third person pov

(am i the only one who imagines graham montague as Hayden Christian? anyways xx)

          After slipping to her dorm and brushing her teeth furiously, Rose ended up at the entrance of the Great Hall where study hall was occurring.

Her sharp eyes scanned the large space, meeting Theo's gaze at the Slytherin table. She wasted no time in rushing over and throwing her arms around his neck.

The conversation ceased upon her arrival.

Draco sat in front of Theo and Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle on either side of himself as he studied her face carefully.

Theo swivelled around, a look of relief taking him over. "I looked everywhere for you, Ro."

"Poor bloke was on the verge of a heart attack," Blaise added in, scooting over to give her room in between them.

Rose gave Theo a pained smile as she dropped her bag down before sitting, and muttering, "Sorry, Dumbledore fancied a chat."

As Rose reached down to pull her potions notebook she created, the one filled with correct versions of the potions shown in the standard textbooks, Pansy sat herself next to Crabbe; who went wide-eyed at the unwelcome presence.

Rose didn't need to look up to become aware of the girl, Pansy's mind was like an open field with all of her thoughts clear as day. Deciding to take the option of ignoring another pestering human, Rose spoke without looking up as she opened the journal, "Where's Whit? I need to talk to him."

Theo slid a comforting arm around her waist, tucking his chin towards her head so he could read the pages too. "Still looking for you, after a while he told me to station myself here in case you came while he kept looking around the school."

Rose nodded slightly, thankful for Theo holding onto her as she tried to ignore the burning holes everyone was making into her skin by staring.

But, in the end, she failed, her head snapping up. "Why are you all gawking at me? Shouldn't you be studying?"

Theo shot them all an annoyed glare. "Because you're just so beautiful."

Rose scoffed. "No one likes a arse kissing liar, Teddy."

A playful smirk worked onto his lips, speaking against her temple, "Oh sorry, I thought you asked why I was staring at you..."

Rose rolled her eyes, a small annoyed smile taking her over until Pansy spoke up.

"Who was that Slytherin guy? Your boggart?"

Blaise and Rose both snapped at her in sync, "None of your fucking business, Parkinson."

Blaise nudged Rose as she casted her eyes back down to the notes, but Pansy spoke again.

"Apparently no one's ever seen him before but he was wearing Slytherin robes."

Theo clearly contemplated murder. "What the fuck are you even sitting here for? There is no room for someone pathetically dim-witted as yourself."

His angry and demeaning voice made Rose make a small sound of agreement as she didn't bother looking up once again, Pansy continuing on with meaningless words.

"I can sit here if I want. I just wonder if maybe Rose really is deranged and has been imagining some pretty-boy."

This pulled zero reaction from Rose herself, but Draco couldn't take it—uncaring if he broke his usual attitude as he slammed his hand down and made Rose jump.

"Enough Parkinson," Draco spat. "Leave."

Rose's eyebrows raised, wanting to say thank you, but knowing it wouldn't feel right being directed at him.

He wouldn't look back at her.

Pansy was shocked, but truly shouldn't have been. Draco never let anyone else disrespect Rose but himself, "Are you insane, Draco? Why would you take her side?"

Draco scoffed loudly. "I'm not taking her side. I'm just sick of your voice in my ear, and I have a headache."

Rose threw a hand over her mouth, trying to hide the sudden laughter coming out as Pansy stood and grabbed her bag before marching off like a toddler who didn't get their way.

The Black heir couldn't help but give Draco a side smile, him simply giving her a curt nod in which he didn't meet her eye as a response.

I'll always defend you, Rosie.

The words haunted her now.

Theo grunted out, "Why does she believe herself above anyone else at this school? We've made it very clear we don't want other people around us."

"Careful, Teddy. You're sounding like an elitist."

"That's because we all are." Blaise clapped Rose on the back with force, making her almost fall forward. "I love a good Parkinson freak out. Shitty entertainment but still, entertainment."

Rose looked up at Blaise with a laugh as Theo spoke in warning, "Trying to knock her off the bench, are you?"

"I wouldn't harm a hair on her pretty little head."

Luna stopped behind Draco, no one noticing her presence until she tapped him on the shoulder—making him jerk in surprise before turning around.

Draco grimaced as he looked at her. "Gods Looney, no one ever teach you not to sneak up on people?"

Rose smiled up at the blonde Ravenclaw, harshly kicking Draco's right knee under the table. "Hello, Luna."

"Sneaking up is only accounted for if one isn't paying attention," Luna said to Draco before grinning at Rose. "Hi, Rose....Oh! And hello, Blaise!"

Blaise smiled widely, straightening himself up with a silky voice. "Hello, love. You look beautiful as ever."

Luna smiled back at him before focusing on Rose, "I wanted to see if you wished to go with me to Hogsmeade this week?"

Rose clapped her hands together, pushing down the depressing weight in her chest that being around her friends took away. "Yes! We must make a trip to the three broomsticks!"

Blaise's smile turned into a smirk. "We could join you guys if you'd like?"

Luna nodded at him. "That sounds lovely to me, Blaise."

"No way," Draco grumbled, making Rose kick him again, pulling a grunt out of Malfoy.

Theo looked at Luna with his usual dead stare. "Don't worry about Draco, the rest of us will be there."

"I'll be off then!"

"Bye, Luna!" Rose called after her friend as she turned on her heel, beginning to resume skipping down between the tables.

Blaise stared after her longingly, Rose speaking in a sing-song voice by his ear.

"Ask her out, loverboy!"

He shoved her face away with his smirk twitching. "I don't fancy Luna, okay?!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah sure, Mister 'we can all come'."

Rose pointed at Draco. "As I would usually never agree with blondie, I'm going to have to make an exception this time."

Blaise switched his tone with a condescending laugh, "Oh you know I'm playing you all, I'm obsessed with Luna..." He reached into his pocket after, pulling out binoculars on a skinny metal pole. "Resume your conversation...I have things to do..."

"What the fuck are you using those for?" Theo asked with a lazy blink, as he placed his chin on Rose's head.

Blaise nodded at the Gryffindor table, everyone except for Crabbe and Goyle following his eyeline to where Fred Weasley sat running a hand through his shoulder length red-locks while flirting with Angelia Johnson.

"You see that cunt Johnson flirting with my future boyfriend?"

"For Salazar sake, Blaise. Get over that sickening crush on a Weasley," Draco said with a shiver of disgust. "What happened to hating poor people?"

"I'll have you know I still despise poor people, I just simply plan to make Fred rich by marrying me," Blaise said proudly, before putting the binoculars up to his eyes. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, as I said before, I have some spying to do."

Rose busted out in a laugh, attempting to push down his binoculars with no avail as he swatted her away.

"Leave me be! Resume your stupid studying!"

"You are not supposed to be telling the others about our way of spying on them," Rose said while resuming her studying as instructed, her brain soaking in every word written in cursive.

