MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! (: I hope you have a good one, I know I will. This chapter is dedicated to my friend Leroy (:! Thanks so much you reviewers – you keep me going that's for sure!

Love always – Potty. White Shadows.

PS – sorry if there are grammatical mistakes

PPS - the & before the 'II.' means later on but on the same day!

Xx

Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
And when you find it, you keep it
In a permanent state
A permanent state

Swim out on a sea of faces,
The tide of the human races,
An answer now is what I need.

I.

"You smell different." Rose announced a few minutes after they had sat down in their usual spot. She wondered briefly why no-one came to this side of the castle, but she pushed theses thoughts aside as she focused on the boy in front of her.

He looked confused and sniffed his shoulder "Different how?"

She leant closer to him and thought about it "Not... Smokey anymore." She considered before gasping.

"YOU QUIT DIDN'T YOU!" She was staring at him her eyes wide, a smile creeping up on her mouth as he looked at his hands, shaking his head.

"Why would I do that? Only friends do stuff like that for each other." He attempted to keep a straight face but she saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

She leant back smiling – unable to stop the feeling of elated happiness that spread through her.

They were officially friends. She could tell.

II.

"It's nearly the Holidays." He stated watching her do her Arithmancy, though he did have a piece of parchment in front of him.

"I know." She said, "Are you staying here or going home?"

"Obviously I'm going home. Do you really think I'd stay here what with-"

"Yeah, I get it." She said stretching her arms behind her head.

"You?"

"Oh, I always go home. My family - we have a big Christmas, all the cousins, all the family."

"You don't sound enthusiastic." He said suspiciously.

"Well, its not that I don't love my family and all, because I do – one hundred percent… its just sometimes I can feel a little - oh, well-" She looked at him unsurely and he raised his eyebrows.

"Lost." She said simply.

"Hey Weasley?" he said a few moments later.

"Yeah?"

"Lets go outside." He said confidently.

Rose raised an eyebrow. "What would possess you to say that? Who are you?"

"Let's go." He said grinning like a mad man.

Rose laughed.

"What's so funny?" he asked helping her put her books away as she again looked at him dumbfounded.

"You! I mean, it's only outside."

"Let's go then!" He said sounding most unlike himself, and she shook her head following him out of the library.

& III.

"Snow is pretty," he said, picking it up as she looked at him weirdly.

"Yes, Malfoy. Snow is pretty."

"But what I mean is i- its pure, like nothing can pollute it and-"

"Oh no." muttered Rose as she saw Connor, Dylan and Albus approaching them.

"I've had enough of this shit!" said Connor, standing in front of the other two.

Malfoy spun around, letting go of the snow that had been grasped in his hands.

"Get lost you great prat." Said Malfoy.

"Ooh, what, no expletives Malfoy?" his eyes flicked to Rose and made her feel uncomfortable. "I can only imagine what's made that change."

There was something very suggestive in his tone that Rose didn't like, and neither did Malfoy apparently as he took a step closer.

"Don't even think about it Malfoy. Stand back Rose, I'm about to teach this Death Eater what's-"

Malfoy ran at him and punched him square in the jaw. Dylan caught Connor and pushed him back to his feet as he drew his wand.

"Big mistake Malfoy. Its only us out here, no teachers, no nothing." He said looking around. But Malfoy stood his ground, Connors wand at his throat.

Rose took a few steps forward, slowly pulling her wand out of her pocket.

"Albus – get your bloody cousin please."

For a fleeting moment Albus hesitated, taking a few steps towards her, but Rose drew her wand on him as he reached his arms out.

"I'm your cousin Rosie!" He said confused, just as Malfoy spat at Connor.

"Septima!" Cried Connor, hitting Malfoys shoulder with the curse that Rose did not recognize, causing a large gash to appear before their eyes, Roses wand dropped to her side as the others ran away.

"Fuck, oh Fuck!"

Said Malfoy decidedly looking away from the dark red blood that was seeping through his sweater, immediately he began to pull it off, as Rose stood their bewildered.

"Just – hang on." She said, as he began undoing the buttons on his long-sleeved white shirt, as the blood-stain spread down his left arm.

"I can – I can fix it?" she whispered as he shed the shirt.

She gulped slightly as she tried to avert her eyes, he had not noticed her awkwardness however, and was looking slightly sick.

