"Wait... A muggle healer? What do you need to see one of those for?"
"Oh, Ronald."
Hermione stood at her sink washing dishes, she gazed happily at the cloudless sky through the wide window before turning to face her husband, a confused look overtaking his freckled face. She held up a soapy frying pan, dripping it over the sink behind her.
"Whatever it is, St. Mungos can handle it. Your not dying are you?" Ron asked as he leaned across the checkered floor to wrap his arms around Hermione's waist and draw her near.
"I am no closer to dying than you are." She said reasurringly.
"Are you ill?" Ron's eyebrows furrowed in apprehension as he lifted his hand to her forehead, to check for a temperature. Hermione shoo'd it away.
"I'm perfectly fine."
"Then what is it. I'm sure St. Mungos could help you far faster than any muggle-healer-"
"Doctor, Ron." Hermione corrected.
"I still think that a St. Mungos healer-"
"Ron, were going to have a baby." Hermione looked down at her feet, expecting something, anything.
"We... What?"
Hermione smiled widely when Ron put his hand on her chin and held it up to face him. Ron's mouth slowly began to take the shape of a huge grin. His eyes lit up.
"Are you serious? For sure? Bloody hell... I'm going to be a dad!" Ron said, he glanced at Hermione's abdomen and looked at it in wonder and pure happiness.
Hermione nodded furiously. To excited to talk. Ron enveloped his wife in a hug. "I love you!" He exclaimed.
"I love you more." Hermione said. Holding on tightly, never would she let this man go.
...
12 years later
"Albus!" Rose exclaimed. The short red head barrelled over to her cousin and trapped him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Rose!" Albus wheezed. "Let-me-go!" Rose released and Al smiled wanly, rubbing his ribs.
"Its so good to see you!" Rose said.
"You too!" Albus laughed nervously.
"Can you believe it? Were finally going!"
"I know! I'm so nervous!"
"Me too!"
"C'mon!" Albus pulled Rose to the circle of conversing adults.
"-So that's young Scorpius?" Rose's father muttered to Uncle Harry. Ron Weasley looked down to his daughter and put his hand on top of her flaming red curls, her round blue eyes peering up at him.
"Make sure you beat him in every test Rosie. Thank goodness you inherited your mothers brains." Rose's dad said. Rose laughed, thinking about her father's seemingly light hearted joke.
"Maybe you could take Rose to go find her trunk? The train will be leaving soon." Aunt Ginny asked Albus. Albus nodded and dragged Rose along the train to where Rose had left her trunk.
"Ah, here it is." Rose spotted a single brown trunk, sitting upright and dejected by a group of plump witches, she broke from Albus' hold and melted into the crowd, toward her suitcase.
She put her hand on the top handle only to find it already occupied by another thin pale one. Rose looked up to see a tall pale blond boy around her age grasping tightly to her trunk's handle, her hand still on his. She yanked it back protectively.
"Who are you?" Rose asked.
"Who are you?" The boy repeated.
"I asked you first."
"I'm Scorpius Malfoy. Who are you?"
Rose immediately recognized the boys last name, quickly she thought of why she did, then she remembered. Roses's dad and Uncle Harry used to be old enemies with Draco Malfoy, Scorpius's dad. Her first instinct should have been to run away and never look back, but she didn't.
"I'm Rose Weasley." She said proudly. Rose watched as the same emotions and thoughts passed through his features. "And I believe this is my case." She continued.
"No, it can't be." Scorpius said. "It says right here. Scorpius Malfoy."
"Where?" Rose moved from one side of the trunk to the other and saw plain as day 'Scorpius Andrew Malfoy' written in faded green ink, plastered on the side of the trunk.
"So it does." Rose allowed. From the corner of her eye Rose could see her cousin arriving.
"Hey." Albus said when he saw Scorpius. Albus held out his hand. Rose looked uneasily at it for a moment before resuming her neutral phase.
Scorpius shook hands with Albus. "I'm-" the blond boy began, but Albus cut him off. "I know who you are. Scorpius Malfoy right? My dad knows your family." Albus surprised everybody with one of his best friend-making smiles.
Scorpius grinned back. "A Potter? Correct?"
Albus laughed. "How could you tell?"
In the distance a roll of steam and a whistle rung in through the platform and everyone crowded to the train waving and calling good bye.