Theo hummed softly as he read along with her, his quill making mindless scribbles on the edges of the page that made Rose smile every so often.

At some point, Theo drew Draco with a broom hitting his head, the scribble moving as if it were happening to the stick figure—Rose giggled.

A little while later, Whitman appeared behind Draco, relief flooding him to see Rose with small peaks of happiness on her lips.

He tossed his bag down beside Draco, the blonde clearing his throat as Crabbe slid over to give Whitman room to sit down.

Theo looked up at the sound, nudging Rose to signal Whitman was there as Blaise pulled the binoculars down.

"What?" Rose groaned loudly before lifting her head to make direct eye contact with a solemn Rosier.

Her heart instantly raced.

"Crabbe, Goyle—leave," Draco demanded.

"Huh?"

"Why?"

Draco looked at them as if stupid for even daring to question him. "Because I said so."

They both scrambled up before leaving, making Rose roll her eyes.

"You didn't have to be a dick, you know?"

Draco smirked in a way that made her infuriated. "I happen to enjoy it."

"Clearly." Rose scoffed, eyeing him up and down.

Whitman reached across, grabbing Rose suddenly. She jumped back in surprise, him quickly retracting his hand with a regretful look.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm probably not who you want to—"

"Whit..." Rose reached back over, taking hold of his hand. "I could never be scared, I'm just a bit jumpy from today."

Whitman took an unsteady breath. "Ro, you have no idea how bad I feel...It's all my fault, really."

She could see his eyes start to well up, making them all give him a concerned face. Whitman crying? There was no way.

"Nothing is your fault, Whit. I chose to step in front of you."

In response, Whitman shook his head and slammed his free fist down on the table—each of his friends eyes growing wide.

A common trait they all had was slamming hands down on wooden surfaces, almost happening too often.

Whitman noticed their looks of worry. "Sorry...I'm just so fucking mad at myself. You had to see Walburga here and Tom, it...it just wasn't right..." He started to run a hand through his unruly hair, "I'm so fucking dumb for not paying attention—"

"Hey, hey, hey..." Rose cut him off, squeezing his hand. "It's fine, I swear I'm not upset or anything. It was just a lot to take in, that's why I left."

"If I paid attention I would've known it was my turn and to not go."

She shot him the best smile possible. "Nonsense, love."

A single frustrated tear ran down his face, Draco awkwardly patting his shoulder in the best form of emotional support he could provide.

"I—I just couldn't handle seeing you there, dead, all mangled up. It was just like my nightmares. It was real, for a moment."

Rose took her hand out of his, leaning up and out of Theo's hold to wipe his tear before sitting back down. "It's never going to happen, Whit."

He shook his head again. "I just think it's better if you don't join me this full moon."

Rose fake gasped, grabbing her heart as she looked up at Theo. "Did he just say what I think he said?"

Theo lazily smiled at her, winding his arm back around her waist. "I think so, Ro....the audacity is insulting, isn't it?"

With such dramatics, Rose turned back to Whitman while pointing a finger at her heart. "That hit me, Whit, that hit me right here..."

Theo leaned his ear down, wrapping his free hand around the one Rose pointed with. "Oh no, I think...I think I can hear her heart slowing down, Whit..."

Whitman chuckled slightly, coming out of his awful state. "You both are the most obnoxious people ever."

Theo spoke, "Don't hate us for being epic."

Rose pointed her thumb up at Theo as she laid her head against him. "What he said."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Glad that's over. If I had to listen to any more of the emotional blubber I was going to pitch myself off the astronomy tower."

Rose began speaking sympathetically, "Please, Draco, anywhere else. You know how much I love the astronomy tower, they would definitely close it down if you did that."

"You're such a cunt," Draco retorted.

"I'm just rather honest."

Draco goes to speak, being silenced by the hand Whitman slaps over his mouth—speaking instead of the blonde, "Are you alright though? Honestly, Ro?"

Her eyes seemed to drain. "Yeah, I just need to tell grandfather about the boggart in case it gets out that—" She paused and rubbed hand down her face in confusion, forgetting he was no longer alive. "Gods, I'm sorry."

Whitman leaned in closer on the table, lowering his voice to where only their group could hear, "Did you take your medicine today?"

"I've made quite good company with the delusions and voices in my head." Rose attempted to crack a joke, avoiding the question completely. "So, no thank you."

She rolled her eyes as Theo, Whitman, and even Blaise, all gave her sharp looks.

"Oh, fuck off," she hissed.

Whitman reached into his bag by Draco on the bench, pulling out a rattling pill bottle. "I figured you forgot."

Rose muttered under her breath as she took the pill bottle away from Whitman, twisting the top off with ease.

Draco furrowed his brows in confusion, the edge to his voice leaving. "I—"

He stopped short.

Each of them looked at him concerned, as it looked like his face was switching between deep thought and choking back words he wanted to spill out.

But Rose only stared back at him with a sharp gaze.

"What is it?" she practically snapped at him.

Draco swallowed harshly, then said, "Since when did you start taking more medicine?"

"Since I found my grandfather's dead body," Rose muttered without a trace of pain, plopping a white circular pill into her mouth. "Had to go to St Mungos and be put in one of those straight jackets. Don't know why it matters to you."

Blaise choked on air at the casualness, Draco's mask slipping again as he spoke.

"Excuse me?"

Rose shrugged. "Apparently that's what happens when you act a bit too crazy..."

No one said anything. Theo tightened his arm around her as Whitman took a deep breath, with the flashbacks hitting him. He was the only one there, the only one who could remember her scream.

"Wrong crowd, eh?" Rose laughed as she laid her head back against Theo with a gulp.

"Stop that," Draco snapped, making almost each of them flinch at the sudden harshiness. "Stop joking, stop—stop." He took a deep breath, his face contorted with emotion. "Rosie....you found his body?"

"Don't you dare look at me with sympathy, Malfoy," Rose warned, refusing to meet his eye now. "It's none of your business."

"I dare say it is."

"Bold of you to dare such a thing."

"What happens to you, Rosie, I—" He stopped himself again, inhaling sharply. "I need to know."

"Why?" she hissed, pulling away from Theo and finally glaring at him. "Why?!"

Draco said nothing—only staring back at her with his jaw clenched.

"Huh?" Rose scoffed, still refusing to break eye contact. "Tell me why!"

Eyes started drifting to them from all over the Great Hall at her sudden loudness.

"Draco," Blaise warned pleadingly. "Stop. Both of you. Please. Not here."

They each looked at Draco as he went to open his mouth, before closing it—trying to garner the strength to not force Rose into being wrapped up in his arms—his, no one else's. He could keep her safe, he could take all of the pain away, heal all the wounds he too inflicted.

He should have known.

He should've been there.

Draco could feel his skin burning, like a match had been lit and fire was slowly spreading in every vein of his.

"Coward," Rose murmured so viciously he felt sick. "You cannot even begin to say anything, can you?"

