"Potter."
Albus Severus Potter let out a slow long sigh, his emerald green eyes, regrettably, looking up meeting the insane silver ones boring into his.
"What now?" Albus asked rather afraid of the answer. A grin filled the blonde boy's face. His best friend, his positively crazed best friend.
"I'm going to pay your cousin a little visit," the blonde announced breathlessly, excitement lighting his silver eyes.
"Hugo?" Albus asked in hope.
"No."
"Victoire?"
"No."
"Dominique? Louis? Molly? How about Lucy? What about Fred or Roxanne? Or even Teddy, I'd consider him my cousin- please? One of them? How about my sister, Lily? She fancies you eh? Or even my brother James, he's interesting!"
"Rose."
Albus sighed.
"Scorpius-"
"I have a bone to pick with her, actually, a whole skeletal system," Scorpius Malfoy breathed with a smirk that would make demons quiver planted on his soft features. Albus slowly put the book he had been reading down. This book needed for his 6 feet of parchment essay due in Transfiguration next week. The essay Scorpius would not allow him any peace to write.
"She's in Gryffindor common room," Albus said slowly.
"You are a Gryffindor or has this little fact escaped you?" Scorpius demanded one pale eyebrow arching. Albus stared at him in annoyance.
"Yes," Albus said patiently, "And you are a Slytherin." Scorpius stared at him.
"Is this some prejudice Gryffindor thing?"
"No. It's some we do not allow other houses into our common room thing," said Albus slowly, carefully.
"Lucky for you then, I am not a house, I am Scorpius Malfoy, and I need to talk to your cousin, its urgent." Scorpius announced smirk still planted on his face. Albus sighed.
"The last time you 'talked' to her we had to pry you off the ceiling, from that sticking charm. Scorpius that took hours!"
"The view was nice, every time a girl walked beneath me I could see down her shirt," Scorpius drawled, the evil smirk still planted on his face. Albus groaned.
"She hates your guts mate, I don't get why-"Albus started but didn't finish, His father was walking down the hall speaking with Professor. Longbottom. Professor Longbottom was wringing his hands nervously looking very upset.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other following the elder Potter with long strides. Harry himself looked ready to spit fire, emerald green eyes narrowed to slits, untidy long black hair sticking in even more odd angles than usual.
Harry was in his auror garb. Albus always thought it unwise but would never mention it to his father that the auror uniforms were completely ridiculous. The uniforms though professional looking, stated they were aurors in gold cursive letters in the front of the robe. What if they wanted to go under cover? Than he supposed if they did want to go under cover they'd take the silly uniform off. Harry was the head of the auror department and Ron Weasley was rather like his second in command at the Ministry of Magic, which (so he had heard) had changed a lot since his dad was in Hogwarts.
"Neville it can't have just gotten up and walked away," Harry breathed slowly coming to a stop talking with his hands throwing them all about. Scorpius grinned maniacally at Albus.
"Did it hatch?" Asked Professor Longbottom looking terrified, growing paler by the second. Albus knew from the stories that his herbology teacher Neville Longbottom was quite a good wizard and quite brave but seeing as the darkest wizard known to man today was quite possibly Scorpius Malfoy (at least in Albus's opinion) there was nothing to be brave for, so Neville had slipped back into his first year routine. Or at least he acted that way, according to Uncle Ron at least.
"Of course not, at least I don't think it has," Harry said looking upset clenching and unclenching his fists. Scorpius walked towards them some grinning like he had just tasted ice cream for the first time.
"Mr. Potter, how nice to see you," Scorpius said eagerly, the insane look still illuminated his silver eyes. Harry glanced at the young Malfoy.
"Thank you Scorpius-"
"Are you missing something?" asked Scorpius false innocence taking over his features. Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Scorpius please don't tell me you stole the basilisk egg!" Harry yelled wildly a dark look passing over his features. "That was for demonstrations only!" Harry growled fighting back the urge to strangle Draco Malloy's only heir. Scorpius blinked his long blonde lashes slowly, the grin growing wider.
"Of course I didn't," Scorpius scoffed. Harry's features softened. "James did."