"C'mon Rose!" Albus grabbed Rose's sleeve and pulled the pair into the chaos. He waved good bye to Scorpius over his shoulder. "See ya on the train."
Scorpius put his index and middle finger to his forehead casually and saluted their retreating backs before turning to see is father standing before him.
"Who were they?" Draco Malfoy asked his son. "Friends?"
Scorpius remembered the main of red curls belonging to Rose Weasley and nodded thoughtfully. "Of sorts." He said.
Draco smiled and crouched to his sons height. "Listen, and you listen good. I want you to have an extra memorable experience at Hogwarts. Make lots of good friends. We will still invite you back for summer next year, no matter what house your in." He joked. Scorpius laughed shortly. "But remember, most important!" Draco continued. "No one is inferior to you. You are above no one. Remember this, and you will do just fine." Draco stood up and looked down at his son.
"I'll remember, bye dad." Scorpius hugged his dad with one arm, then grabbed his trunk and lugged it to the train doors. Draco watched him go, a proud smile playing on his lips. Suddenly an unwelcome hand slipped into his and Pansy rested her head on his shoulder from behind Draco. "He'll be fine." She said reassuringly.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I know he will." He said, rather annoyed. Draco spun around and apparated from the cheery bustling platform into his empty, dull manor. Not particularly caring if Pansy followed or not.
...
Rose and Albus met their parents by the front of the red train, Rose's mom and dad were looking very proud indeed and Rose's mom was especially emotional and shed a tear or two. "Don't forget your homework. Keep up in class. Be nice to your teachers. Say hello to Professor Longbottom for us alright!"
"I will mum." Rose said.
Then it was dads turn to speak. "Enjoy Hogwarts Okay sweetie?" Her father kissed her forehead and gave her a hug. "Don't forget Peeves is always lurking around the charms corridor when he's bored so stay away from there when you can. The room of requirement is on the third floor, and madam Pomfrey prefers sugar quills to jelly slugs. If you bribe her she'll give you the strawberry flavoured medicine. Trust me, you'll be in the infirmary plenty of times." Even before she was seven Rose had already broken her left ankle three times, she had made a habit from it. Hermione smacked her husbands forearm. "Don't give away everything Ron!"
"She's going to need it." Ron laughed defensively. "Oh, and you have to tickle the pear on a certain painting to get into the kitchens. Remember James has the invisibility cloak, if you ask politely, he should let you borrow it." With that Ron gave his daughter one last hug, and one last wink. And Rose boarded the train, Rose's elder cousin James following right behind her. James gave her a supportive pat on her shoulder before sauntering down the carriage isle, looking for his friends. Rose glanced back through the train doorway, Albus and his dad were talking, Uncle Harry had his hands on Albus's shoulders, likely giving him his own pep talk and last minute advice. Albus smiled to his father again before climbing aboard the Hogwarts express. As Albus passed her, Rose grinned at him and he grinned uneasily back at her. Rose waved good bye to her family and disappeared from view down the carriage isle.
The doors snapped shut and locked themselves instinctively. The train whistle blew one last time and the steam engine slowly pulled out of the station. Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek and Ron hugged Hermione tight. Hugo's small fist grasped the end of Hermione's longer than necessary blue scarf, which dangled down to the adult's feet.
"She's going to be fine." Hermione whispered.
"I know she will." Ron kissed Hermione on the top of her head and together the family walked off of the platform, out of the station and down the street, heading home. Where Hermione would make lunch and Ron would talk with Hugo, then Harry and Ginny would come round with Lily and they would have supper together in the dining room.
...
Rose and Albus poked their heads into every compartment, looking for an empty one, as they had planned so they could further discuss the upcoming sorting that would change their lives forever. For the trillionth time Rose peeked into a compartment, the last one on the train not fully overflowing with older students. Inside sat a lonely looking blond, Scorpius, he sat by the window. Rose jerked her head out before he saw her.
"Let's find somewhere else to go." She said to Albus.
"Why?" Albus looked into the compartment then gave Rose a withering look. Rose grumbled but followed Albus's lead into the compartment.
"Hey Scorp!" Albus exclaimed as he hauled his trunk into the rack above, Rose attempted the same but only succeeding in bouncing it onto the blue seat.
