Sunday morning came quickly, as Rose did not sleep well. She instead stared at the canopy of her bed and intermittently stroked Leo, whilst also imagining the worst. Rose was an average looking girl with questionable knowledge of fashion and only the warmth of her personality to guide her in her wanderings and through the complicated game of sociability. Her family had no choice but to love and accept her and her befriending Cornelia was simply a fluke. In pure honesty, it was only her kitten that had brought them together, and that fact weighed heavily on her.

As the pale light of the new day began to show, she looked over at Cornelia's bed and thought 'She's great…but what does she see in me?' She sighed and sat up, rubbing her face tiredly. She didn't dare express her feelings to her family, because they had the bad habit of immediately dismissing her lack of confidence and then showering her with praises that felt like automatic responses.

Albus was the only one who listened but he also was quick to dismiss her feelings, assuring her she was smart and sweet and kind. Obviously, they meant every word because they all knew her so well, but an 11 year old girl that's as stubborn as a one-eyed hippogriff requires a bit more convincing. And so, she was droopy eyed and foggy because her head was awash with questions about why a handsome young boy with lots of friends would be interested in a girl like her.

'Cancel.' Her head told her.

'NO. I keep my word. All Weasleys do.' And that was the end of that conversation.

She sleepily swept up her hair and pulled on an old white top and her faded jeans, completed with her trusty red trainors. Growing up with all her cousins, nice clothes became impractical. Her parents often offered to buy her nicer clothes, but she would simply shake her head and then run out of the back door with Hugo to go play again. Rose laid Leo gently beside Cornelia and then pulled her rucksack onto her shoulder and left the dormitory quietly.

Downstairs, there was a girl sitting in an overstuffed chair in front of the fire. She was wrapped in a banket with a handkerchief to her nose. Her face was puffy and red and her hair was a messy strawberry blonde. Lucy, her cousin. Hearing a squeak on the steps she turned around and smiled brightly, realizing who it was.

"Rose!" she said in a raspy voice.

She smiled and finished the stairs, walking to the chair. Lucy motioned for her to squeeze in next to her.

"You're sick?! And crazy if you think I'm gonna share it with you!" she said, her logical brain kicking in, despite the sleep deprivation.

Lucy grabbed her and shoved her into the chair anyway. This was typical Lucy, very touchy and very sweet, even though her father was Uncle Percy, her least favorite uncle.

"Whatever, Rose. What are you doing up so early?" asked Lucy, sniffing often. She was a fourth year and very well liked. She was a very active member in the rumor mill, knowing anything and everything that was happening.

"I could ask you the same." Said Rose, dodging the question, because she was well aware of the mouthy types that Lucy associated with.

"I'm sick and can't breathe, what's your excuse?" she pushed on, determined to get an answer. While she was privy to all the scandalous goings on, she was also a very good secret keeper. She didn't spread it, but she couldn't get enough of it.

Rose sighed. "I have a date, if you must know." She saw the look on Lucy's face and quickly added, "Just a study date, that's all!"

"As if Rose! So who is it? Someone I know!?" she was radiating curiosity.

"Franklyn Nott."

"Ohhh, a Slytherin. I've heard about him. The Notts and Malfoys are quite close I hear." She confided, raising an eyebrow.

Rose thought about it. She had seen Frank and Malfoy together quite a bit. It made sound sense.

"Yes, well, that's dandy. I've got to be going." She said quickly, pushing out of the chair, struggling to take her sack with her.

"Do let me know how it goes, dear." Said Lucy, a sickeningly sweet tone of sarcasm in her voice.

Rose blushed and rubbed her neck anxiously, finally leaving the common room. She walked quickly with her head cast down the rest of the way to the library, ignoring a few portraits that insisted on heckling or praising her. Luckily, she hadn't had the displeasure of running into Peeves yet, whom she'd heard much more than she cared for about.

The doors to the library were a welcoming sight, a familiar one that always calmed her anxiety at the end of the day. During the school week, the library was where you could always find her after last classes. She grabbed the left door's handle and swung it open expertly, feeling her nerves settle as she walked through. She had a favorite spot just around the Restricted Section where it was a little dark and secretive but still cozy and people could see you, only just a bit. More than once, she had fallen asleep here and never slept better.

She set her things down and pulled out her homework, laying it out just so on the table before her. She needed to find some books to write her essay for potions. First, she rubbed her eyes and yawned, a slight darkness falling over them. She really didn't feel attractive in the least and yet she was here in the library, preparing to spend the day with a cute boy. She sighed and walked back around the bend and passed over the doors to the restricted section.

Normally, she wouldn't have paid any mind but a strange noise was coming from within. A sort of wet sound that seemed to point to only one thing. Rose peeked through the gap in the doors and saw two blonde heads twisting and turning about each other, snogging. Persephone's face came into view. She didn't seem like she knew what she was doing, but the boy had his hands about her waste and seemed to know exactly where they shouldn't be. The boy was Scorpius.

