"Rose!" I turn as my name is called out above the bustle of Hogsmeade station. I see my two cousins push their way through the crowd, towards me.
"Hurry up, James!" I say to the older one. James finally pulls through the crowd of students and stands next to me. As a girl walks by, he runs his hands through his already messy black hair. I roll my eyes and look for his brother, Albus, a first year like me. Seeing him rush out of the crowd, I wave, then turn to look for the rest of my cousins. I see some of my other cousins Fred, Molly and Louis, walking towards the carriages reserved for students after their first year. "I'd better go with them." James says as he joins his family. Albus walks hastily towards me.
The crowd thins, now, only first years remain. First years are students who will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their first year. "
Alright. Alright. First years! Listen up!" A deep voice echoes through the night. A huge man walks out from under an overhead bridge.
"Hagrid!" Albus exclaims. The big man smiles, his large, graying beard moving with his mouth.
"You must be Albus," He turns to me. "And you're Rose. Haven't seen you since you were wee children!" "You're Hagrid? Dad and Harry have told us so much about you!" The half giant smiles, sheepishly. "Well there isn't much to tell. I'm not that interesting!" The bumbling man was blushing. "Alright! First years! Follow me!" He turned and led the group away from the small train station.
After an exhilarating boat ride across the black lake, an introduction by Professor Longbottom, and an entrance to the great hall, another introduction by Headmistress McGonagall, the group of first years lined up for sorting. Terror had engulfed me. Dad and Mom were both Gryffindor, so was the rest of my big family. What if I didn't get sorted there? What if I was the black sheep of the family? I nervously looked around, not able to enjoy the Sorting Hat's song. When clapping erupted through the hall, I look up.
"Emma Bell." A girl with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail strides bravely towards the stool and sits down. After a moment, the Sorting Hat calls out, "GRYFFINDOR!" With a smile, Emma gets off the stool and plops down at the table, greeted by smiles and hugs.
The next kids pass with a blur. One boy draws my attention. A platinum blonde boy around my age walks up to the stool with a haughty stride. A memory tugs at my mind.
The bustle of King's Cross Station echoed around me. My dad looks at me with a smile, pointing to a blonde boy standing with a blonde man and a brunette woman.
"So that's little Scorpius. Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains." My dad instructs me. My mother looks at him with a withering glare.
"Ron, for heaven's sake. Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"
I look back at the boy. The sorting hat is placed on his head. Looking puzzled, it opens its "mouth" after a moment and then shouts, "SLYTHERIN!" Three more kids were sorted before it was Albus's turn. He sat nervously on the stool, hi hand twitching. After a moment the Sorting Hat titled him a Gryffindor. My cousin looked like he just survived a plague. His smile looked so relieved.
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I walked carefully up to the stool, trying not to show my nervousness. I felt Professor Longbottom place the Sorting Hat on my head. The faded leather sat comfortably on my head without sliding around too much. "Hmm… Brains of a Ravenclaw, courage of a Gryffindor, but ambition of a Slytherin. No Hufflepuff qualities though. Though smart, you contain more bravery than brains. Gryffindor or Slytherin. Blood of a Gryffindor, so you must be a GRYFFINDOR!" I sigh in relief and walk over to the Gryffindor table, greeted by almost all of my cousins.
The rest of the feast passes quickly. All kids sorted, the houses are dismissed. I walk into my room which I'll be sharing with three other girls. I recognize Emma Bell sitting on a bed.
"Hi! I'm Emma. You're Rose, right?" She instantly starts conversation.
"Yes. I'm Rose Weasley. And you must be Katie Bell's daughter! Ginny and Harry talk about her all the time!" I respond to the chatty girl.
She's interrupted by the door opening with a slam as two other girls walk in. "Hello one and all!" A pretty girl with dark hair and tan skin bursts out. "It is I, Fiona Thomas!" The loud girl sits down on an empty bed.
"You'll have to excuse her…" Another voice hits my ears. A girl with dark blonde hair pulled back in a tall ponytail walks in the room, closing the door after Fiona. "She was born an idiot." The second girl had sharp facial features, only increased by her dark eyes. The minute the girl walked in, it looked like she demanded respect. "Gillian Woods." She smiled and sat down next to Fiona.
"Rose Weasley." I reply. The two girls look like the kinds you'd want for friends.
"Emma Bell." Emma smiles.
"No way! you're the daughter of Katie Bell!" Gillian squealed. Fiona's jaw dropped.
"You're the daughter of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!" Fiona exclaimed.
