(p.s. yes there is a gossip girl moment in here ifykyk)

third person pov

' tis the damn season '

Christmas break had arrived rather quickly, the Hogwarts Express zooming down the train tracks with nothing but woods appearing in a blur outside the windows from the speed. Rose had just slipped out of her compartment with the boys after realizing they were starting to pass through Cambridge, which meant Kings Cross station wasn't far away anymore.

Her pointy fingers pushed down on the pleated leather skirt as she glanced both ways of the Slytherin carriage, spotting a unwelcoming sight of Pansy Parkinson and Zacharias Smith. The Huffpuff had Pansy pressed against a window toward the end, directly across from a busy compartment. Although the carriage was large, making it hard to see exactly what was happening.

Rose's heeled boots clicked as she walked toward them with no plan of paying any mind to the situation until realizing Zacharias' hand was tightly wrapped around Pansy's wrist as he held the girl in place with a snarl on his face.

"Oi! Smith!"

Both heads turned to her, Pansy wincing as his grip tightened and he spat at Rose. "This is none of your business Black"

Rose raised a inquisitive brow as she neared, "Watch how you speak to me"

Still, he didn't let up. "Back off and go back to your compartment"

"You must be idiotic to not follow instructions" Rose stated eerily calm, stopping with a foot between them. "Let her go or I'll remove you myself" She paused, looking him up in down demeaningly. "I can assure you that is not what one would wish for"

Zacharias gulped and released his grip with tense features, gesturing to Pansy who immediately held onto her wrist in pain. "She's fine—no need to play savior. We were just having a small spat"

Rose stepped closer to him, "Go back to where you belong before I throw you out of that window—we both know I will"

He shook his head, adjusting the itchy white sweaters collar. "You're fucking crazy as they say"

Rose smiled sarcastically, "You do well to remember that" She glanced down at the dainty watch on her wrist, "I'll give you ten seconds to be out of my sight before I change my decision to let you go"

"Bye Pansy" Zacharias muttered before stepping around Rose, fury taking back over his features as he rushed down to the upward part of the train. He'd give Rose karma for embarrassing and demeaning him, that much was certain.

"Thank you" Pansy breathed out, "I didn't need your help though"

Rose's eyes snapped over to her with distaste, "Don't thank me. I didn't do that because of you—I did it because you're a woman"

"He's a fucking cunt" Pansy huffed as she watched him slip out of the train door, clearly heading to the Hufflepuff carriage. "Angry because I fucked his friend while drunk"

The Black stared down at Pansy's reddened wrist, "When a man puts his hands on you, don't sit there and quiver—punch him in face or light him on fire for all I care but don't you dare sit there and take it"

Pansy looked Rose over oddly, straightening up and tucking the injured arm behind her back. "Not going to judge what landed me here?"

Rose shrugged, "Not exactly my style—I believe in sexual liberation even for bigots like yourself"

The girl let out a loud scoff at the infuriating presence, "I don't need advice from you Black"

"You would say something as stupid as that in a situation like this" Rose hummed, "But it would help you in the future to remember men like him don't change—they just get more vicious as time goes on"

"You don't know him and I certainly don't want you making assumptions about my relationship"

"It's a relationship now?" Rose laughed dryly, "Oh Parkinson—the rough grabbing of your wrist turns into your throat, then suddenly he's punching things or throwing stuff at you and before you know it I'll find you with a black eye" For a second Pansy could've swore she saw a moment of sympathy flash in Rose's cold gaze, "Use whatever wits you have left to stay away from that boy"

Rose stepped away without another word, ready to head to the end of the carriage where she was meant to go but was stopped by Pansy's late response.

"Why'd you help me?"

"Are you deaf? I did it because what woman would I be if I didn't?" Rose spared Pansy a glanced over her shoulder, "We're not friends nor will we ever be but I don't believe in someone picking fights with people they know won't bite back"

Pansy eyes dropped to the floor with knowledge of what she meant, Rose despised her for many reasons—the main in being the girl' incessant need to target other women or younger boys who she knew wouldn't stand up against her insecure insults.

With that settled Rose continued her joinery to the last compartment of the Slytherin train, peering into the glass to find Mattheo Riddle sat alone with arms lazily crossed as he stared out to the passing woods of England.

His gaze snapped over as the door opened, only getting a flash of Rose's face before being met with soft black curls draping down her back. The oversizedwhite blouse flowed with her movements as she slid the door back into place, turning around to him after.

Her lips upturned softly as she dropped down beside him, nudging their shoulders together. "Hey Riddle"

He made a huff of acknowledgment, eyes tracing over her face before casting his attention back to the wildness outside.

"How long is this whole tortured lonely soul thing going to go on for?"

His focus stayed away as he responded blankly, "I hate when you give a name to my personality—I simply prefer solitude"

Rose laughed lightly, fiddling with the rings over her fingers. "You hate a lot of things I do"

"I wouldn't condone your presence if that was the case"

"Really?" Rose questioned, her head dropping back. "Must be real special if you can tolerate me"

"Something like that" He muttered, dropping his head back with her. "You did try to kill me last week"

"You pissed me off" Rose scoffed, side-eyeing him.

He spoke sarcastically, "Because I handed Langley a potions jar? Sounds like a understandable reason to attempt stabbing me on the astronomy tower for" Rose scowled, his eyes turned to side eye her right back.

After a moment they broke eye contact as she laughed, his head shaking in amusement. "Hey!" Rose murmured in defense, "I was simply angry that she took seconds away from our potion work"

"Be glad I can handle your psychosis" Mattheo sighed before teasing her back, "And that I know how to dodge a knife"

She smiled widely, lifting her head up and turning toward him on the bench. He glanced down at her fingers beginning to fiddle, cursing himself for speaking again.

"Let out what's brewing up there"

"I don't know," Rose shrugged, sliding a ring off and then on anxiously. "I guess I'm just going to miss our meetings over break"

He scoffed, "You're going to miss seeing your dirty secret?"

When Rose had ran off from Theo and found Mattheo in the Astronomy Tower, every night since was spent with the two of them meeting there with the exception of Whitman's birthday. No one knew nor did they need to, it was something Rose had for just herself. Mattheo didn't know why it started to become a daily routine and Rose held zero knowledge on the matter as well, but it happened and then it just kept happening. Sometimes they would sit in a peaceful silence or ask ridiculously deep questions to one another. Either way, they had began to crave one another's presence and Rose found herself being drawn into the boy that was Mattheo.

There was tension that became palpable and often times Rose realized her eyes were scanning a room for him, an awful sign that he was stirring something untamable inside her.

"It's not like that," Rose assured him with guilt, "I just—well I don't want everyone knowing to ruin things"

The arms across his chest moved slightly, "What things? We're not even friends"

"I know" Rose stated simply, "But I don't want my friends to judge you or try to make it a big deal"

"You worry too much about everyone else Black" Mattheo smirked like the devil himself and nodded toward the windows, "Go on and tell me about what's in those woods"

Her eyes lifted, a glint in her grin at him. "You remembered?"

"About your stories of the tree people in Cambridge?" He quizzed before whispering, "How could I forget?"

She reached out, hand lifting toward his face but was stopped as his features fell dark and his hand wrapped around her wrist.

"Don't" He warned.

Rose shushed him and let Mattheo keep his firm grip as she swiped her thumb over the scar under his eye with unfamiliar gentleness, "Lint" She murmured while dropping her wrist down.

