Chapter 9: A Change of Plans

December 14th, 1991.

Rose stretched her hand and grabbed the Quaffle from the air, making her broom spin at the same time.

She held tightly to her broom with her left hand and her legs, feeling her muscles strain with the effort of holding it while hanging upside down. Her efforts were rewarded, however, when she heard a bludger fly over -under?- her.

She spun once more and willed her broom forward.

Once again she felt wonder at the ease it responded to her wishes. Miss Tonks' broom was a thousand times better than the one issued by the school.

She looked around the field, taking the chance to do the mature thing and stick her tongue out to the grinning Megan who was waving her beater bat.

That girl had a mean streak when playing. If she hadn't dodged that bludger would have hit her straight in the head.

She didn't need to look back to know that taciturn Evelyn Abercrombie, the sixth year chaser in her team, was keeping up with her, waiting for her to pass the Quaffle back. Looking up, she saw Captain Corner in the distance, flying in front of the middle hoop, his blue eyes following her every movement.

"Potter! Go left!"

Abercrombie's voice called out from behind her and Rose turned her broom to follow the direction. From the corner of her eye she saw the older chaser go the other way.

A pincer?... No, a feint! She realised Abercrombie's plan when she caught sight of the two chasers from the opposite team heading in her direction.

Captain Corner was still looking between her advance and Abercrombie's and trying to decide on which to focus.

In a normal match it wouldn't be such a hard decision. Between the two beaters with two bludgers in play and the three chasers, a team could defend the goals more effectively, but they were playing with smaller teams: just a beater with one bludger and two chasers each.

Captain Corner knew that once he decided to cover one of them, the other would have free reign to score.

She accelerated even more, trying to sell the idea that she was going to attack on her own.

"McAllister!" She called for her team's beater, a burly fifth year who looked almost comically big on his broom. "Take one of them off me!"

By the time she almost reached the other team's side, Corner seemed to think that she was actually going for the goal, so he started to head towards the rightmost hoop.

A loud strike, followed by a pained curse coming from the wizard following her on the right side told her that McAllister was able to understand properly what her and Evelyn were trying to do.

A few metres before the scoring area Rose looked at her teammate on the other side of the field.

She's a little far but…

She winded the arm holding the Quaffle back, looking for all intents and purposes that she was about to make a try for a goal, but before she passed the final line she made her broom do a corkscrew spin.

Keeping her eyes on her teammate, she came out of her spin and taking advantage of the space opened by McAlister's bludger, and of the momentum added by the spin itself, she threw the Quaffle with all her strength towards Abercrombie.

The throw was not perfectly accurate, it ended up going a few metres in front of the other chaser, but Abercrombie was experienced enough to compensate for her miss.

A short burst of speed and a stretched arm, and the Quaffle was secure in her grasp. From then it was only a matter of tossing the ball in the free hoop.

"Ugh, come on! She was on the other side of the bloody field!" The seventh year chaser on the other team complained. "What do they feed these firsties?"

"Don't whine, be glad that she's on our team." Captain Corner chuckled. "Man, they got me good. Great job, Potter."

"Thanks!" She answered and looked at the broom holding her aloft with admiration, caressing the golden Comet carved on the handle. "It's amazing what you can do when you can focus on something other than not falling from a shoddy broom."

The other members of the team chuckled, but Rose was kinda serious. She'd ask Miss Tonks later where she bought her broom.

"Potter." Rose turned around and high-fived Abercrombie. "Nice pass." She said with a small smile.

"Nice catch!" She answered. The older girl nodded, but didn't say anything else. Rose was already used to her silent demeanour, though, and she didn't mind it.

"You okay, Diggory?" Said McAllister when Cedric Diggory, the team's seeker who was just filling the chaser position, flew back to them after getting a bludger to the chest. "I tried to hold back but it looked like it hurt."

"Don't worry, Finn, I was just caught by surprise. I'm fine." He answered, while holding his chest, a pained smile on his face.

