Chapter 19

ΘΣ

The next Saturday, Rose woke up to a slamming door. Hermione stormed in, her hair almost alive with her anger. "Those stupid, selfish, arrogant people!"

Donna pulled her curtains open with a yawn. "Gee, Hermione, tell us how you really feel."

Ginny poked her head out of the bathroom, combing her hair. Her Quidditch Gryffindor Captain's robes were lying crumpled on the floor, still damp from practice. "What is it?"

Hermione groaned and paced in front of her bed, her wand clenched tightly in her hand. It was trailing blue sparks as she walked. "Lucius Malfoy is insisting on throwing a Valentine's ball to celebrate the 'remarkable and successful reconstruction of the great school of Hogwarts'. More like he's trying to bribe people into forgetting that he was a Death Eater."

Ginny frowned. "How can he do that? Professor McGonagall would never agree to something so frivolous, not when things are still so difficult."

"It's not her decision, apparently, and he seemed so happy to be able to say that. I hope whoever he paid to get his chair on the Board of Governors back will choke on their own spit."

Rose's eyebrows shot up. "Blimey, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?"

The older girl stiffened. "He stood by and watched as his insane, murderous sister-in-law took her collection of knives to me, and now he wants us to host his little party as a 'gesture of peace'."

Rose blanched. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

Hermione sighed and sat on her bed, her shoulders slumping heavily. "Not many people do."

Ginny pulled on a warm jumper, glaring out the window. "Why in Merlin's name is he bothering? Draco doesn't even go here any longer—and good riddance."

Hermione snorted. "He must've fit in at Durmstrang without any problem, if what Victor told me is accurate."

Ginny's shoulders tensed a little, even if her smile stayed on. "Oh, yes. How is Victor?"

Her chin went up. "Doing well. He heard about Harry's story, and he's been talking about giving younger kids flying lessons to help them play Quidditch."

Ginny blinked, her surprise outweighing her suspicion. "Really? That's brilliant. I didn't know he knew that much about Harry."

"Well…" Hermione looked down, blushing, and Donna grinned.

"Oh, of course."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up. "What're you blushing for?"

Hermione mumbled the answer, and Ginny leaned forward. "What was that?"

"I said, he knows I'm afraid of flying, okay? He also wants to be a flying coach so more kids won't be frightened of it, like me." Ginny and Donna looked at each other and started snickering, and Rose winced.

"How'd he find out about that?"

Hermione sighed. "I went to visit him over hols, and he offered to fly me around the mountains."

Ginny frowned. "Wait, when did you visit him?"

Hermione raised her chin. "After New Year's."

She groaned. "Does Ron know about this?"

"Why d'you think we had that row?" She pulled her hair back, twisting it into a loose knot without thinking. "He can't dictate who I'm friends with just because he feels inadequate."

The tall redhead winced. "I don't know if that's the best way to handle it—"

"If he can't trust me, that's his problem."

Ginny stepped closer. "And you think jumping on a portkey to visit ex-boyfriends will help that?"

Hermione's jaw tightened, and she began making her bed jerkily. "I've had this argument with Ron already, and it didn't impress me then." She grabbed her bag. "I've got a meeting."

Ginny growled in frustration and headed back into the bathroom, and Donna and Rose exchanged a glance before heading out. Donna sighed as they stepped out of Gryffindor tower. "So, a Valentine's ball. If I didn't know who was sponsoring it, it would almost seem like fun. Well… assuming you had somebody to go with." She looked at Rose meaningfully, and Rose blushed.

"Shut up. We don't even know if it's going to happen—it didn't sound like McGonagall wanted it."

"It doesn't sound like a bad idea. A spot of frivolity and a nice dress never hurt anyone."

"I guess." They walked down the stairs to the main hall, and Rose let out a relieved breath when she saw the Doctor walking up towards them. "We're off to the library, want to join us?" Donna gave her a disbelieving look, and Rose rolled her eyes. "Right. See you later, then."

"You two have fun with the great and the good—I'm off to spend my time with the living." Nearly-Headless Nick was gliding past, and he gave her a wounded look. Donna ignored him and left, and Rose took the Doctor's hand.

"So, did you ever figure out that DaDA problem you were working on?" She raised her eyebrows significantly, and he preened.

"Of course I did. Finished it with time to spare." He pulled out his wand and twisted it in an intricate pattern, leaving faint gold traces showing on both of them. "No more tracking spells."

"You sure?"

"Oh, ye of little faith." He pressed a hand to his chest, and Rose elbowed him in the side. "Fine, yes, I'm sure." He spun around, facing her as he walked backwards. "Which means I can show you more of the places I've found as I've explored."

"Which you do because you don't sleep." He froze then, and she nearly walked into him.