He rolled his eyes, loosening the hold he had but not letting go as he looked away. "I'm sure"

She giggled and scooted closer to him, pointing out with her free hand. "When I was nine my grandmother wanted me to see how quick I could set a line of tree on fire so she took me to a forest in Cambridge"

"Nine?" Mattheo asked he stared at the passing woods with her, subconsciously rubbing his thumb over the bone that stuck out on her wrist.

"Mhm," She paused and made the sound of a boom, garnering a blink of shock from Mattheo. "I succeeded her expectations of course but then these people in tree hats jumped out!"

Mattheo laughed without meaning to, fully stunned as he turned to find her face near. "No fucking way"

"Yes way!" Rose attested excitedly, pushing his cheek back towards the woods. "I'll tell you all about it—even have a nifty little scar on my rib from them"

He bit his lip, trying to push the laughter down. "How does this stuff even happen to you?"

"You think I wanted this?" Rose stated with widened eyes, "I still talk to trees in case there's a person hiding behind them!"

He dropped his head forward with a laugh, "What the fuck?"

"This isn't funny Mattheo!" Rose giggled with a dramatic voice, "I'm traumatized! I'm a victim of the tree people!"

"Oh Black" he muttered, continuing on laughing at the animated girl next to him as their eyes met. She shoved his shoulder before falling into a fit of laughter to match his own.

*

When the train halted on the platform filled full of parents of all shapes and sizes, Hermione Granger hustled her way away from Harry and Ron—stationing herself in waiting for Rosalie Black to find her so they could say goodbyes.

She stood with her trunk by her hip, arms crossed over the light pink cardigan while looking around anxiously. They always had to hurry this part, Walburga and Orion Black never approved of Rose being associated with herself.

In the distance Hermione spotted Rose stepping off the train with her hand tightly gripping Theodore Nott's and a look of superiority, both seeming to stand tall amongst the crowd. Hermione laughed to herself as Rose was scooped away, Blaise cheerfully grabbing onto her with a powerful hug.

A chilling presence settled behind Hermione, one which radiated dark magic. It sent a chill down her spine before she even heard whoever it was speak. The voice was cold and powerful, laced with spite. "Miss Granger"

Hermione felt every inch of her body turn stiff as a board, breath hitching at the woman that was Walburga Black. Ever so slowly she turned, facing the witch with long black curls pinned back—sharp inky wings across her porcelain skin and a dress darker than a deep pit covered in lace with layers of diamonds reflecting the light across her neck.

There was something terrifying about the woman, commanding attention and holding it as well. Hermione hated her with every inch of herself, but she would've rather been face to face with Voldemort than Walburga.

She swallowed thickly, stammering out while peering up at the tall woman. "M—Miss Black"

"Do you like my granddaughters group of friends?" Walburga questioned, making Hermione feel demeaned just from her gaze.

Hermione laughed nervously and stepped back, "Well they are rather nice people—although you couldn't tell from the look on their faces, huh?"

"You would make a joke that would only further my point"

"Excuse me?" Hermione stuttered, laughing again with darting eyes. "I must've missed something"

"Oh yes you did" Walburga confirmed, "The way you feel will never go away—only will grow worse"

"I'm sorry we must be—"

Walburga cut her rambling off, "You'll always feel underdressed no matter what you wear when around her and if by some chance my granddaughter suffers enough brain damage to keep you around then at dinner parties there will be language that sounds like English and you think you speak it but they don't hear you and you don't understand them"

Hermione nose upturned, her jaw tightening as she shifted uncomfortably at the realization the grandmother knew of their friendship. "But I—"

"I'm well aware of Rosalie's continued indulgence in your sickening friendship" Walburga laughed dryly with a closed mouth, leaning down to the girl after. "As time goes on dear you'll feel as if people never see you when they look at you but only merely wonder if your Rosalie's whim of rebellion or—" She paused, purposefully glancing down at the ruby covered bracelet on Hermione's wrist. "Her charity case"

Hermione latched hand over the bracelet, thinking if she hid it now maybe less damage could be done to Rose as her lip quivered.

Walburga gave her a false look of sympathy as her piercing blue eyes locked onto Hermione's hazels, "Rosalie will grow out of whatever form of rebellion you are as all girls with her high standing do and you'll realize girls like Rosalie do not belong with the likes of Hermione Granger" Walburga tilted her head after saying the last name with distaste, "People as yourself turn into cocktail antidotes of their foolish youth which everyone around will laugh over"

Hermione's eyes glassed with tears, a confusing emotion of being demeaned and simply being fearful of the abrasive women towering over her. A hand gripped her wrist, forcefully tugging her back.

"Grandmother?" Rose asked, her voice sharper and colder than Hermione ever heard as she slightly stood in front her protectively. "What's going on?"

Theo and Whitman stood by her left, neither looking at Hermione as they focused in on the woman who stood up straight with relaxed hands draped infront of herself.

"Oh nothing dear," Walburga spoke without an edge, lips upturning at the tears beginning to roll down Hermione's cheeks. "Just getting to know your friend"

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath as Rose slipped their hands together with a quick squeeze before letting go, words rolling off her tongue that hit Hermione with the most unsuspected knife in her gut. "She's just a classmate grandmother—we've barely spoken since last year"

"Is that so?" Walburga garnered joy as Hermione covered her mouth, "That is my bad then Miss Granger—I must have been misinformed"

In shock, Hermione recoiled back with shaky voice. "Really? Really Rose?!"

Rose closed her eyes in pain for a moment as she ignored the broken best friend behind her, grateful as Whitman stepped around Hermione and grabbed her hand. As much as she loved Hermione, Rose could not handle immediately suffering the torture Walburga would put her through—her body couldn't take it.

Orion was gone, there would be no one to even ask Walburga to stop once she started.

Theodore Nott Sr stepped infront of them with the worst timing, his brown hair pushed back and a permanent look of empty on his face as he peered at the crying girl behind Rose. "Whose that?"

"No one" Theo replied, knowing Rose couldn't do the hard thing. "Get out of here Granger"

Hermione scoffed and forcefully wiped the tears from her eyes, latching onto the handle of her trunk and speeding away with urgency—feeling the disgusting chill Walburga gave her still marking every inch of skin and pure betrayal.

"Hello Theodore" Walburga looked to the older man and reached out to brush Rose's hair back, "I am pleased to hear you are not her friend mí amore—causing scenes here in front of everyone like a disgrace" She stopped to speak with disappointment, "Oh and Whitman dear...your scars are back"

Theo's father laughed in amusement and raked his gaze over the very prevalent marks on Whitman's face with digust, "What a weak girl. We know Rosalie has much more refined taste than that of a weeping woman"

Rose couldn't handle it, she would not stand there and listen to such things be said about Hermione or hear them banter about Whitman in their minds. She went to open her mouth, ready to tell Walburga the truth and spit in Theodore Sr' face but Whitman grasped onto her arm and squeezed her hand—whispering urgently.

"Please don't" He understood Rose's love for Hermione and never questioned it once, even if he was not close with the girl he didn't wish to hear her be the topic of hate but he would not listen to Rose's screams later over simply defending her friend. Quite frankly he didn't care what they said about his face, Whitman had lived this life for a long time and the only reason he stopped using the potion to cover all of the marks was because the harm is was doing unto him.

Rose stiffened, screwing her mouth tightly shut and lifting her chin with distaste. "Oh don't look so tense darling" Walburga teased, "I by no means meant to cause a disruption with a stranger"

With a scoff Rose yanked away from Whitman, ready to leave until Theo's hand grasped her own.

