Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related, only Rose Grey and minor characters that I have made.
Wow! This is my first chapter in forever 😫😫 I hope you all enjoy and I hope I can throw in some more chapters regularly.
Since the Quidditch match on Monday, Draco went on nonstop about Gryffindor defeat. He would do such elaborate examples of Harry falling off his broom, that Draco didn't even need his 'bandages' any more. Luckily Professor Lupin was back to teaching defence against the dark arts. I sat down at the back of the class with Daphne next to me, who opens the latest Witch Weekly.
"When's your birthday?" she asks with her face glued to the magazine.
I was currently trying to listen to the Gryffindor's complaining to Professor Lupin about Snape.
"Rose?" Daphne calls waving the magazine in front of my face.
I drag my eyes away from professor Lupin to look at Daphne.
"When's your birthday?" she repeats herself.
"31st of October, Why?"
"Because," she squealed. "Witch Weekly have a Seer Spot. You look for your birthday and there are predictions with your birth month. It's all very exciting."
We both look at the magazine, scanning for October.
"Work hard in order to be treated well, but don't let anyone use or abuse you along the way. With the weekend here, you are supposed to enjoy some time to yourself, or spend your day with a partner or someone you love. Don't waste the opportunity to relax because of someone else's goals," says Daphne. "Well that sounds like your life in a whole."
"What about yours?" I ask her, trying not to dwell on my 'prophesy'.
Daphne scans the page. Her face goes tomato red before she quickly closes the magazine.
"What?" I laughed.
"Nothing, mine isn't in here this month," she stammered, looking everywhere but at me.
"Pay attention class," shouts Professor Lupin over the noise as he brings out a Hinkypunk. We spend the rest of the lesson observing the pink creature and listening to Professor Lupin talk about them. As soon as class was over, Daphne takes my arm.
"Come on, I'm starving," she says pulling me down the corridor to the hall. Daphne piles her plate with a variety of food.
"Why so hungry?" I ask grabbing an apple.
"I eat when I'm stressed," she replies shovelling food into her mouth. "So just don't look at me with that look on your face."
"What look? I love food so eat away," I quickly pile my plate up so Daphne doesn't feel bad. "And why are you stressed? It doesn't have anything to do with the prophesy crap does it?"
Daphne avoids my eyes as she eats some chocolate cake.
"Daphne!"
"What?" she says. "You know you should be careful when saying that about prophesy's. Karma happens."
I laugh and shove mashed potato into my mouth. My stomach grumbles in thanks. Daphne opens her magazine and sighs.
"What is it?" I ask, taking a sip of water.
"Victor Krum," she says showing me a close shot of his face. He was in fact handsome. "I could only dream of dating this guy."
"Don't you want to date someone you actually like?" I ask. "You know nothing about him."
"Sometimes when you get to know someone they turn out to be a jerk all along," she sighs looking down the table at Draco.
"You like Draco?" I almost shout.
"Shhh," Daphne says covering my mouth with her hand. "I did but I don't want to like a guy like him. My parents are also pushing for me to get to know him to keep the pureblood status going and they don't want the Parkinson's to get him."
"So if you don't like Draco anymore then who do you like?" I ask leaning closer over the table.
Daphne smiles to herself. "You have to promise you won't tell anyone?"
"I promise."
"I like Seamus Finnigan," she says and then looks to make sure no one heard her.
"From Gryffindor?" I ask in disbelief.
"Hey!" Daphne hits my arm. "I'm not the only one who likes a Gryffindor."
My face goes red, and I glance over at George.
"How did you know?" I ask her.
"Please," she laughs. "I can tell from your puppy dog eyes every time his name comes up. So, I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."
"Deal," I say as we shake hands.
We do just that, both of us keeping our secrets safe in each other. Leading into Christmas we both whisper together about Seamus or George like children. We both help each other in avoiding the boys. Daphne and Millicent go home over the Christmas break, leaving me to sit in our common room alone.
