After the first DADA class, it was like Romina regressed back into her summer mood where she was extremely silent and reserved, only showing her face when absolutely necessary. News about the odd Boggart she'd face (and ran out on) had spread like wildfire amongst students, no matter the years. Even Lilah King had asked Arden what exactly happened to Romina. Arden wished she could know too, because Romina wasn't much about talking these days. The only ones who were there either didn't know - as was Harry's, Hermione's and Ron's cases - or simply refused to speak. This was solely on Draco, and no matter how many times Arden bugged him for a right answer, the blonde refused to give it out.

"I'm waiting for something," he would tell her before insulting her to get away from her.

Others, like Carolinha, Angel and Daphne, would try to talk to Romina when she'd grace them with her presence for meals. When they weren't attempting to talk to her, Harry, Hermione and Ron were.

"Just leave me alone!" Romina would end up shouting at them until she left or they did.

Even when the first trip to Hogsmeade rolled around, Romina paid no attention to it despite having her grandparents' signatures on the permission slips. Everyone was excited about their first trip to the winter wonderland place they kept hearing so much about...all except for Romina.

"But c'mooooon!" Arden whined like a child as she followed behind Romina in the common room. "I hear there's this incredible sweet shop we have to go to!"

"Then you go and please don't bother telling me about it afterwards," Romina stopped by a bookshelf to retrieve a book she knew Pansy had hidden from her two days ago. For some reason, Pansy was acting even more rude towards her - and that was saying something considering she usually only battled against Arden. To say, even Pansy was teasing Romina about the Boggart incident.

"Well you don't have to be rude about it," Arden huffed and noticed the Transfiguration book Romina was cradling in her arms. "But it would be incredibly fun to go and just try everything!"

Romina once again shook her head. She left the bookshelf to return to the writing desk she'd been working at. "I'm not going and that's that."

"To Hogsmeade?" Angel's voice made both girls look at the hallway for a second. He was already dressed for the first go in warm clothing complete with an orange beanie. "You're going, right, Romina?"

Romina gave him a dead serious look. "No. I told you this both yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. I am not going."

Angel moved over to the desk. "We can go to Zonko's, you know? You could use a laugh! Or," he quickly blocked Romina from getting away, "we could go get some nice butterbeer I hear is really good."

Romina sighed and looked around, honestly feeling like the extra attention was too much. "Guys, what's the big deal if I don't go? Besides, I have to go see McGonagall anyways. She's been calling me since yesterday and I'm afraid what she'll do if I don't show up today."

"Okay, then we can stop by her office and then head over to Hogsmeade afterwards!" Angel insisted. "C'mon, Romina, I think this would be very good for you."

"Sounding a bit desperate there, Angel," Pansy came into the common room fixing her jacket. Behind her came Carolinha and Daphne.

"Least she's got someone asking her to go with him," Arden snapped. "Last time I checked, you're more alone than a dog."

"Least I'm not desperate enough to have someone do my work," Pansy shot Romina such a nasty look that the latter was frozen with surprise.

"Pansy, what are you—?"

"Don't talk to her like that!" snapped Arden.

"Oh, shut up, Arden. I'll hex you. I've been learning."

"Leave the hexing for the outside, please," Draco came in, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle as was per usual. "Preferably while I have a drink in hand."

"In your dreams," Arden pointed at him first before continuing with Romina. "Rom, please, let's just go out."

Romina shook her head. "I just don't want to go. What's the point in going somewhere if I'm just going to be sour all the time?"

"But why be 'sour'?" Carolinha put air quotations around the keyword. "It's about that Boggart thing, isn't it?"

"Leave it alone, Paes," Draco suddenly warned. Romina shot him a suspicious look, one that was followed by Angel's and even Pansy's. "If Oswell doesn't want to go then let her do whatever the hell she's got planned…" he then eyed the Transfiguration book on the desk, "...no matter how boring."

Romina rolled her eyes. He had yet to speak to her directly and then he comes out with that? It didn't help that Pansy, in all her excitement, dragged him away. She slammed her book shut and got up from her table. "I'm gonna go see McGonagall," she muttered and walked out shortly after.

~ 0 ~

With most of the school gone for Hogsmeade, it was a lonesome and quiet walk down the hallway. She headed up to McGonagall's office where she was sure she was already being waited on.

"Come in," the professor motioned her to take a seat at her desk.

"Am I in trouble?" was the first thing that flew out of Romina's mouth. Suddenly, her 'I don't care' attitude seemed more like a facade than anything else. This, McGonagall saw.

