(ps. to the girl who keeps copying my story and plotline, leave me alone!!)

third person pov

' one step forward
and three steps back '

The return to Hogwarts was something else in itself, Rose spent another two weeks at Saint Mungos before being released and had gained a considerable amount of weight from the shakes the mediwitches were forcing down her throat. Although they had to all travel to Grimmauld first, spending a night there for the full moon and then one extra day for Whitman to gain a semblance of strength after a rough transformation.

When the group of five arrived in the great hall on Friday afternoon all they received were piercings stares and whispers, something many would argue they were almost too comfortable with. Luna had ran across the hall, throwing her petite arms around Rose and hugging the girl until she began choking.

They ate dinner, they laughed and everything felt okay for the first time in a month. As always, the boys welcomed Luna over with open arms, never protesting their odd girls presence.

Respectfully Hermione stayed back until Rose stood up from eating dinner, running over and swooping the girl away for a night in Gryffindor tower. She groaned and grumbled the whole way up, although Rose adored Hermione she wanted to be with Whitman tonight. The full moon was only two days ago and he was going through a lot of pain.

Hermione shoved Rose into the dorm which was adorned with shades of maroon, her back pressing against the door to make sure there was no escape.

"Fuck sake" Rose huffed and tossed Nyx onto the bed before stripping her school clothes off with earnest, Hermione gesturing to the old trunk that was filled with Rose's clothes for when she stayed.

The Black shot up her middle finger to the girl, taking out an old knitted sweater and sweatpants, sliding them up sluggishly before flopping down onto Hermione's bed with the utmost dramatic flair.

She was exhausted, purely exhausted.

Just as Rose went to pull the covers over herself, Hermione jumped onto the bed with wide eyes. "Rose!"

"I'm tired Mione" Rose says while groaning.

Laying down by her, Hermione pulled the comforter over them, turning to look up at the ceiling breathlessly. "Can you like someone who has been awful to you?"

Rose flipped on her side as Hermione was basically pushing her off the bed, shoving down her throbbing headache at the realization her best friend had clearly needed her recently. "Depends, you know? Obviously it couldn't be someone whose called you slurs or harassed you....it's not Parkinson is it? I heard she likes girls but you must know there are plenty of lesbians in the Wizarding world"

"Merlin no!" Hermione gasped, "She's a blood supremacist and I have no respect for her!"

"Thank Salazar" Rose breathed out, tucking an arm under the pillow. "Sooo...I guess just think about like this. There's some people who don't deserve our forgiveness, right? If someone's been awful to you in a way where they are aiming to make you feel inferior and cause you mental issues—then no you can't like someone like that but then again why would you? Love isn't supposed to make you feel small at any stage in friendship or hate or anything"

"It's Padam Patil, my worse academic rival and sworn enemy" Rose's tired eyes grew wide at the words and the way the girl stated them so dramatically, "She's well.....she never mentally harms me unless you're counting the distress she causes me in class—" Hermione paused to giggle at the ceiling, "She comes for my neck but in a way where I know she would never cross any lines and take the other day for example! We were going back and forth about an essay and suddenly I gave up and do you wanna know what she did?!"

Rose lips curved up, speaking enthusiastically to encourage Hermione's behavior. "Tell me"

"She gets mad at me for putting myself down!" Hermione yelped before beginning to ramble quickly, "I mean I sound ridiculous but I find myself entranced by her eyes that are so brown I can't see where her pupils begin unless the sun is shining into the classroom just right which makes them the most beautiful honey color! And her hair...it's so long and just—just Merlin Rose! Her hair is as dark as the night sky! I mean maybe it's just because I have a thing for dark eyes and dark hair but—"

Rose cut in, "She really is beautiful Mione"

"And suddenly I'm spending my days in class trying to get her to smile at me! Do you know how exhausting it is?! She's so kind in all the right ways to everyone around her that I can appreciate her essence but not so kind where she lets people walk over her, you know?! How can someone be so perfect in the way they carry themselves?!"

Out of pure love, Rose spoke calmly. "I don't want to ruin your happiness.....but is she into girls? Do we know that for sure?"

"Yes! Do you not remember when she punched Zacharias Smith for coming to the Ravenclaw common room to ask her out and told him to tell the school she had zero interest in men?!"

