A/N: J.K. Rowling owns anything and everything that you recognise as canon.

Look! An update! And just not any update — the first update of 2014!

And it's in April … whoops, hehe.

Summer at the Burrow was something Rose missed dearly. Due to her mother being Muggle-born, both herself and Hugo were sent to Muggle primary school so as she had been used to it, Rose had grown to love and appreciate the feeling of summer at the Burrow after a long year of school more than any of her cousins.

The summer routine was one of Rose Weasley's favourite routines. She loved waking up every morning in her home to be greeted by the sun. She loved seeing her father and mother playfully bicker in the morning as Hugo stole their share of breakfast without either of them noticing. She loved going to the Burrow and meeting with all her cousins, and spending the day with them, no matter what it was they did. Whether it was play some Quidditch (after riding the invisible creature, Rose insisted on simply watching), or just lay on the fresh grass under the warm sun, it was never disappointing.

And Rose was looking forward to this summer in particular because this would be her first ever summer back from Hogwarts.

The first thing that Rose, Hugo, Ron and Hermione did as part of the summer holidays was go visit the Grangers. Because obviously you can't just spend your entire summer at the house of one set of grandparents, now could you?

Besides, Rosie would be the first (and only) granddaughter to go to Hogwarts, and her Muggle grandparents would want to know what House their favoutite granddaughter was placed into.

Hermione had already assured Rose that her maternal grandparents will be more than proud of her. However, Rose still couldn't shake off her nervousness. At this point in the summer holidays (it had been three days) Rose just wanted to go back to Hogwarts where she wouldn't have to deal with the nervousness of owning up to every single one of her countless relatives that she just wasn't brave enough for Gryffindor.

Even though Rose would never admit it to Al — she kind of missed being back at school with him and Scorpius; trying to figure out the story behind AVOE. Where it was just them three — brought together by their mutual understanding of what it is like to not make it to the House you were expected to be in.

Rose missed her friends. It had only been a year, yet the girls from Rosie's dorm had all established a blooming friendship. For now, they were almost friends, rather than friends. Rose missed her classes. She missed the thrill of trying to do her homework to the best and fastest of her ability. Rose missed her uniform. She missed the feeling of getting up every morning and putting on her beautiful blue Ravenclaw tie.

And although summer back at home was no match, Rose felt it couldn't have been any better.

"Rosie!" Rose's Muggle grandmother gave her a tight hug. "How was Hogwarts?"

"Great! — actually." Rose replied. "It was much better than I thought it would be! There's so much to do and learn — I'm scared seven years won't be enough for it all!"

Her grandparents laughed, commenting on how Hermione had said pretty much the same thing in her first summer back from the magic castle.

"Don't worry dear, I'm sure seven years will be more than enough for you to enjoy Hogwarts as much as possible!" her grandmother assured cheerfully.

"But don't forget about your brother," her grandfather cut in, "he's going to need a guiding light when he gets there. Isn't that right Hugo?"

"There's still another whole year left!" Hugo complained.

Hermione ruffled Hugo's hair.

"Don't worry dear," Hermione assured. "this year will fly by just as fast."

"Just like the last." Hermione's mum smiled nostalgically, "I can't believe Rosie's already finished a whole year at Hogwarts."

Rose bit her lip, not liking being in the spotlight.

Hugo sighed, emphasising at his impatience for this year to fly by already.

"Look on the bright side, kiddo!" their grandfather encouraged with a smile.

"Yeah, I mean this way," Ron joined in, "you get to spend more time with Irwyn than your sister."

Hugo's face lit up.

As Ron's tactic had worked, Rose decided it would be better if she didn't mention her relief at being wary of the dragon.

(After the Thestral, Rose had become quite wary of all magical creatures.)

"And I won't see Rosie when I'm in Gryffindor!" Hugo teased his sister.

Rose stuck her tongue out at her brother, momentarily forgetting the truth behind her brother's words.

