When they arrived at the castle, Peeves and Moaning Myrtle were in the hall along with the other ghosts, greeting students with pranks, jokes and nicknames. It was a nice change to see them getting along and to see Myrtle so cheerful. Sure, they still weren't behaving calmly like the other ghosts of the castle but they were present, and they were on what could be called their "best behavior" yet. It warmed Rose's heart to see that Myrtle could now be around others, that she wasn't as depressed anymore.
Not only seeing the two of them together peacefully was new but seeing them both greet students relatively normaly was a first as well as a nice change. For a very long time, they had both been banned from feasts to prevent them from causing troubles, the fact that they were present was a good change.
Rose, Harry and their friends settled at their table and they all kept a close eye on the Slytherin table, ready to interveen in case Draco needed it. At the moment, he seemed to be fine.
"I guess the neutral Slytherins decided to make Draco their leader of sorts, their public figure." Neville commented after looking at the way the other Slytherin students were acting.
"Some of them might not be neutral, they might even be willing to fight." Hermione commented thoughtfully.
The Slytherin Table seemed to be cut in half, with the Death Eater's children who supported Voldemort on one side and Draco and the others on the other side of it. Draco and the other "neutral" student of their house were sitting on the side of the table that was closer to the teacher's table while the others were closer to the wall.
"Yes, and Pansy Parkinson seems to have replaced Draco at the head of the others. Crabbe and Goyle even seem to play bodyguard for her." Harry replied, half mocking.
Harry also noticed that the "neutral" students were always surrounding Draco, as though to protect him and he realized that it might be what they were doing. They were trying to protect him in case other students decided to attack. Things were changing for the better then.
"They've been seen together on the train, they're definitely hers now." Hermione nodded.
"Nott's with Pansy. No big surprise. They deserve each other." Ron commented as well.
"I saw them on the train, they're dating. I even think that some sort of mariage arrangement has been made between their parents." Parvati Patil informed them, having heard and followed the conversation.
"Blaise Zabini doesn't seem to be very happy sitting by Nott's side though. Maybe there's hope to bring him on Draco's side, or at least to make him neutral." Rose noticed.
"True. We'll have to ask Draco if he's noticed. He'll be the best placed to act." Hermione decided.
After that, they stopped talking because the repartition ceremony started. It was relatively calm and the Slytherin first years sat in the middle of the table, between both "side" of the war. No doubt they'd change seat over time and pick a more definitive side. They probably thought that it was usual for this table to place the first years in the middle.
"Attention students, please!" Dumbledore called for attention and everyone was quiet.
"I know that you're all hungry and eager to fill your stomachs with the many delicious meals the kitchens have prepared for us tonight, but I do have a few important things to tell you first. I will be, I promise, as quick as possible, but it needs to be said. I feel the need to remind all of you and to inform the first years, that the Forbidden Forest is, now more than ever, forbidden, for some of its inhabitant aren't peaceful or friendly. Any student caught there without permission from a professor will be expelled. Professor Black is, as you can see, still among us. He has agreed to tempt fate and come back for a second year, thus breaking the so called malediction that was rumored to be on this position." Albus was interrupted by the cheers of a good 3 quarter of the room.
"Yes, we're all very happy to have him here once more. Let's hope you'll all make good grades in his class, more important than ever now that Voldemort is on the rise once more." Albus said to calm them down.
"Snape's playing his part well, he looks furious to be next to Sirius." Rose whispered to her twin.
"Yes, he has to be better than ever now, with Draco turning out to be a fake spy, Voldemort will probably be watching Snape even closer than before." Harry nodded.
