Chapter Text
You say you want a revolution? Well, we all want to change the world…
September 1st, 2017 – King’s Cross Station
The crisp autumn air felt cool against Albus Potter’s face while he leaned out of the window to watch his father walk alongside the Hogwarts Express. The scarlet train was already beginning to pick up speed. He gave his father a final wave just as the train disappeared around the bend, leaving platform nine and three-quarters behind. With a sigh, the young raven-haired boy pulled away from the window and turned to his cousin.
“Come on, Rosie,” he said. “We should go find Alice. We promised to meet her on the train”
Rose nodded and the pair made their way down the busy corridor of the train hoping to find their friend. Albus was leading their search past several occupied compartments when the Express lurched on a turn. The sudden movement caused Rose to lose her balance just as a familiar head of platinum-blond hair emerged from a nearby compartment.
Expecting the hard floor, Rose squeezed her blue eyes shut and braced herself for the fall—only it never came. She fell onto something soft, warm, and distinctly human.
She opened her eyes slowly, her lips forming a small ‘O’ in surprise when she realized what had happened. A boy had broken her fall. Rose looked up to meet the gray eyes of her savior and her cheeks flushed a very Weasley-ish shade of pink as he steadied her. When their eyes met for a fraction of a second, Malfoy shared the same look of surprise before a mask of indifference fell into place.
Of course, it had to be him— Malfoy.
She could remember her father pointing him and his parents out moments ago on the platform. Malfoy was taller than her by a few inches, perhaps about as tall as Albus and just as lanky. He wore his Hogwarts robes neatly pressed and platinum hair slicked back with not a strand out of place. Perfect.
“Are you alright?” he asked after a moment of awkward silence.
“Yes, thank you,” she said, “I… I'm sorry about that—”
He took a step back and waved his hand dismissively, interrupting her apology, “No harm done.”
The sound of a door sliding open drew their attention, and another head of pale blond hair poked out of a compartment behind him. Rose could see a resemblance between the two boys and wondered if they were cousins.
“Scorpius, there you are!”
Scorpius rolled his eyes at the newcomer. “I'll be right there, Damian.”
“Get a move on then. We don't have all day you know.”
Scorpius nodded to the other boy and Damian disappeared into the compartment again.
“See you around, Weasley.” He said, sparing the redhead a final glance.
Before she could reply, Albus, who had been completely ignored in the exchange, grabbed her hand and started tugging her in the opposite direction. A moment later, Rose heard the compartment door shut behind them. Scorpius Malfoy was gone.
“Come on, Rose!” Albus hissed.
Still rather stunned, Rose allowed Albus to lead her half-way down the corridor before snapping out of her reverie.
“Al...” Rose said tugging on the sleeve of her cousin’s robes. “Slow down!”
Satisfied that they were alone again, Albus sighed and let go. They fell into step together, walking in subdued silence while searching several more compartments. Finally, they found Alice sitting alone in one of the last compartments. Alice Longbottom was a very pretty girl; she had wavy caramel-colored hair, hazel eyes, and a pale cherub’s face. Albus, Rose, and Alice had known each other since they were all in diapers and were very close as a result.
“It's about time you two got here!” Alice exclaimed as Rose dropped down into the seat across from her. “What took you so long?”
Despite her irritation at them for making her wait, Alice's bright smile lit up her face; she was happy to see her best friends. In her excitement, however, she failed to notice their tense mood. Albus stepped into the compartment and slid the door shut behind him before joining Rose on the cushioned seat.
“What was that all about?” Albus burst out suddenly, frowning at Rose.
“What?” Rose asked.
“You were nice to…Malfoy.”
“So?” Rose replied, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Wait,” Alice interrupted, “what happened?”
“Rose had a klutz attack in front of Malfoy just now,” Albus explained.
“I did not have a klutz attack! I don’t have klutz attacks.” Rose said indignantly, crossing her arms.
Alice laughed, “I thought I was the klutz.”
She rolled her eyes at Albus and went on to relay the whole story, “the train jerked around a bit when it rounded the bend and I stumbled…right into him.”
“You were blushing,” Albus pointed out.
“So, you stumbled into Malfoy and…” Alice asked.
“Yes,” Rose replied with a shrug. “He was actually pretty decent about it.”
Albus made a face and scoffed, “sure he was.”
“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Alice cut in. “So they bumped into each other. What of it?”