'It's only kissing. No big deal…' she thought. But, suddenly, she found herself falling forward into the doors. She caught herself against them, trying not to make a noise but they jostled back and forth and the loosely secured chain rattled, betraying her presence. Persephone's head snapped up and over, eyes narrowed like a snake. Before Rose could scramble away, Persephone had yanked open the door and was standing over Rose, who fell backwards, with her wand at the ready.

"Ugh, should have known it was you, Weasley." She sneered, adjusting her clothes, a short skirt and feminine sweater of expensive materials. "Do you not have anything better to do than ruin everyone's day? You breathe a word of this and I'll make your life a nightmare. Understand?"

Rose shook her head. Persephone stepped around her and sauntered toward the front of the library. Scorpius emerged behind her and looked at Rose pitifully. Without asking he took her hand and jerked her to her feet, brushing her off a little. It was a strange gesture but as he followed Persephone out, all Rose could hear was the blood rushing through her ears. She had left her wand at her sitting place, causing her to panic at the sight of another's wand in her face.

Stepping back, she breathed quietly and then walked back to her favorite place. She sat down slowly, placing her hands on her things, to reassure herself she was fine. Her heart slowed and her eyes drooped, as she laid her head on the table and fell asleep.


Rose felt a hand gently shake her shoulder. She blinked her eyes open and saw the figure of a brunette boy standing over her. Her vision began to clear and she could see that it was Frank, looking at her with a creased forehead, visibly concerned about her.

"Rose? Are you alright?" he asked, sitting at the table next to her.

She rubbed her face and looked around, still extremely groggy.

"I 'spose so." She said with a grainy voice.

"Were you here all night? You look a bit tired." He said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Rose smiled despite her exhaustion.

"No, I didn't really sleep last night but I only got here about an hour ago. I guess I really needed a nap." She said, rubbing her neck again, and looking away. Even though she was disheveled and not her best he smiled and looked down at her things. He saw the list of her books.

"Do you need these? I'll be back in two shakes." He said, lifting off the table.

Ten minutes later he returned with the two books she had written down. Rose raised her eyebrows, impressed.

He smirked. "I know my way around a library."

"As do I." she said a bit cheekily, her eyes still drooping. He smiled at her and took her hand, placing the books in it, purposely holding her hand in his. She reddened and pulled away, putting the books on the table.

"I'm sorry, I just have to ask…what on earth are you doing?" she asked. Normally she wouldn't be this blunt but she was tired and not capable of giving the run about at this moment. She simply had to know. His brows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"What are you after? What are you trying to get from me by being nice?"

He just stared at her, his confusion mounting. He turned away from her, in thought.

"Nothing." He said, still turned from her. She finally realized she had wounded him with her doubt.

"I'm sorry, Frank, it's just…I dunno I'm not used to this sort of thing. You know, boys being nice to me. I'm really sorry I didn't mean to offend you or anyth-" her ramblings were cut off by Franks mouth on hers, his soft mouth meeting her own. He pulled away and looked at her.

"You're smart and pretty and…that's all. I just want to get to know you. As friends, or whatever you want. Really." He looked into her eyes earnestly. She realized he was holding her hand again, but hesitantly. She put her hand in his more firmly.

"Ok…" she said, quietly, happily embarrassed. His faced brightened.

"Work time." He said, flipping open the books.


Rose was packing away her things in her bag. Frank had already done his homework so they combined their efforts into hers and were done rather quickly. Rose was disappointed because she wanted the time to last longer. Her face had fallen a little as she buttoned away the last of her quills.

"What's wrong?" said Frank, hoisting the bag onto his shoulder.

"Oh, I'd just hoped we would spend more time together."

"We do have the rest of the day-" he began but stopped as she yawned as widely as she could, probably unable to even hear him. He laughed. "Well I was going to say we had the rest of the day but you're just knackered. I'm walking you to your bed." He stated, matter-of-factly. He didn't give her time to argue before he took her hand and began to walk her out. She was already turning red again, but was too tired to protest and was led all the way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Well, this is where this train ends, sweetheart." He said, swinging her around to stand in front of the door. "I'll just be on my way. See you later." He said quickly, planting a last quick kiss on her cheek and walking away in one swift blur of motion. He looked back and she waved sleepily, a stupid grin on her face. He smirked and was gone around the corner.

Once inside the common room she turned and leaned against the door a happy, sleepy smile on her face. Lucy looked up from her chair. Seeing it was Rose she got up, blanket still wrapped around her and began to bombard Rose with questions. Rose was quiet, just staring at Lucy with a lucid, dreamy stare.

"Later, Lucy. I'm going to sleep now." She mumbled, brushing off her nosey cousin and slinking her way up to her bed, to sleep for the rest of the day.