King's Cross became overwhelmed with Hogwarts students and their families on the first day of September. Rosie was used to it by now. After dealing with the chaos of leaving for school since the age of eleven, the Clarke family learned to just keep walking and mind their own business.
Rosie exhaled loudly, though she was still hardly able to hear it. With her trolley in front of her, she made her way towards the train and got her stuff on, minus her small bag that was carrying her robes in it.
She looked at her parents and gave them a small smile. "Well, it's almost time for me to go."
"Yeah, you better get on," her mum said, pulling Rosie in for a hug. "I'll miss you, darling. Behave for me, will you?"
"Of course, Mum," she assured her, pulling away, then looking at her father. "I'll think about our conversation more, Dad."
"I know you will." He nodded her way. "I have faith that you'll pick the right path for yourself."
Rosie felt her stomach drop, but she nodded back, anyway. "Right." She turned her head towards the train. "Better get going, then. Love you both. See you at Christmas." With that, the girl smiled at her parents one last time before heading off to the nearest train entrance.
"Write to us!" her mum shouted.
Rosie spun around and waved again. "I will!" Turning back around, she piled in the train with other students and went looking for her friends.
Weaving through the crowd, she peaked in every compartment, attempting to find one or all of her friends inside one. She was hoping in the back of her mind that they were not already at the compartments for Slytherins. Otherwise, Rosie would get harsh stares that she did not particularly want. While her friends would tell her to not worry about it, that was all Rosie would do.
Fortunately, at the next compartment she looked in, Gavin Thomson was inside with his book in hand. She slid the door open and entered inside. "Hey, Gavin."
He looked up and smiled, waving at her. "Hey, Rosie," he replied, motioning to take a seat across from him. "Did you have a good holiday?"
The girl nodded, closing the door and taking the seat he offered. "Yeah, it was nice. You?"
"It was good as well," he answered, placing his book down. "Although, I think Greer had more fun than I did, hanging with Adam all summer."
"And you didn't?" Rosie asked.
He shrugged. "A few times, yeah, but you know how he and Greer are with their relationship. Almost one year together and they can't stay away from each other for too long."
Rosie couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, we've witnessed a lot of that, it seems like."
Ever since last year, right before the Triwizard Tournament, Adam and Greer became inseparable, even after the four of them started to hang out as a group. Every day and every night, the two were always together, clinging onto each other like Hermione Granger and her books. Rosie would be lying if she said it didn't bother her, either, but she was still happy with their romance.
Speaking of the lovebirds, the two strolled inside, their hair messy and top buttons undone with flustered expressions on their faces.
"Been busy, I presume?" Gavin asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You could say that," Adam replied, smirking a little.
"Or my twin brother can mind his own business and move next to Rosie," Greer retorted, motioning her brother to do just that. She sighed and sat down in his place, fixing her blonde hair.
Adam sat down next to her, giving Rosie a small smile. "What's up, Rosebud?"
"Nothing new," she responded, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, can't say the same for himself, can he?" Greer stepped in. "Isn't that right, Mr. Head Boy of Slytherin House?"
Rosie widened her eyes in excitement. "That's amazing, Adam!"
"Congrats, mate," Gavin added, smiling.
Adam shook his head. "It's nothing, really. Just another title I have to carry."
"But with power," Greer said with a smirk. "And you know how much we Slytherins love that."
"Well, you love that more than anyone," Gavin pointed out.
"I'm sure Draco Malfoy can give you a run for your money, Greer," Adam added.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "Draco Malfoy has nothing on Greer Thomson."
This was something Rosie agreed with. When it came to Greer, her influence over Slytherins certainly made her respected in her own House. If Rosie learned one thing, it was to not underestimate what Greer could do.
Suddenly, the train whistle blew, signaling everyone that it was time to leave the station. Then, slowly but surely, the train was moving and the four could finally see the green landscape outside their windows.
"Anyway..." Greer got comfortable, crossing her legs. "Mum and Dad were going on about You-Know-Who's return this morning."
Rosie shifted in her seat as the subject of You-Know-Who came up. "Everyone's talking about it, aren't they?" she said. "I mean, my dad asked me if I thought Harry Potter was lying about the whole thing."
"Which we know he isn't," Greer said, then letting a smirk crawl upon her face. "But we won't let him or other blood traitors know that."
"So, you want the Potter boy to think he's crazy," Gavin told her.
"He's already crazy, Gavin," the blonde retorted.
Rosie knew Harry Potter of some sorts, as the two were in the same House. But she hardly paid any attention to him or his friends. Really, after befriending the three Slytherins, no one in Gryffindor House paid much attention to her anymore. Rosie, however, was okay with that, but she still had a feeling that rumors of her and her friends being in the air started with the Gryffindors.
"If anyone is crazy, then it's Dumbledore for defending him at his hearing," Greer said.
"Well, we can't exactly do anything about it, can we?" Adam retorted. "We are all aware that Potter has got Dumbledore wrapped around his finger. That's just about how it is with everyone at Hogwarts, isn't it?"
"Not this year, most likely," Gavin stated, letting out a small chuckle. "And with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year..."
"Gavin!" Greer hissed, hitting his leg, which he winced at. "You weren't supposed to say anything!"
"Weren't supposed to say what?" Rosie asked with curiosity. "Do you know who the new teacher is this year, Gavin?"
Gavin eyed his sister cautiously, resisting the urge to blurt out any more information. "Yes, but our parents didn't want us to know until we got to Hogwarts. Greer and I overheard them the other day."
Adam raised his eyebrows. "Well, the cat's out of the bloody bag now, so just tell us who it is, then."
Greer rolled her eyes towards her brother. "Nice going."
The boy huffed a sigh, then went on. "It's just some woman from the Ministry. Can't remember her name."
Rosie chuckled. "Maybe she'll be more laid back like Lupin was."
"Oh, no. I think she'll be tough," Greer intervened as another smirk went on her face. "I also think that she'll make this year interesting."
"What does that mean?" Rosie asked, who was now puzzled.
The blonde kept her sly expression when she responded. "It means that Hogwarts might do things differently this year, and there's nothing Dumbledore can do about it."
So for the rest of the journey, Rosie let Greer's words linger in her mind.
Hogwarts might do things differently this year, and there's nothing Dumbledore can do about it.
Rosie wondered exactly what Greer meant, but she already knew that there would be a definite answer tonight.
A/N: Wow, okay, this chapter was awful LOL.
Anyway, sorry for the long wait. I started this chapter a month ago so oops.
What do you think of Rosie's friends?
Song above is Jungle by X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons.
Comment, vote, PLEASE do for my sake.
-A