Disclaimer: JKR owns it all. obviously.

So this is Hogwarts.

Rose stood in awe as she took in the unbelievable Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle. Everything she had read in books and all the stories she heard from her family definitely did not do the school justice; it was absolutely brilliant.

As she and the other first-years followed Professor Longbottom toward the front of the hall, Rose could hardly watch where she was walking seeing as she was completely captivated by the starry sky that served as the hall's ceiling.

"Did you know it's enchanted to look like the nighttime sky? I read about it Hogwarts, A History." A voice coming from her right explained.

"Oh I know! That's actually my favorite bo-"

Rose immediately stopped as she turned her head to the right, only to have her eyes meet the stormy grey ones of none other than Scorpius Malfoy.

Oh so now he wanted to chat and act all friendly, Rose scoffed to herself. Well maybe he should have thought of that back on the train- it was too late now. He probably just wanted to put on a good show for the professors, Rose cynically thought. Well, Rose knew the real Scorpius- rude, conceited, and prejudice.

Rose narrowed her eyes, raise her chin, snarkily replied.

"Of course I know that it's enchanted. In fact, my mother, Hermione Granger Weasley, wrote the introduction for 250th Year Anniversary Edition of Hogwarts, A History. So obviously I have read it cover to cover- including the chapter about the ceiling being enchanted."

"Oh, right. No, I didn't know that. I-erm- I must not have that edition." Scorpius answered in somewhat of mutter, his cheeks looking slightly red.

Rose felt remorse slicing through her stomach and an apology building in the back of her throat. Trying to justify having just acted like the world's biggest prat, she quickly reminded herself that he was the one who started it. He was the one who shunned them first on the train.

"Why are you even talking to me? You made it quite clear on the train you don't want to be friends." Rose sneered, yet at the same time she was truly curious as to why he was suddenly attempting civility.

Scorpius looked away from Rose, his brow wrinkled with deep thought. Then without a word or even another glance at Rose, he rushed past her, almost breaking into a run in order to rush to the front of the group far away from Rose and Albus.

"Strange bloke, right?" Albus commented, while Rose simply watched with her jaw wide open in disbelief.

Of all the rude and insensitive things! He was the one who started talking to her- and then he rushes away as he's too good to talk with her!

Rose took in a deep breath to collect herself, and then slowly released it. "Well, at least we won't have to deal with him anymore after today." Rose concluded.

Albus looked back at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well isn't it obvious, Albus? He'll be placed in Slytherin, we'll be in Gryffindor, and then we can all just ignore each other for the next seven years." Rose smiled, the future suddenly looking bright.

Albus, however, looked somewhat doubtful that all would turn out as Rose thought. He hoped it did, but he somehow had a growing suspicion it wouldn't.

"Students, please gather here at the front. Now when I call your name, step forward to be sorted into your houses." Professor Longbottom called out to the group.

The first-years came to a halt at the front of the Great Hall, where they all stood staring apprehensively at the old, tattered hat that was placed on a stool in front of them. Professor Longbottom opened a long scroll of parchment, and the sorting began.

"Abbott, Margaret."

A round-faced girl with blonde pigtails slowly walked forward, sat on the stool, and the professor place the hat on her head.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Rose tried to remain attentive through the A's, reminded herself not to fidget through the C's, was fearful she might be sick during the F's, and had chewed all her nails to bits by the H's.

Where have these nerves come from, Rose wondered in a panic. Rose knew they were senseless; it was obvious what house she was going to be sorted in to. Out of the corner of her eye she observed Albus; he was just as nervous, which is ridiculous, she quickly reminded herself. They were both going to be in Gryffindor obviously. Their parents were all legendary Gryffindors; it was only logical that they would follow their footsteps. Albus especially had no reason to fear, since he not only had parents in Gryffindor, but his brother, James, as well.

Rose, you don't have anything to worry about either- you're a Weasley, Rose reminded herself. Every since she was a child and first learned about Hogwarts, she promised herself she would carry on the family tradition of Gryffindors, where she would exhibit courage and bravery in the face of evil- just like her parents.

"Malfoy, Scorpius."

