Christmas crept up quicker than she thought it would and the yard was coated so thickly with snow that even if she wanted she could not have gone outside.

"Hugo! Get down stairs they're due any minute!" Her mother called, fluffing the pillows and straightening the rumples over her husband's shirt.

"'Mione, ge' off. It's just Gin and Harry." Her father grumbled, wrestling his wife's hands off of him. "Rose, tell your mother something for me."

"Something," Rose giggled. The flames of the fireplace cracked open in a flurry of green flame and Lily Potter came rolling out covered in soot.

"Hello folks!" She sang, hurrying away to wash up.

James Potter and Albus Potter landed before the fireplace upon their hands and knees whilst their mother walked out calmly. Her Uncle Harry fell out clumsily, "You never did get the handle on Floo travel." Her mother laughed.

Albus looked nervously around the room, settling his eyes on Rose as the others laughed and greeted each other in merriment. They hadn't really talked since that incident in the corridor, she hadn't noticed as much until now. He shuffled up to her before gesturing to the dining half of the room, "Rose. My parents told me what happened. I'm, I'm really sorry about what I said, for not believing you and everything."

"You didn't believe me?"

"Nah, you know what I mean. I mean, for believing the rumours, I guess. It's just I know this must be hard but I'm sorry I wasn't there to talk it out with you." He rambled, twiddling with his fingers.

"Oh." She sighed, "I see. Well thank you for that. I guess."

Albus nodded and left to her thoughts.

"Hey dear, all okay? What was that with Albus?" Her mother rested a kind hand upon her back and rubbed it in gentle comfort.

"He apologized for an argument I forgot we had. Am I really getting so self-involved? Could that be a symptom you think?"

Her mother smiled, "I think that's just part of being a teenager. I'll make note of it if really bothers you though." Holding her from behind in a big hug.

Her mother made the turkey and Aunt Gin organised the sides, Lily tossed a salad together and Uncle Harry made a pie. Her father made a big to do about the cranberry sauce but after fiddling with a can opener for half an hour gave in to opening it with his wand.

"Rose, Hugo. Set the table please?" Her mother called. "It's nearly done."

"Rosie?" Her brother Hugo said suddenly, "How are you? I heard you had to leave school early."

"I'm guessing you know why." Rose straightened a knife alongside the right of a fork.

"I asked your Slytherin friends if they knew. They told me."

"Oh," She mouthed the 'O'.

"Can I ask you a question Rosie?" Hugo, only a few years younger than her, look so baby faced in that moment. She nodded in silent agreement. "Scorpius. Do you like him?"

"Um, I think we could be called friends sort of if that's what you mean."

Hugo nodded. "I know about the rumours you know. I don't exactly think they're true but I just wanted you to know that I wouldn't mind if they were true. You know?"

"Thank you?" She popped a quizzical eyebrow at him, to which he smirked a smirk similar to that of her fathers. They were finished with the table, hovering there awkwardly. "Look Hugo, I'm not lying. If that's what you think. Really."

"Rose. If you didn't care about Scorpius… would the idea of killing him, like in your dream, affect you the way it does?"

She tried to feign a laugh but it died on her tongue. When did Hugo get so wise?

Did she care about Scorpius more than she should? Sure she didn't want to kill him, she didn't want to be a murderer. That was reasonable. No person would want to do that to anyone. Yet, some part of her knew that whenever she looked into his eyes when they'd come face to face. Some part of her felt something in those eyes. It could just be the connection of the same terror they both faced, but then again. She felt the same before she knew he dreamed her nightmares too. Maybe it was just his eyes, people have interesting eyes.

She didn't talk much during dinner. She let it all go on around her. Her chest felt heavier in thought, and she felt tired so suddenly. She got up to refill her drink, ladling punch from the bowl on the bench in the kitchen. She took a sip, eyeing her family in all their happiness.

She slipped away to her room before anyone noticed. She took a spot on her bed, not attempting any of the homework she knew she'd have due when she returned. Should she even return? She didn't know how long it was before someone check up on her but when they did she made sure to seem asleep in her bed. Except she didn't sleep, she didn't sleep the whole night. By morning she was so exhausted that when an owl tapped at her window it took her a while to notice. She let it in, a packed envelope was tied to its foot. As soon as she untied it, the bird flew away not waiting for payment or food, or rest.

The envelope was addressed to her.

She scraped her fingers at the seal and a thin silver chain fell out, a small delicate snake wove around it made of silver and encrusted with some sort of green stone, not emerald but something softer, lighter maybe. The snake pendent filled with magic moved about the chain weaving around it like a tree branch curling around her fingers at their touch. It was beautiful. Necklace still in hand, she read the letter:

Rose,

This is for you. As you know, I have never been the Malfoy my family line has expected of me. Though maybe looking back at my family tree maybe I should start expecting more out of myself and less from my family name. I've been dreaming of you but not with you it seems. See you at back at Hogwarts.

Scorpius.

P.S The necklace should have been mine, but I feel unfit to wear it being so… you know Ravenclaw.

She dropped the letter to the floor. Looking to her hand where the necklace still sat. She put it on around her neck without thought and burst into well-earned tears. She cried so hard that she thought even with the early morning light only just creeping in, that someone still should have heard her but they didn't.

When she was done crying, she found herself drifting off to sleep.