They arrived back to Gryffindor's tower half an hour after curfew but they hadn't been caught. Though it hadn't scared them. It was Sirius's turn to patrol the corridors and they were sure that he wouldn't have punished them for being out after curfew.
When they crossed the portrait hole, everyone turned to look at them. They saw their smiles, Fred's arm around Rose's waist and her messy hair. It took a couple of seconds before everyone understood what had happened and their friends started cheering, happy at the news. Soon, every Gryffindor in the common room was cheering and Rose could see money changing hands and a few portraits leaving their painting to gossip with everyone else about what had happened.
While Rose was being separated from Fred to speak with Ginny, Hermione and other girls, Harry pulled Fred aside:
"I like you Fred, I consider you a brother and I know you'll treat her right, but I have to do this. If you hurt her, break her heart or anything…" Harry started to say.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm not planning on breaking her heart. I'm not planning on letting her go anytime soon. I'm serious about her. I've never felt this way before and I don't think I ever will for anyone else. But if I do end up losing my brain and start treating her badly or even breaking her heart, feel free to kill me or to send a dementor to kiss me. I'll deserve it." Fred told Harry who smiled.
"I'm glad you finally made your move." Harry added before they joined their friends once more.
People had calmed down a bit by now and Fred was able to take Rose's hand in his once more. They sat down on one of the largest armchair together and while Rose read a book she had taken in the library about ancient magic, Fred started to speak with Lee and George about more products ideas for their future store.
"What about the Marauder's map?" Rose asked Fred, having been partly listening to their discussion.
"What about it?" He asked her, confused.
"You could reproduce it, right? Sell it at your store? You could even make several different kinds, like one for first years that doesn't show the secret passages but shows them the way to their classes depending on the timetable they enter inside. Another for couples with the best hidden make-out spots. Maybe one, more expensive than the others, with all of the options. Why not one for students like Hermione, you know, who tells you a bit of the school's history in certain spots, or tell you the history behind the people in the portraits or the ghosts, you can use the book about Hogwart's History to do that, along with newer events. Plus, you can now add the Chamber of Secrets on it, even though nobody will be able to go in without speaking the right language." Rose explained.
"That's actually a great idea." George nodded while Fred kissed Rose.
"I told you my girl was a bright one. My pretty genius." Fred declared proudly as they wrote her idea on their list.
"I'm sure you two will be more than happy to help us report all the best make out spots." Lee chuckled.
"Of course, we could even rate them from 1 to 5 stars." Rose smiled before she added:
"But you might want to use this opportunity to speak with Sirius. According to Remus, James and Sirius were real ladies' men back in school and he'll probably be able to help you improve the map."
"Actually, we could make a whole Marauder's series of products, brand it." Fred suggested, already imagining little dolls that turned into their animagi forms and told jokes or gave advices parents wouldn't agree on.
"I like this idea, but we'll definitely need Remus and Sirius' permission. Along with Harry's and Rose's." George nodded.
"I don't think it will take too much convincing. As for mine and Harry's, you already have mine and I'm sure Harry's is just a formality as well. I mean, he did give you the money to start your shop, it means he approves of what you're doing." Rose smiled.
"True." Fred nodded.
"Remus is also thinking of writing a book about the Marauders. You might want to speak to him quickly, you could add his book to your store, sell a full Marauders' package with one of everything in this branch of products..." Rose added.
"Remus is writing a book about the Marauders? I'll buy this book as soon as it's out." George exclaimed.
"Me too." Fred and Lee added.
.
The next morning, it looked like everyone had heard that Rose Potter was going out with Fred Weasley before the couple even left the common room and she was sure that the portraits had been gossiping all around the castle.
As she went to sit down and eat her breakfast with Lavender, Hermione and Parvati, she spotted Sirius. He had been sitting at the teacher's table but stood up as soon as Fred arrived.
Immediately, Sirius got up and walked to her boyfriend, a serious look on his face. She knew that Harry had already talked to Fred but she wasn't surprised that Sirius gave him another talk. He might even get a third talk from Remus soon.
"I'm back, princess." Fred told her a few minutes later, a big smile on his face before he gave her a kiss and sat by her side.
"So I see. Did it go well with Sirius?" She asked him, making George chuckle.