"Do you think you ought to be?" she asked the young girl. "You have not turned in any of my assignments since the term started. To be quiet honest, I'm concerned with your grades however, your head of House doesn't seem to be as concerned as I am. Seems his class is the only class you bother to turn in assignments."

"Potions?" Romina said, her nose scrunching. "I haven't been turning anything in..." She knew for a fact she had yet to turn in one single assignment for any of her classes. The fact that it was McGonagall who had caught on to her streak was perhaps the most expected thing. Still, that left the matter of where these so-called potions assignments were coming from.

"Normally, this is a conversation you would be having with professor Snape seeing as he is, of course, your head of House but I took the liberty of stepping in because I have something that might help you out," McGonagall said. He moved a plate of biscuits on the desk towards Romina. "Eat."

Romina silently reached for one of the biscuits and took a bite. Admitting just to herself...they were kind of good. "What...exactly do you mean by that?"

"Before this term, it was my understanding that you had an affection for Transfiguration. Your skills certainly showed that. I have no doubt that if you continue like that, I'll more than likely see you in my N.E.W.T. class in the future. In the spirit of making that happen, I am assigning you tutoring."

"Tutoring?" frowned Romina. "But you just said that I was good at—"

"You misunderstand, Miss Oswell," McGonagall cut her off. "I am assigning you to be the tutor."

"Huh?" Romina blankly stared at the woman. "Come again?"

"Since it seems like my lessons no longer interest you nor challenge you, I am giving you the responsibility of replicating these lessons with another student." McGonagall was nothing if not stern with her words. What she said was law and even Romina wouldn't be able to get out of it. Still, Romina was going to try.

"But professor, I'm just a 3rd year! I can't teach anyone!"

"Oh, I'm sure that you can teach a 2nd year student," McGonagall shrugged. "She's very smart if not slightly misguided about the art of Transfiguration. I'm sure you'll be able to help her. All she really needs is to practice."

"But—"

"It's either you tutor her, or I gather up your professors and we all communicate with your aunt and uncle about this. I haven't seen Sage or Caplan in many, many years."

Romina was done with her biscuit and returned the leftovers to the plate as an act of defiance. She leaned back in her chair, very much put out with the circumstances.

"Of course..." McGonagall lowered her head, her eyes looking up from her glasses, "Should you wish to talk about whatever is bothering you, we can also do that too."

Romina crossed her arms. "I am not bothered by anything." Lie. She was bothered by many things at the moment.

"Very well," McGonagall said, "She's already waiting for us in my classroom."

"Already?" Romina's eyes widened. "Who's — I don't know what I'm supposed to teach her!"

"It'll be fine," McGonagall stood up from her desk, "Follow me. I'll introduce you to her and give you some instructions on the way."

Romina let out a huff as she got up from her chair and followed the professor out. They walked together to her classroom and sure enough, Romina learned that the second year girl was to learn some specific transfiguration lessons. What irritated Romina the most is that they were lessons that she did know how to do which meant that she could teach the girl something.

"Miss Lovegood," McGonagall said as she led Romina inside the class, "I've brought your new tutor."

Romina saw a petite girl standing at the front of the classroom with the longest, straggly, blonde hair she had ever seen. She had bright blue eyes and a sort of lazy smile about her. She was a Ravenclaw too.

"Hello," the girl greeted and Romina wondered if her voice was naturally soft.

"Miss Oswell, this is Luna Lovegood, one of my 2nd year students," McGonagall introduced, "Miss Lovegood, this is Romina Oswell, your new tutor. Twice a week you will meet here to gain a little more practice on our lessons. Is that clear?"

"Mhm," nodded Luna, her eyes still glued to Romina.

"Better get started then," McGonagall said, specifically eyeing Romina. "Let me know how it goes."

Romina begrudgingly nodded and watched the woman leave. She sighed. "Well, it's nice to meet you Luna."

"It's nice to meet you too," Luna said, "Although, I already know you."

"You do?" Romina eyed her curiously. She was sure she would remember Luna.

Luna leaned forwards and whispered. "You're the girl afraid of adults."

Romina swallowed hard. It seemed like nobody had realized what her boggart had taken to making up theories instead. Being the the girl afraid of adults was just fine with her.

"It's okay, though," Luna continued calmly, soothingly, "I find most adults have a troubling aura around them. We just need to be careful."

"Uum...right…" Romina looked down and noticed Luna wasn't wearing any shoes. "Um, Luna, where are your shoes?"

