The night sky had always been an interest of mine. Space, as a whole, was fascinating. The stars, billions of light years away, illuminating the darkness of a small, insignificant planet. The moon had set a few hours ago and yet I still couldn't sleep. The sun would be rising soon. The pale glow was just bright enough that I could see my calendar hung up on the wall opposite, just above the desk. I knew I was tired, I could feel the weariness within me, but I still couldn't sleep. The bank holiday weekend in August was always my favourite. The festival and then the sleepover at the Burrow; but dread was filling me, and I had no idea why. I loved my family. I loved our tradition. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I pulled my phone out from under my pillow; 4:51. Why did I feel so weird? I wanted to see my family. I wanted to go back to – this would be the last sleepover where I was at Hogwarts. The feeling in my chest tightened. It wasn't like after this there weren't going to be anymore: Lucy was only twelve. It won't be the same. That's what that feeling is. Dreading the future, dreading change. It was much easier to drift off under the stars when I worked out why I was so worried.

Five hours' sleep isn't too bad. Not a healthy amount, but manageable. Hugo and dad were already playing chess and mum had barricaded herself behind a wall of papers; a normal morning. "Good morning sweetheart." I could barely hear her. How thick was that stack of paper?

"Morning." I said with a yawn, disappearing into the kitchen. I blearily pulled a bowl and grabbed what I thought was a spoon before dropping the box of cereal on the floor. "Bloody hell." So maybe five hours of sleep isn't enough to function. Dad cleaned up the mess with one wave of his wand.

"What time did you get to sleep?" I started pouring the cornflakes into the bowl before turning away from him to get the milk.

"A normal time, you know, that normal people fall asleep at…" I could feel his stare on my back as I pulled the bottle out of the fridge, "five o'clock." Dad sighed.

"Rosie… that isn't ok." That's a fork. I grabbed a spoon from the dishwasher.

"I know dad; it wasn't like I did it on purpose. I don't know what it was. I just couldn't fall asleep!" I said in between spoonful's of cornflakes. He didn't say anymore; instead he wandered back into the living room to try and beat his son at chess. I stayed put in the kitchen, not wanting to get drawn into a game with Hugo and not wanting to disturb mum. Mum, however, walked into the kitchen, a file in her hand, crazy hair hidden in a bun with a pen sticking through it. "What time did you wake up this morning mum?"

"Five." She barely looked up. Her boss was retiring and the head of the department of law enforcement was up for grabs. Everyone knew mum was going to get it; everyone except mum. She didn't like to assume anything. Her work was impeccable, she had done more for the department than any other employee, done more for muggleborns than anyone else, and had basically been told on multiple occasions that she'd be running the department when old Ross Catach retired. Kingsley had literally spelled it out for her once, she still refused to lower her work ethic by even a Planck. But that was Hermione Granger: ever the perfectionist. She filled up her mug before disappearing once again behind her work. I couldn't be bothered walking and apparated back into my room. The attic room was mine, the sloping ceilings and big windows were wonderful, brilliant for taking photographs. The camera sat on my desk. Something I would definitely need tonight. Better start getting my crap together.

At three o'clock that afternoon, I hugged my parents and took Hugo to the Burrow. He hated side-along but there was no other way: we'd run out of floo powder. When we landed, Hugo promptly puked on the step outside the back door. "Hu!" I had only just managed to jump out of the way but I still ended up with some vomit on my shoes.

"Sorry Rosie, you know I hate side-along."

"You're going to be useless when you're learning to apparate." I cleaned it up before letting myself in.

Welcome to the thunderdome.

Nana and Grandpa Weasley were bustling about in the kitchen, the boys were trying to organise a game of quidditch when my best friend and her brother walked in. "Great!" Shouted James over the racket, "Everyone's here!" hugs had to be quick and brief before Teddy ushered everyone outside.

"Be back in before six!" Nana shouted. While everyone else was grabbing their brooms and going out to the field, I pulled Bella into a tight hug.

