Potter's Shadow (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter 23

Dear Rose, 

I received Poppy's owl about the scars. I know you're probably sick of hearing this but, I am sorry. She asked me to remind you the importance of taking things easy. I'm sure you already know that too. 

I've been in touch with Sirius, who has been owling with Harry, as you're aware, I'm sure. He mentioned you were taking the fact that Harry is a champion of the tri-wizard tournament with great difficulty and it's caused a strain with your friendship with Ginny. Harry was hoping Sirius or myself could convince you to spend time with your own friends again and that he doesn't require you to be with him all the time. Rose, please do stick with your brother. He needs you but do remember the importance of friendship. Your father and mother, were my friends but more importantly my family and we all need as much of that as we can get. 

Join Harry in the Gryffindor Common room at one o'clock on Saturday night. Sirius wants to talk. 

Be strong, 
Remus

P.S. I've forwarded your permission slip straight to McGonagall. You'll have to tell me when you're Hogsmeade days are and we can meet up for a butterbeer on me. 

Uncle Remus' owl arrived Saturday morning, in the few moments I was alone at the Gryffindor table. Harry hadn't turned up and Ginny was comforting her brother, which I understood considering I had been doing the exact same thing. I was therefor sat on my own, which I actually enjoyed. The silence was calming, however short it was. 

The heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, signalling the arrival of the Durmstrang boys, most of which headed over to the Slytherin table as normal. What I hadn't been expecting was the 5 brown uniformed boys to sit around me. I looked up at one side of me to see Gregor and the other side Viktor Krum. I recognised the other three boys opposite me, as they hung out with Viktor and Gregor a lot, hardly separated. 

"Hi Rose."
"Hi Gregor," I smiled at him. 
"These are my friends. Stan, Alek, Ivo and Viktor, vho you probably recognise."
"Hello," I smiled at the three opposite before turning to Viktor, "You played amazingly at the World Cup. I mean I don't really understand Quidditch myself but my brother and best friend and her family said you were amazing. Not that I don't think that myself." I babbled giving up and hanging my hand as I stabbed at my breakfast. 
The boys all laughed at me causing me to go red, "Thank you, Rose." Viktor smiled at me as he rolled the 'R' of my name. 
"How come you are alone?" Alek asked. 
"My brother is annoyed with the staring and my best friend is comforting her brother, who had a falling out with my brother, who is his best friend." I tried to explain in the least confusing way but I could tell not a lot of it was understood. 
" vho is your brother?" Stan spoke, his accent being the thickest it took me the longest to understand. 
"Harry Potter." I answered with a shrug of my shoulders taking a sip of my pumpkin juice. 
I think  Gregor understood it was a difficult subject so he changed it, "Vould you like to spend the day with us? It is our first veekend and ve have no clue vhat to do?"
"I'd like that," I smiled at him. 
"Viktor!" Somebody yelled at him from the Slytherin table and waved him over. He turned to me and smiled, "If you'll excuse me. I vill be back." 

"So vhat do you normally do at the veekends at Hogwarts?" Ivo asked. 
"Well there is Hogsmeade but we only have designated weekends. Then there is the library, my brother's friend Hermione," I gestured to where she was sitting with Ron and Ginny. She had her nose firmly in a book, which appeared to be her favourite, 'Hogwarts: A history'. "spends most of her time there and she helps me with my homework sometimes. There is also Hagrid's hut, he makes the best brew of tea but don't accept any of his rock cakes because they are as firm as actual rocks. Sometimes we go to the lake and hang out. I'm friends with one of the house elves in the kitchen, who is always willing to make me a hamper for a picnic. Otherwise we play Wizard's chess or something. The Weasley twins will normally coerce me into a prank at some point too." I looked at the boys to see them looking shocked, "Did I say too much again? Or something offensive?"
"You are friends vith the house elves?" Alek questioned. 
"Only one, his name is Dobby. My brother helped free him from this mean pureblood family. I'm actually one of the original members of S.P.E.W. There are actually only six of us."
"S.P.E.W?" Gregor asked.
"The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare. Hermione founded it last year. We're trying to get them the rights to holidays and wages. Although Hermione thinks they shouldn't work at all but Dobby seems to enjoy it most of the time."