Rose's gaze sped to the front as Scorpius approached the hat. He didn't look nervous; he looked cool and collected as ever. But then, he must already know he's going to be in Slytherin, Rose reminded herself.

This should be quick, Rose commented to herself.

However, quite a few minutes went by before the hat shared its decision.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Rose thought at first she had misheard the Sorting Hat, but the gasps and whispers immediately heard from every table in the Great Hall made her realize that she had, in fact, heard correctly. Even some of the professors were exchanging words of shock and surprise.

"…first Malfoy ever not to be sorted in Slytherin!" Rose thought she heard from somewhere behind her.

Professor Longbottom lifted the hat from Scorpius' head. As his face was fully revealed, Rose was surprised to see that Scorpius did not look shocked, nor angry, nor scared. He didn't even look confused- just stoic as ever.

Talk about an emotional range of a teaspoon, Rose thought with a roll of her eyes.

Well at least it wasn't Gryffindor, Rose reminded herself. Scorpius could have any house, but that one. As long as they were in separate houses, the universe and maybe even Hogwarts could remain intact, Rose thought with a smile.

"Potter, Albus." Professor Longbottom called a few minutes later.

Of course with the sorting of a Potter occurring, all talk of the Malfoy boy ceased.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted a short while later.

Rose smiled, knowing that Albus would be so relieved- not that she had any doubts he would be in Gryffindor. Now they would all be together, and everything would be perfect. Continuing to remind herself this, Rose waited with the few other first years still waiting to be sorted until she finally heard:

"Weasley, Rose."

Rose took a deep breath and then started forward.

I'm a Weasley- we all are sorted into Gryffindor, Rose reminded herself. As she turned to face the occupants of the hall and sit upon the stool, she spotted Albus and gave him a confident smile. Rose eyed the empty seat at the Gryffindor table next to her cousin James which she would occupy in a few short minutes. Then the crowd disappeared as the hat was dropped over her eyes.

"Another Weasley?" the small voice in her ear said incredulously. "Quite the mind you have here, I see."

And courage. Just like my parents. Rose knowingly added.

"Hmm, yes and stubbornness too." The hat commented pointedly. "Yes, yes I know just where to put you."

Rose smiled, relieved. She was just thinking that the sorting process went much easier and faster than she expected, when suddenly she heard it.

"RAVENCLAW!" The voice shouted, echoing throughout the hall.

Even after the hat was removed from her head, she still sat there. She must have heard wrong.

But no, she hadn't.

There must be some mistake.

But no, there wasn't.

She was in Ravenclaw.

"Rose? Rose, you can join your house now."

Slowly, Rose turned toward Professor Longbottom. She could feel her eyes were wide with shock and disappointment.

"It'll be alright, Rose. Go on." He reassured her, looking somewhat concerned.

"Right. Thanks, Neville- I mean Professor." Rose replied rather emotionlessly.

Finally Rose found control over her limbs again and forced herself away from the stool. As she walked over to the Ravenclaw table, all she heard was her own footsteps on the stone tile and heart beating frantically.

This wasn't supposed to happen. She was supposed to be in Gryffindor. That was what made the most sense. It was the most logical.

That was when Rose realized that the promise she made, to carry on her family's tradition of courage, bravery, and being apart of Gryffindor was woefully and most assuredly impossible now.

As she sat down, she was barely even aware of the students around her, who were cheerfully patting her on the back and welcoming her to Ravenclaw, completely oblivious to mental breakdown Rose was currently experiencing.

She just sat there, staring at the table. Trying to understand what just happened and why it had.

Something finally broke through the invisible wall that had been blocking out all efforts of interaction around her. Rose felt a gaze seeping through that wall, intruding her moment of internal desolation.

Slowly, her eyes lifted from the table following the linear path towards the person directly across from her, and finally met the grey gaze of Scorpius Malfoy. Scorpius Malfoy, whom Rose just realized was, for the next seven years, was going to be her fellow Ravenclaw.

As Rose quickly lowered her head to conceal the tears that were inevitably about to overflow off of her lashes, the empathetic smile from the grey-eyed boy across the table remained unnoticed.