"I was expecting something worst. He just told me that if I broke your heart, he'd seek Remus on me during a full moon and he added that he approved, that he liked me better than other potential boyfriends he imagined for you, like Malfoy or McLaggen. I think he and Remus have spent quite some time discussing your options and who they approved of and who they absolutely didn't want to see with you." Fred replied, proud to know that the marauders approved of him as Rose's boyfriend.
"As long as you're not in trouble." She smiled.
"Of course I'm not." He smiled back at her before making a single red rose appear next to her plate.
Smiling, she put the rose to her nose to smell it.
"I don't know how you do this, but they always smell wonderfully. I'm sure professor McGonagall would be proud of this work." She told him before she kissed him to thank him.
Around them, the girls looked at Rose and her flower with envy, the ones who had boyfriends glared at them, blaming them for not doing something just as sweet for them.
"So, Rose, where will you be holding the cheerleading tryouts?" Lee Jordan asked her.
"Why, are you interested to join the team?" She asked him, amused.
"Oh, I'd love to join a team and be surrounded by pretty ladies working out for hours in short outfits, but I enjoy doing the comments on the games too much to give it up." He replied.
"Professor McGonagall got us a room. It's large and nobody uses it so we'll be able to store everything there. It's on the 7th floor, in the eastern corridor." Rose told him.
"Rose, can I speak to you a moment, please?" Draco asked, standing behind her and bringing all eyes on him, a few of them glaring.
"Sure. Be right back." She nodded, kissed Fred and stepped aside, aware that her brother and her boyfriend would be watching her.
"I came to warn you. I put the poster up in the common room but the girls didn't like it. Pansy got upset, well to be honest with you, she looked completely crazy. She destroyed it and told everyone that you were trying to steal their boyfriends or something, she really got in their heads with crazy ideas. I didn't understand everything she said but she got to the few girls who were interested. They've decided to compete with you and create their own team. I don't think there will be many members though, most of them were not interested. I think they're just doing it to compete with you and to try and hurt you." Draco explained.
"Well, at least I tried to reach out." Rose shrugged.
"I'm sorry, I tried to plead your case…" Draco insisted.
"I know, don't worry. I guess we'll see who's the best during the next game. Thanks for warning me." She told him with a smile.
"You're welcome. You didn't have to reach out, but you did. I owed you the truth. I… I think I'll try and speak with Professor Black like you suggested, but not right now. I need some time. But... I have an idea... I wrote it down. Don't let anyone see it or I'll be in trouble. Just nod my way later in potion if you agree to it or not." Draco informed her, handing her a small piece of paper where he had written down his idea and the letter he had sent his Aunt.
He could escape Voldemort and be free, maybe he'd even be able to spy for the light. He just needed to speak with his mother first, find out if she'd be willing to follow him or not.
"Of course!"
"So, it's true then. You're dating Fred Weasley? I heard the portraits in our common room discussing it this morning." He asked her.
"Wow, word does travel fast around here. These portraits are the worst gossips around. Yes, I am dating him." She looked happy and Draco couldn't help but smile at her.
"Good luck, for your team and your relationship. See you later in class." Draco told her before he headed back to his table.
"What did he want?" Fred asked her with a frown once she sat back down, reminding her that he was jealous of Draco and that this was the reason why they had gotten together the previous evening.
"He just wanted to warn me that the girls from his house got upset that I invited them to join my cheerleading team and decided to start their own, to compete against us. He did try to plead my case, apparently." Rose replied, not letting anyone see the note he had given her.
"It would explain why Pansy looks at him like he peed in her cereals. It doesn't do much to improve her looks." Ron commented, making them laugh.
"Charming, Ron, very charming." Hermione replied with a frown.
"Does it upset you, that they're not joining you?" Fred asked her.
"Not really. Plus, it's no fun doing anything when you don't have competition. They'll just make things more interesting. I'm curious to see what they'll do." Rose smiled.
"You'll still be the best." Harry encouraged his sister.
"Of course we will be! We'll crush those snakes under our pom poms." Rose smiled.
"Very competitive of you." Ron noticed.
"I don't do anything if I don't think I have to possibility of being the best." Rose replied with a wink.
So, what did you think? Do you like it?
Any cheers ideas for the different houses?
Lorelei Candice Black