That doesn't look fine, Rose thought with a wince. She had been hit by a bludger a couple of times already, and she didn't recommend it, even with all the cushioning charms the balls had on.

"Okay, team, we are finishing here! Let's get out of this cold." Captain Corner called, and Rose was not ashamed of being the first to rush back down.

She could ignore the cold while playing, but she won't suffer it more than she needed to.

Near the changing rooms she could see Miss Tonks was waiting for them.

The vice captain had decided to sit this training out to observe how they -that is, Rose, Justin and Megan- were coming along, and also to let Rose fly with a proper broom.

"Rosie, welcome back!" Miss Tonks said with a bright smile. "So how was it? Flying my little Comet."

"It was amazing! I can't believe how better it feels compared to the others!" Rose gushed while dismounting from the broom. "It was like I didn't need to think about it, the broom just moved!"

She approached Miss Tonks with light steps, holding the broom with both hands.

Miss Tonks chuckled, and received it. "Right? I've flown so many times with it that it's perfectly broken for chasing."

"Oh, so that means that if I buy one just like it, it won't be as good?"

"Maybe not at first." She tilted her head, seemingly pondering how to answer. "It's like when you buy new shoes, y'know? They feel a little stiff at first, but the more you use them, the more they fit you."

I don't, actually. She thought but nodded nonetheless. The only time she got new shoes was with her Hogwarts Uniform, but they were enchanted to fit her.

"You thinking of buying one? I can come with you to Diagon Alley, if you want."

"Hm!" She nodded, smiling widely. "That sounds like fun!" She'd been wanting to explore the alley since she first visited it, and doing it with Miss Tonks sounded even better.

"Great! We can do some other shopping and make a day of it." Miss Tonks said, and patted her head a few times, before turning around. "Now, c'mon, let's get changed and go have breakfast. It's getting late."

They entered the changing room, and Rose rushed to the showers after grabbing her towel. They still had time, considering it was Saturday, but she didn't want to make her friends wait.

She let out a loud groan when the hot water hit her cold body.

She wanted to slap her past self who complained about the weather in September, December's cold was on another whole level. The grounds were covered by snow, and even with the fires roaring, the castle felt cold at night.

If she had difficulties getting out of bed earlier in the year, doing it now was an herculean task.

She washed herself as quickly as she could and, though she loathed to leave the warmth, left the showers after wrapping her towel around herself.

She was already used to how to act in a locker room even before joining the Quidditch team, and the etiquette didn't change in the magical world. Keeping her eyes to herself and dressing as fast as possible was almost second nature to her at this point.

She especially made sure not to look at Miss Tonks. Rose always felt a little weird whenever she caught slight glimpses of the older girl in the locker room, so she made sure not to. It must be all those times Miss Tonks messed with her hair after she went through the effort of trying to tame it before breakfast.

A sense of self-preservation to protect my poor hair, maybe?

She shook her head of all those thoughts after she finished putting on an oversized sweater and, after thinking for a second, decided to forgo practising on her hairstyling today. I'll just ask Hannah to do it for me later.

She closed her locker and left the room after saying goodbye to her teammates who were still in the middle of changing. She was supposed to meet with Hannah and Susan during breakfast and then they would go to the library to finish the Transfiguration assignment they had leftover.

Letting out a little cloud of breath, Rose smiled. Just a week more and she would be heading back home for the Christmas Break.

Aunt Petunia should have gotten my letter by now, right? She had sent Hedwig with a message a few days ago informing her aunt of her decision to come back home, so she could tell Uncle Vernon to pick her up from King's Cross.

It hadn't been a lot of time since she left home, but she had to admit that she missed Little Whinging a little. Her relationship with her aunt was a little weird, especially after she had decided to come to Hogwarts, but she missed her nonetheless.

Maybe I could meet with Missus Cawthorne and get a new routine to practise on my own? She'd have to ask.

Now, she had to hurry, breakfast had long started and she was famished.

Entering the Great Hall, Rose walked amongst the students coming and going from their tables. She was shocked, though, when she caught sight of her friends cooing over a certain snowy owl.

