*outfit preface*

third person pov

The day of the Quidditch World Cup rolled in and  Whitman was supposed to have left a bit ago but he had to come back for his wallet. He was scrambling down the steps when he saw Walburga carry a scale into the ground floor lounge, his heart rate picking up. Anyone with eyes could see Rose had been gaining weight all summer, she was always off with the boys and seemed so happy that Walburga barely had any time to ridicule her size. Given it was not a massive change but it was indeed the start of something, she had been trying her best and that was all that really mattered to anyone.

Except Walburga, of course.

Last night the household was a mess, Rose had decided to sneak down into the kitchen to grab a snack and ended up having such a big blow out with Walburga that by midnight Whitman found himself peeling her off the ground with tears streaming down his face.

Today didn't seem to be on much of a different route as Whitman leaned on the wall outside the door to the lounge, eyes closing as he heard the beeping of Rose stepping onto the scale and Walburga rambling on in anger about Theo for some reason he had clearly missed during his time of searching for the wallet.

"I just don't get what he did to you!" Rose spat as she stood on the scale.

"You are meant to be cold and callous!" Walburga shot back with venom, "He weakens you! Rosalie, you turn into some giggling mess and start back talking me every time you spend a second by his side!"

"Grandmother—"

"He's arrogant, dismissive of society, too quiet to ever know what he's thinking—he is an awful influence in your life and I will not let this go on for another second! I knew years ago I should've cut him off from you!"

Whitman flinched as he heard Rose's heels angrily step off the scale, shouting at her grandmother.

"You don't get to make that decision! I'm seventeen now! That means I'm considered an adult!"

"Are you? Because you might get to do what you want in the eyes of the Ministry but what happens if you loose me?!" Walburga sneered, getting up in Rose's face. "Let me make it clear that your mother died giving birth to you, your father would rather parent some filthy half-blood rather than yourself, Orion took his own life to get away from this house—you have no one other than me! No one to ever love you like I do!"

"You can't take away the people I care about!" Rose screamed back, lip trembling.

"You doubt my power Rosalie?!" Walburga breathed out, laughing evilly. "What do you think would happen if I disowned you? No money for you to find somewhere to live and you want to know what would happen to your friends? Whitman would stay here and Theodore, Blaise, Draco—all of them would get disowned as well if they spoke to you then! You'd be alone with no family, no home, no loved ones! Believe all you want that you're some 'revolutionary' but you are a spoiled woman! You wouldn't last a day without diamonds hanging from that neck!"

Rose's voice cracked, tears filling up her gaze, clutching at her chest desperately. "What do you want from me?! I have nothing left to give you! Nothing left!"

"I want you to stop emotionally investing yourself into some boy!"

"I love him!" Rose shouted as the water escaped her eyes, "I—I can't do this with you anymore! It is driving me insane!"

"You don't know what love is! You're a child!" Walburga screamed forcefully, making Whitman flinch again in the hallway. "I have one wish—I just need you to stop thinking love is an option! All I need is for you to stop!"

"Do you want to take everything away from me?!" Rose pleaded, taking ragged breaths. "What do you know about love?! Orion and you abused each other! You never talked at all or laughed or anything! You never cried over him—you never felt anything! He'd rather die than live another second by your side!"

Walburga's nostril flared as she stepped closer to Rose, lowering her voice. "What did you just say to me?"

"I've done everything I can to make you happy! Every single step I take has been maneuvered by you! I leave this house and you're still in the back of my head! I've tried to undo everything my father did to you and our ancestors but I can't! I try so fucking hard and it's never enough!" Rose cried, uncaring how weak she looked as her body shook. "You keep saying you love me but you don't! You've...you've abused me since I was six years old! You ruined my fucking life!"

"That is not—"

"Tell me! Tell what I have to do for you to love me like other people love their kids?!" Rose screamed, unknowingly making Whitman's heart ache in the distance. It was impossible for to her live this way, she couldn't do it any longer. "You know what?! I don't even need you to love me! I just need you to stop hurting me every chance you get!"

"Everything I did is because I do love you." Walburga grasped her cheeks, thumb swiping the tears away as Rose flinched. "Even if you wish to deny it, you are a Black through a through. You are a reflection of me as daughters are to mothers. I needed you to be strong and you can't run from the truth—you are your last name and you always will be."

