Chapter One

Albus was sitting in the library at a table with Rose, imposing stacks of books between them but also providing cover. He'd long since stopped working on schoolwork and was trying to compose a letter without anyone else seeing. Cautiously, he peered around the stack of books to check that she was distracted (scratching her chin thoughtfully with the end of her quill and gazing off into space while contemplating the next line of her essay: distracted), then scribbled his signature.

So far he had a heavily blotted mess full of scratched out lines.

Teddy,

Hi, hope you're well. I'm not. I mean I am. It's not serious. I need to talk to you, but I'm alright. Can you come by the first Hogsmeade weekend, butterbeers on me? It's in two weeks.

Albus

He read it back a few times, then decided it wasn't getting any less awkward and shoved it in his bag. He'd head by the Owlery in the morning and send it off before class.

"Hey Albus, do you think we'll need to be able to do the teapot spell with the turtles as well as the slugs on the test? I think professor Trinity was really disappointed with the class. She didn't seem to think we could handle animals more complicated than slugs."

"Oh what do you care Weasley, you can transfigure animals with spines," Scorpius announced, seating himself at Rose's side. She stuck her tongue out at him, but looked pleased with his observation. "I just saw her on the way here and I've been schmoozing the good professor and feeling her out. I think the test is going to be mostly practical with only ten percent theory or so."

"Excellent!" Albus said, relief washing over him. "I can do all the spells, I'm just rubbish at explaining why."

"I wouldn't say I'm rubbish at it, but I much prefer casting spells to talking about them," Scorpius agreed. "Did you do Longbottom's essay yet, speaking of subjects that are better performed than expounded on?"

"Just finished," Rose announced, doing a grand flourish on her last line. "I wrote about the magical applications of opiates. Dodgy subject, but I'm hoping he'll see that as daring. Professor Longbottom's so hard to impress."

"At least you've got the advantage of being family friends. I snap at Father all the time. 'Why'd you have to bully the hardest professor at Hogwarts? Did you somehow sense he was going to become a teacher and want your progeny to suffer from your stupid grudge?' Urgh. The man drives me to distraction sometimes."

"Is he still mad we're friends?" Rose asked. It was a favorite query of hers.

Rose and Albus, being cousins, had been friends practically since they were born, Scorpius Malfoy joining their clique sometime during the middle of first year. He was the only other student in their year to be as much an insufferable overachiever as Rose, and the two of them were in friendly competition with each other while Albus tagged along by virtue of a genuine love of learning separate from grades. The friendship irritated Scorpius and Rose's fathers to no end.

"Actually, I think he's started to come around on the subject. Which is to say, instead of referring to you as the spawn of an oaf of a blood traitor and a bucktoothed know it all M dash dash blood, he's not talking about you at all."

"Well that is an improvement. My dad still calls you ferret junior."

Scorpius let out a haughty sniff and reached for one of the book stacks. "So what's all this?"

"For Binns' essay. I know he assigns the dullest prompts, but I'm determined to make Goblin Rebellions interesting somehow. I've been at the stacks half the night, and I'm sure I've found some books that aren't going to be completely dry," Rose said hopefully. Scorpius scanned the spines of the books, reading each title with an assessing look in his shrewd grey eyes.

"Teddy says that even dull prompts can be spun into something worth knowing. I wrote to him about the essay we've got on the Goblin Rebellion of 1347, and he said I should cast it in the light of the black death," Albus chimed in. "He was saying that even though there was a cure for plague, it still affected wizarding society because it changed muggle social structures and the ideas were picked up by the goblins."

Rose scratched her quill against her chin again, contemplating Albus' words.

"That does sound loads more interesting than just talking about Grodin the Gangly or Nervin the Noxious," Scorpius said.

"Right, but how would you write that essay?" Rose wondered. "That's social history, and it involves muggles on top of it. I mean, you could talk to professor Clearwater and see what the Muggle Studies classes have for resources, but I'm not sure she'd be much help. I don't know if you could write an essay like that and cover yourself enough to get an O. Binns is such a hard grader, and he doesn't like it when people are, well…"

"Independently analyzing the subject matter?" Scorpius asked. Rose nodded.

"Free thinkers?" Albus added.

"Show basic competence with more than regurgitation?" Scorpius finished, a wicked grin on his face. Rose snorted, and Albus burst into giggles, to the chagrin of the librarian.

"What time is it?" Rose asked, noticing that the glare from Miss Astarte had been particularly pointed.

"Library's closing in ten minutes. We'd best head back to our dorms," Albus said, looking at his watch.

Scorpius sighed. "I would get here just as you were finishing."

"Scorpius, the library's closing," Rose said, amused. "It's not really our choice."

"I know, I know. My own fault for being a Quidditch player. These infernal practices are eating up far too much of my time. I swear, Zabini plans them like that on purpose."

