CHAPTER 1:
"Rose Weasley!"
Gasping, I snap the book shut under my desk and look up—straight into Professor Remira's beady black eyes. "Y-Yes ma'am?" I stammer, feeling the eyes of everyone in class zeroing in on me.
She taps her foot in a disapproving manner. "I asked you to demonstrate a nonverbal spell. But if you're too busy reading to pay attention in my class…" Professor Remira trailed off threateningly.
I leap out of my chair, ignoring my classmate's snickers. I'm not about to give up my place at the top of my class, not in my sixth year. What a shame that would be. Clearing my mind of all other thoughts, I focus on the shocking purple plant in the corner of the classroom. Aguamenti. A spindly stream of water shoots out of my wand all the way to the other end of the classroom, where it funnels into the dirt packed around the plant.
Silence. Then, a smattering of applause. Professor Remira eyes me keenly. "Rose, if you would stay after class today, I would like a word with you."
That's just great. It will cut into my free period, one that I'd planned to spend with Albus, but there's no refusing her. I smile and say, "Of course, Professor." Then, I sink back into my seat and force myself to pay attention for the remaining twenty-four minutes. They might as well have been hours.
When the class is finally dismissed, I have to sit primly in my seat and watch as my fellow students file out of the room, chattering on about their plans for the weekend. Once the last student is gone, Professor Remira takes off her spectacles and rubs at her eyes. She looks so tired; it makes me feel slightly guilty for not listening to that day's lesson.
"What am I going to do with you, Rose?" She asks, after a long sigh.
I'm not sure what to say to that, so I continue to sit. Professor Remira begins to pace in front of the room, like she does when she's lecturing the class on whatever miscreant behavior we've demonstrated that day.
The next words out of her mouth surprise me like nothing else she's done has. "You're brilliant." She says, "Although you already know this. You're top of the class in every one you're enrolled in, correct? No, don't answer that, I already know the answer. What I don't understand is how you can pay zero attention in class and still receive perfect marks. More than that—I'm interested in knowing why you don't seem the least bit impressed by your prodigious skill. Do you not know how talented you are?"
She seems to expect an answer to that once. Swallowing, I shake my head. "No, Professor, I know I'm top of my class." I don't mean it in a boastful way, it's just something that happened. Truthfully, I wouldn't care one way or the other, but my mother made quite an impressive name for herself during her time here. It would be tactless of me to ruin her spotless reputation.
"Certainly you have big plans for yourself after graduation, Rose?" Professor Remira pushes. "With marks like yours, you could do anything you set your mind to."
I fiddle with my quill, rolling it between my fingers. The thing is, I have no idea what I want to with myself after I leave Hogwarts. I don't like thinking about it much, either. "I'm—considering a few options." I hedge. Hopefully she'll accept that and let me go.
She considers me for a long moment before nodding. "See that you are. A mind like yours is nothing short of a treasure. You may go enjoy your free period now; I won't keep you any longer. Though, in the future, do me the curtsey of pretending to pay attention in class, alright?"
"Yes ma'am." I say, then speed out the door as fast as I can.
When I get to the tree Albus and I meet under (it's right by the lake, and provides the perfect amount of shade in the summer), the first thing I notice is that he's not alone. The second, is that he's with Scorpius Malfoy.
Fantastic. That's about the only thing that could make this day better—having to sit through my cousin's best friend insulting everyone that passes by. I consider slipping away before either of them can see me, but I don't decide fast enough. Scorpius's steel-gray eyes slide over to my face, and he mumbles something to Albus. Albus, in turn, looks over his shoulder with a huge grin on his face.
"Finally, Rosie!" He exclaims, as I drop my knapsack next to him and take a seat. "What kept you so long? We were starting to worry."
By the icy look Scorpius is directing my way, I highly doubt that. But I plaster on a smile, for my cousin's sake. "Professor Remira kept me after class." I tell him. He's smart enough to deduce the rest.
