third person pov

' scorpio: I am nothing in my
soul if not obsessive '

The two weeks that passed since Rose had confirmed there was nothing for Theo to worry about, that they were simply best friends, passed by slowly for them both. In a way the lifetime of hiding their feelings for each other made it possible for her to crawl into his bed after she left the astronomy tower. She had walked back in at the late of night, pushed by his bed curtains and stood for a moment. Theo swallowed thickly and held up the side of the comforter without hesitation, not speaking in fear how weak and feeble his voice would sound. Then Rose slid in next to him, and he pulled her back tightly against his chest with a strong arm. They didn't exchange words but once sure he had squeezed her tight enough for reassurance Theo slid his palm into her hair, leaning up and placing a firm kiss atop her head.

After, he settled himself behind her, their legs mixing together as they both listened to the memorized sound of the other breathing. Eventual spare tears of sorrow fell from their eyes without either knowing, a pain more true than anything—one of deep mutual pinning. It was hard in general to love someone so much, to carry such a heavy yearning inside that even the poets couldn't fathom. But it was also difficult when it was one's best friend they felt such things for, not able to tell the one person they told everything to how deeply troubled they were of such matters.

And then things returned to normal by the next day, Rose and Theo both acting with one another as always for the hope of keeping their sanity in tact. It was a known fact amongst the group that they were always closer, they needed each other—like oxygen. The tension had increased somehow as if it hadn't hit a peak already, for now all they had to hold onto were stolen glances and brushes of skin to calm the storm within.

Theo told himself it would all be okay because he always intended to be her last love, for her to be the one whose hand he held when he left this world just as he had latched onto her pinky at the ripe age of one. It wouldn't matter if he had to go on losing her countless times, if he had to let her love a million other people, if he had to deal with the pain of maybe never even calling her his own. Theo knew he would only ever love one person, his heart was never his own to call—his eyes and attention would only ever cast upon one human. She had lit his soul on fire and made sure it would only ever burn for her. So damn him if the universe must, he wouldn't give up.

It was the morning of Whitman's birthday, him sleeping longer than everyone else because of the sleeping draught Rose had drugged him with the night before. All the other dorm-mates had been up and moving with talks of the days plans. Blaise was busy digging the voice projecting stick out of his trunk, Draco had just stepped off Whitman's bed after finishing his job of hanging the obnoxious bells around the wooden frame, Rose was situating herself on the mattress with a birthday hat sure to trigger Whitman in hand, and Theo was sitting himself on the edge of the same bed.

"Hurry the fuck up Blaise" Rose whispered harshly, stifling a laugh as he pulled out the long golden stick with a victory yelp.

Draco stood by Rose with crossed arms, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Whit's gonna throw a bloody tantrum over this"

She looked to him for a moment, startled by the proximity that made her feel ignited as she tucked one of her legs under herself. "Yes well-" Her throat cleared, "It is necessary"

"Being woke up in a way which will make one's ears bleed is a tradition" Theo butted in.

Draco grumbled, attempting to not stand up completely straight so his tall height didn't make him accidentally hit the load of bells hanging. "Still hope you'll all forget about my birthday so I won't have to deal with intruders in my room at eight in the morning next year" Rose giggled and his gaze fixated on her, "Don't quite get how you hate me so much but you participate in such things"

She peered up at him with a grin, "Oh hating you makes waking you up in a painful way so—so much better"

Blaise stepped up onto the mattress as he spoke, "Yes yes dear Draco...you are never getting out of group traditions" He held the pipe up, "Now can we get on with this? I have a performance to give"

Theo raised a brow and nodded back at Blaise lazily, "Who decided on giving this one the mic?"

"Well my voice is awful, yours is too good, and Draco would never do it and Blaise—well Blaise is the perfect fit for the job" Rose shrugged with a smile as Whitman mumbled in his sleep. Draco nodded proudly at her answer, head tilted as he caught Whitman mumbling about 'the tree is to the left'.

"I think he's speaking of a tree again" Draco whispered curiously.

"You caught that too?" Rose whispered back as she slightly leaned toward the sleeping boy.

Blaise went to tap Rose's head with the heavy stick but was stopped as Draco's hand shot out and wrapped around the metal before his gaze could even turn, "Don't" He warned Blaise who went stiff at the instincts.

Rose eyed Draco towering over her before slowly turning her gaze to the stick mere inches from her face, stunned in a some way or the other. Draco released the metal rather quickly and straightened himself up, speaking as if nothing had happened. "On with it"

Blaise blinked before huffing, "Acted like I was going to take her fucking head off—dramatic arse"

Rose gestured him on, forcing herself to pay no mind to what had occurred as Blaise lifted the stick to his lips. "Let's hear that elegant voice Blaise"

Blaise paused to smile down at her, retracting the metal slightly away from his mouth. "It is rather elegant, wouldn't you say?"

The group of three groaned, yelling at him in sync. "Go!"

His eyes rolled in response, lifting the stick back up for a final time and in perfect timing the Black lifted a finger—making all the bells start ringing at once with such intensity that Draco grimaced.

Whitman jerked in his sleep with eyes flying open at the painful sound of ringing, hearing Rose and Theo singing him happy birthday but Blaise as well—the boys singing much more projected. Draco stood silent until Rose grasped onto his wrist tightly and pulled, making him start to mutter the words begrudgingly.

It was the most obnoxious sound Whitman had ever heard, so loud it felt like there were speakers blaring inside his eardrums. His eyes adjusted to the light in the room, immediately glancing over his friends before grumbling and flipping onto his stomach. "Stop!"

