"Whatever life gives you even if it hurts you, just be strong and act like you're okay. Remember: Strong walls shake but never collapse," - Anonymous

This summer was not perfect. Not at all. Rose Potter was by no means a normal girl, even if she wanted you to believe that she was. She had helped defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort when she was an infant, raised by her godfather, and she had magic. The magic that she desperately wanted to practice but wasn't allowed to.

Currently, it was near midnight, and she was lying on her stomach in bed, the blankets were drawn right over her head like a tent. There was no light, only darkness, but that didn't bother her. Rose Potter was trying to become an animagus, and she thought that perhaps she could get her eyes to change if she practiced in the dark. So far she had no luck. Normally she wouldn't have been practicing on her own, but two of her best friends were currently in Egypt and were unable to practice with her.

Of course, she could have asked her godfather, Sirius Black, for assistance, but she knew better than to do so. While he was an animagus, she didn't want him to make her register, so she hid her training from one of the few people who could help her. Instead, she buried herself in her school work (that had only lasted two weeks) and taking care of her family when she wasn't busy. It had been five weeks so far, and she had hardly heard a peep from anyone, including the one friend that could have talked to her if he wished.

Draco Malfoy was a peculiar boy. He was a pure-blood, and practically wizarding royalty at that. His last name carried more weight than even Hagrid could lift, and she knew that he had been learning how to use that name for his whole life. She had never seen him act as he was supposed to until they reached school, though, and even then she knew it was purely an act. Her brother, Harry Potter, was completely under her friend's illusion, though.

Rose stopped practicing, realizing that trying to change one aspect of her physical self at a time was pointless. Besides, she was getting tired, and being tired while trying to change oneself was very dangerous business. She pulled the blanket off of her head and glanced over at the muggle alarm clock that Victoria had gifted her to see that it was one o'clock in the morning. She realized with a jolt that she had been thirteen for an hour without even realizing it.

Another strange thing about Rose Potter was that for once she wasn't looking forward to her birthday. Having always received a party with the Weasley family in attendance she didn't think that her birthday was anything to be excited about if they weren't there. Particularly, two of the red-headed children of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Fred and George Weasley were twins, and they haunted Rose's thoughts at all moments of the night and day. Their laughter, their smiles, even their nearly identical handwriting. She shook her head, smiling at how good of a show they put on. They were identical, oh yes, but she knew better. She saw past their facade, noticing things that somehow all others missed. For instance, the obvious thing that everyone ignored, was that George was left handed. Sure, he had learned to do everything with his right hand, but he was, in fact, left-handed, and that was his default when he didn't think about it.

Rose got out of bed carefully, trying not to disturb her sleeping cat, Maple, who just so happened to be a gift from Fred and Geoge. She walked past Galen's large, empty cage, to her open window. She leaned on the sill, the cool night air pleasant on her face after a long time under the blankets. Galen had been absent for two nights now, so had Hedwig, her twin's owl. Rose wasn't worried about them, though, they had been gone this long before.

Rose, though still rather small for her age, had grown a few inches over the last year. Her fire-engine red hair, however, was staying at its length, just as wavy and stubbornly tangled as always. Her hair ended in the middle of her bum, and somehow accentuated the curves that she had been earning. She was highly annoyed at the weight of the breasts she had developed, but she did like the fact that she nicely filled her jeans now. Her eyes were Hazel, and on her forehead, clearly visible no matter what she did to her hair, was a thin scar, shaped like a bolt of lightning.

Of all of the unusual things about Rose, this scar was the most extraordinary of all. It was a 'souvenir' of the day that her parents, Lily and James Potter, had died. They had been murdered, murdered by the most feared Dark wizard for a hundred years, Lord Voldemort. Harry and Rose had escaped from the same attack with nothing more than a matching set of lightning bolt scars on their foreheads, where Voldemort's curse, instead of killing them, had rebounded upon its originator. Barely alive, Voldemort had fled…

But Rose's twin had come face-to-face with him at Hogwarts. Remembering their last meeting (Rose had stolen the information from her twin through their bond) as she stood at the dark window, Rose had to admit that her twin was lucky to even to have reached his thirteenth birthday.

