Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development. M rating for sexual content anticipated.

The Doting Rival

Chapter 34

Adelyn

"Adelyn?" Draco called after her. She quickened the pace and ducked behind the tapestry. She covered her mouth to quiet her breathing. She leaned back against the wall of the staircase, willing herself as still as a statue.

"Adelyn? Did you use your cloak on me?"

She felt a pang in her chest as he called for her. Guilt for hiding. Pain from fighting that which she desired. Grief from the heartbreak.

"I'll prove it. I promise."

She waited until she could no longer hear his retreating footsteps before she released her breath. It came out in sobs, the tears finally streaming down her face. She had barely been able to hold it in. Thankfully, she had the privacy of the hidden staircase back to the Gryffindor Tower to let it out.

Weak. You're weak. She chided herself, angry for doing exactly what she knew she would. Caving with just one look! Compared to his composure. Ugh! He didn't react like she did. Barely said anything, actually. The more she recalled the conversation, the more the tears poured. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, she was exhausted from the crying. She peaked out from the tapestry to verify there was no one coming. Thank Merlin, it's clear.

It was just a short stride down the corridor to the Common Room. But as she approached, she heard the iconic boisterous laughing of the Weasley twins. She had taken much longer in the staircase than she thought if these two had beat her back from dinner. She released her black hair from its band, combing her fingers through it to block her face. Surely, she would be red and blotchy. As she approached the portrait, the twins greeted her.

"Hey, Adelyn," George said.

"You missed the dessert spread," Fred noted inquisitively.

Adelyn lowered he head, mumbling, "Yea. I don't have much of an appetite t – ahem - tonight." Her voice cracked as a result of her recent blubbering.

Fred caught on quickly and nodded George to continue ahead. "Adelyn." His voice was soft, coaxing. "You okay?"

Adelyn peaked up and shook her head side to side. It was evident Fred noticed her tear-stricken face by the sudden widening of his eyes. He crouched down to be face level to her. He spoke with clear concern and urgency. "What is it? What happened?" His hands rested on her shoulders.

"I don't want to talk about it. . ." Adelyn sniffled and turned her face away. "Please. I just want to go to bed."

"Okay. Come on." Fred took charge. He stood straight, throwing his arm around her shoulder, following George through the portrait hole.

Adelyn could always rely on the Weasleys. And the twins' telepathic-like communication made it simple to navigate around the other Gryffindors without attracting unwanted attention. Fred even escorted her up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.

Once at the top, he brushed the hair from her face. Gingerly, he asked, "Adelyn. Tell me what's happened."

Her response was barely audible. "It doesn't matter." Saying it aloud brought the threat of a second round of tears. Hey eyes stared past Fred at nothing in particular.

"You can tell me, you know," Fred comforted. He leaned closer, keeping their conversation hushed.

"Fred. It's nothing. . . honest." Her bloodshot eyes found his, urging him to stop his inquiry. Her body hung, exhausted, waiting on him to heed her words. "I have more important matters I should be focusing on, anyway. . ."

He got the hint. "Right. . ." He stepped aside, out of her way. "Well, I'm here if you change your mind."

"Thank you, Fred. Really." Adelyn let out a heavy sigh before closing herself into the girl's dormitory.

"Oh, please, Hermione! Tell me there is something you can do about this!" Adelyn whined as she looked at her face in the mirror the following morning. Her eyes were puffy and pale red blotches could still be made out on her temples. She was currently holding a cold, wet face-cloth to one of her eyes. Beauty sleep must not be real.

"Yes, I'm sure it's in here somewhere." Hermione rifled through the pages of Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions. She had taken out this book from the library right after Adelyn told her about her painful scar. Luckily, there was no waiting list for it and she was able to keep it readily on hand. "Ah! Here it is."

Adelyn dashed to her side in anticipation. "Oh, thank you!"

"Okay. Stand still," Hermione directed.

She pointed her want at Adelyn's face. It wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. Fortunately, there was no one Adelyn trusted more with a wand. She closed her eyes in preparation.

"Restorium Facialis." As Hermione spoke the incantation, she moved her wand in a soft continuous circle in front of Adelyn's eyes.

Adelyn felt a warm tingling sensation that mirrored the wand's movements, working outward in. It stopped once it reached the center of her face. She rushed to the mirror hanging next to her bed and let out a sigh of relief. The only color reflected back were her bottle green eyes. She turned back to her friend. "Thank you!"

"Happy to help," Hermione beamed back. "Ready for breakfast, NOW?"

Adelyn's stomach growled in response. "That would be a yes," she laughed.

Adelyn's hunger outweighed her anxiety. After last's night small meal and emotional release, she found it easier to enter the Great Hall. Good thing too, as she had another week of classes yet until the holiday, which meant even closer proximity to Draco.

Still, she noticed him. Already sitting with Theodore Nott. He didn't even seem upset.

"Adelyn?" Hermione pulled her from her thoughts.

"Oh - sorry." Adelyn refocused her attention to her own House Table. "What did you say?"

Hermione read from the letter she just received. There were more owls for this morning's post than usual being as Christmas was less than two weeks away. "Mum and Dad are not entirely pleased I let Madame Pomfrey shrink my teeth so far down."

"It's not like you could see it as she did it," George interjected as he and Fred took seats across from the girls.

"Exactly! And you didn't do it yourself," Fred agreed.

"The entire situation was out of your control," Adelyn reassured her.

