As it turned out, nothing would be fine. Oh, to be sure, the ride to the castle would go splendidly as would the sorting and the feast..... But there was a menace on the horizon for Rose. And his name was Draco Malfoy. But I am getting ahead of the story.
As day turned to night they arrived at Hogsmeade Station. The little group was joined by Ginny Weasly, whose robes were looking rumpled and whose hair was very mussed, And by Neville Longbottom whose appearance wasn't much better and who blushed furiously every time he looked at Ginny, who had a stupid grin on her face.
Ron was looking between Neville and Ginny, a look of horror dawning on his face. Harry was trying not to grin. Hermione kept changing between looking horrified and trying not to giggle. "You've been kissing." Luna said dreamily to Ginny and Neville. Both blushed an even brighter sahde of red and smiled sheepishly. "Errrrm..." Neville said. Just as Ron was about to explode they all heard Hagrid shouting for first years to find a boat and for all others to find a carriage.
"Saved by the gamekeeper..." Harry muttered to Rose, who grinned. Though Rose's parents were both wizards, she wasn't fully pureblood. Her mother's grandmother had been a Muggle. And her grandmother had been half Veela, half Muggle. She had grown up with her Mother and Grandmother, in America, in a household which had quite a few muggle things in it. a TV a phone and a computer, for instance.
"I thought that was 'Saved by the Bell'?" She murmured back. They grinned at each other and Rose had a very hard time not melting.
"Oi, love birds, let's find a carriage!" Ron said Irately. Both Harry and Rose blushed and stood a full ten feet apart as they walked to the carriages. Friends could be so annoying...
The seven of them all decided to pile into one Carriage. Some in the party could see the thestrals. Obviously Harry could. Luna could also, again, obviously. Neville, having seen Sirius die last year, could now see them. And, so could Rose. It was obvious to Harry she was seeing them. All the others were inside... But Rose was staring at the thestrals and Harry was staring at Rose.
"You... You see them too?" He said softly. She nodded. "But... who..." He didn't bother to think that it might be a sensitive subject.
"I don't want to talk about it." She muttered, turning away and getting into the carriage. Harry followed.
"Sorry.." He mumbled apoligetically.
"S'ok." She said softly.
"What are you two on about?" Ron asked as the carriage started.
Harry shrugged 'Nothing." He said in a tone that clearly said neither of them wanted to talk about it. Ron, who knew that tone, dropped it. He may not have been the brightest, but he wasn't stupid.
They chatted all the way back to the castle. The older ones discovered that Ginny had been exchanging letters with Luna over the summer, and that, during the last school year, Rose and Ginny had become good friends. The seven made plans to sit together at breakfast the next day. Then they all piled out.
"I'll see you guys later.... I have to say hi to some of my other friends." She hugged Ginny and Luna, then smiled at everyone, and left. Harry looked after her.
"Hellllllllloooooooo?" Ron said, waving his hand in front of Harry's face.
"Earth to Harry!" Harry turned red as Ginny giggled, Luna smiled and Hermione shook her head in exasperation.
"Harry, mate, she must be part Veela...." Ron muttered, jokingly, to Harry as they started walking.
Luna walked faster and got ahead of them. Over her shoulder she called, "She is." Luna got to the castle first.
Rose went up to Parvati and Lavender, but they just gave her looks. Rose felt hurt. Then it dawned on her. They were the two best looking girls in Gryffindor.... But now that Rose's Veela side was starting to show she was just as pretty as them. 'I'm less shallow too!' She told herself fiercely. She flashed them a winning smile then walked away from them with as much dignity as possible, catching up to a few other Gryffindor fifth year girls.
There were six of them all together. There was Opal Patil, who was Padma and Parvati's cousin, Rose and Ginny themselves, a girl named Lucy Portford and Kylie Thomas, Dean Thomas' younger sister. Last but not least was a very skinny girl named Georgia Parker. None of the other girls talked to her. She'd never said a word to any of them. She walked behind them, her robes too big for her tiny little body.
As for the personalities and looks of these six girls, they varied enormously.
