Chapter Eleven: Forever Yours

March 7

Rose didn't know how she was supposed to spy on Scorpius now. She was crazy about him. She busied herself by searching out the mirror. If she was doing that, then she wasn't following him and she was still helping the Order. Besides, Malfoy didn't seem too keen to bring up their "date" either. He kept all their interactions brief and casual. Rose didn't mind, seeing as they both had a conflict of interests.

She went through the books Uncle Neville had gotten her. She went over the folded pages and circled passages but they didn't really help. She just had more questions and they led her to more books with vague answers. It seemed like this ritual was ancient and had passed out of all knowledge. She didn't even know how any of the Death Eaters had found out about it.

She was in the library, Uncle Neville's books to one side and some she had pulled from the shelves. They were spread out in front of her with a lunar chart and her hair was in a messy bun, her Slytherin robes were discarded on the empty chair next to her.

She hated this. She hated all of it. She turned the page warily, but quickly shut the book when someone appeared across from her. It was Mr. Avery, one of the Ministry representatives. They had extended their trip, claiming Hogwarts needed serious repairs. Their dinner had been put on hold- it was intended as their farewell banquet, but seeing as they weren't leaving... Uncle Harry had warned her to stay away from them and lie low. She had tried, but now Mr. Avery was here to talk to her.

She thought he had worked in the Department of Law Enforcement, but wasn't sure. She didn't know why he was coming to talk to her. He was a tall man with a hard face and he put her on edge. He looked down at the lunar chart and then back at her. "What are you studying?"

Uncle Harry had told her that the Ministry members were probably trying to find out who the Order spy was. The Order had the advantage since there were so many Potters and Weasleys at the school. Whereas there was just one Malfoy, so it was pretty obvious who the Death Eaters had on the inside. But Rose knew she must have been an obvious suspect since she was the only one with access to the Slytherin common room. She told herself to just play it cool.

"Some astronomy homework. You wouldn't be able to help me with it, would you?" She asked, her voice like silk.

Mr. Avery chuckled at her, and she knew it wasn't good natured. She didn't want to push her luck, but she wanted him to get the fuck away from her. But she couldn't let him know that she knew about the ritual, so she added, "Professor Waters is so tough, I can't wait until I finish the class."

"I can't help you with it," He said, the suspicious edge gone from his voice. But it hadn't left his eyes as he studied her, "You're a Slytherin," He said, "Are you happy there?"

"If you mean, do I think I'm a Gryffindor? Then no." She said. And she meant it. It wasn't anything she had ever told James, but she had decided that she was meant to be in Slytherin her fourth year.

She had been waiting to talk to the Headmistress about her detention for punching Goyle (he had pulled Lily's hair), when she had seen the sorting hat. Up till that point she had still been resentful for ending up in Slytherin. She still didn't fully feel like she belonged. So she went up to the sorting hat and demanded to know why she had been separated from her family. "Why did you put me in Slytherin?"

The sorting hat blinked up at her and yawned before saying, "Rose Weasley, is it? Yes," He drawled, "You were a hard one to place."

"So why Slytherin," She demanded, plowing on, "Why not Gryffindor?"

The sorting hat grumbled at her, "Such a challenge you were. And after all these years you still don't see it. The answer is right in front of you,"

Rose glared and what she said came out in a near growl, "Stop talking in riddles."

The sorting hat laughed at her, "Maybe you are too slow to be in Slytherin, who knows? There will come a day when being in Slytherin will be very important- maybe you'll thank me then,"

She wondered if now was that time. But the hat couldn't have foreseen a war, could it? Rose looked up at Mr. Avery. She knew he was a Death Eater. He was trying to gauge her loyalties. She had to make him think she was a pure Slytherin.

"Perhaps we will meet again, Weasley."

She was alone again and she went back to studying her moon charts. She didn't have time to think about what Mr. Avery said. She hardly doubted they'd ever approach her and ask her to spy on the Order no matter what they thought her loyalties were. She was still a half-blood and her family were considered blood traitors.

The chair where her robes were moved. She looked up, worried Mr. Avery was back, but it was James. He sat down and looked down at his lap. Rose didn't say anything, she was nervous and didn't dare to hope that she and James were about to make up. She studied the chart and fidgeted, trying to not keep sneaking glances at James.

