Roses | Female Ron Weasley x Draco Malfoy

s i x t e e n

"You complete b-

"Woah, woah- Weasley! What-?" Draco said, completely baffled, when the girl came running at him, looking ready to pound the poor boy.

"You! Buckbeak's gonna be executed! You foul-

"Well, he deserves it! My arm didn't work for ages!" Draco said, slightly smirking.

"How could you? Draco, it's an innocent life! I've hurt you several times! Would you have me executed?" Rose asked, indignantly.

"No! What kind of a sicko do you take me for?"

"One who executed helpless animals!" Rose said, angrily.

"Whatever. I have Herbology, move." Draco said, pushing past her.

...

"Where'd you get it, Harry?"

"Will you let me have a go?"

"Have you ridden it yet, Harry?"

"Ravenclaw'll have no chance, they're all on Cleansweep Sevens!"

"Can I just hold it, Harry?"

After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Rose had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadn't rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Rose approached her table and at last, she looked up.

"I got it back," said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt.

"See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!" said Rose.

"Well — there might have been!" said Hermione. "I mean, at least you know now that it's safe!"

"Yeah, I suppose so," said Harry. "I'd better put it upstairs."

"I'll take it!" said Rose eagerly. "I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic."

When Rose went to the dormitory, Harry approached Hermione.

"Can I sit down, then?" Harry asked Hermione.

"I suppose so," said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair.

"How are you getting through all this stuff?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, well — you know — working hard," said Hermione.

"Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?" Harry asked, watching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary.

"I couldn't do that!" said Hermione.

"Arithmancy looks terrible," said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart.

"Oh no, it's wonderful!" said Hermione earnestly. "It's my favorite subject! It's —"

But exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the girls' staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder — and then Rose came leaping into view, dragging with hr a bedsheet.

"LOOK!" she streaked, striding over to Hermione's table. "LOOK!" she yelled, shaking the sheets in her face.

"Rose, what —?"

"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS! YOUR FREAKING CAT!"

Hermione was leaning away from Rose, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Rose was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like —