Miss Rosemary Muriel Weasley had always felt out of place in her family. Rosemary had always been a decisive, particular, and observant child. She wasn’t adventurous like Bill, or good with animals like Charlie. She wasn’t clever like Percy. She wasn’t funny like the twins, nor was she charming like Ginny. She preferred playing chess with her Uncle Billius over helping Grandmother Weasley in the garden, reading with Percy over roughhousing with Fred, George, and Ginny, hated being called Rosie (though hardly anyone ever listened when she asked to be called Rose instead). She refused to wear her mother’s knitting as she hated the texture of the wool Molly used (it made her skin itch, and she felt like she had to take a shower if she even touched that wool), and she hated sharing her room with anyone for any reason. Rose was, well, her mother called it stubborn but Percy (her most favorite sibling) always told her that she simply knew how things needed to be for herself, and wasn’t afraid to speak up when necessary. For the most part, her family (with the exception of Percy) left her to her own devices, and all were happier for it.
It was mostly the last reason that Rose was left a little shocked when she was called into the living room by her parents. The only time when someone was called into the living room alone was when something expensive broke, or if you were in an equal amount of trouble. Rose tugged at the ends of her two deep reddish-orange plaits nervously. She wished, very sincerely and fervently, that her hair was either a little darker or a little lighter in hue. Had her hair been lighter, she could have had reddish gold hair like her sister Ginny, who had been blessed with a deeper version of their mother’s strawberry blonde locks. Had it been darker, it could have been a fine merlot like Lady Lily Black and her son Heir Leo Black, that had glowed like garnets in the firelight of last year's Beltane festival. But no, Rose had been stuck with a deep orange.
‘Like carrots’ she thought glumly. Rose ran her hands nervously down the front of her green plaid dress. ‘It’s never a good sign when the door is closed’ Rose thought, and quickly rapped on the door.
“Mum? Da? Are you in?” Rose called out, deliberately keeping her voice calm and her tone light. ‘Relax’ She thought, taking a deep breath. ‘There’s no way they know about the teacup.’ It hadn’t been her fault anyways, but Ginny was always good at making everything Rose’s fault. How was it Rose's fault that Ginny scared her and made her drop her cup? Rose couldn’t think of a way, but she knew that Ginny could come up with something.
‘Stop thinking about the tea cup’ Rose begged her brain. She took a minute and remembered the trick that Percy had taught her. ‘In for three’ Rose breathed in. ‘Out for four’ Rose breathed out. Slowly her brain began to feel less jumbled. She repeated this until she heard her father’s voice.
“We’re in here Rose, come in and shut the door behind you.” Arthur called back from behind the door. ‘They may know about the teacup.’ Rose winched quietly, as she opened the door and walked quickly inside, shutting it behind her as she went. ‘Right, best to get this bloody well over with’ Rose mused as she prepared herself for the high-pitched screeching of her mother’s voice. It always gave her a terrible headache. When she looked up, Rose saw her father looking resigned, her mother looking annoyed, and her Aunt Muriel looking proud. What was Aunt Muriel doing here? Aunt Muriel only visits on Saturdays, and it was only Thursday.
Not that Rose was upset to see her aunt. Aunt Muriel was her favourite aunt. She had heard her mother once call Aunt Muriel a “necessity”. Rose quite agreed with that, as seeing Aunt Muriel was something she considered absolutely necessary. She always answered Rose’s letters promptly, played gobstones with her whenever Rose was visiting, and let Rose sit by her at family gatherings when she needed quiet time.
“After all my dear,” Muriel had whispered conspiratorially to her when she had hidden behind her aunt during Ginny’s last birthday, “Not one of these fools are stupid enough to try and approach me without a very good reason. You take your time, and enjoy your book. If you like, we may discuss the finer points of the text later. I promise, for now, no one will bother you.” And no one had. Aunt Muriel was a safe person, and seeing her in the room made some of the tension leave Rose’s shoulders. It was still odd that she was here though.
“Hello Auntie, it's lovely to see you.” Rose said, quickly curtsying before walking over to give her aunt a kiss on the cheek. Aunt Muriel was also Lady Muriel Fawley, so Rose had to curtsy whenever she saw her. Aunt Muriel said that Rose had excellent form, and it was wise to keep it in good practice. Rose wasn’t 100% sure what she was practicing for, but was glad it made her aunt happy nonetheless.
“Hello Rose. It is lovely to see you as well. I have something I wish to discuss with you. If you’d please?” Muriel said after returning a kiss to Rose’s cheek, and gesturing to the chair beside her. Rose quickly sat down neatly, and folded her hands in her lap. Her instinct was to tug on her braids, but mum always got mad when she did that.
