Rose looked around the great Hall. She looked at the many people scurrying around in their robes, wrapped in scarves that resembled their house, shielding them from the chilly September winds. Rose was seated next to Alice at the Ravenclaw table. They had to almost shout at each other to be able to converse, for the consistent chattering from the other students around them was loud and whiny. The sorting ceremony had already been done, and Ravenclaw had warmly welcomed a dozen of small first years. The food was served and everyone was in an explicitly good modd. Rose was partly listening to Alice's blabbering about quidditch try outs, partly thinking about the odd exchange of civility between herself and Scorpius. He had looked so handsome, smiling at her, and she had been torn between wanting to slap that smile off his face or laugh at the preposterous oddness of it all. She didn't even think about it, but suddenly her eyes had slid away from the empty plate before her to the blond, steely eyed boy at the other table. Scorpius had noticeably tried to flatten his hair on his head, with no success. It remained handsomely messy. Apart from the hair, he was an exact replica of his father, Draco Malfoy. All sharp pleasant looking angles and piercing grey eyes. Even sitting down, his tall body seemed to tower over his friends. She quickly averted her eyes from him, suddenly scared someone had noticed her staring. For Rose Weasley was no flirt, she didn't waste her time on boys much, and to be caught ogling at Scorpius Malfoy would be a scandal. A terrible fate for her reputation of fighting an ongoing war against this boy, this boy who was unlike any other. He wasn't afraid to fight her, to argue and to show off his brains. He wasn't afraid to snap at her, or embarrass her. When it came to the heat of an argument, he was livid and savage, he didn't care if she was a girl, and that was part of the reason to why she respected him. Well, it also made her resent him deeply, and she would be just as savage to him when he got on her nerves. All of the good looks, the shared grins and acts of politeness would be wiped out and she would be on the verge of attacking him in the middle of class. The memories of the hectic arguments between the two washed over her, the insults and the triumph on his face when he'd won one, and she almost broke the spoon in her hand out of fury. How could she have smiled at him today? Honestly, he was a rotten bastard who thought he knew it all. Who acted all humble and nice to people when he wanted. It was a gruesome way of winning power. She snarled and let go off the spoon, letting it clatter down on the table. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest, racing, because of the rage she felt. "Scoripus Malfoy is a real jerk." She sneered out lous, and threw a hateful glare his way. Alice stopped mid-sentence, and pursed her lips. "You haven't heard a word, have you?" she asked and glared at Rose. She didn't wait for an answer. "Daydreaming about Scorpius Malfoy, that's what you do all day. You fancying him is becoming a little obvious, the enemy act isn't really a great cover for it any more. Everyone talks about the sexual tension between you two, have you noticed?" she asked innocently. This is what Alice did best. She would ramble out a long sentence that would have you gaping – completely flabbergasted – at her. "Where have you heard that complete nonsense?" Rose spluttered, her face flushing. Sexual tension? Between her and Scorpius? She didn't know what to make of her emotional response to that, she just wanted to shove Alice's face into the chocolate pudding on her plate. "Nowhere. It's just what everyone secretly thinks, really." She grinned at her, and when Rose's face turned into a grimace of anger, she simply poked her tongue out and went back to eating her pudding. Rose sighed, exasperated, and continued eating. She looked around the great Hall, as she did before, but this time she looked at the ceiling. Her mother had told her that it was enchanted to look like a real night sky. Then her eyes drifted to the floating candles by the professors, to the professors themselves. She was tired, inaudibly exhausted, for some reason. And now, all she wanted was to go to sleep. She had a feeling she would have to put up with Alice's taunting about Scorpius for the whole year, and that did not exactly make her happy. When the meal was finally over, the prefects showed the first years to diverse common rooms, and Rose slowly trudged up the many stairs, making her way to the Ravenclaw one. She figured Alice was still a bit mad at her for not listening earlier, and that must've been why her friend had left her to walk alone. Alice was sensitive like that. As Rose sleepily massaged her forehead, she heard someone yell her name from behind. She yelped, shocked by the loud shout in the quiet hall. When she turned, she was met by Albus and Todd and James, Albus's older