His face was eerily blank. "Donna told you, did she?"

"Yeah, and I'm glad she did. Y'know, I always wondered how you were able to go explorin' so much and still function. Guess you're used to it, then?"

He spun around. "Let's not talk about this."

"No, Doctor, let's." She tugged him to a halt, pulling him over to a small alcove. "'Cause we're together, what, nine, ten hours a day? And yet you've never said—"

"Never said what? That I can't even close my eyes without almost throwing up from the pain and the fear? Oh, that sounds like a brilliant topic."

Rose bit her lip. "Have you tried Dreamless Sleep?"

The Doctor looked aside and crossed his arms, his lips pressed together. "That stuff stopped working on me when I was three years old."

"I'm sorry." He glanced at her and nodded stiffly, and she continued. "I just… I hate the idea that you're pushing yourself so hard."

He sighed and relaxed, reaching over to take her hand. "I could spend hours lying in bed, dreading what waits behind my eyelids, or I could explore with you." His lips quirked crookedly. "It's not much of a contest to me. Now come on, the library awaits."

ΘΣ

The Doctor and Rose stepped into the candle-lit warmth of the great hall at dinnertime, separating to go to their respective tables. The mealtime murmur of voices—normally quieted by the appetites of teenage witches and wizards—was almost deafening, and Rose frowned as she slid in next to Donna. "What's happened?"

She gave her an amused glance. "Where were you, Dorothy? Professor McGonagall announced the dance at lunch."

Rose glanced at Hermione, deep in conversation with a 4th year prefect, and lowered her voice. "We snuck down to the kitchens." She frowned. "Lucius Malfoy works fast, apparently."

Ginny plopped down next to her. "I'll say. And these idiots are lapping it up." A 6th year girl glared at her, and she glared right back. "This is Lucius Malfoy's party, and you're still excited about it?" The girl tossed her hair and turned back to her friends, and Ginny groaned and poked at her meal. "After everything that he's done, people are still willing to forgive him if he lets them have their fun."

Donna coughed a little and bit into her dinner, and Rose shot her an amused glance. Hermione finished her conversation and turned around, groaning in frustration. "As if it's not enough that they're forcing this on us, apparently Mr. Malfoy thinks it would be a 'show of good faith' if the Head Boy and Girl are the ones who plan it. So not only do I have classes to attend, revising to do, and all of my other duties to see to, I have to plan some pathetic charade so Lucius Malfoy can get his good press."

Rose swallowed her dinner and spoke. "Wait, they're making you plan it?"

"Every detail. I'll have to book a band. How do I even book a band? Oh, this is ridiculous."

"I might be able to help you with that."

Hermione gave her a skeptical look. "Oh? You in contact with many Wizarding bands, are you?"

"No, but who says they have to be human?"

She raised her eyebrows. "What are you thinking? I know the merpeople sing, but they're not really into public performances."

"No, that's not what I meant. There's this room, deep in the dungeon. The Doctor and I were there the night I—well. We were there a while ago. It's full of ensorcelled instruments. All it takes is one spell, and they make some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard."

Hermione's eyes widened. "You found DeMorsay's music room? I've heard about that place—there are mentions here and there in some of the older Hogwarts histories—but I didn't know it still existed."

Rose nodded. "It's still there, and the instruments are still in perfect condition."

"Do you think you could lead me there? The spellwork they did on the room is supposed to be fascinating, augmenting the acoustics without interfering with the precise conditions for storage." Donna snickered, and Hermione frowned. "What?"

"You are such a nerd."

She scowled. "Oh, do shut up."

"What? I didn't say it was a bad thing. After all, look at the Doctor. I love him to bits, and I don't understand half of what he says." She turned to Rose. "Speaking of, if this dance thing is a go, I'd advise asking him yourself. He'll convince himself that you'd never want to go with him, so he most likely won't ever bring it up."

Rose wrinkled her nose. "You're probably right about that, but who says I want to go?"

"Oh, come on. You've got a boy that adores you. Why wouldn't you want to go?" Ginny snorted sourly, and Donna pursed her lips at her. "Well, other than that. And besides, it's going to happen anyway. Why not enjoy it?" Ginny and Hermione's eyes met, and they sighed. Donna frowned. "What?"

Ginny laughed a little, a short sound. "Nevermind."

The hair prickled on the back of Rose's neck, and she turned. Koschei was staring at her, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. She scowled at him, and he smirked and turned back to his friends. Despite herself, she shivered, and Donna glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'." The older girl raised an eyebrow, and she forced a smile. "I'm sure it's nothin'. So, you going to ask David Morgan?"

Donna blushed deeply and turned to stare at the Gryffindor boy, and Rose ducked her head and finished her dinner. She was sure it was nothing.

Wasn't she?

ΘΣ