Oh, why you look so sad?

Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now.
Don't be ashamed to cry,

let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too.
When the night falls on you, you don't know what to do,
Nothing you confess could make me love you less
I'll stand by you

--The Pretenders

Chapter 6---

Rose's POV

After wandering throughout the halls all of Saturday nights, I had forgotten what the next day was to bring. I was awakened close to five o clock on Sunday morning by the sound of muffled crying. I quickly pictured the calendar in my head and realized it was the third Sunday in September, and Z was right on schedule.

I get myself out of bed, and take a quick peek at Sasha, Olivia, and Sophie. They're still fast asleep. I get my wand and cast a fast muffliato spell around Z's bed so no one hears her.

I quickly hold Z in my arms and do my best to soothe her. I never seem to be able to do so and I just end up watching her cry and feel helpless as I hold her in my arms. From experience, I know that Z can cry for hours on end on her Doom Days. My theory is that she keeps it all pent up most of the time that when she does actually cry and let her sad emotions out, she can't stop herself.

Around 8 o clock Sasha, Olivia and Sophie wake up and begin their morning routine. I wait patiently for them to finish and leave for breakfast. Once they have finally left the dormitory, I whisper to Z "I'm going to take you to the Room of Requirement, then I'll get you some water, or else you'll run out of tears to cry." She attempts to nod while crying, and I take this as her consent.

I quickly throw on a robe and throw my hair up, then grab the invisibility cloak that I borrowed from Al and send a short prayer to whoever is listening that we don't encounter anyone on the way to the Room.

I look at Z and realize that I must perform a silencing charm on her so that she won't blow her cover while under the invisibility cloak. I do this quickly and then lead her towards the dormitory door. Somebody above must be watching over us, because the common room is empty when we step inside.

I quickly lead her out through the portrait door and we head up the stairs to the seventh floor. Once, we get near the Room of Requirement I walk past a certain place three times, asking for the certain Room that Z needs, her muggle room at home.

When the door appears we both enter. Her room looks just as I've entered it before. Turquoise and black walls with a blood red duvet on her queen sized bed. Her ceiling is painted a dark blue, like the nighttime sky and the stick on glow-in-the-dark stars are in the Scorpion constellation.

Z runs forward and lies down on her bed, still crying silently. She removes the invisibility cloak and I see her face is red from crying so hard and her eyes still emitting tears quickly. "I'm just going to get you water, I'll be right back." I whisper to her.

She gives her small nod showing me she understands and I run off in the direction of the kitchens.

As I get to the picture that leads to the secret passageway of the kitchens, I tickle the pear. At first, I thought this was weird, I mean tickle the pear? But now I'm use to it and I rush quickly down the hall to the kitchens. My Uncle Harry's house-elf, Kreacher still works at Hogwarts, and generally helps us out if we ever need anything from the kitchens.

Unfortunately, as soon as I enter the kitchens Scor and Al happen to be eating brunch, they must have slept in late and missed breakfast. Lazy arses.

"Hey Rose," Scor greets me. "What brings you to the kitchen this wonderful day?" Wonderful day? I hate these days, I feel so bad for Z and I can't do anything for her.

"Oh, you know," I answer vaguely. Al raises his eyebrows at me, disbelieving. Growing up with Al, since we are so close in age, we have always been put together. He knows me very well, so well, that it often scares me. Scor and Z know me well too but Al is family, he has his built-in radar.

Scor shrugs, "Well let me know what's going on when you decide to tell me." He says continuing to eat his sandwich. Al gives me a piercing look, trying do decide whether he should let me go without interrogating me. Finally, he shrugs and goes back to his sandwich. Thank Merlin; I quickly ask Kreacher for a glass of water.

As Kreacher hands me a glass of water, I realize that Al is still watching me critically. He must know something is up. "Where's Kenzie" he asks. "Sleeping still, you know how she is on Sundays" I improvise. Then, "Well I got to go, just needed some water!" And I dash out of the room.

I quickly rush up the stairs to the Room, desperate to get back to Z before the worst comes. I open the door, and she attempts to sit up while crying. She seems to see something behind and me and shakily points a finger. I turn around, Al, of course is standing there. His mouth is agape and I realize, at the same time as Z, he has never seen he cry before. Z starts crying even harder.

Al composes himself, "Kenzie?" he sounds appalled. Z attempts to breathe and answer him. He can't see her like this, she won't let him. "Al," I attempt to regain his attention quietly, "You should really leave. You don't want to see her like this." Al glares at me, nothing will get through to him. He crosses the room quickly, and wraps Z up in a strong embrace and lays her on the bed.

She buries her head in his chest, crying into his shirt. I stand, watching mesmerized as my sixteen year old cousin comforts Z in a way only he could. Al holds Z tighter and starts whispering reassurances in here ear. She continues to cry, she obviously doesn't want him to leave.

The Room conjures a chair for me to sit in and I take a seat. I watch the way Al cares for Z, he really loves her. After about an hour or so, I realize Scor must be wondering where we are. I catch Al's eyes and motion to him to let him know I have to find Scor. He nods slightly. I doubt Z even realizes what is happening, she's still crying.

As I exit the Room, I head towards the Gryffindor Common Room. Scor is in the comfiest arm chair, reading. "Whatcha reading?" I ask. He sternly looks at me. Whoops, he's still upset. "Look, I'm sorry about the Alzie thing, I was just stressed." He rolls his eyes, "That's not what I wanted to know about." He clarifies.

