"Rosie! Rosie! Rosie! ROSIE!" Rose Minerva Weasley Granger sighed irritably. Her cousin, Albus Severus Potter Weasley, was very interested in talking to her recently. Normally, that would be fine, as she found his company enjoyable, but lately he only wanted to talk about one thing. One. Thing. ONE.

This thing was Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, Rose, as a very rational young lady of almost eleven, wasn't very worried. From listening to her parents and older cousins talk about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she had created a mental list of all the things people worried about. Academics. Social Life. Future Career. Reputation. As a first year, her worries should have been: a) sitting alone on the train- but she knew her cousin Albus Severus Potter Weasley would be attached to her tighter than any Giant Squid. b) Falling in the lake- but her mother had charmed all her clothes to be warm and dry. c) The Sorting- but every Weasley has been in Gryffindor for generations upon generations.

She thought of other things she could be worrying about. Staining her robes during the Welcome Feast? No, her mother, Ms. Hermione Jean Granger de Weasley, had Charmed her clothes against stains as well. Not making friends with the other Gryffindor girls? No, for who wouldn't like a Weasley girl? Should she worry that she'll fail all her classes on the first day? She knew that everyone who had met her found her to be exceptionally bright, and she had displayed signs of magic form a very early age, exhibiting erratic control by her eighth birthday. She wasn't worried about spells being too difficult for her, because she had already peeked through a few textbooks and tried out her wand. Everything worked fine.

Everything was fine.

"ROSIE! Let down the ladder!"

Rose sighed irritably again, finally succumbing to the piercing annoyance of her cousin Albus' voice. She gently undid the latch, sliding the door of the tree house open. Taking her time, she undid the knots in the ropes holding the wrapped up ladder in place above the doorway, before letting it down slowly. Within moments a little boy with black messy hair and bright green eyes clambered into view.

"Hey!" he said breathlessly "What's up?"

"Nothing," replied his cousin. "Just subjecting myself to solitary confinement before, you know, being constantly surrounded by others." This was what she worried about. As the elder of two children, she had been somewhat ignored when baby Hugo came along. Unlike other older siblings, Rose did not pout or sulk; she delighted in the freedom from her micro-managing mother, over-opinionated father, and their constant spats. She'd been four or five when her mother didn't come to pick her up from school one day. Her father hadn't either. Rose had told her teacher that she saw her parents outside and walked home. It was the first time of many things.

The first time she acted independently.

The first time she lied.

The first time she could lie down on the side of the road and smell the flowers like her mother never had time to do.

The first time she ran without anyone telling her to be careful.

She'd loved it.

Almost eleven year old Rose let herself remember the story, closing her eyes

She hadn't been worried; she understood that her parents were probably doing something very important. And they had been, Hugo was a very important person to get out of Mommy. Other nights, one of her parents didn't come home for dinner because they had work to do, and Rose had understood that this time, both of them had work to do. She had to make do on her own.

"Maybe there are empty classrooms and you can sit in them." Albus's squeaky voice pulled her back to reality. She shrugged, thinking of her own bedroom, where she whiled away many hours amusing herself by coloring or drawing, or doing her homework. "Maybe."

"Rosie?"

"Hmm?"

Albus leaned forward and whispered, eyes wide, "I'm worried…"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Oh?" she lifted her eyebrows, implying "Interest", "Caring", and "Concern", all of which she lacked in this conversation.

"Yeah…about the…you know…Sorting…"

She put her "Reassuring and Confident" face on. "Don't be, you'll be in Gryffindor, just like everyone else. I know you told me your dad said he was almost in Slytherin, but he didn't end up there, did he? And your mom was an immediate Gryffindor, so she brings your chances down even more." Rose loved Probability. To reassure Albus, she had made a chart with numbers and everything to demonstrate how, according to both their parentage, their placement in Slytherin was under 5%: officially Unusual.

"I guess so…"

"I know so." She replied matter-of-factly.

The cousins talked a while longer. They got along very well, usually. Albus, though technically older, was the more sheltered, dependent child, whereas Rose was itching to get on her own. She was the leader, he the follower; it had always been so.

They continued to chat, Rose trying as often as possible to steer the conversation away from the blasted school, until dinnertime.

That night, Hugo came in to her room and crept into her bed. "I'm miss you" he mumbled. Resisting the urge to correct him, Rose sighed, putting her arm around him. "Me too, little one, me too."

Rose's alarm went off at seven in the morning: four hours to get to the train station. Everything was already packed; she just liked to be ready. She also had to do something her parents probably wouldn't approve of. She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Hugo, and got dressed, creeping around her room to find her denim trousers and her purple sweater. Opening the door just a crack, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and brushed her long rose-red hair. Before leaving the bathroom, she paused, contemplating her reflection. Dark blue eyes and rose red hair, skin so pale it could have never seen the sun…not one freckle or anything resembling a tan marred her fae-like beauty. No other Weasley had zero freckles. Even Mommy got some in the summer.

