A few days later, Rose found out that the others had their detentions and spent the evening once again glued to her books. She and Susan worked quite late that night and once Rose had climbed into her bed and cuddled up with her dragon. She felt as if her brain was a wrung sponge and she fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning as a yawning, stretching Rose made her way into the Great Hall, passed by a shaken looking Harry, Ron and Hermione, a quick covert look at the Slytherin table showed her that Draco looked about as bad as the other three. Curious, Rose paused by the Gryffindor table.

"You guys look awful," she said bluntly. "What's going on?"

"Detention in the forbidden forest last night," Harry replied shakily.

"What?" Rose gasped in shock, she was surprised that students had been sent into the forest.

"Yeah," Hermione sighed, "things got a bit..scary."

"How so?"

The trio shared a look.

"Just lots of creepy noises and such, and that forest is supposed to be full of dangerous beasts," Hermione said evasively. Rose nodded, although she wasn't sure she was being given the entire story.

She didn't have time to dwell on Harry, Ron and Hermione's secrets, however. After weeks of buildup, the exams were upon them at last.

They had written exams, which they were made to take with special anti-cheating quills. As summer was drawing nearer, the large classroom where they sat these exams was sweltering, Rose found herself having difficulty concentrating due to the heat.

They also had practical exams. They had to demonstrate their ability to actually perform the spells. For Transfiguration, they had to turn a mouse into a snuffbox. Rose was dismayed when her snuffbox still had a pair of whiskers. She did well in her practical Charms exam, sending the pineapple dancing across the desk at Professor Flitwick's request. She made what she thought was a passable forgetfulness potion for Snape.

At long last their final exam came, History of Magic. One hour left and they'd be free for a whole glorious week until the results came out. This exam came fairly difficult to Rose because the heat was once again driving her mad and History had never been her greatest subject. When Professor Binns announced the end of the exam the classroom burst into cheers and clapping and Rose practically bounced up and down in her seat. The weeks of stress and studying were finally over!

Rose strolled eagerly out of the classroom and straight out of the castle onto the sunny grounds. She breathed in the fresh air gratefully and sighed as she made her way to the lakeside, her usual spot. She sat right next to the lake, kicked off her shoes and socks, and dipped her feet into the water. The cool water felt lovely after the stifling heat of the classroom.

She spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione under a tree nearby apparently deep in discussion. She considered going to say hello but the three of them suddenly jumped up and took off in the direction of Hagrid's hut. Rose pondered what the Gryffindor trio could be up to but was distracted by the sudden arrival of Draco. He shocked her a bit as he sat down on the grass beside her.

"What's up, Rivers?"

"Not much. Glad the exams are over."

"Me too, but I'm afraid of the res–" Draco paused and looked around. Crabbe and Goyle were exiting the castle. Predictably, Draco hopped up and muttered, "Later, after dinner."

Rose heaved a sigh but nodded. Draco gave her half a smile and sloped away towards his friends.

Rose remained by the lake until for quite awhile, just relaxing and savoring the freedom and the upcoming summer holiday. She also spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione dashing back towards the castle, piquing her interest once again about what her friends could possibly be up to that called for such seeming urgency.

That evening during dinner, despite looking forward to the meeting with Draco, she took her time eating dinner and celebrating the end of exams with Cedric, Susan and Megan over glasses of pumpkin juice and a ton of sweets for dessert.

Rose waved goodbye to her friends in the entrance hall, telling them she'd see them later. She then made her way up to the piano room and heard the sound of peaceful music coming from inside. Draco's song. Rose smiled and strolled in, she took her customary place beside Draco and joined his song.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"Good. Glad the exams are over. I'm sure I didn't do good enough to please my father but I don't have to worry about that for a while," Draco answered. Rose nodded.

"I'm sure you did fine."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Well at least the summer holidays are coming up and I don't have to think about school anymore."

This mention of the holidays made Rose consider something, "Can we keep in touch over the summer? I've got an owl you know."

Draco sighed, giving her a sideways glance as he continued to play. "I...I'm sorry but no...it'd get me into trouble."

"Why?" Rose asked, pausing in her playing.

"You know why, Roselynn. Don't make me say it," Draco replied, stopping as well.

Rose snorted but let the subject drop she started playing again for a few moments, letting herself start the sad half of their duet which she'd decided to call 'the ballad of a badger and a serpent.'

Draco, sighed and muttered, "I'm sorry, Roselynn, but that's just the way things are." And for the first time he was the one to lead the 'ballad' into its upbeat happy side. Rose gave him half a smile.

They decided to go a little while later but Rose paused by the door Draco looked back at her.

"What's up?"

Rose hesitated for a moment and then pulled her dragon necklace over her head and put it into Draco's hand, her face going slightly red as she handed him the present.

"If we can't stay in touch at least take this, and try to remember over the summer that we're friends."

Draco blinked and stared down at the necklace, then his face split into a smile and he slipped it over his own head, hiding it carefully under his robes. The two first-years then headed off down the corridor and Rose took Draco's hand again. She looked over at her friend and noticed a faint pink color in his cheeks.

Draco once again dropped her hand once they reached the stairs and waved as he took off down them, headed for the Slytherin common room. Rose watched him until he was out of sight, something seemed to stir in her heart.

She was really going to miss him this summer.