Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Don't own HP, JKR does. xD Enjoy!

"I can't believe its Christmas already," Rose squealed as we dragged our trunks together down to the Entrance Hall. She was so happy I couldn't bear to tell her the news of Albus not making it this Christmas. She was wearing her Gryffindor robes and scarf that caught the chilly wind that winter day. Her long red hair flew behind her with a few strands escaping from her messy bun. She indeed looked like a snow angel warming everything with her smile.

But the smile iced and turned to a frown as she stopped on the landing. I looked around to see what caused her to stop but seeing as her large trunk and her body was in front of me, I couldn't see well. "What's wrong, Rose?" I asked, but before Rose could answer, another voice chimed in.

"Going home I see, Weasley." Scorpius Malfoy drawled as he leaned on his trunk, his green and silver scarf hanged loosely on his neck. "Good to see you too, Malfoy." I replied walking down the steps to stand beside my best friend. I am not inclined to see how this thing would start and end. It was the first day of Christmas holidays so why start a fight, right?

"Oh, Scamander, I didn't see you there!" Malfoy gasped pretentiously, but sneered anyway. I looked at Rose before I once again turned to him. "I didn't know it was you until you spoke." I said in an exactly opposite manner. I was actually calm. "Happy Christmas to you, Malfoy," I added with a tone of dismissal. The longer we stood here, the higher the chance of Rose exploding in anger was.

"Let's go," I whispered to Rose who stood almost stoically from her position with her increasing red face the only sign of life in her. She shook her head and smiled at me. The same smile warmed me from the chilling senses I got when she stopped. As she set her trunk once again in motion, I took the chance to walk in front of her and sent a knowing look at Malfoy. He should know its better not to goad Rose more.

However, it seemed as though he didn't get my message, because as I was lugging my trunk on the carriage that'll send us to the Hogsmeade station, I heard his drawl once again. "Don't forget to let precious Daddy know ickle Malfoy bested you in Transfiguration." He taunted. I looked back in time to see Rose glaring at him, hand in her pocket, while the other was curled to a fist. I was about to call her when I heard her laugh.

It wasn't the melodic laugh I use to hear everyday. It was more of the evil laugh she loved to use in the presence of Malfoy. "Oh, don't worry I won't. But please don't forget to tell mommy dearest that filthy Weasley bested you in all subjects except one." She said returning his tone. It was Scorpius turn to glare at her and grip his wand.

"ROSE!" Albus Potter's voice boomed in the hall from the stairs to the dungeon. He reached the top landing, panting from his run. Both blond and redhead turned to look at him, both forgetting their tight grasps on their wands and both had frowns on their faces.

"Why are you not dragging your trunk, Albus?" Rose immediately pulled her hand out of her pocket and put both hands on her hips. She looked like the perfect replica of her mother waiting for an explanation from her husband except that she had red hair rather than the brown Professor Weasley had.

Albus smiled sheepishly to her and patted Scorpius' shoulder as he reached him before turning back to his cousin. "I got detention." He said, not daring to look at her and waited for her sermon.

"Yes, he got that with me." Lysander, my twin, entered the scene as he placed himself beside Scorpius on the other side. He, like Scorpius was the epitome of poise and confidence even for their young age. I sometimes wonder whether or not we are related to each other. He shared a roguish smile with Albus who merely nodded his head to him.

"Oh really, why am I not surprise with this?" Rose exclaimed and sighed. She had forgotten about Malfoy who was still frowning at his friends. She turned to me and shook her head. "I guess it'll be us then, Lorcan. Come on now before we're late." She said the excitement washed away from her voice. I felt my own spirits fall a little. She put her trunk in the carriage where my things were and was already in when Albus yelled.

"You should ride with them, Scorpius. You're not against it right Lorcan?" He grinned at us, and I was about to shake my head no but I saw Professor Weasley and Malfoy exiting the Great hall, laughing at each other. They didn't notice us apparently as they continued their way up the stairs to the staff common room, I believe. I wonder if one day Rose and Scorpius would be at least civil like their mom and dad respectively.

"Great, you agree." Albus said and I raised my brow in confusion. I didn't agree with him, did I? But before I could say anything he had already picked up Scorpius' trunk and pushed him in with Rose. I shook my head when I heard Rose's scream. Brilliant, Albus Potter just saved the day, or not? Welcome, for one hell of a ride. I sighed and entered the carriage but not before I notice the glint in the brunet's eyes.

The whole ride burst with unreleased tension. I was practically readying myself for some sort of outburst from either party during that short journey to Hogsmeade station. Thankfully though, Albus had sent some sort of warning to them that if any insults or hexes were shot to the other, they'll find themselves back at Hogwarts. I had to thank the headmistress who agreed to put the charm on the carriage when Al suggested it.

The scarlet train slowly became visible from the open carriage. A smile tugged from Rose's lips as she saw the huge vehicle. She hadn't looked at the direction of Malfoy once during the ride. However, I knew she was holding back every sharp bite on the pale wizard for her ears were red like Uncle Ron's when Aunt Hermione- I could call her that again because its holidays- lectured him on his table manners. I also did notice the subtle movements of their hands inching towards their wands when the carriage staggered during the rocky part of the ride and they'd bump each other accidentally. Really, if it weren't for the charm, I'd find myself battered and bruised for acting as mediator to the factions.

