Okay, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update or how long this will continue, but I'm looking to finish out at least the Hogwarts years.

Disclaimer: The first portion of this is straight from JKR herself and I take no credit. From there on out I take credit for only the plotline, not the characters.

"Look who it is." Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasized the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.

"So that's little Scorpius," said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"

"You're right, sorry," said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."

******

Rose Weasley settled into her seat alongside her cousin, letting out a great sigh. "Aren't you excited to go to Hogwarts?"

For the first time that day Al looked completely carefree. Rose knew his older brother's taunts about Slytherin had been bothering him, but something seemed to have changed in his demeanor. He no longer seemed the scared boy who had been there a few minutes before.

"Abso-bloody-lutely!"

"Albus Severus! You'd better not take after your uncle on that, you know he was right horrible about swearing!" Rose swore she saw Al roll his eyes—in the most non-feminine way, of course.

As Rose turned away, laughing, she caught a glimpse of the white-haired boy from the train. Scorpius Malfoy. Albus turned, wondering what she was looking at, and Rose ducked her head away, hiding her expression.

"What was it?"

"I don't know, maybe a Wrackspurt got me." Al, as Rose's best friend, was perfectly aware that she held no tolerance for their Aunt Luna's imagination and was faking it. Well, it was not the imagination that bothered her, really, just the things she believes in that have come straight from it. However, he decided to let the subject drop.

Rose felt a bit ashamed. Though her father had specifically pointed him out—perhaps because Ron had pointed him out—she had been quite interested to see him. She knew that her father would never approve of her being friends with the Malfoy boy. And so, from that point out she had a plan. He goes to snakey Slytherin, she goes to the lions of Gryffindor, neither can stand each other. They do exactly what their fathers want.

Boy was she wrong.

As they left the train, Rose felt a bit guilty for not speaking to Al for most of the trip, since she had been in her planning phase. As they plopped down into a boat, however, she was ready to go back into action. "Al, can you believe we're finally here? After everything we've heard? After riding that stupid train when we could have Flooed? Now we're riding the boats! Al, can you believe it?" As Rose and Al chatted along, Rose's leg bouncing from excitement, she occasionally would look around into the boats that surrounded theirs. A few times she pointed out to Al someone or something funny. The last time, though, she froze and fell silent, giving no acknowledgement that anyone else was around, completely ignoring her cousin.

This alerted Al, because before this she had not really stopped talking since they had entered the boat. When Al leaned over Rose's shoulder to see from her point of view, Rose shrieked, lost her balance, and grabbed Al to steady herself. Unfortunately, he didn't expect this and reflexively dislodged her from him. She fell into the water and splashed around frantically for a few seconds as Al called out for someone to help her.

Almost immediately, a boat containing only one student, a certain blond, was next to Rose. The blond reached his hand out.

"Come on, Weasley," the boy said. Al was trying to convince himself that Malfoy was sneering when the blond's voice changed dramatically. "Rose," he yelled out, as she sank quickly beneath the surface. In the blink of an eye, the Malfoy boy was in the water, fully clothed, trying to get Rose out. Al was astonished as the water lit up red and Scorpius and Rose came to the surface. Scorpius pulled himself into the boat, keeping a firm grip on Rose and helping her into the safe haven.

It was at this time that Rose realized what was going on. Malfoy had just, quite possibly, saved her life. She was sitting next to Malfoy, leaning against him. To her horror, a part of her didn't mind the proximity, and it was this that led her to turn away. Her cheeks red, she faced the other direction and asked, "What happened?"

"The Giant Squid. At first you were just struggling in the water, but you wouldn't come closer, though mine was the closest boat."

Rose nodded, still turned away. "I was in shock from falling." She had begun to turn her face toward Malfoy when he asked another question.

"What made you fall?"

Rose's head whipped right back to where it had been, her mind whirring at a million metres a second. She couldn't just say "Oh, I was just watching you because I've found you so darned interesting since my dad said to stay away. Then when Al popped up I didn't want him noticing, of course, so I caused a distraction." Yeah, that would work.

"Al," Rose admitted. "He surprised me." Well, it's one half true, she thought.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rose saw Malfoy's face twitch in the direction of her cousin. Al stiffened and nodded. Rose wondered if boys had some sort of silent communication abilities that girls didn't know about.

"Don't worry," Malfoy assured her, "He'll be taking good care of you when we get back to the castle. Until then I'll just have to do." Scorpius purposefully did not speak what he felt, showing no sign of anything, from hate to admiration to sympathy. He set down the cold, hard facts as just that. He was, however, relieved that Potter had gotten his message. Don't do something ridiculous like that again, Scorpius had said. I don't want her in harm's way.

Neither do I, had been the reply.

Al strongly suspected what Rose had been doing before she fell, but he refused to bring it up. He knew from years of being Rose's best friend that if he asked, Rose would close up fast. If he waited, though, she might just open up.