"What do you mean by that?" Rose's grandmother's confused face snapped her back to reality.

Hugo silenced, realising what he'd just said.

"Um … " Rose didn't actually know what to do, but after a year of stressing over this, she decided enough was enough and that it was time to just get over it, "I'm not in Gryffindor."

She looked her grandparents in the eye, searching for approval.

"I'm in Ravenclaw."

Hermione and Ron smiled. Hugo rolled his eyes.

The Grangers said nothing.

But then they proceeded to give Rosie the warmest congratulations she had ever received from them.

An early summer evening in the living room of the Burrow was quite crowded but not hectic. Most of the family had gathered to sit in and just have a nice long talk of their plans for the summer and next school year, as well reminiscent on the past years.

The Weasley grandparents were present. As were Victoire, Teddy, Dominique, Alice, Frank and Neville. Fred, James and Lorcan had decieded to join in due to Angelina and Lysander's "persuasion". Rose, Hugo, Lily, Al, Ginny and Ron were also present. Percy, Audrey, Lucy, Molly and Roxanne too had managed to squeeze in.

Bill and Louis had gone to Shell Cottage to help Fleur pack to leave for France. Later in the summer, Bill and his three children would join Fleur in France. Hannah had stayed at the Leaky Cauldron; just because it was summer, didn't mean Hannah's job had stopped. George had still not come back from his shop for the day. Luna and Rolf would be arriving from their most recent expedition within the next few days. Harry had disappeared due to an emergency, and Hermione had joined him after, at his request.

Rose and Al just hoped it wasn't another Auror expedition. Although both Harry and Hermione had survived the war, both cousins preferred knowing where their parents were at all times, after meeting the Swan and her colleague "Sis". And AVOE.

Rose found it slightly amusing that Dominique was slowly drifting off to sleep. Rose sympathised with her; the most recent topic of discussion had been Victoire. Because as this had been Al and Rose's first year at Hogwarts, it had also been Victoire's last. Molly I was quite excited to know what her first granddaughter was going to do now. And then she saddened commenting on how the first granddaughter had already finished school and Rose and Al had already started school and everyone was growing up way too fast. Lucy then promised that she was never going to grow up and Molly stopped crying and hugged her instead.

Then, their grandmother smiled and asked Alice what electives she had taken for her third year.

Alice answered Care of Magical Creatures almost instantly. After everyone had finished laughing, she added Ancient Runes, which she found exciting because it made her feel like she was decoding something she shouldn't be. No one said it, but everyone in the room believed that was the most Marauder answer given.

Then Molly asked her second granddaughter, Dominique, what she had taken.

But at this point, Dominique was fast asleep. Alice nudged her, but she wouldn't wake.

"Why's she so sleepy?" Ginny asked kind-heartedly.

With another nudge, Dominique reawakened, but she still seemed exhausted. She rubbed her eye when Victoire, who was seated next to Teddy, spoke up.

"Domi, go upstairs and call it a night."

Alice agreed.

Victoire and Alice seemed concerned for Dominique, who refused to go upstairs.

"Well, you don't get to choose. Come on, you've been like this for two days now." Alice then proceeded to sling one of Domi's arms around her shoulders and stand up both of them. "A little help would be nice!"

Without a word, Lysander appeared at Domi's other side and the trio headed upstairs, slowly.

Rose considered that a smart move on Lysander's part, as he had previously occupied the seat closest to the Idiot Trio.

"Did something happen?"

"I took Ally and Domi to Diagon Alley last week." Victoire spoke up. "They played with some stuff at Uncle George's shop and I don't know. Domi's been like that since she left the shop."

"Maybe she had a prototype." Fred offered. "Did they go to the back of the shop?"

Victoire gave a small, hesitant nod. "I think so."

"I hope she gets better." Angelina voiced. "I've told George a thousand times not to keep prototypes in the shop."

The mood became heavy. With what, Rose didn't know. But she guessed that it had something to do with Uncle Fred and his death.