Luna glanced down at her bare feet and shrugged. "They've mysteriously disappeared."

"Uuh...shouldn't you tell your head of House?"

"That's okay. Last year the same thing happened and they were returned by the end of the year."

Honestly, Romina could tell this would turn out to be an interesting session. At the very least, it would be entertaining enough to distract her for a while. Luna turned away from Romina and faced the golden goblet McGonagall had left behind for them to work on.

"Professor McGonagall was most kind when she said you would help me with transfiguration," Luna began to say while Romina opened up Luna's Transfiguration book on a desk.

"Yeah, well, don't be fooled. I'm good but...I'm pretty sure that Hermione would be a better tutor than me..."

"Professor McGonagall knew what she was doing," Luna said matter-of-factly. "She probably thought you could use a distraction from your Boggart problem."

At that instance, Romina whirled around. "Luna, you can talk about whatever you want but not that, alright? Anything else is fine. Seriously."

Luna gave a nod, still smiling warmly. It sort of made Romina feel guilty for her sudden lash out. Luna was, after all, a year younger and completely innocent of any problems Romina had.

"Why don't we just get started?" Romina decided then. "Professor McGonagall said that you were having trouble transfiguring certain objects." Luna raised the golden goblet from the desk, her eyes blinking exceptionally slow. "Right, like that."

"I keep telling professor McGonagall that we might be hurting them."

"Hurting...what?"

"What we're using to transfigure, of course."

"Luna, that's just a goblet. I can see where you're getting at with the animals but professor McGonagall had told us that it doesn't hurt the animals."

"But how do we know for sure? Have we asked them?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Then should we really be using them for our lessons?"

Romina was left speechless for a minute. Smiling, Luna carefully settled the goblet on the desk between them and waited for Romina to give an answer.

~0~

The school was still stark quiet when Romina called it a day with Luna. It turned out the girl was rather eccentric, a bit funny but Romina liked it. Luna offered a pure distraction and, plus, she was a sweet girl who cared about the oddest of things. In her thoughts, Romina didn't spot Harry coming out of professor Lupin's office and bumped into the boy.

"Harry?" Romina spoke his name, confused by his presence.

"What are you doing here?" the two asked each other at the same time.

"No permission slip for Hogsmeade," Harry answered first and waited for Romina to go next.

She bit her lip and gave a nervous shrug. "Didn't feel like it."

"What? You didn't want to go to Hogsmeade?" Harry incredulously said. You shouldn't even be surprised. Romina had been way too depressive ever since the boggart incident. It was obvious that Hogsmeade wouldn't be on her to-do list.

"Why would I?" Romina shrugged again. "Better off here where nobody can see me. Besides, I just had a tutoring session."

"What, you're being tutored?" Harry blinked. "By who?"

"Other way around," Romina motioned a 180 movement with her finger. "I'm the tutor in this equation. McGonagall put me to tutor some second year girl because apparently I'm good at it."

"You are," Harry said. "I know you've been slacking off this year but you were really good at that. Better than Hermione, honestly."

"Oh, don't let her hear that," Romina said, making a face. She loved Hermione but nobody could deny how defensive the girl got if she wasn't the best at everything.

Harry half smiled. "I'm glad you're doing something academic again. It's weird seeing you not even try with your work. You're brilliant, Rom."

"Thanks," Romina said, and suddenly she was looking at Harry curiously.

"What?" asked the boy, confused.

"Have you been turning in my Potions assignments, by any chance?"

Harry didn't laugh in her face out of sheer politeness. "Are you kidding? I can barely keep up with my workload, let alone someone else's! Besides, Snape hates me. He'd know if I did someone else's work. Why?"

"It's just..." Romina was even more confused than before, "When we were talking about my classes and homework, McGonagall said that the only class I wasn't slipping in was Potions. And I know that can't be right because I have not been turning anything in to anyone. And it's like you said, Snape would know if someone was doing my work."

"Not if it was another Slytherin," Harry said without a second thought. "It's no secret that Snape favors those from his House. Maybe it was Arden."

"No, she would've told me by now and made a big deal out of it too."

"Well, maybe Angel then," Harry said, shrugging, "He seems to really care about you."

"Yeah, but I feel like he would've—" Romina abruptly stopped talking. Something had flashed across her eyes and Harry wasn't sure what it was.

'Least I'm not desperate enough to have someone do my work'

Pansy's words were on repeat inside Romina's head. What's more, she remembered something one of the their early Potions classes.

Draco had started cutting the uneven roots — all of them — with both of his hands.

