Disclaimer: I don't own Hogwarts Express and much less anything.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Today is the day I'm finally going to Hogwarts! I'm Rose Weasley and saying that I'm excited is a massive understatement! Nothing would probably get me down or worried!

"If you're not Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," Dad said, "but no pressure." Whaaat?

"Ron!"

Lily and Hugo laughed, but Al looked solemn. I'm sure I did too.

"He doesn't mean it," Mum and Aunt Ginny said.

I hope so.

"Look who it is."

I turned away from a petrified Al to see who Dad was referring to. I'm not quite sure who to look at because of the flock of people scurrying around.

"So that's little Scorpius," Dad said under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

Why?

And who? Hmm… Scorpius. Scorpius. That's a funny name. I remember Dad saying something about him. Scorpius… Who names their kid Scorpius? That sounds like a broomstick corporation. I feel sorry for the kid.

"Ron for heaven's sake," Mum said, half-stern, half-amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"

Why? I looked around and saw a familiar face. Dra – Dragon Malfoy was it? Hmm… Explains why the kid's called 'Scorpius.' His Dad's a dragon and he's a broomstick. It has a nice ring on it, right?

"You're right, sorry" said Ron, but he added, "don't get too friendly with him, though Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood."

And again, Why?

How unusual for me to forget. I'm sure I saw Dragon in an article that Dad showed us when he was talking about him. I didn't quite catch what he said for I was too preoccupied by a butterfly that was wandering around the house. Normally, I would listen but the subject felt boring as Dad was rambling on about Dragon and the Malfoys being featured in a magazine whereas he wasn't. But hey, the butterfly was quite pretty too. It was blue and it had the same shade as the eyes of— not the point.

"Hey!" I hear James yell but I was too occupied to listen to what he said next. I looked at the mini-Dragon and saw excitement in his sparkling blue eyes. He seemed normal, like any new student, like any boy, but then, why?

Why would my Dad tell me to beat him in every test?

Why would my Dad try turn us against each other before we even met?

Why shouldn't I get too friendly with him?

Why?

"Bye Mum! Bye Dad! Bye Hugo!" I yelled as the train started to move. Mum was crying in Dad's shoulder and Hugo looked like he was about to cry. It didn't seem like it was because he would miss me but rather out of jealousy that I finally get to Hogwarts. I gave my family and a final wave and settled down my seat.

I glanced at Al, who was looking excited and at the same time terrified.

"We're actually leaving," I sighed, fully realizing for the first time that we were going to be away from home for months.

"I'm going to miss them," he said, sadly.

"Yeah, me too…"

I made a move to get a book from my trunk, but at the same time the compartment door slid open so I forced myself down my seat.

"Mind if we share?" Two boys stood by the door chastely, "Everywhere else is full."

"Sure," Al shrugged.

"I'm Oliver Williams," the brunette said, "and this is Jack Turner," referring to the blonde kid.

"Al Potter."

"Rose Weasley."

After they had settled down, I stood to take my book. I love books, really, from the touch of the leather and the smell of parchments to the content of enchanting stories and engaging facts that you may never want to put them down. The feeling of getting lost in a book, it makes you want to escape the harshness of reality. Books are a means of escape.

"—Rose?"

I snapped out of my world and looked up from my book.

"I'm sorry, what?" I bookmarked my page and settled it down.

"We were just talking about which house we want to be in," Oliver said, "and we asked you where you want."

I don't really 'want' to be placed anywhere. Plus, the point of sorting is for you to be placed in where you belong, not what you want… is what I wanted to say but…

"Gryffindor," I replied, short and straightforward, "though Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad."

I opened my book again to resume reading. This would be considered rude and cold but I was fairly nervous of making new friends. After an "Er, okay," from Oliver, they continued their conversation, leaving me in my world. They didn't make any more efforts to talk to me which was fine. I didn't really belong with boys and Quidditch as it is their topic as of the moment. Al was understandable as he had experienced my wraths when interrupted in reading a good book.

After moments of forcing myself to read in a moving train (which was hard and making me dizzy), I went to a dreamless sleep.

I woke with a start. Dark aura was filing the compartment. Boys were asleep. I hope. Everything was silent until—

"—Hahaha! That's hilarious," I hear Jack burst out laughing. Aww… Come on; leave the girl to wish for an adventure. Rolling my eyes inwardly, I tried to go back to sleep.

"Rose," Al Potter, if I wasn't awake, you could have earned a beating from waking me up.

"Erhumm?" Classic. I couldn't act to save a life. Oh well.

"Trolley's here," good thing that Al's dense, "We should eat."

I had lunch silently. So obviously the boys were quiet. As irritable as I am, I went out. Gracefully.

"Where are you going?" Al had asked.

"The bathroom," I had said. Of course, it gave the effect I wanted so I was satisfied by the time I was outside.

On my walk, I saw Molly reading by the hallways, James and Fred in a compartment looking absolutely hilarious, and… Scorpius Malfoy… by the hallways. How sad. I had to pass through him of course so it wasn't actually easy to avoid his eyes that quite lost its spark. They were blue-grey, same excitement was present but… the spark was lost. It's like reality was brought upon him, the same thing that would happen when a child's innocence is lost.

The encounter in the hallways ignited my curiosity. Why?

Why would my Dad tell me to beat him in every test?

Why would my Dad try turn us against each other before we even met?

Why shouldn't I get too friendly with him?

Those questions stayed at the back of my mind during the train ride. And it wasn't going to disappear until I get the answers.

The train finally came to a halt reminding me of what is to come next.

A/N: Well, it looks like the sorting will occur in the next chapter. What do you people write in an A/N anyway? Anyhow, yay? I don't bloody know. Reviews are much appreciated.

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~QueenoftheDarkMoon04)