Okay I'm back with a new chapter. Sorry the wait was long, but I want to let you all know that I've got the next chapter typed up and ready to go and the chapter after that is almost done. There's probably only going to be five or six chapters left and I've got them planned out so hopefully I will post them quickly. Anyway Enjoy!
P.S-I hate to be a bother but I would love to get 100 reviews and I am not against withholding the next chapter until I see them.
"Stop it Sterling! I'm trying to study" Scarlett complained as Sterling kissed her neck.
"Wow, Scarlett I never thought you would turn down an opportunity to snog Sterling." Rose said feigning shock.
"You and Scorpius are just as bad, admit it! Besides I need to do well on my OWLs." Scarlett said scowling and pushing Sterling off of her. "Where is Scorpius anyways?"
"Being as smart as I am, I anticipated this type of behaviour if I tried to study with Scorp. So I sent him to study with Alex and Jessica. He's supposed to keep them on track." Rose said
Scarlett's scowl deepened, "Why didn't I think of that? Sterling, go study somewhere else, now!" she exclaimed and Sterling left the library sulking.
Rose and Scarlett were stressed about exams to say the least. Scorpius and Sterling were not to happy with this, as the two girls had practically lived in the library for the three weeks coming up to exams and had forbidden their boyfriends from joining them. The two boys were stressed to an extent, but did not go overboard with the studying like their girlfriends. Alex, who was naturally quite smart, was not worried at all and hadn't started reviewing yet, though this was mostly due to the fact that every time he began to review he was distracted by Jessica. Jessica had done minimal studying and was not too worried, so she chose to spend her time snogging her boyfriend.
Eventually the day of the first exam arrived. Scarlett and Rose were hyperventilating due to nerves, Scorpius and Sterling were irritable due to the lack of girlfriends for the past three weeks and to no one's surprise, Alex and Jessica were snogging in a corner. The doors to the Great Hall opened and the fifth year students swarmed to find their seat. The first exam was charms, and it went reasonably well for the slytherin students. Rose and Scarlett relaxed a bit, finding the test rather easy, but then tensed up once again when reminded of the practical in the afternoon. Scorpius was rather confident in his success, and Sterling was not so sure, putting his hopes on the practical. Jessica looked rather frightened as she exited the exam room while Alex felt successful.
The rest of the week was similar to the first day for them, a written test on theory in the morning and a practical in the afternoon. Rose and Scarlett slowly began to relax as the exams ended feeling brilliant about each. This in turn made Scorpius and Sterling relax as their girlfriends welcomed them back to them. Alex and Jessica were just glad to have the week almost over.
Shortly after exams were over, the term ended and everyone headed home for the summer on the Hogwarts Express. Once the train reached the platform, Rose said good-bye to her friends and scanned the platform for red hair. Upon spotting the large group, Rose headed in their direction.
She found most of her family standing on the platform as usual, but couldn't find her own parents anywhere. Hugo was standing near Lily, who was standing with her immediate family.
"Aunt Ginny! How are you?" Rose cried upon seeing her favourite aunt.
"Rose!" Ginny called back with equal enthusiasm and hugging her niece, "We missed you at Christmas."
"I had a lot of studying to do, but it paid off. I did wonderfully on my OWLs. Have you seen my parents?"
"Oh, didn't your mom send you a letter? I know Hugo received one." Ginny said frowning.
"No, I didn't get a letter, why did something bad happen?"
"No, nothing like that. It's their 20th anniversary and to celebrate your dad took your mom on a holiday. You and Hugo are to spend the first week of your vacation with us."
"Oh, I guess mom figured Hugo would tell me." Rose replied, looking away. If she had been told about this she could have spent the week with Scorpius or one of her other friends. Spending time with family wasn't her favourite thing to do and she wasn't sure if she could handle non-stop family time for a whole week. On the bright side Ginny was her favourite aunt, and she would get to play a lot of quidditch.
"Ready?" Ginny asked as Albus and James, joined them.
"Yeah," Rose replied leaving the platform with the rest.
