Chapter 9

Rose POV

I found myself sitting at the dinner table with my favorite volume in front of me as I continued to read more of the healing magic book. Ron stuffed his face with a sausage link as he read the O.W.L study guide I'd loaned to him. Ron was studying so much for the upcoming O.W.L.s that he practically had facts pouring out of his ears – we weren't sure if any of them were actually sticking, however.

"Do you ever stop eating?" asked Hermione, sitting beside me and sounding annoyed. I looked up from my book.

The ginger looked away from the pamphlet and stared at Hermione with indignation. "What? I'm hungry." he answered back with his mouth still full of ground pork. I swallowed hard and turned my attention back to my book. It was easy to get lost in it it was so interesting. My friends couldn't find the appeal, but no one ever questioned Hermione's fascination with ancient runes either.

Harry cautiously walked up to us. "Can I join you?"

Hermione and I looked at each other, puzzled; Harry normally just sat down beside us when he wanted.

"Uh, yeah." I answered back hesitantly.

He moved to sit down, but we all turned toward the door when we heard Professor Umbridge arguing with someone. "Pardon me, Professor, but what, exactly, are you insinuating?" All of us filed out the door to watch the exchange.

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the perscribed disciplinary practices." retorted our Head of House.

I noticed that Draco was standing behind and a little to the right of me with a small smile. I hadn't realized that he hated our new teacher too, what with her being a former Slytherin herself.

"So silly of me, but it sounds as if you are questioning my authority in my own classroom." Exclaimed Umbridge, stepping up a few stairs to appear above professor McGonnagal; however, the drastic height difference between the two witches meant that Umbridge was still a good three inches below my Transfiguration teacher. Not satisfied with the increase in stature, the pink woman stepped up a few more. "Minerva."

"Not at all, Delores." Professor McGonagal emphasized, moving up to the same step as Umbridge, causing the shorter woman to look even more like a cross badger. "merely your medieval methods!" Cried my Head of House, appalled.

Umbridge went up a few more steps, intent on proving her superiority. Her voice was practically dripping with condescension. "I'm sorry, Dear, but to question my methods is to question the Ministry... and by extension... the Minister himself!" Umbridge's shriek got breathy as she worked herself up, taking personal offense to the notion that the faculty were denying her the ability to turn the school into a torture chamber. "I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty!"

Gryfindor's Head of House stepped down, completely aghast at what had just spewed from the D.A.D.A teacher's mouth. "Disloyalty." She repeated.

Satisfied that she'd gotten the upper hand on one of the few teachers who intimidated her, Umbridge took yet another step up and turned to us, and, as if she'd rehearsed it hundreds of times, announced loudly, "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action." She paused to make sure that we were awe-struck by her presence, then sauntered up the stairs to her classroom, leaving us wondering what more the Ministry would do to Hogwarts.

I looked back at Draco, and his face had fallen; he wasn't expecting that outcome. I sprinted up to Professor McGonnagal before she could retreat back to her office. "Professor?"

She turned to me, her severe eyes solemn and worried. "Yes, Ms. Braddock?"

"What do you think Umbridge will do?"

Her gaze fell on me, full of loathing for Umbridge. "I don't know dear." She answered quietly, staring after the horrid woman. Surprisingly, she turned her gaze down to my still injured hand. The gashes had healed more since my argument with Draco the month before, but it was slow, and I decided that Umbridge must have put some kind of stasis charm on the quills; Harry still hadn't healed either, even when I put as much of my gift into healing the both of us as I could without injuring myself further. Although there were no longer any cuts on my skin, the marks were still an angry red and I knew that I would bare the scars for the rest of my life.

"Still not healing?" stated my second favorite professor, second only to Professor Snape.

"No." I confirmed, pulling the sleeve of my robe back over the marred skin.

"Thank you for telling me about her, Rose." McGonnagal retreated to her office, and I started on my way to the Common-room, finished with supper. About half way across the castle and on one of the many landings that the unpredictable stairs connected to, I realized that I'd forgotten my favorite book back in the Great Hall, and I didn't want to run back for it; who knew which way the staircases were heading. I pulled out my wand when I heard a voice behind me, belonging once again to a certain Slytherin. Was Draco stalking me?

I turned none-the-less, and was surprised to see my book in his hands. "Oh, thank you." I said quickly, taking the book from him and fully intending to escape to Gryfindor Tower. I turned to go, but he rested his hand on mine as it clasped the railing, stopping me. I whipped my head back, surprised.

"Please wait Rose." He begged.

My eyes widened. What was happening to Draco that was turning him back into how I'd known him as a ten year old boy? "What?" I shot back curtly.

"I'm sorry." As the words fell from his perfect mouth, I blinked in confusion. Having a captive audience, he continued. "I'm sorry for insulting you, I'm sorry for everything wrong that has happened between us here. I'm sorry." he gushed.

How very fortunate it was that this entire staircase was devoid of people except us. Having someone see Draco pouring out his heart and acting kind, to a Gryfindor no-less, would completely ruin his reputation in the school.

