My mum was the brightest witch of her age. My dad was their king. My uncle was the boy who lived. As a descendent of this golden family tree I am expected to follow in these huge footsteps. All my life I have tried to be a hero, someone who would live up to my family's name. But over time I have learned that being a hero is not something you decide to be, it's something you have and the fact is I'm completely ordinary. I think the impulsive trait got lost somewhere and I ended up being the unremarkable person I am, and that's something that can never change no matter how hard I fight it. My name is Rose Weasley and at 16 I'm still searching for the legend I am meant to create.

Sun rolled in softly through the window memorising my face. The summer had reached it's final weeks and was more vibrant and stunning than ever. My fingers traced the clouds floating in the sky on the pane in a vain attempt to reach them. I'd spent most of the day packing my trunk for my sixth year at Hogwarts, usually it's left till last-minute but dad said our last two weeks of vacation would be extremely busy. Even though I loved school I was dreading this year. Each year I watched another uneventful term go by one after another. In my mum, dad and uncle's first year they singled handedly fought a troll, got through deadly obstacles set by teachers and faced Voldemort for the first time. Me? The most eventful thing I have done is turning Hugo's owl purple. My parents seem to think this monotone life is a better than their childhood. I disagree, I crave the adventure and danger that they had. A small voice echoed in the back of my head, something dragging me back to reality.
"Rose! Is anyone in there?" My mum joked as she sat down next to me on my windowsill.
"Sorry, lost in thought I guess."
"The gang will be arriving soon, I thought you were looking forward to seeing them?"
"Yeah I am just a little upset that summer's over."
Without warning she grabbed me in a tight hug and I struggled to draw breath. When she finally discovered she was suffocating her daughter she let go, as always she was right, I was excited to see everyone. With all the adults planning some sort of Order thing I had not seen Uncle Harry and his family in what seems like forever. I followed mum downstairs and started getting ready to go. Out of all my relatives Lily was by far the person I was closest to outside my immediate family. Ever since summer had started we had spent most of it together playing quidditch and catch the gnomes. Despite all the entertaining things we got up to during our break, this wasn't my favourite part of the summer. The best part is easily spending time with Calypso.

Two years ago our family and Uncle Harry's family went to the Forest of Dean. The trip would have been a disaster, since the adults spent the entire time discussing memories in a tent that bored us all to death, if it had not been for the ruffling noise. As soon as I sensed a hint of adventure I ran toward it at a sprint. Finally I caught up with the creature, my mouth dropped open in shock. Before me stood a miniature blonde hippogriff, magnificent, scared, stunning, shaking and all alone. When the others caught up they stared in amazement. At last, something mildly extraordinary had happened to me. We decided to camp in the forest to see if the baby hippogriff's parents came for her. By morning the hippogriff was sleeping outside my tent, we noticed her wing was broken and assumed that's why she was left behind. Uncle Harry convinced my parents to let me take the poor thing home and ever since I've had the coolest pet ever. Saying goodbye to Calypso each term was truly heart breaking, so my mum got special permission to allow her to live in the Forbidden Forest during term time with the resident herd under Hagrid's care. However, this still did not alter the dread I felt for going back to Hogwarts.

Everyone was waiting for me in the living room and stood up rapidly at the sight of my arrival. We put our travelling cloaks on and in seconds a thump emitted from the rolling hills that posed as our front garden. In any other situation someone would look out the window to know what caused the sound, but instead we all dived into the hall that welcomed the door. In seconds a sharp knock pulsed through the door just as we had expected. My dad flung open the door with a mischievous smile.
"Harry! Good to see you." He said as he clasped Harry's hand and dragging him into a hug.
"You where at ours last week, Merlin's beard Ron you've gotten clingy!" Harry retorted.
The rest of the family piled in and before I even saw her face Lily flung her arms around me. Here we go again with the air constricting hugs.
"Lily I need to breathe." I choked, instantly she let me go and burst out laughing.