"Let me help you." Scorpius stood up and assisted Rose. Scorpius was taller than Rose by about a foot and was able to further get the trunk to its proper place. Rose nodded thanks, he only smiled in reply. Albus sat across from Scorpius by the window so he could face him. Rose set herself beside Albus. She tried to make it seem like she didn't think Scorpius a disease. She didn't really, not completely, but that's what her father thought.
"Did you really call me Scorp?" Scorpius asked.
Albus nodded. "Yup."
Scorpius smiled before saying "I like it, I've never had a nickname before."
"You can call me Albus, or Al. Doesn't really matter. Everyone in our family calls me Al."
Scorpius looked at Rose for a second and Rose raised her eyebrows. "Were cousins." She said.
"That explains it."
"Explains what?" Rose asked.
"You guys seem really close. And considering were, like, eleven, you can't be dating."
Albus and Rose pretended to barf into their hands. "Ew, not that toad dropping!" Rose said, she leaned over and shoved Al.
"Who would want to date you!" Albus retorted and shoved Rose back. The cousins laughed loudly, quickly the sound dissipated into silence. Albus broke the awkwardness.
"Hey," Albus said. "Scorp, what house do you want to be in?"
Scorpius thought for a moment before saying. "I'm expecting to be sorted into Slytherin. But if I had a choice, I might like to be a Gryffindor."
"Really?" Rose exclaimed. Albus and Scorpius looked at her questioningly and Rose looked down, embarrassed. "I mean, why Gryffindor?"
Scorpius shrugged. "Just something different I guess."
Albus smiled. "That's where I'm going. I'm going to be a Gryffindor."
"You know the sorting hat decides whether you'll be in that house or not." Rose said. Remembering Al's recent concern for the sorting hat.
"Dad said that the sorting hat will take your opinion into account too." Albus said. "And I want to be a Gryffindor."
"What house do you want to be in Rose?" Scorpius asked.
Rose paused before answering. She had thought about this time and time again, and Rose wasn't very interested in discussing it with a Malfoy. "I honestly don't know. Ravenclaw I think. Or Gryffindor."
Scorpius nodded approvingly, then he smiled and laughed shortly to himself.
"What?" Rose inquired.
Scorpius shrugged. "You just seem like more of a Hufflepuff to me."
Rose scowled and looked Scorpius in the eye. "Should I be offended?"
Scorpius shrugged again and looked out the window. "No, just an observation."
Rose decided to drop it and shifted her school robe, which she had been wearing since 6:30 that morning. Inside she contained her iPod Nano and earphones, slowly she pulled them out and began to untangle them.
Scorpius's head perked up like a dog who had seen a squirrel. "What are those?" He asked, leaning forward slightly.
Rose held up the pink device. "Its an iPod. I was going to listen to music on it."
Scorpius nodded but continued to look curiously at it, examining it as Rose plugged in the earphones. Rose smiled, amused by Scorpius's behaviour. "Want to listen with me?"
Scorpius grinned. "Yes, please. If you don't mind."
"Not at all." Rose switched sides to sit beside Scorpius and began searching through her play list. Rose decided to at least attempt at making friends, even ones who had odd sense of humour's. Plus, if she couldn't deal with Albus's friend preferences, then she would not be able to make her own. She paused at one song. Magic Works, by The Weird Sisters. Her favourite band. A little old school, but Rose was attached to it, you could call her a bit of a fangirl. Rose gave Scorpius his correct ear bud and attached her own to her ear. Rose pressed play and the dull thrum of the music began to beat in her ears, she turned it up a few notches and looked over to Scorpius. His face was a mixture of confusion, fear, and delight. Rose waved her hand in front of his long nose and Scorpius looked to her. Rose raised her voice a tad and said. "This is called Magic Works, by The Weird Sisters."
Scorpius smiled. "I love that band! Dad listened to them when he was in Hogwarts."
"They played at Hogwarts once, at the yule ball." Albus continued, trying to contribute to the conversation. "Mom got pictures with them."
The conversation took off in unexpected directions. Rose followed and listened, often drifting into La La Land. She gazed out the window and twiddled her thumbs. Scorpius and Rose listened to her music the entire ride, Scorpius and Albus talked and talked, till by the end of the train ride they were thick as thieves. Then in a rush of movement and sound the compartment doors slid and banged open, students filed into the isles and buzzed with talk and laughter.
