Rose didn't realize she wouldn't have time to read Hogwarts: A History as the Sorting Hat Ceremony was taking place right after lunch.

Hogwarts was magnificently large and the Great Hall was filled with food for lunch. Stars floated on the ceiling, paintings moved, and ghosts lingered the hallways. Magic could be felt everywhere.

Rose and Harry had stood next to each other as they faced the Sorting Hat. Rose looked a little out of place amongst the First Years being significantly taller then the majority of them were.

"Is there a place you know you don't want?" Rose whispered to Harry.

"Slytherin, for sure not, Slytherin." Harry replied raising his voice ever so slightly so Draco Malfoy could hear him from the second row. Draco turned back to glare at Harry and Rose.

A man with a long white beard stood up who was sitting at the head of the table next to other witches and wizards who Rose assumed were either administrators or teachers. Rose recognized Professor Dumbledore from somewhere he had a familiar calming presence. The Great Hall fell silent as it did.

"That's Albus Dumbledore the Head Master," Rose could hear a First Year murmer from behind her.

"Welcome," Dumbledore's voice seemed to bellow throughout the hall, "to this year's Sorting Ceremony. First I'd like to welcome a new student in our midst- Rosemary Potter."

Rose's face flushed as the Hall broke out into whispers and murmurs. Harry had hardly seemed to notice Rose was embarrassed he was enthralled with the magic of the place and in deep conversation with Ron.

"Rose, I wish you a great year and please meet with me after your Sorting. And may we all have a year full of comradery and great academic achievement. Let the ceremony begin!" Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands and the tables filled themselves with mountains and mountains of food more food than Rose had seen in her life.

Rose began to grow more and more anxious as names continued to be called and sorted into Houses. At last, Harry's name was called. Rose clenched her fists as she waited in anticipation.

It seemed as though Harry was sitting in frustration- as though he was mentally arguing with Sorting Hat.

" I don't know why she seems so nervous," Rose heard someone whisper behind her- it was a girl with curly blond hair, "they're both obviously getting Gryffindor."

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat announced. Rose breathed a sigh of relief and clapped supportively for her brother. Harry grinned at Rose and made his way to sit next to Ron and some bushy brown haired who Rose had yet to meet at the Gryffindor table.

"Rosemary Potter," the witch with a tall hat- Professor McGonagall- called. Rose breathed in and made eye-contact with Harry who flashed her two thumbs up for good luck.

'Interesting,' the Sorting Hat said into Rose's mind, 'I'm torn with this one.'

'Shouldn't I just be a Gryffindor?' Rose replied in her mind to the Sorting Hat.

'Well, that would make sense considering your family history,' the Sorting Hat pondered, 'but you appear to be more Hufflepuff inclined.'

'What?' Rose thought to the Sorting Hat, 'Hufflepuff?'

But it seemed to make sense to her in a way. She knew she had gotten off on the wrong foot with the Bellamy and Bridget but she could still see herself fitting in with them- they were such nice people. Rose felt her face flush as she looked over at the Hufflepuff table to find Cedric Diggory staring intently at the table- as if he was able to predict what was about to come. Rose knew she couldn't make this decision based on some boy though.

'Well, there we have it' said the Sorting Hat.

"Rosemary Potter," the Sorting Hat announced aloud, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The crowd of First Years gasped along with the Gryffindor table. The Hufflepuff table broke out into a loyal applause for their newest member. As Rose walked past Harry he had a look of surprise on his face, and Rose shrugged in response. She continued to walk towards Cedric who was sat next to Bridget. There was an empty seat next to Bellamy- Rose paused unsure of whether or not she should sit there but also aware that everyone's eyes in the Great Hall were glued on her.

"Please sit," Bellamy smiled and gestured for Rose to sit down. Rose breathed a sigh of relief-she took this as a sign that Bellamy was ready to start over and was genuinely happy to have her in Hufflepuff House.

"Who would've thought Hufflepuff House has a Potter!" Cedric shouted and all of Hufflepuff House clapped.

Rose smiled- she felt content here but missed having Harry by her side. Once Rose had finished dinner, she turned to Cedric. "Sorry," She said, "but I have a meeting with Professor Dumbledore- would you mind showing me his office?"

Cedric nodded enthusiastically, "No problem."

They both got up and headed towards the hallway.

"How are you feeling by the way?" Cedric asked Rose and it caught her slightly off guard.

"Oh, fine thanks." Rose said uncertain of what Cedric was getting at and he definitely seemed to be getting at something. They had headed up a flight of stairs now, and Rose was only just beginning to comprehend how massive Hogwarts was.

"I just mean about the train and all with your parents and everything…." Cedric explained.

Rose must've appeared to gone a little red and crestfallen as she remembered her little outburst earlier.

"Sorry, sorry!" Cedric quickly tried to fumble for words, "I shouldn't have brought it up just wanted to make sure you were OK- you said some pretty dark stuff back there and uh, I love Bellamy, but she can be a bit spacey at times."

Rose nodded, "It's alright I was mostly just worried I had made you all uncomfortable."

"Well, it was slightly uncomfortable but also entirely understandable," Cedric reassured her, "And Bellamy and Bridget totally get it- I mean not like that, but they know you must be going through a lot."

Rose nodded and gave a small smile, "Yeah, it's alright. I'm glad I'm in Hufflepuff. And it has been a lot I guess I'm just having troubles processing- well everything."

"Hold on!" Cedric said suddenly and grabbed Rose's hand which made her flush even more- the stairway was moving. Rose watched in awe as the staircases above her and below shifted into a new place. One the staircase moved into a new place, Cedric respectfully and appropriately released her hand.

