There are some things that exist without ever having been spoken out loud. The unwritten laws that govern us, the love between friends, morality. Then there are other things that aren’t spoken of because they are simply understood to be right. You’d think that sleeping with your cousin’s ex-boyfriend a week after they broke up would be one of those things.
I’ve learned better.
As children, Rose and I got along fine, even if we didn’t really have all that much in common. Rose liked to play dress up and learn things, whereas I preferred to play in the mud and experiment.
As we got older, we began to drift apart, as which often happens between childhood friends.
Rose was beautiful. Her auburn hair fell into the perfect ringlets down her back and her deep blue eyes were framed with long, thick lashes. Rose was also smart, but to the point of condensation. I didn’t think she was aware of it, but she had a way of making people feel stupid. Rose had a very close small group of friends, those just as intelligent as her, who didn’t feel threatened by her intelligence. Despite her seemingly cold exterior, Rose also had many boyfriends.
I was different from Rose in almost every way. My hair was always in a ponytail and my finger nails were always dirty. While Rose excelled in anything theoretical, I excelled in the practical. I loved anything to do with the outdoors, so I spent a lot of time on the Quidditch pitch or working in the Greenhouses. I was approachable, making me well-liked and popular, but by my fifth year, I had still never had a boyfriend.
While I was friendly with lots of people, there was only one person I told everything to – Andrew Gallagar, my best friend since first year. I was thankful for that boy. He’d put up with a lot from me over the years.
* * *
Scorpius Malfoy was the type of guy that made girls swoon. He was tall, with wide shoulders, shaggy blond hair, and killer blue eyes. Regardless, he was not known for having many girlfriends. In fact, he had only had two as long as I had been at Hogwarts. He was also known for being a genuinely nice guy. He was the kind to stop and pick up your quill if he saw you drop it and was known for helping the younger students with their homework. He was also a part of Rose’s group of small friends.
I had fancied Scorpius for a long time in my fourth year, and summer had done nothing to change that. Once September started, Andrew was once again subjected to my swooning.
It was the start of term feast, and Andrew and I were sitting side by side at the Gryffindor table, watching people come it.
–He’s so bloody handsome,†I sighed as Scorpius walked into the Great Hall. –If possible, I think he’s become even more good-looking than June.†And he had. He had developed a nice tan over the holidays that really made his blue eyes pop. At that moment, Rose sat down across from us, so I promptly shut up. While Rose and I didn’t hate each other, and would certainly talk, I was not about to tell her that I fancied one of her best friends.
We exited the Great Hall behind Scorpius, who was leading the Slytherin first years down to the Common Room.
Andrew ran his thumb down my cheek by my mouth. –Hey, Lily? You look much better when you aren’t drooling.â€
–Andrew!†He laughed at my red cheeks. I hoped Scorpius hadn’t heard as he turned down the corridor to the dungeons.
–Do you think he knows I exist?†I asked Andrew as we climbed the stairs. Andrew looked at me.
–Lily, everyone knows you exist.†Unfortunately, that was true. My dad was famous, and I was famous through him, which wasn’t always a good thing.
Throughout the next month, I kept Andrew up to date on everything Scopius related. Whenever Scorpius would smile at me, I’d tell Andrew who would say –that’s great, Lily!†Andrew was too nice to point out that Scorpius smiled at everybody. Whenever Scorpius glanced over at our area of the Gryffindor table, Andrew was informed.
Once, Scorpius and I locked eyes from across the Great Hall. He smiled and nodded his head in greeting and I looked away, blushing, but smiling.
–What do you think that means?†I asked Andrew.
–Well, he knows you exist, that’s for sure,†Andrew answered, briefly looking up from his Potions essay.
–I need to find some way to talk to him,†I mused.
–Start struggling in Transfiguration,†Andrew suggested.
–No, that won’t work.â€
–But Scorpius always helps struggling students,†Andrew said.
–Yes, but he’s friends with Rose, and Rose knows I don’t just start struggling with classes. Plus, she also knows that I always go to you when I have homework issues.†For some reason, Andrew blushed. –It’s too obvious.â€
Andrew twirled his quill in his hand. –Well, you could always invade a Slytherin Quidditch practise.â€
There was no need, watching Andrew had given me an idea.
* * *
The next day at lunch, I took extra care to watch Scorpius without making it too obvious. Once Scorpius had finished eating,I nudged Andrew in the ribs.
–Come on, let’s go!â€
–But...†Andrew looked longingly at his uneaten treacle tart.
–Andrew, come on,†I said, getting slightly impatient.
We managed to slip out of the Great Hall just before Scorpius exactly as planned. We walked until the crowds were thinner, and looking at the reflection in the suit of armour in front of me, I could see that Scorpius was still behind me. I took my wand from out of my sleeve and pointed it at my bag.
–Diffindo!’ I whispered.
The bottom seam of my bag ripped. I dropped my wand with the clutter to make it appear as if it was simply an accident. Andrew and I dropped to our knees and began picking up my stuff. A hand that wasn’t Andrew’s held out my wand. Just as was expected, Scorpius was helping pick up my stuff.
