Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Another Year

Rose stretched as she rolled out of bed. Her mother was calling for her and she could already hear her dad chasing her brother around the house, trying to make sure Hugo was all packed up. Luckily Rose had packed everything the night before and so was able to catch a few minutes more of sleep. It was the first day of Sixth Year. She would be going with her family to Platform 9 and ¾ as she did at the time every year. It was bittersweet to think that next year would be her last time doing this.

"Rose! Hurry up!" the sound of her mothers' voice shook her from her depressing train of thought and so she quickly bounded down to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Rose grinned to herself as she watched her family, not nearly as loud when it was just the four of them but still loud and rambunctious.

"Ok, now dear, you have everything? You are prepared for your N.E.W.T levels? I have a study sheet made up for you if you think you might want it," Hermione said as she nibbled on some toast.

"Thanks mom, but I should be good. I've been making a study schedule of my own actually."

"Again, I am so glad you inherited your mothers' brains and organization. I mean really seven classes! It's incredible," Ron sighed proudly.

Rose had received her Hogwarts letter a the beginning of August and in it, it had stated that her language classes would be broken up into three classes, one for Spanish and French, one for Chinese, and then one for Russian. So in total she would be taking seven classes though only three were actually N.E.W.T. level. It had taken her a while to persuade her mom that this really was the best course of action for her desired career, and given the fact that her daughter was wanting to work in the ministry and pursue multiple languages, there really wasn't much argument that Hermione Granger-Weasley could put forth.

All of the trio had received Os on all of their O.W.L's. Well, Albus had received an E in Divination but both Ron and Harry had boasted that he had done better than them when they took it all those years ago so they weren't too phased by it. Rose could tell Albus was a little put out about it but she and Scorpius had managed to pull him around. Convincing him that he had been studying for two additional classes as it was, that he wasn't even tested over, and since Divination was a joke subject anyway, he shouldn't look to terribly hard into it.

As it was, all summer long Rose and Scorpius had been tutoring Albus in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and she felt that after all the months of hard work that her cousin would be ready to take on the N.E.W.T level, he may not be the top of his class but he would manage it. Summer, in her opinion had flown by far too fast. If she wasn't studying up on her future classes, then she was tutoring Albus, or the three of them would be relaxing together or playing Quidditch. Quidditch had been a pretty intense topic at the Burrow that summer, with James working hard to be chosen in his final year and then Kathryn and Annabelle coming over almost daily to train with James under Ginny, so that they could be scouted in a year's time as well. And Albus had been running Rose and Scorpius through multiple chaser drills, ones that she had never even heard of before. She had been meaning to ask Albus how he managed to come up with these unique and diverse drills and plays but hadn't had the time too. Because when Albus wasn't being tutored or playing Quidditch or attending a family event or spending his time with Rose and Scorpius in anyway, he was gone and Rose had no idea where he disappeared to but she was going to find out what he was hiding if it killed her that year.

Soon enough, Rose was crammed into her dad's old car and rattling along down the highway towards Kings Cross Station. She had to admit, her father's' driving skills had improved tremendously since her First Year. Climbing out of the car with Hugo catching her as she stumbled out, Rose brushed herself off, tossed her mass of curls over her shoulder and accepted her trunk from her dad.

Hugo was now almost a whole foot and a half taller than her and it was horribly unfair in her opinion. Everyone was taller than she was. And it wasn't like her mother was short, her dad certainly wasn't. Hell no one in her family seemed to have a short bone in their body. So apparently, because of this, Rose just inherited all the short bones. Chasing after her brother as he ran through the portal, Rose embraced the magical scene of the variety of families all gathered around the Hogwarts Express. Her moment of mesmerization was cut short though when she heard Hugo hollering for her to hurry up.

Her brother was starting his Fifth Year, and didn't seem to particularly concerned about the O.W.L.s that would be at the end of his year. He was incredibly smart when he put his mind to it. But he was too absorbed in Quidditch and Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies to focus on any other subjects with much effort. He was sprouting up and gaining quite the reputation as a ladies man, Rose could almost be concerned about her brother but then again she wasn't a stellar example of being a good child either, having had her fair share of broom closet snogging sessions. And at any rate, Hugo was like an angel compared to Lily Potter, who was utilizing her undeniable beauty and fierce wit to have almost all the men in Hogwarts drooling at her fingertips. It drove Albus and James mental when she did this but they couldn't really tell Lily Potter not to do something because that would just drive the girl to do it doubled.

Speaking of the youngest Potter, Rose spotted her younger cousin currently off to the side of the red-headed mass flirting with a rather tall looking man who looked to be older than Rose. And beside her cousin, was her other cousin...her favorite cousin. Albus stood chatting with James, Fred, Louis, Roxanne and Scorpius about Merlin knew what, becuase at the sight of Scorpius Rose couldn't even see her other cousins.

Merlin, she had hardly known how to behave herself over the summer. She had desperately wanted to just grab the pale Slytherins' face and snog the daylights out of him. But she hadn't. It would ruin their entire friendship if she did and she refused to risk that over some senseless hormones. So instead, she admired from afar and acted as though he were still simply her best friend. Of course Dominique and Roxanne had noticed her apparent feelings. She had done a decent job of ignoring those feelings until her cousins had cornered her and forced her to confess, and ever since then Rose hadn't been able to shut off her thoughts in regards to that topic.

"Hey Rose!" Scorpius called out when he saw her. Breath hitching as he jogged over to her, his blonde hair buffeted by the wind, Rose forgot that she was actually supposed to respond in some form until he finished spinning her around in a hug, placing her down and looking at her oddly.

"Hi! I mean...hey Scorp. What's up?" she asked, attempting a winning smile.