His jaw ticked, and his hand coiled so tightly in a fist on the table that it looked as though his bones would pop out—not to mention, he was staring at Rose so directly she bit her cheek hard enough to draw blood.

He stood up in a rush, and her head inclined back to follow him up.

Then, he leaned on the table, getting right in her face.

His voice came out hoarse and rough, "You know nothing."

Rose opened her mouth, a million evil comments ready to be casted unto him.

But he stopped her, with the most malicious tone she had ever heard out of anyone.

"Nothing, Black. Nothing."

For a moment, they held each other's gaze, as if they were holding a double-edged dagger between themselves.

Then Draco was gone, rushing away from the table and to the exit.

She watched how his fingers tugged again and again at the tie around his neck, until he disappeared through the open doors at the very end of the hall.

Rose immediately looked down when he faded away, nothing but an empty corridor where he rushed out of sight.

Blaise touched her shoulder, and she shrugged him off—picking up her quill and balancing her hand over the parchment, the quill only hovering shakily.

Theo nodded to Blaise and Whitman before the two stood up, Whitman murmuring, "We'll be back."

Then it was only Rose and Theo left, her quill pressing down onto the parchment with no movement until Theo ripped it away.

She let herself tuck her face into his chest with a deep breath.

Everything seemed to dissipate from her mind as his arms wound around her.

"Let's go," Theo whispered, his voice like gravel. "We'll go lay at the willow tree, and you can tell me about the Chamber."

He knew.

Of course he knew.

Theo knew everything, all the time.

He could see the future, afterall.

*

         They never made it to the willow tree.

Rose was gone and rushing away from Theo the minute they exited the Great Hall.

Draco doesn't know this now, but he will later.

All he knows right here, right in this moment, is the door to the Astronomy Tower slams shut. Steps, uneven and fast, rush up the winding staircase. Here comes a girl, but not just any girl, blazing on a warpath as soon as she steps onto the raised platform looking out onto the sunny day surrounding Hogwarts.

It is her.

It is always her filling his vision.

"How dare you?!"

Her voice feels more venomous than any snake he knows of.

She rushes around the sphere in the middle, coming at him like fire is beneath her feet.

"How dare you?!" she repeats, slamming her hands into his chest.

He doesn't fight her off.

Not once.

"You don't care! You don't care about what happened!"

When she pushes at him this time, his back hits the railing.

He wraps his hands, tight as possible around her wrists, but he doesn't shove her away.

She isn't looking at him.

"Why did nobody tell me?" he hissed. "Why were you put in the hospital, and still no one said a word?!"

She yanked her hands free, and pressed a finger into his chest. Finally, by some grace of God, her eyes went directly up to his own, but he wished suddenly they hadn't. Her eyes were too red, too swollen, and filled with unshed tears.

"Because I hate you!"

"You hate me?!" He could feel himself starting to lose his breath, the wind knocking out of his chest. "I fucking hate you too!"

No matter how many times the words have been spat back and forth, they still made them both recoil back into different versions of themselves—the ones that had to be created to survive, the cruelest people they could be to withstand the world they were born into.

She turns away from him, retreating a step.

But she is too much like Draco for her good.

She doesn't know how to stop.

"You want me to believe you didn't know?! We're alone now, Draco! You can admit it! You knew, and how could you not?!"

Draco shook his head. "How was I supposed to know?!"

"I was in your family's wing!"

His heart stutters in his chest.

They knew, they all did.

His mother.

His father.

His grandfather.

No one told him.

"I didn't know," he whispers.

She couldn't hear him.

"You didn't come!" she screams, and it is a sound full of anguish.

"I didn't know," he whispers again, but he is not sure if he even actually said the words.

"I thought, like a fool," her voice was so loud right then, so full of betrayal, "I thought you would come when you found out, but—"

"I didn't know!" he screams right overtop of her, the sound visceral. His hands press into his eyes, "I didn't fucking know!"

Her face falters, and she becomes as still as a statue.

When he looks back at her, few feet separating them, she is freely crying now. The tears fall down her face without restraint. She looks like a haunting image of the little girl she used to be, the one with two braids on either side of her, with eyes big and puffy, wounded with the same lips jutting out slightly after one too many troubles.

The one who used to call on him first, before she dared to think of anyone else.

"But you—" He stops himself short, forcing some strength back into his breathy voice. "You have to stop, Rosie. It's—It's driving me insane."

"Stop what?!"

"Joking! Acting like he didn't die! Like the worst thing didn't just happen to you!" He was screaming again, but he didn't mean to. "You keep walking around like nothing happened! I can't stand watching it! The jokes, the dead look in your eyes, the forced laughter! You keep thinking if you just laugh about it, it'll go away, but it won't! I know it won't! You're walking around like a machine on automatic!"

She laughs bitterly.

"You can be honest! You can fall apart! No one is going to turn away from you!"

"I don't want to!" Rose sounded so far away then, he knew she'd be running from him soon. "If I do then it becomes real, then he's gone! And I can't take it!"

"Rosie—"

"Stop."

She had cut him short and he let her. The sunlight trickling across her teary face and their heaving chest was an off-putting awakening. They have fought a million times, but there was something about doing it in the daylight that felt so disgusting and raw, all too vivid. It was like their hatred became a very real, untamable thing. Draco hated it. He hates fighting her, despite what it seems. He just can't help himself. He feels her betrayal like he feels his own pulse.

A silence brewed between them, and her gaze was piercing directly back into his own—like two headstrong soldiers meeting their match, refusing to back down.

By the Gods, she is so beautiful.

He is sure there had to be a little glow forming around her body for the sun, as if she were blessed.

He has to suck in a rush of air, he still can't seem to breathe well. The anger she had stirred in him was still prodding and poking at his skin. He felt it like he could feel his heart pounding.

"Your boggart—"

"Don't you dare mention that." She wasn't yelling now, but her voice was full of the same rage he felt.

Draco looked down at her crossed arms, the way she dug her nails into the skin over her biceps at the mention.

"How can I not?"

He wasn't yelling anymore either.

But she was no coward.

She never has been.

"I don't know why it was my fear." Her eyes stay on his, unrelenting. "I know you see me as worthless already. I have no reason to fear that happening when it's already occurred."

He takes a step toward her, but he didn't know what he planned to do once he reached her, yet still he didn't stop until their arms almost brushed, and she had to crane her neck up at him.

She hadn't moved, and she looked up at him like she was challenging him to some task she knew he didn't have the courage to do.

"You are not worthless."

"I don't believe you," she says, like nothing could affect her. He knew then her emotions had been mentally checked. She would not fight him more, nor would she let the new tears threatening to spill ever come down. "Everyone knows what you think of me, it's time I start accepting it."

Rosalie Black, the girl he had loved at five, and at eight, and at twelve, and at fifteen, and here, right in this moment, at sixteen, turned away from him—putting space between them as she went to leave him behind.