"I guess were here." Scorpius said. Rose paused the music in their ears and bundled the iPod and earphones into her robe pocket. Albus, Scorpius and Rose stood up and followed the older students into the hallway. Ahead of them, Rose could just see James's unruly black hair hop off the train. Somewhere behind them a voice yelled at the first years. "First years to the front. Let them off the train first, first years!" Someone to Rose's left mumbled something about stupid prefects. Rose let herself be carried out of the train by the wave of Hogwarts students, she stayed close to Albus, not wanting to get lost. Outside was dark and humid, the students had jumped onto an outdoor platform, the older students began separating down a large path into the woods. Many other students the same height as Rose and her friends were lead down a narrow, worn path to the lake side, the opposite direction the older students were headed. The queue of youth huddled by the lakes edge, all of them staring either scared, impressed, eager or nervously up at a huge looming figure standing on a wet and wooden dock. Small laps of dark water washed on the bank and dampened the giants boots. The large human held an oil lamp high in the air, illuminating his face. Small black beetle like eyes crinkled in welcome to the newcomers. His bushy brown hair was streaked with grey and fanned behind his head.
"Hello!" The giant rumbled, his appearance was rather intimidating. He was clearly three times Rose's height. "I'm Hagrid. An' wel'cm to Hogwarts. I will be 'yur grounds keeper this year. Now Git in the boats. We'r gonna ride to the castle in these." Without another word Hagrid climbed into one creaky boat and the boat floated away from the dock, he turned back, smiling to the young students. Quickly everyone else scrambled to get in a boat with their friends. Rose and Scorpius claimed one, but Albus had gotten in another, thinking he was leading the trio. He hastened to join them but a girl with long black hair and another boy carrying a satchel jumped in behind Rose and Scorpius, their boat departed the dock and Albus was forced to sit in a boat with three other students he didn't know. As the boat propelled itself further away from land, Rose trailed her fingertips in the cool water. She was tempted to splash some on her face but thought better of it.
The sky was a dark navy colour as distant white stars dotted the open sky. The boats appeared to be headed towards an enormous stone castle, random windows glowed with light but mostly the castle was entirely silhouetted against the vast atmosphere. Surrounding the castle and lining the lake were large numbers of pine and birch trees, the sight of it all was both majestic and mesmerizing, as it was intimidating and scary. The boat was now drifting under a veil of ivy into a cavernous underwater river way. Rose smiled in spite of herself, she was on her way to becoming an actual Gryffindor. All the stories her parents told her about their times at Hogwarts kept Rose thoroughly excited and nervous as she climbed the winding staircases up to the main levels of the castle.
...
Hagrid lead the young students up staircases round corners and down lengthy corridors till they found themselves standing before a huge set of double doors, the entrance to the great hall. They remand shut as an elderly witch carrying a cane strode to the front of the first years. She wore a billowing emerald green robe, a traditional witch's hat sat atop her head, and her pure white hair had been neatly tucked into a bun at the base of her neck. The woman smiled, then she spoke.
"Hello, and welcome." The woman's voice croaked and was noticeably distraught, she surveyed the first years sizing them up. "My name is Professor McGonagal. I am head of Gryffindor house and will be your head master for this year." Professor McGonagal coughed and leaned heavily on her jewelled cane. "In a moment I will open these doors and present you to the rest of the school. Wait in the centre isle, and when I read aloud your name, come to the front and sit on the stool. I will place a hat on your head and that will tell us what house you are in. The four houses are as follows. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffindor. But you already knew that. Didn't you." McGonagal gave a slight grin to the new students, as she hobbled away down a corridor, the first years broke into conversation.
Albus stepped precariously around the students to Rose and Scorpius.
"Why didn't you get in the boat I got in?" He asked.
"I didn't see you." Rose said.
Scorpius coughed. "Same."
Albus frowned. Then a timid girl with short, curly, honey blond hair stumbled into Rose, Scorpius and Albus's circle, looking around nervously.
"Hi." Rose said, sort of surprised by the girls appearance. Rose remembered seeing her on the platform by herself.
The girl tucked a strand of blond behind her ear. "Hello. Sorry for the intrusion. I was just tired of standing by myself. I'm Amelia Longbottom." Amelia held out her hand as Albus hid a snicker behind a cough and his fist, Amelia ignored him.
