Seventh-Year: The Next Generation

Chapter 7: Potions Class

Scorpius blasted down the corridor.

Flint's grin widened, then she turned and whipped around the corner.

"Flint, no!" yelled Scorpius, skidding around the corner.

"Sorry, Malfoy, but this is too good to keep a secret," called Flint over her shoulder.

Scorpius pumped his arms like mad, hoping to gain every possible little boost of speed.

Flint took the stairs that lead to the entrance hall two at a time. Scorpius took them all on the first go.

He hit the top of the staircase, and launched himself forward. He landed at the bottom, just a couple of feet behind Flint, but he stumbled and fell, sliding across the smooth marble on his chest.

As Scorpius scrambled to his feet, Flint turned at the door to the Great Hall. She flashed another maddening grin, and then vanished inside.

Albus came sprinting into the entrance hall to find Scorpius standing and staring at the entrance to the Great Hall. "Where's - Flint?" he gasped.

Scorpius shook his head. "Didn't catch her. Drat it. Drat it," he said vehemently. He turned to Albus. "Well, if what Babcock said about Rose shagging someone behind my back wasn't true, it'll be very true all too soon."

"Will you stop talking as if Rose goes around sleeping with people?" demanded Albus in annoyance. "And that goes for me too, actually. I'd prefer if my reputation doesn't get too dreadfully shredded over something that's not true."

"How do you know that Rose hasn't slept with me?" leered Scorpius.

"Because, however morally low you'd sink, Scorpius, Rose wouldn't," said Albus with distaste.

Scorpius laughed. "That hurts, Albus. That you have absolutely no confidence in my morality."

Albus shrugged. "What can I say? Anyways, what are you going to do about Flint?"

"I'm going to go find Rose, and tell her what happened myself. That way she'll hear it from me first, and Flint won't have the chance to blow it out of proportions."

"Good idea." Albus nodded.

"The only question is, where would she be right now?"

"She probably just got out of Advanced Divination, and would have come running down to grab some lunch before Potions."

"True," was all Scorpius said before sweeping into the Great Hall, Albus in his wake.

While Scorpius let his gaze wander down the Gryffindor table, looking for Rose, Albus was watching for Flint. He caught sight of her at the Slytherin table, surrounded by a pack of housemates, gesturing wildly with her arms.

One of the students listening to Flint's story caught sight of Albus and Scorpius, and pointed. The rest of the small circle of Slytherins turned, and started sneering and laughing. Albus turned hastily away.

"She's not here," stated Scorpius.

"Let's grab a seat, she'll turn up in a minute, I'm sure," said Albus, grabbing Scorpius by the shoulder and starting to drag him toward the Gryffindor table.

"Get your hand off of me," hissed Scorpius, knocking Albus's arm away.

"Sorry," muttered Albus under his breath.

They took seats across from each other, but neither ate. Albus pushed the food around on his plate with his fork. Scorpius sat silent and still.

"How do you think Babcock found out about Lestraud?" asked Albus quietly.

Scorpius started, as if he had completely forgotten about both Lestraud and what Babcock had said about her and Albus. "I don't know."

"What do you think I should do about it?"

"Nothing," said Scorpius flatly.

"Nothing? I can't do nothing."

"Well, then you tell me what you're going to do. Tell me what you can do. If you ask me, there is nothing. Besides, it doesn't matter," said Scorpius sharply.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?" Albus demanded. "How selfish are you? I'm not treating your issue like it isn't important."

"Albus, don't be ridiculous. Look, the difference is this. For one thing, in my issue we're talking about the possibility of Rose not talking to me again, and worse, the possibility of her getting seriously hurt. In yours, the only thing that can get hurt is your reputation."

"If you hadn't as good as confirmed it for Babcock-"

Scorpius made a noise in his throat. "Look Albus, all things concerned, this is not what you should be worrying about right now. If I were you I'd be more concerned with Azkaban than with whether or not the students of Hogwarts think you're a virgin."