"Well she's Hermione Weasley now but…" I correct the ecstatic girls. For the rest of the night, until curfew, we shared stories and joked. I knew had a good feeling about these girls.
Morning started early. I quickly got dressed in my new Gryffindor attire and, accompanied by my three new friends, walked to the Great Hall. Seated at the Gryffindor table, I looked around for Albus. I finally see him walking towards the table with James and two other boys. They sit down across from my friends and I.
"Rose. Meet Lorcan and Lysander Scamander." The two boys, who appeared to be twins, smiled and winked.
I roll my eyes and look back at my food. Taking a bite, I let Emma lead the conversation. By the time I finish my breakfast, Emma's conversation had turned into her telling about a time when she had jinxed her Muggle cousins by accident. My cousins, Fred II and Louis make their way to congratulate me.
"Glad you're not in Slytherin?" Fred asks as he plops down next to me, only to start eating my last pancake.
"God yes!" I exclaim as Louis sits down on my other side. I suddenly notice Emma sits up straighter. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, she casually glances at the handsome boy next to her.
I open my mouth to say something when I see a beautiful girl with long blonde hair pulled back in a french braid that snakes its way over her shoulder walk into the Great Hall. The girl continues to walk forward and pauses in front of me. "Victoire!" I shriek and hug my cousin. I feel her arms embrace me back.
"Congrats!" She says, flashing pearly white teeth. "Thanks. It's so good to see you again!" Victoire peels me off her and straightens her really short skirt. She turns and goes to talk with Albus.
I look back at Emma and catch her staring at Louis. "Emma!" I say, causing her to jump. "This is my cousin, Louis Weasley. Lou, this is Emma Bell." I decide to save her an awkward introduction.
"Nice to meet you." My cousin says as he shakes her hand. "You too." She replies, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So you're a Weasley-" She starts.
"One of the many!" Lou interrupts jokingly.
Emma emits a small giggle and continues. "Who's your parents? I mean, if you're Rose's cousin, then it must be George, Percy or Charlie, I would say Ginny, but your not a Potter." She babbles.
"Bill. Bill Weasley and Fleur." Lou says after a moment.
Emma's jaw opens slightly. "You're Fleur's son?"
"Yes." Lou responds and takes a bite of toast. I notice A few kids getting up.
"Come on, Emma. It's time for classes!" I say and stand up. Brushing crumbs off my robes, I gather Gillian and Fiona. The four of us rush to our room to gather our books and quills and then we make our way to the dungeons for Potions.
"Ugh." Fiona says and looks around the hall. "It's creepy down here!"
"It's the dungeons! It's supposed to be creepy!" Gillian responds to Fiona. I tune them out as they start to bicker.
Potions was taught by Professor Susan Bones. Her entire family was killed during the Second Wizarding War. By the time the girls arrived at the classroom, Fiona and Gillian were both going on about how much better they were.
"Stop!" I command. The two girls drop their voices and glare at each other. Then burst out laughing.
"What is it?" Emma asks, turning away from the door.
"It's just..." Another fit of giggles attacks Gillian before she can respond.
"Rose's face when she's trying to be strict." Fiona finishes.
"Shut up." I reply stiffly.
"There it is again!" Gillian giggles.
I roll my eyes and open the door to the classroom. The first thing I notice is a damp musty smell. The classroom is oval shaped crowded with tables, workspaces, shelves after shelves, and a large desk, which behind sits a tall woman with brown hair pulled back in a tight bun. She has prominent eyebrows and full lips. I notice Albus already sitting next to a boy about his age with shaggy brown hair. I take an empty seat at the back of the room. Emma slides onto the bench next to me, while Fiona and Gillian plop themselves down in the desk next to us. A few more students continue to fill up the classroom. The students in this class are Gryffindor and Ravenclaw mixed. Professor Bones stands up from her chair, her robes flowing with the movement.
"Welcome to Potions." She says and walks over to a chalkboard. With a flick of her wrist, a question is etched on the board. What potion ensures a werewolf his mind during transformation?
My hand shoots up as I notice a Ravenclaw boy with black hair on the other side of the room does the same. I stick my hand up further.
Professor Bones raises her eyebrow. "Only two?" She asks, sighing. "You." She says and points to me.
"The Wolfsbane Potion!" I burst out. "But sugar makes it useless." I say, smirking at the sullen boy who lowers his hand.
"Correct. Two points to Gryffindor." Emma high fives me as the answer is written again magically on the board. "What potion is odorless and colorless, this potion forces the drinker to tell the truth." My hand shoots back up, but the boy beats me.
"Yes?" The professor asks.
