The Darkest of Roses
Chapter 37: How Rumors Start

Leon

Leon stared at the parchment paper in front of him with a little bewilderment. It was about four o'clock in the morning, way before school started. He had woken up with the information needed and now he couldn't remember the solution he had thought of. Slowly, he read through pages in his textbook and jotted notes down. It was due this morning, at his first class so there was no stalling.

A small clicking noise sounded behind him and he hesitantly looked over to see a shadowed figure walking in from the entrance. It froze when it spotted Leon and Leon faintly recognized the shape of the figure. It seemed familiar, even the aura. "Leon…?" the voice asked before the hood over the hood was pushed back. He recognized the dark hair, the dark eyes and the olive skin tone as Abigail Jones, a semi-close friend of his.

"Abigail, what are you doing in sneaking around this late in the morning?" Leon asked, a bit humorously. It wasn't characteristic to the bookworm Ravenclaw, or at least it used to not be a characteristic.

"I was just…" she stumbled, pointing to the entrance as Leon chuckled.

"I won't tell anybody, I swear," Leon stated, turning back to his homework. He heard her shuffling towards him but didn't think anything of it. She sat beside him and peered over at his homework. He felt her gaze drifting over her notes before she chuckled.

"Ah, potions I see," she stated. "Yeah, the answers are pretty obvious but still hidden. It's typical Snape. Combine the paragraphs of page thirty-eight and forty-three at the beginning and then page thirty-nine for an ending finish. Those three pages share the same information but in different format." Her hand clapped him on the shoulder and he looked over at her as she slouched back into the couch. "I don't see how you're a Ravenclaw if you don't finish homework in less than five minutes…" she teased.

"I think the hat was mistaking me for my brother," Leon replied, honestly. Abigail looked over at him, almost expectantly. "My brother's a genius without a doubt. He got all 'exceeds expectations' in his Hogwarts years. He graduated last year. He's practically my parents' protégé."

"I'm sure they love you just as much, Leon. How can they not?" Abigail mumbled back in compassion. Leon glanced over at her.

"Sometimes I don't think so. I'll be talking to them but the moment Adrian comes in the door, its turn-off-Leon time to focus on Adrian and his new career. Adrian and his lovely girlfriend, who will be wed in the summer time. He asked me to be his best man. I feel like it's some sort of insult," Leon stated as his eyes drifted nonchalantly across the parchment and the textbook pages. Abigail frowned and scooted over, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Don't talk down about yourself. You're a wonderful man and you'll do just as great things. Don't live up to others' expectations or you'll set yourself short," she whispered. He couldn't help but like the feeling of her near to him with her hand on him as well as the warm puff of her breath whisking against his skin. It sent chills down his spine and his skin rose up in pimples.

"You're too kind, Abigail." She chuckled.

"And you're always so bloody formal. You're a friend and I think you have the right to call me Abby like my other friends do," she replied. Leon smiled and looked over at her. He truly saw her for the first time that night. Her hair was in a mess around her head and her face seemed to be glowing. He sighed.

"You have that look," he tested. She withdrew her hand, confused. "You really like that Malfoy bloke, huh?" He saw her slouching a bit and fidgeting with her hands. Leon pivoted toward her and smiled. "It's ok. I don't care about the whole house issues. I have my own issues to worry about, frankly. It's just pretty obvious right now."

"Oh, really? I…don't know how to stop that," Abigail stated, shyly. Leon laughed. He couldn't help himself. The blush that had crept up onto her cheeks was visible in the dark room around them.

"It's to be expected when you're falling in love. At least, that's what I've heard of course. I never experienced the emotion myself besides family and am extremely jealous at the look on your face, Abby," he stated, trying to explain it the best he could without personal experience. He watched her face twitch downward a little when he had said falling in love but didn't think anything of it.

"One day you will, Leon. There's a girl out there destined for you and she'll love you with more than her heart, trust me. And she'll be better than your brother's fiancé, too because she will see him as the inferior one." She smiled at him and leaned forward, pushing a kiss against his forehead before standing. "I'm going to go sleep. I'll see you in potions, yes?" Leon nodded and watched her retire upstairs.