The curly haired girl sighs happily at the ceiling, shortly after flipping onto her side to face a peaceful Rose. "How do you know that you can like someone you argue with so much?"

Rose thought about it for a moment before speaking from experience, "Well do you find yourself feeling love for her despite her actions towards you? Do you still have room in your heart to forgive her despite what she's done to spite you?"

"Yeah I really do" Hermione murmured quietly with a smile at the distant look across Rose's features, "Is that you feel about Draco? You two always fight but it's clear he would never cross any lines to truly hurt you and it's frankly impossible for you to stay mad at him"

Her eyes snapped onto Hermione, spluttering out a response. "Wha—what?"

"Don't be coy, I know you're in love with him" Hermione grinned and tapped her chin, "He might be shitty and I hate his views but he's clearly trying to do better for you—deny it all you wish but I've never seen two people speak so much with their eyes to each other....it's like a Jane Austen book"

Rose smacked Hermione's head harshly.

"Ow!" The girl yelped, "Why would you do that?!"

"Don't compare us to a Jane Austen novel!"

Hermione giggled, putting up a hand to block her head from getting hit again. "Is he your Mister Darcy?! I think so Miss Bennet!"

"Hermione Jean Granger!" Rose scolded with exasperation, "He is simply aggravating! With his stupid blonde hair, stupid gruff voice, know-it-all attitude, always wearing little rings, blue eyes that look like fucking ice and oh poor Draco! He's so tormented and broody it drives me insane!"

Hermione smiled widely, getting swatted at frantically as she pinched Rose's cheek. "Oh Merlin....you really do love him!"

"Leave me alone!" Rose yelled and covered her reddening face up, "Draco Malfoy is the bane of existence and that only!"

"No please!" Hermione pleaded with laughter at the stoic Rose Black blushing, attempting to pull her best friend's hands off. "I need to talk more about Padma!"

Rose frustratedly took her hands off, speaking firmly with wide eyes. "Want my advice Mione?! I support as long as she will love you unashamedly because that's what everyone deserves! There should not be a moment where she would be ashamed of you!"

Hermione brushed a piece of Rose's hair back with a dreamy sigh, "I love the way you said that, I think everyone deserves to be loved unashamedly in every universe"

"Yes well—" Rose lifted her chin, thankful the heat from her cheeks began to fade. "I don't know where I got all this wisdom from"

"Perhaps it's from your own heart experiencing love" Hermione teased.

Rose grimaced and grabbed the pillow under her head to hit Hermione repeatedly, "This is such a cheesy conversation! Go to bed!"

"Not until you admit you are in love! With not one boy but two! Don't think I've forgotten about Theo!"

She flipped away from Hermione and huffed loudly, refusing to open her mouth again and further the conversation.

Hermione giggled again, "You can sleep now because I feel victorious!"

Rose just ignored her giddy friend and closed her eyes while she waited for Hermione to scoot away, when the girl didn't move an inch she realized exactly what Hermione wanted as her back was suddenly being smushed against a chest.

The next morning the two girls woke in a tangle of limbs, Rose with an arm draped over Hermione's throat, hindering the girls ability to breathe.

Hermione tried to lift up her arm tiredly only for it fall back down, "Wake up! You're murdering me!"

Rose mumbled and moved her arm onto Hermione's face this time, the girl yelping and scrambling out of bed.

"Rose!"

She slowly opened her eyes to face a distressed Hermione, "What Mione?"

"You were basically choking me in your sleep!"

"It's not my fault you cuddled up to me last night"

Hermione grumbled a reply as Rose went to get out of bed, "Forgive me for wanting to be with my best friend"

Rose gave her a fake smile, placing her hand on Hermione's arm with sympathy. "I get Mione, I'm very addictive"

She huffed, swatting at Rose. "Fine! Watch me not sleep with you for a week!"

Rose went to walk away while tossing off her clothes and simply replacing them with a sweater even more baggy and tights, "I'd love to see it"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the girl, "And where do you think you're going?"

She yanked her docs off the floor, yawning on the walk to the bathroom. "Do I still have a toothbrush here?"

"Yes but—wait!" Hermione yelled, "Tell me where you're going!"