Furious, Harry stormed off in search for his eldest son. Neville let out a groan and trailed behind Harry like a shadow. Albus stepped up next to Scorpius who was still grinning like an idiot.
"Scorpius, where is the basilisk egg?" Albus asked slowly, quietly, afraid his father could still hear them as if he possessed supersonic hearing abilities.
"Currently?" Scorpius asked looking thoughtful, "In James's trunk."
"You put it there, I know you did!" Albus hissed.
"Of course I did, I learned the Gryffindor password weeks ago," Scorpius scoffed rolling his eyes.
"Why!?"Demanded Albus.
"So I could get in, duh."
"No why did you steal the egg and put it in James's trunk?" snapped Albus.
"Because James is bloody well annoying, and I personally would love to see him get eaten by a baby basilisk, my only regret is that it hasn't hatched yet," Scorpius replied, still grinning. Albus pinched the bridge of his nose preying to Godric Gryffindor to give him the courage to not murder his best friend.
"Then why were you trying to use me to get in to talk to Rose?" Demanded Albus changing the subject lest he kill the Slytherin.
"The password changed yesterday you wanker," Scorpius said rolling his eyes. He turned to Albus his eyes lighting up. "Speaking of the password, care to share the new one?"
Albus groaned looking everywhere but at Scorpius. He was going to regret this. He knew he was, but Scorpius had inherited a gift from his father Draco Malfoy. The said gift was to annoy the hell out of people. To whine, and whine, and bug you until he gets what he wants.
"The chosen one," Albus said quietly. One of Scorpius's eyebrows disappeared above his hairline.
"The chosen one? Are you serious?" Scorpius demanded his lips twitching as he tried not to laugh.
"Hey we didn't pick it," Albus said defending his house. Scorpius merely snorted and broke into laugher clutching his sides.
"Oh that's rich! Does your father know? He'll be thrilled!"
"Oh shut up! I bet the Slytherin password isn't any better," Albus snorted looking sour.
"Your right, Slytherin's password is Voldemort," Scorpius drawled with a smirk saying the word without so much as a second thought, or flinch and with that he took off his black robes billowing in the wind behind him leaving Albus staring opened mouthed curious to whether or not the password really was Voldemort.
That was Scorpius Malfoy, his best friend since first year. It was 6th year now of course.
"I have a poor, poor choice in friends," Albus sighed to himself holding his head. Of course he had never really chosen Scorpius so much as been forced to deal with him you see. Scorpius was like that. He went for what he wanted and he wouldn't stop until he got it. He was a plague upon all of Hogwarts in that way. Albus walked to the library seating himself across from his sister Lily who was chewing on her quill.
"Lil," Albus greeted. Lily looked up and she gave him a dazzling smile. She really did have quite a lovely smile, though none of the boys noticed her. He and James preferred it that way anyway; she was only in fourth year after all. There's no need for any boys to even realize she's female at that age. Lily looked the most like her grandmother, Molly Weasley. She possessed Ginny's freckles and facial features which Ginny had in turn inherited from her mother. Lily was a bit plump like Molly and had long beautiful red hair. Her eyes were Ginny's ember brown and she grinned wryly at Albus.
"Ducking Scorpius in the library again I see," she drawled her eyes lit with amusement flipping a page of her book frowning and crossing something out on her homework. She never was much interested in books such as her aunt Hermione and cousin Hugo were. Well fantasy books, stories, those sorts of things Lily could read all day, but school books? They bored her to tears.
"Well seeing as he seems to be afraid of Madam Pince the library is my only safe haven," Albus muttered looking out the window his faint reflection stared back at him. He looked the most like his father. Untidy black hair and emerald green eyes. All he needed was glasses and a scar. James had been the one to inherit the poor eyesight however. Lily chuckled flipping a page of her book. She grinned at the page, and a slight blush filled her face.
"Oh gods. Oh Merlin. Oh great Godric Gryffindor strike me dead please do NOT tell me-"
"Scorpius has become rather good looking, hasn't he?" She whispered her face turning completely red, including her ears (a Weasley trait she had been unfortunate enough to inherit). She looked away seeing the horrified face that Albus had planted on his features. It's the same face he has every time she ever brought up Scorpius's good looks or her fondness for him. His mouth is half opened, his nose wrinkled like he's going to snarl, his eyes wide, and his eyebrows making an upside down V.
