By the time we reached the Hogsmeade train station, I was feeling quite nervous. It was my last year at Hogwarts and it was off to a bad start. To begin with, Malfoy had gotten Head Boy and when sauntered out of the compartment to go meet with whoever the bloody Head Girl was with about as much subtly and consideration as an elephant would. When Malfoy did not come back from said meeting, we all assumed it was because he had found some slag. I was grateful considering my will to not let him get under my skin was waning as he pestered and prodded me. Soon after Malfoy had gone though, Miles came in. And with him, my guilt. Apparently I didn't hide it that well because both Albus and Roxy gave me looks that I tried to ignore. That was a line of questioning I did not need.

When we were close to arriving, Roxy pulled me out of the compartment to find an empty one to change in, away from the boys. As I left the compartment, I took time to gather my things. Roxy tapped her foot impatiently, knowing that I was delaying.

"Okay, you have to break up with him." Roxy stated bluntly before I even had shut the door completely. I shot her a harsh glance and double checked to make sure no one was right outside who could hear that comment. The Hogwarts rumor mill was always hungry.

"And why on earth would I do that?" I asked her, setting my things out, patting down any wrinkles in my uniform so I wouldn't have to meet Roxy's glare.

"Rose. I am not stupid! I'm your best friend, I know you. And for that matter, you don't exactly have to be an experience Legilimens to see that you look like someone dumped cold water over you everytime that Diggle enters the room." She was right. My face hid nothing. I felt a flicker of panic over whether Miles could tell this change. Then I realized that Miles wasn't usually that observant when it came to things like this.

"Look, you were away for a whole summer. You're shit at writing letters so I know it was probably hard to keep in touch. It's totally normal to lose feelings for someone. You don't know, he might feel the same way. At the very least, you have to talk to him. I'm not his biggest fan but if he makes you happy, like honestly happy, then you have to try to work it out." Roxy lectured. I loved her but sometimes she was so condescending when it came to relationships. I had only dated two people and Miles was the one that actually counted. Miles and I had been dating since the end of fifth year. He worked up the nerve to ask me on the very last day of the year. That summer he spent a lot of very supervised time at my house. I was fifteen and giddy. Throughout sixth year, we came out of the honeymoon stage. And we saw each other almost constantly. But we loved each other. I could see a life with him. It'd be nice and it'd be quiet. As a sixteen year old with a huge loud family, that seemed like the best thing. After this summer, I was not sure that's what I wanted. There were a lot of things I realized I did want though.

"Rox… I don't think I can fall out of love with him. I don't know if I was in love with him." I started to cry. Roxy's demeanor changed in a flash. She let me cry for a little, petting my hair, telling me that it was okay. I was glad she didn't demand more of an explanation or a solution right away as Weasley's tended to do.

"I'm okay, thanks… for that. We should get changed. They'll wonder what took us so long." I pulled away and wiped at my tears. Roxy looked at me with sympathy but then her face changed to one of mischief, an expression her and her brother shared often. "Oh, god. What?' I said with a little trepidation. She sat back and put her legs up, attempting to look casual.

"Well we don't have to go back… have you opened Fred's gift yet?" She asked with a smile that couldn't mean anything good. My brows furrowed as I turned around slowly to pick it up. She nodded as she pulled the curtains close. Roxanne and Fred Weasley were nothing but trouble in the best of ways.

I opened the small white package that said "For Rose, use as needed" in Fred's messy scrawl. I poured the contents onto the seat between Rox and I. Oh my god. Fred had given me five joints, and a tiny bottle of eye drops. Jesus christ. Albus would have had a bloody conniption if I had opened this in front of him. He was not too happy when I told him part of the reason I was so fucked up that night was because I had smoked with Fred.

"I'm just saying we could have one now…" Roxy said in a sing-song innocent voice that did not match what she was suggesting.

"Roxanne Weasley! We cannot be high at the Sorting Feast! Are you insane!?" I squealed.