"Do you not hear me?!" she whimpered, trying to twist away. "Since I was six! You've been abusing me since I was six years old! That's not love! I've had to lie my whole life just to be able to keep breathing beside you because I'm terrified of the woman who is supposed to keep me safe and love me!"

Walburga shook Rose roughly with a scream, "I love you! Get that through your head!"

Despite the tears streaming down her face Rose snarled at the woman, "Fuck you!"

The next thing that sounded out was the loudest smack Whitman had ever heard, sending him rushing through the door way to see Rose's face turned to the side and bent over slightly—her chin painfully being yanked up by Walburga.

"You are going to go to that match and you will act as I've taught you!" Walburga spat with inches between their faces, digging her nails so deep into Rose's cheek the young girl's eyes filled up with more tears. "You will keep a distance between you and that pathetic boy! Then when you come home tonight you'll apologize to me until I've decided you're forgiven!"

"Walburga please let her go," Whitman cut in with a pleading voice, a lump in throat as he searched for his wand that he had left with Theo.

"Shut up!" The grandmother yelled, piercing her nails through Rose's cheek and drawing blood. Her menacing blue eyes held fire as she dragged her nails down purposely. "Do you understand me Rosalie?! You are done acting like some victim! You have an amazing life and you don't deserve sympathy!"

Rose nodded quickly, sucking in a sharp breath as Walburga released her at once.

The youngest Black collected all the blood that had gathered in her mouth, spitting it down on the ground before her gaze rised up to meet Whitman's, wiping the crimson from her mouth.

And just like that his heart broke again.

Rose shook her head in remorse at him witnessing this, touching her cheek before staring down at all the blood flowing from the open wound Walburga created. Without another second Rose headed toward the roaring fireplace, grabbing the floo powder.

Walburga called after her in a sudden calm tone, "Make sure you clean up that blood and bruising at the Malfoy's before going! You are representing our family!"

Whitman stood frozen as Rose threw the powder down with her back to him, the flames flashing from orange to green as he tried to remind himself it was only one more day—one more day until Walburga would be gone forever. Truthfully they hadn't planned to do it this soon but Rose decided to sneak off to Hermione's after realizing all summer was too long without her best friend, so the boys were taking their opportunity.

"I thought you already left?" The grandmother turned to him with hands folded in front of her, "No matter—this gives us the chance to talk"

Whitman could only stare at Walburga, trying to imagine how beautiful it would be to watch all the air leave her lungs.

"I've noticed something during our trip to Venezuela" she started to sound taunting, "If you think for a second you'll ever be with Rosalie—well then you've lost it"

This shook him to his core, stuttering over words. "Excuse me? It's not...not like that"

Walburga smiled but it never met her eyes, this was cold and calculating. "I'm no fool Whitman and I do adore you, after all I took you in despite your condition"

Whitman took a deep breath with a tight jaw, "What's your point?"

"The thing is however I may care for you does not matter in this instance" Walburga inched closer, her dark aura flowing with her. "You will always be a monster once a month, a creature in the eyes of the world and well—" she laughed sympathetically as her gaze moved over his scarred face, "—Creatures don't end up with girls like her....they take to the half-breeds much like themselves. You'll watch her fall in love and get married because I say so and because you know cursing her to love someone like you is eternal damnation, right?"

The words cut sharper than almost anything he had heard, slicing through his heart like a damascus steel blade.

"Right." Whitman muttered, almost too disgusted in himself to breath properly as the room started to feel smaller and he moved by Walburga, going straight for the fireplace.

*

Rose didn't know how long she stood in front of a fireplace at Malfoy manor, clutching onto the side considering the installation was so tall she couldn't reach the mantle. Her eyes flooded with tears over and over until she fished around her pouch, taking another one of prescribed medicines.

As she waited for her chest to stop shaking she pulled out a small mirror, praising her witch ancestors for creating mascara that didn't run as she wiped the tears away, clearing off any smudging her of maroon lipstick. She wondered if this was womanhood, fixing makeup as water flowed from her eyes to hide the truth.