Ginny Weasly was stubborn funny and sensitive, as well as a bit of a tomboy, always one to wear jeans on the weekends. Her red hair went to her shoulder baldes, she was quite tan for a red head, with lots of freckles and brown eyes. She had a witch-next-door look about her.
Rose was almost as eccentric as Luna, though not obviously so. She had gone to muggle primary school before coming to Hogwarts, because they wanted her to be able to take a career in the muggle world should she so choose. She was, at first, in culture shock when she came to Hogwarts. She'd gone to a great private school. People joked at her old school, and of course, some people disliked others but they didn't have sworn enemies. People were also a lot less casual about dropping insults and a lot more careful about feelings at her old school. She had had to toughen up. She could stand up for herself, but still cried very easily. She was an animal fanatic, and Hagrid's very best student. She was not a vegetarian, but fought wildly against anyone who tortured aniamls on Hogwarts property. She was friends with Hagrid as well, often going down to his hut on weekends once in awhile with Ginny, for a cup of tea. As far as looks went, just this summer she had filled out, and already, on the first day of school, people were noticing. She was fairly curvy, though she was no Pamela Anderson (a very erm.... Well endowed famous person in Muggle culture, for those who are wizard raised). She was about 5'6" tall. Her hair was auburn and shoulder length, she had a round, pretty face and almond shaped hazel eyes.
Opal Patil was by far the most studious out of the three Patils. She wasn't as pretty as her cousins, but she was still very pretty. Dark tan skin, big brown eyes, long black hair. She wore glasses and got the best grades out of anyone else in fifth year.
Lucy Portford was good friends with Lavender and Parvati Patil. She got alright grades but was more worried about getting Dumbledore to allow dances on the weekends, and what color robes she'd wear to Hogsmeade than anything else. She might have been considered the prettiest out of all of them. Might have. But she was so un-unique. Blonde hair, blue eyes, fairly curvy, average height. I guess some people, even wizards, like cookie-cutter beauty.
Kylie Thomas was like a female, younger, Neville. Neville in his younger days that is (just this summer Neville had lost some weight, and his magic had been improvng a bit too). Kylie was always tripping over her own feet. She was a little chubby, in a cute sort of way, and much younger than her age. She tried very hard to get good grades, but jsut managed to barely be average in everything but Potions and Astronomy. At Potions she was one of the VERY WORST students in Hogwarts, even worse than Neville, if that can be imagined. In Astronomy, she was just about the best. She loved Astronomy dearly, it was her life-saver.
Georgia Parker... Well.... None of them had ever said more than 'Hello' 'Bye' 'Morning' or 'Goodnight' to her. The only people who even did that anymore were Ginny, Rose and Opal. Why? Because Georgia had never, ever spoken back. She was never called on in class, never raised her hand. teachers left her alone. She never lsot any points, never earned any, she got average grades.... She was noticed and whispered about because of her appearance. She was very, very short, 4'9". She had frizzy, mousy hair, grey eyes and knobbly knees. She was painfully plain. And she'd never spoken a word to anyone at Hogwarts. At least, not that anyone knew of. Her portion of the fifth year girl's dorm was just as it had been the day she first came to Hogwarts. She did nothing to it. She was strange indeed.
Opal, Ginny and Rose all walked up to the castle together, talking and laughing. Lucy walked with Lavender and Parvati, and Parvati's sister Padma. Padma wasn't as gossipy as the other three however. She looked a bit bored. Poor Kylie walked all by herself... She didn't ask if she could join with Opal Rose and Ginny, and she would never dare approach the other four. They were quite popular... And she... Wasn't.
Georgia was already inside the castle, seated at the very far corner of the table. No one sat next to her. She didn't seem to care.