Rose smirked and slammed the door shut, beginning the morning routine of scrubbing her teeth and taking ten long minutes to do her skin care as she tuned out Hermione guessing her plans outside the door.

When she finally went to step out Hermione almost fell over from leaning on the wood for such support, Rose watched her stumble in amusement. "Excuse you"

"Excuse me—" Hermione huffed, "Why are you leaving?!"

Rose quickly stepped around the girl, muttering quietly as she sped to the door. "Going to see Draco and smoke"

"What was that?"

"I'm going for a smoke!"

"It's raining outside!"

"Is that supposed to stop me from having a cigarette?"

"Nothing can stop you and that's the problem!"

Rose stood up straight as she reached the bed and grabbed her velvet pouch off the trunk, "You must let go of trying to get me to quit for it is pointless"

Hermione sat down on the bed and began to look for the white snake, "Where is Nyx? Did we lose her?!"

"She's sleeping under the bed, apparently we were squishing her last night" Rose quickly twisted her hair back with her wand.

"Oh Merlin! I hope we didn't hurt her"

Rose looked at Hermione blankly, "She's a snake Mione—there's no way we can hurt her"

"You know what I mean!"

"Sure....Give her my best when she wakes because I'm heading off" Rose paused by the door with a furrowed brow, "And also we need to get you some new skincare products...if you keep using that weird muggle crap you'll be wrinkled by forty"

"Excuse you!" Hermione gasped, "They are perfectly fine!"

Rose lifted up a hand of protest, "Mon chéri no! I will bring you home some eco-friendly things made by witches after my summer away!"

Hermione sighed and fell back onto the mattress, "Leave my skin alone!"

"Have fun being wrinkled and decrepit!" Rose scoffed, turning on her heel and beginning walking down from the girls dormitory, entering the common room where her eyes locked with Harry Potter's. He wore a solemn look, gaining a sarcastic smile from the Black as she threw up a middle finger.

Harry quickly stood from the couch where he once sat with a tense Ron Weasley, blocking the portrait hole to prevent her exiting. As soon as she arrived to him he began pleading, "Please Rose....I'm really sorry"

Scoffing in response, "You were fucking cruel to me"

He reached out an arm she instantly pushed off, "How can I make it up to you?"

"Are you sure you want to fix things with a so called traitor?"

"Yes I am! You are one of my closest friends and we have been through too much to never speak again"

Rose lifted her chin up and contemplated her next words, "Just give me time Harry"

The boy looked at her like she was insane, "I've given you so much time! Just forgive me already!"

She glared at him, "You put your hands on me and now you're telling me to just forgive you?"

"I said I was sorry! I was just so upset about my parents!"

"Then give me fucking time or let our friendship go you brainless twat"

Harry nodded sadly and turned to go back to Ron who looked just as upset as him. Rose rolled her eyes before climbing out of the portrait hole, only to be met with a sight that instantly made the heaviness in her heart go away.

Draco's back was leaned against the railing as he stared at the moving portraits surrounding the entrance, she smiled lovingly without realizing it and cleared her throat.

His head turned to hers with an icy gaze before it turned soft for just a moment, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he boasted cockily.

She grinned wider before throwing her arms around his waist, making Draco hit his back against the railing harshly. "You saw me last night Malfoy"

Draco slipped his arms over her shoulders with a satisfied hum, "Exactly my point Black"

Rose giggled, pulling away slightly while still keeping her arms in place. "Careful Blondie....the masses might think you've gained a soft spot"

"Soft spot?" He gave her a beautiful smirk, "Not my style"

She pressed up on the tips of her toes, whispering lowly. "Good—I'd have to set you lose if you ever stopped being a right cunt"

Draco had a melodic laugh echo from his chest, fingers trailing underneath her hair and onto the nape of her neck as he studied her like a picture book. It was overwhelming for him at times, to simply exist in her presence.

"And you....the never ending pain in my life" Draco murmued, trailing off with French. "Une vraie douleur"

She leaned her face closer to his, enjoying how the way Draco's breath hitched as their noses brushed. "You won't weaken me with your impeccable French" she pulled away after with parted lips and a challenging raise of an eyebrow.

