Untitled, Chapter Three
Untitled, Chapter Three
Scorpius/Rose
Rated PG-13
Rose rolled out of bed, trying to ignore the pangs of guilt that licked at her conscience. James had stressed the need for complete secrecy for tonight’s Crup fight, and the only way to make sure that happened was to pour a drop or two of sleeping potion into her parents’ cups of tea. Hugo slept like the dead, so there was no need to worry about him waking up and finding her gone.
She opened her trunk, rummaging for her warm, pink jumper from Gran Weasley, and pulled it over her head. Self-consciously she began to cast the glamour spells that she’d discreetly asked Victoire about a few hours ago. They weren’t designed to do anything too drastic, just brighten her eyes and give her lips a cheerful, ever-rose glow. Victoire had smiled knowingly when she’d asked, though, and Rose was beginning to feel a bit paranoid. Did everyone know?
Even her mother seemed to suspect, for Hermione had rambled randomly about how she trusted Rose’s judgment and always believed she made the right choices. They’d been cooking dinner while Hugo and Ron were on a walk, and Rose had understood from her mother’s tone that she wasn’t talking about Rose’s brilliant move of buttering the pan. “Thanks Mum,” Rose had replied hastily, her cheeks burning, quickly excusing herself from the tent for a gulp of fresh air. Having a veiled conversation with her mother, about Scorpius, was the last thing she wanted to do. And her mother was so persistent, trying to bring the subject up again while they cleaned the dishes. It was enough to drive Rose batty.
“Okay,” she whispered to herself, drawing out her wand to Apparate. She paused, still wondering if it was foolish and dangerous to go to the fight, and wished she had asked Teddy his opinion. Crups, magical creatures that resembled Jack Russell terriers with long forked tails, were fiercely loyal to their wizard and witch owners, and would often battle to the death if commanded to do so. “If it gets too rough, I’ll leave,” she thought reassuringly. “I’ll just Apparate back.” With that, she turned and disappeared, concentrating on landing safely at the water pump. There was a small pop! and she was there, surrounded by chattering Hogwarts students.
“Oh good,” Albus said, appearing next to her, a relieved smile on his face. “James thought you might have changed your mind... decided not to come…” Rose shook her head.
“I’m still not entirely comfortable with this, though,” she said, gripping her wand tightly. “The Ministry really frowns upon this sort of thing…and Mum worked for the Department of Magical Creatures, you know, right after the war…she’d be furious if she ever found out we supported Crup fighting…”
“She won’t find out, though. James has been getting away with stuff like this for ages. He’ll make sure everything remains a secret,” Albus said, understanding her concerns.
Rose nodded, then looked around at the group of people. James was in the center, his hands flailing as he told a story, causing most of his friends to break out into raucous laughter. There were a couple of Hufflepuff students sitting on the cold ground, talking quietly, and there, at the edge of the circle, Rose spotted Scorpius with Delilah Zabini. She frowned.
“What’s Zabini doing here?” she asked Albus, her voice low. Albus shrugged, his black hair flopping in front of his eyes. “She must have heard someone talking about the fight and decided to come along,” he said soothingly, knowing Rose’s immense dislike for the girl. Delilah Zabini had tormented Rose since their first day at Hogwarts. She was brash, loud, opinionated on everything; and for some reason, quiet Rose had become her most beloved target.
“Do you think Scorpius invited her along?” she wondered, hoping she didn’t sound as disappointed as she felt. Albus threw her an incredulous look, then put a friendly arm around her shoulder. “Malfoy? Of course not! You know he can barely tolerate her.” As soon as Albus finished saying this, Scorpius looked around and spotted Rose. Their eyes locked and Scorpius smiled, excusing himself from Delilah, who pouted prettily. Rose smiled back, thrilled that he’d stopped talking to the cow, and was heading over to her.
“When did you get here?” Scorpius asked, his head dipping intimately towards hers. Rose stepped closer to him, away from James’ loud friends. Albus disappeared into the crowd, seeing some Gryffindor school chums, leaving the two of them alone.
“A few minutes ago,” she murmured in response, flushing as she felt his gaze slide from her eyes to her lips. She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. “I see you took care of your other scrapes and bruises,” Rose added, touching Scorpius’ face where the bruises had before darkened his skin. His skin was soft and smooth beneath her fingers.
Scorpius nodded. “I went to the Healers’ tent after you and James left this afternoon,” he explained. “The right potion fixed me up within seconds…tasted horrible though,” Scorpius added, making a disgusted face that sent Rose into a fit of giggling. She didn’t have time to reply however because James was calling them all around him.
“Well now, my dear fellow witches and wizards,” James began, waving his wand pompously, “I thank you for joining me as we set out on this quest for adventure…for danger…for excitement!” Someone yelled, “Get on it with it, Potter!” and the crowd laughed. “We’ve got a twenty minute walk in the forest until we reach the site,” James replied in his normal voice. “Let’s stay together, make sure no one gets lost, yeah? So witches, hang close to a wizard,” he added, winking at a pretty Hufflepuff who grinned back boldly. Rose rolled her eyes.