For the first day of the holidays I felt totally alone as I found the common room completely empty. Exploring every room confirmed that I was the only Slytherin to be at Hogwarts over Christmas. Breakfast was quiet as I sat in the empty grand hall.
"Thank goodness," exclaims Hermione as she enters the hall. "I thought we were the only ones here."
"Just me and you guys then," I say lifting my goblet in cheers to her and Ron. It was now 10, I had been here since 7:30 and so far, they were the only people I had seen. I knew Snape was around but I knew he would not eat in the great hall unless dragged from the dungeons.
"Why don't you come stay in the Gryffindor common room for the holidays?" she asks cheerfully.
I smile at the idea but Ron's face gives me reason to reconsider.
"Hermione, you can't just let her in," he complains. Hermione sits across from me and starts pilling her plate.
"Well I am, Ron," she says eating.
I smirk behind my goblet, trying not to let Ron see. He would only get embarrassed and use it as another excuse to hate me.
"I'll go pack a few belongings," I say getting up. "See you at the portrait?"
They both nod. Hermione with an eagerness to it but Ron still looked weary, as if by letting me in the common room I would try to kill him in his sleep. Once I collected my things and was shown where I would sleep, we all sat beside the fireplace in the common room. It still looked the same from when I was here last time. I knew that nobody would know if I had been in here but I still couldn't shake the worry off myself. As I gazed at all the little bits and pieces around the room, I notice Harry groggily walk down the stairs.
"You look terrible," I say.
"Where is everyone?" He asks rubbing his eyes and ignoring my statement. He must not be a morning person.
"Gone! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?" says Ron as he watches Harry. "It's nearly lunchtime. I was going to come and wake you up in a minute."
Harry sits in a chair next to me and the fire, watching the snow fall on the window.
"You really don't look well, you know," says Hermione looking up from the piles of homework around her. It was one of the few times she had looked up in the past few hours.
"I'm fine," says Harry glancing at the book I had out to read. "I like Peter Pan."
I glance down at it and notice that everyone else is looking at it too. It was one of the muggle book from home. Snape doesn't know that I have taken it. I was now regretting it deeply, if any Slytherin found out that I read muggle books, I would be dead.
"I didn't know that you read muggle books," pipes Hermione.
"I thought you lived in some pureblood fanatic's house," says Ron.
"I'm surprised you would believe those kinds of rumours Ron" I laugh.
There were always rumours and stories if you were an orphan or adopted. A Hufflepuff is said to live with parents who only eat vegetables and nothing else. Some new muggle eating pattern I guess but you never know what to believe. I had the usual rumours. My first year they all said that I lived with muggles like Harry but once that started to tarnish the Slytherin image, the Quidditch team put an end to that. So far everyone believes that a wealthy, pureblood family took me in. Some Slytherins say I sleep with the house elves and I'm treated like a servant.
"Harry, listen," says Hermione changing the subject before Ron explodes. "You must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."
"Like what?" asks Harry ignoring the fact that I was sitting here and was obviously hearing things that I shouldn't be hearing.
"Like trying to after Black," says Ron sharply. He glances at me. "Maybe we should have this chat later."
"No its fine, Rose can be here," says Harry. I smile in his direction; it was nice to know that he trusted me. But at the same time, I felt a cold rush go through me. I had not heard from Sirius in a long time and I had completely forgotten to send him a letter to check up on him.
"You won't, will you, Harry?" says Hermione.
"D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor get too near to me?" Ron and Hermione shake their head. Now I knew that I should not be here for this conversation, it was about to get personal and emotional quick.
"Sorry, I forgot that I had to send a letter home to say that I was staying," I mutter as I slink out. I get a nod from Harry and Hermione and Ron just looks relieved.
I race to the owlery and find the closest owl waiting. I pat her, and pull out parchment that I had quickly shoved in my pocket.
Snuffles,
I haven't heard from you. Are you alright.
