-- old habits continue onward. [arabella]

[SCORPIUS HYPERION MALFOY]

Sunlight poured over the grounds of Hogwarts, hitting everything within its pathway. Everything except for the shaded areas, of course. There was a slight chill to the air that tangled itself into the edges of your body, while the wind caused a cold shiver to go through you. And where was Scorpius on this not-so-fine and almost-gloomy day? By the Forbidden Forest, of course. It was one of the few places where he could possibly be entirely alone. Without the babbling of fellow peers, the squeals of younger years, and the headaches caused by everything else. All students were to stay away from the forest, due to its level of danger. However, Scorp found it calming and very appealing. It's as though it called his name to comfort him. And he welcomed it. But, today, he wasn't feeling far too adventurous. Usually, he'd wander through the labyrinth of roots, trees, and other assortments of plants. Instead, he just wanted to sit by it, to enjoy the sounds of the creatures that inhabited the areas.

Therefore, he was making his way from the school to the particular spot he had in mind. Skipping class? Of course. He was only missing Divination- one of the most ridiculous classes that this school offered. He didn't find an interest in it. Nor did he even wish to learn it. The reason for taking it was for an easy O. So, he decided to play hooky. Why not? It's not like they had anything better planned today. Besides- he enjoyed the cool air because it allowed him to clear his mind. What did he actually have to clear his mind about? Nothing, really. Just the mere fact that he did feel lonely sometimes. The Ice King had his moments of sadness. And this was one of them. It wasn't self-pity.. it was more of how he was feeling about his life in general. There were times when he was down, too, just like everyone else. But, he wasn't completely down. It was more of a day of self reflection. What did he think of himself, for real? The answer to that was easy: he loved himself. His mean intentions and narcissistic tendencies were what he counted on.

Finally, he arrived at the tree that had his name carved into it. It was a random, gnarled tree that was literally positioned on the outskirts of the forest. First year, he had carved "Scorpius owns" into its bark.. and it's still there. Who knew that Scorp could be such a sentimental person. He was, though, but it was only during certain times of his life. This tree stood for himself. No one would ever be able to guess, but it meant more to him than his entire family. He depended on the tree more than anything, or anyone, else. It was the one thing he could truly trust. Lame, yes, but it was true. And it was something he had never shared with anyone. So, he took a seat at the base of its trunk, leaning his head back to stare at the sky. The sun was still bright, but the grey clouds matched his eyes- rolling in front of the bright star. Perhaps it would rain. He hoped so. There weren't many things that were more refreshing than the downpour of rain upon your skin. Something else he enjoyed. He was full of things that he liked the most today. The only wrong thing about the day was that he had a shorter fuse than usual. The howler from his father certainly hadn't helped to improve his mood.

[ARABELLA MARIE LONGBOTTOM]

The sunlight burned brightly upon Arabella's hair and skin. A slight breeze blew gently, which pulled at her dark curls and made the sun feel not so hot. The contrast between the warmth from the sun and the cold from the breeze made it a bit chilly, but at the same time it felt, perfect. In fact, she wouldn't want to change the temperature at all. If only every day could be like this, she'd spend every day outside. Of course, when time permitted. A lot of the classes were held inside, so when she was in class, she was indoors. Unless it was Care of Magical Creatures. That class was held outside and that was a good thing, because it was a factor that made the class one of her favourites. The class itself would have been a favourite without the benefits of going outdoors though, because she loved the animals. Yes, she happened to be a big softy, but in her mind, that wasn't a bad thing. It wasn't just animals she cared about either. Arabella cared deeply for the people around her, even those she didn't get along with. While around those select people, sure, she would show them that she didn't like them. Why act like she did, when she didn't? That would be two-faced, and she wasn't like that. But, if any of them were in need of help, she would not hesitate to help them. It was just the kind of person she was. Some people didn't get her, but others did, and as long as she had her best friends beside her, she was perfectly fine.

Arabella was never one to fit in at this school. In her first year upon arrival, people messed with her. They picked on her and did what ever they could to get her down. They were mainly Slytherins. Go figure, right? She had nothing against Slytherins, but she didn't like those that felt like they were better than everyone else. She couldn't stand the ones that bullied others. Unfortunately, it happens to be eighty-five percent of the Slytherin population that does those things. It was sad honestly. She couldn't grasp the reasoning behind hurting people's feelings. Why did people get so much pleasure out of it? That would be one thing that always ran through her mind. There happened to be one thing that was odd to her though. It was the relationship she had with one of those Slytherins. His name was Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy. Scorpius was quite the complicated character. He was one of those ones that stomped all over people's feelings. He even slept with girls just because he felt like it. There were a lot of things he did, that she didn't approve of. Then, why were they friends?

