Next Sunday morning, she sat down with the Ravenclaws again. She'd introduced Luna to her friends a few days ago – she and Hermione had got on like oil and water, but Hermione was at least less abrasive about it under Neville's disapproving eye. Neville and Luna had struck up a shy friendship, and the other boy would often invite her over to the Gryffindor table during meals. It warmed her, to say the least, to see that Luna would have friends and protectors in their own right. Neville was deceptively quiet, but she'd still seen the satisfied look on his face when Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecomb, and Patricia Stimpson came in one morning with vomit-colored puffs of hair. The look he'd shared with the Weasley twins made her wonder if she'd underestimated him. Even Diggory, who usually sat with his own friends and rarely interacted with her outside of the common room, waved a friendly hello to Luna whenever Rose had dragged her over to the Hufflepuff table.

She noticed, to her pleasure, that Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had all joined Padma at the Ravenclaw table. She didn't remember if they'd done so in her past life, but this was the first time she'd noticed it since first year now that she was specifically searching for inter-House friendships. Very likely it had nothing to do with her at all, but it still gave her a pleased little hum to see.

"Morning, Luna," she greeted, smiling at the blonde as she pushed over a bowl of strawberries.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

"All of them at once, I suppose," Rose said, then giggled. "Luna! I never knew you'd read The Hobbit!"

"Oh, yes," Luna said agreeably. "It's a very detailed history, isn't it?"

"I always thought it was a mite inaccurate with its descriptions of goblins and trolls."

"Well, not everything can be perfect. That would be a very boring world to live in, wouldn't it?"

"That's true, although I'd prefer for books to minimize their inaccuracies as much as possible."

"You must not like the new Defence professor very much, then."

Rose burst out laughing. She didn't remember Luna being this funny, but honestly she wasn't going to question it.

"No, not at all."

"Did you really set a Water Gimbert on him?"

"A Water… oh, you mean occamy? Yes, I did, Macha loves Cornish Pixies."

"Does she also love death and bloodshed?"

Rose's lips twitched. "So she says."

"She must be a very interesting Gimbert."

"She certainly thinks so."

Luna giggled. "I think I'd like to meet her one day."

"You will, Luna. I think she'd like to meet you too."

They ate in companionable silence, chatter only resuming once Harry and Neville sat down across from them. Rose snuck a careful glance sideways and saw the wondering light in Luna's eyes. She recognized it – it was the look of someone who couldn't believe they were surrounded by friends. Rose couldn't resist bumping Luna's shoulder with her own. At the other girl's questioning look, she grinned.

"I think this is certainly a good morning to feel good on, don't you?"

"Yes," Luna giggled shyly. "It certainly is."

"The first official meeting of the defence club is going to be in December," Harry told her. His green eyes were bright with excitement. Beside him, Susan practically vibrated. She could barely see Anthony behind all the books.

They were in the library, tucked away at the very back in an effort to hide from Madam Pince. As usual, the Muggle Studies section was completely deserted.

"Suze and I are making lesson plans," Harry grinned. It was adorable how excited he was; Rose had to stop herself from pinching his cheeks and cooing.

Susan nodded vigorously. "I've written to Aunty Amelia – she's ever so pleased to help; she's sent over a list of spells and book titles she thinks might be useful. Harry and I are going through them and coming up with lesson plans."

Rose arched an eyebrow. "You do know this isn't actually an official class, don't you? I'm fairly sure you don't need lesson plans."

Harry shrugged. "They won't be able to get the classroom set up 'til November, anyway," he said. "Got to update the enchantments and things. Might as well, yeah?"

She smiled fondly at them. "Well, it's your prerogative, I suppose. Let me know if you need any help, won't you?" Harry knew she had some experience in the matter, after all, and she could tell he'd caught her meaning by his grin.

Harry and Susan exchanged glances. "We're definitely going to take you up on that," Susan promises. "You're by far the best in our year at spellwork."

Rose blushed, because reincarnation was kind of cheating. She already knew what it felt like to have her magic cast those spells – it was like finding her way through a recently-overgrown path. Difficult, but at least a path had once existed. Harry gave her a look that said don't even think about denying it.

"What's Anthony doing, then?" Rose asked. The boy peered at her from behind his books. They were piled around him like a shield. Rose was tempted to topple the precarious pile.

"I'm working with Professor Flitwick to make sure Harry and Susan don't get us all killed," he grumbled. "They've got absolutely no respect for basic safety measures."

"Basic safety measures?" Susan echoed disbelievingly. "You're worse than my aunt!"

Harry nodded in agreement. "Far worse than my Uncle Remus."

"Because, of the three of us, I'm the only sane one here," Anthony moaned in despair. He shot her a look with narrowed blue eyes when Rose giggled.

"Shut up, Potter, this is all your fault."

"You can leave anytime you want," Rose replied innocently.

