Questions

Chapter 7: Friends

"Scorpius."

"Rose."

The pair greeted each other as Rose found him in the library at one of the many tables, working on his homework. Scorpius gave Rose a full smile before she sat down and pulled out her own work.

The last year had seen a great improvement with Rose and Scorpius. Their simple ice-breaking questions had turned into conversations about their favorite Quidditch teams, people in the school, Rose's family (despite her never answering the favorite cousin's question), daily events in the wizarding world, and anything they could think of off the top of their heads. They had become fast friends in no time at all, causing Rose's sanity to stay intact.

Just because they were friends now, though, didn't mean that she wasn't going to still ask him questions.

"If you could change one thing about your daily routine, what would it be?" Rose asked after she was settled at their table.

"I wouldn't have you asking me questions while I'm trying to finish my Potions essay," Scorpius replied without hesitation, still scribbling content on his homework.

"Ha," Rose replied dryly. She stared at him, waiting for an answer.

After a few moments of Rose's relentless gaping, Scorpius gave up his writing and put his quill down. He looked at her before saying, "I would make classes start later in the morning."

"Not an early bird?"

"Have you ever seen me up before eleven if I didn't have to be?" Scorpius laughed, returning to his essay.

"Hm... point proven," Rose smiled humorously.

She pulled out her homework before she asked, "Why didn't your father--"

"Next question, please."

"Scor--"

"Next question, Rose," Scorpius said tersely, not taking his eyes off of his essay, but not writing anymore either.

Over the past year, Rose had tried to ask him this question dozens of times. On each occasion, she received no response. He would either clam up or change the subject quickly. She was continuously curious about the answer, but dropped it each time he didn't want to talk about it.

Rose knew that it was important to change the subject to keep him comfortable. She thought a moment, and then asked, "What do you want to do once you leave Hogwarts?"

Scorpius looked up from his essay. "You know, Flitwick asked me that question a year ago, and I still don't have an answer."

"You have no idea what you want to do?" Rose asked, surprised.

"None," Scorpius replied. "Why, what do you want to do?"

"Well, nothing at first," Rose answered.

"Nothing? That's a good use of your education. Fine choice, Rose," Scorpius said sarcastically, shaking his head in good humor.

"Obviously I'm going to do something," Rose said, "just not right away. When I leave Hogwarts I want to take advantage of my abilities and adulthood. I want to travel, see things I've never seen, try foods I've never tried, enjoy my freedom."

"Sounds like fun," Scorpius smirked.

"Want to come?" Rose asked without thinking. After she realized what she said, she bent her head over her homework, letting her hair fall into her face so that it could hide her red cheeks.

Rose loved her friendship with Scorpius, but as they progressed in their sixth year, she realized that her own feelings for her newfound friend were progressing as well. The little changes in Scorpius since the beginning of their friendship have made a big difference in the way he presented himself. He smiled more frequently, which lit up his entire face. He began talking to other students, which made his personality shine more. She found out that he was one of the funniest people she knew--he made her laugh on an hourly basis. Even when they weren't around each other, the mere memory of something he said earlier that day made her giggle. All of these things contributed to her new found more-than-friendly feelings for him.

Not that Rose would ever tell him. They had just become friends. She didn't want to risk their friendship because of her stupid emotions.

She glanced up at Scorpius a few seconds after her accidental invitation. He looked slightly shocked, but was smiling nonetheless. "I wouldn't miss it," he replied, then returned to his essay.

Rose's gazed at Scorpius in shock. Did he just accept her invitation? Did this mean--

"Rose!" She heard a frantic whispering that snapped her out of her reveries. She looked up to see her cousin walking quickly towards her. "Oh thank goodness, I'm so happy I found--Oh, hello, Scorpius," Albus greet cordially. Albus was kind of dubious about Rose's friendship with Scorpius. He told her that he wasn't sure how a Weasley could be friends with a Malfoy, which was promptly met with a smack on the back of the head by Rose.

"Albus," Scorpius acknowledged. He looked at Rose and smirked, well aware of Albus' doubtfulness.

"Rose, I need your help. I completely forgot that I had an essay due in Transfigurations so I haven't started on it yet and it's due in three hours and please please help me!" Albus spit out quickly, finishing his beseeching by landing on his knees and clasping his hands together in a pleading fashion.

Rose could see Scorpius out of the corner of her eye, silently shaking with laughter. Rose found it very hard to keep a straight face when she replied. "What's your topic on, Al?"

Albus sighed with relief. "You're the best, Rose."

"I know."