Chapter Thirteen

Rose meets Arabella

"There you are Rose," her dad waved at her as she walked through the barrier between platforms nine and ten at Kings Cross Station. She noted she was the last of her cousins to reach the assembled Potter/Weasley group Neville, Lavender and Alizia where stood with her Aunt and Uncle.

"I'll see you Rose," Max waved as he headed towards the exit of the train station.

"Bye Max."

"Something you want to tell us Rose?" Her Uncle George said trying to keep a straight face.

"No," she replied sternly. The journey from Kings Cross Station was rather slow. Instead of using magical means they were driving in her parent's car. For some reason Rose couldn't quite fathom her mum had let her dad drive. The journey was quiet her mother asked her and Hugo the usual questions that were all answered with a "yes" or "no". Before she gave up saying Hogwarts had obviously got more boring since they'd left.

"And aren't you glad?" Ron asked surprised "devils snare, dementors and death eaters."

"Yes I suppose so," she smiled. The car came to a stop and Rose had assumed her father had stalled the car again but looking up from her book out the window she realized they were at home. The small troupe made its way into the townhouse that they called their home.

"Rose?" Her mother asked in a much more serious tone than she had used in the car "can I have a word?"

"Yes,"

"I hear you told Professor Longbottom not to let Abi go to that dance thing she is going to,"

"Yes," Rose asked cautiously uncertain where this was going.

"Rose Professor Longbottom can let his children do what they want."

"Mum she's going to be bullied why would Marcy only invite one Gryffindor?"

"Rose that is Professor Longbottom's decision,"

"Mum-"

"Do you think this is going to make Christmas easy when you are sat at lunch with him and he knows you've criticized his parenting?"

"Mum-"

"Rose Weasley I am going to have to ground you,"

"Ground me? I am seventeen."

"I don't care how old you are you are grounded and you're apologizing to Neville."

"Mum-"

"Rose I'm not finished that grounding starts now and you will not write to any of your friends including Lily and Marianna." In the perfect impersonation of a teenager Rose stormed upstairs and slammed her bedroom door behind her. The door was opened just moments later but she didn't look up from her desk.

"Mum for once let me play the stroppy teenager,"

"It's not mum it's me," Hugo replied.

"Come to gloat?"

"No I was going to say if you wanted to send a letter you can use Francis when he comes back."

"Thanks Hugo,"

"Do you really think she is in trouble?" Hugo asked.

"Abi?"

"Yes"

"I don't know something tells me she is. It's probably stupid,"

"So stupid you got grounded for?"

Christmas was still a mostly happy affair. Rose gave a slightly unconvincing apology to Professor Longbottom and his wife. They accepted nevertheless and a cloud was lifted on the Christmas celebrations.

"How is revision going?" Her Uncle Harry asked her at one the families many Christmas dinners.

"Brilliant as I don't leave my room except for meals."

"You sound like your dad," Rose looked up at her uncle questioningly bar her hair it was a rare comparison

"Well not wanting to do revision normally Rose Weasley loves revision."

"Well it gets boring after six days."

"Six days harsh is your mum going to let you come see Puddlemere and the Cannons on Boxing Day? Your dad got free tickets."

"I doubt it,"

"James do you really have to eat the chocolates I am serving dinner in a moment." Ginny Potter said exasperatedly at her eldest son and Harry excused himself.

"Budge up," Lily said taking her father's place on the sofa. "How come you haven't written? I thought you'd want to go to Diagon Alley."

"Mum has grounded me,"

"How old does she think you are twelve?"

"Exactly what I said."

"So no Quidditch?"

"Probably."

Missing that particular treat was not the end of the world for Rose. She liked Quidditch but she knew this would not hurt her as hard as it would Al, Hugo or Lily. Still she acknowledged to herself the four walls of her bedroom were becoming rather dull.

"Rose?" Her mum asked after her brother and dad had left for the game. "Do you want to go out?" Rose jumped off her bed and down the stairs in record time. "Really that enthusiastic?" Hermione asked, "We aren't going anywhere that exciting I have some research to do."

Hermione was writing a book on aristocratic families. Ron hadn't been keen on the idea but Hermione claimed that the old families held a lot of information on magical history.

