Rose, Lianne, and Harry sat in the middle of a pile of sweets. Rose chewed happily on Drooble's gum, her favorite. Harry was reading a textbook, muttering the spells under his breath.

Rose took out her wand to examine it again.

'Maple, with a core of unicorn tail and phoenix feather. Twelve and ½ inches. A wand for a strong, powerful witch, Ms. Potter.'

Ollivander's words danced into her head. Her? A strong, powerful witch? She had so much to live up to and she doubted she ever would. Besides, the man wasn't the same after his affair with Voldermort. He was probably wrong.

She looked at her slender wand, twirling it between her fingers. The reddish wood gave off a somewhat golden sheen. Rose smiled. Red and Gold. Gryffindor. Oh, she hoped she was in it!

She didn't look up when the door opened. 'Matt, I thought you were to cool to hang out with first years –'

'Silence, Blood traitor!'

Rose, Lianne, and Harry looked up, startled. A big, stocky boy who looked to dumb to have spoke stood there, glaring at them.

'Yes? Who is it? You? Wow! It can talk!' Rose said sarcastically.

'Bitch. Filthy bitch with a mudblood grandmother. But the dark lord killed her, didn't he? Good riddance, I say. Killed her, your grandfather, and finally your father. And when his heir rises, he will kill you too –'

Rose was furious. She glared at him, green eyes flashing wildly. Lianne and Harry were beside her. Lianne's streak had changed to bright red, and Harry's neck was about the same color.

Rose felt her wand warm under her fingertips. A jet of light shot from it, catching the boy straight in the chest. He fell, and sat there, looking stunned.

Another boy came up behind him, followed by a rather ugly girl, who appeared to be dragging another boy in.

'Lukey, dear, come now, see what the little bitch has done to Crabbe!'

She dragged the boy into the cabin. He stumbled a little, before straightening and turning to face Rose.

He was tanned, with dark brown hair and eyes that matched. In their depths, Rose could see great intelligence, and strength. What had happened to this boy? He intrigued her greatly.

The spell was broken, however, shortly after he opened his mouth.

'Those that hurt my colleagues are not met with kindness.' Fire like her own flashed in his eyes.

'I wasn't expecting kindness, after meeting the talking rock,' she said smoothly 'and those that insult my family, my father in particular, aren't met with kindness, either.' Rose's eyes flashed dangerously. 'Now get out of this compartment before I hex you to oblivion, you bastard. You and your harem, Lukey.'

She could see the surprise in the boy's eyes.

'My name is Lucas,' he said stiffly 'and I would watch yourself, blood traitor.' He swept regally out of the room, followed by his clearly shaken comrades.

Rose glared at their retreating backs. Harry began clapping. Lianne whooped.

'That was brilliant, Rose! Brilliant! Bloody bastards won't come anywhere near us now!'

Rose laughed with her friends, but secretly wasn't so sure. She had seen Lucas's eyes. He was not one to back down so easily.

The train came to a halt, and the three flung on their robes. They rushed outside. Rose sucked in her breath.

Hogwarts rose tall and glistening above a lake that glistened in the moonlight. It was everything her mother had told her, and more.

'Firs' years! This way!'

Rose turned toward the familiar voice.

'Hagrid!'

'Rose! 'Arry! Lianne! Been lookin' for yeh!' The towering half-giant winked at them. As he ushered them onto a boat, he whispered to Rose 'I'll send you a note so I can show yeh yer Dad's tomb. He would've been proud ta see you now.'

Rose nodded, and climbed into the boat with Harry and Lianne. Also accompanying them was a small, chubby boy, and a girl with long blond hair.

'My name's Calder Longbottom,' said the boy.

'I'm Lotte!' the girl piped up.

Rose noted Harry eyeing Lotte with interest and poked Lianne subtly. She snickered quietly, her streak changing to light turquoise. Quickly, she disguised it as a coughing fit.

'We're twins,' said Lotte. 'Our dad teaches Herbology. He just got the post and he's very excited.' Calder rolled his eyes at his twin.

'She talks too much,' he said to Harry. Harry laughed, and Lotte glared at him.

'Are you okay?' Calder asked, looking at Lianne concernedly. She had disguised her laughter as a coughing fit.

'Oh, Li? She's fine.' Rose realized how rude she was being.

'I'm Rose Potter,' she said apologetically.

'Harry Weasley,' said Harry, then looked at the still-coughing Lianne. 'This is Lianne. Don't worry, she only bites sometimes.'

Lianne glared at him.

Calder and Lotte looked at them.

'Potter?'

Rose sighed.

'Yes, Harry Potter was my father, no, I have no scar, yes, my mother was going to marry my father but then he died –'

'Calder!' Lotte glared at her twin. 'Ignore him. Please. Let's forget he never said that.'

Rose liked her at once. 'Deal.'

The five grinned at each other companionably, as the boat drifted across the lake to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.