Rose sat at the counter of the bar, playing absently with a vibrant green straw she had found there. She glanced up at the door when he enter, but quickly looked down, ignoring him completely. He fought to keep his instant flash of anger from showing on his face. How dare she! He was a Malfoy. He was not to be ignored…he took a deep breath, forcing a small smile onto his face before walking over to her and sitting on the stool beside her.
"So where's wonder boy?" he asked, not looking at her but focusing on the back of the bar. He had to speak up to be heard over the din.
"Why do you care?" she snapped, glaring at him. She picked up a partially shredded napkin and continued the job. Draco was momentarily stunned by her slightly violent reaction, but continued to pry.
"The five of you never seem to be apart, so I figured maybe he was gone for good. Oh lucky days," he replied dryly, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Shut up about Harry," she said dully, looking at the counter, her earlier fire gone.
"Sorry," he apologized, wincing inwardly at the fact that he, Draco Malfoy, was apologizing to this mud blood. She spun on her chair to stare at him in shock.
"You, Draco Malfoy, apologizing?" She questioned coldly. "I never thought I would see the day."
"Well, you have now." There was a small silence that stretched on. "Do you want a drink?" he asked finally. Rose met his eyes and watched them for a long moment. He fought to keep distaste out of them and to keep his gaze innocent. He hadn't lived with his father all his life without picking up some acting skills.
"Sure," she replied finally, shrugging.
"So, honestly, where are the rest of the fabulous five?" he asked after ordering the drinks from Madame Rosmerta. She sighed quietly.
"I don't know," she replied, not meeting his eyes. They once again lapsed into silence as the waitress brought the drinks over.
"Why, of all people, are you being nice to me Malfoy?" she blurted out finally.
"Maybe I like you," he stated simply. Rose snorted into her drink, shaking her head in amusement.
"And maybe the sky is orange. You have to have a heart to like someone," she said with a sneer. Draco scowled at her.
"That's priceless, coming from Ice Queen over here," he bit back. She just looked at him amusedly, raising an eyebrow.
"You're just a soft little Daddy's Boy who can't do anything for himself. You wouldn't last a minute in the real world without daddy's money and power to hold you up. You'd just end up crying and running right back home," she said calmly, her face blank.
"Me? What about you? You're the one who has no one who wants you enough to keep you. I bet your parents were happy when you-know-who killed them. Then they would be free of you!" He saw a flicker of anger flash through her eyes, before they went back to their previous view. He sneered at her. "The only reason anyone even talks to you is because you're Harry Potter's sister. No one likes you. You're just a misfit." Any emotion that had been in Rose's face disappeared instantly at that. The cold, dispassionate look that took over chilled even Draco. She stood, and walked out the door silently. Draco jumped up and followed her to the door, sticking his head out.
"Rose!" She just ignored him and continued towards the castle. 'It's just for the money,' he thought to himself, running a hand through his hair.
He slowly returned to his seat and sat down hard.
"Well done Draco," he mutter. Once again his tongue had gotten him in trouble. If Rose hated him, it would be just a little more difficult to get her to go out with him. Oh well, it was only a minor setback. He looked up at a flash of white. He grabbed the surviving piece of napkin Rose had been shredding as it fell of the table. He read the short note that it held quickly.
Rose,
We're meeting at the three broomsticks at noon. Meet us there.
Ron
Draco glanced at the clock. Noon? But it was already two thirty. Draco stood. Time for a little investigating into the life of Rose Potter.
Draco rummaged hurriedly through his chest in the Slytherin dorm. He had taken a short cut that had brought him back to the school before Rose but he didn't have much time.
"Where…here!" he pulled out a small silver ring and slid it onto his middle finger. He gasped as he disappeared into the air. "No matter how many times I do that it's still weird," he muttered. The notice-me-not spell on the ring would keep him invisible as long as someone was looking specifically for him and concentrating.
Draco followed Rose down a small corridor before they stopped in front of a picture of a fat lady in pink.
"Wiggle toes," she stated briefly after waking the lady from her afternoon nap.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear, but there's a private party. You had to be here at noon to get in. But if you go through that door you can go strait to the dorms," the lady told her kindly.
"Oh, I…can I ask who the party is for?" Rose asked her face perfectly blank.
"It's Harry Potter's birthday party. Late of course, but since they couldn't have one in the summer; they picked a day to celebrate it."
"Of…of course." Draco followed her as she slid through the door and up the stairs and through a small door on the left after walking up in circles for a long time. He frowned. You would think she would be upset that she missed the party, but her face was a perfect picture of bland disinterest.
He watched as Rose sat silently on the window box at the end of the room, staring out the window. He then relaxed and began to survey the room. It was almost exactly like the Slytherin dorms, aside from the fact that it had been decorated in vibrant red and gold.
'Well,' he figured. 'Now was as good a time as any to look at what Ms. Rose Potter did behind closed doors at night.' He slowly walked to the closest bed. If he could find any hints of what she enjoyed It would help the project go monumentally faster.
The bed before him was covered in books, papers, and quills of all sizes. 'Granger's' he thought, smirking. She really didn't have a life.
He walked over to the next one. It was rumpled and clthes were strewn about it wildly. A few personal items littered the yellow covers along with a single transfiguration text book.
'I bet this is hers,' he though, kneeling. With the bed between the girl and himself he pulled a small black bound book out from beneath the covers. It was labled "Diary." He grinned, flipping it open to one of the last pages.
November 17,
Draco is SO cute! That blonde hair, and those dreamy blue eyes…
'WHAT?' he thought in amassment, glancing up at the redhead who was still looking passively out the window. 'She certainly doesn't act like that around me…' he continued to read.
Oh no. Rose is watching. She's probably reading this as I write. That girl is so creapy. She can probably read minds. I…
Draco frowned. Obviously this wasn't her bed. He flipped to the front page and almost gagged as he read the name 'Parvati Patil'. That was that horribly plain, fanatical Gryffindor he had caught staring at him over breakfast. He shuddered.
He placed what he had read into the back of his mind to examine as he moved onto the third and final bed.
It was neatly made, and all the items were neatly arranged on the bedside table. He searched for something to identify the owner. He noticed a small dark green bag sitting on the end of the bed. So this was hers. He recognized the bag from potions.
Open on the pillow was a book that he recognized from Snape's personal collection. He had seen it last time his father and he had visited him. Snape had almost cut of his head for breathing on his books, never mind borrowing one! Why would he let a Gryffindor borrow one of the most limited and valuable books out there? Did she steal it? But how could she get into his chambers…?
Draco's head snapped up to stare at the small red head. It made no…his thoughts trailed off as he saw the tears slipping down her cheeks. Her eyes continued to stare blankly and calmly into the distance even as another small tear tricked out of her eyes.
He had made his way silently to her side before he even realize what he had done. He watched as another small crystal tear slid down her cheeks. He gently brushed the damp streak with his hand, captivated by the shining tear.
Rose was on her feet with her wand out before Draco could blink. He turned and ran out the door before she could do anything else.