Sleepy Confrontations;; Rosie? // OPEN \\

[renee]

Renee slipped into the library after breakfast. Thouhgh she had gotten up early and eaten in the kitchen, served by the house elves that Rosie longed to free. Madame Pince had just opened the library when Ren slipped in. She couldn't sleep, and the library was quiet, and she hoped to find Rosie there at some point. She needed to talk to her. Even if it was about James...Ren was concerned. Of all the guys she'd been with, she'd never loved anyone like she loved James Sirius Potter. As a matter of fact, she'd never truly loved anyone.

Ren sighed, wandering the shelves. Finally she ended up in a normally deserted aisle of the library, grabbed a book off the shelves, and sat down in the corner. Just her luck, the book was about the dangers of flying. As if she needed any convincing. She flew once. Rosie had taken her. She hated it! Mainly because it scared her to death....Renee sighed again, flipping through the wretched book. Where was everyone? She looked out the window, still dark. Still asleep.

[Rosie Weasley]

Rosie entered the library, a bit more dispirited than usual. She had completely flubbed her speech. The house-elves needed her help. She had committed herself to the group originally started by her mother when she first began to read, and had promised to put it before everything except her studies, family, and friends. And yet she had messed up. She had forgotten a major topic all because of her own distraction.

Countless hours had been wasted planning every little detail. Sheafs of parchment had held mountains of notes, carefully jotted down from the stacks of books read. She had repeated her speech verbally and mentally so often that she knew it even better than she knew her own appearance. The words had been imbedded in her mind, and she had believed that she was ready.

Once a month, Rose recieved the staff's permission to conjure up a pulpit in the Great Hall. This was the time she used to speak to the entire student body--all Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Slytherins alike--, trying to persuade them that everyone deserved equality and freedom, and house-elves were no exception. Even with all of the jeering and insults she heard during her speeches, the whole scenario thrilled her. She absolutely loved getting people riled up about the cause she was passionate about, either with them responding positively or negatively. She could care less if an angry mob holding torches came running at her one day; change was coming. One day, all house-elves would have their freedom, and if Rosie had to face taunting and fighting to get that to happen, then her only answer was Bring it. Rose Rowena Weasley would not give up that easily.

With all of these thoughts bouncing around in her mind, Rosie grabbed one of the numerous novels off of the shelf and dragged her feet toward a table. Sitting down, she took a moment to notice the title. A book about kids wanting to break free of their parents' wishes. How ironic. Rose could not help but give a sarcastic laugh at the topic. As if she really needed another reminder.

She had been handling the speech quite well and had even managed to grasp a handful of the students' attentions. But when she saw him standing to the side, talking to one of his friends, Rosie had become uncharacteristically speechless. She forgot one word, and then the next. Eventually, she had become so crimson that she could no longer remember the rest of it. She gave a hurried apology and ran off, wondering all the while why her stomach had suddenly formed into millions of tiny knots and her heartbeat had sprinted without warning.

After her embarrassing display, Rose fled to her common room and stayed there the rest of the night. Not even Rowan could convince her to come out, and having already eaten dinner, Rosie went to bed almost immediately. She had cried herself to sleep, worried about Hermione's reaction, although mostly disappointed in herself.

Here it was morning, and she still was angry with herself. After devouring breakfast, she thought a trip to the library might help. It was a weekend, and being without any classes, she planned to spend the entire day studying and reading. There was too much ice outside for her to go flying, and Rosie had every intention of being productive.

Flipping to the front page, she glanced up and saw Renee Labelle standing in front of the window. What is Ren doing in the library? None of Rose's friends particularly enjoyed being in the library, and Ren especially. Too curious for her own good, Rosie closed the book and walked over to Ren.

"Hey. What are you doing here?"

[renee]

Renee couldn't help but jump when Rose spoke behind her. She dropped the book she had been holding, and turned to look at Rosie. "Oh, I um...I couldn't sleep, really. So...I came down here...is that a bad thing?" She gave her a small smile, and turned to look out the window again. She couldn't say it. She couldn't tell Rosie. Why couldn't she tell Rosie? Why couldn't she at least say that she needed to talk to her? She wasn't really paying attention to what was outside the window, just staring out. She noticed her reflection as her eyes began to focus a bit, and frowned at the mess that was her hair. Frustrated, she ran her fingers through it, trying to smooth it out a bit. She bit her lip, finally giving up on it. She turned to Rose..."Rose, can I trust you?"