The crowd surged forward, following James into the dark woods. Everyone whipped their wands out, whispering, “Lumos” to light the path, but it was still quite dark. At first, there was a lot of loud and boisterous talking. James led a rousing rendition of the Driscoll Devil song, but as the minutes wore on and the path grew narrower, the group became nervous and silent.
“Creepy, isn’t it?” Albus whispered, reappearing next to Rose. His appearance made Rose jump and Scorpius took her hand reassuringly. There was a loud rustling noise in the bushes next to them and Delilah Zabini screamed, clutching the closest boy to her in fear. Rose gripped her wand, ready to stun or hex anything that came at them, but there was no need. “We’re almost there,” James called from the front, shoving the map into his back pocket. Rose peered ahead, surprised to see an opening in the dark wall of trees. Listening closely, she could hear the Crups barking madly; she shivered, pressing closer to Scorpius.
They stepped into the clearing and were greeted by a wizened old man. “Move forward, forward,” the man croaked, his hood thrown over his head so his face was veiled in darkness. “The Crups are caged on that side,” he explained, his voice low and gravelly as he pointed to the right, “and the betting table is to the left.” As one, the group moved to the Crups, viewing them with interest.
“This is disgusting,” Rose murmured to Scorpius, her hand tight in his, as they passed cage after cage. The Crups were dirty, scarred, and vicious, and their owners were just as frightening. With long, matted hair, dark faces, cruel sneers, and ratty clothing, they appeared to have just escaped Azkaban.
“Last bets, last bets,” the hag behind the booth called, beckoning James and his friends to her table. The owners began to unlock the cages, and behind them, the Crups went wild, barking and snapping at each other. James placed his bet, shouting to be heard above the din, and Rose shuddered.
“Let’s move to the other side of the ring,” Scorpius said, his voice low as he whispered in her ear. He pointed to the other side of the clearing, the farthest spot from the Crups, and she nodded gratefully. Albus came with them, a solemn look on his face, and Rose knew that he too did not like the atmosphere.
The Crups were led into the ring, their red numbers glowing above them; when they were seriously injured or dead, their number would flash green and the owner would have to withdraw the Crup from the match. “Release them!” the old man shouted, and the Crups were set loose in the ring, snarling and snapping, but waiting for their orders. “FIGHT!” the owners shouted together, and it seemed to Rose that suddenly the ring was surrounded by hundreds of people, and she was shoved roughly against Albus and Scorpius as people pushed from behind.
The fighting was just as brutal as Rose had feared. She closed her eyes, not wanting to view the Crups’ forked tails slash through the air, cutting and bruising with deadly aim, or watch their mouths sink into flesh, drawing blood and displacing fur. There was a loud cheer from the crowd and Rose assumed one Crup’s number had flashed green. She opened her eyes in time to see the owner summon the bloody creature from the ring, swearing and screaming at the other contestants. The other Crups were still at it, fighting ferociously, while beside her, the first casualty had fueled the crowd, and they were now louder and crasser than ever. Rose turned to Albus, her eyes wide, and he shook his head grimly, his face pale.
“How can they enjoy this?” she shouted, but her words were lost in the howl of the crowd as three more Crups were taken out of the ring. Scorpius wrapped his arms around her protectively, holding her to his chest, and Rose could feel him shaking. “Don’t watch!” he yelled into her ear, sounding furious, as an injured Crup landed by their feet. She knew he hated the mindless slaughter as much as she did.
The match continued to rage, with Crup after Crup falling, until there were only ten left. Rose tried to look away, but the scene was horrifyingly mesmerizing, and she could not pry her eyes away from the ring. She had never seen such carnage before, such blatant disregard for life, and it terrified her.
“Let’s go, please Scorpius, let’s go,” Rose pleaded, trembling, as blood splattered on the grass near them. They tried to push through the crowd, but with no success: people surged forward for a better view as the Crups suddenly stopped fighting with each other, interested instead in barking towards the entrance of the clearing.
“OI! YOU LAZY BITCH! I DIDN’T KEEP YOU ALIVE FOR THIS. ATTACK!” a crazed owner screamed, her long dark hair whirling around her head, as she pointed her wand at Crup number four. The Crup ignored her, snapping viciously at the air, and the old man who had greeted them began to cackle gleefully near the ring. The crowd began to boo, growing restless with the inactivity, but the old man silenced them, shouting, “Do you hear the footsteps?” As the mass of people quieted, the ominous sounds of someone walking the path to the clearing were audible, and Rose started in alarm when people yelled, “It’s the Ministry!”
Around her, everyone began to Apparate, and Rose was prepared to do Side-Along Apparition with Scorpius when the new figure stepped into the light of the torches; the sight of his Muggle pajamas made Rose pause. The Crups went wild, barking and snapping feverishly at the man.
“Mr. Kensington?” Albus asked incredulously, his wand raised, for he too was ready to Apparate. “What are you doing here?” Mr. Kensington was the Muggle man responsible for the Weasley-Potter section of the campsite. He was the uncle of a witch and thus had less restrictions on him than the other Muggles at the site, since he had known about witchcraft and wizardly for years.
