Rose woke with a start. Green light branded in her eyes.

She eyed her room on high alert, scanning every detail. From Hedwig's empty cage to her open trunk where her school supplies were clearly visible.

After seeing that her room was as it should be, namely empty, she sank back into her pillow.

Ever since she got back from Hogwarts last year she's been having the same old dreams that haunted her when she was little. Only this time, thanks to the dementors last year, she could hear her mother pleading and a high-pitched voice before a bright green light woke her up.

Sadly, it didn't stay with those old dreams, now she was haunted by aunt Marge chasing her through the house, jolting awake with phantom pains.

Rose grunted.

Those memories still overwhelmed her and she'll be glad to leave the house that's causing them. Because Rose was sure it was the house that was causing them.

Sometimes while doing chores, Rose would stand and look at a specific part of the room and get suddenly sucked into a very vivid memory.

She'd shake and brake out in a sweat, the adrenaline coursing through her body because of it. Of course, dropping whatever she was holding in her hands.

Surprisingly, the Dursley's didn't comment and Petunia simply didn't let her do the dishes anymore.

The atmosphere in the house had changed greatly compared to last year.

There already had been some improvement since Rose saved the cake from dropping on the head of their guest's head because of Dobby but now it was getting… strange.

They stopped giving her so many chores she would be exhausted at the end of the day. Petunia had taken Rose to go shopping for clothes, new clothes and it wasn't even her birthday.

They didn't tell her to fetch, store, throw away, clean up anything anymore. Instead they'd send Dudley more and more to do those things.

Now it could be related to the fact that his school had sent them a notice that basically said their son was fat and it was getting unhealthy. But Rose never expected it to have such a positive influence on their treatment towards her.

Rose still didn't feel the warmth she felt like when she was with the Weasleys but it was a great improvement none the less.

Rose looked at her alarm clock and it was 8 am. With a sigh, she disentangled herself from her sheets and went downstairs.

The hallway was filled with Dudley's snoring and the tempered voices from Petunia and Vernon downstairs. While descending the stairs, Rose yawned and sleepily rubbed her eyes. She sometimes cursed the fact that she always woke up this early. When her foot touched the hallway floor, leaving the stairs her eyes started to refocus and her whole body froze up.

Her neck hairs stood on end and an ice-cold shiver ran down her spine.

Aunt Marge was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

Belt in hand, evil grin plastered on her face.

Tremors violently shook through Rose's body and she was glued to the ground, unable to move a muscle.

A whimper escaped her lips.

Her nails were boring themselves in her palms.

Rose's breath became uneven, her heart pounding in her ears.

She wanted to bolt, to flee. But she couldn't move.

"Rose?"

Vernon's voice rolled over her and Rose snapped back in the present.

Shuddering at the cold shiver, finally breaking out of her frozen stance.

Vernon was frowning at her and Rose finally moved.

Muttering a sorry and suppressing another shiver while passing Vernon towards the kitchen.

Petunia eyed her, also with a frown on her face and then refocused on making breakfast.

Rose sat down at her spot and tried to ride the last shivers out without drawing attention.

She didn't know how long she was staring at the same spot on the table before seeing a mug being placed in her eyesight.

She looked at it and was surprised to find chocolate milk in it.

"Drink it. You look pale."

Rose looked up in surprise and saw aunt Petunia looking at her with a frown.

"Go ahead. Please finish it before Dudley comes down." Petunia turned her attention back to the breakfast she was preparing. Since the note from Dudley's school things had changed drastically for Dudley, most important part his food.

After some screaming and shouting – and stomping that had shook the house – everyone was put on a diet. Because of course, they didn't want Dudley to feel bad about it – which he did – so no one was allowed to eat what Dudley couldn't eat.

The diet was sent by the school and it hung on the fridge. Which really didn't have anything good in it anymore. Everything from soda to chocolate had been replaced by fruit and vegetables.

Things that Uncle Vernon called 'rabbit food'.

This is why Rose had to shake herself out of a stupor after Petunia's gesture. This was the first time, the very first time that Rose got something that Dudley wasn't allowed to have. A privilege and it rendered Rose utterly baffled for a few seconds.

Rose recovered quickly however and started to drink from her hot mug of chocolate milk. She felt it warm her bones and Rose suddenly realized that her last dose of chocolate had been since the hospital wing in Hogwarts.

