Notes: Thanks for reading and reviewing and favoriting and following everyone! I was a little quick with this one, so if you notice a typo or some such let me know!

:: :: :: ::

The next morning, Rose Flooed over to Grimmauld Place to let Sirius nurse his hangover and broken heart in peace. Molly Weasley was slaving away over breakfast, while Kreacher muttered to himself in the corner. He had gotten ideas lately that his duties included cooking for everyone, which Rose was inclined to encourage, though trying to get Mrs. Weasley to abandon the kitchen was a battle lost before it had begun. Ginny, Hermione, and Ron were sitting at the table. Rose slid into a seat beside Ginny, and helped herself to toast.

"Morning," she said. Ginny and Ron mumbled greetings. Hermione passed the jam.

Molly floated over serving platters piled high with fluffy eggs and sausages, and they all tucked in. Everyone perked up after eating. Ron and Ginny had a short battle with drawn forks over the last sausage. Ron won, but compromised by cutting the sausage in half and giving the other to Ginny.

The Floo flared green, and Tonks appeared. Rose caught her breath, feeling guilty. Tonks was clutching a bit of parchment in her hand, and she had rage in her eyes.

"Have you seen Remus?" she asked Rose.

"No," said Rose, slowly. Tonks's eyes narrowed, sensing Rose's guilt probably. "Not since last night."

Tonks scowled, and left the room. They heard her stomping up the staircase.

Ginny, Ron, and Hermione looked at Rose curiously.

"What's with her?" asked Ginny.

Rose shook her head. "I'm not sure."

They were all very quiet for a moment, listening to the echo of Tonks's loud footsteps on the stairs. Then came the sound of doors being flung open, and banging against the walls. More stomping, up to the next floor, and more doors being banged open.

Another door opened with a bang, and then there was a long pause. They heard Tonks's voice raised in anger. The four teenagers looked at each other, and then were out of their seats, tumbling out into the hall. Tonks's voice carried easily down to them from the third floor.

"—The hell is this?" she demanded.

A low murmur from Remus, and then Tonks said, "What are you? Some fifth year who's too scared to break up with his girlfriend to her face? You had to do it in an owl?"

The girls gasped quietly.

"Oooh," said Ron. "That's awful."

Another murmur from Remus, and then Tonks said, "I don't understand," and her voice broke.

The four teenagers decided that they'd done enough eavesdropping for one day, and retreated back into the kitchen.

"Everything all right?" asked Mrs. Weasley, as they resumed their seats at the kitchen table.

Ron shook his head. "I don't think so, Mum."

"Oh, dear," she said.

From upstairs came the sound of breaking glass, then Tonks's feet on the stairs. They all stared at the kitchen door, the foyer just beyond. They heard the front door open, hinges squeaking, and the low rumble of traffic from the street.

"I'm so sorry," said Remus. He must have followed Tonks down the stairs.

"Go to hell, you enormous cowardly arsehole," said Tonks. The front door slammed shut.

There was a tense moment of complete silence, and then Remus's shuffling footsteps could be heard ascending the staircases, and then faintly, the sound of a door closing.

"Merlin," said Ron, shaking his head. "Women." He seemed to realize his mistake a moment later, when four pairs of eyes tried to burn holes into his head. "I mean— I meant nothing. Never mind."

"Do you think he really broke up with her in an owl?" said Ginny.

"That doesn't sound like Professor Lupin," said Hermione, who still managed to hold on to the belief that teachers could do no wrong. "Why was he staying here last night?"

"Did something happen?" Ginny asked Rose. "I thought Remus really liked her."

"I did too," said Rose. She could not bring herself to share news of the fight or of Sirius's feelings, not like this, like it was just a piece of juicy gossip.

Though she was going to go home to tell Sirius about all about it, because it meant something, didn't it, that Remus had run away only so far as Grimmauld Place, and had broken up with Tonks? Maybe, just maybe, Sirius's feelings weren't unrequited at all. Maybe Remus would come home, and maybe Sirius and Remus would be happy and together.

Maybe. Rose dared to hope.

