Dragon Heartstrings

They had forgotten to close the window the night before, and the morning sun streamed through it, casting bright light over her four poster bed. Rose hurried up, yanking the window curtains shut. She peeked around Frankie’s bed, and saw her still fast asleep. Roxanne’s bed was empty, still made, but she could hear her snoring from behind Sandy’s curtains. 

She was showered and nearly dressed before the others woke. 

‘Morning’, Frankie whispered, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. 

Rose glanced at the clock, it was almost 7:30 am. She didn’t want to wake Roxanne or Sandy. She picked up her wand and cast Muffliato. 

‘Good afternoon Frances,’ Rose said, rooting through her trunk. 

‘Are you looking for your boots?’ Frankie asked, picking up her towel. 

‘Found them,’ she replied, pulling on her red and black boots she wore the night before. ‘Will I wait for you?’ she asked. 

‘Nah go on down, I’ll wait for them and join you later,’ Frankie called, already in the bathroom. 

It was quiet in the common room. Hogwarts breakfast started at 6:00 am, giving people three hours before classes started. She guessed the girls wouldn’t be down until 8:00 am at the earliest. Rose gave a friendly smile to a first year sitting on the couch, his knees pulled to his chest, arms wrapped around them. He looked like he hadn’t slept. She felt sorry for him, remembering her first week at Hogwarts, how homesick she felt. 

‘Morning Kati,’ she said as she walked past Katilina Zhang. The dark haired girl was sitting at a desk in the corner, she looked up from a stack of papers and smiled brightly. 

‘Head Girl duties already beginning?’ Rose asked, glancing at the sheets in Kati’s hand.  

‘Unfortunately,’ Kati grimaced, ‘I have to sort out quidditch training. Or approve it. Actually not too sure what I’m supposed to be doing. Might just pass it off to Rivers, he can get all the stick for it then,’ she quickly tidied the papers into a folder.

They chatted away on the walk down to the great hall. She liked Kati. She was the perfect fit for a Head Girl in Rose’s opinion. She had the balance of being liked by both teachers and students down to a tee. Kati did well in exams, never had a detention, but when she was prefect, she’d never refuse them hosting a house party. Frankie had told them that Kati had missed nearly the whole feast the night before, as she had sat outside the hall with a girl in first year. Talking with her, reassuring her she’d make friends in this new school. 

Kati rolled her eyes when they entered the hall. Rose followed her gaze to the Ravenclaw table, where Max Rivers sat, head on the table, sound asleep. Rose pitied Kati for having Max as a Head Boy. He was a rogue. He was just like his brother Thomas, who had been best friends with Fred and James in school. Albus told her he set a record for the most points lost by a prefect. Rose watched as Kati stormed over and shoved him awake, dropping the folder down on his arm. He laughed, grinning at her, patting the seat next to him. 

There was a low hum from the rest of the hall. Only a handful of students from each year were sitting at the tables. Rose saw Louis and Noah at the end of the Slytherin table. Louis gestured for her to join them. 

‘I won,’ Noah remarked as Rose sat down next to him. He was busy adding different slices of fruit to his porridge.

‘We were guessing who would be the first of ye up,’ Louis explained, addressing Rose’s confusion. 

‘His bets were on Sandy,’ Noah told her. 

Rose poured herself a large mug of tea, and helped herself to eggs and pancakes, watching sleepily as the rest of the students filtered through the hall. 

They were each on their second helpings of breakfast before the girls joined them.

‘Have the timetables been given out yet?’ Sandy asked, filling up a glass with juice.

Rose nodded, handing them over. 

‘Double potions with Slytherin every Monday and Friday afternoons? What a treat,’ Sandy made a face at them. 

‘Just Al and Scorpius,’ Noah commented.

‘Yeah we’ve Arithmancy instead,’ Louis said, studying his timetable.

‘I’m surprised Slughorn let ye drop it,’ Rose said to them. Professor Slughorn always expected students from his own house to carry on his subject. 