Rose crept to the attic door, careful not to step on the creaky steps in front of her parent's bedroom. Slipping in through the narrow space, she peered into the darkness. A crib, a box of baby clothes, a suitcase, two suitcases, a birdcage, and…there! The old school trunks of her parents…she crept closer, using her thumb to make out the name. "Ronald Bilius Weasley Prewett" no, she needed the other one. Rose clambered over the huge old trunk and looked for a nametag on the second…"Hermione Jean Granger Stone" yes!

Rose took out her wand. She'd gotten it barely a month ago, but she had looked through her textbooks and figured out a few of the more useful spells. Alohomora! She whispered. The lock slipped right off into her hand. Her heart pounded with triumph. Lifting the lid, she saw seven spotless folders. The farthest left had a label First Year. Rose took a moment to marvel at her mother's organization before pulling out First Year and opening it. Dividers were named Astronomy, Charms, Defense, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration. Alphabetical order. She knew, for a fact, that all the courses had changed since her mother attended, as a result of different teachers, better teaching methods, new discoveries…all, except one. She grabbed the History of Magic folder. From what her cousins had told her, Professor Binns was the most boring, painful teacher, and he never changed his lectures. Smiling at her own cleverness, she took a quick look through the folder…it was perfect… her mother had kept every day of notes, with the dates, and at the back—this is what she'd been looking for. "Final Copy of Notes- HoM". She knew her mother had rewritten the entire year's worth of notes for every class at the end of the year in order to review for the final exam, and here, Rose had everything she needed.

I can get friends this way… she thought, imagining the possibilities of having all her History of Magic notes before even starting school. Professor Binns didn't know any of his students- he never even took role call. It was perfect. Her Gryffindor companions would think her brave for skipping class and would ask to join her, and ask to copy her notes, and everyone would like her…

She wondered if she should take all the History of Magic notes, and just keep them in her trunk for all seven years of education. It was easy enough. In moments, she had seven individually clipped years' worth of Binns notes; even everything she needed to know for her OWLS and NEWTS! Rose felt so smart, she almost wondered if the Hat would Sort her into Ravenclaw, before dismissing the idiotic notion. Weasleys went to Gryffindor.

She crept back downstairs, the entire operation only having taken about ten minutes.

Realizing the time, 7:30, Rose went back to her bedroom and woke Hugo up, giving him a big hug and whispering "It's time to wake up, little one…" He yawned hugely and she smiled as she helped him into his favorite trousers, bright blue corduroys, and a dark blue sweater. She supervised as he brushed his teeth and she helped him comb his hair before tying his shoes and holding his hand to go downstairs. 8:00.

"Wothie?"

"Mmm?" She replied while preparing their oatmeal. An owl flew in through the window and she gave him two Knuts from the change bowl for the Daily Prophet.

"Who will wake me up when you go?"

"Well, I showed you how to set the alarm by yourself, remember? And you have your teddy bear who will hug you in the morning and remember how Meme recorded my voice in a little box and put it inside your Mr. Bear? You will still hear my voice,"

"But not you, really." There was a pause. Rose had kept secret how much the thought of leaving her little one pained her. She took a deep breath and sat next to him, pulling him towards her. Tears pricked her eyes as he immediately snuggled into her, arms winding around her neck and laying his head under her chin.

"No, not me, really."

Brother and sister cuddled until the microwave beeped. "Oatmeal's ready!" Hugo sang, delighted.

"Certainly is, what fruit do we want today?" She looked in the refrigerator. "How about…blueberries?"

"Boo-berries! Boo-berries! Boo-berries!" Hugo chanted,

"Alright! Alright, boo-berries it is." She sprinkled cinnamon, syrup, and blueberries into their bowls. One said Rose and the other Hugo.

She set them on the table and they ate, both savoring their final moments together. When they were finished, Rose rinsed the bowls and spoons and helped Hugo dry them before returning them to the cupboard. She checked the clock, 8:30.

"I think we have time for a game, Hugo, what do you want to do?"

He had asked her to read to him his favorite story. She knew it was to hear her voice as long as possible, and he clung to her the entire time. "The End."

"Again! Again! Again-again-again-again…please…" Rose smiled. This had been her favorite story until she grew out of them. "Martin Miggs again? Or Tintin?"

The reaction was immediate "Tintin! Tintin!

He was the perfect listener, pointing at the pictures for things he didn't want her to miss, laughing out loud at the twin bobbies and singing the theme song when it was over (Tintin, Milu, and Captain Haddock!…)

Suddenly, there was a bang and a slam as doors and cupboards opened and closed. "Kids! Kids! Oh my Merlin- the time…half past nine…KIDS!"