Draco tilted his head, and she knew he was about to say some pompous sentence. "Did you just...compliment me? Oh Rosie—I'm afraid it's you with the soft spot"

"Maybe in your wildest dreams" She teased, hands slipping from his waist to his chest. "You do dream about me Draco? Isn't that why I heard you mumble my name last night?"

Draco became horrified, averting his eyes away as he cleared his throat. Rose giggling and grasping his chin to turn his attention back, "Checkmate"

"Oh fuck off" he grumbled, sliding his arm around her shoulders and tugging her down the staircase. "Now tell me where you're taking me today"

Leaning into him as they moved down onto the next moving staircase, "I want to go sit at the entrance of the back courtyard so I can watch the rain"

"You really adore the storms"

"They are the most peaceful things in this world"

The pair stepped into the corridor and Rose was pointing in which direction to go when a random boy in a frilly sweater started to walk beside them, brown tousled hair and a pointy nose.

Draco rolled his eyes as the boy opened his mouth, "Can I talk to you Rose?"

"Most definitely not"

She attempted to not laugh at Draco's mood flip and flat tone.

The boy didn't walk away, instead stepped in front of them, forcing the two stop walking. "Just for a minute—I heard something that might interest you"

Rose felt Draco tense up as he started to pull his arm off of her, her reaching up and interlacing their fingers so he couldn't be rash.

Draco scoffed at her actions but didn't try to move his arm again, speaking with nothing other than disgust. "It's never going to happen so give it up or I'll pitch you off the astronomy tower, okay?"

He pulled them away before the boy could respond, grumbling as if he was a grumpy grandfather whose day had been ruined. "Should've let me punch the kid, I mean he was asking for it"

Rose could only laugh lightly at him as the courtyard came into view, "Are you just going to beat up every boy who speaks to me?"

"If you'd like me to" he spoke with assertiveness before nodding back in the direction of the boy while pulling them to stop, sounding completely serious. "Would you like me to?"

"No no!" She shook her head quickly with a grin, Draco lifting his chin and resuming their walk. "But....." she dragged out, "Even when we're eighty, would you?"

"Even when we're eighty darling"

She pursed her lips, trying to conceal the bashful smile attempting to spill from how utterly mad he had driven her as the rumbling sound of rain echoed. Draco didn't say it but he felt her take away another piece of his soul as she spoke about them as if they would never not be by each others side so nonchalantly.

Upon arriving at the archway leading into the empty courtyard Rose moved out from under his arm to sit down. He followed behind as the rain pounded harshly like a sheet in front of them, "I guess it is rather peaceful to watch"

Pulling the pack of cigarettes out of the pouch and handing him one before putting her own between her lips and lighting it, she spoke with the cigarette moving along to her words. "If I could make it rain all hours of the day I would"

She tossed him the lighter, letting him light one as she started to watch the rain fall, taking a long drag of the burning tobacco.

Once his was lit he blew out smoke before gazing over at the girl, she truly was an exhilarating being. The rain might be the most peaceful thing in the world to Rose, but she was the most calming thing in this damned plane of existence to him.

His brain worked different and he knew that, always running with a million thoughts and being set off to the verge of a break down if everything wasn't perfect in every aspect of his life from the way he sat his quill down to the pace he walked.

But she always eased that.

She was chaotic, messy, a whirlwind and a half—he never needed nor wanted her to be perfect. If you asked a random person what truly got under the unbreakable skin of Draco Malfoy, they would tell you many things. From something as silly as bad grades or muggleborns or maybe even the existence of people like Harry Potter being in a spotlight.

That wasn't the truth though, the only thing capable of really riling him up was Rose. He wondered how someone could be the only relief he had in this life and also the complete and utter thing that drove him to madness.

Rose felt his eyes piercing her, her head drifting over to him. "Enjoying the view?"

"Some would say it is the most exquisite view in existence" Draco nudged her shoulder with his own, his lips pulling at the next words he was about to speak. "I beg to disagree of course"

"Scared me for a second there" she teased, bringing the cigarette back to her lips as she scanned him from the icy white tips of his hair to the shiny black leather over his feet. "Wouldn't want you to think so highly of me"

Draco nodded, biting down on his lip before letting a smile break loose. "Don't tell the aurors but I might have fallen ill to the belief that you are in fact the most exquisite thing in this life"

He watched the insecurity flash their her eyes as she looked away very quickly, "Bullshit"

Grabbing her chin he made Rose look back at him, "Is there a spell I can use to make you see yourself through my eyes?"

