Chapter 10: The Showdown
The day arrived with an eerie stillness, the kind that heralded a storm. The corridors of Hogwarts were filled with quiet, as though everyone was waiting for the inevitable. rose felt the weight of it pressing down on her as she moved through the day, unable to shake the tension that had settled over the school. scorpius was by her side, calm but resolute, though rose could see the tightness in his shoulders.
By lunchtime, it was clear that word had spread. In the Great Hall, students from every house exchanged knowing glances, some whispering behind cupped hands. Theo's crew, the Slytherin group at the heart of the conflict, sat at their table with smug confidence, casting frequent glances at rose and scorpius.
"Stay close to me," scorpius murmured as they ate, his voice low. "I don't trust Theo to play fair."
"I'm not going anywhere," rose whispered back, her heart thudding in her chest. The eyes on her felt like daggers, each one a reminder of the stakes.
As lunch ended, students began to gather in the courtyard, the appointed battleground. It wasn't an official duel—not yet—but everyone knew it had the potential to turn into one. scorpius and rose walked together toward the center, their heads held high despite the rising tension. Grant and hope followed close behind, their presence a quiet show of support.
Theo was already waiting, flanked by several of his Slytherin friends. His smirk deepened as scorpius approached. "Well, well, the prodigal son returns," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I wasn't sure you'd show up."
scorpius's face remained impassive. "I'm here. Say what you need to say."
Theo's eyes flicked to rose , and his expression darkened. "You've got everyone talking, scorpius. A Malfoy, parading around with a Weasley. It's pathetic. You're throwing everything away for her."
rose felt her blood boil, but scorpius squeezed her hand in silent warning. He stepped forward, keeping his voice calm and measured. "I'm not throwing anything away, Theo. You're just upset because I'm not falling in line with your outdated ideas."
Theo's smile faltered, but only for a second. "Outdated ideas? No, scorpius, this is about loyalty. You're a Malfoy. Your family has always been one of the most respected names in the wizarding world. And now you're—what? Playing house with a Gryffindor?"
At that, a few scattered chuckles came from the crowd, but most of the students were silent, watching with bated breath. rose 's hand clenched into a fist, but scorpius remained focused.
"I'm not playing anything, Theo," scorpius said coldly. "I care about rose , and that's all there is to it. You can't stand that I'm not following your little rules. But here's the thing: you don't control me. None of you do."
Theo's face twisted in anger. "You think this is just about you? You're making a mockery of everything Slytherin stands for. Our house, our traditions. And for what? For her?"
rose couldn't stay silent any longer. "This isn't about traditions, Theo," she snapped, stepping forward. "It's about you not being able to accept that things