Disclaimer: I don't own, so no suing.

AN: hey everyone! Sorry for this chapter's shortness, I meant for it to be longer but couldn't think of anything else to add. It was kinda slow and I was getting bored, so there you go.

Oh, I'd also like to clear something up. It has come to my attention that some of you think Rose is claiming to be a muggleborn. That isn't the case. She is claiming to be a half-blood, her father muggleborn (thus the muggle surname) and her mother a half-blood. Just thought I should clear that up for you guys.

Enjoy and the next chapter will be up soon enough. And please review!

Chapter 8

Shopping

Things changed after that. Sure, Tom was still his usual pain in the arse, and I would be extremely concerned if he wasn't. It was more the little things. Like in the morning when I left for breakfast Tom would be waiting for me by the portrait door. He would sit by me during every meal, much to Logan and Ryan's pleasure, and no matter where we went he would hold my hand, though he never tried to carry my books for me. We still fought about anything and everything, but usually it wasn't about my past and things I was hiding, and when it was he wouldn't press me as much and become hostile. Everyone reacted a little differently to the change in us. Logan, Ryan, and Ann were green with envy, Estella, Koob, and Celso were happy for me, and Dwight and all of the Slytherins seemed indifferent and bitter. I had been upset when Dwight moved down the table during meals when Tom arrived, but soon realized that it was nothing against me seeing as he was his normal self whenever we were in the Common Room.

It was the day before a Hogsmeade weekend and I found myself once again in the library, this time with Tom sitting right beside me. We were doing homework rather than me studying on time travel. I didn't want him to figure out what I was studying so I avoided doing any research when he was present. This, of course, limited my time to find ways to get home, but it couldn't be helped. I'd just reached a difficult question when Tom's large hand reached out and took my hand, stopping my writing. Looking up at him I watched as he took the quill from me and then brought my fingers to his lips, lighting kissing the tips. I cocked my head to the side a bit, giving him a puzzled smile.

"Rose," he murmured, his voice trailing off, and instantly I was on guard.

"What do you want?" I asked, sighing slightly.

He smirked up at me, "That hurt, Rose. Why do you instantly assume I want something?"

"Because you do." I said, grinning slightly.

He chuckled and kissed the palm of my hand, "Well, you know Slughorn's party is coming up…" he looked up at me through his lashes, the smallest smirk poised on his lips.

I raised my brows, "Yes, your point being?" I knew already what he wanted, but honestly I wanted to hear him say it himself.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to attend it with me."

A pained look came over my face, "Sorry Tom but I've already got a date."

His smirk instantly fell from his face and I burst out laughing, having to cover my mouth with my other hand.

"That wasn't nice, Rose." He scowled.

I grinned widely at him and leaned forward, pecking a kiss onto his lips, "I know."

He kissed me back and caressed my cheek tenderly, "So? Will you come with me?"

I leaned into his touch and smiled, "I suppose."

He smiled smugly, "Good." Pulling back he picked up his quill to continue doing his work.

I huffed, "Tease."

The next day as I was headed down to Hogsmeade with Tom, Dumbledore stopped us and handed me a leather bag. Upon opening it I saw the content was at least five hundred pounds. I gasped and looked up at the professor.

"Sir, I could never accept this."

He waved me off, "Nonsense. I know you have things to buy and no money to buy them with. This is me saying 'Happy Christmas'." His eyes twinkled and I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him to take the cash back. So instead I settled on smiling at him warmly and saying a heartfelt 'thank you'. I would also, I decided, buy him a brilliant Christmas gift.

Upon arriving in Hogsmeade and letting Tom point out a few shops—because he believed I'd never been there—I shooed him away. He was more than reluctantly but after I informed him that I would be buying my dress and wanted to surprise him he eventually left for a butterbeer with his Slytherin buddies.

I watched as Tom walked off with his buddies, calm and indifferent to them. I felt myself frown. I didn't like his friends at all. They were the bunch who had been taunting my small Weasley relative. He seemed to change when around them, not only becoming impossible and a total arse but also seeming to become an entirely different person. He was darker with them, and I didn't like it at all.

Shaking these thoughts away I headed off to do some Christmas shopping. Sure I'd told Tom I was getting my dress, and I would. But that didn't mean that was the only thing I'd shop for. If I'd told him I was buying presents he wouldn't have left as easily. One thing I'd learned of him was he wasn't all the fond of surprises, or presents. The fact that he'd left when I told him I was going to surprise him with my dress was a miracle in itself, though I suspected he'd try to peak at it on the way back to the castle.