"Hedwig! You are back!" She exclaimed, rushing to her usual seat between her two friends. Hedwig flapped her wings in greeting and hopped to stand in front of her, a rash of bacon held in her beak.

"Your owl is so smart, Rose!" Hannah gushed, making Hedwig puff up pridefully. "She noticed you weren't in the Great Hall, so she decided to spend time with us until you came."

"Hm-hmm, my aunt's owl would just go away and come back later." Susan added. "DId you teach her to wait for you with your mail?"

"Wait for me? Pft. Hedwig just wanted to eat, and she knew that Hannah would share her breakfast with her." Rose snarked, moving her hand away from Hedwig's beak when the owl decided to retaliate for her words. "Oh? Are you saying it's not like that, you glutton?" The snowy owl decided not to dignify her with an answer and just looked away, offended.

Wait. Her mail?

Rose's eyes widened behind her glasses when she spotted the letter tied securely in Hedwig's claw. It took her a second to remember the letter she had been thinking about a few minutes ago. She hadn't expected her to answer!

Hedwig seemed to notice her interest and, without more prompting, extended her leg to let Rose take her baggage.

The crisp white envelope didn't stand a chance against her attack and soon enough Rose held in her hands the letter her aunt had written for her.

Rose,

We are spending Christmas at Marge's house, who decided to invite us as soon as she was told you were in a boarding school, so we are unable to pick you up from King's Cross. Attached is the note allowing you to stay in the school during the break.

I'm sorry.

Petunia.

Huh.

Rose read the few lines of the letter again and again, not truly taking it in.

She didn't know what she had been expecting. It was the first letter her aunt had ever sent her since she came to Hogwarts, so she thought she'd get at least a question over her wellbeing. If she was lucky, maybe she'd get an 'I missed you.'

She'd even take a 'We'll pick you up, so don't be late."

Instead she got…

unable to pick you up

Rose had been actually excited to go back home. She had a whole list of stuff she wanted to do.

…But, well… it wasn't that bad, actually.

I mean, can you imagine? Aunt Marge welcoming me into her house. Pft, she'd sooner make me sleep with her dogs.

Yes, some part of her was glad. She was wondering how many new places she's going to discover during the break when she had the castle almost all to herself.

All to herself, because Hannah and Susan were leaving to their homes, to spend time with their loving families. And so was Miss Tonks, and Miss Penny.

"...Rose? Are you okay?" She lessened the tight grip she had on her letter and looked to Hannah, who had just called her name worryingly.

"...Yeah, of course." She lied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Hannah looked at Susan, a question in her eyes, and the redhead just shrugged.

"You look sad." Hannah said, wringing her hands in worry. "Bad news?"

Rose bit her lip, glancing at the words written for a moment. What could she say? Yeah, I'm sad because my aunt doesn't want to spend time with me during Christmas. How childish. And what would her friends think if they knew how unwanted she was in her own home?

She shook her head. No, they couldn't know.

So, she lied once again.

"Ah, actually, I just got permission to stay in the castle from my aunt." Rose smiled. "My uncle's sister invited us to spend time in her home, but I didn't want to go. So, I begged her to let me stay here."

Hannah was looking at her strangely and Susan started to frown a little. "Didn't you tell us you sent her a letter because…" Hannah started, but then trailed off. She tilted her head. "Ah, maybe I'm remembering wrong."

Rose nodded, though she knew that her friend didn't actually believe her. She folded the letter in half, placing it in her pocket, and took the authorization from the envelope.

"I have to give this to Mrs Sprout, you girls just wait for me in the library." She said while standing up.

Susan seemed like she wanted to say something but Hannah grabbed her hand and shook her head at her before she could, then she smiled at Rose.

"Yeah, we'll finish here and meet you there." Hannah nodded and Susan added her little hm-hmm, though she was still looking at her with a frown on her face.

Rose left the Great Hall and went down the stairs in the direction to her common room. She ignored the merriment around her with the same ease she used to ignore the girls in ballet class planning their break.

