Questions

A/N: I don't really know anything about constellations, except that they're made up of stars, so if it sounds like I'm talking out my butt, I am.

Chapter 4: Astronomy

Third and the beginning of fourth year were much the same for Rose. She still enjoyed being with her friends and family, she still enjoyed learning every day, and she was still frustrated by Scorpius Malfoy.

That's not to say there wasn't a slight breakthrough. He actually moved a few rows up in each class, usually sitting somewhere in the row behind Rose. Whenever she had a question about her homework, he helped. When they were stuck together on a project, he did his part. They discussed ingredients for potions and wand positions for Charms and Transfigurations. But nothing else was discussed. The most dramatic things she knew about him was that he held is wand incorrectly when performing the accio spell and that he has very sloppy handwriting when taking notes.

Rose's friends often told her that her fascination with the boy was not healthy.

"Going to analyze the way he sits in class today, Rose?" Cici would ask, sounding annoyed.

"Or perhaps the way he nibbles on him quill when he thinks?" Chessie would chime in.

"You're both loony," Rose would laugh. "Getting to know someone isn't as terrible as you're making it out to be." She didn't mention that she already knew he sat up very straight in every class and that he chewed on his nails when thinking.

"Getting to know someone is fine," Cici would say. "But you're acting like your trying to write the best biography ever drafted by getting to know every single detail about him."

When this, or any variation of this conversation would take place, Rose would just roll her eyes, tell her friends again that they were being absurd, and continue with her homework.

Homework is what brought Rose and Scorpius to sit together at the same table in their nearly empty common room late one evening in their fourth year. They had an astronomy project that they were assigned to do together. Rose was happy that she and Scorpius were partners--not because she was hoping to get to know more about him, but because he was the best astronomy student in their year.

"So, when the Perseus constellation is visible in June, then surrounding it--"

"May."

"Excuse me?" Rose asked, looking up from her notes.

"The Perseus constellation isn't visible in June. You'll have to switch that to either May or July and record the surrounding constellations visible for those months."

Rose looked down to quickly review her notes, then back to Scorpius. "You're absolutely correct."

Scorpius smirked, but said nothing.

Rose sighed and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. "If this were the Orion constellation, I'd be far more interested in this project."

Rose opened her eyes to see Scorpius looking at her, an eyebrow raised in skepticism.

"What?" Rose blushed. "It's my favorite constellation."

Scorpius dropped his look of skepticism and gained a look of curiosity. "You have a favorite constellation?"

"Well... yeah," Rose answered. "At first, when I was younger, it was my favorite just because it was the easiest to spot," Rose laughed, embarrassed. "But after taking this class for the past four years and learning the mythology behind the stars, it has renewed my fondness for the constellation."

Rose rested her eyes again, deciding to take a short break before continuing with the project. Before she could return to the assignment, however, she heard a voice say quietly, "I've always been rather fond of the Pegasus constellation."

Rose stopped breathing. Was that Scorpius? Was he actually divulging information about himself? She had to be dreaming!

She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to ruin any confidence he might have built up by looking at him, so she quietly asked, "Why?"

She heard no response for several seconds. She was going to give up hope, until: "The shape always fascinated me as a child. I know the fact isn't true, but to me, the constellation always seemed the brightest."

Rose barely opened her eyes so she could sneak a glimpse at Scorpius, but she needn't have worried. He was looking at the scroll on the table with a slight smile on his face. The difference the smile made was phenomenal. His entire face light up and he seemed a bit more relaxed. He had little crinkles at the corners of his eyes and for once, they didn't seem cheerless. She cautioned to open her eyes further, hoping he would continue.

"I could lay in our yard all evening and watch the constellation travel across the sky." Then, something that shocked Rose even further--he laughed. "Once, I even tried to fly up to it on my father's broom."

Rose couldn't help it--she laughed with him. Scorpius looked up at her surprised--it seemed to her like he didn't realize he was recalling the story out loud. Not wanting him to stop with his revelation, she quickly asked, "What happened?"

Scorpius was once again quiet for a few seconds, as though he was deciding if he should disclose this tale or not. To Rose's delight, he did continue. "Well, I flew fairly far off our property but low to the ground, as I had never been on a broomstick before. When I decided that I was directly below the constellation, I began to fly perfectly vertical, and promptly slid right off the back of the broom," Scorpius finished with a smirk.

Rose gasped, but giggled when she saw that his smirk turned into a full smile. "You're parents must have been so worried."

Scorpius nodded his head slowly, but the smile began to slide off of his face. He seemed lost in his own head for a short spell. Then, out of nowhere, he quickly began packing his belongings into his backpack.

Rose was stunned by the rapid turn of events. "Scorpius, what--"

Scorpius stood up and began to walk away before she could say anymore.

No! Rose thought to herself. I've gotten so far this evening! I won't let him get away!

She stood up quickly from her chair and grabbed his arm before he could get too far away from her.

Scorpius stopped in his tracks and looked down at the hand holding his bicep. He then looked up at Rose's face, his own only showing expression through his eyes.

"Scorpius, what happened?" Rose whispered.

Scorpius continued to look into her eyes, and said, "I broke my arm and a few of my ribs." Rose gasped. "I lay on the ground for what seemed like forever, in more pain than I had ever felt in my life. I had hoped that someone would come and find me. When the sun began to rise, though, I gave back hope and started to try and find my way home, which wasn't very comfortable, I can tell you," Malfoy said, huffing in frustration and pushing his blond hair back from his eyes. "When I finally arrived at the house around mid-morning, I had forgotten the pain, because I was angry. I yelled at my father, asking why he didn't come find me. He informed me from behind the newspaper that he was reading, that if I was old enough to take his broom, I was old enough to find my way home. I then looked to my mother, and could tell by the look on her face and the tears in her eyes that she had wanted to come find me but he wouldn't allow her to leave the home to start a search." Scorpius sighed and hung his head. He closed his eyes for a moment before raising it and once again looking at Rose. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he said, looking at her hand still holding his arm, and then back into her face.

Rose stared at him for a moment, shock and awe clearly evident on her face. Then she realized she was still holding her arm, and let him go. She watched him walk away, his head held high and his saunter confident.

Rose dropped back into her chair, her head reeling. "Oh."