"Now, I have been asked by Argus Flinch to inform you that many products coming from Weasley's Wizard Wizzes are forbidden and being caught using them will result in a detention. The complete list of the forbidden objects is avalable in his office and a copy has been placed in each of your common room's information board, this way you can't say that you didn't know. On to more serious matters, I know that the war raging out of this school is worrying many of you. You're worried for your loved ones, worried for the future, but I must insist that you respect carfew and remain on school grounds at all time. This school is safe, I promise you that. We're well protected. I want you to know that, shall you feel the need to talk about it with someone who is not a friend and a little more experienced, you're welcome to come and talk to your head of house or any other teachers, we're all here for you. Madam Pomfrey has asked St Mungoes for someone to came here a few hours a week, a professional, and he should be here in a couple of weeks. You'll be able to make an appointment in the Infirmary in the mean time. Last year, we had a few Aurors patrolling the village and the school, this year, we have a team, assigned completely to our school and the village. They are all presently standing around the room. You'll notice that their uniforms vary from those of the other Aurors, they're a deeper shade of purple, almost back and they have the school's emblem on their chest. Remember their faces and know that they have the authority to take points from you and to put you in detentions if they catch you out past curfew or doing something dangerous. Their leader is Alastor Moody, that many of you remember. He came out of his retirement for us and we all thank you, Alastor. The Aurors have an office on the first floor, not too far from the infirmary." Albus marked a pause there and the Aurors came to stand near him, so the students could take a good look at them.
Albus clapped for Moody and the students did the same, some politely, others sincerely. The old Auror's face wasn't really inviting but everyone knew of his reputation, except maybe the muggle born first years. They knew that they were safer with him there.
After a silent 2 minutes, most of the Aurors left the room, probably to resume their patrolls, only Moody remained near the door.
"Last year, the duelling club was very popular, so we've decided to do it again this year. My brother will once again teach it, though he couldn't be here tonight. During your first week, your head of house will ask you if you're interested in joining it and they will make a list and give it to Abelforth, Professor Dumbledore the second as we've decided to call him. He wanted to be called Dumbledore The handsome but he was outvoted by the staff, they all wanted to be the most handsome ones. You can also call him Professor Dumbledore Junior if you want." Albus declared, making people chuckle with amusement.
Rose and Harry could easily imagine the teachers sitting around a table, voting on how to call the youngest Dumbledore so that things didn't get confusing for students also smiled, imagining professors all wanting to add "The handsome" to their names.
"The duel classes will start in October and, just like last year, you'll have guest teachers like Aurors or Duelling masters. The unofficial homework club you started last year has been officiallised. The meeting place will remain the same and the students who ran it last year will continue to run it until they leave school, at which point they will select who will be running it the next year. Professors will visit the room from time to time to see if you need them."
Hermione and Rose smiled at this. Rose was especially eager to run this club, it would be another thing to keep her busy, it would help her not think too much about how much she missed Fred.
"Quidditch and cheerleading team try-outs will be held in the coming weeks, the team leaders will put a notice in your common rooms." Dumbledore added, making Rose's team as important as the Quidditch teams.
"I'd also like to ask all of you to make a minute of silence, in memory of two students that should be here with us tonight, Dennis and Colin Creevey, victims of this war. They died fighting for what they believed was right and fair, and they showed bravery in the face of danger. We shall always remember them." The headmaster declared before he demanded the minute of silence to begin.
Once the minute had passed, he looked up at his students before he spoke once more.
"I believe, now, all that remains for me to tell you is, enjoy the feast and welcome to another year at Hogwarts, were you will fill your heads with new knowledge."
Everyone clapped, some only politely, and other cheered, and then they all started eating the delicious foods in front of them.
All around the room, students had noticed Dumbledore's blackened hand and the rumors of its reasons went from a wild fight against Voldemort to the most impossible and crazy of adventures in a far away land. Everyone was curious though but the Headmaster seemed to remain the same, powerful, funny, close to his students and kind, so they didn't worry too much for him. He was a capable wizard, and they all felt reassured thinking that he was in this school with them.
"Are you alright Rose?" Neville asked his friend, noticing her looking a bit down all of a sudden.
"I'm fine... Just... I miss Fred already. I wished he could still be here." She sighted.
"I'm sure he'll write to you tomorrow morning." Ginny said to reassure her.
Ginny was glad to have Harry by her side, she couldn't imagine going through what Rose was going through, though she knew that it would come during her last year. Thankfully she'd have to concentrate on her exam for her last year, that would distract her from Harry's absence. She had talked with Hermione and they had both agreed to keep an eye on Rose during the year, to make sure that she wouldn't overdo it just to keep distracted. Even Lavender and Parvati had agreed to keep an eye out for their friend.
