Chapter 6: Coming Back For Owl Year

Fifth Year

(Rose's pov)

"Hey, Mum?" I asked as my family was eating lunch one Saturday in late August, about two weeks before the start of my fifth year. "When do you suppose our letters from Hogwarts will come?"

"They should be coming any time." Mum replied. "I don't see why you're so excited about it though. You weren't this excited about the others, except for your first year letter, of course."

"I want to know if I got a prefects badge." I muttered. Every since my cousin Victoire had gotten her prefect's badge when I was nine, I had always wanted one of my own.

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart." Mum said reassuringly. "I think there's a good chance you'll get your badge. After all, both your father and I were prefects in our fifth year, although I'm not quite sure how your father managed to earn his badge."

"Hey!" Dad protested. "I resent that remark!"

"I'm only teasing, Ronald." Mum said, causing Hugo and I to laugh.

Just then, we heard a crash in the living room. Before we had a chance to react, Albus ran into kitchen.

"Albus, is something wrong?" Mum asked, her voice full concern.

"No, Aunt Hermione, everything's great! But look, I got a prefect's badge!" Albus exclaimed. "Did you get one, Rose?"

"No." I replied in a disappointed voice.

Albus frowned. "Well, I'm sure it will –" he began, but was interrupted by a sharp tapping on the kitchen window.

A barn owl was hovering outside the window, and Mum quickly let him in. The owl first dropped a letter into Hugo's hands, and then dropped one into mine. I ripped my letter open without hesitation. I tossed aside the letter stating what school supplies I would need for that school year, and eagerly began to read the other letter that came with it.

Dear Ms. Weasley,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to serve as Prefect for Gryffindor House. Your school record shows that you have exhibited quick-thinking in stressful situations, the ability to lead others, and the bravery that Gryffindors have long been lauded for.

We are certain that you will continue to be a model for your peers and will take your new responsibilities seriously. Enclosed please find your prefect's badge, which should be worn on your school robes at all times. Congratulations!

Jason Clearton

Head of Gryffindor House

"I got it!" I exclaimed. "I got my prefect's badge!"

"Congratulations, Rose!" Mum said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. Dad gave me a hug, Hugo gave me an encouraging smile, and Albus gave me I high-five.

"I'd like to say longer," Albus said, "but Mum only let me come here if I agreed to come right back, so I'll see you later."

"Bye, Al!" we called, as Albus headed to our fireplace to floo back to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, where he lived.

This year was O.W.L year, and my first year as prefect. In addition, we were sure Gryffindor had a good chance of winning the Quidditch house cup again this year, in the same way as last year. I was sure it was going to be the best year yet.

(line)x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (line)

"Listen up!" Andrew Smith, this year's Head Boy called. "As you all know, being a prefect is a huge responsibility. For the sixth of you fifth years, and for sixth and seventh years who have forgotten, your responsibilities include making sure all students, even your friends, are obeying school rules, and helping first years who need assistance. Your first task is to make sure all students have safely found a compartment. You may go."

Albus and I patrolled the train together, and once we found everything was all clear, we went to go find our seats. We found Albus's friends first, and as I passed by to find Sahara and Alana, I couldn't help but notice that there was something different about Malfoy, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe he was taller. That must have been it. Or maybe I was just imagining things.

"Hey, Prefect, over here!" Sahara called.

"So what's it like? Being a prefect, I mean." Alana asked as I sat down.

"I'm not sure yet." I replied. "But I always wanted to be a prefect, so I'm really excited."

It wasn't long before the conversation turned to gossip. But unlike previous years, it wasn't about who was likely to date who, or who would most likely get the first detention. Instead it was mostly about boys.

"Have you seen Andy Boot yet?" Sahara said, talking about a sixth-year Ravenclaw she's had a crush on since third year. "He's even more gorgeous than last year. And I must admit, Scorpius Malfoy has gotten pretty cute, too. He's not really my type, though."

I nearly choked on my own saliva. Scorpius Malfoy? Cute? There was nothing cute about Malfoy.

"Are you okay?" Sahara asked, giving me a strange look.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said quickly. "It's just that Malfoy still seems like the arrogant prat he always was. I don't see any difference in him."

Sahara rolled her eyes at me. "Rose Weasley, when are you going to start to notice boys?"

"My studies are just too important to me to care about boys right now." I answered simply. "What about you Alana? Who do you like?"

Alana blushed. "No-one."

"Yeah, you do." Sahara squealed. "You wouldn't be blushing if you didn't."

Alana shook her head. "You're going to have to force Truth Serum down my throat before I'll tell you."

Alana soon got out of anymore questions, because I was now time to get our robes on. Our first day of our fifth year had officially begun.

(Scorpius's pov)

"Over here, everyone." Fred Weasley, Albus's cousin and the Gryffindor Quidditch captain called at the Quidditch tryouts. "Now, before we begin, everyone must know that just because you may have been on the team last year doesn't mean you'll be on this year, although most, if not all of you, will be, because I love you all."

