ROSE

The day I have been dreaming of practically my whole life has finally arrived… September 1st. I'm finally going to Hogwarts.

Looking at the clock, it reads 3:18 AM. The hectic day ahead starts in five hours so it's crucial to get all the rest I can get, but it's like I drank a cup of black coffee and my system is still running on the caffeine. It's clear to me that sleep won't come easily tonight.

So, instead of lying in bed, it's time to give up on sleep and triple check all my things to make sure I didn't forget to pack anything. I'd hate to get to Hogwarts, start unpacking and realize I left any of my favorite books or gifts from Uncle George. He made sure to give all the first years in the family some new products from his store before the train to Hogwarts. Then I make sure my broom is clean and ready to go. Back when mum and dad went to Hogwarts they didn't allow first years to try out for Quidditch but ever since they left school, they decided to allow it (thank you Uncle Harry!). I move to my books. I've got all the required ones for my classes along with some of my favorite muggle stories. Then some I haven't read to keep it interesting. I can only reread the same books so many times before I want something new and exciting. Next, I check my clothes. All of my favorite t-shirts and my most comfortable jeans are neatly packed away along with my worn in sneakers. I have so much stuff packed away that my trunk is ready to burst at any moment. Pictures of the family are carefully wrapped and packed as well. Everything seems to be in order and ready for when we need to leave.

I check my clock again and find only an hour's gone by. I sigh and get off my floor to head downstairs. Maybe I can find something to snack on, get comfortable on the couch and fall asleep.

Once I get to the bottom of the stairs I notice the light in the kitchen is already on. I go around the corner and find my best friend and cousin, Al, sitting at the kitchen table eating some treacle tart, the family weakness.

He looks up as I enter the room, spoon half way to his mouth.

"Hey," he says, setting his spoon back down.

"Hey. Couldn't sleep either?" I ask. I grab a bowl and spoon some of the sinful dessert into it then join Al at the table.

"Nope. Too excited," he replies with a sheepish smile. He picks up his spoon again and shovels the sweets into his mouth, cheeks puffing slightly.

"Same. I just spent six hours staring at my ceiling and the past hour making sure everything was packed," I say.

"Why?" he asks. "You've been packed for days. And I'm sure you've been re-checking everything before you go to bed every night for the past week."

"So?" I say defiantly. "I couldn't sleep and needed something to do."

Al looks disappointed, not getting the reaction he wanted from me. He's always trying to make me feel uncomfortable because I'm the only Weasley that doesn't get embarrassed, so I don't show off the infamous Weasley blush. Even James, Al and Lily have it even though they are only half Weasley.

I give a cocky grin then pick up my bowl and head towards the sofa in the next room. Al follows and we take our usual seats, me cross-legged directly in the middle, him squished comfortably in between the armrest and me.

"So what house do you think you'll be in?" I ask after a while of us just eating our treacle tart.

"I don't know. But I'm hoping for Gryffindor. Keep it running through the family veins and all. What about you?"

Good question. I'm really all of them. I got mum's brains and curiosity for learning, the most ambition and drive in the entire family, I'm very loyal to my family, I'm the most honest person I know, and am not afraid of a challenge or to make trouble (Uncle George says if Uncle Fred were here, he would join in on being very proud of this fact). I've got all the best qualities of the houses wrapped up in one. So it's hard to tell where I'll end up.

"I really have no idea. I just hope we can stick together. I don't want to be on my own," I say unabashedly, taking a big bite of my treat. I always speak my mind, no matter what. Sometimes it's good but other times, well I've made the weaker ones of my family cry from my bluntness.

He thinks about my response for a minute then says, "Yeah I want that too. But if you think about it, our family makes up a big majority of the castle so we won't be alone, not really."

"Everywhere but Slytherin. No one has been put in that house yet."

"True. But I'll still be here no matter what houses we're put in. And don't forget Louis. He's starting with us this year too. Of the both of us, he'd definitely go to Slytherin with you."

"That's if I'm put there," I point out.

