As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered with frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs window defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch fields, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots.

The Quidditch season has begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor vs Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the house championship.

Hardly anyone had seen Harry play, although everyone knew he was. When it had become common knowledge he had gotten a howler saying, "That's James's son! I'm so proud of you! Remus is proud to even if he says he isn't!"

As Rose separated herself slowly from her brother and Ron, her relationship with the twins grew significantly closer. They helped her with her work when she needed it (which wasn't often) and they explored and often played pranks on those who didn't understand why the brilliant Girl-Who-Lived was hanging out with those Troublesome Pranksters.

The night before the first Quidditch match the common room was very noisy. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window. Rose nodded to them before being swept up by the twins who were so excited they could barely talk.

"What is it, guys?" She asked with a laugh as they dragged her to their designated table.

"We're going to win tomorrow! Your twin is amazing!" They both said excitedly.

"What did he do now?" She asked with a sigh.

"Nothing! We're just so pumped!" Fred explained.

Rose rolled her eyes and got out her homework, "Well, to calm you both down let's talk about something that isn't Quidditch."

"Christmas!" They chorused.

"That won't settle you down," she pointed out as she started checking her work.

"You're boring," they huffed, although she noticed that Fred's facial expression was less convincing.

"Fine," she said, putting away her already perfect work as her twin walked out of the common room. "I'm not boring. Let's talk Christmas."

She listened calmly as the twins slowly worked themselves down and smiled when they took their first yawns, rather happy that they were getting tired as she had work to do. "You two should sleep. Big day tomorrow."

They both stood and hugged her before heading to their room, letting her finally work on her schoolwork. What she didn't know, was that they were pretending to be tired in order to go plot in the sanctity of their room with Lee, who never told their secrets.

"You like her," George accused his twin as they started changing into his pajamas.

"As if you don't," huffed Fred as Lee snickered in the background. "What Lee? You like her too!" Fred accused.

"Mate, you're so infatuated you think everyone likes her," Lee cockily replied.

Before Fred could respond, his twin nodded, "It's true."

"Fine! I like her! She's smart and kind, I mean, you were there when she hugged us for getting her Maple," Fred said, pointing to the cat that had taken to sleeping on his bed when her master was busy.

"And notice how Maple only sleeps on your bed."

"Shut up." Fred groaned as he got Maple off of his bed. "I'm going to sleep."

He could still hear his twins and best friends laughter as he pulled the curtains closed around him.

Rose watched as a disgruntled Maple made her way down the boy's stairs and smiled slightly. "Hey there, girl. Did you have a nice nap?"

Maple ignored her and put her tail up, leading the way to Rose's room, which prompted Rose to follow her and go to bed, knowing that tomorrow would be a big day and that her brother and the Weasley twins would either be inconsolable or on cloud nine.

With Maple safely curled up on her back, Rose drifted off to sleep, not noticing when Hermione slipped into the room much later.

Next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages in the cheerful chattering of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.

Rose attempted to get her brother to eat something before the twins pulled her back towards them, piling their plates with food.

"Listen, Rose, he probably won't eat before the games until he gets used to it," Lee Jordan offered his friend.

"Yeah, but-"

"There are no buts. You should've seen these two their first year," Lee said with a smirk at his long-term friends.

They both just grunted in agreement, seemingly entirely focused on eating. Rose then noticed Lee wasn't eating much. "Shouldn't you be eating, Lee?"

"No, if I eat too much I'll get sick while commentating. So I just bring snacks," he said as if it was the obvious decision.

By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch field. Many students (including Rose) had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes.

Ron, Rose, and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean up in the top row. As a surprise for Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean, who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Hermione (with Rose's guidance) had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors.

Rose excitedly watched as the teams marched towards Madame Hooch, who was refereeing the game. She noticed Harry still looked rather green while she spoke to them until he mounted his broom. Then came a loud blast from Madame Hooch's whistle, and the game began.

"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor- what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive too-" Lee started.

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor. And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's last year only a reserve- back to Johnson and - no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle, and off he goes- Flint flying like an eagle up there- he's going to sc- no, stopped by an Excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindor's take the Quaffle- that's chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and - OUCH- that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger- Quaffle taken by the Slytherins- that's Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger- sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which-" Rose sighed, as she could tell it was George. "-nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes- she's really flying- dodges a speeding Bludger- the goal posts are ahead- come on, now, Angelina- Keeper Bletchley dives- misses- GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

The cheers of the Gryffindors surrounded Rose, who although was excited wasn't quite excited enough to scream about it.

"Budge up there, move along."

"Hagrid!"

Ron, Hermione and Rose squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them.

"Bin watchin' from me hut," Hagrid said, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"

"Nope," said Ron. "Harry hasn't had much to do yet.

"That's a good thing," Rose muttered as Hagrid said, "Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," while raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.