‘There was much objection,’ Noah murmured.

‘Where are Al and Scorpius?’ Roxanne asked, looking around.

The hall was full now, people raising their voices to be heard. As if on que, they spotted the two lads making their way through the hall. 

‘Morning ladies,’ Noah said, when they reached the table. He handed them both cups of coffee. 

Albus downed his and reached for another. 

‘Long night?’ said Sandy, raising her eyebrows. 

Albus ignored her and sat down next to Frankie, reading her timetable over her shoulder. 

Scorpius slid into the space next to Rose. They made eye contact, and the shadow of a smirk passed over his face. 

‘Rosalyn,’ he nodded at her, glancing over his own timetable. She handed hers to him and they compared. 

‘Looks like we’ll be spending a lot of time together this year,’ Rose said after a while. 

‘Lucky me,’ he whispered. 

                                         *

The first half of the day flew by. The girls parted with the boys and headed to Charms in the morning. They split up again after lunch as Rose and Frankie went to Transfiguration. 

‘I don’t know how I feel about this whole double classes for every subject vibe,’ Frankie said as they made their way back from McGonagall's classroom. 

‘At least it’s not every day though. But it’s intense alright,’ she replied, ‘welcome to N.E.W.T.'s,’ she added, quoting her Charms professor. 

Roxanne went to History of Magic, and Rose and Frankie met up with Sandy for their double Potions. 

‘Who’s your potions partner again?’ Frankie asked Sandy, as they made their way down to the dungeons. 

‘Silas Walker. Normally I would complain. Hate being partnered with a man,’ she replied.

‘Of course,’ Frankie nodded solemnly.

‘But Silas is good at potions. Have to give it to him,’ Sandy continued.

‘And he gives you a discount on his dad’s shop,’ Rose said. Silas’s father owned a shop in Hogsmeade that sold potion’s ingredients to students.

‘I think he’s in love with me,’ Sandy sighed, holding open the door for them. 

‘Well how can he resist your charm?’ Frankie rolled her eyes, heading over to her station to wait for Albus. 

Scorpius was sitting at their desk.

‘Predictions?’ Rose asked, taking her seat next to him. 

‘Definitely Amortentia,’ he replied, squinting at Slughorn's desk.

On it were three suspicious looking cauldrons. Each one covered by a piece of cloth. 

‘Again? He showed that last year,’

‘Yeah but he can’t resist. He’ll give us two new ones though. And one of them has to be one we can win, and use. Without getting expelled,’ he started flicking through Advanced Potion Making.

‘Won’t be Felix,’ she moved closer as he slid the book to the middle of the desk.

‘No, not since Tommy Rivers tried using it for his History of Magic N.E.W.T.,’ he laughed. 

‘Of all subjects,’ she shook her head.

‘Maybe an invisibility potion,’ 

‘Boring,’

‘Only because your family has a cloak,’ he said slyly.

‘How do you know?’ she exclaimed.

‘Well Al has been my roommate for the past six years,’ he said, giving her a look.

‘Are you telling me the Malfoys don’t have one?’ she gaped at him disbelievingly.

He ignored her. Instead he held out the book, showing her page 295.

‘It’s gonna be this one,’ he said.

‘How are you so sure?’ she said, reading through the potion.

‘Attention students!’ Slughorn swept into the room. Igniting candles with his wand tip as he passed. ‘Come gather around. Only a handful made it to seventh year potions so ye should all fit comfortably,’ he shook out his long robes. They were a vibrant turquoise colour, dotted with purple stars.

‘Now,’ he said once they were surrounding the table. ‘Oh Mr Potter, how is your father? And Miss Weasley, how are your parents?’ he exclaimed, spotting them.

Rose cringed. Slughorn couldn’t resist an introductory lesson without name dropping her and Albus’s parents. Just in case their classmates somehow forgot their parentage after seven years. He continued, making his way around the table. Asking the rest about their parents, some Aunts, older brothers, Grandparents and even distant cousins. 