He couldn't stop the butterflies from fluttering around in his stomach or the nervous shakes his hands were enduring as he tried to finish his notes for potions. He didn't want to admit, but his subconscious screamed at him that she was the one she had just talked about. But his heart knew that she could never be his because she was Malfoy's and he would respect that as long as he made her happy.

Abigail

Abigail woke up the next morning with a very giddy feeling brewing in her stomach. She had a hard time sitting up as a smile broke over her face. She hurriedly showered and dressed in her school attire before gathering her things and heading downstairs to the common room, where a weird scene was taking place.

"Did you hear?"

"I can't believe it."

"We're all going to be crucified!"

"What's going on?" Abigail asked the nearest Ravenclaw who turned worried eyes over at her. Abigail recognized her as a girl named Rachel.

"Professor Dumbledore's gone. Professor Umbridge has taken over as headmistress!" Rachel exclaimed. Abigail's eyes widened and she looked over at the bulletin board, shocked. She couldn't believe it. It had only been a little more than a week since Christmas vacation ended and she and Draco had their first love nest. Of course, there had been multiple times after that where she had snuck down to the room of requirements for him to continue their love nesting but she never saw this coming.

Abigail stoically walked out of the common room after gaining some more information from the other students. Apparently there had been a secret cult formed by Harry Potter to practice defensive arts. She had no idea, and was very insulted that they hadn't asked her. She was head of the dueling club and could perform any spell or charm thrown at her. She was up there with Granger, for Merlin's sake!

Her mind was elsewhere when she was joined by another person on the way down to the great hall. She didn't even notice the black haired Slytherin walking beside her, like a robot programmed to and without a hint of letting herself be known.

By the time, Abigail noticed the black haired girl was next to her she jumped and froze in mid jump to look over at her, stunned. "Holy mushrooms, what are you doing?" Abigail exclaimed. It stunned the Slytherin just as much as Abigail. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack for Merlin's sake? Bloody hell! I knew you Slytherins were sneaky but I didn't even hear you."

"Sorry, miss Jumpy. I was walking beside you the whole time, since you left the Ravenclaw common room. You were so engulfed in your thoughts I didn't want to interrupt you. Throw me a bone here!" she stated. It was Devon Richards, a girl Abigail had met in passing at the full moon gathering months ago when she had been dating Tim.

"Sorry. I was thinking about the whole professor Umbridge thing. What's up?" Abigail asked, falling into step again and noticing she was nearing the great hall. Devon shrugged.

"Well since you're Draco's girl and all now, I have to make sure those Slytherin wenches don't mess with you," Devon stated. Abigail blushed and looked over at her, faking confusion. "Don't play naïve with me, Ravenclaw. I've known Draco for a while now and he hasn't been sleeping around since you and him been fooling around. Consider yourself lucky. You must be one hot snatch to keep a guy like that faithful," Devon stated, chuckling lightly and shaking her head.

"What…do you mean?"

"What I mean is that he hasn't even glanced nor stared in any other girl's direction, including Parkinson's way and let me tell you, Parkinson's ticked off. That girl has an obsession with Draco and I need to make sure that girl doesn't jump you with a dagger to make sure Draco's hers." Devon paused to look over at Abigail who looked contemplative as well as thoughtful, concerned and flattered. Devon even saw a hint of egoism in her eyes, but didn't push anything. "I have to make sure he keeps you around. It maybe healthy for him."

"Oh, uhm, well thanks," Abigail stated, smiling. Devon shrugged and when they reached the great hall doors, Abigail watched as the peculiar Slytherin winked at her and headed toward the Slytherin table where she noticed her other friend greet her as well as Draco stand up and whisper towards her, rather harshly it appeared by the way both their eyebrows wrinkled downward.

Abigail peered at them for a minute or so before heading to her table to sit down. She noticed she sat down by Leon and in turn, next to Luna who smiled in greeting. Leon smiled over at her and mumbled 'good morning' before going back to his breakfast. Abigail helped herself to some toast and eggs before striking up some conversation with Leon about the morning's class of potions.

That's when the new headmistress walked in.

She was clad in her usual tacky pink attire with her smile that churned Abigail's insides. She sat in the high chair of professor Dumbledore's and most of the people turned to look at her. It was strange to think that professor Dumbledore wasn't going to be around. That meant that if Abigail has any problems, she couldn't go to the headmistress. She'd have to suck it up and go to professor McGonagall, who was more of a headmistress than professor Umbridge was. Even some of the teachers looked wary about the whole ordeal.

