Rose Weasley's life is made of stereotypes. From the moment she was born, she has always been destined to be the clever one, with the big doe eyes and bushy hair (red of course), and a perfect proper boy who she'll marry and grow old with. In a way, the expectations of other people are her armour. And if she's borderline depressive, and just a lonely little girl, it's not like anybody notices or cares.  
Except sometimes she sees a pair of grey eyes in the corner of vision, and they are full of secrets that aren't theirs to keep.