Disclaimer: I don't know why I even bother but fine, I don't own Harry Potter, J.K Rowling does and I love that woman. Cool?
A/N: Hello people! Fanfiction is such a relief from reality that it's addictive, and I quite like this addiction. Thank you all for the love. Treat for you *kisses*
"Just open the door a little and check if anyone's around. If not, I'd very much like to leave."
"You do it."
"I did it the first time. Don't be a ninny and open the goddam door."
"Pardon me, Evans, but not all of us are as fucking stupid as Gryffindors."
"Don't you dare start again, Malfoy. My head is hurting already and if you vex me anymore I swear to you I will blast this thing open and walk out. I don't care about detentions or any other shitty unreasonable reasons I am stuck with you of all people."
"Stop screaming, you crazy banshee."
"I didn't know you were so far gone that you didn't understand the difference between whispering and screaming."
"My ears are going to start bleeding if you don't shut that trap you call mouth."
"You promise?"
"Shut it, Evans."
Rose was ready to rip her hair out by the roots. She had been stuck with Malfoy since the last fifteen minutes in a cupboard with barely any place to breathe, and all they had done was bicker. He would throw some insult and she would insult right back. She wanted to get out desperately, but the threat of McGonagall finding them kept her rooted. She didn't even have the Marauder's Map on her to see if it was safe to leave. She could have just knocked Malfoy out for a couple of minutes and then checked the map. 'why Malfoy' she moaned in her head. She had not encountered him since the journey on the train and she was quite gladly forgetting all the things that he had said. Friendly glance of perversion, she remembered his words and scowled, hoping he hadn't noticed anything in the dark.
The broom cupboard was obviously not made to fit two people. Rose and Malfoy were sitting uncomfortably facing each other, desperately trying to keep their legs from touching but failing miserably. The brooms were pushed in the corners near their legs, awkwardly propped against the side walls. They sat in stifling silence, both of them wanting to get out. Rose, although enjoying the rare moment of silence between them, was finding it more than just a little uncomfortable. When they bickered, at least she didn't have to think about the things that he had said.
'why did he say all those things' she asked herself, sweeping a glance over him.
'because he is a dick?' another voice inside her head answered.
'or he could just be telling the truth' a third opinion came out making her grit her teeth.
'of course he is lying' she thought 'Cedric was an honest guy. He was not some two faced bastard! He could have just asked me out if he wanted to!'
'and you would have graciously accepted' a sarcastic drawl filled her head.
'not the point' she thought, scowling deeply. She knew she wouldn't have gone out with Cedric had he asked her out, because she didn't feel anything for him romantically. He was one of her closest friends, almost as good as a brother; she wouldn't have let the chances of a failed relationship ruin her bond with him.
'that doesn't even matter, because Cedric did not fancy me' she thought fiercely 'he was with Cho because he wanted to be with her and Malfoy is a liar. End of the discussion'
After a brief pause, she realised what she'd thought.
'there is seriously something wrong with my head' she thought, holding her head in her hands.
"Whatever inner battle you are fighting," Malfoy's drawl caused her head to snap up, "Make sure you come out scathed. Deeply."
And before she could stop herself, the question was past her lips.
"Why'd say all those things?" she cursed herself before she even finished it.
Malfoy frowned.
"What?" he asked, clearly caught off guard.
She sighed. 'might as well get it over with'
"All those things about Cedric. Why did you?"
Malfoy merely raised him eyebrows. Even though there wasn't enough light in the cupboard to be sure, but Rose knew he wasn't surprised by the question.
"You could think of no other time better than now to ask a question like that?" he drawled, straightening up. Rose pulled her legs towards her, trying to avoid further awkward contact.
"You are here, so am I. What were you expecting, a dinner invite?" Rose muttered.
Malfoy grimaced.
"No Thanks." He said and stared at her, frowning slightly. After a moment too long, Rose started getting uncomfortable, so she glared back. He looked like he was deep in thought, and wasn't even aware that she was the unfortunate object under his gaze.
"Well?" she asked, sharply. Malfoy did not even blink.
"You need an actual answer?" he asked, looking bored.
"When people ask a question, Malfoy, they usually need an answer to it." She drawled, looking at him like he was kid with no knowledge of the world.
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"It's not going to change, Evans." He said, his eyes hardening. "I stand by what I said the other day: Diggory was no saint. He might have been with Chang, but he wanted you. He might not have acted on it, but he wanted you. Any guy could have told you that."
Rose glared at him, fists clenched in her lap. 'what the hell else were you expecting from pathetic loser like him!' she thought, berating herself.
"Stop shooting the daggers, Evans." He drawled, weaving a hand through his hair. "you asked for an answer, I gave it."
"I asked for an honest answer." She snapped. He was putting another hand through his hair but stopped mid action and glared at her.
"Why the hell do you think I would waste my breath on making up things for a case as lost as yours?" he sneered.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Rose asked venomously.
"I'm not explaining myself mudblood." He snapped. He clenched his jaw and looked away from her.