:: :: :: ::

Rose Flooed home, under the pretense that she had forgotten to feed Hedwig, and told Sirius what had transpired between Remus and Tonks. Sirius seemed relieved to hear that Remus was staying at Grimmauld Place, but was only more upset to hear that Remus had broken up with Tonks. Rose didn't understand why he wasn't jumping for joy, but thought it might be the hangover he was clearly suffering. Sirius's eyes were bloodshot, and he winced at all bright light and loud noises. Rose didn't know why he hadn't taken a potion, but supposed he must be punishing himself.

Rose caught him doctoring his coffee with whiskey. "Hair of the dog," he explained. Rose thought you were only meant to do that once, and that cup of coffee was definitely not his first this morning.

Rose frowned, made tea and a plate of toast to put in front of him, and left him picking at the crust.

She Flooed back to Grimmauld Place, and went up to the library to meet Ginny and Hermione. They were sitting at the table in the library, and there was a fresh pile of books to comb through for information about horcruxes. Ron was there as well, and he and Ginny seemed to be bickering over the ownership of a copy of Quidditch Weekly, while Hermione watched them over the top of a book titled, 'Horrible Hexes and their Heinous Handling.'

Ron held the magazine over Ginny's head, well out of her reach. Ginny countered by climbing up on her chair, and jumping on Ron's back. He yelped, and she clung on, even when he tried to shake her off. Hermione laughed, and Ron was distracted enough in grinning back at her that Ginny was able to dig her fingers into his ribs. He yelped, and dropped the magazine on the table. Ginny grabbed it with a cry of triumph, and danced away with it. Ron sat down at the table again, rubbing the spot where Ginny had injured him with a scowl on his face.

"I want it when you're done," he said.

"Fine," said Ginny, who dropped into a cushy chair in the corner. She kicked her legs up onto the arm, and settled in to read.

Siblings. Rose didn't understand it at all.

"So," said Ron. There was an open book on the table in front of Hermione, and Ron turned it around and started to read. His eyebrows climbed up his forehead, and he flipped the cover closed. "Alternatives to the Unforgivable Curses?" he read aloud. He looked at Hermione in alarm. "What are you reading this for?"

"Research," said Hermione. She pulled the book back across the table, and dropped Horrible Hexes on top.

"For what?"

"None of your business," said Ginny, not looking up from her magazine.

Ron turned around in his chair, and glared at his sister. "I bet Mum would love to know what you girls are up to in here," he threatened.

Ginny dropped the magazine to her chest, and gave Ron a look. They had a short glaring contest, and then Ginny heaved a sigh, and turned back to her magazine. "We're looking for ways to kill You Know Who, Ron. Use your brain, for Merlin's sake."

Ron snorted. "No, really."

Hermione frowned, and shut her book with a snap. "What did you think we were doing in here all summer?"

"I dunno," said Ron. "Whatever girls do when there are no blokes about."

"Nail polish and pillow fights?" said Ginny. "Who do you think we are? Fleur?"

Ron shrugged. "How would I know?"

"Just for that, I won't be giving you a manicure today, Ginny," said Rose.

"Aw," said Ginny. "I didn't mean it, Rose. You know I love you more than Phlegm. You're much less silly. And this pink is chipping something awful." She examined her fingernails, and made a face.

Rose stuck her tongue out at Ginny, and dropped into the chair beside Ron.

"I'm going to tell him," said Rose.

"No, don't!" said Ginny. "I don't want Ron to be about every day."

Ron sat up in his chair. "Yes!" he said. "Tell me."

"He can help," said Rose. "More eyes on the books can only help us find something faster."

Ginny groaned a complaint. "If I read more books can we not tell him?"

"Tell me!" said Ron.

So Rose did. She told him about the horcruxes, and everything that Regulus had told her in the park. Ron looked horrified, and vaguely disgusted when she had finished.

"You had a bit of You Know Who's soul in you?" he asked, and Rose nodded. "That's disgusting," he said.

"So that's why we are trying to find any information we can about horcruxes. There's no information in the Hogwarts library at all, but the Black family collected loads of books about dark magic, so we're looking through them."

