Hi guys(: I am so excited to be starting this story! I have so many ideas and can't wait to get them all down on paper. This is going to be a bit of a darker story but there will definitely be lots of humor and lighter parts. This chapter may seem a bit dismal but trust me it'll definitely be lighter next chapter!

Also, to get the full effect, listen to the title song of each chapter. This chapter's song is "Sad Song" by Christina Perri. Quote for the chapter:

"And I'm so sorry. It's not like me. It's maturity that I'm lacking so don't, don't let me go. Just let me know that growing up goes slow."

Also, please note that anything in italics are the thoughts of Rose.

ENJOY(:

-SpringSinger19

My name is Rose Weasley and I have defied expectations.

At 17, I'd become someone who my parents, my friends and my family never expected.

I'd become someone whom even I never expected.

Over the years, life had taken its course and dragged me along the way, beating me up at every step. Maturity has hardened my gaze, softened the hue of my fiery mane and sharpened my tongue. I had become a devout follower of Murphy's Law, as I had seen its legitimacy proven time and time again. All innocence and naivety had been stripped away long ago, leaving me naked and cold. A ghost of the girl I used to be.

As I stood alone in the freezing chill of mid-Autumn, my hands buried deep within the pockets of my twill jacket, I realized something.

I was alone.

Isn't this what you expected all along, Rose? I asked myself, smiling without humor.

Shaking my head, I turned, not once looking back. Emotionless and placid, I walked away from everything I'd once held close. Things had changed and people had changed. Like that was a surprise…

I wasn't that girl anymore. I didn't know her.

I'd become someone who I hardly would have recognized, standing at Platform 9 ¾ all those years ago for the very first time …

Six years earlier

I sat silently, looking on from the train compartment as familiar faces faded from my sight. A wild innocence gleamed in my eyes as I watched my family disappear in the distance. My cheeks were flushed, my mouth set determinedly.

Hogwarts. It was finally our turn. The day we had been waiting for had finally come.

Hold on a second, let me explain. The 'we' was my cousin Albus and I. We were best friends and always had been. Practically inseparable since birth. Complete opposites but perfect proof that they attract.

While I sat on the edge of my seat, my face pressed against the cold window, he sat alone on the other side, his knees pulled up to his chest and his nose in a book. It was all too typical for the two of us.

"They're not getting any closer, Rosie," Albus spoke teasingly, a slight smile curving his lips as he looked up, adjusting his glasses.

I glanced back at him, glaring, "I know!"

Al held his hands up as if to signal a truce, not wanting my temper unleashed upon him.

Because, however I didn't like to admit it, I was a tad sentimental, a trait that clashed with my assertive personality. It was something my best friend and I both knew but never spoke of. At 11, I simply found it embarrassing, as I was not quite mature enough to articulate what I was feeling and why I felt that it was important.

I looked back out of the window, straining my eyes to see the bright blue of my mum's hat. Fear flooded into my heart for a moment as I couldn't find it, the reality sinking in. I didn't know why, but I felt as if I were losing a part of me, something that I could never gain back.

I bit my lip and sat back, a bit unnerved as I leaned my head against the wall.

"You alright, Rosie?" Al asked, peering questioningly from behind his glasses.

I smiled, lying, "Yeah."

My direct tone signaled the end of conversation and Al took the cue, returning to his book.

I looked down at my nails. I felt empty. It was a weird feeling, something I had never experienced in my 11 years of life. I couldn't place it. I didn't want to talk about. It was something unfamiliar. I couldn't figure out how to handle it, it wasn't something physical that could be dealt with like…like a gnome infestation.

Frowning, I bit my lip before reaching into my bag to grab a piece of parchment and quill. I began to write.

Dear mum and dad

I –

A loud knock interrupted my thoughts, shocking me out of my train of thought.

I made brief eye-contact with Al before shouting, "Come in!"

As the door slid open with a loud screech, a small, blonde boy stepped inside. His hair was tousled, his eyes were bright. He was clad in dark jeans, a white t-shirt and black sneakers. Behind him was one large, high-quality suitcase filled so tightly that it appeared as if it could burst at any given moment.

His eyes were wide and he looked uneasy and out of place.

Which he was.

My mouth formed a thin line as I recognized the boy. He was Scorpius Malfoy, the boy branded by my father as competition the moment he stepped onto Platform 9 ¾.

He looked anxious, even more so as he realized just whose compartment he had happened upon.