"Can you – j-j-just?" he asked moving towards her looking in the opposite direction, and she gaped at his, well she couldn't put it any other way . . . Beauty. She had seen many of her guy friends shirtless, that was for sure – but there was something about his skin – the contrast with the dark colours he normally wore, his blonde hair – and the snow that made her –

"W-wealey? Please can you just-"

He looked at her briefly and she recognised fear then back at his arm before shutting his eyes tight reminding her of the first time they had talked earlier on in the term.

"Episkey."

She whispered healing the majority of the extensive cut, leaving a small gash on his shoulder. However he remained with his eyes shut, breathing heavily.

"Mal-Malfoy?" She asked, and his eyes opened immediately.

He looked at her and swallowed.

"Aren't you cold?" she suggested avoiding looking down past his neck, but the way in which his collarbone was jutting out slightly – due to the angle of his head was making her feel dizzy. She shook her head. These thoughts were purely because she had never seen more than his left upper arm, due to the tattoo -

"Don't – like – blood." He said and she nodded, bending down to retrieve his clothing that he had unnecessarily thrown off.

Why would he do such a thing? She pondered. She looked up at him, briefly avoiding the distinct feelings and thoughts that were crossing her mind.

It had taken this long to be his friend for goodness sake, she mentally shook herself before standing up and handing him his shirt.

Which he then feebly attempted to put on – still a bit shaken. Watching him struggle with the sleeve she rushed forward and helped him put his arms through the sleeves brushing his arm slightly and hoping that he could at least do up his own buttons.

She had never felt anything like this before. This sudden attraction to him – though she pondered handing him back his jersey now that he was thankfully dressed, what was it that had originally drawn her to him?

"Weasley?" he grabbed her arm and she jumped a mile.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

He said as they headed up to the castle.

IV.

She looked around the somewhat eerie neighbourhood. She was sure it would be quite friendly and inviting in daylight. She paused approaching the house, casting lumos she mentally debated whether or not to use the door.

She carefully picked up a pebble and through it at the front window – unsure of why she presumed it would be the right one. But the curtains were drawn – always a hint she thought.

Frowning she picked up another pebble, ready to hurl it when the curtains opened slightly and the window flew open.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Visiting?" she suggested, shivering slightly in the cold – then smiling up at him hopefully. He merely gaped momentarily, before deciding to speak.

"Shit. Shit! Uh, Okay, come - come up here then." He said, gesturing that he would come down and get her.

Wordlessly he opened the door and let her in, and she followed him up the very normal looking staircase, down a typical hallway, until they reached what she presumed to be his room.

"Everything's so dark in here." She commented referring to his décor. It was very different to the rest of the house – that was for sure.

"Not everyone likes things bright Weasley." He said with a slightly crooked grin, as she swallowed, looking around awkwardly before sitting down on his bed, which was extremely comfortable.

He stood looking out the window, every few seconds casting her a glance as if expecting her to sprout another head. She clasped her hands together and looked at the ceiling, seeing that he had covered it with his artwork.

He cleared his throat, capturing her attention.

"Why are you really here?"

She paused, tilting her head and taking in his body language. His arms were crossed and he looked extremely uncomfortable.

"To see you…?" she questioned.

He gave her a look that clearly demanded more of an explanation

"And to get away." She stated before realising something – they weren't being particularly quiet for the time of night. "Where are your family?"

"Away for the weekend." He stated dully, his uncomfortable demeanour dropping slightly as he approached the bed she was sitting on.

"Even though your home?" she asked in disbelief. Though she admittedly, had wanted to get away from her family – it was because of sometimes she did feel a bit lost, and overwhelmed. Preferring to make an escape to her room and curl up with a good book, something her mother understood very well.

"Even though I'm home." He repeated, his eyes glimmering once again as he sat next to her, leaning against his wall. She smiled slightly – he must have really bad posture she decided.

"Oh," she said sadly, "Will they be back for Christmas?"

"I don't really care about them Weasley. It's their fault."

"What do you mean?" she asked although she entirely understood. She leant back on his wall the same as him – noting that he wasn't in pyjamas.

"That summer – when I went home for the holidays, my parents expected me and him," he spat with absolute loathing, "to come back as close as we ever were, but what really happened was that I got angry at them, really angry. Then they moved, and it was just me and the other neighbourhood kids who looked at me like I had the plague – and that's probally about when I stopped talking to my parents really."

"I'd like to meet them." She said quietly.