"I know," I answer him quietly. "What's going on with Z? Why does she disappear every 3rd Sunday? Did Al figure it out? Why won't you tell me? Do you trust me? Is it because I'm a Malfoy?"

His asks a barrage of questions. I roll my eyes, "Scor, we don't care that you're a Malfoy. And this thing has nothing to do with trusting you. Yes, Al found out what was going on my following me." I gulp as I continue to answer his last question, "And I really wish I could tell you what is going on, but it's not my secret to tell, its Z's." I say quietly.

He studies me critically. Jeez what is with people doing that today? "How about some wizard's chess?" Scor suggests. I smile at him. In one short conversation, we have stopped fighting, "Definitely, I'm always ready to beat your arse at wizard's chess!" He smirks, "We'll see about that."

We continue to play and laugh and chat for the rest of the day. "Hey, I have a question for you." I tell Scor. He raises his eyebrows, letting me continue. "What did Z mean when she told you that your future consisted of lots and lots of brown?"

He looks slightly uncomfortable, "I'm not sure." This time I get to eye him critically. Mwahaha I feel evil. Then he looks at me "What did she mean by saying that there would be a Greek god in your future?" Damn.

"Well I guessed being visited and impregnated by Zeus, but she said it was a different god; so maybe Poseidon or Apollo?" I suggest. He laughs "Maybe. Our Z is something else isn't she?"

"Most definitely." I agree with him. "But that is why we love her."

Scor stares at me. "What?" I ask. "Nothing," Scor whispers. Huh, wonder what that was about, guys are so weird.

Oh shit! Z probably needs some water. I make up some random excuse to Scor about going to the loo and quickly head towards the kitchens again. When I reach the Room, Z is sleeping and Al still has her in his arms. I quietly set down the glass of water on the bedside table. Al looks up at nods at me, saying hello silently so as not to wake Z.

I decide to say something, "You love her." I state the obvious. Al stares at me. "As more than a friend" I clarify. "It's obvious." Al looks down at Z to make sure she isn't awake and listening to the conversation. He looks back at me, "Yeah," he whispers.

"Tell her." I say. He looks at me, his face twisted in pain and disbelief "No, she only likes me as a friend!" I roll my eyes, "She loves you too."

"Has she told you this directly?" He questions. Damn. No, no she hasn't, I improvise, "She let you see her cry." He looks confused, "So what?" I gaze at Z, "She rarely ever lets anyone see her cry. I've only seen her cry because I found out about it by myself."

Now he looks confused, "Found out about what?" "That's her secret to tell, not mine. But trust me; this is a really big step for Z. She loves you. She trusts you. She wants you. Say something before she begins to think that you only like her as a friend." Then, I exit the Room to leave Al with his own thoughts.

I race back to the Common Room. "Scor! We have prefect duty again tonight!" I exclaim. "I know" he replies. "Look! It's 7! We have to go on patrol!"

Scor and I walk through the halls in silence for awhile. Then, we run into some unexpected visitors. "Hey Al, hey Z," we say in unison to the figures coming towards us. Z looks a lot better; you can't even tell she was crying except for a little redness around her eyes. Whenever she isn't looking, Al looks at her as if she will collapse at any moment

Z waves and smiles, "Hey guys, long time no see!" I laugh, glad for her to be done with her Doom Day. She seems tired, though, and sways a little. Al adjusts his position as if to catch her if she decides to fall. I smile softly at them, loving how cute they look together.

"You guys should be off then," Scor says, "before a professor comes by and sees you out." They nod and wave goodbye to us.

"Z looks horrible." Scor notes quietly as they leave. I glance up at him, "She looked worse before." I say my voice cracking. He looks at me half sympathetically, half curiously. "What happened to her?"

"I-I can't" I start fiddling with the curtains we we're looking behind, looking for people behind them.

"Say anything, I know," he finishes. Then he holds his arms open and I jump into them and bury my face in his chest. This time, I cry. I cry in Scor's arms, behind the curtains. I cry for Z who is hurt so deeply, I cry for Al who tries to pick up her pieces, I cry for Scor who doesn't know anything except that I need him now. I cry because crying is expected when you are sad, and I'm so sad.

I pull back from Scor and wipe my tears off my face. "Thanks" I say as I look at the ground. "I needed that." He nods. He cups my face and tilts my chin upwards, so I'm looking at me. My breath catches, and he stares into my eyes. His eyes are so grey. They stare at me intensely his thumbs wiping the remaining tears off of my face. It feels like we are the only people in the world.

Suddenly, there's a huge crash and we both look up.

James and Fred are standing with their backs towards us and seem to be looking at a plan for one of their pranks. The loud crash was Fred dropping the box of supplies on the ground. I glance at Scor, he puts one finger to his lips and I nod in understanding. We wait a few minutes and then jump out of the curtains "Gotcha!" we scream in unison.

Both James and Fred jump straight up. We begin to laugh. Then James and Fred realize it's me and Scor and start telling us about their master prank that Z helped them plan.

I realize how great my life is. I have cousins and friends who bring joy into my life. And I'm pretty sure that was an almost-kiss between me and Scor. Al and Z seem to be closer to getting together than ever. And in the dim light, as my cousins tell us the plan involving flying pigs, I keep stealing glances at Scor and thank whoever is watching over me.

A/N: ok, I hope you like this. It's basically Rose's POV of the last chap. I thought it was kind of necessary. Next chap will be back in Z's POV. I just realized while I was writing this that I have no idea where I'm going with this story, so I'm just going to wing it. :) Please review!!

~wwccd