Chapter 1

1 September 2023

The steam from the Hogwarts Express spiralled into the air, welcoming a new school year. Between the confusion of families in the platform 9 ¾ stood a small family of four. The mother held her daughter's cart where a horned owl was screeching next to a pile of books, the father kept a hand on the daughter's shoulder and tried to enjoy the last moments before the girl embarked. They had run out of new topics some minutes ago, but they kept asking the same questions again and again just for the sake of talking.

"So how does it feel to wear the badge?"

Three pairs of appraising eyes locked into the Head Girl badge over Jean Scamander's clothes. Her parents were dramatically teary eyed and Noah seemed as proud as any older brother could be of a sister who was following his footsteps.

"It… feels weird, I guess."

Jean glanced at the Hogwarts Express behind them, surrounded by the flock of excited students who were saying goodbye to their parents. She would have to keep them all in track for the next ten months. She would be the one to have the last judgment over the fights. A group of kids near them started fighting over a chocolate frog before even getting inside the train and she winced before turning back to face her family. "I'm… kind of scared, to be honest."

She had held her composure about it all though the holidays and hadn't even made a big deal out of it when she had received the letter naming her as Head Girl. The badge had passed through the hands of everyone in the family, all of them Ravenclaws, all of them previous Head Boys and Head Girls, patting her in the shoulder, smiling with pride since she was good enough to keep the family's legacy. She had even felt excitement then, or at least something close to accomplishment for reaching up to her family's expectations.

But now that she really had to go perform her first official duty – giving advice to the newest Prefects – she was feeling a lump on her throat and her heart beating way too fast.

"There's nothing to worry about." Noah smiled at her gently, sensing her nervousness. He was much taller than her, so she had to look up in time to watch a hazel lock fall to one of his eyes. "It's just like being a Prefect."

"Yeah. Just with ten times more responsibility," she muttered, shaking her head and facing her brother with a forced smile.

"Ten? I'd say at least fifty."

He grinned. She didn't.

"Any last piece of advice?"

He leaned to her and whispered in her year.

"Get them before they get you," he said dramatically.

Jean elbowed him and her brother laughed and straightened up. People used to say that they looked alike, but Jean thought that it was only due to the same colour of the eyes, of an uncharacteristic baby blue tone, and the same hazel brown hair. Their personalities couldn't be more different, though. Noah was the golden boy of his age at Hogwarts. He had been the Ravenclaw Quidditch Seeker for six years straight and won every match. He had been a Prefect and Head Boy and he had had the highest marks in his NEWTs since the current Minister of Education.

"I wonder who's Head Boy this year, though?" Noah said with curiosity, scanning the crowd, probably trying to spot someone already wearing the matching Head Boy badge. "I hope it's a Ravenclaw, we always sort things better."

Jean had to agree. They were the only truly impartial House – they solved conflicts through rationality.

She was about to agree out loud when something crushed her. A strong smell of shampoo and baked bread overwhelmed her nose and she gasped for air. "Oh, honey, I'm so proud of you!" Her mother had squeezed her into a warm, tight hug. "We'll write you every day."

"Every day?" Jean made an effort to break free of her mother's hug, as gently as possible. "Mom, you've always written me once a week and it was always more than enough."

"Mom and Dad think you'll get lonely because it's your last year." Noah couldn't keep the amusement out of his voice.

Jean grabbed her mother's hands. "I've made friends, Mom. I've managed without Noah since my second year. I'll be fine."

"Still-" Her mother started.

"-I'll write you twice a day, Jeaney," Noah interrupted teasingly. Jean tried to nudge him with her elbow again but this time Noah grabbed her arm.

"I really need to get going now," Jean said as she broke free from her brother's grip. Saying goodbye was taking too long and she could feel a sort of nostalgia kicking in already. "See you guys at Christmas."

Her parents hugged her again, followed by Noah, who unlike him crushed her tightly like he didn't want her to go either. She flashed them a last smile, crossed the small stairs leading to the wagon and waved them a final time before facing what was inside.

The inside of the Hogwart's Express was buzzing with confusion and happiness as she stepped out of the bathroom in her wizard robes and made her way to the Prefect wagon. Kids and teenagers from every age bumped in the corridors, opened doors and found their friends. There was excitement, smiles and loud laughs, hugs, reunions, friendly kicks and nudges, and energy pouring out from every corner. She said hello to everyone she knew and peeked inside several wagons hoping to recognize her friends.