Once Opal, Ginny and Rose got to the Gryffindor table, they all sat together, along with Harry, Hermione and Ron. Neville sat with them, next to Ginny, much to Ron's chagrin. Luna had to sit at Ravenclaw table, but they waved to her and smiled. Well, Ron didn't. He still didn't get Luna in the slightest. Kylie shyly asked if she could sit with them. "Yes." Rose said, before anyone could say anything. 'That was a bit presumptuous of her...' hermione thought... But she was very nice. 'I suppose it's alright... She's kind, at least.' Hermione thought to herself. When the sorting was over with Gryffindor had nine new members, four girls and five boys, Hufflepuff had 3 new boys and 5 new girls. Ravenclaw got 10, four boys and six girls. Slytherin got thirteen new members. The Gryffindors exchanged worried glances. THIRTEEN! How could Slytherin get thirteen members... It seemed.. Unbalanced some how. Out of forty students, for that one house to get thirteen.... That was disturbing. Even McGonagall looked confused.
Everyone went quiet as Dumbledore stood. "I have a few announcements to make. Some are bad, some are good." he paused "First of all, I must again warn you all, the Forbidden Forest is named the Forbidden Forst for a reason. Do not go in there under any circumstances." He seemed to look straight at the Trio as he said this. "On a more disturbing note... One of our ex-teahcers, Remus Lupin, has been accused of murder. He is awaiting trial." Rose was trying to breathe... Remus was the best teacher she'd ever had.. He was so nice. She was so pale the others noticed.
"Rose?" Opal asked worriedly. "Rose, are you okay?"
Rose nodded stiffly, not listening as Dumbledore went on to tell them that there would be a dance once a month, much to Lucy, Lavender and Parvati's delight, and Ron's chagrin.
"The first dance will be next Friday, that's tweleve days from now, it will be a welcome home dance. Dress robes are not required, but they are encouraged." Dumbledore smiled. "And now, the feast." As he sat food appeared on all the platters and people began serving themselves. Rose served herself, but barely touched her food.
"Rose, did you hear? There'll be a dance next Friday!" Opal said. Though she didn't care that much she was trying to get her friend to stop looking so scarily pale. Rose snapped out of it... She just had to keep hiding it... She had to.
"Oh, really!?!" She smiled. "I like dances." She shoved all thoughts of Remus Lupin, who had been her favorite DADA teacher, to the back of her mind.
"Who do you hope will ask you?" Ginny said mischeviously, looking at Harry, then Rose.
Rose blushed.. "Oh, I don't know...."
When the feast finally ended they trooped up to the common room. The girls were too tired to personalize their space tonight. They all collapsed into bed, and were soon fast asleep. All but one........
Rose tossed and turned all night. Unable to shake the depression coming over her. Around others she could hide it. But to herself, she couldn't lie.
The next morning Rose woke up. Well, she couldn't wake up. She'd never gone to sleep. While the others bounced out of bed excitedly (minus Georgia, who never did anything excitedly), Rose pulled herself out of bed, groaning, dark circles firmly in place under her eyes. She went to the girls bathroom,w rapped tightly in her robe, school clothes draped over one arm, carrying her toiletries. She was practically sleep walking. Ginny and Opal caught up with her as she wa splashing cold water on her face to wake herself up. Ginny's hair was pulled back and she wore muggle clothes. Jeans and a green t-shirt. She pulled school roes on over her head absently.
"Rose, what's wrong with you." Ginny said from under the tent of her black robes. Once she had them on, though, they proved to be too small.
"Couldn't sleep." Rose mumbled. They smiled sympathetically. Opal went into a stall and came out dressed in neatly pressed, well fitting school robes, hair braided and coiled into a bun, spectacles in place. Rose left her auburn hair down, putting on her school robes. She definitely looked tired. Not at her best at all. Ginny and Opal exchanged glances as they half-dragged half-sleepwalked Rose down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Rose spotted Harry and smiled. He smiled back. Rose sat with her two friends, after having gone and said hi to Luna. Dumbledore stood before people began eating.
"I want you all to know that there will be a trip to Hogsmeade this Friday, for you all to shop for next Friday night. This will be the ONLY Hogsmeade trip not on the weekend. We will be allowing everyone to go, not just third year and above. However, we expect you all to be responsible. It is only a two hour visit. Enjoy your breakfast." He smiled and sat.
