A headache pounded in Rose's skull.

Blearily she opened her eyes – her bedroom, in Sev Com, in the Central Tower – and sat up, forcing her rusty limbs to brace her weight. The memory of the duel spiralled in her head in fragments. Tristan's wayward wand. Rose laughing. Failed spells, seconds in battle, the Room of Requirement. Tristan had launched that spell that knocked her into the wall. The last thing she remembered was pain.

As she thought of it, her back seized, and she yelped and laid down on the bed again. She was still in yesterday's clothes, so someone must have brought her here afterwards.

Knocked unconscious… well done, Rose…

"Rose?" A knock followed Halie's voice. "Hey Rose, are you awake?"

"Yes," she said through gritted teeth.

"Can I come in?"

"I can hardly stop you."

Halie entered with Brooke behind her. Both were in uniform, though Brooke's hair was tied up, and she ogled Rose with equal parts fascination and pity.

"How do you feel?"

"Awful," said Rose. "What happened?"

Halie winced. "What didn't happen." She gave Brooke an askance look and then said, "Tristan knocked you out with some spell. Don't remember what it is. I chewed him out for it but it was already done. We left the Room of Requirement but got separated from you and Scorpius, and then ran into Miss Tinsel—"

"The Mole," Rose cursed. "She caught you?"

"Hah! That's the miracle, she didn't! Just before we got caught, she hightailed it away. Must've heard something. We got back here in one piece though, then you and Scorpius made it back after us."

Rose sighed. "I told you it was a bad idea to go."

"It was awesome! Well, except you getting done in, that is." She grinned. "Brooke and I've been keeping an eye on you. We told Ruthven you were sick."

"Ruthven came here?"

"Yes, to check up on us," Brooke said, then she shivered. "He gives me the creeps."

"Never mind him, it's Tristan you should worry about." Halie chuckled nervously. "See, he takes you being knocked out as defeat, so…"

Rose's face fell. No. No way.

"I-I can't let him do his stupid party!" she protested, trying at once to excavate herself from bed, but seething too hard when she made to stand. "I-I'm a prefect! He… he can't…"

"Those were the rules," said Halie sympathetically.

Brooke, however, crossed her arms. "You could tell on him anyway, you know. It would serve him and his family right."

"Here we go," muttered Halie.

Rose didn't get the chance to ask, as Brooke said, "Did you know he used Occamies for his tour in Asia? The Subtle Spell, our local magazine, reported that they had horrible working conditions and weren't allowed to fly except in tiny cages!"

"They're choranaptyxic, Brooke," said Halie. "They change size to fit whatever space they're in."

"That's totally missing the point!"

At least someone had a lingering disdain for Asher, even if it wasn't because he'd almost killed Rose. "I can't tell on him. I made a stupid agreement. Not an Unbreakable Vow, I know, but… I can't back out of it." Not to mention she never wanted to be on the receiving end of his wand, ever again. "Where's Scorpius?"

"Downstairs," said Halie. She waggled her eyebrows. "He keeps asking about you."

"Right," said Rose, pointedly ignoring the implication. She tried again to get out of bed, this time baring the pain and leaning heavily on the posts of her bed. Her stomach rumbled. "What time is it?"

"Just after twelve," said Halie. "Start of the lunch hour."

Rose winced, this time not from the pain. So late! She had so many things she was meant to be doing… homework, studying… watching over the foreign students!

None of that mattered anymore. She'd lost the duel and now she was on this… this stupid planning committee for Tristan's unnecessary party. It was a hard pill to swallow, and Rose's throat already hurt for who knew what reason.

She managed to shuffle downstairs with Halie and Brooke's help. Malina was, once again, sitting in her own corner, minding her business with a spell book open on her lap, though she did frown at the sight of Rose before going back to the weathered pages. At least there was one person Rose could count on to stay out of trouble. As Halie said, Scorpius was here too, occupying one of the gold sofas with – unfortunately – Karlin, whose dour expression simpered when she approached.

"So. You are alive."

"Don't sound so disappointed," she snapped, then faced Scorpius. "Where's Tristan?"

Scorpius took a moment to respond; his eyes at once going over her, checking the severity of her injuries. "Probably in the Ravenclaw common room."

Rose's stomach rumbled again, but she wasn't sure she could manage going all the way down to the Great Hall for lunch. Yet loath she was to ask anyone to get food for her, especially in Karlin's presence. She faced him, expression hard.

"Tell him I want to speak to him. Now."

