Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favourite, and followed this story!
Meg- aww thanks! I always get excited when I see the e-mail that you've reviewed. I love to hear what you thought of the chapter.
Blue Ocean- I really appreciate the review! I think those are some good ideas, but changing Rose's parentage changes the story too much personally I think. I don't think Harry would react anywhere near as negatively as Ron does. However, I won't necessarily say that the people they start out with will be the people they end with you, I'm personally not a huge Romione fan, so I might pair them with different people at the end. Unfortunately, Hermione won't end with Harry because I do enjoy they HarryxGinny coupling.
Chapter 14
Over the next two months, Rose was happier than she had ever been at Hogwarts. Her cousins were all talking to her again, her friends were fantastic, and she was top of her class. So when Rose woke that morning in March, she expected nothing less than another good day. She should have realized that she had been living in the eye of the storm. She made her way down to breakfast with Jacob, Theresa, and Scorpius, not noticing the pitying gazes students in the halls cast her. It did not go unmissed by Scorpius however, who had been waiting for something to happen. They entered the Great Hall, and sat at their table, socializing until the mail arrived. Rose's owl dropped the daily prophet in front of her, but she didn't grab it right away as she was in the middle of a conversation with Theresa.
When Theresa returned to eating, Rose went to grab the paper only to realize James of all people had rushed up to the Slytherin table and grabbed her paper.
"James if you think this is a funny idea for a prank, you would be incorrect. Please give it back,"
"Rosie, trust me, you really don't want to read this."
"No James, I do. You see, that's why I order it. So I can read it." Rose spoke slowly, like she was talking to an infant.
"Rose," Albus had made his way over too, looking pale. "Trust my brother this time; you don't want to read it." Rose's brows furrowed, and she watched as Scorpius snatched the paper from James, and his eyes widen.
"Rose, perhaps you had better come with me," Rose turned to face Neville, her confusion written across her face.
"Is someone going to tell me what's going on?"
"Yes Rose, but I don't think you want to find out in the middle of the hall. Let's go to my office. Perhaps you lot had better come to," Neville said looking at the group surrounding Rose. Rose let James and Albus take the lead, falling back beside Scorpius,
"How bad is it?" she whispered to him,
"I don't know Rose, that all depends on if it's true or not. Considering Professor Longbottom is leading us away, I'd say it probably is true." Scorp looked sadly at her, reaching out and squeezing her hand, "But no matter what, you've got us."
"Take a seat," Neville had transfigured the chairs in front of his desk so that there were instead two three-person couches. Rose sat between Scorpius and Albus. James looked slightly uncomfortable but sat on the side closest to Rose of the other couch with Theresa and Jacob. Rose watched Neville intently as he rubbed his temples,
"Rose I don't know whether what is written is true or not, but it would not surprise me anymore," Neville's voice was sad as he spoke, "Give her the article Scorpius" Rose took it from his outstretched arms, and felt her stomach drop at the title:
Trouble in Paradise? Golden Couple Splits
Inside sources have told the prophet that the couple that composed two thirds of the golden trio, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, have now split. Sources from the Department of Magical Law have informed us that Mrs Weasley nèe Granger was served the papers this morning after Mr Ronald Weasley filed for divorce yesterday afternoon. Friends close to the family claim that the rift was caused by their daughter's controversial sorting into Slytherin house
Rose stopped reading and felt her eyes fill up with tears.
"It's my fault. I split my family up,"
"Rose, none of this is your fault, don't be stupid," Al said,
"Did you read the article Al? Or just the headline." Al shifted in his seat,
"Just the title, then my priority was getting to you before you read it," Rose looked around the room and realized that James was nodding in agreement. She knew her friends hadn't read it yet, so she looked to Neville,
"Have you read it Uncle Neville?" Neville nodded,
"And if you ask me, it's a load of rubbish,"
"No it's not. You heard my parents that night, mom told him to talk to her when he was ready to accept my house, and now this article says, and I quote 'the rift was caused by their daughter's controversial sorting into Slytherin house.' How is that not my fault?"
"Because the article was written by Rita Skeeter, and her main goal is to make people look bad so she can sell magazines. Look let's floo your mom and she can tell you the same thing if you don't believe me,"
"No," Rose shook her head, "the article said she was being served the divorce papers this morning. She'll be in no state to talk to me. Plus, she'll have Hugo to worry about."
"Rose, I promise you this is not your fault. If, as the article says, it's because of your house, then that's your fathers fault. It's his prejudice that caused this, okay Rose?" Rose nodded, knowing Neville would never let her leave until he thought she believed him. "Now, Professor McGonagall has excused you from classes for the rest of the day if you need it-"
"No, I'll go to class. It'll be a good distraction."
"Okay," Neville smiled at her, "if you change your mind, you can always leave. If you need anything Rose, I want you to come to me alright?" Rose nodded in agreement, "Okay, you may all go to class then," The group of teenagers left and once they were out in the hall, Rose through herself at James, hugging him tightly,
"Hey, what are cousins for?" James spoke more gently then she had ever heard him in her life.
"Well, let's get to class," Rose smiled at the rest of her friends, deciding to pretend the article wasn't true, neither of her parents had confirmed it. As the day passed, Rose noticed her friend kept looking at her when they thought she wouldn't notice, as if they were waiting for her to break. She studiously tried to ignore all the people who stared at her in class and in the hallways, but found it was somewhat difficult from the whispers that accompanied the stares,
"Poor girl"
"Serves her right, Slytherin scum"
"Guess Perfect Weasley can't get everything right,"
The gosspiers seemed to vary widely in their opinions of whether they should feel pity for her, or contempt, or vindictive pleasure. Her friends never left her side, telling her jokes and trying to distract her, and Rose had never been more grateful for them. They decided to go to the library, with the theory that even though people would stare there, at least they would have to be quiet. That was where Nicholas found her,
"Hey Rose,"
"Hey Nick," all the kids who had stayed together over Christmas had remained friendly with each other afterwards.
"Professor McGonagall asked me to give you this," he held out a letter to her, "I know you probably don't want to talk about the article, but I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," he finished, his eyes searching hers,
"It's just some stupid article. My mom didn't say anything to me, so who's to say any of it's true." Rose averted her eyes, she knew as much as she wanted to, she didn't fully believe it herself.
"Okay, but just so you know, if you need to talk, my ears are open. My parents split last year, so lots of first-hand knowledge," he smiled in what Rose assumed was supposed to be a teasing way, before leaving the library.
"What's the note say?" Scorpius asked once Nicholas was gone. Rose opened the letter, reading quickly,
"She wants to see me in her office," Rose replied, packing her stuff in her bag. "I'll see you guys back in the common room later tonight?" Her friends nodded, and Rose made the now familiar path to the Headmistress' office, knocking when she reached the top of the Griffin staircase.
"Enter," Rose opened the door, and was shocked to see her mother and Hugo in the office waiting for her,
"Hi Rosie," Hermione smiled at her daughter, and Hugo ran across the room, crashing into his sister and gripping her in a hug.
"No," Rose whispered, realizing what it meant if her family was here. "No, please tell me it's not true," Rose looked at her mother's red eyes and knew the answer before she even spoke,
"I'm so sorry Rose."