“Look at the Muggle fool,” the old hooded man hissed to the Crups, making them jump with excitement. He continued to egg them on, moving them slowly closer and closer to Mr. Kensington, who stood seemingly frozen on the spot. It was then Rose remembered that Crups despised Muggles. “We’ve got to get him out of here,” Rose whispered frantically to Albus and Scorpius. “Crups - they hate - ”
“I know,” Scorpius replied, his face grim. He raised his wand and the three of them stood together for a moment, silently contemplating what would happen to Mr. Kensington if the Crups were ordered to attack. Rose looked around, noting with dread that everyone else had Apparated away. She tightened her grip on her wand.
“Do not harm him,” Scorpius yelled, his voice carrying across the clearing, his wand pointed at the old man. The Crups snarled in his direction, knowing the tone of his voice, and not liking it.
“It is three to one,” Albus added bravely, his wand raised, his hand steady, “and this man has done nothing to you.” The three of them began to walk to Mr. Kensington, while the old man snarled and reached for his own wand. The Crups turned to them, snapping and barking, eager for direction.
“So,” the old man crowed, anger evident in his voice, “a Malfoy, protecting a Muggle. Disgusting. Does Lucius know what a blood traitor his grandson is?” Rose trembled, watching Scorpius’ eyes flash dangerously. Albus shot her a wary glance; it was obvious that they were dealing with a rogue Death Eater.
“Lucius is dead. He passed away last year,” Scorpius said bluntly, raising his wand higher. “You too will move on soon, old man.” The aged man began to laugh loudly and Rose gripped Scorpius’ arm tightly in warning.
“Oh ho, does she like you, this daughter of a Mudblood and a blood traitor?” the man cackled, moving his wand so it was aimed at Rose’s face, and beside her Scorpius and Albus growled dangerously. “Does she hope that one day you’ll take her? Give her a little mixed brat?” he taunted cruelly.
Rose reacted instinctively, shooting a Stunning spell at him, which the old man artfully dodged. The Crups took this as their sign to attack; they separated and ran, some moving towards the three of them and some heading to assault Mr. Kensington. Rose screamed as the Crups approached, their jaws open, eager to bite. Albus and Scopius waved their wands, sending out numerous spells, but the Crups did not slow down. A flash of red sped by Rose, and she ducked, unfortunately allowing a Crup to nip at her ankle, and she screamed again, as it caught hold and dragged her to cold forest floor. She managed to Full-Body Bind it before it harmed her further. Gingerly she stood up, her ankle bleeding and throbbing from the bite, and watched as Scorpius and Albus fought more Crups and dodged the hexes of the old man.
“Mr. Kensington!” she shouted, watching as the Muggle struggled to throw two Crups off him. He was bleeding profusely and she aimed a Stunning Spell at the Crups, then Apparated to him. “Albus, hurry, Side-Along with Scorpius!” Rose screamed, grabbing Mr. Kensington’s hand while she continued to shoot spells at the other creatures. The Muggle man sagged, going unconscious, and Rose moaned as his added weight put pressure on her ankle. “Hurry! Go to Teddy’s!” she screamed again, watching as the boys grasped each other tightly. Rose shot one last spell, a hex which hit the old man squarely in the face. She then twisted in the air, chanting “Teddy’s tent - Teddy’s tent-” praying they would not Splinch before reaching safety.
Rose hit the ground unsteadily, clutching Mr. Kensington to her, as her ankle gave out and they tumbled to the grass. They had landed at the foot of the correct tent, though, and she felt relief wash through her. “Get Teddy,” she moaned, as Albus and Scorpius appeared in front of her, sweaty and bloody.
“You’re hurt,” Scorpius said, alarmed, crouching down beside her to look at her ankle, which had swollen to the size of a Quaffle. Rose gasped as he touched her skin.
“Help Mr. Kensington first,” she said, ignoring the pain, turning her focus instead on the Muggle man next to her. Albus disappeared into Teddy’s tent; Rose watched as candles flared inside and she sighed with relief. “Teddy will take care of this,” she said, slipping her hand into Scorpius’. She was surprised to see him frown, although his hand tightened reassuringly around hers.
Within minutes everyone was in the warm tent, while Teddy moved around, summoning potions to give Mr. Kensington. “I’ve modified his memory so he’ll have no recollection of tonight’s incidents,” Teddy explained, dabbing ointment onto the man’s face. “What he will remember is taking a nice long walk in the woods, where he fell a few times and cut himself. That should explain any soreness related to his injuries…Thank Merlin he wasn’t seriously hurt,” Teddy added, his green hair glinting in the candlelight. He gave each of them a stern look. “From what you three have told me, being mauled to death by Crups was a distinct possibility.”
“Well that wasn’t our intent, obviously,” Scorpius snapped grumpily, his hands folded over his chest. Rose shot him an unhappy glance and rubbed her sore ankle, which Teddy had fixed with a quick healing charm. Since their arrival in the tent, Scorpius had become sour and rude, and Rose didn’t like it.
“Still, we were lucky to get away,” Albus interjected, his tired body slumped comfortably in a large armchair. He shook his head in disbelief, his face somber. “Can’t believe we went there and met that Pureblood freak. Did you recognize his voice, Malfoy?”
