The Music Still Plays On

Chapter 4: What are you looking surprised for?

Time sure flies by when you're having fun. It was already almost my birthday (March 20^th), and it seemed like only a month had passed since I first stepped onto the train.

James became a Beater on the Quidditch team- though most people thought that the only reason that he made the team was that Victoire was the captain. We had already lost our first two games, but James was still hoping for the best.

I continued to perform well in Charms, as well as most of my other subjects, so much so that nearly every day I was hit by a barrage of my classmates asking me for help on an assignment. Some of them, like Nellie, I was able to work with easily. Even Isabella, when she wasn't talking to me about what color socks she wore, was usually able to understand concepts that she had missed in class because she was talking to her friends. Others, however, proved to be more difficult. After Tamika approached me about helping her with her History of Magic homework, as long as she didn't "have to work with my mudblood friend" I almost considered punching her myself. I didn't find any of the Slytherins particularly appealing, actually- except for Scorpius, of course.

Even though my friends had forgotten about our hug in Charms, I certainly hadn't forgotten it. When he asked me for help with his Transfiguration homework, I had to keep myself from jumping for joy. Soon, we were meeting weekly in an empty classroom to "help each other with our homework" which mostly meant just talking about random things. Some homework was done, however, as I was adamant that we keep some academics in our weekly meetings.

Today, Scorpius and I had just about finished up our Defense Against the Dark Arts homework when I remembered that I had promised Isabella that I'd meet her in the common room soon. She apparently wanted my opinion on whether her new peanut butter crunch bars were better with or without the bananas.

"Sorry Scorpius, but I don't have time to stay and talk today. I promised Isabella I'd meet her in the common room tonight- something about testing out a recipe. I'm sure it'll be fascinating," I said sarcastically. "Oh, and we probably won't have time to meet next week, 'cause it's my birthday,"

"Oh," Scorpius said, slightly disappointed. We both walked out of the classroom and to our respective common rooms. Once there, I groaned as Isabella prattled on about the new "Exploding Necklaces" that all of the girls were wearing throughout Hogwarts. I personally didn't see why one would by a necklace if they knew it was going to explode right after they got it, but, according to Isabella, I wasn't up with the times. I sighed. It was going to be a long week.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Finally, my birthday was here. So far, the day ended up being fairly uneventful. Sure, I wasn't expecting Nellie to jump onto my bed at the crack of dawn armed with a small batch of Muggle fireworks that she had smuggled in from home, but other than that, there were no surprises. At the Great Hall that morning Victoire, James, and Al all gave me their presents: a magically detangling hairbrush, an Ever-Bashing Boomerang, and some chocolate frogs, respectively. As much as I tried to remind James about the ban on the boomerangs, he was undeterred, saying that "Filch is practically blind by now anyway."

This was true. Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris, were both still at Hogwarts, despite the failing health of both of them. McGonagall kept on trying to make Filch leave, tempting him with a large sum after he retired, but he refused.

Besides my cousins, Nellie gave me a bag of Muggle sweets, which I didn't get often, as I preferred wizarding treats much better. Liam Finnegan, blushing, gave me a Rememberall. I told him that he didn't need to spend that much on me, but he ran away before I could say any more. A weird child, that Liam.

And so the day passed on as usual, even though it was my birthday. I ended up being late to Defense Against the Dark Arts for the second time this week, causing Professor Studley to take twenty points away from Gryffindor. I protested, trying to use my birthday as an excuse, but to no avail.

After Defense Against the Dark Arts, I proceeded down to the empty classroom where Scorpius and I usually met, forgetting that I had cancelled our meeting for this week. As soon as I saw him waiting outside the door, I knew that he had forgotten as well- or maybe not. Maybe, I thought, he just wanted to see me. Maybe he had a birthday present. This was probably all wishful thinking to myself, but secretly I hoped that Scorpius was here for more than just homework help.

"Hey- I cancelled this week, remember? It's my birthday," I said, gesturing to the balloons that Victoire had enchanted to float over my head all day.

"Yeah, I know that, but...can we still hang out?" Scorpius asked.

"Yeah, sure. I don't have a lot of other plans for today," I added as we both walked into the classroom in silence.

"So...what do you want to work on?" I asked.

"I said I wanted to hang out, not work."

"Oh. Right." Both of us sat down, staring at each other, having no idea what to say.

"Who got you the balloons?" Scorpius asked.

"Victoire. They're kind of annoying, actually- they keep bumping into candles." Scorpius chuckled.

"Yeah, I would imagine that would be a problem."

"Definitely- I almost set Professor Studley's hair on fire. Good thing he didn't take away any points away from my house." We both laughed again. I was wondering if I should just leave, considering how awkward this was.

"You know what? I think we better work on that Potions essay," Scorpius said. "I can't understand what Professor Challis wants us to do."

"The Potions essay? That's easy! We went over Forgetfulness potions just the other day!"

"I know. I guess I just forgot," Scorpius said in a lame attempt at a joke.

"Very funny. You're right, though- that we should get some work done, I mean. Then we'll talk, I guess." And so we worked. Scorpius was still struggling with Charms, while I continued to excel in most subjects. McGonagall even commented one day that I was just like my mother was at this age, which I suppose was a compliment. I wonder if I'll end up like she did- working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic and barely being home half the time. I doubt it. I don't want to be cooped up in a stuffy old office all day.

I looked at my watch, astounded to see that it was almost time to get back to the common room.

"Sorry Scorpius, but I have to go," I said.

"Me too. Blaine and Blair said they had some sort of birthday surprise for me," he added nonchalantly. A look of surprise washed over my face.

"What are you looking surprised for?" Scorpius asked.

"It's your birthday today?" I asked him.

"Yeah. What's it to you?"

"We have the same birthday! This is so cool! I'm sorry I didn't get you anything- you should have told me!"

"My family doesn't really make a great deal about my birthday. Dad always just gives me some money and tells me to spend it as I like. I've never even had a proper cake," he admitted.

"Really? That's so sad. I always get loads of presents from all my family members, and a huge cake and everything..." Scorpius looked sad. "Oh, I didn't mean to make you jealous!"

"No, it's fine. I have to go," he said.

"Wait!" I said, fishing into my bag for something to give him, finally finding the Rememberall that Liam gave me. Scorpius stopped at the door.

"You can have this," I said. "Liam gave it to me. It glows red whenever you forget something. I don't think I'll really use it, so...catch!" I threw it to Scorpius, who caught it in his hands. The Rememberall immediately glowed red.

"You must be forgetting something right now," I observed.

"What could that be...oh, I know!" Scorpius said, reaching in his pocket. "I got a present for you, too! Happy birthday, Rose!" He pulled out a bag of Every Flavor Beans.

"My favorite candy! You remembered!" I squeaked.

"Yeah. My Mom sent a whole batch up for my birthday. She keeps sending me candy, but I just give it to Blaine and Blair."

"Thanks a lot, Scorpius!"

"I know it's not much," he said, walking towards me. "But maybe this will make up for it." And at that moment, he gave me an even bigger and better hug than he did in Charms. And this time, we didn't have to let go.