Once back at the Potter residence, Rose unpacked her things in the room she usually stayed in and the made her way to the kitchen. Ginny was the only one there, beginning to cook dinner. It seemed that the others had begun a quidditch game without her and Rose didn't feel like joining in.
"Need some help?" Rose asked.
Ginny turned around a smiled, "Sure, you can chop the vegetables." Harry and Ginny had incorporated muggle styles of living into their magical household, especially with technology. Harry taught Ginny how to cook without magic after one explosion that had cost them their kitchen. Since then, Ginny had cooked the muggle way.
"So, you never told me, how was your year?" Ginny asked while rolling out pastry for a pie.
"It was good, I was really busy studying." Rose said.
"Oh, come on, you had to do more exciting things than study." Ginny complained, "Give me something to work with here."
Rose smiled; Ginny was her favourite aunt for a reason. She loved to hear gossip from her nieces and sometimes she acted like a teenager rather than the mother that she was. "Well, went to lots of quidditch matches, my friend Jessica Zabini joined the team."
"Her father is Blaise, right?"
"Yep and her twin brother, Sterling, is the captain of the team."
"Blaise was quite the looker when we were still in school…" Ginny said trailing off.
"Well Sterling is his exact replica; looks wise."
"He must have girls chasing after him."
"No, he's off limits. He's been dating my friend Scarlett for a couple of years."
"Lucky girl, I remember, this was before I dated Harry of course, well actually I did it a bit during, and anyways I used to fantasize about Blaise and those lips…" Ginny sighed. "Even if he was a Slytherin, I bet he's great in bed."
"Okay, definitely too much information." Rose shuddered.
Ginny laughed, "Sorry, so both of your friends are dating?"
Rose nodded, "Sterling and Scarlett and Jess and Alex. But honestly Jess and Alex don't seem very couple-ish. If it weren't for the declaration of Alex's love I think they would just be friends with benefits. "
"And what about you?" Ginny asked chuckling.
Rose blushed, she wasn't sure if she was ready to tell anyone about her and Scorpius but Ginny was understanding and she was sure telling someone would feel good. "I started dating someone over Christmas."
Ginny squealed, "That's great Rose! Who is he?"
Rose took a deep breath, "Well he's Scorpius Malfoy."
Ginny's eyes widened and then she burst into laughter.
"It's not funny, I really like him! And you can't tell anyone, understand?"
Ginny stopped laughing, "No, it's just your mom and I figured that would happen."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked now confused.
"After what your dad said to you at the platform, about beating Scorpius in everything, your mom and I figured it would come back to haunt him and now it has! And I know you don't really care what I think, but I do approve. Astoria and I work together with my charity work and she's such a nice woman."
"It's nice to have someone on my side." Rose said smiling.
"Okay, but you have to promise me one thing, when you tell your dad invite me over. I can't wait to see his reaction."
Rose laughed, "If I can help it I won't be telling him for a while."
"That's probably a good idea, but I think you should tell you mom. This is something she would like to know, even if the two of you aren't as close as you used to be."
Rose nodded and finished cutting the vegetables. Then she went out to join the quidditch game being played by her cousins.
The week ended quicker that Rose had anticipated and soon her parents were at the Potter's to retrieve their children. Ron and Harry had joined the boys and Lily outside for a quick game on quidditch, leaving Hermione, Ginny and Roe alone. Rose sat quietly, while her mother spoke to Ginny of the past week. Afterward, Hermione turned to her daughter to ask about her OWLs. Once she had received a good reply on Rose's part the chatter stopped. Rose took a deep breath, now was a good a time as ever.
"Mother," Rose spoke cautiously.
Hermione turned to look at Rose, "Yes?" She asked.
"I did more than just study this year."
"Of course, I didn't expect you to study every waking moment." Hermione said agreeing.
"I started dating someone!" Rose blurted out.
Hermione looked surprised but the nodded, "Your year?"
Rose nodded not trusting herself to speak.
"Slytherin?"
Rose nodded again.
"Is it Alexander Nott? I really liked him."
Rose shook her head, "No, I'm dating Scorpius Malfoy."
Hermione's eyes widened and then she let out a giggle.
