A different beginning (George Weasley)

Chapter 4

"Rosaline Lily Potter!" My mother yelled from the intercom by my bed.
I cringed. "Yeah mum?
"You're going to be late if you don't leave right this minute! Do I need to come up there?"
I scrambled to grab my trunk and my wand from its place beside my bed. "Nope, I'll be down in a minute."
"Thats what I thought." Mum said into the intercom before turning her mic off, leaving me to collect the last of my things from my closet.
I carried my trunk down the winding stairs, and had a backpack of extra things with me as well, not to mention jackie, who tweeted happily behind me as I dragged her cage behind me as well. I found my mum and dad sitting at the kitchen table, eating scrambled eggs.
"Where's Harry?" I asked, grabbing a cheese bagel.
"He's grabbing your guys' brooms from the shed." My dad said, giving me a good-morning hug. "How did you sleep last night?"
I sighed, remembering the sleepless night. "Barely any. Too excited I guess."
He chuckled and stole a bite from my bagel. "I remember when I was your age, I never got any sleep the night before school started."
"Hey dad, I have a question for you and mum." As I said this, my mum got up from her seat and came by me and dad, who were at the large island.
"What's up honey." My mum said, putting her arm around my dad's waist.
"It's about Harry," I said, playing with my hands as I usually did when I get nervous. "I was wondering... what happens if he gets put in Slytherin? Or Hufflepuff, maybe even Ravenclaw?"
My dad laughed lightly. "I couldn't care less. You know Uncle Sirius came from a family of Slytherins right?" I nodded, thinking about his dark past. "And he got kicked out when he was sorted into Gryffindor. We would never do that to Harry, or to you either. It doesn't matter that a few bad wizards came from Slytherin, I mean even Grindelwald was in Gryffindor, and he still turned out bad. We'll love him no matter what."
I sighed, realising how stupid the thought had even been. "You're right, I'm sorry I even asked, I should've known-"
"Don't be sorry dear." My mum said, putting her hand on mine and giving it a squeeze.
I returned her smile as Harry came in through the door, brooms in hand. "You guys ready to go?"
I laughed at his excitement. "Yep, but I think mum and dad have something for you."
His eyes lit up as he looked to my parents, who also held bright smiles. "Really? Mum and dad!"
They laughed and took him to the foyer, where a snow-white owl sat in a large cage. Harry ran to the small owl and picked him up carefully, knowing better than to spook an owl.
    "Her name is Hedwig, she's a snow owl." My mum added, smiling at her son.
"I'll help you take care of her at school, we better get going." I said, checking my watch that I got for my 12th birthday.
Everyone gathered their things and apparated to Kings cross, where we quickly found the Weasleys, who were sending off Ron this year. I noticed Ginny was there as well, but the 10-year old had a grim, jealous look on her face. I gave her a small smile and went to greet her.
"Don't worry Ginny, you'll be there next year, and now you have the whole house to yourself while we're gone." I said, leaning down to talk to her.
She smiled. "True. Promise to bother them for me."
"Of course. Us girls have to stick together." I said, giving her a slight hug before turning to fred and George, who looked at me with wide eyes.
"How on earth did you get Ginny to like you? She isn't exactly a people-person." Fred asked, looking at me like I was an alien.
"She just likes me I guess." I said, smirking as we said our goodbyes to our parents, me hugging my father first, who simply said,
"I love you sweetheart."
"Love you too dad." I said, sighing into the warm embrace of my father.
I turned to my mother, who was still holding on tightly to Harry, who looked at me with pleading eyes. "Mum, we have to hurry up."
She sighed and kissed Harry's forehead, releasing him to my dad, who was now crying as well. I gave her a hug, taking in her familiar scent. "I'm going to miss you so much mum, but I'll see you soon." I promised.
She gave me one last squeeze before releasing me. "I'm going to miss you too. Please keep an eye on your brother, I'm worried about him."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course I will mum. Love you."
"Love you too sweetie."
I walked away from her and loaded my trunk into the storage cabinets, helping Harry with his as well, the poor boy was as small as a twig and could hardly lift his owl's cage.
"Love you!" I called as I led Harry onto the train, trying to find a spot for him to sit.
"Can I sit with you Rosie?" Harry asked nervously, basically clinging to my jeans.
I stopped for a minute to talk to him. "Look Harry, you're going to love Hogwarts, and you're going to make tons of friends, trust me. You won't have any fun in my compartment-"
He interrupted. "I don't want to sit alone!"
I gave him a scolding look and continued. "-so why don't we find you someone to sit with that's also a first year?"
He nodded, giving up, as we continued down the train, which was now moving.
A few compartments down I found Ron's compartment, and as soon as I got to him, Harry's face lit up and he immediately started talking with the small boy. I smiled and went to the next compartment, which was where Fred, George, and I usually sat, ever since our first year.
"Hey guys!" I said, sitting down next to George.
"Hey Rose! Did your brother find a seat?" George asked.
"He's sitting with Ron I think, he was a little nervous." I said, remembering his embarrassed look when mum kissed his forehead.
"Good, maybe he'll be in Gryffindor." Fred said, taking his attention away from his trunk, which was overflowing with clothes.
"Yeah, I know he'll want to play quidditch, but he'll have to wait until next year to be on the team."
"He was pretty good, but not like you Ro." George said.
I laughed awkwardly. I hate being complimented. "No way, you guys are way better than me!"
"That's true Georgie" Fred said, making us all collapse in laughter.