Prologue.
"No. Absolutely not, Rose Weasley," Ron Weasley snapped at his seventeen-year-old daughter at the dinner table one fine evening.
"Dad! You have to let me make my own decisions! I… I'm not a child anymore!" she shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. Hermione, Ron's wife and Rose's mother, looked sharply at Hugo Weasley, quietly eating his dinner. "Hugo," she said, blinking a few times. "you are excused, go on up to your room." Hugo sighed, slowly getting up from the table and stomping up the stairs to his room. Once he was gone, Hermione began to clear the table as Ron and Rose continued their bickering. "Rose, please. I don't exactly feel like having this discussion, and as I already said, no." Ron said, rubbing his eyes with the balls of his hands.
Rose stood up quite abruptly from the table and stomped one foot very child-like, her fists clenched. "I will! I don't care what you say! We're in love… we are!" and before anyone could do anything, she stormed out of the front door. Hermione came from in the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe with her hands on her hips. "What are we going to do with her, Ron?" He replied by getting up and wrapping his arms around her waist, leaning his head on her shoulder. "I don't know, 'Mione. I don't know."
September 1st, 2017.
Rose was on the Hogwarts Express with her two cousins and a few friends. The train was thirty minutes out, and she couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
The blond boy her father had pointed out to her. His hair was the whitest blond you'd ever see, his eyes, so grey that they'd pierce you, and his smooth, pointed nose. She noticed his nose the most - she didn't know why. Perhaps it was because it looked so perfect, almost like a nose should be. She stared out of the window of the train, holding her chin up with her palm. She almost drifted off, before she felt someone shake her shoulder quite roughly and say her name twice. "W-what?" she said, snapping straight up and blinking.
"Rose… I was asking you if you wanted a chocolate frog? The trolley passed by while you were… day-dreaming. You know, you really need to stop doing that." her cousin, Albus, said holding out a chocolate frog to Rose. She gladly took it, but didn't eat it, only holding it in her hand, looking down at it. Who was that boy? Of course she knew his name, but why did her father warn her to stay away? Why?
She forgot about it as Albus suggested a game of Exploding Snap to pass the time. Scorpius Malfoy left her mind, but he'd soon be back.
Soon enough, Rose stood up to put on her Hogwarts robes, smoothing and straightening them down so that there wasn't a crease in them. When she sat back down in her seat, the compartment door slid open and in popped a white-blond boy's head. He looked around a bit, and then opened the door further. He had quite a scowl on his face, and Rose noticed it was Scorpius. She winced, thinking she should listen to her father and keep away from him, but what harm could he do? No one knew what to say, and he just stood there, rocking back and forth, until Rose finally said something. Standing straight up, she walked over to Scorpius and held her hand out. "I'm Rose," she said, grinning, rows of pearly whites showing.
Scorpius grinned, blushing madly, taking her hand and thinking that this girl was really quite beautiful, until-
"Rose Weasley," she repeated, her hand still held out. Scorpius jerked his hand away as quick as he possibly could, looking disgusted and horrified. He felt as if he needed a good scrubbing done to his hands, but for now, he just wiped them on his robes, still staring at Rose as if she were some sort of disease. Of course! Scorpius thought. She's got red hair, you idiot! Of course she's a Weasley!
"Uh… is there something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head just a little, a slight frown appearing on her mouth. Everyone else seemed to be in a daze as Scorpius looked at Rose, backing slowly out of the compartment, sliding the door shut behind him. "Rose!" a harsh whisper came from the other side of the compartment. "What, Al?" she asked, still wondering why Scorpius would run off. "Scorpius Malfoy! Uncle Ron and dad and mum want us to stay away. Remember?"
"Only Dad, really Albus. You know you should let loose a little. What harm can he do?" but all the same, she just rolled her eyes and sat down in her seat. She couldn't help thinking how handsome Scorpius Malfoy had looked.
Finally the train slowed to a stop, and everyone was excited. Rose, once again, straightened her robes and made sure her hair was carefully tucked into place, in case she passed Scorpius. Once they had got off, Rose spotted a big, wide, tall man with black bushy hair and beetle black eyes. She was almost frightened of him, when James strode right up to him and waved. "Hi there, Hagrid!"
"Well, hello there, James! Alrigh' there?" James nodded, and suddenly Rose wasn't so scared of this Hagrid. But she noticed that Albus was clinging to her, so he must be scared. Certainly, Uncle Harry would have told them of this? She almost called out to James, but he sprinted off to be with the other third years, and Rose saw the other first years climb onto the boats bobbing on the black lake. She gripped Albus' hand, walking quickly over to the boats. She climbed on, making sure Albus was right behind her. Then they were off.
