A big thanks to JoFrench22 and WeFellOut for their reviews; I'm completely flattered and I'm so happy that you are enjoying the story! I'm on spring break so I've spent a lot of time working on this story, planning out where I'm heading with it, etc. There are some big developments coming in a few chapters! Enjoy.

Friendly Favors

December 5, 1943

"Avery's waiting for you downstairs," Faye told her.

Rose looked at her in surprise and set down her book, swinging her legs to the side of her bed and hopping off. "We don't have plans today. That's odd."

Faye shrugged and headed into their shared bathroom. Rosemary slipped on a pair of flats and walked down the stone spiral staircase that led to the common room. He was standing at the bottom, leaning against it. "Markus…I'm surprised to see you. Usually you aren't awake until noon on Sundays," she forced herself to say in a playful voice. She thought he must have been looking for a quick snogging session or something of the sort.

Surprisingly, he didn't respond to her light teasing. Instead, he gave her a serious look and said, "I need to talk to you about something. Can we go somewhere private?"

"Sure," she nodded, curious. "I'll run upstairs to get my coat and then we can go outside."

Rose retrieved her gray wool coat and returned to him, wondering if he was finally going to come clean about Rebecca. She saw how it would end: surely, he would apologize and insist that he would treat her better this time. She would do her best to forgive him and things would go back to normal. It wasn't really what she wanted; what she wanted was to rid herself of him entirely, but at least this way she wouldn't have to deal with her parents.

They didn't speak to each other until they arrived at their destination: the snow-covered front lawn of Hogwarts. It was cold, but Rose loved the cold. Avery took a carton of cigarettes from his front coat pocket and offered them to her. She took one and he did the same, subsequently lighting them both.

He took a deep sigh and said, "Okay, please try to understand that I never meant for you to get hurt…"

"You're sleeping with Orion, I know." She would at least spare herself from looking like a complete fool.

He looked at her in surprise and chuckled despite himself. "I suppose I'm not as clever as I'd like to think." Then he turned serious once more. "But really, Rosie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." The next part was something Rose had not anticipated: "I think it's best that we put an end to this. We just sort of fizzled, you know?"

She was internally panicking. She hadn't yet worked out a plan around her parent's wishes and had been waiting until that was the case. Then, Avery mentioned something she really hadn't anticipated. "I know neither of our parents will take this well, but they'll have to get over it. You need to stand up to yours; I don't think you'll be happy until you do." He sent her a hopeful smile. "Who knows, maybe they'll understand."

She doubted this would be the case, but was nonetheless reassured somewhat by the fact that he had at least thought through her position before speaking with her. It made her think that he wasn't truly as careless as he had been acting for the past few months. Perhaps their friendship could at least be salvaged. She nodded slowly and said "It's the right thing for us to do. I can't keep putting on the same act."

"Neither can I."

"With that said, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell your parents until I have the chance to tell mine. I'd rather them hear it from me. And I certainly don't want everyone to know that you were sleeping around with Rebecca Orion, the Slytherin skank."

"Clearly you aren't bitter at all. She's really not that bad…" He smirked at her and she glared back at him. "I can agree to that, though. I owe you that much."

"Yes, you do," Rose added pointedly. "Well, no need to drag this out. We've had some fun times over the years."

"I want to remain friends. You should know that I did love you once, Rosie…" For the first time that morning, Avery looked genuinely sad and she assumed that his mind was flooded with their memories in the same way hers was.

"We'll stay friends," she told him, even though they both knew there was a chance that it wouldn't work out that way. They both looked away from each other and a silence fell over them as he stomped out his cigarette.

"Ready to head inside?" he asked finally.

"I'm going to finish mine," she said, breathing in the smoke. "I'll see you later."

"Bye Rose." He leaned in to kiss her cheek one last time before returning inside. She watched him go, feeling both hopeful and disturbed at the fact that such a large part of her life could come and go in a moment's notice. They had known each other for years, after all, and it was impossible to not feel at least a twinge of bittersweet reminiscence.

"You what?"

"We broke up," Rosemary said plainly.

Faye massaged the spot between her two eyebrows as if she had bumped her head and hadn't heard properly. She looked up at Rose. "Why? Also, why aren't you upset?"

"It just wasn't working; we want different things is all," Rose told her with a shrug. At least they were half-truths.

"But it's Rose and Markus. Markus and Rose…You're perfect together. Everyone thinks so!"

"Everyone else's opinion is irrelevant, Faye! It's not their relationship." Clearly, she wasn't getting the picture. Rosemary sighed and lowered her voice, glancing around the dormitory to make sure that Loretta and Emily weren't around. "I'll tell you the real reason, but you can't breathe a word to anyone."

"Wait, wait. Let me guess. Markus found out about your little crush on Riddle." Faye's mouth split into a devilish smirk.

Rose froze for a moment, but knew there was no way for Faye to know that she actually did fancy Tom. She responded cheekily: "Well, you know what? Just for that little remark, I don't think I'm in the mood to tell you any longer."

