A/N: Written for thenewkait's MY FIRST KISS challenge on HPFC.
Warning: Contains mentions of eating disorders and death.
The Illness of Rose Evangeline Weasley
From birth
They've known each other that long
United by parents
Events of a war long past
Took naked baths together
Levitated each other's cat
Had a phase where they sent letters by owl rather than speaking
Shared their first butterbeer
She was his first crush
Tender age of eight
He didn't know what love really was
Wanted whatever his parents had
Rode on a broom for the first time together
Played on the same Little League Quidditch team – the Ottery Owls –
He was Keeper, she was Chaser
Won the Little League Cup
Her first 'love' was an older man
Tender age of nine
Older man was at Hogwarts, in his seventh year
She stood no chance
Not against her beautiful older cousin
No one had a chance against her beautiful older cousin
Her beautiful older cousin beat her at everything…and she was tired of it
She grew sick
Her self-esteem plummeted
She grew depressed
He often found her in the bathroom
Hunched over the toilet
Went to St. Mungo's
She stayed there for a year
Tried to get better
Finally came home
He still loved her
Though he had an inkling as to what was causing her illness
He suspected her feelings for the older man, now a one-year graduate
But he wouldn't give up on her
She stayed home for two weeks over the summer holidays
Became sick again
Was sent back for a year
Needed to get better so she could start school
She came home once more
Finally cured, they were all sure
She had finally gotten over the older man
Maybe he now had a chance
They went off to school for their first year
Accompanied by her male cousin
Arrived at the school their parents had attended
Excitement filled the air
She, along with her cousin, went to the house of bravery
He went to the house of intelligence
He and she stayed friends
They had already been through so much
But they drifted
Didn't have classes together
Didn't have time for each other
Started making other friends
She fell for her father's enemy's son
But her father's enemy's son was interested in another girl
Her older, third-year cousin
So she grew sick once more
He still felt for her
Found out she was sick again
It was happening again
And she still didn't feel for him
He sent a letter home
Told what was going on
They sent her a therapist
She needed to get better
Saw her therapist once a week for six years
Kept having lapses of illness
Still loved her father's enemy's son
Still wasn't loved back
He still felt for her
Finally knew that it was love
Wouldn't give up
He had given her so much of his life
The school held a ball in their sixth year
He was too nervous to ask her
But he wanted her to be there
Persuaded her cousins to make sure she was there
The ball came
He was among the first people at the ball
He looked for her as the music began to play
Students began to dance
He couldn't see her
Hoped she was there
He wanted to tell her
Show her she was loved
The giant doors opened
The music stopped
The people turned
The last guest had arrived
Beautiful
Stunning
Enchanting
Ethereal
Red hair piled on top and curls cascading down
Silvery make-up to play up sky-blue eyes
Shimmering white gown
Looked like a Greek goddess
It was her
She had come
She was in front of him
Ensnared his heart
Watched as the guests parted
Made her an aisle
She glided across the floor
Looking for someone she knew
They locked eyes
In that moment he knew
Time to be a man
Take a chance
He approached her
Asked her for a dance
She blushed – made her even more beautiful
She took his hand and they walked to the dance floor
The music resumed
They began to twirl
The world fell around them
Their attentions were fixed
Crowd watched in awe
Guests didn't recognize the people on the floor
At a table sat her family
Family smiled triumphant
He only had eyes for her
His thoughts only for her
As they had been for eight – almost nine – years
He was in the moment
He leaned his head down
Put his mouth at her ear
And whispered what she'd wanted to hear for so long
She heard she was loved
He went in for the kill
Kissed her
Fireworks went off in his head
Blissful heaven
She did nothing
Pulled back
Started crying
Ran out of the hall
He followed her
Out of the castle
Into the courtyard
To her favorite bench
Sat beside her
Stroked her back
Smoothed her hair
Wiped her tears
She told him the truth
She didn't love him
Still loved her father's enemy's son
Was late because of her illness
He rose silently
She looked at him
Her eyes red-rimmed
His face blank
She asked where he was going
He said nothing
She begged and pleaded
Asked him not to leave her
He couldn't stay
He knew that
Knew that she'd never want him
The way he wanted her
He'd always be second-best
Shoulder to cry on
Best friend
Never boyfriend
Whispered a farewell
Told her that time was up
As the clock struck midnight
He swept back into the castle
Next morning
Breakfast was silent
She was the last one to enter
Had stayed up all night sobbing
Everyone turned to her
She was confused
Her male cousin – same year – approached her
Took her back out to the hall
She heard the terrible news
He was dead
Took his own life last night
Soon after he'd left her
She cried
This couldn't be happening
Just a nightmare
He wouldn't leave her
She was summoned to the Headmistress' office
His parents were there
His twin was there
Her parents were there
Everyone cried
Mourned the boy who would've been a man today
Mourned a son, a godson, a brother, a twin, a best friend
Mourned a good person who left this world too young
The funeral was in a week
Her birthday
She didn't mention it
Wanted him to have the best memorial
She was the last one in the office
Headmistress gave her a note
Said he'd left it for her
She nodded speechlessly
She went to her special place
The room that was whatever one needed
It was all black
A purple couch in front of a fireplace
She sat silently
Braced herself
Unfolded the note
Read his last words
Read them once
Twice
Five times in all
And she cried, cried, cried
