Chapter Ten – Rose

The First Day is Always the Hardest

I was in the middle of a demonstration when the door to my classroom burst open. My advanced defence class – with the fifth years – sat in front of me, and I was demonstrating the impedimenta curse, explaining what it was for and when it was used. I had explained about the abundance of curses and hexes that Aurors invented just for themselves (this was one of them) and how they were more useful than many for defence.

Then Cara burst into the room, blood on her hands and face, and I almost dropped my wand in shock.

"Cara!" I exclaimed, as the class stood. "What's happened?"

"The idiot," she gasped. "Didn't listen to me-"

"Cara, now! I need to know what has happened!" I took hold of her shoulders and shook her, forcing her to focus.

"Rose," she gasped, "It's the Malfoy boy. He got on the wrong side of a Hippogriff."

"A Hippogriff?" I exploded. "Class dismissed!" With that I took my sister by the arm and dragged her along with me, up to the Hospital Wing.

We reached it at the same time as Hagrid did, and Poppy (Madam Pomfrey) smiled at me, saying, "Welcome back, Rose, dear."

I grinned at her and strode in, lifting my wand as I joined her at the moaning boy's bedside. "Mr Malfoy," I said loudly, over his moans, and he looked up at me.

"I'm dying! It's killed me!"

"It has not killed you, Mr Malfoy," I told him, and looked at the blood. "Poppy, would you fetch me a blood replenishing potion? And perhaps a calming draught?"

"Of course," she said, and disappeared from my side.

"Mr Malfoy-"

He shuddered and rolled, yelling, "I'm dying! I'm dying!"

"Mr Malfoy!" I shouted over him. He looked up, surprised. "Let me see your arm!" Instantly, he let go of his arm and let me take it to examine it. I cut away his robe and frowned at the deep cut. It would have to be right there, wouldn't it? Wordlessly, I cast the spell to slow bleeding, and it stopped easily. I nodded, happy to see that at least the cut hadn't severed any major arteries. "Okay, Mr Malfoy. You're going to be fine." Please, my cut this morning had been almost this bad…

"Redire Musculi," I said, waving my wand. The wound shivered, and the muscle knitted itself back together under my wand's careful guidance. Once that was done, I smiled up at the boy, who was staring at me nervously. "How are you doing, aside from this injury?" I asked him quietly. "Glad to be back at Hogwarts? Missing home?"

He started to shrug, but stopped himself just in time. "I don't know," he muttered as I lifted my wand and muttered, "Sanare Iniuria." The skin regrew to cover the wound, leaving just a thin red line. It would be stiff for a few days, but nothing more. "I guess so. I like being back with my friends, but I always like being home…"

"Mm," I agreed as Poppy re-joined us. "Sometimes, being at home is nice. It's quiet and it's yours, right?" He nodded and I took the potions from Poppy happily. "Thank you, Poppy. Now, Mr Malfoy-"

"Draco," he interrupted. "Call me Draco."

I smiled at the young boy. "Very well, Draco. Now, this is a blood replenishing potion, and this is a calming draught. Do you need the latter?"

He shook his head, so I opened the blood replenishing potion and measured some into a glass. I also poured a glass of water ready, because the potion tasted foul. "I'm warning you, Draco, this tastes disgusting." He shrugged, but took the cup and drained it in one swallow. Coughing, he looked up at me in horror and I chuckled. "I warned you," I told him as I passed him the cup of water, and he drank deeply.

"I thought you were exaggerating…"

I grinned. "I don't exaggerate, Draco." I smiled at Poppy and said, "I'll stay with him, if you want."

"Don't you have a class?" she asked me, taking the half-empty potion bottle and the dirty cups.

"I dismissed them when Cara came sprinting in," I explained with a shrug.

She nodded, but then said, "There are some people waiting outside to see him."

"I'll go and see to them, then," I told her, and looked back at Draco. "I'll be right back with your visitors, Mr Malfoy."

Then I swung out of the room to his call of, "You're covered in my blood!"

I ignored him. It wasn't that much, and I liked the shock factor. I'd clean myself up in a minute. Outside, Cara and Hagrid stood to one side, with a group of Slytherins on the other side. I smiled as they all looked up at me.