While the warm feeling started to spread, she had to wonder if the nightmares came because she wasn't eating any chocolate. Where they a side-effect from a Dementor almost kissing her? Rose couldn't tell and made a mental note to ask about it.

When the mug was empty Petunia made quick work of plucking it from her fingers and washing it out.

Which was a good thing because a few seconds after she had put the mug back, Dudley waggled into the room, followed by Vernon.

When everyone sat down at the table Petunia brought a plate of peeled grapefruits to the tables and started cutting them up in even parts.

At the sight of this, Dudley looked furious. Rose could swear Dudley was sucking all the light out of the room, almost like the sky preparing for a storm.

When Aunt Petunia put a quarter of unsweetened grapefruit onto Dudley's plate with a tremulous "There you are, Diddy darling." Dudley's eyes almost shot bullets.

Aunt Petunia passed a grapefruit part to Rose and Rose – with the taste of chocolate still on her tongue – took it without complaint.

When everyone was done, Vernon went back to reading his paper and Dudley turned on the television. After the dishes where put away, Rose wanted to wander of, thinking about what to do for the rest of the day, since Petunia hadn't given her any chores.

"Rose, would you come with me please?" Petunia suddenly stopped Rose.

"Sure, aunt Petunia."

Correction… apparently, she did have chores.

Petunia walked to the bathroom and Rose followed her, wondering what she had to do.

But instead of chores Petunia had something else in mind.

Petunia picked up a brush and signaled to a chair.

"I'm going to brush your hair, I can see the knots from here."

Rose frowned, Petunia had never brushed her hair. Well not since she could do it herself. Rose sat down hesitantly and prepared for a rough treatment, but was surprised again when aunt Petunia started brushing her hair gently.

Silence rung in Rose's ears while she tried to figure out why Petunia was doing this. Her hair wasn't that bad, was it? Not since the magical brush.

"Your hair is just like your mothers." Petunia broke the silence.

Rose sucked in air, in surprise and forced herself to be very still, hoping to hear more.

"I used to brush her hair as well, when we were little. I always loved playing with her hair."

Rose's heartbeat was almost pounding in her throat.

Silence filled the room again and Rose was wondering if she would speak up again.

"We got a letter before you returned." Petunia continued. Rose could tell her voice suddenly became sharper.

"A letter from… from your headmaster. It explained what had happened this year. What you remember now…"

Rose frowned at that. Dumbledore hadn't told her he would do this. She hadn't asked him to inform the Dursley's. He could have warned her. A rock fell in her stomach at the thought what he had revealed before the end of the year. The fact that he had been in her head and had taken something from her still bothered Rose a bit.

"… and that you have demanded that you wouldn't stay with us longer that a few days each summer."

Rose risked a glance in the mirror to look at Petunia's face. She was still focused on brushing Rose's hair.

"I understand why, I saw… I see what being here does to you at moments. I just wanted you to know that we never… we didn't know what she was doing. We wouldn't have let her stay alone with you if we did. You'll never have to see her again. Her visits will be limited to during the schoolyear or when you are away… I'm sor… I wanted you to know that."

Before Rose could react, Petunia briskly stood and put the brush away.

"There, the knots are out."

After that she swiftly left the room leaving Rose alone.

Rose looked at herself wide-eyed in the mirror. So, the changes weren't random. It was because of a letter from Dumbledore. Did he threaten them to make her feel welcomed?

Rose pushed that idea away quickly, the emotion she had heard in Petunia's statement just now wasn't because of a letter. Certainly, not a letter from a wizard.

Then why? Did she feel guilty? Was she trying to say sorry?

Had Rose been wrong? Did they care?

Before she could finish her line of thoughts the doorbell rang.

Uncle Vernon's voice sounded from the hall along with laughter. Uncle Vernon didn't respond quite happily. The front door closed with a bang and Rose heard paper being ripped up.

Suddenly Rose heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and uncle Vernon came into view. His face almost as red as a tomato.

"You." he snapped at Rose. "Come with me. Now."

Dread filled her stomach while following her Uncle downstairs. Something was going to get pinned on her and she was quickly scanning everything that had happened since she got back. Trying to be prepared for what was coming.

They entered the living room and Vernon almost slammed the door shut.

This wasn't good.