For a second, I almost felt bad for him. He looked more lost than even I felt at that moment.

"Hey," Al finally spoke after an instant of silence.

"Hey," Scorpius replied, glancing around uncomfortably, "do you mind if I – ?"

"Not at all," Al flashed a friendly smile at Scorpius and patted the seat next to him, scooting over to make space. My eyebrows narrowed as I watched him sit down.

"I'm Al," he said, reaching his hand out towards Scorpius, "Albus actually but no one calls me that anymore."

Scorpius nodded, visibly relaxing as he took Al's hand. As if on cue, both boys turned towards me.

As Scorpius and I made eye-contact, my heart sped up. An overwhelming sense of foreboding washed over me as his green eyes bored into my brown ones. I looked away pointedly. Al could pretend to be friends with Malfoy all he wanted, but I wouldn't do the same.

I could practically hear Al roll his eyes as he sighed, "And that's Rose. She's in a bit of a bad mood, don't mind her."

"Hey!" I scowled, folding my arms as I shot him a disapproving glare.

"You know, if you're not careful your face will freeze like that," Scorpius commented casually, as if it was the most logical, ordinary explanation in the world.

Al burst into surprised laughter, his glasses shaking on the brim of his nose. However, I, on the other hand, was stunned, completely speechless, my jaw wide open.

"What are you trying to do? Catch flies, Rosie?" Al asked, still laughing, his mouth splitting into a wide-set grin.

Scorpius looked up with casual amusement, his eyes conveying his challenge loud and clear. All signs of anxiety had now vanished, replaced with a rather unflattering smirk. Angrily, I balled my hands into fists.

I felt like slapping that smug look off of his face.

It was a badgering itch but I had enough self-control not to go through with it.

Clenching my jaw, I kept my silence and turned back towards the window, trying to focus my eyes on anything but Scorpius Malfoy and his…best friend sabotage.

"Well, I'm Scorpius," he spoke after Al's laughter died down, speaking deliberately towards my cousin and my cousin only.

"It's great to meet you," Al grinned.

"So," I began loudly, unwilling to be ignored, "what house do you think you'll be sorted into?"

He froze, just as I had expected, and for a moment I saw a glimpse of the same apprehensive boy that had first entered the compartment.

However, he quickly regained composure and shrugged, "I don't know. My dad was in Slytherin but my mum was in Ravenclaw. Both of them want me to be in their house but I don't think I'd mind being in any house."

Al nodded approvingly.

"I mean as long as I'm not in Hufflepuff, right?" he added jokingly, earning a smile from Al.

"Well, I want to be in Gryffindor," announced Al proudly, "my parents were and so is my brother."

"Same," I added, "either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw for me."

"Ravenclaw?" Scorpius asked, raising an eyebrow. "Really?"

My jaw dropped for the second time that day. I was so furious that I couldn't form words.

Al, however, burst out into laughter. "I applaud you, Scorpius. I've never met anyone who could shut Rosie up so fast."

Both boys laughed and an unfamiliar ache coursed through me. It wasn't so much that Al's jab had gotten to me as the new founded comraderey between the two. It had never occurred to me that coming to Hogwarts might result in losing my best friend. However, as the two boys continued on in an easy-going conversation, I felt insecure, wondering if perhaps Al might prefer the company of another boy over me.

However as soon as I recognized the insecurity, I pushed it away and replaced it with fresh willpower. Malfoy was threatening my relationship with Al? Huh, well if that was the way he wanted it then that was the way it would be. I couldn't do anything physically to harm him but besting him in every class like I promised my dad would certainly be satisfying.

I would prove to him that nothing could touch me. I would prove to my family that I could live up to the standard my mother set. I would prove to Al that I was better and more interesting than Malfoy.

And most importantly, I would prove to myself that it was possible.

You think I'm negative? Well that's just who I've always been.

Prepare for the worst and it'll never happen.

Shaking my thoughts away, I stood. "I'm going to go change into my robes," I announced, grabbing the long black uniform from my bag.

"So eager to get to school, Rose?" Scorpius asked teasingly as I opened the door, "Perhaps you should be a Ravenclaw!"

As stepped outside of the compartment, I could hear Al's muffled laughter.

It was going to be a long train ride.

