A/N: This idea just flew into my head, and I had to at least start writing it. It is a Scorpius/Albus friendship story – that will most likely result in them getting together when they are older. (As this starts off with them in 1st year – so 11 years old.)

Words are the building blocks of life

Al thought being sorted into Slytherin would be the worst thing possible, but his dad gave him a prep talk before he boarded the train. Then when he was actually sorted and was placed into Slytherin, he was surprised to discover he was relieved. It just felt right – he felt he belonged in this house.

A few seats down from him Al caught sight of Scorpius Malfoy, and when Scorpius looked up and caught him looking, Al offered him a sheepish smile and a shy wave. Scorpius scowled at him and returned to staring at his empty plate.

Al was placed into the same dorm room as Scorpius, once again Al smiled weakly at him, hesitant. Al was open and confident once he found people he trusted and wanted to be friends with. But initially before he reached the friendship stage he was shy and socially awkward.

For him to attempt to smile at Scorpius Malfoy a second time, after he was ignored the first time was a risk. Al wouldn't normally take such risks, but there was something about Scorpius. Something he was drawn to, he really wanted to be his friend.

Scorpius looked puzzled when he noticed Al was smiling at him, Al took the opportunity to speak up, "Hi. Looks like you've got the bed next to mine." Al pointed out.

Scorpius looked at the two beds, then to the two trunks at the end of each bed, "It appears so." Then he climbed onto his bed, pulled the curtains closed and stayed there for the remainder of the night.

Al felt rejected, hurt and stung by Scorpius treatment. He was making the effort to be his friend, but Scorpius wasn't even being polite, let alone considering accepting his friendship.

Al sighed and turned to introduce himself to his other dorm mates. They seemed a good bunch. They asked about his dad of course, and Al answered politely, but flatly. He wanted friends that were not relatives, that did not like him because of who he was, or who his dad was.

Claiming he was tired Al retreated to his own bed, closed his curtains and then wrote a quick letter to his parents. Telling them that he was sorted into Slytherin and that his dorm mates seemed okay, but he hadn't met anyone he thought he would be best friends with yet.

Al had always imagined it would be simple and easy to make friends, after all his dad met uncle Ron on the very first day and they were best friends and extremely close. James and various other cousins older than him, had returned from Hogwarts in the holidays gushing about how great it was, how they had met lots of new friends. James was extremely popular, and Al had always felt he was living in James shadow.

Al didn't want lots of fake friends, he just wanted that one special friend, just someone to help him get through boarding school. Although Hogwarts was truly an amazing place, they were still just kids living away from their loved ones for long periods of time.

Al felt sad, he changed into his pyjamas and curled up into bed, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

In terms of his lessons, his general school life, being here had gotten better. He had friends, but not close friends, he was liked and always had someone to sit with in class and eat with, but he still felt lonely. He still hadn't gotten to know anyone enough to want to open up to them, to create a close friendship with.

Al didn't know a single thing about Scorpius Malfoy, he didn't know why he was drawn to him – but Al just knew, if he could get Scorpius to be his friend they would be the best of friends.

Al continued to smile at him, greet him and be polite but nothing ever came of it. Al spent a lot of his time watching Scorpius, he thought it was strange how Scorpius never got any letters from home. His dad had told him that Scorpius' father used to get lots of packages sent from home – and Al assumed it would be the same for Scorpius.

Scorpius was a puzzle, he was awful at potions which was another shock, he didn't hand in any homework, and in the first few weeks he was constantly getting lost – making him late for class.

The other first year Slytherin boys avoided Scorpius, taking an instant dislike to him because Scorpius had lost Slytherin quite a few house points due to not doing his homework, being late and general attitude.

Al constantly watched Scorpius, when the lesson was a practical one he looked intrigued, interested and engrossed in the lesson. When they were told to read, or copy something from the board Scorpius was sullen, and quiet.

Potions was particularly bad, Scorpius hated it and would often refuse to even attempt to brew his potion. During one particular lesson Al scribbled a note to Scorpius.

Hey,

Are you okay? Do you want me to help? I'm not amazing at potions but I'm good.

Also do you want to be friends?

Al Potter

Scorpius caught the piece of parchment that flew to him on instinct. He opened it and frowned at it. He looked up and caught Al Potter looking at him with a hopeful expression on his face. Scorpius sighed, as much as he wanted to be Al's friend, he couldn't – he just couldn't. So he stuck a corner of the note to the flames of his cauldron and let the note burn up. When he looked back up, he noted Al looked crushed.

Scorpius felt such guilt, but he couldn't let anyone get close – it was too risky. He had secrets he didn't want being discovered, his life would change dramatically if everything came to light. He didn't know if Al Potter could be trusted, it was better to keep him at arms length. Of course it was incredibly lonely, but Scorpius was an only child, his parents divorced, and living with his father was – Scorpius stopped those thoughts. No use feeling sorry for himself, he loved his father a great deal – he would ensure things stayed as they were.