Dominique and Roxanne had both assured her that she should be more forward in her feelings, claiming that he obviously felt something for her as well. But Rose just couldn't see it. He was Scorpius. He looked at her like he always had. Like his best friend. Like the girl he has known since he was eleven. He didn't look at her special. However, this didn't stop her two cousins from egging her on in the background to attempt flirting with him though.

So grabbing hold of her Gryffindor genes that she had to have inherited in some degree, Rose tossed her hair, flashed her flirtiest smile and even batted her eyelids a little. Unfortunately this display was all lost on the boy who had become distracted by other new arrivals. So Rose was left feeling utterly ridiculous as she stomped her way over to Roxie and Dom.

"Hey, if he had been paying attention, I bet you ten galleons he would have been drooling at your feet," Roxie assured her.

"Yeah, just keep that up, all year long and you will soon see that we were right. He is crazy about you. Trust us," Dom agreed.

Rose sighed. The problem was, as much as her brain reasoned and logicked her way out of listening to them, her heart had already latched onto that inkling of possibility and was trusting her cousins with all that she had. She wasn't sure how she would manage going through this year with her head and heart so utterly conflicted.

Trying to focus on what was happening around her and not getting caught up in her conflicting thoughts, Rose tuned into the goodbyes and well wishes her parents and uncles and aunts were saying. Then she went and gave all of the adults a hug as well as her second parents, the Malfoys.

Once that was done she boarded the train with Albus and Scorpius and followed them in single file to their compartment, and Rose fully enjoyed her view of her blonde best friends backside with no shame, at least until he turned to face her when they reached the compartment and she quickly averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing that horrendous Weasley red.

"My dear Rose-petal," he quipped with a smirk and mock bow as he held the door open for her.

Chuckling, Rose responded with a curtsey. "Oh my dearest Scorpius, you are far too kind." Flouncing into the compartment in the most princess like way she could manage, she burst into laughter at their antics with Scorpius as he joined her in the compartment. The rest of their friends merely rolled their eyes, used to them by now.

"Why, do you need assistance, Rosie Posie?"

"No but you will if you call me that again," she threatened with narrowed eyes. "However, if you so desire it. I would be delighted to receive your assistance." Chuckling, Scorpius did so in lifting her luggage onto the rack above them.

The compartment was still too small for the large group and so, as was typical of all other years, Rose settled herself onto Scorpius' lap but she couldn't help but feel her cheeks heat up at the action, no matter how redundant it was by now. Rose tried not to think about how comfortable she was sitting on his lap and how his breath tickled the back of her neck when he laughed at what Albus and Lucas said. And it didn't help that the train lurched shortly after and Scorpius' arm had snaked around her waist to hold her steady and then proceeded to remain there until it was time to do their Prefects' meeting and rounds.

Towards the end of the train ride, James swung by with Freddie in tow, both being Seventh Years now, and the oldest of the Weasley-Potter clan to be at the school, Rose felt like she would be seeing her cousins more often this year.

"Well, you young'uns ready for Quidditch this year?" Freddie asked leaning casually against the door frame. James mimicked the pose on the other frame but Rose noticed his eyes lingering on her blonde firecracker friend, Kathryn more than was necessary.

"Actually, how about we rephrase. Are you lot ready to be creamed by Gryffindor this year?" James smirked, forcing his eyes around the compartment before landing inconspicuously on the tiny Slytherin again.

It was then that there was a shout down the corridor and both James and Freddie were drawn away from the compartment door. But not to be outdone, Kathryn jumped up and charged out the door, eager for the last word. Being right next to the door, Rose was able to hear what was said but she doubted anyone else in the compartment could.

"Ha! When hell freezes over!" said Slytherin cried out in friendly rivalry. Rose pictured James and Freddie turning around to face her, being drawn away from the thing that drew them away in the first place in favor of some more Quidditch talk. "You guys will never beat Slytherin this year. You are going to be stuck with almost all new players, we have all vets. It's almost a guarantee that we will dominate you."

"We will see about that," Freddie said rolling his eyes. "But with James as Captain this year. I doubt you guys will be able to do much. Don't forget Kat, you gotta go up against Jamie here as Seeker and he is better than you by far. No offense. It's just stats." Rose imagined him giving a small shrug at this statement.

Again, Rose could picture her good friend glaring at her cousin as her cheeks flared up in anger. It was common knowledge that the she was a brilliant Seeker. One of the best the school had seen but even still, she had yet to beat James in a game. Rose heard Freddie chuckle, pleased with his ability to rattle the other team, and then footsteps of him leaving against. James however stayed behind for a few more minutes, not looking at any of the other people in the compartment.

"If it makes you feel better, you've gotten even better over the summer than you were last season. I'll be given a run for my money for sure," he said kindly. It was a tone that Rose had rarely ever heard her rambunctious cousin use. "But...um… you know...practice does make perfect and you know. If you want...we could still continue to practice up at school. You know...like we did over the summer...but at school...and just the two of us. For some Seeker practice. The best against the best and all that. I mean, I wouldn't mind helping you get better and you would be helping me push myself too...so it's mutually beneficial and all. But, yeah, so what do you say Kat?"

Rose had never heard James sound so nervous before. It was almost adorable.

"Really? Like practicing after dinner and stuff? Yeah, I'd like that Jay. I'd really like that. And I appreciate your offer. Just find me when you want to start, eh?" Rose didn't hear James' response but she could imagine a curt nod because soon Kathryn was returning to the compartment.

Rose caught her friends' eyes, only to be met with a shy smile and reddened cheeks on her friends face. Stifling a giggle, she gave her friend a look saying that they would talk about all of that later on.