"Still not enjoying yourself?" Albus asked, though he already knew the answer. Scorpius had tried out for the Slytherin house team every year since he'd come to Hogwarts, and he'd finally made it their third year, which was incidentally the same year Albus' brother had managed a spot for himself on the Gryffindor team. Unlike James though, who loved Quidditch with the same ardent passion as most of his family, Scorpius hated Quidditch and only played because his father insisted.

"If it wasn't for Father, I'd snap my Nimbus in half and never give it another thought. As is, I've made a commitment to the team that will only be broken by serious injury. Do you think if I jeer the Gryffindor beaters enough next match I can provoke them into giving me a concussion?"

"Scorpius, don't say that! It's terrible," Rose gasped. "You shouldn't go into a game wanting to be injured. Just try talking to your dad again. I'm sure you can get him to understand."

Scorpius snorted. "Clearly you don't know anything about Draco Malfoy. Are you done packing up? We'd better get moving."

"Right, right," Rose said heavily, shouldering her overburdened bag and following after the boys. They chatted a bit more about the upcoming Transfiguration test before going their separate ways at the corridor leading to either the Entrance Hall or Gryffindor Tower, depending. Rose went for Gryffindor Tower, and the boys continued for the Entrance Hall.

"You know what I hate the most about Quidditch?" Scorpius asked, as though they'd been talking about it the entire time. Albus shook his head. "I hate how everyone treats it like it matters so much, instead of being the diversion it is. I mean, take the game that's coming up on Saturday. Because you're in Slytherin and you're friends with me, everyone will expect you to cheer for our house."

"Mm hmm," Albus readily agreed. They turned the corner for the stairs leading to the dungeon, nodding vaguely at a school ghost as they passed.

"But your brother's playing chaser for Gryffindor. Half of your family's flown for Gryffindor, so really people might expect you to cheer for them instead. And there's going to be a lot of social obligation to go one way or the other, but it shouldn't matter. It's just a stupid game."

Albus paled. For some reason, Scorpius' point had never occurred to him. "Oh no, Jamey is going to expect me to cheer for him instead! I am his brother."

"Right, well I don't care who you cheer for, so you should just join Rose in the Gryffindor section. I promise I won't take it personally."

"The other Slytherins might."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes, arching an elegant silver blond brow in confusion. "So? Sod them."

Albus shook his head. "It's not that easy. You're not the one who gets picked on."

"Right, because I don't care. They know they can't get away with it. You on the other hand…the only reason anyone hesitates to goad such an easy target is because they know your thug of a brother will make them regret it. You know, if he finds out."

"Scorpius, can we not talk about this again?" Albus pleaded. He didn't need to be reminded his friend thought he was weak and useless. Scoffing once more, Scorpius obligingly fell silent and didn't speak again until it was time to give the password. "Craft."

Scorpius scanned the common room, but followed after Albus when he noticed the other teen heading for their room. "Going to bed already?"

"I think I'm going to read for a bit first. Why? Did you want to play chess or something?" Albus asked.

"No, not really. Just thought we might spend some time together since I missed out on revising with you and Rose because of stupid Quidditch."

"Oh. Well w-we can hang out. If you want," Albus offered.

Scorpius smiled, and Albus felt his innards squirm uncomfortably. "It's alright Albie, you can go read. You don't want to hear me whine about Quidditch and Father anymore tonight, I'm sure."

"I don't mind. Um, I mean, well goodnight Scorpius."

"Goodnight Albus."

The next morning Albus added another line to his letter before sending it off.

Please write back soon.

It was a few days before his answer returned. Albus was eating breakfast with Rose and Scorpius at Hagrid's garden. They usually grabbed food at the Great Hall and ate somewhere on the grounds when the weather was nice enough for it, a necessity if they wanted to spend time with friends in different houses. Even though things weren't as strained between the Hogwarts Houses as they had been in their parents' day, a Gryffindor still didn't sit with the Slytherins or vice versa in the Great Hall.

Albus' owl landed neatly on the garden wall and immediately started pressing his beak against Albus' toast. "Agrippa, no! Let me at least have the letter first."

"Is that Teddy's writing?" Rose asked, craning her neck to inspect the letter tied to Agrippa's leg.

"Yep. I wrote him a few days ago."

"More essay advice?" Scorpius asked.

"No, something else. It's not important really." Albus quickly read the note back, then shoved it in his pocket. His friends regarded him expectantly: Teddy Lupin was obviously a family friend of Rose's as well, and a relative of Scorpius'. Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Tonks had mended fences after the second war, an awkward, painful process but one that had eventually born fruit. Though Scorpius and Teddy weren't exactly close, he did like hearing stories about his eccentric second cousin.

"So what did Teddy write about?" Rose pressed, when no answer from Albus was forthcoming.

"He answered what I wrote him about," Albus said evasively.

"Right. Which was…?" Rose pressed.

"He obviously doesn't want to talk about it Rose. I suppose he's mentoring you about something personal?" Scorpius guessed. Feeling a sense of relief, Albus nodded. Scorpius sighed. "Wish I had someone to do that for me. The closest I have is my grandmother, but it's not quite the same as someone like Teddy. Closer in age, and the same gender and all that."

"You could talk to Teddy you know. He likes you," Rose insisted.

"That's only because he doesn't know any better," Scorpius returned, smiling flippantly at her. She rolled her eyes and took another bite of toast.

After they finished eating they poked into Hagrid's house to say hello, then hurried off for their first class. Albus was in a decidedly good mood. Teddy had promised to meet him, insisted on paying for the butterbeers himself, and, making Albus wonder (not for the first time) if Teddy wasn't secretly a Seer, written comforting words about the Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch rivalry.

The match on Saturday wasn't even that awkward, at least not until the end. Albus did end up sitting with Rose, but he wore Slytherin colors. They cheered for Jamey and Scorpius both, yelling their support whenever their friends did something worth applauding rather than solely for one team or the other, which seemed an acceptable choice to their peers, though no one else was doing it. Lily was decked out in Gryffindor scarlet and gold, and occasionally shot Albus a dirty look for his emerald and silver, and Rose one as well for sitting with him.

Slytherin won, but it was by a very narrow margin. "It's too bad Scorpius doesn't actually like Quidditch. He's rather good at it," Rose commented as they left the stands.

"Mm. He's a natural, just like Lily. I'm sure she'll be on the team next year too."

"You should try out you know. You're not bad on a broom."

Albus laughed. "Oh yes, because my relationship with James and Lily isn't complicated enough without throwing Quidditch into it. I think Lily's going to try out for beater. I do not want to face my little sister when she's got bludgers to work with."

"Fair enough. Dad's a little disappointed that Hugo and I aren't pestering him for broomsticks or trying out, but Mum keeps yelling at him to leave us alone. It's not that I don't like Quidditch…I just don't much fancy the chance to make a fool of myself and become a pariah if I have a bad game."

Albus nodded, since he felt much the same. They met Scorpius as he was leaving the changing rooms and congratulated him on his win, which he looked thoroughly nonplussed about.

"Want to hit up the library with me? Or do you think we're expected at some sort of celebration in the common room?" Scorpius asked, turning to look at Albus, who shrugged.

"Probably are, come to think of it," Albus murmured vaguely. Not one for crowds, he thought the library sounded more pleasant in the wake of a Quidditch victory too.

"Oh, that's real nice."

They turned around to see James scowling at them. "Off to congratulate ferret the younger, and never give a thought to your own brother. No wonder they stuck you in suck-ass-Slytherin."

"Really Jamey, that's uncalled for," Rose said disapprovingly, while Albus hung his head, hopefully hiding his reddened cheeks. Scorpius moved in front of him protectively, with a death grip on his wand. A few other students were watching them from a distance, no doubt hoping there would be a fight.

"What are you going to do Rosie? Write to my mum or something?" James taunted. "You know what, I'll save you the trouble and tell her myself. I mean, she'll want to know that Albus picked his house over his family, which was what we said we'd never do if we got sorted differently. Remember Al?"

"Back off Potter. He'd be congratulating you instead if you'd actually managed to win," Scorpius said, clearly not realizing how his words sounded to the other teen, who was smarting from the loss. James stormed over to Scorpius and shoved him.

"Want to say that again Malfoy?"

"What? You lost," Scorpius said simply, since it was the truth. Rose shoved her way between them.

"James, go cool off! None of us have done anything wrong, and we're very sorry Gryffindor lost, okay?" She snapped.

"He's not!" James yelled, motioning towards Scorpius.

"You're right, he's completely apathetic!" Rose yelled. "He wouldn't have cared either way! You, on the other hand, are being an ass and I will tell Auntie Ginny, so unless you want another howler you ought to lay off!"

With one last sneer, James took off and went to commiserate with his housemates. Rose gingerly touched Albus' shoulder and he flinched away from her.

"Your brother really is an ass," Scorpius said. He was gazing after James' retreating form, a haughty scowl on his face.

Albus laughed without humor. "Yep. He's probably right though. I should have found him first and said…something. I don't even know what. I don't get sports."

"Sentiments I think we can all relate to. I think you boys ought to skive off the victory party," Rose suggested.

"Library?" Scorpius asked brightly. Albus and Rose laughed at him.

"I was thinking we might visit Hagrid," Rose said, still giggling.

"Oh, right. I guess that'd be okay too."

A/N: This is my first attempt at a longer Next-Gen fic (I normally write with the Marauders). I've read a bit of the extra stuff Rowling has let slip in interviews, but I'm sure I've missed a lot of things so if I do something differently from what she's said, please be patient with me. I promise not to knowingly go against anything canonical though (that said, a different interpretation from prevailing fandom/an individual reader's interpretation isn't necessarily wrong and I won't apologize for it if I do something somewhat out of left field). Reviews will be greatly appreciated!