It only took a few seconds for us all to get acquainted, I looked around, saw my brother Hugo participating in some intricate handshake with James and Albus, and Ginny and Hermione engaged in some private conversation. It was easy to tell when my mum did not want to be overheard, her voice dropped to a slight whisper and her eyes always darted around the room. "Well we better get going, take some floo powder and hop into the fireplace." Ron announced.
I'm sure military operations are not conducted as well as our departure. One by one we took a handful of floo powder, stepped into the golden fireplace and allowed the flames to smother us as we proclaimed "Diagon Alley." It wasn't long till we all stood in a huddle in the crowded street. The shops never failed to amaze me. Each one as brightly coloured as the next with explosive displays that your eyes couldn't help but be drawn to.
"Right, how about we meet up here in an hour? Then we can begin to get the things on your supply lists." Ginny said to us.
"Come on, I heard Quality Qudditch Supplies has a new broom out!" James shouted to the boys before darting off along the cobble road.
"Mum, are you going to Gringotts?" Lily asked sleepily.
"Yes dear, why do you want to come?"
Lily gave me the 'would you mind' look and I nodded enthusiastically. Honestly, it had never occurred to me that I had never seen the family vault but it had always been something I was curious about.

We followed the adults down to the wonky marble building embossed with the gold letters 'Gringotts.' The goblins always scared me as a young kid, which is why I could never make it past the door, but now determination encouraged me to see the vault. My eyes stayed glued to the floor as Ginny and Hermione passed on the tiny golden keys to the stern goblins. They all scowled at us with intense anger and detest.
"Is it too late to apologise for pulling Grand Theft Auto on their dragon?" Ron whispered.
Lily and I giggled as we followed our parents into the carts. Once the goblin climbed in the cart raced off along the creaking track. Hundreds of doors adorned the walls and began to blur together as we passed. In the endless darkness we coaxed to a stop. My eyes were useless so I relied on the soft footsteps of my parents, it was only when the vault door ascended open did I regain my sight. Gold illuminated the entirety of the room. Just as I had expected everything was ordered neatly, either on shelves or in organised piles. The array of coins, jewels and artefacts astounded me. I knew our family had a lot of money but this looked more like the royal treasury.

In the torrent of metallic glitter one thing caught my eye. My own eyes stared back at me from an inconspicuous mirror in the corner of the room. The silver of the frame had become tarnished over the years, although the carved letters looked as clear as if they defied age.
'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohs i.'
My mind strained to decipher the sentence causing my eyes to stray back to my inquisitive eyes. But this time I was not the only one in the mirror. A tall, handsome, blonde haired boy stood with his arm looped around my waist. His face had lost it's familiar intensity as it was replaced by a look I hadn't witnessed before - devotion. My breath caught in the back of my throat, head began to spin and heart became numb. My hand wandered to the spot where his palm held my waist. I felt nothing but myself. In one quick motion I span around to find the figure from the mirror, no one was there. My eyebrows creased in frustration and my hand delicately stroked the dusty surface of the mirror.

"I show not your face but your heart's desire." My mum echoed from behind me.
"I see you found the mirror of Erised. After the Battle of Hogwarts Head Mistress McGonagall said we could choose one thing to remind us of our achievements that day, Harry picked Dumbledore's pensive, I chose Hogwarts A History and Ron picked the mirror. I asked why and he replied 'because one day I want to look at it and just see my reflection.' Now that's all he sees since he has us."
No. That was not my heart's desire. He shouldn't be there. For God's sake why was he there. That idiot has always messed with my head.
"What did you see Rose?" Hermione asked.
"Um... just... me... um... getting, urm, good NEWT grades." I forced a smile to cross my face.
"Don't worry, I know you will do great. Your father and I have faith in you."
"Luckily you have your mother's brains so you can't possibly fail."
My parents laughed then returned to counting some gold coins, I stood there, refusing to believe what I'd seen. Heart's desire? Then I should have saw myself stunning his sorry ass! With great effort I pushed the thoughts out of the intertwining corridors in my mind.