"Doubtful" she smiled softly, "Not too sure I would want to see a messy version of myself in a different light"

His head tilted before a whisper fell out, "If that is the case then you are the most perfect mess I've ever had the pleasure of knowing or ever will"

"You've been too good to me recently" she murmured.

"There is no such thing"

She smiled in a way that made his heart rate pick up, moving from his hold to rest her head on his shoulder. Draco let his own lean gently on top of hers as they sat in a peaceful silence with the paper of the cigarettes crackling, the rain being the only other sound surrounding them.

Time passed and he finished the cigarette, flicking it into the courtyard before sighing. "What do you say to going on a trip with me? Mother mentioned it to you at the hospital"

Too lulled by him holding her and the weight of his head above her own, Rose didn't bother looking up. "But Walburga"

His eyes focused in on the cigarette she puffed, "I will handle that matter"

"Well she does seem to respect you" She shrugged slightly, "Not as of recently though....I'm not sure why"

"I tend to have that affect on people" says Draco with ease.

"It would seem so"

"Careful, I already am quite full of myself Rosie"

"I like your unabashed cockiness"

"Do you?" Draco smiled, tucking his chin atop her head with an arm pulling her closer. "Don't worry about her Rosie, I'll handle it"

The Black's mood shifted at the thought of her not getting to go with him, she took a deep breathe that made Draco's look of glee drop. "I can't promise she will say yes"

He began gazing down as she dropped her cigarette and grasped his hand, immediately popping his fingers. "I won't take no for a answer"

"You'd take on the infamous Walburga Black for me?" Rose laughed dryly.

"I'd take on this entire world for you Rosie" His tone made her freeze, she knew that voice—he was serious.

Suddenly the ability to speak was gone, heart racing as she slowly resumed popping his fingers. How was she supposed to respond without pressing her lips to his and demanding he tell her if he loved her not? After all, he was all she ever wanted. To hear him say such words that she had confidence in were true, well it stirred untamable things up inside of her.

They fell back into their peaceful silence, just like Narcissa said to him over break, the important things between Rose and Draco were in the the things unsaid—communicating without words.

The sound of the rain mixed with fingers being popped filled back up their space, Draco letting himself be eased by her unending habits.

After awhile Rose began to feel herself slipping into sleep and decided to do something about it. She picked her head up, forcing Draco to move his away as she stood and stretched out her arms.

He watched at her curiously, "What are you doing?"

No response was given as she stepped out from under the archway and into the rain, continuing to walk forward before turning back to him. "I'm enjoying the rain of course Mister Malfoy"

Draco stood with an amused smirk coming across his face, "You're just going to stand in the rain?"

Rose shrugged and held her arms out as the harsh rain began to soak every single inch of her body, "What else does it look like?"

She was purely shocked when his lips moved to form a full smile, walking out to meet her, hand outstretching to the drenched girl.

Instantly, she grabbed it and twirled herself under his arm, the blonde laughing warmly at her actions. "Are you trying to initiate a dance with me, Miss Black?"

Rose latched onto his other hand, voice muffled over the rain and refusing to let the moment pass of him appearing so happy—no one would quite under the rarity of seeing Draco Malfoy smile. "Everyone deserves to dance in the rain once in their life"

"Oh you've forced me into this many many times" He raised a brow with an all-knowing smirk, pulling her to his chest as he slipped an arm around her waist. "I hope you realize you are the only person I'd do this for"

"I think I'd commit murder if you did this with another"

He laughed and dipped her down, letting their noses brush as the rain drenched them. "My little egomaniac"

Her smile was almost painful from being so real, a sudden squeal leaving her as he began picking up by the waist, making Rose's laughter sync with his own as he spun them around.

The world had seemed to fade from around them, an affect they tended to cause one another. Dancing for a while, occasionally he would twirl the girl or dip her down dramatically, chasing after the sound of her laughing to keep it in his memory forever.

