(p.s. things are truly going to get much happier soon i pinky. i just felt it is necessary to understand that some of the characters have truly witnessed the worst of the worst from one another and still whole heartedly loved one another because who doesn't want that kind of representation? It's also important to understanding the relationship held between everyone but rose is going to get a lot better and go back to herself <3 this is one of my least favorite chapters so just bare with me, I barely slept yesterday lol)

third person pov

' they told me all of my
cages were mental '

Trauma.

It comes in different forms.

It haunts you.

Hangs around your neck as a noose would. Every time you try take a step forward to get better, you walk closer to the edge. The rope tightens and it feels as if you're suffocating.

At least that's what Rose thinks, or maybe there is no poetic form about suffering. She couldn't bare that truth though.

It was the day of the first task for the Triwizard Tournament. Theo and Blaise had left in the morning to head for the kitchens, everyone agreeing they'd ask the elves for some food and have breakfast in the dorm all together instead of the Great Hall. The mission took longer than planned since they ran into Fred and George while there, Blaise talking up a storm to Fred until Theo finally demanded the food would be cold if they waited another minute.

"Hey Theo," Blaise began as they walked up the steps to their dorm.

Theo looked over at him oddly, "Hey Blaise? You realize we've been together all morning?"

"Fuck off—you know what I meant" Blaise laughs and draws a slight twitch to Theo's lips. "I just...do you like Fred?"

"He's cool I guess" Theo shrugged back, "But my opinion doesn't matter. I don't care who you're with as long as they aren't judging you for being you. Couldn't let anyone dull that personality, huh?"

"Hm..." Blaise raises an eyebrow as the bag of bagels move around in his arms. "I don't think he judges me? Besides, I could change that about him if it were the case..."

"Judgmental people make me feel sick—you shouldn't try to change that type or want a relationship if that's the case" Theo starts to ramble mindlessly while trudging up the never ending steps. "Means they have no imagination or ability to see both sides, but Fred doesn't seem like that anyways, he's too artistic even if it's with stupid inventions. He's creative and inventive, right? Those people aren't the judging type. I'd take a wacky mind over intelligence or pride any day of the week."

"Are you calling Fred dumb?"

"Is that seriously all you took from that?" Theo laughs in disbelief, "I mean—he kind of is but the belief we need someone to match our intelligence is idiotic in itself. All that matters is he matches your wit day to day, not who can read the most books or speak most the facts about the world"

Blaise's shoulders roll back in thought, Theo would always be the wisest of them. "I'm not that smart either"

"You are smart Blaise, don't talk yourself down." Theo affirmed, "You just don't apply yourself in school and that's fine, if Goyle gave it his all even he could make top marks. Scores don't really mean anything, you could be the most intelligent student and not know a damn thing about anything else."

"Yeah...." Blaise drags out and Theo can't miss the way his chin lifts slightly from gained confidence, "I'm street smart"

Theo looks over with thick brows furrowed, "The fuck does that mean?"

Blaise fell into a fit of laughter as they reached the dorm door. He goes to grab the handle but stops upon hearing loud voices on the other side.

Suddenly the door flings open and Draco steps out with nothing but pure distress across his face. From the ruffled hair to the pushed up sleeves and worried eyes as he slams the door back shut, it's clear something is going on.

"Theo you need to—to get in there," Draco breathes out quickly, grabbing onto Blaise's shoulder. "You're coming with me"

Blaise began, "What—"

"Come on!" Draco spat without his usual anger, only fear right then. He yanks on a confused Blaise, dragging the boy down the staircase in a hurry.

Theo doesn't think twice before slipping inside the dorm room. The sight that awaits him instantly causes his feet to halt.

There are two filled leather bags on Rose's bed and one opened atop her trunk. She's scrambling around the dorm with a dagger in hand, tossing clothes inside the empty bag. Whitman is pleading for her to listen with his own teary eyes but she isn't stopping, only grabbing more clothes.

"Ro," Theo's voice stays firm although he breathes shallowly and sets the brown bag of food on Blaise's bed. "What's going on?"

Whitman looks back at Theo as she rushes into bathroom, "Please tell her no one is after her!"

The pure sadness and wreckage in Whitman's eyes only worsens the situation. Rose instantly walks out of the bathroom with her gaze frantically searching around, "I need to find Nyx—I have to find Nyx"

"Why?" Theo pushes a strand of brunette from his face and moves forward, "Where are you going?"