He scoffed. "My Dad actually does have a Dark Mark, so I don't think he'd be your cup of tea."

"I'm a bitch remember?"

"True," he said smirking and she wacked him.

"I can't believe you're here." He stated.

"Ohh, maybe I should go…?" she asked, fearing that she had invaded his privacy, remembering that they were only just friends – though he would never refer to her with that word.

"No-Weas-I mean, you can just… we can..." she ignored the sensation in her stomach as she suddenly felt lighter.

"I'll stay, okay?"

& V.

He hauled out a mattress from under his bed and straightened it up – so that it was next to his bed, before going to a cupboard to get her blankets and a pillow.

When he came back she was wearing one of his loose t-shirts and a pair of boxer shorts.

He gaped at her, dropping the blankets and pillow.

She put her hands up in surrender, "I'm sorry! I just didn't think that my jeans would be very comfortable to sleep-"

"Where did you find those?" he interrupted approaching her staring at the shorts.

"I-I," Rose blabbered as he appeared to be staring at her legs. He looked up at her quizzically and she pointed to a draw that was open.

"I thought I'd lost them," he said conversationally, and Rose let out a sigh – as he handed her the pillow and blanket. "You should wear green more often Weasley." He stated, collapsing onto his bed – looking up to the ceiling as well.

Rose lay down on the mattress, pulling the blanket to her chin. The nightlight was on so she could just make out the pictures he had drawn on the ceiling.

"They're really good you know."

He looked at her confused, "What are?"

She pointed upwards. "The pictures." She smiled slightly. It reminded her of a dream, the way all the pictures seemed to be part of one. There was a ship, a lighthouse, a star-filled sky, a telescope, more feathers – the more she looked the more she saw, amazed by the detail and just how happy she felt looking at the images.

"Thanks." He muttered quietly.

"So what are you doing for Christmas?" she asked tearing her eyes away from the ceiling to look at him, before deciding that the ceiling was once again, a more safe zone, as Malfoy apparently didn't need a pyjama shirt.

"Nothing really. They're in Paris – I'm supposed to go to my Aunts, but I really don't like her that much to be honest."

"You can't be alone on Christmas." She said. It was the unspoken truth in her family, there were often a few unfamiliar faces at Christmas, but she never minded. Christmas was her favourite though she preferred to watch rather than participate in certain traditions. "It wouldn't be right, it's a time that people are meant to spend tog-"

"Rose," he said slowly – the name foreign to his tongue. Her heart stopped momentarily as she paused in her sentence. It was as if she was a different person suddenly – she was always Weasley – that was how they worked. "Can you please tell me the real reason that this whole thing started," he gestured to the two of them, "Apart from him, no-one else has really bothered with me . . . until my final year, when you started – and now. . ."

"Now?" she asked quietly, rolling over to look up at him opposed to the ceiling.

". . . now you know everything, you know more."

She closed her eyes thinking. She too was puzzled at the origins of why she was so interested in him.

"I honestly don't know," she spoke to the ceiling unable to see his face or reactions to her words. "I suppose you've always been interesting – to me anyway. You're so different to everyone I know and have grown up with, everywhere I go I'm surrounded by my family and I guess…" she trailed off thinking of how to word her emotions, ". . . I guess it only makes sense that I wanted to be your friend, considering the er – 'preppy you know what's' I hang out with." She stopped waiting for a reply, before she decided to continue. "You also look interesting."

"Is that some polite way of saying ugly?" he asked the hint of a laugh in his voice.

"No." she said seriously, "In fact the opposite – I mean you really are-" she stopped abruptly realising that she had said a bit too much.

"Are you saying I'm good-looking Weasley?"

She almost sighed in relief at the return of her name, and the light-heartedness of the conversation.

"N-no – I-" she sputtered.

"Because that could have the wrong kind of implications – considering we are in my bedroom. . ."

"Shut-up Malfoy."

"Oh you love it Weasley."

'You're right', she thought, 'I do.'

And thats the end of this chapter!

Please Please Review! This is my Christmas present to you - before I go away till the third! So no more updating till I get back - except, I'll probally write heaps while I'm away!

Anyway Love & I hope you get it all! (Coldplay-Whiteshadows) Also - I recommend (for a Christmas song - Christmas Lights by Coldplay)

See it in a new sun rising
See it break on your horizon
Oh, come on love, stay with me...