Disclaimer: this is all fanfiction. Rose Zeller is actually in the order of the phoenix. The world of harry potter is owned by JK Rowling.

Sorry for not updating in a while, I hope this chapter makes up for it, it's longer than I usually do. I am trying to add more descriptions between dialogue. In this chapter Rose and Jarred (finally) are on the train to Hogwarts and you are all introduced to Orla and her friends. For all of you who like Rose more than Jarred, I'm sure you'll love them.


Chapter 12- Rose

It's not that Rose hated her older brother. That would be crazy! She loved Jarred, and tried really hard to get along but… Rose sighed, she had never known anything but attention. How would she know, that with every bit of magic she cast, a bit of her parents love would slide from Jarred to herself. And that wasn't even true! She knew that she and Jarred (and Emily), shared equal importance in their parents hearts. Jarred shouldn't be such a dorcus and just get over the fact, that sometimes other people are allowed to be praised without him getting into such a hissy fit about it. He was older, and supposed to act that way. Emily had no magic to speak of, but did she complain? (Yes, but not very often). It was as if Jarred was trying to make everyone hate Rose's guts.

As she leaped out from the barrier, her heart fluttered. For the first time in her life, she was about to be somewhere where she could be herself for once, without Jarred's presence. She didn't have to worry about sparing itty-Jarred's feelings. If he had a problem, he didn't have to be around her. Unless...No, that wouldn't be. Rose would be in Ravenclaw, with Orla, there was no way Jarred would be in the same house as them. In fact, she couldn't think of any house he would be in. Maybe hufflepuff, Rose decided, hoping with all of her heart Jarred would be accepted. What would happen if he wasn't sorted at all? Rose would feel terribly embarrassed for him.

Suddenly, Rose felt rumbling beneath her feet. The train! She thought, excited. The train! This was her last thought before a shadow fell across her, and she felt a sense of dread overwhelm her- like she'd never be happy again.


Okay, maybe she was over exaggerating a tiny bit, but the look on her mother's face was fierce enough to burn up the whole of London. "Well," her mother spat, eyes blazing "The fire's certainly lit, but it seems the cauldron is empty".

Rose gave an awkward smile, adding a hint of puppy eyes before apologizing. "Sorry Mum, I guess sense sort of ran away from me for a moment in the excitement."

This was obviously not the thing to say, it just seemed to enrage her further. "Hmm...just like a little child of mine ran away from me in the excitement."

Rose wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Maybe both. "I promise that I will never do that to you ever again. I extra super promise to be good. Please, give mercy and forgive me for my terrible crimes. I beg of you, please!"

Rose could tell she had won her mother over. She did this a lot. Jarred wouldn't feel half as bad if he knew any of her tricks- it's a shame they were all secrets! Just then, she saw a group of 5th years getting ready to board the just arrived train. They were a accompanied by a few other students, mostly older ones, but one younger one. A 4th year maybe? They seemed to be guarded by the adults next to them. One of them, black haired and tall, reached down to pet a shaggy black dog which was standing on all fours.

Just as she was about to ask her mom if she could pet the dog, Jarred arrived with their father. There was an 'oof!' of surprise as he came tumbling out. "Watch it!" Rose snaps, as he almost tumbles into her.

Snorting with annoyance, Rose turns back to the dog. Rose had never had a dog before, as her father was allergic. Turning to stare at it again, Rose couldn't help but overhear a part of their conversation. A seventh year boy runs over to their group "Nice dog, Harry!" he says.

Rose took a start could it be? She saw others draw their attention to the black haired boy as he turned to greet the seventh year who had spoken, his green eyes gleaming behind his rounded glasses. His scar was hidden, but Rose (and everyone else who was pretending not to be eavesdropping) knew who he was. "Thanks, Lee!" Harry Potter replied.

Harry Potter. The chosen one? The boy who lived? A liar? Rose tugged on her mother's robes. Cedonia had a nasty coughing fit, though Rose suspected she was concealing a gasp. "Wow, look at that dog!" her mother exclaimed (finally calming down enough to speak) as the furry black canine went on its two hind legs again and placed its front paws on the boys shoulders.