“You should have seen it, Alice. She was blushing and acting all sorts of ridiculous.”
“You've said that already.” Alice reminded him wryly. She was clearly amused by this story.
“It’s called being embarrassed. I didn’t know that having good manners is supposed to be ridiculous. I was only being polite, Al” Rose said, frowning at him.
“Don’t mind him, Rose. He’s the one that's being ridiculous. All boys are quite capable of being complete prats when they want to be.”
“I am not being ridiculous!” he said defensively. It was Albus’ turn for a little indignation. “He’s going to be a Slytherin like his father. The Malfoys are nothing but trouble, and what did he mean by, ‘see you around, Weasley’ anyway. That sounded pretty ominous to me.”
“We go to the same school. Obviously, he just meant what he said; that he’d ‘see me around.’ I really don’t see why you are all worked up about this.”
Irritation was seeping into Rose's tone, clearly indicating that she'd had enough of the subject. She had heard all of the same stories about the Malfoys that Albus had; about the Malfoy’s part in the war, the rivalry between their families, and the countless reasons as to why they were no good.
It seemed like the entire Potter-Weasley family had something to say about Malfoys and Slytherins in general. Somehow, Rose still didn't see what all the fuss was about. This boy, though he looked enough like his father, was not the same person. Rose was not going to judge him because of his father's past. It was in her nature to give people the benefit of a doubt, and besides, she was too stubborn to let anyone else make up her mind for her. Albus's close-mindedness was grating on her nerves.
Thankfully, Albus had caught on to the change in her tone and tactfully changed the subject. From then on the three children chattered excitedly about Hogwarts and all of their expectations. Within minutes Rose had forgotten all about her irritation with Albus. There would be so much to learn at Hogwarts; countless spells, potions, charms, and all kinds of magical creatures. Oh and the books! Hogwarts housed the largest collection of books that Rose could ever imagine in their library.
The conversation carried on well through into the day, and at some point during the ride, an old witch with a tea trolley came with various treats. The kids purchased some pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs for lunch. Not long after they’d had their fill of sweets night fell and it started to rain. The occupants of the train grew more subdued, speaking in hushed voices or dozing off as the pitter-patter of rain lulled them to sleep.
Rose was only abstractly listening to Albus and Alice as they talked about magical creatures that could be found in the forbidden forest and the deep waters of the lake. She caught only bits about overgrown spiders and mermaids before completely tuning them out. While she watched the passing scenery and the storm brewing outside of her window, her mind was already thinking ahead to the sorting ceremony that awaited them. There was very little time before they would arrive at Hogwarts and then they would be sorted into one of the four founding houses of the school. This would be one of the most defining moments in their lives; for the next seven years, they would have to live with whatever house they were sorted into and their would-be housemates.
The sorting ceremony was something that Rose had thought about ever since receiving her acceptance letter. She had done her research about the founders, asked her mother about what the sorting was like when she'd been sorted in her first year, and it all came back to one conclusion. Every Weasley since as far back as anyone could remember had been sorted into Gryffindor, and that was where she wanted to be.
No amount of research was going to change that. And yet—Rose couldn't help but notice how easily she could fit in Ravenclaw. A seed of doubt, the tiniest fear that she would be the only one in her family to be sorted outside of Gryffindor was planted in her mind. She would be the odd one out, an outcast in her family.
Her father's words before boarding the Express were really starting to hit home. The whole thing was just so absurd. He had only been teasing, Rose knew. Her family would love her no matter what. The fears she harbored were quite unfounded. The desire to belong, however, was far stronger than any other, especially for an eleven-year-old.
When Rose shared these fears with her mother, it only made her feel monumentally worse. Her mother, much to her dismay, had been enthusiastic about the idea of a Ravenclaw in the family. Hermione Weasley didn't see anything wrong with her daughter being sorted into a different house. In fact, she thought there was a good possibility that Rose would find a better fit with the Ravenclaws. Rose didn't think so, and it was after having this particular conversation that she decided against talking about it with anyone else.
When the train pulled into Hogsmeade station it was still raining. The children walked out into a drizzle and got soaked in a matter of minutes. Several large, black carriages awaited the older students, while an extraordinarily large figure with a graying beard called to the first years. They could see his bright candle-lit lamp and converged on him immediately, staying huddled together for warmth.
