Hey guys! This is the author here. I revised the first chapter (which I am sorry to say was my crappiest one). Thank you for reading! I have had so much fun writing this story, and it gets better as you read on, I promise! Please review. Also, please note that I do not own Harry Potter. Even though I wish I did.

Chapter One: Rose Weasley

Rose tried to look cool as her mother waved goodbye, but a burst of emotion spread through her and she realized how much she would miss her mother. She waved back, a bit sadly, and smiled to put her mom at ease.

The train sped off, catapulting Rose Weasley into her fifth year at Hogwarts. She looked around the cabin and took in her surroundings; which were mainly people. Hugo (of course) was off with his friends, doing his own thing like a little brother would. Vera Quimby (Rose's best friend), Albus, Fred and Molly (who were brother and sister), and Scorpious Malfoy were all laughing and joking together. She decided she wouldn't mention the fact that she was in a compartment with a Malfoy to either of her parents; especially her dad. A few moments later Rose felt a warm tap on her shoulder.

It was Molly; her bright eyed, freckled cousin with a peculiar sense of style and something always up her sleeve. "Rosy, these peppermint jellybeans are delicious!" She beamed, holding out her hand as to offer Rose some. She took one suspiciously, studying it.

"You try one first," she contemplated warily. Molly shrugged and popped a few in her mouth. "See! They're amazing!" Rose watched Molly until she swallowed.

"Okaaay…" Roe took a tiny bite of the jellybean and spit it out immediately. It tasted like vomit, and one glance at its pea green color made Rose realize that it looked like it too.

"Molly Weasley! I should never trust you." Rose grouched, throwing the beans out the cracked window.

"Don't be such a hothead," Molly countered, turning towards Vera and decided to have some fun teasing her.

"So, Quimby, I heard that you were going to try actually wearing your tie properly this year…" Molly teased, making Vera's cheeks turn red and her chin rise in defiance.

"That was a dare and, don't deny it, made for a very interesting conversation starter." Vera replied. Last year she was dared by Alexander Puff to wear her tie any way she wanted, except for around her neck the proper way. It was very entertaining for the lot of them and Vera got fifty galleons out of it.

Rose, sensing Vera's discomfort, decided to change the subject to Quidditch, and both Albus and Scorpious were immediately raptured. Molly stared out the window passively and Fred started to wolf down his orange package of pumpkin pasties.

"Have you seen the new FireStrikes? My parents said I could get one if I paid for half!" Albus announced cheerfully, absolutely glowing with pride. Rose nodded approvingly. However popular Albus was now, he would be the most admired fifth year at Hogwarts if he got this latest broom hit by the beginning of Quidditch tryouts. A pang of uneasiness shot through Rose. She hoped the tryouts would not come up anytime soon.

"Hey, Rose," Scorpious remarked, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. "You should try out for Quidditch! We could use a good keeper this year." He shook his head. "Don Paisley is not going to cut it this time. We desperately need talent." Well there goes that. Rose thought as her hope turned to dread.

Rose shifted uncomfortably as everybody watched for her reaction. "Actually, I…"

"Rose here is too scared to try out. She doesn't want to risk being denied." Vera interrupted in her classic blunt way. She even flipped her hair to get the attitude going.

"Jeez, thanks Vera. Way to keep the honesty thing going strong." Rose grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. She looked over at Albus, her crazy, black haired cousin, whose mouth was hanging open like a door on hinges.

"But, you're in Gryffindor, aren't you? Being fearless is kind of our thing." Albus stuttered. "That, and no cousin of mine is going to fail at Quidditch. I've seen you play! You're bloody brilliant!" Rose opened her mouth when Vera, very gracefully, interrupted again.

"Actually, Al, being brave is our thing. Fearless and brave are different." Vera could be annoying like this sometimes. Albus waved his hand at her and turned his attention back to Rose.

"So, Rosy? Will you try out? Please…?" Albus drew the please out and even got down on the dirty floor so he could kneel and make a puppy dog face.