He scowled. "No, I can't just leave a project like this unfinished and you know that, you prat."

(there was a flicker of hope inside her – here, Anthony started learning Defence earlier. It added another layer of protection to him in case it all went to hell)

Rose was disappointed by the muted reactions to Blaise, Daphne, and Theo's presence at the Gryffindor table one Saturday morning, near the end of September. Theo seemed to pick up on her mood and rolled his eyes at her.

"You can't spend your Hogwarts career pushing for more inter-House friendships and be surprised when it actually happens, you know."

A few seats away, Dean nodded. "Honestly, we've been expecting them for weeks." He passed the saltshaker to Blaise at his request.

Rose stared. "And you're not… bothered? At all?"

Beside him, Seamus shrugged. "They're alright, for Slytherins. Besides, Ron hasn't woken up yet."

Dean winced. "Yeah… better be careful when he shows up, mate."

Blaise grinned, baring his teeth. "I look forwards to it."

(Ronald had needed to be frog-marched from the hall by the Weasley twins. Percy had shot them a contrite look. Ginny had purposefully sat down near their group with a huff and apology)

(it would've been funny if it didn't hurt so much)

"Potter?"

Rose looked up from her essay at the sound of Diggory's voice. "Yes?"

"Could I have a word? Outside?"

"Alright," Rose said. He sounded uncharacteristically curt. She frantically wracked her brain for something she might've done to offend him but came up blank. Smiling apologetically at her friends, she made her way across the common room.

"I've got a… friend," Diggory said hesitantly, "who says that you did something to her."

Rose furrowed her brows. "That's awfully nonspecific."

"She wants to talk to you," Diggory blurted out. "And she knows we're friendly, so I said – "

"Alright," Rose said again. She couldn't keep the confused look off her face.

Diggory looked immensely relieved. "Oh, good, she should be waiting just through here – "

They went into an abandoned classroom and saw Cho Chang standing hesitantly near the center of the room.

"Oh," Rose said, with understanding. She saw the burn very clearly on Chang's cheek and couldn't help the satisfied twist of her stomach. Healing spells and potions wouldn't work – she'd need to wait for it to heal naturally.

"Potter," Chang greeted nervously. "Well met."

"Chang," she replied neutrally. She didn't return the greeting and saw the girl flinch.

"That was incredibly rude," Diggory began, but he was cut off.

"No," Chang said. "She… I deserve it." The girl met Rose's eyes and straightened. "I asked Cedric to bring you here because I wanted to explain myself."

Beside her, Diggory seemed incredibly confused. "Cho – "

"Just let me speak, alright?" Chang asked. Diggory nodded. She took a breath.

"I'm sorry I never stopped them," she told Rose. "Marietta and I – we've been friends since we were children, and Heidi's her second cousin. When I saw them – I knew what we did was wrong, but I was too afraid to speak up."

Against her will, Rose felt sympathy. Was peer pressure not the pitfall so many Slytherins had stumbled upon? If she gave them a second chance, if she actively worked to redeem them… could she really condemn Chang?

(no, she couldn't)

But Luna…

"You hurt her," Rose said quietly. "Did you know, when I offered to be her friend, she said she'd never had any friends before?" Involuntarily, her voice caught in her throat. Rose-of-the-Cupboard was screaming, hammering her fists against the door. Rose, Master of Death, refused to let her out.

(she was confusing her Lunas, wasn't she?)

Chang cringed. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Rose said. "I'm not the one you bullied."

It had only been two weeks in this timeline, but when it came to bullying it was never only anything.

"I'll apologize to Loo - Lovegood," Chang said, voice hardening with determination. "I'm not talking with Marietta and Heidi anymore. They might come after you, though," she said, worry creeping into her voice. "Try to pull you away from Loon - Lovegood. I think… if they haven't figured it out by now, it won't take them long. It's a bit obvious," she added apologetically.

Rose felt her eyes harden. "If they want to come after me, they can go ahead and try," she said quietly. "Luna's my friend now, and I'm not abandoning her for anything, let alone two little girls who think it's funny to steal a firstie's shoes."

With effort, she unclenched her fists, flexing her fingers.

"I appreciate the warning though," Rose said, because she wanted to give credit where it was due.

Chang gave her a weak smile. "It was the least I could do."

Rose bit her lip, hearing the dismissal but lingering anyway. "I want to be there when you apologize," she said. "Luna shouldn't have to be alone with you."

"That's fair," Chang whispered. Rose nodded at her, turning to Diggory.

"I'm going back to the common room," she told him. In all honesty, she'd forgotten he was there. He was glancing between Rose and Chang, a horrified realization dawning in his eyes. He didn't answer.

Rose left anyway. Unbearably nosy as she was, she whispered a supersensory charm just outside the doorway, listening in on their conversation as she walked down the corridor.