I thought for a moment, leaving him waiting for my answer. Was I ready to forgive him? It'd been a full month and a half since the incident, and my anger towards him seemed to have ebbed for the most part or else I would have thrown him out of the Hospital Wing when he'd arrived with Raymond. I scrutinized his face and he seemed genuinely remorseful and apologetic. Maybe I was ready to give him another chance... and I did miss him. No. I was still furious with him and I needed more time. I didn't quite hate him, but the feeling I still felt toward him was pretty darn close.

I made eye contact with Draco and said evenly, "Thank you for grabbing my book for me, but I'm not ready to forgive you yet. Goodbye."

Draco POV

I sprinted down the stairs, needing to get out of there, turning back only to see Rose's long, radiant red hair swing as she entered Gryfindor Tower.

I passed the Chosen One on the way down to my Common-room. He didn't normally come this way, and it was a perfect opportunity to have a little fun to balance out the rejection and guilt I was now feeling.

"Having a nice evening, Potter?" I called mockingly, feeling more apt to jab at him than usual. "Remember, I am a Prefect Potter."

He glared with his piercing green eyes that seemed to always be a perfect match to Rose's no matter how many times I saw them, and ignored me, heading down the corridor to god knows where. I turned my attention back to going to my Common-room and reading the reply to the letter I'd sent nearly a month before. Mail was excruciatingly slow these days.

I whispered the new password, damn thing changed every two weeks, and sprinted down the unveiled corridor, finally feeling comforted by the grandeur of the green and silver furnished dungeon. Blaize sat in one of the armchairs by the fireplace reading a well worn novel. He stood and walked up to me. "How did it go?" Blaize had skipped dinner and was unaware of what had happened over the last half hour.

My silence was answer enough.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He remarked, casting his eyes down.

I fumbled with the letter in my hands, opening it with a flick of my wand and reading it.

Draco,

I received your letter, and I understand your concern for Rose, but I regret to say that what is happening at Hogwarts at is out of my control. The Minister himself has instigated the interference at Hogwarts and I have already tried to persuade him.

I'm sorry Draco. Keep yourself out of trouble, and try to keep an eye on Rose too.

Your Father,

Lucius Malfoy.

I glared down at the letter, promptly crumpling the paper and throwing the mess into the fire that glowed green. There was nothing else I could do to protect Rose. It made me furious; a girl so brave and kind did not deserve to be treated so cruelly, even if she could no longer stand the sight of me.

Behind me, Millicent Bulstrode, a girl who fancied me but who I hadn't given a second glance, emerged from the girls' dormitory with a wide smirk on her face. "So, Draco, any luck on your whole fling with the 'Princess of Gryfindor'?" she mocked.

I turned and glared murderously at her. "You better watch your tongue, Bulstrode!" I fumed, whipping out my wand instantly, secretly hoping to practice my dueling skills on someone other than Blaize.

She just laughed at me, before heading back to the dormitory that she shared with Pansy Perkenson. Since she was a mutual friend of Rose and I, perhaps Pansy could dispel the rumors that Bulstrode clearly meant to spread across the school.

I walked over to the couch that Blaize had moved to and plopped down on it, my head in my hands as I tried to sort and contain all of the emotions running through my head in regards to the beautiful, smart, funny, kind, stubborn, absolutely enchanting green-eyed Gryfindor. Blaize soon looked over and laid his hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner.

I was broken out of my reverie and peered at him, confused. "What are you doing?"

He smiled lightly and answered back, "I think you're falling in love with her, Draco."

That statement sent all of my barriers and conditioning into overdrive. I shot out of my seat and faced Blaize with a murderous glare in my eyes, stunning him into silence. "I am not in love with Rose!" I declared, my hand itching toward my wand again. I had a few curses on my tongue that I would have thrown had he not been my best friend, but I still would jinx him if he pushed me. "She can't stand the sight of me." I moaned.

Blaize smirked at me driving my annoyance higher. "Sure you don't, Draco. Then why on earth did you get so furious when Umbridge tortured her?" He questioned, tearing down my facade a little.

I tried to think of something witty to throw back, but nothing would come, and I knew my side of the argument was quickly deteriorating. Finally I said. "It could never work. Besides, she's Gryfindor's Princess."

"Draco, you've known her longer than anyone else, and, pureblood or not, she's the only girl I've ever seen you look at other than to torment like you do Granger." The Italian boy pointed out.

I opened my mouth the protest again how I was not head-over-heels for a girl who apparently hated me, but when nothing came out he continued. "I know you, Draco. You haven't had her off your mind since school started, and you haven't been yourself since last month. What happened?"

I sat in the armchair he vacated earlier and rested my face in my hands again. After a long moment while I riled in the memory, I finally said through my hands, "I saw the marks on her hands from Umbridge." "And she is spending too much time with Potter." I added snidely.

Blaize leaned back on the couch and threaded his hands behind his head nonchalantly and relaxed on the sofa, seemingly satisfied with my disgust.

"You, my friend, are jealous of Harry Potter."

"I am not jealous of Potter!" I retorted instantly.

He sighed victoriously regardless and took on a peaceful expression that made him look to all the world like he was asleep. I growled under my breath in frustration before retreating to my personal dorm and readying for bed, adamantly repeating to myself that I was not jealous of Harry Potter or in love with my best friend before Hogwarts.