited from her father falling over her shoulder. “I ask because if you’re gonna start a commotion like that which affects her, where people are harassing her all day for defending your ass, where she’s so upset about you being ill that she wont even eat, then you damn well better be serious about her.”

Her tone was cold, and it was obvious in her eyes that she meant business. Then, just as quickly as she had gotten so serious, she smiled widely.

“Well then I suppose we should head to Gryffindor tower. After all, you’ll never be able to see her without my help.”

Scorpious couldnt help but think to himself he haddn't asked to be defended, though din't voice the concern aloud. When she offered to help him though, even his posture changed from defencive to curious.

"In all honesty I exspected you to hex me, not offer to help me." he said, sounding bemused. None the less he followed her lead, finding himself wondering hoe Rose was fairing with her new pet. He would owe her quite the apology for all the trouble he caused.

“Well I was going to hex you if it appeared like you were just playing her. But for some reason she cares about you so as long as you’re gonna be good to her I could care less how you are with everyone else.”

Lily chuckled lightly, as she continued to lead Scorpius up the many staircases to the Gryffindor tower entrance. Since everyone was down at dinner they didn’t run into anyone on their way to the Fat Lady, though Lily didn’t stop there. She continued to walk to another portrait, one much smaller than the others, holding a single solitary witch who was currently laying down on an ornate bed.

“Listen, sometimes Rose can be overly sensitive. Other times she can be so hot headed and stubborn that she won’t listen to reason. She’s fiercely protective of the people she cares about, and when she attacked the Slytherin that punched you she got in a lot of trouble for it. So…I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t be too harsh okay.” Before waiting for a respond Lily looked back at the portrait thinking hard to herself.

“Hmm what did she change her password to again?” Lily mumbled to herself, trying to remember.

“Oh that’s right.” She said brightly, “Dragon Hatch”

With those two words the witch in the portrait stood up form the bed, bowed, and swung open allowing them to enter. Lily giggled evilly and turned to Scorpius.

“Have fun now!” She said before bodily pushing him through the portrait hole. The door slammed behind him leaving him in the Head girls private room. On the bed lay Rose, fully clothed of course, as she stroked the head of Andavil. It took only a few seconds however, for the reptilian creature to jump up and hiss at the intruder.

When Andavil hissed, jumping out of her arms to stand like some kind of guard between her and Scorpius, she turned almost as if in slow motion. He could still see the remnants of tears in her doe brown eyes as her red hair framed her face. It took only a second for her to realize who was standing in her room and while her head was buzzing with questions none of them mattered at the moment.

“Oh thank god you’re okay.” She said, still frozen on her bed. She wanted to hug him, to make sure he was okay but she wasn’t sure what would be okay at the moment. After all the trouble she’d caused. Hexing Edgar, the Slytherins probably hating him for defending her, and arguing with his grandfather, he was probably really mad at her. She was pretty mad at herself.

When Andavil saw that her mistress recognized the boy she relaxed, jumping from the bed to return to , and her perch. Her icy eyes watching carefully for any signs of foul play. The young bird had grown fond of its human very quickly over the last two days.