Everyone began talking excitedly about what kind of robes they wanted and who they were going to ask. Rose ate tiredly, looking as though she was going to fall asleep in her food.
After breakfast they headed towards Herbology, the first class of the sunny, false-summer Monday. The first class of the new school year.
Rose was complaining to Opal and Ginny that she was absolutely HORRID at herbology. "We KNOW you are!!!" They said in unision, exasperated by her complaining.
She looked startled. "Well you didn't have to agree with me..." They giggled and she rolled her eyes.
They finally arrived in Herbology, in a new greenhouse, one they'd never been in.
After class Rose left with a big, horrid rash on her nose.
"I TOLD you not to touch that fireweed plant Rose...." Ginny said, patting Rose's shoulder.
"I... I look like my nose is... is... IS BLOODY ON FIRE!" She shouted angrily, having just wrenched a pocket mirror out of Ginny's grasp and examined herself.
"Calm down." Opal told her quietly.
"Calm down... Calm... What if Harr..." She trailed off, turning a shade that matched her nose.
The two others exchanged glances. "Oh come on Rose. What don't you just admit you're absolutely loony about him!?!" Ginny said.
"I mean, it's obvious you fancy him." Added Opal.
"But you won't even admit it to us! And we're your best friends!" Finished Ginny. "Well, besides Luna." She said, as an after thought.
"I like you guys just as much as I like Luna..." She said trying to change the subject.
"Quit changing the subject Rose, you don't fool us!" Said Opal. Rose was still the same shade as her nose. But as her blush started to fade, her rash became obvious. She ducked her head as she saw Harry passing.
"Hi Harry!" Ginny said cheerfully. He smiled, looking puzzled as to why Rose won't look at him. Ginny gave him an encouraging smile and a shrug before the three girls headed on down the hall.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Why are girls so confusing?" Hermione gave him a look.
"It's because boys are so annoying." She smirked a a smirk reminiscent of Malfoy and headed on down the corridor. "Is it just me or did she just smirk like Malfoy does?" Ron asked Harry. "Hopefully, it's just you." Harry said. "But some how I don't think so."
Ron sighed. "Girls." He said. "I agree." Harry said with a similar sigh. They followed Hermione down the corridor, and out to Herbology, where the other three had just come from.
At the end of the day, after dinner, Opal, Rose and Ginny were in their room, each decorating their little space. Rose had already gone to the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey had fixed her rash quicker than quick.
Lucy had done her part of the room earlier. She had bright pink bedspreads and curtains, and most disgusting, a moving picture of herself above her bed.
Ginny's had a green bedspread and curtains. A snapshot of the Gryffindor quidditch team was above her bed. A small photo of her family was on her bedside table, as well as a lamp in the shape of a broomstick.
Opal had red curtains with gold trim, and a gold bedspread with red trim. The picture above her bed was of her mother, father, herself, her aunt and her cousins Padma and Parvati. She didn't have any photos on her bedside table. Just a pile of books. But hung above the bedside table was a beautiful tapestry from India, which depicted their story of the birth of the first wizard.
Rose's bedspread was dark blue. There were gold stars on it. The constallations actually changed with the seasons. There was also a moon on it which changed according to the state of the real moon. Her curtains were also dark blue, with another large gold star at each corner. Above her bed was a picture of her family. Next to that was a painting of a big, sloppy red heart. On her bedside table, which had a gold mat covering the top of it, was a star lamp. And a picture of a little girl, who looked very like rose, only skinnier, and years younger, with blonde hair. She only looked about three. She was grinning and waving.
Opal and Ginny both looked at the picture of the little girl and exchanged sad glances. They knew who the little girl was.
That night they had all got into bed at the same time, though Ginny and Rose were both still reading by the light of ther lamps. "Night all, I'm going to bed." Ginny said, closing her book with a quiet thud. She snapped her fingers and her lamp went out.
Rose closed her book with a snap. She picked up the picture of the little girl. She kissed the glass that protected the picture, and put it back down carefully, tears in her eyes. "Night little sister. I miss you." She said softly. In her own head she said 'Night, dad' She turned off the light, turned over, and went to sleep.