Wandering in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, Arabella let out a small sigh and placed her hands behind her back, clasping them together as she continued to walk. She really didn't know why she was going down there. In fact it felt like she was being drawn to the area. It was confusing. She never really went to the forest. It was 'forbidden' after all. Well, at least it was forbidden to go into it. Arabella had never stepped foot into the woods, unless it was for class. On her own, she would never go in there. It wasn't really fear that kept her out. Sure, she was a bit afraid of it, but it wasn't really the fear of the forest itself, but the fear of getting in trouble. She liked to be praised by her teachers, not scolded, and being a prefect made things worse if she were to get in trouble, due to the fact she was supposed to be a role model. Getting closer to the forest, she could see a figure sitting there, underneath a tree. Her eyes squinted slightly, to see if she could make out who it was. Oh, she could indeed. It was him, Scorpius Malfoy, the one mentioned before.

Why were they friends? A question asked before, but never answered. Well it was simple. The two of them met on the train to Hogwarts in their first year. Arabella had heard of him before then, but never actually met him. The two of them got to talking and then just kind of became friends. They aren't the best of friends, of course, but he was the first Slytherin she befriended, and oddly enough, the first one she accepted, for who he was. He was very rotten at times, but she still stayed his friend. It was a secret friendship though. He didn't want to ruin his reputation and she, was afraid her friends wouldn't like the idea. So, no one knew. Sometimes she didn't like keeping it a secret though. Especially from her friends.

Her feet carried her all the way until the distance between them was no more than a couple feet. A small smile played at her lips as she looked down at the boy. "I hope you're not thinking about going in there anytime soon." She said in reference to the forest. "That wouldn't be very prefect-like of you." Of course she was joking. She wouldn't actually bust him for going in there. He was her friend and she wouldn't do that to a friend, even if it was wrong. Not only that, but it was obvious he wasn't moving anytime soon. He looked content under the tree. "So, how are you, Scorpius?"

[SCORPIUS HYPERION MALFOY]

His ponderings today contained thoughts of his "friends," family, and everyone else. Did he truly have close friends? Of course not. Anyone can betray you. That was one of the main statements Draco had ingrained within his son's mind. The way he grew up was what caused him to have a lack of trust in everyone around him. Which was the main reason for why he did what he did- insult, bash, torment, etc. That's not the only one, though, because he also plays a part in it. Scorpius has a problem with changing himself, because he doesn't find that there's anything that needs to be fixed. Actually, he inherited quite a bit of his thought processing from his mother on the fact that they each think that they're perfect the way they are.. when they really aren't. Instead, they're filled with flaws, more so than they would be if they simply acknowledged those faults. He's a stubborn male, though, and refuses to accept the monster that he has become. Because he knows that this is how he's supposed to be, how he wants to be. Therefore, he is.

There were only a few people that he considered to be a friend. One of those, surprisingly, was Miss Arabella Longbottom. How in the world had he actually gained the friendship of a Longbottom? Well, it had been on the first train to Hogwarts; first years. Scorp had been extremely naive back then, thinking that he could actually be nice and make friends. That proved to fail, because every Slytherin student caused him grief, semi-shaping him into the person he is now. He's worse than they were back then. But, he had been nice to one person in particular and she had returned it. Of course, he should've known that she would end up in a house like Hufflepuff. How embarrassing. He seriously had hoped she would end up in Slytherin with him, because it would have made their friendship easier. Ever since he was caught hanging out with her back then, he's kept their friendship on the down-low. No need to cause riots about his reputation. Afterall, he was a known loner; no friends, random girls, and hard to get along with. He was the type of guy you bring home to piss off your parents.. and he wouldn't have it any other way.

His thoughts pursued as sounds grew quieter inside the forest. Scorpius never minded the sounds of nature, of animals, of other beings. No, he didn't have a soft spot for anything. It was more an escape, a relaxation method that he took advantage of. All of a sudden, a wave of nostalgia struck through him. He missed how things used to be in his life, back when he was young. How everything had been innocent, free, playful, and dream-like. The world had simply been one big playground to follow through on all of your hopes and wishes. But that was gone now. Reality, society, and school set its claws into him where he was no longer blinded. Rose-colored glasses had framed his face back then, because he never realized how cold life actually was. Nothing good came out of it, personally speaking. You're born, you live through Hell on Earth, and then you die. Repeat. Or, you go on to Heaven/Hell. Whichever. He wasn't much for religion, but he knew reincarnation existed. But that's quite the long story - of which, he didn't wish to think about.

