Surprisingly, she found out she was one of the top students in all the classes. She had expected most of the surrounding students to know more then her. The teachers took an immediate liking to her as soon as they discovered her talents (and simultaneously discovered she was the only one to raise her hand in class)
"Your mother would be proud," told Professor Mcgonagall to Rose when Rose had managed to turn a a match into a pointed, silver needle in Transfiguration. Rose flushed with pride.
Albus's worst subject easily became History of magic.
"It's boring," he groaned as they sat down for lunch. "All he does is drone on and on about pointless events!"
"You can learn a lot, really," said Rose, piling chicken, peas and potatoes onto her plate. Albus looked at her in disbelief.
"So, got any letters from home yet?" she asked. Albus nodded.
"Yeah, mum and dad sent me one. They said they'd send one every week."
"I sent one yesterday," said Rose as she chewed on her food. "Should be expecting mail today or tomorrow."
"Hey," said someone behind her and she turned around to see James slip into a seat next to her.
"Hi," she said brightly. "What was you lesson today?"
"Potions," said James, grimacing. He looked around, then leaned in. "Al, come nearer, I have something to tell you."
Albus moved a little closer, just enough to catch what James said.
"Listen," said James in a low voice. "You know Malfoy?"
"Yeah," said Rose and James in unison. Rose's heart sank because she knew what James was going to say next.
"Stay away from him."
"Why?" asked Albus angrily.
"Stay away from him if you know what's good for you," said James, his bright brown eyes flashing angrily. "I'm serious, Al, he's going to get you into trouble."
"He's a good person," interrupted Rose. "And how can you be so judgmental? You don't know him!"
"I know enough about his father to know about him," said James. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree..."
"I think Scorpious got sorted into Gryffindor for a reason, James," said Albus harshly. James, seeing they were going to be stubborn about this, sighed loudly then stood up.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he said and walked off to join his friends.
"Honestly," sighed Rose, picking at her peas. "Could you get more mean?"
"Oh, well, I have something that would brighten your day," said Albus with a smile.
"Oh yeah?" asked Rose.
"Yeah," said Albus. He held up his timetable. "We have quidditch next."
"That's a good thing?" groaned Rose. She had always had a fear of riding a broomstick. She had firmly said no when her father asked her to go on a quick ride with him in their backyard, and she knew that she would probably be rubbish on a broom, anyway.
"Now, I would like everyone to step up next to their broom," barked Madam Hooch, a tough as nails quidditch teacher with greying hair and hawk yellow eyes. "Quickly!" she barked. There was a great scramble as everyone stepped up next to quite depleted broomsticks.
"Now, hold your right hand over your broom and say up!" Rose looked down at her broom.
"UP!" she yelled. The brromstick immediately flew into her hand. Rose was delighted. She looked around and saw Albus's had flown staright into his hand, so did Scorpious's. Many others around them, however, were still firmly yelling "UP!" Madam Hooch looked approvingly at Rose when she saw she had mastered the technique.
"Atta girl," she said. Rose felt like a dog. Madam Hooch looked deploringly at the ones who hadn't managed to do the trick.
Around five minutes later, the whole class had managed to finally grab hold of their brooms as it soared up to meet them.
"And now," said Madam Hooch. "Mount your brooms." Rose, shaking slightly, gripped hard onto her broom. Swinging her leg over the other side, she sat on it.
"On the count of three, you are going to kick hard off the ground, hover for a moment, then lean forward slightly, and touch back down." Rose looked anxiously at Albus, who unlike Rose, was experienced in the art of riding a broomstick. He gave her a small smile that said 'It's going to be fine' Her breathing calmed down a bit, but she couldn't rid herself of the feeling.
"On my whistle," said Madam Hooch. "Three...two...one!" At the sound of the shrill whistle, Rose kicked off the ground hard. And rose up. She gave a small squeal and gripped her broomstick harder. She looked down and a feeling of elation swept through her. She was flying! Well, not flying, but still, she was off the ground. She looked around at Albus and grinned at him. She saw Scorpious leaning back on his broomstick, looking quite bored as if he had done this a thoasand times before. Which, he probably had, since his father was a seeker and must have taught him some moves.
"Lean forward and touch back down!" came Madam Hooch's voice sharply through the cool breeze. Rose leaned forward and her broom neatly shot down. She got off and then ran to Albus screaming, "I did it, I did it!" Madam Hooch shot a rare smile at her.