Don't look back

Always be proud

Because you know

How far you've come

You know

What you have become

If life gets tough

Remember

Brace yourself

For the worst to come

But always know

You are your own strength

Your own hope

And your own help.

By-SPHP20896

CHAPTER 2:

I woke up in the morning and got ready for the day. I knew I'd get to see Scorpius and Lianna.

I was not nervous, but I felt sick as if I was going to throw up, and I didn't know why.

As I pulled my vibrant hair into a ponytail, I realized how much I'd grown.

Of course not physically because I was still a short person, but I definitely felt older, confident and mature.

Going to Hogwarts was always a very rushed but organized affair in our house.

I pulled my trunk down the stairs with a lot of difficulty, it was so heavy, Li always told me not to carry too many books but I always refused, now I felt the weight of the trunk.

I had no idea how this year was going to be but I had a vague idea that it might be very much like a dream.

I still hadn't figured out what I should tell my parents and I thought it better to talk to Scorpius first.

When I got into the car's backseat, next to Hugo I asked "Prepared for this year?'

He looked at me and sighed "I don't know actually, I mean you can't really predict OWLs can you?"

I nodded.

Mum said "Don't worry Hugo, they are not quite hard, they're pretty simple"

Dad totally disagreed "Your Mum is talking about herself, but for the rest of us who aren't gifted with absolute intelligence, it's pretty sickening and makes you frustrated"

Hugo and I exchanged a grin.

Mum said "Don't listen to your father, he has a habit of exaggerating"

Dad argued "I'm not exaggerating I'm just saying the truth Hermione, I can't feed the kids some stupid tales about my OWLs"

Mum said "You don't have to get them worried"

"For merlin's sake! Do you want me to say that I had a blast during my OWLs, want me to say it was amazing and I had a lot of fun? In my dictionary that is an exaggeration"

"Oh Ron! Don't flatter yourself, you haven't even read the dictionary!"

The argument continued all through the journey.

When we got to the station we put our trunks and our Owl cages on our trolleys and made our way towards the barrier.

I ran through the barrier and managed to bang into someone.

The person was Albus, he swore "Bloody hell!"

Aunt Ginny reprimanded "Albus, language"

He said weakly still rubbing his legs "Sorry Mum"

Aunt Ginny came up to help me, she helped me put my trunk back onto the trolley and move away so I could avoid collision with Hugo.

Aunt Ginny smiled, with her brown eyes shining. Aunt Ginny was always pretty, and so was Lily.

Albus said "Hey Rose"

Hugo came through the barrier and said "Mum and Dad are still arguing"

Aunt Ginny said "Let them be, they'll stop soon enough"

I asked "Where's Uncle Harry?"

Al answered "He'll be here soon, he had to go to the ministry in the morning"
Hugo asked "Then where's Lily?"

Aunt Ginny "She went to greet Lysander"

Al muttered "To snogg him more like"

Hugo and I grinned, Aunt Ginny glared "Don't you dare give your sister a hard time this year Albus, I'm warning you"

He rolled his eyes "I have better things to do Mum"
A male voice said "Yeah he'll be snogging Lianna while Lily's busy with Lysander"

Al blushed as Uncle Harry appeared followed by my parents.

Al said "Thanks Dad"

Uncle Harry replied "Your welcome Al"

I always found Uncle Harry very heroic, not just because he was Harry Potter but he just was and Al was the same, James was more easy-going but he too had that brave thing going for him.

Dad asked Uncle Harry "Harry? Did you find your OWLs simple and not frustrating?"

Hugo said "Merlin!"

I said "Not again Dad!"

Uncle Harry looked confused but he replied "Actually I found it quite the opposite, extremely frustrating and very pressurizing"

Dad looked satisfied he said childishly "See Hermione? I told you didn't I? We're just being truthful, there's no point giving the kids a false impression"

Hugo said exasperatedly before Mum could react "For heaven's sake please stop this, I know how hard the OWLs are, and I also know that I don't have to worry so just stop the barking!"

Al looked amused, Aunt Ginny was exchanging a look I didn't quite understand with Uncle Harry, they both looked at each other with something that told me it was private and I looked away because whatever it was, it was between them.

Al said in my ear "I saw Scorpius"

I looked up at him, Al had to stop growing, it was getting intimidating.

I asked quietly "Where?"

He said "He was talking to his parents"
I nodded.

Just then Mum asked "Oh Al! I forgot to ask, is everything fine between Lianna and you? Rose told us you had a bit of a disagreement"

Al looked at me questioningly, Hugo was blushing, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny looked surprised, but they waited for him to answer.

I just blushed and looked up at him apologetically, he looked from me to Mum "Yeah, but it's fine now, I apologized"

Dad said "It's always the men who have to apologize"

Mum said "You're an exception to that rule"

Dad blushed and the rest of us laughed.

Al looked at his watch and said "Mum I think it's getting late, we should get on to the train"

Aunt Ginny started asking "Where's Lily? She might miss the train!"

Just then Lily came up running "Oh! You all are here! I came to see why you're not on the train yet"

Al hugged his Mum "Bye Mum, take care, I'll write soon"

Aunt Ginny said "Don't forget to, and take care of your sister"

I turned away from the Potters to my family, my Dad pulled me into a hug "Take care Rose, your mother must have had told you some…uh…things yesterday night and I feel the same way, enjoy your year Rosie"

I nodded and gave a brave smile though I felt like I was going to faint.

I hugged my Mum and waited for Al, Lily and Hugo, Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry also gave me hugs wishing me all the best for my final year.