"Oh my god I've missed you!" Bella repeated my sentiments as we hugged for a few minutes. Alice came over and we enveloped her into our hug too.

"Can you believe we're starting our last year at Hogwarts in less than a week?" Alice asked when we finally separated. Alice and I had always been friends; her dad, professor Longbottom was one of dad's and Uncle Harry's best friends. Bella had been different. She was sorted into Gryffindor, unlike her brother, unlike the rest of her family. We had been put into the same dormitory and I was obviously wary of her; that was until she put a poster of the Holyhead Harpies above her bed. We'd been best friends ever since. Alice was a little put out when she found that another person was entering our group, but she soon understood and we had sleepovers in the Gryffindor dorms all the time. Sneaking her in was easy, making sure nobody knew Alice, a Hufflepuff, was staying in the Gryffindor rooms periodically was less so. We managed though. "By the way, Rose, what have you done to your hair? Trying to get that Malfoy platinum blonde?" Bella demonstrated by running her hand through her gorgeous hair: perfect blonde and curly. She looked like an elf; not a house elf, but a Lord of the Rings elf. I had only dyed the ends, it was going to wash out before the start of term.

"Some very wonderful, very attractive Grecians did it. Told me I looked like a goddess." I flicked my rampant curls in her face.

"It looks amazing. You should make it permanent!" Alice gushed as we walked outside to join the game.

"Hell no! Dad would have a fit. He hates it now; if I said it was never going to go away, I think he would shave my head!"

"By the way Ro, please please don't antagonise -"

"Bell, if he does it first I'm not just going to stand by and let him get away with being a jackass."

"I know, but you're my best friend and Scorp is my brother! What do you want me to say?" I put my hands on her shoulders and gave her a pitying look.

"Bella, you've been trying to get Scorpius and I to be sort of friends ever since we started school. I'm sorry but it isn't going to happen! He's too much of a dick." Bella gave me a look. She may be tiny, but that didn't stop her from being incredibly tough.

"Rose. It has been nearly seven years. This little feud between the two of you is ridiculous! Deal with your crap, please." I sighed. It wasn't like Scorpius and I hated each other, we just weren't friends. He was an arse and I didn't put up with it. Bella gave me her patented 'I will get you for this' look before stalking off towards the others. She looked like an angry little pixie. It was always amusing when you looked at the Malfoy twins. They were obviously very similar, but Scorpius was, apparently, the spitting image of his dad whereas Bella was a perfect balance between her two parents. I had met Astoria two years ago at Diagon Alley, but I had never met Draco; he worked at St Mungo's which was where I was desperate to work. I had managed to convince Alice's mum to let me work with her in the infirmary at Hogwarts, just to learn a bit more.

"Rosie! Stop daydreaming and get over here!" Hugo snapped me out of my reverie and I ran over to the large group. Victoire was sitting out, being five months pregnant and all. That kid was going to be incredible. Louis and Lucy were sat with Vic on the side-lines. Lucy was only twelve and so we were never keen on her playing with us and Lou was always the referee.

"Shall we pick captains?" Teddy asked, rubbing his hands on his jeans. He was always fidgeting, he had never been able to stay still for more than about ten seconds. Everyone nodded and Teddy put his wand in the middle of his palm. It spun round quickly before landing on Dominique. The second time, the wand chose Teddy. He insisted he hadn't cheated. "Dom, you pick your purple team."

"Albus" she said quickly.

"James" Teddy shot back. As the captains were choosing, armbands appeared around the boys' wrists: purple for Albus, and orange for James.

"Hugo"

"Freddie"

"Molly"

"Rose"

"Lorcan"

"Lily"

"Lysander"

"Bella"

"Alice"

"Rox"

"Scorpius"

"Frank"

"I'm a little put out guys. Picked last? I'm a professional Quidditch player!" Frank was a tad touchy when his new found status as a professional wasn't respected.

"Frank, you're a reserve. Everyone gets picked last at some point." Alice, ever the voice of reason, shut down her elder brother's argument very quickly. "Dad wouldn't like you bragging." He nodded and walked over to the south end of the pitch with the rest of the orange team. Teddy had changed his hair.