"I'm Rose. Rose Weasley." Rose said. She shook Amelia's hand. Now wondering why shaking hands was such a cultural norm around eleven year olds, her and her cousins never shook hands. "Isn't your father the new Herbology teacher." Rose inquired.
"Third year here." Amelia said. Awkward silence ensued.
After a moment Albus made a little wave and said. "I'm Albus. And that's Scorpius." Scorpius waved. Amelia nodded, and looked like she was about to say something further when Professor McGonagal re-appeared and beckoned the first years to follow her.
"Everyone get in partners, and stand beside them in an orderly line!" She yelled.
Amelia immediately poked Rose on her shoulder, claiming her partner. Rose smiled, grateful not to be left out, as did Amelia. Albus and Scorpius paired up behind the girls. McGonagal waved her wand and the enormous oak doors slowly opened, revealing the great hall beyond. The line began to move. The first years walked past the house tables as eyes of every colour clung to their too new uniforms and anxious faces. Rose felt like her whole digestive system was going to explode from the pressure. What would happen if she didn't get in Gryffindor, like her father wished so dearly?
Rose followed the others as they clustered at the foot of the platform, above the first years stood a wooden stool, and atop the stool, sat an old ratty witches hat. Professor McGonagal pushed through them and lifted a long, old scroll from her robes, and curled it tight in her hands. Then, the brim of the hat opened like a mouth, and the old hat began to sing...
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known.
Bold Gryffindor from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad,
And shrewd Slytherin from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan,
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts school began.
Now each of these four founders,
Formed their own house for each,
Did value different virtues,
And the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor the bravest were,
Prized far beyond the rest,
For Ravenclaw the cleverest,
Would always be the best.
For Hufflepuff hard-workers were,
Most worthy of admission,
And power hungry Slytherin,
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide,
Their favourites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones,
When they were dead and gone.
'Twas Griffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head,
The founders put some brains in me,
So I could chose instead.
Now slip me snug around your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your head,
And tell where you belong.
The sorting hat finished his song on a high note and Rose clapped and cheered along with the other Hogwarts students until Professor McGonagal moved to the front and got everyone's attention. She unraveled the scroll she'd been holding and looked down her nose.
"Ainsley, Robert!" She called. For a moment no one moved, then a tall boy with brown tousled hair walked up the the stool and sat down. McGonagal placed the hat on his head. The boy sat for a moment before the hat bellowed. "HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hufflepuff table burst into applause and Robert Ainsley strode over to meet them.
"Bretwitt, Julie!" McGonagal called. A slightly chubby girl wearing a french braid marched to the stool and sat down, looking a little haughty and frazzled. The hat was placed on her head and a second later the hat had screeched "SLYTHERIN!" In everyone's ears. People rubbed their ears and shook their heads as McGonagal read another name. The process was both excruciatingly boring and exciting, Rose's heart jumped every time McGonagal passed yet another letter in the alphabet. Slowly the amount of first years gathered had dwindled into a lonely number of seven. Albus, Rose, Scorpius, Amelia and three others Rose did not know. One including the black-haired girl from Rose's boat. Suddenly a name brought Rose from her stupor. Amelia shakily made her way up to the stool and under the hat. Which had barely grazed her head when the hat yelled. "GRYFFINDOR!" Smiling broadly she hopped away to her house table. The next name McGonagal read from her scroll was Scorpius's, Rose clamped her mouth shut and Albus crossed his fingers.
Scorpius Malfoy walked from his spot next to Albus to the stool, Albus gave Scorpius a half-hearted pat on the back as Scorpius walked away. He marched bravely to the stool and sat down. The hat thought... And thought... For around a full minute until it bellowed "SLYTHERIN!" To the whole student body. Rose stared as Scorpius wobbled over to the Slytherin table, Rose felt sorry for Scorpius, hopefully he makes good friends in that house, she thought wistfully.
Few more were sorted before Albus was called and sorted into Slytherin as well. Albus stared wide-eyed at the house table before McGonagal had to prod Al from his seat, Al smiled weakly at Scorpius, and he smiled back when Al sat down. Rose gazed at her cousin sitting peacefully with the malfoy, they chatted awhile before something caught there attention, Scorpius, Al, and everyone else at the Slytherin table turned their looks to Rose, they all looked at her expectantly. Rose whipped her gaze to McGonagal, who was tapping her foot impatiently. Rose pointed to her chest and managed to squeak out. "Me?" McGonagal nodded furiously and motion to the wooden stool. Rose shyly quickened to the stool and sat down. Before the hat slid over her eyes, she could see Albus and Scorpius anxiously crossing their fingers.