She didn't find either of them as she reached the last wagon – the Prefect wagon – and slid the door open.

The Prefects were already sitting on the comfortable velvet chairs around the wooden table filled with drinks and candies from the Trolley witch, the fifth years clearly sitting a bit more nervous because it was their first year and they didn't want to screw up. Jean recognized everyone, from the sixth years to the new fifth years who looked nervous and thrilled, namely Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Weasley. She was glad to have Scorpius on the team... he was rather kind and friendly for a Slytherin and he was also a familiar sight from the library.

She noticed that the Head Boy, whoever he was, was still not there.

Jean made her way to the one of the two empty chairs at the head of the table and sat. She was too nervous. She placed a hand on the pocket of her robes and felt her fingers brush in the notes she had scribbled for the new students, but now that she really was in the wagon, in front of them, she thought that it felt ridiculous to start reading out of a paper.

Instead, she cleared her throat.

"Hello and welcome to a new school year." She smiled and was rewarded by polite smiles. "We are gathered here today because…"

She continued her speech, but instantly felt that something was wrong. Everything she had memorized at home now seemed really boring, like a forced lecture. Everyone's faces were darkening with boredom.

She was halfway through the speech when suddenly the door burst open and a boy appeared.

Jean recognized him instantly – the whole school would have recognized him instantly.

Dark untidy hair falling to bright brown eyes, athletic and tanned from a summer of Quidditch outside, a small smile playing on his lips as he stepped inside. The whole room turned to him and their bored faces suddenly lightened up. Jean bit her lip.

"Potter, please. There's a meeting going on."

He raised an eyebrow and pointed at the badge he was wearing over his robes, the letters stating "HEAD BOY" against a ruby red Gryffindor tone. Jean blinked.

It couldn't be.

James Potter?

The James Potter…was the new Head Boy?

He tilted his head. "And you are…?"

Jean blinked. She couldn't even begin to count the number of classes they'd had together for six whole years. And he seriously didn't know who she was?

Some people laughed.

"Jean Chase."

"Chase," he said with a smile as he stepped inside. "Nice to meet you." He walked towards her, rubbing his cousin Rose's hair when he passed by her and ignoring her protests, winking at others across the table until he finally reached her.

Mr Popular himself.

He held out a hand and she shook it. She remained silent as he sank on the chair next to her. Jean half expected him to lean his feet over the table. "Don't let me interrupt you. Please."

His interruption had broken her train of thought and somehow having him present behind her made things worse. If Jean felt uncomfortable before, now her cheeks were completely flaring and the words were hard to say. The Prefects' attention had drifted from her to James like they couldn't care less about what she was babbling about.

As usual, James Potter was stealing the show, even if he was quiet in the background.

And then something strange happened. At some point, everyone started making strange faces, covering their mouths and looking down like they were holding up their laughter.

One of the Prefects snorted and suddenly three more seemed keen to laugh as their eyes rested on something beside Jean – or rather, someone. Eyes darted between her and Potter.

She turned around quickly and saw that James Potter had his wand out. A chocolate frog was floating in the air and making some strange gestures. Jean tilted her head and the frog tilted its head as well. She frowned and the frog frowned.

And then she got it.

It was copying her every move.

Jean placed her hands on her hips and glared at Potter, who was so concentrated on the frog that he still hadn't noticed she had noticed. Only when the frog placed its hands on its hips and glared at Potter.

When their eyes locked, Potter chuckled. The spell was broken though, so the frog fell. With lightning quick reflexes, Potter caught it and shoved it in his mouth. The whole wagon laughed again.

Jean decided that the easiest way to overcome it was to ignore the whole scene and dismiss it with a small laugh. She delivered painfully the rest of the speech and everyone seemed relieved when it finally ended.

Not as relieved, however, as Jean herself.

"…and that concludes the speech. Potter, is there something you want to add?"

"Nah, haven't prepared anything," he replied easily. Jean blushed and turned back to the audience.

"…so, I made plans for the distribution in patrolling." Jean took the list from her pocket and announced the names who would be partnering up together, in which wagons they were required at and at what times. "Any questions?"

Rose Weasley's hand shot up in the air instantly.

"Yes, Rose?"

"I think there must have been some sort of mistake," she said in her usual haughty tone, flipping her flamy red, bushy hair. "You said that I am supposed to partner up with Scorpius Malfoy."