A few minutes later she stood in front of the entrance of the Hufflepuff Common Room.

Right, no time to mope around. She'd have a great time this Christmas at Hogwarts. She plastered a smile on her face and entered the room.

Why on earth would I want to spend time with the Dursleys anyways? She thought, not sad at all.

It was then when she realised she hadn't eaten breakfast.

It didn't matter, she wasn't hungry anymore.

December 18th, 1991.

The next few days after receiving the letter were spent… not moping -because she'd have to be sad to be doing that and she wasn't- but thinking.

Some of her plans might have been dashed with the letter, like her intention to meet with Missus Cawthorne, but there may be a way for her to accomplish the others.

She glanced at the frayed ends on her sweater's sleeves and at the frumpy long skirt she was wearing. More and more she felt… inadequate whenever she was wearing her own clothes.

It might be time for a change.

Maybe I could use the chance to buy some gifts for Susan and Hannah for Christmas.

She nodded decisively.

She sneaked a glance at the group of older year students and made her choice.

But first, she'd have to ask for permission before the other students left.

Rose stood up, giving a smile to the inquisitive eyes of Hannah and Susan. "I just have to talk to Mrs Sprout, be right back."

She approached another table where one of the prefects was sitting.

"Excuse me, Miss Darcy. Do you have a minute?" She began shuffling a little in place. She felt a little bad for interrupting the prefect when she was occupied. The older girl looked up from whatever she was writing on and tilted her head.

"Potter. Of course, what do you need? Is something wrong?"

Rose shook her head, feeling her cheeks warm up at the attention she was getting from the other girls on the table.

She'd have to be subtle, she didn't want the whole world to know about her wardrobe problems.

"No, no… I was just wondering if I could speak with Mrs Sprout…" She began, then she grimaced. "I know that it's a little late, but it's kinda urgent…"

Miss Darcy sighed, and made to start talking, before some sudden realisation seemed to hit her. Her eyes widened, and then looked at her with…pity?

"Oh. Of course, sweetie." She said kindly. "Just knock on her door and she'll help you with… whatever you need."

Rose sighed in relief, though she was a little confused at the sudden care.

"Right, thanks, Miss Darcy." She started a little when the older girl placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You can come to me if you need something in the future, okay? Don't feel ashamed, it happens to all of us."

Rose nodded. Maybe it was a little more normal than she thought to need clothes in the middle of term.

She felt silly all of a sudden, of course it was. She had already grown a couple of inches since she came here.

Rose walked a few steps when she heard voices from the table she had just left.

"What?! Already? Isn't she a firstie?"

"I'm not surprised, actually. Have you seen the size of her? She's as tall as a second year, of course she's starting early."

"Sh, don't talk so loud, the girl must be mortified enough already."

…Maybe not as normal? She shrugged and knocked on Mrs Sprout's door.

"Heya, Pommy! You called for…me?" Miss Tonks' greeting trailed off when she caught sight of Rose standing next to Mrs Sprout in her office.

Then she paled and her purple hair turned stark white.

"You are leaving the team." She whispered horrified. Miss Tonks then rushed forward and hugged her tightly "No! Please, Rosie! Don't leave us, I can change!" she wailed.

…What?

"I can't imagine the team next year without you! We were going to teach Wood and Johnson not to underestimate us!"

Mrs Sprout sighed exasperatedly. "Miss Tonks, please let the poor girl breathe. This is not about Quidditch."

"...It isn't?"

"No, dear, it's about a… favour Miss Potter wishes to ask of you."

Miss Tonks finally released her, and Rose breathed deeply. She was beginning to go lightheaded for a second there.

"A favour? Of course, Rosie! Why the need to go through Pommy, though?"

"Because I need permission to leave the castle." Miss Tonks tilted her head and Rose continued. "...My family is away for the Christmas break, so I have to stay here… But I need to buy new clothes. Can you come with me to Muggle London and help me?"

"How would we do that, though? You're taking the train with me?"