She scanned the starry sky for a sign of Galen, perhaps soaring back to her with a dead mouse dangling from his beak, expecting praise. Gazing absently over the rooftops, it was a few seconds before Rose realized what she was seeing.

Silhouetted against the golden moon (which was two days away from being a full moon), and growing larger every moment, was a large, strangely lopsided creature, and it was flapping in Rose's direction. She stood quite still, watching it sink lower and lower. For a split second, she hesitated, her hand on the window latch, wondering whether to slam it shut. But then the bizarre creature soared over one of the street lamps of the road, and Rose, realizing what it was, leaped aside.

Through the window soared three owls, two of them holding up the third, which appeared to be unconscious. They landed with a soft flump on Rose's bed, and the middle owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. There was a large package tied to its legs.

Rose recognized the unconscious owl at once - his name was Errol, and he belonged to the Weasley family. Rose dashed to the bed, untied the cords around Errol's legs, took off the parcel, and then carried Errol to Galen's cage. Errol opened one bleary eye, gave a feeble hoot of thanks, and began to gulp some water.

Rose returned to the remaining owls, to see Maple watching them with interest.
"Don't you dare," she said, pointing her finger sternly in the cat's direction.

One of the remaining owls, a large male barn owl, was her own Galen. He, too, was carrying a parcel and looked extremely pleased with himself. He gave Rose an affectionate nip with his beak as she removed his burden, then flew across the room to join Errol.

Rose didn't recognize the third owl, a handsome tawny one, but she knew at once where it had come from, because in addition to a third package, it was carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts crest. When Rose relieved this owl of its burden, it ruffled its feathers importantly, stretched its wings, and took off through the window into the night.

Rose sat down on her bed and grabbed Errol's package, ripped off the brown paper, and discovered a present wrapped in gold, and a birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, she opened the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out - a letter and a newspaper clipping.

The clipping had clearly come out of the Daily Prophet because the people in the black-and-white picture was moving. Rose picked up the clipping, smoothed it out, and read:

MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE

SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, as won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.

A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank."

The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.

Rose scanned the moving photograph, and a grin spread across her face as she saw all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at her, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump little Mrs. Weasley; tall, balding Mr. Weasley; six sons; and one daughter, all (though the black-and-white picture didn't show it) with flaming-red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangly, with his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny. On opposite sides of the picture stood Fred and George, the two people that she had wanted to see most of all, their smiling, winking faces made her heart flutter and she held the picture to her chest.

Rose couldn't think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were very nice and extremely poor. She picked up the letter from the twins and unfolded it.

Dear Rose,

Happy birthday!

Egypt is absolutely amazing! We tried to lock Percy in a pyramid, but mum went absolutely mental! No sense of humor, that one.

Bill's taken us all around the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.

Then the handwriting changed, but just barely. She wasn't sure whose handwriting was whose, but she did know that they were taking turns writing to her.

Dear Rose,
Happy birthday!

Couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this trip, but we had enough to get you a gift. Thought you might appreciate it as it is your birthday and all.

I'm sure we'll have much more to give you when we get back. We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to get all of our school supplies. We better see you there.

They both signed their names, probably one signing the others to throw her off, and then the next few words were handed back and forth.

P.S. Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week.

Rose glanced back at the photograph. Percy, who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian sun.

Rose now turned to her present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a simple mirror. There was another note from the twins underneath it.

Rose- this is a Two-Way Mirror. If you ever need or want to talk to us and we're not there, you just have to say our names. You'll appear on our mirror and we'll be able to talk. If you don't use it soon, we'll be forced to use ours instead.

Bye -

Fred

George

Rose put the mirror on her bedside table, where it stood facing her, reflecting the luminous numbers of her clock. She looked at it happily for a few seconds, before picking up the parcel that Galen had brought.

Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card, and a letter, this time from Hermione.

Dear Rose,

I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you - what if they'd opened it at customs? - but then Galen and Hedwig turned up! I think they wanted to make sure you both got your presents early, seeing as the Weasley's won't be there for a birthday party this year. Speaking of which, did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet Ron's learning loads. I'm really jealous - the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating.

There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. Beginning to learn French last year was really helpful! I'm just sad you never practiced with me. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out. I hope it's not too long- it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for.

Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. Do you think you and Harry can make it? Will your guardians let you decide? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts express on September first!

Love from

Hermione

P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased. Ron doesn't seem too happy about it.

Rose laughed as she put Hermione's letter aside and picked up her present. It wasn't all that heavy, which surprised Rose, as Hermione typically sent large books full of knowledge. She smiled broadly when she found a revealer, and vial upon vial of invisible ink, only visible when wet. Each vial was labeled with a different color for when they were finally revealed and Rose could only think of all of the mischief she could get up to with these items.

Rose put the box to the side and picked up her last parcel. She recognized the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at once: this was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. She tore off the top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before she could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver and whatever was inside it snapped loudly - as though it had jaws.

Rose froze. She knew that Hagrid would never intentionally send her something dangerous, but his perception of danger was skewed. Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin.

Rose poked the parcel nervously. It snapped loudly again. Rose reached for the lamp on her bedside table, gripped it firmly in one hand, and raised it over her head, ready to strike. Then she seized the rest of the wrapping paper in her other hand and pulled.

And out fell - a book. Rose just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab.

"Uh-oh," Rose muttered.

The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Rose followed stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under her desk. Praying that Sirius and Remus wouldn't hear and panic, Rose got down on her hands and knees and reached toward it.

"Ouch!"

The book snapped shut on her hand and then flapped past her, still scuttling on its covers. Rose scrambled around, threw herself forward and managed to flatten it. Sirius gave a loud, sleepy groan in the room down the hall. Rose shook her head, marveling that the man was supposed to keep anyone safe.

Galen and Errol watched interestedly as Rose clamped the struggling book tightly in her arms, hurried to her chest of drawers, and pulled out a belt, which she buckled tightly around it. The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Rose threw it down on the bed and reached for Hagrid's card.

Dear Rose,

Happy birthday!

Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope that you're having a good holiday.

All the best,

Hagrid

It struck Rose as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but she put Hagrid's card up next to the Weasley twins and Hermione's, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left.

Noticing that it was rather thicker than usual, Rose slit open the envelope, pulled out the first page of parchment within, and read:

Dear Ms. Potter,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.

Third years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.

A list of your books for next year is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Rose pulled out the Hogsmeade permission form and looked at it, her whole body thrumming with excitement. Finally! Hogsmeade! She could visit Zonko's, the three broomsticks, even Madam Puddifoot's!

She looked over at the alarm clock. It was now two o'clock in the morning.

Deciding that she'd bother her guardian in the morning, Rose got back into bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart she'd made for herself, counting down the days left until her return to Hogwarts. Then she lay down, eyes open, facing her three birthday cards.

Extremely unusual though she was, at the moment Rose Potter felt just like everyone else - glad that it was her birthday.

Rose went down to breakfast the next morning to find that Remus, Sirius, Victoria, and Harry were already sitting around the kitchen table. There was food already there and Rose's eyes went wide before she smiled knowingly, "Thank you, Victoria!"

Victoria just nodded her head in Rose's direction, nursing a cup of coffee in her hands. Rose kissed the top of Harry's head before she sat down and smiled happily, "Happy birthday, Harry!"

"Happy birthday, Rose! We made it another one!"

Rose snorted and shook her head, resisting the urge to remind her brother that he had just barely survived. That particular vein of discussion was very touchy at the moment, as her brother had been doing numerous chores and had been lectured frequently on the fact that his life mattered and that he needed to watch over it better.

Sirius was practically bouncing in his seat, and Remus was shaking his head at him. Rose looked between the two in interest, "Well, spill."

Sirius took a gigantic breath, but Remus was the one to speak, "I accepted the teaching job."

There was a moment of silence. Soon Harry and Rose were out of their seats, simultaneously yelling, "Really?!"

Remus laughed at their enthusiasm, "Yes, really. I figured it's been long enough, it's only time to accept."

Rose hugged him tightly and laughed happily. This was going to be the best year ever! Finally, there was nothing dangerous happening or going to happen, there was no way that Remus would let any harm come to her or Harry!

The summer that had started terribly was going to end beautifully, and Rose was so, so thankful for that.