"You can start with these," said Hermione, and put two thick books in front of Ron.

He looked at the books, and made a face. "I don't think I thought this through properly." But then Hermione smiled at him, and he settled in easily enough.

:: :: :: ::

In the afternoon, there came a knock on the library door. The door was standing open, and they all looked up from their dusty, dark arts books to see Remus standing in the doorway. Rose felt a squeak die in her throat.

He looked at Rose, and asked, "May I speak to you for a minute, Rose?"

Rose gaped for a moment, and then nodded quickly. "Yes, of course." Ginny and Hermione were giving her funny looks, but Rose followed Remus without a word to either of them. They walked out into the hall, and down to the parlor.

Her palms were sweaty, and her stomach was clenched, and from her reaction one would think she was the one who had confessed unrequited feelings the night before and not Sirius. The thing was that she cared so bloody much about what would happen between her god-parents that it was making her ill. If they didn't make up she didn't know what she would do.

Remus closed the parlor door behind them, and Rose stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Remus couldn't quite seem to meet her eye, and stayed near the doorway.

"I thought we should talk," he said, and cleared his throat.

"It's okay, Remus. I think I know everything you're going to say."

"Rose—"

"Look," she said. "I'm not going to take sides. I'm not. I can't. I love both of you too much to— I mean, I'm not happy that you left, but I thought it was going to happen sooner or later— I thought you'd leave us for Tonks, and that's fine!"

"Rose—"

"Just let me say this?" she pleaded. He nodded reluctantly, and she went on. "I feel like my family is falling apart, and that sucks because I haven't had one for very long. It's only been, what?"

"Two years," Remus supplied.

"Two years! And of course I would— Merlin, I would love it if everything worked out the way Sirius wanted it to—"

"Rose—"

"But I understand that you just don't feel the same way! I just wish… but I can deal with it. And I won't take sides, but I won't leave him, Remus. He doesn't have anyone but you and me, and I won't leave him alone. Not again. I don't know what he'd do if he was alone—"

"Sweetheart," he said, and pulled her into a hug. Rose felt herself breathing very fast against his shoulder - god, was she going to start crying again? - and clung to him. "I'm not going to make you choose," he said. "Of course you'll stay with him, that's… that was never even a question."

Rose sagged a little in relief, and pressed her cheek against his chest.

"Dora and I decided to stop seeing each other," he said.

Rose pulled back from him, wincing. "I, um, I know. I was here this morning, and I heard…"

Remus shook his head, and rubbed at his forehead. "Of course you did," he said.

"I just… can I ask? Why did you… I thought you really liked her?"

"I did," he said. "It's just… it's hard to explain."

"Did you do it because of Sirius?"

Remus winced. "I did it, because it was the right thing to do. I had no business being in a relationship when I'm—" He sighed abruptly, and looked away.

Rose frowned. "When you're what?" She desperately wanted the end of that sentence to be, 'when I'm in love with Sirius' but she had a horrible suspicion that it was going to end with, 'a werewolf.'

Remus held his hands out. "I think we all need to take some time apart. Really think about things, and—"

"You're not coming home?" said Rose.

"Not yet," he said. "Obviously, Sirius and I have some things to work through before we could live in the same house again—"

"But, Remus—"

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry that we've put you in this position. It's not fair to you."

"It's all right—"

"It isn't," he insisted. "You should never have been made to feel this way, like you were losing your family. Even if… even if I had left to be with Dora I would still consider you my family, Rose. You are the closest thing I will ever have to a child of my own, and you are so precious to me."

Rose swallowed on a sudden lump in her throat. "I love you too, Remus," she sniffed.

"You'll be fine," he said, and tried to smile. "You're with Sirius, and he's always been much better at taking care of you than I have. You'll be safe with him."

Rose shook her head. "I'm safe with you as well," she said. "I need both of you."

"You're not losing me," Remus said. "I'm only a Floo away."

But that wasn't right. How could she explain it? It felt like he was pulling away from all of them. Like he was running off to lick his wounds, and wasn't planning on coming back.