Of course they didn't listen, the classic birthday song continuing along with the bells as he attempted to muffle the sound by holding a pillow over his head and buried his face in another. Even with everything occurring he could hear Rose giggling as the bed dipped from her moving across to him, and then all once the song ended along with the bells ceasing their ringing.

Rose tossed the pillow off his head and attempted to flip him just before he yelled, "Go away!"

"Never!" She replied with a grunt while finally managing to flip him over, giggling again as she found him secretly smiling. "Oh you can't hide that happiness from me" Rose taunted before slapping a paper birthday hat on his head, slipping a thin string under his chin that made him drop his smile.

The others let out deep laughs at the hat as Rose adjusted it to sit perfectly, getting himself forcefully swatted at as he attempted to slip it off. He scoffed at them and rolled his eyes with a grumble while giving in to her, "Yeah yeah—fuck all of you"

Rose smiled widely and grasped onto his cheeks, planting a firm kiss to his forehead. "Happy birthday Mister moon" She teased, tapping his nose before crashing onto his chest. "So what do you want to do first?"

Blaise tossed the stick onto the bed and sat on the end as Whitman looked at her horrified, "I've just woken!"

"Times ticking Whit" Rose affirmed, propping her head up with an elbow digging into his ribcage. "You'll be old and gray before we know it"

He stared at her for a moment before looking up at Draco who was holding back another laugh at the hat Whitman seemed to had forgotten about, "What did you all give her this morning?"

"She had four cups of coffee?" Draco asked to Theo and Blaise, "I think"

"Five" Theo corrected with a smirk as Rose pinched Whitman's cheek, earning a unamused face. "Been off the walls for a bit"

"She also hasn't had a cig if you're wondering" Blaise added on, "Bound to kill us all soon"

Whitman's lips twitched up, peering at the girl who was just beginning to pick at the lint on the neck of his sweater. "I thought there was a smell missing from you"

"Are you insulting my smell of cigarettes?" Rose faked offensive, a playful bite in her tone.

"Never," Whitman retorted, turning his head away to yawn for a moment. "Think I'd go into a deep depression if it went away—wouldn't quite smell like home"

Rose grinned and dropped her head onto his chest as Blaise snickered, "Quite flirty for a man who just woke up"

Whitman sighed and soothed her hair down, "What can I say? It's in my nature" His look of happiness faded as he realized the hat was still tight around his head, quickly he peeled it off and chunked it at Theo. "Ro I love you but you have to get up so I can at least brush my teeth before I deal with all of this"

She grunted and rolled off his chest, "Hurry! It's present time!"

Whitman mumbled as he slid out of the bed with struggle from the amount of people sitting on his comforter, getting up and heading straight for the bathroom as Rose clapped enthusiastically on her back.

"So cheerful" Theo teased with a soft smile, Draco nodded in amusement before she began directing out orders to all three boys—making them grumble and move to grab the presents.

When he returned there were many boxes on the bed and quickly Draco shoved him down next to Rose before sliding in beside the boy himself. Whitman gave them all questioning stares as Rose tucked his legs back under the comforter, the suspense with birthdays amongst them always came and was very prevalent right then. Considering each of them were so insanely rich that there was nothing they couldn't buy themselves, gifting was a difficult thing. Often they all opted for more meaningful presents, something that held significant to the person. Or they bought eachother gag-gifts, ones that would always send everyone into a fit of laughter except the one whose birthday it was. When money and jewels had been shoved in ones face their whole lives, they lost their glamour and meaning.

"Theo..." Whitman began like a worried father as he eyed the box by the boys hip, "Why does your gift have holes in it?"

Theo's lips turned up as the others laughed, his ring clad hand sliding over the wrapping paper as the box rattled. "This old thing? No reason—just for dramatic affect"

Nyx slithered up onto the side of the bed, gliding over Rose's thighs and towards Whitman. She cheered and picked up the snake, "Someone needs to give you birthday love Whit"

He side-eyed the snake before grinning, forgetting about his suspicions and worry at Theo as he grasped onto Nyx. He let the creature rub all over his face before sliding her up around his neck with a laugh.

"On with it!" Rose reached out and grasped her large box that was so very heavy, forcefully shoving it onto his lap. "Me first"

Whitman chuckled at her enthusiasm as the others rolled their eyes, another tradition being kept of her going first. He glanced down at the shiny black covering that matched all of the boxes and eyed the prestige wrapping job, a clear indicator that Draco had wrapped each gift—knowing very well no one else knew how to wrap a gift to save their lives.

He started to pull at the wrapping paper, having no idea what it could be from the heavy weight inside. Rose watched with nervous eyes, mouthing to Theo 'what if he hates it?'

'Don't be ridiculous'  Theo mouthed back.

'But he could! He could hate it!'

'It's the most Whit coded gift—' Theo stopped his reply as Whitman's head shot up after finishing tearing all the wrapping paper off.

"Stop being weird and mouthing stuff"

Rose yelped and covered her mouth as Theo laughed under his breath, Whitman simply shook his head at them before opening the box up. Inside the wide space had been filled to the top with cassette tapes, so full there had barely been enough room to close the top of the cardboard box. Whitman was so shocked at the amount of little tapes that he didn't notice the Walkman tucked in the left corner.

