Shelter From the Storm
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Harry Potter'. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter Two
"Between 1689 and 1692, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was implemented across the known world. How did this impact both sides of the muggle and magical divide?"
With a roll of her eyes, Rose Potter gave a heartfelt groan, banished her borrowed Ancient Runes textbooks to the shelving tray, and withdrew her History of Magic research journal. She at least had until the end of term to finish the four foot monstrosity that Professor Binns had assigned, but it was already mid-November, and she wasn't one to leave things until the last minute when she could help it - particularly when she had eight other subjects - and their respective assessment tasks - to worry about.
With that in mind, Rose clambered to her feet, approached the History of Magic section, and began her perusal of the books available there. She'd already taken notes from her assigned textbook, but it was time to find alternative secondary sources, and later, she'd question portraits and ghosts who'd been around at the time. It was a resource none of her fellow peers had considered, but it ensured an O grade average for History of Magic, so Rose wasn't about to complain.
"I didn't realise you wore glasses."
Rose looked up from the shelves to see Cedric Diggory approach her from the other end of the aisle. Handsome as ever, and clad in his school uniform, he scrutinised her face, and she touched the square rimmed frames subconsciously, shrugged, and returned to her examination of the stacks. All the while, her awareness of his presence beside her made her magic thrum as though she'd just touched a live wire, and she wondered about this boy's effect on her.
"I'm far sighted. I mostly just use them to read, and for homework assignments."
She'd used to have to wear these awful coke-bottle glasses courtesy of her relatives, but Madam Pomfrey had helped Rose replace them with the pair she currently wore, and they ensured she was a lot less insecure about needing them. Rose still didn't like to wear them as a general rule, but it beat damaging her sight further, and at the very least, she hadn't inherited her father's need to wear them for everything.
"They suit you," he offered, "Make you look… older, more distinguished, I guess."
Rose blushed at the compliment, gnawed at her lower lip, and retrieved one of the textbooks she'd been considering earlier. She hugged it to her chest, and eyed the Hufflepuff curiously.
"What brings you to the History of Magic section? Not to compliment me on my glasses, surely?"
"If only," he answered faux mournfully. "The same reason as you, I'd gather: History of Magic research."
"Of course," she acknowledged. They took a few moments to enquire about each other's essays, but the book in her hands grew heavy, and she smiled. "I'll leave you to your research, then."
Rose gave him a slight wave, turned on her heel, and returned to her table with her cheeks dusted pink. She immersed herself in her study, and it wasn't until Madam Pince approached her, that Rose realise that curfew fell in half an hour. She packed up her things, signed out her current textbook, and made her way to the exit.
"Potter, wait up."
Rose slowed to a stop as Diggory checked out his own textbook, and with a wave of farewell to the aged, taciturn librarian, she exited, the older Hufflepuff on her heels. They'd shared a few brief, fleeting conversations in the last week, small talk as they passed each other in hallways, but she was still surprised by his newfound presence in her life.
"What can I do for you?" She queried.
"Nothing," he shrugged, "I just didn't want you to walk alone."
Rose paused, uncertain if she should be insulted or flattered. She was perfectly capable of managing the trek to Gryffindor Tower alone, but on the other hand, no boy had ever gone out of their way to simply walk with her.
It was probably safer, anyway. Sirius Black had made it known that he could enter the castle undetected, and even though she was kind of skeptical about the claim that he was after Rose herself, it was probably best if she wasn't caught out alone. All the same, she felt somewhat like an inconvenience, and the feeling was one she didn't appreciate.
"Isn't Hufflepuff downstairs?"She was sure she'd heard somewhere that their common room was on the basement level, but in truth, Rose had never been interested enough to find out.
He shrugged and tapped at the prefect's badge on his blazer. "I have time."
Rose shrugged her acquiescence, tucked her hands into the pockets of her blazer, and walked with the Hufflepuff in a surprisingly companionable silence. She was still confused as to why he had repeatedly sought her out after the game, but Rose wasn't really inclined to ask. She enjoyed his presence, after all, and unless the occasion truly called for it, she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. If it meant another opportunity to try and understand this curious boy, than she wasn't going to complain.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Rose arched a curious eyebrow, shrugged, and waited expectantly. He looked hesitant, and she wondered if he was going to put his foot in it and ask about that night. Ron Weasley had done that the first time they'd met, and Rose had nearly punched him in the face. Two years later, she still couldn't look at him without glaring.
"Why do you make people call you Rose?"
"Guinevere makes me sound like a pretentious snot, and in primary school, there was already a girl who used the name 'Gwen'. Rose has just stuck."
"Do you like it?"
She shrugged. "I guess. I haven't really thought about it. It's just what I'm used to. It's sort of nice to disassociate myself from Gwen Potter, Girl Hero, anyway."
He was thoughtful after that, and Rose left him to his contemplations.
The castle was mostly quiet since their classmates had more or less retreated to the warmth and comfort of common rooms and dormitories. Winter had made its presence known with a vengeance, and after sundown, the castle proper was nothing short of freezing. She wondered if the presence of the dementors had contributed to the unseasonable chill, but beyond a vague enquiry for Professor Lupin, she'd not really been inclined to investigate the topic further.
