Chapter 7. Confrontations

"Rose?" She looked up at him from in the circle of his arms.

"Yeah?" "Go to the graduation ball with me," he said timidly. Timidly? He though. Since when are Malfoy's timid? What this girl does to me… "Of course," she replied, smiling slightly up at him before burrowing more comfortably in his arms.

Harry walked quietly through the forbidden forest. It was near midnight, but with his wand and his invisibility cloak, there wasn't much he had to worry about. He came out here rather often at night. It was calm. There were no people expecting anything of him. He didn't have to be Harry Potter when he was out here. He could just be Harry.

The only person that he felt this comfortable around was Rose. He smiled at the thought of his sister. It still amazed him after the two years she had been here. He had a sister. He had family other then the Dursleys. She was a little odd though. Very quiet compared to the rest. And sometimes she got just plain cold to everyone. She didn't act like the typical Gryffindor, but then the sorting hat knew what it was doing.

She had been disappearing a lot lately though. He had no idea where she went, but she would disappear for hours at a time. He wasn't complaining though, because when she returned, she was always…not happy. Rose rarely seemed honestly happy, but content. She seemed like she was at complete peace with everything.

Harry sighed. If he could work up the nerve to ask where she went, maybe he could have that to. He would never say so, but being 'the boy that lived' was stressful.

He smiled at he saw a break in the trees. This was his favorite spot. It was a small field in the middle of the forest. No one was ever there and it was the perfect place to sit and think.

He frowned suddenly. But it sounded as though his privacy was not complete today. He heard quiet laughter coming from between the trees. He slipped forward quietly and peeked around a large oak.

"Rose?" he whispered. The small red spun in circles in the middle of the meadow, laughing as she did. He stared at her in amazement. He had never heard her laugh like that. It made any other time she had laughed seem pale, and fake. This laugh as rich and full of life and color. Suddenly a voice broke through his revelry.

"Rose, luv, you are absolutely insane." The blonde figure stood from where he had been lying in the grass. Harry stared in shock as Malfoy walked over to his sister and pulled her into his arms.

"Wow," he heard her reply. "I didn't know you had a twin Draco." Malfoy laughed.

"You are tilt silly my dear."

"Yeah, I know. But it's fun," she replied, smiling up at him.

"So is this," he replied, pressing his lips to hers. "And it doesn't make your vision go wonky."

"Says you," Harry heard her mutter. He stared at the couple in complete shock. Malfoy and his sister? There was no way…He turned and walked quickly back towards the castle. He would find out what was going on.

Harry stood outside the Great Hall at lunch. He had just waved of Ron and Hermione's questioning glances when a familiar red head came into sight.

"Hello Harry," Rose said cheerfully, smiling slightly at him. He frowned. The smiled looked forced now, though it was no different then any other she had ever given him.

"Hullo Rose. Look, can I talk to you in private?" he asked quickly, refusing to change his mind about confronting her. Now it was her turn to frown.

"Alright," she replied slowly, following him into an empty corridor.

"Rose, I…" Harry looked away, unsure of how to start. "I…saw you yesterday."

"What? You saw me? When?" she looked at him confused.

"Last night, in the forbidden forest…" he looked up into her face and saw nothing. Not one emotion escaped through her cold eyes. They stood there for a long time.

"I see," she replied finally.

"I wasn't spying or anything. I was just out walking. But when I came to the field I saw you and…Rose what is going on?" She looked away.

"I don't know Harry…"

"Are you…with him?" he asked after another long silence. She looked up at him.

"Yes," she replied quietly. "But please don't freak out. He's different…" Harry took a deep breath.

"People like that don't change Rose. He's…evil. He's a Slytherin." Harry took a step back at the sudden cold that burst out from Rose. She glared at him angrily. He swallowed.

"Being a Slytherin does not make you a bad person Harry. Just like being a Gryffindor doesn't make you a good one. I mean look at Pettigrew. And Snape! Both of them have changed from what people thought they should be. Look at me…" she trailed off, looking away. "He isn't a bad person Harry. When was the last time he did anything to you? To any of you? It's been years. And don't say the dye thing because I know for a fact that that wasn't him." Harry stared at his sister for a long time.

"Rose…I just don't want you to be hurt," he said quietly. "I know that sounds lame, and corny and everything, but you're my sister. You're the only family I have. And I mean look at his parents. If his father got hold of you…"

"That why we aren't telling anyone Harry," she began.

"But how do you know this isn't just some trick of Voldemorts?" he interrupted.

"Because…I don't know Harry. But he…he makes me happy. I miss being happy, and I don't want to let that go." She replied even more quietly. Harry looked at her for a long time. He had never realized how unhappy she had been. He should have, but he hadn't. He finally reached over and pulled her into a hug.

"Just be careful alright?" he asked quietly. He felt her nod into his shoulder.

"Thank you Harry," she whispered before turning and walking back towards the Great Hall. He smiled at her sadly. He would just have to watch out for her. He trusted her judgment, but he was still a Malfoy. But…he would give him a chance.
He cocked his head to the side suddenly.

"But if he didn't do the dye, then who did?"

Woot! Another really short chapter. When i'm completely done I'll probably mash a unch of them together, but until then, it'll be alot of short ones:) Thanks again for my two reveiwers...come on people! An author needs to be payed somehow, and thats ALL I'm asking for! Pleaaaaase!

Well, next chapter will be out quick quick, like today or tommrow, so be ready! Now push that loverly button at the bottom ad REVEIW!

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