Scorpius’ lips tightened into a thin line and he turned so he was looking towards the tent’s wall. “Think I know all the old Death Eaters, yeah?” he asked, anger laced in his voice. Rose and Albus shot each other worried looks, and as discreetly as possible, Rose slid closer to Scorpius.
“That seems to be what you think,” Teddy countered softly, his eyes wise and sad, as Rose laid a hand on Scorpius’ shoulder. He tensed beneath her touch, but she refused to move away.
“Can I speak with you outside?” Rose murmured, her question lingering in the air. Albus nodded encouragingly at her as Scorpius stood up; she gave him a weak smile and followed Scorpius out of the tent.
The early morning air was crisp and cool. Rose shivered and hugged her arms around her body, watching Scorpius pace in front of her with worry. She averted her eyes, looking at the hint of light appearing behind the trees: the sun was rising. She would have to sneak back into her tent soon or she would be caught. Summoning her nerve, Rose asked bluntly, “What’s wrong?”
Scorpius turned to her, his gray eyes full of intensity. “You don’t know?” he laughed incredulously, spreading his arms out wide. “I’m not like him. I never will be.”
“Who, your father? Your grandfather?” Rose interjected, experiencing a sudden rush of anger. She stepped closer to him, her chin up, hands balled into tight fists at her side. “I’ve always known that. I wouldn’t be friends with you if- ”
“No, not them,” Scorpius said furiously, his pale cheeks blotching with anger. “Like Teddy. I’m not like Teddy,” he spat out. “You look at him like he’s bleeding perfection - you family loves him - ”
“What?!” Rose screeched, her normally firm hold on rationality slipping from her. She stomped her foot, frustration mounting. “The reason you’ve been a surly, rude idiot is because I admire my cousin?”
“He’s not your cousin, Rose,” Scorpius growled, moving closer to her. “He’s just as much your cousin as I am.” They were now standing face to face, foreheads almost touching. Rose cocked her head, studying Scorpius for a moment, trying to discern what he was going on about while controlling her own anger and annoyance.
The rush of revelation almost had Rose swooning and her lips parted in surprise, although she was speechless. He was jealous. She dug her nails into her palm, trying to rouse herself from her daze. “Scorpius…” she murmured, a hint of a smile settling on her face. He saw it and moved closer, his anger seemingly melting away.
“I’m mad about you, Rose,” he said helplessly, his eyes locking with hers. She nodded encouragingly, a flush of excitement washing through her body, as she linked hands with him. “You’ve had to see this coming,” Scorpius added, his thin mouth twisting into a smile. “You’re a smart girl.” Rose laughed, squeezing his hand.
“Top of the class means nothing when it comes to matters of the heart,” she murmured, closing her eyes as his head lowered to hers, his mouth molding softly to her lips. Scorpius held her close, his hands tangling in her long, curly hair, and they kissed for a few heavenly minutes. When they finally broke apart, Rose sighed happily, her cheeks a deep pink. She shyly looked up at Scorpius, whose wide grin made her blush darken.
“Even your ears are pink,” he commented, his fingertips brushing against the curve of her ear. Rose shivered at the touch and murmured, “A foul trait I inherited from my father,” before burrowing her face in the crook of his neck. Scorpius laughed and wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close, as the entrance to Teddy’s tent flapped open and Albus crawled out. He smiled upon seeing them and Rose blushed again, silently willing him not to say anything.
“Teddy’s Apparated Mr. Kensington back to his tent,” Albus explained, watching Rose and Scorpius with amusement.
“That’s good,” Rose replied stupidly, her mind still muddled from the kissing and the sudden, embarrassing appearance of Albus.
“Really good,” Scorpius emphasized, and the three of them laughed.
“C’mon, let’s get back before the sun’s fully risen,” Albus said, gesturing to the right, where a small path led to the Weasley and Potter tents.
Rose sighed, untangling herself from Scorpius’ arms. “We should…I’m exhausted anyway,” she commented, leaning up to kiss Scorpius on the cheek. He smiled, cupping her face and kissing her thoroughly, ignoring Albus’ presence.
“Goodnight Rosie,” he murmured, releasing her with a grin. Rose returned his smile and turned to Albus, whose eyes were fixed determinedly on the woods nearby. “Thanks for waiting,” Rose said, walking over to him nonchalantly.
“I didn’t seem to have a choice,” Albus said, amusement evident in his voice. “Are you going to explain that?” he demanded, his thumb pointing to Scorpius’ retreating back. Rose shook her head, the flush returning to her cheeks. “Not a word, eh? Might be in your best interest…when Lily finds out the news will spread like Fiendfyre.”
Rose groaned. “Don’t say that,” she murmured, a little flustered at the thought of explaining herself to both family and friends. With a sigh of relief, she realized they had made it to their tents. “Goodnight Al, see you in the morning,” she said, giving him a quick hug before Apparating inside. Things were just as she had left it: her parents and brother were still asleep, and within minutes, Rose tumbled into bed, exhausted but elated.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for your continued interest in this story! My writing has slowed due to a busy month of preparing for my new college (I transferred) and my adjustment here (which still isn't finished).
Interestingly enough, the plot of my story always inclued the Crup fight in it, and was not inspired by the recent dog-fighting news.
Thanks again for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully the next one will be up soon!