I diverted my eyes to the vast array of objects residing on the shelves, chalices, statues and more golden coins than I could count. How did my family get all this money? Well, Ron played for the England Quidditch team as keeper during his younger years (winning by saving hundreds of goals) and then retired to work as their Coach. My mum decided she would take a more 'world changing' career path and in a matter of weeks became Head of Law Enforcement in the Ministry of Magic. At first, most of my relatives were reluctant to work at the Ministry after Voldemort's take over. But as soon as Kingsley Shacklebolt was given the Title of Minister for Magic nearly all my family took jobs there. Everyone except for Ginny, she decided she wanted to work as a Mediwitch in St Mungo's. Teddy also chose to go for an alternate career, after growing up with the Potter and Weasley family he decided he would follow in Bill's footsteps and become a curse breaker, he's away in Egypt now so we hardly see him anymore. Naturally, I have no idea what I want to do. Passion for something can't be feigned or created so my only other option is to wait until something interests me. Knowing my luck it will be an ordinary career for normal people like Herbology professor.

"Okay, we have enough coins for today. Let's go and meet up with the others." Ron called from behind a battered up stone knight statue. We stepped back into the cart and braced ourselves for the loops and sharp turns the track entails. If I wasn't mistaken the goblin seemed to enjoy giving us near death experiences, a few times the cart almost tipped over - giving me an uncomfortably close up view of the oblivion that resided below. Hushed gasps pushed their way through my lips and with each one the goblin seemed to push the cart faster. Lily, Harry and Ginny where all waiting outside the bank for us. As soon as she came over she told me all about the vault, mentioning each magical artifact that caught her attention. Just as I was about to mention the mirror I stopped, she wouldn't believe what I told Hermione, she would guess. No, that information was for me and me alone. Our group rejoined the boys outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. George still ran the joke shop, he loved running the shop but you could tell he only kept it going in memory of Fred, apart from looking the same the erratic atmosphere had diminished. His son Fred had left school at 16 to help out in the store, since then it became much more popular with new tricks almost every week. Every time the family came over, Roxanne always complained about her brother and dad pulling all kinds of tricks on her. One time she came over with fangs sticking out of her mouth from Fred slipping her Fang Fancies. Of course, we all check our food now before eating it when those two are around.

Eyelops Owl Emporium was first to get a new cage for Albus' owl Pluto, followed by Flourish & Blotts, Slug and Jigger's Apothecary and Wiseacre's Wizarding equipment to get the supplies on the list all required for the upcoming school year. We headed towards Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor when a shadow crossed my path, I looked up as the form dissolved into darkness.
"Mum I think I left something behind, I'll be right back." I mumbled.
"Okay Rose."
In seconds I had turned the same corner at a speed I had no idea I was capable of. Silence reigned in the alley, only my ragged breath ruptured the stillness. Shattered windows, cobwebs and archaic hanging signs furnished the alley. A typical backstreet alley, the kind of place where people like me should run away terrified. He thinks he can scare me away that easily? Please, he'll have to try harder than that pathetic attempt. My eyes frantically searched for the shadow I was desperate to track down.
"Rose!" My name echoed through the alley.
"Lily what on earth are you doing down here?"
"I came to get you but I had no idea you were trying to find the underworld!"
"Lily go back I need to check something."
Her mouth opened to protest but she despised the dark so retreated to the light reluctantly. I could only hope she didn't guess my intention. Everything about this place screamed dangerous but I had nothing to worry about, the Ministry had reduced crime and dark magic to almost non-existant. The end of the alley was in sight, the walls had closed in so I had to sidestep along.