It felt so metaphorical.

"Leave! Like you always do!"

"Excuse me?!" Rose whirls around, breathless as he. She presses a hand into her chest, like her heart might just stop. "That's not fair!"

"Is it not the truth?" Draco presses his own hand into his chest, barely breathing. "You said you would never leave me!"

As soon as the words come out, he watches the sentence land. He watches her take the words, absorb them, and see how they tighten around her throat. The fire in her eyes dies out. He had said it, he had finally spoken the words that had been trying to claw their way out of his throat for the past three years.

For some reason, it didn't feel as satisfying as he imagined.

He couldn't take them back now, no matter how much he wished to turn time back and never speak.

There was a knot forming into a tight coil in his stomach, and he felt a wave of nausea wash over him in less than a second. What had he done? Why did he say it? He had spent so much time refusing to say what he screamed at her inside of his mind every day, now he felt at a loss of what to do.

Draco Malfoy knew he was a coward.

It was supposed to stay that way.

But she steps closer to him, then does it again, and again, until her hands reach for his face and cup his cheeks. She holds him like it is not wrong to do so, like they had not just been ready to rip one another's throats out.

"Oh, Draco," she murmurs, so softly it makes his chest ache. It is so hard to be mad at her when she is like this. Her hands smooth over his cheeks, and his heart lurches in his chest—like it trying to get out to her. He allows himself to slump into her hold. He stood to lose nothing when he had already lost her so long ago. "I'm not leaving you," she whispers, as if she cannot bear to say it loudly, "You are choosing to stay exactly how your family wants you."

The words make his ears ring.

It was all too real.

He pulls one of her hands off and brings it to his mouth, pressing the cold skin to his flesh.

She sniffles.

Her tears come down again.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles against her skin, "I'm sorry."

And I love you, he thinks. I love you so very much.

"I know," she says, and pulls her hand away. "But I can't watch you be...him. I can't—I won't do it."

She backs up and cups her hand to the side of his neck, but only for a mere second, with a grim expression—as if she knows the weight of what they had finally said to one another, with her wide eyed gaze that seemed to be out of focus.

Then she is gone, pressing the hand he had put his lips to up to her own mouth, the sound of sniffling filling his ears as she takes the steps carefully, leaving him behind once more.

Draco Malfoy, the man forever unbreakable, crumbles.

And somewhere, lost between the halls of Hogwarts, Rosalie Black cannot breathe.

*

           The next day, all of them were in the same exact position—studying in the Great Hall.

Everything seemed more tense than usual.

"What's our plans for Hogsmeade tomorrow?" asked Whitman.

"It would seem Ro and Blaise have signed us up for a day with Luna," Theo muttered.

Rose pointed at him, "Liar! I had plans with Luna! Blaise invited all of you!"

"Blaise and Luna, you say?" Whitman asked, a smile taking over his previously solemn face.

Rose smirked. "Oh, Blaise totally has the hots for her."

"You have terrible taste, Blaise," Draco grumbled.

"Really, Draco? What is taste like? Pansy Parkinson?" Rose taunted, sounding eerily vicious. "At least Luna doesn't hate other women. Not to mention, everyone here adores her."

Draco scoffed. "That's horrific to even say, Black...I have plenty of girls throwing themselves at me that are not Pansy Parkinson."

Rose raised a challenging brow. "Yes, yes you do, Draco. But tell me, when have you ever settled down with one? Give them the attention asked of you?"

He leaned on his elbows towards her. "I don't believe in stupid relationship's. The emotional aspect is terribly sickening."

"Or are you just a soon to be whore?"

Draco was the one who raised a brow this time. "Where's your relationship, Black? From where I'm sitting I've never seen you emotionally invest into one pathetic boy."

Rose stayed silent, Whitman speaking in her place firmly, "Ro, you're not allowed to have a boyfriend until you're fifty. You understand me?"

"Well," Rose began with a smirk, eyes fluttering in exhaustion as she stayed on Theo's shoulder. "I can agree to those terms as long as you don't force me to be a virgin until I'm fifty."

Theo stiffened against her, and Whitman appeared horrified as he responded.

"You will be a virgin until you're sixty. Or so help me Salazar, I will commit murder."

Rose gasped dramatically, lifting her head up off Theo. "Teddy! Tell him he cannot prevent me from having sex!"

He shrugged. "No, no...I'm going to agree with Whit on this."

"Absolutely ridiculous, Whit," Blaise began. "You need to stop having so much sex before you tell anyone they can't, and you three—" He paused to nod at Draco, Theo, and Rose. "Need to stop being virgins. Sex is perfectly normal when practised safely."

Draco scoffed with an eye roll. "Please, I have no interest in such filth with random women."

Theo dug his fingers into Rose's side, enticing a yelp from her. "I'm going to be like those muggle Christian girls—save myself for marriage."

Truthfully, the simple fact was neither had any interest in sleeping with anyone but her. It didn't feel right to imagine someone else, and they didn't think it ever would.

No one in the group could hold back their laughter at Theo's remark, Blaise having to collect himself before he could talk. "Don't you and Rose plan on getting married, Theo?"

This made Rose smile widely as she reached up to grasp Theo's chin, "Exactly, I'm the only woman Theo's allowed to have sex with."

"She's right, you know?" Theo taunted, looking over at Blaise. "Other women don't exist to me."

Rose giggled before patting Theo's cheek. "Good boy."

Blaise groaned, lifting his binoculars—from the previous day—back up. "I'm so lonely..."

Whitman started grumbling, roughly pulling out his transfiguration book.

Rose snapped her head to him with a narrowed gaze, "What are you grumbling about?"

When he didn't answer Rose leaned over the table, flicking his head. "What is your issue?"

His head snapped up. "Thinking about you having sex is upsetting, okay? It's...weird. You're just—you are supposed to be young forever. I don't want some guy touching you like that, like you're just some girl."

"Oh let her grow up, Whit," Blaise said distantly, Draco blinking as he continued staring at Fred.

"Me and Theo are only joking," Rose said with a long, drawn out sigh. "Theo's going to go off and marry some grand woman and I'll go travel around the world until death takes me."

Whitman did not lift his head up from the opening book.

Shortly after, Draco reached over to knock the binoculars down with more irritation than needed, pissed off at having to watch Rose and Theo. "Blaise, put down the damn binoculars! This is borderline insanity!"

Minutes passed between the group, before Rose slowly realised what Blaise had said earlier. She narrowed her gaze at Whitman as her gut dropped. It was a feeling she couldn't pinpoint.

She knew she was wrong for it.

"Who have you been having sex with? We've only just returned back."

Whitman shrugged, his shoulders rolling back as his eyes darted from her to his book, back and forth. "Well, as of recently...a random Ravenclaw."

Rose scowled. "Some Ravenclaw? Give me a name!"