"Roooosieee, come on. No one is going to be paying attention! You know how it is. Everything is insane! Besides, no one in our family is being sorted this year so people won't be looking for our reactions! It's not going to be like how it was the other night, I swear. Fred gave you less strong ones anyways. Plus you won't be drinking!" Roxy pleaded.

"Listen, if you want to, be my guest. One of us has to keep the other under control." I insisted. Roxy rolled her eyes.

"Rose, I've literally been high before without you knowing. Trust me, I'll make sure nothing bad happens. Not even Albus will know." She was starting to convince me. I did want the caged tight feeling in my chest to go away. Besides soon I was going to find out who beat me for Head Girl. Which meant I was not Head Girl. Which means I don't exactly have to prove anything to anyone…

"Especially Albus." I emphasized. "Wait, that means you will?" Roxy looked shocked. "Close your mouth, Rox. It might get stuck that way." I teased.

I grabbed one of them. I looked at it. I blushed when I realized I had no idea what side was what. Roxy giggled and lit it after she opened the window. She took a long inhale of it, passed it to me and then breathed out. She didn't cough at all. I was slightly offended that she obviously had done this more than a few times without even telling me. She passed it to me.

I flooded with nerves. My mind running through a bunch of what if's. And then I thought of Malfoy's pompous face as he announced to us earlier that he had to go to the Head's meeting. I put it to my lips and sucked with more fervor than I should. I immediately started coughing out the window. Roxy laughed at my discomfort I shot her a look and took another "hit" (I'd learned the term from Fred last week) for revenge. I still coughed but not as much.

Roxy and I changed and giggled about mostly nothing until the train stopped. I felt my stomach drop. I was having fun with just Roxy. I felt free and like I wanted to dance. But what if people realize!? Oh my god, what if someone tells my parents? I would actually die. I can only imagine that Howler. You probably wouldn't be able to understand what was being said as both my parents would be yelling with such zeal, running over each other in efforts to deliver how angry they are.

Roxy squeezed my arm and told me it was going to be okay. I felt like screaming at her. She showed me how to put the eye drops in, explaining that it'll take the redness away so no one knows. Meanwhile, I didn't know that my eyes were supposed to get red from this!

I avoided Hagrid as he rounded up the first year's. It'd be just my luck for Hagrid to be the first one to realize I was high. Roxy and I found an empty carriage and moments later, my throat tightened up as Miles jogged up to the one we were sitting in. Roxy pinched my arm and told me sternly that it'd be fine.

"Hey, sweetheart. Where did you two get off to?" Miles asked. He kissed my forehead as he sat down next to me. Oh Merlin, what if he could smell it?

"Just girl talk." I told him. I must have said it oddly because he just nodded. I heard a shout and some laughter as Lorcan and Hugo ran up to the carriage; Lorcan a little out of breath and Hugo helping him up into the carriage. I smiled as I watched them. Something about the sight just made me feel bubbly. Or maybe it was a combination of the sight and my intoxicated state.

Lucy and Francis joined us as well and then the thestral began its jaunt. I sighed when I realized that Albus and Scorpius had had to find another one since this one was full. The later I could put off interacting with the two of them, the better.

I settled next to Roxy and greeted some of the other girls' in Gryffindor seventh year. I kept looking over my shoulder at the Slytherin table. Albus noticed the third time and I whipped around and blushed. I was sure he knew something was up. When the sorting started I was able to sit back and just think. Everyone was looking there and no one would be paying attention to me.

Roxy shook me out of my reverie and she wore a confused expression. Oh god. Did I say something out loud on accident?

"Did you know that Uncle Harry's cousin had a daughter coming to Hogwarts?" Roxy whispered. I looked over at Lily who was looking down at her lap. Obviously she had known something. I peaked over at Albus. He did not seem confused either.

