Author's Note:
Hey guys. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've added a chapter! I just started grad school, and that has basically taken over my life. I swear I haven't forgotten about this story! I will finish this story (book 1) but it will be a slow process. I also have this goal to write the Silver Trio throughout their years at Hogwarts and even post-Hogwarts. So just hang with me as I try to get through grad school. I haven't left this fic. I promise! Thank you all for your support! 3
Rose's PoV
The first two months at Hogwarts passed quickly for Rose. She made loads of friends but her closest were Al, Scorp, and Beatrice.
On the 30th of October, Rose was walking through the halls towards the Charms classroom when she spotted Albus and James up ahead, whispering to each other in an alcove along the wall. They hadn't seen her, but she wished she had her uncle's invisibility cloak at the moment. However, there were many students passing through the hall so her footsteps were muffled as she tiptoed along the wall to a good hiding place behind an engaged column. She had to get James to teach her some stealth spells for future reference.
". . . taking place in the Gryffindor common room tomorrow night. I'll sneak you in." James's voice floated over the sounds of people passing.
"Okay, I will head to the seventh floor around nine tomorrow night," came Albus's voice.
"Yeah, I'll know where to find you." Rose could just imagine James winking at Al, probably referring to that amazing map he had nicked from his dad's desk last year.
"Right. I've got to get to class."
"Just don't tell anyone."
Rose backed up quickly and decided to double back and take a different route to Charms.
Rose slid into her seat next to Scorpius, strands of red hair coming loose from her long braid, having ran to class to make up time on her detour.
"What were you doing?" whispered Scorpius.
"James is up to something secret with Albus," explained Rose. "Want to help me find out what they're doing?
"Of course."
"James said something about the Gryffindor common room and Albus said he would meet James on the seventh floor tomorrow night."
"Okay. Maybe we can intercept Al and-" Scorpius was cut off by Professor Patil as she called the class to attention.
"After class," Rose murmured in Scorpius's ear.
Scorpius gave a slight nod and then they returned their attention to the class.
"So I was thinking during class that the most obvious reason for Al to do something with James tomorrow night would be that it's Halloween," Scorpius stated on the way to Herbology.
"That much is obvious," said Rose.
Scorpius continued,
"So we can either corner him before or after Defense Against the Dark Arts or try to find him later tonight."
"Let's catch him before class."
The first years were learning how to dry nettle leaves in Herbology today.
"Dried nettles are a key ingredient in the Herbicide Potion, which you will learn how to brew in your sixth year Potions class, if you should choose to continue on with Potions and take the advanced course," Professor Longbottom informed the class. "These leaves we are drying today will actually be used by the sixth years this term. Can anyone tell me what common potion uses fresh nettles?"
Both Rose and Scorpius's hands shot up into the air. Professor Longbottom sighed and gave his head a small shake and said,
"I really need to bring a coin to flip when you two are in class. Scorpius. Rose, you answered last time."
"Fresh nettled are used in the Cure for Boils potion," answered Scorpius.
"Correct!"
Rose felt that Scorpius's voice was airing too much on the pompous side, so she stomped on his foot as Professor Longbottom turned around to get something.
"Ouch, Rose!" hissed Scorpius, wincing. "What was that for?
"You only knew the answer because Professor Summers said we be making that potion next week."
"Well, isn't that the only reason you know the ingredients already?"
Rose turned to her nettles and made a snarling sound. A few minutes later, Rose turned back to Scorpius.
"Since you're such a genius," jabbed Rose. "Have you come up with a way to intercept Al?"
"As a matter of fact, I have," drawled Scorpius. "We get to class before him and wait outside the door."
"That's so simple, it just might work."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You two," called Professor Longbottom. "Please stop the whispering and get back to your work."
Rose felt her ears getting warm, knowing they had just turned bright red. She looked over at her classmates and saw Beatrice, raising her eyebrows in question, sea green eyes flickering with curiosity. Rose gave her a look that communicated, "I'll tell you later." She then glanced at Scorpius. His head was hung, messy blond hair falling in his face, concentrating on drying the nettle leaves. Rose went back to her own leaves, determined to dry more than Scorpius. However, at the end of class, she had done an equal amount for all she could tell.
"These look great, class, and I'm sure Professor Summers and the sixth years will be most grateful," said Professor Longbottom. "Have a good rest of the week. Oh and Mr. O'Ryan, you need to turn in that assignment that was due last week. Bring it by my office tomorrow."
Scorpius chuckled while he and Rose quickly cleaned up their station and all but ran out of Greenhouse One. Once out, they shot off to the castle.
"Wait," started Rose. "I'll need lunch if we are to interrogate Al."
"Fine. Let's just grab something and eat it outside the classroom," agreed Scorpius, turning towards the Great Hall.
They stuffed their hands with as many finger sandwiches as possible and left to go wait outside their classroom.
As they were eating their lunch along the wall, Professor Dean Thomas appeared from around the corner. He looked about as surprised as Rose felt.