Hmm... An inquiring voice filled her mind. Well, well, this is a pickle. Of course I've always admired a challenge. Ravenclaw? Or Gryffindor? Rose didn't answer. Well, I'm not making the same mistake I made with your mother... Rose didn't get in a word in before the old hat bellowed... "RAVENCLAW!" To everyone.
The hat was lifted from her blue eyes, she sat only a moment longer before she jumped as quickly as possible to her new house table, she sat across from a girl with long black hair. Rose smiled weakly at her and she beamed confidently back. Rose glanced around her to see Albus staring angrily at the plate in front of him. Rose suddenly felt very sad and lonely. They'd still see each other in the hallway... Right? Noreen Zabini was sorted into Slytherin, then Professor McGonagal stood at her pedestal and opened her arms to the school, like she was suggesting a group hug.
"Welcome, everyone!" She announced. "To another year at Hogwarts. Perhaps we can make this year as fun and even more memorable than last." A few people giggled and the teachers looked sternly at the suspects. McGonagal hushed the noise before continuing. "Yes, yes, I know. This year though, I have a special announcement. This year shall be my last at Hogwarts. I have decided to retire-" many boos and groans echoed in the great hall, adorned of course by the odd whoop of joy. "My post will be replaced by Professor Longbottom." McGonagal gestured to a handsome wizard standing up to grand applause. He sat back down, smiling almost manically.
"Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the forbidden forest is off limits and that a new and improved list of banished items have now been posted in front of his office. Also, I would like to add that quidditch tryouts will begin next weekend. Dig in!" As McGonagal finished on those words the dishes and serving plates filled with heaps of mashed potatoes, stuffing and everything else you could find in a thanksgiving dinner... as well as many assortments of smoked meat and pastries. Bowls of every kind of soup and broth caught Rose's attention, as did the trays of sweets and deserts which adorned every remaining crevice of the table. Rose stared, appalled at everything as everyone began serving themselves.
Rose looked over to the Slytherin table to see Albus and Scorpius stuffing their faces with food, she felt a small pang in her heart when she saw how well they were getting along. "Wow." Rose said. Not particularly paying attention to the food anymore.
"What?" The girl across from Rose asked, already holding a forkful of stuffing.
"I was just thinking, I can't believe Al was sorted into Slytherin!"
"Who?" She inquired.
Not like its any of her business, but Rose answered anyways. "My cousin. He's in Slytherin."
Suddenly a young boy, sitting beside the black-haired girl, who was fidgeting with his spectacles joined in the conversation. "Al, Is that your cousin?" The boy pointed to Albus sitting at the Slytherin table. Joking with Scorp.
Rose nodded. "Seems like it." She picked a ceramic bowl from its tower and served herself a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup.
"What did he want in the first place? What house I mean..." The boy continued.
The girl answered for Rose, as Rose was now crushing saltine crackers over her soup. "Gryffindor." She answered. Then she looked at Rose, "so I imagine." She said. "Hmm mm... I'm Jillian by the way."
"Hi." Rose smiled at Jillian and offered her the pitcher of pumpkin juice. Jillian took it gratefully.
"Oh." The boy resumed his interest with his glasses, he took them off and started cleaning the lenses. "I actually would've preferred Hufflepuff."
"Really?" Jillian and Rose said in sync. They dropped what they were holding and stared at the boy.
"Really." He confirmed. "Not as many expectations." The boy tucked his glasses into his robe and began pouring himself a fat slice of ham. "I'm Spencer Finnigan, by the way."
"Hi." Rose said. Rose vaguely remembered a visit to the Finnigan home. Rose's dad had been on an important business call and had to consult a friend. He brought Rose along to show off how many people he was connected with. "I think I remember your dad." She said.
"Seamus..." Spencer said. He took a sip of his juice as Jillian tackled the remaining pile of stuffing on her plate. "That's expected. You wouldn't know my mother. She was a muggle."
Rose didn't want to push the subject further but she asked. "Was?"
"She died of cancer when I was little."