"Albus don't look at me like that," Lily begged turning her attention to her homework once more. It's not as if she were wrong. Scorpius Malfoy was very attractive. Cool silver eyes, platinum blonde hair slicked back, his angled face looked as if it had been carved out of stone by angels themselves. He was sleek and slender and moved gracefully, stealthy like a cat. He was pale, and tall, and lean. He looked very much like a god described in Greek epics save for the muscles, though Scorpius was seeker for the Slytherin quidditch team he had not filled out yet and was still rather scrawny. Lily however, could accept that.
"He's repulsive Lily! And he's a boy and you're a girl," Albus said stressing on this fact as if it should make all the difference in the world.
"My dearest big brother in case you were not aware of this fact, girls tend to fancy boys, unless of course they prefer snitches over brooms, which I don't, sorry to disappoint you," said Lily with a smirk.
"It's just unnatural Lily! He's a snake, he's disgusting he's-" but he was interrupted as Lily exclaimed,
"He's getting hexed by Rose!" Albus looked up just in time to see Madam Pince howl as Scorpius dived into the library dodging a purple hex that flew over his head striking Madam Pince herself turning her into a rather large and quite angry crab. She skittered around at the floor trying to pinch Scorpius with her new claws. A chuckle escaped Scorpius as he stood up. Rose stood at the entrance to the library looking furious her bushy red hair in tangles, her icy blue eyes narrowed. Now everyone had always expected Rose to come out like her mother. Intelligent and interested in school and learning. It had turned out and made itself quite obvious by the end of first year that Rose Weasley was rather much like her father Ron.
"Bloody Hell Malfoy stay still so I can hex you properly!" Rose growled raising her wand like a sword.
"Now Rose," Scorpius drawled wincing as one of Madam Pince's claws caught his leg quite hard. "Let's think about this-"
"Confringo!" Rose hissed. Scorpius yelled ducking again as the angry red spell hit a bookcase causing it to burst into flames.
"Don't you think you're over reacting?" Scorpius hissed kicking Madam Pince off his leg. Rose raised her wand again.
"Rosie!" Hissed Albus. Rose paused and looked to Albus.
"Aguamenti!" Lily yelled and a jet of water sprang from her wand putting out the flames spreading through the library.
"Stop it, just stop!" Albus pleaded. Scorpius nodded in agreement stepping behind Albus using him as a shield.
"Yes, stop it," growled a cold voice. Rose froze lowering her wand wincing slightly. The other teenagers groaned in horror. They knew that voice. That voice meant they all had detention for a month. If they were lucky. All of their eyes met the brown cold eyes of Professor. Kirkwood.
was a student's worst nightmare. She scowled down at them her brown eyes darkening each second. She always wore her raven black hair in a tight bun and was never seen without her midnight blue robes and black pointed high heel shoes. She was a tall proud woman who was rather young, younger than the headmaster or any of the other professors at least. Perhaps evil just appeared young.
Students always knew she was coming by the sharp clicking of her shoes, which only inspired more fear throughout the students. She was Hogwarts transfiguration professor and head of Ravenclaw house. She was strict, intelligent, and a nightmare. Flitwick of course was still at Hogwarts, in charge of charms but as he got older he had given up position as head of Ravenclaw house in exchange for some relaxation. To the horror of the Ravenclaws Kirkwood became the new head of their house.
"Professor. Kirkwood! How marvelous to see you," drawled Scorpius giving her his best charming smile. As if he had no idea their was a bookcase behind him completely destroyed by Rose's fire or the fact that madam Pince was skittering around as a crab. Lily giggled. Kirkwood glowered at them flicking her wand and Madam Pince turned back into her natural form.
"Are you alright Irma?" Kirkwood drawled. Madam Pince looking like an underfed vulture more than ever blinked as if unsure of the question. Madam Pince had grown a tad daft in her old age, which made sneaking into the restricted section even easier. Her only lucid moments seemed to be when Scorpius was about. She dusted herself off scowling furiously and gave a slight hesitant nod. Albus rolled his eyes. Honestly how was it that that woman was still alive? Madam Pince was around when his father was at Hogwarts for merlin's sake. "Good then. Let's see now. Twenty points from Slytherin and forty from Gryffindor," Kirkwood drawled ignoring the teenagers howls of disagreement.