Instead, a familiar voice sounded and caught his attention. Looking up toward the female figure, Scorpius realized it was the infamous Arabella Longbottom. The other half of his secret friendship. He wasn't sure if she understood his reasons for not allowing it to be publicly announced, but if she couldn't comprehend, then why try and explain? Glancing toward the forest, he smirked before bringing his eyes back to her form, " Oh? And if I do? What are you going to do; stop me? " He answered with an inquiring tone to his voice. " Prefect-like, eh? Who would want to be prefect-like? It's far too boring when you can take the risks of a lifetime by walking a mere two feet into a simple forest, " was what he added afterward. This girl, whether he would admit it or not, inspired him. There was something about her that made him not want to hurt her, or try to get in her pants. She was beautiful enough, but it felt wrong. Like, as if doing so would hurt him. How could that be? She was just another girl. But that was the key - she wasn't just another girl. She was Arabella. One of the only people who accepted him as he was.

" C'mon, ma Belle, you know exactly how prefect-like I do things. I don't need to stay away from the forest just because of my superior position that I was forced to take on. " Bringing his knees up, Scorpius decided to rest his forearms on his legs whilst studying Bella. " Oh. I'm quite alright. It's literally the perfect day today; outside, I mean. Temperature, clouds, the smell in the air. Fabulous. Other than that, though-- what does it truly matter? " Uncharacteristically decent. He felt bad about everything his father had yelled at him about. It had gotten to him, but within a few hours, he'd be back to being the chipper ol' Scorpius. Some things struck a chord inside of him and Draco was one of them. His father's disappointment shouldn't mean much, but it did. Unfortunately. " And.. how are you? Still fighting off guys with a stick? Or are they hitting you with the stick? " Plausible questions. He was sure she'd have guys asking her out.. Or guys that were completely hounding her. He didn't care about her answers, because he knew she'd never give in to dating one of the losers. Her and her damned self respect.

[ARABELLA MARIE LONGBOTTOM]

Just a glance at this boy made her smile. Was that weird to say? She wasn't in love with the boy, she just felt happy around him. Shouldn't you feel extremely happy when you're around your friends? Yes. You should. End of story. He wasn't the only one to make her happy. She had three other people that did that. Not even those four were the only ones, but they were the main ones. Especially the three just mentioned. They were her best friends. The ones she didn't tell about Scorpius. Not that she felt good about this. It was kind of exciting at times, having a secret friend. But at the same time, it made her feel terrible. Not because she was kept secret from his friends, but because he was kept secret from hers. Arabella hated keeping something like this from them, when she was so used to telling them everything. It was a big deal to her, but she did it, for him. She did fear the reaction of her friends, not that they would disown her or anything, she just didn't want them to be angry. But she understood that he had a lot at stake and if anyone knew, his reputation would drop. Normally she didn't care about reputations, but he was her friend and she would protect it as long as he wished. She knew how it felt to be at the bottom and she wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

Arabella actually considered Scorpius to be quite lucky. She didn't have an ego or anything, but seriously, how many people would do what she does for him? There were a lot of cruel people at Hogwarts, and even some of the sweetest people wouldn't keep a secret like this. It was hard to figure out who you could trust at Hogwarts. It seemed to be like that in the muggle world as well. Always fighting to protect yourself, because at any moment someone could hurt you, whether it be mentally or physically. She didn't understand why he hung out with some of the people he did. A lot of them were disrespectful and untrustworthy. She hoped he didn't confide in them with anything personal, because she honestly didn't want him to get hurt. If he did though, she would be right there to pick up the pieces, like she would be for any of her friends. She'd do anything to protect those she cared about and seeing as Scorpius was a Slytherin and a lot of Slytherins weren't very nice, she was ready for anything that came his way. If anything were to happen to him, which she hoped nothing would, but if something were to happen, she'd go to great lengths just to make him feel okay again. Did that make sense, even though he was one of those same Slytherins? It was like, he could do something to someone and hurt them and she wouldn't be too pleased, but if it were to come back and bite him in the ass, she'd still feel like he didn't deserve it. What a weird contradiction.

