Chapter One
Albus' POV
If I were Minister for Magic, I would make it illegal to get up before noon during the summer holidays. In fact, I'd make it punishable by a good few years in Azkaban.
Seriously, why would anyone choose to get up before then if they don't have any lessons to go to?
Evidently, both Lily and James would, because I can hear them bustling around downstairs, making far too much noise for my liking. To be fair, James is no longer at Hogwarts but it's not like he's at work today; the jammy bugger has been sighed to the Montrose Magpies.
Laughing at my weird siblings, I roll over in bed and try to get back to the dream I was having. I can't quite remember what it was about, but I have a feeling that it was a good one. Quidditch was definitely involved (but then again, when is it not?) and I have a vague image of Katie being there as well.
Whoa! Let's not have dreams about female best friends, shall we?
Pushing thoughts of Katie from my mind, I lean back against my pillows and shut my eyes, ready for at least two hours more sleep. That is until I hear someone run quickly up the stairs.
Don't come in here. Don't come in here.
'Morning, Al,' comes the chirpy voice of Lily from the doorway, 'Or should I say, afternoon?'
'Go away,' I say groggily.
She casts a disdainful glance around my untidy bedroom, taking in the crumpled up pile of yesterday's clothes on the floor.
'Well, as much as I love being in here looking at your used underwear,' she wrinkles her nose, 'I just came to tell you that Scorpius is here.'
'What? He's not supposed to be here until midday.'
'Albus, it's almost one o clock.'
I glance at the watch resting on my bedside table. Damn it, she's right.
Sighing, I reluctantly climb out of bed.
'Do you mind giving me some privacy?' I say pointedly.
'No problem,' grins Lily, 'I'll go and entertain Scorpius, make Rose a little jealous.'
Five minutes later and I join her downstairs, where I find Scorpius, my best friend since first year and the lone Gryffindor of the Malfoy family, sitting at the table chatting to Lily.
'Hi, Al,' he says, glancing up when I enter the kitchen, 'Whoa, you look rough, mate.'
Always the charmer.
'That's because it's the summer holidays and I should be in bed. Remind me why I invited you round again?'
'Because I'm amazing company.'
I snort but Lily nods her head rather enthusiastically in agreement; I shoot her a warning look.
'Morning, Albus Severus,' says James, appearing in the kitchen holding a letter in his hands.
'Don't call me that,' I complain, wandering over to the fridge in search of food, 'Want anything Scorpius?'
'Nah I'm alright.'
'Hey Albus,' begins James in a sing song voice, 'guess what came with the post today?'
'Not another one,' groans Lily, as I feel myself redden in embarrassment.
'Yep,' laughs James, unfolding the letter and reading it with a flourish,
'Dear Al,
It's been one week, four days and two hours since the end of term. I know that may not seem that long to you, but for me it's been more torturous than the Cruciatus Curse.
I've already started a countdown to seventh year entitled 'Days until I'm reunited with Albus Severus Potter.' I think it has a certain ring to it.
I know you will probably be spending your holidays mixing with famous people, but if you do have any spare time, I'd be more than happy to have you over for dinner. My parents are dying to meet you, having spent the past six years seeing your photo on my bedroom wall.
Write back please.
All my love,
Lucinda Nichols.'
Oh dear God.
Scorpius and James are both doubled over with laughter, clutching at the table and each other for support. Lily looks mildly disgusted but also a little bit amused.
This is not funny!
I've been on holiday for just over a week and I've had a letter from either Lucinda Nichols or one of her friends every single morning! They've been fascinated by me for a while but it seems to have hit fever pitch recently. I'm seriously thinking about employing Auror protection for when I leave the house.
I have a brief image of my father having to escort me everywhere I go in case a bunch of fan girls jump out at me.
Someone kill me now.
'You've been getting these every day?' asks Scorpius, who's regained the power of speech but is still taking deep gasps from his laughing fit.
'Yes,' I snap, 'she's a bloody stalker!'
'And who are these famous people you hang out with?' laughs James, wiping tears from his eyes; God I hate my brother sometimes.
'It's not funny!' I exclaim, annoyed at all of them; having a group of girls follow you wherever you go is not as appealing as it may sound.
'It fucking is,' smirks James, 'I'm glad you've been carrying on my legacy with the ladies.'
'Aren't you supposed to have moved out by now?' I snap at him.
'And miss winding you up? Nah, you're stuck with me until we're old men, Albus.'
Scorpius meanwhile has burst into laughter again. Some best friend!
Lily rolls her eyes, 'As much as I want to stay here and discuss my brother's love life, I'm going to go and see Hugo.' And with that, she flounces over to the fireplace and disappears in a puff of green smoke.
'Actually,' says Scorpius, stopping laughing at once, 'I might go and see Rose.'
James also stops laughing at this and glares at him, 'You better not still be sniffing around my cousin, Malfoy.'
The gloves always come off when Rose is involved.
'Nothing's happening between us!' protests Scorpius, holding up his hands in defence, 'Back me up, Al!'
'No they're just friends,' I admit, although I doubt this will be true for much longer; the two of them are so close it's a little bit nauseating being around them.
'Hmm,' says James, glaring at Scorpius suspiciously, 'If I hear anything different we'll be having words.'
Yes, we're a melodramatic family.
'Haven't you got something to do?' I ask James.
'Fine, I'm going,' he says and then smirks again, 'but I'm taking this letter to add to the collection.'
And with that he sprints out of the kitchen before I can go after him.
I sit down opposite Scorpius, shaking my head, 'This isn't even funny anymore.'
'Come on, Al, you've got a group of girls after you. That's not the worst thing that could happen,' reasons Scorpius.
'Have you heard from Katie?' I ask in a widely transparent attempt to change the topic of conversation.
Scorpius smirks at me, 'Talking of girls after you…'
I wave this away, 'Don't be ridiculous, just because you and Rose are all over each other doesn't mean men and women can't just be friends.'
Scorpius raises an eyebrow but doesn't press the point.
'Anyway, yes she wrote me a letter a couple of days ago,' he says, 'Sounds like spending time in her house is even worse than spending time in mine.'
I feel an immediate rush of sympathy for Katie and her home situation, as well as an odd feeling upon hearing her name that I can't quite pinpoint.
'Well, I really hope she's okay.'
Katie's POV
Worst. Summer. Ever.
And it's only a week and a half in.
I miss everything about Hogwarts; watching Quidditch matches, going to Hogsmede, learning loads of really interesting stuff in lessons. But most of all, I miss my friends. I would kill to see Rose or Scorpius right now. And, of course, I miss Al, perhaps more than anything else.
Okay, let's not think inappropriate things about male best friends, I tell myself sharply.
The reason why I hate the summer holidays- unlike normal seventeen years olds who relish the time off school- is simply because of my family.
My entire family are Muggles and their world was sort of turned upside down when I got my letter for Hogwarts. I'd always done weird stuff, and I'd always felt like I just didn't belong, but no one had any idea that it was because I was a witch. I think everyone just thought I needed to be sectioned.
A much better option in my parents' minds.
My parents grudgingly let me go, mainly because I told them I'd just go anyway, but our relationship has never been the same since.
So yeah, that's about the gist of it.
'Katie?' I hear someone yell my name from downstairs.
And here we go.
'Katie, can you not ignore me?' snaps my sister, throwing open my bedroom door and glancing around the room suspiciously.
'What do you want Rhia?'
Rhia is a year younger than me but always acts at least five years older, mainly because she only wears the smallest amount of clothes possible and is never seen without pink high heels.
'Have you taken my hairdryer?'
'Why on earth would I need your hairdryer?'
'Erm maybe to dry your hair with,' she rolls her eyes despairingly as though I'm a complete idiot.
No, you got the stupid genes, love.
'I don't need to use a hairdryer,' I explain as though talking to five year old, 'I can dry my hair magically.'
Rhia jumps as though I've just come out with a string of expletives; the 'm' word is like the 'c' word in our house.
'Shut it,' she snaps, the nice girl façade she employs around friends and our parents gone, 'Or I'll tell Mum that you threatened me with that thing.'
I pick up wand and look at it as though unsure what she means, 'what, this thing?'
I wave it around and mutter something under my breath. A puff of red smoke comes out the end and Rhia runs out of the room screaming like a banshee.
Ah the benefits of being seventeen.
My glee at annoying Rhia is short lived, however, and I soon realise just how bored I am. I'm stuck at home, miles away from my friends and with absolutely nothing to do. I had all my homework done by the end of the first week (cool girl, eh?) and now there's nothing left to distract me from the prospect of being here for the next six weeks.
I wish I was at Rose's; she'd invited me to spend the whole summer there but my parents have said no. In theory I could just go anyway, since I am of age, but Hermione didn't want to cause arguments between me and my parents, so I'm stuck here.
Just then, as if some magical force realises just how steeped in despair I am, a handsome tawny owl swoops in through my bedroom window.
Inwardly cheering as I recognise the bird as belonging to Al, I quickly pull the letter from its outstretched leg.
Hi Katie
How's your summer? Scorpius and I were talking earlier and we're worried about you! You're parents really need to get over themselves.
This will cheer you up: I'm now being stalked by Lucinda and her posse via owl. I've been getting letters every morning from them. Of course James won't shut up about it. God, I wish he would hurry up and move out.
Maybe I should pretend to be gay to throw them off the scent, what do you think?
Anyway, I hope you're okay. Write back as soon as you can.
Love,
Al.
P.S I might come over and see you, hope that doesn't cause too much drama with your parents!
I snort with laughter as I read about Al's fan girls. The Potter boys are rather popular with the female population of Hogwarts, and now that James has left I suppose it's only fair that Al shoulders the entire burden.
I can see their reasoning though. I mean, who wouldn't fancy a boy with such amazing eyes?
Whoa! Stop that train of thought right there!
Luckily, Rhia reappears in my doorway and interrupts me from thinking about how good looking my best friend is.
'What's that?' she asks, looking at the paper in my hand.
'A letter.'
'I can see that,' she snaps,' who's it from?'
'My friend Albus.'
She wrinkles her nose delicately, 'Odd name, is he your boyfriend?'
I feel myself redden with embarrassment at the question, 'No he's not, or else I would have said my boyfriend, Albus.'
A triumphant grin spreads across Rhia's face, 'Well I can understand that. You've not got much going for you.'
'We look pretty much identical,' I point out, gesturing between her blonde, blue eyed features and my own similar ones.
'Yeah, but I make an effort with my appearance,' she laughs, looking at my skinny jeans and blouse combination.
'An effort to look like you should be standing on a street corner,' I mutter.
'What was that?'
'Nothing, nothing.'
The doorbell rings suddenly, effectively ending our brief argument. No doubt it will be one of Rhia's friends or whichever boy she's currently shagging.
Oh yes, she's very popular.
'That will probably be Kyle,' she says, grinning wickedly and heading downstairs, 'enjoy your day in alone, Katie.'
I hear her open the door and stand up to close my own bedroom door; funnily enough I don't want to listen to my sister snogging her most recent hook-up.
Call me old fashioned.
I hear Rhia's surprised tone, 'Oh hello. Have you got the right house?'
'Erm yeah, I think so,' replies a remarkably familiar voice.
'Oh well, if that's the case, would you like to come in? I'm Rhia.' Oh dear God, the 'seductive' voice is out.
I'm practically doubled over laughing as I head down the stairs, deliberately taking my time so I can see how this unfolds.
'You're not related to Lucinda Nichols by any chance are you?' asks the newcomer.
'No,' says Rhia, sounding confused (oh this is hilarious), 'Anyway, who are you? Not that I'm complaining having such a sexy guy turn up on my doorstep.'
Deciding this is the right time to rescue my friend, I make my way down the rest of the staircase to see a nervous looking Al being practically backed up against the door frame by Rhia.
She moves quickly, I'll give her that.
A look of relief breaks over his features as he sees me, 'Hi, Katie.'
Rhia turns her attention to me, 'You know him?' she demands.
'Yes,' I say trying not to giggle, 'this is my friend Albus.'
So what do you think of the first chapter?
I know not loads happened but it's sort of an introduction. This is eventually going to be an Albus/ OC romance, but there'll be a bit of Rose/ Scorpius as well.
Anyway, how about a review? :)
