Chapter One:
With little thought of the consequences, Rose Granger-Weasley jumped off the roof.
She knew she'd be fine, seeing as she was a full-grown adult witch. And had been for a year or so now.
Well, more like half a year.
If you rounded up.
But that was beside the point.
The point being that Rose was a fully capable adult. Or, at least, Rose was an adult in the wizarding world.
Technically.
But, just because she had another year of schooling and still lived at her parent's house, did not mean she was not capable of doing full, adult, unsupervised magic. Generally speaking.
Still, Rose was a young adult, seventeen and free to use magic as she pleased. Thereby, her jumping off the roof was cause for no alarm as she had placed a cushioning charm on the bench situated below. The real problem lay in the fact that Rose was– technically– sneaking out of her parents' house. Which was not the most adult, responsible, grown-up (etcetera, etcetera) choice to be making.
It wasn't that Hermione or Ron Granger-Weasley would have been mad about her going out, per say. In fact, her father would probably be ecstatic that his daughter was embracing her rarely used rebellious side. It was just that they might not approve of her actually jumping off the roof, instead of walking out the front door.
Ironically, it felt easier to jump off the roof than walk out the front door. If she went the "normal" way out of her childhood home, her parents would no doubt ask annoying questions like "where are you going" and "who are you going with?" Things Rose did not want to explain.
Plus, Rose had always felt like she was a terrible liar and knew her mother would see right through any attempt to evade questions that might give away her intended destination and who might be there. So jumping off the roof, and effectively surpassing the living room, meant Rose was not going to spoil the evening. It was easier to just not tell them she was leaving.
And, Rose had to admit, there was a little bit of a thrill in doing something wrong every once in a while.
On the ground now, Rose glanced briefly back at her home. Her parents had not heard the soft thump she had made when dropping from the roof outside her window onto the cushioning charm. The house was still and quiet.
Pushing the stray hair out of her eyes, Rose scurried up off the ground. She'd put a muffling charm around her feet so they didn't make a sound over the dark cobblestone as she made her way down to the damp lawn. A bright moon stood in the sky above, lighting Rose's way onto the grass that waved lazily in the late summer breeze, tickling the back of her ankles. Rose thought absently that her father should go about cutting it at some point.
She made her way down towards the garden, which contained both muggle and magical plants. Her mother had always insisted on planting and tending to them herself. Their family friend, Professor Longbottom, was always a helpful correspondence when something went wrong.
Which it did none-too-often.
Picking her way carefully through the vegetable patch, Rose was careful not to step on any of the recently planted herbs. Down she went across the sloping lawn until she reached the low garden wall separating their home from the idle path into town.
There, Rose found Bari Goldstein, shivering slightly in the night air. Her brown hair curled just past her shoulders and swayed gently in a phantom breeze.
"About time," Bari scowled, glancing briefly at her watch. "Been waiting here for almost twenty."
Rose smiled brightly at her friend, Bari's less-than-cheerful attitude and annoyance at Rose's lack of punctuality doing nothing to hide Bari's obvious anxiety.
"Not feeling antsy for any particular reason, are we Bare?" Rose noted as she eased the gate open at the edge of home.
Bari rolled her eyes at Rose but gave her a sly smile.
"Oh bugger off," Bari said, playfully shoving her friend in the shoulder as the two young women began to make their way down the road.
Rose laughed lightly at her friend, careful not to make too much noise so close to her family home. She glanced back up at the house, but as they walked farther away, her home faded to become an empty field. Rose knew her home had plenty of wards around it, given the fact that her parents had made a lot of enemies over the years. However, luckily for Rose, those were mostly to keep people out, not so much about keeping individuals in.
"If I buggered off," Bari said, as they walked. "There would be no way for you to get to Albus' now would there?" Bari breathed out with a huff.
"I could have taken the floo, or something," Rose said feebly.
"Oh, come off it," Bari rolled eyes. "You'd never floo, it'd mess up all the work you did to you hair," Bari reached over and flicked lightly on the end of a strand of her friends hair. Rose had managed to tame her curls somehow. "It looks superb by the by."
"That," Rose smiled faintly at her friends compliment but still flinched slightly and continued, "is very nice of you. And also true. I won't be reliving the Floo Powder Incident of Fourth Year," Rose shuttered and patted her hair down again. "I would apparate if I could. It's just-" Rose flinched.
"It was only your left pinky. And Madam Abbott got it right back on," Bari smiled warmly at her friend as Rose absently rubbed her pinky finger.
"I will apparate. Alone, I will. Just not today," Rose said.
Bari smiled at Rose and shook her head.
"Well until then," Bari said. "You got me, babe."
The girls had reached the end of the lane, which rose up into a dense thicket of trees. They walked for another minute or so before reaching the apparition point: a small clearing away from the road and covered by a canopy of trees.