"Fuck sake Rosie," Draco muttered, "You weren't exaggerating"

"Oh I mean I got every muggle band I could find" She said with wide eyes before beginning to ramble as Whitman studied a Queen tape on top, "I know you love records and all that but over the summer you were complaining about how you wished you had a record player in your ears! Professor Lupin is always playing some kind of muggle music so I went to him and bombarded him with questions—he told me about this thing called a Walkman where you buy those tiny little tapes and put them in and—"

Whitman cut her off with a hand sliding over her own two and a smile, "Breathe Ro" He chuckled as she took a deep breath, "I love it and frankly had no idea such things existed but—" He started picked up tapes, finding only more and more underneath each one. "How many did you buy?"

Rose's eyes grew wide again, "I'm not kidding you when I say I got one of each they had in the store—ask Teddy!"

Theo nodded, pressing down on his box as it rattled again. "Should've seen her—went feral in the cassette isle and gave that poor bloke working a heart attack"

"I did! Really!" Rose added on, beginning to pop her fingers under Whitman's steady grip. "I didn't want to miss anything but maybe you'll find some new bands you like in there"

Whitman finally spotted the black Walkman and picked it up curiously, becoming confused at the headphones attached. "How exactly does the listening part work?"

Rose giggled and grasped on of the ear buds, making his eyes go wide as she shoved it into his left ear. "Like that!"

"Nifty..." Whitman muttered before grinning and taking the earbud out, flipping around the Walkman. "I love it—I'll be able to tune you all out anytime"

"Pretentious Cunt" Blaise muttered jokingly.

Whitman sat the Walkman back in the box and pulled Rose off her knees, forcing her into his side as he kissed atop her head repeatedly. "Thank you love and thank you for remembering"

Her voice was muffled against him, "You really like it?"

"Adore it even" Whitman affirmed with a wide smile, kissing her head again before letting her up and helping her settle into his side. "Okay now show me how this works Ro"

"No! You have to open everyone's first!" Rose demanded, dropping her head onto his shoulder. "I say Blaise next"

"Finally! That love fest was sickening" Blaise tossed his smaller box at Whitman as Draco moved Rose's into the floor. Blaise dropped onto his stomach as he watched Whitman peeled the wrapping paper off. Inside sat Polaroid camera, a strap, and enough rolls of film to last years—leading to the boy raising his eyebrows as he pulled it out.

"Figured it was time we retired that old Polaroid and got a new one—you kept saying you wanted to make it a hobby" Blaise explained casually, much less anxious than Rose did.

"Basically Blaise is saying we're sick of you chunking books everytime you get angry—maybe a hobby will calm that temperament" Theo grinned, mirth laced into his tone.

"I chunk books because I don't understand why authors are incapable of giving me the happy ending I want" Whitman pointed out before kicking Blaise's arm lightly with his foot, "Thank you—I'll be sure to become the designated photographer"

"Hm...I wonder who your muse will be" Blaise taunted, the other two boys smirking at his comment. Whitman's eyes followed where their gaze went to, finding Rose resting against him and simply staring at Theo's box—completely zoned out.

"Oh fuck off" Whitman grumbled and tightened his arm around her, "Come on Draco—hand over that gift"

Draco shot him an annoyed look while moving Blaise's gift down with Rose's before grasping his own medium sized box and handing it over. As Whitman began opening the gift light teasing came about, everyone else aware of the stress his gift caused him.

Whitman spotted the words 'Pink Floyd' and quickly closed the box with a glare, "Please tell me you know me well enough to know how much I hate Pink Floyd"

"I know you better than anyone" Draco rolled his eyes, "It's not what you think it is"

There was know fact each knew, Whitman Rosier had a vendetta against Pink Floyd. But he did in fact hold so much love for their album 'Dark side of the moon' that he would always say 'It is the only exception'. So when he followed Draco's instructions and pulled out a first edition record of said album with all the signatures of the three band members left—his disgust turned into excitement and pure shock.

"How....the fuck did you meet them? They're muggles?!" Whitman questioned in shock.

Draco grimaced at the memory with distaste, "Rosie guided me on muggle etiquette and went with me. It was awful—sweaty people everywhere, horrendous mannerisms and not to mention the food we had to eat! I mean who deep fries food? It's like they wish to die at twenty"

Whitman glanced down at Rose who was smiling at Draco, "You made him go to the muggle world? Was he latching onto you for dear life?"

"No but he did punch a guy for sliding past me" Rose giggled, "Draco was absolutely mortified at the whole ordeal—him meeting the band members was actually the most hilarious thing I've ever witnessed"

"He put his filthy hand on your shoulder Rosie" Draco scoffed and pointed at the three signatures, "We could only get those guys because the others left back in the eighties I think?"

"The eighties" Whitman confirmed before tugging on Draco and hugging him to the best the blonde would allow, "Oh how I will tell our children the trouble you went through in my honor"

Draco grumbled to himself before pulling away and patting Whitman's shoulder, "Be thankful you twat"

Whitman grinned and went to put the box in Draco's lap but paused at the sound of something sliding, he peered in and pulled out the small leather box that latched with a golden lock.

"Oh Salazar—this is the worst part" Draco mumbled as Whitman opened the box up. "I hate group activities"

"Shut up" Rose scoffed at him, "If there was a reality where you didn't have us, which there isn't, you would be so very lonely Draco Malfoy"

Blaise chuckled as Draco began a staring contest with a glaring Rose, "Just so you know I'm not in on this gift—thought it was pretty weird or whatever"

"Nothings ever too weird for you Blaise" Theo rolled his eyes.

Inside was a sliver banded ring with delicate carvings piled on top of each other. Odd little constellations, a sun, and a moon—all representative of something. Rose held her hand out with a happy sigh, "Look! We all have one!"