"Really, you too?" Rose asked in disbelief as both her mother and aunt began to laugh hysterically.
Hermione calmed herself before she spoke, "I knew this would happen, Ron is going to die when he finds out."
"I don't plan on telling him. But don't you care?"
"That's a good idea. Rose, I can't tell you who and who not to date. I'm sure Scorpius is a very nice boy and is nothing like his father was when in school. I can't say I'm happy to hear you're dating a Malfoy, but I can live with it."
Rose smiled and hugged her mother "Thanks."
A few days later Rose was back a home and counting the days until she would see Scorpius and her friends once again. Hugo, Ron and herself sat at the breakfast table eating and Hermione cleaned the remains of Ron's attempt at breakfast. He had woken up early to surprise Hermione but things did not turn out well and Hermione put out the fire started before the house burned down. The topic of Quidditch was reached, and soon talk traveled to the Hogwarts teams.
"I played keeper in my 6th year. You're Uncle Harry was captain." Ron reminisced.
"We know dad, we've heard this all before." Hugo replied.
"You take after me, Hugo, being a keeper and all. Say when are you going to try out for your house team?"
"I think I will this year. The Hufflepuff keeper graduated last year and according to the captain, I've got the position. Apparently try outs will just be a formality." Hugo stated proudly.
Ron grinned, "That's great son, but if you're going to be house keeper you'll need a new broom. How about we go to Quidditch Quality Supplies tomorrow?"
Hugo nodded enthusiastically. Rose put down her toast and protested, "But I've been asking for a new broom for years."
Ron looked at his daughter, "Yes, but you're not on the quidditch team so you don't need one."
Rose fumed; she could join the quidditch team if she wanted! Sterling had been trying to get her on the team for years. If joining the quidditch team would get her a new broom she would just owl Sterling and secure her spot right now. Looking to her father, she said, "But I'm joining my house team this year too."
A look of surprise crossed Ron's face, he took a moment to restore his face before speaking, "That's great Rose as a chaser then?"
Rose sighed and shook her head. It was shocking how much the two had distanced over the years and now Ron did not even know his daughter's quidditch position. 'No, I'm a beater."
Ron frowned but then nodded, "I guess you should get a new broom then too."
"Thank you." Rose said curtly. She saw the hesitation in her father's eyes before speaking. Irritated, she stood, and then left the table for her room.
When Rose reached her room, she quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote a quick note to Sterling.
Sterling,
I know it's early, but I had to ask. Is the beater position on the quidditch team still open? I think I'm right when I think that your beater graduated in June, right? I may have told my father I joined the team so he would buy me a new broom. I don't think he's very happy; I think it has something to do with helping the enemy win the quidditch cup.
-Rose
Rose sent the letter off with her owl and patiently waited for a reply. She knew she would be seeing Sterling in a few weeks when the slytherins got together in Corsica but she didn't want to wait until then to know for sure. A few minutes later Rose got her reply.
Rose,
I'm glad to hear you want to join the team. You're right, be beater did graduate in June and I need a new one. I was planning on convincing you to join the team when I saw you. I would tell you you're on the team right now but according to Scarlett and Jess, I have to be fair and hold a try-out, plus you have to work well with the other beater, not that you will have a problem with that. Just train until we see you in a few weeks and then I'll have Scarlett run beater drills with you and you'll get the position for sure. The try-out will just be a formality.
Sterling.
Rose smiled when she finished the letter and then grabbed her broom and planned to begin training. She stopped on the last stair as she heard her parents in a heated argument.
"How can you say that about your daughter?" Hermione was yelling.
"I bloody well can't have her playing with the enemy!" Ron protested.
Rose was confused, what exactly were they talking about.
"It's no wonder you and Rose aren't close anymore. The way you treat her is despicable!" Hermione said, and Rose assumed she was shaking her head.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rose asked defensively.
"You know exactly what I mean. Everyone else has gotten over the fact that she's a slytherin but you! Her own father won't accept her and your relationship is deteriorating fast. You'll lose her forever." Hermione said her voice cracking.
Rose peeked into the room to see her father embracing her mother. She pressed her ear to the door as the shouting had stopped.