Muriel took one of Rose’s small hands into her own. “Rose, as you know, I and your Uncle Billius never had any children of our own. This means that when I pass, there will be no one to take care of the House of Fawley, to lead it on into the future. I am in need of an heiress, and I would like that to be you.”
Rose blinked. An heiress? Her? But, she wasn’t charming, or funny, or anything good. Bill was Heir Weasley, and if being an heiress is anything like being an heir, there was no way Rose could do it. She was nothing like Bill. She was just Rose, and she wasn’t anything like an heiress, she was sure. Still, it was very rare that her Auntie was wrong, so Rose decided to ask Muriel more questions, if only to hear her out.
“Why me?” Rose asked, meeting Muriel’s gaze with determination. Muriel grinned brightly, and opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Molly.
“That is what I said as well. Really, Muriel, Rosie’s….uniqueness just isn’t suited for something so important. Now, my little Ginny would be so much better suited to such a wonderderous oppro-“ Molly started to say before noticing the venomous glare that Muriel was giving her. Molly was so focused on Muriel, in fact, that she didn’t see the look of hurt on Rose’s face before Rose had a chance to hide it. Both Muriel and Arthur caught it however. Molly shut her mouth so quickly that there was an audible clack of her teeth. Arthur sighed, and drank his tea. Muriel looked at Rose and offered her a kind smile, before turning her attention back to Molly.
“This conversation is not about Ginvera, nor does it need to include her in any fashion. This opportunity is for Rosemary and Rosemary alone, no amount of your caterwauling will change that. A mother of seven should be mature enough to know when it is appropriate for her to speak, Margaret.” Muriel said coldly. Rose watched in awe, as Muriel once again accomplished the one thing no one in the family had been able to do. She shut Molly up. Molly seemed to shrink in size, and muttered a quick apology before turning her full attention back to her teacup.
“There are many reasons why I know that you are the best choice Rose. Other than the fact that you are intelligent, witty, and well-read, you are also my eldest niece, and my namesake. It is only logical that you are my first, and my only choice.” Muriel said, taking another sip of her tea, while she sent another glare Molly’s way.
Rose nodded, chewing her lip. “What would happen if I said yes?” Rose asked cautiously.
Muriel smiled. If Rose was asking that, then Muriel had already won. She could finally take her favored niece away from that harpy of a woman, and maybe even help some of the others along as well. William and Charles weren’t bad boys and answered her letters in a decent manner. Percy was a good lad, and wrote to her each week, plus he took such good care of Rose when he was home. Fredrick and George were intelligent if a little mischievous, but Ginerva, she was another case entirely. Ginerva had been spoiled rotten by her mother, and it showed. Muriel had often wondered how much of the monthly stipend she gave to her nephew and his wife was spent on Ginvera, rather than all of the children, especially given the obvious wear and tear on Rose’s dress. The first thing she was doing once Rose was safely in her care was taking Rose to her tailor. Regardless, Muriel would do her best. They were all young enough that she could make a difference, and it all started with Rose. Muriel set her cup down, and turned her attention back to Rose.
“Well Rose, it’s fairly simple. You would become Heiress Fawley. I would become your guardian, along with Billius. You would spend Monday to Friday in my manor, with myself and your Uncle Billius. You will have tutors teaching you in a range of topics along with some of the other young heirs, and you will also have private lessons with me on family magic and the House of Fawley. You will flew to the Burrow on Friday evenings and remain here until Sunday evening, so that you may spend some time with your parents and sister. When you start Hogwarts next term, your parents will be taking you during Yule break, and I will be taking you in the summer. At the age of fifteen, you’ll have your debut into society with a coming out ball, and at seventeen, you’ll take on the majority of your duties as Heiress. At that time, you will be expected to move into the Roost full time with myself and your uncle. If you agree, I will be picking you up this Sunday evening, after your brothers have left for Hogwarts.”
Rose nodded and thought for a moment. All of her brother’s would be gone this year. Since Da was away most of the time for work, it would only be herself, Ginny, and Mum. That sounded like a recipe for disaster. While Rose wasn’t sure she would be good at being an heiress, she knew that if anyone could teach her, it would be her Auntie. Rose’s train of thought was interrupted by her father speaking for the first time since Rose walked into the room.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to Rose,” Arthur said, his voice soft and comforting. “But I do think it would be a wonderful opportunity for you. Plus, we’d see you every weekend. It’s up to you dear.” Arthur put his teacup down on the side, and looked expectantly at Rose.
Rose nodded and smiled carefully at her father. “I want to do it. Auntie, I want to become your heiress.” Rose turned her gaze to Muriel, who smiled brightly at her.
“If that is the case, then I shall be back to retrieve you on Sunday. For now, I shall take my leave. Please insure to pack all that you need with you Rose, and I will see you all in two days time.”
With that, Muriel took her leave, and Rosemary’s life changed forever.