"Ro"

She knew if she looked him in the eye then her defenses would crumble, he would wrap her up shamelessly in front of their guardians and then the tears would come.

"I'm going to get my trunk" Rose muttered and pulled away, Theo stepping to go after her but getting stopped by Walburga's sharp voice.

"Are you coming to Grimmauld tonight Theodore? I'll be out but you're more than welcome to stay"

Theo's eyes followed Rose, noticing her counting each finger with her thumb while walking to the end of the train—a technique he had showed her for anxiety. "Yeah I planned on it after I get my stuff to the manor"

"Actually he will not" Theo's father stated sternly, his son turning to him with furrowed brows. "And use proper English boy"

"What? I always stay with them"

"Do not question me son" He spat coldly before nodding in approval at the cold look taking over Theo's eyes, "You can go a day without Rosalie and Whitman, there is things you must do tonight"

Theo swallowed and casted his gaze to the side, he knew what that meant. Whitman started to twist his rings around as he felt sickness take him over at the idea of Rose and Theo's night to come, too much was happening at once.

Whitman tuned out the conversation stirring between the two adults, giving Theo a look that communicated he would handle Rose before he dipped off after her. Walburga followed suit once finished chatting up Theodore Sr' and studying Theo's face, trying to assure Rose had not truly pursued anything with him.

*

Once arriving to Grimmauld Rose did not speak until she found Kreacher in the kitchen, wrapping her arms around the elf tightly while spinning him as Whitman leaned against the marble island in the center with Nyx laying there and Walburga filled two glasses of wine.

"Kreacher missed Mistress as well"

Rose grinned, giving him one last tight squeeze before sliding him onto her hip like a child. "What do you want to do today Kreach?"

"Rosalie" Walburga's voice stayed icy as usual, sliding one of the glasses of red wine to Whitman. "Do you want wine or not?"

"Yes please" Rose spoke distantly as she tapped Kreacher's long, droopy nose. "Quite parched grandmother"

"Put the elf down and let him take your stuff upstairs" Walburga commanded as she turned to grab another glass from the cabinet. Rose rolled her eyes with a scoff as Whitman quietly sipped his wine, watching as she sat Kreacher down and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead.

"Kreacher will get your rooms settled" The elf bowed, making Rose and Whitman share a look of annoyance at the stiffness he always held when Walburga was present.

The gown of the older woman rippled as she turned back around and filled the glass up, sliding it over as Rose leaned down on the counter like Whitman. Patiently the grandmother watched as Rose took a long sip with tired eyes wandering and closed the distance between them, "Have you been resting?"

"As much as I can" Rose shrugged, tipping her glass around to make the liquid move while thinking of Hermione. "I'm doing my best—been having a hard time sleeping after Dumbledore hit me with that spell on the chest"

"She's need to stop dueling so much with him" Whitman stated firmly, pushing up off his elbows. "It's hurting her health and she's too young"

Walburga finished off her wine with a long tip of the glass, running her fingers through the curls down Rose's back—making the girls eyes close pained and her limbs stiffen. "Is that right Rosalie? Do you feel your health is being harmed? As if you are not old enough for the life you live?"

Whitman hated the woman so much and would never get over her formula of abuse. It was so well crafted in the most twisted way, hurting Rose with the very hands that were now gently stroking her hair down. There was something inexplicable about the fear Walburga invoked of everyone around her, such a evil and dark powerhouse.

"No," Rose eyes snapped open, trying to make herself feel comfortable under Walburga's touch as she focused on Whitman's scarred face for serenity. "I feel perfectly fine"

"Words I am pleased to hear mí amore" Walburga slid her hand to the side of Rose's head, tucking her hair back. "I have to go meet with our jeweler at the Malfoy's and handle some paper work at the ministry"

"Okay" Rose paused and glanced around the kitchen with an aching stomach, "I'm starving honestly"

"Well do be careful with what you eat—we do have events this break and you'll be in the paper as well" Walburga stepped away from Rose and flattened out her gown, "How much are you weighing in at now?"

"Eighty nine" Rose boasted.

Whitman slid a frustrated hand over his mouth and rubbed there, looking away from both the women as Walburga replied with a devilish smile. No one should weight that much at her age, no one.

"What do you say to loosing five more before returning to school?"

Rose nodded and pushed up off her elbows, "Of course grandmother"

Walburga grasped her chin curiously, having to make sure Rose was really there. "You can always be more—remember that"

Rose had a ten minute max on faking niceness, she pushed her hand away with an eye roll. "I'm rich and I'm pretty grandmother—that's all a person needs to be"

Whitman choked on a laugh, quickly covering it with his hand. Just like that Walburga's facade of 'kindness' faded, her features overcoming with anger.

"Consider your punishment extended for dumbing yourself down in conversation" Walburga spat so quickly Rose flinched before she moved forward and painfully dug fingers onto Rose's shoulder with a low whisper, "Don't think I've forgotten about how offended you were about a simple stranger"

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Rose repeated this process until Walburga's heels had clicked out of the kitchen and echoed from the entry hall, not able stop until she heard the roaring flames of the floo go off in the lounge.

Immediately she let out a loud rush of air and turned to face Whitman while pulling her wand out of the side of her boot, beginning to tie her hair back. "Well she was much nicer than usual"

"Nicer?" Whitman breathed out as Rose's body relaxed at the energy of Walburga gone, "Ro...nothing about any of that was nice"

"Well she didn't exactly take me straight to the tapestry room" Rose said shakily and grasped onto her wine glass, moving around the island. "Don't suspect it'll be a fun day tomorrow for any of us though"

Whitman shook his head with a pained face as Rose turned her back to him and tipped the wine glass up, beginning to loudly shuffle through the top draw beside the stove. When he looked back up she had just finished off the wine and was holding up a purple bottle with prescriptions inked on it. "Ro?"

"Just checking her medication" Rose muttered as she started picking up the other wizarding pill bottles, "Go on and say what you must"

"Hermione can't be mad at you for acting how you did" Whitman attempted to assure, knowing guilt had to be nipping at her brain. "She—she doesn't know how bad it is"

Rose squinted, trying to read the white labels. "Yeah well what can you do? I'm not a fucking pussy—I'll take whatever she wants give me because next time I'm taking up for Mione"

"But you can't!" Whitman stated exasperated before taking a deep breath to calm himself, "She almost killed you last time and when I found you—when I found you like that Ro...."

Rose swallowed thickly, twisting the top off the third bottle she had found. "So let her kill me Whit"

"What about me? Are you fine with leaving me behind?" He dropped down into one of the island stools, "I need you here and if that means Granger has to throw a fit because you can't take up for her then so be it. You are not a bad person for saving yourself in whatever form you can"

She grasped onto the opened wine bottle, steadily filling her glass back up with a shaky tone laced with honesty. "I'd hate me too if I was her"

"Ro you can't seriously—" He paused as she placed one of the chunky white pills on her tongue, grabbing the glass of wine to swallow it in one gulp. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Coping" Rose muttered as she tossed the pill bottle back in the drawer and closed it with her hip, taking the glass of wine with her as she opened the fridge disguised as a cabinet up.

Whitman dropped his face into his hands, feeling a reeling of pain and stress and anxiety come. "Do you even know what you took?"

"No" She grasped the basket of strawberries, kicking the fridge back shut and crossing over towards him. With a sigh she dropped the fruit and wine down onto the marble, loosing the edge to her voice as she pulled on his arms and made the stool spin towards her.