With her hands still clasped tightly behind her back, she rocked from heel to toe a couple times before standing still once again and leaning forward a bit, a smirk now placed on her lips instead of her usual innocent smile. "Of course I'm going to stop you. It's my job. But it's not if I'm going to stop you, you should be asking about. It's how, I'm going to stop you." She stood back up straight and let her arms fall to her side, instead of keeping them behind her. Would she really try to stop him, or was she just pulling his leg? That was actually a really good question, and she probably didn't even know that answer herself. The smirk was replaced by her normal smile as she continued to look down at him. She wondered if he thought it was weird that she smiled a lot. It wasn't an annoying bright smile. It was just a small one, but still nice, to keep a bright mood. "I do enjoy being 'prefect-like', if you must know. I like knowing that the teachers can count on me." Her eyes left him for the first time to glance at the forest for a moment, before they returned back to him. Her smile was no longer on her face. She wasn't upset though. Her face was just, normal. "I've never been in the woods, except for during class." She hoped she wasn't making a mistake by telling him that. Well, maybe it wouldn't be considered a mistake, but she really didn't feel like being dragged into the woods. Would he try to convince her to go in with him? It was unknown to her.

Ma Belle? For a moment she was caught off guard which resulted in a slight shade of pink coloring her cheeks, but it soon left as quick as it came when she calmed her nerves by thinking of anything but those words. It wasn't that she liked him, it was the compliment behind the statement, even if Belle was just a simple nickname linked to her name. Plus, she needed to focus on what he was saying so she could brew up some witty comments in return. "Yes, unfortunately I am stuck knowing you better than most." She said, once again joking with him. Alright, enough with the messing around. She didn't want to annoy him. Actually, she started to annoy herself. "I'm just messing with you. You know I enjoy being your friend."

It seemed she was experiencing a lot of emotions today, seeing as a frown now took place on her lips, due to his next comment. Too bad they all happened in a span of about, two minutes? Scorpius did that to her. One minute he seemed fine, and then he would say something that offset her. It was weird, and she hated it. She felt so bipolar sometimes. "Well, I'm glad you're alright and you're enjoying the lovely weather, but I don't see how it doesn't matter. How you are feeling does matter. At least, to me it does." Arabella was being completely honest with him. There was no reason to lie and she wasn't even close to being a liar anyway. He might not actually care about her being worried about him, but that was what truly didn't matter. If he didn't care, it didn't phase her. She would still worry about him. It was who she was. "I am content, I suppose." She started, now answering his questions. "No, there are no boys bothering me. What would make you think that I have to fight them off?" Now she was confused. Emotion number, whatever. It didn't matter. It just proved that she could endure a lot of emotions in a short period of time.

[SCORPIUS HYPERION MALFOY]

To be frank with himself, Scorpius wasn't sure as to why Arabella was always so nice to him. She was one of the purest people, even when stubborn and angry. There was nothing that she wanted to do that was wrong and she always tried to achieve things at the best of her ability - or higher. So, why was she so willing to accept him? Of all people? He was one of the worst Slytherin students around, because of his attitude toward everyone else, including those in his own house. Why should she waste her time on some low-life? Ever since he had known her, he had always asked himself this. Asked himself every question about how she could possibly want him in her life. He was chaotic, psychotic, and high maintenance afterall. But then - why did he keep their friendship, too? She was his one weakness when it came to actual people. Family? They can die. Friends? He can live without them. Bella? She was something else. Enough for him to actually respect her and her wishes. Why try and get her into bed when he'd be shut down anyway? Scorp was well aware of her thoughts on that type of thing. She wasn't a one-night-stand person.. and truly, he liked that about her. It proved that she wasn't like every other girl out there, willing to be with a guy just to feel better about themselves.

Those were the girls he preyed on. The girls he counted on. If it weren't for them, he wouldn't be an addict. No, he wouldn't never openly admit being addicted to sex, but he did have a problem. He just wasn't willing to accept it. Instead, he refuses to acknowledge it and continues using the females around him. Hell, he even used Arabella. Not in the same way as others, but he leaned on her for support. He depended on her being there, because otherwise, he was sure to hit the wall of pure insanity. Scorpius hated how he needed her just to feel like his true self. The identity hidden below everything. He allowed her to glimpse that side of him, too, but not often. Every single day, he held up his shield of defense. Of course, a lot of it was true. He didn't care about most things - like other's feelings, etc. But other parts were a facade, because he needed to survive. If he wasn't the one causing trouble, then someone else would be. Scorpius would much prefer it to be himself rather than others, because he didn't wish to deal with someone that was exactly like him. He didn't even like dealing with himself on some days. While, other days, he loved it. His brilliant mind, sharp tongue, and dark thoughts. It made his ego grow because of how much he loved his place in Hogwarts. Slytherin bad boy, honorable Malfoy, dark heartthrob.

