Chapter One
A/n: Hey guys, this is my first attempt at Harry Potter fanfiction! Please review and give me feedback! Thanks for reading
Scarlet yawned and stretched. The house was quiet and a slight breeze blew through the open fraction of her window. This was her favourite part of the summer holidays. The peacefulness of the night.
She glanced at the small clock next to her bed and noticed, with a slight shock, it was 11:30 pm. She had spent much longer than she thought, daydreaming and staring off into space. She could swear it only went dark an hour ago. With a sigh, she put down the book she had just opened and got up to brush her teeth.
Scarlet looked at her reflection in the mirror. A tall, skinny girl, of 16 years with sparkling hazel eyes and light brown hair that sat straight around her shoulders looked back and waved.
"Looking good" her reflection in the mirror told her. Given the mirror was enchanted, and Scarlet's family were magic, it was not a real shock. Scarlet was a witch as well, currently receiving her education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where, in two more weeks, she would be entering her sixth year and beginning learning for her N.E.W.T s(Nastily Exhausting Wizard Tests)
She rinsed out her mouth and went back to her room. She thought, almost mournfully, of when she would turn 17 next year in February and be able to do magic outside of Hogwarts. She got into bed with a sigh and turned out her lamp. Within five minutes, she was fast asleep.
Not far from where Scarlet lived another person was still awake. Albus Severus Potter hurriedly grabbed his broomstick and his father's (the famous Harry Potter, also known as the chosen one or the boy who lived) invisibility cloak. He was going on a late-night trip on his broomstick, which he did often. He may even take a short trip past Scarlet's house. Scarlet.
Albus had only been in love with Scarlet since the first moment he saw her, when they were both first-years at Hogwarts. He remembered her hair was long and in two neat plaits when she asked if she could sit in his compartment on the train.
She, like him, was in Gryffindor house at Hogwarts, but strangely enough, the Sorting hat had nearly placed them both in Slytherin. Both of them were brave and loyal, like Godric Gryffindor himself. Scarlet could also be determined and cunning, like a Slytherin, but she would never betray others.
Albus mounted his broomstick, a Nimbus 3001 and flew out his wide open window. The breeze flittering across his face was pleasantly cool and he felt lighter than air, up there in the sky. He had inherited his parent's love of flying and Quidditch. He was the seeker of the Gryffindor team, just as his father was. He had taken after Harry in many ways, especially his looks. He had his grandmother's green eyes, messy black hair and was skinny and tall.
A familiar brick house came into view, and Albus felt that familiar nervous feeling building up in his stomach. He paused only to readjust the invisibility cloak, which was rather difficult to keep on whilst flying. He flew slightly towards the house, measuring his distance, so to not feel like a character from a Muggle paranormal romance movie his little sister, Lily Luna had watched, much to his annoyance.
His broomstick began making erratic movements, as though being controlled by an invisible puppeteer. He grasped the handle tightly, just to avoid being thrown off. The house appeared to be coming closer- Albus was rapidly moving towards it and with a large bang, he was thrown into the wall and slowly fell down into the garden bed bellow.
….
Scarlet woke suddenly to the sound of loud swearing and a few painful yelps. She rubbed her eyes and picked up her wand and walked cautiously to her window, which had somehow been slammed shut. She opened the window and gazed out of it. To her surprise, she saw a crumpled heap in the garden below her which had to be human.
With her heart pounding, she walked down the stairs as quietly as she could. She kept her wand pointed in front of her, in case it was some sort of attacker. Feeling as though her chest was about to explode, she opened the front door and searched for the heap.
Albus groaned and tried to move his arm, which was bent in a strange position and was exceptionally painful. The arm was definitely broken; he thought to himself and groaned again. He was going to be in a lot of trouble when he returned home. He couldn't mend broken bones yet. He was distracted halfway through wondering if he could slip into St Mungos without his parents realizing, by a large crash. With his good arm, he picked up his wand, muttered "Lumos" to ignite the tip and was prepared for an attack.
Somebody was getting closer. He hoped for it not to be Scarlet's parents. Then Harry and Ginny would definitely find out.
"Who's there?" called a familiar female voice and Albus' heart began to race. He was filled with heavy dread
The voice belonged to Scarlet.