"Oh no, I was thinking of letting her use the floo in my office. Maybe you can meet in Diagon Alley? You'd act as her chaperone and then she'd return here."

"Oh, if it's just that, yeah, I don't mind!" Miss Tonks smiled widely. "You can just floo home, then. Maybe the 23rd? Gives me a day to rest from the train trip."

Rose returned the smile, glad that her little plan came to fruition. She'd spend the whole day with Miss Tonks buying cute new clothes for herself.

She was finally starting to feel glad that Aunt Petunia sent her that letter.

The week was finally looking up.

Though… for some reason, for the rest of the week, the older girls kept treating her really kindly and asking her if she 'had everything she needed' or if she was in any pain.

Weird.

December 22nd, 1991.

"I'll send you a letter everyday, so make sure you answer every time, okay?" Hannah babbled, voice muffled by Rose's sweater. The girl was hanging off her like a limpet, giving her an extended goodbye before leaving for the horseless carriages. Por

Rose patted her head a couple of times. "Hannah, how would you send daily letters? It takes over a day for mail to get here. Just enjoy your break and tell me all about it when you come back, ok?" She looked up from the blonde head of hair and met Susan's eyes.

The redhead was looking at them mirthfully, rolling her eyes exasperatedly when she caught her looking.

"Aw, okay. Have fun here okay? But don't explore too much! That's something you do with me!"

"Come on, Hannah, we are going to be left behind." Said Susan, finally managing to get Hannah to let go of her. Of course, that just gave the redhead the chance to give a hug of her own. "Be careful, ok? You are a little scatterbrained whenever you are lost in thought. Don't get lost while walking around."

Rose hugged her back, this time the eyes rolling were her own. "Yes, mum."

Susan gave a little "Hmph!" and let her go. "Don't come crying to me later when you get lost for real."

Both her friends climbed into the carriage waiting for them, which started on its own after they closed the door.

Rose waved her hand when Hannah stuck her head and arm out of the carriage, waving goodbye at her.

"Ah, goodbyes are always hard, aren't they? Even if the time apart is short." A wizened voice said from behind her and Rose was surprised to see Albus Dumbledore standing there, waving his hand at the leaving carriage. She wondered since when he had been standing there.

"Mm, you're right, sir." She nodded after a second, agreeing with the unprompted words. "It's weird. I met them just a couple of months ago, but it feels lonely to see them go. It's like…I miss them already." She said, not really sure of what she was feeling.

"You care for them deeply. It is not strange to miss those you hold close to your heart, recent as your relationship may be."

"Maybe you are right." Rose mused, before shivering when a cold gust of wind hit her.

"Shall we retire into the castle, Miss Potter?" The old wizard asked, an amused smile on his face. "I'm sure there is a hot cup of chocolate waiting for you, if you ask the elves nicely."

She already had an early breakfast with her friends, but if the revered Headmaster Dumbledore approved, then she wouldn't mind a hot drink.

She nodded, keeping the eagerness out of her expression. She didn't want to seem childish in front of the famous wizard. "After you, sir."

Headmaster Dumbledore nodded and, with a flourish of his robes, turned around and headed for the entrance, Rose hot on his heels.

"I am under the understanding that you will be leaving the school tomorrow, am I correct?" Rose's eyes widened behind her glasses.

"Ah, yes, sir. I asked Mrs Sprout and she authorised it, though!"

The old man chuckled. "Oh no, I am not recriminating your actions. As long as you are careful, and return before the day is over, all is good." He placated her. "I was just confirming your itinerary. Do you think you could spare some time on Boxing Day to share your afternoon tea with me?"

Rose was about to instantly say yes. Not many people could brag about having the opportunity to have tea with one of the most famous wizards around.

Then Professor Quirrell's creepy smile appeared on her mind.

"A-ah, I'm honoured, sir." She began looking at anywhere but the old wizard besides her. "But I've been told that I shouldn't go anywhere with a strange man on my own." Then she realised what she had just said and panicked "Not that you're strange! But I hardly know you! I…"

She trailed off when Headmaster Dumbledore lifted a placating hand.