Whitman looked to the other three boys, only getting smirks as they enjoyed his pain. They clearly would not be helping him out of this one.

"Cho Chang, okay?"

The Black stood up abruptly. "Then stop!"

"Why?" Whitman questioned.

"Because I—I....well, I said so!"

Whitman smiled up at her. "Give me a real reason."

Rose glared at him, reaching down to yank her bag off the floor before looking between the three boys getting more and more excited by Whitman being fussed at. "Wipe those smug looks off your faces!" They all immediately listened. "And you, Whitman Rosier! We've only just arrived two nights ago! I'm going to go find a hot Slytherin bloke and see how you like it!"

Whitman stood up immediately, his face tense. "Sit down! You will do no such thing!"

"No—if I have to watch you waste away your youth, then you can do the same!"

"Rosalie Aries—"

Rose cut him off with a smile, like a viper, recalling the lingering gaze she had on Adrian in first year. "Adrian Pucey is proper fit, wouldn't you say?"

Whitman and Rose stared intently at each other before she turned on her heel, Blaise becoming highly amused as all three of his friends held their breath until realising she was joking and stopped by the Gryffindor table to whisper with Hermione.

"You almost drove her to Pucey," Draco spat, rolling his eyes for the millionth time.

"As if Pucey would speak. The boy is practically mute," Whitman muttered, as he sat himself back down.

"Yeah, well I don't speak unless I'm with you all," Theo muttered as if they were stupid. "Doesn't mean anything."

"Hm, Well," Draco smiled sarcastically. "Something's definitely wrong with that boy, but then again, something is definitely wrong with you too."

Theo scoffed.

"I'm disappointed she didn't go," Blaise said matter of factly. "I think his silence adds to the whole mysterious thing." He paused for a moment, "What was that even all about? I'm confused."

"Are you daft? Rosie doesn't want Whit having sex," Draco said plainly. "They have a weird friendship."

Whitman smiled with a laugh. "Why does she care who I have sex with?"

Theo matched his smile lazily, closing the notebook Rose left behind. "You know how Ro is, just protective over you."

"Yeah." Whitman's smile fell as he focused back on the Transfiguration homework. "I'd say so, huh?"

"Oui!" Blaise cheered happily, making all three of the boys' heads snap up to follow his eyeline. "She's doing it!"

Rose was headed straight for the end of the Slytherin table where Adrian Pucey sat with Graham Montague, Marcus Flint, Cassius Warrington, Miles Bletchley, and a few other older students.

Adrian was older than her, and much broader and taller than those he sat with. The years he had on her and those within her year meant he had filled out a lot more, and took up more space—no longer was he some lanky boy.

He was pushing his ashy brown hair out of his face while studying a charms book when suddenly, Marcus Flint's agitating voice fell silent along with the rest of the table.

Adrian lifted his head up as he felt a presence settle behind him, and then Graham Montague smirked before speaking.

"Hello, Black."

Rose scoffed. "Excuse me boys, I need to speak with Pucey."

Adrian slowly turned, his face blank as he settled both legs over the bench to face her. Rose on the other hand was too busy hearing Marcus beginning to talk a mile a minute about quidditch to notice he had turned to her.

"Marcus, now is not the time..."

"But—"

Rose shot the quidditch captain a warning look that made him grumble and close his mouth before she turned her gaze down to Adrian.

His eyes were sharp, scrutinising, seeming to study every inch of her in a matter of seconds all while appearing dead in every sense. The shadows under the boy's eyes only made his stare more intimidating.

Adrian's friends began to look at Rose oddly as they simply stared at each other before she placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned into his ear.

"I'm using you in a plot against Whitman so just play along."

Adrian had no response until she stood up straight, brushing a strand of his hair back with a smile. When she started to pull away, he latched his hand around her wrist, making Rose freeze with a raised brow.

His eyes fell down to her feet before slowly trailing up.

When their gazes met again, he let go.

Rose smirked at him curiously before hearing her name be called, looking to the left to find Theo and Draco's mouth open as Whitman stood with a glare.

"Rosalie Black!" Whitman shouted again, without a care to anyone.

She simply shot them a wink before clearing her throat and speaking to the group of older students, "Mission accomplished boys."

She turned on her heel after, not looking at Adrian again in fear of how long their stare would last this time. Rose almost made it to the double door exit of the Great Hall until Graham called after her.

"Oi! Let me take you to Hogsmeade!"

She glanced over her shoulder to find the cocky blonde standing, "In your wildest dreams, Montague!"

Adrian watched her leave without wasting a second, speaking in his gruff voice to Graham, "Sit down."

Graham dropped back onto the bench with a dreamy sigh. "I think I love her."

"Shut the fuck up for once, Graham." Adrian snapped.

*

          That night, the shared dorm between Blaise, Whitman, Draco, Theo, and Rose, was peaceful—in some ways.

Blaise was off to smoke with Luna, somehow catching her after study hall and making plans—this meant the main cause of sound was gone.

On a record player by one of the floor to ceiling windows, Whitman had put on a record from the Pixies, very adamant on always being the one in charge of music. The song was slow and turned down more than normal as he scribbled his homework on the desk in the far corner, tapping his quill against the wood every so often.

Theo was off in the shower, his persistent humming muted by the music echoing through the room. And then there was Rose, laying on her side as she stared at the thick emerald curtains surrounding her bed with an emotionless face as she thought of Orion, with the silky comforter tucked under her arm and Nyx curled up to her chest.

Give me one more second, she wanted to plead to the God of Death, One more minute with him—please.

Let me climb on his back one more time.

Let him tell me he is my father one more time.

Let him smile, a rare thing, when I come down the stairs in a new gown—just once more.

The side of the curtains she stared at moved slightly, Draco slipping through with his wand in hand as he turned to close the material back before whispering a silencing spell.

Rose flipped before he could catch a glimpse of her face.

Meanwhile, Draco kept a clenched jaw as he sat himself on the edge of her bed, both their backs facing each other as he draped his arms over his knees.

She felt her heart drop as she sneaked a slight glance to see their positions, saddened even more by what had become of them.

It felt more metaphorical than anything.

Draco waited a few moments before he spoke without a detectable edge to his voice, "I didn't know."

Rose stayed silent, shuffling the comforter higher on her body.

He ran a hand through his white hair, sounding frustrated, "I should've known."

"How could you?" Rose murmured.

He knew she was right. They might still share best friends, and spend almost every waking hour near one another, but there was a fortified wall of steel sharper than his eyes between them at all times. One made of unbreakable steel. Rose would never share a detail so intimate with anyone on their terms unless she made it into something casual.

"Rosie, I..."

"Don't," Rose whispered, pulling Nyx closer to her chest for comfort. "Don't try to feel bad for me. This is life, neither of us can change destiny. Or fate, or whatever it is."

Draco sighed heavily, dropping his face down into one hand.

"Things might be shit with us, but I can always tell when you're...you're, like this."

