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 Five: Second Year – Learning How to Hex

"Students, I want you to welcome a very good friend of mine from our Hogwarts days! Please show your appreciation for the Auror – Dean Thomas!"

The second-year students clapped for their visitor but Alexis Thomas hid her face. "How could Dad do this to me?!" she squealed to Rose, beside her. "He knows I'm in this class and in this year! How could he do this?!"

Rose giggled and nudged her friend as her dad looked over in their direction. "Welcome to the World of Rose Weasley." "And Albus Potter!" Albus called cheekily from behind them. The two girls laughed and shushed him as Alexis' father began to speak.

"I'd like you all to know what an honour it is for me to be back here, in Hogwarts. I am a Muggleborn – so all of this was just... amazing to me. It still is now. Some nights I'm afraid to go to sleep, because I'm scared this was all a dream. Looking back at my life at Hogwarts... I would do it all again. I love Hogwarts. I'd spend my holidays pining for this school and when I'd get back, I would joke around with my friends: Ron, Harry, Seamus and Neville."

All eyes in the room turned to Rose, Albus, Rochelle and Alice – the children of Dean Thomas' Hogwarts friends. Rose and Albus were used to having attention put on them, so they merely ignored the looks people were giving them and proceeded to look at their 'Uncle' Dean. Rochelle was Dean's goddaughter, but she wasn't used to having this much attention. She looked down at her lap flushing. And Alice? Shy Alice? She went bright red and played with her blonde hair.

As Dean Thomas continued talking, attention was eventually taken off of the four. He told the second-year students of his life at Hogwarts: how he and his dorm mates would stay up and talk about the Wizarding World, how he was always vying for top of the year with Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy (though, he added, Hermione always had it nipped in the bud), the fear that came with Voldemort's return...

"It was in our fourth year when he came back. It was the Triwizard Tournament," he declared. He turned to Albus and Rose. "I'm sure you've heard quite a bit about the Tournament. It really did change your parents' lives forever." Rose and Albus nodded. "It was in the graveyard, wasn't it?" Rose piped up, turning her head to the side and shivering as she remembered the story. "Voldemort came back in the graveyard."

Dean Thomas nodded. "Indeed, Rose, it was. Now, I don't know full details of what happened, after all, I wasn't there myself... but would you like to tell everyone what happened?" Rose looked down at her lap and began talking.

"It was the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. A maze. Uncle Harry, Aunt Fleur, Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum were the competitors. It was very dark in there, Uncle Harry said, very dark. And there were creatures of all sorts in there too." The young girl paused, looking up at her 'uncle', as if asking permission to continue. When he nodded, she continued telling the tale.

"Uncle Harry found our Aunt Fleur on the floor, unconscious. He sent red sparks in the air using his wand, so she was to be let out. Then he continued on. It turned out Viktor Krum had been possessed or something... so he was the one who'd attacked Aunt Fleur. It was only Uncle Harry and Cedric Diggory left. Both ran for the cup, when Cedric was attacked. Uncle Harry saved him, so Cedric told him to get the cup – he was the rightful winner..."

Albus, seeing his cousin was getting out of breath, but had the second-years completely gripped, continued for her. "But Dad suggested they both grab the cup at the same time. And when they did, they were transported to a graveyard. It turned out that the cup had been made into a Portkey."

Gasps went through the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom. Even the Slytherins, who usually made fun of Rose and Albus when they were telling a story like this, were transfixed. "And then Peter Pettigrew, or Wormtail, 'the betrayer', came from the shadows and killed Cedric Diggory."

"NO!"

"SERIOUSLY?!"

"MERLIN!"

"WOW!"

"Why was Wormtail 'the betrayer'?"

"He was Albus' grandfather's friend at school. James Potter the first. When Voldemort came after Uncle Harry, he was the Secret-Keeper. He was the only one who knew where the Potter house was. He betrayed Uncle Harry and his parents to Voldemort," Rose declared, rather shakily.

Gasps once again went through the room, but Rose continued. "But everyone had thought the Secret-Keeper was Sirius Black, another friend of James Potter. But Sirius knew it'd been Peter, and came after him. Everyone thought Peter had died, so Sirius was jailed. But in their third year, when James Potter's final friend, Remus Lupin, came to teach at the school, and Sirius Black escaped Azkaban; Uncle Harry discovered that Peter had simply transformed into his Animagus state."

"WOW!"
"WICKED!"
"TELL US MORE!"

Dean Thomas smiled at the keenness of the second-years, but shook his head. "Sadly, we don't have time for more. But after Cedric died, Voldemort was brought back to life. Harry escaped, grabbing Cedric and the cup. But the summer after was very hard for Harry. No one believed Voldemort had truly come back. Even our friend Seamus doubted him."

"THAT'S STUPID!"

"OH MY GOSH!"

"POOR HARRY!"