It only took about fifteen minutes to get to the main gate at Hogwarts, and once they did, Hagrid unloaded everyone, making sure they stood close to the doors. Once everyone was out, they moved towards the doors, Hagrid pushed them open, and they all walked carefully in. The floors were marble, there was a big stone fireplace right near the door with a blazing fire in it, there were candles standing everywhere, and Rose noticed big marble staircases, under it big heavy wooden doors, which must only lead to the Great Hall. They just stood there in a big group, looking around, not knowing what to do, when the wooden doors opened and out came a tall, blond haired man with beautiful blue eyes. He was wearing simple jeans and a cardigan under his robes, looking very laid back, but all the same, he came marching up to the first years and he stopped right in front of them, smiling. "My name is Professor Longbottom. I'm the Herbology teacher here at Hogwarts. I'd thank you all to, once you get into the Great Hall, form a line, quite close to the platform, and the staff tables and such." he cleared his throat, and continued. "from there, you will be Sorted into one of four houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin." there was a murmuring at the last name, but the Professor continued. "The headmistresses name is Minerva McGonagall, and you are to call her Professor McGonagall. Everyone got it? Good. Let's go, then," turning, he walked to the big wooden doors and pushed them open, the first years following close behind him.
As Professor Longbottom had said, they formed a big long line in front of the platforms. They saw many older children sitting around the long tables, some wearing red lined robes, some blue, some yellow and some green. Rose heard some children whispering behind her, "McGonagall must've already given her speech…" because there was a stool with a very tattered wizard's hat on it.
Rose frowned a little, tilting her head, even though she very well knew the way to Sort was, she was still curious. After the rip in the brim of the hat sang a very odd song, Professor Longbottom came back, holding a long piece of parchment. He cleared his throat, blinking a few times, then reading off of the list.
"Austin, Barry!" and a small boy with dark black hair hurried up, Professor Longbottom quickly picked up the hat as the boy sat down, gripping the edges of the stool, and Professor Longbottom dropped the hat on Barry's head. There was a pause, and then-
"SLYTHERIN!" there was a burst of clapping from the Slytherin table, and Barry hurried off to sit with them. Professor Longbottom called out another name."Anderson, Gloria!" a very stocky, tall girl with white blond hair came and sat down on the stool, and Professor Longbottom dropped the hat on her head. There was another pause, and then-
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the girl grinned brightly and she scurried off to sit with the Hufflepuffs, who were cheering rather loudly. It all went in alphabetical order, until Rose heard a name she recognized.
"Finnigan, Fergus!" and up hopped a very tall boy with sandy hair just like his father, and he sat down very confidently on the stool, the hat being dropped on his head. There was a moments pause, and then-
"GRYFFINDOR!" there was a loud applause from the Gryffindor's and Fergus ran to sit down. Rose searched over the sea of first years heads for Scorpius Malfoy, and sure enough, there he was, not talking to anyone really, just keeping to himself. Rose felt sorry for him for a moment, but then she remembered what Albus said, and she looked away. He's a Malfoy, Rose.
Professor Longbottom went through the list, until he came to M. Rose's heart quickened as, one by one the M's passed, until, "Malfoy, Scorpius!" She could see, out of the corner of her eye, Albus scowl. None of the first years said anything as a terrified looking Scorpius had the hat dropped on his head. There was a pause - bigger than usual. Everyone waited, watching, until-"GRYFFINDOR!" Everyone gasped, even Professor Longbottom. This came as such a shock, because, well, everyone related to Draco Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin - even Andromeda Tonks, who married a Muggle. Even little Scorpius seemed surprised. Perhaps he was afraid what his father would say - or do - to a son of his that was in Gryffindor. Rose truly felt sorry for him now, no matter what. And if she was sorted into Gryffindor, she would have to talk to Scorpius. How could she not? She winced as no one applauded for Scorpius as he sat down at the Gryffindor table, and she couldn't help herself. Just as Professor Longbottom moved on to the next name, Rose burst out in applause. "GOOD FOR YOU, SCORPIUS!" she shouted so loud everyone was sure to hear her. She grinned as Albus looked at her incredulously, but pretty soon, no one knew how to handle this awkward situation and applauded as well. Soon, the applause died down and Professor Longbottom moved on. Albus Potter was sorted into Gryffindor, as everyone expected, and there was applause for that.
Rose dreaded the moment, but she knew it had to come, so she waited to the W's to come, until finally, her name was called. "Weasley, Rose!" She feebly stepped out of the small group of first years there were left, feeling so much taller than them, she tried to crouch a little, but it didn't exactly work. So, she walked to the stool and sat down, feeling the coolness of the hat on her head. She closed her eyes, and it started to mumble in her ear! She wasn't exactly scared, just surprised. "Hmm… Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw… Slytherin? Slytherin… hmm… no, I think you'd do good in any other house than Slytherin, much too good for that. Well, what do we have left… Hufflepuff, we'll you're quite kind, I can see that in you, and Ravenclaw, well, you're extremely smart, the Ravenclaws would be lucky to have you… Gryffindor… brave… courage? Yes. I see loads of that in you. Well, best give the Lions a treat. Just like your Mum, Rose…" the hat said, and she imagined that she'd been sitting there for at least five minutes until it shouted-
"GRYFFINDOR!" There were suddenly cheers coming from every corner of the room and as Rose got up, Professor Longbottom patted her on the back and she sat down with the other Gryffindors, next to Albus, across from Scorpious, she could only think of one thing.
Finally.