Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. This is only for entertainment purposes.

Becoming of a friendship

Chapter I

Albus was lying on his bed. Lost in thought, he couldn't sleep. Rose's words couldn't leave him. What happened Al? You were such good friends before! Yes, they were… And knowing that now things were so different saddened him. The worst part was that he didn't even know why it had changed. Obviously, he was aware of the situation before Rose had told him; it's just that now that someone had said it out loud, it seemed even more real and thus, more painful.

They had been best friends for three years, since the first day they met. Scorpius Malfoy had always been there when Albus needed some comfort, especially after the sorting ceremony, when he had thought his entire family would reject him. He, the son of the Great Harry Potter, had been sorted in Slytherin. What a shame! His brother, James, had looked horrified, and he hadn't talked to him for days. Even Rose had been a little cold with him after that. He had expected better from her, since she wasn't a Gryffindor either, unlike the rest of their family. He couldn't blame her though, with the father she had, it was only predictable… And, you can't compare Slytherin to Ravenclaw, can you?

Albus remembered his first day at Hogwarts very clearly, like if it was yesterday.

He was afraid, afraid of deceiving his parents. James was always the one who got all the attention. He was loud, funny and strong-minded. And of course, a Gryffindor. Albus didn't know why his brother had kept teasing him so much about being sorted in Slytherin. Why not Hufflepuff? He was quiet, shy and hard-working. Actually, he should have known he wouldn't be a Gryffindor; he didn't seem to have courage at all. Or maybe he knew, but didn't want to admit it, that's why he had been so nervous when he had entered the Great Hall.

When he had heard "Albus Severus Potter", his heart had missed a beat. When he sat on the stool, he was slightly shaking. Oh, a Potter, the Sorting Hat said quietly, with a hint of amusement. Not in Slytherin, please, Albus thought. Just like your father, the Sorting Hat replied. Do you really think it would be that bad? Albus considered this for a moment. After all, his father had reassured him that the Houses didn't matter at all, and that he'll always love him the same, whatever happened. So why was he worried? See? The Sorting Hat asked. Albus looked around him. His eyes met those of Scorpius. The blond boy was sitting at the Slytherin table. He was looking at him too. Like the rest of the room, thought Albus. Scorpius smiled at him, the same shy smile, as he had in the Hogwarts Express. Surprisingly, Albus felt lighter and more sure of himself. No, it wouldn't be that bad, he answered. Good, said the Sorting Hat, content.

Scorpius had greeted him warmly when he had joined the rest of the Slytherins, despite the fact he didn't deserve it. He was very grateful, but it made him feel even more guilty. James hadn't been polite at all with Scorpius when they first met.

Albus, James, Will, and Rose were sitting in an empty compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Suddenly, the door opened. Scorpius Malfoy was standing at the doorstep, hesitant. He did not expect them.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" asked James aggressively.

"I was looking for a place to sit", he replied coldly.

"Well, you certainly can't stay here, as you see, it's already occupied", James retorted.

Will sneered. Scorpius scowled and Albus felt his heart sink.

"But there's some space if he w-" Albus didn't finish his sentence. James had glanced at him with a murderous look. He lowered his gaze, ashamed. But Scorpius had seen the look in those big green eyes, so when Albus looked back at him, the blond smiled timidly before leaving.

Since their fourth year at Hogwarts, their friendship began to weaken as they slowly moved away from each other. They both made new friends, especially Scorpius, who, unlike Albus, didn't have siblings and cousins to count on. The change hadn't been abrupt, so they hadn't realised that they were slowly becoming strangers.

Now, it was their sixth year. There was still no improvement. Of course, they still talked sometimes, but they certainly weren't as close as before. At first, it hadn't bothered Albus that much; it had seemed like a natural stage of their friendship. Although, now, he realised that he wanted that friendship back. Scorpius had been his first true friend. He was not easily replaceable. Old memories overwhelmed him. How could I be so reckless and let him go so easily? He got angry against himself. Does he think of me at all from time to time? Albus wondered. It seems I won't get any sleep tonight, he said to himself.

As Albus had imagined, he kept thinking about Scorpius during the entire night. At least it served him to something; he decided to act, and try to repair the mistakes of the past. He was Harry Potter's son, goddammit!