Rose whispered firmly, "I don't need you anymore."

Draco closed his eyes slowly to push it all down, the words feeling like a knife.

"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay."

She waited, suspecting him to leave, but he never dared to move an inch.

Draco stayed, listening to her swallow breaths as they both stared into opposite sides of the curtains.

"But you can...stay until Theo gets back," Rose muttered, shrugging slightly. "If you want, that is."

"Stay?" he murmured quietly, almost in disbelief. "I'll—I'll stay."

Rose flipped back over in his direction, his gaze casting down to the side as Rose inched toward him and let go of Nyx.

His eyes transfixed on her empty gaze as Nyx started to move between them, nudging himself and then nudging Rose.

It was as if the snake was pleading for something that would never happen.

*

          The next morning Rose woke in Theo and Whitman's arms, thankful for the two people making her head go quiet. They spent the night filling Whitman in on what really happened after she ran from class two days prior, learning that she saw Tom and telling her exactly what she needed to hear.

—To stay the hell away from that Chamber.

Rose knew they were right.

She felt safe with them, able to tell them every detail without judgement or a biassed opinion. Rose wasn't very mentally stable or rational, even at the best of times. She needed to be checked every so often, to be told the hard truth.

As most people needed.

Tom Riddle manipulated her. He messed with a young girl's mind, and there was nothing more to it. She had thought him a new friend, a confidant, but he was no such thing.

And then as if both could read her mind, they began to recall peaceful stories of Orion—knowing she wouldn't be ready to face the depressing side of his death just yet. So instead, Theo and Whitman helped her fall asleep with a smile at moments of the man now gone.

It was now Hogsmeade day, meaning Rose had pushed all the boys out of the dorm so she could get ready for the outing. Plus, Rose knew if she didn't spend some of her day with Hermione, she would never get to use all of Hogsmeade with Luna and the boys.

That is how Rose ended up being followed into the black tiled bathroom with a hyperactive Hermione Granger.

"You avoided me yesterday! Where did you even go off to?!"

Rose ignored her, making Hermione roll her eyes and jump onto the counter.

"Answer my question!"

Rose groaned loudly as she rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. "I left study hall after Whit pissed me off and went to hangout with Peeves until I realised how late it was and came back here to sleep. My life is not that interesting, Granger. Find something else to gush over."

Hermione huffed, crossing her legs as she sat. "How come you can spend hours with a literal deranged ghost?!"

"First, Peeves is a poltergeist, thank you very much! He would not be happy to hear you call him anything else!" Rose scolded while walking to the wide shower, kicking off her slippers. "And I quite enjoy my time with him!"

She began to ramble but stopped as Rose reached past the curtain to turn the water on, "I wanted to ask—Wait! I cannot stay in here while you shower! My hair will be huge from your ridiculous heat!"

Rose half laughed, half yawned. Beginning to toss her clothes off after, "I wrote you and said I made you my own version of sleekeazy's."

"Hmph...Well, thank you, you did not need to do that," Hermione began with gratitude. "Nevertheless, you're going to tell me why you disappeared yesterday!"

"I don't quite understand what you mean, Mione," Rose's voice became muffled as she moved her head under the scalding hot water.

Suddenly the shower curtain was thrown back, Rose shrieking at the cold blast of wind. "Mione! I am naked and freezing!"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "You avoided me because you knew I'd make you talk about it!"

Rose yanked the curtain back into place harshly. "Salazar, lady! You are trying to freeze me to death! And no, I simply just decided to not seek you out?!"

"We are going to discuss this tonight! I will not ruin your day by making you speak about it right now but you will be talking about your feelings, because it's what?"

Rose grumbled, making Hermione yell again.

"Sorry Rose, couldn't hear you. We talk about our feelings because it's what?!"

Rose rolled her eyes while turning off the water, going to step out of the shower when Hermione yanked the curtain back again and threw a towel over.

"Because it is what?!"

With exasperation Rose wrapped the towel around herself. "Fine! Because it is healthy!"

Hermione made a 'hmph' sound before going to look in the counter drawers for the potion Rose had made her.

On the other hand, Rose muttered a quick drying spell to make her hair fall in loose waves as she roughly pushed past Hermione to exit. "Sometimes Mione, you make me glad I didn't have healthy parental relationships. Merlin, I can't imagine how much your family talks about their feelings."

Hermione inspected the silvery potion under the pale light of the bathroom. "You are lucky to have me!...Now, are you sure this is better than the one Harry's grandfather made?"

"Obviously Mione, it's almost all the same ingredients with just a few tweaks. I am top of the class, you know!"

Shortly after, Rose returned to the bathroom fully clothed, looking over to find Hermione smiling with flushed cheeks.

"What, Mione?"

Rose walked further into the bathroom, Hermione giving a twirl to show her hair now smooth and shining.

"Your hair looks so beautiful!"

"I shouldn't have doubted you for a minute! You need to get a job involving potions! I'm at a loss for words!"

Rose shook her head with a smile as she walked past Hermione to the counter, "I want to be an alchemist, you know that."

Hermione sighed happily, leaning on the marble as she watched Rose lazily grab deep wine coloured lipstick before humming as she put on mascara.

Rose glanced over as she was about to finish, noticing Hermione's curiosity. "Want me to put some on you?"

She cleared her throat, taking a step back. "I don't think that's a good idea, Rose."

"Nonsense! Every girl should at least give makeup a try at least once. Sit on the counter."

Reluctantly, Hermione sat on the counter and waited patiently as Rose bent down to fish around a top drawer before pulling out a lip tint she knew wouldn't overwhelm her best friend.

Rose gave her an encouraging nod as she grasped Hermione's chin, beginning to apply the pinkish colour.

"I don't think I have the guts to wear makeup in public," Hermione mumbled.

Rose grasped her chin tighter to keep her in place. "If you can face off with Voldermort, you can wear makeup in public."

Hermione's brows pinched together as Rose reached around her to grab the mascara. "How do you do it without care of what someone might say?"

"Mione, love..." Rose began to twist the cap off. "You just have to have confidence, whether it's real or fake doesn't really matter."

"Yeah?" Hermione asked hopefully, grunting as Rose forcefully shut her eyes. "Do you fake it a lot?"

"Everyday," Rose answered simply. "You'd never know though, would you?"

"No, not at all."

"Exactly." Rose smiled. "Now keep still, or I'll jab your eye out."

With a small laugh Hermione stuck her chin up before getting wrangled by Rose, who started to apply the mascara and had to continually hassle her to keep still the whole time.

Once finished, Rose pulled back and grabbed a hand-held mirror, passing it to Hermione.

"What do you think?"

Hermione smiled nervously before giggling. "I look...beautiful."

Rose smiled with laughter as she grasped onto the sides of Hermione's head. "You are the most beautiful girl in the whole universe, with or without makeup. But...it is pretty cool how it makes you feel, right?"