Rose knew it was impossible- but she got the sense that the dog was communing with Potter...how strange. Before she could ponder much more on the subject, she was knocked over by a girl with flowing black hair and ravenclaw robes. "Orla!" Rose wheezed, trying her best to return the squeeze "You're gonna suffocate me!"

Orla grinned sheepishly. "Sorry," she said, finally letting go "I just was so glad to see you before I left, we have barely seen each other."

Rose was dumbfounded before realizing that Orla, had no idea Rose was attending Hogwarts this year, as telling her had somehow slipped out of her mind completely. Of course, this might be due to the fact that she usually didn't get to do most of the talking as Orla was such a chatter box. Not that Rose wasn't, it's just the way Orla was.

She had long gorgeous black hair that seemed to sparkle, even when it didn't have light to reflect upon it. She was currently wearing school robes, but when she was wearing clothes of her choice she was always up to date of the newest fashions, holding herself in a very self confident and mature way. What with being on the tall side, and having such a perfect posture that all of her inches were accounted for at all times, she seemed several years older, and she already was several years older than Rose. So, with all this accounted for, even though she and Orla were closely knit friends, with equal energy and swagger- Orla always took the bravado, and Rose stepped aside and let her. She did this again now, letting her friend cut her off from explaining, it might seem like an unhealthy friendship, but it worked out well, it was how they rolled.

"I cannot wait, for you to be old enough to go, to Hogwarts I mean. I've seen you're made it to the station to see me and your klutz of a brother off, hmm?" she said, batting her eyelashes "It must be sickening to be so close to the place beyond your wildest dreams and yet," she paused to dramatize her point "So far away…"

Rose couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's assumption. Then, at her disconcerted look of response she burst out laughing. Orla rolled her eyes, and tossed her hair back, before steadying her hysterical friend; who was moments away from falling over with her giggling fit. As Rose's friend helped her up, the younger witch calmed down a bit- but was still laughing. Furthermore insulted, Orla scoffed indignantly "What-what in the world Rose!" she spluttered, more than a bit flustered "Honestly, what has become of you, just shut up for a moment will you, I was trying to be sympathetic! I mean you're being quite rude, obviously you ought to-"

What Rose ought to have done- we may never know. Because, Rose Zeller, so afraid that she would burst into another uncontrollable fit of laughter, that she wouldn't be able to explain when the time came. So, she made the time come, better now than never, she reasoned. She didn't usually interrupt her friend, but "I got my letter!" she blurted before Orla had a chance to cut through.

Orla, cut short mid-sentence, blinked. Startled, she tossed back her hair. Rose could tell her friend was confused, and bordering annoyed. She found she didn't care the slightest. The young girl was too eager to share her good news with her friend. Bouncing up and down, face lit up with a smile that went all the way to her twinkling brown eyes. This was the happiest day of her entire life, and she just couldn't wait to share it with the one person in which she trusted. Whom she really looked up to, whose opinion she waited for eagerly, searching the face of her bewildered friend. Orla opened her mouth to speak, and Rose almost squealed with delight. Only letting the ravenclaw splutter a few muffled and sluggishly mumbled words, Rose exclaimed "I got my letter two years early, without having to study at all!"

Orla frowned, and Rose's heart sank, before the older girl's toothy smile returned. Perfect white teeth shining, Orla put one slender arm around Rose's shoulder and gave her a hug. Fortunately for Rose, this embrace wasn't nearly as tight as the one given earlier- and it only lasted long enough to be a light encouraging squeeze. "Wow," Orla gasped looking affectionately at her 9 year old companion "I am so...happy for you"

Rose looked up at her best friend and she saw in Orla's black soulful eyes that she really meant it. Here was someone who really cared for her. Who really wanted her to be close, to hangout with her. Someone who understood her. Hearing the whistle and thundering roar of the train as it got ready to leave, she leapt toward the train in a hurry. Only looking back at her parents long enough to give a quick wave, she boarded the train, hand in hand with the person she held most dear in her heart. She had plenty of people she liked to play and gossip with, but this was true friendship.