"Grab on then," Bari stuck out her arm and Rose clung tightly. She squeezed her eyes shut as the feeling of apparition took hold. It felt as though she was being pressed in on all sides, the tightness nearly unbearable. The world squished and shifted around her. Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped, and the air came flooding back to Rose's lungs as the world righted itself again.
"Wasn't so bad was it?" Bari said, gasping slightly.
Rose gave a non-committal noise in response. She still felt a little queasy after her world had been so unceremoniously inverted.
They stood in a small clearing under a canopy of trees none too different than the one they had just left. However, the air here was drier and colder. A light breeze blew through the trees and Rose shivered.
"Better get on then," Bari said checking the watch she had been given for her birthday last month. "Party started nearly an hour ago."
Noticing a slight edge of nerves in her friends voice, Rose looped her arm through the smaller girls.
"Well, come then, no one ever shows up to a party on time," Rose said as she started marching through the woods in the direction she knew led towards the Potter Manor. She felt much less anxious now that they had finished apparating. "We are fashionably late, as usual."
"And fashionable," Bari smiled. Rose noticed it was wobbly so she pulled her friend in tighter.
"As usual," Rose smiled brightly as the girls broke through the trees.
They found themselves at the bottom of a large lawn that ascended into what Rose personally thought was the most beautiful home she'd ever been to. Even though it was nearly pitch-black outside, Rose knew this property by heart. She had been coming to this home since she was a baby. It had been in Uncle Harry's family for generations. Tonight, Rose knew her aunt and uncle to be staying at their London home at Grimmauld Place. Whether they knew that Rose was at their country home, she did not know.
The grounds were quiet as the girls made their way up over the beautifully manicured lawn that led to a stately manor home, the lights of the house like a beacon.
Rose and Bari soon found themselves in front of the large oak doors. Bari knocked loudly, tapping her foot impatiently on the ground, like she couldn't decide if she wanted to be there or not. Rose shivered again as another breeze blew past. She suddenly wished she'd grabbed a sweater before her jump from the second floor.
After another moment of the wind biting their skin, the door opened and a stream of warmth filled the air around them.
A tall girl with a bright smile stood in the doorway. She was willowy with long red hair. Her light brown eyes shone behind wood-framed glasses.
"Hello Bari, it's so good to see you! Welcome in," Lily smiled at her guest and held the door open wider before turning to her cousin. "Rose, you're late."
"Good to see you too Lils," Rose said to her younger cousin, hugging her on her way in.
Bari smiled at the younger ginger girl who returned it with warmth.
"Always good to see you Lily," Bari said, looking up at the taller Gryffindor. "My favorite Potter."
"Don't let my brother hear you say that," Lily said with a light laugh.
"Which one?" Rose mused, as Bari rolled her eyes and Lily laughed again.
"Well no one I want to talk to is here yet," Lily said as they made their way into the home, letting the heavy wooden door close solidly behind them. "It's only Albus' stupid Slytherin mates and some of the cousins. It's been dreadfully boring."
Lily was leading the two girls further into the manor. Past tall doorways leading into darkened rooms. The house felt almost empty for only a moment before the girls turned a corner. Music and voices grew louder as they entered the Potter children's wing.
They were in a long hallway filled with doors nearly identical to the ones they passed before. However, instead of darkened rooms, these interiors were lit up with noise emitting from their depths. Lily led them to the largest room at the end of the hall.
The door was ajar, and Lily pushed it open even wider to pass through. Inside, silver and green streamers were strung from the wooden ceiling beams that crisscrossed the roof. Little exploding tops swirled around each other on tabletops. Music was playing rather loudly from a radio placed precariously on the mantle. As they made their way into the room, two more people joined the party, having appeared suddenly out of the fireplace, soot in their hair.
The noisy room reminded Rose of the Gryffindor common room with its squashed armchairs and low light. It was warm from the glowing candles on the wall and the drinking people. During the day the parlor would be flooded with light coming in from the windows that lined the back wall of the room, past the billiard tables. However, seeing as it was closer to the early morning hours, the outside world was dark, and the room was lit by enchanted candles.
After entering the room, Lily had left Rose and Bari to their own devices as she had spotted a boy she clearly did not find boring to talk to. Rose spotted James and Louis in conversation near the fireplace. Louis was speaking on something he no doubt felt strongly about as he was waving his arms in the air, gesticulating so widely the girl who had just flooed in had to duck to avoid his flailing hands. James rolled his eyes and spotted the two Seventh Years. He waved to them and both girls smiled in his direction.
Evidentially, Louis was not happy with James' momentary distraction and bopped James on the arm to regain his attention.
"Let's go get a drink, shall we," Bari said as her eyes swept over the rest of the room.
Rose nodded in agreement, pulling her friend to a table near the back of the room nearly overflowing with bottles.