"It's strange, huh?" Leon whispered, still eating slightly. "Strange to think that that pink lady is our new headmistress. I doubt she owns any other colors for her clothes besides black maybe."

"Ah, but black really isn't a color now, is it?" Luna piped in. Abigail smiled at her and quickly gathered her things to head out.

"Potions class isn't for another twenty minutes," Leon quipped. Abigail shrugged.

"I want to clear my head before that trying class. It looks to me as if schools about to be a little harder," Abigail stated, chuckling as she headed out of the great hall without another word and toward the courtyard. She sat down on the round fountain in the middle and sighed, crossing her ankles and stared up at the graying sky. It was weird to say that January was practically halfway through and February was getting closer, as well as June which meant she'd have to go home. She couldn't help but wonder where she'd be going home, if she had a home.

Her parents still haven't messaged her since before Christmas break and it was weird to think that she might not have a home to go to during summer vacation. Where could she and Darwin go? She couldn't let him go anywhere without her, even if it was a relative. The only possibility was Aunt Kendra's place, but she only had a two bedroom condo and that was too much for four people, as well any house guests Kendra might have. Good thing Kendra hadn't had a baby yet or that wasn't even something to think about.

There was always Grandmama's house, but that'd be one excruciatingly boring summer vacation. She'd have Darwin and her shoveling gnome droppings from her garden or gathering herbs or staying inside everyday, due to some reason that UV rays could cause harmful diseases.

Abigail sighed and tilted her head back, closing her eyes for a moment. The slight warmth was soothing when it became mixed in with the cool breeze this morning had. She was thankful it was nearing spring time and that was the most beautiful time of Hogwarts with all the greenery and flowers and shrubbery, especially for Herbology class.

"There you are." Abigail jumped slightly as warmth sat on her right but the familiar, intoxicating smell caused her to smile as she looked over to her right. Draco was peering over at her with curiosity. "What are you daydreaming about?"

"Just summer vacation," Abigail answered, truthfully. He was good at spotting her lies so it wasn't even worth it. Draco's expressed egged her on. "Well, my parents really haven't been the contacting type this year and I don't think I have a home to go back to this summer." Draco chuckled.

"What makes you say that?" he teased. She glared at him slightly before tilting her head back again and closing her eyes.

"Well, something they wrote in a letter. It didn't particularly say they gave up their house but it implied that they were no longer staying there and were traveling more often than none," Abigail explained.

"If worse comes to worse, I think my parents will let you stay with me at my house," Draco offered, smirking. Abigail looked over at him, stunned. "Why look so shocked? We have almost twenty bedrooms in our manor."

"It's not that. It's just…" 'It maybe healthy for him' rang through her head and other things Devon had stated. "Never mind. I couldn't ask that of you. And besides I don't think your parents would want my teenage brother around."

"You have a brother?" Draco asked, truthfully shocked. Abigail looked over at him oddly. She couldn't believe he'd joke about that. She's told him about Darwin. "What? How was I supposed to know you were an older sibling? I'm an only child, remember?"

"Wait, I really never told you about Darwin," Abigail stated. Draco shook his head. "Oh wow, I'm a bad sister. I feel horrible…" Draco laughed and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok. I'm sure the little punk wouldn't take it to the grave," he stated. Abigail looked over at him warily. "And you're right. I wouldn't want your little brother around while I wooed you."

"Wooed me? How much more wooing can there be, Mr. Malfoy? I think you've already bedded me, or did you forget?" Abigail quipped. His jaw dropped and she giggled despite herself and stood up. "Now, I think it's been almost twenty minutes. I have to get to potions now, kind sir. Don't want you wooing me."

"I have potions this morning too, milady. Mind if I walk with you, oh sarcastic one?" he teased, smirking. Abigail narrowed her eyes at him but nodded her head. He smirked, chuckling lightly and beginning to walk with her down to the dungeons. They weren't standing too close or too far apart and his hands were shoved in his pockets as her arms held her potions book against her chest. But as they walked, most of the passerby's stared at them and whispered, making their own rumors and stories.

(The rumors would soon turn into them holding hands and giggling at one another like puppies in love)