brother. He was one year older than Rose, and was briefly explained as a smirking, mischievous git who was up to no good. As for right now, he had that quite endearing smirk plastered across his face, staring at her. "Rosie, what are you doing here all alone?" He asked innocently. Rose narrowed her eyes at him, for she had always loathed the way he spoke to her as though she was a child. She was also a bit stunned by how he looked. With the hair messier than usual, he could be an exact copy of the earlier James Potter, who her uncle Harry was a copy of, who her cousin Albus was a copy off... She shook her head, dismissing the confusing thoughts. James did actually look a bit different from Albus and Harry, his face was more round, his chin more pointy, his eyes light brown instead of green, brown like aunt Ginny's. "Hello, James. I'm on my way to my common room, I'd be grateful if you'd all stay out of my way." Normally, she would've been curious to find out what they were up to at this late hour, but now she was so tired she could barely stand. Albus grinned, James smirked, Todd looked mildly offended. "Hey, now, Rose, tone it down. We were just-" Footsteps were heard, and James stopped talking. He whirled around, just in time to see Evelyn Ancrum walk in, glaring at all of them. Oh, no. A prefect. More specifically, a Ravenclaw prefect. Rose turned to the boys, hoping one of them would blurt out a valid excuse. But they didn't react. James looked nonchalant, like he didn't really care, Todd looked kind of anxious, and James.. James wasn't being himself. It was as though all the cockiness had been sucked out, and he was staring – with his mouth slightly open and ghostly pale – at Jenny, gracefully striding towards them. She was pretty, strawberry blonde hair and large deep green eyes. Her skin was ivory and freckle-free, and she was frowning disapprovingly at her. "Rose?" She asked, clearly shocked to see her, of all people, alone with the boys beside her. "What are you doing out this late?" She asked, and the question was directed to all of them. Everyone looked to James, who seemed to be suffocating. It took him a moment to realize that he had been chosen to answer for the group. "I'm.. I- what? Oh, uh.." he stuttered, not acting like himself at all. One hand on his Gryffindor tie, awkwardly fumbling with it, the other shoved in his pocket. His face was flushed, an odd thing if you knew James. Rose looked at James, to Evelyn, to James.. and she made the connection. Smirking, she cleared her throat. "Ahem, Todd, Albus and I are discussing an important matter about..." She nervously looked around, running out of ideas. "About...Ah! A ball that will be held this semester." She quickly said, as she had spotted a painting of a woman in a ball gown. "A.. ball?" Evelyn asked, sceptical. Rose eagerly nodded. "Yes. Professor McGonagall told us to do it tonight, but James is just disturbing." She shot him a glare, and he shot her a confused glare back. "Could you walk him back to his common room?" Rose asked and smiled sweetly, as though that would be great favour. Evelyn frowned "Surely, James can find his way..."
"Oh, but can you please?" Rose begged. "He'll just come back otherwise." A moment of silence passed. Evelyn was eyeing them all, probably not believing Rose's lies for a second. But Evelyn must've sensed that something strange was going on, so she went with it anyway. "Very well," She said and straightened up, her curls falling over her back. "James?" She nodded towards the hall to the right, a friendly smile playing on her lips. James was frozen in place, blushing and breathing hard and looking extremely uncomfortable. "Go on, then." Rose huffed and pushed him forward. His body seemed to work again, and suddenly he was walking towards Evelyn. "Hi, Evelyn." He squeaked, obviously terrified of the situation. Evelyn snorted, smiling amusedly at him "You can call me Lyn, we don't have to be so formal all of a sudden." James let out a shaky laugh, and their conversation got lower and lower as they walked away. All of the three remaining stared after them. "I can't believe it. Evelyn Ancrum, the first girl to ever put a leach on James Potter." Albus said, stunned. Rose was giggling, still staring at the hall where the pair had disappeared. "You're making him sound like some sort of untameable animal," Todd said, but he was grinning as well. "I suppose that's kind of true, though." he finished, causing Rose to giggle even more. "That was brilliant, Rose!" Albus exclaimed and beamed at her, proud of her lying. "It was." Todd agreed. "I am always brilliant," She said, blinking, realizing again how tired she was. She yawned, covering her mouth. "I really have to get some sleep. I'll you in the morn?" The two boys nodded, and parted from her. Rose quietly crept into the common room. Everyone had gone to sleep early, to prepare for the first school day. Soon she was tucked in bed, and fast asleep.