"I am not your messenger," Karlin bit back. "He came earlier, but you were not awake, so I imagine he will be back shortly to discuss the terms of your loss—"

"That wasn't a fair match, and you know it," she cut across. Scorpius' face was, as usual, unreadable. She instead appealed to Halie, the pseudo-referee. "He had an advantage. His wand…"

She didn't finish the thought aloud, though she knew she didn't need to. His wand was crazy. A product of the owner, maybe? Or perhaps a wand that was too wild for Tristan to control?

Halie grimaced. "His wand was pretty whack, even you have to admit, Koldovstoretz."

Karlin's brow dipped. "Oh, I am sorry, I did not see where in the agreement you said that Asher's wand was illegal." His voice dripped sarcasm. Lazily he shut the spell book on his lap – the title, Duelling in the Modern Ages. "Maybe if you were a better dueller, you would not have lost."

Rose looked to Scorpius for intervention, wisdom, something, but Scorpius only grimaced as said to her, "We lost. We have to accept it."

"But—"

The portrait swung open. Tristan came waltzing inside, snug in his Ravenclaw uniform, arms out as if to welcome the place to him. She was surprised, and slightly smug, to see the impromptu haircut she'd given him during the duel had remained, so one side of his head was only a streak of bristles. He'd styled the rest of his hair to flop over it, like a typical popstar.

"Well, well, well, she's finally awake! Brilliant!" Infuriatingly he petted the top of Rose's shoulder with his free hand before inhaling a long, deep breath. "Ah, smells like victory, international culture, and… thick cologne. Is that yours, Malfoy? Trying to impress someone?"

Scorpius' lips turned up, but he shook his head. "I take it you're here to talk about the party?"

"What else?" He checked his watch – naturally it was gold and sparkly and oozing riches. "The others of the committee should be arriving here shortly. I had hoped you'd be awake, Rose. So we could discuss everything through you—"

"I'm not helping you, Tristan."

Tristan pouted. "We had a deal, Weasley."

"You brought that— that thing that I can barely call a wand. You almost killed me."

To Tristan's credit he did appear a little guilty. "I really wanted to win, okay? This party means a lot to me."

"You could barely control it."

"What does it matter? You're not dead, my party is happening, all is fine." He withdrew the wand from his robe – Rose's heart seized at the sight of it, carved in a long, winding spiral of brown wood. "And I love my wand, so there."

"Didn't seem like it loved you when it disobeyed half your commands," muttered Halie.

"Yes, well," he said airily, "it's a work in progress. My wandmaker did say it might have issues, so."

To that, everyone stared at him.

"Your wandmaker?" said Karlin – even he was perplexed. "Your wand is custom-made?"

"Of course," said Tristan indignantly. "Aren't all of yours?"

"No," said Brooke at once. She was inspecting her nails like the very idea of talking to Tristan bored her. "We go to wand stores and let a wand choose us, like normal people."

He bristled at her tone, but said, "Mine was custom-made to my specifications. That's all I'm trying to say."

"What wand wood is it?" asked Scorpius.

Tristan grinned.

"Elder."

The atmosphere in the room turned absolute cold.

"Your—" Rose could barely fathom the words. "Your wand is made from elder?"

Suddenly it all made sense. Of course the wand didn't work for Tristan. Elder was notoriously difficult, prickly, chaotic, to use. Only the very best of wizardfolk could wield an elder wand and live to talk about it. Heck, there was the entire thing about the infamous Elder Wand. Surely Tristan wasn't so thick-headed as to repeat history? Surely he didn't put himself on the same pedestal as people like Gellert Grindelwald and Voldemort?

"Of course. Only the strongest wands will do for me. Yeah, yeah, I know, wand chooses wizard, I know that silly phrase." He pocketed the wand and turned about the room. "But I wanted the best wand I could buy, and I heard elder was the best wood—"

"Are you out of your damn mind?" said Halie at once. "Elder?"

Rose, at least, was glad to hear that the notorious properties of elder were not region-specific.

"Haven't you heard about the Elder Wand?" she continued, incredulous. "The story about wizardfolk over the centuries who murdered and maimed to covet the Elder Wand for themselves?"

"Obviously. Can we change the subject?" Shifting on the balls of his feet, he made a show of sweeping a hand down the furniture, testing the tug of the curtains. "My wand is fine and you're all paranoid about stories."

"It— it literally happened in our parents' time," said Rose, too flabbergasted to do much else. She'd duelled an elder wand. Suddenly she felt a pang of pity for him. "Tristan… there's a reason that wood is notorious…"

"Don't you worry about me, Weasley." He smiled. "Only worry about how we're going to smuggle in Firewhiskey to our party!"