Albus nods, then goes back to watching a group of girls by the edge of the lake. While he's occupied, I study him. He looks put-together as always, but something about him is different today. He has a sort of manic energy that I haven't seen since he got sorted into Slytherin in his first year. If he hadn't met Scorpius that same day, I doubt that he would have forgiven himself for not being a Gryffindor. I know that when I was sorted into Ravenclaw, Dad nearly had a heart-attack. I don't mind, not being in Gryffindor, though. I dated a Gryffindor last year, by the name of Lorcan. Let's just say that it didn't end well.
"Albus," Scorpius says suddenly, "I'm bloody bored. Can we find something interesting to do? Perhaps, those girls you're ogling?" A mischievous smile sneaks across his face.
Albus leans over and casually hits him upside the head. "Don't be daft. You have a girlfriend."
Scorpius shrugs, that pretentious smile still stuck on his face. "For now."
Oh, excuse me while I barf. In an effort to conceal my disgust, I fish my book out of my knapsack and flip it open to where I'd left off earlier. I only get a few paragraphs in, however, before Albus settles back into my lap, his head blocking the pages.
"What're you reading today, Rosie?" He asks, smiling sweetly. Like he doesn't know what he just interrupted.
Sighing, I tug the book from under his head. "It's about dragons." I say, and promptly prop the book up on his face. "There you go, Al, finally good for something. Now I don't have to bend over to read."
Scorpius lets out a bark of laughter, so startling a sound that I turn to look at him. He seems just as shocked as I am, but regards me with his usual cold stare. I'm torn between commenting on his friendly demeanor or hitting him with my book, when in a blur of red hair and white teeth, I'm tackled backwards.
"Rose!" Lily beams at me, her blue eyes sparkling. "I missed you at breakfast this morning."
"Get off, Lily." I laugh, pushing myself into a sitting position. "You're a fourth year now, and fourth years don't tackle people."
Lily sticks out her bottom lip in a flawless pout. "And where does it say that, Rose? In the official fourth year rulebook?"
"Don't mock your superiors." I scold, flipping my hair in a perfect Dominique impression. This, as intended, sends Lily into a fit of giggles. When she's composed herself, I sit her in front of me and start in on her hair. Lily and I are the only two girls in the family with red hair and if possible, hers is even wilder than mine. So, whenever the two of us are together—which is often enough—I like to braid her hair. It keeps me busy long enough to stay in one place and talk, and she claims to love the intricate hairstyles.
I listen as Lily describes her day to me, with occasional commentary from Albus. Scorpius remains silent until the matter of Lily's boyfriend comes up.
"He's absolutely perfect." Lily swoons, "He pays attention to me, and doesn't mind when I go off with my friends. And the snogging. Rose, you wouldn't believe—"
"You're dating Lorcan Scamander, right?" Scorpius interrupts. "The one in our year?"
Lily looks momentarily taken aback by the interruption. "Uh, yes…" She knows Scorpius about as well as I do, and the reasons he has for doing what he does remain a mystery to both of us.
Scorpius nods, and then fixes his gaze on me. "Didn't you used to date him, Rose? Back in fifth year?"
I have to grit my teeth to avoid swearing. Leave it to Scorpius to take a delicate situation and poke at it. "The two of us dated for a little while last year. Why?"
He ignores my question, and continues, "I believe you two dated for more than just a 'little while'. Weren't you together for over eight months?"
"Leave it alone, Scorp." Albus warns, and to my relief, Scorpius subsides. Not that it makes me want to punch him any less. Lily is still frozen in my arms, stricken, as she gets whenever the subject of Lorcan and I come up. I think she still feels guilty for dating my ex, but I'm happy for her. It's Lorcan I want to trip down the staircase.
"It's okay, Lil." I soothe, resuming the braid I've started on the crown of her head. "Tell me more about the snogging."
This invokes a gagging sound from Albus, but successfully draws Lily back into happy conversation about the prowess of her boyfriend's kissing ability.
The entire time, however, I feel Scorpius's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.
