Chapter 16: A Stand Together
The morning light filtered through the windows of the Great Hall, casting long golden beams across the floor. The tension in the air was palpable, but there was also a sense of anticipation. Theo's rumors had spread faster than rose had feared, and though they had done everything they could to stop it, the damage was already starting to show.
scorpius walked beside her, his face set in a mask of calm, but rose could sense the storm of emotions beneath the surface. Every glance, every whisper that followed them in the halls seemed to hit him like a fresh blow, though he never showed it. rose 's stomach churned with anger and frustration, but she kept a steady hand on his arm, her touch a quiet reminder that she was with him.
When they entered the Great Hall, it felt as though all eyes were on them. Students from every house looked their way, some curious, some suspicious, others simply waiting to see what would happen next. Theo sat at the Slytherin table, his smirk as sharp as ever, surrounded by his friends who had been eagerly fueling the rumors.
But rose and scorpius weren't alone. Grant and hope were waiting for them at the Gryffindor table, their faces set with determination. As rose and scorpius sat down, a few other Gryffindors cast them sympathetic glances, though the tension was undeniable. It was as though the entire school was waiting for the next shoe to drop.
As breakfast went on, rose noticed more than a few students casting suspicious glances at scorpius. Whispers floated through the air, fragments of the lies Theo had carefully planted.
"He's just like his father, isn't he?"
"They say his family's still involved in Dark Magic…"
"Do you think he'll turn out the same way?"
rose felt her fists clenching under the table, but before she could say anything, scorpius suddenly stood. The chatter in the Hall quieted as he walked toward the center, his steps measured, his face calm despite the tension surrounding him.
"scorpius—" rose started, but Grant shook his head beside her.
"Let him handle this," he whispered.
scorpius stopped in the middle of the hall, directly in front of Theo's table. Theo looked up, his smirk widening, but scorpius didn't give him the satisfaction of reacting. Instead, he turned to address the entire hall.
"I know you've heard things about me," scorpius said, his voice steady but strong, carrying across the room. "About my family. About who you think I am."
The hall went completely silent now. Everyone's attention was on scorpius, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"Yes, I am a Malfoy," scorpius continued, "and yes, my family has a complicated past. But I am not my father. I am not my grandfather. I am not tied to the mistakes of those who came before me. I stand here as my own person."
Theo's smirk faltered slightly, but scorpius pressed on.
"You may choose to believe rumors, or you can choose to get to know the truth. I've spent my years at Hogwarts proving that I'm more than a name. If you can't see past that—then that's your problem, not mine."
The Hall was deathly still. rose held her breath, watching scorpius with awe. He had just taken control of the narrative, refusing to let Theo or anyone else define him.
Without another word, scorpius turned and walked back to the Gryffindor table. Theo glared after him, his jaw clenched, but scorpius didn't spare him a glance. He sat down beside rose , his expression unreadable.
The whispers in the Great Hall had shifted now, but not in the way Theo had intended. They were no longer talking about scorpius's past—they were talking about his courage. Slowly, a few students nodded toward scorpius in acknowledgment, while others looked more thoughtful than judgmental.
rose smiled, feeling a surge of pride. "That was incredible," she whispered.
scorpius glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I just hope it's enough."
"It will be," Grant said confidently. "You've done more today than any of those rumors ever could."
hope grinned. "Theo didn't see that coming, did he?"
As breakfast continued, the atmosphere in the Hall gradually lightened. The weight of the rumors seemed to be lifting, and for the first time in days, rose felt a sense of hope.
scorpius turned to rose , his eyes softening. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"For what?" rose asked, confused.
"For standing by me. For believing in me, even when it felt like the whole world was against us."
rose smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "I'll always stand by you, scorpius. No matter what."
Together, they sat at the table, surrounded by friends who had stood by them through it all. The road ahead might still be difficult, but in that moment, they knew they could face it—together. And as they shared a quiet smile, rose knew that no matter what challenges came their way, their bond was stronger than any rumor, any rivalry, or any name.
They had each other, and that was all that mattered.
BOOK 2 COMING OUT SOON
Written by: Ally
!!!!!