By the end of the train ride, Rose hadn't budged on the matter one centimeter. She was adamant about not trying out. The look on her face was enough, and she saw Albus start to give up. As they came back from changing into their new robes, defeat was written all over his face, and triumph all over Rose's.

The arrival was as normal as ever. They rode the carriages down to the Great Hall and all chatted with their old friends. After the sortings were finished, and Gryffindor got sixty-seven new students, the feast began and food appeared all over the tables. Everything Rose could ever imagine wanting after a long train ride was waiting for her at arm's reach. She piled her plate with food and tried not to laugh too hard at Scorpious' quirky jokes. She never knew he was this likeable. He was surely not anything that her father had warned her he was. Maybe he had just been thinking of his dad.

After dessert, Rose was bursting and couldn't possibly eat anymore, but both Scorpious and Albus, who she happened to be sitting by, were still piling on seconds and thirds. Rose stared wide eyed at Scorpious' messy plate with wonder and amazement. The gold rim around the white porcelain was now covered with chocolate sauce and cinnamon covered apples from the delicious pie that was all Rose had eaten for dessert.

Scorpious glanced over and then did a double take when he realized that Rose was staring at him. "Wha?" He asked, his words slurring over his full mouth. Rose stared and suddenly started laughing a real, big belly laugh. Scorpious swallowed and raised his eyebrows. "What's so funny?" He asked, looking a little irked.

Rose suppressed the giggles and shook her head. "You are! I'm sorry, I just didn't realize… never mind. How can you eat all that food?"

Scorpious shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe I just have a really stretchy stomach." His eyes were sparkling, and made Rose wonder if he would be a good friend. He was the new captain of the Quidditch team, and a prefect, and a Gryffindor, which had never happened in the history of the Malfoy's before. And he seemed nice…

Rose decided to go for it, even if her dad wouldn't like it.

"It would be awesome if we had classes together!" she smiled cheerfully, "You seem like a really neat guy, Scorpious."

Scorpious smiled. "Just call me Scor."

...

The beginning of the year was always the hardest. At least, that's what Hermione had told Rose. She had to get a good start, become acquainted with the teachers, and learn their teaching styles. That, and Rose felt awful. She had a cold, and during the past two hours alone, had sneezed all over somebody, lost her voice, and earned herself a detention for falling asleep in class. Rose never got detentions. She hoped her mother wouldn't hear about it.

All Rose ever wanted was to be brilliant like her parents. But it seemed that she couldn't even be good enough right now.

Vera, noticing how sad Rose looked, decided to sit down with Rose and try to cheer her up. Unfortunately for Rose, Vera's version of "cheering up" included her venting about all her problems, which all seemed to be about James Potter; Rose's other cousin (she had many cousins!).

Rose, who could not talk, worked on a Charms essay that was due in a little less than a week and nodded at all the right parts.

"I just feel like he doesn't see me at all!" Vera cried, very distraught. "I think about him night and day, and he only says hi when we see each other in the halls."

You poor, poor thing. Rose though sarcastically, still mainly focusing on her writing. Who would ever want to be with James anyways?

"Maybe I should just start flirting with Scorpious. See if it gets me anywhere…" Vera wondered aloud. Her words, however, snapped Rose out of her trance and she glared at Vera, who noticed and widened her eyes innocently. "What?"

Rose could barely speak, and it was only in a hoarse whisper, but she did anyways. "No, no, no! Please, just stick to James. Scorpious doesn't need to be played with!" Even though her voice was soft, it was powerful enough to convey the frantic fear that Rose felt. Vera raised her eyebrows.

"Why? Do you fancy him?" Vera wiggled her eyebrows goofily.

"No, I do not." Rose replied hoarsely, looking down at her parchment. But some little part of Rose, deep as it was, was shouting yes. Yes, she did fancy Scorpious.

Rose ignored it and kept on with her work. What a silly thought. She had to please her parents.