Perchance to dream?
As day turned to night they arrived at Hogsmeade Station. The little group was joined by Ginny Weasly, whose robes were looking rumpled and whose hair was very mussed, And by Neville Longbottom whose appearance wasn't much better and who blushed furiously every time he looked at Ginny, who had a stupid grin on her face.
Ron was looking between Neville and Ginny, a look of horror dawning on his face. Harry was trying not to grin. Hermione kept changing between looking horrified and trying not to giggle. "You've been kissing." Luna said dreamily to Ginny and Neville. Both blushed an even brighter sahde of red and smiled sheepishly. "Errrrm..." Neville said. Just as Ron was about to explode they all heard Hagrid shouting for first years to find a boat and for all others to find a carriage.
"Saved by the gamekeeper..." Harry muttered to Rose, who grinned. Though Rose's parents were both wizards, she wasn't fully pureblood. Her mother's grandmother had been a Muggle. And her grandmother had been half Veela, half Muggle. She had grown up with her Mother and Grandmother, in America, in a household which had quite a few muggle things in it. a TV a phone and a computer, for instance.
"I thought that was 'Saved by the Bell'?" She murmured back. They grinned at each other and Rose had a very hard time not melting.
"Oi, love birds, let's find a carriage!" Ron said Irately. Both Harry and Rose blushed and stood a full ten feet apart as they walked to the carriages. Friends could be so annoying...
The seven of them all decided to pile into one Carriage. Some in the party could see the thestrals. Obviously Harry could. Luna could also, again, obviously. Neville, having seen Sirius die last year, could now see them. And, so could Rose. It was obvious to Harry she was seeing them. All the others were inside... But Rose was staring at the thestrals and Harry was staring at Rose.
"You... You see them too?" He said softly. She nodded. "But... who..." He didn't bother to think that it might be a sensitive subject.
"I don't want to talk about it." She muttered, turning away and getting into the carriage. Harry followed.
"Sorry.." He mumbled apoligetically.
"S'ok." She said softly.
"What are you two on about?" Ron asked as the carriage started.
Harry shrugged 'Nothing." He said in a tone that clearly said neither of them wanted to talk about it. Ron, who knew that tone, dropped it. He may not have been the brightest, but he wasn't stupid.
They chatted all the way back to the castle. The older ones discovered that Ginny had been exchanging letters with Luna over the summer, and that, during the last school year, Rose and Ginny had become good friends. The seven made plans to sit together at breakfast the next day. Then they all piled out.
"I'll see you guys later.... I have to say hi to some of my other friends." She hugged Ginny and Luna, then smiled at everyone, and left. Harry looked after her.
"Hellllllllloooooooo?" Ron said, waving his hand in front of Harry's face.
"Earth to Harry!" Harry turned red as Ginny giggled, Luna smiled and Hermione shook her head in exasperation.
"Harry, mate, she must be part Veela...." Ron muttered, jokingly, to Harry as they started walking.
Luna walked faster and got ahead of them. Over her shoulder she called, "She is." Luna got to the castle first.
Rose went up to Parvati and Lavender, but they just gave her looks. Rose felt hurt. Then it dawned on her. They were the two best looking girls in Gryffindor.... But now that Rose's Veela side was starting to show she was just as pretty as them. 'I'm less shallow too!' She told herself fiercely. She flashed them a winning smile then walked away from them with as much dignity as possible, catching up to a few other Gryffindor fifth year girls.
There were six of them all together. There was Opal Patil, who was Padma and Parvati's cousin, Rose and Ginny themselves, a girl named Lucy Portford and Kylie Thomas, Dean Thomas' younger sister. Last but not least was a very skinny girl named Georgia Parker. None of the other girls talked to her. She'd never said a word to any of them. She walked behind them, her robes too big for her tiny little body.
As for the personalities and looks of these six girls, they varied enormously.
