Star-Crossed Rivals

Rose and Scorpius were destined to hate each other. She was a Weasley, he was a Malfoy. Children of the longest-rivalling families in the Wizarding World. And when they're both at Hogwarts, it's bound to lead to chaos. Right? Definitely. And when both are sorted into their family houses, it's the same old story - Gryffindor vs Slytherin. But with Rose and Scorpius involved, things can never be so normal.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. If I did, I would be rich and famous and blonde, meeting famous people. But sadly, it wasn't to be.

Chapter Two: Getting To Know Your Fellow Housemates

"I'm Rose Weasley."

"Alice Longbottom."

"My name's Rochelle Finnegan."
"And I'm Alexis Thomas."

The remaining first year Gryffindor smiled at them, pushing her layered fringe out of her face, to reveal her yellowy-hazel eyes. "Annabel Clarke," she said, a cheeky grin on her face as she shook their hands. "It's great to meet you guys!"

Rose, the unofficial leader of the group of friends beamed at her. "So, where are you from, Annabel?" Annabel paused, stopping to swallow her mouthful of spaghetti. "I'm from Chicago, in the States. Where are you guys from? Here?"

The friends nodded, then thought it over and shook their heads. "We're all from Britain, and see each other regularly," Alice began, looking over at Rochelle to finish. "We're from different towns, y'see?" Alexis nodded firmly. "I'm from Godric's Hollow, like Rose. It's in the west of England. And Alice lives in Hogsmeade, a bit away from here –"

"Her parents own The Three Broomsticks!" Rochelle chipped in. "It's a pub in Hogsmeade. Sadly, we aren't allowed there until third year." "And Rochelle's from Tinworth, in Cornwall," Alexis finished. Annabel nodded. "But you've been friends for years? How?"

"Our parents," Rose explained, before sipping at her pumpkin juice. "They were in the same year at Hogwarts. They shared a dormitory." Alice nodded, and began counting them off on her fingers. "Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas... and Albus' dad, Harry Potter." Annabel's eyes followed Alice's fingers, and she glanced in shock at the jet-haired boy next to Rose, then at the girls she'd just met.

"You're the children of them?!" she squeaked, looking as if she were going to faint. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! Your parents helped defeat You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters! WOW!" Rose sighed, as people at other tables began to stare in awe. "Please don't make a big deal out of it," Alexis whispered. "We don't want to be known for what our parents did. Sure, we're pretty darn proud of them – but we want people to know us for who we are, not for who our parents are."

Annabel winced and nodded. "Yes, totally. I'm so sorry. Ignore what I just said." Rochelle smiled warmly at her. "It's okay. We're used to it by now. And you didn't know how we felt anyway. For all you knew, we could be snobby glory-hogs." Annabel laughed and shook her head. "Nah, you guys are much too nice to be glory-hogs."

They all smiled widely at her. "So tell us about you, Annabel," Rose said, her voice silky-smooth. "Do you have any family here?"

"Here? As in England or Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts. And England, I s'pose."

"No to both. All my family are in the States. It's gonna be tough without them, you know. And I'm a Muggleborn."

"Really?!" Alice gasped. She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and leaned in. "You don't seem like a Muggleborn, I mean. You know about You-Know-Who."

Annabel shrugged. "Well, I discovered I was magic when I was five years old. I was at my friend Gaby's house, and I got really mad because we'd missed our favourite show. So I stared angrily at the television, and it set on fire..."

"Wow!"
"Seriously?!"
"Oh my gosh!"
"What happened?!"

"Well, after I got over the shock, Gaby's mum asked me to do what I'd done again. So I did. And it turned out, Gaby's whole family were wizards. And they told me I was too. They explained it to my parents – and explained lots to me. Lots about the Wizarding World, lots about the Wars – and lots about your parents too."

"Gabriella Applebee?" Alexis asked, staring at the blonde-haired girl sitting at the Hufflepuff table. Annabel nodded and waved as Gabriella looked up. Gabriella waved back at her before smiling at the other Gryffindor girls and resuming eating her food.

"But have you heard of Quidditch?" Rose pestered, a huge grin on her face. Her friends laughed fondly. "Rose is the biggest Quidditch fan ever possible. She lives and breathes Quidditch. Sometimes, I'd say she loves it as much as reading!" Alice chuckled, good-naturedly chucking a bread roll at her redheaded friend.

Rose caught it with her amazing Quidditch player reflexes and winked at Annabel jokingly. Annabel laughed as Rose began eating the bread roll. "I don't play Quidditch, but I do support a few teams." Rose's head shot up. "Which teams?"

"Um... well, I'm a big fan of the Fitchburg Finches."

"Really? Wow, I love them too!"
"Are they your fave North American team or what?"
"You bet! Much better than the Sweetwater All-Stars!"
"And don't even get me started on those Canadian teams."
"Exactly! What about other teams?"

"I don't like any of the African regional teams."
"Same! Or the South American ones, or the African and Australian ones."

"Exactly! Why do people support them?"

"You bet! What about British teams? Are there any you like?"

"Well, I love the Holyhead Harpies."
"Yes! Go girl power!"

"Your Aunt Ginny played for them didn't she?"