"Oh, he wouldn't have..." Romina mumbled under her breath. The idea was laughable...and yet...

"Rom!" Harry snapped his fingers in front of her face, startling her. "Hey? You okay?"

"A-aha," Romina swallowed hard. "I have to go see somebody. Scuse me."

"What?" Harry turned after Romina, even more confused than before. "What's going on?"

"Nothing! It's — it's stupid!" Romina called back. "See you later, Harry!" She dashed off.

~ 0 ~

Truth be told, and this Romina would admit later on, she probably should have thought longer about what she was going to say. However, at that moment, she was just so fed up with all the confusion and erratic behavior of Draco Malfoy. She was going to find him and make him explain himself. That came after all students were to come back from Hogsmeade for dinner. She was pacing back and forth in her dorm when the rest of her friends started walking in.

"You're back!" she stopped midway.

Each of the girls were pink-faced from the cold day, but that didn't stop them from being giggly messes and carrying their shopping bags.

"Romina! You would love Hogsmeade!" Arden said as she dropped a bag on Romina's bed. "I got you some sweets—"

"Are the boys back too?" Romina cut her friend off and even looked at Pansy and Milicent for an answer.

"Yes, with the others in the common room, messing around," drawled Pansy, "Why?"

"Don't worry about it," Romina said sharply. "Is Draco around?"

"Why?" Pansy frowned.

"Normally I'd disagree with anything she says but in this case, she's right," Arden said, "Why?"

"Because he owes me an explanation!" Romina left it at that and stormed out of the room. She went straight to the common room, eyes scanning through the groups of returning students. It didn't take long to find him and when she did, she stalked right over and grabbed Draco by his uninjured arm and pulled him aside.

"Hey, hey, hands off!" He ordered her immediately.

"Shut up and listen!"

"What, gonna ask if I bought you anything like King did? Or Angel?" Draco's smirk was shortlived when Romina smacked him repeatedly. "Hey!" He frowned and grabbed both her hands. "Stop it!"

"You stop it!" Romina said frantically. "Stop being so fucking confusing! It's either you're mad at me or not!"

"Right now, I'm more or less concerned for you," Draco said, annoyingly calm which just made things worse. "Is there any reason why you're acting even more insane than usual?"

"Because of you!" Romina pulled her hands out of his grip and pointed one sharp finger at him. "I'm gonna ask you something and if you know what's good for you, you'll answer with the truth. Have you been turning in Potions assignments to Snape as if they were mine?"

"Yeah."

"You better answer—" Romina froze when his answer registered. Little by little, her face scrunched. "Wait — you have!?" Draco nodded. "Why? Why would you — aren't you mad at me?"

"Yeah, but that's one thing and what you're doing in your classes is a completely different thing," he said, explaining as if it were completely obvious to even the dumbest person.

"You should come with a translation book because I don't get a thing that you're saying right now!"

Draco scoffed, about to laugh at her. "Nu-uh, you're insane but you're not stupid. You know exactly what I'm talking about. And I know exactly what you're doing. That boggart you ran away from — we both know who it is."

And just like that, the color drained from Romina's face. "Shut the fuck up right now," she warned.

"Not until you admit that those two were—"

"I said shut up!"

"—your parents!"

"They're not my parents!" Romina argued and only kept his voice low so as to not draw any attention to herself. "I don't know who the hell that boggart turned into and you shouldn't be turning in any of my assignments! If I want to fail, that's my business!"

"A business you'll regret when you get out of this funk," Draco said, continuing with his calm streak. It was even more infuriating for Romina. She was unraveling and she knew it but by God she would not admit it. "I'm doing you a favor, Oswell."

"A favor that I'm sure you'll get me back for," Romina said without missing a beat. "Because that's how you operate. I know you demanded that Arden do your History homework last year in exchange for that paper in Hermione's hand when she was petrified. If you do this for me now, you'll just ask for something in return later so I would rather go to Snape right now and tell him what's been going on!"

Draco turned her right back around when she made a move for the entrance doors. "I think the fuck not!" He squeezed her arm to keep her in place. "If you do that, then we're both goners. I will not have my record tarnished because you're having an episode of denial."

"Denial!?" Romina grew more outraged by the second.

"Yeeeees!" Draco said sharply and loudly, much to Romina's alarm.

"Shut up!"

"You're completely in denial about who your parents are and the fact that you look remarkably like your mother—"

"I said to the shut the fuck up! You are — let go of me!" Romina pulled her arm out of his grip. "I don't know what you're saying. I have no mother!"