When the feast ended, Ron and Hermione went to lead the first year students to their dormitory.
"They didn't tell us what the new password is." Harry complained to his sister.
"Hermione told me, don't worry. It's Creevey." Rose smiled and her brother nodded with a little smile.
"Hey, everything alright, Draco?" Harry asked as his new friend walked by with the first years he had to show to their house.
Pansy had apparently abandoned her duties for the night.
"Yes, everything is fine." Draco smiled reassuringly.
"Oh, even as Slytherins we're allowed to speak to Harry Potter? A girl on the train said that Slytherins weren't allowed to speak to Harry Potter and his friends and she's in our house, a prefect too." a first year girl asked, looking surprised, making Harry frown.
It was probably Pansy Parkinson. The idiot was trying to worsen things for everyone. Harry decided to use the mirror to warn Sirius later. He'd be able to warn the other teachers and they'd be able to reassure all of the younger students.
"Of course you can. You can speak to whomever you want. Harry Potter is a normal person, not a rockstar. He may be famous but I assure you that his head hasn't grown THAT big." Draco shook his head.
"My mother told me that no matter which house I got into, I shouldn't bother him." A boy added.
"Well, she's right, you shouldn't bother him, but saying hello when you cross him won't bother him, it's only polite. He's not the enemy of every Slytherin. He's only the enemy of everyone who follows You Know Who." Draco explained and the 1st year all nodded.
"And... Being in this house, does it mean that we'll have to follow You know who?" Another first year asked.
"Of course not! You're free to believe in whatever you want, no matter which house you are into. What you believed in this morning shouldn't change juste because you got into Slytherin house. And you should definitely make up your own mind, don't believe in something or someone just because your parents do. That's what I did at first and I wasn't happy. No matter what you decide, know that you'll be safe. Older students aren't allowed to hurt you, bully you or scare you into anything. If any of them give you trouble, you can come to me, or to a professor." Draco explained to his first year, stopping his walk in the corridor so that he could look them in the eyes.
They all nodded gravely and they continued on their way, not noticing Dumbledore and Snape hiding in a secret passageway. They had heard everything and smiled.
"There is hope Severus. Now more than ever, there is hope." Albus whispered, tired by his day.
"Yes, there is." Severus nodded.
.
As soon as he was in his common room, Harry used the mirror to call Sirius.
"Harry? Surely you're not in trouble already, are you? Even your father never managed to get in trouble on the first night back." Sirius smiled.
"No, don't worry, though it could be fun to try and break that record next year. No, I wanted to warn you about something I heard a Slytherin first year tell Draco." Harry replied before he explained what the kid had been told by Pansy.
"I see, well, you're right, I'll speak the the teachers and we'll make sure they know that it's wrong. You were right to warn me." Sirius smiled.
"No problem. Anyway, I'll leave you to get your beauty sleep." Harry smirked before he hung up.
.
The next morning, the first year Slytherin followed Draco to breakfast, feeling like it would be better to follow him than Pansy Parkinson, who didn't seem to care about them at all.
Rose sat down at her table, surrounded by her friends and missing Fred. She had already sent him a letter the previous evening and she was surprised when an owl dropped a letter in front of her. Then she frowned because the letter was bright red.
"A Howler? Who sent you a howler?" Harry frowned at her sister.
"No idea, I thought the letter might be from Fred but a Howler... Before we met and everything, my kidnapper sent me howlers quite often to let me know what a disappointment I was to her but now... No idea." she shook her head.
"You should open it before it explodes." Neville suggested as half the room was looking at her, including the staff.
Nodding, Rose carefully opened the letter who immediately started to scream, for everyone in the room to hear, in Fred's voice which boomed and Echoed all over the Great Hall and could even be heard by Flinch in the corridor:
"HEY ROSE POTTER, IT'S YOUR BOYFRIEND, FRED WEASLEY! I LOVE YOU! I MISS YOU! I'M HER BOYFRIEND, SHE'S TAKEN! I'LL KNOW IF YOU TRY TO FLIRT WITH HER AND YOU'LL PAY. BYE ROSE, HAVE A GREAT DAY! I LOVE YOU!"