"You just keep that thing far away from me," Halie said, flicking a hand towards his pocket. "I don't want anything to do with that."

"Same," said Brooke, and she fixed Tristan a look of disdain before turning and heading back up the stairs to her dorm.

Tristan eased out a breath once she was gone. "Well, anyway. I've told Lonnie to meet me here. Party-planning has to start otherwise we won't get everything in on time. And damn do these drapes need revitalising."

In the ten minutes wait, Malina packed her things and headed upstairs as well, though her dark eyes settled on Tristan, expression unnerved before she scurried away. Rose didn't know what to make of it, nor of the crowd left behind: herself, Scorpius, Karlin, Halie and Tristan. A strange group indeed, hardly anyone could call each other friends and yet there they were, about to plan the world's most pointless party. Minhyuk and Suzume were supposed to be here too – as rightful proprietors of Sev Com's space – so Rose was surprised to see, when the portrait swung open, Minhyuk entered with only Lonnie.

"Wow, Minhyuk, your Australian accent is great!" Lonnie was saying as she stepped inside. "Did you take acting classes?"

"This is how I normally speak English," Minhyuk said, laughing awkwardly. "My cousins are from Australia."

"No Suzume?" Rose questioned after the portrait swung closed.

"She didn't really care about the party," said Lonnie, grinning. "We went down to the Quidditch pitch to ask. She's been there all day, practicing."

Naturally. Guess there was a reason she was picked for every house team.

"Her loss," said Tristan.

"Do you even remember who Suzume is?" Rose muttered.

"I'm sure I have her details written down somewhere," said Tristan dismissively. Then he clapped, sending a jolt up Rose's spine. Stupid duel. "Let's do this. Gather 'round. I want to start with scene setting."

Rose had endured classes and speeches that infuriated her, but this was a new level of egregious. Parties, in and of themselves, were not bad things. Rose wasn't particularly good at partying – usually she hung at the wall snacking on the finger foods and wondering when it was appropriate to leave – but she didn't hate them. They were a nice way for people to meet socially and catch up. Party planning, however, especially party planning that she didn't approve of, was a different beast. Tristan had not forgone a single detail. He'd written everything he could possibly want in a little diary that Lonnie dutifully scribbled in. He'd mapped the furniture placement, listed the food, drawn ideas for the decorations and diagrams of the spellwork.

How could so much work go into something so completely, totally pointless? It wasn't even his birthday!

"Now onto the big slice of pie," he said, swinging dramatically around to face Rose. Her stomach sank as she tuned back in. "I heard you're one of the cleverest witches of your age."

It was a compliment, but from Tristan it felt like a sycophantic attempt to sweeten her up. She bristled.

"Maybe."

"And you, Malfoy," he turned to him, still sitting on the armchair, expression hard but curious. "You're very good with spells."

"I dabble."

"You're too modest," said Tristan. "I figured both of your brains would work wonders with party logistics. Since you're both prefects and all."

"What logistics?" said Rose.

"The logistics of getting everyone to my party, obviously." He threw back some of his tousled hair. "Now as we know, sometimes the teachers patrol the corridors at night. That possibility needs to be removed. That will be your task."

Rose nearly choked on air. "You want us to what?"

"You don't have to tie them up or anything. Just keep them out of the way so people can move more freely between here and their common rooms and towers. Wouldn't be much a party if no one could show up, right? Being prefects, you actually have breathing room to go around after curfew, so long as you have a decent excuse."

Rose huffed. "How exactly do you expect us to keep the teachers out of the way?"

"You'll think of something. Now, my outfit…"

Tristan swiftly moved on, drenching Rose in a state of sudden worry. If the happenings post-last night's duel was any indication, it was going to be nigh impossible to free up Hogwarts' hallways, and Tristan's beseeching made her think he was okay using any means necessary – including magical.

She didn't know any spells to vanish teachers. Scorpius, she was begrudging to admit, was the better spell-worker, but even this seemed out of his depth. His nose wrinkled for a fleeting moment before his expression melted to that classic impassivity. She'd have to pick his brain later.

I can't believe I even have to consider it.

The others got far easier things to do. Halie and Minhyuk were to decide the list of food. Lonnie was on music. Karlin was in charge of the guest list – a strange choice considering he barely knew anyone here. If the other foreign students decided to help, Malina and Suzume and Brooke, then they'd be on decorations and spellwork. Tristan eagerly hinted how he wanted to change the Sev Com banners to fluttering tapestries of his face.