"Everything is going to be okay," Remus said. "It might take some time, but things will work out the way they ought to."

Far from the comfort that Remus intended, Rose felt more anxious than she had before. What was she going to do now?

:: :: :: ::

Because of all the upheaval, Rose's birthday turned out to be an awkward affair. They had a little party with birthday cake with the Weasleys and Hermione at Grimmauld Place, and though Remus and Sirius were trying, they were awkward with each other. It was as though they had forgotten how to talk to each other.

To ease their suffering, and because she had an ulterior motive, Rose let them off the hook for their traditional family birthday celebration, which usually involved a ridiculously expensive meal at a posh London restaurant. Rose was sure she would have to carry the conversation the entire night, and frankly, she wasn't feeling up to it. Instead, they got to retreat to their corners - Sirius back to Royal Crescent, and Remus to the attic bedroom at Grimmauld Place - and Rose invited Cedric to meet her that night at Grimmauld Place.

She met him at the fireplace in the kitchen with a nervous grin, and dragged him upstairs, where she threw open a door with a flourish. She pulled him inside, locked the door behind them, and said, "Voila!"

There were only two unoccupied bedrooms at Grimmauld Place. One was Sirius's childhood room, which was obviously out. Rose had made another deal with Kreacher, and he had cleaned Regulus's old bedroom from top to bottom. Rose had hidden most of the room's former decorations in the closet (no bats, but enough Slytherin memorabilia to put any Hufflepuff off his game), she had lit some nicely scented candles, and had grabbed a few rose blossoms from the garden at home and tossed their petals all over the bed.

It was downright romantic.

"Rose, what is this?" Cedric asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked. She grinned slyly, ignoring the flutter of nerves in her stomach, and plucked at a button on his shirt. She popped the top one suggestively. "It's my birthday present."

"Your—?"

"For my birthday I want sex." She kissed him, but not before she saw his eyes go wide and shocked. She laughed against his mouth. He was adorable, and easier to scandalize than Hermione.

"But what about—"

"There's a bed, flowers, candles," she said, anticipating his concerns. "The door is locked. I took a contraceptive potion, and I cast the spell— double protection. No one knows we're here. No one ever comes in this room. It's perfect." She kissed him softly. "I want you, Cedric."

He still hadn't touched her - hadn't even kissed back, really. She pulled away. He looked— "What's wrong?"

"I can't," he said.

"Oh." Rose blinked at him for a moment. She fell back and sat on the edge of the bed, and stared up at him. "Why not?"

He opened his mouth to speak, and stopped. He looked at his shoes, at the candles, at the petal strewn bed. "Because we're not in love," he said.

Rose felt a pit open up in her stomach, and suddenly she couldn't bear to look at him. This was the real reason that he had always pulled away before. It wasn't concern about the gloomy atmosphere, or being caught by anyone wandering about Grimmauld Place. Of course he didn't love her. Of course he didn't. And it came as no surprise that Cedric, he of the noble, good intentions, would only want to have sex with someone he was in love with.

Rose was a terrible person.

"I like you," he said quickly. "I like you so much! You're amazing. But we don't…"

"I know," she sighed. Her shoulders drooped. "I feel the same way. I thought this would fix it."

He was silent for a moment, and then said slowly, "You thought it would fix it? Fix what?"

"Us," she said, and then closed her eyes, because. Wow. She should not have said that.

"Fix us? We're just not there yet. We just need time. Why would you think sex would fix… I don't understand."

Oh, Merlin, this getting worse by the moment, and Rose couldn't even look at him. She couldn't make herself say the words that would erase this, would smooth it over, and end this unpleasantness with a kiss and a, 'see you tomorrow.' Because Cedric thought they just weren't there yet, and Rose already knew they would never get there, and she couldn't lie to either of them about it any longer.

"Cedric…"

Neither of them said anything for a very long, very uncomfortable moment.

"Is there someone else?" he asked, sounding hurt. "Do you still have feelings for Weasley?"

"No," she said.

"Then what's wrong?" he said. "I don't understand. Rose, look at me."

