"Ow," someone muttered and Rose shot up in her bed. She had her wand drawn as she looked around for the intruder. They put their hands up in surrender, "I mean no harm."

"Bloody hell, Potter," she huffed as she placed her wand safely under her pillow. "What the hell are you doing?"

He shrugged as he fell back on her bed, "I wanted to see you."

She grabbed the pocket watch that rested on her nightstand and raised an eyebrow as she read it, "It's three in the morning."

"You've been busy," he replied. "And I should be asking you what you are still doing up."

"If you thought I would be asleep, why would you even come?"

"Because I knew you wouldn't be," he explained as he moved so that he sat next to her, their backs against the headboard of her bed. He turned to look at her and she reluctantly looked at him, "It always takes you a good month or so to adjust to being back."

"Hmm," she replied. Subconsciously, she knew that was true but she hadn't realized anyone else knew. Especially James, the most unobservant person she had ever encountered. "You still shouldn't have come. About 90% of the girls in this room would hex you without a second thought."

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "There are five of you. How does that even work?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'd do it about half the time. You're just lucky I'm too tired to execute."

"I disagree," he announced as he wrapped himself around her arm and snuggled his head into her neck. "You love me too much to do such a thing." She froze at this. Up until now she had forgotten about the incident the other night. He tilted his head and regarded her with furrowed eyebrows, "What's wrong?

"Nothing," she answered, "Just tired." He narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not buying it. "You should head back to your room before anyone notices your missing."

He shook his head, "They think I'm with Lily."

"You are digging yourself into a hole there Potter."

"In my defense, I did go to Lily first," he informed her. "She got mad at me for breaking the rules."

She felt a pang in her chest. Of course he would go to her first. "So I'm the second choice?" she inquired playfully, pulling her arm from his grasp. "I see how it is, Potter."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and nestled his face into her hip, "Oh, come one, Rosie. You know you're my number one."

"You can't fall asleep in here," she pointed out, fighting down a smile despite herself. "You should go."

"I won't fall asleep," he mumbled. "I'm just going to stay until I know you're asleep."

She rolled her eyes before she wiggled down. She turned away and he wrapped his arms around her. "You better not fall asleep."

"Promise."

Rose could hear a conversation occurring but she wasn't entirely sure what they were saying. She was tired and didn't want to wake up yet.

"Isn't he dating her sister?"

"She's in Slytherin. What do you expect?"

"But he's James Potter. He's been in love with Lily since day one. He doesn't seem like the type to throw it away on a whim."

Rose's eyes shot open and realization dawned on her. James had not gone back to his room like he said he would. He fell asleep.

"You bloody idiot, Potter," Rose muttered as she turned to face the boy. She was trapped in his arms and he was still fast asleep. "James," she tried but it didn't work. "Yo, Bambi."

His eyes opened at this and he glared at her, "Have you been talking to Sirius?"

She grinned, "He said it would be something I should call you when you piss me off."

"Don't call me Bambi."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Very good explanation," she rolled her eyes. "You fell asleep you idiot."

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "No I didn't."

"It's the morning."

"It's still dark."

"We're in a dungeon, Bambi," he scowled at the name. "It's always dark."

He turned his head slightly as the conversation picked up from the other side of the curtain, "Shit."

"Yeah, shit," she agreed. "Now can you move your arms so I can get up?"

"Oh," he muttered, moving his arm off the girl. He rubbed his face as he turned over on his back. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"Course you didn't," Rose replied, hopping out of her bed. "Hence why I had asked you to leave and you didn't listen."

"Right."

She turned to look back at him in confusion as she fished out her uniform for the day, "Are you okay?"

He nodded as he pushed himself into a sitting position, "I'm fine. Just a weird dream is all."

Rose eyed him curiously but said nothing, "You should go. I'm sure the whole school knows by now. Slytherin girls are ruthless."

He grimaced, "Lovely." He hopped up and off the bed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll see you at breakfast?"

"Maybe," she shrugged, "Depends how the next hour or so go."

