Lauren (Hermione): "Why must we share a dorm though?" I snapped irritably as I reluctantly followed Draco towards the dorm I would have to share with him. I wouldn't be following him, except he knew the password and I didn't, and he did not seem apt to tell me it. Not that I would mind, I would gladly take the excuse to go back to the Gryffindor common rooms, but I knew that would be looked down upon. So, I waited for his answer as we passed through streams of students following their prefects to their common rooms, tossing us the occasional glance.
"It is policy with the school having to respect marriage contracts, which my father did not suggest." Draco explained effortlessly and I sighed. This was not off to a good start, but then again I did not want to be associating with Draco, much less marrying him. For years he had called me mudblood, jinxed my friends, taunted them ruthlessly, and stood for everything I opposed.
"Why aren't you in Azkaban? Things would have been so much easier, for I'm sure my parents would not allow for me to marry a filthy criminal." I muttered and Draco tossed me a smirk full of gloating.
"You actually have your sister to thank for that one." Stopping in my tracks, I stared at his back, trying to tell if he was serious. He could not have been! Rose wouldn't do such a thing for such a man. He was still more like that stuck up, bratty kid. She would have no reason to help him. Draco turned around and noticed my confusion, his smirk quickly growing. "What? Didn't she tell you? After all, you are sisters. Surely she would inform you of what happened at the manor." Drawing it out, Draco taunted me.
Folding my arms over my chest, I rolled my eyes at him. "You're pathetic, you know that, right? You are no more mature than when you were in first year."
"Yet, you're the one rolling your eyes at me." He poked, but his eyes narrowing, noticing my deflection of his question.
I did not respond but huffed in irritation. Part of me knew he was probably telling the truth. Both Rose and I had been summoned to the courts several times to give testimonies, and I had lost track of whom she was summoned for. But, if she had, what did she have to protect him from Azkaban and why would she say it? Then again, Rose would always tell the truth. She tended to try and see the good in everyone and defended him as a human being.
Following him dazed, I ran directly into him when he stopped in front of a painting. He cursed and tossed me a glare, but I did not apologize. The painting in front of me was a portrait of a young girl in a white dress carrying a weaved basket of flowers. She was smiling widely as she looked down at us. "Password?" Asking in her sing song voice, Draco responded.
"Bach."
The portrait swung open and Draco stepped inside. I was tempted to leave and head for the Gryffindor common room now that I knew the password, but my legs carried me inside.
The room was to the point of extravagant. It had a small kitchen and a nook for eating. There was a sitting room off to the right side with a desk as well. Various bookshelves were placed about. It was decorated in warm browns, greens, and golds. A compromise of sorts between the houses. Against the far wall was a door on each side near the corner. Draco headed for the door on the left, so I went for the one on the right. Inside was a large four poster bed and a dresser, as well as a bay window with cushions propped up on it. My trunks were resting at the foot of my bed. Crookshanks was asleep in his cage, but he perked up as I entered.
Walking over, I let him out of his cage and he leaped up on to my bed. Then he walked in a circle and plopped down, sleeping in seconds. I just shook my head as I glanced about. There was another door, and one I presumed to lead to the bathroom. Opening up my trunks, I began to unpack.
There was a knock on my door, and I halted in hanging up my clothes. I opened the door, expecting to see Draco's sneering face, instead it was Rose. There was bags under her eyes and her body was tense, but she was smiling. It seemed she did not want to give the impression she hated this just as much as I did. "Your room looks like mine. I am just down the hall at the portrait of the Pharaoh Ramses, the password is buttercup." She stated simply as she pat Crookshanks.
I scrutinized her, now was my time to ask her about what Draco said. "Did you help Malfoy avoid Azkaban?"
"Yes."
She seemed to be expecting the question and her smile did not fade. "Why?" I asked as I sat on the bed next to her.
Her face flashed in confusion as she studied me. "I told the truth of my accounts at the manor. I was summoned to the court to tell the truth and give my testimony. That is what I did. Whether it helped or hurt his prosecution is up to everyone else to decide. Apparently you both believe it helped him, and I am inclined to agree with you." Rose explained and it did make sense. It was I who had let my emotions interfere with my thinking. Rose was not that type of person though, and it showed.
"What did happen?"
There was silence as Rose's eyes flashed for a second. I stared at her as she took a deep breath. "Just the usual prisoner of war stuff, Bellatrix tortured me. Draco healed it every time, even brought me extra food and blankets. I was held as a hostage and they blackmailed my father." It was brief, but Rose choked out the words. Wrapping her in my arms, she relaxed.
"It's alright," I murmured and she took another deep breath before pulling away. It was clear she was broken, and her decision to block out the Malfoys and Zabinis over the summer was making more sense. She had just dealt with them for months, to say she had to marry one of them was more than I could imagine.
The door burst open and Professor McGonagall was standing there ashen. "I need to see you."
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