Faye giggled as Rose proceeded to glare at her. "Oh, come now my love, you have to tell me." She threw her arms around Rose's shoulders, trying to break her scowl. "Please, you must. I'll stay awake for weeks."

Rose cracked a smirk, unable to stay annoyed with her closest friend. "Alright, alright." She took a deep breath and said "He was sleeping around with Orion. Faye you can't tell anyone, please."

Her jaw literally dropped. "Rebecca Orion, are you kidding me? I knew I should have slipped that Hair-Shedding Solution into her glass of firewhiskey at the beginning of the year." She shook her head in disbelief. "Bloody hell…Rebecca Orion. She's disgusting! She's only shagged every Slytherin boy from fourth year and above. Are you sure he didn't give you anything? You know, like sexually-related."

"He didn't," Rose gave her a resentful look. Sometimes Faye had no boundaries whatsoever.

"Well I can certainly understand why you wouldn't want anyone to know. I don't know if I can see Avery the same way ever again. I would be so embarrassed."

"Thanks," she said sarcastically. "I am." Her glare intensified and then turned threatening. "Which is why you aren't going to tell anyone."

"Obviously not. Then I'd be friends with the girl who got cheated on with Rebecca Orion."

"You're the absolute worst. Why did I think it was a good idea to tell you?"

"Merlin, Rose, you know I'm joking." Faye rolled her eyes as though Rose was just being dramatic and had no reason to be offended.

"Anyway, things ended well regardless; we'll still be friends."

"That's good, I suppose." Faye paused for a moment and then said, "Wait a moment, if you and Avery are finished, then so are Lestrange and I! You promised we'd go on a double to Hogsmeade!"

Before Faye's panic could worsen, Rose reassured her. "I'll find a way to make it happen. I promised you; it'll be okay…" Her voice turned sarcastic once more. "But also, thanks for caring aboutmy situation instead of your own."

"Sorry, that was a bit insensitive, wasn't it?" Faye took a deep breath. "Well, you should celebrate! You're single now and you can snog the first person you see! Or, you know, Tom Riddle."

"Would you stop that?" Rose smacked her arm playfully.

Faye laughed again, and then said in a more serious tone "It will be okay, Rose. I know you must be worried and I know how traditional your parents are. But it will be okay. You know I'm here for whatever you need."

Even in the midst Faye's merciless teasing and callous remarks, there were always moments such as these that reminded Rose why they were best friends. "Thank you."

While Rose was worried about telling her parents, there was such a sense of relief that came with ending her phony relationship with Markus that she couldn't help but feel happy about it. Not to mention the fact that, thanks to Faye's teasing, Rose was keenly aware of the fact that she actually had a chance with Tom. It was a thought that she had not yet bothered to entertain because of her former situation, but now, it filled her with fresh hope. For the first time in weeks, she felt hoisted from the momentous cynicism to which she had become a victim.

"Well, should we get lunch?" Faye asked her.

"I'd love to, but I have patrol this afternoon."

"You Prefects are always busy, aren't you? I'm going to go down then; I missed breakfast so I'm starved."

"I'll see you later," Rose said as she stood to change into her school robes and pinned on her prefect badge.

She made her way to the fourth floor, where she was assigned to begin her patrol. Just as she began to wonder who would be assigned to work with her during her shift, a familiar tall frame turned the corner in his usual confident gait and she couldn't believe her luck. She took in his dark eyes and handsome face; it was almost enough to make her melt right then and there.

"Hello, Tom," Rose said while sending him a warm smile, trying not to sound overly excited to see him.

He returned her smile with his, polite and formal as always. "Hello, Miss Horton. Are you on patrol now?"

"I am; it looks as though we'll be working together this afternoon."

He nodded and they began walking through the corridor together. She wondered if she should tell him about her and Avery; Tom was first and foremost Markus' friend, after all. After several moments of turning it over in her mind, she realized she simply couldn't resist. She looked up at him and said "Have you spoken to Markus this morning?"

He had, of course; Avery informed him that he had talked to Rose as soon as he returned to their dormitory. But Tom was more interested in what she had to say on the matter. He wanted to detect if she had residual feelings for Avery and to know if she was upset. Giving her a look of cluelessness, he said "No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"

"We broke up this morning, finally."

She certainly didn't seem upset; if she was, she was excellent at hiding it. Rather, she seemed satisfied and it perhaps the most genuinely happy that he had ever seen her. Still, he wasn't sure how to proceed. Did he trust his perception of her enough to assume her feelings? He settled on: "I suspect this had something to do with the unpleasantness regarding Miss Orion."

"Yes, but we've agreed to leave that out of the picture, so please don't mention it to anyone else."

"I wouldn't think of it," Tom said. He certainly wasn't a gossip and was slightly offended that she inferred he might be.

"I know you wouldn't, I just felt like I should say something just in case you hear someone suggest it," she said; perhaps she had sensed his slightly defensive tone. "I know that rumors will begin by the end of the day."

"I would ask you if you are upset, but you seem to be more relieved than anything."