Rose nodded. Her mother had told her of that disease. It wasn't pleasant.
The three first years resumed their attention to their dinner and ate until the food and dishes vanished from sight, right on cue everyone looked to Professor McGonagal for more instructions. McGonagal smiled broadly at everyone. "I hope you have enjoyed your welcoming feast. Now off to bed with you. Follow your prefects."
All at once everyone stood up, the sound of scraping benches and chairs filled the great hall. Rose followed Spencer and Jillian and the rest of Ravenclaw house up stairs and down corridors. As they trouped away from the Slytherins Rose waved good night to Albus and Scorpius, before they disappeared down the dungeon stairwell. Rose had to hold onto the back of Jillian's robe she nearly wandered away from the group, she was so tired.
The prefect leading the first year Ravenclaws came across a small archway, beyond that spun a tight staircase heading up. Rose, Jillian and Spencer followed close behind him as he began climbing the dizzying stairs. At the top there was a door, not so much a door as there were no hinges or handles, as it was just a flat expanse of wood with a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. The prefect stopped and turned to address the curious first years, all cramming to get a glimpse of the Ravenclaw tower entrance.
"This is the doorway to the Ravenclaw common room." He patronized the youngsters. Rose resisted the urge to say 'no shit Sherlock' as was a custom in the Weasley family. She settled for a small eye roll no one noticed. The prefect continued. "As the other houses have passwords, our knocker here asks questions."
Right on cue the eagle's beak creaked open and a woman's voice filled the air. "What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening?"
The first years looked around at each other for answers, everyone of them stumped. Meanwhile the prefect glanced happily across the group and waited for them to figure it out. Rose thought the answer was quite clear, apparently Jillian and Spencer did not, who were scratching their heads, they're eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"The answer is a man." Rose piped up.
The prefect stared, his mouth gaping open. "Y-yes." He stuttered. "How did you know that?"
Rose smiled and said. "Just a lucky guess?"
"Well reasoned." The eagle cooed. With a small click, a door handle and a small keyhole materialized on the aged wood. The prefect seemed to collect himself before smiling at the eleven year old's and pushing the door open to reveal the tall circular room beyond.
Rose and the other first years wandered to the center, gazing upwards and all around at the common room. The ceiling was high and painted with stars, which matched the carpet, bronze and blue curtains hung at decorative angles. The walls were punctured by tall spotless windows, and short bookshelves lined the room like baseboards. Students were already lounging in the multi-patterned armchairs and couches, books and scrolls were sprawled across coffee and side tables. But what really caught Rose's attention was the towering white marble statue of Rowena Ravenclaw in the corner, atop her head sat a delicate crown, Rowena's diadem. Rose's parents and her Uncle Harry had told her of Rowena's heirloom and how they found it. She watched it curiously. Suddenly Rose had trouble focusing, her left ankle felt sore and her head grew terribly heavy. Rose slumped against Spencer and Jillian for support, they propped Rose up in a nearby white and black polka-dot armchair. Rose smiled gratefully at them, and they returned the favour.
The prefect laughed at the sleepy first year and before catching everyone's attention. "I realize." He said. "That many of you are very tired. So bear with me a few more seconds. Girl's dormitories on the left, boy's on the right. Please DO NOT leave library books in the common room, we have had enough trouble with this in past years. I'm one of your prefects, Peter, if you need any pointers or help, please ask me anytime." Peter the prefect turned and dashed through a wooden door on the right of the common room. The boys followed. Jillian took hold of her new friend's arm, and helped her make her way to the door on the left, following the three other girls. They climbed yet another tight spiraling staircase till they came to the first landing. Inside, five beds were lining another circular room, the feet of the canopy beds pointing towards the center of the room, where a circular purple lounge room couch thing sat. Rose couldn't quite determine what it was, but she assumed it was for sitting.
Jillian hauled Rose over to a bed and dropped her on it. Rose began to giggle into the silk sky blue eiderdown sheets. Jillian giggled watching Rose. Then Jillian moved on to change into her pyjamas. Once she did she climbed into the bed beside Rose.
"Night Rose." She said.
Rose shifted so she could take off her shoes, she grappled with the laces for a moment before throwing them off and shimmying out of her robe. She was too tired to take off her uniform as well. Rose slid under the thick covers and mumbled a...
"Night Jill." Before falling asleep.