Brought from her thoughts when she reached the portrait guardian protecting the tower, Rose smiled at the Hufflepuff, thanked him for the company, and slipped into her common room. The portrait clicked shut behind her, and Rose shuffled passed her gathered housemates, thoughts already on the bed that awaited her, charmed warm by the house elves, and a heavenly temptation after a long day. She'd had quidditch training in the morning, and of course her classes, and Rose was glad it was Friday.
Inside the dormitory she shared with the girls in her year, Rose found Nora already there, occupied with the task of wrangling her light brown hair into a set of twin braids. She gave Rose a grin through the reflection of the vanity mirror, Rose returned it, and deposited her messenger bag on her small study desk.
The dorm room was charmed to be larger on the inside than strictly possible, able to fit six four poster beds, the accompanying bedside tables, and an identical number of claw foot wardrobes, vanities, and study desks. They had a solitary bathroom across the hall, and a fluffy red rug in the centre of the room, and yet, Rose was just eager for the day she no longer had to share with five other girls and the contrasting personalities therein. Their dorms for the next two years would be fitted for only two, and Rose already had dibs on sharing with Nora.
Eleanor, or rather, Nora Longbottom was her best friend at Hogwarts, and had been since they sat together on that first train journey, a pair of scared, orphan first years with the expectations of others heavy on their respective shoulders. They'd bonded over that, and by the time they'd entered their dorm room that night, they'd been fast friends. Two years later, after a few near death experiences, confronting fears and such things, that hadn't changed, and Rose hoped it never would.
"There's a letter on your bedside table," Nora informed her, "It arrived with Hedwig. From Mr Tate, I think."
Rose picked up the parchment envelope, eyed the looping cursive curiously, and cracked the wax seal open with a thoughtful frown. Alastair Tate, her solicitor, always had an important reason to write her, and she doubted this time would be no exception. She was surprised, then, to learn that the man would be visiting her in person the following morning, because apparently, the information he had to share was too sensitive to put in a letter, and it would also allow him to visit with his son, Gabriel, afterwards.
"Everything alright?" Nora enquired.
"Mr Tate's coming to Hogwarts to meet with me tomorrow," Rose answered. She dropped the letter onto her desk, kicked off her shoes, and made herself comfortable across her bed with a contented hum. "I wonder what he wants?"
"I guess you'll find out," Nora shrugged. "How'd you go at the library?"
Rose waved off the question, clambered to her feet, and began the process of getting ready for bed. It involved a skin routine she'd begun over the holidays, and a dental routine she'd maintained since her childhood, but as she changed into her winter pyjamas, their dormitory door was thrown open, and Hermione Granger stalked in, angry tears on her cheeks, fists clenched at her sides, and her mouth pulled into an angry scowl. her hair seemed to have come alive with her temper, and there was really only one thing that could make the girl so angry.
Nora looked at Rose. "Weasley, again?"
"Who else?" Rose returned, "Stupid prat." To Hermione, she queried, "What did that pillock do now?"
What followed was an angry rant Rose supposed had been building up for months. Between the issue regarding Crookshanks and Scabbers, Ron's lazy tendencies, and Hermione's hectic schedule, it was a wonder the blow up hadn't occurred sooner.
Rose listened absently as she combed her hair, mildly curious about why Hermione tolerated the ginger git. He was an intolerant, narrow-minded snot most days, and it was obvious to everyone except perhaps Hermione herself that he only used her for homework help. Rose herself wondered how he could be related to people as cool as Fred and George, or someone so ambitious as Percy, but as Hermione's rant came to an end, the last Potter supposed she'd not be finding out anytime soon.
"I don't know why you're friends with him, Hermione," Rose commented, "He's not a good friend to you."
"It's not like people are lining up to be friends with me," Hermione answered dejectedly. Rose sighed.
Hermione had made a poor impression at the start of their first year, and even though she'd changed her habits since then, the label of 'teacher's pet' had stuck. It would take something massive to change the perception, but without Hermione willing to submit to a makeover by Lavender and Parvati, Rose couldn't work out how else to instigate that kind of catalyst.
"You've got us," Nora reminded her, "And I don't know, I think I'd prefer to have a couple of close girl friends than a 'best friend' who walks all over me."
Rose agreed with a nod of her head, already curled up beneath her covers. Hermione was thoughtfully silent, and the two friends left the muggleborn to her musings. Rose herself wondered about what Mr Tate would have to share with her the following day, and she fell asleep with the silent hope that it wasn't anything too awful. After he'd revealed that Sirius Black was her godfather, however, Rose wasn't going to hold her breath. The man knew how to pull his punches and truly, she appreciated his honesty. Too many adults in her life had lied or omitted too many truths for her to trust a lot of them, but Mr Tate had earned her respect, and her trust as well, and Rose liked to think he had her best interests at heart. She just hated surprises, and something told her that the following morning, that was all she'd be getting from him.
Author's Note: Happy Valentine's Day. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed. -t.