Dean nodded. "The school year after was ghastly. We now had the Ministry under our noses. Professor Umbridge was our Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher." He turned to Professor Corner. "She was awful, wasn't she, Cho?"

Professor Corner nodded, scrunching up her nose. "So Hermione Granger, Rose's mother, suggested he teach us fifth-years. It was OWL year! And Umbridge wasn't letting us do any practical. All it was, was silent reading all year."

"And thus, Harry started 'Dumbledore's Army'. It was a group of us, not just fifth-years, but quite a lot of Harry's friends, and Harry would teach us jinxes and hexes in secret," Dean finished, smiling at the second-years.

"That's wicked!"

"Wow!"

"Can we do that?!"

Professor Corner laughed. "So you think I'm a rubbish teacher? Is it time for me to hand in my notice?" The second-years squealed.

"NO, PROFESSOR CORNER!"

"WE DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT, WE SWEAR!"

"I know you didn't," the raven-haired Professor laughed, tossing her hair back. "It was just a pretty cool experience. Sneaking behind the teacher's backs..." "Until Marietta handed us in," Dean added rather coldly. The second-years watched their Professor's cheeks flush red. "Don't bring that up, Dean. She's not my friend anymore. I realised she was just using me in our final year."

Dean patted her shoulder. "It's alright, Cho. Sorry." He turned to the second-years, a grin on his rather handsome face. "Now, who'd like to learn some hexes?"

"Rose's flying always manages to make me feel peaceful," Lorcan said softly, watching as his redheaded friend soared around the Quidditch pitch on her broom, laughing. His twin brother laughed and nudged him. "Since Al joined the team this year, I've began watching him. Rose's flying is way too fast. Al is slower, therefore more calming."

Alice, Annabel and Frank nodded in agreement. Alexis and Rochelle laughed. "I love watching Rose," Rochelle giggled. "Her flying is so spontaneous and swift!" Alexis nodded and leaned forward to high-five her friend when something caught her eye. "What are the Slytherins doing here?!"

The remaining six sat up straight, focusing their eyes on the Slytherins, who were approaching the Quidditch pitch. "Let's go down there!" feisty Annabel declared, making her way down the stands.

"OI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Frank's loud yell startled Rose, who spun and saw her friends making their way down the stands. She then turned in the direction Frank was yelling. Slytherins.

It seemed the other members of the team had noticed too, and were now flying downwards, their eyes fixed on the Slytherin Quidditch team and some of their followers. As Rose's feet touched the grass, she could make out a very familiar figure. "Malfoy."

"Nice that you recognise me so easily, Weasel Breath," the platinum-blonde boy shot back, smirking as her cheeks flushed pink. "How can I not, Ferret?" the redhead barked, regaining her composure. "That white hair of yours stands out like a beacon." The Gryffindors laughed, and Rose's lips twisted into a cunning smile.

"Coming from you, ketchup-head, that means nothing."

"Ooh, I'm so offended."

"You should be."

"You know what, Malfoy?!"
"What, Weasley?!"

"Malfoy, Weasley!" Issac Badgely, the Slytherin Quidditch captain barked. "Put a sock in it, would you?!" He turned to Victoire, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. "Sorry, Weasley. We've got permission to practice from Professor Zabini. We've got to train our new Beater, Seeker and Keeper."

"And who would they be?!" Victoire said, her voice effortlessly smooth and crystal-clear. Issac flinched. He'd always fancied Victorie Weasley, who didn't?! The girl was a bloody Veela! He blushed and fumbled awkwardly but Scorpius Malfoy, Angelo Zabini and Ethan Williams stepped forward. Scorpius and Angelo smirked proudly, but Ethan looked embarrassed and shot an apologetic smile to the Gryffindors.

"Well, sorry, but we aren't leaving," Rose snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. "This is our Quidditch practice, and we've got to practice for the upcoming –" She broke off as the Slytherins (minus Ethan) began sniggering. "WHAT?!"

She turned around to ask her friends what was wrong, only to have them gawk at her. "Rose!" Alice squealed. "Your teeth!" Rose blinked. "What about my teeth?"

Annabel grabbed her compact mirror and held it up for her friend to see. Rose let out a wail as she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her teeth were quickly growing wider, thicker and longer – almost resembling a beaver. She spun around to see who'd been doing this and scowled as she saw Scorpius Malfoy waving his wand.

She grabbed her own wand from her pocket and flicked it at him. His pants fell around his ankles, revealing Scorpius' underwear. Green with silver ducks on them. The Gryffindors almost fell over laughing, and even the Slytherins found it hard to contain their laughter.

"HEXING FIGHT!" Scorpius yelled at the top of his voice. He sent a hex towards Rose, but missed and hit Alexis. All the Gryffindors pulled their wands out of their pockets, and the Slytherins did too. Hexes were flying everywhere, and it wasn't until one of the Slytherins accidentally made an approaching Professor McGonagall's nose much too big for her face that the wands were put away.

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