But Rose ran into a problem as she finished and looked at her bloody cheek, with a pain tolerance so high she still managed to winced as she tried to rub the blood away with an cloth. Maybe the wince wasn't truly from physical pain, but the mental pain of seeing the wounds caused by Walburga.

"Rosie?" The voice of Draco Malfoy called and she closed the mirror with a snap, head hanging as she made sure to keep her back to him.

His steady and calculated steps sped up until sliding a warm hand onto her shoulder, "Look at me"

"You don't want to see my face right now" her voice came out hoarse and gruff, strained almost and somehow his breath still caught in his throat from how beautiful it sounded.

"I often want to see your face" he mumbled as he gently turned her around, features seeming to contort with pain at witnessing her harmed before he appeared deadly all in a matter of seconds.

"Who did this to you?"

"Who do you think?" she gave him a nod as he went to reached for the messed up cheek but hesitated, letting Draco know she was utterly fine with him touching her. His fingers ever so gently touched the wound, eyes trailing from the blood to her own gaze.

"I'm proud of you" Draco affirmed.

Rose blinked, "....What? Why are you proud of me?"

He lightly grasps her chin, tilting his head downward. "Just am"

"You can't just say that," she started to ramble in disbelief, "You can't say you're proud—"

"Yes I can" Draco cut in, pulling her chin up with his thumb softly grazing her skin. "I'm allowed to be proud of you"

Her eyes rounded in a way that reminded him of when Rose was a kid, lips parting before she pursed them tightly, attempting to stay unwavering but failing as a tear fell from her face.

"I don't know why that made me cry,"

Draco smiles, his hand sliding from her chin and onto the side of her head before his lips pressed down on her forehead. He might not have realized it then but Draco was learning from Rose, letting her remind him of how easy it was to show love without words.

Her fingers fiddled with the front of his black turtleneck as he kept kissing her forehead, "You look really good" she sniffled, finally taking in the head to toe black suit he wore. "Gods—that was so embarrassing to say out loud"

Draco let out a deep laugh against her skin, tucking his chin atop her head as he brought her closer, uncaring if blood got on him. "You like my suit?"

"Too much," she sniffled again, thankful his familiar scent hit her as her arms encircled his waist underneath the coat. "I know your grinning like a cocky little cunt now"

He was in fact doing so.

"Oh yeah?" he taunted, sucking on his teeth to keep from laughing at her reading him like a book.

"Oh yeah" she mocked, rolling her eyes with annoyance at how attractive he made two words sound. Rose lifted her chin up, tucking it on his chest as their gazes clashed. "You know...."

"Know what darling?" Draco raised a brow, brushing his knuckles down her unharmed cheek, unknowingly going from being a touch starved man to obsessively touching Rose.

"We look completely different—I mean total opposite on the spectrum of features that it's almost shell shocking. Not to mention we happen to be the most fashionable people" she paused, "Oh and we would literally stomp on everyone...a powerful pairing for sure"

"Rosie, Rosie, Rosie" he whistled lowly, "Although I cannot disagree—I wonder if you realize you just admitted to wanting me"

"Didn't say I wanted that to happen" she scoffed, "Just stating the obvious"

Draco narrowed his eyes, "You're my curse, you know that?"

"Draco....you bad boy!" she teasingly gasped, dying on the inside with laughter as his eyes widened. "It's too early to be talking dirty"

"Did you just..." Draco blinked, shock taking him over. "Did you just call me that?"

"Oh sorry," she shrugged innocently, "Do you prefer being called a good boy?"

"Rosie!" he scolded.

Her head tipped back with the laughter she had been suppressing, Draco sighing heavy in a still state of shock before he started to slowly laugh along with disbelief at her shamelessness.

The sound of a cane tapping made them both their echos of happiness start to die down, Rose muttering about her face and Draco not hesitating to reach inside his suit, pulling out the Hawthorn wood wand.

"I can do it!" she whispered harshly as Lucius steps kept nearing the entrance hall.

Draco yanked the wand back, eyes turning sharp. "For once in your life I'm going to make you let me take care of you!"

She wanted to protest but didn't, letting him weave his fingers through her hair and press the tip of the wand into her skin. Rose grumbled as she hid the fact his words brought an uncomfortable amount of warmth to her chest.