Ginny Weasly was stubborn funny and sensitive, as well as a bit of a tomboy, always one to wear jeans on the weekends. Her red hair went to her shoulder baldes, she was quite tan for a red head, with lots of freckles and brown eyes. She had a witch-next-door look about her.
Rose was almost as eccentric as Luna, though not obviously so. She had gone to muggle primary school before coming to Hogwarts, because they wanted her to be able to take a career in the muggle world should she so choose. She was, at first, in culture shock when she came to Hogwarts. She'd gone to a great private school. People joked at her old school, and of course, some people disliked others but they didn't have sworn enemies. People were also a lot less casual about dropping insults and a lot more careful about feelings at her old school. She had had to toughen up. She could stand up for herself, but still cried very easily. She was an animal fanatic, and Hagrid's very best student. She was not a vegetarian, but fought wildly against anyone who tortured aniamls on Hogwarts property. She was friends with Hagrid as well, often going down to his hut on weekends once in awhile with Ginny, for a cup of tea. As far as looks went, just this summer she had filled out, and already, on the first day of school, people were noticing. She was fairly curvy, though she was no Pamela Anderson (a very erm.... Well endowed famous person in Muggle culture, for those who are wizard raised). She was about 5'6" tall. Her hair was auburn and shoulder length, she had a round, pretty face and almond shaped hazel eyes.
Opal Patil was by far the most studious out of the three Patils. She wasn't as pretty as her cousins, but she was still very pretty. Dark tan skin, big brown eyes, long black hair. She wore glasses and got the best grades out of anyone else in fifth year.
Lucy Portford was good friends with Lavender and Parvati Patil. She got alright grades but was more worried about getting Dumbledore to allow dances on the weekends, and what color robes she'd wear to Hogsmeade than anything else. She might have been considered the prettiest out of all of them. Might have. But she was so un-unique. Blonde hair, blue eyes, fairly curvy, average height. I guess some people, even wizards, like cookie-cutter beauty.
Kylie Thomas was like a female, younger, Neville. Neville in his younger days that is (just this summer Neville had lost some weight, and his magic had been improvng a bit too). Kylie was always tripping over her own feet. She was a little chubby, in a cute sort of way, and much younger than her age. She tried very hard to get good grades, but jsut managed to barely be average in everything but Potions and Astronomy. At Potions she was one of the VERY WORST students in Hogwarts, even worse than Neville, if that can be imagined. In Astronomy, she was just about the best. She loved Astronomy dearly, it was her life-saver.
Georgia Parker... Well.... None of them had ever said more than 'Hello' 'Bye' 'Morning' or 'Goodnight' to her. The only people who even did that anymore were Ginny, Rose and Opal. Why? Because Georgia had never, ever spoken back. She was never called on in class, never raised her hand. teachers left her alone. She never lsot any points, never earned any, she got average grades.... She was noticed and whispered about because of her appearance. She was very, very short, 4'9". She had frizzy, mousy hair, grey eyes and knobbly knees. She was painfully plain. And she'd never spoken a word to anyone at Hogwarts. At least, not that anyone knew of. Her portion of the fifth year girl's dorm was just as it had been the day she first came to Hogwarts. She did nothing to it. She was strange indeed.
Opal, Ginny and Rose all walked up to the castle together, talking and laughing. Lucy walked with Lavender and Parvati, and Parvati's sister Padma. Padma wasn't as gossipy as the other three however. She looked a bit bored. Poor Kylie walked all by herself... She didn't ask if she could join with Opal Rose and Ginny, and she would never dare approach the other four. They were quite popular... And she... Wasn't.
Georgia was already inside the castle, seated at the very far corner of the table. No one sat next to her. She didn't seem to care.