Hermione nodded enthusiastically, dropping the mirror in her lap and placing her hands over Rose's momentarily before forcing the Black into a tight hug. "I love you so much!"

Rose grimaced at the emotional aspect of it all as she patted Hermione's back awkwardly. "I love you more. Now, come on and let me go."

At that Hermione let go with an annoyed sound, the girls beginning to rush out of the bathroom.

Rose stopped by her bed, quickly pecking Nyx before swiping up her little velvet pouch for the essentials.

She needed two things in life, galleons and cigarettes.

Once finishing the long hike down the staircase, they climbed through the portrait hole with interlocked arms.

"I saw you flirting with Adrian Pucey yesterday, I will need an explanation!"

"I totally did no such thing. I just faked it and asked Pucey to go along with it," Rose affirmed. "That's not even what we should be worrying about. Did you know Whit has been having sex with Cho Chang?"

Hermione grimaced at the image. "Whitman is a slag who is completely emotionally unavailable. He sleeps with girls all the time. I don't want to even think about how old he was when it first happened. What did you suspect?"

"Maybe a little bit of decency? We've only just returned to school, mind you."

Hermione studied Rose as they walked up the staircase that led from the dungeons to the first floor corridor. "You're planning something..."

"Am not." Rose scoffed, jerking on Hermione's arm to make her walk faster.

"You are!"

Rose lifted her chin, neither paying attention to the few Slytherin students walking ahead on the slick steps. "I am simply rectifying a situation..."

Hermione hit her with a free hand as they stepped into the corridor. "You cannot prevent him from hooking up with anyone! That's crazy!"

"Really?" Rose asked smugly, Hermione's eyes rolling at the demeaning look she gave to Seamus Finngan passing by before continuing. "Watch me."

"Why does it matter?!"

"I—" Rose paused, not having a reply as they neared the Great Hall doors. "It just does, Mione."

"Rosalie Aries Black! Don't you dare do what I'm thinking!"

A few students walking through the corridor gave them weird looks as Hermione shouted.

Rose unlooped her arm from Hermione's, beginning to back into the crowded Great Hall. "People shouldn't be so easily manipulated if they don't wish me to do such!"

"Don't you do it!" Hermione called after her.

Rose's smirk returned, this time way more devilishly than before. And Hermione sighed heavily as she received a middle finger with her friend starting to turn away, heading straight, indeed, for the Ravenclaw table.

But as Rose made her way there, she made eye contact with the last person she suspected.

Adrian Pucey was staring a hole into her.

He was an enigma; unusually quiet, had top marks in his classes, never cheated or pulled a foul in any quidditch match ever, but still—somehow still, had this way of looking down at others.

He never said one thing about blood-status, which was odd with the 'friends' he had, and the family he came from.

Rose shot him a challenging look before focusing on the packed Ravenclaw table full of students in normal clothing. There were more important things in life to be handled than Adrian Pucey. She kept walking until spotting Cho Chang sitting with her little minions. The Ravenclaw was beautiful, often followed around by a group of all women, who looked like lost puppies.

Cho Chang was the type of mean-girl Rose liked, respectful to women and uncaring about boys' attention that came easily.

Pansy Parkinson was the type Rose hated.

She stopped by Cho, Marietta Edgecomb looking back at Rose first.

"Excuse me," Rose said with a smile at the girl, waving her hand off the side to signal Marietta to move—which she did.

"Hi, Rose," Cho said as the Black sat down beside her, the fellow group of girls watching them silently.

"Hello, Chang." Rose smiled in a way that not a soul would be able to detect as fake, "I have something to tell you girls...some gossip, if you will."

This turned the horror Cho's friends had at the infamous Black's presence into interest.

"Really?" Cho smiled, pushing her dark hair back.

"Mhm..." Rose nodded and used her finger to signal all the girls close with a giggle. "You guys can't tell anyone though, okay?"

"Of course not!"

"Ooo!"

"Now I'm excited!"

The group of Ravenclaws all chorused together, and Rose leaned on the table slightly as she looked at Cho.

"They all know about you and Whitman, correct?"

Cho nodded. "Oh, of course! I tell them everything!"

"Well, who could blame you for that?" Rose said, placing a sweet hand on Cho's arm, coaxing the girl into a false sense of security. "Now, if Whitman finds out what I'm doing he'll kill me, but I couldn't let you pursue something with him before telling you what one of Cedric's friends told me."

Cho's eyes went wide, one of the stubby blonde girls with them squealing in excitement about her friend's crush since first year. "Cedric?!"

Rose fakely giggled again, giving heart eyes to Cho as she lowered her voice, "Cedric apparently has been fancying you since you arrived here too! And get this—"

Cho gasped, her friends mimicking her actions as Rose nodded enthusiastically.

"What else? Oh my Merlin!" Cho cheered.

"He's planning on asking you for a date next Hogsmeade...but not if you're with anyone, because he wants to truly try with you. I only know because his friend needed to know if you were actually seeing Whitman or if that was just hearsay. I said no, of course. I figured you wouldn't want Cedric knowing."

Cho slapped a hand over her mouth before throwing her arms around Rose, who internally died at the physical contact from a random person, but nevertheless pushed through for the act. "Rose! How can I ever thank you for this?!"

"I'm just doing a girl a favour, I would like to know if it was me." The Black smiled as she gently peeled the girl off herself. "And us girls have to look out for each other, don't we?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Cho cheered again. "This is amazing!"

"It really is! I'm blown away!" Marietta chimed in.

Rose placed her hand back on Cho's shoulder, her face showing nothing but happiness and compassion. "But I need you to promise you'll end whatever is happening with Whitman. He's my very best friend and I don't want him tangled up in all this..."

"Of course! Anything at all!"

"Shush..." Rose warned, making Cho squeal with excitement at the realisation she had been yelling. After, Rose leaned back in towards all the girls, "Promise to keep this between us?"

Again, they all chorused together a promise, making Rose clap her hands together enthusiastically.

"This is just amazing! You and Cedric will be the cutest couple Hogwarts has!" Rose replied smoothly, beginning to climb back over the bench and stand. "I better get going though, Whitman will be suspicious of my involvement if I stay over here too long."

Cho grabbed her hand with a dopey grin. "Seriously, Rose. Thank you."

Rose shot her a wink and a wide smile before pulling away, turning on her heel and beginning to walk down the aisle of Ravenclaw and Gryffindors. As soon as she was sure Cho and her friends couldn't see her face, Rose dropped her smile and rolled her eyes.

Then she met Hermione's disapproving gaze, who was attempting to keep her lips from twitching as Rose nodded back towards the group of giggling Ravenclaws.

Hermione jumped as Rose pushed into her mind and spoke, "It's times like these I'm thankful for the lessons on emotional manipulation."

From behind Rose, the ghost of Regulus fake cried. "I've never been more proud...She did so well..."

Pandora giggled beside him. "For manipulating someone?"