Hours later, we arrived at Hogsmeade Station, all quite a bit more tired and worn-out than when we had started. As Al, Scorpius and I made our way off of the train, we were almost swallowed up by the crowd. Wizards and witches all clad in identical black robes surrounded us, each seeming to know exactly which way to go and what to do. Helplessly, we stood in the midst of the actihon, unable to figure out our intended destination.

At long last, Al caught a glimpse of a short, dwarf like teacher waving and shouting at the top of his lungs for all first years. We made our way through the horde, all the while being pushed and prodded by people from all sides. When we arrived, the tiny, elderly man introduced himself as Professor Flitwick. He seemed quite relieved as he checked us in, as we were the last to arrive.

I blamed it on Scorpius for taking too long to get in his robes. That tosser…

After, we were ushered into a small boat already occupied by one, mouse-like girl who didn't take the time to introduce herself.

Almost as soon as the boat turned the corner, we caught glimpse of the castle. At first glance, it took my breath away. The architecture, the lights, the way it was framed by the light of the moon … it was absolutely incredible. Any pictures I had seen prior didn't do it justice. And I didn't seem to be the only one who thought so. I quickly stole a glance at both my cousin and Scorpius, noticing that both seemed as enraptured by the castle as I did.

We continued the rest of the ride in complete silence, entranced by the beauty of Hogwarts, and when we arrived at the gates, we were quickly ushered inside. The group of first years quickly diverged onto an alternate path, following Professor Flitwick and few other unfamiliar teachers through a series of passageways. Finally, we all filed into a larger room and after a few minutes of hushed tones and nervous whispering, a cross looking woman who introduced herself as the headmistress quieted us and gave a fleeting welcome before escorting us into a larger room.

The Great Hall.

It was incredible. The ceiling seemed never ending, the walls appearing as if they reached up to the night sky. Nothing held comparison. I had never seen such large, sparkling windows or such long, extending tables.

And frankly, I'd never seen that many people.

I stared at the hall in wonder, as if it were something out of a storybook. A stupid grin covered my face, one that I could not recall creating. It was all exactly as I had imagined, just as my parents had told me.

However, I didn't have much time to scrutinize as it wasn't long before headmistress McGonagall placed an old, withering witch's hat (the sorting hat?) upon a stool and it…burst into song.

I was so distracted by my own nerves that I didn't pay attention, and I was only shaken from my thoughts when the headmistress shouted out a name.

"Avery, Alice!"

The slight, brunette girl standing in front of me, suddenly singled out, stepped out of line, swallowing nervously and wringing her hands as she walked slowly up to the middle of the Great Hall. I couldn't help but feel for her. I'd hate to be the first to be sorted.

The headmistresses slowly lowered the hat upon Alice's head and it took only a moment before the hat shouted.

"SLYTHERIN!"

The table to the far left erupted, the booming cheers overpowering all other sound. I watched carefully as the girl walked towards the table, seemingly oblivious to the hollering, and sat down carefully, her face as passive as it had been when she first stepped up to plate.

Curiously, I wondered who she was, where she came from, what her story was and…why she was sorted into Slytherin.

I shivered.

As the sorting continued, I found myself zoning out, brown-eyes glazing over as I watched my peers sorted. My stomach rumbled once, reminding me that I hadn't eaten for hours.

"Longbottom, Tristan!" The familiar name shook me out of my dream-like state.

I watched as our family friend stumbled from his place in lines up towards the stool. He sat down awkwardly and I was able to glimpse the red flush of his cheeks before the sorting hat covered them. After only a few seconds, the hat screeched.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Tristan practically fell off of the stool and made his way towards the cheering table with a lopsided grin plastered on his face. I smiled, happy to see him pleased with his sorting.

Mentally, I calculated the next letter, feeling a bit silly as I quietly hummed the alphabet song. Just as the next sort-ee dawned on me, his name was called out…

"Malfoy, Scorpius!"

I instantly frowned, willing him to trip as he walked quickly up to the sorting hat. Nonchalantly, I glanced back at Al. He was biting his lips, watching intently, his face giving away no opinion. Narrowing my eyes, I turned back to Malfoy, shooting daggers at him.

As Professor McGonagall lowered the hat onto Scorpius' head, I watched him close his eyes tightly and cross his fingers.

For which house, I'd didn't know.

The hat was completely silent for a moment before bellowing out something that I'm sure no one in that entire hall expected.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A collective gasp resounded throughout the hall. The faces of both Slytherin and Gryffindor students were priceless, the same shock reflecting upon each expression. After an instant, I watched as my older cousin Louis slowly started to clap. Without hesitation, the rest of the Gryffindor table followed example and began a low applause that increased its volume with time.