"They're after me." Rose mutters to herself while twisting the dagger around. She begins to look through the bag atop her trunk with eyes darting every which way.

"No one is after you!" Whitman shouts unsteadily.

"Yes they are!" Rose yells back with a fearful tone, gripping onto the dagger impossibly tight. "Where is she?! I have to leave!"

Theo spoke breathily, "Ro! You don't need to go anywhere—" His words fell off as her head snapped toward him and she moved to the door at a fast pace. He watches her peak outside with more incoherent mumbles.

The door slams shut once again and she hurries right back to the bags, starting to zip them all up. Theo looks at Whitman with parted lips as his gut hallows out. There's a exchange of understanding between them about what is truly going on, the only two people who could ever fully understand. Suddenly they are back to being fifteen and witnessing Rose melt down because she thought some man was after her.

They always knew something was off about Rose, her brain working differently. There would be these extreme highs followed by extreme lows that both had learned to help her through. Mental health wasn't exactly talked about in their social circles so neither could be blamed for not knowing an exact title for it over the years.

But at fifteen, when they witnessed her go through a hypomanic episode and dealt with this exact same moment, everything clicked along with a daunting realization her issues weren't as simple as experiencing high-levels of happiness accompanied with the inability to move from bed. No. That day Theo and Whitman stood frozen as the epiphany washed over them, their eyes filled with tears and every muscle tightened. Hands fidgeting along with the sickening gut twist to know there was nothing to be done.

Even now in the present as they stood, Theo and Whitman experienced that feeling for the first time all over again. It was both a blessing and curse to be able to feel the emotions of the one you loved so fluidly.

And they felt nothing but pain for her.

Theo moves forward without hesitation, planning to pull her from the bags. "Ro, love, no one is going to—" His hand grips her right shoulder and words stop as Rose begins to whirl around. She rears back the dagger and goes to slam it into his face but stops short as their eyes meet, realizing it was him.

Her Teddy.

Theo sucks in a shaky breath but stays unwavering and Whitman gasps, covering his mouth in horror from a few feet away. There's only pure guilt across her face and Theo can practically see the way her stomach drops, water starting to line her eyes.

"It's okay, you—you didn't know it was me." Theo breathes out and wraps his hand around her own holding the blade. He slowly brings it down until her grip fully loosens, letting him toss the metal to the ground with a clattering sound.

A choked sob escapes Rose as she stays standing and looking straight at Theo. Her mind starts to race. She almost killed him, she almost killed him, she almost killed him, she almost killed him, she almost killed him—

All thoughts are interrupted and Rose hadn't realized how heavy she begun to breathe as Theo slips a wide hand onto the side of her throat.

"It's okay baby" Theo's voice shook before he pressed his cheek against her own with a deep breath, fingers sliding to the back of her neck. "I'll protect you" He whispers lowly to feed into the delusions instead of making her face the fact she imagined it all.

Theo guides Rose into the crook of his neck. She stays incredibly stiff for a moment. Then, suddenly collapses into him. He peppers the top of her head with kisses, fingers intertwining through her hair as she whimpers. "It's okay, it's okay Ro. I swear to you."

Whitman took to sitting on her trunk with a hand swiping over his mouth, head shaking in utter hurt at everything happening.

"I'm going to sit you down" Theo speaks to the best of his ability, murmuring reassurance as he carefully sits her next to Whitman. Her distraught face is revealed as he kneels in between her legs.

Rose whimpers again, folding and unfolding her hands with eyes darting around. "I—I really....someone was after me. I mean it!"

Whitman places a hand onto her back as Theo scoops up her face and wipes the tears away, "I know but we won't let anyone hurt you"

Theo nods along, "Nothing and nobody can hurt you if we're here, understand?" His heart drops to the core of the earth for the millionth time as her tears keep coming and his thumbs continually push the water away. It's as if his tone does a flip to the most dangerous one possible, "We would never let anything hurt you, never."

The sentence is the most important thing in the world at that moment, something they need her to understand. Whitman agrees fully heartedly and slids his hand up to the back of her head, kissing her temp gently. "You're safe with us, always safe with us."

Rose tilts her chin and focuses on Theo as her chest starts to shake. She wants to reach for him but cannot manage to. The fact she almost hurt him of all people makes it feel like all of her inside are deteriorating.

And just when Theo thinks his heart can't break anymore at seeing her this way, she extends shaking hands and her voice cracks, mixed in with so many tears she's barely audible. "Teddy,"

He takes hold of her hands and makes them steady before guiding the tips of her fingers to his cheeks. The skin to skin contact seems to set her off because Rose drops her head down and starts to sob so badly he feels sick.