For a minute, they stared at each other, neither one with the intention to back down. Draco's expression was a flatout 'you're in denial'. He never thought he'd see Romina like that, honestly. She was usually so calm and collected but this was a whole other side of her.

"Stop turning in work for me!" Romina said again. "You're going to get caught! How you haven't is beyond me!"

"That's kind of flattering—"

"Oh my God, it's like talking to the wall! Do you hear any of my words when I say them!?"

At the question, Draco scoffed. "I think the whole bloody castle can hear your words. You're very loud when you want to be."

"Then listen! I don't know what your game is but I don't want to play! Besides, last time I checked, you don't consider me a friend anyways!"

"Again with that—"

"YES!" Romina couldn't help herself and yelled. Why was he being so calm about everything? "Don't you remember? You humiliated me in front of our friends and for what? Because Pansy told you that I laughed? In case you didn't know, Blaise and Theo laughed too!"

"Yeah, but there's a difference," Draco said flatly. "They'll laugh at anything. I laugh at them. You, however, wouldn't have laughed if it had been your precious Harry Potter on the ground."

"To be fair, Harry wouldn't have gotten himself into that situation in the first place," Romina blurted out and immediately saw the ire that flashed across Draco's eyes. "Sorry, okay!" She exclaimed quickly. That one was on her. "I just meant — Harry listened to what Hagrid told us. You didn't. And yes, I did laugh, and I felt guilty so I came to see you and apologize but you never even gave me the chance. You just...kicked me out." The anger which nowadays seemed permanent on her face disappeared for a moment.

In the three years that Draco knew Romina, he could not count on one hand the times he had seen her look remotely sensitive about anything. It just wasn't her. So now he had no idea what to do with this version of her in front of him.

Romina sensed that she had overshared her actual feelings on the matter and acted quick to brush it off. "But don't you worry, I don't intend on letting you embarrass me like that again. And if I want to drown, then you let me. Maybe that's what I want."

Draco watched her turn to leave. He didn't know if she had heard him or not but he spoke nothing but the truth. "Well, it's too damn bad that I just don't listen." With that, he took off after her, seized her arm and pulled her right beside him and continued the walk towards the dorms.

"What are you doing!?" Romina immediately tried prying his hand off her arm. "Let go of me!" She tried pulling away from him, feeling rather smushed at his side.

"Either you walk with me or I tell everyone right now who the boggart was," Draco made the threat quietly and calmly.

"You wouldn't dare." As soon as the words left Romina's mouth, Draco stopped walking, gave her a look and then turned back to the common room. She panicked the moment he opened his mouth. "Okay, okay, okay!" she said quickly, her hands in front of her. "Don't— please don't!"

Content that he had gotten her full cooperation, Draco grabbed her arm again and walked her into the hallway.

"I said I'd come. You don't need to grab me like this," Romina muttered, still trying to pull out of his tight grip.

"Can't have you running on me," was his simple response.

"Why does it matter?"

"Because you're not one to let yourself drown. It's actually pathetic, really."

Romina scoffed. "Oh, well, thanks. Guess I can't even do that right."

Draco let her go when they reached her dorm. "No, you can't," he said bluntly, "And to make it clear, you're doing it all wrong!"

"Yeah, I got that, thanks—"

"No," he pointed at her. She shoved his finger away from her face. "Between you and me, we can agree that we both know what that boggart was."

It physically pained Romina to admit to it. The strain was all over her face. "I don't know them," she insisted.

"No, guess you technically wouldn't but the thing is, the whole world knows about them. You want to make it clear that you're not their daughter? Act like yourself again, not this ruddy brainless doll you've become."

"Hey!" Romina frowned.

"You're floating but if you keep it up, you're going to fall. You're going to dig up a hole that you won't be able to climb out of. Start doing your fucking work, start talking again, and start arguing again! I miss that!"

Romina blinked at him. To his credit, Draco's gaze did not waver. He knew exactly what he said and he was not going back on it.

"It's boring," he said in the end.

"...admit you were wrong then," she said suddenly.

The surprise was too much; Draco laughed. "What?"

Romina crossed her arms. "I don't think you get it. You kicked me out in front of our friends. You humiliated me and all for some stupid girl who fed you lies. Admit that you were wrong about that."

"The best I can do is give myself 30% of the fault," Draco shrugged. "You did laugh at me."

"No fucking way! The best I can do" — she mimicked his voice — "is give myself 30%. You kicked me out."