Harry seems to know more about why you were imprisoned.
I don't know how much as I left so I could send you this letter.
Please write soon,
Lion
I attach it to the owl, give her a quick peck on her head, and send her on her way. As I head back to the castle I remember that I don't know the password to get back into the Gryffindor common room. I head to the Slytherin common room to send a message to George.
Dearest George,
I hope your first day of the holidays is going well and you haven't blown anything up yet. It is quiet at Hogwarts. So far the only humans I have seen is Hermione, Ron, and Harry. All the Slytherins have gone home, so Hermione invited me to stay in the Gryffindor common room. I wish you were here We could all use some Fred and George jokes about now.
Have a good Christmas,
Rose Grey
Looking down at the letter, I contemplate whether to rewrite just in case he can read through what I scribbled out. I give the two mistakes more scribbles to make it illegible before attaching it to Snows leg. I headed for the Great Hall for dinner, hoping that the other three would be there by now.
The days go by quickly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione spend a lot of time in the library. I make do off any sunny days by running around the lake most mornings. Sirius sends me a letter on Christmas Eve saying:
Lion,
I am safe. Do not worry about me. I knew Harry would do some digging.
I hope you have time to explain what he has heard to him myself.
Wait to send a reply as Aurors are still hunting for me.
Snuffles.
I put the letter in the fire place as soon as I read it. I open my next letter which was from George. It had arrived a few days ago, but I was too scared to open it.
Rose,
Thanks for the letter, I was not expecting that. The holidays have been good. Fred and I have started experimenting with our own line of prank stuff. I cannot wait to show you all our idea. Mum is not too happy though. We need your potions experience with a few of them though. This one product keeps blowing up. Mum says to tell you that she wishes you, Ron, and Harry were here for Christmas. That woman is so sensitive. Will chat more when we get back to school. Cannot wait to show you what we have made.
George
Christmas day was as casual as it always was at Hogwarts. I received a present from Fred and George (dungbombs), Molly Weasley (a purple sweater with a rose), and from Snape (a card). I left before the others woke up, not wanting to hear about all the presents they got from various family members. When I went to lunch, Ron and Harry were also wearing coloured sweaters. Ron's had a massive R on it and Harry's had a Lion. The usual tables that would be in the great hall where nowhere to be seen but instead one long table was set up. Several staff members were present. Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall were sitting at the table talking.
"Nice sweater," Harry comments as I sit in the chair next to him.
"I still have the one from last year," I say folding my napkin on my lap. "But it's always nice to get a homemade sweater."
"Tuck in" shouts Dumbledore to us as the food appears.
Snape gives me a smile before going back to his conversation with Dumbledore.
I pile roast potato's and boiled carrots onto my plate.
"Sybil, this is a pleasant surprise," says Dumbledore, welcoming her to the table.
"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. "and Christmas was going so good."
Harry chuckles under his breath.
"I have been crystal-gazing, Headmaster," explains Professor Trelawney. "To my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon to join you. Who am I do refuse the prompting of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…"
"Certainly," agrees Dumbledore. "Let me draw you up a chair- "
A chair appears at the wave of his wand in between Snape and Professor McGonagall. Professor Trelawney's eyes gaze around the table and I knew that should would comment about my lack of attendance in her class. Luckily, she did not.
"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join you, we shall then be thirteen. Nothing could be unluckier! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"
We'll risk it, Sybill," says Professor McGonagall clearly over it as much as I was.
Professor Trelawney carefully sat down as if the chair would eat her. They converse together and I try to hide as much as possible into my chair.
"What are you doing?" asks Harry.
"I have missed a lot of Divination and I don't want her to mention it with this many staff in one room," I explain. "I hate Divination so George and Fred have been helping me to miss class."
"Why are you doing it if you hate it so much?"
"I…" I quickly try to think of a reason without saying the truth. It would raise too many questions if I said that Snape has filled in my form. "My parents wanted me to take it."
