Chapter 15: The Strength Within
The days were growing colder, the autumn air brisk as Hogwarts prepared to welcome winter. With the school year well underway, the tension that had surrounded rose and scorpius after the duel had begun to settle into a quieter, more manageable hum. Students had largely moved on to other distractions, and while a few whispers lingered, most were no longer concerned with the Gryffindor-Slytherin romance that had caused so much uproar.
rose stood by the window in the Gryffindor common room, gazing out at the stormy sky, lost in thought. scorpius had been distant the past few days, not intentionally, but she could sense something weighing on him. Their relationship had survived its first real challenge, but there were other battles left to fight, and she could feel them looming.
She was pulled from her thoughts when hope came up beside her, her red hair a bright contrast against the gray world outside. "Penny for your thoughts?" hope asked, leaning against the window ledge.
rose sighed. "Just thinking about everything that's happened. It feels like things have quieted down, but I can't shake the feeling that it's not over."
hope nodded. "It's not, but you and scorpius have made it this far. That says a lot. Besides, anyone who's still holding onto the whole 'house rivalry' thing is just stuck in the past."
"Yeah," rose said, though her mind wandered to scorpius. "I just wish I knew how to help him. He's been keeping a lot inside since the duel."
"He's probably still processing," hope said thoughtfully. "Theo and his crew won't give up easily, but scorpius knows what he's doing. He's strong. He'll get through it."
rose gave a small smile. "I know. I just wish he'd talk to me more about it."
Before they could continue the conversation, the portrait hole swung open, and Grant strode in, looking unusually serious. He made a beeline for them, his expression grim.
"What's wrong?" rose asked immediately, sensing the shift in his demeanor.
Grant glanced around the common room before speaking in a low voice. "I just overheard Theo talking in the courtyard. He's not done, rose . He's planning something else."
rose 's stomach twisted. "What kind of plan?"
"I don't know all the details," Grant admitted, "but he's not giving up on making scorpius pay. He's going after him, but in a different way this time. He knows he can't win a duel, so he's trying to mess with his reputation instead."
hope crossed her arms, frowning. "That's low,