A blinding ray of sunlight woke Rose the following morning. She blinked the light from her eyes and squinted at her hands which her folded in front of her face. Flashes of the previous night flickered into memory. Rose rolled over and stretched with a yawn. She moved to kick the blankets off as she did most mornings but found that something was under her feet. She sat up to find Max asleep at the bottom of the sofa, her feet propped on his legs. He had a book open against his chest and looked incredibly peaceful.

"Max?" Rose whispered, finding it odd now how deserted the common room was considering the time of day. "Max?" She shuffled her feet to wake him.

"What? Oh," he mumbled, opening his eyes and scratching his hair which was lopsided from where he had fallen asleep.

"Why are you down here?" she asked sweetly. "Where is everyone?"

"Third years and above are at Hogsmeade," he yawned. "Then everyone else is outside; it's surprisingly warm."

"Why aren't you outside?" she asked.

"I was curious," he replied. "Curious to see if you were right."

"Right about what?" she asked, curling her legs into crosses.

Max reached out and touched her face. "We were right," he said. "They're gone."

Rose felt her face quickly. Her bruises and cuts from Danielle and Mary hurt no longer and most felt nonexistent under her fingers. Rose grinned and punched him in the arm excitedly. "I told you! Oh, Max, you are the most incredible person I know!"

"I've done nothing intentionally," he said, blushing slightly as he always did when people would compliment him.

"Where's Daniels and Pye?" Rose asked with a sour taste in her mouth.

"They're outside as well," Max replied. "They got detention for a month, though. Dalbert spoke to them this morning. Luckily, you had enough witnesses to vouge for you."

Rose nodded thoughtfully.

"Rose," Max tilted his head to see her face. "Why did you get in that fight?"

Rose crossed her arms and scowled. "Danielle is a psychopath, and I told her that. She got angry and hit me. Mary joined in, and that's it," she finished shortly.

Max squinted slightly and nodded slowly. "That's it, huh?"

"Yes," she lied.

Max smiled to himself and half laughed. "Okay, well, how about a game of checkers?"

"Why?" Rose asked. "If it's a nice day then why don't we go out?"

"Because you only got four hours of sleep last night and you need to relax," Max replied, standing to choose a game from the shelve.

"How do you know?"

"Because by the time I came down, you weren't yet snoring," he said, returning with spells and battles instead.

"I don't snore!" Rose called.

Max stopped when opening the box to raise an eyebrow at her then he smiled and shook his head to himself.

'knock, knock, knock.'

Rose jumped to hear a faint pounding coming from the fireplace and for a wild moment, thought that someone was about to emerge by floo. She stood from the sofa and lent to the fire.

"Oi! Max, are you there?" Rose jumped again and noticed that the voices were coming muffled from inside the walls.

Oh no. She thought and pulled away the tapestry of the great roaring lion to stare at the blank stone wall behind.

"Al? Scor?" she called.

"Rose? Is that you? Be a dear and let us in; it's awfully cramped in here!" came Scorpius' voice from the tunnel behind the stone.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she huffed. "You know I can't get you out!"

"Well, how do we open the passage?" Al's voice came, sounding as though he was smashed against the wall.

"Max?" Rose called.

Max turned with an armful of sweets for what he expected to be a game day.

"Al and Scor are behind in the wall. They want to get in," she said.

"Really?" Max smiled, looking intrigued. He dropped the food and knocked on the stone wall above the mantel. "Hello?"

"You already know we're back here, will you let us in already?" called Al.

"Right, uh," Max tried to remember. "Do you see a stone shaped like a heart?"

"Hold on," said Scorpius. "Light, Al, I need light – no, over here! Ow! Give it! Ow! Al, move your elbow!"

"Yes, mom," Al taunted. "Right there, under your chin."

"Oh, okay, We found it, Max! What now?"

"Alright, push it in, pull the nail down, and push the wall forward!" Max called. Rose's arms were getting tired. The tapestry was extremely heavy after all, and she was still holding it to the side.

'Scrape,' 'Click,' 'Schreck'

The stone wall cracked and swung forward. The sight that awaited Rose caused her to laugh. Scorpius and Al were cramped into a narrow passage, their arms curled under their bodies and looking extremely uncomfortable.

"Hang in there, guys," Max laughed as he pulled a chair to the fireplace. He climbed atop and took Scorpius by the forearm and heaved him out.