The train whirred and Rose's hair whipped against her back. Looking out the open window of her compartment, she sighed with happiness. She felt so peaceful and free, looking out into the empty plains and forests they passed by. Here she was, alone with Orla and her entourage of fellow students. This included Stewart Ackerley, a small boy with shoulder-length dirty-blond hair that covered wide hazel eyes that radiated fear. His sweaty hands clutched a small turtle, and he seemed to have separated himself as far as possible from Orla, who was sitting to his right. Rose didn't recognize the boy, so he must be a friend (though he didn't appear very friendly) that Orla had picked up during her first year. Orla at the moment was in deep conversation with a girl to her right. She had thick wavy copper hair, and cold gleaming silvery-blue eyes. Sporting black robes and a green and silver tie. Wincing and feeling left out, Rose realized that she was the only one in their compartment who wasn't already in uniform.

"I do hope tonight is more enjoyable than last year" Orla fretted "I mean, don't you remember?"

The other girl looked up from her phone, which she had seemed to be paying more attention to. "Yeah, yeah. Brrr… too much rain, and peeves was little help." She looked back down at her phone.

Snatching the device from her friend's hand, Orla looked at her sternly. "Will you quit it?" Orla snapped open the phone, and stared at it, eyes squinting at it's black surface "What is this any way?"

Taking back the phone, the silver-eyed girl stared at the screen intensively before looking back blankly at Orla. "A phone," she said, as if explaining to a small child "you know, press numbers, 'brrring' 'brrrring' you can talk to people?"

Orla scratched her head, but Rose knew what the girl was talking about. Her father had a landline in the living room which he used to talk to his muggle friends. She could recall Emily begging their parents for a mobile one, because she couldn't possibly write to her school friends with an owl, because "normal" non-magic folk would find it strange.

"Mafalda, if you are talking about muggle technology, for the last time it won't work anywhere with this much magic. Please don't tell me you tried to pack a big ol' 'com-pue-der' like you did last year." Orla snapped at the girl. "Just use an owl if you need to write to someone so badly. And anyway, who would you need to write to in the first place? Don't you hate your muggle mother and squib father? I mean, they seemed pretty awful when we picked you up from your house to drop you off at the station. And if you want to see a friend, then…" Orla pointed at herself with both thumbs "Just turn around"

Rose hid a smile in the sleeve of her light sweater. Orla always made her crack up. She supposed what her friend had said hadn't been exactly nice but Mafalda didn't seem bothered by the insults to her parents, she seemed to smirk, even. At the very mention of them in fact, Rose thought she heard her mutter something that her parents definitely would not approve of. "Ha ha, very funny". The slytherin said, holding up her hands in mock defeat, she seemed completely unfazed by Orla's look of triumph- but her expression did darken slightly. "But don't act like you are aware of all the people I keep tabs of. You can't expect me to use noisy vermin such as owls whenever I care to speak to people."

Rose didn't need to cover her face anymore, all sign of a grin had vanished. This didn't seem quite right to her. No one contradicted Orla. It was unheard of... yet, no one looked at Mafalda sharply, or shunned her, or gasped and fell off their seats (which was the usual response to such a thing). Orla was smiling even. This was all wrong. And worse, Rose was certain she had glanced at where Sinrose sat perched in her cage on top of all their luggage. Orla's makeup and clothes took up all the space in the upper baggage compartment so the other things people had packed and Rose sat next to it, while the others sat in the seats opposite of herself. She hadn't minded sitting by herself before, she had assumed it was because she was smallest, but she now that she thought about it...what if it was about her. Or her age opposed to her physical size. Rose blinked back tears, a wave of nausea overwhelming her.

As the group across from her continued to squeal and gossip, Rose wordlessly excused herself from the conversation. Setting her gaze to the window seal, no longer taking in the elegant sights, she felt a grave truth, finally sink in. How could, how could she have been so oblivious to all the signs. That, maybe, just… maybe, Orla didn't quite return Rose's affection. That that silver BFF charm bracelet she had gotten from her supposed friend had been- merely a simple birthday present, not a lifelong agreement of loyalty as she had taken it to be at the time.

