3

Chapter 1

"Hurry up, Hugo!" Aunt Hermione cried.

I was going to start my fifth year at Hogwarts today, along with my cousin Rose. Time sure did pass quickly. It only felt like yesterday that I was worrying about which house I would be sorted into. Unlike, the rest of my family, I had ended up in Slytherin. James was horrified at first, but eventually got used to it.

"I can't wait to go back!" James exclaimed. "Quidditch again!"

Dad laughed, clapping a hand on James' shoulder. "Hopefully, I'll be able to come to one of your matches."

I pushed down the envy I was starting to feel. James was a Seeker and the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team just like Dad had been. They had so many things to talk about, which was the opposite of me. They had spent most of the holidays playing Quidditch, whilst I holed myself up in my room drawing in my sketchpad. Dad had tried to persuade me to come outside and play, but I was adamant in my refusal not to. I never even turned up to the Quidditch matches in school.

"Have you started revision for your O.W.L's?" Rose asked me. As always, she had already changed into her school robes.

"It's just the first day back, Rosie."

"But early than late," She said chirpily. "Come on. The train's leaving soon!" She kissed Aunt Hermione on the cheek.

Uncle Ron ruffled Hugo's hair, and kissed Rose as well. "Make us proud, Rosie. You too, Hugo."

Hugo nodded, grinning.

Mum was hugging Lily. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Mum!" Lily laughed. "You'll see us at Christmas." Lily was the cute one, James the handsome, and I was just the awkward dorky looking boy in the midst of puberty. I always felt so pathetic next to my two siblings. I might as well just wear a tag around neck with the word 'Loser' on it.

"Al," Dad was giving me an encouraging smile. "Do your best for your O.W.L's."

"Yeah." I muttered. That was easy for him to say. He was the head of the Auror office, which meant people expected big things from me. Well not from me, but more like from James. People forgot that the legendary Harry Potter had another son as well. They only ever seemed to remember James and Lily.

I followed James, Lily, and my cousins on to the Hogwarts Express. James was describing in excessive details about how Gryffindor's first match would most likely be with Slytherin. "You're going to come watch, right Al?" He enquired.

"You know Quidditch doesn't really interest me." Plus, there would be the whole problem of who I had to support. James naturally expected me to cheer him on because he was my brother, but I was still part of Slytherin. It was only natural I would want to support my house as well.

Hugo grinned, pulling the compartment door open. "Hey, Kyle! Hi Betsy!"

Everyone filed into the compartment, greeting Kyle and Betsy. I didn't really know them because they were in Gryffindor, and the only people I talked to who was in Gryffindor was my family. All the seats had been filled, leaving me standing like an idiot.

"Oh," Hugo looked embarrassed, probably for me. "We can always find a bigger compartment."

"It's alright. I'll meet you guys at the hall."

"Are you sure, Al?" Rose asked, looking anxious.

I waved away her concern. "It's just seats. I'll see you later." I left the compartment, before she could say anything else.

I felt guilty for feeling relieved about not sharing a compartment with James, Lily, Rose, and Hugo. I knew Kyle and Betsy didn't like me because I was a Slytherin, but they hid their dislike because of James, who would probably curse them with big teeth if they said anything bad about me. I was always reminded constantly that I was an outsider because I was a Slytherin. I had no friends in Slytherin because I was a Potter, and after the whole Battle of Hogwarts, the Slytherins dislike for Potters just increased. I couldn't hang out with Lily because she had Gryffindor friends she was always hanging about with. So I settled for being on my own.

I found a compartment which I thought was empty. A boy around my age was sitting by the window. He had white blonde hair and grey eyes. He was quite handsome in that angular way, having a slender but not scrawny body. I knew who he was. He was Scorpius Malfoy. He looked up at me through half lidded eyes.

"Um, can I sit here?" I asked.

He nodded.

I sat down opposite him, closing the door. Even though we were in the same year and same house, I had never really spoken to Scorpius before. I knew his father didn't get on with my father back in their school days, but they didn't really hate each other anymore. I guessed it was because they were adults, and thought it was too childish. Uncle Ron had warned Rose and me to stay from him. Malfoys are bad news.

"You aren't hanging out with your Gryffindor family." Scorpius remarked. His voice was low and calm.

I glowered at him. "Just because we're sitting in the same compartment, it doesn't mean we have to talk."

"I never knew Potters could be so hostile," a smirk appeared on his lips. "So not all of you are the good Samaritans you claim to be."

"I never claimed to be a Good Samaritan."

"Of course not," his grey eyes held a mischievous gleam. "After all, you are not your brother."

I felt like he was deliberately trying to provoke me. I knew he held a dislike for James, but if that was supposed to offend me, it wasn't working. James irritated me all the time, so I could understand why Scorpius wouldn't be his biggest fan. I decided to ignore Scorpius for the rest of the journey, and took out my sketchpad.

"What are you drawing?" Scorpius asked.

"None of your business."

"Sounds interesting."

I sighed, looking up from my sketchpad. "If you must know, I am drawing a hippogriff. Did that fact change your life?"

He smiled, getting up to sit beside me. He was uncomfortably too close. "I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time."

"Why?" I tried to act nonchalant.

"Because I like you."

"Um…what?"

Scorpius touched my chin, tilting my face upwards to meet his. His lips started to draw closer to mine. I yelped, shoving him away, leaping to my feet. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Well I was about to kiss you." He grumbled.

"I know that," I snapped. "I meant what you are thinking to do that! I'm not into guys, and especially not you!"

Scorpius snorted. "You think I'm into guys? You're the only exception. If it was any other guy apart from you, I'd be disgusted."

My hands clenched into fists. "Don't make fun of me!"

A look of bafflement appeared on his face. "I'm not mocking you."

I didn't want to talk to him any longer. I grabbed my sketchpad from where it had fallen on the ground, and pushed the compartment door open.

"Hey! Where are you going?" He demanded.

"To another compartment."

"But everywhere else is full."

"Then I'll just stand!" I slammed the door shut.

What the hell was he thinking, confessing his feelings like that? Scorpius wasn't even serious about it. He was just mocking me like everyone else did, so there was no reason to get high strung about it. I was surprised to find that Scorpius liked guys. He was always surrounded by girls due to his handsome looks, so I just naturally assumed he was into girls. Then again, he never really dated any of these girls. Why the hell should I care anyway? I wasn't planning to become his goddamn lover, so it was none of my business. Yet, I couldn't ignore how my heart started pounding wildly when he touched me.

"I'm going crazy." I muttered.