[so much stronger] ZANE ! [than you know]

[Rosie Lupin]

<sub>Her tiny figure sat in the stands, earmuffs jammed on her head, chin resting on mitten-adorned fingers. The Weasley girl had been waiting for about fifteen minutes in the cold on those metal stands for her friend Zane Lestrange, who'd she'd sent an owl to earlier that morning. She'd asked him to come out and talk to her.

The girl had a lot on her mind.

After a few weeks of mindless pain and drudging through the days, she just wanted a little peace, and she had found some way to get the stress off of her. It involved two areas of her life that were taking up monstrous amounts of time. Really, what she needed to focus on now was her school work, and getting enough rest so she could be civil to Ted, who'd she'd gotten back together with a few nights before.

It was hard, being this torn between different areas of her life. But she'd chosen the ones that meant the most to her. Her relationships with other people could be strained if she was tired and grumpy all the time. And if she didn't focus more on her school work, Healer School at St. Mungo's would be out of the question. So, she had to give up some things. Make sacrifices. But Rosie knew what that was like, so this shouldn't be too hard.

She turned her bottle green eyes to the school, awaiting her friend.</sub>

[Zane Lestrange]

Zane trudged out of the castle grounds and along the path to the Quidditch Pitch. In his back pocket was the letter he had received that morning, from Rosie. It must be important. Why else would she want to meet out here of all places? Why not the common room? Or the Room of Requirement? Nevermind...maybe she just wants to get something off her chest? A worry of some sort... Hands in the pockets of his favourite red hoodie, he walked slowly, the leaves underfoot crunching slightly as he trod on them. As the stands of the Quidditch Pitch grew larger, he smiled thinking about the training sessions he had planned and how the team would work together to hopefully raise the Quidditch Cup once more. He entered the stadium, glancing up at the stands, searching for his friend. He smiled as he spotted her, the only one present and also wearing ear-muffs. He amde his way up into the stands and sat down next to Rosie. "Sorry I'm late, I lost my watch.." he said quietly, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

[Rosie Lupin]

<sub>She watched him ascend the stairs of the Stadium, his form growing as he came closer to reaching her. He looked cold, she could tell, and she knew she probably looked the same. His nose was taking on a slight red tinge as were his cheeks.

Rosie shook her head as he apologized to her. "It's fine, really," she answered him, forcing a small smile to compensate for his. Really, it wasn't. She'd lost all feeling of coldness ten minutes ago, and it really didn't bite as much anymore. Which, to other people would be frightening. But to her, after being through so much, loss of feeling was a relief.

"Erm, so how are you?" she questioned, rather worried about the boy. The last time she'd talked to him in depth, he'd had a black eye from the Muggle duel him and Ted had over her and Lily. It was rather strange, knowing that it had been partly her fault that he'd been so beat up. She didn't really tend to hurt people. "How's Lil?"

She waited a moment for his answers, listening to them and nodding thoughtfully. She put her head in her hands, before looking up at him and sighing. "Jesus, Zane. Let's cut the shit. I've got some stuff I need to talk to you about."</sub>

[Zane Lestrange]

He rubbed his hands together, ridding them from the bitter cold for all of two seconds, before placing them back in his pockets. "Me? Erm, I'm fine. The normal stuff, lots of things to do, places to be, people to write letters to. Lots of crumpets to toast... detentions to attend, the normal stuff, you know?" he said with a light laugh before continuing. "Lily is fine as well, she's happy. I'm looking after her, and so is James," he said quietly, referring to Brendon Keaton's obsession for revenge. He was just about to ask Rosie how she was when Rosie spoke. He paused, seeing her obvious distress and wanting to help her. "Ok, go ahead."

[Rosie Lupin]

<sub>She listened to his talk of himself and Lily. Even after her and Ted had gotten back together, her and Lily had never really struck anything up again. And Rosie didn't know if they ever would. Talking to the girl just made her tired. It reminded her off all that had happened, and that just made her want to sleep for a year. She smiled at his comments, but she really wasn't listening.

Finally, he told her to go on.

She took a deep breath. "Well, y'know I've had a lot going on lately," she started, referring to the whole fiasco with her and Teddy. And it wasn't just that. There was so much going on lately. Too much pressure on her to do stuff. And it just wasn't right. "And I just..." She paused, trying to find the right words. "I'm dropping off the Quidditch Team, Zane."

