Notes: Alright, this is a short, dull chapter. But I promise you that the next chapter will be a lot longer and much more exciting. Bear with me, guys, and please leave any reviews. Those are always helpful. Thanks!

Finding Help

Rosie ran inside the castle and quickly took her seat at the Gryffindor table next to Al and across from James who was stuffing his face with food.

"Nice of you to join us," said Al. "Where were you?"

"You won't believe it, but the Slytherins were actually picking on Scorpius Malfoy," said Rosie. "Remember him, Al? We saw him on the first day we came to Hogwarts?"

"So, what's all the fuss about then?" asked James who had by now swallowed.

"He's a Slytherin," said Rosie. "I find it weird that they'd pick on him. I mean, they're in the same house and all."

"And what do you want us to do about it?" asked Al. "I don't see what you're worked up about. Anderson and Mitchell pick on everyone including Slytherins. It's not that rare."

"But he's got no friends," said Rosie. "Don't you feel sorry for him? He's been coming here for six years and has never made any friends."

"Are you suggesting that we try becoming his friends?" James inquired. "Because that's what it sounds like you want us to do."

Rosie nodded eagerly. "So, what do you say?"

"Bloody hell no," shot the two brothers.

"What? Why?" asked Rosie her expression falling.

"Because it's none of our business as to whether the little git has any friends," said James. "Besides, he's probably obnoxious and arrogant which is why he's got no friends to begin with. He's always seemed rather rude."

"Yeah, Rose, you don't want to get mixed in with that lot anyway," nodded Al wisely. "Best just to leave things as they are, it's for the best."

"But what if you two are wrong? What if he's just shy and no one's just bothered reaching out to him? He could probably be a lot nicer than he seems," said Rosie. "Being rude might be a defense mechanism."

"Defense mechanism? He's a person! Not an animal," said Al. "He's rude because he wants to be."

Rosie sighed. She could see that neither Potter brothers could be convinced. She could ask the twins later. They might be more willing to help her make friends with the young Scorpius Malfoy.

"So, why are the two of you so afraid to make friends with a Slytherin? You think it'll suddenly make you less cool if you do?" asked Rosie now. She was never going to let this go.

"No," laughed James. "He's just the slimy son of a slimy git."

"Oh, so you're judging him based on what your father has told you about his father?" asked Rosie frowning. "That's not very nice. That's not nice at all. He could be different from his father."

"Look, why do you care so much?" asked James. "Honestly, girls get so worked up over absolutely nothing."

"Well, boys are completely useless beings," retorted Rosie. "We're even." James stuck his tongue out at her but she rolled her eyes at his immaturity.

Another familiar face had just appeared from the crowd of students and took a seat. It was Hugo, Rosie's younger brother. Rosie knew her brother would side with her. They were blood after all. He had to lean in her favor.

"Hey, Hugo, would you judge a person based on their parents?" asked Rosie. "You know, would you automatically say someone was no good because their father did a couple of bad things?"

Hugo looked at his sister and then looked up in thought. "No, I wouldn't. Why do you ask?"

"So, you agree with me on the fact that Scorpius Malfoy is perhaps not the person he seems and we should make friends with him, right?"

Hugo stared at his sister like she had just threatened to kill someone. "Are you mad? Of course not! He doesn't want friends. He wanders around by himself for a reason, you know. Besides, remember what dad said on your first day of Hogwarts? He said—"

"He told me granddad would never forgive me if I married a pureblood," said Rosie exasperated. "I don't want to marry him! Merlin's beard, I just want to make friends with the poor boy! Not marry him! Does no one understand that?"

Rosie stood up now and made her way over to the Ravenclaw table where Lorcan and Lysander sat. She'd ask for their help and she was hoping and praying they'd be much more supportive than Al, James and Hugo had been. "Hey, can I talk to you both for a minute?" she asked the two twins.

"Sure," they nodded. Both twins stood up at exactly the same time and then walked out into the hallway just outside the Great Hall. Rosie smiled as she followed. It always amazed her at how twins could be so in touch with each other without even taking notice.

"So, what's this about?" asked Lorcan. "Why exactly are you dragging us away from our meal?"

Rosie promptly launched into her explanation of the whole encounter. She explained every last detail and also her plan on trying to make friends with Scorpius. When she finished she looked from Lysander to Lorcan and back again. "Well? Will you help me?"

"Help you make friends with a Slytherin?" asked Lysander. "Can't we just find him friends? Why do we have to be his friends?"

"You don't have to," said Rosie defiantly. "But if you're not going to help then I guess I'll just have to go about this alone, now won't I?"

"Yep," said the twins nodding and before Rosie could do anymore to convince them they scurried off to the Great Hall and took their seats once more at the Ravenclaw table.

Rosie sighed. She now knew that she would be on her own. But, really, how hard could it really be to make friends with this one Slytherin boy?