"Hey hey"

His solemn face looked deprived as their eyes met, "I want you to care about yourself as much as I do"

"I'm fine love" Rose murmured, stroking her thumbs down his scarred cheeks. "Can't we just worry about the future later?"

After a few moments he nodded with a softening face and patted his thigh, Rose smiled happily in return before slipping up onto his lap with a huff.

"Strawberries?" She offered, pulling the basket towards them while grasping the wine. Whitman hummed and opened his mouth, getting a giggle from Rose as she fed him one but left the top out.

He happily tucked his chin on her shoulder after, groaning when she plopped the top of the fruit into her mouth. "I don't understand how you can eat those"

"They are so good for your health, tons of vitamins and help with naseua—why wouldn't I?" Rose tipped her glass up after, grinning against the rim as his arms looped around her waist.

Whitman whispered cheekily with a taunt, his chin shifting to peer up at her. "Since when has Miss lung killer cared about health benefits?"

"Oh fuck off" Rose grumbled back, pushing his face away.

Their time went by quickly and was peaceful considering Walburga had been gone, that was of course until the drug hit Rose and she became incapable of speaking or walking. Whitman pushed down his gut twisting and simply fed her a sober-up potion before laying her down in his bed. When she did wake up they started to mess around with Bowie, the bowtruckle, showing the creature all the ins and outs of the room.

By the time nightfall rolled around Rose and Whitman had practically switched places, her dosing his tea with sleeping draught and staying by his side until he breathed slowly in a deep slumber. Before leaving his room Rose tucked Bowie into the nook of Whitman's elbow, promising she would have a small blanket made for him by the morning. It took a lot for the bowtruckle to let her leave the room, clearly already forming an attachment issue to the girl.

Once released Rose took to the door Whitman and herself had made to connect their rooms despite Walburga's protest, Nyx following after her on the cold wooden floor and into the contrasting space.

Solitude provided a reminder of what occurred earlier that day, leading to Rose ducking off into her bathroom and scrubbing her skin like the routine would take away the guilt of how Hermione must feel.

After a long and strenuous skin care routine, Rose slipped on a black nightgown and a silky robe to match, her wet hair providing a chill in the midst of the warm home. For a minute she admired the idea of being back in her room while exiting the vast closet where bat bones hung in a row.

Being in Grimmauld was never a grand experience unless Walburga had left for a trip or such things, the home was haunted with memories of the dead and awful pain mixed with sorrow. Although everything inside seemed so shiny and radiated exquisitely expensive taste, it was all an act.

Rose had lived there, and she had died there.

There were parts of herself buried in foundation of the house she knew were never coming back.

But that room was the one space that felt safe besides the human sleeping in the next one over. Whitman living there changed everything, it changed her.

The walls of the room were as dark as the night, a four poster bed where Nyx laid with black silky sheets and a comforter to match. Sheer emerald green tulle hung around the mattress like a curtain, the wall across had been covered by a huge bookshelf with a fire place which was lit in the center of all the books. There was a velvety green couch in front of the burning embers and the entrance to her balcony was blocked by cauldrons and vials with parchment filled full of alchemy symbols scribbled all. Regardless of having a book shelf there were a ton of books lazily thrown in piles around the room. A crystal black chandelier hung from the ceiling and red melted candles sat on both sides of her bed on the small tables with odd little crystals scattered around them.

And there were pictures of her and all the boys littering the walls, one holding a boy not many would recognize.

Regulus Arcturus Black.

He was the one person in the entirety of her family line she ever felt connected to or seen by. Rose didn't quite understand how she could feel that way, to be so connected and attached to a dead man she never met. But Rose had read his journals countless times, telling her everything and more that she needed to know.

Kreacher apparating into the room tore her thoughts away, him whispering lowly by the door while holding a cup of tea. "Rose"

The name he was allowed to call her in private.

She cleared her throat, crossing her arms over the robe while nearing the couch. "Yes Kreach?"

"Mistress Black is back but she's already in bed" Kreacher muttered, fearful of the woman somehow hearing him. "Would Rose like some tea? It has calming draught in it"

Rose smiled softly at him and leaned her hips against the arm of the couch, "Yes please—thank you for thinking of me"

"Kreacher always thinks of Rose" The elf walked over, holding up the steaming cup. Rose began to ask for his company as she took it, but was quickly shut down. "Kreacher must finish cleaning the kitchen first"

"Okay" Rose bent down to him, placing a chaste kiss on his forehead. "I'll be up for some reading if you finish soon enough"

Kreacher nodded, grabbing her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze before snapping his fingers—disappearing with a loud crack. Rose sighed at being alone once more, attempting to take a sip of the tea and burning herself in the process with the scolding hot liquid.

"Well then" She muttered before walking around the couch and settling her back against the arm rest, eyeing the few books on the coffee table as the warmth of the fire invaded her senses.

Despite the three unread books on the coffee table Rose grasped onto 'Little Women'. She had an awful habit of turning to books she had already read, finding comfort in them and the characters portrayed.

With a guttural sigh of giving in Rose forced herself into relaxation and opened up the book she had argued with Hermione over a million times. Rose never agreed that Laurie and Jo should've ended up together, meanwhile Hermione argued the exact opposite.

She grinned at the tally marks in ink on the first page, a signal of how many times she had flipped her way through the pages of the book—an argument she used to debate her opinion with Hermione over. Personally the best part of the entire novel to her was the contrasting of the two 'proposals' given to Jo, for Laurie claimed he would commit desperate acts if she had not reciprocated his love. Friedrich on the other hand may have not even made a marriage proposal but he did in fact give Jo all the power and control, simply laying everything out—stating he would love her even if she did not love him.

Rose didn't know much about love except what she had experienced from the people closest to her which was vastly different than the awful and abusive one Walburga and Orion presented.

But she always believed the true epitome of unconditionally loving someone had to be never losing that love even if they did not feel the same.

She often had to remind herself the words Whitman muttered to her after the two witnessed an awful fight between Walburga and Orion,

'Love is not abusive'

'Love is not controlling'

Suddenly frantically pounding happened on her bedroom door, Rose's head snapping up and eardrums focusing in on what sounded like a large hand trying to push the door open instead of purposeful hits to the wood.

As the sound continued Rose shut the book and slid it onto the coffee table, Nyx awaking from her slumber on the bed and lifting her head up to peer around confused.

Quickly, Rose tightened her robe and walked across the room, heart rate picking up at the pounding that just wouldn't seem to stop. She took a deep breath before grabbing onto the door handle, yanking it up to reveal the most unsuspected sight.

Draco Malfoy froze, his hands that were on the door pausing and dropping down as the other gripped the wooden framing. He reeked of whiskey, his blonde hair tousled in waves and the sleeves of the black turtle neck he wore were pushed up as he slurred out his words with a sudden bright smile.

"Hey Rosie—I couldn't find the door handle"

She blinked in pure utter shock with widened eyes, "Draco? What—what are you doing here? Are you drunk?"

Draco reached out, attempting to touch her face but instead just drunkenly placed his hand over the entirety of the front—slowly sliding it down. "Rosie"

She swatted his hand and took ahold of it firmly, her eyes growing even wider as the seconds passed with nostrils scrunching at how badly he smelled of a bar. "Why are you here at one in the morning?!" He just smiled, attempting to slide their fingers together as he held onto the doorframe for dear life. "Draco! How much did you have to drink?!"

He huffed at her refusal to hold his hand, letting go of the doorframe and her palm to grasp her shoulders—stumbling in the process as he pouted. "Why do you hate me Rosie?"