"Yeah." He takes his last bite and stands up heading for the kitchen to put his bowl in the sink.

When he comes back he stops at the bottom of the stairs, stretches and gives a big yawn, says, "Gonna head to bed. Get a couple hours of shuteye before heading off for the train. Night, Rosie."

"Night, Al."

A little while after he leaves, I put my own bowl in the sink and head upstairs thinking maybe, just maybe, I'll get a couple hours of sleep in before the chaos of the morning.

I collapse on my bed and climb under the covers, my body finally realizing how tired it is. Once I get comfortable, my eyes flutter closed and I dream of Hogwarts, the sorting, and sitting with the majority of my family at Gryffindor table. It was the perfect dream.

SCORPIOUS

My nerves for tomorrow are driving me up the wall. I try to fall asleep but when I do I have nightmares. I dream of being put in Gryffindor, seeing all the surprised faces staring at me from the entire room. Then getting a howler from my father the next morning yelling at what a disappointment I have turned out to be, that the family disowns me and he doesn't ever want to see my face again.

Once I'm awake from these dreams, I immediately feel a wave of relief that I'm still lying in my bed at home and not at Hogwarts. I also start to feel ridiculous. My father doesn't feel that way about the other houses anymore. He has changed from when he went to school and doesn't believe in pureblood hierarchy like his parents had. He's told me multiple times over the years that he would be proud of me no matter what house I was sorted in. They are all worthy.

When I'm not being tormented by these ridiculous dreams, I'm tossing and turning, my mind racing at a thousand miles a minute. Do I have everything packed? Will people think I'm just like every other Malfoy? Will I make any friends my first day? Will any of those friends be from the Weasley/Potter clan? There are so many questions running through my head and no answers.

I want to show people that I'm different from my ancestors, especially my grandparents. I don't like them one bit. Always talking badly about certain wizards, saying words I despise such as Mudblood and Blood-traitor. I'm glad my father and mother aren't like that. They used to be, but they have changed the way they see the world, accepting everyone and everything. My father has even told me that he regrets the choices he made when he went to school. I just hope I can convince people into seeing that my family is changing for the better.

My thoughts move back to the Weasley/Potter clan. Everyone in the wizarding world knows who they are. It's kind of hard not to when they saved us from Voldemort. I'm a huge fan of the Golden Trio and their families, mostly to the fact that if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here and dad would be dead. Because of this I know that there will be three knew additions from their family to Hogwarts this year. There's Albus Potter, second son of Harry and Ginny Potter, Rose Weasley, daughter of Ron and Hermione Weasley and Louis Weasley, son of Bill and Fleur Weasley. Dad wants me to try to befriend one of them. Like I wasn't going to try without him saying so.

Giving up on sleep, I get out of bed and stretch. I check my clock, seeing that it's half past 4AM. Mum will wake me in three hours. Mentally going through my school checklist, I start to pace. Everything seems to be packed and ready to go. My mind is still working overtime so I continue pacing. Usually this helps calm me enough so I can sleep peacefully, but tonight it seems I may never get to sleep.

Like always, my mind drifts back to the Weasley's and Potter's. More specifically, Rose Weasley. She is my celebrity crush. Most people go for Victoire or Dominique mainly because they are part Veela and get their looks from their mother, but Rose…. She is not only beautiful but also adventurous and smart. Or so I've read. She apparently has a knack for causing trouble, just like her Uncle's George and Fred. I'm sure they both would be very proud.

My mind finally calms down enough for my body to feel drowsy. I walk to bed and curl up in my sheets and comforter. I fall asleep almost at once, and for the first time tonight I have a wonderful dream: I walk in with the rest of the first years, wait to be called and when I do, I get sorted into Gryffindor. Instead of shocked glances I get whoops and hollers from my table, everyone welcoming me with open arms. Al, Rose and Louis are all sorted into Gryffindor as well and Rose sits next to me, her warm and bright smile directed towards me. I couldn't have been happier. It was the perfect dream.