"Fair enough," he replied as he grabbed his jacket off the ground. "Bye."

"Bye," she responded and then he left.

As soon as Rose was ready, she hastily left the Slytherin dorm. And as soon as she left the dorm, Tonks found her.

"You slept with James?" Tonks hissed as she fell into step with the redhead. "Not only am I offended that you said nothing to me but you slept with your sister's boyfriend?"

"I did not sleep with him," she shook her head. "I slept next to him. There's a difference."

"What the hell would compel you to do that?"

"I told him not to fall asleep," she explained. "It's not my fault he doesn't listen."

"What was he even doing in your room?"

"Why are you interrogating me like I'm in the wrong?"

She huffed, "You didn't do anything wrong. This all just looks really bad."

"All that matters is that Lily knows the truth," Rose shrugged. "I really couldn't give a rat's ass about anyone else's opinion."

"Have you talked to her?"

"No," she shook her head. "Figured I'd let James handle it and when he manages to fuck up, I'd pick up the pieces."

Tonks nodded, "Solid plan.

They entered the Great Hall and the conversations came to an abrupt stop as everyone turned to look at Rose. She rolled her eyes, "If you take a picture, it would last longer."

Tonks grabbed Rose's hand and pulled her to the Hufflepuff table. They sat across from each other and Rose let out a huff.

"How long do you think it'll last?" Rose asked as she placed food on her plate.

Tonks shrugged, "I give it a day before they find something else to talk about."

She nodded in response as she pulled out her wand and waved it in front of her. In front of her appeared parchment paper, a quill and some ink.

"That bad?" Tonks asked.

Rose shook her head, "No. I just haven't done anything in awhile and I've been meaning too. Now is a better time than any."

"Hey," Remus greeted as he slid into the spot next to Tonks. He looked between Rose and the girl next to him, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Rose shook her head as she watched him with a small smile, "Absolutely nothing." A faint blush made its way onto Tonks face resulting in Rose's smile growing.

Remus seemed oblivious to this as he placed food on his plate. Rose set to work on her drawing when a moment later, Sirius and Peter showed up.

Sirius plopped down next to the red head and leaned over her shoulder to see what she was doing. He pointed at a spot on the page, "It goes that way, not that way."

She looked across the table before looking back down and nodding. She waved her wand, erasing the line so she could do it again.

"Where's James?" Remus asked after a moment as he looked around the table and then the room.

"Talking to Lily, I suspect," Sirius answered and they all turned to look at Rose. "Seems he's gotten himself into quite the situation."

"Bloody hell," she muttered as she stood up, clearing up her stuff. She handed the drawing over to Tonks and Remus as she addressed the group. "Nothing happened."

She walked off after that leaving Tonks frowning. Remus and her looked down at the paper, surprise overtaking them as they saw what the girl had drawn. In the drawing, Remus was looking down at a laughing Tonks in admiration.

James sat on the couch in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Lily to emerge from her room. He didn't even know if she had heard or even if she was upset. He wasn't entirely sure what to say.

"Lily," he greeted as soon as she walked down the stairs. He stood up and crossed the room to her, "Hey."

She smiled, "James." He faltered. Did she not know or was she waiting for him to say something. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "I just...well there's a rumor going around right now and I-"

"James," she interrupted him, placing her hand on his upper arm. "I trust you. Besides, you're not exactly my sister's type."

He raised an eyebrow at this, "I'm not?"

She shook her head as she took James's hand in hers, "Not even a little."

"What is her type?" he asked curiously, stepping through the portrait.

"Hmm..." she began in thought. "Well, guys like Sirius."

He snorted, "Rose and Sirius?" He looked over at Lily to see that she was completely serious. "They'd tear each other apart."

"Rose has never been one to work with easy going," she pointed out. "She needs someone to butt heads with. She's all about passion or whatever."

James nodded but said nothing more in response. He couldn't even begin to imagine Rose and Sirius doing anything more than tolerating each other.