When the boats bumped up against the shoreline, Scorpius immediately jumped out and offered Rose a hand. She rose onto the bank gracefully, yet she still shivered. Scorpius chanced a glance at the boat and realized his overcoat was still dry, lying over one of the boat's seats. He immediately grabbed the coat and wrapped it, and his arms, around Rose.

She stiffened as she felt this, but then allowed herself a moment to be warmed. Casting a quick glance around for Al, she stepped away from Scorpius, then turned around and gave her saviour a quick kiss on the cheek. She whispered, "Thank you," and ran to find her cousin.

Scorpius stood still for a moment, in full shock. Had Rose Weasley just kissed him? He forced himself to walk when he realized that the back of the queue was about to leave him behind. The confused boy didn't truly know why he cared, but he soon knew one thing. He was going to be a very different person from what his father had been.

Al, unknown to his cousin and Malfoy, had not been as absent from the proceedings as the others may have wished. He had seen his cousin's actions and was ready to confront her as soon as he encountered her, but when he saw how fragile she looked, he knew it could wait until after the sorting.

Al realized how different he felt from just a few hours before. Then he had been so scared of being sorted into Slytherin, but he thought perhaps his father's words had put some Gryffindor courage into him. He no longer felt scared, merely inclined to protect his cousin, even from herself.

Rose kept to herself as the group trudged up to the great castle. She barely heard the whispers coming from the people around her commenting on the beauty of the castle, the wonders done here, etc. She did keep an eye out for Al, though, as she traveled into the small room that would hold the first-years.

A hand grabbed her arm and Rose turned, expecting Albus, and saw Malfoy. "There you are," he said. "I think your cousin is looking for you." Sure enough, Al showed at that very moment. Rose stepped away from Malfoy, unsure if she had been too close.

"I say, my lady, I do realize Peeves was a bit of help those twenty years ago, but he has done nothing but make trouble ever since!" A ghost of a man, whose head seemed to wobble a bit too much, had just glided through the wall, oblivious to the many 11-year-olds watching him with wonder. The grey lady beside him allowed a grin to creep into her features as her friend carried on.

Apparently the Grey Lady pitied her friend, because she diverted him by pointing out, "Look, Sir Nicholas, young ones!" The man turned his head quickly and it wobbled quite a bit.

"Hello, new ones! I hope we get a good lot 'round for Gryffindor."

Professor Flitwick then chose to intervene by entering the room and squeaking a few calming words to the lot of excited first-years. "This is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, resident ghost of Gryffindor house, and this is the Grey Lady, resident ghost of Ravenclaw house, the house of which I, Professor Flitwick, am Head. Now, I am going to escort you into the Great Hall where you will try on the Sorting Hat and be sorted into your respective houses." The entire group of children followed the teacher, and Rose felt it safe to say that she would really like Professor Flitwick.

As the first-years lined up in the Great Hall, Rose briefly wondered what it would be like to be sorted into a house other than Gryffindor. Surely Ravenclaw couldn't be that bad. Even Hufflepuff would be acceptable. After all, Neville—er, Professor Longbottom—his wife Hannah was a Hufflepuff. Before Rose had time to dwell any longer, a familiar voice was called.

"Malfoy, Scorpius," Professor Flitwick announced. Rose noticed the noise level of the hall decrease, and she wondered what would happen when Albus's name was called? She watched as Malfoy went to sit on the stool, quite reluctantly in her opinion, and allowed the Sorting Hat to rest on top of his head.

"Hmm...." The hat took a long time to decide. "You've a great mind, a smart boy you are. You aren't like your father was. He had some brain behind that skull of his, but he preferred to slither out of his tight spots as opposed to strategize...no, I know exactly where you belong. RAVENCLAW!" The silence was deafening in the hall as Scorpius slid down from his seat and made his way down. In a burst of shock, the hall erupted in a wave of cheers and applause, originated by his housemates.

Rose watched Malfoy walk down to his housemates with a genuine smile on his face, and felt a bit happy knowing the boy who saved her did not turn out to be a Slytherin. She waited, waited for the inevitable prospect of going to Gryffindor, waited for her cousin to be sorted.

"Narroway, Peyton...RAVENCLAW!"

"Ordway, Helen...SLYTHERIN!"

"Pickard, Jonathan...HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Potter, Albus."

The whispering started up as Al approached the stool. Apparently, some of his insecurities had returned. However, the moment the hat touched Al's head it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Rose watched interestedly as her best friend made his way to the Gryffindor table where their entire family sat, or had at some point, save Teddy, who was a Ravenclaw like his mother. Her eyes wandered to the Ravenclaw table, and Rose wondered if that was where she really belonged.

"Standidge, Edward...HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Uruqhart, Joseph...SLYTHERIN!"

"Wadsworth, Susan...GRYFFINDOR!"

"Weasley, Rose."

As Rose dragged herself to the stool, she thought of Al to keep her going. He had made it, so could she. She wanted to plop herself onto the ground and die rather than be in front of so many people, but she allowed the Sorting Hat to be placed on her head.

