Roses | Female Ron Weasley x Draco Malfoy

s i x

"Mail's due any minute — I think Gran's sending a few things I forgot."

Rose was sitting with her friends for breakfast, that morning.

She was feeling rather squirmish, expecting a firm letter scolding her for taking the car.

She had only just started her porridge when, sure enough, there was a rushing sound overhead and a hundred or so owls streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters and packages into the chattering crowd. A big, lumpy package bounced off Neville's head and, a second later, something large and gray fell into Hermione's jug, spraying them all with milk and feathers.

"Errol!" said Rose, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air and a damp red envelope in his beak.

"Oh, no —" Rose gasped.

"It's all right, he's still alive," said Hermione, prodding Errol gently with the tip of her finger.

"It's not that — it's that."

Rose was pointing at the red envelope. It looked quite ordinary to Harry, but Rose and Neville were both looking at it as though they expected it to explode.

Rose cursed under her breath.

"What's the matter?" said Harry.

"She's — she's sent me a Howler," said Rose faintly.

"You'd better open it, Rosie!" said Neville in a timid whisper. "It'll be worse if you don't. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and" — he gulped — "it was horrible."

"— STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE —"

Nearly everyone was watching her now, and tears of humiliation erupted in her eyes.

"— LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED —"

"— ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED — YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."

"Woah." Rose said.

"Well, I don't know what you expected, Rose, but you —"

"Don't tell me I deserved it," snapped Rose.

...

Draco Malfoy had feebly laughed at Rose when she received her howler. He felt sorry for her.

Draco had a free period, and he had managed to shake off Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy off him.

He headed to the one place, he could be himself.

Severus Snape's office.

Unlike most, he found Severus to be a father like figure, because his own father was too intimidating.

"Hey Sev." Draco said, sitting down on the chair beside his God-father.

"Draco. Good to see you again." Severus said.

"Likewise." 

There was a pause.

"You're potions grade is very good, Draco. I am proud." Severus said.

"Thanks. I worked hard in the Manor." Draco said, proudly.

"And your essays...it was remarkable, it had words with meanings, even I, did not know of." Severus smirked.

Draco flushed.

"Yeah, ok, mother likes to sit by me when I do my homework. And you know her, one word out of place and she shoves me aside and does it on her own." Draco said, fondly.

"Ah, but yes. Narcissa does take your education very seriously." Severus said, smiling.

"Mhm." 

"So, Rose Weasley is it?" Severus said, with a knowing smirk.

Draco blushed.

"What? Weasley-I don't like her-

"I never said, you did. But you have just confirmed my suspicions, Draco." 

"What?" Draco said, completely pink now.

"Don't play the act with me, Draco. You glance at her at least 50 times, in my class. You tease her relentlessly, and we all know that, that is your way of flirting."

"Yes, alright. But only a bit." Draco confessed.

"I see." Severus said.

"It's not like she'll ever like me back." Draco said.

"Don't be so glum, Draco. I once knew of a boy, who had such a problem. Quite a tale." Severus said, frowning.

"Who is it of?" Draco said, eagerly.

"James Potter and Lily Evans." Severus said, spitting James' name.

"Potter's parents?" Draco asked, with wide eyes

"James Potter was an obnoxious boy, with that posse of his. He fancied Lily, but she hated him, for the very reason I stated." 

"Then how'd they end up married?"

"They dated in 6th year. Ended up married. Not a very good pair, if I do say so myself." Severus said.

"I still hate Weasley though. I hate her way more than I like her." Draco said.

Severus smirked as he looked at the boy in front of him.

"Certainly."