"Taking up the detective career now, are we?"
The wall shifted slightly and I noticed the shadow staring directly at me. Luckily, my shock was well hidden, if it had been anyone else my scream would have deafened anyone in a ten-mile radius. The alley had become less than a metre wide, our faces only separated by an inch of darkness.
"Lurking in dark alleys now, are we?" I answered.
"I knew you would follow me down here, you're desperate to get me in trouble Rose!"
"Who me? I only wanted to say the shady criminal look really suits you."
"When did I ask for your approval?"
"You should. Maybe then people could tolerate you."
"If you didn't like me you wouldn't be here."
"I was just curious, that's all."
"Yeah sure - I've seen bludgers less eager to chase me."
"Ugh. You're so annoying!"
I turned to storm off but his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist. His features to penetrated the darkness, I glanced at the green eyes hidden behind strands of white blonde hair. Our intense glare faltered when he flicked the strands of hair from his eyes before he spoke.
"See you at Hogwarts."
No words could concoct a reply to that, at least none I was aware of. The two things I hated most combined in one place, an impending normal future and Scorpius Malfoy. Great.

For some secret reason my parents had decided that my brother and I could not spend the last week of summer at home, instead we would live at 12 Grimmuld Place. Usually I would protest, but I had waited a year for this ever since James and Fred took theirs last year. After Hagrid came to take Calypso to Hogwarts we left, Ron insisted we drove into London instead of getting a portkey (like Harry had done to get to our house) so it took us an hour longer. We stood outside an ordinary set of terraced houses in the middle of London with our trunks and owls. Abruptly, Ron called for a sudden halt between 11 and 13. What happened next astonished both me and my brother, even though we had seen it a few times before. A house pushed it's way in between the two houses, acting as if it had been there for years.

Obediently, we walked up to the front steps, the similarity was remarkable, especially considering the house had produced itself from thin air. Ron placed his wand on the lion head door handle and whispered a string of words, in one swift motion it flung open. My excitement reached it's capacity, I longed to be someone special and this was my chance- possibly last chance. The hallway welcomed us with lavish decor that contrasted against the ancient exterior. On the wall of the long hallway resided moving pictures of witches and wizards with their names on a golden plaque underneath. Most of the names I recognised, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Mad Eye Moody, Fred Weasley, Albus Dumbledore and so on. Just then, Hermione opened the door to the kitchen to reveal almost every single relative we have eating breakfast. Before my mind could catch up several arms hugged me tightly and greeted me. Bill, George and Harry's families sat around the table, joined by my Grandparents Molly and Arthur. The only people missing where Charlie, Percy's family and Teddy, all of which where currently abroad. Charlie was in China helping the Chinese Fireball dragon re-population programme, Teddy was in Egypt working as a curse breaker and Percy's family was on holiday in France.

After the commotion died down we all took a seat and a grumbling Kreacher served us pancakes. Our faces were stuffed to the brim with pancakes consuming the room in chewing noises, I got the impression the adults all knew what was going on since they exchanged quick nods. Harry took the opportunity.
"Right, to those of you who don't know why we are in the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, it's time for another acceptance ceremony. At 16 everyone is given a choice whether they want to join the Order or not. You have all seen Teddy, Victiore, Dominique, Louis, Fred, Molly and James join the order and now it's Rose and Albus' turn to decide. Then there's only Lily, Hugo, Lucy and Roxanne left and all the family will belong in the order."
The older kids in the family had boasted about their membership in the order for years, now it was my turn. I would get my coin and a life of adventure along with it - also bragging rights but they would only last so long.
"When do I get to pledge?" Albus asked enthusiastically.
"Tomorrow dear." Ginny replied.
"I don't think I can wait that long!" I chimed in.
There was no hesitation in my reply, every fiber of my being welcomed this offer with elation. Even though there is no one left to fight, the Order is still regarded as the Elite force against dark magic and at least I can be apart of it. Apart from a title my life would not alter much, but even that could spark an adventure worthy to be recorded in history.


Thank you for reading, for anyone who that's confused on names I didn't make them up they are the real names of their children. Please review, any help is appreciated since this is my first Harry Potter story.