"Does this include me, Fred?" James asked.

Fred smiled. "Sadly, my dear cousin, Professor Clearton requires this rule to include you."

James didn't seem to be worried. In fact, none of last year's team members seemed to be concerned. Some people thought the team was unfair, since Fred, James, Rose, Albus, and Roxanne had all been on the team, and they were all from the same family. In fact, Raina McLaggen and I were the only players not part of the Weasley/Potter family. But the fact was, the Weasleys and the Potters were better than most of the other players that tried out. The main reason Albus and I weren't worried about making the team was because Albus had been Gryffindor's seeker since second year, and I had been keeper since third. We figured our positions were safe. Rose, however, did appear to be nervous, but then again, she got nervous about everything.

Speaking of Rose, things have gotten slightly better between us. After Christmas break in first year, Albus must have talked, because she stopped acting as if I had just killed her best friend. Still, we weren't exactly what I would call friends. We were more like acquaintances, as Rose only talked to me when necessary, or when we were around Albus at the same time, just to please him. At least she didn't make a rude comment every time she spoke to me anymore. That was something.

During tryouts, Rose quickly turned trying to hold her position on the team into a contest between herself and I. Rose was the best chaser on the team, but I wasn't a bad keeper myself. "You're going down, Malfoy!" Rose said as we climbed on our brooms.

"Whatever you want to believe, Rose." I replied with a smile.

Rose tried her hardest to score against me, but half the time I prevented her from doing so. The look of frustration on her face was priceless. In the end, out of the ten goals she attempted to score, six made it past me, which is really good, considering that I'm the best keeper of all the houses.

"Everyone gather around and pay attention!" Fred called not long after the tryouts ended. "I've come to a final decision. There will be no additions or corrections to the team, no matter how much you cry, whine, complain, or try to hex me. Is that understood?"

Everyone nodded, and Fred continued. "Good. First off, the beaters will once again be my partner-in-crime, James, and of course, yours truly. Our seeker is, once again, Albus Potter, and our keeper is Scorpius Malfoy. Finally, are chasers are Rose Weasley, Roxanne Weasley, and… drum roll please…" James slapped his thighs to replicate the sound of a real drum roll. "Lily Potter!"

The crowded applauded politely, but not everyone was happy about the new team. "I'm sick of this!" snapped a fourth-year whose name I couldn't seem to remember.

"I'm sorry?" Fred asked, glaring at the boy who had spoken. "Sick of what, exactly?"

"It's called the Gryffindor team, not the Weasley-Potter-and-one-bloody-Malfoy team. It seems to me that you're choosing favorites just because they're related to you." The boy snapped.

"Has it ever occurred to you," James snarled, "that maybe the rest of us could actually be better than you? Some of us have been playing on this team for years. Get over it."

With that, the boy stormed angrily away, taking several members of the crowd with him. I don't mean to be egotistic, but what James had said was true. The fact was, most of the Weasleys and Potters just had a talent for Quidditch, and I wouldn't be on the team at all if I didn't have the exceptional keeper skills I have now.

Albus, Rose, and I walked back up to the castle together. When we about half way there, Matthew Corner, a Ravenclaw in our year, came chasing after Rose.

"Hey, Rose, are you coming to the Knowledge Bowl meeting on Monday?" Matthew asked when he caught up to us. Knowledge Bowl was an extracurricular activity Headmistress Clearton had set up to give students another activity to participate in besides Quidditch. Like Quidditch, Knowledge Bowl was a competition between houses, but instead of needing athletic ability, you needed intelligence. Students from all years would answer questions with their house about different subjects, and they would compete against another house to gain points, sort of like a muggle game show. This was something Rose had been in since it started in our third year, and she seemed to enjoy it.

"Of course." Rose replied.

Matthew smiled. "Good. Now, I know I've asked this before, but I'm not giving up… will you go out with me?"

Rose sighed. "I really wished you'd stop asking me that. I don't like continuously telling you no, but I just don't have feelings for you. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Matthew muttered, not bothering to hide the disappointment in his voice as he slowly walked away from us. For some reason, I felt relieved when she rejected him. I shook my head as I realized what I had just been thinking. Why did I care who Rose dated? Suddenly I came to me. Matthew was an arrogant prat who knew almost nothing about Rose, and I knew he wouldn't be good for her. That was the only reason. Nothing else.

Author's note: Story alerts and favorites to me is like finding a box of Valentine's Day chocolates in March, and then opening it and finding out that there's only one left. You're happy at first, and eagerly eat the chocolate, but then you're disappointed because there's nothing else. This is what I feel like when I receive and story alert or favorite. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from adding this story to your alerts/favorites, but I would REALLY appreciate it if you left me more than one chocolate and wrote a review. And thanks to the people have written a review so far. You guys are the best! :)