Monday came quicker than I expected, which was a good thing because I was starting to miss focusing on schoolwork, writing essays, studying all night, and just Hogwarts in general. It was also very bad because I had patrol duty with a scorpion on Mondays and Wednesdays.

So I did what any sane girl would have done. I fell asleep and pushed the idea of patrolling with Malfoy into the back of my head…or maybe the virtual trash bin in my brain.

But if only it were only that easy…

In the middle of the night, somehow the little creep found out our password (probably from dumping more owl shit on Al), slithered into my dormitory, slung me over his shoulder, and carried all the bloody way to Couples' Tower. I pretty much woke the entire House of Gryffindor up because of my screaming and cursing, but they were all dazed and had no idea what to do. Belle, hazed from her love for sleep, shoved a pillow in the shape of a cylinder inside of my mouth screaming, "EAT WORMS YOU STUPID ALIEN! YOU AREN'T KILLING ME THIS TIME!"

I'm really worried about her. These past few days, she's been dreaming about aliens ever since she saw a "UFO" when it was really Al's owl, Fartbreath (don't ask me why he named his owl that; he's a git), attempting to do a flip in the air, and of course, failing. Ever since then, she's been having nightmares about aliens eating her brains and trying to shoot her with their acid-guns. Yeah, I don't know. She's a lunatic.

But anyways, after I calmed myself when Malfoy set me down (or rather dropped me on my bloody head) on a nearby bench. After getting up, I rubbed my swollen cranium and sent a glare at that evil scorpion.

He smirked. "Nice try, Weasley."

"Shut up," I spat.

"Ooh, clever comeback."

I balled my fist and aimed for his face, but I decided at the last minute that it wasn't worth it. I rolled my eyes and pursed my lips in an annoyed matter. Deep breath, Rose, deep breath. Just take a deep breath. "I'm going to let you get to me. I'm better than that."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really."

"Perseverance has always been one of your many flaws, Weasley," he told me as twirled his fingers in a strand of my hair.

"Ew!" I exclaimed, slapping his hand away, almost gagging. "Don't touch me, Malfoy!"

He snickered coldly. "It's so fun annoying you."

I stomped my foot. So much for being mature about things. "That's it! I cannot take this bullshit! I hate you, Malfoy! I bloody hate you!"

"Hey, watch the language, Missy. There might be minors spying on us."

I rolled my eyes and trudged down the stairs only to be followed by an annoying blonde maggot.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked furiously.

"McGonagall's office! Where else?"

"She's probably sleeping! Any sane professor would be at this hour!"

I stopped in my tracks and sighed exasperatedly. He was right. It was close to two o'clock in the morning. She would most definitely be asleep.

He smirked that same annoying smirk that rested upon his pale face twenty-four/seven.

"Stop smirking at me like that," I told him disgustedly as I stomped back up the stairs.

"Why? Does it annoy you?"

"Almost to death."

"Dammit! Almost!"

"You know what, Malfoy? If you wish I were dead, why don't you just kill me right now? Huh? Because I'm pretty close to doing it myself right now!"

"Merlin's pants, Weasley! Stop taking everything so damn seriously!"

I groaned in annoyance. "Can't we just be civil to each other for the time being?"

He sighed and pursed his lips. "Fine. But just because we're acting civilly doesn't mean I don't hate you."

"The same goes for me."

"Good."

And so the rest of the night was peaceful. I had to admit that it wasn't all that bad. Malfoy and I actually had a grand time. We didn't speak to each other very often, but we had a lot of fun mattress surfing down the endless staircases and running through hallways and waking up the paintings. I hated to confess it, but when he wasn't being an annoying little git, Malfoy was actually a pretty cool guy. But I'm going to blow up his dorm.

….

"Ho wah it patwollin wit Mahlfooy lahst nigh?" Al asked with his mouth full of Honey Nut Cheerios.

"Al, that's disgusting! Swallow your food!" Belle scolded.

He rolled his eyes, but obeyed. "How was it patrolling with Mafoy?"

I shrugged. "It was okay."

Everyone raised their eyebrows. "Okay?" James asked curiously, his eyes saying, Are you still sane?

"Yes, give us details, please," Belle agreed.

"Well aren't you being Nosy Nellies today," I told them as I stuffed an egg into my mouth.

"Patrolling with Malfoy would not be 'okay' knowing you, Rose," Al explained.

I pursed my lips. "It was really fine. We bickered at first, but decided to act civilly. It was pretty fun afterwards, actually. We woke up all of the paintings in the castle and mattress-surfed down the staircases. It was one of the greatest nights of my life."

Belle hopped over the table and tackled me. She slapped me across the cheek so hard that everyone, even the professors at the high table, turned to stare at her with oddity.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BEST FRIEND?" she exclaimed.

"Err…"

She slapped me again. "WRONG ANSWER, ALIEN!"

This time, I was the one to slap my own forehead. "YOU'RE INSANE, BELLE! IT WAS AL'S STUPID OWL THAT YOU SAW OUTSIDE OF OUR WINDOW!"

"HEY!" Al exclaimed exasperatedly. "HE'S NOT STUPID! HE'S JUST MENTALLY CHALLENGED!"

"WHATEVER!" Belle and I exclaimed in unison.

"Are you being serious though, Rose?"

I nodded. "Al had just let Fartbreath out for a midnight flight."

She slapped me again. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? I'VE BEEN HAVING NIGHTMARES! I THOUGHT THEY WERE SIGNS!"

"I TRIED TO TELL YOU! YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME!"

She huffed and got off of me. "Sorry." And then she walked off back to our dorm.

I got up and blew a strand of my hair from my face. Not that that mattered, of course; I still had bed head. I turned to see all of the Great Hall's attention landing on me. "Well, uh, I'm going back to sleep. See you in the common room, James, Al." I saluted them as a farewell and fled.

….

When I got back to the dorm, I did what any sane person would have done. I slammed the door and locked Belle and I in.

"What the hell were you thinking back there?" I exclaimed furiously. "You made us look like complete idiots out there!"

"I'm sorry! I've always been a loser! That's why I actually believed in 'aliens'! That's why James will never like me!" she pouted and sat back on her bed.

I sighed. It was time for a serious best friend to best friend talk. "Listen, Belle. He thinks you're still mad at him. But I know somewhere deep down, he feels the same way as you do for him."

"You're lying."

I raised an eyebrow. "When did I ever lie to you?"

She sighed. "Never."

"Exactly."

She smiled gratefully as I sat down next to her. "I'm so lucky to have you as a best friend, Rose. I'm sorry I embarrassed you. I'm sorry for everything. I just really freaking love you."

I returned the grin. "I love you too."

She giggled and I embraced her in a sisterly hug.