[Rosie Weasley]

"Of course it is not a bad thing. One can go to the library any time they wish. I am just surprised to see you here." In all honesty, Rosie had been hoping to have a bit of solitude. She knew she could easily have that if she ignored Ren and returned to her book, but for the first time in her life, Rose Weasley did not feel like reading. She felt like going to find him, actually, but she would never admit it.

Ren seemed like she needed to talk to someone, anyway. It would give Rosie a chance to forget all her confusion and insecurities for a second. Rose was always eager to lend a shoulder or ear if needed, and with the expression on Ren's face, Rosie felt it was definitely needed.

Surprised, Rose spoke a bit too quickly. "Of course you can trust me, Ren. What is it?" Granted, Rosie was still a little perturbed with her new friend for going after James, but that did not mean that she would stop considering Ren a friend. In all fairness, the redhead knew that she would care less about Ren and James if it was not James. Jamesynoodle! Who in their right mind would want to date Rosie's egotistical, infuriating, irritating Snake of a Gryffindor cousin? The boy practically considered himself the center of the universe, and Rose found the thought of anyone wanting to date him preposterous.

However, she had been a little supportive when her best friend Rowan told her that she and James went to the ball together. Although Rosie wanted to gag at the idea of Rowan going out with such a nuisance as James Sirius Potter, she had slowly started to adjust to the fact. That was, until the new student Renee Labelle came in and cast James under her spell. Rosie had seen visions of lava when she first caught James and Renee kissing, and saw an even darker shade of crimson when they refused to stop.

Being a combination of both Granger and Weasley, Rosie had a notorious temper. It was not something she was especially proud of, but nonetheless, if she got angry, people got scared. And when she saw what looked like Ren stealing James from Rowan--the fact that Rowan and James had not even been dating barely crossed her mind--, she went after Ren. Refusing to pull out her wand, she instead opted for Muggle fighting. But to her dismay, and inward relief, James and Alby kept her from outright attacking Ren.

After talking the whole situation through with Rowan, Rosie decided to try and remain friends with Ren. So no matter how much she was disgusted with Ren's and James' relationship, and regardless of the fact that she did not trust Ren in the slightest, she could be counted on if Ren needed someone to talk to. "What is wrong?"

[renee]

Renee sighed. Rosie didn't seem to be in the mood to talk, and she was actually quite sure that she wouldn't want to hear what Ren had to say. She put on a clearly fake smile and looked her in the eye. "Nothing's wrong. Nevermind, I'm sorry if I bothered you." She said, and turned away, walking back down the aisles to replace this book back to its resting place.

What is wrong with you? Why couldn't you just talk to her?

She's his cousin. She doesn't like that I'm dating him, how the hell do you expect me to tell her that I'm in love with him?!?

Suit yourself, but if I were you...

You are me, shut up.

Renee battled with her thoughts and finally found the spot from which she had taken the book. Moving the other books aside gently, she slid it back into its spot.

[Rosie Weasley]

Rosie watched as Ren placed a book back on its appropriate shelf. Looking around at all of the novels in the room, Rose was shocked to find herself longing to toss every bit of reading material onto the floor and jump on it. What the hell is wrong with me?! Rosie thought, wondering why she wanted to ruin what had been her best friends since preschool. Books were Rose Weasley's Friday, and it was as if she was Robinson Crusoe. Every page she turned, every word she read held her in its warm embrace, but right now, she was surprising herself in wishing every book would be burned.

Especially those romance novels. Rose's factor of closet hopeless romantic was what had gotten her into this mess in the first place, and her memories of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Rochester, and Scarlett and Rhett did not help matters any. Though most did not realize it, Rosie had always longed for a romance like that of the Greats. She hid her desire behind a wall of doubts and lies of preferring to be single, but since Lily Luna had seemed to stop believing her ages ago, it was only a matter of time before everyone realized that Rosie did actually want something more than house-elf rights. She wanted love...and in the romantic sense.