"So." he said, pacing between the door and the fireplace – or the electric fire that was put in place of that anyway.

"So."

A witty remark bubbled up in her throat and she had to swallow it. They were nice to her now, she didn't want to screw that up.

So she waited paitiently until uncle Vernon would tell her what was bothering him.

"We got this." said Uncle Vernon. He waved around with something that seemed purplish. "Someone wrote us a letter. About you."

Now she was really confused. Who would be writing about her to the Dursley's? And using the muggle way on top of that.

Uncle Vernon shot her Daggers with his eyes, before looking at the letter and reading it aloud:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,

We have never met, but I'm the mother of Ron. One of Rose's friends.

I contact you because Rose might have mentioned this summer the Quidditch World Cup takes place in Britain. We acquired prime tickets through my husband's connections in the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

Since Rose will be staying with us this summer as you well know, we would like to take her along with us to the match. This opportunity is very rare since Britain hasn't hosted the game in over thirty year and tickets were sold out over-night.

However in order to take her with us, we need the written consent of her legal guardian.

Your response would be best sent to us in the normal way. I don't think the Muggle postman has ever delivered mail to our house.

Yours sincerely,

Molly

P.S. We weren't sure how many stamps were needed, I hope these were enough.

When he was finished he pulled out something else from his pocket.

"Look at this." he snarled.

In his hands he had an envelope, an envelope that was completely covered in stamps. The only space that had remained free of stamps was a square on the front of the envelope. Which contained their address.

"Well better safe than sorry." said Rose, in an attempt to keep the mood light.

"Well it was very amusing to the postman." he said with a locked jaw. "He was very curious to know the story behind the letter. He was amused by it."

That's because it was, Rose had to use all her willpower not to laugh herself. But the Dursley's hated everything that was out of the ordinary. Not only hated it but also feared it intensely.

As if the slightest thing would make them outcasts.

Vernon was staring at Rose, waiting for her reaction, she just kept her poker face up.

"So… it's okay right? I'll be staying with them anyway." She asked. In this moment, it was very convenient that they knew of her demands towards Dumbledore.

Rose wondered why Mrs. Weasley had written a letter, was it for the consent?

A twitch passed on his forehead and Rose cringed.

"Who is this woman?" he demanded.

"You've seen her at the station." said Rose. "She always comes to the station to pick Ron up at the end of the year."

Rose could see the cogwheels working, trying to remember Mrs. Weasley.

"The short and chubby woman?" he grunted after a while. "A bunch of children with red hair?" Rose had to swallow a fateful remark and just nod.

Vernon was out of his mind calling Mrs. Weasley dumpy when his own son approached the weight and stature of a small whale. Vernon didn't see the frown on her face because he look at the letter again.

"Quidditch." he muttered under his breath. "Quidditch… what is this rubbish?"

Rose knew she had to tread carefully now.

"It's a sport, played by my kind of people." Rose said carefully.

"Ha! A sport! I've never heard of it!" Uncle Vernon said a bit smugly. Rose swallowed, she was on thin ice right now.

"That's because it played in an unconventional way…" Rose added.

Vernon blanched and coughed, he escaped the subject by examining the letter again. Rose saw his lips form the words "send us your written consent… in the normal way."

"What is this woman on about? The normal way? She's the…" Vernon snapped, clearly losing his patience. Rose cut him off before he could utter the word 'freak'.

"I'll do that. It's done the same way as the acceptance letter." Rose said, choosing her words with precision.

Uncle Vernon seemed to ponder it a while, all the while cooling off from the abnormality of it all.

"You'll be going to them each summer then?" Vernon's tone became less harsh.

"I think so yes, and to Cedric's place as well." Rose answered truthfully. Her stomach fluttering at her boyfriend's name – that's right! Her boyfriend!

Uncle Vernon looked at her in confusion.

"The boy you talked to on the phone, the one that didn't shout."

Uncle Vernon's face lit up a bit. Somehow Rose thought he already liked – liked may be a big word, accept? – Cedric without meeting him and it made her smile a bit.

"Well, all right then. You can go to this World Cup thing. I'll write my consent, you take care of the rest. Tell them they have to pick you up though… I won't go to… I don't have time to drive you."

Rose knew what he had wanted to say, he absolutely feared going to a wizards house.

"I'll arrange everything." Rose said quickly.