Once all the stuff had been picked up, we stood up. Scorpius handed me the book in his hand.
–Thank you,†I said, smiling. Andrew looked at Scorpius with a peculiar expression on his face. He held my broken bag in one hand and a stack of books in the other.
–My pleasure, Lily,â€â€ he replied. I could help but love the fact that he knew my name! He turned to Andrew. –Andrew, right?†Andrew gave a curt nod. –Can I see the bag?â€
Andrew handed Scorpius the bag who proceeded to examine it. –It’s a clean break along the seam, it should be easy enough to fix. That is, if you wanted me to.†I nodded. Scorpius pulled out his wand and pointed it at the bag. –Reparo.†I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic. Not only had he helped me pick up my stuff, but he had fixed my bag!
He held out the bag for us to put the stuff back in it. He then handed me the bag. Our hands touched ever so slightly, and I swore I felt sparks.
–Thanks,†I said. Andrew and I turned to leave.
–Hey, Lily?†I turned around, as did Andrew.
–I was wondering...I’ve been meaning to ask you for a bit actually, would you like to come to Hogsmeade with me on the next visit?â€
Inside, my stomach was turning backflips, but on the outside, I remained calm and collected. –Yeah, I’d like that.†I smiled.
He smiled back. –Great!â€
Once Andrew and I had entered the almost empty common room, I began to squeal.â€Oh my gosh, he asked me out! Did that really just happen?â€
–Yeah, Lily, it did.†Andrew didn’t sound too happy about it.
Our first date was amazing. Scorpius was the perfect gentleman. I told Andrew everything, from the way he smelled like broomstick polish to how he didn’t kiss me at the end of it, telling me that he didn’t want to rush our relationship.
Scorpius and I very quickly became official. Our relationship was simple. We did homework in the library, went for walks around the lake, and snogged in empty classrooms. For Christmas, Scorpius got me a beautiful silver necklace. I was comfortable and happy.
Midway through March, our relationship began to get more intense. By this point, I was sure I loved him, but I had no idea how to tell him. So I asked Andrew as we were doing homework one night.
–Hey, Andrew?†I asked tentatively.
–Mmm?†he asked, as he stared down at his parchment and chewed on his quill.
–If I were to tell a guy I loved him, how would I do that?â€
Andrew quickly tore his eyes away from his paper. –What do you mean how?†Couldn’t you just say it?â€
–I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you!â€
–I’d just look into his eyes and say ‘I love you’.â€
–So, like, what you just did now?â€
Andrew looked flabbergasted. –Yes, like what I did just now.â€
It turned out I lucked out. Scorpius was the first to say it that afternoon while we were doing homework in the library.
The next time we were together again, Scorpius brought me to an old classroom on the sixth floor. After locking the door, Scorpius and I began some fervent snogging.
It took me a moment to get my bearings. –Won’t anyone come here?â€
–No, this classroom hasn’t been used since before my dad went to school here.â€
We continued our snogging. Scorpius untucked my blouse and ran his hands up my bare back. It gave me the shivers, causing my arms around his neck to pull him in closer.
Scorpius slowly backed me into a table, where he gently lifted me onto it and eased me down. He deepened the kisses further, which I didn’t even know was possible. He unbuttoned my button blouse button I gently pushed him away.
–No, I’m not ready, yet.†My eyes searched his, but he just pulled himself back.
–Okay, I’m sorry, I just thought we were at that point. It’s okay, though, I won’t pressure you.â€
Things between us went back to normal, so I was surprised when two weeks later, Scorpius told me that he â€thought we should see other peopleâ€.
It was my first heartbreak. I don’t remember what I said, all I know is that I ran to the dungeons where I knew Andrew was and fell into his arms.
The next week, I was sitting eating lunch with Andrew when Scorpius came over. He didn’t even look at me. Instead, he leaned in towards Rose and whispered something to her something that caused her to smile and nod.
A day, later, I saw them walk down the hall hand in hand. Andrew put his arm around me steered me towards the nearest classroom, where I leaned on his shoulder and cried some more.
People hadn’t missed what had happened. My friends asked me what had happened. I shrugged, because I really didn’t know. When Phoebe Thomas came up to me and told me that Sean McLaggen had walked in on them in the abandoned classroom, I couldn’t help but feel like that was the reason Scorpius broke up with me. In all honesty, though, I didn’t know if it was, and I didn’t think I ever would.
Needless to say, Rose and I went from being on friendly terms to not speaking at all. Rose had broken the unspoken code, and I just couldn’t forgive her for that.
Unspoken by Maple_and_PheonixFeather
Story Notes:
Thanks for the beta, Ellie!
Disclaimer: A year after writing this, it has come to my attention that Andrew Gallagher is a character from Supernatural. As I do not watch the show, I did not know this.
Andrew has been nominated for a 2013 QSQ for best OC
Chapter Endnotes: Reviews are love!