She couldn't help but notice he looked different. He looked older- it was weird to say so, since James was the oldest and he had always looked like he was, with his long, dark hair and deep eyes. James never really looked like a child- acted like one, yes, but he didn't look like one. But something had changed now. His hair was still messy, but not in a styled kind of way anymore. His eyes were different. It was like he had grown.

"What are you studying?" He asked, softly. He was nervous. It was clear in his voice.

Rose looked at him and then around them. No one was there; they were alone. She leaned in close and explained about the ritual and the moon and how she needed to find a mirror. "And James..." She paused, unsure why she was blurting it out now of all places, "I went on a date with Scorpius."

James sucked in a breath and said, "Bullocks. Now what?"

She sighed, "I don't know. I think we made everything more complicated. But James... he was so different... it's like he has bi-polar disorder."

"He probably does," James muttered, "So... you like him?"

She shrugged, "I guess. I don't know. I'm trying to focus on finding the mirror. So... any ideas?"

"Geez, Rose, I disappear for two weeks and you go and screw up your life. No, but we should start looking. So, wait, you said the Death Eaters already tried out the ritual?" James asked her, his voice tinged with worry.

Rose grinned and then it faded when she realized she had to tell him that Bellatrix Lestrange was who they had brought back. James' eyes clouded over and his fists clenched. "So what's stopping them from doing it for real already?"

"I think they want bigger numbers and the Ministry and Hogwarts, first. But they could do it whenever since they know it works." Rose said, "And the longer they wait, the more time we have to find the mirror."

James nodded and pulled the lunar chart closer to them, "So lets study up,"

After two hours of searching that yielded no results, James and Rose left the library and walked around the grounds. "So Scorpius Malfoy, Rose... really? Was there no one else? Because I can find you a nice Gryffindor."

Rose laughed and nudged him. "James, I'm a Slytherin. I think it's time we all accepted it."

"No," James said, aghast. "I didn't mean what I said the other day about you being one of them. I was just angry."

"James," Rose laughed, "I don't take being Slytherin as an insult, okay? Sure, Slytherin has a bad rep, but that's not at all what everyone thinks it is. So a few bad seeds grew in the garden, but that doesn't represent everyone. Dark wizards have come from Gryffindor, too. And you know what... I like being a Slytherin. It took a lot of time, but I'm happy with my house and how I've spent my time at Hogwarts. I'm gonna tell you something about our common room and you need to keep it to yourself, okay?"

James nodded.

"You can look out one of the windows and see the giant squid in the Black Lake. Now, I think that's bloody cool and it livens up the dungeon. And I like the dungeon, it isn't dank like everyone thinks. It's actually kinda cozy, even though there always is a draft, but," She added hastily, "It's a nice draft, kinda comforting. And everyone in Slytherin looks out for each other. Don't you remember when I was sorted? They should have hated me, but they never once acted like they did- besides that first night anyway. They took me in and accepted me as one of their own. Slytherin is a part of who I am, James."

She looked over at him. James didn't say anything at first, until finally he smiled and said, "Okay, so you like being a Slytherin. How about I call you a Slythindor?"

Rose laughed, "Fine. So how have you been? We all know I'm swimming in a sea of crazy,"

James grinned, "Oh, you know, Lily's been yelling at me, calling me a git for fighting with you. Practicing Quidditch, planning the future since I'll be outta here in a few months. Uncle George says there's a job waiting for me at the shop if I want it."

"Got a girlfriend?" Rose asked with a giggle.

James smiled, "Not quite."

"Oh, who is she?" Rose asked, excited.

"You don't know her. But I'll introduce you soon," James said with a smile.

"So we both have love lives now?" Rose giggled. She didn't know how they had gotten to this point. One day they were both little kids playing the backyard and going to muggle movie theaters or Quidditch games and having weekly barbecues in the summer (her mom teaching her dad and Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny. For some Uncle Harry always burned their hot dogs). And then they were in Hogwarts, a new stage in their lives that didn't go the way they planned. But they had made it through, all of them still best friends. And now they were fighting a war.

James grinned, "It's a real possibility, although mine isn't as twisted as yours."