Rose wanted to punch him so hard, it physically hurt to restrain. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. 'don't let him get to you' she thought 'he is an absolute fucking prat. just think of a way to get out of here'. With that she opened her eyes, to find him glaring at her. She just rested head against the cupboard wall behind her and tried desperately to ignore the blonde. 'what the hell is his problem' she thought, glaring at a random spot on the opposite side. He still wasn't looking away and it was getting on her nerves. 'think of a way to get out Evans! IGNORE HIM' her head screamed. She sat up, determined to get out as quickly as possible.
Gently pushing the door open, she poked her head out and scanned the corridor. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the magic around her, willing her mind to come out of the panicked and mostly angry state, and recognised her own signature and a stranger's. She frowned, her eyes still closed; the other signature felt grey, but not the sluggish grey like the pepper up potion or their Hogwarts jumpers, but the colour of clouds when it was about to rain lightly. The cool and comforting grey, the type of grey that she enjoyed in the sky. She smiled slightly and then her eyes shot open when the realization hit her; of course the signature belonged to Malfoy, just her luck.
She looked at him; he was looking at her oddly, obviously confused at her sudden changes in mood. She looked away, trying to hide her blush. Getting up she stepped out of the door and picked up her bag from beside him.
"There's no one around, for now." She muttered without looking at him, who was sitting still, not moving a single muscle. "Better get out while you can." With that, she started walking away. She heard him get up and out of the cupboard but didn't hear any other movement; even then, she didn't glance back. When she finally neared the turn of the corridor, she chanced a sideways look and wasn't at all surprised to see Malfoy standing right in front of the cupboard, still giving her that odd look. She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding as she disappeared from his line of vision and walked a little slower. Her heart was still beating frantically from the magic she had felt in the air, his magic. She knew, better than anyone that, no two magical signatures were the same. But no signature that she had sensed had ever felt like his had. His felt different, refreshing.
She exhaled loudly, feeling at loss of what to think.
"But he is such a dick." She whispered to herself. "How the hell can a person like him have a signature that… not-so-disgusting?"
She halted her stride, feeling a sudden shift in the air and smiled fondly as she recognised the intrusion.
"Hi Seth." She whispered as she saw her Kneazle round the corner and stalk gracefully towards her. She bent down and scratched him behind his ear and sighed.
"Where were you the entire day, love?" she asked, knowing perfectly well that he could understand her but couldn't answer. The Kneazle just purred and licked her hand. Seth moved his head and looked at her meaningfully.
She chuckled.
"Gryffindor common room, if it please you, Your Highness." She cooed, scratching him one last time, as he started sauntering from the direction he came. She knew that with Seth leading her, she wouldn't encounter anyone on her way, all she had to do was follow. Once again , she was left to her own thoughts, which were far from pleasant.
'something is wrong' she thought, once again starting an internal debate.
'didn't feel that way' her conscious added.
'But it's Malfoy' she thought childishly.
'Very mature thought. You must be proud of your mental state' she scowled, still diligently following Seth who didn't seem bothered by her current disposition.
'I have every reason to say it and believe it. It is Malfoy' she thought stubbornly. 'he is a vile, prejudiced prat who has done nothing but try to put me and my friends down since the day that we first saw him'.
'but you never got to know him'
'the day that I first met him, he told me I didn't deserve magic. How am I supposed to work with unfriendly material like that?'
'didn't you also call him and his father asshole'
'I did no such thing!'
'not by words, but sure as hell by intents'
'his father is an asshole, though'
'not the point'
She sighed barely batting an eye when Seth climbed up her shoulder and nudged her back to her senses. She looked up at the portrait of the fat lady, who was looking at her impatiently.
"Quid agis." Rose said, tiredly.
"As if you would care." the Fat Lady snapped, and swung open her portrait, muttering about rule breakers. Rose grimaced and stepped inside, immediately gaining the attention of the only three occupants of the common room.
"Where the hell were you?" Harry asked, jumping up from his arm chair and stalking towards her.
She plopped down on a nearest couch and swung her feet up, giving out a sigh of relief. Her body ached because of her prior hiding arrangements.
Hermione and Ron too came over from their place in front of the fire, looking at her questioningly.
"I was in a broom cupboard." She said, faking excitement. "hiding from a cat and her ugly ass owner." She decided to tell them the half-truth. She was in a broom cupboard hiding, but she assumed that telling them that she had company, of Draco Malfoy nonetheless, wouldn't make things any easier. Harry and Ron would fret and curse and try to seriously maim Malfoy, and Hermione would berate her for being an idiot. She wasn't ready to hear any of that so she skipped that part altogether.
The other three cringed.
"How the hell did you end up there?" Ron asked. "Didn't you have the Map on you?"
"You are allowed to call me an idiot over that." She said, groaning.
"You are an idiot." Harry said immediately. Rose threw him a look.
"I'm actually surprised you got here undetected." Hermione said, pulling out a chair from a near-by table.
"I wouldn't have, but fortunately, I have an amazing pet." Rose replied and stroked Seth's fur, who was lazing over her torso.
