Please note that from here on in I've kept certain teachers from Harry's time at Hogwarts, because they're just too awesome to get rid of. Namely: Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and a few others. Please feel free to review; I always appreciate feedback of any sort. And thank you to everyone who's favourite/followed this story, it really means a lot! Enjoy! (I hope) x
As everyone milled around in the Great Hall, finding their friends, Rose finally caught up with her cousins at the Gryffindor table. She waved at James, Hugo and Lily, who were all sat with their respective year groups, and joined Al, who was sat with a handful of their fellow Gryffindor 4th years.
"Sorry I didn't get your carriage," she apologised, swinging her legs under the bench. "I know it's bad of me, but I just took the nearest one."
"Don't worry about it, Rosie, it's not as if we missed you," Albus sniggered from across the table.
"Oh, ha ha." was the only reply Rose could think of.
Someone sat down next to Rose on the bench, and threw their arms around her neck:
"Rose!" squealed Molly Saunders, the girl who had been Rose's best friend since first year, in which she'd jumped to Rose's defence in a argument between her and Scorpius Malfoy. At first Rose had been annoyed that Molly thought she'd needed protecting, but over time they'd bonded, despite being polar opposites. Molly was a giggly, girly-girl, who loved clothes, make-up and boys, and paid practically no attention in class. She fitted into the branch of Gryffindor's who lived life on the edge, played crazy dares with each other, and took ridiculous risks. She was one of those girls who seemed incapable of looking a mess; Rose knew that it was down to make up and years of practise at making herself look great, but she couldn't help but be jealous of Molly's jet black locks that fell in one straight sheet down her back, which made her bright blue eyes stand out, and defined her cheekbones.
"Molly!" laughed Rose, returning the hug. "It's great to see you!"
"And vice-versa, etcetera, etcetera, but, on a more important note; did James say anything over the summer?" Molly had a huge crush on Rose's cousin, James, which she insisted had nothing to do with the fact that he was the son of The Boy Who Lived. Rose sighed as she looked at Molly's expression, her bright blue eyes shining with hope.
"He asked if you'd be trying out for Quidditch this year," Rose told her truthfully.
James had been made captain of the Gryffindor team over the summer, and Molly was his best Chaser.
Molly let out a noise of excitement that was a cross between a dolphin and a pterodactyl.
"But he must have already known that I'd want to try out, I mean, everyone on last year's team knew that I loved Quidditch, including James, so it's almost as if he wanted to talk about me..."
Rose allowed her friend to go off into a daydream. She really hoped that Molly and James would get together this year, because it might shut her up about James.
"Ok everyone, sit down!" called a voice from the Professors table, and immediately there was silence. It was Hermione, or Professor Weasley, as she was known by the students, if they were being polite. If they weren't, she was 'Granger', as everyone knew Hermione as the witch from the Chocolate Frog cards:
'Hermione Jean Granger.
Hermione Granger was notable for her role alongside Harry Potter in the downfall of Lord Voldemort.
She was widely considered the brightest witch of her year at Hogwarts.
Hermione also formed the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.).
She also contributed to the demise of pro-pureblood laws through her work in the Dept. of Magical Law Enforcement.
She is married to Ron Weasley, and has two children; Hugo and Rose.'
So Rose didn't feel any pressure at all to live up to her mother...
Hermione turned to address the school.
"Welcome back, everyone! It's fantastic to see you all sat here before me, ready to learn at the start of a new year!" A few people rolled their eyes at the 'ready to learn part'. "I could make a speech, but now is not the time, for we have a more pressing matter on our hands: The Sorting!" There was a smattering of applause. "Professor McGonagall, over to you!" Hermione sat down as a line of terrified looking first years entered the hall, lead by the Transfiguration Professor.
The Sorting Hat sang its song, this time about how Hogwarts will always be 'Stronger united, weaker divided' and the importance of 'Inter-House ties'. Rose was getting a niggling feeling that she had some idea of what her Mum had planned.
"Abercrombie, Stewart!" called McGonagall.
A skinny boy with large ears sat on the chair, crossing and uncrossing his legs nervously, and had the Sorting Hat placed upon his head.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" It shrieked, as a cheer rose from the Hufflepuff table, and Stewart joined the badgers.
Rose allowed herself to slip into a daydream, only coming out of her reverie to cheer every time a first year became a Gryffindor, or when her stomach rumbled.
Finally, Professor McGonagall called: "Zoster, Emily!" forward and she became a Ravenclaw.
It wasn't in Hermione's nature to make a long speech before eating, as being married to Ron had taught her that if you don't eat quickly, then you don't eat. So Hermione just said:
"Welcome, first years! I hope you enjoy your time at Hogwarts, for it is an experience that lasts a lifetime. I could say more; about the history of the school, and what the lessons will include, but you will learn all that soon enough. So for now, let's eat!" She nodded, and the tables filled with all the food you could possibly imagine, until they were creaking under the weight.