"Right orange team. We all know what we're doing; I think I'm stood in front of the most successful Gryffindor team ever right now." We looked between us. Everyone on the orange team, apart from Teddy, was a Gryffindor. The Weasley Potter Gryffindor team had won six years in a row thanks to all of our amazing skills. James and Freddie both got on the team in their second year and had won ever since. They were incredibly modest about it. "Anyway, Rose, James, Bella and I will be chasers, Roxy you're our keeper, Freddie, Frank, you're obviously beaters and Lil, get that snitch before your brother does." We were all stood in a circle now, watching Teddy pass out the positions we all knew so well. "Let's do this!" as a team we moved towards the centre of the pitch. James and I were the lead chasers, moving closer to the purple team than the others. Lily was already on her broom, zooming past our heads. Louis had pulled the trunk to the middle of the field. We always skipped the handshake. When we were all in position, Louis let the bludgers and snitch free before holding the quaffle.

"I want a nice clean game." He said, echoing the sentiment of the now ancient flying instructor, and threw the quaffle into the air, slightly above our heads. I managed to grab it before Dominique. Leaning forward, I sped away from the other chasers, avoiding a bludger Lorcan had sent my way. I knew James was right behind me and I could see Scorpius on my right. Hugo, like dad, was an amazing keeper, but he had one problem; he was brilliant at guarding, but he sometimes went too soon. I made to throw the quaffle at the left post, but instead threw it to James. Hugo had already gone towards the left post, leaving the other two open for James to score the first ten points.

An hour and a half later the score was 160 purple, 100 orange. Scorpius, Molly, Alice, and Dominique were incredibly talented chasers. Lily and Al were staying above the action, desperately searching for the snitch. As I flanked Teddy, keeping Dominique from knocking the quaffle out of his arms, I spotted the snitch. When James had become captain in his fifth year, he had developed a set of signals just in case another member of the team spotted the snitch before the seeker. Teddy managed to get the ball through the right post, and I quickly caught Lily's eye. Albus was looking in the other direction, but I knew Lil wouldn't want to let him know that she had seen the snitch. They were both circling, before Lily stopped about 200 metres from the snitch. Albus carried on going. Lily shot towards the snitch before Albus noticed. "Al! Get your head out of your ass! Your sister's going to catch it!" Scorpius yelled towards Al who finally saw Lily streaking towards the ball. I had the quaffle now, everyone was preoccupied with the seekers, who were racing towards the little gold streak in the sky. Scorpius was right by me, making sure I didn't get the quaffle past him again. My broom just had the edge on his; the new nimbus 5000 I had received as a gift for becoming head girl put his older model to shame. I could hear Teddy yelling as I scored another goal. Lily was still ahead of Al as she reached out for the ball. "Merde! Lucy, what's the score?" I heard Victoire frantically adding the scores up.

"Purple have 160 and Orange has 260."

"Orange win!" Teddy had Lily on his shoulders. James and Freddie were yelling loudly. Dom was consoling her team on the other side of the field. All very average reactions to a simple family game of Quidditch.

Nana and grandpa had left just after dinner. It was tradition to leave the kids of the Weasley Potters alone for the back to school sleepover. Normally there was some adult supervision, but Teddy and Vic had gone home. Dom was in charge this evening. "Alright boys, can you have your own party downstairs or will you be coming to crash ours again?" the boys all looked offended at Dom's insinuation. They had no previous instances on their side though: every year the boys lasted about half an hour before descending on us in the attic. We always liked to have a bit of a girly evening; painting our nails, doing our hair, just talking, but the boys always appeared and demanded we play with them. "We just like to be together guys!" James insisted. I think all of us gave him a look at that point before we disappeared upstairs, and the boys stayed in the living room.