"So, how's Daphne?" Harry asked.
"She was fine yesterday." Rose replied casually.
The other three frowned.
"You didn't see her today?" Ron asked.
"Nope. She couldn't come. Pansy Parkinson was at it. Again." Rose replied bitterly.
'if only the bitch had been a little bit modest, I wouldn't have been stuck with ferret boy in a broom cupboard' she thought.
"Poor Daphne." Hermione said, obviously feeling bad for the girl. Being stuck with Pansy Parkinson was the worst of fates in her book.
"I don't understand how you put up with her, though." Ron said, grimacing. "She barely ever talks and whenever she does, something shitty comes out of her mouth."
Rose rolled her eyes.
"You haven't talked to her once, Ron." She said.
"I don't need to. You remember how she went all hissy on Neville just the day before?" Ron grumbled.
"It was not polite but what would you do if someone spilled frog brains all over you?" Rose asked.
"It was an accident and she knew that." Ron said.
"Yeah well, she was the one who was late for Transfiguration."
Ron sighed in defeat.
"Fine." He muttered.
"But it's still weird." Harry said, shrugging.
Rose frowned at her brother questioningly.
"Sometimes it looks like she is a natural douche bag. Hear me out." Harry added when Rose opened her mouth to protest. "But other times, she looks like she doesn't want to say what she's about to. It's like those things have been drilled into her but they are against her nature."
Rose stared at him, wide eyed and so did Ron and Hermione.
"What?" Harry asked, frowning at them.
"Noticing her much?" Rose asked sceptically.
Harry's cheeks tinged pink.
"No, of course not." He said, but seeing the deadpanned expressions of the other three, he huffed.
"Fine, yeah." He said, rolling his eyes.
"I thought you liked Cho!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yes, I do! Jesus, Hermione, I just…" Harry raked a hand through his hair, "I first started observing her when Rose told us about her. I wanted to see for myself, since I couldn't talk to her, what kind of person she was. I was… curious, I guess." He added, sheepishly.
"You could have just asked me." Rose said, still looking unconvinced.
"I did, still do, remember?" Harry said, glaring at her. "You never tell us anything when it comes to her, and I respect that you value her privacy, but seriously Rose, who are we gonna tell?"
Rose sighed, closing her eyes.
"You don't understand her situation, Harry." She stated tiredly.
"Well, pardon me but how am I supposed to if I have no one explaining it?" he asked, folding his arms.
"He isn't wrong, Rose." Hermione said, slowly. "We do want to help, you know. I mean, we understand that Daphne is a private person and her life is probably more difficult and different from ours, but how can you ask us to accept her when we don't know the first thing about her. Between the four of us, we don't keep things, Rose, you know that."
Rose smiled sadly at her.
"I know, but this isn't about me. This is about Daphne and her faith in people. Her own sister has no idea about half the things that go around in her life, in their own house. Daphne does everything she can to protect Astoria and to keep her away from the things that their parents have planned for them. She tells me all those things about her and her life because she trusts me to not repeat it to anyone else." She paused, looking at all of them meaningfully. "I trust you guys, you know that, but Daphne doesn't, and it's not my story to tell. So, I'm sorry, but I'm not telling you anything more than I can."
They all stared at her awkwardly, thinking of something to end the silence. Rose knew she was doing the right thing. She had promised Daphne that the things that they discussed would stay between them unless Daphne chose otherwise, and Rose hoped that it would one day happen. She didn't have to share everything, maybe a few things about herself, like what she liked and disliked or what she wanted to do when they would leave Hogwarts. Rose just wished that Daphne would learn to open up and be happy, be her true self and not someone her parents wanted her to be.
Rose gently put Seth down on the floor and sat up, looking at her friends and her brother, willing them to understand her place. Getting no response, she was about to get up when Ron interrupted.
"I can't believe I am saying this," he muttered, shaking his head. "Will it be okay if we get to know her? You know, get to talk to her once?"
Rose stared at him, completely blown off by his offer. Hermione and Harry were looking at Ron like they shared her sentiments.
"What?" Rose asked slowly, still doubting her hearing skills.
"You heard what I said." Ron replied, turning to Harry and Hermione. "I'm just saying, you know…"
"No, I don't." Harry said, staring at his friend sceptically.
Ron sighed.
"Okay, I realise my mistake. Bad idea—" he started but Rose cut him off.
"No, no!" she said, settling back in, looking excited. "You really want to do that? Get to know her?"
"Yeah, I mean," Ron said, rubbing his neck, "What's the worst that could happen?"
Rose beamed at him, launched herself at him. Ron almost toppled over but managed to keep a grip on a table. She pulled back and grinned at him; Ron looked slightly baffled but mostly pleased with her reaction. She patted him on his arm, her smile not dropping.
"Oh, Ron! You could honestly be the sweetest person!" she squealed happily and Hermione shushed her, pointing at the dormitories.
"Yeah… uh, thanks." He said, smiling slightly. Rose turned at Harry and Hermione hopefully. They both shared a look, clearly uncertain over the turn of events.