"Unacceptable!" Professor McGonagall shrieked, glaring at the late students who sleepily stumbled into the classroom. Their eyes red and their faces sullen with evident annoyance of being up so early after a long summer break. Rose was sitting at the front of the class, next to Alice, who was glaring at the messy bun of hair Rose had managed to look quite decent. It was at the back of her head, but the unruly curls fought her many headbands and still sprouted out at some places. "Why must you always wear you hair like that during school time?" she asked, pouting slightly. "I would kill for curls like those, and you go ahead and hide them!"
Rose really didn't understand how Alice could find her curls so appealing. They were so awfully messy, it was impossible to do anything nice with it. That's why she kept it fairly short, so that she could wear it in a bun. "Because it's just easier, all right?" She couldn't remember how many times she'd explained it to Alice. She just wouldn't listen, always insisting on growing it out. Then Professor McGonagall began speaking, and Rose's attention was turned to her. Professor McGonagall was an old lady, with with black hair always tied in a tight bun at the back of her head. She was dreadfully strict, but a good teacher. She had been a teacher when her parents went to Hogwarts as well, teaching Transfiguration. It was Rose's favourite subject. "Welcome back, students!" She said, her tone making everyone listen intently."I'm expecting nothing less than your full dedication for the rest of the year, as always." She sternly peered at the class before her, looking at them all through dark lashes. "We'll start with some questions to relive the last semester. Someone explain the difference between Transfiguration and Animagus transformation. " It was a basic question, surprisingly easy. Rose's hand shot up immediately, faster than the many other hands. McGonagall gestured to her, a smile tugging at her lips, but not quite showing. She had told Rose before of how much she reminded her of her mother. "Well, an Animagus can transform into an animal whenever they will, without a wand or an incantation. While Animagus transformation is an ability, Transfiguration requires spells." Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly, but was interrupted by a dark voice a little bit behind Rose. "You forgot the part where an Animagus still thinks as a human," Rose whipped her head back, glaring. Scorpius Malfoy sat leaned forward, hands clasped on the wooden table before him, looking at the Professor. "I was going to get to that part, Scorpius." Rose snapped, and lied. She really hadn't even thought of it. "My apologies, you sounded quite finished." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He knew she had indeed been done talking.
"Well I wasn't," Rose turned back to the Professor McGonagall, raking her brain for more facts about Animagus transformation and Transfiguration. "While an Animagus still thinks as a human, their feelings are much less complex in their animal form." She proclaimed proudly. Scorpius cleared his throat, and Rose turned back to face him again. This time he looked straight at her, his steely eyes sharp with intelligence. Sometimes she wondered why he hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw...
"An Animagus can also communicate with normal animals." He stated. Rose narrowed her eyes, annoyed that she hadn't said it first.
"Very good, both of you!" McGonagall praised. "Ten points to Ravenclaw and Slytherin." Whispered cheers of joy was heard from fellow Slythering and Ravenclaw students in the classroom. But Rose and Scorpius still hadn't broken eye contact. But he didn't seem to glare at her, like she did to him, he just seemed a bit dazed. After a second or two, he shook his head and looked past her, to McGonagall. The class continued normally, although there was this tension in the air between herself and Scorpius, and she was sure it was going to stay for the rest of the semester.
Walking out of class, she realized she was going to have to pass him on her way. It took him an inhumanly long amount of time to get his books in his bag, all his friends had already left, waiting for him outside the room. She tried to walk as far away from him as possible, still seething from their aggressive encounter. But somehow, with the mob of students all trying to get out, she was pressed against his chest. At first, her nostrils were filled with a heavenly scent of peppermint and a mix of musky wood and lavender. She didn't know how the fragrances went together so well, but they did. Then she looked up, and was met by those grey eyes, and almost screeched with the initial shock of being pressed up against her so called nemesis. Her so called nemesis who smelled so marvellously good. The close body contact only lasted for seconds, and then he was gone, walking away with long strides. He was gone, his body wasn't close, but the scent stayed with her all day. It annoyed the bloody life out of her, how his cologne clung to her clothes now, reminding her of his quick tongue and how he smelt. What Rose had been too stunned to notice, was how Scorpius had been looking at her for a little while longer than one normally should, astonished by how petite she was, wondering if she consciously made herself smell like fresh roses to match her name.