Rose sighed, and dragged her eyes up to meet his. He looked hurt and bewildered, and Rose was scum. Scum. He deserved so much better than her.

"I'm sorry, Cedric."

"Oh, Merlin," he said, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You want to break up."

Rose nodded.

He made a face like he couldn't believe what was happening. "I don't— I thought— I thought everything was okay. I thought we were solid. I thought you—"

"I'm sorry."

"But why! What did I do?" he asked. "What didn't I do?"

"It's nothing you did!" she said. "It's not your fault! I'm just… I'm—"

"Oh, Merlin. There is someone else, isn't there?"

Rose shook her head. "No."

"There is!" He dragged a hand though his hair and looked wildly around, like there might be evidence of someone else in the room. "Who is it? If not Weasley, then who?"

"There's no one!" she insisted.

"Don't lie now, Rose," he said harshly. "There's no point."

"Cedric, it doesn't matter—"

"Weasley's the only other person you ever liked— Wait. Oh, Merlin. It's Malfoy, isn't it?"

Rose froze, and felt the horror of knowing all her secrets were laid bare on her face, and Cedric was reading them all.

"Seriously, Rose? Malfoy? He's a Death Eater."

Rose looked away, and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her fingernails dug into her arms.

"Merlin," he swore. "How long?"

"What?"

"How long have you felt this way?" he asked. "Have you had feelings for him this whole time? Ever since we started dating? Before that, even? I know you liked him during the tournament."

Rose mouthed wordlessly, but couldn't think of a single thing to say, because the horrible answer to that question was yes.

Cedric swore. "I can't believe this," he said. "Did you ever have any feelings for me at all? Or was I just a distraction? Or a way to make him jealous?"

"No, Cedric!" she said. "Of course not!"

"Then what the hell, Rose!"

"I can't help it!" she cried, throwing her arms in the air. The whole situation felt blown to hell, and Rose felt like she had been backed up to the edge of a cliff. And Draco was— "It's always been him! Always! I've tried and tried, and I know it's useless! I know it's impossible, and reckless, and stupid. I know he's about six inches away from being evil, but I can't help it! It's always been him!"

Cedric looked gutted, and laughed hollowly. "Oh. You're in love with him. I see."

Rose felt wretched.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"He's closer to being evil than you know, Rose," Cedric said. His handsome face was twisted with hurt and pity. "He's all Snape reports on in Order meetings these days. Did you know he's You Know Who's new favorite?"

Cold fear swept through Rose. "What?" she breathed.

"Snape says that Malfoy is with You Know Who every day. Do you know what they talk about? I bet you can guess."

Rose swallowed, and shook her head in denial. "No."

No one had said a word to her about Draco. Not Sirius or Remus. Not Fred or George, or Bill and Fleur. She had hoped that no news was good news. She had hoped that he had managed to find a way out of it. She had hoped she would find him on September first unharmed and unmarked.

She had never, not even in her darkest thoughts, imagined this.

"They talk about you," Cedric said. "Malfoy is helping him. He's telling him everything he knows about you. Everything. He's helping him find a way to kill you."

"No. He wouldn't," she said. "He promised he wouldn't do anything that would hurt me."

Cedric shook his head. "He lied."

Rose felt her stomach lurch. Draco with a Dark Mark. She felt like she was going to be sick, and pressed her palms to her stomach.

"Merlin," Cedric said. "You're so… How did I not see it before? I didn't have a shot at all, did I?"

"Cedric," she began, but couldn't find the words. She had tried. She had tried so hard to love Cedric best, because Cedric was the sensible choice. Any girl with a brain in her head would choose Cedric. He was handsome, brave, and good; he had never given Rose cause to doubt him, and she was certain that he never would, but her heart just wasn't in it. The truth was impossible to deny now. Even now, with the news of Draco's betrayal so fresh, she couldn't help but think that Draco had been forced. He might have, through fear for himself or his family, have been made to betray her, but Rose could not believe that Draco had wanted to. She couldn't believe that he would say one word about her to Voldemort without feeling sick over it. Because Draco loved her.