Rose felt pride as she watched her twin glide over the field way up above them. Although she got nervous when a bludger headed his way with Fred chasing it, shouting something to Harry before sending it straight to Marcus Flint.

"Slytherin in possession," Lee said. "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell and speeds toward the- wait a moment- was that the Snitch?"

A murmur was sent through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.

Harry dove after the streak of gold. Neck and neck he and Terence Higgs hurtled toward the Snitch- all the chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.

Harry was faster, which was obvious, but he was thrown off course by Marcus Flint, who had blocked Harry on purpose.

"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.

Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again.

Dean Thomas was yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!"

"What are you talking about, Dean?" said Ron.

"The best idea I think he's ever had," hummed Rose.

With a slight blush, Dean continued, still furious, "Red card! In soccer, you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!"

"This isn't soccer, Dean."

Hagrid and Rose, however, were on Dean's side.

"They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry out of the air."

Lee, to Rose's happiness, was finding it difficult not to choose sides, "So- after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"

"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul-"

"Jordan, I'm warning you-"

"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."

As Lee continued commenting, Rose noticed Harry zigzagging through the sky, every now and then making violent swishing movements as if to unseat him.

"Harry!" Rose gasped, frantically searching the crowd for the source of the jinx she was sure was being placed on his broom.

The people started gasping and pointing as Harry's broom started doing a barrel roll, retroactively making Rose feel sick until she saw two people, one was Snape, and the other was Quirrell. Not knowing the issues Harry's friends had with Snape, she shoved the binoculars into Ron's hand.

"Hermione, with me!" She yelled as Harry was thrown from his broom, now only holding on with one hand. She felt immensely thankful that the Weasley's were circling under him, ready to catch him.

Hermione and Rose sprinted, with Rose shouting the plan to Hermione, "Those blue flames I taught you? Cast that on Snape's robes. I'll get Quirrel," Hermione looked startled but nodded.

Without casting any magic Rose hurled herself at Professor Quirrell just as Hermione set fire to Snape's robes, "Professor, save my brother!" she wailed as a means of an excuse. She noticed Harry stop swinging wildly and smiled, what she hoped was thankfully, up at her Professor, "Thank you!" and she and Hermione ran back, watching as Harry hurtled towards the ground and landed on all fours, looking as if he were going to be sick, before he spit up something gold.
"I've got the snitch!" he called.

The game ended in complete confusion, and while Rose stayed to congratulate the Weasley twins and to thank them, Harry was whisked away by Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid.

As soon as the Weasley twins exited the changing room Rose tackled them both, "Oh, thank you so much!"

"For what?" they chimed, in complete confusion.

"You were there when Harry needed you. Thank you for trying to save him."

Slowly they returned the hug, perhaps with Fred a bit more enthusiastic, before all three moved away, "It's no big deal, Rose," George said.

"Yeah, I'm sure he would've done it for us too," Fred said.

"But still. Thank you."

They started walking back to the castle, the boys still exhausted but happy about the huge lead that they now had. Rose was just happy that her best friends were happy and her twin was okay.

Christmas was on its way, and Rose, being ever prepared, had sent for money from Sirius and Remus and then ordered all her gifts via Owl (Galen wasn't all that happy about the other owls that were seen visiting her for a while). But with all of her gifts ready by December 5th she hadn't been that worried about Christmas.

One day in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find that it was covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban (they still aren't sure how Rose got out of trouble). The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.

No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the great hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. Worst of all were professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist before them and they had to keep as close as possible to their hot cauldrons.

Rose had asked Draco, under her breath, how he kept warm in the dungeons. He had proudly informed her that Snape had taught them all heating charms just in case, and then proceeded to cast them on her whenever she was going down to the dungeons.

Rose, however, wasn't sure what to think about the winter holidays. Her brother wouldn't be going home, and neither would the twins. She had thought, perhaps, that she could go home, but then she had got a letter from Remus, that was short, but got it's point across.

Rose,

Sirius is on a trip, and I have things to deal with on my own this Christmas. We hope you and Harry have a good Christmas.

-Remus

Although Rose had been heartbroken, she appreciated that she wouldn't have to choose between her friends and her family.

Once the holiday's started, though, Rose recognized something. Her twin and his best friends were up to something mischievous. She could see the twinkle in her twins eye, see their hushed conversations, and she knew, right then and there, that whatever it was was big. So, instead of spying on her twin, she asked him straight on.

"Well, what is is?" she asked him one day.

"What is what?" he asked.

"Well, whatever it is you, Ron, and Hermione are always whispering about. I know something is going on, and you should tell me what it is."

Harry was silent for a moment before sighing, "Look, it's about the trapdoor."

"Not again!"

"Yes, again. We found out it has something to do with Nicholas Flamel."

Rose stared at him wide-eyed, automatically knowing what he and his friends had been whispering about, but knowing she couldn't tell her brother that, "I… I have to go."