A glimmer of gold caught her eye, and Rose's attention turned to a glimmering adornment, occupying Mafalda's left wrist. The slytherin's icy blue eyes met her own, and Rose looked down. Apparently she hadn't done this as smoothly as she had intended, because Mafalda looked down at her arm, as if she had followed the first year's gaze. Rose flinched internally as those perfectly shaded lips, curled, into a maleficent smirk. "Oh, like it? It was a gift from Orla, here. Pure gold, I might add. I do enjoy people admiring it, so by all means don't let me scare you away… I don't bite."

Rose did no such thing. Continuing to stare at her lap, she only barely heard Orla speak. "Oh, yes, well…" she shrugged, giving a sheepish smile "One can have more than one friend, I'd be lonely without… all of you."

Her words were calm, but Orla was clearly embarrassed. As her friend's cheeks turned blushed pink, Rose wondered if she truly was sorry. She should say something, even if the golden version of her precious charm bracelet was more than a little nerve racking. She had been about to open her mouth, when the compartment doors creaked open. An old women with short curly gray hair, and dark, insignificant brown eyes. Dressed in a deep red sweater dress, decorated with pale pink frills on the collar and sleeves of her outfit.

She was hunched over a cart filled with goodies much more interesting then the lady herself. Chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts Beans, Fizzing Whizbees, Acid Pops, Pumpkin Pasties, Fizzy Wizzy, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and a whole lot more. As Rose's mouth watered, she found it in herself to forgive Orla the slightest bit, especially when the ravenclaw offered to pay for the treats as a first day gift. "And anything for you dear?" the kind trolley witch asked.

Biting off the head of a still squirming chocolate frog (she had gotten a dumbledore card, which she had shoved into her pocket scowling) Rose turned to look at who the women was speaking to. Mafalda's brows furled, and her eyes narrowed, pupils almost slits. "I'll take nothing from you scum. Thank you very, not"

The older lady's face showed no sign of offense, but her hands clenched into a fist. It must have been her imagination, but Rose could have sworn that the trolley witch's fingernails seemed longer and more clawlike than before. Not looking at Mafalda the witch wished us farewell, and departed the compartment. Stewart Ackerley winced as the door slammed a little harder than necessary. He turned to Mafalda. "What's your problem, mate?" he said, meeting her cold gaze with a bravery Rose wouldn't have thought he had "Why did you go all godzilla on her like that?"

Orla snorted, and Mafalda crossed her arms- Rose just stared. "Oh, please. 'Falda here wasn't even close to getting "godzilla-like"." Orla said "However, you were a little. I don't know, mean to her. Mean I get, but that was unprovoked. Borderline cruelty, I'd say. At least get an excuse before a full on verbal assault like that."

From the look the young slytherin shot her, Rose thought Mafalda could get a lot crueler than she had just now, but she knew better than to object. Stewart, apparently, hadn't learned such things yet. "Oh, don't act all innocent. You were no better. Honestly, not one of you even asked for her name."

"Like, you did?" Orla spat back.

Apparently talking back to Orla was normal at Hogwarts. Rose put this in the back of her mind to remember...Never to do. Stewart got up, fuming. He stared down the two second years sitting beside him, and then got up. Rose scooted a bit closer to the window so he could get his bag out from the luggage beside her, and then swing his backpack on. Feet stomping along the train's floor, he turned back only once "That- is a mistake I now mean to fix." And with that, he slammed the door twice as hard as the trolley witch had done before him.

"We are sooo over, Ackerley!" Orla shouted back at him, and Rose squawked at the idea that an 11, almost 12, year-old had gone as far as to date someone.

Making up her mind, Rose shook her head. Face pale, mouth shut, she got out her bag and followed suit. She had to take a few deep breaths, and seriously rethink her choice on friends. She mumbled something about having to change into her robes, before disappearing into the hallway. This was probably the first time Orla Quirke had ever been rejected, and it had happened twice. She felt no regret, even as she saw the raven-haired second year turn to her auburn-haired companion. They were most likely discussing her and Stewart; in a not so polite fashion. Fine then, she wasn't completely alone. In fact, there was one place she could always rely on being welcomed in. Head high, bags in hand, she headed into her brother's compartment- expecting to be greeted warmly. She was deeply mistaken.