Like a idiot in love Rose started to watch him tenderly at how seamless his spell felt, wondering if people realized he was more than school smart. Draco had a natural talent for healing and was genuinely one his way to becoming one of the best wizards she knew.

He let out a ragged breath she knew he didn't mean for her to hear as the wounds fully closed and blood disappeared, his hands having the slightest shake as he tucked his wand back away.

"Ready to go?" Lucius asked a few feet away, stomping his cane down.

Draco flinched slightly and felt the constant anxiety bubble back up but then Rose grabbed his hand with a gloved hand, intertwining their fingers before she turned them to face the older man.

Lucius's gaze honed in on their hands with a sneer of disgust, mouth twitching as he fought the urge to flip out but there was a tiny voice in the back of his head as he looked at his son who was staring at him like a stranger. This forced Lucius to recall the way Draco smiled and his laughter echoed that day on the beach when he was chasing after Rose. As much of a shit human Lucius is, he wasn't stupid enough to deny he hadn't seen his son that happy in years.

"Can we go?" Rose snapped, rolling her eyes at the disgust across Lucius's face as she let go of Draco's hand. "Happy? Now leave!"

Scoffing, Lucius turned on his heel, mumbling profanities about Rose as they walked toward the foyer. Draco snatched her hand back up with a reprimanding glare, intertwining their fingers forcefully as if angry at her for letting go. He hated himself for loving Rose so much, it made him blind to everything else.

Her face turned to defiant as she watched Lucius's back, the heels of her shoes clicking before her eyes moved over to Draco with a smile that made him feel like he was on a rollercoaster.

When the three stepped onto the porch Lucius held out his hand out to Rose, the girl appearing dramatically horrified as she took it.

They apparated away from the true chaos of all the small tents set up for the tournament and appeared directly infront of a silky black one, ominous looking in a way. Rose instantly yanked her hand from the man and started to pull Draco in with Lucius following closely behind.

Her fingers fell from Draco's as she stepped inside, looking around the space that was much bigger inside. The black adorning every corner was no surprise from the living room of sorts, kitchen area, entry ways to different rooms, and a metal fire pit in the middle.

"It's awfully pretty in here"

Lucius put a hand on the girl's shoulder that made her want to puke, "I have business to attend to but I will be back in a few hours to escort you both to the match"

Rose shot Draco a look, communicating with her eyes 'hurry up and say goodbye so he will move away'.

Draco gave his father a curt nod, "See you soon then father"

Lucius quickly exited the tent, and Rose turned to Draco with a sudden smirk. "I have something for you"

Draco raised a eyebrow, "And what would that be?"

Rose peered around the tent before leaning towards him, acting as if someone was watching. "Drugs"

His eyes lit up as he grabbed her arm, pulling her over to one of the couches and sitting on it, Rose had to admit as she watched him sit back there was something about that suit forcing her to stare.

With a shake of her head Rose sat next to him, digging the blunt from a small velvety pouch and bringing it up to her lips. "Don't tell the boys we smoked without them"

Draco scoffed, "Like I'd tell them shit"

She brought the lighter up and started to light it when the two in question tumbled in, Draco groaning loudly at the intrusion.

Whitman rushed in front of them, sitting on the coffee table to be close as Theo crashed down next to Rose, wrapping his arm around her neck and pulling her back into his chest.

Home, she thought.

The Rosier kept rambling about some random bet as Theo tried to keep up, unable to speak as his gut twisted, too worried about what happened with Walburga.

Rose took a long drag, relaxing into him as a brim of real happiness came back from his presence, eyes closing as his lips pressed to her temple and the sound of Draco speaking back to Whitman faded.

"Tu ressembles à de l'art" Theo whispered in her ear, chest bursting with warmth when she smiled in a way he felt in his bones. He pushed her hair back before speaking again, "I'm sorry love"

"I know" she answered simply, holding the blunt up to Theo's mouth to let him hit it as she happily leaned against him. Rose hated when people apologized to her but never when it was Theo, truthfully the ache in her chest was also in his—utterly connected to one each other. She had a moment as he arm wrapped over her stomach that she thought about asking him to just get rid of Walburga but then he'd actually do it and that's not what she wanted. Rose wasn't a fool, Theo might not be a murder but he would be for her.