"It's not your fault baby," Theo murmurs with a thick swallow of the lump in his throat, turning his head slightly to kiss her palm before moving close enough for his knees hit the trunk.

For the first time in months she loops her arms around his neck and holds on for dear life. Theo follows suit, one hand gripping the back of her sweater and the other going upward.

"Shhh," He attempts to coax Rose's sobs while soothing down her hair. "It's okay. I'm going to help you, I promise." After, he looks to a torn Whitman, "Get a calming draught"

"There isn't any." Whitman mutters in return, still rubbing down her spine with a far off gaze. "Draco went to get some, we ran out a few days ago."

Theo furrows both brows in an agonized way as she whimpers against his neck, "I have some in my trunk."

Whitman doesn't question a thing before standing up and only has to make one step toward Theo's bed from how close they are. He concludes that's why all the calming draughts from the bathroom were gone, Theo clearly had to take one a day to get through the empty weeks without Rose. If the boy wasn't drinking then he was sleeping. Theo hadn't went a minute from Whitman's side since returning back to school.

From every class to every morning and every night—even something as simple as going to the bathroom between lessons—Theo was with Whitman. Now that the Rosier really thinks about it, he realizes they literally have not been apart once. Not even for a second. He's okay with that though, despite this all meaning Whitman hadn't spoken to a girl or been to the library once, because he knows Theo needed him and truthfully, he needed Theo too.

Although Whitman would never blame Rose, he wished she could see how much she was needed. They didn't know how to exist without her and they never wanted to. That's one of the many reasons why it's so scary to see her this way, not because they are scared of her, but because they are terrified of losing her.

The one thing they never asked of Rose was to be fine or perfect and if she had to go off the rails then so be it but they should've been right there with her. All of the good, the bad, and the worst of the worst—they'd seen it all from each other.

Miss Zabini joked once that if one of the three were being dug a grave then whoever is the digging it might as well dig up two more. It was supposed to be a joke but it really wasn't, there was no world without one another. The importance of that could not be stated enough for anyone except them to understand.

Whitman found the sparkling blue potion under some hoodies and rushed back to his previous seat. He looks away to attempt stopping himself from hearing how wrecked Rose is right then.

Theo starts to pull back with no avail, her arms sticking to him as glue would. He doesn't want to tell her to let go because he wishes she didn't have to for even a moment.

"Ro, I need to sit you up"

In an instant Rose weakly sits straight up, bottom lip trembling as she averts her eyes to the side, in a way disgusted with who she is.

His hand grips her chin firmly, forcing Rose to look dead at him and the uncorked potion. "Can you drink this for me?"

She shakes her head adamantly, "I—I don't want to...."

"Shh" Theo whispers and soothingly slides his hand onto her cheek while bringing the potion closer, "It'll make you feel better...do it for me."

That's all it takes for Rose to listen.

He carefully parts her lips with his thumb and pours the potion down. Setting the glass by Whitman shortly after assuring she swallows.

"I'm so sorry" Rose mumbles and Theo takes the sharpest inhale of his life as her shaking fingers touch his cheeks, "I'm so so sorry..."

"Don't be," Theo speaks with the utmost gentleness before pulling her back down to him, sighing in relief as she hugs so tightly that her fingers grip the back of his shirt and her other hand slides into his hair. "Everything's going to be okay," He whispers and tucks his head into her neck. "I'm right here."

Whitman can only think one thing while watching. If anyone invented the word love, it had to be them. Every sonnet, book, and piece of art must've been modeled after the love Theo and Rose share. Although it hurts him, he cannot deny it is the most pure thing to witness, two people so utterly devoted to one another that he is sure nothing like this has existed before.

*

Theo and Whitman tried their best to get Rose out of the tournament but ultimately stopped as she told them her life was bound to the Goblet of Fire. They said so many things about just simply running away, going so far no one could force her into some task. There was nothing to be done though.

So, Rose drank calming draught after calming draught from a worrisome Draco to point where now her limbs tingled and she swore not even the worst person could cause anger to bubble up.

Snape came to grab Rose for the tournament and escorted her to the champions tent set by a specially cleared area in the Forbidden Forest where an arena had been built.

Currently, she took to being busy by complaining to Harry Potter about how stupid the leather they were forced to wear are. Even under the loose sleeveless robes with their last names etched on the back, suffocating leather laid underneath.

