Hey, I'm Laura. This is my third FanFic on SS, and I hope too keep this one running, unlike the last two. It's set during Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoys fifth year at Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling. I do not own any of the settings, or cannon characters used in this fanfiction.
Also, the title comes from the song of the same name by British rock band 'You Me At Six'.

Safer to Hate Her

one; Rose.

Call me a geek, but I was glad to be going back to school; school meant no days where I had absolutely nothing to do except for sit around and watch my brother and cousins play Quidditch. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the summer holidays, but after the two weeks we spent abroad with mum and dad, everything kind of lapsed into the same routines – namely everyone playing the Wizarding sport that I hated.

Dad’s never been able to understand why I don’t get the thrill of being up in the air, but Mum does. It’s not that I don’t like broomsticks, like her… it’s just, I’d rather be reading a book by the window, or watching the game, than playing it. And when you’ve finished every book that is in your house, and you’ve watched the same game with the same result for more than a week on end, any change is welcome.

And school… that was very welcome indeed.

“Don’t even think about it, Al,” I said absentmindedly, my gaze not moving from page one-hundred and sixty two of ‘Hogwarts: A History’, a book I’d read at least a dozen times. My speech got the reaction I wanted, though; my cousin’s arm, raised mid throw, stopped, and he looked at me. I guess he thought I was taking the prefect business too seriously; he himself had earned his badge this year, and although it gleamed glossy from the chest of his robes, he was still determined to let a Fanged Frisbee loose on the train. Personally, I blamed Uncle George, who’d given him and James a Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes hamper for no apparent reason. I didn’t see him rolling his eyes, but I’m sure that was what he was doing as he lowered his arm.

“Why d’you always have to be such a goody-two-shoes, Rosie?” James muttered disgustedly. “I mean, seriously… rules are made to be broken.”

“I know but… it’s our patrol now anyways,” Albus murmured, looking at his watch. He beckoned to me as I put the book down and stood up from my seat.

“If you dare start anything, James, I won’t hesitate to report you,” I said warningly from the door. In reply, I got a snicker, and I distinctly heard him say, “Report me? She wouldn’t dare, we’re family!” to Hugo and Lily as I left the compartment.

“You can be a little too good sometimes, Rose,” Albus reasoned, as we began to walk towards the back of the train, glancing left and right into each compartment for trouble makers.

“What do you mean?” was all I could retort, a little shocked – was this all anyone saw me as, a ‘goody-two-shoes know-it-all’? I expected insults like that from someone like Scorpius Malfoy, not my own cousins.

“It’s just… it can be fun to break the rules. I mean – oh, forget I ever said anything,” Albus said, faltering under my steely gaze, and then resuming his gazing through the compartment windows. There was silence for a moment, and I began to wonder whether he was right – until he stopped next to me, and pointed into the adjacent compartment.

“Uh-oh… this can’t be good.”

Albus seemed hesitant to enter, and so I strode past him, sliding the door open. “What on earth do you think you’re playing at, Malfoy?” I said, glaring angrily at my nemesis, as Al stepped up beside me and let his gaze flicker from the Slytherin’s cronies to the terror-stricken, white faced first year.

“Ah, look who it is! Little Miss I’m-So-Bloody-Perfect-Prefect-Weasley!” Scorpius sneered at me, and I returned it with a look of pure ice.

“You should know better,” I said, as I motioned for Albus to escort the little boy out of the compartment. Glancing down at the badge on Malfoys chest, he followed my gaze and caressed it almost lovingly, and I wondered how on earth he’d even earned it. The teachers obviously saw a side to him that no one else could see, and I hated that fact.

“Ah… but you see Weasley, I am using my power in a wise way, oh yes.”

“Wise way? Oh just wait until I report you!” I spat with contempt.

“But you wouldn’t, would you? I mean, who’d believe you? Where’s your evidence?” Scorpius’ lip curled in a sneer, and I almost shook with rage. Of course, he was right – he’d probably scared that little boy so much, and threatened to hurt him if he said anything, that he’d keep his trap shut. Oh I fumed, I couldn’t help it. Unable to think of a wise way to respond, I turned on my heel and stormed out of his sight, unable to blot their rapturous laughter from my ears.

“Calm down, Rose!” Albus said, catching my arm. His face was alarmed, and I realised he’d never seen me seething like this before. Before now, I’d never let it show how much Scorpius Malfoy got to me, and it shocked Al. I was always so level headed, so for him to see me like that must have been dreadful. Shaking his arm off of mine, I continued to stride up the middle of the train, oblivious to the many people moving out of my way, or the worried glares Albus was shooting my way.