Edit: I changed the last few sentences.
xo heartheflowers
CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO
Scorpius/Rose
Rated PG-13
Rose rolled out of bed, trying to ignore the pangs of guilt that licked at her conscience. James had stressed the need for complete secrecy for tonight’s Crup fight, and the only way to make sure that happened was to pour a drop or two of sleeping potion into her parents’ cups of tea. Hugo slept like the dead, so there was no need to worry about him waking up and finding her gone.
She opened her trunk, rummaging for her warm, pink jumper from Gran Weasley, and pulled it over her head. Self-consciously she began to cast the glamour spells that she’d discreetly asked Victoire about a few hours ago. They weren’t designed to do anything too drastic, just brighten her eyes and give her lips a cheerful, ever-rose glow. Victoire had smiled knowingly when she’d asked, though, and Rose was beginning to feel a bit paranoid. Did everyone know?
Even her mother seemed to suspect, for Hermione had rambled randomly about how she trusted Rose’s judgment and always believed she made the right choices. They’d been cooking dinner while Hugo and Ron were on a walk, and Rose had understood from her mother’s tone that she wasn’t talking about Rose’s brilliant move of buttering the pan. “Thanks Mum,” Rose had replied hastily, her cheeks burning, quickly excusing herself from the tent for a gulp of fresh air. Having a veiled conversation with her mother, about Scorpius, was the last thing she wanted to do. And her mother was so persistent, trying to bring the subject up again while they cleaned the dishes. It was enough to drive Rose batty.
“Okay,” she whispered to herself, drawing out her wand to Apparate. She paused, still wondering if it was foolish and dangerous to go to the fight, and wished she had asked Teddy his opinion. Crups, magical creatures that resembled Jack Russell terriers with long forked tails, were fiercely loyal to their wizard and witch owners, and would often battle to the death if commanded to do so. “If it gets too rough, I’ll leave,” she thought reassuringly. “I’ll just Apparate back.” With that, she turned and disappeared, concentrating on landing safely at the water pump. There was a small pop! and she was there, surrounded by chattering Hogwarts students.
“Oh good,” Albus said, appearing next to her, a relieved smile on his face. “James thought you might have changed your mind... decided not to come…” Rose shook her head.
“I’m still not entirely comfortable with this, though,” she said, gripping her wand tightly. “The Ministry really frowns upon this sort of thing…and Mum worked for the Department of Magical Creatures, you know, right after the war…she’d be furious if she ever found out we supported Crup fighting…”
“She won’t find out, though. James has been getting away with stuff like this for ages. He’ll make sure everything remains a secret,” Albus said, understanding her concerns.
Rose nodded, then looked around at the group of people. James was in the center, his hands flailing as he told a story, causing most of his friends to break out into raucous laughter. There were a couple of Hufflepuff students sitting on the cold ground, talking quietly, and there, at the edge of the circle, Rose spotted Scorpius with Delilah Zabini. She frowned.
“What’s Zabini doing here?” she asked Albus, her voice low. Albus shrugged, his black hair flopping in front of his eyes. “She must have heard someone talking about the fight and decided to come along,” he said soothingly, knowing Rose’s immense dislike for the girl. Delilah Zabini had tormented Rose since their first day at Hogwarts. She was brash, loud, opinionated on everything; and for some reason, quiet Rose had become her most beloved target.
“Do you think Scorpius invited her along?” she wondered, hoping she didn’t sound as disappointed as she felt. Albus threw her an incredulous look, then put a friendly arm around her shoulder. “Malfoy? Of course not! You know he can barely tolerate her.” As soon as Albus finished saying this, Scorpius looked around and spotted Rose. Their eyes locked and Scorpius smiled, excusing himself from Delilah, who pouted prettily. Rose smiled back, thrilled that he’d stopped talking to the cow, and was heading over to her.
“When did you get here?” Scorpius asked, his head dipping intimately towards hers. Rose stepped closer to him, away from James’ loud friends. Albus disappeared into the crowd, seeing some Gryffindor school chums, leaving the two of them alone.
“A few minutes ago,” she murmured in response, flushing as she felt his gaze slide from her eyes to her lips. She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. “I see you took care of your other scrapes and bruises,” Rose added, touching Scorpius’ face where the bruises had before darkened his skin. His skin was soft and smooth beneath her fingers.
Scorpius nodded. “I went to the Healers’ tent after you and James left this afternoon,” he explained. “The right potion fixed me up within seconds…tasted horrible though,” Scorpius added, making a disgusted face that sent Rose into a fit of giggling. She didn’t have time to reply however because James was calling them all around him.
“Well now, my dear fellow witches and wizards,” James began, waving his wand pompously, “I thank you for joining me as we set out on this quest for adventure…for danger…for excitement!” Someone yelled, “Get on it with it, Potter!” and the crowd laughed. “We’ve got a twenty minute walk in the forest until we reach the site,” James replied in his normal voice. “Let’s stay together, make sure no one gets lost, yeah? So witches, hang close to a wizard,” he added, winking at a pretty Hufflepuff who grinned back boldly. Rose rolled her eyes.