Whitman watched as Theo, Blaise, and Draco all shared blank looks of distaste before laughing. "We have matching rings now?"

"Yes! Isn't it amazing?"

He nodded reluctantly and spotted the ring on each of the boys before letting Rose take ahold of his left hand, sliding the ring down on his middle finger forcefully. She clapped after and dramatically dropped back into Whitman's side, "They love them—trust me"

"I'm sure they do" Whitman spoke with amusement, pushing away Theo's box as the boy attempted to hand it over. "Theodore Tiberius Nott if you give me some spider or weird shit I'm decking you in the face"

"You know I was going to make you a timer turner but then I tried to use it and I got sent like two seconds previous and then five seconds in the future" Theo's brows furrowed together, "It was all really confusing"

Rose watched him dreamily until Blaise swatted at her leg, signaling she couldn't have been more obvious. The box rattled in Theo's hands, reminding him that he did in fact have a urgent gift. He passed it off to Whitman who wearily took it, eyeing the little of holes suspiciously.

The box rattled again and Whitman jerked with a scowl, "Theo I swear—"

"Just open it!" They all chorused together impatiently.

With a deep and unsure breath Whitman tore the paper off, taking a full minute before he opened the box up as silence filled the room.

He refused to peer in, holding the box in front of his chest when suddenly a bowtruckle popped it's head out frantically. Whitman yelped and pushed the box away, covering his mouth in shock as everyone around him fell into laughter. Nyx started hissing persistently around his neck as the bowtruckle peaked back out of the box, using his twig like fingers to fully stand atop the cardboard.

The creature was hand-sized with two long and sharp fingers on each arm, brown eyes, and a general appearance of a flat-faced stick figure made of bark and twigs. The most stand out factor though was the bright shade of green it's skin was, two little leafs atop his head as he crossed his arms and peered at Whitman intently.

Nyx started to slip off Whitman's neck with one mission in mind, rid any other creature from stealing Whitman's attention. Rose quickly sat up and grasped onto the snake, pulling her tightly into her own chest.

"No eating Nyx! No eating!"

Nyx struggled against her rapidly as the bowtruckle slowly started walking over Whitman's thighs, "I want it dead!"

"No!"

Draco lips turned up at Nyx and Rose's struggle to keep the snake still, "Let me see her"

Rose scowled and tossed the snake to him roughly, becoming even more annoyed as Nyx instantly calmed under his touch and inaudible whispers. Draco shot her a condescending look of superiority as Nyx settled against his chest, garnering a middle finger in return from Rose.

"You got me....a bowtruckle?"

Theo shrugged and accidentally forcefully shoved the little green creature forward, "Well you love plants and he looks like one"

Poor Theo, the most intelligent boy with zero common sense.

"You gift me a creature just because it looks like a plant?"

"Mhm...he's a cool little guy but super shy" Theo grinned.

"He can understand English too" Rose said, settling back against Whitman as he blinked at the bowtruckle standing on his waist. Slowly Whitman held out his hand, instantly the creature stood in his palm and let him rise it up towards his face.

"Can you smile little guy?" Whitman questioned with a studious face.

In return the bowtruckle placed his hands on its hips, sticking their tongue out to Whitman and blowing.

"Oh" Rose giggled and covered her mouth, "He's precious"

"They can pick locks and gouge out eyes—fun fact" Blaise added on, "Scared me half to death when Theo showed me"

Whitman slowly held his hand further form his face at the information, grunting as Theo patted his leg harshly.

"Go on and name him Whit"

Whitman's mouth twitched before he spoke, "David Bowie? Get it?"

"No" Rose deadpanned, followed by everyone else.

"You all suck" Whitman muttered before grinning again, "Bowie! That's perfect"

"I like it" Rose murmured, holding out her pointed finger to the bowtruckle who grasped onto it. "You'll have to take him everywhere with you"

"Everywhere?"

"What else is he going to do? Sit here and get eaten by Nyx?" Theo questioned.

"Okay then but maybe he can stay in the room today" Whitman went to set 'Bowie' down but he leaped out of his palm and onto his chest with urgency, "Salazar—he already has attachment issues"

"Like Rose" Blaise butted in, getting a scowl from her in return.

Whitman chuckled as the creature moved up onto his shoulder, "So Bowie?"

"Bowie" They all nodded and chorused together.

Whitman looked over at Nyx who was staring at him as she laid her head on Draco chest, seeming to glare at everyone for the betrayal of another pet being brought in. "Oh Nyx you know you're number one in my heart"

Bowie pinched his ear at that, making Whitman yelp and swat the creature. Rose sat up and started pushing his hair back, "No time to waste Whit—Draco's taking you out for the day while we decorate for tonight"

"Seriously? You guys don't need to do that" Whitman groaned, "I'll be happy with just us"

"Nope!" Rose said, popping the 'p'. "You are getting pissed tonight birthday boy"

"Are you all sure you want to pack this dorm like fish?"

Theo yanked his arm up, "You're not getting out of this—our dorm is massive"

*

After a long while of Draco hustling Whitman out of the room with Bowie who slipped inside his back pocket, the two were off to Hogsmeade—truthfully they were going to meet Narcissa and Miss Zabini for lunch. The mothers had agreed to keep the boys occupied all day under the terms that neither would complain about their plans.

Inside the dorm Rose and Blaise were climbing around, hanging ridiculous decorations left and right. Times like these all could be thankful for such a large space. Theo on the other hand had kicked back on the couch with Nyx, adding in infuriating commentary every so often that had Rose's eye twitching. At one point she had even chunked a glass jug at his head, one which he easily stopped with his wand and a playboy smirk.