Then the letter shredded itself and Rose, who was blushing a deep red, smiled. At the teacher's table, they all looked amused at this use of a howler letter. It was new and unexpected, though they should have guessed Fred would think of some loud and public way to remind other students that he was still with Rose.
"That's so Fred." Ginny chuckled as students around them laughed.
"Well, he made sure to remind people that you were still together. If some of them had doubt, it's gone now. And he's right, a lot of students will probably write to him with the names of boys who flirt with you in hopes of getting discounts or free products." Ron added, smiling.
"Marked his territory." Dean whispered to Seamus who smiled and nodded.
"That was kind of cute of him." Lavender commented.
"True... Anyway, Hermione, who wrote to you?" Rose asked, trying to shift the attention to someone else.
"That's Victor, you know, Krum. We still write to each other." Hermione replied.
"Are you dating him again?" Parvati asked Hermione.
"No, I'm not dating anyone... We're just... You know, pen pals. I have a few." Hermione shook her head.
In her head, she thought of Charlie, hoping she'd get a letter from him soon, but not too noticeable because she wasn't ready for Ron and Ginny to know about this. Especially not Ron.
"Hey, the schedules are here." Neville exclaimed, giving them out.
"We have a lot of classes paired up with the Slytherins this year." Dean frowned.
"Yes, more than usual. I guess they decided that we could handle Parkinson and her followers better." Rose agreed.
"It's not as bad as it used to be." Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, we've got Sirius this afternoon!" Ron exclaimed.
"I wonder if he'll get as many admirers as last year." Rose stated.
"After everything that's happened this summer? Probably more." Lavender replied with a dreamy smile.
.
While Harry and Rose were settling into their school once again, their cousin was doing the same, though he was thinking nostalgically about the past few weeks. Cho Chang had visited him a lot and she had even met his parents. They knew that she was a witch in Harry's school and they tried to make an effort to appreciate her, for their son's sake, since he seemed to like her a lot but there was something about her that neither Petunia nor Vernon liked. They didn't know what it was, but they knew that they didn't like her much.
Dudley had spent a lot of time with her and now that he was back in school, they had promised to write to each other.
"If he has to date a witch, then I'd rather he dated that Luna girl. She seemed a bit weird, but I still liked her better than this Cho girl, she was honest, sincere and you could see that she was a good girl, innocent. This Cho... I don't know.. there's something about I don't like. And I can't believe we're having this discussion..." Vernon told Petunia as they sat home alone, once their son was in school.
"What if... Maybe we should contact Harry and Rose, Vernon. Ask Harry if he really knows her, if we're right to be worried or if she can be trusted..." Petunia suggested.
"Dudley would be very angry if we did that... Let's wait until the next vacation. We'll see how things are when he gets home. Maybe he'll have forgotten all about her." Vernon decided and his wife nodded her agreement.
"Let's hope so. Anyway, I was thinking that we could maybe add a room in the little house you built the Pygmy Puffs." Petunia nodded before she explained what she wanted to her husband, who smiled tenderly at her and promised to do it soon.
What did you think? I know, it's a bit of a filler chapter, not much happening here...
QUESTION: A baby will come (more than one, but one in particular). I need to decide on a gender and on a name. All i'll say is that the baby will be close to harry and Rose and they will be its godparents.
One of you said that it wasn't believable that Rose was "perfect" and that she and Harry never argued. I can't reply to you directly because you reviewed as a guest so here is my answer:
Rose was raised thinking and believed that she wasn't enough, that she wasn't good enough so she grew up trying to be as good as possible. She isn't perfect, it's one of her trait of caracter. She does everything the best way possible, and she's kind to others because she knows how it feels when people are unkind and mean to you. After all these years, she can't just change. It's the way she is now. And her mother (Lily) was said to be very kind and loving, so it's believable that she'd naturally be the same way.
As for the fact that she never argues with Harry, not every siblings argue. Fred and George aren't seen arguying very often. And after being forced appart for so long it's natural that, when they disagree, they'd both try to find a middle ground before an argument starts.
You also wanted to see Rose fail or struggle with something so the others could help her. It is planned that she'd need watching over, it's part of my storyline and the first seed has been planted in this chapter (and a bit in the previous one I think).
Review please?
Lorelei Candice Black