Rose and Scorpius, A True Love

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Whenever I finally left the hospital I only had one more day of freedom until I had to wear the Slytherin sweater as promised to classes the next day. Brandon was destroyed about losing the game and didn't show up for meals. As I wandered the castle corridors trying to entertain myself and relax until school the next day, I saw Albus walking towards me. Whenever he reached me he pulled me into a hug. "What are you doing?" I asked as he squeezed me painfully. "I tried to visit you, but you were asleep. And Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let me in. I'm sorry- I didn't-." Albus broke off as he hugged me tighter. I hugged him back, feeling confused. I only got hit in the back of the head, what was the big deal? As Albus let go of me I backed away to look at him. "Why is everyone so worried? I'm all better right? And I only got hit with a bludger- it's not that big of a deal honestly-." Albus cut me off. "Wait- you don't remember what all happened?" Albus asked in disbelief. I raised my eye brows in shock. "What do you mean? That's all that happened-" Albus cut me off again. "Rose, whenever your got hit- you fell. And I mean you FELL. All the way from the hoops to the bottom of the pitch. There was so much blood- we thought you were dead- but you were alright somehow. It was weird. You kept mumbling in your sleep," Albus was talking fast, he had turned a vivid shade of white. Was there really that much blood? "But why is everyone-?" Albus looked at me, his eyes shining abnormally bright. "Half of your team thought it was their fault, they thought because they were distracted- you didn't have anyone- you just fell and- you hit the ground so hard- blood-" Albus was shaking, and I saw a tear escape his eye. I was shocked. Honestly I've been feeling fine, but Albus has always been one to get upset easily. I pulled Albus, my cousin who I loved, into a hug trying to comfort him. He hugged me tighter. "I was scared Rose." He mumbled into my red hair. I tried to laugh, it was hard when he was like this. "Al, I'm fine. I feel normal." He let me go and took a deep breath. He rubbed his eyes and said heavily, "good- I'm glad. Everyone was worried. All of our family was next to your bed while you were asleep, you were knocked out for a good 5 hours. Even Scorpius came to visit you-" "wait- what?" I cut off my cousin. Albus stopped mid sentence and stared at me, "well yea- you didn't know? He looked a little upset to- it was weird he was oddly quiet. He actually does have more respect you know. If you got to know him he's a lot kinder than you think." Albus said crossing his arms, he wasn't glaring at me, but he was giving one of those looks that say 'so don't judge ok?' "I mean- I saw him visit when the family wasn't there-" It was Als turn to cut me off. "You mean he went again?" Albus said in a weird voice. "He was dropping off a Slytherin sweater- a bet we had made..." I started walking away, thinking about this. "Rose where are you going?" Albus asked as I passed him. "Hm?" I asked airily. "Nothing- just weird is all. Ill see you around." And I left my cousin standing in the corridor with a look of confusion all on his face.

I wandered the corridors deep in thought. Why had Scorpius bothered to visit me while I was unconscious? Why had Albus said he looked upset? Scorpius hates me so why would he even pretend to care? As I was walking and thinking I felt myself walk into someone solid, and fell to the floor. My head was a little fragile, and the sudden rush to the ground had started a tiny headache. "Oh- Rose?" I looked up to see Brandon looking at me. I rubbed my head. "Is it just me? Or do I have a tendency to run into everyone?" Brandon didn't even smile. He held out his hand, and I reluctantly took it. After he helped me up I looked at him more closely. He had purple bags under his eyes, and his eyes were blood shot red as if he didn't sleep. "Are you ok?" I asked tilting my head at him oddly. "No." He said simply. I raised my eyebrows, shocked. He said it with a tone of bitter coldness. "If nothing's wrong than why does your stare feel like I'm near a dementor?" I asked slowly. He glared at me. "Look, I don't think we should attend the ball together anymore. Sorry." And he turned on his heal and stormed off. Leaving me shocked still, and a little hurt.

I walked to the common room feeling like shit. Why was he so mad at me? I mean yes he was my friend- but why was he so cold and bitter? "Flobber worm..." I mumbled to the fat lady. The portrait hole swung open and I climbed inside. I saw James and Fred sitting in the squishy arm chairs next to the fire, deep in a conversation. I walked across the common room and sat on the arm of James chair. "What is up with Brandon? He canceled going to the ball with me, and was actually a huge jerk." I asked my cousins. They shared a knowing look and stared at me. Fred hesitated, but then said slowly, "He sort of blames you- for um, losing the game." My mouth was wide open in shock. "That jerk!" I yelled jumping to my feet in anger. "Look, it's for the better- me and Fred were already going to kill him if he put a hand on you- and it's just better this way. We don't blame you Rose. We know it's not your fault." James was saying. I crossed my arms. "That is such a jerk thing to think. I can't believe him! I though we were friends!" But Fred looked at his watch and jumped out of his chair. He shot James a look and James jumped up as well. "We got to go Rosie- see you later." And James and Fred ran off out of the tunnel, and I could have sworn I saw mini fireworks in all of their pockets as they climbed out through the portrait of the Fat Lady. "What are they up to?" I whispered quietly to myself. I went upstairs to my dorm room and was surprised to see Harley curled up on her bed, under the covers with a hurt expression in her eyes. "Harley?" I asked as I walked towards my best friend. She didn't even glance at me. "Hm?" She mumbled. "What's wrong?" I asked starting to get worried. It took a lot to upset Harley, and she looked a little torn. Her normally perfect straight black hair was a rats nest, as if she hasn't left the bed all day to groom herself. Her eyes were red rimmed, like she had been crying, and her usually pretty and happy face looked sad and torn. "Oh nothing..." Harley said, still looking straight at the wall, not blinking. Then, to my horror I saw a tear escape Harley's eye and she started to cry silently. "Harley!" I said shocked, I ran up beside her bed and hugged her. She hugged me back, but I could feel my dry hair start to become wet from tears. It was scaring me a little, she wasn't sobbing. It was as if there was a leak in her eyes, she made no sound. Harley pulled away and looked at me. "Sorry I didn't visit you this morning when she let you out of the hospital wing. But I didn't feel like moving much this morning." Harley said in a dream like voice. I don't understand, Harley was always happy. Nothing could upset her this much. "Harley." I said firmly enough for her to look at me. "What happened?" I asked. She smiled weakly at me, a sarcastic smile. "Yesterday, while I was leaving the hospital wing, well all of us were leaving. Me and Albus were side by side talking and I was about to ask him to the ball- and all the sudden some blonde Slytherin bimbo had her arms around his neck, snogging him like there was no tomorrow." Harley said with a sniffle. "Well you could imagine I was shocked. Than Al introduced 'Becky'." I had to stifle a laugh. Harley had said Becky with a mock girly, and annoying voice. "Becky is his girlfriend. He asked her to the ball weeks ago and they have been together since." Harley said bitterly. "I didn't know Albus liked anyone... I always thought he was into you." I said as I put a comforting arm around her. She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed heavily. "I just assumed- we hung out all the time- I thought we shared moments- stupid." She mumbled as a sob escaped her throat. "We can go to the ball together!" I said with forced excitement. Harley raised her head from my shoulder and looked at me. "What about Brandon?" She asked as, she wiped tears from her eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and sighed heavily. "Eh, he canceled." Harley smiled a little. "Sorry." She said shyly. "Don't be, he was just a friend anyway." Harley smiled and hugged me. "Thank you." She said quietly. "What are friends for?" I said as I hugged her back.