"That sucks," says Harry.
The meal passes quickly and two hours later, Harry and Ron stand to leave.
"My dears! Which one of you left his seat first? Which?" screaks Professor Trelawney.
At this point I just want to bang my head on the table.
"Dunno," says Ron looking warily at Harry.
"I doubt it will make much difference," says Professor McGonagall. "Unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall."
Ron and I both try to stifle laughs. Professor Trelawney does not look impressed. I quickly leave with Harry and Ron before she says anything more. Once in the Gryffindor common room Harry brings out a broom stick.
"No way did you get a Firebolt," I say taking a closer look. "Who gave it to you?"
"There was no note," he says admiring it.
The portrait hole opens and Hermione enters with Professor McGonagall behind her.
"Miss Grey, what are you doing in here?" she says.
"Well… I…." I stumble for an excuse. "I was invited to stay in here as there is no one else in Slytherin."
"Please collect your things and head back to your dorm," she says and then turns on Harry, Ron, and the Firebolt.
By the time, I had come back down the stairs with my belongings, Professor McGonagall was gone with the Firebolt and both Harry and Ron were red in the face.
"I'm just going to go," I say to the awkward silence coving the room.
I enjoyed the silence in Slytherin for the last week of the holidays and then it was crowded with everyone catching up as soon as everyone arrived back.
Daphne, Millicent, and Pansy come into our dorm room gossiping and giggling.
"Rose!" squeals Daphne. "How was your holiday?"
"It was good, I stayed here and..."
"Oh, you poor dear," she says bringing me into a hug. "I complexly forgot that you would have had to have spent the holiday all alone."
"I wasn't…" I try to cut in.
"That is what happens when you family don't want you," sneers Pansy as she lounged on her bed.
"I chose…" I try to say.
"Oh, Rose we should do something so you don't feel like you have missed out," says Daphne.
"I might go for a walk," I say to them grabbing a jacket. Millicent was trying not to laugh, obviously having enjoyed watching me flounder.
I head into the common room and head for the portrait door.
"Rose, how was your holiday," asks Lucien cutting in front of me. He starts t stroke my arm but I smack his hand away from me.
"It's none of your business," I say trying to move past him. He grabs my arm forcefully.
"It is my business," he sneers. The room, at this point had gone quiet, and were watching us. "If I find out that you have been with those filthy blood traitors, I will make you regret every second of it."
I stare into his eyes, his face so close to mine. I try to hold his gaze but I quickly look at the floor. I glance at Draco who staring at the back of Lucien's head, avoiding my own eyes.
"Pathetic," he scoffs.
"Lucien," says Adrian, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we go find some Gryffindor first years? That would be fun."
I look back up at Lucien and he lets go of my arm. I quickly leave the common room before he could torment me again.
I quickly find Fred and George standing outside the Entrance Hall.
"There you are," they say in unison before heading out into the courtyard. "We have been waiting for hours."
"Couldn't you have used your map to see where I am?" I ask falling into step next to them.
"We gave it to Harry last term so he could go to Hogsmeade," explains Fred.
"Even though we know all the passage ways, it still would have been nice to make sure Lucien was staying away from you," comments George.
Memories of what happened in the common room flood my mind but I quickly push them away. I don't want to be thinking of Lucien when I'm with George.
"I don't need a babysitter," I say as we head to a stand in the Quidditch stadium.
"Don't think of us as babysitters," says George setting his bag down.
"But as handsome guardian angels," they finish together, inviting me to sit on the stand.
"Ok so what help to you need?" I ask them
They opened a box full of different types of chocolate looking treats.
"We need help just getting the dosage right," explains Fred. "We have been testing them on ourselves but we can't seem to figure out the right combination of ingredients and spells for what we need."
"Well…" I start as I examine the piece of chocolate and then inspect a piece of nougat. "This is what you need to do…"
Three hours later and I was finally in bed. They had both taken notes and by the end we finally figured out the right formula.