Rubeus Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures professor, towered over the group as he herded them underneath an enormous umbrella, toward a small pier with about a dozen little boats. With the rain bearing down on them, the professor wasted no time in putting them into groups of four per boat. He picked Rose, Alice, and Albus out of the flock right away.
Beaming, he waved at them. “All right there, Albus? Rosie? Alice?”
“Hi, Hagrid,” Albus called, smiling up at the half-giant.
“Hullo!” Rose and Alice chimed in together. The girls were beaming as well.
At last, all of the children were sorted into their boats. Rose's little party of three and a boy named Seeley Brennan shared a boat while Hagrid, being so large, had one all to himself. As if by magic, the little boats took off across the lake all at once. The one lamp led the way through the dark and rainy night. Everyone was too excited to even worry about being drenched in the rain and the misty fog that fell over them. They drifted almost lazily along what looked like a rather ghostly lake given the current weather.
It wasn't till after they passed underneath the cave of a waterfall that a massive structure loomed over them from the hillside, a castle with its many turrets and towers hidden here from most of the world. The amazement of the students could be heard in earnest as their boat ride came to an end at another small pier at the base of the castle grounds. The children clambering out of the boats and were all accounted for before following Hagrid up to the castle entrance. They hurried up the stone steps eager to get out of the rain and even more so to explore their new home.
Hagrid went ahead making their arrival known with three loud, resounding knocks on the castle's immense oak doors. They opened with a creak and a shudder revealing a tall, young-looking witch. Though she was young, she was clearly past the age of a Hogwarts student. She wore crisp, olivine-colored robes, and her long hair fell loosely around her shoulders in golden waves. There was a soft expression in her blue eyes as her gaze fell upon the newest batch of Hogwarts students.
“Evening, Hagrid,” she called to the larger man. The woman spoke with a strong authoritative cadence tempered by a faint Scottish lilt.
“Evening, Professor Braley,” Hagrid said in return, “Horrible weather out there tonight. Better get these little ones inside.”
“Yes, thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here.”
“Come children,” she said, “this way, please. Let's get all of you dried up first.”
She performed a drying spell as each child passed through the entrance. It was instant relief from the wet clothes that clung to their bodies. After each child was cared for, Professor Braley, led the way to a small antechamber adjoining the Great Hall.
“Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” she announced. Like her predecessor, Braley had the sort of presence that commanded the attention of a room with just a look.
“I am Professor Braley. I will be your transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts as well as Head of Slytherin House and Deputy Headmistress.” she went on. “In a moment, we will be entering the Great Hall to proceed with the house sorting ceremony. Some of you may already be aware that we have four founding houses to which you will all be sorted. I have already mentioned Slytherin house; the others are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. The house you are sorted into will be your home, and your housemates will be your family for the duration of your stay here. As a family, you will share in your triumphs and earn house points. By the same token, any rule breaking will result in the loss of said points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded the House Cup, which is a tremendous honor. The ceremony should be about to start. If everyone will excuse me for a moment, I shall be right back once we are ready for you.”
Professor Braley disappeared through the doors they had come in and excitement erupted among the waiting first years.
“What house do you think we'll be sorted into?” Alice asked curiously.
“I’m not sure. . .” Albus replied. He sounded a little anxious, though he kept his reservations to himself.
“This is a little nerve-wracking... not knowing,” Rose admitted while sneaking a glance at Malfoy who was nearby.
Scorpius met her gaze making Rose shy away before anyone else noticed.
“You two need to relax.” Alice admonished looking amused, taking Rose’s discomfort as nervousness rather than embarrassment.
The buzz of excitement died down as soon as the young professor stepped back into the antechamber. She organized them into two straight lines and led them out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. The ceremony was about to start, and Rose stood behind Alice in line thinking that the wait and 'not knowing' was more than just a little nerve-wracking. It was downright terrifying.
The change in atmosphere was instantaneous. The noise in the Great Hall fell to a whisper as all attention was given to the first years being marched into the middle of the cavernous room. It was truly a place of wonder, lit by thousands upon thousands of candles that floated over four long tables where the rest of the students were sitting. Awe spread over the cluster of young students as they looked up and noticed the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall for the first time. It was currently reflecting the ominous weather outside with lightning streaking sporadically through the evening sky.
The children stood mesmerized by the sight until Professor Braley called their attention to a stool set in front of them. On top of the stool was a peculiar-looking, pointed wizard's hat. The hat looked ancient. It was frayed and patched in several places. There were even spots that looked singed as though it had caught fire. Other than its age, there did not seem to be anything extraordinary about it until a seam ripped open like a mouth and the hat began to sing. It wove its tale in rhyme, telling of the four Hogwarts houses, and of the unique qualities that the founders valued in their students.