Harry started snapping in her face as she continues on trying to stretch the pants, "Rose! Who cares! We have more important things to worry about!"

Rose rolled her eyes and goes to pin her hair up with her wand, "Bloody ridiculous! We didn't even ask to be in this stupid fucking—" She trailed off upon spotting someone shaking the opening of the tent.

She holds up a hand and walks over, hearing Hermione's voice on the other side. "Rose! Is that you?!"

They hadn't talked since their big fight, Rose pretending Hermione no longer existed at every turn. "Yeah?"

Hermione pulls back the curtains and jumps onto Rose, hugging her tightly but Rose does not extends the same courtesy. Instead, she pushes the girl off.

"What are you doing hugging me?"

Hermione's face contorts, "I—I just wanted to see you"

"Well don't be so foolish again." Rose averts her eyes to the side, "We aren't friends."

"I miss you....I miss talking to you, Rose." Hermione whispers in a sadden tone.

"Well that's too bad, isn't it?" Rose says with no emotion, "I changed and I don't want you in my life anymore."

The hurt across Hermione's frown is unmissable from a mile away, "How could you say that?"

Rose tilts her head, "How could I not is the question you should be asking yourself."

"Hermione!" Harry calls a few feet away, trying to stop the situation at hand. Hermione goes tumbling over into his arms because not only does she want to wish him good luck but she needs the hug now too.

The curtains of the tent opens once more and this time the breath Rose let's out is one of relief as all of the boys walk in along with Mattheo and Luna.

Before the Black could even blink Mattheo pulls Rose in by her face and kisses her like it would be the last time. Her eyes widened for a long while until she relaxed into it. Trying to ignore the eyes instantly finding anything else interesting.

A flash goes off and Rose yanks away. Rita Skeeter stood there with a smile, "Young love! We have two couples in our mist it seems!"

Mattheo slowly lets go of Rose's face as he gives the woman a disgusted glance, "Fuck off you old hag"

Rose snorts without meaning to, "You heard the man"

Rita smirks at the other Slytherin boys around them, "Ah! All of your boyfriends seem to be present"

Viktor Krum walks over with a scolding tone held inside his accent, "Out of the tent! You have no business here!"

With the utmost creepy smile, Rita turns to look him up and down. "Very well"

Waiting until the woman disappeared, Rose turned to the group with a shrug. "Guess I'll see you guys in what the muggles call hell? Don't suppose I'll be getting into heaven with my track record..."

"Don't say that." Draco bites out harshly, standing stiff with every edge of his face sharp from how tightly he clenched his jaw.

Luna noticed Rose blinking in confusion on how to feel and smiles softly, "You'll be fine"

"I know Luna" Rose laughs lightly and hugs her with one arm. "Sit with the boys, okay?"

"Guess so" says Luna as Rose pulls back to inspect her face, "It's like waking around with a school of giraffes"

"They are pretty tall, aren't they?"

"Just shut up" Theo muttered breathlessly before engulfing Rose into a hug, making her relish in it without realizing. Her eyes close as she inhales his cinnamon based scent, one that smells like home and heaven all at once. Eventually, her eyes turn to Draco.

He's standing so very still and looks away when their gazed meet. His stormy eyes shoot between Rose and Mattheo. Hurt, confused, worried, and tense. Not over the fact he just witnessed them kiss or maybe simply driven mad by the idea she was being forced into this task.

But it could've also been his inability to yank her away from Theo and apparate her so far away no one would find them.

Mattheo on the other hand is watching her carefully, unable to rack his brain from the fact Rose and Theo are embracing each other a little too long to simply be friends.

Reality circles back as Dumbledore and every head of the other schools come in along with Barty Crouch, starting to stare at the group of teenagers.

Dumbledore crosses both arms, "What are you all doing here?"

Rose attempts to step back from Theo with no avail, settling on turning around in his arms to look at the officials. "They all have attachment issues sir"

Dumbledores lips twitched at her comment, "Off you go! It's time!"

Everyone gives her one last look and turns to leave, Theo being dragged away by Whitman and Blaise.

But Draco stays.

Barty Crouch clears his throat, "Mister Malfoy"

Draco eyes scan Rose before turning sharp as ice to the ministry official with a spiteful tone, "If something happens to her then you are all to blame."

"Draco," Rose reaches for him but he steps back. There would be no sign of care for her if it wasn't for the way his throat bobbed as he quickly exited.