Rose ran as fast as her feet could carry her to Professor McGonagall's office, and knocked, waiting impatiently for her to answer.

"Come in."

Rose rushed into her room, panting a little from running, and stared at her slightly wide-eyed professor, "I need to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Whatever for?"

"Advice?"

"I can give you advice, Rose. Come, sit down."

Rose reluctantly listened to her professor and sat across from her. "So, Miss Potter," McGonagall asked, slipping back into her professionalism. "What exactly seems to be the issue?"

"It's not an issue per say. I just need to talk to Professor Dumbledore. You must understand, this is nothing against you, but Professor, I can't possibly discuss this with you."

Professor McGonagall looked at her and sighed knowingly, "Well, I suppose I can help you… He enjoys Sugar Quill's when he's thinking."

"Thank you!" Rose said as she dashed out of the room to where the twins had told her Professor Dumbledore's office was. Once she reached the Gargoyle's she took a deep breath, and shakily spoke, "Sugar quills."

She went up the stairs and knocked on his door, coming in when beckoned to. His stare over his half-moon spectacles beckoning her to speak.
"Sir I-"

"Have a seat," he said motioning to the chair in front of his desk. "Although, I can assure you your uncle is fine."

"Uncle…?" she asked, before a much younger voice filled her head, crying out 'Unka Moo'y! Unka Pa'oot!' She shook her younger self out of her head. "You know what's going on with Sirius and Remus?"

"Sirius believe's he's caught the trail of Peter Pettigrew."

"And Remus…?"

"That is another matter."

Rose waited for him to continue, but after is silence permeated the room she decided to move forward, with much more uncertainty than she wanted to admit to. "Harry and his friends… They accidentally went to the third-floor corridor. They opened a door, met a Cerebus and noticed a trapdoor. They… They say it has something to do with Nicholas Flamel. And I know what he's famous for sir, you can't be hiding the Philosopher's stone here, can you?" She said.

"Don't worry dear, it is well protected," He said, templing his fingers in front of his face. "I don't think your brother or anyone else will be able to get to it."

Rose frowned, noting that he obviously didn't know her brother, but she reserved her judgment. "I just thought you should know sir."

"Thank you for telling me."

Rose felt her dismissal, and as she left it dawned on her that the old man wouldn't do anything to help her. She walked absentmindedly back to the Gryffindor common room and was immediately pulled into plans for the welcome back feast by the Weasley twins and Lee, who were sure that a prank was the best idea in the world, as they were itching to prank someone.

"Okay, fine, if you won't let us prank the whole school, why not the Slytherins?" Lee offered after a full five minutes of back and forth.

"Yeah! That seems fair!" George said excitedly.

"Okay, guys, not all Slytherins are bad. Pranking them just because they're Slytherin is pointless," Rose said, thinking of her rather rude Slytherin friend.

"Oh? Does Rose have a crush on a Slytherin?" George jested, much to his brother's annoyance.
"If I did what would you say?" Rose shot back angrily. "It's not like they aren't human. They're not just sneaky people, they have feelings. And if they're friends with you they're pretty loyal too."

Rose's hand went to the Snake bracelet she wore around her wrist that no one was yet to question. She noticed Fred's eyes follow her motion, so she removed her hand and sighed, "Look, guys, I have a friend in Slytherin. He's not the nicest fellow, but he's nice enough, and he acts much more mean than he is because of who his father is."

"Oh? And who could this 'good' Slytherin be?" the twins chorused.

"You'll freak out when you find out," she warned.

"Try us."

Rose sighed, and looked at Lee apologetically, knowing in advance that the twins really would freak out, "Draco Malfoy."

For a second there was silence, then the explosion happened. "WHAT?!"

"Guys-"

"No, no, no, no! You do not get to 'guys' us! You're friends with… With him?!" Fred yelped.

"I thought you were a good girl Rose," groaned George.

"He's really not that bad. I've been friends with him for years."

This was, apparently the wrong thing to say, "Years?" all three chorused.

Rose sighed, but knew that them finding out was inevitable, and it was better that they knew now rather than later, "If you guys only knew the real him then you'd see what I see."

Fred looked angry at this statement and was about to say something when George held up his hand, "Wait. Look, we don't like the guy, or his family, or anything to do with him, really. On the other hand, I do like Rose, and I think she's a pretty good judge of character."

Rose smiled at George, happy that he had calmed down, "Thank you."

"No problem," George said with a smile before turning to Lee and Fred. "Well?"

Lee was the first to respond, "Yeah, Malfoy's are notoriously arse's, but if you think he's good, then he's good."

Fred looked as if he wanted to disagree, but he didn't openly argue, for this Rose was thankful, as she didn't want any of them to be upset with her.

So they went back to plotting, deciding that pranking their fellow Gryffindors and themselves would work best because then they can't prove that they were the ones to instigate it; if they did it right, that is.