With the hat's song sung, the entire hall erupted into a round of applause. Braley waited a moment while everyone settled down and began to unravel a long roll of parchment.
“Alright, as I call each of your names you will take a seat on the stool and put the Sorting Hat on your head. Once the hat has made a decision, you may join your peers at the appropriate table,” she said.
“Alderton, Sharon!”
A wiry brunette girl standing three behind Rose, turned pale white, before rushing forward to the stool. She put the hat on her head and took a seat. There was only a very short pause and then—
“HUFFLEPUFF!” proclaimed the hat.
A cheer rose from the table closest to the door on the right as they welcomed Sharon into their midst.
“Baddock, Rodney!”
A boy stepped out of line and strode right up to the stool. He didn't look quite as nervous as the other children when Braley placed the hat on his head.
“SLYTHERIN!” the hat belted out at once.
The second table from the right stood this time, greeting their new house-mate with whoops and cheers.
Next, a pair of twin boys, Aiden and Austen Boot, joined the second table from the left. They were the first to be sorted into Ravenclaw.
The Slytherin table welcomed another student, a girl this time. Professor Braley was positively beaming as Mackenzie Braley, a girl with pretty blond curls, bright blue eyes, and a striking resemblance to the professor stepped out of line to be sorted. They both seemed to be pleased by the sorting hat’s choice.
A boy by the name of Seeley Brennan was the first to be sorted into Gryffindor. A round of cheers rose from the table on the far left as the brunette went to sit with them. From where she stood, Rose could see her cousins dominating a large portion of the rowdy table.
Eric Cadwallader and Benjamin Carmichael both became Ravenclaws followed by a Miles Cattermole who was sorted into Hufflepuff.
The C’s continued with Johanna Cauldwell, who was sorted into Hufflepuff, Paige Corner, who was sorted into Slytherin, Delia Creevey who was sorted into Gryffindor, and finally, Danica Cresswell was sorted into Ravenclaw.
This was barely the tip of the iceberg, there were several students left to be sorted before getting to Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley.
“Davies, Tyler!”
“RAVENCLAW!”
“Entwhistle, Leonora,” another Ravenclaw took her seat.
“Finnigan, Teague!”
Rose and Albus both recognized the sandy-haired, freckle-faced boy that stepped forward this time. Teague’s parents had been in the same house and year as theirs. He grinned at them as he marched forward to put the hat on his head.
There were only a few seconds of deliberation before the hat bellowed, “GRYFFINDOR!”
“Flanagan, Payton!”
“SLYTHERIN!”
“Fortescue, Naomi!”
“GRYFFINDOR!”
The names continued as Naomi joined her brother Andrew at Gryffindor table.
“Hayes, Jessica!”
“RAVENCLAW!”
Logan Kirke was sorted into Gryffindor and then they’d come to the L’s.
Professor Braley called for Alice. For a whole minute, she stood frozen until Rose nudged her forward.
“Longbottom, Alice!” the professor repeated when Alice hadn't immediately come forward.
Poor Alice nervously walked up to the stool and tried on the hat. It was on her head for barely a second or two before it announced, “GRYFFINDOR!” Grinning happily she tore off the pointed hat and hurried off to join the Weasleys.
After Alice, a Hufflepuff, Ephraim Macmillan was sorted.
Then Scorpius Malfoy, the boy who’d saved Rose from a fall, was next. He strode confidently up to the stool and the hat was shouting, “SLYTHERIN!” when it’d just barely touched his blond head. As soon as the hat made its proclamation, Malfoy went to join the other blond, his cousin, Damian at their table.
Albus turned to Rose, giving her a smug ‘I told you so.’ look. Rose frowned at him and turned away to watch as Angela McKenna was sorted into Ravenclaw. Dylan Montague joined Malfoy's group at the Slytherin’s table followed by Keely Moore who went to sit with Angela and the other Ravenclaws
Another pair of dark-haired twins, Druce and Dympna O'Shea, filled the ranks in Slytherin.
And then—
“Potter, Albus!”