Rose started to leave the living room and wanted to write Ron her answer.

"Hold on girl." Vernon said.

Rose cautiously turned again to face her uncle.

Same color had come back to his cheeks and he seemed very awkward.

"Did Petunia talk to you?"

Rose nodded.

"This morning in the hall… were you… did you think I was my sister?" He asked frowning.

Rose froze for a moment and her throat was almost too dry to answer.

"I… I just remembered something."

Vernon sighed and suddenly had a whole new expression on his face that made him look ten years older. This was a side she had never seen from him. Uncle Vernon rubbed his face.

"We didn't…" Uncle Vernon didn't seem to be able to get the rest of the words out.

"Aunt Petunia explained." Rose said softly.

Uncle Vernon nodded.

Rose good feel the conversation was over and she slowly backed away, fleeing to her room.

When Rose entered her room she immediately saw that Hedwig was back and her snow white feathers where puffed up, she was making clicking sounds as well, all a very clear sound she was annoyed about something.

It didn't take Rose long to see what was annoying her.

"OW!" Rose grunted when something small, fluffy and grey hit her head.

Rose rubbed the spot where she got hit while scanning the room for what hit her.

It was a small, very excited owl, which had dropped a letter at her feet.

While picking it up, she recognized the handwriting immediately.

Rose! We've got the tickets for the QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!

In order for you to come along we need your aunt and uncle's written permission.

That why Mum wrote them a letter. Maybe they already have it, I don't know how fast Muggles work. That's why I sent this head's up with Pig anyway.

Rose had to laugh at the word 'Pig' the fluffy ball zooming around the room didn't look anything like a pig. She shook her head and hoped she just couldn't read Ron's handwriting.

We need their written permission for when there are legalization checks from the ministry. Since mom and dad aren't your guardians.

Normally we're picking you up Sunday afternoon at five. Send an owl ahead with their permission will you.

Ron

"Aren't you excited." Rose said chuckling when 'Pig' flew above her head. She figured the owl was very happy about delivering the letter to the correct person.

Rose sighed put the letter down, noticing Cedric's owl was sitting next to Hedwig.

She quickly took his letter and started reading.

Dear Rose,

I'm sorry but next week doesn't work for dad for you to come over. He's really busy with work, although he doesn't want to talk about it.

He told me he talked to Mr. Weasley and they'll come and get you next week. The week after that you'll stay with us.

How has your stay with you aunt and uncle been so far?

My week has been annoying, dad's having a lot of people over from the ministry and is set on introducing me to every single one. I think he's doing it to get me a job at the ministry.

I still have to tell him that I don't really want that.

I long to see you again Rose, I miss you. I can't wait until next week.

I'll come over, Ron told you he was fine with it right?

Yours,

Cedric

Rose's heart fluttered at the last part. Oh, she longed for next week as well. She took out a piece of parchment and started on her response.

Dear Cedric,

It's fine. As long as I get to see you I'll be happy.

Dumbledore sent them a letter explaining everything, they have been really nice lately. Don't know if it's because of the letter but things have been better. I don't really know how I feel about that letter though. He didn't tell me he would send one and it caught me off guard.

Have you talked with your mom about it? Maybe she can help you?

I long to see you as well. I can't wait to see you again, I might not be able to let go.

Ron is fine with it, his mom already knows as well.

Forever yours,

Rose

Rose rolled up the parchment and attached it to Cedric's owl. The owl gave her a gentle nibble before taking off. She was watching him disappear in the sky when there sounded a knock on her door.

Rose opened the door just enough to slip outside, afraid of the reaction to a second owl in her room.

"Here you go, our written consent." Vernon said.

Rose took the paper with a smile and before she could utter a thank you, Vernon was marching downstairs again.

Things would never be easy in this family, would it?

With a sigh, Rose returned inside her room, with 'Pig' still fluttering around in excitement.

"Pig, do you want to deliver another letter?"

The tiny owl twittered happily and landed on her desk, happily switching from one claw to another.

Rose quickly took out her quill and scribbled an answer on the back:

Ron,

It's all okay, the Muggles have written their consent.

See you five o'clock tomorrow.

Can't wait.

Rose

She folded this note and Vernon's consent up and tied it to a very excited owl

The moment the note was secure, the owl was off again, it zoomed out of the window and out of sight.