In the office of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster stood by his high-up window, watching the pair. "Minvera you must come see this"

Mcgonagall made her way over from her seat and stood beside him, "Are those students dancing in the rain?!"

"It appears to be Mister Malfoy and Rose" he hummed, "I can tell from the black and white hair"

"Dear Godric! They are soaked!"

The old man continued to gaze at the two as Rose threw her head back with laughter after attempting to make the boy twirl under her arm, "I've seen her happy but never this happy"

"I worry for them Albus...their families are very dark and—"

"Let them be Minvera, the future can wait" sighed Dumbledore with a smile.

Mcgonagall appeared thoughtful for a moment before letting herself grin as well, "They do seem rather happy, don't they?"

"I think they will be, for a while at least"

*

The next day Rose found herself at the lake by Hagrid's hut, being lifted off the ground and into the man's burly arms as he talked of his worry over her. She wouldn't have came for the simple fact Harry and Ron had joined her and Hermione but Hagrid specifically asked for her presence in the note he sent early that morning.

"Golly me!" Hagrid spoke with a sniffle as he realized she was choking, leaving the girl to stumble on her feet as he set her back down. "Sorry' Rose!"

She coughed, grabbing onto Hermione's arm for balance with a pained smile at the blubbering man. "You're fine Hagrid....just tell us what's happened?"

Harry stammered, recoiling away slightly as Hermione gulped. "We.....we didn't want to tell you just yet since you only arrived back from Saint Mungos yesterday. Hoped to have it fixed before now"

Hermione's eyes darted to Ron, thinking he could be the one to break the news but the ginger only shook his head furiously in fear Rose's anger would be turned upon him. "For Merlin sake Ronald!" Hermione huffed, "It's Buckbeak Rose—they are exucuting him"

Rose's mouth fell agape, grabbing onto Hagrid's arm as he wailed. "What....? Why would they do such a thing?!"

"Draco's dad frightened the Committee into it," says Hermione, wiping her eyes as they sprung tears. "You know what he's like better than any of us. They're a bunch of doddery old fools at the ministry, and they were scared of him. There'll be an appeal though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope....nothing will have changed"

Hagrid seemed numb with shock at the verdict, stuttering like a mad man. "S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in
black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em...."

"There's still the appeal!" says Ron fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

"S'no good Ron," says Hagrid sadly as he tossed a pebble into the water. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that...."

Of course, how dumb could Rose be to believe Draco would have any sort of change in humility?

"So....you're saying this is Draco's fault?" Rose spoke hoarsely, lips pursing tightly and gaze flashing between the three who all took another step back. "Well is it?!"

"Clearly!" Harry yelled back, "Isn't it always?! He runs to his father and tells em' everything! He's cruel and you know it! Gonna take you away and then just leave you bleeding every time!"

Hermione closed the distsnce, attempting to touch her friend but getting shoved away. "We just wanted you to hear it from us, you know? We don't like the boy but you've been so happy about making up with him...well we didn't want to hurt you"

"Hagrid," Rose breathed out with a crack to her voice, "I must go kill him"

"Oh but that's not the worst part of today!" Hagrid weeped, tucking his head down. "You know that band you showed me? The one with the weird little songs?!"

Ron piped in timidly, "Nirvana he means Rose"

"The lead singer died today!" He cried, "Too young I tell 'em! Saw about it in the muggle paper!"

"We said we weren't telling her yet!" Hermione muttered horrified.

Rose choked on air, eyes welling up and everything became a blur until suddenly she was storming her way into the great hall as dinner raged on, ready to murder Draco Malfoy. The two had been so very good, no doubt keeping up with their snide comments for fun, but still everything was turning happy once more.

When Rose got to the table of laughing boys she slammed her hand down on the wood, startling them all. She looked pointedly at Draco before speaking with watery eyes, "I fucking despise you with ever single piece of my soul!"

Draco smirked at her, figuring this had to be some prank of the sorts. "Please, do tell what I did this time"

Staring him down with the coldest and emptiest stare—sending chills over his spine and making his smirk drop, "You are cruel and I despise myself almost as much I do you for even thinking you had any good left inside!"

Theo placed a hand on her arm that was still attached to the table, instantly she began pushing him off with the same look she was giving Draco.