Scorpius couldn't help but chuckle at her comment of the fact that he should be asking about how she'd stop him. Confidence soaked through his body every damned day and he was pretty sure that she couldn't stop him, unless she did something extremely unexpected. And this intrigued him beyond all thought. " But, why would you want to stop me? It's harmless, for the most part. Just don't touch anything, say anything, or make any sudden movements, " a silly grin then appeared on his face. It made the forest sound dangerous and as though you should be cautious - to the extreme. It was mostly true, though. If you didn't shout, run, or disturb the nature, you were pretty much golden. At least, in all of his experiences. He didn't wish to harm the forest, he merely wanted to explore. Personal reasoning was what the forest depended on to see if it should attack or sit and wait, he supposed. Scorp loved the forest, though, and all of its mysterious ways. Actually, he even felt safer in the forest than he did in the school. Bringing his thoughts back to Arabella, he couldn't help but snort at her comment of how she liked teachers counting on her. " Seriously? You actually care whether or not they can 'count' on you? You do realize that the prefect position is a load of shit, right? " She had actually surprised him for once with following the prefect expectations.

When Bella looked toward the trees, he turned his head to follow and look at the vegetation beside them. Either she was simply making a statement, or she secretly wanted to go and wander. But, he wasn't in the mood to do so. Scorpius would rather chill out today, to let his problems roll away with the wind. Smirking, he decides to reply with, " Well. One day soon, then, I'll have to take you on a tour. Just us and not during a class. You'll love it, I'm sure. " With a nod, Scorpius brought his knees back down and stretched back against the tree he was still leaning against. For some odd reason, the tree was mighty comfortable, despite the shards of bark that stuck out at him. After he had called her "my beautiful" -- without explanation or further information on it, he could've sworn he saw a pink tinge to her cheeks. " Are.. are you blushing? " This made him grin again, his ego moving upward and his mood rising as well. She had a way of inflating his "happy" emotions which usually got him out of whichever depressive moment he may be in. Today, it was working its magical charm on him, because he wasn't feeling as sad and lonesome as he did before. It got on his nerves at times, that he could only truly trust this one person, but at other times- he was certainly glad for it.

" Stuck? Why, yes. I'm forcing you, " nodding, he laughed and then nodded at how she was merely kidding. " I know. But, what I don't understand.. is why you enjoy being my friend? " It was an honest question. No tricks, jokes, or hidden agendas. He actually meant this question for what it was. He was a terrible friend- he had always been. Even with his closest pals. And then he was caught off-guard by her frown. Of course, he had seen many disapproving expressions from her, because of his ways. But, despite her disappoint, he still does whatever he wants. The way she reacted, though, was because he didn't feel as though how he felt mattered. It was true - his feelings didn't matter. But, she didn't like that much. " It shouldn't matter, Belle. How I'm feeling is insignificant, because of how I don't have emotions. " It was a half-hearted joke. Perhaps it wasn't the best one to make, or even to make one at all, but he wasn't sure why she cared so much. He was a secret friend, by his choice, and used her for so many things. Sighing within his mind, he wanted to beat her over the head with a banana or something-- what made him think she had to fight off guys? Was she for real? " Because, you're the type of girl that a lot of guys want. You know.. good looking, smart, funny, friendly.. Ravies, Huffles, and Gryffies dig that stuff, yo. " It was as honest as he was going to get - he certainly couldn't outright say she was beautiful. That would be crossing his own line.

[ARABELLA MARIE LONGBOTTOM]

Shifting her body, she finally decided to have a seat. She was starting to get tired of standing, so she sat. Not next to him of course. That might be a little awkward, but in front of him, in the same spot she was standing in. She sat so that her legs were to the side of her and she leaned to the side to put all of her weight on one hand. That was the best thing to do seeing as she was wearing a dress and any other position would be unlady like. It was not only the fact it was unlady like though. She was not the type of person to want to expose herself for all to see. That was disgusting. She never understood how girls could do that. Just, let everything hang loose. What did they accomplish from doing that? Maybe a couple boys chasing after them, perhaps? But even then, it was infatuation or lust. It would never last. No honest relationship would come of that. She also couldn't grasp the reasoning behind a male being attracted to something like that. Obviously they had no self respect, and that was something Arabella had a lot of, which is why she didn't act like that.

