If I Fall for You [Harry Potter: Next Generation]

2. Of Snakes and Scorpions

A/N: chapter twooooo. Woohoooooo. This chappy is dedicated to gannep for the idea of... never mind. I won't spoil it. Anyway, this lovely person is the reason why the stuff in this chappie happened. Go follow her and have yourself a cookie. I REPEAT: GO FOLLOW gannep AND HAVE YOURSELF A COOKIE. She has some pretty awesome stuff going on, for all you fantasy luvers out there. Check out her epic story 'Blossoming.' Ily Guinevere, you are an awesome writer and an awesome person, thank you for understanding about the annoyingness of sane people and plotting world domination with me.
~
"Look, I have no idea, okay?"

Albus didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue. He, Rose and Hugo were sitting together in Potions class. Rose was getting extremely irritated with Albus. He was totally overreacting.

"Al, if she doesn't know, she doesn't know," Hugo put in.

"Whatever." Albus chopped his root with a little too much vigour, causing a piece to catapult across the room and hit Professor Spinnick between the eyes. Rose stifled a giggle. Albus scowled.

"I still think you should be in Gryffindor," Albus muttered stubbornly. "You need to talk to McGonagall or something. Maybe the Hat did make a mistake."

Rose frowned. She was sure the headmistress would not take kindly to that idea. "Look, just because you wish I was in Gryffindor, doesn't mean I'm supposed to be," Rose argued. "I thought we went over this already. I didn't want to be in Slytherin at first, but this is where I am. I don't think there's much we can do about it now." It was the honest truth, for Rose has done a lot of thinking on the matter. She absentmindedly touched the pocket of her robes, where her parent's reply was tucked away. It had come that morning with Flicka. She pulled it out and read it for the hundredth time.

Rosie,

there is nothing wrong with you. If the Hat Sorted you into Slytherin, then that's where you belong. It doesn't mean you're a bad person. Remember, Slytherins aren't any different from everyone else, and they're not bad people. Being a Slytherin is definitely not something to worry about. We love you no matter what. Just try to focus on school and have fun.

Love, Mum and Dad. XOXO

Rose smiled a little to herself. This letter had made up her mind. She was a Slytherin, and proud of it.

Albus leaned over. "What's that?"

"Nothing." Rose hastily stuffed the letter back into her pocket. "But, Al, the point is, I'm a Slytherin. Just - don't fret about it, okay? I'm fine. Slytherin isn't as bad as you seem to think."

"I don't think Slytherin is bad," Hugo commented.

"Neither do I," Albus said. "I just - I wish you were in Gryffindor." He sounded like he really meant it. Rose's irritation vanished.

"I know," Rose said gently, laying a hand on his arm. "But I'll still see you around. It's not like I'm leaving forever."

Just then, Scorpius Malfoy caught Rose's gaze from across the classroom. He grinned and gave her a little wave. Rose smiled back.

"Who's that?" Albus inquired, watching as Scorpius turned back to his cauldron.

"Wha - " Rose realized she was staring at Scorpius and turned back to Albus, blushing slightly. "Oh. He's just someone I met yesterday."

"Isn't that Scorpius Malfoy?" Hugo interrupted, leaning over.

"Um, yeah."

Albus narrowed his eyes. "Scorpius Malfoy? Son of Draco Malfoy? Dad saved Scorpius' dad from a huge fire once."