"I don't know, Rose." Harry said, hesitating. "She isn't an easy person to approach. We'll probably just make fools out of ourselves."
"Yeah well, my ego is still intact." Rose said, her hands on her hips, staring at the two of them like they were kids.
"You were twelve at the time you started talking." Hermione said, exasperated. "And we are different people. She likes you doesn't mean she is going to put up with us."
"But you don't know that!" Rose said, her hope not dimming.
"Yes, but—" Hermione started but Rose cut her off.
"So you are going to judge her without even getting to know her?" she asked sternly.
"No, of course—" Hermione tried, but again in vain.
"Then are you implying she isn't worth knowing?" Rose asked again, folding her arms.
"Rose you know that's not what—"
"Okay, enough." Harry said, exhaling loudly. "Fine, we'll do it."
Rose grinned and rubbed her hands together.
"Now that's more like it." She said, smiling at the other three.
"Don't make me regret this, Rose." Ron said playfully.
"I won't." She said, picking Seth up, who was looking extremely bored by the entire scene.
"But, Rose, honestly" Hermione started, sighing. "She is going to be difficult. And talking to her when she can't be seen getting chummy with us? I don't know how that is going to happen."
"Let's not even talk about being difficult, Hermione because we all were." Rose said, kindly . "It only took a mountain troll and a life threatening situation for us to be friends."
Hermione flushed but said nothing.
"You think I didn't have a hard time getting through to her? It took a hell a lot more patience than I'd care to admit, but… I don't know, I just didn't feel like giving up on her. It is going to be difficult, talking to her and stuff, but if you guys really want to, let me worry about it. So, will you give it a try?" she asked, hopefully.
The three of them looked at her, resigned, and then nodded their heads reluctantly.
"Perfect!" Rose said happily.
"We can only try so hard, okay?" Ron said warningly.
"I know, I know." Rose said, waving a hand dismissively. "You all are going to be fine."
"Alright then," Harry said, getting up from his seat. "I am off to bed. Good night, Rose. Night, Hermione."
The girls wished him back and he and Ron went up the boys dormitory. Rose and Hermione made their way up to their room and plopped on their beds, quickly changing inside their curtains.
"So," Hermione whispered, careful not to wake up the other girls. "You were stuck in a broom cupboard?"
Rose turned to look at her in the dark, the room barely lit by the moonlight. She frowned at Hermione's tone.
"Yes." Rose replied carefully.
"Care to explain about your company."
Rose froze, holding up the covers in mid-air. She gulped and tried to offer a smile, which came out more as a grimace. She tried to form words but could only stare at Hermione's face, completely bewildered.
"You left the map in your dresser instead of your trunk, double idiocy I suppose." Hermione whispered sternly.
Rose cringed and sat up properly, looking guiltily at her best friend.
"Hermione, I am sorry—" she started but was cut off.
"Harry gave you the map to use for your night time strolls; you shouldn't have forgotten it like that." Hermione berated, looking at her disapprovingly.
"I know, but—"
"And how in the heaven's name did you end up stuck with Malfoy of all people!" Hermione said, a little louder than intended. She stopped short as Lavender shifted and then started breathing evenly again.
Rose grimaced again.
"Why didn't you tell Harry and Ron?" she asked her in a small voice.
"And have them shout at you for the rest of the night and then have Malfoy dead the next day, yes, why didn't I." Hermione replied sarcastically.
"Sorry." Rose muttered.
"Now, spill." Hermione said, folding her arms and looking at Rose disapprovingly.
Rose sighed; she pulled at the small ribbon holding her braided hair and combed her fingers through them.
"I was almost at the entrance hall when I got Daphne's message through the parchment and she had said something I was laughing over when Malfoy came out of nowhere and took the parchment from my hand—"
"How can you be so careless, Rose! You could have easily sensed him!" Hermione hissed.
"I know!" Rose said, pulling her hair back in a loose pony tail. "I didn't think—oh whatever, now moving on, he began stalling me and he figured out that the parchment was charmed and then Filch's cat came out of nowhere and that idiot forced me into the cupboard with him; said I'd rat him out if I was caught. I mean he wasn't wrong but that is hardly the point—"
"Why didn't you just get out?" Hermione asked.
"Because then Filch came by and then I would have gotten a detention for being out during curfew and 'inappropriate behaviour'" she replied sullenly.
Hermione snorted.
"The only inappropriate behaviour you would do with Malfoy would be cursing him."
"Tell that to Filch. Anyway, when he was gone, two perfects came by and we heard them say something about McGonagall being on Patrol tonight so we waited a little longer but she didn't so much as come near the place and it was getting really awkward so I took the chance and bolted. That's when Seth found me." she said, carefully skipping the part about Malfoy's claims.
"I'm surprised you didn't kill him right there." Hermione said.
"I was close." Rose muttered.
Hermione exhaled deeply and looked at Rose.
"Are you going to tell them, Harry and Ron?" she asked.