"Veritaserum!" He says, looking smug with himself. I glare at him and look down at my books. "Correct. Two points to Ravenclaw."
The rest of the class passes quickly until the bell rings. Gathering my stuff, I walk over to the boy who had answered the questions with me.
"Hello. I'm Rose Weasley. You were pretty good with those questions." I say, introducing myself.
"Cedric Chang-Smith." He responds and shakes my hand. I smile and then allow myself to be dragged away by Emma, shooting an apologetic look at Cedric. The next class we had was herbology. I was looking forward to this one. After all, my family friend Neville Longbottom taught it!
Emma, Fiona, Gillian and I, along with the rest of the Gryffindor house, rush to the greenhouses. Professor Longbottom grinned at me as we walked in. He had a large toothy smile and brown hair. He quickly handed out long white coats. The rest of Gryffindor filed in, along with Hufflepuff. I take a coat and pull it over my head. Emma, Fiona and Gillian have picked spots along the long table. I stand on the right of Emma. Professor Longbottom claps his hands to get our attention. I look at the table. Empty pots frame the edges.
"Alright now." Neville begins. "We'll start today by planting seeds. Throughout the year, you will tend to these plants." He pulls out a bag of seeds. "Can anybody tell me what Asphodel does?" Blessed with my mother's brains, my hand shoots into the air. I see Emma roll her eyes. "Brainy much?" She whispers to me, teasing.
"Yes." Longbottom says. I open my mouth to reply, then realize he wasn't talking to me.
Fiona tucks her black hair behind her ear. "Asphodel contains magical and non-magical properties. It is used in the potions the Draught of Living Death and the Wiggenweld."
"Very good! " Neville praises. "Three points to Gryffindor!"
Fiona smiles shyly at the ground. I bite back a laugh as Gillian turns to the Hufflepuffs, snapping her fingers in a z formation. Fiona pulls on Gillian's arm, calming her down. Neville claps his hands and the class shifts their focus back to him.
I throw myself onto my bed. Golden sunbeams filter through the large window next to Emma's myself up ohment. Since classes began, I've been dying to send a letter to Mum. Classes ended about an hour ago, but I was too busy socializing to write. I quickly write a few paragraphs, telling her about my new friends, classes, and the family. Rolling up the small scroll, I rush to a small cage. Mum and Dad bought me an owl at Diagon Ally. The large Great Horned owl churs quitely.
"Hey Poloxena." I coax the owl out. She bats her wings, causing my hair to whip in my face. I tie the letter to her foot and lead her the window. "Take it to Mum." I say and the large owl darts into the air. Turning around, I hear the door open. Emma trots in, looking pleased with herself.
"What is it this time?" I tease her. She looks at me with her large brown eyes.
"Your cousin Louis is pretty dreamy!" She smiles. Rolling my eyes, I suppress a sigh.
"When your one-eighth Veela, that happens." I respond, closing the window. The door opens again, this time presenting Gillian and Fiona. Fiona rushes over to her bed.
"I swear, Gillian! If it's gone, I will use the Cruciatus curse on you!" Fiona wails as she searches through her belongings.
"Relax! I was only kidding! Besides, couldn't you just do your little artsy wartsy stuff on a parchment?!" Gillian sighs and drops a bag on her bed. Fiona reaches into the bottom of her bag and sighed.
"I hate you!" She mutters under her breath as she pulls out a small journal. Gillian grabs the book and opens it.
"Really?! I don't look like a troll!" She complains, waving Fiona's journal.
I catch her journal as it drifts to the floor. A stunning pencil drawing covers the open page. With one glance, I know it's Gillian. Her mouth is open in a laugh, her eyes twinkling. I stare at the intricately detailed eyes. Fiona's drawing captures every little precise detail. If it was moving, I would have thought it was a photograph.
"Fiona! This is amazing!" I gasp, fawning over the drawing. She ducks her head, blushing. Embarrassed, she tugs at her skirt.
"It was just a little sketch. You know, practice?" She says, tucking her dark hair behind her ear.
"Shut up!" Emma answers. "I couldn't draw that good even with a charm!" She says. Fiona scuffs her shoe against the ground.
"Thanks…" She says and quickly grabs her journal back.
"We'd better go to dinner." Emma interrupts. Gillian and Emma rush out the door.
"Guys! The food will still be there!" I call after them.
Gillian barely turns around to answer, "Food now, talk later!"
"Hey Louis." Emma says and slides in next to him. I roll my eyes and plop down next to Al.