Rose wished him luck as he gathered all of his nerve and went off to try on the hat. Albus looked so anxious sitting there on the stool with the attention of the entire hall upon him. During the long pause as the sorting deliberated, it seemed like everyone was waiting with bated breath to see where the sorting hat would place Harry Potter’s second son.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, the sorting hat shouted its verdict “SLYTHERIN!”
The entire hall fell quiet enough to hear a pin drop. There was a look of sheer horror on Albus’s face as he slipped off the hat and set it back on the stool. He looked over and met Rose’s eyes reflecting the same surprise as his. All eyes followed Albus as he strode toward the Slytherin table and joined his new housemates who were equally stunned into silence. He looked utterly lost sitting as far from the other Slytherins as possible.
The tension seemed to dissipate when Professor Braley called the next student, another Slytherin named June Riggio. The Slytherin table roared with renewed vigorous applause, breaking the silence.
As the professor continued down the list, the momentary lapse seemed forgotten to everyone but the more subdued Potters and Weasleys. A third set of twins, which was a rarity to see within the same term, were sorted. Emmett and Jillian Robards became the next Gryffindors. Only a handful of students were left, Aimee Summerby became a Hufflepuff and Rose knew she would be next.
Rose was terrified. She had been so worried about being separated from the whole family that she never once imagined that it would be Albus. Rose had been so sure. So certain that all of her cousins, especially Albus, would be sorted into Gryffindor. That they were meant to be there together. The sorting hat irrevocably changed everything by placing him, her best friend and closest confidant, in Slytherin.
Her thoughts were disrupted by her name being called, Rose took a deep breath and exhaled before she started toward the stool. With each step she took, the Sorting Hat seemed to be farther and farther away. It was only her mind playing tricks on her of course. The stool was no farther away than it had been before. With a second deep breath and another few steps, Rose was finally situated on the stool with the hat on her head.
“What's this? They’ve sent me another Weasley, eh? Oh, but you are a rare one aren't you? Not like the rest of your lot. Exceptional talent, potential, and intelligence such as yours belongs in Raven—”
“No!” she hissed, whispering urgently to the hat. She squirmed in her seat looking distressed. “Please, not Ravenclaw! Not Ravenclaw! I don’t belong there!”.
“Such a pity, Ravenclaw seems like a much better fit. Oh well, off you get with yours” the Hat relented, “GRYFFINDOR!”
“Thank, Merlin!” Rose said under her breath, relieved.
Yanking the hat off her head she hurried to join her family. The whole of Gryffindor house greeted her with another round of enthusiastic cheer. Rose was immediately in the arms of her cousin Louis. He lifted her off her feet with a hug and spun her around.
"Well done!" he said as he set her back down.
It was bitter-sweet to receive the welcome that should have been Albus’s as well. Their eyes met across the hall one more time before he hunched down in his seat and looked away from the happy reunion.
“Well done, Rose!” Victoire chimed in as well with a proud smile. None of them could stop smiling as they made room for her at the table between her cousin Molly, and Alice. All except for James, who kept glancing back across at Albus with a stunned look on his face. Taking her seat across from him, Rose reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
James smiled half-heartedly and returned the gesture. “Welcome to Gryffindor. ”
There were only two more left to be sorted after Rose. Lewis Whitby became a Hufflepuff and the ceremony concluded with Scarlet Zabini being sorted into Slytherin. With all of the new first years seated, the Deputy removed the stool and hat from the hall and joined the rest of the professors at the staff table taking her place beside the Headmistress.
The school’s headmistress, a tall and severe-looking woman stood at the head table and surveyed her students. She had aged gracefully during her long tenure at the school. Minerva began as a fresh-faced new transfigurations teacher after deciding that working for the Ministry wasn’t for her. She dedicated her life to molding young minds following the course of her good friend and mentor, Albus Dumbledore. It would soon be time to pass the baton to the next. McGonagall knew her age had finally caught up with her. Her hair still combed back into a tight bun, now graying. Her eyes no longer as sharp even with the square spectacles so familiar that even she could not remember being without them. Aches and pains could no longer be ignored nor magicked away. The Headmistress was no longer a ‘sprightly’ woman of seventy.
Sprightly or not, she was still a commanding presence and the students fell silent, waiting for her to address them.
“Good Evening, Students.” Minerva said, “I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress of this fine institution. Before we tuck in for tonight’s feast, I would like to welcome all of our new first years as well as our returning students for a new year of learning at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
She paused for a moment, allowing for a smattering of applause before she continued, “Please, enjoy the feast.”
