Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to the great JK Rowling.


Rose glanced across at the Slytherin table, where her...all right... boyfriend Scorpius Malfoy sat chatting with a group of his friends. Not long ago she had finally pulled up enough courage (which involved betting, her cousin Lily Potter, and her losing to the bet, which she didn't want to think about ever again) to finally reveal her feelings to him. To her surprise, he too had fallen in love with her. That was last week. Now, they all sat in the Great Hall for breakfast, just like another normal day. Well, not exactly for Rose. As the owls flew in to deliver their daily mail, one in particular landed on Rose's goblet, knocking it over. She gasped when she saw the bright red envelope.

A howler.

"Uh oh," Lily said from beside her, "better open it before it's too late."

She stared at it in dismay as it began to shake violently. Rose squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears with her hands, though it was no use as the voice of her father roared at her: "ROSE WEASLEY. NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I HEARD SUCH A STORY. YOU, WHO INHERITED YOUR MOTHER'S BRAINS, DARE FALL IN LOVE WITH...WITH...DRACO MALFOY'S SON? I AM DISOWNING YOU THIS MINUTE. HOW CAN YOU DO SUCH A THING? YOU HAVE DISAPPOINTED THE ENTIRE WEASLEY FAMILY—" Just then, she was saved as the howler burst into flames.

Sinking below the table, she couldn't believe what she had just heard. Not counting the bursts of laughter that now echoed throughout the dining hall. Whoever had informed her father was going to pay.

Dearly.