"Yep! I was so proud when I found out!"
"I read somewhere that your whole family supported the Cannons?"

"Our whole family? Nah. Only dad, my brother and our uncles."

"That's good. They haven't won a game in years."

"I know. Uncle Harry says they'd have to replace the whole team for a chance to win."
"They would too."

"Can we please stop the Quidditch conversation?" Rochelle sighed, playing with a ringlet. "I mean, I know you guys love them and stuff, but it's soooo annoying for the rest of us." "Yeah!" Alice agreed, nodding her head. "And Rose, you're a better player than half of those professionals any day." Rose blushed and shook her head shyly. "No way, Alice," she said modestly. "I'd get kicked to the curb by those Harpie girls."

"You could beat them easily!" Rochelle giggled, giving her friend a playful shove. She turned to face Annabel, a smile on her pretty face. "Rose is the best Quidditch player ever." "And she's smart," Alice pitched in.

"And totally nice."
"Yes, totally nice."

"I bet she could sit her OWLs and NEWTs now and pass them."

"With Os!"

"Oh, yes. With Os."

"She read her first book when she was three."
"And it was a classic!"
"A Muggle classic!"

"Little Women."
"I remember Rose used to get really into it, and she'd pretend to be Jo."

"She is really like Jo."

"Yes, I s'pose. Both are smart, tomboyish..."

"But they're very pretty."

"Oh, yes. Annoyingly pretty. Such a shame as they don't even care about their looks."
"I'd be Amy. Vain."
"But Amy's pretty. And so are you, Roch. And you aren't that vain."

"I am!"
"Maybe... a bit. But Amy has a good heart, like you."
"Thanks, Alice. You'd make a good Beth."

"Why Beth?"

"Sweet, caring, understanding. Basically the peacemaker."

"Aw! You think?"

"You bet."

"It leaves Meg for Alexis."
"Well, she is the oldest."

"And the wisest."

"And the prettiest."
"Yes, that's true."

As Alice and Rochelle burbled off topic, Rose laughed fondly at them. Alexis rolled her eyes jokingly and Annabel clutched her sides laughing. "Look at those drama queens go!" Alexis said, smirking. She turned to Annabel. "You will eventually get used to their ways. It just takes a bit of time, I guess." "I bet!" Annabel giggled in response.

"Oh, and these are our other friends," Rose said, pointing to her cousin Albus and his friends. "Annabel, I'd like you to meet my cousin Albus Potter, Lorcan and Lysander Scamander and Alice's brother Frank Longbottom." The boys looked up from their food and waved at the American girl. Soon enough, the seven of them were engaged in a conversation about the States, leaving Alice and Rochelle still talking about Little Women.

Ethan looked over at the Gryffindor table longingly. Rose sat there, talking and laughing with her new housemates. They all seemed nice. Much nicer than the Slytherins.

"Well, boys," Angelo Zabini declared, a big grin on his face. "We made it to Slytherin!" The platinum-haired boy next to Ethan smiled impishly. "Slumming in the Slytherin Dungeons, like our fathers before us!" "And our grandfathers!" the chubby boy across Ethan cheered.

"Zabini, Malfoy and Goyle – together again!"
"Hey, why is it Zabini, Malfoy and Goyle?!"

"Because it's in order of good looks, mate."

"Oi!"
"Well, it's true."

"I'm a Greek God, Scorpius is a bit... eh. And you, Vince? You're... well..."
"Wanna say that again, Zabini boy?"
"Bring it on, tubby!"

Angelo chucked a bread roll at Vincent who he caught it with his mouth, causing the two to burst out laughing. The fifth remaining Slytherin boy smiled weakly, catching Angelo's attention. "What's your name, kid?" Angelo asked, nodding at the boy. "Gino Valentini," the boy replied proudly. "You're Italian too, right? Zabini?"

"Angelo Zabini," Angelo said, grinning once he realised this boy was Italian. "Yeah, I'm Italian." And instantly, the two Italians started a conversation about everything Italian. Italian brooms, Italian girls, Italian cars, Italian food, Italian beaches – even Italian schools.

The platinum-blonde haired boy rolled his eyes and looked in Ethan's direction, a polite smile on his face. "I'm Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy," he said, holding out his hand for the American boy to shake. Ethan looked down at his hand, a scowl on his face. Realising Ethan wasn't going to shake his hand, Scorpius put it down awkwardly. "What's your name?"

"I'm Ethan. Ethan Williams," the American boy replied coldly. Scorpius raised his eyebrows at the boy's cold tone. "And don't bother introducing yourself. I know who you are, Malfoy." Scorpius looked down at his lap. People always judged him for his surname. But this boy had seemed genuinely nice. Scorpius had no idea what this kid's problem was.

"Um... where are you from... Ethan?" he asked politely. Sure, this kid had just insulted him, kinda, but he still wanted to get along with his housemate. A slightly cheeky smile curved on Ethan's lips. "I'm from the States. And I'm a Muggleborn."

Gasps came from all around the Slytherin table, and hearing this, Rose spun around and gave Ethan a thumbs-up. He smiled back at her.

Well, at least he had one friend at Hogwarts.

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