Lunch for them was much different than Draco and Whitman's lavish time. They had simply had the elves bring up food, Blaise groaning as Rose rambled about how her new found vegetarian lifestyle was much less harmful to the environment—Theo on the other hand listened to every word with a lazily smile.

Rose had just finished eating a carrot and tossed one at Blaise for his rabbit jokes when the dorm door slammed open, all heads turning to see Hermione Granger breathless in the doorway.

"Rose!"

Rose jumped up out of the chairs her and Blaise had dragged infront of Theo, "Are you alright? Has someone done something to you?"

"No! But I cannot come tonight! I cannot do it!" Hermione huffed with exasperation, "Padma Patil will not win against me!"

Blaise sighed dreamily as he refilled his glass of water, "Padma Patil—what a woman"

Rose walked towards the door, blowing a strand of hair that hung from the mess pinned with her wand atop her head. "Mione I'm confused—why would you miss Whit's birthday?"

Hermione grasped onto the doorframe with a flustered face, "You know how I took muggle studies as a extra course and how Padma is trying to top me in that class?!"

"Oh gods" Rose muttered, looking her best friend over as she grasped onto the doorway. Rose knew this feeling all to well, it happened to her in a much bigger way each time Draco tried to beat her in class. "What's Patil done this time?"

"She took my extra credit assignment! Now the one with the best work is the person who gets the points! We've been pitted against each other!" Hermione yelled.

"Mione just forget about it—it's fucking muggle studies?! You're a muggle! Come tonight" Rose sighed out.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Rose, "Do you remember the breakdown you had when Draco finished his potion first last year?!"

Rose gasped, "That was different!"

"No it was not! He simply finished before you!" Hermione harshly said before yelling, "I will not let Padma freaking Patil win!"

Rose choked on a laugh, followed by the two boys in the room who were trying to eating peacefully. "Would be a shame to be bested in muggle culture by a pureblood"

Hermione clutched her chest, "That will not happen! Goodbye! I am not sleeping for the next twenty four hours!" In an instant the Gryffindor turned and rushed down the stairs, Rose watching in amusement before slamming the door shut.

"Complete nutter if you ask me"

"Really?" Theo questioned, leaning back on the couch. "Have you seen yourself everytime Draco's grades get a point closer to your own?"

"Shut up!" Rose barked before collecting herself and crossing her arms. She cleared her throat, "You've made me yell Teddy—don't speak such things aloud to the universe"

"I like when you yell baby," He shrugged and dropped his arm back on the leather with a devilish look, "It does things to me"

Rose stared at him unblinking until her eyes trailed down to his upturned lips and spread legs, taking a noticeable gulp as Blaise watched the two with amusement—he would never be able to express how truly amazing it felt to know everything.

She turned away from Theo with a middle finger which he only blew a kiss to.

*

By the time the sun set and the half moon rose up, all the beds in the dorm had been pushed to the walls—the space filled with a green light that resembled the one always kept in the common room for such occasions. No one was exaggerating when they claimed the dorm would be packed body to body. There was reasons for not doing it in the common room, a place like that led to anyone coming and often some girls from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. In the dorm though they had complete control, only the quidditch team and other older Slytherin boys and girls coming—with the exception of Luna Lovegood and the Weasley twins.

When Whitman and Draco arrived their ears were ringing from the immense music and chatter. The birthday boy was greeted with a loud cheer and chorus of 'happy birthday!' Whitman shook his head as Draco clapped him on the back and shoved him forward, being immediately taken away by some older students who kept shoving drinks at him.

Draco grimaced at all the drunken teenagers in his room, disturbed by the idea of anyone's germs invading his space. He weaved through the people until he reached the corner where he found Fred Weasley sitting in the center of the couch with Blaise casually in between his legs as the ginger rested one arm over Blaise's shoulder, handing out a bag of what was presumed pot to George Weasley who was standing across. Next to them a laughing and highly intoxicated Rose sat on Theo's lap as always with odd looking sunglasses, her grin prevent in the presence of the boy with the last name Nott as she grinned at Fred slinging an arm over Luna's neck and pulling the blonde in.

Draco eyed them before jerking as Rose suddenly yelled his name out so happily he knew she had to be more than drunk. All of their eyes turned onto him, glassy and redder than a Gryffindor sweater. "What? Did I find the pot head corner?"

Luna nodded slowly, giggling as Fred pulled on her tighter. "We have smoked quite a lot of the substance in a short time"

Rose placed the blunt in Theo's lips, knowing she had to get away for a moment before slipping up and confessing her love loud enough for the whole of England to hear. "Do you happen to know Pucey might be?"

Draco sneered with disgust as the others yelled at her in sync almost,

"Why do you keep asking that?!"

Rose shrugged, pushing the glasses up on her face with a slur. "I don't know....I got drunk and suddenly I'm thinking where is his face?"

Marcus Flint walked up to the table with galleons in hand, not realizing he had gained everyone's attention. "Weasley—"

Rose cut him off, standing up so quickly Theo had to gasp her hips firmly—not realizing how much more difficult he was making everything for her. "Where is Adrian?"

Marcus looked at her oddly before nodding, "Just went to the bathroom with Graham"

Rose held up a finger, Fred tucking his head down to muffle laughter as she slurred with a stern voice. "I shall be off then"

"Ro—"

"I will not be stopped" She muttered before pushing by people and disappearing in a instant.

Draco didn't care that Marcus or anyone else was around as he asked a question aloud to Theo, trying to find her in the mix of bodies. "You don't think Adrian would....?"