"Gods" Rose muttered, Nyx watching in amusement as she placed her hands over his and walked backwards with struggle. "You need to sit down"

"No!" He said loudly and almost fell, Rose grunting as she yanked his arm over shoulders. He leaned his head over hers as she struggled to kick the door shut. "I want to know Rosie"

"What the fuck?" Rose mumbled, grunting with each step as she walked the lanky boy to the bed and forced him down onto it with haste. After, she covered her eyes with a palm, attempting to figure out what to do.

"Rosie" Draco groaned, his voice sounded hoarse and incoherent as he latched onto her waist and pulled her forward. "Why do you hate me?"

She yelped at the force of which he had in such a state, her hands sliding over his and attempting to remove them. "You might be drunk right now but you hate me. Okay? You hate me Draco"

He grinned with half lidded eyes, "I could never hate you" He lifted a hand off her hip, messily booping her nose and making Rose blink in shock once more. "Not my Rosie"

"Did you just...bop my nose?" Rose questioned, hating her heart for flipping at his words.

Draco lifted his chin towards her with a smile, letting his hand fall back onto her hip. "Did you like it?"

She choked on a laugh with a softened gaze before forcing herself to push his hands down, "Draco you're drunk and not thinking clearly—you need to go home"

Desperately, he grabbed onto her hands. "I just want to stay with you—let me stay with you"

She felt like a melting candle at the touch she missed so dearly. With a sigh Rose gave in, "Yes you can stay here but I need to—"

Draco cut her off with an hurt voice, squeezing her fingers. "Do you not want me to sleep with you?"

"That's not what I'm—"

"But Rosie!" He rushed out, "I just want you to hold me"

"Draco!" She scolded, "I said you can stay!"

"Sorry" He smiled sheepishly, a grin coming back. "What have you been up to?"

"What have I—" Rose asked in disbelief before letting out a rush of air and changing her tone to normal as his fingers kept squeezing her own. "Well I was reading little women"

"You always loved that book—always ranting about it in a way that made me listen to every word" His face light up, pulling her forward in between his legs. "Can you read to me?"

She smiled with no control over it, "You want to be read to while drunk?"

"What can I say?" Draco slurred, his eyes opening and closing as he spoke with a cocky attitude. "I've always been a man with refined taste"

Rose laughed and he smiled widely, letting the sound pour into his ears. "I'll go get a book"

At once she pulled away, not knowing if she would have the strength to it if wasn't a quick process. Draco groaned at the loss of touch as she started for the book shelf, he began to get up and accidentally stumbled into the couch.

"Draco! Sit down!"

"Nuh uh" He mumbled with a raised finger before using the couch to move around. Rose covered her mouth in horror as he kept stumbling over to her, his hand latching onto her shoulder after much struggle and his arm wrapping around her. "There you are"

"Gods Draco!" Rose scolded him as she slipped her arm around his waist, trying to keep the six foot boy from toppling over as he reached up to grab a random book from the fourth shelf.

"Oh this won't do" He muttered without even reading the title, chunking it across the room before going to grab another.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Rose raised her voice, his lips quirking up at the scolding as he grabbed another—his eyes barely noticing the blueish color before chunking it.

The sound of his throws were resounding and Rose immediately let go of him and went to pick them up by the door as he spoke while scanning another, "Rosie I—I must find you the perfect book"

"No Draco that is not necessary! I can find—" She cut off her own words as he threw another book with distaste, forcing her to dodge the flying object as the sound echoed. "Draco I'm going to murder you!"

He sighed happily for a moment, his head dropping back. "I love when you give me death threats"

"Rosalie!" Walburga Black yelled from the bottom of the staircase, Draco just continuing on with his book search as Rose gasped.

"Draco!" Rose whispered harshly and rushed over, grabbing onto his sleeve. "Drop. The. Fucking. Book."

His eyes casted down onto her, gulping as he slowly attempted to slide it back but instead dropped it on the floor. "Oh my Merlin" Rose muttered in disbelief, "I'm actually going to kill you"

"Rosalie I'm coming up!" Walburga yelled again, her rushed steps on the staircase echoing.

With a icy whisper she started tugging him to the door, "You are going to behave and shut your mouth"

"Rosie" Draco teased and ran his hand down her face in the same messy way from before, "No need to talk so dirty"

Her eye twitched, slamming him against the wall by the door with force. She stuck her finger in his face and whispered harshly, "You blonde git—you'll drive me mad"

"Rosalie! Open up or I'm coming in!"

Draco grinned and went to speak just before she slapped a hand over his mouth, yanking the door open to see Walburga standing there with a candle in hand.

"Yes grandmother?"

Walburga glared at her, "Is there a tornado in your room? Is someone in there?"

Draco held up his finger, attempting to speak but finding no way as Rose pressed her hand down harder with a smile.

"No ma'am—I had a surge of magic and didn't know what to do"

"Oh well," Walburga straightened up, "I can come in and help you do some spells to calm it"

Rose smiled again to the best of her ability, feeling Draco smiling as well against her palm. "That's quite alright, I'm off to bed"

Walburga peered into the room for a moment before nodding, "Then go to bed—do not worry me like that again"

"Sorry Grandmother" Rose yelled as the women turned away and headed back down the staircase.

Instantly, she slammed the door back and moved infront of Draco, keeping her hand pinned over his mouth as his chest shook with muffled laughter. Rose listened in, waiting until she heard Walburga step onto the first floor to slide her hand off and pin her forearm against his throat.

"Are you trying to get us both murdered?"

"This feels oddly familiar" Draco murmured with a smile, getting a blink of bewilderment in return. "Is now a bad time to say I got you a gift? Two actually"

With a groan she yanked the boy over to the bed, shoving him back down on the edge and bending down to start grumbling while annoyedly pulling off his shoes. "Rosie!" He attested, "Listen to me!"

She in fact, did not listen. Instead she kept on taking off his shoes. Draco gasped at Nyx next to him and picked up the snake, accidentally squeezing her neck before dropping her onto the ground with a thud.

"Nyx?" He asked to the air, "Where did you go Nyx?"

Rose shared a look with Nyx who was now also blinking at the boy. With another grumble she finally got his last shoe off and started to stand, getting her waist grabbed onto.

"Rosie please let me show you what I got"

"Go on" She muttered. Draco grinned and leaned back slightly, attempting to reach into his front pocket with awful effort. Rose swatted him away after a few seconds of struggle, reaching into the pocket herself with heavy frustration.

"Woah" Draco said as he held up his hands with raised eyebrows, Rose rolled her eyes in return and pulled out the two rolls of parchment—shoving them into his hand forcefully.

He cleared his throat dramatically, "So where do I start?"

"Draco! Get on with it!"

He laughed to himself for a moment before staring up at her with a glassy gaze from his alcohol consumption, "Well Rosie love—I started drinking and wanted to come see you but I realized I needed flowers"

"Flowers?" Rose asked as she latched onto his shoulder to keep him upright. "You wanted to buy me flowers?"

"Mhm..." Draco slipped his hand atop hers, beginning to recall his night with furrowed brows. "But there were these two shops right next to eachother and I couldn't pick which one you would prefer so I sat there and thought to myself—well Rosie is a particular person and you wanna know what I did?"

With twitching lips she responded, "What did you do Draco?"

"I decided to just buy you both shops"

Her mouth fell open, "You....bought me two flower shops?"