As McGonagall said the words, all of the serving dishes in front of them were filled with various types of hot, tasty food. Every goblet was filled to the brim with chilled pumpkin juice. Platters of roast beef, roast chicken, and thick stews among a mouth-watering variety of other things were laid out for the students to choose from. The headmistress took her seat as the meal was underway.
Everyone at the Gryffindor table was eagerly enjoying their dinner except for the Weasley clan. They were all wearing varying expressions of disappointment after the sorting. Rose couldn’t bring herself to find any enjoyment in the large assortment of food even though she had been famished after the long train ride. It just didn’t feel right not to have Albus sitting with them. She had picked out a few things at random just for something to do and took a few bites before pushing her plate away, abandoning the pretense. Rose took to nursing her goblet of chilled juice.
Once everyone ate their fill and then some, the remains of the meal disappeared leaving the dishes sparkling clean again just in time for all the wonderful desserts that appeared only moments later. Ice cream in every imaginable flavor, pies, tarts, cakes, doughnuts, and various puddings…
A bowl of strawberry ice cream topped with whipped cream and chopped nuts was slid in front of Rose. She looked up at Alice who was sitting beside her and was about to decline the offer of sweets, but the blonde stopped her.
“Go on. You’ve got to eat something. I know strawberry is your favorite and it’ll cheer you up.”
Sighing, Rose picked up a spoon and nodded. She started to listen in on some of the conversation going on around her as a distraction. The first years were all asking dozens of questions about the castle and lessons. Some even inquired about the professors sitting up at the staff table. Alice was quite pleased to announce that her father was Professor Neville Longbottom, the Herbology teacher and head of Gryffindor house.
Many of the older students liked him. Surprisingly enough, Professor Braley was also quite popular among the Gryffindors too. They didn't seem to have a single bad thing to say about her despite being the head of Slytherin. They all enjoyed her Transfigurations lessons, large quantities of homework aside.
Rose started to lose interest in the conversation when it went back to comparing summer holidays. She noticed the last of her ice cream had turned into a melted mess just before the desserts disappeared and everything was cleared off the tables.
Professor McGonagall stood once again and the lively chatter quieted instantly as everyone gave her their undivided attention “Before we all head off to our warm beds I have a few important announcements to make. First years, it should be noted that venturing into the forest on school grounds is forbidden to all students. This should also serve as a reminder to the rest of you that it is for your own safety that the forest is out of bounds... Secondly, there will be no magic being used between classes nor in the corridors. Furthermore, please do be careful with the moving staircases as some of you have been known to lose your way in the castle. Should you find yourselves in need of assistance defer to your prefects, head boy, and girl, as well as any member of the Hogwarts staff.”
There was the briefest hint of a smile before McGonagall continued, “I am sure that this next news will interest many of you. Quidditch trials will begin in the second week of term. Those of you second years and above that are interested in playing for your house team, please feel free to contact Mr. Oliver Wood.
“Fifth and seventh years, toward the end of the term you will be taking your O.W.L and N.E.W.T examinations. I can’t express how important it is to study hard with ready and open minds.
“Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that this will be my last term as your Headmistress. It has been an honor and such a joy to mold so many young minds and watch you all grow into promising young ladies and gentlemen. I am sure that our esteemed Professor Braley will continue to follow Hogwarts traditions as the new Headmistress next term.”
Whispers spread throughout the hall about Professor McGonagall's retirement as well as a fair bit of excitement for Professor Braley. The students were sad to hear the news, but it was clear they weren’t disappointed about the Head of Slytherin’s promotion. It did bring up the question as to who would then take over for the Slytherins.
McGonagall cleared her throat and the hall returned to order. “Well, then that is everything for tonight. It is time for bed. First years, please follow the prefects to your house common rooms in an orderly fashion.”
With the Headmistress’s dismissal, the prefects took this as their cue to gather the younger students and steer them to their respective common rooms. Victoire, who had been made Head Girl, led them out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase. The first years shuffled after her sleepily barely paying attention to her warning that the stairs tended to have a mind of their own and moved at the most unexpected and inopportune moments.
Rose was distracted by the Slytherins which were being led in the opposite direction. She watched as Scorpius Malfoy's familiar blond head followed by Albus disappeared behind a tapestry that looked like it was hiding a flight of stairs that went further down into the bowels of the school. Rose sighed. Was she really supposed to believe that Malfoy was such an awful person just because his father and grandfather had been, or because he was a Slytherin? Albus was certainly not. Perhaps the Slytherins weren’t as bad as they thought.