"I have an idea of what we can do." I said as we walked into the large attic. "I feel that we should build a fort; like the whole room." Before long blankets were being thrown about, there were cushions everywhere, and someone had strung up fairy lights. Dom had made a sign that said "No boys allowed!" and I had charmed the blankets so they couldn't physically get in. Roxy was already painting Alice's nails when I got the camera out of my bag. I loved taking pictures of my family.

"Rosie! No pictures! I'm all sweaty and gross!"

"Yeah right Dom. Like you could ever look gross." She threw her arm around my shoulder and I snapped a picture of the two of us.

"Good point." She said, laughing as she grabbed a handful of popcorn.

"I've got a game for us to play." Bella said when we were all sat down, crazy hair and awesome nails done. "It's called Cards Against Humanity." Roxy, Lily, and Molly all started laughing extremely loudly.

"Yes! That is the best game!" Molly finally managed to say. It was then that there was a loud exclamation of pain from outside the fort.

"You have to knock!" I yelled. There was a knock on the blanket door. "And you have to know the password!" the girls all started giggling quietly as Bella dealt out the cards.

"Rosie let us in!"

"You said you'd leave us alone Jamie." I shot back. "Should we let them in?"

"It wouldn't be the sleepover without the boys appearing." I pulled myself from the warm cushions to open the blankets up.

"You guys built a fort." James said, a huge smile on his face.

"Yes we did. Do you want to come in?"

"Yes please." The boys filed into the fort. Scorpius stole my spot and I had to sit on Bella's knee. I kept my camera close as the game began.

Five days later I found myself in my room for the last time until Christmas. It was weird. I had all of my clothes and books packed; I had double checked the books. My laptop was tucked inside its case and was resting on top of the clothes, my camera was in my bag with Down and Out in Paris and London. While I knew I would be slightly busy this train ride, I always had a book with me. Mum had recommended the Orwell; I obviously accepted given that Animal Farm and 1984 are two of my favourite books. Pippin was still wandering about, pouncing on bits of dust. Along with the broom, mum and dad had given me a kitten for becoming head girl. He was a gorgeous little Cymric, with a huge amount of hair. Pippin was my favourite character in The Lord of the Rings and already the little cat was just like his namesake. As I was tucking my robes into my bag, mum walked in. She was always a little fragile when Hu and I were on our way back to school. She smiled at me as she sat down on the bed. I didn't need to say anything, I simply sat next to her; she put her arm around my shoulders.

"I still can't believe it's your last year at Hogwarts." She said, her voice a little thicker than usual. I didn't want to mention her work, knowing it would only upset her. She'd been buried under her work for weeks; she had ink all over her hands, there was some on her face… she looked like a wreck. "Are you nearly ready? We'd better get going soon."

"Yeah mum, I'm nearly ready." My head was still on her shoulder. My mum and I were very close; going away to Hogwarts was always difficult because I missed my parents so much. "I think I've got everything; I just need to get Pippin in his cage." Mum laughed a little.

"Crookshanks always hated being in that cage. I used to get him out when we were on the train. Pip may be a tad too little though." The little fluffball was tearing round the room, attacking the floor and falling over. I could feel the tears stinging at my eyes. "If you cry now, you won't cry on the train." I laughed as the tears started to fall. Everything was suddenly hitting me. This was the last first day of school. I would never have a first day again. Next year when Hu goes, I won't be getting on the train with him. "Sweetheart, it's ok. There are going to be so many things in your life that you can look forward too. Just because this is the last time you're starting school doesn't mean you should be upset. This is exciting! You're going to be Head Girl."

"I know all that, but it's just… I don't know, it's scary." Mum kissed my forehead as I pushed myself of the bed. Keep moving, stop crying. "I think I've got everything. Did I get my transfiguration book? I think I left it on the table."

"I saw you grab it this morning. You're going to have a great year Rosie, I know you will." Mum smiled before walking towards the door, she turned and said, "it's nearly time to go. The head girl needs to be on the platform early."