The crowd surged forward, following James into the dark woods. Everyone whipped their wands out, whispering, “Lumos” to light the path, but it was still quite dark. At first, there was a lot of loud and boisterous talking. James led a rousing rendition of the Driscoll Devil song, but as the minutes wore on and the path grew narrower, the group became nervous and silent.
“Creepy, isn’t it?” Albus whispered, reappearing next to Rose. His appearance made Rose jump and Scorpius took her hand reassuringly. There was a loud rustling noise in the bushes next to them and Delilah Zabini screamed, clutching the closest boy to her in fear. Rose gripped her wand, ready to stun or hex anything that came at them, but there was no need. “We’re almost there,” James called from the front, shoving the map into his back pocket. Rose peered ahead, surprised to see an opening in the dark wall of trees. Listening closely, she could hear the Crups barking madly; she shivered, pressing closer to Scorpius.
They stepped into the clearing and were greeted by a wizened old man. “Move forward, forward,” the man croaked, his hood thrown over his head so his face was veiled in darkness. “The Crups are caged on that side,” he explained, his voice low and gravelly as he pointed to the right, “and the betting table is to the left.” As one, the group moved to the Crups, viewing them with interest.
“This is disgusting,” Rose murmured to Scorpius, her hand tight in his, as they passed cage after cage. The Crups were dirty, scarred, and vicious, and their owners were just as frightening. With long, matted hair, dark faces, cruel sneers, and ratty clothing, they appeared to have just escaped Azkaban.
“Last bets, last bets,” the hag behind the booth called, beckoning James and his friends to her table. The owners began to unlock the cages, and behind them, the Crups went wild, barking and snapping at each other. James placed his bet, shouting to be heard above the din, and Rose shuddered.
“Let’s move to the other side of the ring,” Scorpius said, his voice low as he whispered in her ear. He pointed to the other side of the clearing, the farthest spot from the Crups, and she nodded gratefully. Albus came with them, a solemn look on his face, and Rose knew that he too did not like the atmosphere.
The Crups were led into the ring, their red numbers glowing above them; when they were seriously injured or dead, their number would flash green and the owner would have to withdraw the Crup from the match. “Release them!” the old man shouted, and the Crups were set loose in the ring, snarling and snapping, but waiting for their orders. “FIGHT!” the owners shouted together, and it seemed to Rose that suddenly the ring was surrounded by hundreds of people, and she was shoved roughly against Albus and Scorpius as people pushed from behind.
The fighting was just as brutal as Rose had feared. She closed her eyes, not wanting to view the Crups’ forked tails slash through the air, cutting and bruising with deadly aim, or watch their mouths sink into flesh, drawing blood and displacing fur. There was a loud cheer from the crowd and Rose assumed one Crup’s number had flashed green. She opened her eyes in time to see the owner summon the bloody creature from the ring, swearing and screaming at the other contestants. The other Crups were still at it, fighting ferociously, while beside her, the first casualty had fueled the crowd, and they were now louder and crasser than ever. Rose turned to Albus, her eyes wide, and he shook his head grimly, his face pale.
“How can they enjoy this?” she shouted, but her words were lost in the howl of the crowd as three more Crups were taken out of the ring. Scorpius wrapped his arms around her protectively, holding her to his chest, and Rose could feel him shaking. “Don’t watch!” he yelled into her ear, sounding furious, as an injured Crup landed by their feet. She knew he hated the mindless slaughter as much as she did.
The match continued to rage, with Crup after Crup falling, until there were only ten left. Rose tried to look away, but the scene was horrifyingly mesmerizing, and she could not pry her eyes away from the ring. She had never seen such carnage before, such blatant disregard for life, and it terrified her.
“Let’s go, please Scorpius, let’s go,” Rose pleaded, trembling, as blood splattered on the grass near them. They tried to push through the crowd, but with no success: people surged forward for a better view as the Crups suddenly stopped fighting with each other, interested instead in barking towards the entrance of the clearing.
“OI! YOU LAZY BITCH! I DIDN’T KEEP YOU ALIVE FOR THIS. ATTACK!” a crazed owner screamed, her long dark hair whirling around her head, as she pointed her wand at Crup number four. The Crup ignored her, snapping viciously at the air, and the old man who had greeted them began to cackle gleefully near the ring. The crowd began to boo, growing restless with the inactivity, but the old man silenced them, shouting, “Do you hear the footsteps?” As the mass of people quieted, the ominous sounds of someone walking the path to the clearing were audible, and Rose started in alarm when people yelled, “It’s the Ministry!”
Around her, everyone began to Apparate, and Rose was prepared to do Side-Along Apparition with Scorpius when the new figure stepped into the light of the torches; the sight of his Muggle pajamas made Rose pause. The Crups went wild, barking and snapping feverishly at the man.
“Mr. Kensington?” Albus asked incredulously, his wand raised, for he too was ready to Apparate. “What are you doing here?” Mr. Kensington was the Muggle man responsible for the Weasley-Potter section of the campsite. He was the uncle of a witch and thus had less restrictions on him than the other Muggles at the site, since he had known about witchcraft and wizardly for years.