"I guess you're right," said Albus.

"Of course I'm right," said Scorpius impatiently.

They sat in silence for a couple of moments, then suddenly, Scorpius lunged to his feet, and banged his fist down on the table.

"Where is she?" he hissed quietly. "She's probably in that infernal library, and I'm going to go get her. Right now." He turned to leave, but Albus sprang to his feet, reached across the table, and grabbed his arm, stopping him.

Scorpius looked at him in surprise, as if he had forgotten all about him. "What are you doing?" he asked, as if Albus had just done the most preposterous thing in the world.

"What are you doing?" demanded Albus.

"Getting Rose of course, what else?"

"Why would you go do that, when we have Potions with her in five minutes? You'd probably get to the library a few minutes after she left."

Scorpius blinked. "You're right."

Albus couldn't help but smile wearily. "See, you aren't the only one."

***

Scorpius sat still and unmoving in the seat next to Albus. His eyes roved right and left, and occasionally up to the door of the Potions' classroom whenever a student entered.

That was the amazing thing about Scorpius, thought Albus. He contained himself so well.

Had there positions been reversed, Albus knew that he would either be pacing around in agitation, or fiddling with something. Or maybe staring fixedly at the door, waiting for Rose. Except, of course, that their positions could never be reversed. Albus would never be with Rose, nor wanted to be, because they were cousins. Albus would never kiss another girl than the one he was with, no matter how pretty she had fixed his face up -or, so he thought.

Potions, unfortunately, was their class with the Slytherins, and Albus didn't think it was going to be a pretty period. Babcock, Bulstrode, and Zabini were seated right behind them already, all with stupid, leering grins on their faces. Clearly, Flint had already told them about Scorpius snogging Baddock.

Babcock leaned his face forward, so that he was close enough for Scorpius and Albus to hear his whisper. "So, Malfoy, I see you realized the truth of what I said, and have already gotten over Weasley and moved on to the next girl."

"That's what it would seem," said Scorpius, his voice acid. "What was that you had said, Babcock? Something about me not being able to have any girl in the school?"

Babcock flushed angrily, and pulled back into his seat.

The class was about to start, and there was still no sign of Rose. Scorpius's shoulders were tense beside Albus, and Albus secretly suspected that he was going to burst out of the classroom and go in search of her any moment now.

Then there she was, her smiling face framed in the doorway. Albus could feel Scorpius relaxing next to him.

She entered the classroom, and was followed closely by a tall, unsmiling boy with dark eyes and carefully combed-over brown hair.

Scorpius tensed next to Albus once more. "Who is that?" hissed Scorpius.

"It's Driscoll, of course. Where have you been our whole lives?"

"Why would I notice him?" demanded Scorpius.

"Maybe because anyone with eyes would have, after having at least one class with him a week for six years," said Albus.

"Maybe he was right..."

"Who was right, about what?" asked Albus, confused.

"Babcock, who else?" snapped Scorpius.

"About...?" asked Albus again, but then realization dawned upon him. "You think Rose has been sleeping with Driscoll? How big of an idiot are you?"

"It's possible," said Scorpius flatly.

"Yeah, and I can give birth to babies," said Albus sarcastically.

"Can you?" asked Scorpius with wide eyes. "You're not a hermaphrodite, are you? Because if you are, and you never told me..."

"Oh, shuttup, don't be a prat, there are more important things at hand."

"Then you being an hermaphrodite?" asked Scorpius, his eyes narrowing.

"I'm not a stinking hermaphrodite, will you please shut up about that now?"

"I'm trying to get our minds off of this whole confusing situation."

"On this situation is exactly where our minds need to be right now."

"What the..." Scorpius was staring over Albus's head with an expression of amazement mixed with horror.

Albus swiveled in his seat, and his jaw dropped open.

