"Come on Hugo!" Rose Weasley was dragging her younger brother onto the Hogwarts Express. Hugo, was still trying to say his last minute goodbyes to their parents. Rose had smirked at him. He reminded her so much of how she had been during her first year. "Come on!" she said dragging him now as their mother enveloped him in hug after hug. Rose had said all her goodbyes already. "Mum! You're gonna make us late!" she whined. Her mother seemed to snap out a trance.

Straightening up she smiled. "Yes quite right dear. Now have you gotten everything?'

"Yes"

"Your books?"

"Yes"

"Your wand?"

"Yes"

"Athena?"

"Yea"

"Your..."

"Mum!" Rose cried again.

Maybe this was why she was in Slytherin, she thought to herself. While she did her work and everything, Rose had always taken a more laid back approach to life than her mother, deal with it as it comes attitude, she called it. So what if she forgot her book? She'd share. So what if she hadn't brought enough robes? She'd reuse. There was, in Rose's mind, a solution to any problem. Her mother sighed.

"Alright, I'm just double checking" she smiled at her children.

Rose sighed with relief as her father came to the rescue.

"Give it a rest Mione!" he exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair.

Rose's mother gave him a sharp look but quickly turned back to her children to give them one last smiled.

"Right! Off you go then!" she called.

Rose grabbed her sentimental brother's hand and got on the train.

"Bye!" she smiled and waved to her parents.

Unlike last year, she didn't have that sickening feeling in her stomach as the train whistle blew. Because she knew this year, she was going back to something. Once they were on the train, she turned to her brother. "I'm going to find my friends. You wanna come?" she asked him. Her brother smiled and shook his head. "Nah it's ok Rosie. I'm going to go hang out with Lily." Rose's cousin Lily, Albus' and James' sister, was also starting her first year at Hogwarts. Rose nodded understandingly. "Well see you at the feast!" she called to her brother who nodded back and with that she turned and left to find her friends.

Rose began to search the compartments for her friends. She couldn't wait to see them again. Much to the pleasure of Rose, when they had all visited over the holidays, they had been charming to her parents and with their help, she had effectively convinced her father that the Slytherin girls were wonderful people. Her mother, needed no persuasion. Suddenly she heard their familiar voices coming from a nearby compartment. Opening the door, she saw all her four friends, sprawled on the seats, laughing and talking to one another.

"The fun has arrived!" Rose proclaimed pointing to herself.

All the girls looked up.

"Rose!" Mel jumped up and hugged Rose ferociously.

"Hi Mel" Rose choked from almost being strangled.

The twins were next. They slung their arms around Rose. "What's happening Rose?" they asked her.

Rose laughed. "Nothing... till now!"

Finally Sarah came up and gave her a warm hug. Rose smiled. Over the holidays, Sarah had become, probably her best friend. They had spent many days practicing for Quiditch together and now were extremely close. Rose had even been invited to Sarah's house and had met her parents. Like Sarah, Rose had concluded, the Paddingtons were extremely warm and accepting people. Even her mother had agreed, that out of all the girls, she liked Sarah the best.

"Hiya Rose" she smiled.

"Hey Sarah!" Rose hugged her bag and smiled too.

Sitting herself between the twins, Rose looked at her friends. They all looked different. The twins, she had noticed, had longer faces. Their chubby cheeks now looked, leaner, the features more pronounced. Mel had added highlights to her hair, light blond highlights. And Sarah had grown chopped off her long locks and was sporting a short cut with bangs. In fact as Rose looked at them, she realised she was the only one who hadn't changed.

The next thing Rose knew, the train whistle blew for the final time and they were off, heading out towards Hogwarts. The girls chatted eagerly all the way there and Rose was overflowing with excitement by the time they reached the castle. Rushing up the stairs to the Great Hall, Rose eagerly took her seat amongst the other second years. Sarah sat on her left whilst Mel and the twins sat opposite them.

