Rose sat there looking at Dumbledore in a state of what she could only describe as shock, panic, and just sheer utter confusion.
"So let me get this straight," Rose paused for a moment, "my parents were murdered, I have a brother who survived all this just like me and a mad man is out trying to murder me?" She looked at Dumbledore more intently - trying to figure out how badly she hit her head earlier when she fainted.
"Well Rose, when you put it like that it really can make someone question their sanity. But stranger things have happened in worse times." Dumbledore repositioned himself slightly in his chair.
"But why was it that Harry was taken to family-" Rose stopped and corrected herself, "my family, our family -whatever you want to call it and I was left to it?"
"Ah," Dumbledore said, "well truth be told Rose, you had disappeared and when Hagrid had gone to collect you only Harry was there. By the time I had managed to track you, two years had gone by and the Dursley's refused to take you into their care."
Rose could feel her heart twang of hurt. She could only imagine the love that Harry would have felt being with his family, no - their family - where she wasn't wanted.
"When I had managed to find you and keep track of your whereabouts, you would disappear again. We tried sending owls with Hogwarts letters but you had declined them… and then-"
"I thought that was some sort of cruel joke-"Rose went to interrupt Dumbledore more, however he cut off her,
"Either way, none of these issues matters now." Dumbledore paused for a moment before continuing, "it is much too dangerous for you to not be prepared of what is going on out there and I am concerned that others have found your whereabouts too. I have made arrangements for you to be tutored over the summer and you will be joining Hogwarts."
Rose at first wanted to protest, she really wasn't one who liked to be told what to do and if she was to be completely honest she wasn't one to follow rules. She mused over what Dumbledore had told her, "whose tutoring me?" She asked, worried it would be some sort of old eccentric wizard like him.
Clearly Dumbledore read her mind because he smiled and chuckled at her, "student Hermione Granger, we have spoken to her parents and she will be meeting you at the Weasley's tomorrow where you will be staying with them for two weeks before the Weasley family go on their holiday to Egypt. Hagrid will be taking you over there, but now I suggest you get some sleep." Rose started to proceed out of the door and up the stairs where Dumbledore spoke once more, "and Rosalie, I would greatly appreciate if this chat about Sirius Black stayed between just you and me for now and one other thing – I haven't told the Weasley's your Harry sisters – I thought you would want to speak to Harry first" Rose nodded before leaving the room.
Rose woke up the next day to find that Dumbledore had gone, and she came downstairs to find what she could only call a giant, this man who she assumed was Hagrid had big wild hair and a scruffy beard. He was sat down at the table lost in his own thoughts until he had heard Rose come down the stairs looking at him, he instantly stood up which caused the table to move forwards as he knocked it. "Ah you must be our Rosie Potter!" He said beaming at her, showing nothing but affection like he was greeting some long-lost friend. Rose couldn't lie, it was weird hearing someone call her Potter - she rarely introduced herself using her full name - what was the point, no one stood around long enough to even remember her.
"And you must be Hagrid," Rose smiled up at him, feeling only ever so slightly awkward and intimidated. She brushed her long dark hair out of her eyes and continued to stare at him, wondering if everyone else in the wizarding world was going to be this big.
"So, are you packed and ready?" Hagrid asked, "we have a long journey ahead of us!" She nodded grabbing her suitcase by the chair, this appeared to make him frown, "I thought you'd have more stuff than that!" He said pausing, "well it's probably a good thing, ya know you packin light. It makes it easier to fit on me bike!" Hagrid took the suitcase off Rose with ease, and she followed him outside to where his motorbike was.
"You'll be needing this," he told her passing her a spare helmet. "Oh and this" he handed her a blanket.
"Thanks," she said getting into the side car, putting on her helmet.
Hagrid got himself ready, and with one big kick his bike started. Rose thought she was going mad because she swore the bike was somehow getting higher and higher, then she realised it wasn't her imagination. They were rising into the sky. Rose mentally shouted ow to herself as she pinched her arm, this was not a dream.
Hours had gone by and Hagrid chatted to her the whole way to the Weasley's, he had told her all about Hogwarts and Dumbledore. How Dumbledore was the best headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen, he had told her all about his love for magical creatures and how much he loved dragons. There was definitely a lot to take in and Rose did wonder if she had made the right decision saying she would attend Hogwarts school, murderer on the loose or not.