She let that sink in a little before throwing some more fuel on the fire. "And I can't be the Second In Command anymore. If anything happened to you, I wouldn't be able to have the time for leading the New Order. I'm so sorry. But I'm just so TIRED, and I can't do everything like I used to be able to."</sub>

[Zane Lestrange]

He listened carefully, as Rosie explained and then finally got to the point. "You're dropping out of the Quidditch Team?" he said quietly, before then nodding, accepting the fact that Rosie was unlikely to change her mind. "Well, there will always be a spot open for you if you change your mind."I had no idea she wasn't coping. I'll just have to try and help her out, see if I can take off some of that pressure. His thoughts were interupted by Rosie beginning to speak once more. Her next few words, shocked Zane, he hadn't been expecting that, to say the least. He let it sink in for a bit, just making sure that he had heard her correctly when she said she couldn't be second-in-command anymore. "I understand. I'm sorry, I had no idea. But you'll still be part of the team, right?" he said, worried that Rosie would disappear from the rebellion all together.

[Rosie Lupin]

<sub>She grimaced at his reply to her. "No, don't save my spot, Zane, really," she told him, shaking her head and closing her eyes for the breifest of moments, letting her long-time job as Beater finally go. "Really, some kid out there deserves it much more than I do. 'Sides, Ted needs a partner for the next game."

At the mention of her significant other, she smiled a bit. Even his name made her smile. He made her happy more than she knew. Nowadays, they weren't really like the other couples in Hogwarts, who were constantly snogging and groping at each other. Their love was more of that of an old married couple. A sort of undying affection that stemmed primarily from friendship rather than attraction; unlike most couples of their time.

"Yeah, I'll still be around at meetings and stuff," she answered him, giving a strained smile. "But I'm such a mess, and I feel like all the others shouldn't see one of their leaders in such a state. Pick someone to fill my shoes who really deserves it, Zane. Someone who you know can do a good job."</sub>

[Zane Lestrange]

He listened carefully, his thoughts focused primarily on who to pick as Rosie's replacement. Well the obvious choice would be Ted, but then there's James. He'd be more than capable...Lily, she'd be able to do it and we'd make a great team, but I don't want her to be more of a target than she already is. Hugo, hmm maybe not, he wouldn't work so well with Ted. There's always Victoire, or one of the Fellows maybe...I'll have to call a meeting to discuss it. "Ok," he said finally after a long pause, "Do you have anyone in particular in mind?" He ran a hand through his hair, thinking about who to choose before saying, "I'll call a meeting then, so I can tell everyone. Unless, you'd rather tell them yourself?"

[Rosie Lupin]

<sub>Her mind ran through all the possible options for her replacement. Teddy, of course, would be the obvious choice, as he was next in line after herself. But maybe that wouldn't be such a good option. Sure, she was being slightly selfish in thinking so, but it would put him in more danger to be higher up on the totem pole, and that was exactly what she didn't need. She'd just got him back, after all.

That left a group of people who all had different strengths and weaknesses. Different low points and highs. Rosie was thankful in that moment, that she wasn't Zane, and that she wouldn't have to choose her own replacement. But at the same time, she felt bad for stepping down. It only served to put more stress on the boy's mind and, after going through just about as much stress as a person could, she really didn't want to wish such things on other people. It was technically her fault, but she didn't see any other option other than to step down from her place of authority. She didn't deserve it, and she knew it.

"I dunno, Zane," she responded, her voice sounding tired and strained, "And if you would tell them, that'd be great. I know I'm a coward for not doing it myself, but I don't think I could do it." She looked up at him, her voice strained and rather weak, bottle green eyes bright with the prospect of tears. But she wouldn't cry. In fact, she just couldn't. The Gryffindor girl had cried enough in those past weeks. "Ted's the obvious choice," she mused, thinking aloud, back on the topic of before, "But I don't know if I could handle it if anything happened to him."

She paused, before looking down at her hands and continuing sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm being selfish. Jesus, selfish and cowardly all in one day. What's gotten into me?" It was said in a playful tone, but there was an underlying sadness to her words.</sub>