"The stairs do that," Cedric said nonchalantly, "Got to be careful about that."

Cedric and Rose continued up the stairs and turned a corner and found a room with a big Eagle looking bird poised at the front- no doubt Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was in fact waiting outside for them.

"Ah, thank you, Mr. Diggory," Professor Dumbledore said to Cedric and gave him a nod to leave. Cedric gave Rose a small wave goodbye and left.

"Follow me, Ms. Potter." Dumbledore turned towards the statue and said "Lemon squares,"

Rose couldn't help but think back to the lemon squares she used to make appear at Privet Drive. That seemed like it happened centuries ago.

Dumbledore led Rose to a seat.

"Hello, Professor." Rose said uncertainty. Professor Dumbledore gave her a kind smile.

"Now, tell me Rose," He said, "How have you been?"

"Alright, I guess, it's been a bit of an adjustment." Rose answered honestly.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled, "I can only imagine. Well, look Rose, if you ever need someone to talk to I'm here for you."

A silence passed between them as Rose caught eye of a glistening stack of lemon squares in the corner.

"Did you know them?" She asked Dumbledore with a voice that sounded distant- distant like a memory, "My parents, I mean."

Dumbledore sighed a bit taken with the emotions that also filled him.

"Yes." He said.

"What were they like?" Rose asked and held out her hand as a lemon square landed softly in her palms.

"They were good people, Rose. The most good people. Your parents loved you so much." Professor Dumbledore said and his eyes seemed to glisten as if he was holding back his own tears- or it could've been a trick of the light.

Rose lowered her head- it was the first time she had heard anyone say that and it was almost as if she could feel a comfort rising in her- the same comfort it would feel to be held by a parent.

"Thank you," Rose whispered.

After her meeting with Dumbledore, Rose headed to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Rose was struck by most of Hogwarts but especially by the plants that hung from the Hufflepuff Common Room ceilings and the bright yellow decorations. Rose decided she definitely liked Bridget after talking to her more at Dinner and in the Common Room. She and Bridget both liked drawing and taking walks and they were planning on taking many afternoon walks throughout the year. Bridget was a bit more calm like Rose was compared to Bellamy who was sometimes full of high energy- but well-meaning and intentioned high-energy that just got the better of her at times. Rose was quite pleased that she was roommates with Bellamy, Bridget, and this other girl Hannah Baker who was remarkably hilarious and kind as well.

Rose was making her bed when suddenly Hannah fell unto her bed and began interrupting Rose's folding and cleaning process.

"Hannah I've got to make my bed. My tutoring starts tomorrow at 6 AM." Rose said and playfully shook the sheets under her to move her.

"So," Hanna continued as if not hearing Rose's pleas "I know you're new around here and we aren't entirely sure what's up with you, butttt who'd you fancy as of now?"

Rose smiled and looked down while continuing to fold her sheets.

"Gosh, Hannah!" Bridget called out from the other end of the room, "She only just got here, leave her alone."

"Yeah, sorry, Rose," Bellamy added, "Hannah's a bit boy-crazy." Then ,Bellamy tossed a pillow over at Hannah.

"It's hard to be boy-crazy when there aren't that many good blokes at this school to begin with, but I want to hear whose on your Top Hot list?" Hannah leaned in closer to Rose. Bellamy rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Did you really just say 'Top Hot '?" Bridget asked Hannah sardonically.

"Honestly, I've got so much work to do I'm not really thinking about boys," Rose lied and she could feel herself blushing.

"Aha!" Hannah squealed "Everyone, Rose Potter's blushing you totally do fancy someone!"

"Well, even if she does, she doesn't have to let you in on all her secrets," Bridget paused "Unless, she wants to of course."

Bellamy and Bridget then joined Hannah on Rose's bed. Rose looked at the three of them and sighed once she realized they were waiting for her to tell them who she was thinking about. Rose looked back down at her hands.

"Well, there is one boy, " Rose fumbled as she tried to find the courage to say it "Cedric's cute and all but I mean, I don't really know him I just think he's cute and nice."

The girls all looked at each other and nodded.

"Ah, Cedric Diggory," Bellamy sighed and lifted up her hands in the air and then fell flat on the bed for dramatic effect. The girls all giggled.

"Well, what's the matter with Cedric Diggory?" Rose asked jokingly.

"Nothing of course." Hannah Baker said.

"He's practically perfect," Bridget added.

"Except for the fact he's had a thing for Cho Chang ever since the end of last year." Bellamy piped up from the bed.

Rose tried not to let it show on her face but her heart sank a little at the news that he may be interested in someoneelse.

"Are they together? Whose Cho Chang?" Rose asked.

"Ravenclaw," Bellamy answered matter-of-factly, "tall, dark hair, smart, and gorgeous."

"No," Hannah said "But he's asked her out before- she just keeps saying no."

"She totally fancies him as well, though," Bridget continued, "She's just toying with him. It's a bit immature really, she's like the luckiest girl in school to have Cedric Diggory fancying her."

"Oh, well, " Bellamy said "Do let us know if you end up fancying anyone else though, we're here to listen."

"Or even if you don't fancy anyone that's perfectly alright as well." Bridget added.

And with that, the girls clambered off her bed and they continued cleaning their room. Rose couldn't help but think about Cedric after that conversation and she tried to sort out her feelings as she sorted her clothes. She'd never had a proper crush on someone before- at least not this instantly or this quickly. And, anyways, what did it even mean to really fancy someone before actually knowing them?

Rose realized it was getting near the 11th hour and she finally went to bed, and tried to calm her mind for her first day of Wizardry classes.