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Chapter One: Rose Weasley

YEAR ONE

The Hogwarts Express

Boarding the train at 9 ¾ was, so far, the best moment of my life. I say this because five minutes later, sitting in my very own compartment, I am still shaking from anticipation. Placed on my right is a shiny cage, containing my brand-new companion: a large snowy owl with round eyes like melted gold.

Hedwig was a gift from my Uncle Harry. My mum wanted to get me a cat, but I insisted that I wanted an owl. Then, when my birthday rolled around just a month ago, Uncle Harry let me know that he was late in getting me a present. It didn't bother me and I had nearly forgotten until he just presented it to me twenty minutes ago. My cousin, Albus, also got an owl, but the fact that I had my very own made me feel special.

Suddenly, my compartment door slid open. "Rose, have you seen James?"

Speaking of Albus.

"I haven't," I said, looking up to him. He was a spitting image of Uncle Harry, with his emerald eyes and tousled black hair. The only Weasley trait he had was the numerous freckles splashed across his face.

They say that you can spot a Weasley from a mile away. That was certainly true with my curly red hair that always seemed to be frizzy. My blue eyes and freckles also gave me away, although many people think that I look just like my mum when she was younger. Anyways.

Albus huffed. "He told me to find him on the train—he's nowhere to be seen. Hey, remember Alice Longbottom? She's a couple compartments away, I think I'll go say hello."

Before I could answer, he was gone. I sighed and reached down into my trunk, pulling out one of my texts for the year. The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. I had insisted to my mum that she got me at least some of my books in advance. It was good reading material, and I was already halfway through this one. My compartment door slid open once more, though, as I settled in for a read.

"Found James?" I asked lightly, my eyes trained on the book.

"I reckon you mean Potter, right?" I jumped at the new voice and my book fell out of my lap. Before I could reach down and grab it, a pale pair of hands beat me to the task.

I looked up at the stranger. His paleness translated to most of his features, with his steel grey eyes and light blond hair. He stood perhaps a couple inches taller than Albus. Unlike me, he hadn't put his robes on yet. Despite having never met this boy before, I knew exactly who he was.

"Malfoy, is it?" I asked him, extending my hand. Instead of shaking it, he placed my book back in my hands and smiled.

"It's Scorpius Malfoy, actually, although I figured you'd know my family."

"Everyone knows your family," I countered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Everyone knows yours".

I shrugged. It was true. The Weasleys were a household name, although I never understood why. I know that my parents played a big part in the Second Wizarding War, but not much past that. I was hoping to learn more about my past this coming year.

"May I sit?" Scorpius asked suddenly, making his way into the compartment.

"Um, sure," I said after he's already taken a seat. I shift uncomfortably from across him.

He peeks at the book that he handed me. "Reading at bit early, are we?"

I stiffen. "I like to read."

He laughs. "That's a given. You're Granger's girl. My dad has told me about her."

"She's a Weasley now, actually," I said. "Hermione Weasley."

He held his hands up. "A bit defensive, too. So, Weasley, what house do you reckon you'll be in?"

I don't like to admit it, but the truth is I've given this matter a ton of thought. Of course, it would be lovely to be in Gryffindor like the rest of my family. It would make my parents proud. It's silly, but I don't feel brave enough—all I really do is read and steal my dad's old broomstick from the shed on nights I feel like practicing flying. I'm not like my cousin James, who is outspoken and confident in everything he does. He was placed in Gryffindor "within a split-second", according to him.

"I reckon… Well, I reckon we won't really know until I'm Sorted."

He rolls his eyes. "Obviously. But what do you think?"

I attempt to change the subject. "And you? Slytherin, I gather?"

He frowns at me, and somehow I sense that I hurt him in some way. Immediately I feel bad, because—

"Blood doesn't determine your life." He said, folding his arms across his chest.

I remember an old story, one about my Uncle Harry's godfather, a Gryffindor in a family full of Slytherins.

"Of course it doesn't," I say, giving him a weak smile that probably doesn't reach my eyes.

"Either way, I intend to be the top of my class," he said, eyeing me in a suspicious manner.

I choke back a laugh. "You? Top of the class?"

"Yes—what's the matter with that, exactly?"

"It's just—well, really—you know who my mum is. And funnily enough I also intend to be the top of the class."

He flashes me another smile, and somehow I knew this arrogant smirk would be his signature. "Blood doesn't determine your life. Right, Weasley?"