Rose sighed, "Mine is just messed up. I don't even know how it happened. What am I gonna do, James? I mean, how can I even like him when he's like... an honorary Death Eater?"

"The heart wants what is wants," James chuckled at the dark look she sent him and then added, "I don't know, Rose. You said he's bi-polar. I think you'll figure it out, you're smart."

"If I was smart, I don't think I'd have this problem," She mumbled.

In the evening, Rose snuck over to the Gryffindor table for dinner. Her friends scooted over, welcoming her with open arms. She slid in next to James and her brother. She dropped her head onto Hugo's shoulder for a second and nuzzled him. Hugo laughed and playfully shoved her off. She was happy to be back with them. It made her feel better about everything. She felt whole, as lame and cliched as it sounded.

Her mom and Uncle Harry were right. They needed each other, they were all they had in this horrible time. Now that she had opened up to James about the mirror, she had an extra confidant. They could work together and maybe they'd find it faster.

"So who is James' mystery girl?" Rose asked the table and everyone immediately started teasing James.

"You told her about," Lily stopped short and cleared her throat. Her voice deepened and she sounded like James on a helium high, "Shailene Dawson?"

"Who?" Rose laughed. James blushed and threw a piece of bread at his sister.

"I don't sound like that."

Albus laughed and joined in, "Mate, you really do." He turned to Rose and said, "She's a Ravenclaw, seventh year. James bumped into her one day in the hall, knocked over all her stuff, and he's been madly in love ever since. She's way out of his league."

"Man, shut it," James muttered.

Rose smiled, "Aw, you don't need to be shy, Jamsie."

"Yeah, well, Rose went out with Scorpius Malfoy." James proclaimed.

There wasn't laughter or jeering. In fact, there was just silence among the group. Rose glared at James, "Really? That was the moment you chose to tell everyone?"

"I thought it would be funny," James muttered.

"It is clearly not funny," Rose hissed. She sucked in a breath and turned to face her speechless friends. She grinned and explained, "Umm... so after I left you guys at the Quidditch game... I bumped into Scorpius and we were talking and then we went out and there was this house elf Dot that he had given socks to, except he wore them on his hands and we ate and we talked and... oh my gosh I think I'm mentally ill."

Lily reached across the table to hold her friend's hand. "So... Scorpius is nice somewhere deep down?"

"Yes," Rose moaned, "But he's still a Death Eater and I'm not and it can never work... right?"

"Just tell me this," Victoire cut in, "Is he a good kisser?"

"Hey!" Teddy called, "Why would you want to know that?"

"He is a good looking guy," Victoire shrugged, "And it isn't like I'm ever going to get the chance to kiss him."

"We didn't kiss." Rose said, looking down at her plate.

"Good," Hugo muttered, "I did not want to picture that."

"No one was asking you to picture that, you wanker." Rose muttered.

"Wait, so... is this happening? Are we actually talking about you dating that arrogant, rude, and pretentious git, Malfoy?" Albus asked, looking at the whole group.

Rose glanced at everyone and said, "Yes. And I know it's hard to believe, but he can be more than that if he wants to be. Hopefully," Her voice softened, "he will,"

Lily smiled at her, "Rose Weasley goes for the bad guys, eh?"

Rose laughed and groaned, "Shut up."

James chucked a piece of bread at her, "Told you it would be funny."

"I really love you guys," Rose smiled at all of them. "I'm glad you're my friends and I'm glad that we aren't fighting."

"Lets never fight again," Teddy said in a high pitched girly voice.

They all laughed and James said, "Stop with the gushiness, guys. We're all, obviously, going to be together forever."

Rose rolled her eyes at him, but didn't dispute the fact. Everyone, in fact, laughed at James' contradiction, but didn't argue with him. Deep down, she knew it was true. There was no way it couldn't be.

We try and dream,
And buy the things we said we'd buy when we got more money,
All in the name of making memories,
That's what you want with me,
And I am finally accepting that
Forever Yours, Alex Day


A/N Hello. This was a bit of character development, I guess. I'm particularly fond of the next chapter, so I'm excited to post it :D Please, please, please leave me a review! Thanks so much to the few of you who did, you're all awesome and I love you :D