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ad astra per aspera
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ROSE'S POV:
"ROSIE!" Two voices screamed happily the minute I stepped out of the train on King Cross Station. I found that both my legs were being tightly held by two young redheads.
I laughed, crouched to my knees, and engulfed the youngest Weasleys in a tight hug.
"Merlin!" I exclaimed once I pulled away. "You two have grown since the summer!" I ruffled Ron's hair in a playful manner.
"No hug for us?" The twins said from behind me. Ron latched himself to my leg again, and Ginny pulled the twins down to her level to embrace her big brothers.
"Oh Rose, it is wonderful to see you dear!" Molly said once Ron let go of my leg. She gave me a bone-crushing hug and a kiss on the top of my head. Mrs. Weasley then moved to hug her children, the ones she gave birth to anyway.
"Hello Bill," I greeted the tallest redhead once I saw him let go of his hug with Charlie. "How are you?"
"Hiya Rosie!" He greeted back, he crouched down to hug me. "I'm good, you?"
"Hanging in there." I replied with a bright smile. Behind Bill, I saw Cedric waving me over to where he was standing with, who I assumed, was his dad.
"Excuse me for a minute." I said as I moved past Bill and towards Ced.
"Hey, Ced!" I enthusiastically said once I reached him, Cedric hung one arm around my shoulder like he usually did when he greeted me. He smiled at me and the man who was beside me beamed at the two of us.
"Hi Rosie, I wanted to introduce you to my dad." He said as he motioned to who I had already guessed was his dad.
"It's very nice to meet you Mr. Diggory," I said as I shook his hand. "I'm Rose Lightbourn."
"Please, call me Amos." The man insisted with a huge smile on his face. "And it is wonderful to finally meet the girl who Ced never stops talking about!" I laughed at his words and turned to Cedric who was pink in the face.
"Dad...!" Cedric muttered through gritted teeth.
"What?!" Amos asked innocently. "It's true! You always talk about her hair and her eyes and how-"
"Okay! I think she gets it now!" Cedric interrupted his father. "Anyways, Rose you should come to dinner some time during break."
"Oh, Cedric I would love that!" I said as I beamed at the Hufflepuff boy. I turned my head back to see all the Weasleys staring at me. "I think it's time for me to go, but send me an owl for the date and time for dinner."
"Brilliant, I will." Said the boy as he held me in a hug. "Goodbye, Ro."
"Bye, Ced." I waved at the boy and then turned to Amos. "Goodbye Mr. Diggory, and thank you for the dinner invitation!"
GEORGE'S POV:
"Where is she going?" I asked in general when I saw Rose walking around Bill.
"What?" Fred replied as he set Ginny down from their hug. He turned to look at Rose's direction, and frowned when he saw Diggory's arm around Rose.
"Who's that?" Bill asked us. Us being Fred, Percy, Charlie, and myself.
Charlie began to laugh and Percy shook his head. Fred scold at the scene in front of him.
"Is he her boyfriend?!" Ginny asked as she jumped up and down in excitement.
"No." Fred breathed, only I heard him. I knew he didn't like Diggory, in all honesty the Hufflepuff boy wasn't that bad. Annie and Rose both were friends with him.
"I do hope so!" Mum said as she responded Ginny's question with a bright smile. "He's a very handsome young man!"
Fred was fuming, but of course only I noticed.
"I think they make a nice couple." Charlie commented, eyeing Fred out of the corner of his eye.
"Do you think she'll bring him to dinner?" Mum said excitedly.
"He's not her boyfriend!" Fred snapped at all of us. "Now can you all stop talking about it!"
"Calm down, mate." I said as I placed a comforting hand on my brother's shoulder. "They were just curious."
"Well can they be curious at another time?" Fred said through gritted teeth.
"Relax, Fredster." Charlie said as he waved off our brother's anger. "We know they aren't dating, we were only teasing."
"They do make a nice couple though," Mum said as a side comment. In that moment though, Rose turned to look at us and smiled. She turned back to the Diggorys, and said her goodbyes.