Over towards the sixth years she spotted Katie who smiled and waved. Rose in response, waved back. She waited in anticipation for the first years to arrive. She could imagine Professor Longbottom giving Hugo the same speech she had been given a year ago. She chuckled at the thought. Her friends, engrossed in conversation, didn't notice. Suddenly she felt someone lightly punch her right shoulder and sit down beside her.

Rose spun around to see Scorpius smirking at her.

"Hey Weasley" he said cheerfully.

It was Rose's turn to smirk

"Malfoy" she nodded.

Suddenly she saw Leo and Greg hurrying over and taking their seats beside Scorpius.

"Leo, Greg" she said acknowledging them.

"Hiya Rose" they smiled at her before engaging in their own conversation.

"So" Scorpius drawled. "How was your holidays?"

Rose smiled. "Ok. Played some Quiditch."

"Training up so you can beat me Weasley?" he asked.

Rose laughed. "I don't have to. I've already beaten you!"

"So are you gonna try out for the team?" he pushed.

She nodded. "Yea definitely."

"What position?"

"Beater"

He looked at her with surprise.

"What?" she asked him.

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's just I was going out for beater too..."

Rose looked surprised. She never imagined Scorpius playing that position. "Well who knows? Maybe we'll make the team together."

He smirked. "Yea... maybe."

Just then the doors of the Great Hall opened and Professor Longbottom walked in, followed by the first years. Rose caught a glimpse of her brother and Lily, standing side by side, gripping each others hands. They reminded her of how Albus had gripped her hand on the day of their sorting. At that moment she caught Albus' eye from across the Hall and he smiled at her, thinking the exact same thing. Suddenly, Hugo spotted her and gave her a shy wave. Rose smiled encouragingly at her brother and waved back. She felt Scorpius' eyes on her. She turned to glance at him.

"Your brother?" he asked.

She just nodded.

He raised his eyebrow but said nothing.

"What?' she asked, annoyed at his silence.

"I bet a galleon that he won't be in Slytherin."

She chuckled at this. Honestly, betting on where her brother would be sorted? But she shook her head. "I know he'll be in Griffindor" she muttered.

Scorpius looked at her. "Fine I bet a galleon that he won't be in Slytherin or Griffindor."

Rose smiled. "You're on!" she couldn't believe that she was doing this!

They watched patiently as student after student was sorted into their houses. Rose cheered as Lily was sorted into Griffindor. Lily had thrown her a smile from the Griffindor table and Rose, had given her a thumbs up. Scorpius began to grumble that it was taking forever but Rose merely laughed. Sarah tapped Rose's shoulder. "Where do you think Hugo will go?" she asked her. "Griffindor" Rose replied without hesitation. Sarah nodded. Scorpius hearing this, scoffed. Rose shook her head. "You wait and see Malfoy"

Just then the Hall fell silent once again Professor Longbottom prepared to call the next name. "Hugo Weasley!" he called out. Rose held her breath as her brother approached the stage. She could see the tension and worry on his face as he sat himself on the stool and as the hat was placed on his head. After a pause that seemed like an eternity the hat finally called out, "GRIFFINDOR!" Rose smiled with satisfaction as she heard Scorpius groan. Sarah patted her on the back as if to say, "Hey you were right.". "Go Hugo!" she called out, standing up to cheer for her brother as the Hall resounded with applause. Her brother turned to face his sister and waved happily to her before sitting down at the Griffindor table.

Before they had left for Hogwarts the siblings had made a pact that no matter what house Hugo was in, Rose would cheer him on and love him no matter what. Hugo in exchange would always be there to support his sister. In a strange way, Rose was glad that Hugo wasn't in Slytherin. He after all, relished being a part of their large family, unlike her. The many relatives that would surround him in Griffindor would keep him firmly on the ground. Rose would not need to worry about keeping him in check. Plus she kind of enjoyed being the odd one out. She felt her being in Slytherin set her apart, in a league of her own and somehow she didn't want Hugo to join that league. But she could think about all of that later. For now all she could do was turn to the blond haired boy beside her and smile.

"I think someone owes me a galleon"