Rose and Hugo Weasley
It was expected of her, and everyone knew it. Rose Weasley was meant to get Head Girl. The badge practically had her name written all over it. Ever since the day she had first boarded the train as an eleven year old, everyone around her had smiled, saying, "You'll be Head Girl, sweetie, just wait and see."
Rose's fingers were trembling as she fingered the envelope. Her letter. It would contain her book list for her seventh year at Hogwarts. And, if things went to plan it would also hold small badge reading Head Girl.
Three eager pairs of eyes were following her every move. Both her parents were watching, and Rose could almost picture their disappointment if she didn't get the badge. That precious, precious badge. Without the badge, I will fail them as a daughter, Rose thought gravely. Her little brother, Hugo, was watching with a bored expression, as he niftily opened his envelope, his eyes immediately skimming over his timetable. He let out a few grumbles, before being silenced by his parents.
"Well, Rosie?" Hermione edged her daughter on. "Aren't you going to open yours?"
"Yes, Mum," Rose answered uncertainly, still fingering the envelope nervously. She bit her lip, as she tore the paper open. She tipped the envelope upside down on the bench top, squeezing her eyes shut and praying silently for the sound of the badge clattering on the table to sound.
It never sounded. The only sound in the room was the soft, but stifled, gasp that had come from Hermione's mouth when she had realized the unreal. Rose Weasley was not Head Girl.
"We'll go to Diagon Alley tomorrow," Ron said stiffly, trying to cover up for his wife's discomfort.
Rose nodded silently. There was no point in replying with words. She felt quite certain that if she did open her mouth, she would start crying and apologizing all at once. So instead of risking the potentially embarrassing threat, Rose retreated to her room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Rose collapsed onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow. Why, oh why hadn't she gotten Head Girl? It would have mad her parents so proud. Oh, shut up, she thought to herself. They love you all the same.
A gentle knocking at the door shook Rose from her thoughts.
"Come in," she called, lifting her face from the pillow for a few moments to see who had entered the room. Seeing the form of her little brother, she sighed in relief. She didn't think she could take seeing either of her parents right now.
"Are you okay?" Hugo asked, almost timidly from the doorway.
"Of course I am," Rose tried to force a smile onto her face. She was the older one. She was meant to be the stronger one. If she was a failure as a daughter, she was at least going to be a decent older sister.
"No you're not," Hugo rolled his eyes, sitting down on her chair, casting an eye over the papers that were sprawled across her desktop. "It doesn't matter, you know."
"Head Girl?" Rose spat in disgust. "Maybe not to you, but you know Mum was expecting it. Dad was expecting it. Everyone was expecting it."
"I wasn't," he said simply, causing her jaw to drop in shock. "No offense, Rose, but I always thought that Penny would beat you at it."
Rose immediately thought of the brunette girl in Ravenclaw, agreeing with her brother after a few moments. Penny would be a good choice for Head Girl, whether Rose liked it or not. She wouldn't be surprised if Penny was Head Girl; she had been a popular choice.
"I suppose you're right," Rose nodded. "I don't think Mum and Dad will be too impressed with that answer though."
"I honestly don't think they care," Hugo said, shrugging.
Rose rolled her eyes, wishing that it were true.
"Really," Hugo insisted. "All they've ever wanted was to have the spotlight removed from them. What better way than to have a perfectly normal, non-Head Girl, daughter?"
Rose contemplated the thought for a moment, although already thinking that it wasn't really true. She knew they wanted her to get Head Girl, and the feeling that she had let them down wouldn't escape her. Still, she hugged her little brother fiercely.
"Thank you," she whispered into his ear. Hey, he had tried, hadn't he?