Rose and Molly forgot about everything other than their food, and began to eat. Rose helped herself to a large portion of chicken and gravy, with peas and potatoes, trying her best not to look greedy, but, as she did every year, gave up when pudding arrived. Both girls looked at each other, before simultaneously diving for the chocolate cake. However, neither reached it, as Al had decided that he deserved a large slice first.
"Al!" exclaimed Rose, in joking exasperation.
"What? You two have been greedy enough already. Anyway, I don't think I'm gonna let you have any, Rosie,"
"Why not?"
"Well, I notice a certain Slytherin idiot somehow made it into school, despite being unconscious when I last saw him. And you were the only one left on the train at the time. Why did you help him, Rose?"
Rose sighed, and put her cutlery down. "I don't know, I just felt mean-"
"Mean?" exclaimed Albus, "Why did you feel mean?"
"Well, if you'd been in Malfoy's position, wouldn't you have wanted to be helped?"
"Yeah, but I wouldn't have been insulting anyone in the first place! And this is Malfoy we're talking about! Why do you care what he wants?"
"You helped Malfoy?" asked Molly in shock "You helped that moron?"
"Yeah, ok, I helped him! I assisted a Slytherin who was unconscious on a train, after I'd helped put him there, and was in danger of being sent back to London! Just because I have a sense of decency that you don't seem to, Al, doesn't mean you have to turn the tables and make me look like the bad guy!"
Rose would've stormed off there and then if Hermione hadn't clapped her hands, causing the now empty plates to disappear, and silence to descend on the room.
She stood up.
"I am aware that you are all now tired, but I have an extremely important announcement to make, so if you could all pay attention, especially the 4th years."
Rose, Molly and Albus all jerked their heads towards the headmistress. Was she finally going to explain what was going on this year?
"Since last year, the Ministry have decided that Inter-House ties are extremely important. The way that prejudices and stereotypes have been created over the years, and passed through the generations, based on which House an individual is in, needs to stop, as it has caused tension and rivalry throughout Hogwarts, and even occurs after you have left school, for one never leaves their House behind. The Ministry wished to add an extra lesson to your timetable, which would include learning about the history of other Houses, as well as your own, and the importance of not allowing stereotypical views to affect you."
There was a murmur of horror through the students. Normal lessons were bad enough, but ones without magic?
"However, I managed to talk them out of it, and into a solution which I thought you may all enjoy more. So, it is with great pleasure that I announce the first Inter-House Challenge!"
Uncertain applause swept through the hall, as no-one really knew what the Inter-House Challenge was. Hermione didn't seem to mind, though.
"The Inter-House Challenge is a series of 5 events that will take place throughout the year. It will involve using a quality that each House values: you will need bravery, intelligence, loyalty and cunning." She nodded at the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin tables, respectively, as she announced each quality. "The challenges will be dangerous, but exciting, and will involve hard work and concentration to win."
"It sounds like the Triwizard Tournament!" Albus whispered, "I was right!"
"I doubt it," Rose told him dryly, "listen,"
"However, you shall not compete alone. The competition is only for the 4th year-" there was an angry outburst from the other students who could not compete, "-for good reason!" Hermione exclaimed "The Ministry feel that the 3rd years and below are too young, whilst the 5th years upwards need to concentrate on their exams." The hubbub dies down, although angry whispers were still audible "So, as I was saying, you shall not compete alone. The 4th year will be split into groups of four, one student from each House will be placed in each group, and this will be your team for the year. The list of teams will be up in each common room by tomorrow morning, as will more information about The Challenge. I suggest that until then you all rest, as school starts officially tomorrow! So, goodnight and good luck!" Hermione stood up, and left the table, which was the students cue to head to their dormitories.
Rose wasn't sure if she liked this idea or not. On one hand she loved the idea of uniting the Houses, and the whole adventure aspect of the Challenge sounded really fun; (that was her Gryffindor-ness showing, she thought) but on the other hand she wasn't the most social person, and preferred to work alone. Talking to people she didn't know, and having to spend time with them to win the tournament sounded stressful, if not impossible.
Molly, however, was over the moon "-this is such a fab idea, your Mum is epic! I can't wait to find out who's in my group, I hope there's a couple of hot lads- that Ravenclaw guy, what's his name... Williams... Nathan Williams or something- well, he's really hot, anyway, and smart, I hear- well, he must be, being in Ravenclaw-"
"I thought that you liked James?"
"Well, I do, but it's best to keep my options open."
Rose shook her head in confusion.
"Rose, you're the smartest person I know, but you just don't get how I feel sometimes! Do you not get crushes on people?"
"Well, yeah-" she was only human.
"Whatever. It's my aim for this year to get you a boyfriend. Shouldn't be hard, I noticed a few lads looking at you in the Great Hall," she grinned.
"Probably because my hair looks weird," Rose replied, trying to flatten it.
"Nah, I can tell what a boy is thinking when he looks at a girl. Or when a boy looks at a boy. Or a girl looks at a girl." She laughed, "I can't wait until you get a boyfriend, Rosie! You might finally understand me!"
With that, Molly spun off down the corridor, giggling her head off, for a reason Rose was yet to understand...