"What's her name?" I whispered to Roxy. She told me it was Marta Dursley. Marta was shorter than most of her peers. She had a baby face and had not appeared to lose her baby weight. She was kind of adorable in that way. Her big eyes looked absolutely terrified as she walked up to the stool, glancing everywhere at once. I wondered if she knew about the big family she had here. I wondered if Uncle Harry's cousin even considered how large the Weasley bunch are. Although I guess he would have seen at Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny's wedding. Apparently they had made up and became friendly the year before they got married. And now his daughter was a witch! How strange.

"Gryffindor!" The sorting hat announced, although it did sound a little uncertain. We all clapped. Lily was nice enough to wave her over. She looked at Lily like a lifeboat.

"Is it me or do they get younger every year?" Olivia Midgen, one of our dorm mates, wondered aloud. "And more afraid. For goodness sake's. None of them look very lion-esque."

"Oh, come off it Rox. Like you weren't quaking in your little boots during your sorting." Kennedy Port, another girl in our dorm, snickered. Roxy stuck her tongue out at her. We had to contain our giggles at that. I was starting to feel less nervous about everything and just enjoy the feeling.

That was until the feast had ended, our stomachs were too full, and we were standing up to depart to our houses. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, it was a house elf with a note from McGonagall. I immediately blanched. My stomach and throat were on fire with nerves. She's going to know, she probably already knows. I opened the letter with trepidation.

Miss Weasley,

Please come to my office first thing in the morning. I have important matters to discuss with you immediately.

Headmistress McGonagall

I turned to Roxy with big eyes. She bit her lip with a furrowed brow. I grabbed her hand and rushed out of the Great Hall. I found an alcove that would shield us from others' eyes.

"She knows. The Headmistress knows. Oh Merlin! I'm going to die!" I panicked. "Or be expelled. Oh I hope it's the death option." I slapped my hand to my head. Was there anything worse than being expelled? Why didn't I think of this before? I was spiraling. Roxy grabbed my face and forced me to look at her.

"Mate, you're being paranoid. It's probably just the weed. That happens sometimes." She informed me. Oh my god. I'm going to kill her then Fred.

"I thought it was supposed to relax me!" I hissed. She rolled her eyes.

Once I had calmed down a bit, we slumped up to the dorm. Kennedy asked where we got off to but I immediately laid down and shut my eyes. Today was already exhausting. I was not sure if I was ready for tomorrow.

I opened my eyes reluctantly. I sighed heavily and began to get ready for the day. I was the first one up other than Olivia who was already dressed and in the process of straightening her strawberry blonde hair. I looked at my own unruly mess of brownish red. No matter how many spells I tried to enchant it with, my hair would go from pretty much straight to frizzy curls the second I stepped outside. Most days I did not bother with it and stuck it up into a messy bun.

The note from McGonagall sat on my bedside table, mocking me. I tried a little harder to look presentable. If I was going to be expelled for being a druggie, I was determined not to look like one.

"Elphinstone." I muttered to the gargoyle guarding the staircase to the Headmistress' office. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I climbed each step to my fate. I knew logically it was extremely unlikely she could know about the joints but I felt vulnerable either way. Whatever it could be I was sure it would not be anything good.

I first saw McGonagall. She didn't seem to be in a bad mood. This put me in slightly at ease. The closer I came, I realized that someone occupied the left chair.

Scorpius fucking Malfoy. This was the last thing I needed! He glared at me as he watched me sit down. He certainly did not seem enthused about whatever this meeting was concerning. I was not sure whether that made me feel better or worse.