So you're asking how I knew about the charm on our carriage. Well, it's easy. You see, during the first month of the term, and I was sorted in Gryffindor while Lysander was in Slytherin, I had difficulty in sleeping. I was used to have my twin in the same room as mine. Apparently, he had trouble in that area too. We asked Aunt Hermione if we could sleep in the same room but she shook her head because it's impossible. Instead she gave us a fake galleon each. I read about that secret method of communication of their DA but it was modified by her own invented charm. It served as our communication plus it created the feeling of having my twin close to me when I wore it on my neck as pendant. So when we, Rose, Malfoy and I, left Hogwarts, I tapped my wand to the coin and discreetly asked Lysander if they're insane about having the two spitfires in a carriage.

He answered that the charm was placed and it was Albus and his idea to have them there and the old witch agreed. The whole school knew of their rivalry. They both have classes together and they competed in every way possible. At first, they were ignoring each other but as the exams came, they started sprouting off some slurs about who was better at this and that, though meant for each other never said directly to their faces. And that ignited the flame. According to my beloved twin, the old professor wanted a peaceful new term and thought that having them in a carriage to talk would be the first step.

Oh, how wrong they were. The two were silent throughout the ride both knowing that the words that will come out their mouths would be first and foremost assaults on each other. I was quite thankful for the charm because it did give me a peaceful ride but it was a failure in every sense except that.

"Finally," Rose's voice pulled me out of my over-thinking mind. I looked around to see that she was already on the ground looking at me expectantly. Malfoy, too, was on the ground but he already walked to the train to load his trunk. "Come on, we're late already." She tapped her foot impatiently as I sent her a raised eyebrow and got off the carriage.

During the train ride, I was at the teachers' car because Professor Longbottom asked for my presence. I wasn't able to keep an eye on the redheaded angel. But I caught her napping by the window seat of the compartment that I left her at when I came back and we were already in London then.

Even her yawn was pretty and well-mannered for she covered her mouth. I'm sure she got that from her mom. Uncle Ron would never know manners even if it hit him on the face. It was already a well tested theory according to our parents. I sent a smile to my best friend as I offered her a hand when the train stopped and whistled announcing our arrival.

"Good morning!" I greeted her cheerily. She laughed at me as she accepted my hand and stood up before letting it down again. She smoothed her clothes before she smiled and beckoned me to follow her lead out the train.

There on the platform was our family. Uncle Ron and Hugo were there, the latter looking bored. Mom was there too, but not Dad. He's probably out on a hunt for another creature. What it was would be a surprise for now, I guess. Aunt Ginny with Lily were standing beside Uncle Ron. The older witch had a great frown on her face and looked rather red. I could only imagine what brought that.

"Oh! Rosie!" Uncle Ron's deep manly voice boomed to our ears as she walked towards the group. I smiled at mom and when I reached her, she ruffled my blond hair and kissed the top of my head. I felt my cheeks becoming hot; it was embarrassing.

Rose hugged her father and brother tightly with a wide grin on her face. Aunt Ginny gave us both a kiss, but the frown wasn't removed. "Oh, that boy! Too much of his father in him!" She exclaimed when Rose mentioned Albus' detention. Although I had a feeling she knew it already. Just then James came, with a rather annoyed expression, and Teddy and Victorie on his heels. The lovebirds looked quite jolly and sweet; it made me almost nauseated. But I don't have the gall to gag in front of them. James eyes widened and the frown on his lips turned to a mischievous grin upon seeing his cousin. As I said, all of the students knew of Rose and Scorpius' competition.

"Oh, Rosie, how was Transfiguration with Auntie Mione?"James cooed as he reached us. He kissed his mom and ruffled his sister's hair which only got him a sharp kick on the knee. But it wasn't worth the fun of putting Rose in the spotlight.

I looked at Rose and saw that the girl was now redder than her hair. She knew the topic James' was breaching and she was intent in keeping it from her father. She told me that before we left Hogwarts. Uncle Ron's eyebrows furrowed and looked at his daughter intently. "Why? I thought you were at the top of your classes." He said.

"Yes, well," she stammered and looked at me hoping I'll help her. She was indeed in a vulnerable position. She told me of her dad's parting words to her. And she couldn't disappoint the wizard. I sighed and answered for her. "Rose is the best in our classes, Uncle Ron but she's having slight difficulty in Transfiguration so she's having private lessons with her mum." I said shooting James a confident look. It was the truth but well, not the truth he was commenting on. Before the raven-haired boy could open his mouth to speak, Rose's brother, Hugo opened his.

"Let's go home dad, I need to pee." This ensured a roar of laughter and the topic of Rose's slight failure in said subject was forgotten. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll have Aunt Hermione's back up.

So I'm really sorry I took so long in writing this. You probably guessed that its Lorcan's point of view. It was planned to be his, well not by me by my friend. So uh, read and review guys? Thanks in advance. xD

love,

~~elaine

PS. Thanks to my beta, Tanny Apple. You really know how to make my day. XD