THE AUTUMN WEATHER was becoming colder and colder every day. Students wore layers to classes, drank hot apple cider at meals, and kept the fires roaring in their common rooms and dorms.

No one minded the cold, it was just another excuse to bundle up close to the ones you loved. Though, James Potter, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, minded the cold especially during the first-morning practice till the season officially started. For the veteran players, there was no need for a thirty-minute introduction to how to play in intense weather. The only new teammate was a third-year who had gotten the new beater position. He was to play alongside Fred Weasley, the other beater, throughout the whole practice to get a hang of teamwork and a good rhythm between the Beaters.

As Jame droned on about proper Quidditch attire during the rain, the cold, the snow, the wind, etc. Rose's mind drifted off somewhere else. 

That morning, during breakfast, before Rose had even taken a bite, three Slytherins, Eloise, Albus, and Scorpius came up to her saying they had dire news. She knew instantly it had to do with her sights and The Veil, but James and taken her and the other Quidditch teammates away from breakfast before Rose could even give the three a reply. They followed along and were currently sitting up in the stadium as if making sure nothing happened to Rose during the practice. 

James noticed this too. 

"G.W.," James called out, making Rose jump from her thoughts. G.W. was a Quidditch nickname given to her during the first years of playing the game. It was easier for the announcer, Leo Jordan, to say during the matches than the mouthful 'Granger-Weasley'. "Can you tell me why there are three Slytherins sitting in the stadium watching our practice? One of them being a Slytherin Quidditch player."

Rose raised her eyebrows at her cousin, "What? Do you think they're here to spy on us? One of those Slytherins is your brother and I don't think he's interested in telling the Slytherin team on how we keep warm during matches."

James ignored his cousin and kept looking at the three boys. Albus gave his brother a small wave. 

"Let's get into the air," James finally said, taking his eyes off the three. 

The practice went smoothly. Eric Mulligan, the new Beater, and Fred were having a fun time on their own flying around the field and hitting the Bludger to one another. Tiya, Roxanne, and Rose did their flying drills and worked with Nolan Wood, the Keeper, on shooting and blocking goals. James flew around watching his team and where they needed improvements. The snitch flew around the field as he did so. 

As they continued to practice James took a break and flew over to where the three Slytherins were seated. He got off his broom and took a seat next to them. 

"So," James said looking at his brother and his two friends. "What brings you to our practice?"

Albus rolled his eyes and groaned, "Don't worry your majesty we aren't here to spy. We're waiting for Rose to be done - We need to talk to her."

James looked at Rose flying around and then back at Albus. "Why can't you wait in the castle?"

"Because it's urgent," Scorpius blurted out, gaining shushes from both Eloise and Albus. 

James's eyes fixated on Scorpius. "Malfoy, I've been meaning to have a word with you-"

"Don't worry James, I already talked to him about Rose. There's nothing to worry about."

Eloise scoffed, "Wait. What did you say to Malfoy about Rose?"

Albus shrugged, "I just wanted to know if Scorpius had a thing for Rose, because if so we were going to have a problem."

James gave a proud pat on the back to his little brother, but Eloise scoffed once again. 

"Why shouldn't Malfoy have a thing for Rose?"

"Well, it doesn't matter because he doesn't fancy Rose."

Eloise gave out a loud chuckle, "Funny... doesn't fancy Rose. That's bullshit."

"Eloise!"

"What?! You would be stupid to think those two aren't hopelessly falling for each other."

"Wait..." Scorpius said, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, "you think Rose fancies me?"

James laughed, "No, way."

"Yes, way!" Eloise argued. She pushed Scorpius away to get a better look at James. "You saw the kiss on the cheek."

"She said it was friendly! Plus, she knows how I would feel if they got together."

"Who bloody cares how you or Albus or anyone feels if they got together!" Eloise yelled, looking at the two brothers. "If they want to be together they should be together and neither one of you has any reason to control who Rose ends up with. You... pricks!"

Scorpius sighed, "Well, this is a lovely conversation to be a part of."

James rolled his eyes and stood up, grabbing his broom once again. "Just..." but all he could do was sigh. He said nothing and rode off on his broom and went back to surveying his team. 

Eloise looked at Scorpius, "Listen Malfoy, I find you annoying and weird, but if you fancy Rose you should go for it. Don't let those two idiots stop you."

Albus rolled his eyes and kept watching the practice. He was too irritated to keep this conversation going. Scorpius and he already had a talk and there was no reason for him and Rose to do anything together. It was decided and final. 

The three were silent while Albus and Eloise both huffed to themselves and Scorpius sat between the two of them, very uncomfortable with what had just happened. Not only uncomfortable but defeated. James and Albus both were disgusted with the idea of him and Rose. Which made him feel like her whole family wouldn't like the idea either. Weirdly, Eloise was on his side. 