After what seemed like forever. He leaned closer to the three cauldrons. 

‘Now. As I was saying. In front of you I have three cauldrons. Mr Walker, would you please lift the cloth off the first one?’ Slughorn asked.

Silas obliged, revealing what appeared to be an empty cauldron. 

‘Any guesses?’ Slughorn asked them. Several hands flew up.

‘Miss Wood?’

‘Invisibility potion sir,’ Sandy replied.

‘Correct! Take five points,’ he beamed. ‘Now, often a tricky potion to obtain. Many add a dye to it, ensuring that it doesn’t go missing. Proper brewing and correct dosage usually provides invisibility for about six hours. Miss Sharma, would you remove the second cloth?’.

Immediately the air was filled with the thick sweet scent of chocolate. She caught Scorpius’s eye. Amortentia. She inhaled. It always smelled of the same things to her. Chocolate, honey, pine trees, the sea and something like apples. 

Scropius raised his hand.  

‘Amortentia sir. The most powerful love potion,’

‘Excellent! Five points Mr Malfoy,’ 

‘It doesn’t cause real love though. Just infatuation, or obsession,’

‘Bravo! Five points to you too Miss Weasley,’

‘Shouldn’t be called a love potion then,’ Scorpius muttered irritably. 

‘You can’t just conjure up love Scorpius,’ she hissed back. 

He opened his mouth to retort but Albus elbowed him in the ribs. 

‘And our third potion. This one, is a special one, a truly, joyous one. Mr Potter, do us the honours?’

The third cauldron was filled with a bright yellow liquid. Rose looked over and saw Scorpius with a smug look on his face. The potion in front of them matched the one on page 295 of their book.  

‘Elixir to Induce Euphoria,’ Albus said leaning closer. 

‘Yes Mr Potter!’ Slughorn smiled widely. ‘Did your father show you it?’ 

‘Eh, he mentioned it, yeah,’ said Albus, his face going red. 

‘This potion is very fun. So, keeping up with our tradition. Whichever one of you brews the best potion today can take a vial of Euphoria away with you! Stay in pairs for this one. I want ye to brew me, Draught of Peace. Could come in handy for seventh year,’ Slughorn clapped his hands and they all hurried off to their stations. 

Stir it clockwise six times,’ Rose said to Scorpius, a little over an hour later. 

‘Okay, throw in the moonstone there,’ he replied once he had finished stirring.

‘Stir it once more,’ 

‘Done?’

‘Done,’ Rose replied, nodding firmly. They stood back. They both stared at the potion. It was a very pale blue in colour, and had a milky texture, just as their book described. 

‘Something’s missing,’ she said, brow furrowed.

‘A smell,’

‘What?’

‘It needs a smell,’

‘Some potions don’t have a smell,’

‘Yeah but this one should,’

‘It could mess it up,’

‘Nah not if it’s an oil,’

‘You’re into essential oils now?’

Scorpius dug around in their desk and pulled out two tiny glass bottles. 

‘Lavender or Frankincense?’ he read, holding them out in front of her. 

‘Oooh lavender,’ Rose gushed. 

Scorpius smiled shyly. He had dimples when he smiled like that, Rose thought. He held his hand over the cauldron and let three drops fall. It stayed the same colour and texture, but the sweet smell wafted upward. Just in time, Slughorn called the class to a halt. He made the rounds around the class, stopping at each desk to inspect the cauldron.

Finally, he stopped before Rose and Scorpius. He spent a long time looking at their potion, testing the texture, sniffing the air. 

‘Lavender?’ Slughorn raised his eyebrows. 

‘Yes sir,’ Scorpius replied.

‘Whose idea?’ he asked, a bemused look on his face.

‘Both,’ Scorpius said before Rose got a chance. 

‘Well then,’ Slughorn looked around, making sure everyone was paying attention. ‘You can each take ten points for yer houses! We have a winner ladies and gentlemen. And here you go,’ he presented them each with a vial of euphoria. 