Arabella knew Scorpius was like that. She had heard many girls talking about their time with him. It was disturbing, but she ignored it, because it was none of her business. What he did in bed with a bunch of girls, was not her problem. It was his decision and if he wanted to act like that then so be it. He was one of those boys that would do anything to get his hands on a piece of ass, but that was just something she had to accept. The thing was, she didn't have to deal with it. For some reason, he never tried to do anything with her. Was she not pretty enough for him? Because it seemed everyone he had sex with was attractive, in their own way. She didn' t want him to try to pursue her, but it still made her curious. She didn't believe she was ugly. Or was she? She had never been in a relationship before. Oh now she was getting paranoid. She really didn't need to think bad things about herself. She had her insecurities and this was not helping, but it wasn't his fault. It was hers and the fact that she would not accept the fact that maybe she was beautiful.

"Are you laughing at me Malfoy?" She asked, crossing her arms across her chest and using his last name instead of his first to show displeasure. That's what a lot of kids did if they didn't like someone. They'd throw around a last name instead of using someone's first name like a respectable person would do. Well, technically using a surname was not disrespectful, but in this manner it could be. He would know that she wasn't truly mad though. She didn't get angered by him for something so stupid. It was the big things that got on her nerves and caused a fight between the two. In fact it was surprising that they hadn't fought yet. But, they had only just said hello, so there was still time for that to happen. "You just proved to me why I should want to stop you, by saying that it's harmless unless you do one of those few things, so I don't even have to answer that." That was a logical answer. Don't talk, make sudden movements, or touch anything? All three of those actions were things that every person does and it's hard not to do them. Especially for a girl. "Yeah, kind of." She told him in reference to his question about her caring about them counting on her. She did care. A lot. She wanted her teachers to be proud of her and she wanted her parents to be as well.

Ignoring his comment about the prefect position being shit, she looked down to the grass and started to run her hand through it. Her eyes stayed downcast and focused on the grass her hand was playing with, but she was still paying attention to everything he said. "I don't know Scorpius. I probably shouldn't go in there." She let out a small chuckle as she thought about it, and looked back at him with the same old smile she's been wearing. "Actually, I'd probably end up doing one of those three things and getting us both killed." The most likely one to happen, was her talking. She was a talkative person, especially around her friends. She wouldn't be able to keep quiet. Then the sudden movements and touching things could be combined when she accidentally tripped over something and fell. Yeah, she wouldn't be able to make it in there. "No, I was not blushing. You must have been noticing the sunburn that was starting to appear on my face." She said, removing her hand from the grass and touching her cheek. "I knew I felt my face burning." After that comment she was not able to hold in another chuckle at how ridiculous it actually sounded. Obviously if it was sunburn, it would still be there, but it disappeared a while ago.

Why was it that she could not stop smiling? Surely she smiled a lot around her other friends. They were her best friends. They were able to retract that happy emotion from her, but so was he. It was weird, after everything they've gone through, she still stuck around. Even after many horrible fights, she still forgave him. There was just something about him, and she couldn't place it. "Oh, right, because you could force me to stick around. That's funny." She said with a roll of her eyes. His next question caught her off guard though, which made her set all joking aside. Why did she enjoy being his friend? Well, truthfully she didn't know that, at least not fully. But he deserved some sort of answer, so she would just have to tell him something. Of course it wouldn't be a lie. Anything she would say to him would be the truth. "Well, I feel... happy around you." Woah. That sounded like she was in love with him more than the fact she thought of him as a good friend. "I mean, I know you treat me differently from all your other friends. It makes me happy to know that and even though some of the things you do, I don't approve of, I know you're not that bad. You're a good guy Scorpius. When you want to be." That sounded good right? She sure hoped so.

