Albus knew most and little about the wizarding world, only the bits his father would share by the fire and his mother would tell in bed. He even learned about the muggle world from his dear aunt and muggle-loving grandfather. But nobody ever told him about the social world, another region solemnly set on the social lives of every human being on earth. And Albus Severus Potter did not expect high school to be the headquarters for such sociality.
September 1st 2021. First day back at Hogwarts. The beginning of Albus Potter's fifth year at school. Excuse the cheesiness – but it was the beginning of the end, so to speak. More happened within the next five years, then the past twenty.
Albus stepped off the train and onto the platform below. The first thing he did, the first thing he always does when he reaches the platforms of Hogwarts is look for the Keeper of Keys and Grounds. Rubeus Hagrid. He first met the half human, half giant in his first year. His father told him of all the professors and figures to look out for, but Hagrid was "the most important one," as Harry had said. Though the large man was nowhere in sight.
The boy sighed and followed the flow of the students to the horseless carriages, two familiar people bickering from behind him.
"There is nothing there!"
"Of course there is something there, Weasley! If not, then how are the carriages moving by themselves?"
"It's called magic, Malfoy. Maybe you've heard of it?"
"Don't be such a smart aleck about it."
Albus chuckled from in front of them. His best friends, Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Weasley were always seen bickering over something. Albus rarely caught them in moments of simple conversation without that turning into a nag session.
Scorpius hiked his backpack higher up his shoulder, shaking his head. "I'm telling you, Weasley. There are creatures pulling these carriages."
The three friends were standing by an empty carriage now. Other students were already making their way towards the castle. Scorpius was staring hard at something Albus and Rose apparently could not see. But Scorpius already knew why they couldn't see them. His father told him about them a few years ago. Thestrals, were what they are called. Wingless horses with skeletal bodies, reptilian faces and leathery wings, reminding Scorpius of a bats wings. He could first start seeing the creatures the beginning of his third year after he witnessed the death of his mother's mother. He has seen a death, but Albus and Rose haven't.
Scorpius reached out and hesitantly caressed the creatures head, a purring sound coming from it.
"He's really gone off his bonkers, hasn't he?" Rose whispered to Albus, watching Scorpius stroke simple air.
Albus brushed his cousin off. "Oh leave him alone." Albus turned to Rose as she took her eyes off Scorpius. "Let's make this year a fun and quiet year. And I mean no bickering, alright?"
Rose laughed despite herself. There was no real way to get the two students to stop bickering with each other. One or the other always finds ways to annoy the other, and so that begins. But she likes that Scorpius can point out her flaws, or something that she can really argue about. It's a nice breath compared to everyone usually asking her questions, or not talking to her at all.
"I'm not the problem," Rose said, pulling her cloak farther around her small frame. She gestured over to Scorpius who turned their way. "He is."
Albus turned towards Scorpius, shaking his head with a chuckle. Everyone could see it but those two.
"I'm what?" Scorpius asked innocently, standing next to Albus.
Albus gestured to the spot where Rose stood, but she was already climbing into the carriage. Scorpius climbed in after her. Albus looked around. Theirs was the last carriage to leave. He looked towards the front of the carriage. Despite there being nothing there, Albus knew something was.
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Scorpius was very glad to be back at Hogwarts. He was even happier to be back with his friends. His father never quite fully approved of his friend choice. The young blond knew his father had history with both Albus and Rose's parents. A history that wasn't talked of much even to this day. When Rose told her parents that she had befriended the Malfoy boy, her father went ballistic. An hour and much yelling later, Hermione Weasley was able to calm her husband down and reason with him. As long as Scorpius didn't step foot in their household, he could stay friends with the redhead. Which at the time, seemed enough for Scorpius. Now, he isn't so sure.
Albus was sitting next to Scorpius, making noises while he ate. It was something Scorpius had gotten used to over time. Whenever Albus ate, he'd always make these moaning noises. It was very annoying when they first became friends, now it was a sign that Albus was there right next to him.
The sorting ceremony was very boring that night. There was no one Scorpius knew, granted everyone he does know is in the Weasley-Potter clan and the last of them were sorted last year. And the only Weasley-Potter that was sorted into Slytherin throughout the year, was one Albus Potter who always claims the seat beside Scorpius Malfoy.
Albus' father, Harry Potter, seems quite alright with his sons friendship with his once known enemies son. As well does Draco Malfoy. He seemed almost splendid when his son came home for Christmas break and told his father about his new best friend. Draco had said, "Now Scorpius, if your best friend is anything like his father, you best keep a careful eye on him. But maybe this is a second chance for me and our family. You've done me proud, Scorp."
Scorpius and Albus sat and ate with their fellow Slytherins, making small talk of everyones summer and families.
It was good to be back.
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"Do you think we have any classes with Rosie?" Albus asked the next morning as the two Slytherins made their way down to breakfast. They had received their schedules the night before, after dinner. Another year with every class together.
"I hope so, but I also don't," Scorpius replied, shoving his hands into his jean pockets. He hated dressing in his school uniform before breakfast. He actually hated doing anything before breakfast. While Albus was fully dressed in his robes, twirling his hand between his fingers while simultaneously walking. Scorpius has tried to master this for four years now, and no such luck.
"Why do you say that?" Albus asked as they rounded the corner, the Great Hall at the other end of the corridor.
"Well you know how Rose gets about classes. She can be too smart about it."
"And that's bad why?"
Scorpius sighed. "Well you know we'll end up asking her for help or to just do our homework, and she'll have one of her fits and we'll end up in detention for late work."
Albus gave Scorpius a look as they entered the large dining room. "You realize that is only you, right?"
Scorpius scoffed, but realized he was right. Albus always did his homework. He's only received detention a handful of times in the past four years for late homework, the rest are usually because of the pranks he pulls with his relatives. At least he isn't as bad as his brother, James, who seemed to spend all of his time in detention with McGonagall.
The two made their way to the Slytherin table where there was already mounds of food spread out along the surface. Just as they were about to sit down, they heard their names being called from across the room. They both looked up and saw Rose with Julia Rockets and Jason Augustus, two other classmates and friends.
The three of them, all different from one another in appearance, made their way over to the Slytherins. Rose and her shoulder length bright red hair and milky skin was hard to miss, even in the dark. She also wore her robes and her wand was wedged behind her ear like usual. It made her look even more studious. Julia, daughter of small town wizards, sprouted her wavy long blonde hair in a braid, her tan skin bringing out any white she wore on her sweats. Scorpius knew Albus still thought she was beautiful. And Jason, his black sticking up in all directions against his pale skin and dark clothes. The only color he wore was the blue tie of Ravenclaw.
"What's up?" Albus asked, trying to look as casual as possible, more for Julia's sake than everyone elses. His crush on the Hufflepuff reached more lengths then the Dark Forest.
"You didn't hear?" Rose asked in return, her eyebrows reaching for her hairline.
The Slytherins both shook their heads. The other three shifted on their feet.
Rose took her wand from behind her ear and ran her fingers across it nervously. "Henry Otman just tried to kill himself. Again."