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

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Rose had put off doing her summer homework in fear of not being able to go back to Hogwarts and was now paying the price. She spent days like this, on her bed, covered in papers and books, ink and quill. She would have much rather helped Hugo, would rather be giving him the advice that he was constantly coming in here room to ask. She could remember last year when she had been that eager for information. But she couldn't spare any time. She had a small pile of unanswered letters on her desk, things like, "See ya in three days!" or "Are you gonna bring a pet this year?" or "Tell Hugo not to worry."

Rose had her trunk packed, and uniform hung on her closet door. She was going to Hogwarts with six pairs of robes this year. Her parents had insisted on getting her new ones, but considering she had grown only two inches if at all over the summer, and her last year robes had been a little long, she saw no reason to dispose of them.

She loved her parents, always had, but this year, she was a little eager to get away from them. She was so determined to have a perfectly safe year and prove to her parents that she would be fine and that trouble didn't follow Max. Also, she wouldn't be disappointed not to have to catch their sideways glances, wary looks, stifled conversations that she knew had been about her, and when she was on the Hogwarts Express to get to school, she wouldn't be worried about them changing their minds.

Rose laid in bed that night, but no matter what she did, she couldn't get to sleep. She had finished her homework finally and was feeling a little guilty about how she had treated Hugo. She had assured him that as soon as she finished her homework, which she would answer any questions that he might have had. But it was now too late; she hadn't kept to her word; actually... was it too late? Rose sat up from the bed and navigated her way out of her room through the moonlight. Hugo was just across the hall, and if he were still awake... at 2:36 am, she would stay true to her word.

Rose pushed the door open to find that all the lights were out and the room quiet. She sighed, knowing that she had missed out on something that she would never have the opportunity to do again. As she turned to close the door, a hand grabbed her by the wrist, and she was pulled back into the dark room. A small light appeared at the tip of Hugo's wand and grew brighter to illuminate a worried face.

"Hugo!" Rose whispered. "You can't use magic outside of school!"

"I'm not!" he reasoned, closing the door behind them. "It knows when I want light and illuminates on its own," he placed the wand on his dresser drawer as it shone bright enough to easily illuminate the whole room. "I'm telling you, Rosie, there's something strange about that wand."

"I just came in to answer your questions," she said feeling rude. "A little late?"

"A lot late," said Hugo. "But better late than never, sit." she and he took a seat on his bed. "When should I change into my robes?" he asked. "I mean before I'm on the train or after?"

"Before is better," she answered. "Someone will come to your compartment and remind you if you're not already changed, but it's best not to have to miss the meaningful conversation. Al put changing into his robes off last year and had to get dressed as all the students were pouring from their compartment and he almost missed the boats."

Hugo was thinking. "Alright, turn around."

She did this without asking why. Hugo often did or had others do odd things without explanation, and Rose had become used to it.

"What about the train? Where do the cool kids sit?"

"You don't know until you get there," she replied, staring at Hugo's poster of the Winston Woodpeckers Quidditch team flying around. "I ended up sitting with Scorpius by obligation. If it wouldn't have been rude, I would've found a seat elsewhere and made the worst decision of my life. But if you feel uncomfortable, you can always sit with Al and me."