Rose walked through the crowded train, irritably pushing a few strands of curly red hair back behind her ear. Finally, she found a compartment with only one boy in it. It was the boy who her father had pointed out to her. "Make sure you beat him in every test. Thank God you inherited your mothers brains." Okay, so she wasn't technically supposed to sit here-but she was pretty sure her dad had been kidding. Besides, where else was she supposed to sit? So she slid open the thin glass door.

"Hello, I'm Rose Weasley. Do you mind if I sit here?" She asked.

"Sure." He replied. "I'm Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy."

"I think I'll just call you Malfoy." She giggled. He smiled.

"Most people do."

"Okay. Well, it's nice to meet you, Scorpy."

"What happened to Malfoy?"

"Just trying things out?" He rolled his eyes.

"Well, it's nice to meet you too, Rose Weasley."

The two talked for the rest of the ride.

"I do hope I'm put in Ravenclaw...although Gryffindor sounds good too. Both my parents were in Gryffindor."

"Really? Mine were both in Slytherin."

"Do you think you'll be in Slytherin?"

"I don't know. I think it would make my father happy, but I'd rather be in another house."

"Slytherin does have a horrible reputation, but I'm sure that's all just bigotry. Plenty of good wizards have been in SLytherin. Probably."

"Probably." He agreed. She smiled.

"You'd best go change into your robes, we're nearly to Hogwarts already."

"Firs' years! All fir's years, over with me!" Rose beamed at him.

"Hello, Hagrid!" She said cheerfullly.

"Hello, Rose." He said. "Bin a while since I seen yeh." She sighed.

"I know, and I really am sorry about that! I've been so busy, preparing to come to Hogwarts! I needed to buy a new wand, Robes, a new trunk..."

"It's good ter see yeh, Rose." Hagrid chuckled She jumped forward to give the half giant a hug.

"It's good to see you too, Hagrid." He smiled and patted her on the back, and then she entered one of the boats, sitting next to Scorpius.

"Hagrid's an old family friend." She explained to him. Scorpius nodded in understanding.

"Okay."

Headmistress Mcgonagall greeted them just before the great hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. Any questions?" There were no questions. The doors opened then, and the first years all walked in. Rose spotted Albus a few people away.

"Albus!" She whispered. He looked over.

"Rose!"

"I'm so excited!"

"Me too!" Scorpius tapped her shoulder.

"Look!" He pointed up to the ceiling. Of course, James had told them all about the magic ceiling at hogwarts, but everything she had imagined about what it would look like paled in comparison. Everything was so beautiful! Other students were looking around with awe too. There was an old hat sitting on a stool in the front of the great hall.

"Is that mangy old thing the sorting hat?" Scorpius asked. Rose shrugged in response.

"I assume so." Headmistress Mcgonagall began reading off a list of names, then.

"Albus Potter!" She called. Albus wwalked up nervously. He turned to look at Rose, and she flashed him a thumbs up sign. Then Mcgonagall placed the hat on his head. It took a minute to decide, and Rose was nervous for a moment. But then it shouted out "GRYFFINDOR!" Rose smiled at Albus, who looked immensely relieved. He walked to the Gryffindor table to sit next to James. THe list was long, full of names Rose had never heard. But eventually Mcgonagall called "Rose Weasley!" Scorpius gave her a reassuring smile, and she smiled back. She nervously walked up to Mcgonagall, who placed the sorting hat on her head.

"Hmmm." It said. "You're not too hard to place. Just like your mother. You've got the mind of a Ravenclaw, but the heart of a...GRYFFINDOR!" This last word was shouted to the entire hall, and the Gryffindor table burst into applause. Scorpius looked dissapointed.

"Scorpius Malfoy!" The hat was placed on Scorpius's head and Rose found herself biting her nails, worried.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat eventually decided. Scorpius gave Rose a small smile, and then went to sit with the Slytherin table at the opposite end of the room.