The Hidden One

first day

"Please prepare for the delegates from the two schools in October. Until then, bedtime!" Dumbledore finished. The students all swarmed to the doors to head  to their dorms.

"They can't do that! We're 17 in April, we should have a chance!" George yelled.

"That's not stopping me entering! Think about it...a thousand galleons!" Fred told his twin.

"Yeah...a thousand galleons..." Ron said dreamily. Rose agreed that that was a lot of money, but the tasks didn't seem like they were worth it.

"Come on, we're too slow," Hermione huffed, grabbing Rose's wrist and walking much faster. Rose almost fell and grabbed Harry's wrist too. Harry, in turn, grabbed Ron's wrist. The four formed a chain that caused other students to move out of their way. Within a few minutes, they were in the common room, sitting in front of the fireplace, Fred and George joining them.

"Who will the impartial judge be?" Harry wondered.

"Dunno but it's them we'll have to fool. I bet a few drops of aging potion will work, George," Fred said.

"Yeah, but Dumbledore knows you're not of age," Ron pointed out.

"Yeah, but he's not the one choosing the winners. It seems like someone will choose the winners and Dumbledore will have no say," George guessed.

"People have died, though!" Hermione reminded them, sounding worried.

"Yeah, but that was years ago, plus what's like without a little bit of risk?" Fred asked.

"It would be fun to enter," Ron said. "But I doubt we've learned enough."

"I definitely haven't," Neville said, walking over to the group to sit. "But my gran would want me to enter. She's always telling me I should hold up the family honor."

As Neville said this he tripped over the edge of a rug. A portrait on the wall started laughing and Neville blushed.

"Oh, Neville. You are just as good as any of us...you just need to be more confident," Rose assured the boy as he sat on the couch next to her. Neville smiled at her.

"I'd suggest we all go to bed. We have classes in the morning," Hermione suggested. Everyone agreed and the common room emptied. Rose and Hermione were the first people in their room.

"So how's your dad? What's it like having your mum back?" Hermione asked Rose as they laid in their beds.

"Umm...my dad is good. He said he's going to go into hiding soon but I gave him the bracelet I got at the world cup so we should be able to talk," Rose said, purposely not answering the second part of the question.

"And your mum?" Hermione asked slowly.

"It's...weird. She's trying really hard and I want to try just as hard but...I spent 13 years of my life without a mum and I...I'm struggling with it. I don't know what to do. It was weird enough to get a dad and now a mum...I dont know. And everything about the prophecy.." Rose responded.

"Rose...maybe you should talk to Mcgonagall or Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

"I'm just tired...goodnight," Rose said. She turned her back to Hermione who sighed but didn't say anything else. Rose heard her start to snore a few minutes later and a few minutes after that Lavender and Parvati entered the room. Rose stayed awake as they all went to sleep. Her eyes didn't close until the sun came up, thinking about what Hermione said.

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"Rose, get your head off the table and eat some food," Hermione sighed. Rose groaned but picked her head up and ate a piece of toast.