I entered an unfamiliar shop full of odd trinkets. I decided the shop had probably shut down by 2022 since it was completely unrecognizable to me. Looking around I felt myself becoming excited at all the things I saw. In less than a few minutes I found a beautiful model of a unicorn that actually moved and looked like the real thing, only miniaturized. Picking it up carefully I decided I would buy it for Sylvia, knowing the third year would adore it. After that I looked around for a bit more before I found an astronomical model, which was a pretty crystal globe of the sky, containing all the constellations. I was fast to snatch this up for Estella, who had a passion for astronomy.

After moving all the way to the back of the shop I found some more excellent objects, one of which was the pair of two-way mirrors. They were a gold color with ivy designs over the back. The mirrors were in perfect condition, and at any other shop they would have cost a fortune. As it was, they were reasonably cheap and I decided I would get them for Logan and Ryan. I knew they'd love them. After that I found a wizard chess set, which I decided I would get for Celso. He had apparently lost his last one, though he suspected his older brother had stolen it and taken it to Romania with him. I also found a penknife that could unlock anything and had a permanently sharp blade, which I got for Lloyd, figuring he might enjoy it. I couldn't wait to see the look Estella sent me when she found out.

After that I found a sort of pipe instrument, something like a recorder or a flute, which I decided I would give to Hagrid. I wasn't sure if he had started to learn just yet but if not there was no better time then the present. After looking around the shop a bit longer I realized I wouldn't find anything else there so moved on, finding a bookstore not far off. Walking inside I smiled as the warmth hit me and moved around the shop. After some time I found three books, The Beaters' Bible by Brutus Scrimgeour for Dwight, Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions for Ann, and One Minute Feasts - It's Magic for Koob. Dwight was a Quidditch junky, Ann wanted to become a Healer, and Koob loved cooking. I knew they'd love them.

After that all there was left was finding something for Tom and Dumbledore, and buying my dress. I had no idea what to get Tom. I had seen so many things, but none of it seemed to fit. I wanted it to be perfect, as silly as that sounded. I hardly known him for two months but I still felt he deserved something great. After looking around a bit longer I decided I'd find their gifts after getting my dress, and then I set off to the clothing shop. Once inside I saw a few other girls looking around as well. They seemed to be looking together so I put a bit of distance between us, looking through the racks. I found many pretty dresses, but none seemed to fit my fancy. Then I found the lovely mint colored one. I pulled it out and looked it over.

It was a beautiful dress really. It was floor length, sleeveless with a corset top. There were flowers stitched in along with beaded trim detailing the bodice. Taking the dress I moved to a dressing room and tried it on. It fit to me perfectly and I was instantly in love with it. Putting it back on the hanger and redressing I bought the dress and added it to my many bags of gifts, then set out to find that perfect gift for Tom and Dumbledore.

After looking around forever I finally found myself in Honeydukes. Scanning the shelves I ended up buying one of everything, all for Dumbledore. If Mum and Dad were right then he would have a love for candy, and this would be amazing. I had also grabbed him a pair of wool socks, remembering Uncle Harry telling me once that he said his greatest heart's desire was a pair of new, wool socks. I figured it would be a nice joke.

I was just leaving Honeydukes when Tom found me.

"Oi, what's all this?" he asked, looking at the many bags that were weighing me down.

I shifted the bags, trying to get a better hold on them all, "Just Christmas presents."

He raised his brows, "Christmas presents, eh?" he eyed the bags, craning his neck a bit to try and see into them.

I laughed and shook my head, "You won't see, I had them wrapped already."

He rolled his eyes, "You think of everything, don't you?"

"Yep. Now help me carry these." I shoved some bags into his hands, careful to keep the one containing my dress with me. I hadn't lied when I said I wanted to surprise him.

We headed back to the castle together, though I wished desperately he hadn't found me so soon. I hadn't gotten a chance to find that perfect present I'd hoped to find. But then, I hadn't any idea what he might want in the first place. When he arrived at Ravenclaw tower I took my bags from Tom and made to go through the portrait door when Tom stopped me and gave me a slow, lingering kiss. Pulling back he then kissed my forehead and left without a word. I watched him go, puzzled, then made my way into the common room.