Fred was no longer looking at her with anger, instead he had a look of hurt in his eyes.
ROSE'S POV:
Back at the Burrow, we were all sitting at the dinner table. Arthur was telling us about a muggle toy that he found rather interesting, a rubber duck. He asked me to tell him it's function, but to be perfectly honest I don't think a rubber duck has an actual purpose.
"Molly?" I said once I gulped down some mashed potatoes.
"Yes dear?" She replied, looking at me expectically.
"I was wondering if I could go over to the Diggory's for dinner some time during break?" I asked timidly. Everyone let their cutlery fall to their dishes.
"W-What?" Arthur asked in shock. Both Ginny and Molly let out a high-pitched squeal.
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" Ginny cheered loudly as she stood from her chair, and spun happily.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Molly said as she began to gush over me. "Of course you can go, Rose! Oh how exciting! What would you wear? I shall take you to Diagon Alley tomorrow then!"
"Molly I don't think I need to go to Diagon Alley." I assured her, a bit amused by her reaction.
"Oh well, then you can wear whatever you brought from school." Molly said as she gave me a motherly smile.
"Wait, mum!" Fred intervened before anyone could change the subject. "You aren't really letting her go, are you?"
"Why wouldn't she?" I asked Fred loudly.
"Well, because mum doesn't know who Cedric Diggory is, do you mum?" Fred asked his mother, but it was Arthur who answered.
"As a matter of fact, son, I do know Amos Diggory. His son is quite polite, from what I recall." Fred frowned at his dad and I beamed at Arthur.
———
"Why would you want to go?" Fred asked me that same night. Molly ordered the two of us to do the dishes for some 'magic appreciation activity'. She said that it makes us appreciate muggles or whatever.
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked as I scrubbed some mashed potatoes from who I guess, was Ron's plate.
"Well— Because he wants to take advantage of you?" The boy said matter-of-factly.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked in surprise.
"Oh come on, you know what i'm talking about." He said as he settled his gaze on the running water.
"No I don't." I said stubbornly with my hands on my hips, the plate now long forgotten. "Care to explain?"
"He's older than you." He shrugged, still not meeting my gaze.
"So are you and George." I accused, crossing my arms over my chest.
Fred sighed and turned to look at me. "Look, Rose, forget I said anything alright?" He turned back to the dishes.
"No!" I said as I slammed my hand on the counter. "I want to know what is your problem, Fred Weasley! And I want to know now!"
"I—" He began but I interrupted. I figured that both my hair and eyes were blood red.
"And don't you dare say that I am your problem again!" I shouted.
"He's my problem!" He retorted as he finally turned to me. "Diggory is my bloody problem! Him and his stupid looks!" The boy was now breathing heavily and his face was red.
"OH! Is that was this is about?!" I asked as I scoffed, my blood burning with anger. "About your jealous tendency?"
"Shut up." He spat through gritted teeth.
"You're jealous!" I accused loudly.
"No i'm not!" He shouted in my face.
"Yes you are!" I shouted back. I took a breath and spoke quietly. "and with no reason."
I turned on my heel and walked away.
"Where are you going? You can't just walk away from a fight like that!" Fred called back. He sounded angry.
"I can't?" I asked sarcastically, turning back to face him. "Watch me." I spat, turning back again and running up the stairs.
I walked into mine and Ginny's shared bedroom. Ginny was sitting on her bed, already changed into her nightgown, and eyeing me with pity.
"You heard that?" I asked calmly. The girl nodded her head and motioned me to sit on her bed. I grabbed my pajama bottoms and changed into them before sitting on Ginny's bed.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked me after a minute of silence.
"I'm fine." I said harsher than I intended to. "It was just a stupid fight."
"Don't worry. It's Fred, he'll come apologizing tomorrow." Ginny assured me as she pulled me under the duvet and snuggled close to me. I smiled and kiss the top of the girl I call my little sister.
"And if he doesn't," She began. "Then you can set his trousers on fire." I laughed and so did she.
"I will keep that in mind, Gin." I said with a small laugh. "Good night."
"Good night, Ro."