"What are you too doing outside my classroom forty-five minutes before class eating sandwiches?" questioned Professor Thomas. "Surely you know that most students dine in the Great Hall." Professor Thomas was smiling with a combined look of humor, disbelief, and wonder.
"I'm sorry, Professor Thomas," said Rose. "We wanted to catch Albus before class."
"So we brought lunch with us," added Scorpius.
"You two do remember that Albus Potter perpetually shows up to class with sixty seconds to spare?"
Rose turned to Scorpius with slitted eyes.
"Er, yeah… doesn't hurt to be ready for the unexpected," Scorpius said half-heartedly.
"Alright. I've got to get set up for class. I hope you have a successful mission. Just don't get into trouble and don't be late for class," said Professor Thomas. His tall dark figure turned and entered his classroom.
"Oh man, I thought he was going to take points away," said Scorpius.
"He wouldn't do that for sandwiches," said Rose, thinking about all the times she had been to family parties and Mr. Dean being there, laughing at all of the pranks Uncle George pulled. "Anyway, do you seriously think we can get Al to tell us what he's up to in under sixty seconds?
"Maybe. We could threaten him… on second thought, maybe persuade is a better word… we could tell him that we won't proofread his papers or check his homework or something."
"Ooo, so evil. I like it."
Half an hour later, Rose had just started to explain to Scorpius what television series were all about when Albus rounded the corner.
"Yes! He's here!"
"Five minutes early!"
Albus wasn't sure who said what because they rushed him and had him backed up against the wall opposite the classroom.
"So Al, anything you'd like to tell us?" asked Rose.
"Any secrets that you are just itching to share?" questioned Scorpius.
"No, what's all this about? And nice to see you too," Albus said with a huff.
"Lies. I heard you and James in the hall this morning. Something's happening in the Gryffindor common room tomorrow night."
"And we want in."
Albus was caught.
"But how'd...James said...really?" sputtered Albus.
"Yeah Al," said Rose. "What's going on?"
"I'm not supposed to tell."
"If it's a Halloween thing in the Gryffindor common room, I'll just get Roxanne or Fred to tell me."
"Fine, but James will kill me," said Albus, looking guilty, but still excited to tell his best friends. "There's a "secret" masquerade party tomorrow night. It's a Gryffindor tradition says James. He says that Gryffindor has the best party in the whole school, which was why he was going to try to sneak me in."
"Were you even thinking about inviting us?" Rose asked, brazenly.
"I wasn't sure if James could get all three of us in…"
"Well then, either you get us in or Scorp and I won't check your homework or proofread your essays."
Albus looked at Scorpius for support. None of which was received. Scorpius was staring down his nose at Albus.
"That's Scorpius's idea of persuasion," said Rose. "My own idea was more physical. But Scorpius's stipulation is probably more effective."
"She's right, you know," Scorpius said disparagingly.
"Okay. Okay. You two can come along and we'll see if we all can get in together. You'll need to bring your own mask though."
"That should be easy enough to make," said Rose. "And besides that, I want to see what's so amazing about the Gryffindor common room that has everyone and my mother raving." Rose felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her, spun around on her heels, and walked into Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Rose and Scorpius stayed up late that night in the Ravenclaw common room, making masks. Scorpius had found a book with instructions on how to magically emboss various materials. It was a combination of charms and transfiguration.
"So why did you laugh when Professor Longbottom called out Finley O'Ryan on him not turning in his assignment?" Rose's question popped out before she realized she was saying it aloud.
Scorpius grinned, but then his face fell slightly.
"I guess I felt like he deserved some humiliation, but now I don't know. He and I don't really get along."
"Why's that?"
"He blames me for making his family miserable, even though I have no idea who his family is…"
"That's really mean." Rose wondered how anyone could blame an eleven year old for their misery.
"It's because I'm a Malfoy, I guess. I just ignore him for the most part, but I probably shouldn't have laughed at him…" Scorpius's voice trailed off and he turned to gaze out the window into the night sky. His cheeks looked flushed.
"Oh," Rose said lamely. It grew quiet between them.
"You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to," she added.
"No, it's okay," Scorpius assured her. "You and Al are some of the few people who actually talk to me. Have you noticed how most people avoid me?"
"Not really. But I'm probably not paying attention to what the other students are doing." Rose felt uncomfortable. More silence surrounded them.
"I don't know what exactly my family did in the war, I know it wasn't good. But why does it need to affect me? I'm more than a reputation. I've got to be." Scorpius sounded like he was thinking more out loud than asking Rose. She didn't reply and they continued to add on to their masks.
"You know," Rose broke in the silence. "We don't have to go to the Halloween party tomorrow if you don't want to go. We could just do something here."
"No! No, I want to go with you and Al. I don't want to avoid people just cause they don't like me."
"They don't even know you. How could they say anything anyway," Rose added. But then she remembered some of the things she had overheard her parents saying late at night after they thought she was asleep.
Scorpius's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
"We'll be wearing masks," he said. "Honestly, I'm more worried about Professor Longbottom finding us in his house."
They finished their masks and went to bed.