Thirty minutes later Rose had to admit her mother had been right. She was sat in the kitchen at the Boot family house. It turned out Terry had been at school with her mum and seemed to take more interest in their school days than she did.

"So that time when you guys got the philosophers stone was there really a three-headed dog?"

"Yes, Terry you said you had a copy of Walderins ancient families,"

"I do somewhere it," took Hermione another twenty minutes to get a copy of the book off Terry.

"Where are we heading next?" Hermione looked at her notes.

"Just one more I might be there awhile though they have an extensive library." When Rose and Hermione apparated in front of the large house Rose was certain she knew who lived here.

"Mum is this Malfoy Manor?"

"Yes why?"

"It's just can't we come back another day?"

"Sorry I need to get my research done, believe me," she said in a quieter voice "I don't like being here either". The driveway leading up to Malfoy Manor began at its lowest point before continuing up towards the house.

The large door that led up to the manor proper was rather intimidating. It was at least twice the height of a normal door with a grand silver knocker in the shape of a serpent that Rose could have sworn hissed at her. The door was opened by a tiny house elf.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes I am Hermione Weasley and this is my daughter Rose. I have an appointment with Scorpius Malfoy to view the library for research."

"Yes Master told Bobby this morning but Master is away. Bobby would be happy to show Miss to the library."

"Thank you Bobby that would be most helpful." Hermione smiled.

"I can also show Miss Rose around the house."

"That would be lovely Bobby," Hermione beamed at the house elf Rose smiled too she knew her mothers weakness for house elf rights.

"This is the grand hall Miss," Bobby indicated to Rose as they entered a room almost the size of the Hogwarts Great Hall. The Walls from floor to ceiling where covered in mirrors walking the room at first appear as though it went on forever. A large chandelier hung in the middle of the large room. "Miss Bobby is afraid Bobby must answer the door miss."

"That's fine Bobby," Rose smiled "I will stay here". As Bobby faded out of existence Rose stepped onto the dance floor and saw a hundred ghost images around her of dancers long gone. "Even the music is perfect," she thought then opened her eyes but the music continued. "That's not in my head," she thought and as the faint twinkling of a piano being played expertly far away rung through the hall. Despite her promise to Bobby she found herself moving up the grand staircase to the upper floor.

The sound grew louder and Rose followed it to the very last door on a long corridor. The door was slightly ajar and Rose was able to see a slight blonde haired girl playing a piano. She was sure she recognized the girl as Scorpius' little sister Arabella, a fifth year Ravenclaw. She was about to open the door when Arabella stopped suddenly jumping up from her seat.

"Brother?"

"Brother?" Thought Rose she knew she should move but she couldn't she heard muffled voices and Scorpius Malfoy's back came into her view as he hugged his sister.

"Rose?" A voice asked suddenly and the door was flung open and Rose found herself stood at the door was it was flung wide open.

"I am so sorry," she said hurriedly "my mother is researching downstairs and Bobby was showing me around I heard your sister's playing and got distracted I really didn't mean to intrude."

"No it's fine," Scorpius smiled at her "I understand Arabella's music can be distracting."

"Yes,"

"Only because I have a beautiful piano to play on," Arabella smiled "Scorpius bought it for me."

"It is beautiful," Rose agreed "but you are a great pianist too."

"Rose," Hermione shouted down the corridor "there you are. Hello you must be Scorpius I am Hermione Weasley thank you so much for allowing me to use your library. I really appreciate it."

"No it's fine I loved your new rendition of Hogwarts: a history."

"Thank you," Hermione smiled "well Mr. Malfoy we won't detain you anymore I am finished."

"Really?" Rose asked.

"Yes I'm afraid it's back to one room," Scorpius raised an eyebrow confused at her.

"I'm grounded," clarified Rose and Scorpius smiled.

"At your age what did you do?" Rose gave him a look that said please don't bring it up. Fortunately Scorpius didn't.

"Goodbye Scorpius, Arabella." Hermione smiled.

"Bye." Rose added.

"I thought you said he could be cold?" Hermione asked as they left the manor "I thought he was quite civil."

"Yes Rose turned to look at the house "I guess he was."