Chapter 13
I do not own Harry Potter in any way.
A/N - I can tell I'm going to enjoy writing Draco and Rosalie's romance, because I really like where this is going. What about you guys?
Rosalie boarded the train and immediately started looking for Draco. She entered the compartment and saw down across from him.
Draco had grown up quite a bit during the summer. "I thought you would be sitting with Potter", Draco said.
"Well I had to give you something", she told him. She reached into her bag and pulled out a dagger with a dragon carved into the handle. "Daddy and I went to China for a week and I saw this. It made me think of you", she said.
Draco took the dagger from her.
"Consider it a late birthday present", she told him.
"Thanks Rose", Draco said. His blue eyes held hers until the door opened.
"There you two are! Been searching for you", Blaise said sitting down.
"Hey Draco", Pansy said sitting down to next him.
Rosalie suppressed a laugh.
It was obvious Pansy's feelings had intensified and Draco was oblivious.
"How was your summer?" Pansy asked Draco.
"Fine", Draco said, looking at Rosalie for help.
"How about you?" Blaise asked her.
"Good", Rosalie said, "Went to China for a week on business with my father".
"That sounds like fun. Mum got married", Blaise said.
"Again? That's what? Number 5?" Pansy asked him.
Halfway through the ride, the train stopped and the light went out.
"What's going on?" Rosalie asked.
"I don't know", Draco said.
Pansy was burrowed into his side.
The window frosted over and it got really cold.
A cloaked figure appeared at the door and Rosalie felt a sense of fear wash over her. She heard a woman screaming before everything went black.
Draco dropped to his knees next to Rosalie.
The Dementor left the compartment and soon the lights came back on.
Draco took off his coat and wrapped it around Rosalie. "Someone go get Professor Snape. Now!" Draco barked.
Blaise ran out of the compartment.
"Draco?" Rosalie whimpered.
"I've got you Rosie", he told her.
Professor Snape and another professor came running into the compartment.
Remus stopped in his tracks when he saw her.
Draco picked Rosalie up and set her on the seat, but she wouldn't let go of his hand.
Rosalie opened her eyes and her vision was fuzzy.
"Rosalie? Can you sit up?" her father asked her.
Draco helped Rosalie to sit up.
The professor handed her a small piece of chocolate. "Eat it. It'll make you feel better", he told her.
"Thanks", she said and started nibbling on it.
"Is that thing going to come back?" Pansy asked.
"The Dementors are gone", Severus told her.
"Someone screamed", Rosalie said.
"No one screamed, Rosalie", Draco told her.
"I heard a woman screaming", she insisted.
"Professor Snape, can I have a word with you?" the professor asked.
Severus nodded and left Draco to comfort Rosalie.
The two went to an empty compartment.
"She's been alive all this time", Remus said.
"Yes", Severus said.
"And you didn't think to inform the Ministry?" Remus asked.
"Because they obviously couldn't keep Lily safe. I wasn't going to trust them with Rosalie", Severus told him.
"McKenzie", Remus said.
"Her name is Rosalie", Severus told him.
"I'm her godfather", Remus said.
"And she's my daughter", Severus said.
"You haven't told her, have you?" Remus asked him.
"It hasn't come up", Severus answered.
"When are you going to tell her?" Remus asked.
"When the time is right", Severus told him.
When they arrived at Hogwarts, Rosalie was still shaken and her face was pale.
"You'll feel better once you eat", Blaise told her.
Rosalie simply nodded.
They sat down at the Slytherin table.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts", Dumbledore said, "Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor".
Everyone clapped, including Draco, who was grateful to him for helping Rosalie.
"Second, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more times with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid", Dumbledore said.
Rosalie clapped, because she rather liked Hagrid.
"Finally, on a more disquieting note at the request of the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured", Dumbledore said.
Rosalie leaned in towards Draco and Draco wrapped his arm around her.
Blaise gently rubbed his friend's back in an effort to soothe her.
"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you", Dumbledore told them, "It is not in nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkness of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light".
The food appeared on the table shortly after.
"Eat something", Blaise told Rosalie.
"I'm not hungry", she said and got up.
Draco got up and went after her.
"Trouble in paradise?" Ron asked.
"Rosalie passed out too", Harry told him.
"I wonder why", Hermione said.
Draco grabbed Rosalie's arm and she spun around. Draco was expecting to get slapped, not for Rosalie to clutch onto his robes and start crying.
"I was so scared", Rosalie sobbed.
"You gave me quite a fright too", Draco told her, "C'mon".
"No!" Rosalie said, her nails digging into the fabric, "Don't make me go back".
"Rose, you've got to eat something", Draco said.
"I just want to go to sleep", she told him.
Draco sighed and scooped her up and carried her to the Slytherin common room. He set her down, but didn't let go of him. "Rose", Draco said.
"Can I stay with you? I don't want to be alone", Rosalie told him.
Draco led her to his dorm. He dug through his trunk and pulled out his quidditch hoodie.
Rosalie took it from him and went into the bathroom to change. She came out and walked over to Draco's bed. She crawled under the covers.
Draco changed into a pair of green sleep pants and crawled in behind her.
Rosalie took Draco's arm and placed it around her waist.
He could feel her shaking and heard the soft sobs escaping her lips. Draco pulled her closer to him and said, "Nothing will hurt you while I'm here. I promise".
Rosalie eventually settled down and fell asleep.
Draco closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
No one said anything when they entered the dorm room.