"How ya doin?" I ask my cousin. On my other side, I can hear Louis telling Emma to call him "Lou". Followed by a round of giggles from Emma. Al smiles at me and takes a bite of a chicken leg.
"Great!" He says, wiping his hands on his pants, a habit Ginny would ALWAYS scold him about. "I absolutely love Gryffindor. Everyone is so nice! And I'm with my family! And…" He babbles on and on, listing how much he "loooovvesss" Gryffindor. I tune him out as he starts on about why he's glad he's not in Slytherin. Listening to Emma and Lou's conversation.
"Yeah, I've been known to play quidditch." Lou is boasting. Deciding to have some fun, I turn around.
"Please! Remember that time when you-" I stop when I receive a death glare from Lou. "Nevvverrrmiind." I say, drawing it out. Emma hides a smile.
"I play quidditch too." She says, blowing off my comment. "My mother was on the Gryffindor quidditch team."
"My father was the captain!" Gillian butts in. Emma glares at her as Lou shifts his attention.
"Rose? Are you listening?" Al asks, shaking my arm. I turn to my annoying cousin.
"Totally." I reply, lying.
"No you weren't he glares, accusingly.
"Sorry!" I sigh. My plate used to be piled high with food, now I'm down to a piece of baguette. Al continues to sulk through the rest of the meal.
When dinner was over, Gillian, Fiona and a (reluctant) Emma collect in our dorm. After Emma snaps out of her little love daze, the four of us relax in the common room. Being first years, "relaxing" means sitting in a corner, staying out of the way of the rest of the students. When I notice James already has his arm around some girl I sigh. Some people never change! He whispers something to the girl and saunters over to us.
"Hey Roo." he greets me. "Roo" is the nickname I've had since I was 9 months old. I couldn't pronounce my name. I huff and glare at him. He grins right back. Then turns to my friends. I resist an eye roll. I know what's coming next.
"And who are these girls?" he asks, sending a wink in Fiona's direction. She looks down, her tan skin showing hints of red.
"Sod off, James." I snap and turn to Emma. James smoothly turns and goes back to the girl he was with. I snap at Gillian who has a dreamy look on her face. "Merlin's beard!" I exclaim. "Not happening!" I declare to Gillian who look down in embarrassment.
She looks at me. "Uh I wasn't looking at him… I was looking at the quidditch broom! "
"Mhmmm!" Fiona laughs. I smirk as Gillian playfully punches Fiona in the arm. Only, apparently with Gillian, nothings "playful". Fiona cradles her wounded arm as I stand up.
Walking over to Albus, I throw myself next to him. Being closest to my age, Albus and I have been best friends since birth. He looks just like his dad, the famous Harry Potter.
"Hey Al." He looks up from the parchment he's reading.
"Rose!" His green eyes are sparkling. "How was your first day?" I turn as Emma, Fiona and Gillian stand next to me.
"Great! These are my new friends, Emma," She does a little spin, earning a snort from Gillian. "Thats Gillian," I say and motion to the blonde. She bows, grinning. "And Fiona." Fiona smiles, and utters a tiny wave. Albus smiles back.
"Nice. I'm Albus." He says, more to Fiona than the other two. Turning back to me, he hands me a package. "Mum wanted me to give this to you. No idea what it is."
I take the package and notice Al's eyes strayed back to Fiona. She blushes and looks down as Gillian elbows her. Mumbling some excuse, she turns and rushes up the stairs, out of the common room and to our room. Gillian chases after her, barely containing her laughter.
"See you around, Al." I turn and follow Gillian and Fiona.
When I reach our room, I see Gillian rolling on the bed, roaring with laughter. Fiona is viciously attacking her with a pillow.
"I HATE YOU!" She hisses and slams the pillow down again on Gillian's head. Gillian jumps up, dancing on the bed.
"OOOH! Albus! I just met you but I looooovvee you!" She mimicks kissing. I bite a laugh and Emma grabs the pillow Fiona dropped. She has a look of fury on her face as she pulls out her wand. Emma quickly lowers Fiona's hand. Fiona takes a deep breath and then aplies a smirk on her face.
"Jaaammesss!" She wails, mocking Gillian. I crack a laugh at the complete look of anger on Gillian's face. Fiona smirks. "See?" I dart over to Gillian to calm her down as Emma does the same with Fiona.
"How about we just go to bed? I'm pretty tired from the first day…" I offer. Emma looks grateful as she releases a struggling Fiona.
After getting ready for bed, I climb into the four-poster fluffy goodness. Sinking into the sheets, I sigh. With thoughts of my new found friends, I drift into sleep.