"No" Theo responded and gestured to the chair by the couch, waiting until Draco sat down to speak. None of Theo's friends wanted anyone to know he was a seerer, people like him were a rarity that were used and abused. "I accidentally touched him at practice the other day and I didn't see anything bad"

Draco nodded with his suspicions still prevalent as Blaise looked over at him, "Think she knows she's still wearing those glasses?"

"No" Blaise chuckled.

Theo dropped his head back, "Definitely not"

"Hand me a whiskey" Draco sighed heavily, "I'll go make sure she's fine"

Theo looked around for her, "I can do it"

Blaise scoffed and tossed a organge bottle at Draco's chest, "Pucey isn't going to do shit"

"He's quite nice" Luna added on, much more airy than usual from her altered state.

Despite the dark shaded glasses affecting her vision, the mass of people, and the alcohol—Rose had elbowed her way to the bathroom with ease and some slight stumbling before pushing the door open. She huffed and closed it with her back, the sound of the music becoming muffled behind the thick tile walls of the vast bathroom.

Neither boys turned to her, too taken by the white snake floating in the bubbly bathtub as they both peered down at it. Rose walked over to them as Adrian leaned his shoulder against the wall, forgetting what they could possibly be looking at.

"Oh don't mind her"

Graham jumped in shock to find Rose standing between them and clutched his chest, Adrian only glancing down with a blank face before speaking. "Is she taking a bath in bubbles?"

"Yeah" Rose slurred as Nyx moved around in the water, "She doesn't like loud noises so I put her in a calming lavender bath with a silencing charm"

Graham breathed out a rush of air, "Salazar woman you'll give me a heart attack"

Adrian tilted his head before waving slightly at the snake, getting an approving nod from Nyx. Graham went to reach his hand forward and instant retracted it as Nyx snapped her jaws at him, "Bloody hell"

"She must not like you" Rose teased before walking towards the counter curiously, "Is that powder?"

Graham scowled at the snake and followed after Rose, picking up the rolled up muggle money. "Want to try it?"

"Graham" Adrian warned, "Don't offer her drugs"

"Oh shush" Rose smiled widely and took the bill curiously, "Will you both show me?"

"You can barely speak coherently Black" Adrian said with a even tone, pressing his hip into the counter next to her.

"It'll sober her up from the alcohol" Graham suggested.

Adrian looked him over, annoyed with the boys eyes lingering on her face. "Get out"

"What? Why?" Graham questioned.

"Because I said so" Adrian deadpanned before leaning his elbows on the counter. With an annoyed sound Graham listened, sliding out of the bathroom without another word.

Rose adjusted her glasses as she glanced in the mirror with a laugh, "You command everyone around?"

Adrian grasped her head and Rose stilled as he pushed the glasses up into her hair, "Much better—what were you saying?"

"Uh...." Rose began as he leaned back down, "You made me forget"

He took the divination card off the counter and began making lines with the whispery white powder, "Then do you want to tell me why you came in here?"

"Well I got drunk and randomly thought about you"

His eyes turned up to her for a moment before looking back down at the task at hand, "Seems we're forming a pattern"

"Weird, right?" Rose dragged on, fiddling the money between her fingers. "Do you ever think we could be friends?"

"You don't want to be my friend" Adrian reached out without looking, grabbing her hip momentarily to provide balance. "Trust me"

"But what if I do?" Rose asked, the alcohol and pot to blame for her honesty.

He shook his head and pushed back the fallen brown strands before taking the money from her, "Watch me"

She did as told, studying him as he pushed in on one side of his nose and put the rolled money up to the other, taking one clean line of the powder before taking another. After, he leaned up and handed the money back.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rose draped her arm on his shoulder, thankful he was leaned down on the counter for extra balance. "More than sure"

His eyes raked over her face flushed face from the alcohol, "Your face is always so red when you drink"

"I know" Rose laughed, "Awful isn't it?"

"No" He answered simply.

She blinked before shaking her head and thoughts, leaning down as he did. Adrian murmured a 'hold on' before taking her hair in his hands, twisting it back.

Just like that Rose began to take the two lines he left for her, standing up and sucking air into her nose after while Adrian let go of her hair. She coughed slightly, "Fuck sake"

"Knocks the wind out of you the first time" Adrian nodded in understanding, "Burns like hell too"

"Yeah" Rose laughed, tossing the money on the counter before turning to face him with her head dropping back for a moment.

"In a little the drip will start and it'll taste awful—just a heads up"

She laughed in shock right before Adrian gasped into her chin and wiped her nose with curious eyes.

"Is it bad that I liked how much that hurt?"

"Yeah—it is" Adrian replied as he slowly let go of her.

"I turn psychic when I'm fucked up," Rose told him, getting amusement that was so deeply hidden one couldn't see it on his face. "This is going to ruin my life one day—I can feel it"

Once again he seemed to be studying her like a book, "I don't think it's such a good thing that we met"

Rose sucked some more air in, "What do you mean? We're going to be real close in the future"

He laughed dryly, "I highly fucking doubt it"

A knock sounded at the door, snapping both their attentions away from one another.

"You okay Black?" Draco Malfoy's voice came through clear as the night sky.

"Better go before your dogs start attacking" Adrian gestured, Rose went to slip by him but was stopped by his hand wrapping around her arm. "If you—"

She waited for him to continue but nothing came out, "Adrian?"

"Nevermind" He said confusedly before letting go of her and pushing the door open to reveal Draco standing with a permanent look of irritation.