Whitman scoffing brought both their attentions back, "You guys were going to smoke without us?!"

Rose took one more quick hit before handing it over to Draco, "Clearly"

Whitman leaned forward on his knees, slightly pointing his finger between them. "Traitors"

Draco coughed during his first hit, not accoustumed to the strength of smoke. "Don't be jealous"

Theo leaned himself and Rose forward to snatch it but Draco pulled back before passing the burning plant back to the smirking girl. She put it between her lips and quickly caught on to what they were doing, Draco wanted to taunt everyone.

Whitman tried to snatch it but Rose only shook her head, passing it back to the blonde who matched her look of mischievousness.

"Gotta be quicker than that Whit"

Theo grumbled under his breath, "They are playing that little game they did when we were kids"

Whitman gasped dramatically and put a hand over his heart, "We settled this in the summer of eighty-eighty'! You both signed a contract!"

Rose clicked her tongue, "Consider it void"

Draco laughed while passing the blunt back to her, hating himself even more for somehow being happy at how peaceful she had turned the moment Theo arrived. "Do you remember when Whit officiated our marriage?"

Her lips curved up at the memory, "Yes and Theo played the part of the wedding crasher that I ran away with! My true love!"

Whitman gave them a stern look, "It was not funny! I didn't know what you three were planning!"

Theo smiled smugly, "It's mother's fault—she took us to go see that movie"

Rose gave in and handed the blunt to Whitman, "I thought it was pretty epic"

Whitman happily hit the blunt until Theo used his lanky arms to snatched it away. They were all relieved to be together even if only yesterday they were all over at Theo's, it felt like being a kid again each moment they spent laughing next to one another.

When it came time to attend the match Theo and Whitman had to go meet Theo's dad due to how their ticketing process worked, meanwhile Rose tried everything to get the smell out of the tent before Lucius could arrive. Draco and her were dying of laughter, a mix of the drugs and the fact Rose was jumping around the tent, swatting the air as if it would actually help.

Lucius stepped inside, watching in amusement before clearing his throat, both teenagers faces turning blank as they looked at him. "It's time to go"

They made their way to the packed stadium, Rose being grateful for once at her company because when people saw Lucius coming—they stepped out of the way. As the three started to go down some steps Lucius gazed between the teens as they smiled idiotically at each other, "Both of your eyes are rather red"

Draco's smile fell, placing the classic mask on as Rose kept grinning like a fool. "Sorry father, Whit brought some pranking spray to the tent"

The walk continued until Rose peered up at the staircase in front of them to see all the Weasley's, Hermione, and Harry. She tensed, looking up at Draco who gave her a nod signaling to not worry.

Ron stopped at the stairs just above, "Blimey dad! How far up are we?"

Lucius spoke with arrogance, his cane tapping the ground as Rose prepared for the worst. "We'll put it this way. If it rains, you'll be the first to know"

Draco stopped by the railing next to his father, his hand wrapping around the metal as he looked up with a laugh. He simply could never resist the urge to taunt any Weasley about being poor. Rose on the other hand, hummed to herself, casting her eyes anywhere but above. She had enough physically pain in the past twenty-four hours, not needing Lucius to run and tell Walburga if she spoke to anyone they deemed inferior.

Lucius began to walk to the other side of the wooden pathway and they followed behind him as Draco spoke, "We're in the ministers box! Have fun at the top"

Rose rolled her eyes at him copying his fathers same tone of superiority before Lucius hit Draco harshly in the stomach with his cane, "Don't boast Draco. There's no need with these people"

Draco held his hand over the place he was hit but showed no signs of pain, taking the watchers by surprise as Rose instinctively grabbed his arm. Ron went wide-eyed while Hermione on the other hand smiled at finally seeing Rose's face, her dark hair was straight and tucked behind her ears, showing off radiate skin with no bags under her eyes—clearly from the way she filled out her dress she hadn't lied about gaining weight.

Hermione almost squeaked at witnessing Rose so healthy looking, reminding herself to just stay quiet because tomorrow she would finally be able to hug her best friend again.