He turned to the blonde boy, "What the hell did you do?!"

Draco scoffed to hide his worry, "I don't fucking know"

Rose went to jump over the table when Theo grabbed her quickly, making her stop short. "You are a fucking bastard Malfoy!" she shrugged Theo off and stood up straight while wiping her coat furiously, "I hope you can live with yourself knowing you're getting an innocent animal killed!"

Every muscle inside of Draco tensed, he knew exactly what she was talking about. Truth was he never told his father about what happened, the school had wrote to Lucius and the man took it into his own hands. There was nothing he could do to fix it, and Rose would understand that.

As Draco attempted to speak but she held up her hand, "Don't you dare speak a single word to me for the rest of your existence!"

Blaise gave a worried look to Draco as she turned away, "What did you do to make her so angry?"

Suddenly Rose was back, wiping her tears with the inability to stop her anger. "How could you do to me?! On the day he died!"

"Died?!" Whitman choked on water, "Who died?"

"Kurt Cobain!" Rose squeaked, crying even more. "He died today and Draco's just a fucking cunt!"

Whitman gasped, Rose running off in a flash as Theo coughed. "Kurt...is dead?!"

"Oh Salazar" Theo mumbled, rubbing his face. "She's going to be a mess"

"Her?!" Whitman yelled, "What about me?! I love that man! You love that man!"

Blaise grimaced at them, "Whoever the fuck Kurt Cobain is does not matter right now—I need to know why Rose is back to hating Draco"

Whitman slowly began glaring at Draco, "I'd like to know as well...I mean she'll get over it because it's you but still"

Draco went to respond when Theo opened his mouth, "Whatever you did made her mad enough that she can't even look at you or she'd be sitting here right now"

The blonde repeated Rose's actions by slamming his hand down, "For Salazar sake let me fucking explain!"

Everyone looked at him expectantly as he continued, "Father found out about Buckbeak and reported it to the ministry, he's getting executed in June"

Whitman went wide eyed, "I take it back, you're fucked mate! She's not getting over animal slaughter"

Blaise scowled at Draco, "Luna's going to be extremely upset"

Draco shot him a sneer, "I don't care what upsets Lovegood"

"Well I do!"

Goyle was even more confused, "Whose Buckbeak?"

Theo had a goofy look all over his face remembering how happy she was to ride the animal, "A bloody hippogriff that Ro loves, not to mention she protected Draco's arse from him. Do you not remember when Hagrid brought him to class?"

"It's not my fault the stupid beast is getting killed" hissed out Draco.

Goyle let out a laugh of disbelief and looked at Theo, "Rose protected him? I must've hit my head and forgot"

Blaise's mood switched at the memory as he laughed too, "Sure did, it was like she went into mother bear mode"

"It was idiotic, she got her shoulder torn up because Draco here pissed off Buckbeak" says Whitman, annoyance in his tone from recalling her irresponsible actions.

"Draco" Theo began despite how much easier his anxiety would be if Rose hated the boy, "If you didn't tell Lucius you need to go speak to Ro about it"

"No" he tightened his hand into a fist under the table to ease the shakes he felt coming, "If she wants to make me the enemy—let her"

When dinner ended none of the boys had found Rose, her ability to avoid was pristine as she wished to not even look at Draco's face. Once she was sure they would be back in the dorms, Rose quickly made her way to the men's restroom on the ground floor where Peeves was getting to take his weekly swim which meant no boy would be present in there.

As soon as she entered bathroom the poltergeist in colorful robes stood in front of her, only inches away before making himself visible. When she didn't even jump or smile at him he let out a exasperated sigh and followed her to the sinks where she usually sat while he swam.

"What is up with you? I hate when you give me no reaction!"

Rose grumbled as she sat on the sink, looking over the floating poltergeist. "Stupid idiotic Malfoy"

Peeves had a wicked grin come onto his face, "Does this mean I can freely harass him again?"

She had told the ghost to take it easy on Draco after how bad Lucius has been, but now there was no sympathy left in her. "Please do Peeves"

The poltergeist floated away quickly and dived in the toilet before popping only his head out, "If I do some tricks will it up your mood? I miss your smiles lady!"