"Come, Miss Black." Barty Crouch states in annoyance. All four champions are placed side by side in a semi-circle, "Miss Delacour, you first."

The bag is opened and Fleur reaches in, pulling out a miniature dragon colored green.

"The Welsh Green!" Barty shouts briefly, then turns to Viktor. "Mister Krum"

Viktor ultimately pulls a red hued dragon that spits a small spurt of fire, "The Chinese Fireball!"

Then it is Cedric's turn and Barty doesn't bother saying his name as the boy reaches in with a yellow dragon coming out.

"The Swedish Short-snout!"

Harry gave Rose an uneasy glance as his own hand went in, getting a spikey brown dragon that made her raise both brows.

"The Hungarian Horntail! Feisty!"

When Barty looks to Rose he adorned a face of sympathy, "Which leaves the Ukrainian Ironbelly..."

See? This is the shitty luck she was talking about.

The man seemed taken back when she showed no reaction, only holding a stern face while grabbing the dragon from the velvet bag. The creature is white and beautiful despite being the most dangerous of the species.

Dumbledore glides a hand onto her shoulder, "Make me proud Rose"

How many times has he said that to get her to do something in the last four years?

Rose nods up at him and Dumbledore could tell she would be fine. He had been helping her practice magic since first year, but it was hard to tell what she was thinking when that emotionless mask was on.

Barty takes a long sigh and folds the bag into a square. "These represent five real dragons. Each of which has been given a golden egg to protect! Your objective is simple, collect the egg. This you must do, for each egg contains a clue and without it you cannot proceed to the next task."

Rose choked on air quietly to which Harry had to pat her back. Dragons were already one of the more protective creatures, give them an egg and they'll turn into a whole different sort.

Dumbledore moves from behind Rose to the middle of the group. "Mister Diggory, at the sound of the cannon—" The cannon goes off and everyone ducks on instinct. Dumbledore flattens his robes with a displeased look and a wave of a hand, "Very well then, go on."

Cedric shares an worried glance with Harry and Rose before going to the far end of the tent, where the entrance is located.

The two remaining Hogwarts students cannot managed to watch him step out because Dumbledore takes hold of them both, "Remember everything you have been learning about these creatures. Do not let your Gryffindor ways make you foolish!"

Rose scoffs, "I'm not a Gryffindor anymore"

The headmaster places a hand over her heart, "You are in there—always will be." It feels as if he's jabbing at the fact Walburga forced a resorting but Rose nods regardless and watches him leave.

Two beds had been placed on either side of the tent and Rose didn't hesitate to crash face down into one, "I am going to sleep until it's my turn"

The mattress dips as Harry sits next to her, "No way!"

Muffled voice from the thin maroon comforter, "Harry! I cannot sit here for however long while the rest of you go, I'm last!"

He sighed and flopped down beside her like he would when they first became friends, beginning to rant but stops short as Ludo Bagman walks over in funky yellow robes.

"Miss Black," says Bagman. "Did you come up with a plan?"

Harry jumped slightly from how loud she groaned, "I don't need your help!"

Bagman let's out a humor-filled laugh, "Well you are the underdog here and you have the worst sort of dragon"

Her head snaps up from the mattress with a sneer, "Because I'm a woman? Is that why I'm considered an underdog?!"

"Woman this woman that," Bagman laughs once again before lowering down to a whisper as if she's a child he must treat fragilely, "News flash—not everything is about your gender. You are the youngest and physically weakest."

Rose's eye twitches and Harry has to duck as she grabs a pillow, chunky it straight at Bagman. "You know nothing! Leave me alone Ludo or I swear on Merlin's grave!"

Bagman straightens up, offense held on his face as he turns to leave, muttering to himself loudly. "Crazy just like her grandmother"

She slams her face back into the mattress with grumbles. Harry turns onto his side and keeps his head up with a hand, "Since when do you call Bagman, Ludo? Have a special interest in ministry sports?"

It's hard to hear Rose from how deeply she's pressing against the mattress, "Since he ran his hand down my spine at the ministry ball last year"

"Oh...my god" Harry speaks slow in disbelief, not realizing he just said god to a witch. "Did you tell anyone?! He should be fired!"

"That he's a creep? No." She sighs tiredly as Harry pulls the blanket over her body, "I'm fully capable of protecting myself from men like that"

"But you were sixteen..."

"The tragedy of girlhood, Hm? Don't you remember how Lockhart treated the girls in second year?"

He cannot settle on that reply, resuming his rant but Rose simples tunes him out and settles into a peaceful sleep.