Once Opal, Ginny and Rose got to the Gryffindor table, they all sat together, along with Harry, Hermione and Ron. Neville sat with them, next to Ginny, much to Ron's chagrin. Luna had to sit at Ravenclaw table, but they waved to her and smiled. Well, Ron didn't. He still didn't get Luna in the slightest. Kylie shyly asked if she could sit with them. "Yes." Rose said, before anyone could say anything. 'That was a bit presumptuous of her...' hermione thought... But she was very nice. 'I suppose it's alright... She's kind, at least.' Hermione thought to herself. When the sorting was over with Gryffindor had nine new members, four girls and five boys, Hufflepuff had 3 new boys and 5 new girls. Ravenclaw got 10, four boys and six girls. Slytherin got thirteen new members. The Gryffindors exchanged worried glances. THIRTEEN! How could Slytherin get thirteen members... It seemed.. Unbalanced some how. Out of forty students, for that one house to get thirteen.... That was disturbing. Even McGonagall looked confused.
Everyone went quiet as Dumbledore stood. "I have a few announcements to make. Some are bad, some are good." he paused "First of all, I must again warn you all, the Forbidden Forest is named the Forbidden Forst for a reason. Do not go in there under any circumstances." He seemed to look straight at the Trio as he said this. "On a more disturbing note... One of our ex-teahcers, Remus Lupin, has been accused of murder. He is awaiting trial." Rose was trying to breathe... Remus was the best teacher she'd ever had.. He was so nice. She was so pale the others noticed.
"Rose?" Opal asked worriedly. "Rose, are you okay?"
Rose nodded stiffly, not listening as Dumbledore went on to tell them that there would be a dance once a month, much to Lucy, Lavender and Parvati's delight, and Ron's chagrin.
"The first dance will be next Friday, that's tweleve days from now, it will be a welcome home dance. Dress robes are not required, but they are encouraged." Dumbledore smiled. "And now, the feast." As he sat food appeared on all the platters and people began serving themselves. Rose served herself, but barely touched her food.
"Rose, did you hear? There'll be a dance next Friday!" Opal said. Though she didn't care that much she was trying to get her friend to stop looking so scarily pale. Rose snapped out of it... She just had to keep hiding it... She had to.
"Oh, really!?!" She smiled. "I like dances." She shoved all thoughts of Remus Lupin, who had been her favorite DADA teacher, to the back of her mind.
"Who do you hope will ask you?" Ginny said mischeviously, looking at Harry, then Rose.
Rose blushed.. "Oh, I don't know...."
When the feast finally ended they trooped up to the common room. The girls were too tired to personalize their space tonight. They all collapsed into bed, and were soon fast asleep. All but one........
Rose tossed and turned all night. Unable to shake the depression coming over her. Around others she could hide it. But to herself, she couldn't lie.
The next morning Rose woke up. Well, she couldn't wake up. She'd never gone to sleep. While the others bounced out of bed excitedly (minus Georgia, who never did anything excitedly), Rose pulled herself out of bed, groaning, dark circles firmly in place under her eyes. She went to the girls bathroom,w rapped tightly in her robe, school clothes draped over one arm, carrying her toiletries. She was practically sleep walking. Ginny and Opal caught up with her as she wa splashing cold water on her face to wake herself up. Ginny's hair was pulled back and she wore muggle clothes. Jeans and a green t-shirt. She pulled school roes on over her head absently.
"Rose, what's wrong with you." Ginny said from under the tent of her black robes. Once she had them on, though, they proved to be too small.
"Couldn't sleep." Rose mumbled. They smiled sympathetically. Opal went into a stall and came out dressed in neatly pressed, well fitting school robes, hair braided and coiled into a bun, spectacles in place. Rose left her auburn hair down, putting on her school robes. She definitely looked tired. Not at her best at all. Ginny and Opal exchanged glances as they half-dragged half-sleepwalked Rose down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Rose spotted Harry and smiled. He smiled back. Rose sat with her two friends, after having gone and said hi to Luna. Dumbledore stood before people began eating.
"I want you all to know that there will be a trip to Hogsmeade this Friday, for you all to shop for next Friday night. This will be the ONLY Hogsmeade trip not on the weekend. We will be allowing everyone to go, not just third year and above. However, we expect you all to be responsible. It is only a two hour visit. Enjoy your breakfast." He smiled and sat.
Everyone began talking excitedly about what kind of robes they wanted and who they were going to ask. Rose ate tiredly, looking as though she was going to fall asleep in her food.