"Don't worry, my dear, I understand and I apologise for my rudeness. Would you be more amenable if Pomona joined us?"

Rose felt herself relaxing when she realised she hadn't offended the headmaster. "Mm, that would be fine." She smiled when she saw his expression brightening at her acquiescence. His eyes were so bright they almost twinkled. "I heard a lot of stuff about you, so I will look forward to it, sir." She admitted

"All exaggerations, I'm sure. You will find that I am a dreadfully boring man." Rose giggled behind her hand at his defeated tone. The man surely was as tired of the stories people told about him, as she was of her own. "I'm more interested in you, actually. I heard that you are quite a proficient dancer, is it true?"

Rose's smile widened and she was sure her eyes were twinkling as merrily as his.

She wasn't sure what the headmaster would want to talk to her about on Boxing Day, but if it was about dancing, then she'd look forward to it.

December 23rd, 1991

Rose stumbled out of the chimney, and only the tens of hours of balance training she had prevented her from face planting to the floor.

She looked up and her face burst into fire when she saw Miss Tonks and a beautiful older woman standing in a living room watching her with matching grins.

"Well, that was quite the entrance. You okay there, Rosie?"

"Ah yes, at least it was better than apparition." She said, remembering the sickening feeling of the other method of transportation. "Only my little pride got hurt."

Miss Tonks chuckled and the older woman- her mum, maybe?- got closer to Rose.

Well, she guessed it was her mum, but she looked so young that she could be an older sister as well. She had beautiful dark hair that fell down on ringlets, and warm grey eyes.

Rose stood perfectly still when the woman patted her shoulders, making her realise she was covered in soot from the floo.

The woman tutted. "The first few times always make the worst messes. Luckily you are going shopping, Miss Potter, so you'll have a change of clothes later.

Aunt Petunia's training in how to act around her friends kicked in, saving Rose of more embarrassment.

"A-ah sorry if I made a mess. You have a beautiful home, Mrs Tonks."

"Oh, how polite, how did my unruly Nymphadora manage to get such a sweet child depending on her?"

"MUM! Stop that! And don't call me Nymphadora!" Miss Tonks' hair turned a vibrant red, followed by her face.

…Nymphadora?

Rose felt an impish smile grow on her face at the embarrassed state the -usually confident- girl was left.

"Well, Miss Dora has been great for me and the others who joined the team! I'm really glad I met her."

Her smile grew even more when Miss Dora looked at her with betrayal in her eyes.

"Rosie! Not you too! Please forget I ever complained about the Miss Tonks thing, just go back to that!"

"Oh, Miss Dora sounds adorable!" Mrs Tonks gushed, grinning at her mortified daughter. "Please, I insist you keep calling her that."

Rose looked at Miss Dora and shrugged as if to say, 'nothing I can do about it now'.

"Betrayal… Betrayal of the highest order." The older girl slumped in despair. "That's how you thank me for giving you my extremely valuable vacation time?"

"I'll buy you a chocolate frog?"

"You think I will accept such bribery?" Miss Dora bristled, though Rose could see her lips twitching upwards. "...make it two."

Rose tried to muffle the snort that came out of her mouth but was not really successful, but soon was joined by the two other women in her mirth.

"Do you have everything you need, Rosie? Need to make a visit to Gringotts before we go?"

Rose took out her coin pouch filled with Galleons. "I need to exchange this for muggle money, so if you don't mind?"

Mrs Tonks hmph'ed. "Those goblins will take most of it with their added charges for the exchange. Nymphadora, please fetch me my purse- I'll exchange what you need myself."

Miss Dora left with a grumbled 'not Nymphadora', leaving Rose alone with the older witch.

"...Are you sure, Mrs Tonks? Won't you need to exchange it yourself later?"

"Oh, don't worry, dear. I work in both worlds, so I always have both currencies laying around. And please call me Andromeda, or Andi, Mrs Tonks makes me feel old."

