I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter One

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"Rose!"

Her head jerked at the sound of her name. Recognizing her brother's voice from downstairs, she sighed and raised her head from the picture she was painting.

"What?" she yelled back.

"We got letters from Hogwarts!"

Her eyes grew wide. With a clacking sound, she dropped the paintbrush onto the platter and raced downstairs, two steps at a time. Her younger brother, Hugo, was crouched over the counter, reading his letter.

"It's written here that third years learn Hogwarts, A History," he said, a smile playing on the corner of his lips. "Isn't that—"

"Mom's favorite book? Yes. There are about ten copies of it on her bookshelf. Where's my letter?" She asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

"Over there," Hugo gestured towards the table.

Rose reached her letter and picked it up, weighing it. It was a bit bulkier than usual. A knot of tension twisted in her stomach. Could it be? Heart racing, her fingers fumbled to open the envelope; all of her thoughts focused on one thing.

Then, suddenly, the envelope was open, and a blue and bronze pin slipped out of it. Her eyes widened and a little shriek escaped her.

"I did it. I did it!" She exclaimed.

Hugo looked up from his letter. "Big surprise."

"Mom!" She yelped. Her mother poked her head out of the study.

"I'm a prefect," Rose announced, holding up the pin. A golden 'P' decorated it elegantly.

"Rose!" She beamed, giving her a hug. "That's great. See? You had nothing to worry about."

Rose smiled. "I guess I didn't."

"I am so proud of you, Rose. You're a prefect, just like your father and I. Wait till he hears about that!"

"Yes…" Rose's heart sank. Her mother noticed the change in her daughter's mood.

"Rose, what happened?"

She shook her head. "I'm off to tell Albus, okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Just come back in time for dinner."

Rose left the room and headed for her broomstick. She grabbed it and hopped onto it, and with a push she was off, flying out her window towards their cousins.

The still summer air shifted around her as she flew. Her mother's words rang in her mind. Just like your father and I.

That's how it has always been – Rose trying to live up to her parents' expectations. And now she was a prefect, just like they were. But she was not like her father and mother. Sure, she had inherited he mother's brain, her father's slender build and her hair was a mixture of the both of them – but she would never be like them. Her cousins and Hugo were in Gryffindor, she was in Ravenclaw. They were all outgoing, leaders, and she – she was quiet and thoughtful. She always felt a bit left when she was around them in school.

At Hogwarts, everyone worshiped Hugo and her cousins, and sometimes she would be left in the shadows. The Ravenclaws were proud of her being in their ranks, yes, but sometimes she wondered if there would have always been people around her if it weren't for her heritage.

After all, she really wasn't anyone special.

She lowered her head and willed the broom to fly faster, testing its limits. She was smart like her mom, but unlike her, she loved to fly. She was a Weasley, after all.

She soon crossed the field that separated between her house and her cousins' – the Potters – house. A mere three minute flight separated between the two houses. Another two minutes separated between her house and the Burrow, where her grandparents lived. It was really quiet nice being so close to her cousins – a lot of her cherished childhood memories are of playing together with them. But still, being so close to one's cousins could become annoying, especially when they were the Potters.

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Albus, it turned out, was a prefect too. Not that it surprised Rose. First of all, he really was a good student, and everyone loved him. But mostly, he was a Potter. Heck – even James was a prefect, and he was, by far, not the best student in the school. Not the quietest one, either. It made her wonder if she, too, was a prefect because of her parents.

"Do you think we'll do patrolling together?"

"I dunno," Albus said. "I think both prefects from the same house patrol together."

"Oh." She said.

They were sitting at the dinner table. As soon as Rose's grandmother heard that both she and Albus were prefects, she had invited the whole family to celebrate. The room was packed with people – uncles, cousins, pets… Only Teddy and Victorie weren't there. They were staying at home with the newborn baby.

"Tommorow we're taking the kids to Diagon Alley," Rose heard Aunt Ginny tell her mother.

"We'll come with you, then."

At that moment Molly entered the room with a big platter of cake. She placed it on the table.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in!" She beamed.

Rose grabbed a piece of cake quickly, before it was all gone. She dug her fork into it and tasted it. It was delicious.

"A secret recipe," Grandma Molly announced. "But I will tell you—"

"Please, Mum. It is better off if we don't know what you put in it." Rose's father said.

Grandma Molly put her hands on her hips. "Why, Ronald—"

Everyone laughed, cutting her off.

Rose looked around the table. This was her family, the family she loved and was ever so grateful to be part of. All her misgivings from before vanished. She was starting her fifth year at Hogwarts and she was a prefect. She had a loving family. Her Grandma made delicious cake.

Everything was perfect.

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Everything was far from being perfect.

Scorpius sat on the steps as he watched his parents fight – again. The wizard sent from the ministry left only a few minutes ago. He has been sent to ask his father a few questions. Apparently, there's been some trouble in the muggle world and, of course, the ministry suspected his father.

"Draco, do you know anything about what that arour just talked about?" He heard his mother's voice.

"No, Astoria! Don't tell me you think I am not responsible for those muggles' deaths."

"I don't, Draco. I just wish I could live a normal life."

"Well, you should of thought of that when you married me!"

"I didn't mean that—"

Scorpius covered his ears with his hands. When he was small he would hide in his room and put his head under the pillow when they fought. But, right now, going to his room would prove to be a problem. James Potter had sent him a dungbomb yesterday, and Scorpius, so stupidly, opened the package. Now his room smelled like a troll's foot.

So instead, he walked by them and exited the house, shutting the door to the Malfoy Manor a bit harder than intended.

"Blasted Potter," he hissed between gritted teeth.

And, to top on that, he was not a prefect. Not that it surprised him.

Not that he really cared.

"Yo, Scorp," he heard a voice behind him.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Scorpius said.

"Too many."

Alex Clapp, his friend, sat down besides him. He gave his shoulder a little pat. Scorpius stiffened.

"Someone's had a crappy day," said Alex.

"Yeah."

"Got a letter from Hogwarts, how 'bout you?"

"Got one too," he said.

"Prefect?"

"No, you?"

Alex shook his head. "I wonder who it is."

"Not a former Death Eater's son, that's for sure," Scorpius said bitterly. He regretted it as soon as it came out of his mouth. His father was not a Death Eater, he was forced, it was against his will… That's what he always told himself, anyways.

Too bad others didn't think the same.

There was silence between them for a moment.

"I didn't really mean that," Scorpius said at last.

"I know."

Scorpius smiled bitterly. He had many friends from Slytherin, but Alex was his best. The other friends were just his followers.

He liked that; being in charge. Within the Slytherins, at least, he was considered someone to look up upon. But it wasn't like that with James Potter and his gang. He was in a constant battle with him.

"Hey," Alex said. "Tomorrow I'm going with my dad to Diagon Alley. Want to come with us?"

"Sure."

"Okay, great. So I'll see you tomorrow." He stood up to leave.

"See you," Scorpius said.

He sat there for a few minutes after his friend left, gazing into the night. Then, with a sigh, he turned around and entered his house, ready to face the smell that was inside.

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A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys! Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please please review, it'll make me really happy :)