Chapter Six
A/N: Hey, for those who are wondering when in Merlin's Beard (I'm getting pretty good with wizard slang, eh?) is the story going to actually get exciting, well today's your lucky day! This chapter will actually have some action and suspense in it! :D Aha, okay back to the story!
Rose's POV
It's the second month into the first term of Sixth Year and things are getting pretty exciting.
First of all, the first Quidditch match is next week. Well, it's none of my concern, really, because I CANNOT play Quidditch. Yes, I can fly, that's for sure. But the idea of chasing a tiny golden ball around the pitch, beating a rock around, goalkeeping, or tossing a Quaffle back and forth just intimidates me. No, it's because the first match is Gryffindor versus Slytherin, which is always a nail biter every year. The tension is so thick that it's almost tangible. And I won't lie that it's not especially tense with my family, since the Weasley/Potter clan covers half of the team, plus their hate for Slytherin just makes it a lot more cutting-edge.
Second of all, well... the Yule Ball in December. I know, right? Yikes! Well, that's actually the one of the two I'm most worried about. Yes, hard to believe, right? Rose Weasley, the Rose Weasley, is worrying about something other than exams or homework? Well, I guess that means pigs can fly now, does it?
Anyway, back to this morning when it was first announced.
Thalia, Albus, Scorpius, and I (some people call us the Golden Quartet. Cue snort from Rose Weasley. I mean, seriously? It's like the 'Golden Trio' all over again) walked to the Great Hall -this time Thalia and I weren't bone-tired like back in September when we stayed up all night- and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Checking around the room to make sure that Swelder wasn't in spitting distance of us, I deemed it safe and tucked into my toast and pumpkin jam. Everything was normal, with Scorpius checking the Daily Prophet for news, Albus turned around to talk to the Scamander twins (the children of 'Aunt' Luna and 'Uncle' Rolf Scamander) who were sitting at the Ravenclaw table-right next to Gryffindor-, and Thalia and my cousins Lily, who was a Fourth year, Roxanne (a Seventh Year), Louis (a Fifth Year) and Hugo, my little brother (also a Fourth Year) talking about Quidditch strategies, as my best friend and Roxanne were Chasers, plus Lily, Hugo was Keeper, Louis was a Beater along with Scorpius, and Albus as Seeker. Yup, the Weasleys certainly have taken over Hogwarts (or at least the Gryffindor Quidditch team).
Anyways, Headmistress McGonagall stood up and the Hall fell silent immediately. "I would like to announce a very important event coming to Hogwarts. Ever since the last fateful Triwizard tournament, which was 27 years ago, it has been discontinued. However," She cleared her throat to silence the Hall once again, as students were muttering about the last Triwizard tournament, where Uncle Harry had experienced more than a victory that night. "However, we have decided to bring back this tradition, minus the Triwizard tournament." There were some groans of disappointment. "This December, on the 18th, a week before Christmas, Hogwarts will be hosting a Yule Ball." There were some excited squeals from the girls; including Lily, who was right next to me, damaging my eardrum, and some exasperated groans from the boys. I rolled my eyes, thinking, Good Merlin! McGonagall continued, "The boys are expected to wear formal dress robes, and the girls: formal dresses. That is all."
Simultaneously, everyone started chatting at once. "Oh my goodness, Rose! I can FINALLY take you and Thalia shopping at Hogsmeade! It will be absolutely brilliant! I know the perfect store, and- oh my!" Lily suddenly squealed, making me jump. "I have to ask Sam what he plans on wearing so we don't clash. Oh, Samuel!" She singsonged, skipping over to the Ravenclaw table, where her boyfriend Samuel Halton was sitting ,her straight dark red hair flowing behind her. I caught Thalia's eye and she snorted, rolling her eyes. Typical Lily, her eyes said. I smirked. It would take a lot more than a hundred men or more to bring Lily down, especially when it came to special occasions, especially where you had to wear a dress.
Then, here came the worrying. This is going to be my First Yule Ball ever, I thought. It was supposed to be a magical night, where you danced your heart out with the one you secretly love, hopefully landing under the mistletoe, where you would get your first and most magical kiss...
My eyes subconsciously flicked over to Scorpius. His pale gold hair was falling into his eyes, silky but not combed back. His grey eyes were deep in thought, as he scanned over the Prophet, his mind not on the news, but on something else-
He caught my eye and I blushed, trying to hide the fact that I was staring at him by smiling. He smiled back at me and went back to his newspaper. I swore I saw a twinkle in his eyes whenever he looked at me, making me melt-
Oh, stop it Rose! You are NOT in love with your best friend. That is just wrong. Stop being a prat and don't get your hopes up about him asking you. He practically has his own fan club of girls drooling over him. He could pick any of them instead of YOU. He just thinks of you as a friend. Someone he's been friends with for five years now, ever since you met on the Express. He's just your friend. He's just your friend. Just. Your. Friend.
"Rose?" I looked up and saw Albus looking at me strangely. "Are you okay? You're bending your fork."
