Disclaimer: this is all fanfiction. Rose Zeller is actually in the order of the phoenix. The world of harry potter is owned by JK Rowling.

Chapter 9- Jarred

Jarred's mother had conjured him a suitcase and he had just started packing. At first, he had been perplexed how all of his stuff would ever fit. After packing his cauldron, his brass scales, his telescope, all his books and robes, and Ignotus's owl treats, he reasoned that his mother must have put an undetectable extension charm before giving it to him. That must have been why we had gone to the ministry last tuesday, Jarred thought to himself, extension charms are heavily controlled by the ministry because of possible misuse. He knew all this because Rose had given him an exceptionally long lecture about various wizarding laws. She had stated that as the brother of the future minister of magic, he had better learn all this.

Just then, he heard a knock on the door. Before he could let the person in, the door creaked open on it's own accord. It was Rose. She looked nervous. Jarred was surprised to see that Ignotus was perched on her left shoulder. "Mum said you should keep Ignotus in your room from now on". She whispered.

"Okay…" Jarred said, relieved, but also worried. What was the matter with Rose? She was never this quiet.

"If you want, I could pack with you" She said louder this time, her usual prideful tone returning "Orla taught me what a Hogwarts student must bring".

Jarred flinched as her harsh gaze swept over his cluttered possessions. "And what to leave behind." She added sternly "I have already packed what was on the list. Books, robes, and other sturdier stuff on the bottom. Slightly more delicate, yet still very heavy items next. On the top I suggest putting your small, but not too breakable things."

Jarred just gaped at her, trying to hide the unorganized mess of belongings that were starting to fall out of his trunk. "And for the leftover objects" She continued, much to Jarred's disappointment "For example, your wand, name tag, any valuables you like to keep close. Those all go in the front pocket."

She took a deep breath. "There." She said. To his amazement, she had magically packed every one of his belongings as she named them "Any questions?"

"B-but...Mum said-!" Jarred stuttered.

"Silly!" She said, waving her hand at him dismissively "We haven't gotten to school yet, I can do all the magic I want. It's you who should be careful, I'm only 9. I can get away with anything."

Jarred seriously doubted this, but kept his mouth shut. Besides, she was right. She wouldn't get a hearing, tried by the whole ministry of magic court, for some tiny blast of magic.

"No, no!" Rose snatched a wrinkled robe from him "You fold it like this."

Jarred let her completely reorganize his case, which had taken the majority of the afternoon. What do I care if she gets suspended before she even sets foot in the place? He mused as she snapped her fingers, making his trunk snap closed. "...You see the trick-" Jarred looked up, startled. He had been oblivious to Rose's voice. "-Is to do a little flick" Rose took out her wand, Jarred watched it wearily. "And then wave your stick!"

Jarred couldn't shout a warning in time, and even if he did, he doubted she would listen. On one hand, Rose was only 9, and most children under 11 were safe to use magic. But on the other, Rose wasn't any ordinary 9 year old witch, she had a wand. This wasn't a childish outburst, Rose knew what she was doing. Jarred could only watch as Rose pulled out her brand new wand and muttered an incantation. "See a simple folding charm-" She is interrupted by a loud CRACK!

"Uh, oh!" They exclaimed.

They both leaped into Jarred's closet, and crouched behind an assortment of cluttered objects. Rose was hyperventilating and Jarred was sweating a river. A wave of shame rippled through him. Even though he hadn't been the one to cast the spell, he had failed to stop Rose from doing it. How he wished he had told her to stop. If only he had payed attention to his surroundings, and refrained from zoning out!

Both children were so quiet they could hear every tick of the clock. They heard voices outside, stern, and oddly polite. At first they tried not to listen, but eventually, it wasn't an option. Nor was the conversation polite.

"WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR YOU, THIS IS THE LAST STRAW!" One voice boomed, angry.

"Please-it's-Please! Only a child…" The second voice belonged to their mother, who seemed shocked and teary.

"THIS HAS GONE PAST ONE LITTLE FAVOR, CEDONIA, THIS IS THE LAW." The first voice interrupted.

"The law stated clearly that children under 11-" Cedonia said, pleading.

"SHE HAD A WAND!"

"She's 9!" Cedonia shrieked hotly.

"IF SHE GETS THE PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND HOGWARTS EARLY, SHE MUST TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL!"

Now, Cedonia was yelling as well. "I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!"

"UM, A LETTER I GOT FROM YOU SAYS OTHERWISE!"

"I'M JUST DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR HER!" Cedonia gasped through what sounded like a waterfall of tears.

"AND I'M JUST DOING THIS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. NOT ONLY DID SHE DO MAGIC OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL-"

"A SCHOOL SHE HASN'T EVEN ATTENDED!" Cedonia cut in.

"IN FRONT OF A MUGGLE NO LESS!"

"WILFORD AND I ARE MARRIED!" Cedonia said, aghasted.

"I MEAN YOUR SON."

Jarred froze. Rose was looking at him, frightened beyond words. They had to strain their ears to hear their mother's last words. "My son is a wizard, brother."

The other voice was almost as soft as Cedonia's. "Listen here sister. Just because I, somehow convinced by you, talked the ministry into giving Jarred a chance to somehow prove himself, doesn't make him any less..." The voice paused "Well, I've been watching him and I'll only say this- he would certainly not be in Hogwarts if it were not for the kindness of the minister, and the fact that he thinks Dolores, the new teacher could pull out the magic in him."

"Only in here because-?!" Cedonia fumed "I will...Ooh...Lloyd, I swear. I hope someday it occurs to you that my son is smarter than you and your entire precious ministry combined."

There was a moments of silence. Jarred desperately hoped that the argument was over and he would never have to think back on this moment again. He turned and saw his sister's pained face, he winced. Oh, please, let this all have been a bad dream. But even as he thought this he knew he was quite awake.