"There is no need to look so worried," I told them with a teasing smile. "Mr Malfoy is fine. A little shocked, and will be needing to spend the night to replenish the blood he lost, but no worse for wear. His arm will be sore for a few days, but should be working fine after that. Now," I said, glancing at them, "You can come in and see him but, and yes Miss Parkinson, there is a 'but', you must be quiet and not make him get excited or angry. I want my patient to rest, do you understand?" When they all nodded, I relented. "Alright, in you come. But you cannot stay for long."

The Slytherins hurried in and I looked at my sister and her friend. "Cara, take Hagrid home and get him washed up. I don't doubt Dumbledore will want to see you both. What were you thinking? Hippogriffs? With third years?" I shook my head at them and returned to the Hospital Wing.

Poppy sidled up to me and whispered, "Rose, you should go and change into… less bloody clothes." I glanced down at myself and laughed a little.

I nodded to her and hurried over to the group of Slytherins, who were all surrounding my patient and telling him how brave and strong he was. I held back on rolling my eyes. He'd been a wimp…

"Mr Malfoy," I said quietly as I made my way to his bedside. "I'm going to go and rid myself of your blood" – here he rolled his eyes at me – "and when I get back, I want your guests to leave, alright? So make the most of your time."

"Take as long as you need," he told me, teasingly.

I grimaced at the boy and said, "Cheeky. But you're only cheeky because I have to put up with you."

As I walked away, I heard Pansy Parkinson say, "Were you flirting with Professor Black?"

I heard Draco snort and mutter, "She's hot. But actually, I was following my father's lead. He flirted with her on the platform and she slapped him…"

As I reached the hallway, I rolled my eyes.

By the time I was showered, changed into clean clothes and had made my way to the Hospital Wing, Malfoy looked pale and tired again, but something told me that was simply excessive exposure to Pansy Parkinson.

"Miss Parkinson, Mr Crabbe, Mr Goyle, Mr Zabini," I said to them, and the four looked up. "If you would be so kind as to vacate the Hospital Wing?"

"Huh?" grunted Crabbe.

I had to stop from laughing as I glanced at the patient (who was rolling his eyes). "Time's up, kids. Mr Malfoy needs to rest – and to get out of those bloody clothes."

"Ah," they said, and stood to leave.

"Bye, Draco," Pansy said, tearfully. I again had to stop myself from laughing at the lovelorn girl. Once they were gone I handed Malfoy some pyjamas and said, "I take it you don't need me to change you?"

He looked at me and said, "Well, my arm hurts rather a large amount…"

I rolled my eyes, but waved the curtains closed and helped him change. Once this was done, I helped him into bed and told him to lie down, opening the curtains again. "Mr Malfoy-"

"I keep telling you," he interrupted, "It's Draco."

"Very well, Draco," I said, exasperated, "Lie back and I'll send for some dinner for you. Something filled with protein to help with that blood loss. You still look pale to me…"

"I always look pale," he replied as the door opened. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy came in, accompanied by a grave looking Dumbledore, and Narcissa let out a shriek as she ran to her son's side.

"My boy!" She took his hand and smoother back his hair, almost looking like a caring mother for once.

"Hello, Mother," he said stiffly. I realised she was gripping his shoulder – the injured one – in one hand and stepped in.

"Mrs Malfoy," I said in greeting. She glared up at me and I gestured to his shoulder. "May I show you your son's injury?" She looked to where I was gesturing and let go instinctively.

"Of course," she said stiffly, standing up as her husband joined her.

"May I have your arm, again, Draco?" I asked him with a smile. He grunted and sat up, holding out his arm. I pushed the sleeves of his pyjamas up and showed them the bandage, which was clean of blood, and unravelled it quickly.

"Can you not heal that?" Lucius demanded when he saw the thin red line.

I smiled at him softly, understanding that here was a father who didn't want to see his son in pain. "Of course I could," I explained softly, "But-"

"Then why don't you?" he snapped. "Do you like watching my son suffer?"

"Lucius," I said quietly, and he calmed down at the look in my eyes. "I never want to watch a child suffer. You know that." He nodded, unwillingly. "It is better if your son's body heals the rest on its own, without magical intervention, so that the skin grows back stronger. I can remove the scar afterwards, if Mr Malfoy wishes me to."