"Yes," Regulus choked out. "It was beautiful..."

With the return of her lifted chin, Rose walked over to her fellow Slytherin's, becoming truly cheerful as she forcefully shoved Theo and Whitman apart before dropping down in between them.

"Top of the morning pretties," Rose said while leaning up and pecking Theo's cheek.

Blaise grinned while Theo smiled lazily, copying her actions and leaning down to kiss her forehead. Draco was too busy mumbling under his breath and Whitman was mindlessly distracted by pouring her coffee as he read the daily prophet in his other hand like a madman.

"Saw Pucey staring at you when you came in," Draco spat with disgust.

"He is rather hot," Rose said, attempting to rile Theo or Draco—any sign would do.

And she got it within seconds.

Theo stood up abruptly, making his plate clatter so loudly Rose wished for earmuffs.

Rose looked up as he began to climb off the bench. "Where do you think you are going, sir?!"

"I think I'll be sick," Theo muttered while instantly taking off, Rose watching him leave before shaking her head.

"Well, that was rather odd..." Rose smiled to herself.

Draco rolled his eyes for the billionth time in his life as Whitman spoke, "You are blind. Blinder than a bat, I tell you."

Rose shrugged and looked over at Blaise, making him laugh as she began to drink her coffee like her existence depended upon it.

Blaise sighed dramatically. "It seems our little Rose is growing up guys."

"I don't like it. Adrian Pucey is only the beginning," Whitman muttered loudly as Rose ignored them all, focusing on frantically feeling up her coffee cup like an addict.

Rose mumbled distantly, "Shut up and eat your breakfast before I shove my boot in your mouth."

She paused her movements of reaching around the table, looking up to meet Draco's longing gaze that he quickly averted.

"You could do better than that Pucey prat," He scoffed, annoyedly grabbing a croissant to distract himself.

"Leave me be, all of you!"

"I agree with Rose, let the woman live."

Luna sliding her hands onto Rose's shoulders was a saving grace. "Morning!"

Rose smiled again, "Finally! I have been getting ganged up by everyone except our resident angel Blaise!"

"Blaise, you've always been quite nice," Luna spoke dreamily.

He grinned at her, a goofy grin, not the mischievous one everyone is used to seeing. "Thank you, Luna."

"Can we go now? Or would you all like to sit around til' noon?" Draco scoffed.

Rose jumped up, grabbing Luna's hand before she cleared her throat and kneeled in the white, flowy dress—speaking loudly, "Luna Pandora Lovegood, will you do me the honours of being my date to the lustrous Hogsmeade?"

Luna giggled. "Oh, I'd love to!"

Rose joined her in laughing, ignoring the looks for her dramatic yelling.

"Please speak louder, I don't think Illvermony heard you."

Her laughter ceased, looking over sharply at Draco as she stood back up. "Watch it, Malfoy, I'm feeling extra spunky today." He gave her a sarcastic smile that made Rose begin to pull Luna away, and address him personally, "Come on then, Mister sunshine! Madam Rosemerta will not wait all day!"

With the two girls leading the way, the other three boys followed suit. Hand in hand Rose dragged Luna into the courtyard, finding Mcgonagall, overlooking a crowd of students with Filch collecting the permission slips beside her and scowling.

"Ello' Min Min!"

Mcgongall jumped, clutching her chest. "Godric! That is one way to approach someone, Miss Black!"

"Hello, Professor," Luna added on.

"Miss Lovegood, I hope you are careful with this one...She is a heap of trouble!"

Rose gasped. "Minnie! How dare you speak about your favourite student that way?!"

"I do not have a favourite student!"

The Black raised her eyebrows. "Oh I get it now, we have witnesses...Don't worry, Min, they already know I'm number one in your heart."

The professor shook her head as Rose winked and dragged Luna by, passing off both their permission slips.

As the three boys went to do the same with Filch, Rose halted to a stop, finding Theo with his back pressed against the archway exit of the courtyard—cigarette in his mouth as the silver watch around his wrist caught light.

Beautiful.

"Go on," Luna urged. "I'll walk with Blaise to the carriages."

Rose gave Luna a grateful smile without taking her eyes off Theo, immediately rushing across the courtyard.

As she neared, Rose realised the anger he was smoking the cigarette with, making her pick up her pace and tap his beige coat arm.

"What?" Theo snapped before looking down to see it was her. "I'm sorry—"

Rose cut him off as he tossed down his cigarette, "Are you mad at me?"

"No, never."

She frowned, wishing he would be.

Theo crossed his arms, moving to where his shoulder leaned against the stone archway instead. "Do you want me to be?"

The way he was staring down at her made Rose step closer, unable to lie under his gaze. "Maybe..."

She instantly covered her mouth in horror.

Theo reached out with a concentrated face, bringing her hand down before grabbing onto her waist and pulling her closer. "If you must know, I contemplated murder."

The pure ecstasy of hope filled Rose, a child-like grin taking over her features.

Theo looked at her expectantly, grunting as she jumped up—wrapping her arms around his neck with no warning.

After catching his breath, Theo spun them around, their laughter mixing together like a melody.

The sudden voice of Draco made them break apart, "I'm going to get a carriage. I can't watch this any longer."

Theo sat Rose down, being met with Whitman smiling at them softly, along with Luna and Blaise already following after a rushing Draco, who was walking down the dirt pathway.

Rose grabbed Theo's hand before yanking Whitman's as well, making both boys stumble as she took off.

Upon sitting in the carriage, Draco sat in between Blaise and Whitman, arms crossed as he scowled at Rose who couldn't stop whispering to Theo with her legs draped over his thigh.

"Gods," Whitman whispered as he wrapped an arm around Draco's shoulders. "Keep scowling and the whole world might realise how miserably in love you are."

Blaise reached out, pushing Draco's lips up. "What did my mother teach us about frown lines?"

Draco swatted him away before glaring at Whitman, attempting to shrug the arm off before whispering harshly, "I'm not in love with anyone, you ignorant arse."

Whitman laughed quietly and pulled Draco closer. "Yeah right."

Luna spoke loudly, "Draco?"

All three boys jumped while the blonde girl gathered Rose and Theo's attention as well.

Draco gave her an annoyed look. "What, Loony—"

Rose kicked him harshly in the shin again, making Draco correct himself.

"Luna, I mean," He muttered.

"Your heads full of wrackspurts...Did...did you know that?"

Draco grumbled to himself, moving his eyes from her to the woods they were passing.

"What are wrackspurts, Luna?" Whitman asked, highly amused and already well knowledged from Rose's rants.

"They're these invisible creatures, they get inside your head and make your brain all fuzzy!"

Rose smiled as she slipped an arm around Luna. "She's right, you know? When Luna first met me I was filled with them, it's how we had our first conversation."

Luna smiled widely, making a noise of agreement before gasping at a butterfly flying by.

"Did you see it, Rose?! It was blue!"