Harry scoffed loudly, "Rose...what are you doing? We hate Malfoy, remember?"

Rose didn't respond, looking at the whole group showing zero signs of recognition, garnering a smirk from Lucius.

"It would seem Rosalie has found herself in better company"

Harry narrowed his eyes at Lucius, "What did you do to her?"

Rose choked on a laugh at the preposterous thought, eyes snapping so quickly onto Harry she sent a chill down his spine. "I'm perfectly fine Potter"

Annoyingly so, Lucius's smirk grew as Arthur Weasley went to turn Harry around, making sure to stop the boy by hooking the serpent head of his cane on Harry's shoe. "Do enjoy yourself, won't you? While you can of course"

Having had enough of the back and forth Rose looped her arm into Draco's, surprising the entire group above once more as she started to walk away with Lucius trailing behind this time.

Rose leaned up to whisper, "Do not leave me alone with that filthy minister"

Draco lifted his chin up as they passed by people, "I won't. Put the mask on though, it's showtime"

Rose did exactly what he said and put her 'pureblood mask' on that they always joked about as soon as she entered the ministers box.

Lucius placed a hand on both their shoulders as Cornelius Fudge walked over to them in robes full of grandeur, Rose starting to tug frantically on Draco's arm.

"Ah! I'm so glad you could all make it!"

Lucius gaze fell over the man, "It is our pleasure"

Draco gave him a stiff nod while Rose stared at the man with creepily unblinking eyes. Of course, he shifted his attention on her, "Rosalie Black! We finally have time to talk!"

She scoffed loudly, insulted by the Minister believing she owed anything to him. "Well actually I was hoping to show Draco the view first"

Cornelius grinned between the two, "Young love! I guess Rita will have to place a new bet in the prophet!"

Draco opened his mouth quickly, "Actually sir-"

Rose dug her heel into his foot with a head tilt and smile, "Indeed! Excuse us momentarily"

Without awaiting a reply she pulled him away to the other side of the box towards Theo's father, Whitman, and Theo. Draco whispered to her during the walk, "You do realize he's going to watch us all night now?"

"So let's give him a show"

The blonde swallowed, he would happily play along. Just ahead Theo's father turned around and spotted the two, "Great to see you both"

Draco repeated a curt nod while Rose completely ignored him, tearing herself away from Draco and throwing her arms around Theo's neck.

He stumbled slightly before smiling and spinning her around, ignoring his father scolding them for making a scene. "I missed you" he whispered against her neck.

"It's awful—ten minutes feels like a lifetime" Rose huffed, grabbing onto his cheek as he set her back down.

"You are both insane" his father bit out, "It was mere minutes ago you were together"

"Separation anxiety" Draco stated firmly to excuse their behavior, holding back a laugh as Whitman snorted. "It's a very real thing sir, clinical even"

The match went by in a blur, every time the minister would speak to Rose she would cheer enthusiastically for the game or act like Draco needed her. Luckily though all there boys did well on acting as a shield.

When arriving back at the Malfoy tent Rose was left alone for some odd reason, the three others claiming they had to go somewhere with Draco's father. She didn't think too much into it, Lucius always had business to attend to and sometimes he asked the boys to join.

So Rose sat on the couch, twirling around a bottle of Firewhiskey out of boredom when a sudden bang sounded off outside followed by screams. She jumped up on her feet, rushing over to peak out from the tent. All one could see was fire and people running for their lives, spotting a crowd in mask marching with dark robes.

Deatheaters.

Rose worked well in high-stress situations, therefore her first thought were the boys. They'd be fine, undoubtedly their fathers were with the Deatheaters.

But then it hit her, Hermione.

That's who she needed to go help.

She went to run out but was stopped by some invisible shield Lucius or someone had clearly casted to prevent her from playing savior.

"Hilarious" Rose muttered, the shield disappearing without her even having to blink or mumble a spell. She didn't have another thought before sprinting out of the tent, not phased the fact she had heels on. Rose dodged people like they were bombs and kept running, not knowing where she was going but knew she had to find Hermione.

Bodies started to dangle over the crowds head and the screaming got louder, leaving her to run and run until she spotted a familiar head of red hair.