I noticed that I was. I muttered a quick Reparo, with the fork returning to its original state and shook my head. "I'm fine, Al." He was my favourite cousin. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, but Albus is level-headed and wise, something my other cousins (including my own brother) lack. He always knew how I was feeling and was always sympathetic, but this one was a girl matter. I caught Thalia's eye, shooting a look saying: I need to talk to you. She nodded.
"Hey, guys? Rose and I need to use the bathroom. We'll meet you in Herbology, okay?" She asked. Albus nodded and Scorpius waved his approval, not taking his eyes off of the Daily Prophet. We walked down the Hall and came to the entrance of the Prefects' bathroom. Me, knowing the password because I was a Prefect, said, "Cauldron Cakes." The entrance opened and revealed a bright room with golden walls and a marble floor, golden stalls and sinks with mirrors lining the walls, with a giant bathtub in the middle of the room, a painting of a mermaid above it. They SO do not look like that, I thought, thinking back to Uncle Harry's stories of the second task in the Triwizard tournament.
Thalia gazed around in awe. "You use this bathroom?"
I shrugged. "Only occasionally, you know, when Moaning Myrtle's haunting the girls' bathroom and is making a fuss; stuff like that." Thalia nodded.
"So...what's the matter?" She eyed me, waiting for an answer. I sighed, leaning against a sink.
"I'm worried about the Yule Ball." Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"As in dress-wise, or," She smirked. "Date-wise?"
I ran a hand through my auburn curls, sighing again. "Date-wise." I muttered, as a look of knowing crossed her face.
"You want Scorpius to ask you!" She said, punching my arm. I scowled, trying to hide the trademark Weasley blush, but to no avail.
"So what?"
"He so will ask you! Oh my gosh! You will make the cutest couple ever!" She squealed.
I rolled my eyes. "You sound like Lily."
She just ignored me. Grinning mischievously, she said, "That is, if a specific best friend of yours," Nudging me in the ribs, she smirked. "Gives him a little push."
I smiled at her sadly. "That would be awesome, but he will never ask me. He's got a whole fan club, for Merlin's sake! Besides, he just looks at me as a friend."
She shook her head sympathetically. "Rose, Rose, Rose. That is a big, fat, lie. Have you seen the way he looks at you?"
I thought hard. Sometimes I did notice him hold my gaze a little longer than usual...
"I doubt it. There are many other prettier girls than me at Hogwarts that he can choose over me." Girls like you, I thought.
She shook her head again. "Rose, have you even seen your reflection this year? You're drop dead GORGEOUS." She said, pushing me to a mirror.
I studied my reflection. My auburn hair had turned from bushy to soft curls that cascaded down my back. My blue eyes had turned from a soft sky blue to a deep ocean blue. My freckles had even turned from a noticeable red that stood out to a brown that flattered my skin tone. My body had definitely become more curvy, but still slim at the same time. I had even gained a few inches and was considerably tall compared to those in my year. I guess Thalia was right.
I turned around. "You're right, but... are you sure he'll ask me?"
She nodded. "I'm pretty sure. If he doesn't by November, I'll make sure personally that he does." She smirked deviously. Seriously, how is that girl not in Slytherin?
"Alright. But what about you and Albus?" I smirked, watching her blush.
"I-I-that's none of your business!" She said, her pale complexion turn a dark shade of pink.
I smirked again. I knew that Thalia had a huge crush on Albus since Fourth year, and my cousin returned her feelings, except that none of them knew. They would flirt and stare at each other all the time that it was almost irritating that they just wouldn't get together already.
"Yes, it is! Do you want me to drop some hints here and there for you, too?" I asked politely.
She nodded, blushing. "As long as I get to do the same to you, too. Deal?" I nodded, satisfied. We always had each other's backs, through thick and thin, and including family issues, crushes, and personal problems.
"Let's get to Herbology before Neville marks us late, and, as much as he loves us, he'd still have to give us a detention."
She nodded and we climbed out of the portrait. Hurrying out of the castle, the cool October wind hit us as we made our way to the greenhouses. I was glad that there were still Gryffindors and Slytherins filing in to Professor Longbottom's classroom. We hurried in and Thalia and I sat beside Scorpius and Al at a four-person table.
As we learned how to extract dittany and Professor Longbottom demonstrated the process to us, (which I'd read the subject on about a week ago, so I was barely listening) I felt a scrap of parchment land on my lap. Glad that we were in the back row, I snuck a peek at the parchment.
It was written in neat, slanting writing. I caught a certain pale blonde's grey eye and he smiled at me.
What's wrong?
Grabbing my quill, I quickly scribbled a reply.
Nothing, just worrying about everyday stuff.
The scrap landed back on my lap and we continued to write back and forth.
Like what? It seemed pretty serious.
It's nothing, really. You don't have to worry about it.
I'm your best friend. You can tell me ANYTHING.
Erm, alright. I was worrying about the Yule Ball.
Were you worrying about who you're going to go with?
I hesitated. He could always tell what subject I was worrying about. Yes, I'm just worried no one will take me.
Rose, you're very pretty. I'm sure someone will take you.
My heart did a tap dance. He called me PRETTY! I thought.
Thanks, Scorp. I really appreciate it. You always know how to make me feel better.