He didn't know what to do with his feelings. Should he just stuff them down deep inside to avoid the drama? Or should he shoot his shot and see if Rose truly felt the same about him. 

Scorpius decided to just focus on the conversation they were about to have with Rose. About how the Veil was cracked.

+++

Rose was still in her Quidditch robes from practice. Once practice was done the three rushed to her and waited outside the locker room until it was only Rose. The four were now sitting on the benches talking to Rose about what Albus and Scorpius had heard last night at the Three Broomsticks. 

"Scorpius isn't the only one that spent a lot of time at the Ministry as a kid. Dad used to take me, James, and Lily a lot when we were little to show us what being an Auror was like. The guy I saw dad talking to last night is one of the Heads of the Department of Mysteries, Magnus Hamdore," Albus said. "If that wasn't suspicious enough they went into a secret room to talk. Luckily, I bring those Extendable Ears everywhere."

Rose was quiet for a second, but then opened her mouth to ask, "Why do you bring them everywhere?"

Eloise and Scorpius laughed, but Albus just rolled his eyes, "For moments like these! The bloody Veil is cracked and my dad is hearing things. I think his scar is acting up."

"But, you said your dad went to the other side and came back. Voldemort killed him, well the Horcrux part of him, but he still went to the other side and had a choice to stay. He didn't stay though, he came back to life to keep fighting --that's why he's feeling the effects. So, why am I?"

Scorpius gulped and looked Rose in the eyes, "Our hypothesis is that since Ravana was the one to crack it, the dead souls that escaped were attracted to the newest sign of life. You were born on the day Ravana broke it, however the hell he did that, and so I think some of the power, the power to see souls, traveled to you."

Rose shook her head and got up from the bench and started to pace back and forth. "Why then is it happening now? If you're saying it's been with me, this power from the Veil or whatever the hell... since birth... why am I just noticing it?"

Albus shrugged, "Maybe the same reason for my dad. I mean... he told Hamdore it's been going on for fifteen years, but his scar just started to hurt. My guess is the longer the Veil is broken the stronger visuals you can see. Who knows, maybe you had the ability to see these things for years, but they weren't clear. Maybe back then they were just shadows and now you can fully see their shape."

"Plus," Eloise added in, "each year your power grows. As you grow and the Veil grows. I don't know... but I'm scared for what happens next."

Rose stopped in her tracks, her back to her friends. "But Uncle Harry is hearing voices, he didn't say he saw anything."

"Rose..." Albus's soft voice broke through and he stood up, placing a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "We should talk to my Dad."

"No!" she said quickly and shrugged his hand off her shoulder. "I already have so much to worry about I don't need another complication in my life. Plus, I haven't even seen anything in a while..."

But as she said this a loud meow was heard from the door of the locker room. The four turned to see Ghost standing there, his tail flicking left to right, and continued to meow loudly. 

"Bloody hell..." Rose whispered and everyone got up to follow the cat. 

Ghost ran out of the locker room and towards Hagrid's Hut. The group continued on the tail of Ghost and Rose's heart hammered. 

This isn't happening, Rose thought, this isn't happening to me. I don't want this...

The four continued to walk through the grass field against the cold chill. Ghost continued to meow loudly as he lead them towards the Forbidden Forest. Each step Rose took was a symbol of why she was in Gryffindor. All she wanted to do was run the other way, but she knew she needed to continue forward. She wanted to ignore the situation but she needed answers. The comfort of having her friends behind her gave her the courage to keep walking. 

The closer they got to the forest Rose started to see the outlined figure. They passed the black lake and memories of the first time she saw the figure flickered through her mind. Her lunch with Eloise seemed so long ago. 

And here it was, the black human figure. The shadow figure inching its way out of the forest and into sight. Ghost stopped in front of the figure and so did Rose. 

And it started to happen again. 

The figure seemed to be looking directly in her eyes. Her chest felt light and all she wanted to do was touch the figure. She took a step closer and Ghost gave out a loud meow. Albus shushed the Kneazle, and with a quick look back at Ablus, Ghost seemed to understand the plan. 

With everything in her power Rose's mind seemed to clear away and the only thought that entered it was to follow... to touch... her arm started to float upwards and reach out towards the shadow figure.

Something new started to happen as she took another step towards the figure. Color started to come alive, and the figure started to show the dimensions of a human. Soon the feeling to follow blindly into the forest washed away as Rose shockingly watched the figure become human.

Brown leather shoes, ripped up blue jeans, a tattered colorful sweater, and soon a pale face, freckles, and fiery red hair. He was tall and lanky, with a bloody gash across his forehead. 

Rose gasped, it was the spitting image of her Uncle George, but younger and with both of his ears.

"Merlin's beard," Rose half-whispered in shock, "Uncle Fred..."