A/N: Hello! Welcome to my story XD Okay, so this is how I think Rose and Scorp got together. I've read a lot of Scor/Rose stories, but for a while I was lacking one that really made me happy. So, I've decided to make my own! This story will line up with some of my other Next Gen work, but also sometimes they just don't as I've gotten older and explore different things. This is my first Next Gen fic, so if you have any suggestions at all, I'm all ears. Um, I think that's all I have to say now...

(UPDATE 9.18.21 There were a couple things about this chapter that I really didn't like/in 2021 seemed like it could be taken negatively out of context, so I've removed/edited a few things. There has been no real content change, and most of the story is the same, but you may notice a difference or two if you originally read what I first posted. Regardless, welcome to my story, and I hope you enjoy!)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters nor the world in which this story takes place. They are JK Rowling's (and the other various companies associated with Harry Potter).

September 1, 2017

The morning of September first always meant back to school time, at least in my family where there was always at least one child in school. This year, however, was different. This year I would be going to school with all of my cousins for the first time.

This fall I was starting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the greatest magical school in all of Europe... Well, at least that was my opinion. Auntie Fleur was constantly saying that Beauxbatons, her alma mater, is a really school too, but ask any British wizard or witch, and they would tell you Hogwarts is number one.

We got to the station half an hour early. Mum thinks that early is on time, and on time is late, so we were practically early for everything, unless Dad was in charge of making sure we were somewhere. Dad's habitually late. Mum said she should have realized when he and Uncle Harry were late for almost all their classes the first week of school during their first year.

While my parents were talking to Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny as Al and I waited to get on the Hogwarts Express, I noticed and interesting-looking blonde boy and watched him from the corner of my eye as best I could. He had short, blonde hair with the front slicked up, a dark green t-shirt, and dark blue jeans on. His trainers were beat up, and he looked really nervous. I assumed from the nervousness he must be a first year like me and Al, but I couldn't say with any certainty. For some reason, I had this feeling that Mum and Dad wouldn't like it if they saw me staring at the boy, even if I wasn't really staring. My family was constantly being harassed by the media, so I was well aware of what real staring was.

"Rosie, what are you looking for?" Hugo asked me quietly.

"I'm looking for Vic. She said she'd help me find a seat," I said, only half lying.

"Oh, okay," Hugo said, turning back to the family.

A little later, Dad and Uncle Harry finally noticed the boy and his parents. I heard the name Malfoy and almost immediately blushed. I couldn't like a Malfoy. I couldn't even like looking at him like I was. Mum and Dad hadn't gotten on well with Mr. Malfoy at school, and Dad still hadn't completely forgiven him.

Dad joked (though I think he was sort of serious) that I needed to beat him at every test, to which Mum smacked his arm lightly. I just rolled my eyes.

It was true that I had my mother's brain. I'd always done well in the Muggle school Mum made sure we were enrolled in, so much so that I'd actually been invited to join an elite school for the gifted. Mum and Dad had argued for weeks about whether I would go there during the day and learn magic at night from Mum and Dad, or go to Hogwarts. When they finally asked me what I wanted for myself, I said Hogwarts! I had no desire to live in the Muggle world when I grew up, which would be the only logical reason for attending the Muggle school.

While I was lost in my own thoughts, it was decided that we needed to get on the train. After hugging everyone (and hearing Lil and Hugo complain about not being able to come as well), I followed Al and James onto the train. I wandered after them, spotting Dom (Uncle Bill's middle child) with some of her vaguely familiar friends in one compartment, Molly (Uncle Percy's oldest) in another...

"And this is our stop, boy and girl!" James said, opening the door to a compartment containing Fred and Roxanne (Uncle George's twins) and Lysander Scamander (Aunt Luna's older son).

"There's the little newbies!" Lysander said, reaching forward to ruffle Al's hair and then mine.

"Hi, Lys," I said, smiling at him. He was going into his second year at school, a Ravenclaw unlike most of the family. Well, that might be because technically Aunt Luna and Uncle Rolf aren't related to any of us by blood, but they were as good as family.

"Hey there coz," Roxanne, sliding over to make room for me to sit next to her. From her other side, Fred smiled.

"You both ready to join the best house?" he asked jokingly, unaware of Al's nervousness.

"I hope..." Al said from the window seat next to Lysander, playing with the hem of his shirt.

