Hey everyone! This is a story I've been thinking of doing for a little while now. I want to thank my beta rokslite! She's awesome!

I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise. :D

FIRST YEAR

The morning of the first of September had to be the best day Rose Weasley could remember all year. She was finally going to Hogwarts. As nerves jittered in her stomach, she pressed a hand to it over her brand new Hogwarts robes, hoping they would die down.

"I wish I could go too," said her little brother Hugo from next to their mother. She glanced over at him and smiled, queasily.

"It's only two years, Hu. You'll be there before you know it."

With a small sniff, he nodded unhappily. Rose grinned at her dad who patted her shoulder supportively.

"It'll be fine, Rosie Posie. Don't you worry about it."

"After you almost killed us in that car, Ron, who wouldn't worry for their health?"

Rose giggled. Her father had decided to drive them to Kings Cross. She knew he had told her mum that he had gotten his license legitimately, but after almost mauling two pedestrians and four cars with extremely disgruntled drivers, she felt she had sufficient reasons to question his claims.

Before long, however, she sobered once more and her mum squeezed her shoulder tight.

"We'll write every day."

"Maybe not every day," interjected her father, earning him a smack across the head. He winced but winked at Rose. She grinned, knowing he had said it for her amusement.

"As long as you reply when I write, you don't need to send that many letters," Rose said with a grin. Her mum grinned proudly at her and her dad ruffled her hair fondly.

"We've got a brave one here, Hermione."

"That we do."

As they made their way to the barrier that led to Platform 9 3/4, they stood side by side and pushed her trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Rose flinched, but no collision came. Instead, they emerged onto the platform, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist and Rose took a deep breath.

"Do you see them?" she asked, worriedly. Her best mate had sent an owl early that morning, insisting that she arrive at least an hour ahead so they could find a compartment.

Ron chuckled and shook his head.

"Not yet, love, but I'm sure they're around here somewhere," he said, trying to be reassuring.

Rose noticed, with some trepidation, that the vapour was dense and it was difficult to make out anybody's face. Detached from their owners, voices sounded unnaturally loud. Rose was certain that she heard her Uncle Percy discoursing loudly on broomstick regulations and glanced around, hoping that they wouldn't have to stop and chat while she was yet to find her best mate.

They made their way along the train until they got to the very last carriage. Suddenly, Hermione pointed a group out to her, making their way over.

"I think that's them, sweetheart."

Albus' face came in to view and she could feel some of the tension leave her. Cousins by birth and best mates by choice since they were still in nappies, they were almost inseparable. As Al, Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny and her little cousin Lily drew right up to them, Rose noticed James absence with a roll of her eyes.

"Hi," said Al, sounding immensely relieved.

"Parked all right, then?" Ron asked Harry. "I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner."

"No I didn't," said Hermione, "I had complete faith in you."

Ron and Harry left to take their trolleys to the train while Rose laughed with Al. She sobered for a moment before she asked,

"Scared?"

"Beyond. You?"

"Couldn't even make it through a slice of toast. Mum almost had a hippogriff."

"James spent the entire morning telling me I'm going to be in Slytherin."

Rose laughed at the look on his face.

"That's ridiculous Al. First, there's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin, just like mum always says, but really, you're the most un-Slytherin-like bloke I've ever met. It's rubbish."

Their fathers made their way back to where they stood and Rose heard Lily and Hugo having an animated discussion about what house they would be in when they went to Hogwarts.

"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said her dad, "but no pressure."

"Ron!" her mum said loudly.

Rose would have rolled her eyes, but she was too busy wondering if the threat held any truth. She knew Al had the same solemn expression on his face.

"He doesn't mean it," said Hermione and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention.

Catching Harry's eye, he nodded covertly to a point some fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.

"Look who it is."

Rose at once craned her neck to see who her father was talking about. She saw a tall man with white-blonde hair and pointed features standing with a lovely lady with dark hair and a cheerful smile. Standing in front of them was a young boy, who greatly resembled his father, and by the looks of him, was probably a first year as well.

The man caught sight of her parents, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny watching him and nodded curtly before turning away.

"So that's little Scorpius," her dad said under his breath. Rose saw the queasy look on the boy's face and sympathised with him.

"Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

"Ron, for heaven's sake," said her mum, half stern, half amused. Rose was grinning. She knew her father was only kidding.

"You're right, sorry," he said, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Grandad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."

Rose rolled her eyes, knowing this was another false statement.

"Hey!" James, Al's older brother and her most annoying cousin, appeared. He had divested himself of his trunk, owl and trolley and was evidently bursting with news.

"Teddy's back there," he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulders into the billowing clouds of steam.

"Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!"

He gazed up at the adults, evidently disappointed by the lack of reaction. Rose figured that this was probably because James was one of the few dunderheads left in the family who hadn't seen this coming. Ted and Vic had been entirely too cosy at the last Weasley gathering. Oblivious to this fact, James continued,

"Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing-"

At this, her Aunty Ginny interjected,

"You interrupted them? You are so like Ron-"

"- and he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added, as though worried he had not made himself clear.

"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily, ecstatically. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"

"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," said Harry, "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?"

"Yeah!" said James enthusiastically, "I don't mind sharing with Al! Teddy could have my room!"

"No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."

He checked the battered old watch that had once been Fabian Prewett's.

"It's nearly eleven, you'd better get on board."

At once, Rose and Al tensed.

"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.

"Mum! I can't give a professor love!"

"But you know Neville!"

James rolled his eyes.

"Outside, yeah, but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he? I can't walk into Herbology and give him love..."

Shaking his head at his mother's foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus.

"See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals."

Rose and Al blanched in unison.

"I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible!"

James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt onto the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends.