“Look at the Muggle fool,” the old hooded man hissed to the Crups, making them jump with excitement. He continued to egg them on, moving them slowly closer and closer to Mr. Kensington, who stood seemingly frozen on the spot. It was then Rose remembered that Crups despised Muggles. “We’ve got to get him out of here,” Rose whispered frantically to Albus and Scorpius. “Crups - they hate - ”
“I know,” Scorpius replied, his face grim. He raised his wand and the three of them stood together for a moment, silently contemplating what would happen to Mr. Kensington if the Crups were ordered to attack. Rose looked around, noting with dread that everyone else had Apparated away. She tightened her grip on her wand.
“Do not harm him,” Scorpius yelled, his voice carrying across the clearing, his wand pointed at the old man. The Crups snarled in his direction, knowing the tone of his voice, and not liking it.
“It is three to one,” Albus added bravely, his wand raised, his hand steady, “and this man has done nothing to you.” The three of them began to walk to Mr. Kensington, while the old man snarled and reached for his own wand. The Crups turned to them, snapping and barking, eager for direction.
“So,” the old man crowed, anger evident in his voice, “a Malfoy, protecting a Muggle. Disgusting. Does Lucius know what a blood traitor his grandson is?” Rose trembled, watching Scorpius’ eyes flash dangerously. Albus shot her a wary glance; it was obvious that they were dealing with a rogue Death Eater.
“Lucius is dead. He passed away last year,” Scorpius said bluntly, raising his wand higher. “You too will move on soon, old man.” The aged man began to laugh loudly and Rose gripped Scorpius’ arm tightly in warning.
“Oh ho, does she like you, this daughter of a Mudblood and a blood traitor?” the man cackled, moving his wand so it was aimed at Rose’s face, and beside her Scorpius and Albus growled dangerously. “Does she hope that one day you’ll take her? Give her a little mixed brat?” he taunted cruelly.
Rose reacted instinctively, shooting a Stunning spell at him, which the old man artfully dodged. The Crups took this as their sign to attack; they separated and ran, some moving towards the three of them and some heading to assault Mr. Kensington. Rose screamed as the Crups approached, their jaws open, eager to bite. Albus and Scopius waved their wands, sending out numerous spells, but the Crups did not slow down. A flash of red sped by Rose, and she ducked, unfortunately allowing a Crup to nip at her ankle, and she screamed again, as it caught hold and dragged her to cold forest floor. She managed to Full-Body Bind it before it harmed her further. Gingerly she stood up, her ankle bleeding and throbbing from the bite, and watched as Scorpius and Albus fought more Crups and dodged the hexes of the old man.
“Mr. Kensington!” she shouted, watching as the Muggle struggled to throw two Crups off him. He was bleeding profusely and she aimed a Stunning Spell at the Crups, then Apparated to him. “Albus, hurry, Side-Along with Scorpius!” Rose screamed, grabbing Mr. Kensington’s hand while she continued to shoot spells at the other creatures. The Muggle man sagged, going unconscious, and Rose moaned as his added weight put pressure on her ankle. “Hurry! Go to Teddy’s!” she screamed again, watching as the boys grasped each other tightly. Rose shot one last spell, a hex which hit the old man squarely in the face. She then twisted in the air, chanting “Teddy’s tent - Teddy’s tent-” praying they would not Splinch before reaching safety.
Rose hit the ground unsteadily, clutching Mr. Kensington to her, as her ankle gave out and they tumbled to the grass. They had landed at the foot of the correct tent, though, and she felt relief wash through her. “Get Teddy,” she moaned, as Albus and Scorpius appeared in front of her, sweaty and bloody.
“You’re hurt,” Scorpius said, alarmed, crouching down beside her to look at her ankle, which had swollen to the size of a Quaffle. Rose gasped as he touched her skin.
“Help Mr. Kensington first,” she said, ignoring the pain, turning her focus instead on the Muggle man next to her. Albus disappeared into Teddy’s tent; Rose watched as candles flared inside and she sighed with relief. “Teddy will take care of this,” she said, slipping her hand into Scorpius’. She was surprised to see him frown, although his hand tightened reassuringly around hers.
Within minutes everyone was in the warm tent, while Teddy moved around, summoning potions to give Mr. Kensington. “I’ve modified his memory so he’ll have no recollection of tonight’s incidents,” Teddy explained, dabbing ointment onto the man’s face. “What he will remember is taking a nice long walk in the woods, where he fell a few times and cut himself. That should explain any soreness related to his injuries…Thank Merlin he wasn’t seriously hurt,” Teddy added, his green hair glinting in the candlelight. He gave each of them a stern look. “From what you three have told me, being mauled to death by Crups was a distinct possibility.”
“Well that wasn’t our intent, obviously,” Scorpius snapped grumpily, his hands folded over his chest. Rose shot him an unhappy glance and rubbed her sore ankle, which Teddy had fixed with a quick healing charm. Since their arrival in the tent, Scorpius had become sour and rude, and Rose didn’t like it.
“Still, we were lucky to get away,” Albus interjected, his tired body slumped comfortably in a large armchair. He shook his head in disbelief, his face somber. “Can’t believe we went there and met that Pureblood freak. Did you recognize his voice, Malfoy?”
Scorpius’ lips tightened into a thin line and he turned so he was looking towards the tent’s wall. “Think I know all the old Death Eaters, yeah?” he asked, anger laced in his voice. Rose and Albus shot each other worried looks, and as discreetly as possible, Rose slid closer to Scorpius.