‘Use it well,’ he warned, chuckling to himself. He dismissed the class and everyone started clearing up their desks.

Rose took her time gathering up ingredients. She watched as Scorpius dispersed their potion into bottles. The room was empty now, except for them. Sandy, Frankie and Al had gone back to the Commons. 

‘Thanks,’ Rose said as she waited for Scorpius to put his books in his bag. 

‘For what?’ he asked, confused. 

‘For saying it was both of our ideas,’ she said quietly. 

‘Well it was, wasn’t it?’ he raised an eyebrow. 

She crossed her arms, jutting out her hip. 

‘Well you said there was something missing?’ he offered. 

‘And you said it was a smell. And decided we should add oils?’

‘And you chose the oil,’

‘But you gave me the choice,’

‘So a joint effort,’

‘I suppose,’

‘Why is this a big deal?’

‘Because we got house points,’

‘And?’

‘I feel bad taking them if I didn’t earn them. And stop laughing,’

‘You did earn them. It’s called being a team, we were a team, for potions, a potions team?’

Rose huffed. She didn’t know what to say. Instead she just stood there, arms folded, watching him. He was leaning against the desk. His hair was messy. The steam from the cauldron had made it go all curly at the front. He had taken his jumper off, the sleeves of his shirt were unrolled, but his cuffs were still unbuttoned.

‘A potions team,’ she said uncertainly. 

He nodded slowly at her, his expression feigning seriousness. 

They stayed in an amused sort of silence on the walk to the Commons. She knew he was trying not to laugh. It wasn’t even funny. She just hated taking credit where it wasn’t hers. Even though she did pick the lavender, she supposed. 

‘Stop overthinking it,’ he said, putting his hand out to stop her before reaching the trip step on the stairs. 

‘I’m not, and I wasn’t going to step on that either,’ she said, annoyed, because she definitely was about to step on it. 

She saw the corner of his mouth quirk up. 

They spotted their friends once they entered the Commons. The Commons was a large, circular room, with a high, domed ceiling. It had two fireplaces, and the walls were adorned with pictures, and portraits. And draped with large cuts of fabric, in different shades of yellow, red, blue and green. The room even had an upstairs, with a small library, and desks for people to study, with a balcony looking down into the middle of the room. There were many plush couches and cushions dotted on the floor. Off of a passage on one side, there was a little kitchen. Over by the far fireplace, Sandy and Roxanne were sharing an armchair and Frankie and Albus were on the couch.

‘You just missed Louis and Noah,’ Frankie said, making room for them on the couch. ‘Oh congrats on the euphoria,’ she added, grinning. 

‘How did you come up with the lavender?’ Albus asked them.

‘Joint effort,’ Scorpius and Rose replied in unison. She could feel blush creeping up her neck. 

‘Quidditch trials are on monday,’ Roxanne said, passing her a piece of parchment with the details. 

‘“All existing members are required to try out”,’ Rose read, ‘“Monday evening at seven”’, she balled up the parchment and threw it into the fire. 

‘Yikes,’ Sandy said, raising her eyebrows. 

‘Your dear brother,’ she replied by way of explanation. 

‘Ah,’ Sandy nodded. 

They headed downstairs to the great hall when they heard the dinner bell. They were making their way over to the Slytherin table to join Louis and Noah when she heard her name being called. She glanced over to the Gryfindor table where Kit Fogarty and his friends were sitting. He was gesturing for her to join him. 

‘Ye go on, I’ll be over in a minute,’ she nodded to her friends. Scorpius gave her a funny look. 

‘Rose look,’ Kit was holding a scrap of parchment. He moved over, making room for her on the bench.

‘I know, quidditch tryouts?’ she said, she glanced around. Her friends were sitting at the Slytherin table now, plating up their dinners. She felt obliged to sit here for a moment. 

‘No no. Read this,’ he handed the sheet to her. 