Different bottles and cauldrons full of multicolored, bubbling liquid sat before them. Rose and Bari stood taking in the sight of it, both girl unsure where to start. There were too many options. One cauldron was nearly overflowing with a wonderful smelling liquid which jumped happily about, the color of Slytherin robes. Another was dark and thick and looked like it tasted exactly as it smelled, which was badly. One long-necked bottle had a label written in a language Rose had never seen before. Others were indecipherable and unknown, faded in dark, aged glass. One seemed to have runes so old Rose couldn't make out any other word besides sharp on it's dusty red tag.
But staring at the table of drinks was helpful for two reasons. It was a means to an end (they'd have to drink something) and it meant neither girl had to look at the green felt table just outside their line of view. Because standing around said green felted table were the soon to be Seventh Year Slytherin boys.
Rose stared determinedly at the bottles in front of her, making sure they had her focus. She busied herself getting a drink from the bottle labeled with the unknown language so as to avoid glancing over. Because she knew if she did, she would see a certain blonde haired boy. One who was always where she was, ready to push buttons Rose did not want pushed. And she really didn't feel like having a row until she had a drink first. And it was always inevitable with him that they'd row.
So she must drink.
Rose drained her cup.
She must drink again.
Rose quickly poured another of the same unknown liquid. It burned going down but warmed her insides as it settled. Bari followed her friends lead, evidentially keen on not speaking to anyone without alcohol in her system. Luckily, before either of them could be accosted by the unwanted, two familiar faces entered through the doorway.
"Lav, Roxy!" Bari said, having looked up after she finished pouring a second cup the unidentifiable alcohol.
The two striking figures were hard to miss and Rose noticed a few other heads turn towards them as they waved across the room.
Lavender Finnigan and Roxy Weasley maneuvered through the crowd, stepping around the growing number of people who'd come to celebrate Al's birthday. Rose wondered vaguely again if Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny knew how many people would be coming over.
Rose smiled as her friend and cousin came over holding hands.
Lav was sporting a mustard yellow jumpsuit that would have clashed horribly with Rose's hair, but her roommates caramel skin matched the tone perfectly. Roxy was tall like her girlfriend and had a smattering of freckles across her face. Her black hair was trapped within a hair tie on the top of her head. It looked as though it was trying to escape its confines. Rose thought that Roxy's leather jacket might have once belonged to Uncle Harry's godfather, but she couldn't be sure.
Rose absently rubbed the end of her skirt between her fingers, feeling short and stubby beside her tall friends. At least she was average height. Poor Bari barely made it up to Lav's shoulder.
"Quite some party isn't it?" Lav said by way of greeting in her Irish lilt.
The young women gazed at the crowd around them, somewhat safe from the rush of people by standing at the bar. Bari and Rose watched as the other girls poured themselves drinks, Lav from a simmering purple liquid that smelled of cherries and Roxy from the black tar-like substance.
"Nearly all of Seventh Year is here by the looks of it," Rose agreed, taking note of the ever-expanding guest list.
"I noticed all your family seems to be here as well," Bari said addressing Rose and Roxy, nodding towards a group of cousins that had gathered by the fire.
"You noticed that did yeah?" Rose smirked.
"We like to gather in groups. Safety in numbers and all that," Roxy smiled, slinging an arm around Lav and kissing her forehead.
"You two are like magnets," Bari said rolling her eyes. "You can't seem to keep your hand off each other when you're in the same few meters."
"Yes, well that's just my animal magnetism, that is," Lav finished her drink. Roxy took her girlfriends cup and poured another. "Can't help it if Roxy here can't keep her hands off of me."
"You're talking about my cousin here," Rose said with a laugh. "Don't make me get all protective now."
"Oi! If I have to watch you shamelessly flirt all the time with Sco-" Roxy began, handing Lav the cup back.
"I do not flirt, I hate that boy," Rose knowing where her cousin was going and defending herself before Roxy could finish.
"Then what would you call it?" Bari was laughing as she poured herself another drink. She too went for the tar-black substance.
"You're one to talk about flirting. Who did you get all dressed up for little miss Bari?" Rose said, trying to deflect the conversation as she eyed the girl's outfit.
Bari rolled her eyes but tugged the top of her shirt up slightly.
"No one, I dressed up for myself," she put her hands on her hips.
Rose laughed, about to make a retort about a pot and a kettle. But her response was cut off by an arm being thrown over her and Lav's shoulders.
A/N
Hi all. It has been a very long time since I've posted anything on here. And I am not going to make up any excuses or anything, I just want to apologize seeing as there are a few other stories on my page that are just not finished. I don't have a real reason as to why, but hopefully I will be inspired and finish what I started. I have outlines for those stories, it is just a matter of me sitting down and writing something I like.
Now, all of that is to say, I really like this story that I now present to you. I first started writing it in 2018 and am just now finishing that last chapters. I'm trying something new this time around. Given that I have the majority of the story complete, I will be posting new chapters ~once a week. Somehow I don't really thing anyone out there in the internet cares. And somehow I don't think more than a handful of people will every make it this far down the page. But for those of you who do, thank you in advance for your time and energy.