"What's wrong, Al?" Fred asked, actually looking concerned. In this group of four, it was quite plain that Freddie was the most in touch with his feelings.

"He's nervous that he'll be in Slytherin," James said from his seat by the door.

"Why would you be a snake?" Roxanne asked, confused. "Your dad's freaking Harry Potter, the most famous man in the Wizarding World. Who is known for his Gryffindor-ness."

"Yeah, that's what scares me. Everyone expects me to be a mini version of my dad. I just..." Al flushed, looking out the window. I felt bad for him; he wanted to fit in, but as a son of the Harry Potter people were expecting things. There was an article in the Daily Prophet when James was sorted; there would probably be one in tomorrow's paper with where Al and I were sorted, debating whether the system was rigged, or how rule breaking the young generation was, depending on where we ended up. To be honest, even I was a little nervous knowing we would probably be a big news story tomorrow if nothing truly crazy happened.

"Listen Al," I started to say, "we're not our parents, right? Sure, we can be similar, like my mum and I both being pretty smart, but beyond any and all similarities we're each our own person. Like, sure, will we probably make an appearance in the Daily Prophet tomorrow? More than likely. But who cares? Like, I dunno. I just feel like you're putting too much unneeded pressure on yourself. You're allowed to be different. We all ar." As I finished up, I could feel all of the eyes in the compartment on me. Great.

"Wow Rose, looks like you've gotten your mother's ability to speak as well as her wit," Lysander commented. James rolled his eyes.

"Well we all knew that. She's always been able to convince us of anything," James pointed out. He was right in saying that. I felt like I generally knew what I needed to say to get what I wanted. I didn't abuse that ability... well, I didn't abuse it too often...

"Yeah, and she sure didn't get that from Uncle Ron," Roxanne said, chuckling.

"What's wrong with Dad?" I asked, getting defensive.

"Nothing Rosie," Freddie said, sending a look at Roxanne.

"He's not the most fluent with the English language..." Roxanne said, shrugging. "And when he can't vocalize himself he starts to turn that lovely shade of maroon Gram always makes things for him in."

"I happen to love Dad's quirks," I huffed.

"Lily still gets the 'Daddy's girl' award. I don't think anyone could ever beat her," James said, rolling his eyes again.

"Do you lot really think I'm going to end up in Slytherin?" Albus asked seemingly suddenly.

"Al, you're not going to be in Slytherin," I said, holding back an eye roll of my own. He'd been talking about the possibility for weeks at this point, and I was getting tired of trying to calm him down.

"Albus, didn't Dad tell you something on the platform? He's usually right, you know..." James said.

"Well..." Albus said, trailing off. He took a deep breath, then continued. "Dad said that the hat takes what you want to be into account.

"Do you want to be a snake?" Roxanne asked.

"Of course not!"

"Then I don't see what you're so worried about," Lysander said. "You don't have to worry about Ravenclaw with how illogical you're being."

"It's just..." Al said, trailing off again. He obviously wasn't getting the response he wanted.

"Listen Al, Rosie and I aren't the girl cousins to come crying to..." Roxanne said. I sent her a look; I was plenty sensitive, thank you. I helped to calm an over-the-top Albus down all the time. "Okay, okay. I'm not the female cousin to come running to when you're all emotional. That would be Molly and Vic. So if you want to cry or be comforted, go find one of them."

Albus huffed. Roxanne rolled her eyes and turned to look out the window, while Lysander pulled out the latest edition of the Quibbler from his satchel. Fred and James set up a game of Wizard's Chess, and I started watching them, trying to understand each boys' strategy.

This was going to be a long year, I could already tell. Fun, yes, but long. I saw the kids walking past our compartment, trying to get a glimpse of Harry Potter's sons, or Ron and Hermione's daughter. We were famous because they were famous. I had a feeling our names would be famous for a long time, even if we didn't do anything to merit it ourselves. Just watching Teddy and Vic grow up, anytime anything happened with them they always seemed to make the front page. Even though I wouldn't quite admit it to Albus, I was just as afraid as he was when it came to messing up. I was terrified.

"Oi, James!" Olivia Wood, daughter of famous Quidditch players Katie Bell and Oliver Wood yelled from the doorway to our compartment.

"Hey Liv," James said without looking up from his game.

"You're not even going to look at me?" Olivia huffed. I honestly had no idea how these two stayed best friends. I swear they were in an argument every other minute. Maybe it was because both of them were hotheaded and blunt enough to deal with each other.