She sat down. ‘Hope Fletcher...Miles Sheridan…Carrie Dwyer, what am I reading?’ she asked impatiently. 

‘Just keep going,’ he assured her. He began piling potatoes and vegetables onto a plate, pouring steaming gravy over them. He placed it in front of her. She began to protest but he held his hand up, pointing at the sheet. 

‘Laurie Smith!’ she read.

Kit laughed, ‘keep reading’. 

‘And Jane Knight,’ she smiled. 

‘Wanna place your bets?’ he asked her, eyes twinkling. 

‘I’m rooting for Jane but Redmond probably feels outnumbered, so he’ll pick Laurie,’ she sighed. 

Kit laughed again. She stayed there for her dinner. Well she couldn't really leave. She’d have no good excuse and, she thought, he did go to the trouble of plating up food for her. They chatted through dinner and dessert, pausing occasionally to listen to whatever story one of Kit’s friends were telling. 

‘We’re gonna head back to the common room, wanna join us?’ Kit said as their plates cleared away. 

‘Eh I must find the girls, maybe in the Commons,’ she looked over at the Slytherin table and saw her friends had left. 

‘I’ll walk you,’ Kit said. They got up to leave, she saw his friend smirking at him as they passed. 

‘Why do ye always go to the Commons?’ he asked as they made their way up the steps. 

‘Instead of our own common room?’ 

‘Yeah,’ 

‘Well it’s a place where we can meet the lads I suppose,’ 

‘The lads?’ 

‘Al, Louis, Noah and Scorpius,’ 

‘Ah,’ he said flatly. 

‘Unimpressed?’ she asked, curiously. 

‘What? Oh sorry,’ he laughed lightly. ‘No they’re okay. Albus is nice, can’t say I’ve ever talked to Noah much. Louis is…well I’m sure you know,’ he faltered. 

‘Louis is Louis,’ she laughed. 

‘And Scorpius is alright I guess. Has a stick up his arse though. Chip on his shoulder too,’ he said coldly. 

Rose was surprised. Kit has always struck her as someone who wouldn’t say a bad word about anyone. Class clown, great sportsman, gentlemanly. But he seemed to speak about Scorpius through gritted teeth. 

‘But ye get on don’t ye?’ he asked, puffing out his cheeks. 

‘Me and Scorpius?’ she could feel that blush creeping up her neck again. ‘We do,’ she nodded. 

‘Never thought I’d see the day,’ he shook his head. ‘Everyone thought ye hated eachother,’ he explained after she raised her eyebrows. 

‘We did not!’ she exclaimed. 

It was his turn to raise his eyebrows now. 

‘Okay but hate is a strong word. We just…didn’t see eye to eye. But. I mean, we’re in nearly all the same classes. And the same friend group. And we both play quidditch,’ she shrugged.

‘I play quidditch,’ Kit muttered, so quietly she almost didn’t hear. 

They had arrived at the Commons door. 

‘You joining us?’ she offered after saying the password. 

‘I’ll give tonight a skip thanks, see you later,’ he said quickly. Before she could reply, he turned and strided the opposite way. He shoved one hand in his robe pockets. The other he ran through his hair. It was buzzed short around the sides, long curly fringe on top. He had broad shoulders, she thought, the ideal beater’s build. She watched him go until he rounded the corner, out of sight. 

‘What did Foggy want?’ Frankie asked as soon as she reached them. They were sat on their usual couch, except Al and Scorpius weren’t there, Louis was next to Frankie, and Noah was on the floor, a huge book laying open in front of him. 

‘Other than you,’ Roxanne winked at her. Sandy was kneeling on the floor, letting Roxanne braid her hair. 

Rose gave her a scowl. ‘Just wanted to talk about quidditch,’ she shrugged, taking a seat on the floor next to Noah. 

‘Long talk,’ Louis noted, he had Frankie’s Transfiguration homework in his hand. He had drawn large red circles over most of the text. 

