The first week of classes went by smoothly for Rose. It was mostly centered on introductions and a few small assignments. She was eager to get onto the more advanced stuff already, but that was no surprise to Albus when she told him. They had Dark Arts and Potions together everyday and had chosen each other as partners, which made it go by much easier, seeing as they were probably among the brightest students in their year…and best mates.

The Dark Arts teacher was Professor Montgomery, a humble looking man with glasses, favoring a dark purple and brown ensemble. They jokingly referred to him as Professor Plum, but he was likeable enough. The Potions teacher was a tall, thin, handsome woman named Horatia Saison. She was the Head of Slytherin and wore a clinging black gown. All the boys fancied her and went above and beyond in the class that most people didn't care for, simply to get her attention. The girls found this annoying, at best.

Predictably, all of the boys and many of the girls were excited to begin riding flying lessons. Classes didn't start until the next week, but it was all anyone was talking about.

Rose had never cared for Quidditch, but supported Gryffindor nonetheless. Albus was not particular to playing the sport either but he loved to watch, so he and Rose were often screaming together in the stands. The only difference now would be they were screaming for different teams.

The weekend had just begun and she found herself walking slowly from Dark Arts. She wasn't in any hurry to get back to her common room and she didn't know why. Normally she would have been sitting on her bed, already started on the assignments due Monday. 'I'm just tired I suppose…' she thought. She paused in a window over looking a courtyard where many students were gathered, enjoying the afternoon, with their uniforms loosened and untucked. The sun was starting to go down.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a golden blur dart around the corner. She whipped her head around and focused on the spot where it disappeared. Walking slowly to the corner she paused and then looked around its edge. Staring back at her was a kitten! Or what she supposed was a kitten. Knowing Hogwarts it could be anything. It looked back at her with glowing eyes and vanished into the shadows.

She knew it was dangerous to go into shadowy places but, this was a school after all…and it was an adorable little kitten, too. She got up a little courage and let her curiosity, which she normally tried to stifle outside of an academic setting, get the best of her. She took off her robe and tied it around her waist and threw her book sack around to her back. Looking around to see if anyone was watching she went forward and disappeared into the dark.

"Lumos…" she whispered, ecstatic she finally had a reason to use her wand and the spell outside of class already. After a few minutes of going in the same direction she had lost the kitten's trail. She sighed and stopped. 'I bet the sun's gone down. Bloody curfew…' she thought. Turning to go back the way she came, she collided head on with a large musty wall. She pointed her wand at it reflexively and opened her eyes to see a scraggly caretaker far past his prime and bathing date.

"You must be a Weasley by the looks of that awful ginger hair. Worthless lot, you are. What are you doing skulking around my office? I don't fancy visitors in these parts." He growled. Rose merely gawked, not knowing if she was in trouble, or even who this man could be.

"I-I'm sorry…I s-saw a kitten…and..and…" she was still sprawled on the floor, frozen to the place. She looked up to see she was in front of a door reading 'CARETAKER' and 'FILCH'.

"Oh shut it, you sniveling brat. Take 'em! Poor Mrs. Norris, my princess, burdened with these little runts." He spat. A shabby cat with bright eyes circled around his legs with three kittens in tow. He tried kicking the kits away, but careful not to harm his precious Mrs. Norris. "My office isn't technically restricted but if I catch you anywhere near here you'll wish you'd been obliterated. Tell your poncy little mates, too!"

Rose scrambled to her feet and clutched her wand tightly, eyes wide in fear of this disgusting staff member. She made to leave, but only just remembered to snag the kitten she'd been following. She snatched him up quickly, trying to keep her distance from Filch, who eyed her deadly until she broke into a run with the little cat tucked in her arms safely.

When she made it back to her common room, she smashed the portrait hole closed behind her, breathing heavily. Several students looked at her as if to say 'Did you pick a fight with some Slytherin's already?' and the rest went back to their lounging, probably used to first years looking dazed and confused by now.

"Don't mind me, I'll just go upstairs and pass out now," she murmured, a trifle indignant about the lack of concern from her comrades. Upstairs she threw off her bag and robe, finally letting the little golden ball of fur fall onto her bed. She had never made a selection at the Magical Menagerie during the family shopping trip to Diagon Alley. None of the pets in there had really caught her fancy. An owl seemed practical but she could always use a school owl. A rat or toad was out of the question…and none of the cats seemed to be particularly interested in her, or friendly for that matter.

The kitten looked around at its new surroundings and mewled at Rose, who was at eye level with him. He had bright blue eyes and golden fur. His hair would be long and soft and he might grow up to medium sized, she figured.

"So your mum is Mrs Norris. My dad mentioned her before. She's getting on in years now, I think, but she's supposed to be really smart. Are you smart?" she looked at the kitten, not expecting much of a response. It stared at her but for some reason its eyes seemed to penetrate her. She shook off the weird feeling and the eye contact was broken. He pitter pattered up to her and gently head butted her.