Hermione Granger appeared in the kitchen, throwing two bananas in her purse and starting the coffee maker while trying to put her hair up into a bun…"RONALD! GET THE HELL OUT OF BED….oh, damn it all…"

"Good Morning, Mommy!" Hugo sang. Hermione shrieked and dropped her mug, ceramic shards going everywhere as she turned around. "Oh, kids, good morning, I, the alarm, it, um, well- Good morning. You seem to be ready? Good. What are we going to do without you, Rosie? Get your father."

Rose took Hugo's hand and led him around the remains of the mug. Nearing the master bedroom door, Rose put her finger to her lips, "Sh, ok?" Hugo nodded in response. She nudged the door open. Ron Weasley was, as Meme would say, out. On his back, his mouth wide open and snoring like a thunderstorm, Rose grinned in triumph when she saw his foot sticking out of the covers. Motioning for Hugo to get up on the bed, Rose positioned herself at the exposed foot. She began the process.

Ron started to jerk a little, eyelids fluttering as Rose tickled his foot. Right when he really began to wake up, Hugo screamed into his ear as loud as he could. Rose joined them on the bed and the children began jumping up and down, occasionally falling on top of their father. "Bloody Hell! What is going on- Oh…good morning." He groaned.

"Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, guess what?" said Hugo, allowing himself to bounce to a crosslegged, still position on the bed. "Wothie's going on the Hogwath expweth today!"

Ron immediately shot up, engulfing both his children in a huge hug. "How could I possibly forget? Happy Hogwarts day to you, Rosie!"

Hermione's voice carried down the hallway, "Ron! We need to leave by ten! Its 9:30!" He groaned again, stretching as he got himself out of bed, "Coming, coming…alright, kiddies, you have a half hour to get ready, step on it!" He stared at them expectantly.

Rose and Hugo stared back. "You have a half hour to get ready," Rose replied with a smile as she slipped out the door. "Step on it!" Hugo followed, grinning hugely.

At 10:00 AM all four of them, accompanied by Rose's cat, a large trunk sporting the name Rose Minerva Weasley Granger, and two bananas, were in the car, leaving their little house.

On the way, Hermione asked Rose if there was anything she was worried about, for example, homesickness? The people? The Sorting?

Rose was about to reply that she had actually gone over everything, and rationalized herself out of worrying when her father interrupted, "If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you, but no pressure…"

"Ronald Bilius!" Her mom's indignant protest was somewhat undone by the small chuckle that accompanied it and the distracted tone in which it was said. Her dad laughed and said, "I'll have to say that one to Harry. That is a good one. Yes, very funny."

Hugo looked at her and asked "What is 'dithown'?"

"Disown. It means when someone's parents decide to not be their parents anymore. Then the someone has no family."

There was a pause as Hugo struggled to comprehend. "But what if the someone had a brudder and he didn't disown the someone?"

"It's not his decision. It is the parent's decision."

"What about aunts and uncles and cousins and Memes and Yayos and Grandmas and Grandpas?"

"They don't decide either. The someone still has no family."

"Can they still talk to the someone? And be friends instead?"

Rose paused, thinking. "I don't know. Maybe."

Hugo's voice got small, "Can we be friends?"

Rose laughed at him "Silly little one. We will always be family. Family doesn't get Sorted into anything but Gryffindor."

"What about Teddy?"

"He's adopted family, his ma was in Hufflepuff just like him. So no non-adopted family doesn't get into Gryffindor." That had a lot of negatives, Rose thought.

"Oh."

There was a silence, a lull of conversation during which each person in the car contemplated what it would mean to be without family. Abandoned and unwanted, maybe friends but not family. Not family.

"Can the someone find anodder family?"

"I don't know. I think so."

They arrived at King's Cross. Ron helped Hugo out of the car and put Rose's trunk on a cart as Hermione double-checked that her daughter had everything she needed.

As the little family made their way to the platform, Hermione, carrying Hugo so Rose wouldn't miss the train, indicated at which pillar they had to go through. Ron said, "Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous" (quote of Mrs. Weasley).

Rose took a deep breath, studying the brick wall that was getting closer with every step. She had obviously done this before, to see other, older cousins off to school, but she had never done it with a big trolley in front of her. Her apprehension was more due to the enormity of the change her life was about to go through than any preoccupations about a seemingly solid wall.

Hugo had squirmed down and went to hold on to Rose's jumper, as if to join her crossing. She prepared herself to Go when Mom and Dad laughed and took Hugo away. They said "He can't go to school with you, Rosie. You have to go alone now, a big girl now." Mom said, "An independent girlie."

You are alone now. The sentence resounded in both Rose and Hugo's heads, as if thinking the same thing. Can we still be friends? Asked Hugo's eyes. Rose wanted to shout Yes but she knew her eyes whispered I Don't Know. Maybe.