Though she wanted to keep smiling, a frown once again took ahold of her face. Why did he have to be so negative? That was the only thing about him that she did not enjoy. Arabella hated to watch her friend put himself down. That was the worst thing to do to yourself. Finally she pushed herself onto her hands and knees and crawled over next to him, sitting once again when she reached him. She put aside the fact that it might have been awkward to be so close. But now, she didn't really care. Arabella pondered what she thinking about saying. Her eyes scanned the area for a moment, before she shifted a bit to face him. She lifted her hand up and stopped for a second, hesitating, but she placed it on the cheek farthest away from her and turned his face to look at her. "Scorpius, please don't say that. Your feelings matter, just as much as anyone else's. You matter, if not to anyone else, to me." She kept her light blue eyes locked on his as she retracted her hand from his cheek, brushing it lightly as she placed it back on the ground. Her smile had returned through all of that. But it wasn't a smile, to keep the mood bright. No, it was a soft smile. A sincere one, just to show that she really did care. What he said about her didn't even matter anymore. The subject of boys always being after her, wasn't even crossing her mind right now, even though his compliments were much appreciated.

[SCORPIUS HYPERION MALFOY]

Watching her sit, he couldn't help but think about how much of a "lady" she was. In this day and age, most females flaunted themselves in order to gain attention. But, Arabella was the type to be conservative. No, she didn't dress like a nun, but she was polite in the way she dressed and held herself. He actually felt some sort of pride within himself for her, because she was his friend. This was the person that could break his ice. And frustrate him to no end. A lot of the things she said, and the way she was so stubborn. Despite all of his annoyances, though, they still held together. After many fights over the years, they knew each other. Without a doubt. Perhaps, not everything, but who knew every single little thing about a person? Wouldn't that make things boring then? Because then it would all be entirely too predictable and bland. Scorpius much preferred elements of surprise, excitement, and mysteries. He would take those over the expected any day. Of course, he relied on expectations for how certain girls acted. But, he could live without that. He just couldn't live without the sex. There it was again. Sex. His addiction- Well, his non-addiction. The one he wasn't willing to accept. Maybe one day, but that wouldn't be this day. He was too busy for that. Too busy thinking about Arabella Longbottom. The girl that seemed to interest him quite a bit.

He would never tell her, but she one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. Not simply her looks, but everything combined. It was just an observation, nothing for anyone to get hyped up about. Scorp could appreciate a good body. But, a good personality? Well, that depended on the person. Usually, he didn't give someone a chance to show their personality, because he honestly couldn't care less. When he looked at a person, he didn't see them or what they looked like. He saw another person in his way of whatever he was trying to achieve. Whether it's to speak to someone or just walk through a corridor. Most faces didn't register in his mind unless he wanted them to. Even the girls he slept with; he could barely remember half of them. Not because of any alcoholic beverage, but by how his memory didn't care to acknowledge them either. Did that make him a bad person? He supposed so, because of how he used women. His mother had always told him to care for a female, respect her, be a gentleman, and be less like his father. Scorpius couldn't blame her, considering how his father did act. Draco wasn't the best influence for a kid to have as their dad. For that, though, he refused to follow his mother's instructions. She didn't run his life afterall. She had never really been around that much. Sure- they taught him the Malfoy ways, but they would often leave to go on vacation, go hunting for the dark lord, and all that jazz.

Anyway. She had sat down in front of him before calling him 'Malfoy.' That seemed to be a thing among Hogwarts students-- they liked to use your surname for negative things. Or competitive things. And, this comment by her only made him laugh more so. It was full-hearted or anything, but it was a small laugh. Because it was simply funny. " Of course not.. " He answered, trying not to continue laughing. And, he had apparently proved to her that she should stop him because he said it was harmless, as long as you follow the requirements. Scorpius could easily go along with them, because it didn't like to touch many things anyway. Besides skin, of course. Would you go around a forest and feel up every tree trunk? He wouldn't. Vegetation wasn't his thing, yo. As for the answer on how she cared about what teachers thought and that they were to count on her, he let it go. This time. The prefect position meant nothing to him. It was a title. A title that his father requested, so it took it on. Otherwise, it would've been an intensively long lecture through a howler again. And those- he did not look forward to. But, he was the only Malfoy son. So he had to uphold all of the honors. And he was a disappointment. Such a disappointment that Draco had no idea what to do with him after Hogwarts.. Or, that's what Scorpius believed. But plans were different, that he didn't know of.

