Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter or anything relating to Harry Potter...

Draco's P.O.V.

I'm sorry; it took longer than I thought it would. A LOT longer... things kept coming up. Anyways, I like it... The endings coming up soon, so ... enjoy!

The Black Rose

Chapter Ten: Flying In The Snow

"Is Snape still in the common room?" I asked Goyle, who had stepped out for food.
"Yes," he said. "But I think he's leaving."
I smiled. Maybe I would be able to use the chimney tonight. Snape opened the door. "Sorry to intrude," he started. "But this came for you in the mail."
He handed me a very large package and left the room, closing the door behind him. I read the letter on top. It was from my father. I read it aloud to Goyle and Crabbe, "Draco, I hope this helps your game. I heard about what happened to the school; it gets worse every year. If there was a better school I promise that I would send you to it."
I smiled and unwrapped what appeared to be a new broomstick. I had broken mine during practice the day before. I was careful not to mention it to Rosie. Potter quickly flung the doors opened and walked in. "What do you think you're doing Potter? I could have been naked or something!" I exclaimed.
I liked my privacy private. "I was informing you that Hagrid is now patrolling your hallway," he said.
"So I can use the chimney?" I smiled hopefully.
"No," he looked at me as if I was stupid. "I've figured out how to remove the bars on the windows," he walked up to the bars.
I raised an eyebrow. "And how will that help exactly?" I asked.
Crabbe caught on faster than I did. "So you can fly out the window!" he said.
"Exactly," Harry smiled.
"But I'll be flying a broom in muggle public. It's not the most common thing there."
Potter frowned at me. "It's not that I'm trying to be friends with you or anything, but Rosie seems nice enough. I'll lend you my cloak," he said and handed it to me.
"Great... a cloak," I said with sarcasm.
"Invisibility cloak," he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh... thanks so much!" I smiled. "I'll give it back when I'm back."
Potter quickly opened the bars. "I'll teach Crabbe and Goyle how to do it, so they can do it when you get back," he said.
"Okay, thanks," I said and mounted my broom.
I looked back at Potter talking to Crabbe and Goyle. Why was he being so nice? I jumped and put on the cloak. It barely hid the broom, but not enough was showing for people to really notice. I landed quickly and walked into the magic store. The cashier looked up. He looked back down. I took off the cloak. He smiled lightly. "Finding another mode of transportation?" he asked.
"Yeah," I sighed lightly.
"It's late enough to walk around with your broom. Don't worry," he said.
I nodded and walked out with the cloak slung over my arm. I saw Rosie sitting on the bench with a male. I tried not to get jealous, but he seemed more of her type than I. He had dark brown eyes and slick black hair. I could see a tattoo on his neck, but I couldn't tell what it was. I walked up to them, feeling like a fool since I had the broomstick in my hand. "Draco," she stood up and smiled. "I thought you'd never come."
"It was hard, security is pumped up," I had completely forgotten to ask Potter what had happened. "But I did."
The man stood up and looked to Rosie for some sort of guidance. "Draco, this is Dennis," she said, looking towards him. "We're just friends," she looked back.
"Hi," I smiled.
Dennis flashed a smile at me. Damn him for being attractive. "Hey, I've heard great things about you," he said and winked. "But I really must go back and watch the store."
Rosie took his hand and hugged him tightly. He whispered something and walked off. She seemed very upset. She sat down "Why do you have a broomstick?" she laughed lightly.
She looked as if she was about to break down. "To clean up my act," I tried desperately to make her smile. She sniffled and smiled lightly, careful not to look at me. I sat down in front of her. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"It really doesn't matter," she smiled lightly and rubbed her nose against her sleeve.
I quickly grabbed some tissues out of my pocket. I offered them to her. "It matters to me," I said, looking up at her.
She messed up my hair. "You tell me what a muggle means, and I'll tell you why I'm upset," she said.
"I told you what a muggle meant. Why does it matter that much to you?" I said.
She looked away from a moment and then looked back. "I saw your father early this evening. He said that Arthur Weasley thought I was a muggle," she said. She took one of the roses from the vase and we both watched it wilt and turn red. "Please explain. I'm starting to feel like this flower."
I took the flower from her and slid it back into the vase. "A muggle is... a person who isn't magically inclined..." I started, waiting for her response.
She laughed and than looked at me for what she thought was a real answer. "You ARE joking, right?" she asked.
I looked away. "No," I said.
She scratched her elbow nervously. "Fuck you. I'm not stupid," she watching my expression. She waited again for me to laugh and say that I was joking. "You're NOT joking?"