"Signed your name on both and all" He slurred cheerfully before looking up at the ceiling, "But I might've put Rosalie Malfoy" He paused, focusing back on her with a voice of certainty. "I definitely put Rosalie Malfoy"

Her heart did a million flips as she covered her mouth with a laugh, at a complete loss for words and slightly horrified. Draco's brows pinched together again as he wrapped his arms back around her waist, his head falling against her stomach.

"I miss you Rosie"

"Draco," Rose started, waiting until he lifted his head up. She threaded her fingers through his hair, "I'm right here"

"Never close enough" He murmured.

She smiled at him in disbelief, grasping onto his chin with another laugh despite the way her heart flipped again. "What am I going to do with you? Buying flower shops and showing up at my door drunk?"

He smiled up at her, leaning into the touch. "I don't know"

Rose allowed herself a moment to take in his snowy hair caught in the moonlight, and his blue eyes reflecting the burning fire behind them but most of all his presence—he was really there.

Her smile began to fall as she examined his face, Draco grinning like a drunken idiot in love as he spoke. "Where'd my happy girl go?"

"Oh Draco...." Rose stated with a shaky breath, releasing his chin to run her knuckles over the bruise on his cheek. "What happened?"

"Oh that," He shrugged, "You know father and his welcome home gifts—suspect all of us got one"

She just looked at him with that familiar expression of discomfort and sorrow, making Draco murmur and grasp her hand.

"Please don't be sad" He stopped to laugh with the plan to take away her sadness, "Man's got a sharp right hook—Rosie?"

Rose exhaled after her prolonged silence and pulled his head back against her stomach, soothing his hair down with a steady voice. "I'll kill him"

"No no" Draco slurred against her, tightening his arms around her waist. "Just hold me"

A few minutes passed before she managed to let go and force him up, tucking him onto the bed. "Where are you going?" Draco asked as she walked around to the other side.

"I'm right here Draco" Rose assured and slid in next to him, leaning her back against the headboard. He moved over, his arm going back over her waist and his head nudging onto her stomach.

Draco made a sound of contentment as his eyes closed and her fingers moved through his hair, "Promise—promise me you won't leave"

"I'll be here all night Draco"

He yawned, mumbling back. "That's not what I mean"

She dropped her head back with a gut wrenching feeling, whispering back. "Okay"

*

The next day Rose couldn't bring herself to herself to get out of bed until lunch time, wanting to stay with his arms around her for a moment longer before it would all disappear. Draco was still sleeping soundly when she escaped his death grip and slipped down the staircase, her heart aching uncontrollably. She tried to forget everything he said and did, reminding herself he was drunk out of his mind even if he did quite literally buy two shops.

Whitman arrived into the kitchen with his hands tucked under a chunky sweater, shock across his features as he walked in and found Rose by the island—cutting up celery with her night robe still on and music playing quietly as Nyx curled in a ball on the marble.

She looked up from the celery she had been cutting only for a moment of acknowledgement, "You're finally up"

"Uh...yeah" Whitman muttered, blinking as she started roughly cutting the vegetable again. He settled himself on one of the stools, Rose peering up at him with a raised brow.

"What's wrong with you?"

He rubbed hand over his mouth before propping his head up in confusion, "Why is Draco sleeping in your bed?"

"Oh that—he got drunk and came here last night" Rose pointed up at the ceiling with the large knife, "Walburga already left again, she had some more ministry business to handle"

"Excuse me? We are just going to shrug off Draco showing up to you drunk?"

Rose nodded, continuing her chopping with more aggression. "Do you want a salad with me or should I call for Kreacher?"

"No I'll—I'll cook us something. You've ate enough salads" Whitman muttered before standing up and walking around the island, "You're going to explain why he's in your bed though"

Rose slammed the knife down loudly, "I don't know why he came here!"

Whitman raised his brow with a laugh, "We both know that's not true" After, he wrapped an arm around her waist and placed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Now what do you want? I can make homemade soup so it's not too heavy for you"

Rose grumbled in response and shoved him off, making Whitman grin as he let go of her and spoke while reaching toward the cabinets. "Soup it is then"

Like a magician Whitman started cooking with Rose eventually dropping down onto a stool and feeding Nyx celery while unknowingly watching everything he did, his soft humming to the music and the way his back flexed each time the liquid bubbled.

Whitman glanced over his shoulder as he turned the stove off, "What?"

She shook her head, snapping out of it. "Nothing"

His lips quirked up, picking up the pot and pouring it into two bowls. Rose sat silently and fed Nyx the last piece of the vegetable as she waited for him to take a seat in front of her.

Whitman sighed at her silence and diverted eyes, sliding a steaming bowl over to which he only got a nod in return. Rose leaned her head on a palm, lazily stirring the soup around as the flames off the floo in her room went off.

"Ro"

"Draco must've left" She mumbled, ignoring him. "I worry where Theo is—he never stays away for this long"

Whitman slammed his hand down, anger in his tone. "We must talk about what happened"

Rose's eyes moved up to him, dragging a breath of relief out from the boy. "About what?" She snapped back, "What is there to talk about?"

He hated himself for it but Whitman had this terrible uncontrollable anger everyday of existence, "You kiss me for hours and act like nothing has happened but then at times I catch you looking at me and you become all silent!" He paused with a shake of his head, "I cannot handle you shutting down on me"

Her face went stiff, "So what if we kissed? You were my first after all, it's the same as it happening the first time!"

"No it's not!" Whitman raised his voice and pointed at her, "The first time we discussed it and it was something planned—last time it was all in the moment"

Rose recoiled back in offense, "The first time wasn't in the moment for you?"

"Ro that's not what I'm—" He rubbed a hand over his mouth, "I'm not saying that, okay? It's just last time you weren't wanting me for practice. It was like—like you wanted to simply kiss me"

Rose clenched her jaw, Nyx sliding away from them both slowly. She opened and closed her mouth, searching for a response she couldn't find before snapping at him. "Why are you even questioning me about this with that hickey on your neck? Don't you have enough women you've been snogging to worry about?"

"They're not you!" He shot back.

Rose stood up with a glare, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Whitman breathed heavily, shaking his head. "You don't get it, do you?"

"No I don't get it Whitman" Rose gripped onto the marble, "I don't understand how you can be worried about my feelings over kissing when you're out putting your dick in anything that walks"

"Oh so that's it? You're mad at me for being with people?" Whitman started to stand, "I can't imagine you would be this angry if Theo wanted to talk about kissing you"

"Well I'm certainly not pleased with your habits with women" Rose spat, "I surely wouldn't be angry at Theo because he's not off fucking the whole right of London"

Unmissable hurt flashed through his eyes as he grew angerier, fighting with her like an old married couple as he pointed at himself. "Maybe that's how I cope! You have your ways, Theo has his, Draco has his, and even Blaise has his!"

Rose scoffed, looking him up and down. "Yeah well just don't expect me to feel special about kissing you when there's countless other people you're doing it to"

"You want me to stop? I'll stop!" Whitman shouted, "You want me to never look another women in the eye? I won't! I'll do whatever you want me to do because that's how much I love you! All you have to do is ask"

She shifted uncomfortably and stepped away, "I can't do this right now"

"Ro" he called with a lowered tone, loosing the edge.

She turned around to face him as she reached the exit of the kifchen, "No! I'm going to see Theo!"

Whitman's eyes flashed gold, a sign she had worked him up to a soon to be breaking point as he yelled. "Yeah go fucking see angel Theo! Maybe he can make you feel better"

"I'm sure he will!" Rose shouted, "At least I won't have to think about another girls tongue being shoved down his throat!"