" Hm. You probably would. You are a bit clutzy. I've seen you try to walk around in a small area- and you tend to knock things over. Or run into things. Or trip. I believe they have a word for someone like you, y'know. Accident-prone. " With a nod, his lips curled into a sly smile. There were a ton of accident prone kids in school, because it seemed like there was always an accident happening somewhere. He tried to avoid those moments at all costs.. he really didn't want to get mixed up in one of them. Not just because they could go completely haywire, but the mere fact that he wasn't like those people. He prided himself on not running into walls. " So, I suppose I won't make you go into the forest then. Talk about ruining some fun. We would definitely have alone time in there. " With a wink, he chuckled to himself. It wasn't a suggestion, per se, but it was a flirtation. Just because he didn't want to try to sleep with her didn't mean he stopped flirting altogether. That was impossible. Especially for someone such as himself. Flirting was a part of his nature, built within the core of his soul. He couldn't just stop. Flirtatious remarks seemed to lighten the mood, or it could intensify it- speaking of anger. Some females didn't like the attention, or being flirted with. Scorp couldn't possibly understand as to why, so he never asked. But he also didn't stop. His least favourite word was "no."

Arabella began defending herself of having not blushed by trying to pass it off as a sunburn.This made him roll his eyes instantly. " If you had a sunburn, your face would still have a deep pink tinge to it. And now it doesn't. " Shaking his head, he knew what he had seen, especially after that. " No need to be ashamed, ma belle. Blushing is human nature. Well, for most of them anyhow. I haven't ever blushed, so I cannot say every does it. " His additional statement was true. No one had ever made him blush, because he wasn't that type of person. What was supposed to make him blush? Sweet, romantic lines? Those always felt cheap. And they worked just as good as cheap wine did- Not well. He also ignored her comment about how it was funny that he could force her to stick around; sarcasm. He couldn't reply, because he couldn't force her. Arabella. A girl that he wouldn't try to force. And no one knew it. Thank god they didn't. Otherwise, he would've been in a fricking ton of trouble with his gang. He was the Ice King for a reason. Stopping at nothing, not even a refusal. Well, he wouldn't go that far. Rape was one of the things that he would never pursue. He had some morals, believe it or not. Not many believed it, though. They all thought he was a horny bastard, always needing to get his rocks off.. whether a girl fought back or not. But, Scorp didn't pursue the ones that fought back. He took the hints.

Apparently, his question caught her off-guard. But he was ecstatic that he had finally asked. It was one of those things that had continuously gotten to him during the middle of the night. And.. did she just say she felt happy around him? Scorpius couldn't really comprehend that. No one had ever felt.. happy.. to be around him. They either tolerated him, liked him, or hated him. Never once were they happy. And she was? Even with all the shit he gave her? Was she insane? And then she added onto it. Saying how he treated her differently from other friends. That was true. He and his friends had a special.. evil bond. One that he loved deeply; as he loved each one of his close friends individually - no matter how bad things got between them. Yes. He loved them. He could live without them, as earlier stated, but that didn't mean he wanted to. " Y-you really think so? " Damn her. Goddamn her. He wasn't a good guy. He didn't want to be a good guy. " Well. I don't care what you think, Bella. I'm not a good guy because I don't want to be one. I like who I am. " Confidence was held in his voice, with other mixed and hidden things. Sighing, " Seriously, though. I am that bad and you know it. There has to be another reason as to why you are still my put up with me and my intolerable ways. You can tell me. I may take it personally, but I'd rather know than be deceived- you know that. "

Then. She was crawling over to him, sitting herself beside him, and looking at him. With that frown on her lips. She wasn't happy. And he had made it that way. All because his emotions were irrelevant. But it was a big deal, apparently. Scorpius, however, couldn't understand the why. Her hand had found his face, bringing him to look at her. The soft skin on her small, feminine hand, against his cheek. Her words were kind, they really word. And honest. His feelings mattered to her. He could complain about the world and she'd sit there and listen to every word of it. But Scorp wouldn't have it. No. His baggage was just that- his. And he refused to let anyone in that far. And refused to drag her down with him and his depressing and miserable life. She deserved better. Better as in, a better friend, a better person to care about. A person that could care about her - in public. Without being ashamed, afraid, or cruel. Her hand was gone then, lightly moving away. As soon as it left, he missed it. But - that wouldn't get to him. He was a stronger being than that. " My feelings don't matter, not to anyone. Yes, you may care about me. But whatever my emotions are, they're miserable and want to stay that way. I'm not going to reveal my problems to you. At all. Whatever it is that may or may not be bothering me.. has nothing to do with the fact that you care. " After speaking, he felt guilty. Because he hadn't wanted to tell her. Moving his hand, though, he placed it over hers, gently half-holding it. " Trust me. You're better off without hearing them. "