✓ WE NEVER SLEEP, draco malfoy

T E N

"Perhaps we become aware of our age only at exceptional moments and most of the time we are ageless."
— Milan Kundera  

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They didn't speak or meet that night. And then the night after. And the night after that until it was the weekend and Rowan's detentions were over and she was suddenly free to live her life again. 

She didn't understand why Draco hadn't spoken with her since their incident in the empty classroom, but she wasn't exactly worried. There was nothing to be worried over. She knew that if he really wanted her, he'd come. He'd find her and tell her so, she wasn't the type to sit around waiting.

But she also didn't quite understand why she was feeling so differently of him. Maybe it was because he hadn't been with another girl for a while and he needed the connection, the attention, and maybe it had just been the same for her in the moment. But this was Draco Malfoy she was thinking about, he was a bully, he wasn't a nice person. There wasn't even a clear memory in her head of him being genuinely good. 

If there had been a time, she just couldn't recall. 

"Get out of your head, Ro, it's time to go!" Ron called to her from the door and she looked up with a grin. 

They were off to Hogsmeade for the day and Rowan was already looking forward to picking up some treats from Honeydukes and running inside Zonko's Joke Shop to see if there was anything new she could use against Fred and George. 

She always loved their trips and she couldn't wait for the ones they would take when it finally snowed. She loved the snow, how everything was clear and white and beautiful. It was like they were all trapped into a snow globe, everything was dreamy. 

Their group left quickly, wanting to beat the normal Saturday rush. They had a plan to browse the shops and meet at the Three Broomsticks after an hour. She wore a light sweater and jeans, knowing it wouldn't be too cold. Her hand was healing but Umbridge went all out the night prior but at least she got to leave after midnight and not dawn like she usually preferred it. 

She was sad Harry couldn't join them. He had finally taken their advice to talk to Sirius and they wanted to give him the proper space to do so. They were just happy he was finally doing it. 

Ron and Rowan were accompanied by Hermione and Luna. They usually got Ginny to come but she was off with Dean, apparently the two had started hanging out more. 

Rowan needed this trip, she decided once they finally arrived. It's cobble stone sidewalks didn't have as many people as she thought as she gave her friends a wave and pulled Ron into Honeydukes by his sleeve. 

He had promised to show her some new flaming hot jelly slugs. 

They rounded a small table and she filled a bag with the sweets as Ron looked at the chocolate frogs before deciding to buy two. She payed for her sweets before linking her arm with his as she pulled one of the slugs from her bag and took a bite. 

She hissed, chewing quickly as she breathed through her mouth like a dog.

"That hot, huh?" Ron laughed, holding his hand out for one and she passed them over. He popped the whole thing in his mouth and she knew he was just trying to show off until his face turned red. She covered her mouth with one hand, suppressing her giggles as she ate another and sweat began to spread across her cheeks and nose.

"In here next, Ro," Ron pulled on her arm and the pair entered the next shop. 

They walked through store after store until they got to Zonko's and Rowan was displeased with their selection so they left to eat their sweets inside the Three Broomsticks to wait for their remaining friends.