"Thestrals are nothing to worry about," Harry told Al, "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them. Anyway, you won't be going up to school in the carriages, you'll be going in the boats."

Ginny kissed Albus goodbye while Hermione did the same to Rose.

"See you at Christmas," whispered her mother at the same time she heard Aunty Ginny repeat the sentiment, "and don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea on Friday."

Her dad pulled her into a hug.

"Now listen here, Rosie Posie, I want you to be good this year. Do you hear me? If you get in any trouble-" at this point he glanced over to see if Hermione was listening. Sure that she wasn't, he continued, whispering,

"-get James and Fred to help you out of it. Whatever you do, don't let your mother know, alright?"

Rose grinned at him.

"I'll try."

"Only hex people when they deserve it. Or if they're a boy. Remember boys are bad for your health."

She huffed out an irritated breath at her overprotective father.

"Yes dad. You've told me so many times, how can I forget? The only good boy is a dead boy."

"That's my girl. Now give me a hug quick."

She hugged him tight once more. Noticing that Al was speaking quietly with his dad, she hugged Hugo, then Lily, her mum and her Aunt Ginny. She jumped on the train and waved at her family, waiting for her cousin. She got a bit worried when the door started slamming closed all along the scarlet train and the blurred outlines of parents were swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders.

She grinned as Al jumped into the carriage and Ginny closed the door behind him. Bewildered, Rose noticed that students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward Harry.

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Al as he and Rose both craned around to look at the other students.

"Don't let it worry you," said her dad, "It's me. I'm extremely famous."

Al, Rose, Hugo and Lily laughed at this. The train began to move and their parents walked alongside it, watching them. Rose could see the excitement on Al's face and knew her own shared the same expression.

"I spoke to dad," Al said in a whisper, when they had waved until the train turned the corner.

"And?" she prompted.

"He said that if it comes down to it, the Sorting Hat would take your choice into account."

"Truly?" Rose asked, awe in her face and tone.

"Yeah. He said that it did it for him."

"Your dad was being considered for somewhere other than Gryffindor?" Rose asked, incredulously.

"Probably Ravenclaw?" Al shrugged.

They made their way together to sit in the compartment their older cousins had already explained was reserved for any and all of the Weasley/Potter clan. On entering, they were immediately bombarded with the sound of raucous laughter and cheer. Feeling immediately at home, Rose pulled Al in and took seats on the bench nearest James.

All of their cousins were there already. Victoire, the oldest Weasley, in her seventh and final year, and one of Rose's favourite cousins was sitting with her chin propped in her hand smiling blankly out of the window. Rose snickered as she realised she was probably reminiscing on her snog session with Teddy. Dominique and Molly, the next eldest, in their fifth year, were sitting and gossiping while flipping through magazines. Louis, Lucy and Roxanne, fourth years, sat playing exploding snap on the floor away from everyone, just in case of any unexpected fires. The youngest next to Rose and Al themselves, James and Fred, were currently plotting some sort of mischief until they saw who had entered the compartment.

"Well if it isn't Rosie and the future Slytherin. Come to hide from the shame you're sure to be spreading on the family name, Al?"

Rose noticed, at once, how close to tears Al was. Not wanting to make him swallow his pride, with a quick movement, she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the compartment.

"He's a git, Al. And he doesn't know what he's talking about. You said it yourself. The hat takes your choice into consideration."

"But still..."

Al said, giving her a horrified look. She started looking for a compartment in which she could calm down her cousin but saw that almost none were empty. When she got to one that had only one boy inside, she barged right in.

"Can we sit here?"

She asked hurriedly. Surprised, the boy glanced up. She immediately recognised him as the Scorpius boy her father had mentioned on the platform.

Never judge a book by its cover, Rose. You'll always be surprised to find what's inside.

As her mother's words rang through her mind, she saw him shrug helplessly. They sat then and Rose held Al by his shoulders, sternly.

"No matter what house you're in, Al, you're going to make everyone proud. You of all people should know that a house doesn't make you who you are. Look at who you're named after! Severus Snape was a great man!"

"I know," Al said, burying his face in his hands, "I just don't want to let anyone down. Look at your dad! He said if you're not in Gryffindor he's going to disown you! How can you be calm after that?"

Rose rolled her eyes.

"It's my dad, Al, he jokes about everything."

"What if he's serious this time?"

"Then we'll go live with Grandma Weasley. Honestly, Al, what's gotten into you?"

"You shouldn't worry too much, you know," the blonde boy said quietly from his seat. Rose turned at the sound of his voice and saw him eyeing Al with a concerned expression.

"The houses all have their good and their bad, yeah?" he said, consolingly. Rose beamed at him, making him blush and she turned back to Al.

"See? Everyone knows it."

With a small smile, Al held out his hand to the stranger.

"Albus Potter."

The boy's eyes widened slightly, but he took the hand and shook, murmuring,

"Scorpius Malfoy," as he did.

"I'm Rose Weasley, by the way," she said, smiling. He nodded at her and said,

"I've heard of your parents. Both of you."

"We've heard of yours as well," Rose said, smiling. Suddenly, they heard a clattering of noise outside in the corridor and they saw a smiling, dimpled woman slide back their door and asked,

"Anything off the cart, dears?"

Rose and Al grinned at each other before they all but attacked the woman for goodies. Scorpius showed the same enthusiasm and they sat back laughing as they began to eat. As Rose opened a Chocolate Frog, mainly for the card, it leaped onto her head. She was still giggling heartily when she heard,

"I like your hair."

She glanced up and saw Scorpius, his face red as he looked away, obviously not having meant to say that out loud.

"I always wanted red hair. My mum and sister have it, you know. Did you know-"

As Al started his usual tirade about red hair, Rose shook her head, the awkward moment gone.

I hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter will be up soon!