Hours later it was darker out, but the sun was still slowly setting. Harry had apparently took the longest because his dragon got loose.

That didn't make her feel any better.

A ministry official Rose didn't know quickly filled her in on Harry's mishap and how all the other champions got through. Then, led her to the entrance covered by maroon curtains.

Rose took a deep breathe and tried to not listen to her last name being chanted. Hearing people cheer for you during Quidditch? Great. Hearing people chant for you in a death trap? Awful.

She readjusted her wand in her hair before stepping out onto a big, raised up rock platform. The stadium had been built into a sunk-in circle, rows upon rows built at the very top where hundreds of faces peered down at her. Every inch of the arena had been filled full of jagged rocks and little holes.

And then there was the Ukrainian Ironbelly, so massive that it took every piece of air from her lungs. White scales decorated the dragon that must've been as big as a small mountain. Spikes claimed to be as hard as steel across the spine and lizard-like tail that made holes in the rocks upon thrashing from the chain collar. Vibrant red eyes trained onto Rose and that is when she spotted the glimmering gold egg underneath a torn wing.

Beautiful, but massive.

The crowd stayed loud as she climbed the rocks toward the dragon—going completely silent when the creature roared at her.

Rose looked to her left where a big rock made a wall. Then, looked to right, taking note of the small holes. Knowing every surrounding was a must before going any further.

Climbing down the rock path to the dragon, the stadium was so silent that even with the masses present, a footstep could be heard.

The dragon started to move towards the way she went and Rose took one more deep breathe before taking off running to the rock wall. Instantly the creature roared with fire shooting out, luckily enough Rose made it behind the rock in the right amount of time.

Heat encased her sides as the fire kept coming and Rose muttered angrily, completely out of breath. "I fucking hate running."

It was then that she regretted her nicotine addiction.

When the fire died out she slipped away from the rock and immediately got hit by the tail of the dragon, getting slammed into the ground. Her cheek sliced up on a small rock and bled—a possible broken rib as well.

Thanks Walburga for the pain tolerance, she thought.

Not only that but her adrenaline ran so high she didn't feel a thing while lifting up and sliding down another pathway. Just when Rose thought a second of relief might be possible, the tail broke the rock she was passing and landed the heavy weight on her foot.

"Fuck sake," Rose gritted out. She loved animals more than anyone but frankly, the need to murder this creature became very important.

Hermione screamed in the distance, "Your wand! Use your wand!"

Rose debated doing so but ultimately decided against the idea. She held up her hand to the dragon and sent it flying back a few feet.

Looking at the golden egg in the center, a genius plan popped into her kind.

She could feel her clothes being soaked with blood and the ability to breathe becoming a far off possibility but mentally muttered a 'screw it'. Deciding if she died at the hands of the Wizarding World's most dangerous dragon, well, it wouldn't be that bad of a way to go out.

But before she could do that....Theo.

Rose looks up into the stands and it takes a full minute until she finds Theo with the boys in the front row from the crowd of people. She uses every bit of magic to attempt pushing into his mind, which takes a little from how tense he is.

Once finally able to speak inside though, "You trust me Teddy?"

Of course she purposely used the nickname to sway him onto her side.

He instantly spoke back in her opened up mind, voice shaking in an awful manner. "No! And don't you dare do what I think you're about to do—"

She cuts off his connection with a shrug to the sky, "Okay then."

Taking away the fear of death, Rose climbs up to where she stood twenty feet away from the dragon, limping slightly and completely unaware of the broken foot.

The dragon roared once again at her but she just kept walking until landing fifteen feet away, where her and the creature stood on flat ground together.

She pulls her wand from the locks of hair and points it directly at the dragon, hoping the absurd amount of calming potions gave her the ability to be happy unlike the last few months. "Expecto Patronum!"

There's a moment where the dragon opens it's mouth but stops as a massive patronus version of itself reaches the same size as the real thing.

Rose makes an impressed noise, she never casted one before and didn't know what it would be but she always had a good feeling a dragon represented her well. Luck of the drawl it is, for her patronus to not only be of the same species but the same breed.

She continues her walk while mentally scolding herself. Was she incredibly reckless? Yes, but there was no turning back now.

Gasps and screams of terror filled the stadium as Rose halted directly in front of the dragon. The creature had seemingly been so distracted by the patronus it didn't realize she was standing less than five feet from it's arm.

"What are you doing?!"

"Get away!"

All sorts of words filled her brain from the people watching but she just waited until the dragon inclined it's head down to her.