They shared a intense look, both breathing heavy with rising chests before he yelled again with his hand slamming down. "Why does it bother you so much?!"

"It doesn't! It's simply annoying!" Rose yelled before covering her mouth, switching to a whisper after. "I don't care Whitman"

Without another word Whitman let his head hang and exhaled shakily, Rose quickly ran off and up the staircase until she got to her room—slamming the door shut.

"Fucking men" Rose muttered to herself as she crossed the space and yanked open the closet. All she had to do was get ready and get far away from that house before Walburga returned.

It took a few moments of calming herself down before she began to slide off her robe and started opening the drawers of the glass island in the center of the closet. Rose refused to go see if Draco left a note, knowing in her heart he probably didn't.

She had been rummaging through the clothes like a mad woman when Whitman came in, leaning on the open door of the closet with arms crossed as he respectfully kept his gaze on her head and not the gown.

"Ro"

Her body stilled as she looked over at him, throat bobbing as she dropped a jacket she was holding onto the glass.

Whitman spoke softly, "I'm sorry"

Rose rushed over and he began to stand up straight just as her arms slipped around his waist tightly, "I'm sorry too"

He hugged around her neck with a sigh, "The full moon is coming up and I'm being a dick"

"No I understand" She squeezed him, swearing to never even think about their lips again. "You're my best friend—we can fight anytime we want and it doesn't change anything"

"Yeah" He breathed out, "Bestfriend"

"Mhm..."

He forced himself to pull back, pushing her hair away from her face. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"Only if Bowie comes with" Rose grinned, "I'm going to some shops and then I'll be off to Theo's"

She wanted to add in that she hoped to forget about what happened last night, Draco taking up all the space in her brain.

Whitman smirked and walked into the closet, eyeing the mess she made. "I suppose Bowie should be up for a trip"

She clapped excitedly, both of them trying to wash away what happened. "Yay! Now tell me—what should I wear for the day?"

"Hmm..." He teased, "It's so very colorful in here that it is hard to pick"

"Oh fuck off" Rose grumbled, "Says the boy whose dressed like a grandpa in the seventies"

"Oi!" Whitman shouted as he leaned on the glass, "I prefer washed up band member"

She giggled and tossed a dress at him, "Be glad I think your little sweaters are sexy"

"You think my sweaters are sexy?" Whitman chuckled with a raised brow.

"Very much so" Rose hummed, leaning on the glass to face him challengingly. "Even better when you wear those little knitted cardigans with your band shirts" He flushed red, becoming a mess as he dropped his face into his hands with laughter.

*

It had been a long day of Rose dragging Whitman  and Kreacher all over the Wizarding World in England, forcing them into every shop known to mankind. Rose held the belief that if she handed over enough galleons to a cashier then maybe her brain would forget about the night with Draco, and the fact she now owned two floral shops.

They had not finished their exploits until the sun set and Whitman felt like he was on his death bed. Rose sent Kreacher home with all the bags and Nyx before dragging Whitman through a floo in a clothing store.

Nott Manor was a extravagant place, almost too much so when one would think about the fact only two men lived there. The manor was so vast that Theodore Nott Sr' had a abundance of house elves running around and cleaning every inch at all hours. Unlike the Malfoy's though, Nott Manor' interior was much lighter with an airy feel, not covered in splashes of dark black in the slightest. The stone walls were white along with the pillars inside, paintings of all different kinds hung around.

But it didn't feel like home, haunted with suffering and Theo's loneliness when he was there. Every memory of his mother had been scraped from existence, sometimes it felt as if she had never lived with him at all.

Theo rarely spent time there, always running off to Grimmauld to escape being in his fathers presence. Lucius Malfoy was often known for being dreadful in their group, but he had a rival in Theodore Nott Sr'.

The father never just kept things to physical blows, often lifting his wand and making Theo experience pain from magical curses instead. It was one of the million reasons why Theo felt so seen and understood by Rose, as much as they could try to explain the pain endured to someone—it was nothing compared to the real thing. They never truly had a home, but they had eachother and always knew what the other needed.

That was more than enough.

After all, isn't being simply understood instead of seen through what every human craved but few got?

Rose and Whitman had wished for the correct floo when they entered. Nott manor was set up oddly, the center of the house completely cut out with a fountain court in the middle—which led to the man of the home putting in two main floo networks. One led to the side of the house Theo stayed in, the other where his dad stayed.

The two teens walked out of the fire and into the dinning hall, exactly where they wished to be. "My gods" Rose giggled as she dusted her sweater off, "Thought we were getting sent the wrong way for a minute there"

Bowie popped his leafy head of the leather coat pocket Whitman had on, peering around curiously. "Bowie go back in" Whitman demanded as he looked around, "It's not safe for you"

The bowtruckle stuck its tongue out at Whitman in annoyance before slipping back into the pocket, purposely nicking his fingers with his own.

Too lost in trying to wipe the dust from the fire off and whispering about Bowie, neither noticed the whimpering in the corner of the room until Whitman paused and sucked in a sharp breath—the wolf gene in his body making his ability to hear that much keener.

Rose turned around, eyes growing wide at the small cage to the left with what looked to be fluffy animal inside. She rushed over without a second thought, a piece of her gut dropping at the large black cat laying on it's side with pained noises.

Immediately she began tugging on the lock and Whitman crouched down beside her as she talked urgently, "What the hell did he do?"

"Just use your magic" Whitman stated calmly, attempting to tune out the sounds. "You can unlock it"

"No no no" Rose muttered with a frantic tone, unable to handle any animal in pain. "His father undoubtedly has an alarm set—we don't want him to come home"

Whitman raked his brain for a solution, quickly pulling Bowie out of his pocket. "Bowie can you pick that lock?"

Rose froze as the bowtruckle nodded, she slid her hands away as Whitman guided the creature to the thick metal lock.

"Just try not to listen" He reassured and rubbed her arm, both intently watching as Bowie hung from the chain and starting sticking his sharp fingers into the locket hole.

It only took five seconds for the sound of a click to ring out, the lock coming undone. Whitman breathed out in relief, muttering praises to the small creature as he placed him on his shoulder—watching as Rose yanked the chain apart and swung open the metal door.

She went to pick up the cat but it only winced, "Okay okay—I'm going to heal it Whit" Rose stuck her hands inside the cage, hovering them over the animal before muttering Latin.

Slowly but surely the cries of pain started to quiet down, but of course the two were too lost once again—not noticing Theo's father nearing from behind them in his pristine suit.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Whitman knew from the moment he heard the voice and Rose ceased her spell what would happen. In a instant she was up on her feet, lurching for the man with all intention to rip his throat out. Whitman went after her, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground as he kept her back.

"I should kill you!"

Theo's father looked at her blankly, "But you wouldn't dare—Theo would never forgive you"

She stopped struggling in Whitman's arms at the words, knowing he was right. Once she was back on her feet she began yelling again, "You are a sick and disgusting man and I'm taking that cat away from here!"

"You will do no such thing" He spat back.

"You think I'm scared of you?" Rose laughed manically, "How will you stop me? Gonna try to hurt me?"

He lifted his chin, "I could very well do so—it is well deserved"

She turned to Whitman with a rising chest, "Keep healing the cat and then bring him upstairs"

Whitman nodded hesitantly, eyeing the father as he crouched back down to the cage. Her gaze fell back to the man, "I dare you to do something to me because if you think Theo doesn't want you dead right now he sure as hell will kill you with his bare hands if you lay a finger on me"

He glared in response, Rose just scoffing before quickly rushing towards the wide, spiraling stone staircase.