As we got onto the train Al grabbed me by the shoulders as I lost my footing because I felt dizzy. Once I was upright again he asked me concerned "Are you alright Rose, you look sick?"
I answered weakly "I'm….fine"

His emerald eyes narrowed and he said "Let's find you a place to sit"

We found Scorpius in a compartment all alone.

He smiled when he saw us.

He gave me a hug and said "I missed you"

I said closing my eyes my dizziness evaporating immediately "Me too"

Al smiled and put our trunks onto the rack.

Scorp pulled away and took me to a seat, he asked Al "Where's Lianna? The train's going to leave soon"

Al looked concerned "I don't know, I'll wait at the door"

He ran out of the compartment and Scorp said "I hope she makes it, she's head girl isn't she?"

I nodded "And Al's head boy"

I felt the train start to move, I said "I'm going to check if she's here"

Scorp nodded "I'll come too"

We walked towards the main entrance of the train, we saw Al yelling "Lianna run!"

We heard her yell back "I am running you fool!"

I resisted the urge to laugh.

She reached just in time so that Al could catch her hand and pull her onto the train.

She was breathing heavily, for a moment both Al and Li were lost in each other's gaze.

Scorpius was shaking with laughter behind me, I elbowed him and he whispered "Should we say something?"

I nodded and Scorpius coughed loudly.

Al heard us, so did Lianna, Li looked at me and blushed, I just smiled knowingly, Al blushed and said "Um…uh we should head to the front cabin, we're the Head girl and Head boy aren't we?"

Li nodded without saying anything.

Scorpius laughed and I glared at him.

Scorpius asked "Want me to take your trunk for you?"

Li nodded and handed it to him.

Scorpius headed back to the compartment.

Lianna said shyly "Uh….Al…um….you're still…well…um…actually.."

Al sit had his arms around her waist.

I said rolling my eyes "Merlin! Al let her go, you still have your hands around her"

She blushed deep red and Al blushed as well.

He said "So I'll head there and start, you come when, you're ready"

She nodded.

He headed off.

I asked "Why are you two still so awkward, you've dated for about two years"

She said "I guess we are not used to Public display of affection"

I said teasingly "Excuse me, really?"

She blushed "Okay fine, maybe not, but we just prefer not to be caught like this"
I laughed "Go on to the Prefect's cabin, we'll talk later"
She nodded and smiled "See you soon"
I nodded and walked in the other direction.

I saw Scorpius waiting for me.

I sat beside him and he said "Hey"

I replied "Hey"

I had already lost myself in his grey eyes.

He smiled "So, how was your summer?"

I sighed "I had to conceal the thing about us, I hate lying and you know it, I can't lie for nuts Scorp, we need to tell them soon or I might just go mad"
Scorp said "You know what, I told my parents"

I looked at him wide-eyed.

I gasped "What?"

He looked at his hands "Yeah, Mum was happy, Dad didn't mind but he did say it wasn't you he had a problem with but it was the family"

I asked "How do I tell my parents then?"

He seemed to be thinking "We'll figure something out, for now forget it"

I said "I feel so bad"
He pulled me closer to him "I know Rose, I know"

I asked "Do you think we'll be alright?"
He nodded reassuringly "Yes, I do think we'll be alright"

I smiled.

The rest of the morning we spent talking about our summers and random things.

When the trolley came we took as much food as we could so we'd have enough for Lianna and Albus who seemed to have disappeared.

After sometime Lianna came and flopped onto the seat.

She said "I'm starving"
I smiled and tossed her a chocolate frog which she grabbed out of the air, like the chaser she was.

Scorpius asked "Where is Al?"

She said through a mouth full of chocolate "I don't know, he disappeared after patrols, he said he'd be here soon"

Scorpius said disbelieveingly "he's your boyfriend"

She shrugged "I know, but what can I do?"

She looked as if she was alright but she was nervous and a little upset.

Al entered the cabin and said "Finally"
He sat beside Lianna and put his arm around her shoulder.

She continued to eat as if nothing had happened.

Scorpius asked "Where were you?"

He answered "Checking on Lily"

I asked "Why?"

He sighed "Mum's orders"

Scorp shook his head.

Lianna asked sharply "What's the matter with you?"

Al asked confusedly "What do you mean?"

She said "Forget it"
Then I remembered what day it was, it was Lianna's birthday and he had managed to forget it.

Scorpius asked "What's up with them?"

I whispered back "It's Lianna's birthday"

Scorpius said "Oh! Al is so dead"

I replied "She doesn't really care for birthdays but she never really gets a lot of attention from her family and that's why I always try to give her that one day before we come to school because she doesn't like every one knowing, but Al is apparently an exception"

Scorpius snorted.

Al asked "What's wrong?"
Lianna said "Actually I'm going to…..go"

She got up and left.

Al looked at me for help "Did I do something wrong?"

I smiled sympathetically "Al it's her birthday"

Al's eyebrows widened and he swore "Damn!"

He got up and left the compartment his robes flying behind him.

By the time we'd reached Hogsmeade Lianna had gotten back to her original mood.

Al had managed to console her. Scorpius found it funny.

When I saw the castle I felt confident, this year would be good.

I'd make it good.

I felt Scorpius's hand in mine "It'll be our best year at Hogwarts"

I nodded "It will"
I took a deep breath and walked towards the castle.

AN: Okay I've updated! Finally!Forgive me if there are any mistakes in any point of this chapter, I wrote this one in the middle of the night and I have been sleep-deprived for the past few days.

Please review!

Will update as soon as possible.

Enjoy it!

SPHP20896:)