"You were bullying Luna?" Diggory said quietly.

"I… not directly."

…

"I grew up with her, you know. We live near each other."

"I'm sorry."

"That burn on your cheek – Potter did that?"

"She cursed our pillows; Loon – Lovegood must've pointed us out to her."

"What did you almost call her? Loon-something?"

"… Looney. Looney Lovegood."

"I'm glad Potter cursed you."

"Cedric… I'm sorry - "

"That's not good enough, Cho. I thought you were better than that."

Rose dispelled the charm, hurrying further down the corridor. She… she'd forgotten Diggory had taken Chang to the Yule Ball. Had they been together even now, two years earlier? Rose pushed down a prickle of guilt.

Chang was a bully. It didn't matter that she'd repented, that she was a child – Rose would never be her friend, if only for Luna's sake. She wouldn't set out to make her life miserable, like she would do to Edgecomb and Stimpson if they attacked her, but she wouldn't be nice to her. Chang had hurt her friend, and that was unforgiveable.

(she'd never been as alone as Luna had been. Chang might apologize but she wouldn't understand)

Footsteps. Hurrying.

"Potter – wait!"

She turned and looked at Diggory.

"I didn't know," he said hurriedly. "I swear I didn't know – "

"I believe you."

Diggory relaxed, falling into step alongside her.

"I'm sorry," Rose said quietly. "I didn't know you two were close."

He looked away, a blush on his cheeks. "We weren't – I thought maybe…" he stammered.

"It doesn't matter," he said at last, firmly. "I've never been close to Luna, but we're practically neighbours, you know? I can't just…" he trailed off miserably.

She bit her lip, uncertain. She'd never been good at comforting people.

(it was telling that apologies and threats came to her so much more readily than comfort)

"I like Luna," Diggory said. "I know she's a bit odd, but she's still – well. She's a good person."

"Yeah," Rose agreed. She glanced at him sidelong. "You know, I thought you'd tell me off for the curse."

If there was one thing she was certain about regarding Diggory, it was that he was principled. He had a strong sense of right and wrong. He'd offered to replay that Quidditch match in third year, even though he'd won. He'd given her a clue about the egg because she'd helped him with the dragons. He'd refused to take the Triwizard Cup, insisting she take it. That he wasn't frowning at her disapprovingly for her very painful curse… it was puzzling.

"I wouldn't've done it myself," he said at last. "It's too… cruel, for my taste. I'd have gone more for humiliation. But I understand why you did." He grinned a little at the surprise she couldn't quite hide. "What, you thought that because I was so cheerful and even-tempered, I'd disapprove of a little bit of revenge?"

Rose stared at him. "Yes, actually."

The boy actually tutted at her. "You of all people ought to know that we aren't always what we seem to be," he grinned.

"… What do you mean, 'me of all people'?" A thrum of fear coursed through her.

Diggory gave her a derisive look. They'd come, almost unconsciously, to the kitchens. He didn't answer until they were sitting across from each other, hands wrapped around cups of hot chocolate.

"You're not the only one with friends in Slytherin," he said at last. "We keep it quiet, obviously, but – well. I'm not sure exactly what you did; all I know is that one day Slytherins who'd sneered at me and called me blood-traitor abruptly stopped. It was like I didn't exist; some were even nice to me. I asked a few of my Slytherin friends, and while they didn't say anything, I picked up enough clues to know you had something to do with it." Here, he gave her a very hard look.

"Everyone thinks you're a bubbly, naïve little girl, Potter. But if you're the kind of person who can talk seventh years into leaving your friends alone, you can't possibly be everything you seem. And you confirmed it today – you were bloody scary, all 'if they want to come after me, they can go ahead and try,'" he mimicked, deepening his voice.

"I did not sound like that," Rose squawked, offended.

Diggory grinned. "Oh, but you did," he assured her. "I was there, Potter, I would know."

"… Rose." She said.

"What?"

"Call me Rose."

(call me Rose, she'd said, once upon a time, a year later and forever ago)

(call me Rose, she'd said, before grinning and grabbing the Cup alongside him)

(call me Rose, she'd said, moments before he'd died at her feet)

"Quid pro quo?"

"Alright."

"Alright, what?"

"… You're ridiculous, Diggory. Alright, Cedric."

"Thank you, Rose. That's what I like to hear."

…

"You really don't mind?"

"Don't mind what?"

"Me. That I threaten people. Hurt them, sometimes."

"No. I'd do it too, if I were forced to, I think. And I understand why you did. Besides, at least I know to never piss you off."

"Thanks, Diggory," she laughed, feeling warm with affection.

"Cedric," he corrected, frowning in mock-disapproval.

"I'm sorry! It's a habit!" she said defensively, holding up her hands. Then she smirked.

"You sure you want to upset me, Diggory?" she asked, snickering as he made a show of begging her forgiveness.