She stifled a yawn and put the thoughts out of her mind. Rose had already promised herself that she'd give this boy the benefit of a doubt. At any rate, she wasn't going to abandon her cousin nor make enemies at Hogwarts. Rose wanted to make friends. She wanted to learn and make the best of her experiences at the Wizarding School.
Through hidden panels and doorways, past elaborate tapestries and up several more flights of stairs, the Gryffindors followed Victoire Weasley until they arrived on the seventh floor and trooped toward the end of the corridor. At last, they came to a stop, crowding around a portrait containing a rather portly woman wearing a frilly pink silk dress. The fat lady appeared to be enjoying a tea party with three other women who barely fit in the frame with her.
“Password?” the woman inquired rather peevishly since they had disrupted her party.
“Icarus,” Victoire stated clearly.
Grudgingly, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung forward revealing the large round hole in the wall that was the entrance to the common room. Everyone hurried through, some eager to get to bed, others curious to see the room inside.
The common room was a very warm and pleasant place. A crackling fire in the old fireplace kept the room at a comfortable temperature and there were many red, cushioned armchairs spread out strategically throughout the circular space.
The older kids already knew where they were going so they went on straight to their dorms. Victoire waited till they were all gone before she called for the first years’ attention.
“Alright, if I could have everyone's attention for a moment, please. I know everyone is exhausted and ready for bed, so I'll make this short,” said Victoire, “The girls’ dormitories are through the door on your left, the boys are on the right.
“Please remember that this week's password is 'Icarus'. The password will change every week and you will need to remember it to be admitted into the common room. The Fat Lady in the portrait will not let you through otherwise. If at any time you require assistance please see our head of house, Professor Longbottom, or myself, Victoire Weasley. Does anyone have questions?”
A few scattered yawns were the only response, so Victoire sent everyone off to bed. Rose bid all of her male cousins good night and followed Alice through the door to their dormitories.
The door on the left opened to a spiral staircase that seemed to go up and up for ages. The girls clambered up to the top of a tower or so it seemed—where they finally got to their very comfortable four-poster beds, decked with red velvet curtains and red blankets. There were five beds, one for each of the newly sorted first years and they found that their trunks had already been delivered and each one set in front of a bed. Rose could easily pick out which space would be hers, her trunk with the pretty rose designs carved into the wood was set in front of the bed closest to the door.
The girls all started to get settled for the night. Rose changed into her pajamas and started rummaging through her trunk until she unearthed her brand new, black, leather-bound journal. It was a gift her mother gave her the day they'd gone shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. They had even gotten the journal engraved with her name in gold letters.
With her journal, some color-changing ink, and a quill, Rose settled into bed with her supplies and pulled the hangings around the four-poster bed for some privacy. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and then she began to write the first entry...
1, September 2017
William Shakespeare once wrote: ‘What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’
Today I’ve learned that a name means everything. A name holds a tremendous amount of weight in our society even for someone as young as I am. My name is Rose Weasley. I am eleven years old and this is my first year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tonight is the first night I have ever spent away from home.
Yesterday, at home, I was just Rose Jean Weasley, but here at school, I am also a half-blood, a first year, and a Gryffindor. Personally, I do not care for labels. What I do covet is the acceptance that comes along with each title. Everyone craves acceptance, and I am no exception to that rule. How different would things be if I were anyone else? Would my family and friends still accept me? Will I reach my full potential? I wonder sometimes... but no matter how many names or labels may be attached to me I will always be the same person inside. I’m just a girl. I am just Rose and this is where I’m supposed to be.
Or am I? The sorting hat didn’t think so. The sorting hat didn’t think my cousin Albus Potter, who came from a long line of Gryffindors, belonged here either. Somehow, I got to choose but he didn’t. He is still my cousin. He is still and always will be my best friend no matter the label.
Another boy, a Malfoy. Again, a name and title make all the difference. They tell me he is not a good person because he is a Malfoy. Should the things that his father did in the past define this boy? Or the fact that he is a Slytherin? I don’t know, but I intend to find out. I am always curious.
RJW
Satisfied with her entry, Rose let the ink dry and got out of bed to put her things away. Life was going to be different from now on. She could feel it. Rose got back into bed and blew out the candle on her bedside table hoping to get some sleep.