Rose was sitting with Driscoll, and she was resolutely looking to the front of the class, not paying any attention to Scorpius or Albus.

"I don't believe it," whispered Albus. "She always sits with us."

"Damn," said Scorpius with feeling. "Babcock was right." He paused. "My life is no longer worth living."

Albus looked at Scorpius in surprise. Scorpius only swore when he was either really agitated, or really angry. "You're life is no longer worth living, just because Rose is sitting by someone else for a change?"

"This proves what Babcock said," hissed Scorpius angrily. "And even if it didn't mean she was sleeping with him, the mere fact that Babcock was right about something makes me want to throw myself off a cliff."

"Will you stay sane for a few moments here?" demanded Albus. "I can't have you going mental on me quite yet."

"It's completely logical! You know that."

"It is not," snapped Albus. "What world did you grow up in, where when a girl sits next to a boy it means she's sleeping with him? She's sat next to me half of her life! And on a side note -how many times do I have to tell you to stop acting like Rose is a slut? She hasn't slept with anyone, and I'll be danged if she ever sleeps with someone outside of marriage."

Scorpius was glaring at Driscoll with smoldering eyes. Albus noted that Driscoll was pointedly ignoring it. "I saw that bastard with her in the library," ground out Scorpius, from between clenched teeth.

"What?" Albus blinked.

"I said I saw that bas-"

"Welcome, students." Padma Patil spun to face the class. Her long, dark hair fell in a single plait all the way to her waist. "Today we will be creating the first stages of Polyjuice Potions, so grab a partner, and grab a worktable." She smiled brightly down at them all.

Albus quickly took the nearest worktable, lowering his cauldron slowly onto it. Scorpius was not so gentle, he picked his cauldron up and slammed it down on the table so hard that Albus thought it was in danger of breaking.

"Please be easier on both the cauldron, and the worktable, Mr. Malfoy," said Professor Patil with disapproval.

"Yes, Professor," muttered Scorpius, busy glaring over at where Driscoll and Rose had paired up.

"All the ingredients are up here, for when you need them," said Professor Patil, with a wave at a table at the head of the room. Albus recognized lacewing flies, and some shredded Boomslang skin. "The instructions are on page fifty-five. I will be available if you need aid."

Albus quickly went up to the head table, and grabbed the first few ingredients. He had barely returned when Scorpius started talking. "I saw that bastard Driscoll with her in the library when I went to go get her for our walk on Sunday."

"That doesn't mean anything, Scorpius, they could just be study partners." Though Albus was starting to feel the first strands of doubt himself.

"You know that's highly unlikely. Look how much time she's been spending cooped up in there. If he's been with her all those times, then study partner my ass," he snapped. He laughed a dry laugh without any humor. "So much for having to worry about Flint, she dropped me before I even had the chance to cheat on her with Baddock."

"Well, I still have to worry about both Babcock, and Lestraud. Don't get so lost in your own troubles that you forget I need your help, too."

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry," said Scorpius impatiently, waving it away.

Albus was busy mixing ingredients, but Scorpius was just leaning his elbow on the rim of his cauldron, staring at Rose and Driscoll as they laughed and talked while they prepared their potion.

"Mr. Malfoy, do you intend on actually doing any of the work? Or are you prepared to make Mr. Potter do it all?" asked Professor Patil, glowering at him.

"Moi, mademoiselle?" asked Scorpius, lazily. Albus was amazed at his ability to act, even under the cloud of recent events.

"Yes, you, do you see any other Mr. Malfoy about?"

"But us Malfoys do not do the work of commoners, we leave that to people of lowly lineage, such as Potter here, Professor," said Scorpius, patting Albus affectionately on the shoulder.

"Ah, yes, lowly lineage," said Professor Patil, pursing her lips. "Such as Mr. Potter, son of the savior of the wizarding world, yes, I do say, that is quite low lineage."