"Miss Weasley, thank you for coming. I assure you I will keep this short as I'm sure you'd both like to get some breakfast before your first classes." McGonagall chimed. As she continued, I looked at Malfoy in my periphery. His jaw was clenched, clearly he knew more than I did because sure, it was early but since when did that mean Malfoy was acting like an angry fool? Surely he knew something I did not. "As you know Scorpius is head boy," my stomach clenched and Malfoy's expression flickered to amusement when he saw my face, "and you may have noticed a lack of a head girl last night." Oh Merlin, I had not even thought about that last night. How in the world did I not think about it? I felt like yelling at myself. McGonagall continued. "Unfortunately, part of your letter for this year did not get to you. I apologize, Miss Weasley. I am sure that you will do the position proud so here you are." She handed me the glimmering Head Girl badge. "Your things are being moved into the Head's dormitory as we speak- Miss Weasley, do sit down."

I hadn't even realized I had jumped out of my chair, knocking over a small figurine on McGonagall's desk to the floor. I heard Malfoy snicker at my lack of grace but all I could be bothered to think was OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. Suck it Malfoy. It's still a tie you snake! That must have been why he was avoiding me on the train! If I hadn't been so ebullient, I would never have had the gall to reach over and hug Headmistress Minerva Bloody McGonagall. Two seconds later, I slowly pulled away as red as a tomato over my entire body. Malfoy was coughing to disguise his laughter.

"I am so sorry Professor. I don't know what came over me. I am, I am honored and excited for the opportunity." I said, hating how meak I sounded. Albus Dumbledore smiled with glee above her. She however looked like she'd been quite shaken. Bloody hell, I've never been more embarrassed.

"That's quite alright. I, um, understand. Just please do have a bit more decorum going forward." She asserted. "Mr. Malfoy, you two need to arrange to meet to set up prefect schedules as that could not be done on the train officially without both head girl and boy present. It should not be that hard considering you two will be living alongside one another. As such, I would like to add one more thing before I dismiss you. I know you two have a history of not getting along. I hope that you will rise to your titles and put old prejudices aside. I will not hesitate to rescind your privileged positions and hand the responsibility over to Mr. MacMillan and Ms. Byer if I hear of anything unprofessional. Mr. Malfoy, if you could wait outside. I must speak with Ms. Weasley for just a moment then you can show her where the head's dormitory is and what the password is."

I wasn't too worried as Malfoy left. I figured whatever she had to talk to me about couldn't be that bad if I was Head Girl. The Headmistress stood and retrieved something from the corner of the room. I saw that it was a pale blue envelope.

"Miss Weasley, this was sent to you." McGonagall handed me the envelope. I didn't look at it too intently before she continued, "It was dropped off at the Muggle-Wizard Mail Exchange. Your name or the sender's name was not on the approved list but they let it through as they recognized your name. The ministry sent it here but wished that I ask you what this is about. They are worried about the Secrecy Laws, of course. I told them I was sure you would have never crossed that line. Please assure me that I did not lie."

The Muggle-Wizard Mail Exchange is a small department in London that operates under the Ministry. It appears as a rundown muggle post office. It is the address wizards and witches give to muggles that need to contact them if they are in the magic population. The mail will only go through if you are approved to be on a list and you give them the name, all done in the name of Secrecy. Molly, quite a radical but intelligent lawyer, insisted that this was an absurd length to go to and a violation of privacy.

In the past two minutes, I had gone from feeling a little green from nerves to cherry red from embarrassment. Now I was whiter than snow. I felt like all the warm blood had left my body, like someone had sunk me in ice.

I did not need to read the name to know what it would be. I read it three times over just to be sure but every time it made me feel further and further away from this office, closer to a comfortable purple couch and a muggle TV. My heart pumped in my ears much in the same way it did on the way here. As I left McGonagall's office, I was still reading and rereading the name. It did not change.

Rose Weasley

934 Waif Street N

London, UK

Lucas Wyatt

133 Bevel Lane

Stevenage, UK

AN OOOOOOO who is this muggle boy Hello! Hope you enjoyed this update... I know there wasn't a whole lot of Scorpius/Rose action but I feel like it sets some stuff up that is vital to the story/builds a bit of tension. (PS did you catch the references in this chapter? Let me know in a review if you did!)