It Started With a Dare

It Started With a Comment

No? 

Yes? 

 Rose was confused. Of course in the back of her mind she knew better. She knew that everyone had a different opinion. She couldn't let Malfoy get to her. She really couldn't. 

Finally looking up, she realized that she hadn't even been looking where she was going. It was the late fall, and winter was on the verge of starting. There was a slight fall in snow, but it was almost as if there was more of it due to the cold. She continued down the road, which was making its way to the Three Broomsticks. She needed warmth and she needed it fast. 

Rubbing her hands and crossing her arms in front, she immediately regretted not bringing a thicker coat. All she had on was measly jumper that Nana Weasley had sewn together for her and her family for Christmas. Although she loved it, she was freezing cold. Cold enough to not even notice the faint calls that were going out to her, "Weasley!" 

The calls became clearer. And she immediately groaned at sound the familiar voice. 

Malfoy. 

Ignoring his calls out to her, which became evident that were becoming clearer and nearer, Rose continued her way down ignoring the blonde fellow. 

"Weasley!" He was so close to her, "Come on, Rose!" And before she could speed up, his arm caught hers. Looking down at his hand that now gripped her forearm, he said, "Merlin, Rosie. You deaf or what? I've been looking for you. Then you made me run. After you. I don't just do that, Weasley." 

 "Well, Boo-hoo, Malfoy!" She spat, surprising the blonde boy, before turning back to make her way her way to the pub. 

He followed her."Oi. What's with the attitude? If anything you should be apologizing to me. You just left me there." Rose halted in her footsteps. As did Malfoy. 

"That was the plan." She snarked, "And if my attitude towards you isn't any clearer. I'm done. I don't want to help you in your stupid little game." And with that, she continued walking. 

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Weasley!" He exclaimed, rushing up in front to stop her, "What did I do?!" 

"What did yo-" She laughed without any humor, also exasperated. "What did you do?! You humiliated me! Said I wasn't good enough to get a boy so I needed a bloody potion! And for your information, heaps of blokes have fancied me over the years!" She fumed. And at first, Scorpius stared at the girl for a few moments before he started chuckling. "What?!" 

"You're honestly mad over that?" 

She nodded hastily, "You're so arrogant. You're not god's gift to women, Malfoy! Then you go around, picking on people and saying they're not good enough so they'd have to practically drug someone just to have that person fall in love with them." 

Malfoy furrowed his eyebrows, "I was just teasing, Weasley." 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Malfoy wasn't sure how he did it but somehow, he was able to calm the ginger down. Though she did put up a fight with a rather large argument, she eventually gave in and calmed down once he realized that she was only wearing a jumper to protect her from the cold. Realizing that she was probably freezing herself to death, and that he'd been the one to stall her way to the old but warm pub, he did something that surprised both of them.

He gave her his coat. He didn't honestly mind, considering his enjoyment of the cold and the amount of layers he was already wearing underneath it. But naturally, and due to their usual behavior towards one another for the past years, Rose stared at the coat as if it was a foreign object she hadn't seen before. And for the first time in his entire sixteen years of life, he witnessed a look he'd never seen on Rose Weasley's face: Confusion. 

After staring at the jacket for what seemed like an eternity, Rose ignored his gesture and walked off. Only for her to stiffen as Malfoy placed his coat around her, finally giving her warmth. And with that, she stared at the boy as he walked on ahead of her. Apparently that did the trick of calming down the red headed beast. And when they were walking in silence, he couldn't help but try to remember what he had said to her in the joke shop. 

It was hard for him, he admitted. He barely remembered the things he said to Weasley due to the amount of arguments and vile words they've exchanged in the past. They'd never really taken each other's words seriously. He didn't think she'd take it so personally. So why was she suddenly sensitive? Had he made her cry? He briefly wondered. 

It wasn't possible, he thought. He knew she was more stronger than that. 

Scorpius couldn't help but wonder. 

But what he did need though was Rose. To help help get with Mia, of course.

Now, they both sat in the corner of the pub in silence. Both with a half-empty butterbeer in hand. They'd been sitting in silence and Rose hadn't spoken a word. And frankly, Scorpius was getting impatient. "Look I'm sorry, Weasley."

"Sure you are." She muttered. But he heard.

Scorpius sighed before settling his eyes down on the red-headed girl. She had her drink in her hands, and she kept her head down. Almost as if she was staring viscously at it. "You know, stare any longer at that drink of yours and you might as well burn a hole through the glass." She didn't move her head but raised her eyes to him instead, "See? There she is." She rolled her eyes. "Now, really. I am sorry. I won't try to offend you anymore."

Sighing, she begrudgingly gave in, "Fine."

He smirked, "Knew you'd come around." Readjusting himself in his seat, "Now, on to bigger plans. About Fawley-"

She gave him a pointed look and said, "Hold up. I'm not helping you anymore. I told you that."

"Oh come on, Weasley!" He pleaded, "Help a mate out."

She scoffed, "Mates? We're barely even friends, Malfoy!"

He waved it off, "Details, details. We're conversing civilly, we're practically mates." 

She heaved a sigh, "But come on, Weasley. Help me out."

"And give me a reason why."

"Well, it would look quite slaggish of you to be snogging one of Hogwarts most eligable bache-" Rose snorted, "-lors. Only to not start something with me. It would very well tarnish your clean reputation." 

Rose Weasley sat in her seat, gawking at the smug ferret in front of her.

She scoffed, "Th- That's blackmail!" She spluttered.

"Call it what you want, Weasley. But those are the facts." He stated.