"Aren't you worried someone will tell on you?" asked Halie at one point.

"Why would I?" Tristan winked at Lonnie. "Unless they want the ire of my amazing fangirls."

Lonnie snort-giggled. It was adorable and disgusting at the same time.

Rose's stomach eventually gave way to an embarrassing rumble, and she awkwardly excused herself, aching as she forced limb after limb down the stairs for the kitchens before the lunch hour expired. The elves were happy to give her some toasted sandwiches to take away, though it had reached the point where she was so hungry that she wasn't hungry at all.

Stupid duel. Stupid wand. Stupid party. It revolved around Rose's head as she took a large bite from the sandwich. She rounded the corner.

"Miss Weasley."

Rose nearly launched from her skins. Straightening her shoulders, she turned to face the voice of Professor Ruthven, who had glided up to her in his dark robes, seemingly in a disgruntled mood by his expression.

"Professor," she said, trying to hide how stiff her back was as she looked up at him. "How can I help you? Is it my homework?"

"No. As I understand, you were sick this morning," he said coolly. "Are you well again?"

Yes. Right. The excuse Brooke had spun. "Yes, I'm feeling much better now." She raised the sandwich. "Just hungry."

"Good to hear." He paused. "How are you finding your liaison duties?"

Awful. Chaotic. The worst. "Swell."

"Good. You know you are welcome to talk to me if anything troubles you."

Oh, good, because I wanted to tell you about the party Tristan is holding in Sev Com! You're not invited, by the way! It danced on the tip of Rose's tongue, but she pushed it behind her teeth. "I know," she mumbled.

Ruthven nodded. "Keep up the good work."

Without anything else to be said, he turned and walked away. Smarting at his bluntness, Rose hobbled back up to Sev Com, relieved to find that Tristan and Lonnie were gone – probably to prepare to go back to class – and only Scorpius was present in the common room. He'd unbuttoned the top of his shirt and was watching the waterfall cascade down the drain with a strange expression.

"Thinking hard about how to get rid of teachers, I hope?"

He made a grunt of acknowledgement when she flopped down onto the sofa and took another chomp out of her sandwich.

"How're you feeling?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?"

"Because you almost got blown to smithereens yesterday." He faced her. A smile quirked his lips. "And it would've been hard to explain to the teachers."

"Oh yes, my near-death. So hilarious." But despite her scowl, she shook her head in a twinge of amusement. "I'm feeling… exasperated more than injured. Who won between you and Karlin?"

"It was even. We stopped when you… you know." He shifted. "I genuinely thought you were going to win."

His faith in her was… surprising, but it also made sense, given how easily he'd agreed to the duel. Feeling suddenly hot in the cheeks, Rose sat forwards and shoved the last piece of sandwich in her mouth. "Yeah, well, guess we didn't know we were going against an elder wand, did we?"

"We should do something about it."

"Like what?"

Scorpius shrugged. "I don't think Tristan has any idea how dangerous it is. If it did that to you… it could hurt someone else. Maybe himself."

"Good luck convincing Tristan to part with it," she snorted. He was right, though; she didn't want someone else to get hurt, but she was desperate not to cross swords – wands – with Tristan again. "I'll let Abeo know. He's the male Ravenclaw prefect. He can sort it out."

Not the most convincing argument, but it mollified Scorpius. He stood up.

"Class," he said.

Rose lifted herself onto her heels, and winced. Scorpius' hands went out to steady her, stabilise her, and she hated that jolt in her stomach at the sight of it.

Warily, she drew her arms around her. "I'm fine."

"You should probably skip class for the rest of the day."

"Not going to happen." Tristan wasn't going to ruin her attendance record, either. "Keep brainstorming ideas for this stupid party. I'll see you later."

She didn't give him the opportunity to reply before she managed up the stairs as fast as she could.

A/N: Hi everyone! Happy holidays and happy new year! Apologies once again for the late updates; I had to devote all of my time to finishing a craft project for Christmas, hahah. I hope you enjoyed this one!

So the woes of Tristan's whacky wand are revealed, and the party is commencing. Absolutely nothing can go wrong... right?

Weather providing and stars aligning, we should be back on track for updates every fortnight, but full disclosure, I only finished writing chapter 9 yesterday and I like to be better prepared than that, so I might steal an extra week just to churn out some more words and pen down more of my outline. As always, thanks for being so patient. This is a strange time of year.

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading!

~ GWA

NTT: "Why are you getting so arsey about a desk?"