"Yes, so you keep saying. How about 50% then? You laughed, and you let King insult me too."

Romina didn't budge. "Thirty percent. You let Pansy brainwash you!"

"Did she lie about you laughing?"

"Well, no, but—"

"You're more upset that I listened to Pansy than you," Draco said as if he just noticed the fact. He leaned a little closer to her face, smirking. "Why is that, Oswell?"

Romina could not take his smirking face. She paid him with the same coin. "Why'd you go up to the creature in the first place?"

There was a brief period of silence that followed after the two questions. Neither one could answer the question without slightly incriminating themselves with ideas that would not bode well for either side.

Finally, Draco spoke. "Fine. Take your 30% then."

Romina smirked victoriously. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Does this mean that you'll go back to doing your work?"

"Maybe," Romina shrugged. "I am a little bit behind in all my classes..."

"Little bit?" Draco had the suspicion that it was not a 'little bit' at all. "You should get help with that."

"Maybe I will," Romina nodded. "And by the way, you can get rid of the sling now. Think you've made it very clear that you're hurt."

"Nah, it's getting me some good attention."

Romina scoffed. "No!" She sighed, her eyes falling over the infamous sling. "Hey, want to see something cool?"

"From you?" Draco scoffed. "That'll be the day."

Romina shoved him away, ignoring his laugh. "Give me a second!" She said then disappeared in her dorm.

Inside, her friends were surprised to see her so excited as she searched for something in her trunk.

"Romina, are you feeling better?" Arden called from her bed. "You want to try some of those sweets now?"

"In a sec, Arden! Aha!" Romina had found what she was looking for and dashed out of the room again.

"What are you— hey!" Draco had not expected Romina to grab his arm and pull him away from her dorm. The last thing she wanted for some nosy people to listen in on them.

"You know what this is, right?" Romina twirled a black marker between her fingers.

"Yes," drawled Draco, "What are you doing with it?"

"I wanted to show you a little muggle tradition they have, sort of to make a person who got hurt feel better," Romina pointed to his sling, "And despite the fact you are not actually that hurt…"

Draco scowled. "You want to go back to 50%?"

Romina laughed and made a gesture that she would stop. "So anyways, when a muggle gets a cast or something along those lines, other people usually write a little something on their cast or sling."

"What for?"

"To make it fun, I guess? Can't be that fun wearing a cast or a sling I imagine. Like one of my friends back in my neighborhood, Nadine, she loves basketball. I mean, this girl breathed, lived and sweated basketball—"

"What's basketball?" It seemed like Draco was losing her track more and more.

"Irrelevant but it's a muggle sport. Anyways, Nadine got hurt one time and her entire leg had to be in a cast so while she was downm the rest of us wrote little positive messages on her cast. Others doodled and left something funny for her to see every time she got sad."

This time, Draco followed but his face was unsure. "And...that's what you want to do...to me…?"

"If you let me," Romina shrugged. "I won't write anything mean if that's what you're worried about. I'm not you."

"Wow, looks like you want to go up to 60%..."

"Alright, alright, so can I?"

"What are you going to write?" Despite sounding unsure, Draco had already let her take his arm in the sling closer to her, and by extension him as well.

"Something simple," Romina pulled the cap off the marker and scooted closer. Her curls sticking out mildly tickling Draco's face.

He watched her lean forwards and began writing something on his sling. It was a little difficult but she managed to get the ink to stay. Draco tried to see what she was writing but her head was covering it. Her scent filled his immediate area and he discovered she carried a faint rosy-like scent with her.

"There!" Romina raised her hand to reveal small words.

Happiness is a warm puppy - Romina.

"What is that?" Draco didn't know whether to laugh or get mad. He did, however, considered taking the sling off now.

"It's a Charlie Brown line, stupid!" Romina groaned. "You cannot go in life not knowing Peanuts."

"I know what 'peanuts' are!"

Romina made a motion of frustration but took a breath to calm herself. "That's not the peanuts I was talking about!"

"This is ridiculous," Draco concluded after re-reading the message.

"But you're smiling…" Romina pointed at him with the marker in her hand. "See? It works."

"Yeah, well you're smiling too," Draco directed the marker back at her face.

"Not the point!"

"Quiet!"

"You can't just tell me 'quiet' because you're losing!"

"'Losing'? Losing at what!?"

The two began going back and forth with pointless arguments. And all was well with the world again.

A/N:

As always, I have an ao3 & wattpad account under the same username "noblecrescent". Also, I have a tumblr account under "saiilorstars" if you'd like to follow!