Chapter Three

Rose sat on the worn window settee, the light from the Gibson moon illuminating her profile. She exhaled a breath, her eyes rereading the words that had been written on the piece of parchment from her Uncle.

Little Pup,

The day you chose to lead that man away from the others, you decided it was worth bearing this curse. I know you think you're alone, but you aren't. I felt the same way. I honestly thought I was alone, that I would be forced to suffer through this curse without anyone to help me. I thought Fleur would leave me for being disfigured. You will find your true mate, one who sees the pain you are going through and who will help you through. The reason you are feeling restless is because you are going to be of age soon, reaching maturity. You'll need to do more activities. You'll need stay active until after the Heat. I'll take a trip to Hogwarts this weekend to explain everything in more detail for you. Stay strong Little Pup. I know you're feeling crazy, I know you think no one understands, but someone will see you are struggling, and they will force their way into your life, force this secret from you and hold you tight. You'll find your true mate, you just need to wait a bit longer.

Uncle Bill

Rose sighed, folding the letter in half before wrapping her arms around her legs. She rested her cheek against her kneecaps and just focused on the snow that was falling from the silver clouds.

Winter holidays were just a week away, and Rose had decided to stay at Hogwarts. She couldn't face the rest of the Brood when she could barely control the beast that lived under the surface of her psyche. She knew her father was disappointed, but her mother had eased some of the tension between in the last letter she wrote detailing her decision to stay behind. She needed peace, needed to be able to think without others surrounding her constantly.

"Mum's worried enough as it is Rose, you really should be sleeping more," her brother's voice drifted to her ears, drawing her from her thoughts.

"I just, there's a lot of chatter," Rose commented, a soft smile curling on her lips. Hugo only shook his head before sitting across from her, his cerulean blue eyes full of worry.

"You know, I don't think any of us ever really thanked you for what you did that day," Hugo stated after the silence became too much for him. Rose lifted her head, delicate eye brow quirked in silent question to what her brother meant.

"That day that werewolf attacked. Dad said it was a rogue from Greyback's Pack. He wanted to get back at Uncle Harry and Mum for their part in the war. You just… You just acted Rose. You didn't even think before you shot off into the forest. You wanted him to chase after you and he did. It was like… It was like you knew exactly how to act to get him to focus on you, to get him to want only you," Hugo spoke, awe evident in his voice as he recounted the day his sister had been bitten by a werewolf. Rose could only shrug, not used to the admiration her brother was looking at her with.

"Because I did Hugo. Uncle Bill had been bitten by a werewolf during the Second War. And he was always distant from us during three nights. The night before the full moon, the night of the full moon, and the night after the full moon. I got curious one time and asked him about it. He told me. It was that easy, Hugo. And I retained that information. When Mum, Al, James, Aunt Ginny, and you were threatened… When it was actually possible for something to happen to all of you, I just…" Rose could finish, couldn't explain exactly what went on in her mind during that day. Hugo nodded, obviously understanding what his sister was trying to say.

"Thank you Rosie. Thank you for being the brave one and keeping all of us safe," Hugo whispered, leaning forward to wrap his arms around his older sister in a tight embrace.

"Don't call me Rosie," she berated him lightly, hugging him back just fiercely. Hugo could only chuckle, finally dropping his arms and leaning back to look at his sister, truly look at her.

When had his annoying older sister grown? When did she change from the bright eyed girl who questioned everything? He knew the answer, knew it before he even asked the question. She had changed the day that werewolf came for their mother and their Uncle. She changed the moment she made that decision to lead the werewolf away from their picnic, allowed that werewolf to hunt her. She changed when she showed more bravery than curiosity. He had never truly admitted to himself, let alone anyone else, but the person his sister had become, this strong independent woman she was, made him proud. He was proud to call her family, to call her his sister.

"Go back to sleep Bug. Mum will give me hell knowing I let you stay out of bed this late," Rose shooed him away. Hugo stuck out his tongue before complying with his sister's command.

"Don't stay up to late Rose, you should be sleeping as well," Hugo spoke softly over his shoulder, glancing at his sister who offered a gentle smile in return before waving him away.

Rose sighed, running her slender fingers through her mass of auburn curls. She was aggravated, as she always was during the three nights her beast was closer to the surface of her psyche. Slowly Rose inhaled a deep breath which proved to be a mistake. The familiar scent of Scorpius drifted to her nostrils which seemed to calm her and ignite her at the same time.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" his voice was still laden with sleep which gave it a husky note. Rose glanced away from the window, chewing her bottom lip between her blunt teeth, sifting through the thoughts that were currently buzzing through her mind.

"Just reading a letter from my Uncle Bill and Dad. He's a bit disappointed at the moment," she answered quietly, her posture lax as he took a seat across from her on the window settee.

"Why? Did you get a T on your O. ?" a teasing note was evident in his voice, however when Rose didn't answer him right away, he knew it was more serious than her grades.