"Yes, yes, another Weasley. What to do with you. I must admit, you'd not be a fit Slytherin. You're quite a nice girl, very loyal to her family, but you need to prove that you are your own person. And quite smart, you are, yes... That's it... Better be RAVENCLAW!"

Rose froze in her seat as every Weasley eye turned to her, and then every other eye as well. She ripped the hat off of her head as gracefully as possible, and gently stormed her way down the stairs. Some Ravenclaw started the clapping so by the time she sat she was getting half-hearted applause from the Hall.

Rose had only barely managed to find a seat at all, and when she did she was inwardly furious at who sat across from her.

Scorpius Malfoy wondered why Weasley didn't like being separate from her family. He would have done anything to get away from his. In fact, his father was going to throw a raging fit when he finds out what has happened.

Rose stared down into her chicken and dumplings, ready to fall over. Firstly she had fallen into the lake only to be saved by Malfoy, then she ended up a Ravenclaw, and her dad was probably going to die of a heart attack when he found out.

Which was why she wasn't going to tell him. She was a clever witch, she knew that her father could often be calmed by her mum when no one and nothing else was able to. Therefore she would write her mother and let her break the news.

******

Dear Mum,

'lo, then. How was your day? Mine was fairly good, I think you'd say. I mean, first of all, my supposed biggest enemy about saved my life, then I k—nevermind, not going there—then two traditions are broken, one by me and one by the Malfoy boy. You see, he and I both ended up in Ravenclaw.

You might wonder why I have included Malfoy. Understand, here, that this is the boy that saved my life. On the boat ride to Hogwarts I was startled into falling into the lake. Apparently, the Squid had gone on a fishing spree, because according to Malfoy, I was quickly dragged underwater before he sent a precise Stunning Spell at the Squid. After I sat next to him on his boat (somehow he got one of his own; he didn't seem pleased about it though), he gave me his coat and I still haven't given back because I'd forgotten until I wrote this. And then I kissed—oh, shoot, before you kill me let me finish the sentence because I didn't want to write it in the first place—I kissed him on the cheek, telling him thank you. But since then? I can't talk to him, let alone give back his jacket, because I don't know what I'm doing.

Help me, Mum!

Love from,

Rose

Rose did not feel satisfied that she had completed the task well enough, but the hour was nearing eight o'clock and students should no longer be in the corridors. She attached the letter to an owl's leg and sent it off with specific instructions to show itself only in front of Hermione Weasley when no one was accompanying her.

Doubtful that the owl would follow her requests, Rose wandered back to the castle toward the newly revealed Ravenclaw entrance. When she approached the eagle knocker, the question was posed to her.

"Tucked away in patient silence, cloaked in darkness, I sit.
Like marrow in bone, like pith in bough, my essence encased.
Claim me with skill and cunning, or I claim you in mystery.
As main conducts water, as lens focuses light,
Seized in alarm or borne in playful manipulation I channel your might.
My master enabled, the poser frustrated.
Lose me and you are lost, impotent as a squib.
What am I?"

Rose thought frantically, frustrated that she could not think of the answer. My essence encased...channel your might...impotent as a squib... She let out a great sigh and collapsed to a sitting position on the ground, sure that she would be waiting outside all night. As she lay her head against the wall, she heard footsteps. Lifting her head, she searched for a place to hide. Finding none, she immediately feigned sleep, hoping that whoever it was would either not care to recognize her or just not know her.

"Weasley?"

Rose was slumped against the wall of the Ravenclaw common room as Scorpius returned from the owlery. Scorpius was honestly worried. He couldn't let the girl stay out all night.

"Would you repeat your riddle?" Rose heard him whisper, trying not to wake her up. Vindictive git, taking advantage of the fact that I am helpless and useless to get one up on me and leave me alone, I'm sure. Rose had no idea where the thought came from, but she almost had to bite her lip to keep everything from coming out.

Returning to her consciousness, Rose heard Malfoy answer, "A wand."

The knocker swung open, and Scorpius's hands almost began to sweat, but he kept it down. He hoped she wouldn't hate him for this... although he didn't know why it really mattered anyway. He reached down to where Weasley was sleeping and picked her up bridal style, ready to carry her into the common room.

Rose was surprised at Malfoy's strength as he agilely moved her from her position outside the Tower to the couch in the common room. Rose realized she would be alone in the common room and allowed Sleeping Rose to sleep-talk a bit. "Stay," she murmured.

Scorpius heard more substantial breaths come from Weasley's mouth, then he distinguished that she was dream-talking as he set her on the couch.

Rose knew he was going to dismiss it. She had to keep someone with her, no matter who. She reaches out groggily and grabs his arm gently, murmuring, "Stay."

Scorpius realized that Weasley was probably role-playing him in her dream—seeing him as another person and treating him as such. He allowed her loose grip on his arm to stay. He grabbed an almost-out-of-reach pillow and blanket and lay down on the ground. "Good night Weasley."

Okay, so PLZ PLZ PLZ review. It keeps me going!