“That seems to be what you think,” Teddy countered softly, his eyes wise and sad, as Rose laid a hand on Scorpius’ shoulder. He tensed beneath her touch, but she refused to move away.
“Can I speak with you outside?” Rose murmured, her question lingering in the air. Albus nodded encouragingly at her as Scorpius stood up; she gave him a weak smile and followed Scorpius out of the tent.
The early morning air was crisp and cool. Rose shivered and hugged her arms around her body, watching Scorpius pace in front of her with worry. She averted her eyes, looking at the hint of light appearing behind the trees: the sun was rising. She would have to sneak back into her tent soon or she would be caught. Summoning her nerve, Rose asked bluntly, “What’s wrong?”
Scorpius turned to her, his gray eyes full of intensity. “You don’t know?” he laughed incredulously, spreading his arms out wide. “I’m not like him. I never will be.”
“Who, your father? Your grandfather?” Rose interjected, experiencing a sudden rush of anger. She stepped closer to him, her chin up, hands balled into tight fists at her side. “I’ve always known that. I wouldn’t be friends with you if- ”
“No, not them,” Scorpius said furiously, his pale cheeks blotching with anger. “Like Teddy. I’m not like Teddy,” he spat out. “You look at him like he’s bleeding perfection - you family loves him - ”
“What?!” Rose screeched, her normally firm hold on rationality slipping from her. She stomped her foot, frustration mounting. “The reason you’ve been a surly, rude idiot is because I admire my cousin?”
“He’s not your cousin, Rose,” Scorpius growled, moving closer to her. “He’s just as much your cousin as I am.” They were now standing face to face, foreheads almost touching. Rose cocked her head, studying Scorpius for a moment, trying to discern what he was going on about while controlling her own anger and annoyance.
The rush of revelation almost had Rose swooning and her lips parted in surprise, although she was speechless. He was jealous. She dug her nails into her palm, trying to rouse herself from her daze. “Scorpius…” she murmured, a hint of a smile settling on her face. He saw it and moved closer, his anger seemingly melting away.
“I’m mad about you, Rose,” he said helplessly, his eyes locking with hers. She nodded encouragingly, a flush of excitement washing through her body, as she linked hands with him. “You’ve had to see this coming,” Scorpius added, his thin mouth twisting into a smile. “You’re a smart girl.” Rose laughed, squeezing his hand.
“Top of the class means nothing when it comes to matters of the heart,” she murmured, closing her eyes as his head lowered to hers, his mouth molding softly to her lips. Scorpius held her close, his hands tangling in her long, curly hair, and they kissed for a few heavenly minutes. When they finally broke apart, Rose sighed happily, her cheeks a deep pink. She shyly looked up at Scorpius, whose wide grin made her blush darken.
“Even your ears are pink,” he commented, his fingertips brushing against the curve of her ear. Rose shivered at the touch and murmured, “A foul trait I inherited from my father,” before burrowing her face in the crook of his neck. Scorpius laughed and wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close, as the entrance to Teddy’s tent flapped open and Albus crawled out. He smiled upon seeing them and Rose blushed again, silently willing him not to say anything.
“Teddy’s Apparated Mr. Kensington back to his tent,” Albus explained, watching Rose and Scorpius with amusement.
“That’s good,” Rose replied stupidly, her mind still muddled from the kissing and the sudden, embarrassing appearance of Albus.
“Really good,” Scorpius emphasized, and the three of them laughed.
“C’mon, let’s get back before the sun’s fully risen,” Albus said, gesturing to the right, where a small path led to the Weasley and Potter tents.
Rose sighed, untangling herself from Scorpius’ arms. “We should…I’m exhausted anyway,” she commented, leaning up to kiss Scorpius on the cheek. He smiled, cupping her face and kissing her thoroughly, ignoring Albus’ presence.
“Goodnight Rosie,” he murmured, releasing her with a grin. Rose returned his smile and turned to Albus, whose eyes were fixed determinedly on the woods nearby. “Thanks for waiting,” Rose said, walking over to him nonchalantly.
“I didn’t seem to have a choice,” Albus said, amusement evident in his voice. “Are you going to explain that?” he demanded, his thumb pointing to Scorpius’ retreating back. Rose shook her head, the flush returning to her cheeks. “Not a word, eh? Might be in your best interest…when Lily finds out the news will spread like Fiendfyre.”
Rose groaned. “Don’t say that,” she murmured, a little flustered at the thought of explaining herself to both family and friends. With a sigh of relief, she realized they had made it to their tents. “Goodnight Al, see you in the morning,” she said, giving him a quick hug before Apparating inside. Things were just as she had left it: her parents and brother were still asleep, and within minutes, Rose tumbled into bed, exhausted but elated.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for your continued interest in this story! My writing has slowed due to a busy month of preparing for my new college (I transferred) and my adjustment here (which still isn't finished).
Interestingly enough, the plot of my story always inclued the Crup fight in it, and was not inspired by the recent dog-fighting news.
Thanks again for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully the next one will be up soon!
Edit: I changed the last few sentences.
xo heartheflowers
CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO