"Oi, Al."

"Yes?"

"Are we there yet?"

"You know we aren't. We just left the station 5 minutes ago."

"Hmph. Okay."

I sigh and look around the train compartment.

"Albus."

"What now?"

"You're great."

"Wow. Thanks."

…

"Alby?"

He looks up at me from his battered copy of Hogwarts: A History. I give him an innocent look.

"Are we the-"

He lets out an exasperated huff.

"Megan Viola Spinnet. I know you're my best friend, but I will not hesitate to throw you out of this compartment myself if you don't shut up."

He looks me right in the eye as he says this, trying to look all intimidating. Bah, like Albus could be intimidating.

"Someone's grumpy today…" I mutter under my breath.

He glares at me, and I cross my arms.

"Scorpius wouldn't treat me like this."

He slams his book shut and looks at me incredulously.

"Go sit with Scorpius then!"

"No!" I protest. "Scorpius should be sitting with us in here!"

"Yeah, well. He's probably off somewhere drooling over my cousin…" He adopts a bitter expression. I, meanwhile, just look surprised.

"That's why you're upset with him? I thought it was something serious!"

"This is something serious!" He insists.

I just scoff.

"Oh, please! Rose is sixteen! She doesn't need you to go all 'protective cousin' on her! Besides," I say slyly, "You're hardly one to be lecturing him about who she likes, seeing as you fancy the pants off of her best friend."

The best way to describe how he looks now is 'deer in the headlights.'

"What? I… I… so do not… f…fancy Grace!"

Just as I am about to make an incredibly snide comment and astound him with my wit, the compartment door slides open to reveal Albus' older brother, James. Saved by the bell, Al. Or in this case, saved by the funny, kind, gorgeous, talented super keeper that is James Sirius Potter.

"Oh! Hey James!" I squeak. Play it cool, Megan…

"Hi Meg." Oh, I love the way he says my name. He kind of pauses after the 'e', so it's like 'Meh-g'. Super sexy.

Anyway, Al rolls his eyes at me (why, I have no idea) and responds.

"What's up, James?"

"I was just wondering if you had seen the trolley lady go past? I'm starving, and Freddie sent me to get a load of sweets. I swear, I'm this close," He holds his fingers about an inch from each other. "To just doing what Dad did and buying the whole trolley."

Al and I both shake our heads.

"Nope," Al says solemnly, "Sorry, mate."

James just gives us a sad smile and shrugs.

"Ah, that's okay. Just hope that I don't from hunger on my search to find it. Laters Al, Meg." He winks at me, then leaves. Al smirks at me knowingly. I have a bad feeling I may be blushing.

"You lurve him, you want to kiss him, you want to marry him!" He sings. Git.

"Hey! I so do not! He's just charming, is all!"

He looks at me sceptically. Double git.

"He is! Besides, how comes you yell at Scorpius when he stalks your cousin, but you just take the mickey out of me when I'm dazzled by you and your brother?"

Albus laughs at me. Triple git.

"Because Scorpous actually has a chance with Rose." He says, as if it were obvious.

I sit up straighter at this.

"I could so have a chance with James!" I say to him through my scowl.

He smirks again. Quadrouple g – You know what? You get the picture.

"I thought you said you didn't fancy him?" He raises one eyebrow.

"Well, I don't." I say with finality.

He goes to object, but I cut him off. 'Now, shut up. Or I'll tell Grace that you have a t-shirt saying ' I heart the future Mrs Grace Potter."

He gasps. "But I don't!"

"I know that, but she doesn't."

Albus opens and closes his mouth for a few moments, before huffing a whipping open his book again.

Haha. He should know by now, that I always win.

As McGonagall starts her 'welcome back' speech (blimey, she must be a good 150 years old now), I look around to see Scorpius sitting at the other end of the table.

I turn to Al to see him looking at Scorp too.

"It's your birthday next week," I murmur. "Why don't you invite him to the party?"

He looks at me, confused.

"But, I'm not having a party."

"Um, yes you ar-"

"Shhh, the Sorting has started."

Bloody Albus Potter. I allow my head to lie on the table for first few midget first years. However, when it came to 'Finnigan, Niamph', I roll my eyes at Al, pinching him in the side until he looks at me.

"What do you want?" He hisses.

"Of course you're having a party!" I whisper at him. "James has wanted to throw you one since third year!"

"It's not about James though. I don't want a party."

"But you have to!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"No, I really do-"

I rest my head on his shoulder, and he shoves it off in a heartbeat.

"I think Grace would probably give you a chance if you celebrated your 17th with an awesome party…" I throw out there casually. This is James' last year, therefore it the last chance Albus will get to have an Epic – Potter – Party (as they've been christened. James is somewhat of a legendary party planner at Hogwarts).

Albus gets a pained look on his face, and I immediately know I've won again.

"Oh Merlin, what am I getting into… fine. Fine, I'll have a party."

"YES!" I shout internally just as 'Patil, Rani' is sorted into Gryffindor. Or externally. One look at McGonagall's face tells me it was externally. Crap.

"Woo!" I say enthusiastically, while everyone I the Great Hall stares at me. "Go Gryffindor!" I stand and clap manically, metaphorically digging myself a hole.

McGonagall purses her lips.

"I admire your house pride, but I suggest that you save your gracious congratulations for Miss Patil until after the sorting ceremony is over." She says in a menacing voice.

"Yes, Professor." I say, and sit down. You don't want to get on the wrong side of Headmistress McGonagall.

"Thank you, Miss Spinnet." She says, before continuing with the sorting.

I lean my head on Albus' shoulder. He stiffens briefly, then relaxes, this time not pushing me away.

"I'm such an idiot." I say matter-of-factly.

He rests his head on top of mine.

"That's why I love ya."