‘I couldn’t exactly move halfway through dinner,’ Rose said. She could tell she was getting defensive. Why was this a big deal? 

‘Where are Al and Scorpius?’ she asked, looking around, they weren’t anywhere else in the room. 

‘Scorpius went back to our dorm after dinner. Al’s gone to get him,’ Noah said, still reading his book. 

Her and Frankie shared a look. She raised her eyebrows. Frankie shrugged back. 

‘Who wants tea?’ Rose asked, desperate to escape the awkwardness. She headed into the kitchen after she heard various noises of assent. Frankie joined her half a minute later. 

‘Where’s your pink tea pot?’ she asked, rooting through the cupboards. Frankie was fond of pink cutlery. They had put an extra tea pot in the Commons kitchen last year.

‘I moved it back to our room, there should be a leopard print one though,’ Frankie said, opening drawers and pulling out mugs. 

‘Found it,’ Rose pulled it out, along with the box of tea leaves. She threw them into the pot and handed it to Frankie, who let the boiling water pour from her wand. They stood there, letting it brew. 

‘What did I do?’ Rose asked after a moment. 

‘Nothing to us,’ Frankie said earnestly, ‘but I don’t know about Scorpius. He barely spoke during dinner. Kept looking over at you and Foggy. Then went straight up to his dorm as soon as he could. He didn't even have any dessert!’

‘What? But it was toffee pudding,’ Rose replied, shocked. 

‘I know,’

‘But he loves toffee pudding,’

‘I know!’ Frankie began pouring the tea into cups. Rose found the milk. 

‘What’s his problem with Kit?’ she huffed. 

Frankie gave her a look, ‘I think his problem was more with you and Kit’.

‘Kit and I are friends! We play quidditch together, we’re in the same house, our mothers are even friends,’ Rose protested. 

‘I think he sees you as a little more than a friend Rosie,’ her friend said gently. 

‘Ugh,’ she rubbed her eyes.

‘I thought you’d like that,’ Frankie said, sounding surprised. ‘I mean. Kit’s handsome. He’s taller than you, got nice hair, Lily told me that Cathy told her that her sister Jessica said -’

‘I don’t want to hear what Jessica said!’ Rose interrupted quickly. 

Frankie giggled, ‘you know her, very descriptive’.

‘I used to like Kit in that way you know,’ she admitted, ‘but just recently I’ve been -’

‘Been looking at a certain six foot blonde instead?’ Frankie smiled innocently at her. 

‘I wouldn’t say he’s six foot. More of a five foot eleven inches kind of guy, grab the pot will you?’ Rose picked up her wand and began to levitate the cups in the air. 

‘Oh I think you should tell him that. Guys love to be told that,’ Frankie balanced the tin of biscuits and the teapot in her hands. She walked backwards, holding the door open for Rose. 

Albus and Scorpius had joined them. Al got up when they came closer, he grabbed the levitating mugs and passed them around. Scorpius stayed in his armchair, staring at the fire. Rose had two cups left in her hand, she held one out to him. He ignored her, still not looking up. She checked to see the others busy in their own conversations. 

‘This one is nearly half milk,’ she waved the cup in front of him. 

‘Sugar?’ he asked, accepting the cup warily. 

‘A spoon of honey,’ she whispered. His eyebrows rose in surprise. 

‘How did you know?’ he asked her, eyes crinkling. 

She didn’t respond, sitting down on the arm of his chair, looking sideways at him. 

‘When are ye gonna use the Euphoria?’ Sandy asked excitedly. 

Louis and Noah looked at them in confusion. Albus quickly filled them in on their potions lesson. 

‘Shock he showed Amortentia,’ Noah rolled his eyes. 

‘He’s actually got a huge stash of that somewhere I’d say,’ Albus said.

‘We should rob it,’ Louis’s eyes lit up. 

‘Yes!’ Noah threw his book aside.

‘Louis!’ Roxanne threw a biscuit at him. 

‘Sorry, I meant borrow,’ he replied, blowing her a kiss. 

