thanks for the reviews. i really appreciate it. this story is a little vague for me at the moment because i just thought/wrote about this the night before i uploaded it. i'll see if i can upload chapter 3 after this (i just finished writing it so it's a little lame, i guess)... please review!!!

DISCLAIMER: i'm not as creative as JK Rowling so HARRY POTTER IS NOT MINE

Chapter 2

Al

Library

I know that the library is the only place that Rose really likes. She treats this place as her sanctuary. I don't particularly know why. Maybe it's because of the millions of books that surrounds her or that she's just weird that way. So, I dragged her here today in the hopes for her to be a bit more cheerful. To say that she's been down lately would be an understatement. Heck, she's basically so miserable now that I'm starting to feel really worried for her. I'm only seconds away to actually sending her parents an owl to tell them Rose's 'condition'.

Like right now. Here we are, in our usual table in the library. We're doing our homework for Potions. Or, I might say, I am doing our homework. Rose is slumped over the table, resembling an invalid. She's practically oozing with despair. I so want to strangle her at this very moment if that's what it takes to snap her out of whatever it is that's bothering her. And that's just so freaking frustrating because she absolutely refuses to tell me why.

I glare at her again. Man, she's really hopeless.

"Uh… Rose?" I say, hesitantly. This is not the first time I talked to her but this will be the first time I'll address her directly so I'm quite unsure what she'll do. "How exactly do we get the 'smooth, black currant-colored liquid' when concocting the Draught of Living Death?"

She raises her head slightly and looks fiercely at me.

"Why don't you find out for yourself, you fuckwit?"

I raise my eyebrows. Okay… my jaw didn't drop like it did the first time I heard her say that. Rose is a good girl. She doesn't swear. Never. I guess that means whatever her problem is, it's pretty bad.

"There's no need to be so bitchy," I retort quietly.

"I have the right to be bitchy!" she growls loudly, "You know why?"

"I do wish you'd tell me. I haven't got the Gift of Sight, you know."

It was a joke, meant to make someone laugh. Just a smile would be fine for me because I'm not really good with jokes. Normally people would laugh or even smile. But, to my horror, Rose's eyes swim with moisture. It's like she's going to cry, not because she finds my joke funny but I have a feeling she's about to burst now. She's not good at repressing any emotions and I have been waiting this past week for her to finally tell me what the bloody hell is her problem. Here we go.

"My heart is broken!" she wails, keeping her voice down though, "It's broken!"

Say what? Her heart is broken?

"What?" I ask, "Why?"

"Scorpius Malfoy is dating someone," sobs Rose.

To say that I'm dismayed doesn't even scratch the surface. That's what all the moodiness, a week of wallowing in self-misery and depression is all about?! Malfoy dating a girl? I roll my eyes. What the bloody hell.

"Rosie," I say softly, "he's been dating girls since third year."

"It's not just any girl, Al," she snarls, "It's someone!"

"Who?"

"I can't tell you!" she sobs even harder.

Isn't that great? How am I supposed to help this lovely, idiotic cousin of mine?

"What, the girl didn't really ask you not to tell anyone, right?"

She nods miserably.

Whoa! Hold up, there. If the girl Malfoy is dating confided to Rose then that means… Holy shit.

"You know this girl," I state.

She looks at me with those wide, tearful eyes and nods. And carries on crying.

"What the hell, Rose."

I run a hand through my hair. I feel awfully sorry for her now. Before, it was fine with her to watch Malfoy parade around the school with a different girl in his arms every week but to actually see him with a girl that she's friends with? That really sucks big time.

Rose is sobbing quietly, poor girl. I go over her and pat her awkwardly in the back. I'm not good with this kind of stuff but I have to do it for her.

"Come on," I say soothingly, "it can't be that bad. You know how Malfoy is. He's just playing around."

She sobs some more again. I really should just keep my mouth shut. I take her in my arms to let her cry in my shoulders instead. I never did this with anyone. I'm mortified but this is all I can do for her.

"She's crying," someone says.

I look up. It's Louis. He sits opposite us and looks pitifully at Rose. He didn't ask if she's crying, he stated it.

"You heard?" I ask. He nods. "You know who it is?"

He turns to look at me strangely, "I just saw them."

"Well?" I demand impatiently, "Who is the backstabbing bitch?"

"I can't tell you, Al."

Then I lose it. "What the hell, Louis? Rose is crying here!"

"I know!" he snaps back, "but it's not my business to tell you!"

"That's bullshit!"

"Stop it," sniffs Rose, moving away from me. Louis hands her his handkerchief. We watch her as she wipes her face and blows her nose.

"Feeling better now?" I ask.

"No," she replies dejectedly.

"I know a way to make you feel better," Louis suggests, grinning like a madman.

I groan. Anything Louis suggests is bound to have some drastic result. I was about to say no thanks when Rose sits up straight, looking curious.

"What is it?" she asks.

"Saturday," Louis whispers, a mischievous glint in his eyes. When he looks like this, I know we're about to do something stupid. "Common Room. Let's party. And get wasted!"

"You mean like get drunk?" inquires Rose as though she's not sure she ever got the connotation of 'get wasted' right.

Louis and I roll our eyes at her naivety. Well, like I said, Rose is a good girl.

"Yeah," Louis nods vigorously, "let's get drunk,"

"Sure," nods Rose in agreement.

"Rosie," I say carefully and sensibly, "don't be stupid. You never tried drinking. It's just the broken heart talking."

She whips her head toward me so fast I'm surprised it didn't fall off.

"Where have you been, Albus Severus Potter? That's exactly why I'm going to get wasted on Saturday!"

Have you ever seen those Muggle movies about people who get possessed by evil demons? I have, when we stayed over at Rosie's grandparents. The movie was entitled The Exorcist. Remember that girl who was possessed? Well, Rose sounds (and looks) exactly like that girl at this exact moment.

And this time I really keep my mouth shut and nods in resignation.