Roxanne cheered everyone up.

"I can't believe we're finally going to Hogwarts next year!"

Molly II and Frank II agreed.

"Oh yes, of course! How could I forget!" Molly I exclaimed.

"I can't wait to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team!" Roxanne added.

"Uh, Roxanne," Al butt in, "I hate to break it to you, but you can't do that until second year."

"And if you do make the team," Lily added, "you'll be stuck with James as your captain. And Lorcan as vice-captain. That means you'll be under the control of two-thirds of the Idiot Trio."

"Hey, I resent that." James argued. "We keep all our 'Idiot Trio' business away from Quidditch. I don't know if you remember, but ever since I—"

"… joined the Gryffindor Quidditch Team," the entire living room chanted, "Gryffindor hasn't lost a single match."

"Yes James," Ginny said. "we remember quite clearly."

James pretended not to hear her. Instead, he turned to Roxanne and asked her what position she'd be trying for. Roxanne answered and that was when the Idiot Trio turned into her Quidditch mentors, giving her advice already and promising her training all summer.

"What about you, Molly?" Audrey asked her daughter.

"Molls is a Ravenclaw, no doubt!" Rose exclaimed, remembering how Molly and herself spent their childhood sharing books. Rose was also hoping she would not be the only Weasley in Ravenclaw.

"Well, who knows," Percy cut in, "maybe she's a Gryffindor too."

"You're getting this all wrong." Al corrected. He turned to Molly. "What do you want to be, Molls?"

"I guess I want to be Gryffindor," Molly put a finger to her chin, thinking about it, "but Ravenclaw doesn't seem so bad."

"Well, if Al of all people can make Slytherin," James rejoined, "then you can make Ravenclaw if you want, Molls."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Al asked his brother warily.

"Whatever you want it to mean." James replied almost instantly.

Al and James shared a staring competition, and Al lost by sticking his tongue out at James. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Al, your maturity surprises me, even to this day." Rose told her cousin as sarcastically as possible.

"What about you, Frank?" Molls asked the youngest Longbottom.

Frank kept his gaze to the ground.

"I don't know." he said quietly.

"Any House in particular?" Neville asked kindly. "Doesn't have to be Gryffindor."

"I don't mind any way," Frank finally answered. "But it would be nice to be in Gryffindor."

Neville gave his son an encouraging pat on the back.

Looking back on it, neither Rose nor Al would have traded that summer for anything in the world.

Although the first week of summer was not very exciting, the rest of the summer was more hectic than all of their first-year at Hogwarts put together, which was a pretty big thing to say.

True to their word, James, Fred and Lorcan stopped all their pranks and family Quidditch games and focused on training Roxanne almost every day for the summer. Their training sessions would start at dawn, have breakfast with the family as a break and then carry on till noon, when they had lunch.

As the days of Quidditch training went on, James, Fred and Lorcan began to take under their wing anyone else who wished to join. Lily was the first to sign up. And although both were already on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Ally and Domi joined in too. Of course James had coaxed them into it, saying that the Gryffindor Quidditch Team had to be the absolute best, even the reserves. As well as all this, Ginny had put on her no-nonsense this-is-Quidditch jeans, ponytail and began supervising the Weasley Quidditch training.

Rose stayed out of their way for more reasons than one. Her fear of flying was still quite prominent, so much that she couldn't even walk by a broom by herself. Instead, Rose focused on studying for her second year at Hogwarts, and sometimes even getting Al to join her. Molly stayed by Rose's side, eager to watch and learn from her Ravenclaw cousin. And although Uncle Percy and Aunt Hermione were Gryffindors, they both joined in these study sessions as well.

The Weasley children spent their summer playing a huge variety of games. Quidditch training was a game in itself and their family game of collecting Chocolate Frog Cards was also still on going. But there was another game all the children loved playing: Aurors.