It was basically the minute we arrived on the platform that I changed into my robes. The dress code was less strict when students entered their final year. I didn't have to wear a skirt or tie; as long as I was wearing a white shirt, it didn't matter what else I had on. My badge was pinned proudly on my robes, shining every time it caught the light. "Woah, flashback." Uncle George said when I walked back to the family, which now included every Weasley-Potter going back to Hogwarts and their parents.

"I need to help get the first years settled on the train." I said to my parents. It was only half ten, but some students had already made their way onto the train. "And we need to get a good compartment. I'll be back in a minute." I grabbed my trunk and hoisted it onto the train.

"You do remember you're a witch don't you Weasley? Perfusorius."

"Why thank you for reminding me Malfoy. Being a witch had completely slipped my – what is that?!" Malfoy looked down at his chest and smirked.

"Yep. I'm head boy. Do you… you're the head girl aren't you?" he finished monotonously. "Please excuse me," he dropped my trunk, "I need to go and find my sister." He stalked off in a flurry of robes. I sighed angrily, possibly scaring away a first year or two, and pushed my trunk to a compartment; one that already had Bella in it.

"Hey Bell." I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Hey Rosie. I thought I'd wait until someone else appeared before I said bye to my parents. I'll be back in a minute."

"Why didn't you tell me Bell?" she avoided eye contact with me, instead focusing on the students passing behind us.

"You were pissing me off. You and Scorp are so similar, why can't you just -"

"We aren't friends Bella! We will never be friends. Maybe it is because we're too similar, or maybe it's because he's a bit of a jackass, either way it isn't going to happen. Stop trying!" she looked me straight in the eye now; though she be but little she is fierce.

"Stop doing that! You are my best friend and he is my brother. Please just stop being so childish!" We had attracted a bit of a crowd. I could feel them staring at me. I quickly waved my wand, silencing the compartment and fogging up the window.

"I am not being childish Bella. He started this; you know that. Please stop pushing this. I've tried, I have, but it's no use and you know that. I will be civil. We're going to be working together this year and I know things will have to change, but we are never going to be friends." Instead of answering, she pushed past me and had disappeared before I could say anything else.

"Mum! I need to get on the train!"

"I know love, but I miss you when you're gone. Write to us!" I was leaning out of the window with Hu and Lily, watching Lucy trying to extricate herself from her mother. Everyone else was stood back, near the entrance to the platform. Lucy had finally jumped on the train with only two minutes to spare. The entire Weasley-Potter group was pressed up against the windows, waving furiously as the train started moving. Aunt Ginny and mum were both crying. So this is it. The last time. My heart clenched. The last time I would be on the train on the first of September. Molly and Lucy had wandered off to find their friends, Albus had gone to find his fellow Slytherins, while the rest of us squeezed into a compartment. Lorcan and Lysander had found us about twenty minutes into the journey. It was definitely uncomfortable with eight people in one tiny space. Lily had ended up on Lysander's lap, and Bella and I had been forced next to each other; apparently no one else could notice the awkwardness between us. Luckily, I had to leave to greet the prefects. Unfortunately, nearly everyone in the compartment were prefects: only Lysander and Bella were left. "We'll see you guys in a few." Lily said, practically skipping out the door. She and Hu were first time prefects; she was a bit more excited about it than he was.

"Why do I have to do this? I don't want to be a prefect!"

"You were chosen Hu, that's a big honour. Plus, you saw how happy it made mum. Like you would do anything to make her unhappy." I put my arm around his shoulder. It wasn't an easy feat; Hu had inherited dad's gangly stature and had grown to about six feet. "Bend down! I can't reach you!" Hu smirked at me so I hit him. We overwhelmed the room, it was like last year when the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team was a Weasley or a Potter. Malfoy was stood in the corner, chatting with two of the Slytherin prefects; for the life of me I couldn't remember their names. "Oh good, everyone's here." Malfoy walked over to the middle of the room. I quickly joined him as everyone else sat down. Malfoy gestured for me to talk first.