"Did you get kicked off the Quidditch team?" he questioned, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"No," she answered, yet he knew she wouldn't willingly divulge this information with him.

"Rose, you know you can talk to me. We've been best friends since first year. Why is your dad disappointed in you?" the young Malfoy questioned, his storm colored eyes focused intently on her profile, which was turned away from him. Her eyes never left the window and he knew the wheels in her head were turning, looking for the best way to explain just what was bothering her.

"I'm not going home for the holidays," she murmured quietly, knowing he was going to be disappointed in her as well. To her surprise, he chuckled quietly for a moment, shaking his tousled platinum blonde hair.

"Well that's a relief. I thought I would be spending the holidays alone this year," he commented with a crocked smile stretching across his lips.

Rose jerked her head sharply, her cerulean blue eyes flecked with gold narrowing slightly at his words.

"What do you mean Malfoy?" her tone came out sharper, obviously not expecting those words to leave his mouth. Scorpius shrugged his shoulders, knowing Rose had a shorter temper at the moment.

"I decided to stay at the school. I felt I would be intruding if I went home with Al and I wasn't going to willingly spend the holidays with my grandfather. I thought staying behind would be the best choice. I had no idea you would be staying behind as well," Scorpius couldn't stop the grin from stretching across his lips, pleased he would be spending time without the brood breathing down his next for the next three weeks. Rose looked stunned, something that was very rare.

"Please tell me you are joking," she pleaded, her eyes widening as the wheels in her head continued to turn.

"Why would I joke about that? I thought you would be as excited as I am about spending the holidays together. We usually do any way Rose, I don't see why it matters now. What's bothering you? Is it something I did? Did I say something out of line? Please, just tell me so I can fix whatever I broke. I hate knowing you're avoiding me, and don't deny it, I know you are. You've gone out of your way all day to avoid being left alone with me, to avoid speaking to me. I hate this feeling Rose. You are my best friend. You are the one person who I know won't judge me for my family's past. You keep me anchored when I feel as if I am drowning. So please Rosie, tell me what I did to make you so made you are out right avoiding me!" his voice held a note of desperation, a pleading in his eyes that Rose had never seen before.

She turned away from him, or at least she attempted to turn away. Scorpius's hand shot out to grasp her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Please Rose, tell me how I can fix this," Rose could feel the tears prickly the corners of her eyes from his tones. She knew seven years of friendships had earned him at least an explanation as to why she couldn't be left alone with, a reason as to why she lost her temper three days out of the month that had nothing to do with 'womanly problems' as Al so elegantly stated.

"You can't fix this Scorpius. This isn't something you can fix. This is entirely are on me," Rose whispered, her voice thick with emotion. His face fell, the heartbreak obvious on his features.

"This can't be the end of our friendship Rose. You've fought with me for seven years. Determined to prove to me, to my family, to your family, to everyone that a Malfoy and a Weasley can be friends. You can't honestly tell me you are ready to throw all of your hard work away for some reason you can't tell me," Scorpius's voice was becoming heated, obviously frustrated with the infuriating red head.

"Scorpius," her voice sounded broken, and he didn't know how to fix it. So he did the only thing he knew how to do. He pushed to his feet, shook his head, and walked away. He knew it wasn't the best action to choose, however he couldn't face her at that moment.

The tears silently rolled down Rose's cheeks, and she wasn't able to stop them no matter how hard she tried. Scorpius had been her best friend since first year. He hadn't wanted her friendship, but Rose was stubborn. She refused to allow him to wallow alone, that was something only she could do. She had forced her presences on him, made him comfortable to be around her before she introduced him to the brood. They had all welcomed him with open arms, and he had been thankful to her stubbornness. And here she was, pushing him away because she was afraid she would hurt him. She couldn't… The tears would not stop, they continued to roll down her cheeks as silent sobs shook her shoulders. With a deep breath, Rose attempted to control her breathing, unaware that two people were watching her. She heard a heavy sigh before a familiar presences sat beside, forcing her closer to the cold window.

"Rosie, please don't cry," Albus begged his cousin, upset that she was crying. She attempted to talk, yet she couldn't seem to catch her breath, couldn't find her voice to say the reassuring words her cousin desperately needed to hear from her lips.

"I'm a monster Al," she whispered once she was able to speak.

"No, no you're not. Rose, you should just tell him. He would understand," Al informed her, draping his arm over her shoulders and pulling her to his side.

"He'd hate me. I've kept this from him for seven years Al, seven fucking years. He will hate me if I tell him now," Rose's entire body was shaking, fear of rejection clear in her voice. Albus hushed her, kissing the top of her head and rocking her slightly.

"If he hates you for keeping this from him, He obviously wasn't the friend you thought he was," Al stated, his voice a quiet whisper.

"Thanks Al," Rose whispered, unaware that someone had remained in the common room and overheard their conversation, even if it was in hushed whispers.

A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed that chapter. It was interesting to write. Feel free to let me know what you thought.