Rose Weasley and the Wizard's Sacrifice

Chapter 3 | Choose: Insanity or a Malfoy

 The next day was Sunday, a day before Scorpius's and her lessons.

She still couldn't believe what had happened. Part of her was convinced it was some dream. Or a hallucination. She'd take anything over the reality.

She didn't have any more feelings of feelings-that-weren't-hers, which she was grateful for - her life was complicated enough already without throwing random emotions into the mix. It was worse than PMS.

She spent the day in Hogsmeade with Reagan and Albus. Albus was grumpy after the loss against Slytherin - and more specifically against Scorpius, who was popping up in her life more and more - but brightened at the prospect of butterbeer.

The three gathered around a table with their hands wrapped around mugs, soaking in as much warmth as they could. For late September, it was already freezing. Color was high in the trio's faces as they sat around the table.

Uncharacteristically for them, the three didn't speak much as they gulped down greedy mouthfuls. They were too cold to force any words through their chattering teeth, but once they'd recovered Albus said, "So, anything new in life?"

He always asked them this, but she still felt her heart dead stop for a second as she responded with forced lightness, "Nothing much. I signed up as Zabini's teacher aid for extra credit."

He didn't blink at that, nor did he question her. His eyes always adopted a glazed look whenever the conversation veered toward anything academic. He turned to Reagan, who set down her glass and proudly declared, "I have a date."

Rose's eyebrows shot up, as did Albus's. "Who is the lucky - or should I say unlucky - guy?" he said.

"Drew Corner," Reagan said, though her eyes narrowed at the unlucky comment.

Albus nearly spewed out his next sip of butterbeer. "Drew Corner, from the Quidditch team?" he demanded, choking slightly.

Reagan hid her smile behind the lip of her mug as she said casually, "The one and only."

Albus's face darkened. "Why didn't he ask me about it?"

"What?" Rose questioned, biting back her smile. "Ask you on a date? I dunno, I bet he finds Reagan prettier."

Albus shot her a glare, setting down his butterbeer. "He should've checked with me first. He knows I'm close with Reagan."

"We don't need your permission," Reagan said snidely.

Rose leaned back in her chair. "Oh Merlin, not this argument again."

They both shot her glares.

Albus and Reagan were known to get into it, especially when it came too Reagan's choice of guys. Albus usually recruited his brother James to scare any guys that came within a mile radius of them with pitchforks.

"You don't, but he certainly does," snapped Albus. "Drew's my friend. He should've come to me first."

"For what, your blessing?" Reagan quipped, rolling her eyes.

"Yes," he said stubbornly. "Now I'm going to have a chat with him."

"Don't bother," Reagan said, "You won't change either of our minds."

"Really? We'll see if Drew agrees."

"Hey." Reagan pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Don't you dare go scaring Drew off. I like him. He likes me. What's the big deal?"

"Clearly, you don't have much experience with Sixth Year boys!" Albus shot back.

"You're a Sixth Year boy," she retorted.