"So, hi everyone. I'm Rose, this is Scorpius," I pointed to him, he awkwardly waved, "and we are your heads this year. This is just a formality so you all know who we are and we can start getting to know all of you. Ermm, we'll have a patrol schedule ready at some point next week and we've got quite a few things to plan for this year. So… here's to a great year! Malfoy, anything you want to add?"

"No, I think you covered it all. Oh, Slytherins, if you're on the Quidditch team Albus wants a word." He nodded, before walking out with his house's prefects. I walked back over to Hu and the others.

"That was fun…" I said, thinking that the meeting would have been a little longer than it was.

"You said we'd have a lot to plan; what did you mean?" Lily asked me.

"Oh, you know how we have the yule ball and the anniversary ball? McGonagall wants to add a couple more, so we have to decide and plan them." Lily looked excited, so did Roxy, Alice, and Lorcan. Hu did not. Lily and Roxy immediately started whispering about the possibilities of when the dances could be as they walked out of the room.

"I wonder why Scorp was so quiet in there? You'd have thought he would have done a whole spiel about how amazing he is." Alice said. She was right. That did sound like him.

"I'm going to go talk to him. Do you know how far down the Slytherins are?" Alice shrugged and I set off in search for Malfoy, Al, and the rest of their Slytherin buddies.

Al was in a compartment that was basically at the other end of the train. They were playing exploding snap, which was how I managed to find them. When in search of Al and Malfoy, always follow the smoke. It was pouring out of their compartment in huge plumes. I took absolutely no pleasure in seeing them all fall out of the little room coughing and spluttering… well, maybe a little. I am human. "Oh merlin. Are we about to get busted by the head girl already?"

"Shove off it Carson. Rosie wouldn't do that, I'm her favourite cousin."

"Actually Lily is. Or maybe James… basically any Potter that isn't you. Can you get up or are you all incapable?" as four basically identical smirks got thrown my way they all attempted to get up, just as the train jolted and they all fell down again. "I have never been so thankful I have my camera."

"Is there a reason you're here dolce Rosa, or is it just to see me?" Zabini had managed to get himself up first and had ended up with his arm around my shoulders.

"Yes, I'm here to see you" I said, in my most monotonous drawl, "we can go at it right here in front of my cousin." Albus looked like he was about to murder Zabini, and me.

"Se lo si desidera dolce Rosa"

"Nei tuoi sogni, coglione. I need to talk to Malfoy." Zabini looked thoroughly surprised that I could speak Italian. Languages fascinated me; I wanted to know as many as possible. Malfoy was stood behind the others, his eyes found mine and he nodded once before pushing his way through his friends.

"I'll be back in a minute." We walked to the very end of the train, to the little balcony that sat at the end of the last carriage. It was cold, the trees were dancing in the breeze as the train rushed past on its journey. It was beautiful being out here; so peaceful and quiet. "What do you want Weasley?"

"Look, I know we're not friends, despite Bella's attempts to make us otherwise" he scoffed, agreeing at his twin sister's crazy wants, "but this year we are going to have to put aside our differences and work together. I'm not suggesting we become besties or any such nonsense, but we need to communicate."

"I agree." He was very quiet today. It was odd, Malfoy was always very animated.

"Are you ok? You seem a little off."

"I'm fine."

"Fine? Even I can see something is wrong. Al and the rest of your posse must have got it out of you. I mean, you barely said anything in the meeting."

"You covered everything. I didn't think there was anything left to say."

"Please, you take any opportunity to talk about yourself, and if you didn't notice, I wasn't exactly waxing lyrical about how amazing you think you are." He stared at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. They looked like storm clouds.

"I'm fine Weasley. Back off. I agree that we need to work together, and I also agree that we are not friends, so don't even think about trying to talk to me about something that is none of your business. Do you understand?" he had got very close to me when he was talking. I wasn't usually scared of people, but I had inherited my height from Grandma, and I was barely 5'5". Malfoy was at least 6'2". He didn't wait for me to answer. Instead he yanked the door open and stormed off, pushing students out of the way as he stalked back to his friends. What a year this will be.