But rather than successfully heaving the Slytherins neatly from the tunnel and setting them on the ground, both boys came falling as Max pulled Scorpius.

Rose screamed slightly and covered her mouth before taking Al by the robes and lifting to his feet. To her surprise, they both laughed.

"Awake now, Scor?" Al asked.

"What are you two doing here?" Rose asked.

"We came to see you," said Scor.

"We heard about what happened with Daniels," said Al.

"We were going to offer to curse her for you; we'd never be caught," said Scorpius.

Something stung quickly as she heard Danielle's name, but turned to amusement. "That won't be necessary," she said. "They got detention."

"Detention?" called Al indigently. "That's it? Those girls hurt my cousin, they'd better what over their shoulder from now on!"

Rose smiled. "I'd rather not have two of some of my best friends getting caught hexing a girl. Not just because you'll get in trouble with the school, but it'll look horrible for your social record- cursing a girl."

"Wait a minute!" Scor called suddenly. "What happened to all your bruises and battel scars?"

Rose looked at Max. "Apparently," he started, unconcernedly. "I can transfer my healing ability."

"Really?" Al gasped. "That's awesome! How long have you known?"

"I just found out this morning," he shrugged.

"But, what are we going to tell people when they see Rose without scars that they knew she has?" Scor asked.

"I'll tell them that I popped by the Matron," said Rose.

"Well, how 'bout we head out onto the ground?" suggested Scor. "It's a real nice day. Or maybe we can head to the gardens!"

"Go ahead if you'd like," said Rose sheepishly. "I think I'll just hang in here today." She wanted nothing to do with those girls today. Not only did she not want to see them in passing, but she was sure that Danielle would likely try to apologize like she had promised Max she would. Rose wasn't ready to pretend to forgive her when she came crying. Rose, was pissed.

"Well then," said Max, placing his armful of snacks and games on the coffee table. "Looks like it's a game day!"

No matter what Rose said, they refused to leave her alone. They knew her too well to believe that she really wanted to be left alone or that she wished to do homework.

It was the most fun she had all year. The common room remained empty for most of the day allowing them to do whatever they wished. They played giant battleship, exploding snap, charades, and Max had a crazy idea to with involved them sneaking through the tunnel to fetch paint from the muggle art classroom. They were able to work up enough courage to open the mantle tunnel from the outside by standing far away from it and saying nothing except for the answer. They emerged into the Gryffindor common room twenty minutes later with armfuls of paint jars and an extra person. Olivia had been doing a mural when they snuck through the floors and was invited to tag along. She was helped through the tapestry tunnel and hugged Rose when she had enough room to do so.

"Rose, I'm so sorry!" she said. "My brothers are already helping me work out a way to get her expelled."

Max set out a large white bedsheet ("So that it won't get too messy.") and began pouring the paint onto the sheet. Then, he introduced sugar to a game he called, 'twister.' It was the most peculiar game she had ever participated in. They put a spell on a sheet of parchment and a quill to spin and decide which hand or foot would land in which color paint. Rose laughed hysterically as she found herself stuck half under Scorpius, half over Olivia and covered from head to toe in vibrant colors. They stopped, stained and sore from their knot, to eat whatever junk food the Gryffindors had stashed which ended up being a great deal. Sugar ate while Max reenacted his adventure when running away from a muggle police officer because he had accidentally caused moose antlers to sprout through the officer's hat while Max was being scorned for littering. After, Rose popped corn kernels with her wand while Max snuck to the muggle studies classroom for a projector. It took a near half hour to figure out how to use it, but soon enough, after getting shocked a couple times, everyone sat on the floor in the orange rays of sunlight as they watched a moving picture that actually told a story about spaceships and exploring the galaxy and foreign and dangerous planets.

It was almost worth getting beat up to be spending the best day of her life with her best friends.

But, it was all too good to last. Scorpius, Al, and Olivia frantically dove through the tunnel as a raucous grew closer to the portrait hole. No sooner did the opening for the tunnel completely vanish did the portrait swing open and dozens of Gryffindors poured through all shouting and booming and ruffing each other up.

"Ahh!" Elvy Balimp slipped in the paint they had left on the floor.

"Weasley!" called Rocky when catching sight of her watching them over the back of the couch. "How are you feeling?"

