I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THAT SERIES BECAUSE THEY ALL BELONG TO JOANNE KATHLEEN (J.K.) ROWLING!

-Chapter Twenty-Two-

Scorpius walked down to the Great Hall with Alice. The two were spending most of their time together, but a couple of times, they would be with Rose as well. All three of them were beginning to feel bored. Hogwarts was still in lock down mode and all of the students were in need of something to do. Even some students who hated to read were being resorted into finding a book in the library.

“There hasn’t been any more attacks on anyone. Why can’t Hogwarts let the students go home now?!” Alice grumbled as her and Scorpius sat down on a bench at the table.

“I know what you mean. I am getting so bored.” Scorpius said.

“Any news from your father?” Alice asked him.

“No.” Scorpius answered.

Alice nodded before she said, “crap…I have to talk to Hagrid about something. He wanted to talk to me and help me with some extra study tips for when I leave Hogwarts.”

“Aren’t you going to eat first?” Scorpius asked her.

“No. I’m honestly not that hungry.” Alice answered as she got back up from the bench, “you might not see me for the rest of the day. Hagrid is going to tryand take me in there or something like that.”

“Then who am I going to eat with! I’m bored without another person!” Scorpius scoffed jokingly.

Alice giggled.

“Why not Rose?” Alice asked as she walked down the hall.

“Sod!” Scorpius called after her and she giggled and waved before leaving the Great Hall.

Scorpius sighed and looked around for Hugo, only to see him in a deep conversation with two of his other friends. Scorpius knew that it would be rude to interrupt him, so he knew that unless he was going to die of boredom, Rose was his only hope.

He got up from the bench as well. He looked over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Rose sitting at it, reading a book. Scorpius smiled and walked over to her. He stood beside her as Rose kept reading.

“Hey.” Scorpius said.

Rose looked up at him, “oh, hey Scorpius. How are things? Did you get any better word on your mother from your father?”

“No. Not yet at least.” Scorpius said, “What book are you reading?”

“Beedle The Bard.” Rose answered, “I have nothing else to do.”

“I know. Alice and I were just talking about that.” Scorpius said, “so to get rid of our boredom, do you want to go for a walk or something?”

Rose looked up at him.

“Sure, but where’s Alice?” Rose asked.

“She had to go see Hagrid. Apparently he is taking her into the forbidden forest.” Scorpius answered.

“Just us then?” Rose asked.

“Yeah, I guess.” Scorpius answered.

Rose shrugged and then took a small, black pack from under the table. Scorpius was oblivious to it before, but he saw that it had a couple of other books in it before Rose placed the childhood story book into it as well. She then slung the pack over her shoulder so that it hung loosely before she stood up and got out of the bench. She was wearing a pair of white shorts and a black tank-top. Her hair was in a ponytail and Scorpius couldn’t help but smile at her beauty.

“Where do you want to walk?” Rose asked as they walked out of the Great Hall.

“I thought maybe to the river. It would be colder down there and we’d have a nice view.” Scorpius suggested.

“Alright.” Rose smiled.

Both her and Scorpius walked through Hogwarts, some people looking at them. When a pair of girls laughed, Rose cringed. Scorpius noticed and he looked back at the group of Ravenclaw girls. They looked at him and stopped, but then walked away giggling Rose’s name. Scorpius strained his ears when he thought he heard one whisper, “she’s such a shame.”…“I heard the only reason why Scorpius, Alice, Albus even talk to her is because they feel sorry for her”….”serves her right.”...“Who would want to be around a mouse with parents as a mudblood and a boy who comes from the poorest family ever that lived”… “she’s ugly like her grandmother too. I bet fatness will run in the family for her. She already has a muffin-top and her father’s a fatty.”

Rose took his wrist and pulled him away. Scorpius was fuming. How in the world could anyone say those things.

“What are they all about?” Scorpius asked.

“Ignore them.” Rose said.

“Like hell I will!” Scorpius said.

Rose turned him so that he was facing her.

“Leave it. Their prunes. Ignore them.” Rose said.

“No. Rose I will not have someone say things like that to you and get away with it!” Scorpius said.

“Please! For me, Scorpius!” Rose whispered, her eyes becoming desperate and glossy.

Scorpius stared at her and slowly let his anger leave him. He wasn’t nearly done with those girls, but for Rose’s sake, he would give them all a punch in the face and gut for her later.

He sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they got to the Hogwarts doorway. Luckily no more students noticed them before they got outside of the castle. Scorpius could notice tears forming in Rose’s eyes and slowly slithering down her cheeks. He held her tighter and both were silent as they walked down the large hill. When Scorpius could see the water, he asked her, “are they normally like that to you?”

Rose sniffed.

“Yes.” She answered.

“Then why don’t you tell a professor? Why not tell Albus?” Scorpius asked, “why wouldn’t you tell me?”

Rose shook her head and wiped her tears away and from her cheeks. She sighed and then stopped walking and sat on the ground. Scorpius looked down at her for a moment before he sat beside her. Rose shut her eyes before hiding her face in her hands.

“Has this been happening for years? Has this been happening ever since you came to Hogwarts?” Scorpius asked her.

Rose nodded and he sighed. Rose wiped her eyes again and went into the fetal position. She placed her forehead on her knees and cried. Scorpius watched her for a couple of minutes. He wanted to run back to those girls and beat every one of them. Scorpius was never a violent person, but this time he could barely help himself. Those girls were the reason why Rose was always shy, why she was quiet, why she had no self confidence.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Scorpius asked her.

Rose looked at him and now also had to wipe her nose.

“They said that they would kill me.” Rose whispered.

“What?!” Scorpius yelled.

“Please don’t. Please.” Rose begged him.

“Rose I have the damn right to run up there and curse them all!” Scorpius yelled.

“No! Please! Just don’t do anything.”

“Why?! Rose Weasley they threatened to kill you. When did they? How long have they been torturing you?!”

Rose sobbed and Scorpius looked at her as her red eyes tried to avoid him.

“When did they do this to you, Rose?” Scorpius asked trying to be calm.

“A c-c-couple of months af-after my first y-y-year.” Rose answered.

“Son of a….” Scorpius punched the ground, “What the hell did they do?”

“They…th-they almost drowned me-me in the girl’s w-w-washroom.” Rose sobbed.

Scorpius stood up and began pacing, trying to control the urge to run into the castle and curse those girls with everything that he could.

“Was it just them that did this?” Scorpius demanded.

“No. Th-th-there w-were some kids ab-above our y-year and s-so-some boys in our ye-year.” Rose answered.

Scorpius then knelt down in front of Rose and hugged her. She leaned into him and hid her face in his shoulder, sobbing.

“We have to tell the professors. We need to get them. Rose I’ll come with you. We’ll contact your parents.” Scorpius said.

Rose shook her head and Scorpius held her tighter and stroked her hair.

“Then we’ll tell Hagrid and Hagrid will help us.” Scorpius promised her.

“No.” Rose answered.

“They got the best of you Rose. They know that and now they are just torturing you because they know that you are theirs. Don’t give them that satisfaction anymore! We’ll tell Hagrid and we’ll get you home to you parents and charge those monsters!” Scorpius promised her.

Rose sobbed and Scorpius then turned her so that he could then carry her. When he stood up, Rose said, “put me down. I don’t want to do this!”

“We’ll see Hagrid. That’s all for now and then you can tell everything to him. You know Hagrid Rose. He’ll help you.” Scorpius told her as he walked her to Hagrid’s hut.