On their first day of classes, Sam was overjoyed to find double History of Magic with the Gryffindors written clearly on his timetable.
He elbowed Al, who was sitting next to him at the Slytherin table, "Hey look, we've got first period together."
"Yeah, but it's History of Magic. James said that's the boringest subject they offer in the whole school."
"No way, I think it will be really interesting to learn how magic has developed since the Dark Ages."
"You nerd, how is it you ended up here instead of in Ravenclaw again? 'Really interested in the development of magic,' ugh that'll put me right to sleep."
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"Al, hey Al!" Rose's loud blare rose over the chatter of students examining their new timetables, as she walked towards their table.
"We have History of Magic first up, aren't you excited?"
Sam smirked and looked up at Rose before asking, "Who are you again?"
Rose's mouth formed a little 'O' of surprise, before she huffed and continued on as if he hadn't spoken.
"History of Magic is just so fascinating, I can't wait to learn about all the significant wizards who contributed to its development, and-"
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Al cut in, "I feel like I'm repeating myself around you two. Rose I don't know how you weren't placed in Ravenclaw either, you're looking forward to the subject everyone knows is the most boring class at Hogwarts! You should both take notes for me while I catch up on my beauty sleep, which I didn't manage to get because one of the boys in my dormitory snores worse than Granddad Weasley."
With both Sam and Rose muttering in protest at both Al's insults and his assertion of their similarities, the three started on their quest to find the right classroom, navigating up rickety staircases with vanishing steps (Rose slipped right over after stepping on one) and doors that only opened if asked politely.
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They finally made it to Classroom 4F, on time despite Rose's tumble, and sat down in the front row at her insistence.
"Good morning class, I am Professor Binns, and today we'll be discussing Emeric the Evil and his role in England during the early Middle Ages. So, do any of you know who he is?"
Rose expectantly raised her hand, confident she was the only student that would have any idea about Emeric the Evil.
"He was a short-lived but exceptionally aggressive wizard, who was once the master of the Elder Wand. He had a lot of fun terrorising the south of England until Egbert the Egregious slaughtered him in a ferocious duel, and then claimed the Elder Wand for himself."
"Very good, ten points to Slytherin! Now then…" Binns began to drone on about Emeric, while Rose gaped openly at the thief who had stolen the moment of glory she had prepared for since the moment she had learnt of Hogwarts' existence.
Sam had his head down, studiously scribbling down notes, but this did not stop a bright red creeping up on Rose's ears then flushing through her entire face, with as much vigour as it did on the Hogwarts Express.
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Thoughts raced through Rose's mind: Stupid Malfoy, the smarmy git with all his sodding knowledge and his bally answers. He didn't even put up his hand! That question was mine to answer. How dare he, he, he urghhh!
Then, just when Rose thought she should return her focus to the lesson and Professor Binns, Sam raised an eyebrow and flashed her a smirk.
"Careful Rose, don't want your head to explode now do we? With your scarlet face, we'd all be covered in blood, because let's be honest there's not too much brain up there."
That was when Rose threw her History of Magic text book as hard as she could at Sam's head.
.
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"I asked you two for one thing this morning. 'Take notes while I nap', and you decided to take those instructions as 'let's throw books at each other and yell while Al's literally caught in the middle'? Honestly."
Rose, Al and Sam were sitting at the Slytherin table for lunch after a very volatile History of Magic lesson and a double period of Astronomy and Charms respectively.
"Well it really isn't my fault that Weasley here decided that no one else was allowed to answer questions in class except for her-"
Their voices started getting louder and louder and as Al could foresee another intense argument in his near future, he contemplated moving from his current position between them.
"That was not what my problem was-"
"Oh really, then how come your face turned a delightful shade of Gryffindor crimson after I answered the first question?"
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Rose never got to reply, because James Potter swaggered over to where the three were sitting before their argument went any further, flanked by Molly and Fred Weasley.
While they all looked very different visually (James taking after Harry with dark hair, Molly fulfilling the Weasley stereotype with red hair and freckles and Fred with his brown skin and huge afro) the gang looked and acted as a unit.
"Al, what are you doing sitting at the Slytherin table?" James asked in disgust.
"Eating lunch."
"With him? You know you'll probably be disinherited right?"
"Yeah come on Al," Fred added, "The only thing worse than being in Slytherin is having to be near them."
"Shut up James, I can be friends with whoever I want," Al retorted.
"You think everyone'll be happy about you being chummy with a Death Eater?"
"Al, Gryffindors' natural enemy is Slytherin," Molly stated calmly.
"Yeah and history speaks for itself," James added, "The Malfoys? They're rotten to the core, the whole family, everyone knows that. No Malfoy's worth listening to. Bad blood, that's what it is, and the sooner you learn that the better."
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Sam expressionlessly rose and picked up his bag, "I'll see you later Al."
"No, wait Sam, you don't have to go, I can eat lunch with whoever I want-" but he had already walked away towards the doors of the Great Hall.
"You're such a prat James!"
Al called out a quick goodbye to Rose (Don't forget Al, we have Transfiguration next in Classroom 1B on the ground floor!)
But Al had already rushed off to find, and figure out, his friend.
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Al found Sam on the edge of the Black Lake solemnly skipping stones across its surface.
"Sam."
Sam didn't react, continuing to skip stones, his face blank.
"Hey Sam."
Silence, and then the soft splash, splash, splash of Sam's pebbles skipping across the water.
After another period of silence, Al joined Sam in his pattern of searching around for stones and skipping them.
"Look, I'm sorry about that. James is an idiot." One, two, three skips, Sam counted.
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After another round of pebbles Sam replied, "It's fine. I've been expecting that treatment from the moment I stepped onto platform nine and three quarters. My Dad told me it would happen. After I got my letter… he just sat me down and told me straight." One, two skips this time.
"He told me about what happened during the war, and that because he'd distanced the name of Malfoy from most other pureblood families I probably wouldn't have any friends." One, two, three.
"Apparently the good guys still think we're bad guys, and the bad guys think we're traitors.
He said that Potters and Weaselys would probably be especially awful, which is why I was so surprised that you didn't just toss me aside on the train after you found out who I was, but also why I can handle James' behaviour."
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Splash, splash, splash, splash went the skipping stones.
"Dad said that everyone would judge me, that there would be hazing and names, but that I had to ignore it at all costs.
If I retaliate, everyone will just think they've been proven right, and that I am some evil Death Eater. So the best way to deal with everything is to walk away." One, two, three skips.
"But-" Al interjected.
"I'm fine Al. Don't worry, I know how to deal with it." One, two, three, four.
"I could write to my Mum, James wouldn't dare cross her-"
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Finally Sam turned to face Al, raising his voice for the first time. "No! I said I'm fine. Just forget it, okay?"
Al frowned, "All right, all right. What class do you have next?"
"Potions."
"Ok, well I'll meet you at the Slytherin table for dinner?
"Yeah, see you."
Splash, splash, splash, one, two, three, Sam counted as Al walked back up to the castle.