"Are you in pain, my prince?" Narcissa murmured softly, and I had to turn away, suddenly shocked by how much she reminded me of Walburga Black – and how much Draco reminded me of Regulus.

"No, Mother," he said quietly. I looked at him and smiled.

"We'll give you something for any pain you are in, Mr Malfoy," I told them lightly, picking up Draco's robes and folding them quickly, before placing them in the washing basket for the house elves to pick up to wash.

"I'm not in any pain," he answered quickly. I frowned and moved forwards, brushing my hand over his forehead. He was hot, and his eyes…

"Yes you are," I muttered. "Either that or you're having a bad reaction to the blood replenishing potion."

He shook his head. "No, it's not the potion-"

"Ah," I said, jumping on that, "So you are in pain, then?" He looked angry, but I smiled at him, re-bandaging his arm. "Let me fetch you something."

I hurried away and returned with some painkillers, which I had him drink and smiled at the instant relief in his face.

"Rose," Dumbledore said, and I made my way to his side. We were joined by Lucius Malfoy, but Narcissa stayed by her son's side. "How is he?"

I smiled. "He's fine. The pain can be combatted and he'll be completely healed by tomorrow, probably. He'll still be stiff by… Thursday, maybe, but it should be fine after that."

"And he will sustain no lasting injury? He'll regain full use of it?" Lucius asked me.

I looked at him in surprise. "Of course, Mr Malfoy. I've healed a lot worse than that."

He snorted, but said, "Dumbledore, I want that oaf fired! You should know better than to have half-breeds teaching-"

I grimaced, but interrupted, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I would prefer you to have this conversation away from my patient. I don't want him to be anything other than calm, so if you would…?"

"We shall adjourn to my office," Dumbledore said. "Will your lovely wife be joining us?"

"Of course," Malfoy said. "Narcissa!"

She looked up, kissed her son once more, and re-joined her husband and Dumbledore as they left the room. I made my way back to the younger Malfoy's bedside. "How are you, Draco?" I asked him. "Feeling better?"

"Better now she's gone," he muttered, but then looked guilty. "Don't tell her I said that."

I chuckled. "Don't worry about it," I told him. "My children would probably say the same."

"Sit with me," he asked, and I nodded. I pulled up a chair and sat by his bedside, staring away from the boy, out the window. "My Father told me about you, you know."

I chuckled again. "It was probably all lies. I'm not that evil."

He smiled. "No, he liked you…" he hesitated. "I don't know why I'm telling you this. I'm not normally this…"

"Nice?" I suggested. "Open? Honest?"

"All of the above," he grunted. "Did you drug me?"

"No, Draco," I told him with a smile. "It's probably the shock of being injured."

"He told me all about you and the Dark Lord, and about Sirius Black," he went on, as if I hadn't said anything. "He was obsessed with you, and was so pleased by your fall from grace… When he saw you on the station, he told me that I was not to like you and to make your life hell if I could."

I laughed a little. "Draco, you're a student. How could you make my life hell?"

He shrugged, then said, "Your children, maybe?" There was a pause, then he spoke again. "And I promised to do what he said… but I don't want to."

"You don't have to," I said softly. "But if it helps, I'll pretend to hate you."

He laughed and said, "Tell me a story, Professor."

"What about?"

"About you… about when you were a student."

I hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, when I was a student here, we had a rather nasty teacher, named Professor Grey. He hated every Gryffindor and, in the end, we decided to get our own back."

"Who?" he asked quickly. "Who were you?"

I grinned. "Cara and I, obviously, along with Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans and Mary Jane Richards. We were all seventh years." I stopped again and sighed. "It was all Cara's idea… We wanted to show him what kind of habitat something as nasty as him should live in, so we decided to turn his classroom into a swamp." Draco laughed and I smiled. "It was one of our better pranks. But Lily thought of the best idea ever to add to it…"

"What?" he demanded. I smiled.

"Well, the night before we all snuck up there and did the spells, then went back to bed, cheerful. The next morning, we went down to breakfast and Professor Grey came running in, screaming, "Who did it? Who turned my classroom into a swamp?" Of course, we couldn't let that one slide. So pretty much the entire school followed him up to his classroom, and then there was nothing there. I remember the look of concern on Professor Dumbledore's face as he asked him if he was alright."