"I am." She smiled one of her breathtaking smiles.

She changed the subject then, discussing the Transfiguration exam they took the week prior. He kept up with the conversation for the most part, but was heavily distracted by the satisfied feeling that had washed over him. She was so close now, but the hardest part still lay ahead. How would he ever garner enough courage to make his move? It seemed so ridiculous to have paralyzing fear in the face of her, but it couldn't be helped. His dedication to winning her had certainly not subsided; it was intensely bolstered by this recent development. He knew that when the time was right, he would push past his reservations and do what he needed to do; he always did. The issue was waiting for the right time and knowing when that right time was. She looked so delicious to him with her bright pink lips and ocean-colored eyes. It was becoming harder and harder to resist; he hoped the "right time" came sooner rather than later.

"I almost forgot; I also wanted to thank you for saving me at Slug Club last night," she said. "I was quite embarrassed."

He was reminded of the night before and thought of the way she looked in her tight lace dress: an exquisite blend of sensuality and elegance. Tom also remembered the jealousy he felt at Slughorn's comments and that they had simply been too much to bear, but it wasn't as though he could let her see any of that. "Professor Slughorn tends to dwell too much on his students' personal matters. I don't think it's appropriate."

She nodded in agreement. "Well I suppose I'll owe you a favor."

"Not at all; I had to find some way to thank you for tipping me off about our first Potions lesson." He gave her a small smile and her dark blue eyes met his for a moment; he wished it was for much longer.

Rose gave him a look as though she had suddenly remembered something important. "Actually, I have another favor I may need to ask of you."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. What could it be? Innumerable possibilities, mostly irrational in nature, flashed through his mind.

You want me to kiss you? To run my hands through your beautiful hair? To tell you how I've been thinking of you, and only you, for weeks? To touch you everywhere, all at once? Would you like me to whisper in your ear the things I'd love to do with you?

Why, yes, I think I can manage that Miss Horton.

These possibilities proved to be slightly too hopeful.

"I promised Faye that I would arrange an outing to Hogsmeade so that she and Adam could get to know each other more. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but she's quite obsessed with him. But now that Markus and I are over, I don't see that happening. Unless, of course, you wouldn't mind taking his place? There's a trip scheduled for next weekend and we wouldn't even have to stay the entire time. We'd just go with them and duck out after a bit so they're forced to have some time alone. Normally I wouldn't bother with this sort of thing, but I promised her and she'll be intolerable to live with if I don't make it happen somehow."

He couldn't help but wonder: was it a date? Perhaps, though, she had just asked him because he and Lestrange were friends. Either way, he wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to be near her.

"I should be available next weekend. Do you want me to ask Lestrange about it?"

"Would you? I would very much appreciate it!" She had a delighted look upon her face and it made him feel pleasant to know that he was the one that caused it.

"It's nothing, Miss Horton. I wouldn't want Miss Donohue to keep you up all night, discussing her frustration on the matter." He gave her a smirk. "Especially because your exhaustion might impact our work in Potions. That just wouldn't do. If Scout and Edgewood got a better mark than us, I would be inclined to drop out of Hogwarts entirely."

She laughed. "Oh Tom, you're terrible. But in all seriousness, I completely agree and it's likely that I would be just as devastated."

Why were things so easy with her, but so taxing with everyone else? He laughed with her without thinking or trying. She delighted him so naturally; he felt intoxicated by her presence. Even the way she said his name, the only reminder of his dead muggle father, made him hate it just a little less.

"Well, you won't have to worry about that in any case. We work together so well, Tom."

He couldn't tell if she was just being friendly or if there was something potentially more flirtatious behind her words. Her unfaltering confidence hid any potential motive and the answer to this question. He knew that it would continue threatening to drive him to the edge of insanity until he could know for certain.

They continued their patrol and lighthearted conversation until they reached the dungeons. He offered to escort her back to the Ravenclaw Tower, but she politely declined, saying that she was going to try and find Faye.

Well that answered his question, didn't it? If she fancied him, surely she would have taken him up on his offer. Then she went and perplexed him once again: "I'm looking forward Potions tomorrow, and our trip next weekend of course."

"Likewise," he smiled at her, once again balancing on the fine line of seeming friendly while also concealing his true feelings.

Rosemary told him goodbye and left the dungeons. He stood there and watched her go until she rounded the corner at the end of the hallway, still not sure what to make of her comments. He turned around toward the Slytherin common room and saw Markus standing near the entrance, smirking slightly.

He was annoyed that Avery's idiotic face had distracted him from his pleasant thoughts. "Who in the hell do you think you're looking at?" Tom snapped, walking past him into the common room. The smirk quickly vanished and Avery followed behind him.

"Have you no idea that you're in deep? I dreamt about you nearly every night this week." – Alex Turner

Yay! Now that Markus is out of the picture, Tom can finally make his move! Or will he? You'll find out soon! As always, I love love love reviews and would be delighted to hear from any of you!(:

Have a great week and weekend!