"Well, I'm not in pain anymore, I took a trip to the matron," Rose replied over all the noise.

"Yeah, I was about to say," said Isaac, joining them. "But, uh, Daniels wants to speak to you."

Rose groaned, she really was not in the mood. "Will you tell her I'm out or jumped off a cliff or something?" she pleaded.

"Uh," said Isaac, becoming slightly red. "I don't think that'll work."

"Why?"

"Because she's waiting two feet behind you…"

Rose closed her eyes in dread and turned to see Danielle standing behind her, looking angry and nervous.

"I know you don't want to talk to me," Danielle said slowly.

"Yeah?" Rose snapped. "What gave it away?"

"Please, Rosie?"

"Don't call me Rosie."

"I really need to speak to you, in private."

Rose took a deep breath. She didn't see any way out of this and knew that if she refused, Danielle would keep coming back until she finally accepted. Rose stood and waltzed to the exit, feeling a familiar rage seep through her. Danielle hurried after Rose who didn't stop until they reached an abandoned classroom with desk chairs stacked across the wall and an old mirror in the corner. Fire in lamps along the walls burst into life when they entered.

"Uh, you really want to do it here?" Danielle asked, looking around sweaty and fidgety.

"What? Are you afraid I'll try something?" Rose smirked at the fear in Danielle's face.

"No!" Danielle barked defiantly. "You didn't seem to be up to hurting me last night."

Rose sat on the dusty teacher's desk and leaned forward over her legs. "That was two against one," she whispered poisonously. "And I - wasn't – trying."

Danielle gulped. "Look," she said huffily. "I wanted to apologize okay? So there."

Rose sat up and crossed her arms. "And you're not just saying that because you want to be on Max's good side?"

"Ah!" she gasped. "I don't need to go through you to get on his good side; I have other methods."

Rose glared intently. Something wasn't right. She looked at Danielle's hands. They were folded in front of her. Her fingers were twitching, and her thumbs were tapping her wrist as Rose's did when she was anxious.

"Methods?" Rose asked, still eyeing the girl's hands. "Like what?"

"I hardly think I need to tell you; do you mistake me for an idiot?" Danielle barked. "I just told Max I'd say sorry and I have. So now I'm leaving." She turned to open the door but found that it was locked.

Rose was flipping her wand in her fingers watching Danielle struggle with the handle.

"Wh-why can't I open it?" she stammered worriedly.

"Because I locked it," said Rose casually. "I thought you would have guessed, or maybe I should have mistaken you for an idiot."

Danielle turned, terrified, as Rose leaped from the desk and paced the room slowly. She had seen what she needed when Danielle's hands opened to flail with her words and Rose thought that she smelled the answer too.

"So, you're actually sorry?" said Rose.

Danielle sniffed. "I just said I was, what more do you want?"

Rose stopped and smiled. "A hug," she answered.

Danielle blinked confusedly. "A hug?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Well, if I give you a hug will you let me go?"

"It is definitely a key element," Rose replied.

Danielle huffed and looked around the room awkwardly. She stumbled over to Rose, looking as though she'd rather eat Cactul puss than touch her; Rose felt the same. Daniels wrapped her arms loosely around Rose who patted her on the back but took a whiff of the girl's hair.

Rose scowled over the main of curls. There it was, exactly what she needed.

Danielle pulled away quickly and folded her arms. "Can I go now?"

"You may leave," said Rose, fury blazing through her veins.

Danielle started toward the door, but Rose had no real intention of letting the girl leave, not yet anyway. Rose caught Danielle around the back of the neck, spun her, and slammed her roommate against the stone wall beside the locked door. Danielle's eyes were full of terror as Rose glared deeply with her forearm pressed strongly to her chest.

"Did you mistake me as a fool? Or just Max? Did you think neither of us would figure you out?" Rose hissed.

"I- I don't know what you're talking about!" Danielle squeaked.

"No?" Rose reached into the girl's pocket.

"Don't touch-!" Danielle tried, but Rose had already retrieved a small glass vile filled with pink liquid.

Danielle tried to snatch it again, but Rose pinned her back against the wall. "Amortentia," she whispered. "Did this just happen to slip into your pocket, Daniels?"

"It's not what you think?" Danielle tried. "It's not for Max!"

