Later, Ron would triumphantly recall he was the first one to find out. Much to Hermione's irritation.
Despite what Hermione said, he did not have the emotional range of a teaspoon, thank you very much. Observant wasn't something people associated with him, but oh well.
It was somewhere in the middle of their sixth year he noticed it. Something had changed between Riddle and Rose. There was that usual, passive aggressive back and forth they had going on since third year when their tentative friendship fell out… rather abruptly.
One unremarkable day in Potions, he watched as Riddle whispered something to Rose. At first glance it appeared to be a usual, thinly veiled insult which Rose scathingly returned in kind. But something was different. Riddle's smirk was more amused, and you could almost miss the way Rose's mouth quirked up as she rolled her eyes.
Ron ignored it, and would have forgotten about it had it not been the incident a few days later.
Parkinson, too busy trying to catch Malfoy's attention, accidentally knocked her potion down. Said potion unfortunately happened to be rather explosive, and unfortunately dropped next to Rose.
Riddle shoved Rose aside, shielding her body with his own. To an onlooker, it could be chalked up to instinct. But Ron noticed the protective way Riddle held her wrists, and fussed over her for any injuries, before being swarmed by the rest of the students.
Riddle had seemed almost worried, for Rose. And now, wasn't that ridiculous. Riddle would gladly feed her to the great squid any day.
Now, Ron couldn't help but observe the pair. The air between them was different. Their fights had become banter, their insults seemed almost fond. Rose didn't tense or flush with anger everytime Riddle approached her. It wasn't a drastic change, but Ron knew his friend well.
His speculation was confirmed one night, as he was doing the last of his Prefect rounds.
There were voices of people talking in the corridor. Ron groaned. He was tired, and wanted nothing more than to be in bed. Oh well, if it was a Slytherin, at least he could take points off.
"You know, if you actually did your homework on time for once, you wouldn't have to ambush me in the middle of the night for help," he heard Riddle say.
"But then I won't be able to spend time with you," Rose replies. (Rose? Rose? ). She interlaces her fingers with Riddle's.
"We spend time every day. Every night. You skipped Herbology yesterday to see me," Riddle scoffs, pulling her closer.
Traitor, you said it was a headache -
"Don't flatter yourself. I skived off because I had a headache."
"Ah yes, because dragging me to skip stones at the lake cures that."
Rose whispered something, and leaned in to kiss Riddle (??????), which he responded enthusiastically.
They must have heard Ron's gasp, because they broke apart for a second.
"Did you hear that?"
"It's probably Mrs Norris," Riddle said. "I need to finish the rest of my rounds. You should go sleep. Finish the conclusion at breakfast tomorrow."
"Okay," Rose said, with a tiny bit of regret, giving a final peck before draping the invisibility cloak around herself.
For a minute, Riddle stared at where her retreating figure was supposed to be, with a soft, foriegn expression, before turning away.
Tonight, Ron learnt that one, his best friend was seeing her sworn arch nemesis. Seeing . Snogging. No, snogging in secret. Ron wondered what changed between them. Ever since that happened in third year, well. They hated each other.
Ron still remembered, how hurt she was after that, and how much Riddle's taunts upset her. Of course, it never mattered to Rose in recent years. She gave back as good as she got.
But the memory of her crying next to him and Hermione in the kitchens after that , came back to him
He didn't trust Riddle. Not one bit.
But something had changed this year. The fondness in her voice, the way he stood there, watching her go.
He trusted Rose's judgement. She'd tell him and Hermione when she was ready.
"Done with that Potions assignment, then?" Ron asked at breakfast the next morning.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I just need to write the conclusion down." Rose said distractedly, going over the parchment.
If Riddle ever hurt Rose again, there would be a long line of people waiting to pound him into the dirt.