"No, I mean, it's not important." Rose replied, and contemplated whether or not to tell Hermione about Malfoy's signature. She almost concluded that she didn't need to but, then she didn't want to keep it to herself; she needed outside opinion.
"I felt something." She said quietly, just as Hermione was about to get under her covers.
"What?"
"When I was trying to see if anyone else was around, I sensed Malfoy signature." She said, looking uncertain.
"And?" Hermione asked, her frown visible through the moonlight.
"It felt… different." Rose replied. She felt blood rush to her face at the memory of how welcoming it had felt.
"Rose, every magical signature is different." Hermione paused. "But you know that."
Rose nodded.
"I can sense the signatures and I can tell that they are different. But I also feel like…they are the same. They are just the magical signatures of different wizards with different values and souls, but in a manner, they feel the same." She looked at Hermione and sighed.
"I'm not making sense, am I?" she asked.
"Actually, you are a little." Hermione said
Rose looked at her, eyes wide with surprise and hope.
"Really?" she asked.
"Not entirely, but yes, a little. Describe it to me, will you?" Hermione said.
"His signature?" Rose asked and continued after Hermione nod of affirmation. "Well unlike the other signatures, I could feel a certain—I don't know how else to put this—a certain warmth, in it."
Hermione raised her eye brows and Rose shook her head.
"When I sense a signature, I can make a guess, a very instinctual guess, of whether I can trust the person or not; whether their magic can be trusted or not. But his signature… all I felt was warmth. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it felt comfortable. Holy shit, Hermione, I felt safe. No signature has ever made me feel safe, not even Harry's."
Hermione looked at her, eyes wide and moth slightly open.
"That's why I had to get out." Rose concluded, looking troubled.
Hermione stayed silent for a moment, just looking at Rose, not giving away anything.
"That is weird." She said after a while.
Rose snorted softly.
"Tell me about it."
The girls stayed silent.
"But it's Malfoy." Hermione said, sounding like a petulant child.
Rose chuckled.
"My thoughts exactly."
"Just go to sleep right now." Hermione said, falling back in her pillow. "We have two hours free before dinner tomorrow. We can go to the library."
Rose laughed softly.
"Of course we will."
Hermione made a face.
"You have any better ideas?"
"Nope." Rose said, pulling up her covers.
"It's settled then."
"Mmhm."
"Goodnight, Rose."
"Goodnight, Hermione."
The next day was hectic. The Gryffindors had almost all the classes with Slytherins and the entire house was in a mood about it. Malfoy's odd behaviour wasn't lost on Ron and Harry. He didn't say a word of insult to them. He either ignored them or scowled deeply at them, especially Rose. The only highlight of the day for Rose was Umbridge's class, which they shared with Hufflepuffs. The Defence Professor turned purple as soon as her eyes fell on Rose and as ugly as the sight was, Rose found some sort of sadistic pleasure in it. A small cough or a smile from the Gryffindor had the woman turn into an inflated purple balloon. Harry was having a really hard time keeping his laughter to himself and almost choked himself keeping it in. As soon as the class was over, Rose, feeling way better, almost skipped her way to potions, the last class of the day for her and Hermione.
"You have to be careful, Rose." Hermione berated, although smiling slightly. "You can't keep enraging her like that."
"Please don't stop." Ron said. "Her class is too boring and we need some kind of circus going on."
"But Hermione is right, Rose." Harry said. "She is one of the Minister's pet. If he comes to know—"
"We have something even bigger against her, Harry. She tried to use an illegal object of torture on students." Rose said and winked.
Harry just rolled his eyes and they all made their way to the dungeons.
They took their usual seat at the back of the classroom; Ron pairing up with Hermione and Harry sitting beside Rose. Just then Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle trooped into the classroom, the latter three laughing at something. Malfoy just grimaced and scowled when he spotted them and took a seat beside Blaise Zabini, very much to the surprise of the boy, leaving Parkinson huffing and pouting. The girl reluctantly took a seat beside Daphne, who grimaced slightly, sharing a discreet look with Rose.
"What's wrong with Malfoy?" Harry asked, staring at the blonde, who was currently engaged in a very animated conversation with Zabini. Malfoy looked away from the boy and at Harry, completely ignoring Rose, giving him the one finger salute. Harry just lazily raised his eyebrows and looked at Rose with a deadpanned expression.
"Nevermind, he is fine." He said. Ron snorted.
Rose chuckled nervously and earned a questioning look from Hermione. She just shrugged her shoulders lightly and looked away. Nobody could say anymore as Snape stalked inside.
Rose frowned. Snape looked even sourer than he usually did and that was saying something. His eyes fell on her and he scowled deeply, gritting his teeth. Now Rose was concerned. Snape scowled at her almost twenty times a day but that was always because she provoked him somehow, this time it was uncalled for. Snape barely ever deducted points when she made a mistake or said something cheeky, but when someone else from any other house except Slytherin did, he'd suddenly turn into a complete asshole and Rose had never been able to figure out why. So whenever anyone from her house made a mistake, they'd push her forward because she almost never took any major heat from him. Today looked like it was going to be different.