"You are a cat, though!" she laughed, picking him up and sitting on her bed. "What shall I call you…"

She stroked the small cat's head and was lost in thought, names running through her mind. The little lion cub was nestled in her arms when the girl who she had noticed the first few days of term appeared. Without a glance in Rose's direction, she rushed to her trunk and began rummaging through it. Rose coughed and gained the girl's attention. She was very flushed.

"Hello," she squeaked. Breathless, she went back to her search. But, as though a realization had dawned on her, she looked up and saw the kitten in Rose's arms. "I didn't know you had a pet." She said, slowly, almost in awe. She abandoned her trunk and moved very deliberately to her own bed, facing the new couple.

"I only just found him, actually! The caretaker's cat had kittens and he didn't want them. I'm still thinking of a name– " Rose began, but the kitten had left her arms and started to travel across the window sill. He lost his footing several times, to which the girls gave small squeals of alarm, but eventually found his way to the nameless girl's bed. He rubbed against her arm and then curled into a ball cozily tucked by her thigh.

"He's a cuddler!" she said, stroking him gently as he tried to fall asleep. "He's golden like a little Nemaean lion," she cooed. "I've never had pets before…"

Rose smiled, "A lion, eh? Leolin it is then! Welsh, I think."

The girl blushed, seemingly charmed that Rose was allowing her to stroke the kitten, let alone have a hand in naming him. She straightened up and gathered herself. She hadn't any friends yet, probably because she was so shy and awkward.

"I'm Cornelia. Cornelia Cresswell. Sorry I've been so stand off-ish," she said, extending her arm.

"Rose Weasley, but you already knew that." She said, taking her arm in a simple handshake. Cornelia smiled pleasantly. She was a bit shorter than average, flowing brown hair to her waist, and slightly chubby with freckles. She favored a simple red headband. Rose found her to be adorable.

"Weren't you looking for something?" Rose said, not likely to ignore the original reason Cornelia had entered the room in a hurry.

"Oh, it's not important…" she said, never taking her eyes off Leolin, whom had curled up in her lap now. She shuffled to move her feet onto the bed, adoring the little golden tomcat. Rose shrugged and started rooting around in her trunk, until she found her nightclothes. It was around 9 o'clock at night and her eyes were getting heavier with each passing moment.

Suddenly, a tapping on the window caused both girls and kitten to jump violently. Rose whipped around to the window between their beds, where a ruddy owl with blazing yellow eyes was peering at her earnestly through the mottled glass. She took a deep breath, composing herself. She definitely wasn't tired anymore. She opened the window cautiously, well aware that owls could be a bit…peckish.

As soon as the window was slightly cracked, the owl barged its way in, obviously very frustrated with the girl's slow response. He was in quite a hurry, apparently. He stuck his leg out straight away, where a letter addressed to Rose awaited her. She grabbed it quickly, accidently yanking the birds leg a bit. He huffed at her, annoyed. Rose grabbed a bit of owl treat out of her side table. Her father had told her it was customary and polite to treat the messengers. The purposeful owl took the treat hastily and waited.

She was at a bit of a loss. Surely her parents knew better then to send owls so late to school, but then again, she didn't recognize this owl as one of the family. As was usual, a small jolt of distress hit her. 'Calm down, Rose. You're always thinking the worst,' she chided herself. Cornelia tore her focus from Leolin and raised a brow in question.

Rose finally opened the folded letter that looked like it was from a piece of school parchment. Scrawled very boy-like across was Franklyn's long awaited note. Rose smiled and read…

Hey, it's Frank. Don't mind my owl he's all work and no play!

Sorry it took so long to get an owl out but the first week's been a big blur for me.

How has it been for you? Well, I hope.

Sorry this note's so short, but hopefully we'll get to know each other better.

Sadly, we only have Transfiguration together. Partners maybe?

Anyway, I sincerely hope you write back.

Frank

An amazing feeling was welling up inside of her. She held the letter to her chest and sat on her bed, euphoric. Cornelia smirked at her, knowing from her reaction that it was a boy causing all these smiles. The ruddy owl fluffed up with frustration and clucked at Rose.

"Oh, right!" she breathed, scrambling for some parchment and a quill. Dipping the end into her ever ready ink well that stayed by her bedside, she wrote a hasty reply and attached it to the haughty bird. Her response was something like yes, fine, lovely and a resounding YES to the partners idea. The bird was out the window in an instant, and Rose was glad of it. He was quite rude, for a bird.

Leolin had been extremely distressed at the sight of the huge bird's arrival, and only as it departed did his fur begin to lay flat again. The girls laughed and Cornelia petted him until all his wee claws were back where they belonged. She didn't bug Rose for information, but didn't hold back her knowing look and wink of approval. Rose blushed and went back to putting on her nightclothes. Finally, around ten, both girls were ready for bed and little Leolin was already snuggled down into one of Cornelia's pillows.

"He really likes you, Cornelia," said Rose, snuggling down into her red eiderdown.

"Oh, I didn't even ask! It's ok if he sleeps with me tonight?" she questioned, looking far too troubled at the notion of not asking permission.

"Of course, silly! What are friends for?" she smiled, and turned out her light, as did Cornelia. Both fell into an easy sleep.