"Right, then thank you, Mrs Andi."

Mrs Andi smiled at her softly and patted her head -I think I know where Miss Dora took her patting from.- though she soon sighed, regret filling her eyes. "Don't thank me. It's the least I could, considering what my former family did to you."

Rose tilted her head, confused by the words. Mrs Andi's grey eyes narrowed at her reaction.

"You don't know, then? About Sirius Black."

"I…don't? Sorry, I just learned about the magical world a few months ago. I'm still playing catchup."

Mrs Andi sighed again, and led Rose to one of the couches in the room, while sitting in another.

"My previous name before marrying my husband was Andromeda Black, I was a daughter of one of the most ancient and noble houses in Magical Britain." She explained, disdain oozing out of her words. "The Blacks were one of the more prominent houses that joined You-know-who's campaign, and most of the members followed the pureblood doctrine."

Rose sat up straight. She hadn't expected to receive a lesson of what happened during Lord Voldemort's uprising, but any information to fill the gaps was well appreciated.

"But you didn't?" She confirmed. Mrs Andi wouldn't speak of them with such a tone if she agreed with them.

"I didn't. I was disinherited because I fell in love with my husband, a muggleborn." Rose grimaced, how could a family throw you away because of who you love? "I thought I was the only sane in that family, but my cousin Sirius seemed to be against them as well. He went against his mother again and again until he was casted out as well." Her face became a mix of nostalgia and disgust.

"He was your father's best friend, you know." Rose's eyes widened behind her glasses. "From the moment they met on first year they were inseparable. Eventually. he was the best man at your parent's wedding, and he was named your godfather. "

"What happened to him?" Was he killed as well? Was he another person lost to her because of Lord Voldemort?

"He betrayed them. Your father and mother. And you." Mrs Andi said with a bitter smile, like she was remembering a bad joke. Rose's hands started to shake. "He had us fooled from the beginning, but it seems that he was just waiting for an opportunity. Have you heard the story? That your family went into hiding?"

Rose nodded, feeling a little numb at the revelation. "He's the one that told You-know-who their location. He's the reason you were found."

Rose felt like someone had punched her in the chest. She dimly remembered that Mr Flitwick had mentioned that her parents had 'trusted the wrong person', but to know that it had been Dad's best friend? Rose's godfather? It was sickening.

"...What happened to him?" She repeated, now something darker than worry filling her voice.

"He's rotting in prison after they caught him, but not before he murdered a dozen more people. Sharing cells with soul-sucking demons that won't let him feel happiness in their presence."

Dementors.

So he was in Azkaban.

Some part of her had felt bad when she heard of the prison. Did anyone even deserve to be sent there, and feel miserable for the entirety of their time in jail? She had thought that it was too much. Wasn't it enough that they were caught?

She had been naive.

She bit her lip, balling her hands into tight fists.

"Good."

Good riddance, then.

Miss Dora came back a few moments later -Rose had the suspicion that she had been there for a while and didn't want to interrupt- so Rose was forced to change gears quickly.

Luckily it was hard to feel down when Miss Dora was present.

Mrs Tonks exchanged her coins for muggle notes and apologized for dumping all of that on her on a day that was supposed to be fun.

Rose didn't mind, if anything she preferred to have been told about Black. It was stuff she was supposed to know, and people assumed she did.

She would use the time off classes to read more about the events of ten years ago.

"Earth to Rosie? Are you still there, squirt?"

"What…? I'm not a squirt!" She fumed. "I'm the tallest in my year!"

Miss Dora smirked at her reaction. So this is how you take revenge? "Mmm, I don't know about that. The tallest squirt is still a squirt in my opinion."

Rose grumbled under her breath for a while, before letting it go. "...so? You were saying something?"

"Mm." She nodded. "So we got some nice dresses, and skirts, and shoes." She started to count with her fingers. "Anything else you really need? Some jeans? Maybe a leather jacket or two? Don't you want to dress like big sis Tonks? "

Rose looked at the clothes Miss Dora was wearing critically. They didn't look bad, if anything they looked really cool on her, but Rose would feel a little ridiculous wearing something like that.