A few seats down, I saw him smile. I couldn't help but smile back.
After classes, the four of us were sitting on the Common Room couch, with me studying, Scorpius and Albus playing Exploding Snap, and Thalia was busy practicing to Transfigure a rock in to a turtle. Transfiguration was her weakest subject, while Defence Against the Dark Arts was her strongest, along with Potions as her second best. So far, it had grown four legs and a head.
"Rose! Rose!"
I smiled as my younger brother, Hugo, came bounding towards me, his bright red hair (that he had inherited from our dad) messy, in an attempt to slick it back, his bright brown eyes (from our mum) alight. He was tall and gangly, just like Dad, only he lacked the freckles that I had inherited instead. Bugger.
"Yes, Hugo?" I asked. He always came to me for help and took my advice to heart.
"Erm, Rosie, see, there's this girl..." I smiled. Typical girl problems.
"And you'd like to ask her to the Ball?" I finished for him. He nodded, the trademark Weasley blush creeping up his face to his ears.
"Well, you shouldn't ask her right away, but maybe try to sit next to her in a class and when you're working together, just-"`
"Hugo, Hugo. What your dear sister means is to put your best moves on her and sedu-" Albus was cut off when Thalia threw a pillow at him.
"Okay, Hugo, just ask her. Don't be afraid, be confident and, as Rose suggested, try getting close to her and just casually ask her. She'll definitely say yes if you're cool and collected." Thalia concluded wisely. Because she never had to ask anyone, she had definite experience in boys asking her. She'd said yes to a few of them because she was pretty picky and chose only the guys who were her type and turned down all the jerks. But the ones she'd said yes to were never in a serious relationship after, as she never seemed happy with them. Now, she only had eyes for Albus.
Hugo beamed at my best friend. Thalia had visited the Burrow with us along with Scorpius and Albus and she had really charmed everyone. Even my cousins loved her, and I think James even had a thing for her a while, until Albus had told him off. I had never seen Albus so green with jealousy and over protectiveness.
"Thanks, Rosie, thanks Thalia!" He bounded off to join his Fourth Year friends, which was also mixed in with a few of his cousins.
When curfew came, we went up to our dorms and said good night. I undressed and pulled on my pajama bottoms and navy blue tank top. I fell asleep with a smile on my face, but little did I know that smile was about to be wiped off my face in a few hours.
I was awoken with a shattering of glass and a high-pitched scream that was so familiar to me.
Lily.
"Thalia, wake up!" I shook my best friend awake, and dragged her out of our dormitory. We went down the hallway and followed the noise, followed by a struggle and a gruff Silencio. We came to a door two down from ours. I glanced at Thalia, whose face was paler than usual. It was time to gather all of our Gryffindor courage.
Twisting the doorknob, we both muttered Lumos and the room was lit up by our wands. Searching the room, my gaze landed on the source.
A tall man with a mask on with sweeping, black robes had Lily by the collar of her shirt. I recognized the attire from our History of Magic textbooks. This man was a Death Eater.
He dropped her down roughly and she was gasping on the ground.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the object of our search." He spoke in a low, gruff voice. I wasn't sure if he meant me or Thalia.
"Back off, bastard." Thalia said, her voice shaky, her wand pointed out.
The man laughed, a terrifying noise. "You are definitely not like your father's family; you are brave and not cowardly."
Thalia gaped. She was always like that whenever her father was mentioned.
"Leave Hogwarts now, scum. Never come back. Voldemort's dead." I said, trying to feign bravery in my voice.
He sneered. "I'm not after Hogwarts. We aren't. We're after you, Weasley. The Weasleys and Potters are not safe anymore."
My skin crawled. He then picked up his wand and got Lily in the other. "I'd love to stay, but I'd rather take them one by one."
"Stupefy!"Thalia yelled; and he ducked the spell.
"Crucio!"
"Protego!"
"Stupefy!"
The three-way duel went back and forth, and the Death Eater momentarily forgot about Lily. He was standing under a chandelier and I did some quick thinking, pointing my wand at the part that was connecting it to the ceiling.
"Relashio!" The chandelier fell and the Death Eater was momentarily distracted. I focused all of my energy on the next spell that Uncle Harry had said defeated Voldemort himself. "Expelliarmus!"
The Death Eater got blasted out the window and fell out into the night sky. Thalia rushed to get Lily and I looked over the edge. Apparently, he had an accomplice and had helped him onto the broom. "See you later, Red!" Cackling, the two set off and disappeared. A letter fluttered into my hand and I opened it.
You were warned. Now we want revenge.
At the bottom of the letter, there was the mark that had haunted the wizarding world for so many dark years.
The Dark mark.
Voldemort may be as dead as a doornail, but the Death Eaters were after us.
The Dark Lord's minions were out for revenge.
Hogwarts wasn't safe anymore.
Especially for me, Rose Weasley, the daughter of two-thirds of the Golden Trio. And everyone, cousin, brother, sister, aunt, uncle...
We were all in danger.
A/N: Satisfied? :D hopefully you are! Didn't that just give you the chills? Aha, okay, until next week!
Love, TheFanfictionInator