My eyes were wide as I watched him walk towards the Gryffindor table. The anxiety from the train reappeared once again as he sat down, looking around at his surroundings as if he didn't know what to say or how to act. For a moment, I sympathized with him again. After remembering who it was, I pushed that feeling aside and angrily turned towards Al.

"Can you believe it?" I whispered sharply, "He's a Malfoy!"

Al was grinning from ear to ear, "Well, I mean if he was sorted into Gryffindor, then he mustn't be all that bad, Rosie."

I shrugged and turned back, watching as the rest of M through O was sorted. As "O'Brian, Reece" was sorted into Ravenclaw, I felt an excited pat on my back.

"I think I'm next, Rose," Al whispered breathlessly, his eyes alight with anticipation.

I smiled at my best friend, grabbing his hand and giving it a tight squeeze as Professor McGonagall called his name. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before he rushed up to the middle of the Great Hall, almost tripping on his robes as he climbed the steps. Adjusting his glasses, he laughed good-naturedly at himself and sat down on the stool.

I almost didn't need to watch. I knew what was going to happen. Nonetheless, when he was sorted into Gryffindor, I cheered as loudly as I could.

However, I couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy as he sat down by Scorpius and the two commenced in chatter as casual and care-free as it had been on the train.

There were now only about 10 people besides me left. I glanced around, noticing my cousin Roxanne shyly cowering at the back of the crowd. As "Ramsey, Elliot" was sorted, I discreetly tip-toed back to her. She smiled quietly as me, her mouth barley curving upwards from the thin line it had been before. I smiled back and turned away.

Al and I had never been exactly close with Roxanne as she preferred the company of books to people, but she was still family and family came above everything else.

I waited patiently as my peers each had their turn with the sorting hat. Nevertheless, as Melanie Wagner jumped off the stool, making her way towards the Hufflepuff table, I felt my heart rate increase.

"Weasley, Rose!"

My heartbeat pulsed heavily throughout my body as I stiffly walked up towards the stool. For some reason, I was rather queasier than I had anticipated. Biting my lip, I tried to forget that hundreds of eyes were upon me as the headmistress placed the sorting hat upon my head.

Breathing heavily, I shut my eyes, trying to quiet my thoughts and make room for the wisdom of the sorting hat. My mum had told me that the hat would speak privately to the student on occasion and as the seconds ticked by, I assumed it would start talking…

But it didn't.

I peeked out of one eye quickly and saw the entire student body staring back at me, just as baffled as I. I closed my eyes again. If I had to wait here, I'd pretend I was alone as to make sure I wouldn't faint.

And then suddenly, I heard a low whisper at the back of my mind.

However, before I had time to process, the hat shouted out the single word that changed my life forever.

"SLYTHERIN!"

I froze.

It was as if I had been punched in the chest. I was numb. I had no feeling besides this all unfamiliar ache pulsing throughout my entire body. I suddenly found myself out of breath, unable to recall when I had stopped breathing. I felt cold although I was sure my cheeks were burning brightly.

Not one word was uttered as the hat was lifted up off of my head.

The hushed tones that had been a constant throughout the sorting were suddenly non-existent. It was as if everyone was as stunned as I.

I glanced desperately around the Great Hall, denial coursing through me.

This was all a bad dream.

Dream? Who am I kidding. It was a nightmare.

Al would wake me up within a matter of seconds, laughing and berating me for sleeping in. He would then say that if I didn't hurry up, we'd be late for the Hogwarts Express. Once we got to the train, we'd spend the entire time together, alone, without Mr. Scorpius I-Like-To-Come-In-Between-Best-Friends Malfoy. And then, at Hogwarts we'd both –

I flinched, my thoughts interrupted as the headmistress laid a hand on my shoulder. Glancing back, I saw a pitying gaze.

I frowned. Pity? Why would she – ?

My jaw dropped. It was real. This was all real.

The reality of it all sunk in like a stone – hard, cold and fast. I broke the silence and, without thinking, uttered the first word that came to my mind.

"Fuck."

My hand flew to my mouth. I could feel my cheeks heat up and I was quite sure that they had now reddened far past a natural tone. I never swore. Ever.

