Rose Weasley and the Sneaking Slytherin

Rose Weasley and the Sneaking Slytherin

"I don't know where they get these ideas, but I am not complaining!"

"Don't get yourself into too much trouble, Finnigan. We can't go the rest of our season with only one Beater. Keep your head on."

"I promise to keep my head on, Albus, but are there any rules about my trousers?"

Every one in the train car, which held most of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, hooted or scowled. Parissa Patil blushed, and smacked him upside his head.

"Oi, Finnigan, not in front of the ladies!" Albus laughed along with the other blokes, but he wanted to maintain some impression of control over his team.

"So who decided Hogwarts should get a Spring Break, anyway? I know it is a Muggle tradition, but this is the first time we had a go."

"Well, one of the Muggle-born professors must have suggested it to McGonagall. It makes sense, though. With studying for the N.E.W.T.S. all of the seventh years are going bonkers. Did you see the looks on the faces of the fifth and sixth years? Oh, if only I'd had Creevey's camera!"

Albus looked over at his cousin to see her gazing out of the window. She hadn't contributed to the conversation in ages, and as she was often as loquacious as her mother, it hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Rose?" When she didn't respond, he sent confetti spewing out of his wand into her face. "Rosie!"

"Bloody hell, Al, you scared me! What on earth do you want?"

Albus was notably surprised by her reaction. "Well go on then, bite my head off why don't you? What crawled into your cauldron? You've been out to lunch since we left Hogwarts. What gives?"

Rose blushed slightly, her ears coloring the tell-tale Weasley red.

"Sorry, didn't mean to snap. I just have a lot on my mind... N.E.W.T.S. and all. I guess I need to relax, though, right? I mean, this week should be fun. If I don't refresh over this week, I won't survive the rest of term, and if I die, Mum will kill me!"

Albus chuckled, knowing that despite how ridiculous the statement had been, that it may as well have been true. His Aunt Hermione was a stickler for studying, and everyone knew it. There were rumors that she had been offered almost every position in Hogwarts, but she was happy doing research for the Ministry of Magic.

Come to think of it, Albus mused, Rose has been more stressed than usual lately, and that is saying something.

Albus lowered his voice to whisper to his cousin. "Rosie, are you sure it is just exams? You've been... on edge ever since we got back from Christmas. Your Quidditch has been fierce, as I've told you every game, but then you run off to the castle without even putting your gear away properly. It can't just be your studies."

Rose glanced guiltily out at the passing scenery. If I had just Apparated to the beach house, I wouldn't be dealing with this, but no, I couldn't risk splinching after that git winked at me in the Great Hall.

"Don't worry about me so much, Al. From what I've seen of your potions essays, you have plenty better things to worry about."

They chuckled quietly together and turned away, both still lost in their thoughts.

~*~

RW and the SS Prologue 2