James looked up at Olivia, and took in the badge on her chest. "No way..." he said, his mouth gaping. I had no idea what the badge meant.

"Well, technically, I'm not the captain," Olivia said, smirking. "But... Ryan is!" She unpinned the badge from her shirt and slipped it back into her pocket.

"Seriously? That's great! We're bound to have a winning season now!" James said, his face lighting up.

"I know! Ry's like the best chaser on the team, no offense."

"None taken... He's loads better than I was last season. I think the only reason Kelsey let me on the team is 'cause she wanted to meet my parents."

"We'll need a seeker now without her though," Olivia said thoughtfully, sitting next to James and crushing me against Al, who sent me a frustrated look he usually reserved for a response to James and his antics.

"Al's a good seeker," I piped up from my now tight seat.

"He's only a first year," James said dismissively.

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

"First years aren't on the house Quidditch teams," Olivia said, her voice carrying some of that 'duh' tone.

"Dad was."

"Dad was the first person in a century, and there's been no one since," James retorted.

"Well, who's to say I won't too?" Al replied.

"If you want to try, go ahead," Olivia said before turning back to James. "Anyway, Frank said to tell you-"

"Frank's on the train? Does that mean Alice is?" Albus asked, finally starting to look even a little excited.

"Longbottoms don't ride the train, since they practically live at school..." Olivia said, shaking her head and visibly mouthing 'stupid first years.'

"Oh," Albus said weakly. I was aware, like most people, of Al's crush on Alice. What most people didn't know, however, was that Alice liked Al right back. They were just too ignorant to realize it for themselves.

"Listen, Ry's going to be looking for this," Olivia said, flashing the badge again. "I better go give it back. Wait for me for a carriage, okay?"

James nodded, and Olivia left the compartment. He turned back to Fred and the chessboard.

The rest of the train ride seemed to pass in silence. Albus stared moodily out the window, Roxanne doodled on a spare piece of parchment, I read an old Muggle book, Lysander read more of the Quibbler, and Fred and James played chess. When we pulled into the station, we all parted ways without saying goodbye. Albus and I headed for Hagrid while the others continued on through the station.

"You alri', Albus and Rose?" Hagrid asked, smiling at us as we approached him.

"Yeah, I had a good summer, Hagrid," I said, smiling. Albus just muttered darkly, some of his worries cropping back up again.

"What's wron' wi' Albus?" Hagrid asked me.

"He's afraid he won't be in the 'right' house, and he's mad because James and Olivia Wood weren't being the kindest back on the train," I explained, helping Al into a boat with an Indian-looking girl neither of us knew.

"Don't worry, Al," Hagrid said, shaking his head. "Yer'll be fine. Yer almost more like yer dad than James is." At Hagrid's comment, Albus seemed to perk up slightly. He liked being compared to his dad, at least every now and then. Everyone knew Harry Potter was a genuinely decent human being, like all people should try to be.

As the boats set off, I decided we should probably introduce ourselves to our boat-mate. "Hi, I'm-"

"I know, you're Rose Weasley, and he's Albus Potter. The whole Wizarding World knows who you are," the girl said, cutting me off quite rudely.

"Well would you mind telling us who you are then?" I asked politely as I could.

"I'm Serena Boot," the girl said, flipping her sleek, dark hair over her shoulder. "Actually, my mum went with your dad to the Yule Ball in their fourth year, Rose. She said it was the worst time she'd ever had with a boy, ever."

"That would be my dad..." I said, laughing with the girl. "Although he does have his moments... Who's your mum?"

"Padma Patil Boot," Serena said proudly. "She was in Dumbledore's Army with your parents."

"I think Mum's mentioned her once or twice," I said weakly. In all honesty, my parents know a lot of people. Serena didn't pick up on my unsureness, however, and continued to looked proud.

"Whoa! Look at that!" Albus said, pointing to our first view of Hogwarts School. I'd been there once with Dad before. This particular view, however, still took my breath away and made my heart speed up. The butterflies reappeared in my chest, beating their wings fast against my ribcage.

"It's real," Serena muttered. "We're actually going to Hogwarts!"

"I know..." I said. "It's crazy. I've been dreaming about this for years..."

"Course you have, Rosie," Albus commented. "You're such a nerd."

"Like you haven't wanted to come prove yourself..." I retorted.

This is going to be a great year, I thought as we left the boats. I can't wait to see what happens.