After breakfast they headed towards Herbology, the first class of the sunny, false-summer Monday. The first class of the new school year.
Rose was complaining to Opal and Ginny that she was absolutely HORRID at herbology. "We KNOW you are!!!" They said in unision, exasperated by her complaining.
She looked startled. "Well you didn't have to agree with me..." They giggled and she rolled her eyes.
They finally arrived in Herbology, in a new greenhouse, one they'd never been in.
After class Rose left with a big, horrid rash on her nose.
"I TOLD you not to touch that fireweed plant Rose...." Ginny said, patting Rose's shoulder.
"I... I look like my nose is... is... IS BLOODY ON FIRE!" She shouted angrily, having just wrenched a pocket mirror out of Ginny's grasp and examined herself.
"Calm down." Opal told her quietly.
"Calm down... Calm... What if Harr..." She trailed off, turning a shade that matched her nose.
The two others exchanged glances. "Oh come on Rose. What don't you just admit you're absolutely loony about him!?!" Ginny said.
"I mean, it's obvious you fancy him." Added Opal.
"But you won't even admit it to us! And we're your best friends!" Finished Ginny. "Well, besides Luna." She said, as an after thought.
"I like you guys just as much as I like Luna..." She said trying to change the subject.
"Quit changing the subject Rose, you don't fool us!" Said Opal. Rose was still the same shade as her nose. But as her blush started to fade, her rash became obvious. She ducked her head as she saw Harry passing.
"Hi Harry!" Ginny said cheerfully. He smiled, looking puzzled as to why Rose won't look at him. Ginny gave him an encouraging smile and a shrug before the three girls headed on down the hall.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Why are girls so confusing?" Hermione gave him a look.
"It's because boys are so annoying." She smirked a a smirk reminiscent of Malfoy and headed on down the corridor. "Is it just me or did she just smirk like Malfoy does?" Ron asked Harry. "Hopefully, it's just you." Harry said. "But some how I don't think so."
Ron sighed. "Girls." He said. "I agree." Harry said with a similar sigh. They followed Hermione down the corridor, and out to Herbology, where the other three had just come from.
At the end of the day, after dinner, Opal, Rose and Ginny were in their room, each decorating their little space. Rose had already gone to the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey had fixed her rash quicker than quick.
Lucy had done her part of the room earlier. She had bright pink bedspreads and curtains, and most disgusting, a moving picture of herself above her bed.
Ginny's had a green bedspread and curtains. A snapshot of the Gryffindor quidditch team was above her bed. A small photo of her family was on her bedside table, as well as a lamp in the shape of a broomstick.
Opal had red curtains with gold trim, and a gold bedspread with red trim. The picture above her bed was of her mother, father, herself, her aunt and her cousins Padma and Parvati. She didn't have any photos on her bedside table. Just a pile of books. But hung above the bedside table was a beautiful tapestry from India, which depicted their story of the birth of the first wizard.
Rose's bedspread was dark blue. There were gold stars on it. The constallations actually changed with the seasons. There was also a moon on it which changed according to the state of the real moon. Her curtains were also dark blue, with another large gold star at each corner. Above her bed was a picture of her family. Next to that was a painting of a big, sloppy red heart. On her bedside table, which had a gold mat covering the top of it, was a star lamp. And a picture of a little girl, who looked very like rose, only skinnier, and years younger, with blonde hair. She only looked about three. She was grinning and waving.
Opal and Ginny both looked at the picture of the little girl and exchanged sad glances. They knew who the little girl was.
That night they had all got into bed at the same time, though Ginny and Rose were both still reading by the light of ther lamps. "Night all, I'm going to bed." Ginny said, closing her book with a quiet thud. She snapped her fingers and her lamp went out.
Rose closed her book with a snap. She picked up the picture of the little girl. She kissed the glass that protected the picture, and put it back down carefully, tears in her eyes. "Night little sister. I miss you." She said softly. In her own head she said 'Night, dad' She turned off the light, turned over, and went to sleep.
Perchance to dream?