"You need to remember that the war is over and slytherin is no longer evil. I'm scared we're going to lose her. We both pushed her away so much that first year and since then things have felt so strained. She used to tell me everything and now I only hear things if I'm lucky. Even Ginny knows more than me!" Hermione was on the verge of tears.
"It's okay, I'm sorry for the way I treat Rose, but I just have a hard time dealing with it." Ron said shaking his head, "I wish this was easier."
"I would be easier if you weren't so stubborn. You need to be careful or she'll grow up to resent you."
"I'll be better, I promise."
"So you'll be as enthusiastic with Rose as with Hugo about buying new brooms?"
"I don't know; buying Rose a new broom knowing it's for Slytherin makes me feel like I'm helping the enemy or something."
Hermione laughed, "But you don't feel that way about Hugo who is in Hufflepuff?"
"Hermione, let's face it. Hufflepuff need all the help they can get."
Rose heard laughter and then continued on her way to the door. She couldn't believe her parents. It wasn't the fact they still were adjusting to having a slytherin for a daughter, but how they still didn't understand. Gryffindor was not the best house in Hogwarts, they were all equal. Her parents still spoke of the school with fierce pride towards their house, but that didn't matter anymore. Ready to let out some steam, Rose took off into the sky.
A few weeks later six slytherins sat around a table in a quaint summer home in Corsica. All were covered in a slick layer of sweat after a gruelling training session run by Sterling. The group had been in Corsica for four days and each morning had started with intense training for the quidditch team members and Rose to prepare her for the season. The other boys had been roped into training too. The table they sat at was covered with food. Muffins, eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, pancakes, and fruit littered the table but was slowly diminishing as the six teens wolfed it down. Rose had inherited her father's stomach and could eat at least as much as the boys if not more.
"It's a good thing I really like you and can ignore your gross eating habits." Scorpius commented as Rose took a bite of her fifth piece of toast.
Rose smacked him, "My eating habits are not gross! I'm just really hungry."
Jessica laughed, "You never tell a girl off when it's about eating of food, or come to think of it weight."
Scarlett nodded sagely.
Rose smirked, "It's a good thing you're my best friend or I might have to break up with you."
Scorpius' face fell, "What do you mean by friend? We are dating in case you haven't noticed."
"I am aware that we're dating but after that comment I don't really like you right now. But you're my best friend, so I can't live without you in my life." Rose said laughing.
"I thought I was your best friend." Alex said, pretending to be hurt.
"Sorry Alex, but Scorpius is not physically attached to Jess all of the time."
"We are not always attached!" Jessica said defensively.
Rose nodded and then proceeded to finish her breakfast, while Jessica grumbled about friends and relationships.
"This is why I didn't settle down until I met Alex." She complained.
Alex sighed and pulled her into a kiss, effectively shutting her up.
The group's afternoons were spent on the beach and checking out tourist attractions. The rest of the holidays progressed in much of the same way. On their final morning, the group received their Hogwarts letters. Along with their letters were their results from their OWLs. Rose took a deep breath and opened her letter first. Quickly she scanned the results and grinned "O's in everything except care of magical creatures. Not too bad"
Scorpius shook his head and kissed her forehead, "That's great sweetie. I got O's in ancient runes, transfiguration, charms and potions. E in arithmancy and A in history of magic. I just can't concentrate in that class."
"O's in everything except arithmancy. That test was so hard. I got an A." Scarlett said relaxing.
Jessica glanced at her marks, "E's in everything but Divination and Potions. I got O's in those classes. Oh and an A in charms."
Sterling looked at his marks and then announced, "A in charms, O in transfiguration and E's in everything else."
"O in muggle studies and care of magical creatures, E in history of magic, charms, and potions. A's in everything else." Alex recited.
"Scarlett and Scorpius, you two are still prefects?" Jessica asked.
"Scarlett nodded, "Sterling is still quidditch captain as well."
"I remember last year, my parents were so disappointed when I didn't make prefect." Rose said laughing. "Not living up to expectations is great."
"This year is going to be great and just think this time next year most of us will be able to do magic outside of school!" Scarlett exclaimed.