Draco pushed his hand onto Adrian's chest as the boy went to leave, his eyes zoned in on Rose. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and Adrian forcefully yanked Draco hand away, "Don't you ever fucking touch me Malfoy"

Draco went to retort but Adrian just scoffed at him and bumped his shoulder while leaving, "What a cunt" Draco muttered as he watched Adrian disappear, "You sure you're okay?"

"Draco" Rose said exasperated with a laugh as she crossed over to him, "I assure you I'm fine and I don't need to be checked in on like some child" She pushed by him and stopped against the wall outside the bathroom, needing a moment to collect herself at the approaching affects from the drugs.

Draco shut the entrance back, taking away the warm yellow light it provided to the dark room before heading towards Rose amongst the resounding music. He didn't understand how she couldn't see he was just being careful, she could barely get a word in without jumbling them all together. Truthfully he didn't have anything against Adrian nor did his gut tell him that the guy was awful but Draco was a man and he heard how men talk, it scared him more and more as Rose got older—worried she would face cruelty from monsters disguising themselves under pretty faces and good intentions.

He forcefully pushed a random Slytherin out of the way and stopped in front of Rose who was leaning on the wall with eyes closed, "Black" She didn't make one move and he doubted she was capable of hearing him over the music. Without hesitation he leaned over her, placing his forearm against the wall to speak into her ear. "I'm going to ask you one more time—are you okay?"

"I'm fine Malfoy" Rose rushed out, eyes snapping open as she grasped onto his blazer for balance. His grip tightened around the bottle and he pulled away from her ear to hover his face just above her own.

"What happened to drunk you not hating me?"

She stared back into his eyes with enlarged pupils, "Maybe alcohol is incapable of drowning the hate I hold for you"

"Is that it?" Draco smirked wickedly, making her intoxicated defenses weaken against his charm. "You don't seem very hateful considering you're holding onto me—for balance or not"

A condescending smile worked onto her face, "Tell me, does that all it take Malfoy? A superior smirk and a spot of attention?"

"So you think my smirk is superior?"

She scoffed with a glare, "You would make that assumption, someone with an ego as big as yourself could not resist"

"The question remains," Draco continued, neither realizing the odd looks being shot to the intimately close pair by passerby's. "Is it working on you?"

"No I'm afraid you'll have to find another woman, I could never be taken with such a infuriating presence" Rose spat.

There was no one on the planet that could quite get under her skin like him. He proved her point only further as he leaned back into her ear with their chests brushing, "Don't you miss having someone that could actually rile up that stoic facade?"

Rose's breath hitched as she yanked the bottle out of his hand and slid it onto the nightstand next to them, grasping onto his hand after and guiding it under her skirt—twisting her fingers in the fabric of his shirt to pull his ear down to her lips.

She could hear his breathing pick up as her mouth ghosted over the shell of his ear, slowly pushing his hand up until it rested on the dagger. "Feel that Malfoy?" She whispered, "I'm really thinking about stabbing you with it right now"

He shuddered and tightened his hold around the top of the dagger, "Then do it"

She grasped his fingers just as tight, tugging on the material across his chest more. "You really want that?"

"Gonna kill me Black? Right here infront of everyone?" He breathed out against her.

"If I must—" She started to glide the blade out of it's holder, keeping her lips against his ear. "They can watch you bleed out for all I care"

"Yeah?" He asked menacingly but breathless.

"Mhm..." She started with her heart hammering like his, going to pull the blade out at once but his hand shoved it back into place with much more strength before he leaned back up over her face.

"Better luck next time" He taunted.

Whitman crashed into them with force, "There you two are—did you know there are fourty people in this room? That's an extreme safety hazard"

Rose and Draco both stepped away from each other, straightening themselves out as Whitman looked between them.

"What? What had happened to you two?"

"Nothing" They chorused together before glaring at one another.

"Where's Theo?" Rose asked, the drugs coming in full swing and knowing she needed him immediately for it all.

Whitman wrapped his arms around her and Draco, guiding them away from the wall. "Theo has passed out drunk on the couch—I suspect it's time to clear everyone out"

When they arrived to the couch everyone once there still was except Luna seemed to be quite comfortable against Fred, Theo slumped over with his head resting in a palm.

Rose slipped away from Whitman, her motherly instincts kicking in as she bent down infront of him and tried waking him up. Whitman stopped by them, forcefully hitting Theo's head and waking him up at once. 

"Sorry Theo—couldn't have mother bear freaking out on me" Whitman grinned drunkenly before crashing down in a spare chair.

Theo's eyes groggily opened, keeping his head in his palm as he adjusted his sight onto Rose who smiled at him. He opened and closed his mouth before lazily smirking, "Hey baby"

"Hey love" Rose teased and grabbed onto his face, "You want some water?"

"So badly" He responded hoarsely. She went to stand but was yanked into his lap, inciting a yelp out of her. Happily, he wrapped his arms around her waist. "But I prefer you here"

Whitman and Draco watched as Rose giggled and hugged onto Theo, even drunk it was so painfully clear to anyone looking—a light had been turned on in her. A light that came in his presence, and instead of letting themselves feel sad, they were happy to see her shine so brightly.

Even if it hurt.

*

By the time the group had managed to clear everyone out, Whitman and Rose were the only two left standing. The green light had been turned off and only the moon shined in as they struggled Blaise, then Draco, and then Theo each into their own beds. They shot commentary back and forth about how much easier the task would be if they had adopted short little tiny men into their lives instead of giraffes—Whitman faking offense at his own comment.