Draco loved her.

He did.

He'd said so.

She held onto this thought as tightly as she could.

Cedric shook his head in denial. "Merlin. I don't—" He shook his head again. "I can't even look at you." He fumbled for the doorknob and let himself out.

Rose slid off the edge of the bed, and sunk until she was on the floor, feeling sick and hating herself. The coverlet dragged down with her movements, and a shower of petals fell over her shoulders. She looked around at her pathetic attempt at seduction, her pathetic attempt to wipe Draco Malfoy from her heart once and for all, and sighed.

She was glad it hadn't worked.

:: :: :: ::

"Sources close to Cedric Diggory report that Rose Potter has chucked the future Auror for another man!" Ginny read aloud from the Daily Prophet two days later, while the three girls were sitting around the library with their dark arts books.

"Potter and Diggory have been an item since January of this year. When the two were photographed on a romantic outing on Valentine's Day, many readers of this column were certain that wedding bells would be in their future. Indeed, this writer had hoped that the stable influence of Diggory (Hogwarts Head Boy and Triwizard Champion) would curb Rose's wilder tendencies, but perhaps Wild Rose has grown bored.

"Who is Rose's new beau? The wizarding world is rife with speculation!

"Unconfirmed reports indicate she could be resuming her romance with George Weasley. The two were involved in a relationship last year until Weasley broke it off, presumably due to Rose's scandalous antics last summer, which were comprehensively reported on by this author. Weasley is now the successful co-owner of the immensely popular Weasley's Wizard Wheezes with his twin brother, Frances. The duo opened the shop in May, and it was pronounced an 'instant success.' No doubt Weasley's new riches are quite a draw for Potter, who lives a lavish lifestyle. But if not Weasley, then who? Rose Potter, Cedric Diggory, and George Weasley could not be reached for comment." Ginny threw the paper onto the table. The pages slid off the table, and flew everywhere.

"What. the. hell," Ginny said.

Rose tipped back in her chair, and blew out a long breath. "Well, I—"

"Did you really break up with Cedric?" Ginny demanded.

Rose sighed. "It started that way, but I'm pretty sure he dumped me."

"Why would you do that?" Ginny yelled. "He's perfect!"

Rose groaned. "Ugh. I know!"

"He's gorgeous!"

Rose nodded.

"Two days ago you were trying to get him to have sex with you!"

"Ginny!" Rose screeched. She flicked her wand at the parlor door, and it slammed shut. "Sirius could be downstairs!"

"Argh!" Ginny said. "What is wrong with you!"

"Rose, Ginny…" Hermione said.

"Everything!" Rose retorted.

"Obviously!"

"Rose," Hermione said. "Ginny."

"I can't believe you hid over in Royal Crescent for two days, and didn't even bother to tell us that you'd broken up with your boyfriend!" Ginny said. "I had to read about it in the newspaper! Like everyone else!"

"I was mourning!" Rose yelled.

"Oh, please," Ginny scoffed.

"I was!"

"You don't look sad at all! You just look guilty! What did you do this time?"

"What do you mean, this time?!" Rose demanded.

"You do have a history of cheating on your boyfriends," Hermione pointed out.

Rose gasped in affront. "I never—"

"You did so!" Ginny said. "You kissed Cedric while you were with George, and don't think I haven't noticed your crush on Draco Malfoy has resumed for some absurd reason. So, Rose, what did you do?"

"Nothing!" Rose got to her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. She debated leaving the room, but Ginny would just follow her, and then they'd be having this conversation in the hallway.

"Rose," Hermione said. "Just tell us."

"I haven't done anything."

"Nothing?" Ginny said. "No letters? Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you," Ginny said.

"Rose," Hermione said sternly. And Rose crumpled like tissue paper.

"Before school let out, Draco and I talked," she admitted.

Ginny screeched like an angry cat. "You conversed with that little—"

"He apologized!" Rose said.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, Merlin, Rose," she said. "You're hopeless."

"He apologized very well!" Rose said. "He was really upset, because I'd died. He explained everything, and said he was sorry. Then he told me that he loves me."