"Settle down." Snape drawled, looking at everyone critically.
"The potion that you will be brewing today is no simple task, especially for dunderheads like you all." He said, glaring at Neville. "It is a potion made centuries ago by a mediwitch for healing small cuts and wounds, since the spell for the purpose hadn't been discovered back then. The mediwitch, Rosa DeVinera, worked for over a five years on the potion. After its first samples were released, the potion gained a lot of appreciation and made and remade for the next fifty years till the healing charm was discovered. It rapidly lost popularity after that because the ingredients used in the potion were rare and cost a fortune, and with a better alternative available, it wasn't used again. Today, you will be brewing Sanar Cortenoe, a potion having no use today, but tests a potioneer's skill. The Ministry has very thoughtfully helped securing the rare ingredients, but they are not enough for each one of you to work on separately, which is why you shall be paired—" Harry shifted closer to Rose, which wasn't missed by Snape, and he deliberately brandished a parchment from thin air "—by the headmaster's wishes."
Everyone in the classroom groaned, very much aware of their headmaster's eccentric sense of humour. One look from Snape was enough to silence the entire class and they all sat quietly, with bated breath, waiting for their turn.
"You will be starting the potion in this class but, as the potion takes two months to brew, you and your partner are to take special care of it every day at a place assigned to you in the Castle. You are going to complete a small part of the Potion's first phase today and the rest of it on your own research. Have I made myself clear?"
Nobody even blinked.
"Good. Now as I call out your names, you and your partner will be taking a table and quietly set to work. Dean Thomas, with Vincent Crabbe." Dean groaned as Seamus gave him a sympathetic look and marched over to where Crabbe sat, cracking his knuckles. Rose grimaced and looked back at Snape.
"Harry Potter, with Daphne Greengrass." Rose choked back a laugh at Harry's expression but what intrigued her was Daphne's face; it was tinged pink and although she looked like she didn't care, Rose could tell that Daphne was fretting, what she couldn't tell was why. She made a mental note to bring it up with Daphne later.
Seamus was paired off with Tracey Davis, Ron with Goyle (his expression of disgust was so clear that even Blaise Zabini snorted) and poor Neville was paired with Pansy, who looked like she could eat a person alive.
"Rose Evans, with Draco Malfoy." Rose felt her stomach drop and her head whipped towards Malfoy who was scowling intensely, clearing sharing her sentiments. Behind her she heard Hermione curse softly. She looked at Snape pleadingly, silently willing him to do something about the arrangement but he merely scowled back. For a moment neither Malfoy nor Rose moved, but after a glare from Snape, Malfoy grudgingly shouldered his bag and took the seat vacated by Harry. Ron and Harry were shooting her sympathetic looks along with promising Malfoy death.
Rose kept looking straight towards the board, not having the will to look beside her. She could feel his magical signature all around her and she had to force herself to remain unmoving, although his signature was willing her relax in her seat. It felt just like it had yesterday, like a cool breeze on a summer day. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
'This is nothing. You are okay. You'll be fine, just breathe.' She thought to herself, praying that she wasn't being too obvious.
Hermione was paired off with Zabini. The Slytherin had never participated in name calling like his other year mates. He had always remained neutral, neither stopping them nor joining them. Even now he didn't even bat an eye as he walked over to Hermione. He nodded at her cordially, much to Hermione's surprise as she smiled back in obvious confusion.
As the last of them was paired off, the fact that Dumbledore had paired a Slytherin and Gryffindor together was quite obvious now. All of them, visibly uncomfortable, were staring at Snape for instructions. The only one who looked at ease was Zabini. He didn't at all seem affected and was even making small talk with Hermione, much to everyone's surprise including his partner's. Hermione, too, was answering him politely. Although she was very much confused and nervous, she didn't let it show in her manners.
"The instructions and ingredients required are on the board." Snape drawled and with a wave of his wand, the board was covered with just that.
Before she could say anything, Malfoy got up and stalked towards the ingredients cupboard. Rose heaved a sigh of relief, thankful for at least a few minutes of seclusion. She turned to look at Harry, who was preparing the cauldron looking slightly confused. He caught her eye and mouthed 'okay?'. She smiled at him and raised her eyebrows questioningly. He sighed and looked to where Daphne stood, collecting the ingredients and looked back. He shrugged and she shot him a glare clearly saying 'talk to her'. He rolled his eyes but nodded and went back to work.
With a wave of her hand, Rose set up the cauldron on the burner and read the instructions on the board. The potion, like Snape had promised, was no easy task. It would take a lot of patience and work effort to get it right.
'Two months' she thought miserably.
Just then Malfoy came back and slammed the tray containing the ingredients on the table loudly enough to draw attention from the near-by table. Rose scowled.
"Watch it." She hissed, waving her hand and arranging the knives on the table. Malfoy stared, looking slightly impressed but the look didn't even last an entire second and he glared at her.
"You cut, I brew." He said, gesturing at the knives.