After laying them all down Rose went to check on Nyx who slept peacefully in the bath. She decided against waking the snake up and simply turned the bathroom light off after washing her face, thinking maybe the water would help Nyx shed her skin quicker. Bowie, the new member and resident bowtruckle, was busy running around the room now that it had been cleared out—inspecting each little corner as Whitman pushed by Rose's curtains and dropped onto her bed.

He could hear the faint rustling of clothes from where he sat against the headboard and then her trunk opening before Rose pushed by the curtains with a sweater swallowing her hole and a extra in her palm. Although, he didn't take note of the letter she also carried while sitting in between his legs.

"I got you something" Rose murmured.

"My sweater that you stole?" Whitman teased with a drunken hint to his tone, pulling her crossed legs forward by her ankles.

She rolled her eyes and laid the extra sweater in her lap, letting him finally see the sealed letter that was tucked under it. "I wrote you a letter for your birthday but I didn't want to give it to you in front of everyone"

"A letter?" Whitman slowly questioned, taking note of her fidgety behavior.

A rare occurrence for Rose to be drunk and nervous—rare for her to be nervous in general actually.

"Don't let it go to your head" She scoffed and handed it to him, quickly swatting his hands as he went to open it. "Don't open it in front of me—it's too emotional and I might actually die if you have to see me face while reading something like that"

He laughed lightly, running a hand through his unruly hair as he sat the letter to the side. "How long will it be before your fine with admitting you have emotions?"

Her lips quirked up, "Maybe twenty or so years"

Whitman sighed and tilted his head against the wooden frame of her bed, "You seem okay"

"We're drunk Whit—let's not do that right now" She affirmed with a happily smile and sat up on her knees, "Let's get you into a sweater before you freeze in the morning"

"But I'm warm right now"

"You won't be when the alcohol wears off and there's whiskey on you"

Whitman sat up off the headboard with a grin, "Take care of me then"

"I'll do my best" Rose laughed and started pulling at the hem of his shirt, "We are pretty grand to be able to be this fine when we kept up with everyone's drinking"

"Just talented I—" He stopped as her fingers brushed his waist, the shirt sliding off his body with ease. Her eyes went from soft to pained as they raked over his chest, all of the scars garnered from years of transformations prevalent but even worse than before.

"Whit" Rose breathed out, pushing him back so she could see everything better with the moon light reflecting in the lake. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's fine Ro" He said firmly, features falling tense but felt unable to turn away as her hand glided down his chest.

"The potion is harming you—you can't use it anymore Whit" Rose's worry was obvious as he shook his head in return.

He spoke with spite towards himself, "I stopped using it on my chest and back because of how bad it was getting but I can't on my arms and face—how am I supposed to explain them all coming back?"

"I'll take care of it" Rose whispered quietly, her eyes trialing up to his untouched face. "I'll take care of it all"

"You can't fix this Ro—you can't fix me. I don't want to walk around like I used to and I don't care if it-"

Rose cut him off, running her hands up his shoulders. "Don't you dare finish that sentence" Slowly he nodded in reply and she began to speak again, trying to ignore the way his breathing picked up with each touch. "You wanna know one of my favorite things about you?"

"Ro-"

"Each of these" Rose affirmed, letting her steady hands glide onto his cheeks. "I always thought you were the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen"

His tense features stayed but for a different reason as his eyes softened, carefully pushing her hair back and resting his hands on the sides of her neck. With the way his gut twisted and did a million flips, he couldn't find words.

"You still have an hour left of your birthday" Rose murmured before dropping her forehead against his, pressing her thumbs over his cheekbones. "What do you want?"

A million dollar question and a complicated one at that.

Like gravity they shared a heavy breath as their lips pulled together, brushing over one another as they stayed still.

Her fingers tightened on his cheeks as he ever so slighlty nipped at her bottom lip, "This" He whispered hoarsely.

"Then kiss me" Rose murmured back to the best of her ability, he had a way of intimidating her in these situations but providing that safety and comfort she didn't get when her lips pressed to Mattheo's—most important she never had to imagine someone else when kissing him.

Whitman slid his fingers into her hair slowly with his grip turning tight, something in him switching as he pressed mouth to hers and spoke. "Say please"

"Please kiss me" Rose whispered just as hoarsely as he had.

Without hesitation his lips started moving against hers, capturing them gently which quickly turned to more from his desperation to be like that again. She moved her thighs from between his to the outside, straddling overtop him and sitting down as her fingers threaded through his hair tightly.

Rose pulled away slightly, murmuring against him. "Did I hurt-" Whitman cut her off by pressing their lips back together, an arm wrapping around her waist to bring them impossible closeness before he tugged roughly on her hair—inciting a groan from her.

Just as her mouth opened to him, Whitman stopped himself from going further and ripped her face away to be a inch from him. His eyes scanned her face and parted lips, "We shouldn't be doing this"

She attempted to speak and found nothing, not getting a moment before his mouth was back on hers, mumbling there as he nipped at her bottom lip. "We really—really shouldn't"

Her hands pulled on the roots of his hair, feeling every inch of herself igniting as she tried to refrain from kissing him—the arm around her waist that was pressing her against him not helping either of them out of the situation.

"You're right" Rose mumbled, eyes rolling back as he pulled on her lip. "We shouldn't"

"But it feels so good" He mumbled back, breathing heavily.

"I know" She whispered in a tone to match his hunger.

He had damned himself, that much was certain.

He yanked her hair back before letting their lips dance together again, slipping his tongue into her mouth without a moment to spare as he moaned at the feeling of giving in and flipped them over.