Her lips curled up at his position, "You've already improved my mood"

He stuck his tongue out, starting to quickly move in and out of each toilet, dramatically throwing his hands up and splashing the water each time he popped out.

From such entertain and the bubble of energy he radiated, Rose was laughing and smiling at Peeves when the bathroom door slammed open. They made eye contact as he froze in midair, both equally confused by the presence.

Only Peeves smirked and Rose's smile dropped, clearly happy to mess with anyone dumb enough to intrude on his swim while the latter felt pity for whoever it would be.

Peeves floated away quickly to the door out of the girls sight, Rose sighing with knowledge of whatever poor student came in was about to be harassed to no end.

A shriek went through the bathroom, a oddly familiar one, before it yelled her name.

"Ro! Make him stop!" screamed Theo.

Theodore Nott was scared of nothing, so to hear him screaming was something she couldn't help but laugh at as she yelled from her spot on the sink. "Peeves! Get over here this instant!"

The poltergeist zoomed like a flash of lightening to be directly infront of her, holding an innocent grin. "Yes m'lady?"

She giggled back, "Let Theo join us for a minute"

His smile fell into a sneer, grumbling to himself before going back to swim angrily, making sure to splash her while doing so.

Theo made his way into her vision while straightening his collared shirt, "I think he haunts my dreams"

Rose stopped laughing to simply smile at his calming presence, "What is so urgent you came into this bathroom on Peeves day?"

The boy stopped infront of her swinging legs, placing his hand on her thigh, trying to ignore the way her breath hitched from the action. "I'm sorry about Buckbeak Ro"

The smile quickly went away as she focused her eyes away from him. "Don't be, it's not your fault Malfoy is a shit human"

Theo sighs, "Ro he didn't—"

Her hand went over his mouth as she brought her attention back. "Don't, I could care less for his excuses"

Theo nodded firmly, pulling her hand away and into his own. "You seemed happier than I thought you'd be when I came in"

"Peeves knows how to cheer a girl up"

"I think you're the only person he cheers up"

Suddenly the poltergeist popped back up beside the pair with manic eyes, "Watch yourself mini Nott!"

Theo's smiled sheepishly, "I didn't mean it Peeves, I find you rather enjoyable"

Peeves' eyes bored into his before turning to Rose, "Make him leave! Your attention is supposed to be on me tonight!"

She winked and flipped Theo around, pushing him in between her legs. "I think I'll keep him right here, he can help me rate your swimming skills"

Peeves gasped as Theo grinned in victory, happily settling back against the sink as her arms snaked around his neck.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Peeves yelled, swatting at Theo's hands as they went to her knees. "Don't touch her!"

"Peeves—" Rose laughed, "He's fine"

"No no no!" The poltergeist screeched, frantically swatting at Theo's hands with such force the boy lifted them up. "Now you keep you grubby little fingers to yourself or I'll chop them off!"

Theo blinked, turning his head back to Rose. "Ro!"

"Play nice Peeves or I'll go back to my dorm" warns Rose. "Why are you looking at me like that still? He's not touching me!"

"Fine! But I'll be watching!" Peeves snarled before smiling widely, floating back to toilets. "Watch this new flip I'm working on and give me a score little Teddy!"

"He's bipolar" Theo muttered.

Rose pressed her lips to the shell of Theo's ear, making his eyes fall closed and mouth part as Peeves started doing the most insane backward flips. "Give him a good score or we'll both be dead by dawn"

She pulled back after, chin falling onto his shoulder and Theo's hand reached back for her knee, squeezing tightly in warning.

Chills spread over her skin, mind clouding with thoughts only of him until reality sunk back in as his hand fell away when Peeves glared.

Draco and her were back at odds.

That broke her heart.

________________________________

A/N: omg im back on my daily posting bs :p i pinky to respond to ur comments on last chap when I get home tonight i adore reading them <3

—short chapter i know but all we have is the next chapter which is super short and more abt the side characters and then Sirius coming back AND THEN ITS SUMMER

—like how I gave you the cutest Draco moment and then ruined it??!🤭🤭🥰🥰

—Hermione and rose are PRECIOUS

—yes i will be giving Hermione the most epic lesbian love story ever

no memes because I'm abt to leave my house to go to dinner 😔💗🤞🏼