But considering she could barely admit it to herself, there was absolutely no way she would share it with anyone else. Especially the boy in question...the boy she knew she wanted to snog again.

If only things could go back to being so much less confusing. Rosie had gotten so fed up with herself that she had made an appointment with her Head of House and had asked for special permission to leave school for at least two weeks. To her immense shock and obvious pleasure, it was agreed upon that she could go home if she spent the entire time researching Blibbering Humdingers. Well...that was what "Aunt" Luna had suggested as a cover, at least. In reality, only the staff knew the real reason--she had been accepted into a new time travel program. Rosie was going to be able to go back to the Tudors! Be a part of their courts, talk to Good Queen Bess, find out more about Lady Jane Grey...oh, it was more than she had ever dreamed. But, of course, the absolute main reason--the one that no one realized--was simply that she needed to try and talk to Laidan and Jalissa. Rowan was fantastic, but only Rosie's best friends since finger painting would be able to help her figure out the chaos of her life. How could she throw away everything she had based her life on simply for an infatuation? That was all it was, right? An infatuation?

Determined to set her mind on something else and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Ren needed someone to talk to, Rosie went back over to her friend. "Hey. You can tell me anything, do you know that?"

[renee]

Renee turned and looked at Rose straight in the eye. "No, Rosie, I didn't know that." She sighed. "It's about James." She leaned against the bookshelf, biting her lip, thinking. "Okay, I know you're not happy, I mean he's your cousin and all. And I know you're at least vaguely familiar with my history with guys, and certainly are familiar with his past with girls...And I know you're angry with me for going after him in the first place when your friend was already falling for him...but if we're going to talk, I need you to put that all aside and listen." Ren stopped speaking and looked at her, waiting for a response.

[Rosie Weasley]

Ren did not realize that she could trust Rosie with anything? Of course, it is not like I have ever given her reason to, Rose thought with a sad sigh. Threatening her and getting infuriated about her being with my cousin is not exactly the first step to a trusting friendship.

What was it with guys?! They either came between one and one's friends, or made one so confused and irritated with oneself that one forgot what one wanted to do. Whether it started with tearing off every single poster one had put up, or seriously considering going to live with the merpeople, romance was a dangerous subject. Especially for one who could care less...or, one who claimed to, at least.

And of course she was not happy with this twisted interaction! Jamesynoodle had always been terrible at flitting from girl to girl whenever he saw fit, and she did not want Ren to get hurt. And then with the little she knew of Ren's past...well, Rosie never liked to pass judgement on anyone, but Ren did not exactly have the best history where relationships were concerned. And if what Rose worried about James doing to Ren ended up in reverse with Ren instead dropping James, then Rosie would have to do something she absolutely hated. She would find herself feeling sorry for James and acting nice to him, and where was the fun in that?

No, it was better for the world if romance did not exist. Rosie's mother had just Owled her that Jalissa's boyfriend had broken up with her via a text message. What kind of an idiot would be so thoughtless? And she had also heard that Laidan's girlfriend had been stressing him out lately. Rose liked her well enough, but had always secretly thought that Laidan and Jalissa would be great together. But she would never share that, just as she would never share her secret obsession with love stories aside from Jalissa and the librarian.

So, okay, Rosie did like worldly romance a bit. After all, she had been trying to persuade her two best friends to get together for longer than she could remember. And, okay, she did like how happy Vic was with Teddy. And how funny Evie was when she tried to avoid the fact that she definitely liked Remmie. And, yeah, she could not remember the last time Jamesynoodle had been so happy. But, nonetheless. With the good came the bad, and in Rose's mind, everything would eventually come crashing down.

Rosie was a pessimist only with love, and only because she had realized long ago that no one would like a hermit, know-it-all bookworm, and if they did, they were probably insane. Which meant that Jamesynoodle was wrong...there was absolutely no way that he...Oh, forget it, Rose thought, angry at herself for once again thinking of him. Ren needs you more.

"Okay, I can do that. What is up?"