I squinted at him. "Maybe so, but I've been taught by the brightest witch of her age ever since I could walk."

"I've had trainers from around the world!"

"I've already read through most of our schoolbooks!"

He laughed. "I'd expect nothing less, you are a bit of a show-off…"

"Come off it, Malfoy." I'm fuming by now and my face is probably the same shade as my hair.

"You know what?" he said, tilting his head. "I'll have fun beating you in our marks."

"Good luck with that," I sneered at him.

"Don't need luck, mate," he snickered and stood. "I'll be off, then—happy reading. See you at the Sorting?"

"I'd rather not," I said stiffly, glaring at him.

"So hostile," he said, feigning hurt. Then he returned to his default smirk and walked out of the compartment, shutting it behind him.

The nerve of that boy!

About thirty minutes later, still no Albus to be seen, the trolley lady went around to inform us that we were nearing the school. Excitedly, I bookmarked my place and looked out the windows at the beautiful scenery awaiting. In the distance, a large castle stood among mountains. The sight of it caused my heart to pound in my chest.

Two minutes later, Albus burst into the compartment with his robes haphazardly thrown on. "Are you ready, then?"

"I've been ready, Albus," I say, and I'm sure that my voice can hardly mask my excitement. "You won't believe who came by—"

"Scorpius, right?" Albus said, and my eyes snapped to his. "He's alright, we ran into each other as I made my way back here. He's quite funny."

"Funny?" I asked, puzzled. "He's an arrogant prick!"

He chuckled. "He said that you would say that."

"Obviously, because he is!" I fumed, my attention taken away from the sight of Hogwarts. "An arrogant toe-rag, really. In fact—"

"I hate to interrupt, Rosie, but we're here."

I whip around and see that we're coming to a stop, which is enough to snap at him for using my nickname—my dad got it started and now everyone calls me that, and I despise it.

But that didn't matter, and for the time being, neither did Scorpius Malfoy.

We had arrived.

~o~

Being a first year, something to look forward to was the boats. All of us fell into line behind a giant man that I knew to be Hagrid—a friend of my parents. He liked to visit us during the summer and was particularly excited that Albus and I were starting this year ("Rose, how are ye? I can't wait 'till yer see the critters this year!"—although dad warned me to stay vigilant). As soon as we reached the boat, I climbed into the nearest one, with Albus close behind me. He looked around as though expecting somebody when suddenly Malfoy showed up.

"Mind if I join you two?" he asked, suspiciously polite to me. Albus agreed and he climbed in, sitting right beside me. Not soon after, a girl with braided blonde hair and pretty brown eyes gingerly climbed in and sat next to Albus. Alice Longbottom.

"Alice!" I say happily, remembering how we played together when we were young. We hadn't seen each other in some years.

"Rose," she smiled timidly. "I didn't think you'd remember me."

"Well, of course I do." I said. "Uh, this is Malfoy. Scorpius Malfoy."

Alice and Scorpius shook hands.

"You're Professor Longbottom's daughter, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, taken aback. "You've met him?"

"No, my father has told me about him. Herbology, right?"

Alice's eyes met mine and I could tell she was nervous. "Right. And your father is Draco Malfoy, right?"

"Right," Scorpius smiled.

And then, nobody said anything. We all sat awkwardly in our seats.

Albus piped up. "Ahem. Scorpius, you were right. Rose did call you an arrogant prick."

Scorpius laughed loudly. "Defamation at its finest. Weasley's just jealous because I've read all of our schoolbooks twice and she's only read them once."

I scoffed. "I doubt you've even opened—"

"In fact, I particularly enjoyed Trimble's text on the Dark Arts, and I think that'll be my favorite course. How about you all?"

As they discussed their favorite topics, I stare at Malfoy, puzzled. Wasn't he just calling me a show-off for having read through our books? And yet he has allegedly read through them twice?

When they come to me, I've forgotten what we were talking about, but luckily we had reached the castle. I climb out as quickly as I can, but my foot catches the side of the boat and I plummet towards the water. Suddenly, somebody grabs my hand and pulls me back in. Knowing my luck, my face turns a bright red before I even turn around.

"Careful," Scorpius says, letting go of my hand. He was suppressing a smile. "That could've been bad."

I clenched my jaw. "Thanks."

I spin around and properly climb out of the boat, marching with the others towards the looming castle before us.

Regardless of whatever mess Scorpius Malfoy could cause, this was undoubtedly going to be the one of the best years of my life.