"Why does Malfoy only get twenty deducted?" Hissed Rose.
"For one, I didn't set the library on fire Rosalicious," chimed Scorpius. Rose scowled furiously.
"I've told you not to call me that you git-"
" that's quite enough, you too Mr. Malfoy," Kirkwood snapped. The two fell quiet. "Weasley you have detention for two weeks every day starting tomorrow, I want you in my office by 8 o'clock pm sharp. Now I think Madam Pince would like you all to leave now," Kirkwood drawled.
They quickly ran out avoiding the dark cold glare of Madam Pince. None of them spoke until they were clear of the hall that led to the library, they all stopped and stared at one another in the abandoned corridor, and the setting sun came in through the cracks illuminating Rose's furious face. It was late September; soon the days would be getting shorter.
"Rosie what was that back there? What happened?" Albus demanded looking alarmed at his furious cousin.
"Your sodding friend Malfoy pranced into Gryffindor common room like he owned the place-"
"Which I do. It's high time you Gryffindorks knew," Scorpius added. Rose shot daggers at him with her narrowed ice blue eyes.
"And he proceeded to sit down and copy from my homework-"
"You got several answers wrong by the way," Scorpius interrupted.
"And then he made fun of me-"
"I couldn't resist."
"Do I really need a reason to hex him?" Rose demanded turning several shades of angry red glaring at the slender Malfoy. Scorpius merely smiled smugly at her. Rose reached for her wand.
"Rose," Albus pleaded.
"Now he's landed me detention, and he keeps. looking. at. me. like. that. "Rose hissed.
"You got detention all by yourself with your psychotic rampage," Scorpius quipped. Rose looked ready to spit nails and without another word she turned on her heel taking off down the corridor her crimson hair dancing in the wind like fire. Scorpius gave a lazy grin towards Albus and before she was out of earshot and said:
"I think she's starting to warm up to me."
"Draco."
Draco Malfoy groaned meeting his wife's furious hazel gray eyes.
"What Astoria?" Draco demanded flicking his silver blue eyes away from the relentless gaze of his wife. Astoria stood tall and towering over her husband who was hunched over signing some important documents. Her long black hair trailed to the middle of her back. Her darling Scorpius looked every bit like Draco and nothing like her. Save her rather pointed ears. Draco's ears were more rounded.
"You know what," She hissed fingernails tapping against the marble desk. The fire crackled loudly next to them in the Malfoy study. But other than that the only sound was the flick of Draco's pen and the tapping of her fingernails.
Draco rolled his eyes, returning his attention back to his work. It really was a brilliant room, Draco's study. Malfoy manor was old, and showed it. Stone walls that looked like a castle covered the manor. The floor was cold and cobbled. A giant fireplace with a snake mantel piece with a roaring fire was right next to them a satin green couch sat in front of the fire place. Astoria stood at Draco's marble desk by the giant window overlooking the Malfoy grounds. Pictures of their family covered the walls. This might be Draco's favorite room in all the manor.
Astoria's anger faded and she grinned wickedly and sat on the edge of Draco's desk, her feet dangling over the edge. She proceeded to lie back so that her head softly lay on top of his documents. He looked at her mildly amused.
"Story," Draco drawled, using the pet name he had chosen for her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm getting your attention," she sniffed smirking up at him. "You were absolutely awful to Ron Weasley at the ministry today I think you should apologize," She drawled. Draco snorted rolling his eyes.
"Never," He drawled.
"For me?" She said batting her long eyelashes.
"No."
Astoria pouted, her lower red lip sticking out her hazel eyes growing wide and she blinked, once than twice.
"Why not?" She whispered pouting professionally.
"Story don't give me that look," Draco said looking away as his defenses crumbled. Astoria Malfoy could get whatever she desired from her husband with that look. Just to seal the deal she grabbed a handful of his blonde hair pulling him down into her mouth reminding him, just why she always got what she wanted with a deep passionate kiss.
"Fine," Draco hissed in defeat in barely a whisper. Astoria grinned and smirked up at him devilishly. Of course he wouldn't, but it was easier to play along lest Astoria truly get angry, and that he had no desire to see ever again. Draco absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair, as he signed the document next to her ear.
Draco was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement right below him was Hermione Granger. The two had had a rivalry for the position since Hermione had been hired shortly after Draco. Granger was professional about Draco being her boss but her husband often thought Draco discriminated against his wife because of past prejudices. As such Ron and Draco often quipped and argued whenever the auror stopped by. Nothing too serious seeing as Draco was entirely forced by Scorpius and Astoria to get along with them due to Scorpius's like of the Potter and Weasley families.
Draco remembered quite clearly the second day Scorpius had been home for the summer after his first year how he had stomped his feet and threw a fit when Draco refused to let him visit Albus. How Astoria had yelled and thrown things at him. The two were against him from the start. After that to both Harry and Draco's dismay the boys had been the best of friends and Draco and his old rivals were forced to be civil, well, as civil as Draco could be. It didn't help that Astoria was thrilled about the whole thing and had quite forcibly became girlfriends with Ginny Potter and Hermione Weasley. It made Draco's skin crawl thinking about it.
"What are you thinking of?" Astoria drawled in a sing-song voice.
"You," Draco drawled trying his best to be charming. Astoria giggled eyeing her husband fondly. Her eyes were torn away from him distracted as Scorpius's spotted owl, a rich brown with white specks landed with a soft hoot on Draco's shoulder, a letter tied to its foot. Draco took the letter opening it.
"What does your son want now?" Astoria drawled teasingly. Scorpius rarely owled unless he wanted something, he was like his father in that aspect, horribly spoiled. Draco scanned the letter a frown tainting his soft features.
"What is it?" Astoria asked sitting up.
Albus let out a loud sigh glancing at the clock. Of course Scorpius would be late. The day their Girding Potion was due. They had thirty minutes to complete the bloody thing and Scorpius was already ten minutes late. Albus looked around the potions room gloomily. He always hated potions, perhaps not as much as his father seeing as Professor Higgs wasn't bad in the least. It was the students. Gryffindors and Slytherins shared the potions classroom and it was almost unbearable for both parties.
Albus heard often that Slytherins were disliked before the battle of Hogwarts when his father defeated the dark lord Voldemort. The whole school stood together to fight, except the Slytherins. They bailed and now Slytherins were not only disliked, they were bullied, regarded as cowards, traitors, and scum by the three other houses. Of course some of the slytherins actually did stay to fight, but it appeared as if no one really remembered that fact. Those few weren't enough in the eyes of the other houses apparently. A first year's worst nightmare is to be sorted into Slytherin Albus reckoned.
Because of the negative feelings towards the Slytherin house its members had not only become twice as small over the years but twice as nasty in order to defend themselves. There was half the number of Slytherins now than in his father's time because everyone feared being sorted into Slytherin, feared being disliked. This caused the rumor that only Deatheaters children or grandchildren were Slytherins now, which caused even more bullying. Because of this most Slytherins acted nasty, cruel, and made friends with no one but members of their own house. They protect their own, and lashed out at everyone else. Albus truly didn't care but Lily always went on about how sad it was. Maybe it was kind of sad. The one exception to the rule of course, was Scorpius.
"Malfoy's late is he?" asked sauntering over. Professor Higgs was tall and still possessed his Quidditch build. He had played professional Quidditch for a few years before he married, settled down, and became a Hogwarts professor. Every once and a great while girls would recognize him and swoon over him. He had short brown hair and dark brown eyes. Albus didn't think he was very attractive, than again he didn't think any man was attractive.
"Late as usual," Albus said forcing a smile.
"He's an excellent student I'm sure whatever is keeping him is for a good reason." Albus nodded though he disagreed. He was sure whatever was keeping Scorpius was bad, very bad. Scorpius was probably invading Rose's panty drawers as they spoke. Albus frowned down at his potion ingredients. He'd give Scorpius a few more minutes before doing the potion himself.