Rose kicked aside a innocent passerby and could finally see Hermione frantically looking around. She crossed over quickly, throwing her arms around the girl's neck.

Hermione jerked back in fear until she saw who it was, breathing out in relief. "Rose,"

All the running finally caught up with her as she released Hermione and bent over, "You need to go"

"No!" Hermione shook her head, "We have to find Harry!"

Rose ignored her, glaring at Ron. "You passed your apparation tests right?" Ron nodded slowly and Rose patted his shoulder proudly, "I don't give a fuck about him right now, they will not hesitate to kill her if they find you guys. Leave now"

Hermione cut in, "But Harry—"

"I'll find Harry!" Rose spat as people running knocked into them, "Apprate her right now Ron!"

Ron pulled Hermione under his arm, disappearing with a resounding crack. "Fuck sake" Rose muttered as she stayed bent over, uncaring about the brutal screams of people crying as they passed by. It wasn't until someone yanked on her shoulder did she pull the dagger out of her leg garter and go to hold it up at their throat but was too late—getting herself apparated away.

Her feet hit in the ground deep in the forest by the camping grounds, the screaming and yelling sounding muffled now. Her eyes trailed from the fallen leaves on the ground to upward, breath hitching at a man breathing heavily in front of her, face covered by a shiny skull, black hood drawn over his head.

She went to step back but his gloved hands reached out and grabbed her arms painfully tight, "You're fucking stupid if you think I can't take you!"

"Shut the fuck up" Mattheo Riddle spat behind the mask, covering her mouth up with his hand as he guided her back into a tree, watching her eyes grow wide at his voice.

Rose started fighting in his hold more aggressively, trying to peel his hand down but failing as he pressed his body weight against her. She only saw one way out, bringing her dagger up to his neck that was covered by the robes.

Mattheo laughed dryly but all she could see were his eyes that were almost as black as the mask staring down at her as he leaned into the blade, "You want to hurt me after I just saved you? Go ahead"

She weakly shook her head, his grip on her mouth too tight for her to move much.

"You'll stay quiet?" he asked and she nodded, rapidly sucking in air as his hand fell from her mouth and he let her off the tree.

"What are you doing?!" she whispered in shock, bring the knife down before remembering what he said, "I didn't need to be fucking saved!"

"Really?!" he shot back angered, "Pretty sure I saw six deatheaters spot you at once"

Her chin screwed upward, feeling weird as she could hear him talk but couldn't see his mouth moving. "I could've taken them!"

"We've written each other all summer and I specifically told you not come not come to this," Mattheo sounded like he was gritting his teeth together, "Why can't you listen?!"

"You're..." she blinked, "You're a Deatheater?"

"I can't do this right now"

"Mattheo! Explain what's going on?!"

"I was trying to do what I had to do but then I saw you running around!"

Rose scoffed, "That's not an explanation?!"

Three loud cracks rung through the forest like a howl of wind, Mattheo moving away from her instantly as he looked over his shoulder at two greatly tall men in deatheater robes before spotting one also behind Rose. That one behind her was the tallest and before Mattheo could even react his wand was lifted and a red spell hit Riddle square in the chest.

"Fuck," Mattheo winced, clutching himself and apparating on the spot. Rose turned her head away from the two infront of her, staring at this random deatheater who clearly tried to protect her and was closing in fast.

She started to take off in a run, figuring she could make it by the first two but then a pair arms encircled her waist and she started struggling immediately, getting lifted off the ground.

"Let go of me!" She screamed, the dagger falling to the ground. "Let—"

"Ro stop! It's me!" Theo quickly retorted, his voice husky than ever under the mask and the sound of him instantly made her stop moving.

Every muscle in her body tensed up as he slowly set her to the ground, Rose whipping around to glare up at him. "Take it off!"

"I can't" Theo spat back, "I can't do that"

Draco and Whitman, who were both in the deatheater robes behind them, stepped back as Rose harshly turned to them with an accusatory finger.

"I don't even have to guess who you two are!"

Draco huffed, "We had no choice! Our father's made us"

"And you?!" She shouted at Whitman, making him slowly take another step back. "What's your excuse?!"