"Where do you think you are going?!"

Her hand grasped onto the railing, voice louder than ever. "I'm going to see Theo and I beg you to keep speaking to me—I'll be happy to tell Walburga all about your threats!"

The mention of the evil woman shut him up real quick, his throat bobbing uncomfortably as Rose began to rush up the stairs. It wasn't until she was halfway did he yell after her, "Rose!"

Her eye twitched, spitting her words out in disgust over the railing. "It's Rosalie to you piece of shit!"

The father simply shook his head as she disappeared, there was no stopping Rose when she became this way. And he knew deep down, he'd be a fool to try.

When the Black did arrive to the third floor she found Theo's door locked, with the knowledge now that his father was home, she carelessly used her grip and magic to make the lock turn.

There he was, alive and breathing in the windowsill with his tilted back as the moon reflected on him. Rose stepped into the room and eyed the scattered parchment everywhere, not speaking she reached him.

"Teddy" She spoke softly, unable to help the tears that pricked her eyes at the large bruise under his left one. "I'm here"

Theo opened up his eyes momentarily, ache swimming in the blue depths of them before he focused back on the night sky.

"Can I touch you?" Rose asked.

"Don't want to hurt you" Theo mumbled.

"You could never love"

"Okay"

Rose steadily reached out and tilited his chin to her despite the way her heart was shattering, it always felt that way to see him in any form of pain—even with a simple cut. "I'm gonna fix you up, okay?"

"The cat" Theo grasped onto her hand but didn't force it down, "He tried to make me kill the cat"

Rose shushed him with a understanding nod, keeping ahold of his chin and swiping her thumb under his bruised eye, him in pain giving her the power to take away the mark. After, she sat down on the windowsill in between his thighs, not wanting to touch him too much until he asked.

"Okay tell me what happened love"

Theo fingers twitched, a small signal of communication they always used when like this. Rose slipped her hand into his warm one before taking ahold of the other. With a shaky breath he began to speak, sounding like he was reeling in the deep.

"As soon as I got home he had that cat and he kept trying to get me to kill it and I—I couldn't do it" Theo started shaking his head like crazy, "He kept throwing spells at it and I tried to stop him but he started hitting—Ro I can't hurt him and I can't hurt an animal"

"Theo—"

He cut her off, dropping his head forward. "Ro the cat—you need to go find the cat and heal it"

Rose pulled her hands away and slipped them onto his cheeks gently. As she began to raise his head up her eyes looked around, thankful when Whitman walked in holding onto the perfectly healed cat. "Look Teddy—the cat is fine Whit has it"

Theo eyes glassed over before he looked at her in shock, "Did I imagine all that? Am I seeing stuff again?"

"No baby no" Rose affirmed with such a stern tone he believed her, dropping his head down into her shoulder.

Whitman sat the cat on the ground and walked around the mess of parchment, "Theo how long have you been in here?"

"Since—since yesterday evening"

Rose shared a look with Whitman as Theo's arms slinked around her, fingers going up into his hair soothingly. "Have you had any drink or food?"

Theo didn't reply, leading to Rose repeating her question. "No" he mumbled against her neck, "He locked the door"

Her eyes closed and she pulled him closer as Whitman responded, "I'm going to go get you some stuff and I'll be back, okay?"

Theo just slumped against Rose, the faint sound of Whitman opening the door and leaving ringing as silence passed.

"I love you" Rose told him as he continued attempting to use her method of soothing his hair, "So much"

Theo lifted up slightly, pulling her closer in the process. "We should—we should probably leave before my father does something"

"No one can hurt you if I'm here" Rose whispered as she used her thumbs to wipe the strays tears rolling down his cheek, "I will never let anyone hurt you if I can stop it"

"I know" Theo mumbled, face relaxed as she pulled his head down and pressed her lips to his forehead. He let out another shaky breath, fingers pulling on her to be impossibly closer before lifting up. "Distract me"

"Teddy—"

"No just please" He pleaded, "I can't think of my father right now"

Rose wished to tell him they could just kill his father, but it was never going to be that simple. She understood him in so many ways and this topic was no exception. Although the man who helped created him gave Theo everything he needed to be a powerful killing machine, to have a heart of stone—he would never be able to bring himself to do it to his father. His mind was a disastrous place filled with tortuous visions, death, pain, and loss. Even if being rid of the man would solve so many things in his life, Theo held out.

Why?

Because hope.

He had hope that one day his father could love him despite everything.

And Rose was the same with Walburga, no matter what, she knew in her heart and soul she would never be capable of killing the woman because just like Theo she prayed to her ancestors that eventually Walburga would return her love. Draco dealt with the exact situation with Lucius, always planning of taking out the man but never able to.

"What do you want to talk about Teddy?"

"Tell me about your chest" He said as his fingers slid up her back, "Is it still hurting where Dumbledore hit you?"

"Teddy we should talk about—"

"Please"

She took a deep breath, focusing in on his eyes as she began to provide a distraction he pleaded for. "It hurts but I'll be okay. Dumbledore thinks Voldermort is really coming back, of course he hasn't expressed this to Harry or really anyone but he told me I needed to know since he plans for me to help him"

Like a light switch, Theo's expression changed, jaw tightening. "The future is precarious but he's using you. I can't—I won't let him make you fight his battle as a child"

"Oh Teddy" Rose smiled sadly, pushing the curls falling over his forehead back. "You have to understand I would sacrifice myself for the world in a heartbeat if I had to—I was raised for this"

His hand slipped onto her cheek, providing that warmth and comfort she gravely missed each time it left. "But my love, I would sacrifice this world for you"

"You would, wouldn't you?" She asked with soft eyes, not a doubt in her mind that he was lying.

Theo nodded, "I hold nothing more dear than you—let the world burn and fall to ashes because I refuse to let you leave it without me"

Rose muttered back, never failing to be in awe of the boy in front of her. "We're quite a dangerous and doomed pair then"

"Indeed love" Theo whispered before pressing his lips to the tip of her nose, dropping his forehead down against hers after. "But infinite we are"

"Infinite"

__________________________________

A/N: sorry the pain and angst but i feel as if I never did justice to Theo's trauma in the original

—i was listening to work song by hozier and oh my god it is so theo & rose

—if i hear any of you saying rose should've stood up for Hermione to Walburga im suing....Walburga is ten times harder and crueler to Rose than she was to Sirius or Regulus because she is literally the last chance child and you suspect her to be literally abused to take up for Hermione? bffr you would've done the same

—on another note sorry this took so long! it's a completely new chapter so it wasn't like I had anything to go off of

—next chapter is Christmas at the Malfoy's! woop woop...i wonder...will mattheo be there?? if you want any little extra scenes of Christmas just tell me!! i try to always add in stuff you guys wish for <3

—DRACO BUYING THE FLOWER SHOPS IS THE BEST THING EVER I CANNOT EXPLAIN AND HIM PUTTING ROSALIE MALFOY??

—is everyone mad at me for some people kissing early on? i don't want the dramatic kisses when admitting feelings to lose their affect because it's obvi still going to be slow burn

MEME TIME LOVES:

rose when she saw draco at her door:

me after draco:

What Hermione should've done to Walburga:

whit getting so angry his wolf is showing:

Draco's mind when he was buying the shops:

Draco when Rose threatens him:

Draco realizing what he did when he woke up:

xx bri