"How did you manage it?" Draco demanded, eager to hear the rest.

"Do I want to tell you? I don't want to give you any ideas," I hedged, but he shot me a look that screamed 'if you don't tell me, I'll work it out and use it on you'. I laughed and said, "Lily was waiting for when he had seen it, and simply undid all the spells in the time it took for him to run from one end of the school to the other. It made him look insane, so it was a win-win for us."

He laughed again and sighed. "Can I eat now?"

I smiled and sent for a House Elf, who fetched us dinner, and we ate in companionable silence. Poppy reappeared and I went over to her. "Do you want me to stay the night?"

"No, Rose," she said with a smile. "I'm just in the next room. I'll send for you if he needs you."

I nodded and made my way over to say goodbye. When I told him I was leaving, he looked away and said, "Do you have to leave right now?"

"No," I said to the young boy softly, "I can stay for a while. How about I stay until you sleep?"

He smiled nervously. "I'd like that."

Briefly, I wondered to myself if the boy had ever truly known a mother's love, or if this was all an act. If it wasn't, damn Narcissa to the pits of hell. She shouldn't have put the boy through this… He seemed so nervous, just asking for affection. The poor child.

I sat by his side as darkness fell. A few minutes later, he was lying on his side but with his eyes open, and the door opened. I looked up and Lily came in, looking upset. I stood and went to my daughter, putting my arms around her. "What's the matter, love?"

She snuggled against me and sighed. "Oh, it's nothing… I just… I miss Lizzie, that's all."

"She's still there, sweetheart," I explained gently. "She's just living in a different room, is all. You have no need to worry about her, or miss her. You can see her at breakfast."

"I missed you, too, Mum," she whispered. "I haven't seen you since breakfast, and we didn't get to talk then."

I smiled. "Well, how about I walk you back to your dorm in a minute? I promised Draco I would stay until he fell asleep, but then I can take you back."

She smiled. "I'd like that."

I took her hand and led her to the young Slytherin's side. He looked up at me and smiled sleepily. "Professor, why are you doing this?"

"You need it," I said softly. "I'm far too mothering. Go to sleep, Draco. Sleep now."

He smiled at me and closed his eyes, instantly falling asleep. I shook my head at the boy and led my daughter from the Hospital Wing, smiling down at her. "Well, now, why do you miss me so much?"

"I just… I do like it here, and Ginny and Colin are so nice. I have made friends, Mum," she told me earnestly, and I smiled at my shy girl. She looked like her father, but she took after me more than him.

"You know, your father was the most outgoing man I've ever met," I told her softly. "You might look like him, but it's clear you take after me." She giggled and clutched my hand tighter.

"You lot – my family – that's who matters most to me," she said softly. "You're all I care about; you're all I need."

"Don't think like that, sweetheart," I said with a small smile. "In the end, I found that my friends were a bigger part of my life than my family. You've found a keeper there, with Ginny. She's a good friend."

"Mum," she said, hesitating. "Is Draco Malfoy going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine," I told her. "He just needs someone to take him in hand and tell him what to do. He's pretty much all healed, and he'll be completely healed by morning. Tell Harry and that lot that, will you?"

"Of course, Mum," she said and we reached the portrait. "Fortuna Major," she said confidently, and the Fat Lady winked at us and swung open with a, "Welcome back, Rose!"

"I'll leave you here, sweetheart," I told her, and kissed her forehead. "Go and get some sleep. If you need any help with anything at all – from homework to boy trouble – you know where my office is."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Mum," she said, and climbed inside. The portrait swung shut behind her, and I stared at it for a moment, before walking away and going to my own portrait.

The four founders looked up at me, and Helga Hufflepuff sent me her usual jaunty wink.

"Why the long face, Rose?" Godric Gryffindor asked me.

I smiled at him and replied, "Oh, just missing my children."

"And your husband," Salazar Slytherin added.

I snorted at him. "That, too. But that's not about to change, so why would I be more miserable than usual over it?"

Rowena Ravenclaw smiled and said, "She has you there, Salazar."

The man frowned and rolled his eyes.

I sighed and said, "Amor et Fides," which was what I had set the password as. The four founders called goodbye to me as the portrait hole swung open and I climbed inside, happy to be in my own home again.

It had been a long day.