And Rose kneeled, ducking down and preparing to die if she must. How painful could being burnt to a crisp really be? The answer is not one Rose wishes to know.

Some of the most high-pitched screams she had ever heard rung out as the dragon slowly lowered it's snout to her. Blaise was clutching onto Mattheo very tightly, it would've been a funny sight in a different situation. Mattheo didn't bother to push him off as his heart slowed.

Theo, Whitman, and Draco watched her intently. Each cursing her to the grave and back for being so set in her own way. Time seemed to stand still as they stopped breathing. Now was not the moment for Rose to be a risk-taker.

The dragon did something that surprised every person watching.

It simply nudged Rose with it's snout.

She carefully lifts her head up as the creature turns to let her look deep into the red eye. "Beautiful," Rose breathes out in awe and reaches to touch the pearly scales, attempting to push into it's head. She could speak parseltounge, maybe that would be close enough to whatever dragon language was.

The mind of the dragon carried power Rose could feel as she entered and started to speak in native tongue. "This egg, it is not real. They have chained you up and used you for a competition, I will set you free if you wish. I just have to collect this egg to survive. It is made of metal, check for yourself."

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the dragon's raspy voice entered her own mind in a womanly tone. "You have a strong spirit, you are a human extension of myself..."

Rose starts to smile and laugh in unbridled shock, "Are they good to you at the sanctuary?"

The dragon nods before using the back claw to grab the egg, hitting the metal with a thick snout only to realize Rose had been right, this was all a trick.

Waiting patiently, Rose picks up the egg as it is rolled over. Shortly after reaching to touch the creature one last time, "Thank you"

"Visit me, during Litha time."

Rose squeaked happily, "Of course!"

Unknowingly the crowd had gone silent for the entirety of the experience. Rose didn't realize this until she held up the egg up in the air and cheers filled the stadium louder than ever.

Upon returning to the tent that had now been turned into a medical clinic, Madam Pomprey came rushing forward and swept Rose away.

"Sit down this instant!"

Rose smiled dazed from speaking to a dragon combined with the blood loss, "I'm fine Poppy"

Madam Pomprey attempted to pull her but she wouldn't budge, only peered down at the egg inscribed with ancient runes that had been twisted to be foreign.

"Have it your way!" The mediwitch flicked her wand and Rose flew through the air, landing in a stiff bed. "You will let me heal you!"

"But Poppy! I want to go see one of the dragonologist before they leave!"

"I will get Mcgongall!"

Rose went still with unblinking eyes before smiling sheepishly, "I'll let you heal me...this time only"

"Mhm," Poppy huffed with a tap of her manicured nail on Rose's nose, laughing quietly at the pure respect held for her girlfriend.

*

Rose had been showered with scolds and hugs when her people arrived in the tent. It took a long while before she was released and much to her stubborn surprise, ended up letting Mattheo hoist her onto his back the whole way to the school.

For weeks Luna needed Rose's help with Divination, wanting to learn more about the practice of tarot cards. Sometimes Rose brought her to Mattheo's dorm and would give little lessons but completely forgot about the promise of letting the blonde give a reading after the tournament.

After much back and forth with the boys, Rose slipped up to Ravenclaw tower with Luna and got a tarot reading that was anything but pleasant. Luna refused to go to the Slytherin party that night to celebrate the win, claiming she feared seeing Blaise and Fred. The two weren't together but they hung out way too much to only be friends.

When Rose arrived to the dungeons, the common room was stuffed full of Slytherins along with a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs to spare. She spotted George on a couch with Fred and some guys from Quidditch but kept her head down to not draw attention until reaching the staircase leading to the boys dorms.

Just as she goes for the door Draco opens it and he appears distressed with glassy eyes. Rose looks at him oddly while stepping inside, head snapping backward as he turns the lock in place.

That's when she sees everyone. Whitman is sitting on the side of her bed with his head tucked down. Blaise sat on her trunk with a face that said he just finished crying. Theo by the bed frame but his back is turned to Rose.

And then there's Mattheo, which confuses her considering how much they all hate him. He's sitting on Draco's trunk with arms laid over both knees, eyebrows furrowed.

"Did someone we know die?" Rose laughs dryly and walks toward the center of the room, "Or is this a shitty intervention?"

Mattheo speaks first, his fingers intertwining as he cranes his neck upward. "When were you going to tell me you're bipolar?"

Rose freezes on the spot and looks around the room, everyone is staring back except Theo. He's still turned away and holding something she can't quite see in his hands.