‘We should though, we need a legacy’ he continued, ‘our end of year prank,’ he said, grinning at them all. 

‘I think James and Fred have got us beat there, no living up to that,’ Albus said shaking his head. 

‘We can rethink it at the end of the year,’ Frankie patted Louis on the knee. 

‘Louis?’ Sandy called from her chair. 

‘Yes Sandra?’ he cocked his head at her. 

‘What do you smell from Amortentia?’ she sat back in her seat. 

‘A gentleman never tells,’ Louis replied coyly. 

‘Good thing you’re not a gentleman,’ she said matter of factly. 

‘Right you are,’ he clapped his hands together. ‘I’ll tell you one if you all tell me one back,’ he looked around, waiting for them to nod. 

‘Fresh pastries,’ he said promptly. ‘From Paris,’ he added, winking at them.

Albus groaned. Sandy rolled her eyes, ‘oh come on’.

‘We could have guessed that one mate,’ Scorpius laughed.

‘Come on Sandy, you’re up,’ Louis shushed them.

‘Snow,’ she smiled. 

‘You can’t smell snow!’ Noah protested. 

‘I can,’ she said smugly. 

They went around, each listing one thing they smelt from Amortentia. Roxanne said banana bread. Noah told them new books. Albus’s was cinnamon. 

‘The way my clothes smell when my mum takes them out of the hot press,’ Frankie smiled wistfully. 

‘What’s a hot press?’ Noah asked, wrinkling his nose. 

‘Ehm like a toffee or caramel scent,’ Scorpius mumbled, cheeks tinged slightly pink.

‘Pine trees,’ Rose said, picking the least embarrassing of her options. 

Scropius nudged her, ‘Christmas your favourite time of year?’

She nodded her head enthusiastically. 

                                         *

‘You and Scorpius looked cosy,’ Sandy grinned at Rose. 

They were walking back to their common room. The boys were still in the Commons, finishing up their DADA homework. 

‘I think he’s gotten over me sitting with Kit for dinner,’ she replied sarcastically. 

‘I’m surprised he forgave you that quickly,’ Roxanne said after telling the portrait the password. 

‘What?’ Rose was confused. 

‘Well he hates Kit,’ Roxanne said as if it was obvious, ‘you don’t remember?’. Rose shook her head. 

‘Two years ago, start of the season. Slytherin were playing against us. Kit hit a bludger at him. Concussed him, he missed the rest of the matches that year. Pomfret wouldn’t let him play. I heard Kit didn’t even say sorry,’ she explained. 

Rose didn’t know what to say. She looked at Frankie, her mouth had formed a perfect ‘o’. She had forgotten about that match. It was coming back to her now. It was one of the first matches of the year, Ravenclaw beat Slytherin in the finals that year. Scorpius probably blames it on the fact that he didn’t get to play. 

‘Shit,’ she said. They had nearly reached their dorm. 

‘I’ll be back,’ she said suddenly. 

‘Curfews soon, don’t let Frankie give you detention,’ Sandy teased. 

Rose rushed out of the common room. She legged it down the stairs. Turning left. Then right. Then right again. Once she had found what she was looking for she circled back up the hall. Jogging back up the steps. Only this time she headed back towards the Commons. She pushed open the door. 

She spotted Scorpius heading into the kitchen, carrying the empty leopard print teapot. Albus and Noah weren’t there, must have gone back to their dorm, and Louis was sitting patiently on the couch, packing up his bag. 

‘Louis!’ Rose half whispered, as she ran up to him. 

Louis raised his eyebrows, eyeing the plate in her hand. 

‘Will you pass this on to Scorpius?’ she asked meekly. 

He took the plate, cocking his head to the side, ‘sticky toffee pudding?’

Rose nodded, her face suddenly feeling very warm. 

Louis nodded back, giving her a knowing smile.

Rose mouthed her thanks, heading back out the door quickly before she could change her mind. 

                                                                            *