Disclaimer: I do not own, nor will I ever own, any characters of the Harry Potter series. They all rightfully belong to Ms. J.K. Rowling whom I wish I was, but as misfortune should have it, I am not.

The Fateful Meeting

It was fresh, warm and sunny day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The students were enjoying this rare and wonderful weather outside. Many were seated on the grass beneath trees and gossiping. Others were watching the Ravenclaw Quidditch team practice out on the Quidditch pitch.

There were four students in particular who were enjoying their worry-free Saturday. The first of the four was a tall, dark haired young man with sparkling, green eyes. He was telling news of some sort to the other three. Then there were two boys, both identical in looks and in expressions as they listened to the boy with dark hair. These twins in particular had dirty blonde hair with identical pointed noses and ears that stuck out (although their hair covered this and so it was hardly noticeable).

And then there was the shortest, and only female, of the group. She had wavy, brown hair with light brown eyes to match.

"—And so they're getting married this summer. As soon as we finish school," concluded the boy with green eyes.

"Really, Al?" said the girl now. "Victoire and Teddy are really getting married? Oh, I knew they would. They've been going out for a while now."

"And I also heard that Victoire was also going to ask you to be one of her bridesmaids," said Al. "But I heard that from James and I'm not exactly sure if I can trust him on that one."

"So, shouldn't you be doing your Transfiguration essay?" asked one of the twins. "It is due on Tuesday and it's twelve inches long. Have you even started?"

"Lysander, it's a Saturday," said Al. "I don't want to ruin a perfectly good Saturday by doing homework. Tell him, Rosie."

"No, he's right," said Rosie. "You should be doing your homework. See, now if you had done it when the three of us had done it instead of running off with James, you'd have it finished by now."

Al sighed. "He's my older brother, he forced me to," he whined.

Rosie rolled her eyes. The twins called Lorcan also shook his head.

Al's full name was actually Albus Severus Potter. His older brother was James Sirius Potter and he also had a younger sister, Lily Luna Potter. James was a rather mischievous, but mild troublemaker who liked dragging his brother into some of his schemes.

Rosie, who's name was actually Rose Weasley, was Al's cousin and best friend since the age of about two when Al shared his crayons after a lawn gnome stole Rosie's. Rosie also had a younger brother by the name of Hugo. Hugo was more laid back and lazy while Rosie was one of the brightest in her year and always studied. The Scamander twins they met a couple of years before they attended Hogwarts. Their mother, Luna Lovegood, was a good friend of their parents. Both twins were also in Ravenclaw.

And ever since the first year, all four friends had been inseparable. It was now their sixth year. The pressures of O.W.L.s exams didn't sit on their shoulders and N.E.W.T.s were more than a year away. Life was going well for the four friends. Their only worries were the Slytherins.

Slytherins still carried a nasty reputation over their heads. Cunning and sly, Slytherins tended to be obnoxious and loud and very rude. Many of the older Slytherins would tease the younger first years and make fun of anyone they could. But many had learned to ignore them over the years.

It was at that moment that two, very big, Slytherins headed outside. Rosie looked up and gave a heated sigh. "Here comes trouble," she murmured, "Anderson and Mitchell at five."

Both Anderson and Mitchell then stopped as they approached the two Gryffindors and two Ravenclaws. "Look what have here, the Weasel, Potty, and the twin Salamanders."

"The lot of you aren't very bright or creative, are you?" said Rosie. "Try coming up with some new insults for a change. As if the four of us haven't heard those names already."

Anderson and Mitchell both glared at her. Rosie knew that acting nonchalant would be enough to get them off their backs, at least for now. Anderson and Mitchell never gave up trying to annoy them and would always come back later on. They both turned their backs and continued on their way while Rosie sighed. "Which poor soul do you think they'll torment next?"

"It's not really our concern, is it?" said Al. "Just as long as they don't bother us."

"I suppose," said Rosie as she watched the two Slytherins trying to take a second year's money bag.

"It's almost twelve," said Lorcan, looking at his watch. "I'm going to start going in for lunch if the lot of you would like to come along.

"Let's go then," grinned Al. "I could use a bite to eat." And so the four stood up and made their way inside the castle. Rosie glanced back and noticed the two Slytherins had left the second year and were by a tree picking on a student she didn't recognize.

"You three go on ahead, I'll catch up later," she said turning back around.

"Hey, Rosie! Where are you going?" said Lysander.

"Leave her, you heard her. She'll catch up later," said Al. And so the three boys ran inside to the feast that awaited them.

Rosie was making her way towards Anderson and Mitchell. She just couldn't take it anymore. She hated when they picked on those who couldn't defend themselves. She had stood by and let them tease countless victims while her three friends cared more about the latest Quidditch game or the pretty girl from Hufflepuff.

She carefully approached the two Slytherins. "Oi! Why don't the two of you stop picking on people for a change? Bet you six galleons you couldn't go a day without beating up some poor first year who's three times smaller than the two of you."

Rosie instantly knew that she was going about this the wrong way. She had acted on impulse and without a plan. Anderson and Mitchell turned around to face her. Both of them looked a lot more menacing now that she was alone and without her comrades to back her up. She took out her wand and pointed it at them.

"What do you plan do to if we don't stop, eh, Weasley?" retorted Mitchell.

"I'll hex you," sneered Rosie standing her ground. "I'm stubborn. I'm warning you, I'm not afraid to hex you right here and now unless you leave."

They both laughed. "She thinks she can take the both of us, does she?" said Anderson. Neither of them were too bright, but their physical strength more than made up for that. That's when Mitchell threw a punch but Rosie ducked out of the way and his hand made contact with the tree. His face was pained as he bit his lip to avoid letting a howl of pain escape his lips. His knuckle was bloody and covered in splinters. Rosie then took advantage of this distraction tripped Anderson as he moved forward to have a look at Mitchell's knuckle. He stumbled forward and fell face first into dirt.

Rosie laughed at her triumph and sheer luck. "Well, go on, can't even handle one girl?"

The Slytherins both regained themselves. Mitchell was glaring at her as he held his bloody knuckle. Anderson sneered. "Watch your back, Weasley, we'll get you," he said. Both of them then stalked off into the castle, to the Hospital Wing no doubt to get his hand fixed.

After a few seconds of soaking in her victory, Rosie then remembered the whole reason for the confrontation in the first place. She then turned and was shocked at who she saw was the victim. It was a Slytherin they had been picking on. But upon a closer look, Rosie realized it was Scorpius Malfoy. His blonde hair was in disarray and one of his eyes was purple. He had a bloody, swollen lip and was slumped on the floor.

Rosie hesitated but then held her hand out to help him up. He didn't take it. In fact, he ignored her. He got up and steadied himself and picked up his book.

"A thank you would be nice," said Rosie now. "I just saved your hide."

Scorpius gave Rosie a look. "I was fine," he spat at her.

Rosie looked shock. She stood there and examined him. He was rather tall and she had never noticed before but he never seemed to have any friends. As far as she could remember in her memory, Scorpius Malfoy was always wandering around on his own.

After dusting the dirt off his robes, Scorpius then walked away and disappeared into the castle leaving Rosie to just stand there bemused and with a new goal in mind for the year. She would befriend Malfoy and make him like her no matter what it took. She would attempt to break the turbulent relationship between the two rival houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin. She didn't know if she could do it, she didn't know if it was possible but she did know that she would try and that it wouldn't be easy.