"You liar!" Rose called, and Danielle positively shrank. "How desperate can you get? Why won't you understand that he does not like you?"

"I wasn't planning on using it!" she said.

"You didn't want to use it," said Rose. "Not until you lost your temper last night and realized that there was no other way."

"How did you-?"

"I've been smelling it on you for weeks!" Rose shouted, in raged. "But I've just now riddled it out. You've been putting it on as a perfume so Max would smell you and think of all his favorite things! I've known you've been up to something! My Uncle invented that brand for Merlin's sake! It stains for skin in reddish splotches when you've been in close contact! And Max wouldn't be the only one who smelled you! I've been smelling freshly cut grass, crisp autumn air, mint, fresh peppers and peaches, cedar wood, and shampoo on you all this time!"

"Well, what's the big deal!" Danielle exclaimed struggling to break Rose's grasp.

"It's illegal!" Rose bellowed. "Your first mistake, hitting a Weasley, your second, trying to poison her best friend right after! What about you caring about him and knowing what's best for him? You've been arguing that point for months!"

"This potion will make him happy!" Danielle called, still looking petrified that Rose was about to pound her to a pulp. "He will feel love! Isn't that what everyone wants in life?"

"They want to feel love for the person they love!" Rose called exasperated, then hushed as footsteps strode by.

"This potion will make him love me! That's what's best for him! I'm trying to give to him! I'm a giver!"

"You're a taker! You're taking away his right to choose! His right to love who he wants and be happy with who he wants! You are twelve years old Danielle! You are delirious! You know nothing about love! You're so desperate to feel it from someone that you'll poison them for your sake!"

"You don't know what's best for him," Danielle cried.

Rose scowled. She took the glass bottle in her fist and threw it against the stone floor of the classroom where it shattered spectacularly. Danielle gasped.

"You think you were watching Max closely before? That will be nothing compared to how closely I'll be watching you," she bared her teeth. "I cannot make you leave him alone, but if you EVER try something like this again, I'll have you expelled, make no mistake about that! You mess with one of us, three more will be out for your blood." Rose pointed her wand at the lock. 'click' "Get out." Rose released Danielle at last where the girl fell to her shaking knees then scurried out like a mouse.

Rose took a deep, calming breath, then screamed in anger.

"Four."

Rose's heart jumped from her chest as a voice sounded behind her. She spun to see Olivia Merik walk out from a concealed door behind the mirror. "If you bother one of us, four more will be out for her blood."

Rose sighed and fell to the floor in front of the Amortenia. "How do you do that?" Rose breathed.

"Do what?" Olivia asked, sitting beside Rose.

"How are you always there to hear other people's conversations or pop up when you're needed?"

Olivia shrugged. "A gift, I guess? I have four brothers and can usually spot trouble from a mile away. Are you saying I'm needed?" she grinned.

"Yeah." Rose leaned on her shoulder where Olivia patted her on the back.

"Don't worry, we won't let her poison Max," Olivia said, touching the potion. "That girl's a lunatic."

"I want to rip her head off," said Rose.

"You could have. God, you looked scary!"

"What do you sense when you smell Amortentia?" Rose asked.

"I smell dirt and grass," she replied. "freshly cooked sausage and pine needles, my mom's homemade quilt, and cologne."

"You like your mom?"

"Very much."

"And your dad?"

"Eh, he's more like my brother."

"You know, you're the only girl friend I have," said Rose.

"What about Alexis?"

"Nosey."

"Pamela?"

"Too independent for friends.'

"Uh, Madison Nolly?"

"Don't know her."

"Cian Garner?"

"Has a friend group."

"Wow, I really am your only girl friend. Well, I'm honored to hold that title," Olivia laughed slightly. "Uh, Rose?"

"Hmm?"

"Okay, let's not be falling to sleep now. We need to get you to your common room," said Olivia, nudging Rose to wake with her shoulder.

"I don't really want to go back there," Rose yawned. "I don't want to see Daniels or Mary, or the Quidditch team, or my cousins, or… anyone really."

"Well, you can't stay here."

"Why not? No one comes in here, and it smells so nice."

"Alright," said Olivia, standing so Rose toppled over and helping her friend to her feet. "I have the perfect place for you."