Scarlet found him, sitting amongst some bright pink flowers. She gasped and Albus prepared for her to scream, call for help or slap him. Maybe she would do all three.
"Potter! What the hell are you doing here?" Scarlet whispered fiercely and Albus flinched at her tone
"I was, uh, flying around the neighbourhood" he lied weakly
"At midnight? And why have you ended up in my garden?" Scarlet raised her eyebrows, disbelief in her eyes
"I fancied a midnight fly and I may have crashed into your house, then fell in your garden" he tried for a smile, but it turned out more like a grimace
"Are you OK?" Scarlet questioned, but her tone was no longer angry, but she sounded genuinely concerned for Albus, which made him feel pathetically happy. She knelt down next to him and saw his arm. She gasped at its awkward position. She gazed at Albus, examining his face.
"Merlin, you scared me" she whispered, a crease in her eyebrows. She was still gazing at Albus and he felt that jolt in his stomach that he usually felt before he caught the Snitch.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" right at that moment, Albus chose to notice she was wearing a tight, white singlet and tiny little pyjama shorts which displayed her long, smooth, pale legs. Another jolt in the stomach and a, er, unique urge, which he hoped didn't show.
"Come inside, my parents will fix your arm" she stood up and held out her hand for Albus. He grabbed it gratefully and was surprised at how strong she was. He held onto her hand a little longer than necessary, and in his wandlight, he swore she blushed. He was closer to Scarlet then he had ever been. He silently cursed his broken arm
She grabbed his hand again and pulled in inside. His stomach was slightly fluttery from her touch as she sat him down on a chair and went upstairs to wake her parents, who came down five minutes later, her mother still tying a dressing gown around her large middle.
He knew her father, Mr Peakes had once played Quidditch with his father, but he wasn't sure if that would help the situation
The two parents gazed at him, bleary eyed and sleepy. Mrs Peakes reminded him slightly of his grandmother, Molly Weasley. She was a round, kind-faced woman, whose eyes were the exact shade that Scarlet's were which did not help matters. Mr Peakes was a tall, almost stocky, but powerful looking man. He had Scarlet's nose.
"Hello, Albus" Mr Peakes greeted Albus politely
"Good evening, Sir" Albus replied, his arm aching
"Whatever did you do to your arm, dear?" Mrs Peakes exclaimed, fluttering around him, another action that reminded him of Molly.
"I crashed into your house" He didn't really want to make polite chit-chat, his arm was now hurting more than ever
Scarlet seemed to notice Albus' expression and she cleared her throat, obviously telling her parents to hurry
Mrs Peakes removed her wand from her sleeve. She began muttering an incantation that Albus did not bother to hear. His arm had the sudden feeling of being alight, but then it returned to its normal state.
"Thanks, Mrs Peakes" Albus examined his arm, as if he was expecting to spot something wrong with it
"Oh, don't worry about it dear, I am a Healer at St Mungos after all" She beamed at him
"Now, son, what were you doing, at this hour, may I enquire?" Mr Peakes raised his eyebrows quizzically
"I, er, was riding my broomstick. It is rather pleasant at night" He replied weakly
"Fair enough then. You best be off, before your parents get too worried" Mr Peakes said
"Yes, Sir, and thank-you Mrs Peakes" He nodded towards her and she smiled again
"No problem, dear, no problem, now be safe on that broomstick of yours, don't want you breaking any more bones" she fussed over him and he saw out of the corner of his eye, Scarlet rolling her eyes.
"C'mon, Albus, I'll see you off" Scarlet interrupted and Albus nodded, happy to escape Mrs Peakes fussing and spend a little time alone with Scarlet.
She led him back out of the house and he heard her parents going back up the stairs to sleep. He suddenly noticed how tired he was.
"I guess I'll see you on September first then?" Scarlet said, glancing up at Albus, who was a little taller than her
"Goodnight, Scarlet" he said, wanting to sleep, but not wanting to leave her
"Goodnight Albus" She gave him a grin and he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She gave him a brief hug, which Albus thought was far too short
"You should go now" She whispered in his ear, tickling it slightly
And he mounted his broomstick and flew away, into the darkness. He couldn't wait until September first.