"I know. You're all right," Hermione replied.

"Then, don't worry so much," Ron added, waving his hand in a carefree manner.

"Besides. Imagine how your date for the Yule Ball will compliment your smile," George winked at her.

"What date?" Ron asked as he shot up from his plate, mouth half full of poached eggs.

Hermione's cheeks grew red with embarrassment.

"You didn't know?" George continued. "At this rate, you'll be the only one left without one, Ron."

"That's not true! Fred still hasn't got one." Ron jabbed his fork in his brother's direction.

Fred popped his elbow on the table to rest his chin on. "That's because I'm still waiting on a response." He smirked as Adelyn made eye contact with him.

Adelyn quickly looked back down at her plate.

"Not this again," Ron groaned.

Before anyone could respond, an owl released a single burgundy red rose in Adelyn's lap. She jumped with a start. Suddenly, a second rose was dropped. Followed by a third. Adelyn looked up to see a long succession of at least a dozen owls flying above the Great Hall heading in her direction. Each clutched a single rose, adding to the pile forming in her lap.

Many students gawked at the scene. The closest fellow Gryffindor girls were gushing.

"How romantic! "

"I wish my boyfriend would do that for me. . ."

"Who are they from, Adelyn -"

"Wow!"

Adelyn looked at Hermione, jaw dropped. Hermione smiled in return. "Who sent them, Adelyn?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't see a letter." Adelyn sifted through the roses, but could not find anything to indicate who they were from.

She looked up as the last rose fell to notice one final owl. It dropped a small notecard which she caught in the air. She pulled it close to open, leaning toward Hermione. The contents read:

Count the roses, not the thorns. - D.M.

Hermione immediately began counting.

"Well. Who're they from?" Ron asked.

"Uh - there's no name. . ." Adelyn said, folding the paper back in place.

"It must say SOMETHING." Ron could be persistent when he wanted to be.

"Only to 'Count the roses, not the thorns'," she answered quietly.

"What does THAT mean?" Ron's eyebrows were scrunched in a puzzled look.

"Fifteen. There are fifteen roses," Hermione noted aloud.

"Well, that's an odd number, isn't it?" George rhetorically asked.

Adelyn looked up. Her gaze passed Fred and George, landing on Draco's grey eyes two tables away. A smile softly pulled at the corners of his mouth. He was fixated, watching her reaction intently. She blushed, averting her eyes as she saw Fred turn around.

A swarm of girls gathered at this point, bombarding Adelyn with compliments and questions.

"I didn't know you were seeing anyone, Adelyn."

"Who are they from? Oh, you MUST tell us!"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Adelyn gathered up her bouquet to take her leave.

"Utterly romantic -"

"You don't know who sent them? "

"Oh! Is it an invitation to the ball, then? "

"Don't be silly! She obviously has a date by now."

"Alright, ladies," Hermione called out in a sing-song tone. "She's told you all she knows. Let her enjoy them in peace."

The crowd dispersed, allowing the duo to exit the hall. Adelyn stole one more glance over her shoulder to the Slytherin Table. His eyes followed her up until she left.

Hermione looped her arm through Adelyn's and leaned in to whisper. "What does he mean? Why fifteen roses?"

"I'm not sure. . ." Adelyn recalled the previous bouquets. "Katie and Angelina told me what it meant last time."

"Hold on." Hermione stopped in her tracks. "Does this mean the ones last year. . .they were also from him?"

"Didn't I tell you that?"

"You did NOT!" Hermione was shocked with the news. "Oh, Adelyn. This surely is good news."

"It is quite the statement, isn't it?" Adelyn blushed as hope began to creep up inside.

"Come on." Hermione pulled her arm, urging her to follow.

"Where are we going?" Adelyn hurried along.

"The library, of course!"

Hermione made fast work of her research. Turns out, witches and wizards were just as fond of floral arrangements as muggles. It only took a handful of herbology books to find the information they sought.

"It says here, 'the number of roses given once held hidden meanings'," Hermione read aloud.

"Once?"

Hermione continued. "'Some botany enthusiasts still advertise these meanings in shops today'. Where would Draco have found a florist with this information while here at Hogwarts?"

"He didn't," Adelyn said with a knowing smile. "He's an avid botanist himself."

"Really? Draco Malfoy?"

"I thought the same thing when I found out." Adelyn shrugged her shoulders. "Does that book detail what each number means?" She looked over Hermione's shoulder to get a better look.

"Oh! Yes. Let's see." Hermione traced her finger along the page. "One - five – ten – twelve – Ah! Fifteen. "Fifteen roses express regret and. . ." She paused to look up at Adelyn. ". . . 'ask the receiver of forgiveness.'"

Adelyn massaged one of the soft petals between her fingers. "Regret, huh?" She lifted the bouquet to her face and inhaled the sweet fragrance. "It was quite the presentation for an apology. . ."

"It was." Hermione watched quietly as Adelyn processed the information.

"Yet, he hasn't asked me to the ball. . ." Adelyn thought out loud.

"No. . ." Hermione confirmed with a frown.

Adelyn gently set the bouquet aside. "Well. Best to focus my attention elsewhere, I suppose." She looked to Hermione for guidance.

"You haven't really done any research on the egg yet," she offered.

"I suppose I haven't. . . got any ideas to muffle it a bit?"

"I may know a charm or two we can try."

"Great. I will go fetch it really quick. Be right back."