"Rosalie Athena Malfoy," Hermione whispered glancing up at her husband, Draco Malfoy.
"It's perfect," he said kissing her on the forehead.
"Holy crap! It's like there are two Dracos, but one is a girl!" Blaise Zabini said in amazement as he rushed over to hold the newborn after barging into the room. Pansy Zabini followed him, rolling her eyes at her husband's childish behavior. Harry, holding a 3 month old James Sirius Potter and Ginny soon came in followed by Ron and Astoria Weasley and Seamus and a pregnant Luna Finnigan.
"She's adorable!" Ginny gushed after taking the baby from Blaise. "I wonder what color her eyes are."
"That's what we're wondering as well," Draco chuckled. "Will she be the complete image of her father and grandfather, or the perfect mix of her parents?" He sat on the edge of Hermione's bed and took her hand in his, placing it in his lap.
"Grey," Harry said determinedly while sliding 5 galleons onto the table in front of him.
"Harry James Potter you will not bet-," Hermione tried to scold, but was ignored by the shouts of grey and brown around the room. From the looks of the two piles on the table, most had voted for brown. Draco fished 5 galleons out of his pocket and placed them in the grey pile before sheepishly turning to face his infuriated wife, who had her arms crossed in front of her and a pout on her face.
"Now now my dear, pouting is for babies, and if the legacy continues we will have enough pouting from that toot over there that you just gave birth to," Draco said gently stroking Hermione's cheek. She bit at his fingers before continuing her pouting. It didn't last long though when her baby was again handed to her after going around the circle of friends. She smiled lovingly at the little bundle of joy in her arms before glancing up at Draco and pulling in for a short, sweet kiss on the lips, all fury subsided. She felt a stirring in her arms and looked down to see her daughter wake up for the first time. She gasped as she saw her eyes.
"Grey," She stated simply and laughed as she watched her husband, Harry, and Blaise high five each other before splitting up the galleons.
"Once you go two go to Hogwarts you're going to have to protect her from all the mean boys," Hermione joked with a 5 year old James as they watched Rosalie chase her dad around the yard. What Hermione didn't know, was that James would live by Hermione's words for as long as he lived.
"Mum I can't find my owl treats for Willow!" Rosalie yelled from upstairs.
"We'll find them when we get home and send them to you with the family owl! We can't be late or you'll miss the train," Hermione yelled back trying to ease her frazzled daughter. Rosalie rushed downstairs tying half of her hair up and adding a ribbon. She shoved her shoes onto her feet and rushed to the car where the rest of her family sat waiting for her.
"Mum that's a very solid looking brick wall you're asking me to run through," Rosalie said with a nervous look on her face. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see her dad standing next to her.
"I'll go with you, how does that sound?" He asked. I tentatively nodded and he chuckled before positioning himself behind me and placing his hands on my cart to help push. "Ready?"
He counted to three before we both ran towards the still very solid looking brick wall, but there was never a crash, just the sound of a train blowing its horn. I looked back to see the rest of my family behind me and walked towards the big, scarlet train.
"Rosie!"
I cringed and looked around. Only one person calls me Rosie. I continued walking, but groaned as James caught up to me pushing his cart next to mine.
"So you excited to go to Hogwarts for the first time? I know I am. Dad tells me all of these amazing stories about Uncle Ron and Hermione," He said with a silly grin plastered on his face.
We dropped our trunks off at the storage compartment and headed to where our parents were standing in a group chatting. I was immediately pulled into a hug by my dad and I looked up to meet his identical eyes. He kneeled down and looked at me with a sad smile. A tear escaped his eye and I reached out to wipe it away.
"You stay from all of those mean boys," He said.
I rolled my eyes and giggled at my dad's ranting
"I mean it Rose! Always stay on top of your grades and don't get into too much trouble. I love you so much." He pulled me into another hug which I gratefully took. Tears prickled my eyes as my father held me and kissed my forehead. I loved my father dearly and he loved me even more. I laughed at our teary state and turned to my mum who pulled me into another hug. She looked at me with proud eyes and a smile on her face. She began brushing off invisible dust off my shirt and smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles on my skirt.
"It does not matter what house you get into Rose. We will always love you no matter what. Although Gryffindor is much better, don't tell your father," she said with a wink.
"I heard that. And may I add that Slytherin is much better than Gryffindor dear," father stated with the famous Malfoy smirk I inherited. My eyes widened, feeling a full blown argument coming along and looked for any way of escaping. I saw James hugging his mother one last time before heading onto the train.
"Well don't want to miss the train! By Mum, Dad, love you! I'll write everyday!" I said before pulling them both into a quick hug. I headed onto the train looking back to see my parents proud and teary faces before searching all of the compartments for the rest of my 'family'. I opened the doors of a seemingly empty compartment, but found myself interrupting two 7th years snogging ferociously. I screamed and quickly closed the door separating me from the stunned couple. Teddy popped his head out of one of the compartments to see what the commotion was and looked around.
"Hey Rosalie were in here!" he yelled to get my attention. I ran to the compartment grateful to be away from the dirty looks of the other disturbed students.
"What made you scream out there Rosie?" James asked.
"I uh um well uhh." My face grew red embarrassed by what had made me so terrified. Well not terrified, but it definitely gave me a shock. I felt James's eyes on me as he waited for me to answer. "I walked into a compartment with people snogging," I managed to mumble. James's face quickly went from defensive to amused as the whole compartment burst out laughing at my cherry red face. Being pale did have its drawbacks.
"You're so naïve," Fred gasped between laughs and I buried my head in my hands completely, and utterly, embarrassed. I felt James drape an arm around my shoulder.
"You know I was wondering if you would go out with me?" he asked.
My head shot up to look at him, a look of confusion on my face. What?
"Why would I go out with you? My answer is no and will always be no." I walked out of the compartment in search of my friends Amy Zabini and Erin Finnigan.
"Ouch man, rejected the first time you ask a girl out," Teddy teased.
"Bugger off," I grumbled crossing my arms in front of me and glaring out the window. I heard Teddy sigh and knew a lecture was coming up
"Look, you haven't even stepped foot into Hogwarts yet. It's all new to you guys. Give her a chance to get comfortable with things before asking her out. I mean come on dude you're what, 11? Almost 12? You've got plenty of time to win her over," Teddy said with a smile before ruffling up my hair. "Just wait a little bit."
And that's exactly what I did.
