Rose Weasley and The Beast of the Black Lake, year 2

Gorpius Nearly Breaks His Nose

Hermione pulled Rose from the bookstore and knelt in the busy street.

"Sweetheart?" Hermione whispered. "You don't have to go."

"Go where?" she asked worriedly.

"I know what's bothering you, dear; you cry in your sleep. You don't have to go back to school if you think it would be too much on you."

"No!" said Rose a little too aggressively. She knew that her mother wasn't as much asking her, then pleading with her. "I'll be fine mom," she said more calmly. "I'll be fine."

A thunder clap sounded just as Rose could have sworn her name was called. She squinted through the dark, rainy day to see a silhouette running at her through the fog. She recognized the slightly awkward run and pulled from her mother's arms to meet her cousin Al.

He was grinning broadly and Rose ruffled his already messy black hair. He had green eyes and looked like a miniature, non-glasses wearing, version of his father, Harry Potter.

"Where's Harry and Ginny?" asked Hermione meeting up with them.

"They're heading this way," Al smiled. "We've just finished at the Apothecary, and now we're coming for our books. "Look what I've found!" he said excitedly to Rose. Al turned around his eyebrows furrowed. "Where'd he go...? Oi!"

Another silhouette began making its way toward them, difficult to see through the witches and wizards bustling through the crowd. But as the figure grew closer, there was no mistaking that indigo hair and confident stride.

"Max!" she shouted before jumping at him. When she hugged him, however, she found that her head didn't meet his head anymore. She pulled away to find that her ear only met his chest. She backed up in surprise to find that Max was nearly a head taller and was visibly broader. But his features remained the same, he still had a strong jaw and defined characteristics.

He was grinning at her and grabbed the bottom of her hair. "Its gotten longer," he said, and she was startled to find that even his voice was deeper.

Rose turned back to her mom who was watching them and quickly and unconvincingly smiled at him. Rose found herself becoming uncomfortable, and Max faltered when reaching for Hermione's hand.

"Nice to see you again Mrs. Granger-Weasley," he stammered, his confidence slowly decreasing.

"Just Weasley, Maddox," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

This was hard to watch. Last year, her folks had really liked Max, he had even spent the Holiday with them and received a Weasley jumper. But ever since everyone found out what had happened during the last week of term, they had all pinned the whole situation on Max. Though Rose could understand why everyone blamed him, she didn't. He smiled awkwardly and turned back to Al who also seemed uncomfortable.

"Max!" Hugo shouted, running up to him and giving him a fist bump.

Max smiled at this warmer welcome and ruffled Hugo's hair.

"Its gotten longer now too, kid," said Max.

"Who are you calling kid?" Hugo asked puffing himself up. "I am now entering Hogwarts, where dwell the tall in stature and strong in mind!"

"Who fed you that nonsense?" Max laughed.

"I did."

Max's purple eyes widened, and he turned to see Ron standing behind with Harry.

"Mr. Weasley," he breathed, trying to regain himself. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Why wouldn't I be here, with my family?" said Ron calmly, but there was something in his voice that sounded contradictory and threatening.