Rose was dug up a few staircases, her legs feeling like led. She had no idea how tired she was becoming. Maybe it was the day's events, or maybe it was because all she had to eat all day was sugar, but she wanted to collapse on something squishy and stay there for the rest of the night. Olivia stopped suddenly and Rose opened her eyes to be startled by a large tapestry before her of a troll in a tutu, chasing an older man with a club. Rose turned back around to find Olivia pacing before a stretch of black stone wall. It took Rose a moment to realize what she was doing.

"You're not-" Rose stammered. "The Room of Requirement?"

"Of course," said Olivia as a doorway appeared out of nowhere. She took Rose by the arm and led her through. "Al, Scor, and I came in here a couple of times for Sugamina meetings before, well, before you knew."

Rose was looking around in awe. The doorway sealed itself behind and before them was an extremely comfy looking four-poster bed with a white linen hotel comforter and feather pillows. A small side cabinet stood beside the bed. The walls were a calming maroon and a hot meal sat out of a coffee table in front of a white sofa. Rose walked slowly over and fell onto the mattress; she had never felt anything more wonderful.

"There we are," said Olivia soothingly, carrying the tray of food to Rose. "Feel that anger melt away; rage can really take a lot out of you; you must have been really pissed."

"Well," started Rose, taking a bite of bread. "She was trying to poison my friend." Rose froze. "Max!" she exclaimed, jumping out of her bed and starting forward only to be caught by Olivia. "Max! He needs to watch out! Danielle might still try to sneak him Amortentia! She may have more!"

"Calm down," said Olivia. "Max isn't that daft, but, I'll send him a letter if you want."

"Could you- could you have him come here too?" she asked, finally sitting back down.

"Sure." Olivia took a bit of parchment from the drawer of the side table and scribbled a short message. Then she folded it into a paper airplane and threw it across the room where it vanished through the wall. "There," she said, smiling. "He'll be here in no time. Until then, let me show you this magic trick Scor taught me!"

Five minutes later, the two girls heard the entrance to the chamber scratch itself into existence. Max came tumbling in, looking winded and terrified.

"Rose!" he gasped. "God, are you alright!"

Rose stared perplexed at Olivia. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"But- but Olly said that you were poisoned!" he croaked.

"No I didn't," Olivia laughed. "Let me see that note."

She took the small, crinkled paper airplane and read the last line allowed. "Come to the Room of Requirement asap! Rose wants you because poison!" She stared at the note for a second longer. "Ohhh, yeah, I see how you could have thought that I was saying she was poisoned. And, wow, I did use a lot of explanation points."

Max fell back onto the sofa and covered his face. "Please, Olly," he started, muffled through his hands. "Read over your letters before you send them."

"Max," Rose started, now remembering. "I wanted to tell you that Danielle was trying to sneak you a love potion today! I didn't want you eating anything for a moment."

"A love potion?" said Max. "I know."

"You what?"

"Yeah, I've been smelling my favorite things on her for weeks now. Don't worry; I've been very cautious."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew you would have flipped out," said Max. "But, why are sleeping here?"

"I- I didn't want to see anyone, you know?" she replied, fiddling with her hair.

"You didn't want them fussing over you?"

"Yes!" she cried. "I just wish that none of that had ever happened!"

Max walked up and placed a hand on Rose's shoulder. She dropped her head against his chest. "I wish it hadn't happened too," he said. "So, you just get to sleep now. We get to see Stella tomorrow the week will be over."

Rose yawned and fell back onto the bed where Olivia pulled the covers over Rose after ripping off her shoes.

"Oh, Rose," Max turned around to say, but she had already fallen asleep.

Max turned back to leave, but the door to exit was locked.

"What's this?" he asked.

Olivia was on the bottom of Rose's bed with her arms crossed and looking drowsy too. "This room is sufficient for Rose's needs," she replied. "The reason the door is locked is because she needs you to stay."

"But where will I-?" he started but stopped as he just noticed a pile of blankets and pillows on the sofa that hadn't been there a moment before.

Olivia took one of Rose's pillows and curled up on the bottom of the bed.

"Are you staying too?" Max asked.

"I'm cool with…whatever…" And Olivia fell asleep too.

Max sighed, blew out the candle on the bedside cabinet and settled himself into the sofa. He noticed that the bit of ceiling above him was plastered with tiny stars. He smiled knowing that she must have known he needed that too.