Those Falling Roses
She quietly crept along the castle walls, occasionally glancing behind her. She had taken Albus's Cloak, but he didn't know why she was really going, or why she had taken it, in a matter of fact. But she was still extremely nervous about the situation itself. What was going to happen? Was he even going to come, or were her parents right about his family? Anyway, it didn't matter. She would get over it. It would never work forever, but there was still that one hope of taking advantage of the time she had ahead of her... while she could.
A branch cracked. She stopped abruptly, not making a sound and looking around her, pulling her wand from beneath her cloak just in case. Another crack. As her eyes focused and she took the time to examine the area, she realized that this was the place, this was where she was supposed to stop and wait. Breathing heavily, she took a step forward. Had he felt her arm brush his? Had he noticed the leaves moving? And yet he gave a quick smile, staring right through the girl he could not see.
'You brought Potter's cloak' said a familiar voice.
Her stomach was flipping, her heart had sunk to her knees and she felt dizzy from the nervousy.
'Shhhh!' she hissed at him.
Then, without a smile, aware that it was just the two of them in the darkness of the twilight, he reached out with his fingers and brushed the silver Cloak for a moment, then grabbed it and gently pulled it off.
He was looking the same as usual, not even tired or anything. His blond hair was shining in the moonlight, his bangs falling loosely above his grey eyes. His cheeks were slightly pink, but it was probably due to the chilly breeze. Besides, he was only wearing his black, buttoned coat, his hands not even gloved.
'Aren't you cold?' Rose said, stuffing the Cloak beneath her own.
'I'm glad you came' Scorpius replied, apparently ignoring her comment.
'I'm glad you came.'
He frowned.
'You didn't think I would come?'
'It's not that-' Rose said, looking up at him.
'Then what is it? You're the one who made me come here, I wouldn't ever have come had I known it wasn't worth it' he started angrily, taking a step towards her.
'No! Scorpius, please. Just listen- I didn't come here for the fun of it. I just, I just needed...'
Rose sighed disappointingly. Was this really worth it?
'Needed to see me?'
She nodded, feeling her cheeks catch fire. She absently brushed them with her hands, though she knew subconsciously it wouldn't change their reddening. It was dark anyway.
'Are you crying?' Scorpius suddenly asked, frowning as he looked up at her.
'What? Oh, no- I was just-'
He smiled at her. She stopped talking simultaneously, though not entirely sure why.
'Do you think this could work out?' she asked.
'What? Coming here? Every night?' Scorpius asked.
'No' she answered, shaking her head, but at the sight of his angry eyes she quickened up, 'I mean- we can see each other. Well, technically we can't, but I say we meet here every... every...'
'Monday night' Scorpius said quickly. It was Monday that very day.
'Well... okay, sure,' Rose agreed, and they sat down on the stone bench next to them. Red roses spiraled down the columns next to it, roughly any brighter than anything else in the area. 'But you have to promise, we can't tell anyone-'
'I know,' said Scorpius. 'It's so horrible,' he added, putting his fists one in another, warming them up. 'That we have to hide it like this, I mean. I just don't understand...'
'You don't understand?' Rose asked, surprised. 'But it's very simple, Scorpius! Does anyone expect to see a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin together? No! It's been like that for ever, ever since Salazar Slytherin decided to mess things up-'
He raised an eyebrow at her. 'Will you stop with your brainy bits?' he said.
Rose knew he was joking. It was obvious in his tone, and he would never say anything like that to her. She knew, and to that she grabbed his hands to warm them up. He looked up at her, and they both sat there, holding hands, staring shyly at each other. He cleared his throat.
'Scorpius?' Rose asked.
'Hmm?'
She didn't answer. As he looked up to her she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. He responded without hesitation and kissed her back, for an extended period of time he did not bother count, savoring the moment, until his hands were warm enough.
* * *
Rose shut the door behind her as loud footsteps hurried towards where she stood. She pulled off the Cloak and let herself fall in Scorpius's arms, collapsing into tears. She stayed there for several minutes, his arms wrapped around her as her tears rolled down her cheeks.
'Rose, what's wrong?' he asked, pulling her away from him.
She only shook her head, wiping her tears.
'Why did you want me to come here now?' he insisted, but again receiving no answer.
Instead Rose pointed at the bench next to them, where they both sat. She spoke first:
'I'm m-messing up in all my classes, S-Scorpius. We can't continue like this- It's n-not working!'
'But Rose, sure we have ups and downs, but we can make it work-'
'No we c-can't! Don't you see?'
'No, I'm blinded by love,' Scorpius replied stupidly.
'You're not funny. This isn't working, and you know it. We can't continue like this. We-'
'We?'
'We can't see each other anymore.'
'Never?' Scorpius breathed.
Rose shook her head. His head sunk into his hands; but he wasn't crying.
'Go with Brittany- to hide it. To distract people from clues of what's been happening-'
'Not Brittany!' scowled Scorpius. 'She drives me nuts, you know what she's like...'
'Fine! But people can't know...'
'I know, alright?' he said angrily. 'It's just... life's so unfair,' he sighed.
Rose nodded.
'My hands are cold,' Scorpius said hopefully, reaching out.
Rose shook her head again.
'Scorpius, stop it. The roses,' she said, pointing at the column behind her, 'have been falling ever since our third week. You know what it means-'
'They're roses! I don't care about those roses...'
'Goodbye, Scorpius,' Rose said, wiping her eyes as she pulled the Cloak back over herself and walked away.
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Okay, this story goes with my WIP fic, Vanished and Sorry, as you know, so it'll make more sense to read the whole thing...
Anyway, there is no feedback thread or signature link for this, since it goes with the other one, so if you wish to leave individual feedback just post it in the Vanished and Sorry feedback thread, which is right here. Thanks!