"Yes, and?"

She blinked like she didn't understand.

"So… it is not a mistake?"

"No," Jean said simply. "I think you'd make a good team."

Rose scoffed and glared at Malfoy. He had turned a positive shade of red.

"May I ask," she continued icily in a tone that made Jean's blood boil, "why on earth would we 'make a good team'?"

"We're role models for all the other students, so we should give the example by showing that we see our Houses as an opportunity to embrace our differences instead of enhancing them. If you're smart enough to be here, then surely, you understand it."

Several looks turned to Jean and she wondered if she had gone too far. She was still upset that the speech had gone so terrible and James had humiliated her. Rose gave her a pointed smile that didn't quite spread to her eyes.

"Of course," she said coldly.

Jean looked around with a forced smile. Clearly, the environment was tense enough by now. "Well, then, if there aren't any more questions, I think this is it for today."

The Prefects began to abandon the room. The first to get off was Rose Weasley, who strode off quickly with a bad temper, and Scorpius had to run to catch up to her. Potter was about to get off the chair but Jean turned to him.

"Not you. I need to talk to you."

He smiled and didn't move until the last Prefect closed the door behind him and they were completely alone in the wagon.

"Now Chase, if you want to make out I know a place much better than-"

She curled her hands into fists. "Are you serious right now?"

Her sharp tone made his smile melt. He raised an eyebrow.

"Look." The anger that had bottling up for the past minutes was now surfacing at full strength. "Let's get some things clear from the start. Don't make fun of me in front of the other Prefects. And next time at least try to come prepared and don't make me do all the talking."

"Oh right, sorry," Potter said. "Cause clearly it worked out so well. I haven't felt so bloody bored since Ancient Runes."

Maybe if you had payed attention you wouldn't have scored a Poor, she felt like saying, but unlike Potter, she didn't stoop low in her remarks. Instead, she hissed, "Bored or not, if you have something to say, don't contest my authority in front of them. So any other issues you have with me, you tell me in private. Okay?"

"Yeah, I think you're a lunatic for pairing my cousin and Scorpius together."

He made a face when he said 'Scorpius', like he was Voldemort himself.

Jean almost chuckled. "Why?"

James scoffed. "A Gryffindor and a Slytherin?"

"It was on purpose. They're Prefects. Everyone who's here on this wagon is smart enough to look past their Houses and their differences. Which means that they will work well as a team."

"I don't think you're seeing the problem here."

"What is the problem?"

"Again, you just teamed up a Gryffindor and a bloody Slytherin."

"Why, because you're sworn rivals or whatever? What are you, six?"

"Chase-"

"Isn't your brother a Slytherin?"

James shrugged. "He's adopted."

Jean almost smiled at the joke. Almost. Instead, she sighed. She didn't want to fight on her first day – she wanted to make things right. So she stooped low and tried to appeal to his reasoning.

"Listen, Potter. The Headmistress chose me because she trusts my judgement…"

"Please," he interrupted with a chuckle. "It's obvious that she chose you because you're her pet."

Jean blinked. The words had hurt her more than anything he'd told her so far and she let it slip to her expression for a second. James's teasing faltered a little and he was about to say something but she anticipated him.

"Excuse me if I wasn't picked just because I'm a Quidditch captain."

"I wasn't." The slight trace of empathy in his face left him immediately and he shrugged. "I'm here by popular vote. I have friends. You do know what friends are, don't you, Scamander?"

She didn't answer. She flashed him a furious look and grabbed the notes on the table, storming towards the door.

"Leaving already? I was enjoying our private talk."

Jean felt a wave of anger tripling through her body and froze at the door, throwing him a sharp look over her shoulder. James was smiling, rolling his wand in his fingers, waiting for the comeback like it was some sort of game and she was supposed to make the next move. That was the worst part – he was enjoying their banter, enjoying openly mocking her without a single care in the world.

"Like it or not, Potter, McGonagall chose me for a reason. I'm smart, and I'm professional, and I can make pretty good judgements. You… can catch a bloody flying ball in the air."

For a second, she caught the expression of shock in his face. He opened his mouth but she didn't give him time to answer – she snapped the door shut and started the patrol without him.

Everyone at Hogwarts knew that you just don't make fun of Quidditch. But making fun of Quidditch in front of James Potter, the Gryffindor seeker, who practically breathed Quidditch?

She knew he wouldn't forget her so easily.