Basically, the Weasley children split themselves up into Aurors and Criminals. It was like hide and seek except everyone had twigs as wands and they re-enacted great stories that Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry told them about. The Criminals went out and hid in different parts of the field, the Burrow and Grandad Weasley's shed whilst the Aurors went around searching for them, duelling when they found one and brought them back to the Burrow where they were detained in the kitchen.

It was a fun game, but after Scorpius had told them the story of the war, Rose and Al found a new meaning in the game. And it just didn't feel right making a child's game out of such a serious job. Especially since Aurors still recruited Death Eaters as well, their fathers included.

Rose excused herself to go study and Al just said he didn't feel like playing.

Harry and Hermione were not the only adults to notice this change within their children, but they chose not to say anything.

In the duration of the game Aurors, Rose and Al turned their attention to bond with their most recent cousin Irwyn.

Rose was quite vary of Irwyn, but slowly, she overcame her fear. The Thestral had been full grown and out to hurt her, but Irwyn was small and cute.

Other events over the summer included a trip to Diagon Alley.

Rose and Al went to buy their second-year textbooks and supplies with Ginny and Ron. Domi, Ally, Lysander and the Idiot Trio went for their fourth-year supplies and textbooks with Teddy and Victoire. Roxanne, Molly and Frank went with Neville and Audrey for their first-year textbooks and supplies.

Over the summer, there were some surprises too.

For instance, in the trip to Diagon Alley, Rose, Al, Ron and Ginny ran into Scorpius and Draco.

Although the adults pretended they didn't see the other group, Rose and Al had other ideas. They chatted animatedly with Scorpius, trying to give him brief updates of the summer as soon as possible, whilst telling him they couldn't wait for September. Before Scorpius was given a chance to reply though, Draco led his son away from his friends.

And then there was the surprise that occurred away from the Diagon Alley trip.

Al, James and Lily were told by their mother that their father had been visiting his Muggle relatives. It was through their mother the Potter siblings learned that their suspicions of many years had been confirmed: their second cousin Lucas Dursley had received his Hogwarts letter.

This arose many complications. Because from only one brief visit, the Potter siblings came to know of Great-Uncle Vernon's hatred for anything magical. They also heard of Great-Aunt Petnuia's dislike for Muggle-borns. But they also knew how excited Lucas and Tristan got over Hogwarts. And there was still the possibility that Tristan wouldn't be accepted. Al and James knew personally how strongly Hogwarts could affect the strong bond of brothers, and they didn't want Lucas and Tristan to go through that.

But in all honesty, none of them knew what they really wanted for Lucas and Tristan. It was ironic, they always had secret discussions about Lucas coming to Hogwarts, but now that there was a chance he really might, they didn't even know how to react.

All three of them had uncountable questions, but said nothing. Between the siblings, they decided that they would find out for themselves on September 1st whether or not Lucas was coming to Hogwarts.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, neither Al nor Rose found anything that would help them about AVOE.

From his all-too-brief letters, they found that Scorpius hadn't found anything either.

Or if he had, he hadn't told them, as Al had concluded. This earned him a strong punch from Rose.

Al had told Scorpius practically everything, from his urge to play Quidditch next year, to getting ahead of Rosie in the Chocolate Frog Collection Competition (CFCC). He didn't forget to mention their uncontainable joy at his family's acceptance to Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Rose didn't write as much, but she did write to Scorpius, thanking him for assuring her that being in Ravenclaw was okay. She also expressed some of her hope for more Ravenclaw Weasleys in the future.

What they found about their best friend, was that he didn't write very much. And if he did, he was always straightforward and clear. His letters were significantly briefer than Rose or Al's, and they took it to be just another tendency of the Malfoy.

Scorpius had told them how his father had not been disappointed in his Housing, and that relived Rose and Al more than they'd like to admit.

But that was it, he didn't mention anything else.

After the past year, they knew not to pester him; Rose and Al respected this choice of Scorpius'.

However, later on they would find, that what Scorpius had chosen to keep from them, would be more important for their awaiting adventure than most.