Rose smiled humourlessly.
"I don't take orders from you." She said, waving her wand over the cauldron, cleaning it.
"Oh, you don't have a choice here." He stated matter-of-factly.
Rose willed every deity to provide her with some patience and turned to face him.
"Why is that?" she asked.
"I am better at potions than you are. Obviously." He said, picking up a knife and putting it near her hand.
Rose chuckled.
"Nice one, Malfoy." She said, pushing the knife towards him.
He narrowed his eyes.
"You can only wish it was joke, Evans." He said, pushing it right back.
Rose idly twirled her finger and the knife was pointing threateningly at Malfoy's abdomen under the table. She saw him casually raise him eyebrow and pluck it up and thrust it back it her, smirking.
She narrowed her eyes and was about to retort when a sharp rap on the table startled her. She gulped looking at Snape's murderous glare and saw Malfoy withdraw his hand from the table.
"Are you both done with your childish banter?" he hissed, glaring at them.
They both quickly nodded.
"You are both cutting and brewing, equally. This is a joint project. Do not make me remind you again." He said and walked off with a billow of his robes.
Rose scowled and helped Malfoy distribute the ingredients between themselves.
They silently chopped the required ingredients with slow and careful precision. None of them spoke a word until they were done and then looked at the board.
"First, the maw juice." Rose muttered, gently lifting the bowl containing the juice and pouring it in the cauldron.
"I can read." Malfoy said dryly, and added the carefully mashed fire seed.
"Whatever am I supposed to do with that absolutely worthless piece of information?" She said, stirring the mixture three times counter-clock wise.
"Shut your mouth and not disturb me while I work." He said, waiting for her to finish and then added the Erumpent tail hair.
"How many hairs did you add?" she asked, looking at the leftovers.
"Seven." He answered, taking the slices of chopped dragon liver from her and, one by one, dropping them in the cauldron.
"Are you sure?" she asked, stirring the potion clockwise eight times.
He scowled at her as he waited.
"Don't mistake me for Weasely, Evans." He drawled.
Rose snorted and handed him the Haliwinkles.
"I can't, even if I tried. You are too arrogant to be anything like him." she replied.
"Or maybe too rich and smart and good looking." He said, smirking.
"See?" she said. "Told you."
Malfoy rolled his eyes and poured the Chizlepuff eyeballs in the simmering potion.
"Careful." Rose warned, seeing the hot vapour rise up the cauldron.
"I am not a child Evans, and I have eyes of my own." He hissed, sounding irritated.
"What about a brain?" she asked, vexed herself.
"Plenty more than both your brother's and Weasel's combined." He answered, stirring the potion.
Rose heaved an irritated sigh.
"What the hell is your problem?" she hissed.
"What the hell is yours?" he asked, equally vexed.
"Mine?" she asked incredulously. "I practically saved your ass from getting burnt."
"You did no such thing. I was very much aware of what was going on in the potion and would have backed off on my own."
"Either way, I just helped. A thank you would suffice." She snapped, careful to not be loud.
Malfoy practically threw the Sneezewarts causing the potion to hiss. Rose rounded on him and gave him a murderous glare.
"If you ruin the potion, Malfoy, I swear to God I will end your life, with extreme prejudice." She hissed, gripping her wand tightly and began stirring the potion.
"The chances of you ruining the potion are greater, did you know." He grumbled and added the single unicorn hair they were all provided with.
"No I didn't. Do you know why?" she asked and answered her own question. "Because it's not true."
"How about you shut up and concentrate?" Malfoy snapped, glaring at her.
"How about you use that big head of yours for once, and try not to blotch this?" she snapped right back.
"Do watch your mouth, Evans. I have low tolerance for mudbloods as it."
"Must be a coincidence, because I am allergic to blonde things, too" She growled under her breath.
"Mudblood."
"Ferret."
"Bitch."
"Jerk."
"Detention." They both whirled around to see a very irate looking Snape glaring down at them both. "Both of you, in my office, tomorrow." He looked positively scary. "Another word or another disruption in my class, and you will be cleaning cauldrons for the entire month."
"Yes, sir." They both muttered. Snape moved ahead of them, snapping at every person in the classroom.
"Prat." Rose muttered under her breath, stirring her potion.
"I heard." Malfoy hissed.
"Good." Rose hissed right back.
She reached for the vial to fill the sample of the potion and Malfoy, too, reached for it at the same time. Their hands touched and both of them practically recoiled. Rose felt a shiver go down her spine, and a tingling sensation where he had almost grabbed her hand.
'I need to go to Madam Pomfrey' she thought, avoiding eye contact with the blonde.
'He grabbed your arm yesterday. Why didn't you feel anything back then?' she was staring awkwardly at the vial, and the at Malfoy's hand which was gripping the table.
'I don't know, damn it!'
'This has something to do with his magical signature, doesn't it?'
'I need help. I am arguing with myself. I NEED HELP' she thought desperately and quickly picked up vial and filled it with the sample. Her heart was thudding a little wildly in her chest.