"Ah, here we are, the Burrow" Hagrid said as the bike started lowering, Rose looking around to where they had stopped. They were outside a tall house with what Rose could only describe as houses on top of other houses. She had never seen anything just like it, she just couldn't stop staring at it. Her thoughts were soon stopped when she heard the front door open and there stood a woman with bright red hair, Rose watched as she made her way out of the house as Rose stepped out of the side car, removing her helmet.
"Hagrid!" the red head greeted smiling at him, she then turned to Rose, "and you must be Rose," the woman placed her hands on the top of her arms giving them a nice big squeeze, "I'm Molly Weasley, now come on lets get you inside before you catch a cold." Mrs. Weasley started leading Rose inside, "Hagrid, are you staying for a cup of tea?"
"Oh no Molly, I have to go. Hogwarts business and all." He said.
Mrs Weasley nodded and turned towards the house, "Arthur, come help me with these bags" she shouted and out came a red hair man which Rose assumed was Arthur.
"Hello Rosalie," Arthur greeted her, "I'm Arthur Weasley, so nice to meet you." He went to grab her bag and chatted to Hagrid for a few moments whilst Mrs. Weasley led her inside.
Rose had never seen a house quite like this, she looked around in amazement. There was knitting needles knitting in a corner of the room, dinner was cooking on top of the stove and there was a metal spoon just stirring the pot all by itself. "Come on dear, lets make you a cup of tea you must be exhausted." Mrs. Weasley led her to the table and sat her down whilst she fetched her a cup of tea.
Within moments, Rose could hear steps coming down the flights of stairs. Rose looked towards the stairs and out came five other red heads, Rose quickly glanced at them. There were twins, a younger girl, another boy who appeared to be only a few years younger than her and an older boy with red curly hair.
"Woah…" Rose could hear the twins say together under the breath.
"Rose, these are my children, this is Ginny," the red head girl said hello and smiled at her warmly taking a seat opposite her, "This is Fred and George," she said pointing towards the twins.
"That's George mum, I'm Fred," one of the twins said, sitting next to her and George sat down the other side of her.
"You call yourselves our mother," George said, nudging himself into Rose's shoulder grinning at her.
"I'm sorry boys," Mrs. Weasley looks at them apologetic, "they will be in your year at Hogwarts." She tells Rose and Rose looks at the both of them and smiles, at least she will know someone. "This is Ron," Mrs. Weasley turns her attention back to introducing her kids, Ron mumbles a hello before turning bright red which causes Ginny, Fred and George to grin at each other laughing slightly. "And this is Percy!"
Percy comes straight over to Rose and shakes Rose's hand and informs her that he is Gryffindor's prefect.
An hour so goes by and Rose has been chatting nonstop to Ginny, Fred, George and Ron on the sofas – Percy had excused himself and informed Rose that he had to send out some important owls to the other Prefects.
"So why are you starting school so late?" Ginny asked, Rose should have known a question like this would come up – it's just she didn't really know how to answer it.
"Oh…" Rose's smile faded slightly, before she could even answer it Mrs. Weasley came back into the room.
"Come on, dinners up." She ushered her kids and Rose to the table. The conversation seemed to stop whilst everyone enjoyed their food.
After a few moments, Mr. Weasley turned to Rose, "So Rose, Hagrid told me you had been staying at Foster homes." Rose nodded at Mr. Weasley, "so would you mind telling me what exactly a foster home is?"
Rose could see Mrs Weasley an angry look at the table, "don't mind dad," George told her, "he's obsessed with muggles." Fred finished.
"It's fine," Rose smiled at Mr. Weasley, "it's just where kids stay where they don't have families."
Mr Weasley nodded, "and do they not mind you coming here?"
This caused Rose's cheeks to flush red, "errr….." she started, avoiding everyone's gazes, "well they don't really know that I'm here. I had to suddenly had to leave when I may have accidently made their oven combust into flames…" she trailed off
"Wicked.." Rose heard Ron say laughing and the twins nudged her jokingly either side of her, "Good one" The twins said in sync at her.
Meanwhile, over in London - Harry was lying in his bed at the leaky cauldron - reliving what Cornelius Fudge had told him the night before. They had found his sister, and in the next few weeks he would meet her before returning to Hogwarts.