"Well um....." Whitman blinked under the mask, not afraid to admit she scared him when angry. "I wasn't exactly going to let them do it alone"

"Why wasn't I informed?! Because I'm a girl?! New flash, I'm more powerful than any of you!" Rose turned back to Theo, "I'm going to kill all three of you!"

Theo didn't have gloves on like Mattheo, his honey colored hand shot out, wrapping around Rose's neck and slamming her back against the tree. His breath fanned her face as he got incredibly close through the holes of the mask, hand not letting up on her throat.

"You're going to be quiet and lower that damn voice and listen to me, understand?" Theo declared so demandingly that she stayed silent, his grip loosening but staying. "We didn't tell you because we didn't want you to be involved in this and it's not my fault father forced me! You should've stayed in that fucking tent like we sealed you there!"

Rose looked out of the corner of her eyes as Draco and Whitman started to close in on either side of Theo, creating some sort of box so no one could see her. Suddenly as she looked up and saw Theo's deep blue eyes behind the mask, towering over her in a daunting outfit—Rose started to smile. "You know this is kind of...." she stopped herself from uttering the words that would verify she was a sick human being, shaking her head as she tore Theo's hand off her throat. "What have you all done?! Do you realize what this means?!"

Draco leaned his shoulder against the tree next to her, getting a kick out of everything as he touched her chin with the tip of his wand. "It's not a big deal—"

"Now I have to become one! Oh woo hoo matching tattoos for us all!" she spat sarcastically, breathing picking back up as her eyes directed to the leaves hanging above. "And Blaise?! If we all become one then he has to! This is insanity! You've all signed us up for a death sentence!"

Theo guided her chin down with thankfulness that she never judged, she would always be one of the least judgement people in the world—which was one of the million reasons he was so in love. He watched her lips part as she looked back at him and twistedly he realized why she was avoiding looking at him. "The Dark Lord isn't back baby," his fingers ran up her cheek, "This is just something to rile everyone up—create fear"

Draco began, smirking under the mask as his wand lifted her hair off her left shoulder. "But if he does come back,"

"We'll all four stick together." Whitman finished, taking the discreet nod from Draco as a sign, sliding a hand up her arm.

"I'd never judge any of you," Rose breathed out, keeping her eyes locked on Theo as she tried to not freak out about what they were all doing to her but mainly him—his hand gliding onto her hip and she could feel him grinning sadistically behind the metal. "Promise me we'll stay together? My beliefs don't matter when it comes to you."

"Always baby," Theo murmured innocently, Draco and Whitman nodding along at a slow pace as Rose peered around at all three—not liking how much she was enjoying this whole Deatheater look. "But I mean since we already have the masks on....." Theo tugged on her hip as he rambled on, "We could play a game again"

"Game?" Draco questioned.

"What if I let you have a head start? Let you apparate once then run?" Theo ignored him, gazing down at Rose intently as her face tinted. "I'll show Draco and Whitman how to play"

Rose nodded with a glimmer of fire in her eyes, bitting down on her lip to conceal a smile and a groan as his thumb dug into her hip, reaching her own hand up to touch the cold mask over his face.

"But if I'm the one to catch you," Theo taunted as their chests brushed, laughing dryly as his fingers hooked back under her chin. "Well....they won't be able to watch that"

Rose squeaked as her heart raced, smiling sinisterly up at Theo for a split second before she apparated into thin air. Whitman went to speak but Theo held up a hand and straightened his spine, hearing her apparating sound echo far off in the forest.

"Better hurry boys," says Theo as he adjusts the bottom of his mask, "She's a quick runner when scared"

"Excuse me—"

Theo was gone before Draco could finish his sentence, only the leaves rustling in his wake as he apparated and they heard Rose scream from far, far away.

________________________________

A/N: i kind of hate this chapter but bleh it was important for plot details

—OKAY I SWEAR NEXT CHAPTER IS SHORT AND THEN THEY ARE BACK AT HOGWARTS.
so many big things are happening this summer so it's been sooooo long. but I think you'll all enjoy next chapter since it's the big Uh....killing scene.....

—cried when I was writing Walburga's scene bc family line came on

—Theo being a psycho is just🤭🤭

—well....I don't have much to say because I'm sleepy

LOVE U ALL

no memes because im too tired