"Merlin's beard lice!" Rose cursed. Albus glanced over at Rose who had her long red hair tied back in a messy bun and was scowling down at her bright red potion. Albus winced. The potion was supposed to be a light blue. The Slytherin next to her Atella Goyle looked cowed by the ferociousness of the Gryffindor beside her and inched her chair away.
"What are you looking at!?"Rose seethed at her cousin. Albus quickly looked away and took the knife next to him and started gently slicing the black roots for the first ingredient. Scorpius never did show up but Albus managed to complete the potion. Though it's thick and gray demeanor was uncomforting. Heaving his bag over his shoulder he made his way to the great hall.
Wispy clouds hovered above him and the hall was full of excitement and students buzzing around. Albus all but collapsed in between Fred Weasley named after his late uncle and his brother James who grinned at him. James had the Weasley freckles but Harry's jet black hair. Possessing Ginny's chocolate brown eyes behind round glasses he winked at Fred. Fred on the other hand had the Weasley's flaming red hair though was darker skinned than the rest of his family inheriting a mocha color from his mother Angelina and recessive dark blue eyes from his grandfather Arthur. The combination sounded quite odd but Albus had heard from many a girls that he was quite handsom. Fred's sister Roxanne was quite the opposite she had Angelina's raven black hair though was quite a bit pale. She wasn't the first Weasley to lack red hair. That would have been Victoire with her stunning platinum hair that fell like waves around her shoulders. Fred and James were seventh years, a year ahead of Albus. They would be graduating and he knew by the smirks on their faces they had something planned. Fred inherited his father's and the late Fred Weasley's love for practical jokes. James was simply a menace he loved jokes and trouble it didn't really matter which he was preforming to him.
"Have you seen Malfoy?" James asked innocently. Albus paused.
"What did you do?"
James looked at his brother fake hurt crossing over his features.
"What in the world makes you think I'd do anything to the little wanker?" James scoffed.
"Well," Albus said thoughtfully. "You two don't exactly get along," Albus pointed out, reaching to the middle of the table for a biscuit.
"Hey just because he told dad I had stolen a basilisk egg doesn't mean I hold any ill will towards him," James continued. Albus groaned.
"Is he at least alive?" Albus questioned.
"Merlin I hope not," Rose interrupted seating herself across from Albus. Albus rolled his emerald eyes.
"What she said," said James reaching around Fred for mashed potatoes.
"More importantly we need to focus on the quidditch team," Rose stated stacking chicken onto her plate. She had her father's appetite above all else yet stayed about as thin as her racing broom. Albus was seeker for the Gryffindor team while Rose was a chaser.
"We are doing fine," Albus offered trying not to talk with his mouth full.
"We need to beat Slytherin. And I've offered Jillian Baxter and Pauline Patil 20 galleons each to hit Slytherin's seeker with bludgers," Rose said looking proud of herself. Jillian and Pauline were the beaters for Gryffindor team.
"Slytherin's seeker is Scorpius!" Albus hissed annoyed.
"This is why I asked Albus! Honestly it is like we're having two different conversations!" Rose spat.
"What are we talking about?" Hugo said emerging out of no-where hands full of books.
"You know if you read too much your eyes will fall out," Drawled Fred. Hugo paused as if considering if this could indeed happen before wrinkling his nose and taking a seat next to his sister.
"We're talking about beating Malfoy until he's nothing but floo powder," Rose stated cheerfully. Hugo made a face sticking his nose in a book. His bushy red hair covered his burgundy eyes.
"I like Scorpius," he mumbled.
"So doesn't Albus. He's stupid, what's your excuse?"
"Hey!" Albus yelled. Rose grinned at him. Albus grumbled under his breath.
"He's not that bad. Speaking of which I saw his parents here a few moments ago," Hugo stated flipping a page of his book and biting his bottom lip looking deep in thought.
"That's odd," Albus said frowning. He wondered what could cause both Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy to come to Hogwarts? It wasn't often student's parents visited. In fact, it was nearly unheard of save his own father who showed up a few times a year to give motivational speeches for the Defense against the Dark Arts classes.
"Oh I hope he's done something awful and is being expelled!" Rose whispered excitement filling her frozen eyes. James and Fred glanced at one another grinning. Albus felt his stomach turn.
"Alright, seriously James, Fred, what did you two do!"