"I'm not bipolar." Rose shrugs, screwing her chin up, "I've cured myself in fact!"

"Rosie...." Draco muttered as he passed by with his head shaking, taking a seat next to Whitman. Then, he yells. "Just stop!"

Rose laughs with zero humor, "Look at me! I'm perfectly fine! I decided not to have that illness anymore and—"

Her breathing swallows as Theo turns around with watery eyes but pure anger on his face. In his hands are every single bottle of her medication.

"Six empty bottles....that's all of your medication." Theo begins before yelling so loud Blaise flinches, "How long have you not been taking it? How fucking long?!"

Rose snapped toward Blaise, "Did you tell them?!" She headed for him quickly, "Did you fucking tell them?!"

"You gave me no choice!" Blaise choked up again, "You've been scaring me for weeks! They've already yelled at me for it!"

Her finger came down into his face, "That's not your fucking decision to make!"

Blaise looks to the others for help as he stutters, "I had to do it!"

Draco shouted this time, "He never should've been in charge of keeping this from us for months to bring with!"

Rose pays no mind to him, all she can see is red aimed at Blaise. "I should've never fucking trusted you!" She grabs his shoulder roughly, screaming in his face. "I fucking hate you! I hate you so much!"

Mattheo was quick to yank her backward, "Stop!"

"Get the fuck off of me!" Rose spat as she set herself free, chest starting to heave. "Everyone leave me alone!"

Theo's booming voice silenced the room, "I'm going to take you to get these refilled and you're going back on your medication, you understand me?!"

"No I will not!" Rose shouts back and finally is looking directly at his face, "I'm—I'm done! I'm never taking medication again! It makes me feel awful!"

Theo recoils back slightly until he's suddenly rushing forward, swiping a hand over his watery eyes as the bag of empty bottles shake. "Avoid your friends for weeks even though they are the only sense of consistency you've ever known! Shut down and hate everyone! Destroy yourself! Is this how you want to live?!"

Rose tries shoving him as her neck cranes upward to glare fiercely but he does not budge in the slightest, "I don't need medication! I'm perfectly fine!"

"You are not fine!" Theo yells with an idea coming to him. It's a cruel and manipulative one but he knows it'll work. His tone calms with a heavy breath, jaw tighter than ever as he tries to keep the anger at bay. "Think about how disappointed Walburga would be if she saw you right now. You think she'd be proud?"

For a single second she widens her eyes at him and then all the gates flood at once.

Rose looses it, smacking at his chest viciously. "Take that back! Take it back right now!"

Theo drops the bag of bottles to the floor, grabbing both of her wrists so strongly she can't move her hands, only yelling and fighting in his grip.

"Take it back! Take it back or I'll—I'll....!"

"What? Kill me?" Theo speaks gruffly and hates the fact he has to manipulate her right now. A genuine tear falls from his eyes as she stares up at him with a fury held in her gaze, the pout of her lips he loved so much shaking. "Do you really think you can kill me? Of all people?!"

Mattheo appears to be in pain for the first time, "What does it truly matter if she takes them or not?! Just leave her alone!"

Theo's head snaps up and he stares blankly at the boy for a long while, truly shocked by the audacity.

But he cannot bare Mattheo daring to act knowledgeable. "You don't even know her!"

Rose begins fighting Theo's hold once more, screaming when he refuses to let go. "I'm done! I'm leaving this school and all of you because I hate you! You hear me? I hate you!"

Whitman finally opens his mouths and every hair on her arms raised as he spoke from behind her. "You're not going anywhere."

She becomes so aggressive that Theo has to spin her to be against his chest. Arm slipping around her throat and Rose gasps in shock as Whitman blocks the front of her with a potion in hand.

Rose twists and twists, nails coming up to claw at Theo's arm but he grabs her chin—forcing her mouth open. It's so traumatizing that Draco has to look away as she screams when Whitman takes hold of her jaw as well, pouring the potion down her throat.

_______________________________

A/N: okay i know heavy chapter but I SWEAR ITS ALMOST OVER BEING SAD! TRUST ME! We have the chapter I'll release tomorrow and then the sun will be back up for our girl

—this one took me a few days because it's a lot harder to write her losing it, draining to write you know?

—Theo was harsh but it was very much needed so no one hate on our resident favorite

—rose </3 that's all

—rant to me about ur days because I don't have anything else to put in this authors note lol

MISSED U ALWAYS

xx bri