"I'm not kidding," I said. "How else would the flowers work?"
She rubbed her forehead. "And you fly around on the broomstick?" she chuckled lightly.
"Yeah," I smiled. "You can come with me sometime..."
She laughed lightly. "Sure," she said. "I guess it explains a lot."
"How'd you find out about the roses?" I asked.
"You know that guy that picked you up yesterday? He saw me earlier that day and explained it quickly," she said.
"Hagrid?" I questioned.
She shrugged. "I guess so..."
I smiled at her. "Are you all right?" I asked.
"It's just a little to swallow," she smiled.
Her eyes were still a bloodshot red. Something else was bothering her, and she had to tell me now. "So, now can you explain what's wrong?"
Her eyes started to water. "Do I have too?"
I shrugged. "I guess not, but I really would like to know..."
She sighed lightly. "Fine, but can you promise me something?" she asked.
I nodded. "Anything," I said.
"Come and see me after today," she said. "Even though..." she trailed off.
"Of course," I touched her face. "I don't know why I'd stop."
She took my hand off her face. "Well..." she searched for a way to tell me. She started to cry. "I'm a fucking beggar!" she took a deep breath. "I ran away from home about four months ago. I've made enough for one meal a day, and I shoplift a lot of things... but I'm okay... I'm still okay..." she seemed like she was trying to convince herself. She started to shake. "I've been sleeping in Dennis' store... so I wouldn't have to be out on the street... and now... he's leaving... and it's winter... I haven't slept out in the winter before..." she put her face into her oven-mitted hands. "I'm kind of scared... I don't want to freeze..."
I sat down beside her and put my arm around her. What the hell was I supposed to say? To be perfectly honest, I wanted to run. I wanted to get the hell out of a situation like this, but it was Rosie. She didn't deserve to be in this type of situation. "Why did you run?" I asked.
She leaned against my chest and sniffled lightly. "My mom's a whore. Not literally sorry. Let me try again," she paused and her eyes darted around. She laughed lightly, "I wish I had rehearsed this or something. My dad is barely ever home, and when he is... he's fighting with mom. She sleeps around; there's like a new guy over every week. My dad won't break up with her. It's a hell house. I'm stuck doing everything, and I mean everything and the parent that I actually may have liked is elsewhere always. It's frustrating. So this is what I chose to do."
"So... going home isn't an option?" I asked.
"Nope," she glared.
I sighed and tightened my grip around her. "What would you like me to do?" I asked.
She looked up and smiled. "Don't leave," she buried her face in my chest.
An idea hit me. It wasn't a good idea, but it would work. "How about you come and hide in my school?" I asked.
She smiled. "Don't be stupid," she said.
"But it would work. You could be warm and I could still see you all the time," I said.
"And if I get caught?" she asked.
I stood up. "You won't. Come on," I pulled her up.
"I don't know," she said.
"What other choice do you have?" I asked.
She sighed. "Good point," she said and slipped her hand into mine.
I held her get onto the broom. "Do you think you can hold onto this cloak?" I asked and I put it over us.
She nodded. "Yeah... are we flying this?" she asked.
"Yep," I said.
She put her bag on and wrapped her hands tightly against my waist. "I'm scared of heights," she muttered.
"Nothing will happen," I said.
"I'm hoping we don't even get off the ground," she said.
I pushed and we were in the air. I felt her arms tighten making it difficult for me to steer properly. "Do you think you could loosen your grip?" I said.
I felt her face against my back. "No," she cringed.
"Well if your eyes are closed why does it matter?" I asked.
She loosened her grip a bit. "Because I made the mistake of looking down," she said.
Icy flakes started to fall from the clouds above us. I could feel her shivering. She was just wearing a torn jacket. I should have guessed earlier. She only wore one pair of pants, and two different shirts. I watched my breath freeze in front of me. "Are you cold?" I asked, even thought I knew she was.
"Yes," her teeth chattered.
"We're almost there. You can see the school in the distance," I said.
I still felt her head against my back. "I think I'm keeping my eyes closed on this one."
"Suit yourself," I said and pulled up to my bedroom window.
Crabbe and Goyle were, again, playing cards. They looked up where part of the broomstick was showing. They undid the window so I could fly in. Rosie pulled off the cloak while they put the bars back into the window. Goyle looked over. "What is she doing here?" he asked.
"We were running out of choices," I said. "We do have the extra bed over Crabbe's."
"The security is all pumped up. What're we supposed to do when our rooms are checked?" Crabbe asked.
"We'll hide her with the flu powder," I smiled.
She looked away awkwardly. "I guess that's alright," Goyle looked over to Crabbe.
Crabbed looked at her. "Does she play cards?" he smiled.