However, while I was burning up in humiliation, the entire hall burst into laughter. The tension had eased and despite the fact that Slytherin had started whooping and hollering, my legs felt like jelly.

I couldn't move.

The headmistress gave me a firm push which set me off against my will. Stumbling down the stairs, I deliberately looked away from the completely silent Gryffindor table. I couldn't handle seeing the faces of my family. I was quite certain that if I made eye-contact with Albus, I'd burst into tears.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Did they hate me now?

Would they ever talk to me again?

I couldn't wrap my mind around anything as I sat down at the Slytherin table. It just felt…wrong. I was out of place and awkward. It took all the control I had to not stand up and move over to where the Gryffindors sat. It took many qualities to be a good Slytherin and being a Weasley was never one of them…

A few people addressed me as I adjusted in my seat but I couldn't offer anything more than one word answers. Vaguely, I wondered if they thought I was dumb. But I just couldn't pay attention to anything. I couldn't keep my focus on any one thing for more than 5 seconds.

My heartbeat hadn't changed one smidge. It still beat heavily and loudly and I was unable to sway it, unable to calm it down.

And then, suddenly, I was angry.

Why was this happening to me?

What had I done to deserve this?

I wasn't Slytherin material and I knew it! Everyone knew it!

Right?

Desperately, I reflected back on my sorting, realizing only then that the hat never spoke a word to me. It was so unfair. I wanted to scream and kick and cry all at the same time but I wasn't a baby anymore, I had to grow up and so…I maintained my composure.

Breathing shakily, I shook my head, looked for a distraction and settled for grabbing the last cookie and placing it on my plate.

I stared at it for a moment, almost unsure of what to do with it.

I wasn't hungry anymore.

"You going to eat that?" My neighbor asked.

I glanced beside me, noticing that it was the brunette girl from before…the first one sorted…what was her name again? I struggled to remember.

"Um…he-llooo? Anyone home?" She waved her hands in front of my face.

Shaken from my thoughts, I replied quickly, not wanting to embarrass myself any further, "Yeah sure. You're…?"

"Alice Avery," the girl replied grabbing the cookie from my plate and taking a bite.

"Well, I'm –"

"Rose Weasley," Alice finished for me as she swallowed. "You were just sorted, you know?"

I laughed bitterly, "Yeah, I know."

Alice paused, looking unsure of what to say for a moment before she looked around, leaned in and whispered, "If it helps, I didn't want to be in Slytherin either."

Huh.

From some reason it had never occurred to me that some people might not have wanted this anymore than I did.

I gave Alice a genuine smile and hesitated before replying, "Then I guess we'll have to stick together."

Alice repaid me with a grin, "I guess so."

After that moment, the brunette girl returned to her dinner. I watched in wonder. How could someone that tiny eat so much food?

I had become so distracted that when I looked up and saw Al staring at me from across the hall, I almost forgot why he looked so upset.

And then it came rushing back to me.

My parents. My family. Their disappointment…

Oh dear Merlin, my father… I was going to be disowned.

Al's eyes bored into me. He looked pained, regretful, almost as miserable as I felt. It offered some solace, that is, until his previous words came back in full swing.

…if he was sorted into Gryffindor, then he mustn't be all that bad

Well then, what did that say about me?

I felt a stab of pain in my chest, forcing me to look away as I furiously blinked back tears.

I wouldn't cry if it killed me.

After I regained my composure, I couldn't help but look back. However, instead of returning to Al's gaze, I met Scorpius'.

A level of hatred that I had never experienced before in my 11 years of life surged through me. I was burning all over, unsure of how I was able to keep still. That boy…that Malfoy had stolen everything from me.

Sure, I had expected to lose many things when I came to Hogwarts – my immaturity for one. However, the one thing I never expected to lose was my life.

And that was the loss that I felt – hopes, dreams, aspirations…how could they be achieved if I was in Slytherin? I had had a plan, a vision, a path so plainly set out that I could have never predicated it to change.

I watched, my eyes burning as he looked away, guilt lining his pale features. He had taken everything from me. In only one day, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy had bested me in every way he possibly could. The defeat stung.

I smiled bitterly. It was a complete role reversal.

And the knowledge of that…was agony.

So how was it? Leave me a review? Thoughts? Opinions? Do you like Rose? Albus? Scorpius? Alice?

I'm SO excited to continue this story(: The next few chapter are already written and will be up in a few days.

-SpringSinger19