They were quiet. Ginny gaped wordlessly, and Hermione raised a skeptical eyebrow. Ginny turned to Hermione, and grabbed her arm in desperation.

"Hermione," Ginny said, pleadingly.

Hermione nodded at her, and turned to Rose. She adopted a this-is-for-your-own-good expression, "Now, Rose—"

"You don't understand!" Rose said. "You weren't there. He was…" she gestured helplessly. "He was—"

"Oh, for fucks sake," Ginny said.

"Rose, you cannot be thinking of giving Draco Malfoy a second chance," Hermione said.

"Second!" Ginny protested. "More like a fourth or fifth! Hasn't he let you down enough! Hasn't he shown you what an arsehole he really is? What else does he have to do to you before you give up on him?"

"But he didn't mean any of those things he said," Rose said.

"Rose, you do know how that sounds, right?" Hermione said.

"Like a battered girlfriend," Ginny said scornfully. "Are you really going to keep letting that bastard hurt you?"

"It was fake! His father told him that he had to hide his feelings for me, and so he came up with a plan for us to have a public falling out, and he wanted me to be in on it with him. He wanted us to plan it together. Only he wasn't talking to me— he was talking to Umbridge disguised as me! So she told him to go away, and he took it badly, and then—"

"And then he went through with it anyway!" Ginny said. "How is that okay?"

"He had to!" Rose said. "Voldemort—"

"Oh, You Know Who," Ginny said, throwing her hands dramatically in the air. "A nice excuse."

"It's not an excuse!"

"What other lies did he feed you, Rose?" she asked derisively. "Did he also tell you that he'd break it off with Pansy Parkinson for you? They're still betrothed, you know!"

"What?"

Ginny dropped her face into her hands. "I'm going to kill him."

"He and Pansy are betrothed?"

"It's just a rumor," Hermione said. "But a common one. I don't know how you never heard it."

Ginny got to her feet, and put her hands on Rose's shoulders. "I want you to listen to me," she said, "because what I am about to say is the truth, and you need to hear it."

"Ginny…" Rose protested.

"Listen to me, Rose!" Ginny shook her a little, and Rose rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Fine."

Ginny waited until Rose looked her in the eye, and she said, "You are blind when it comes to Malfoy, and for the life of me I can't understand why, because he doesn't deserve you. He is no good for you. He is a mean, jealous boy, with a vicious tongue, and you can do so much better."

Rose looked away. "Are you done."

"Not by a long shot."

"Well, I'm done listening," Rose snapped, and knocked Ginny's hands off her shoulders. "Now you two listen. I know you don't like him. I know you hate him for what he did to me last year, and I appreciate that you care about me, I do, but none of that was real. He didn't mean any of the things he said. The only true thing Draco Malfoy said to me last year was that he was sorry, and that he loves me—"

"He loves you?" Ginny demanded. "What kind of person shows their love that way? How could you believe him? Merlin, those Muggles did a number on you!"

Rose tensed like someone had yanked on her spine. "We are not talking about the Dursleys," she snapped. "Not ever."

Ginny flinched, and she held out her hands. "All right. Fine. But Rose—"

"No. I'm done!" Rose said, slashing a hand through the air. "Cedric and I broke up, end of story. And if you don't like Draco, then fine, but keep it to yourselves. I don't want to hear it."

She stormed from the library, and slammed the door shut behind her. She stomped through the kitchen, and Flooed home. Royal Crescent was empty, and she stomped up to her bedroom, and went mindlessly into her bathroom, where she decided that she would draw herself a bath. She viciously turned the taps, squeezed too much bubble bath into the tub, and suddenly the anger was just too much. She threw the bottle at the wall with a scream, and when it failed to cause enough destruction— stupid plastic— grabbed another bottle and another and threw them all at the wall until she ran out.

She covered her face with her hands, and slumped on the edge of the tub, anger drained away.

What if Ginny was right? she wondered.

Rose sat there until the tub filled, and reached over to turn off the taps. She eyed the mounds of bubbles, and with a sigh, slid into the tub, clothes and all.

:: :: :: ::