"I'm glad we agree, Professor," said Scorpius, smiling innocently at her.

"Get to work, Mr. Malfoy," said Professor Patil, as she turned away. Albus could have sworn she was working hard to stifle a smile.

The rest of the Potions class blew by in a haze.

"I'm getting things straight, right now," said Scorpius, as soon as the bell rang.

Rose was piling things into her bag, when Scorpius rushed over to her.

"Rose, tell me what's going on," he said softly.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"I sure in hell hope you know what I mean," he said angrily, his voice rising. People all around stopped in the process of leaving, turning to stare.

"No, honestly, I don't-"

"What is going on between you and Driscoll?" asked Scorpius. Driscoll stopped in the doorway of the classroom, in the process of exiting. He turned slowly, watching Scorpius and Rose with solemn eyes.

"I just thought it would be nice to sit with him for a class, it's really no big deal, Scorpius," said Rose, watching him with wide eyes, clutching a textbook tightly to her chest.

"Don't play with me," he hissed. "I saw him there with you in the library, that one day. I know you've been spending all your time in there lately. Has it always been with him?"

"You know I love the libr-"

"Have you been getting friendly with him, Rose?" Scorpius's voice was hard, and very quiet. Even so, everyone could hear him in the still room. Albus fancied that he would have heard a pin drop.

Rose flinched as if she had been slapped.

"What's the point of this?" Emily Thomas demanded. "Scorpius, can't you talk about this somewhere else, where you don't have to embarrass Rose?"

"I need an answer, now. The rest of you can bugger off if you want, I'm not making you stay." Scorpius spoke to Emily, but his eyes never moved from Rose's face. No one left. "Well, Rose?"

Rose's lip started to tremble, and the book shook in her hands. "The feelings came on so fast, they took me completely by surprise. I didn't mean too, I swear it! One day I loved you, and you were the only one, and the next...things just started to change. I didn't mean for you to find out like this, I meant to tell you myself, I did, really! I never wanted you to get hurt."

Scorpius closed his eyes, slowly. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He must be in a dream, a terrible nightmare. There was no way, no way, that this could be happening.

Scorpius felt a small body crash against his, and suddenly there were arms thrown about his waist. He opened his eyes, and stared down at the top of Rose's bushy head. She was, unbelievably, crying. Great, wracking sobs that filled the whole room.

"I'm - sorry," she gasped.

Scorpius slowly unclasped Rose's hands from about him, she looked up at him in surprise. His voice was gentle when he spoke, gentle as it was only able to be when he was speaking to Rose. "Pull yourself together, Rose." He cupped her face gently in his long, slender hands. "Some things are beyond our control, like our hearts." He carefully wiped away a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"Thank you, Malfoy, but now I think Rose and I'll be going." Driscoll had appeared behind Rose, and had laid his hand on her shoulder. He was gently pulling her away from Scorpius.

Scorpius visibly tensed. "I think Rose can decide when and where she'll go," he said coldly.

Driscoll looked innocently surprised. "But of course. I just naturally assumed, that she would want to be wherever I was, seeing as now we'll be openly together."

A low growling sound came from Scorpius's throat.

Driscoll's brow furrowed. "Are you alright?" he asked in polite concern.

"Of course," said Scorpius. "Run along now, you two lovebirds." He turned so that he was facing away from them.

"Scorpius -" began Rose.

"Go!" he commanded, not turning around again.

"I think that would be best- darling." It sounded to Albus like Driscoll had slipped in the last word as a taunt, as he started to pull Rose to the door.

Scorpius stood motionless, not watching them go.

Just before Driscoll swung out through the door, Albus caught an expression that whipped across his face. It was only for a fleeting moment, before the mask of innocence was back.

It was an expression of loathing, mixed with a dark amusement.

Author's Note:

How will Scorpius take this latest train of events? Will he keep his promise and help out Albus, or will he be to absorbed in his own problems? Leave a review. ;)