Like she was a child imitating the girl she admired.

"Maybe not leather… but some coats and trousers would be nice. Some sweaters too." And underwear, but she was subtly keeping an eye open for any shop that sold anything like that.

"Right, right, if you don't like my clothes, just say it. I can take it, I'm a big girl." She said mockingly, wiping an imaginary tear.

Rose rolled her eyes. "You look cool, Miss Dora, but it's not my thing."

"Oh! What about your glasses? They look kinda old, don't they?" Miss Dora wondered, looking at said item while holding her chin. "You know your prescription? We can get new ones. And a strap to keep them steady during Quidditch!"

"Oh, I don't have one." She answered simply.

"You…don't have one? You mean you don't know? Does your aunt get your replacements?"

Oh, right. She hadn't told anyone about her glasses. Did everyone think she needs them to see?

She removed them from her face and gave them to Miss Dora. She felt a little exposed without them, but it was just for a second.

"These are just glass. I don't need them to see, I just prefer to use them."

The older witch put them on and looked around for a second, before looking at her with a strange look.

Rose smiled, amused despite herself. She hadn't intended it to be a secret, but it ended up like that.

"But why?" Miss Dora asked her and Rose felt a little foolish for what she was about to say.

"To hide my eyes." She answered honestly, glancing away from the now-glasses-wearing girl. "I mean, they are pretty weird, right?" She really felt naked without them.

"...What?" Miss Dora looked almost aghast at the words she had said. Rose wondered why, it was something she had heard almost daily when she started her ballet practice. The older girls took no time at all to note it.

"Like, green eyes are not supposed to look like mine." She explained keeping her eyes away from Miss Dora, starting to feel weird. "Mine are unnatural."

Rose fidgeted a little with her sleeves when Miss Dora didn't respond for a moment.

"Rosie, look at me, please." Rose pursed her lips and looked up, meeting Miss Dora's beautiful…green eyes? The older girl had removed the glasses when Rose wasn't looking and her eyes were now a pretty emerald green. "I… don't want to know why you think like that…because I might do something I regret later… but you're wrong."

Miss Dora bent over, putting her hands on her knees, in order to stand eye to eye with Rose. Green met Green.

"Tell me, what do you think when you see my eyes now?"

Rose hesitated for a second. Whenever she looked in the mirror, all she could think was the things those girls had said years ago, but Miss Dora's eyes now looked…

"Pretty. They look really pretty."

"That's right!" She agreed, standing straight once again, before pointing at her. "That's how pretty your eyes are. Sure, they are not exactly normal, but aren't we witches? We scoff at normality." Miss Dora declared, putting her hands on her hips.

Rose giggled, That's right. She thought, Haven't I always agreed with Dudley that I was a freak?

No, not a freak. She was a witch.

She nodded, feeling a little dumb that she had let something said to her by bullies affect how she felt about herself.

"So…I shouldn't use my glasses?" For some reason, she felt a little disappointed. She liked her glasses. And Hannah always said that the librarian style fits me…

Miss Dora sighed. "You can use them if you want, silly. Just don't do it to hide your eyes."

Rose smiled in relief. Though Miss Dora's words were really nice, wearing glasses had become second nature to her, she'd have to have some time to truly start considering not wearing them.

"Maybe we can find new ones, though? They are a little old." Miss Dora added.

She agreed, she had found them in a drawer years ago, after all.

Though if she had to switch, they would have to be another pair of round-rimmed glasses. Hannah would whine otherwise.

She startled a little when she saw Miss Dora's hand in front of her. She looked up and saw that the older girl now looked like an older version of Rose, with unruly black hair and green eyes.

"Now we look like sisters, right?" Miss Dora said, wiggling her fingers, asking her to hold hands. "C'mon, we still have time to look around."

Rose grinned and held the offered hand. That's right, she still had stuff to buy. She hadn't even looked for presents for her friends!

Here you have chapter nine!

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