Winter Break

67 3 1
                                    

A/N Hello all! Sorry for the delay on this chapter, work was crazy this week, so I wasn't able to finish this new chapter in time for Friday's upload. 

This chapter offers some insight on Rosaline's family life and demonstrates the new dynamic between her and Garreth. I hope you enjoy! Please vote or comment of you do!

***

Winter fell over the school quickly, snow falling heavily once it began, draping the grounds in fluffy sea of white. Rosaline found herself bundling up more, even inside the castle, often attending classes with a scarf wrapped tight around her shoulders. She didn't venture out very often either, apologizing to Imelda every morning as the dark-headed Slytherin tried and failed to convince her to go out for flying sessions.

Most often, she could be found in the Slytherin Common room, wrapped in cardigans and sweaters with thick wool socks on her feet either reading or staring blankly into the flames. She'd always hated winter.

This was where Tollie, a house elf tasked with handing out mail to any Slytherins in the common room, found her about two weeks into December.

"A letter for you, Miss," The elf said, handing the white envelope to her.

"Oh, thank you, Tollie," Rosaline said as she took it, making sure not to touch the elf's hands with her own freezing fingers.

Turning the letter over revealed familiar handwriting, the letter sealed with red wax, imprinted with a Gryffindor lion. A smile tugged at Rosaline's lips as she carefully pooped the wax seal and pulled out the parchment inside.

Garreth's letter was simple, but rambling, he wrote the same way he spoke. His father had agreed to make a day trip out to Hogsmeade to meet with her grandparents two days before Christmas. Everything seemed to be set. The group would meet at the Three Broomsticks for tea and a chat, and that would be that. Though, knowing her grandfather there was sure to be more to his visit than he initially disclosed. She wouldn't try to make sense of his thoughts though; it would be a futile exercise.

She lingered on his closing, fingers running over the dried ink.

Yours, he had written, and the image of him writing that word, on a letter intended for her made her heart skip a beat, and a bit of heat to flush up her face.

She'd thought about the way he had kissed her and then...the way he hadn't that day in Hogsmeade, over and over again. She didn't know him, not well, not enough to justify her melancholy over their new distance.

Perhaps distance was the wrong word. Garreth still went out of his way to see her, to converse with her in and out of classes, but their interactions always felt heavy, stifled by some unseen weight that now dangled between them. At least, it was something she noticed. She wondered if Garreth noticed it too.

"You look like somebody killed your kitten," Imelda said, falling into the couch cushion beside her.

"I don't have a kitten," Rosaline said coolly, though a small smile appeared on her face.

"What else am I supposed to say? Hey, Rosaline, you look like shit, want to head to lunch?"

Rosaline laughed at Imelda's dramatics. The quidditch prodigy had spent most of the morning packing for the winter holiday. She would be leaving that evening right before dinner. They had planned to have lunch together before Rosaline said her farewell.

"You might be my best friend, but I am not walking all the way to the station and back in this weather." Rosaline had told her the day before, giggling at Imelda's affronted look.

"Do I really look that bad?" Rosaline asked, smile spreading on her face as her friend sat and pretended to ponder the question.

"I guess not," Imelda finally said, "But you do look like a kicked puppy."

An Opposite is a Perfect Match (MC x Garreth Weasley)Where stories live. Discover now