'All of this because you touched a guy? What kind of ten year old reacts like that!' she wrote her and Malfoy's name on a piece of paper and attached it to the vial, waiting for the class to end so she could leave his company. She concentrated on her breathing, completely ignoring the six feet tall boy beside her who was unabashedly staring at her.
'Not just any guy. He is the one who's magical signature is stuck with me like glue' she admitted to herself. 'Why is this happening? It didn't happen with Ivan. Hell, I almost lost my virginity to him.'
She shook her head slightly and looked over her shoulder, to find Zabini and Hermione had filled their vial and were talking slowly about something she couldn't hear. It definitely didn't seem like they were arguing.
'Why couldn't have I gotten Zabini' she mourned.
Malfoy was leaning over the work top, arms folded, and still staring at her, and finally getting on her nerves.
"Quit it, will you?" she hissed, glaring at him.
Malfoy sighed but didn't lose the eye contact. Rose wanted to look away but was finding it impossible to. She looked into his eyes; they were grey, the same grey she felt in his signature. They had minute freckles in them, barely visible, but they were there, giving his eyes the look of a storm when he was angry. Right now, they looked like the first rain of Monsoon. Her heart paced up again and that very moment Snape called for them.
"All of you will listen very carefully to me, for I am not going to repeat myself." He said, glaring at them critically. Rose breathed deeply, willing her heart to calm down. She saw Malfoy turn towards Snape, frowning.
"You all are being allotted separate parts of the castle, to keep the grading fair. Mr. Filch has been asked to extend the curfew of sixth years by an hour. The potions that you made today will be kept in those places. You are to work, with your partners, for two months every day for an hour. You are not to create any chaos or you will find yourselves in detention for the entire year. By the end of two months, I will need a perfect cut healing potion on my desk or you can bid farewell to a good grade in potions for your half yearly tests. Now, one pair at a time, you will bring your samples here and I will allot you your places."
And so they did; one pair at a time. By the time Malfoy and Rose had their turn, only Blaise and Hermione were left.
Snape took the vial from Malfoy.
"The old equipment room of the Astronomy tower." He drawled, giving them a warning look.
Rose barely stopped herself from groaning. Astronomy tower was quite a climb from Gryffindor common room and very much isolated from rest of the towers.
"You both are to attend my detention and then proceed with your task tomorrow."
They both grumbled a 'yes sir' and headed out of the classroom. As soon as they got out, they saw McGonagall marching towards the potions classroom and Malfoy groaned. Rose frowned at him.
McGonagall halted in front of them, looking critically at Malfoy, who was scowling slightly.
"Mr. Malfoy, I was just about to send you a note. Mr. Filch is arranging your detention. You are to see him in the trophy room." She said crisply.
Rose looked at her and then at Malfoy. McGonagall told them to hurry and entered the classroom behind them. Malfoy started walking away and Rose followed, almost running to keep up with him.
"What the hell do you want?" Malfoy asked harshly.
"You are in detention with McGonagall?" she asked, not deterred.
"You should get your head checked Evans. You are not able to process the information you heard." He sneered.
Rose stopped short, shocked as the realization hit her.
"She caught you yesterday." It was more of a statement than a question.
Malfoy just scowled.
"You didn't tell her that I was out too?" She asked in disbelief.
"Quit following me like a lost puppy, Evans it is annoying."
"Why didn't you?" she asked again.
"I did. She didn't believe me." he drawled, turning around the corner.
Rose stopped, staring at his back, as he quickly walked away and was out of sight.
"You're lying." She said, frowning. She could have told it with her eyes closed that Malfoy was lying. He was desperate to prove that he did indeed rat her out, and that gave him away. He didn't tell McGonagall that she was out too, the question was, why?
"Hey!" she heard Hermione behind her and smiled. Zabini was walking gracefully as Hermione jogged towards her.
"Hi." She greeted. "Zabini." She said, nodding at the boy.
"Evans." He replied, acknowledging her. "See you around, Granger."
"Yeah." Hermione said and they both watched him leave.
"He is such a gentleman!" Hermione exclaimed as soon as he was gone, and they began walking towards the Library. "I half expected him to call me names, but he was very polite. The prejudice is getting to my head."
"No one can blame you for that." She said sullenly, remembering Malfoy's taunts.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Hermione said, sympathetically. "Malfoy is very difficult."
"Tell me about it." Rose muttered.
Hermione patted her arm.
"Just one hour every day for two months." She started optimistically but deflated as soon as she realised what it meant.
"Oh, I really am sorry for you." She said, side hugging her friend.
Rose chuckled at that and nodded.
"So which section do you want to start with first?" she asked.
"How about—oh wait, did you notice Harry and Daphne? They looked like they were getting along really well."
"Really? Wow, I was little preoccupied."
So, uh, TADA! Let me know if you liked it… or not? Thank you for all your reviews, favourites and follows! I owe you this one. Much love. Oh and by the way, quid agis means 'how do you do' and Ivan, from Durmstrang, was Rose's date to the Yule ball.