Chapter 2

Hogwarts

Albus bent down to help El up.

'Are you ok? He asked again.

'Fine, I brought it upon myself anyway, I let my anger get the better of me.' She whispered. Albus held a hand out to her. She reached to take it, hesitated, but then grasped it. He pulled her off the floor and onto the seat. She wiped her face with her hands.

'Thank you.' she said, looking for the first time into his bright, green eyes.

'No problem,' he said, looking back into her warm, chocolate eyes.

'The water burns my skin.' She said, looking at her feet. Albus bent to pick up her book, which had fallen to the floor.

'Romeo and Juliette?' Albus asked, handing it to her.

'Well, what kind of things do normal wizards read, then?'

'Not that. What do you mean by normal?'

'Never mind. I just wanted to know what it was all about, that's why I'm reading it.'

'Ok.'

'I need a word, now.' Rose whispered.

'We're going to see if we can find our brothers. We won't be long.' Albus said to El as Rose dragged him out the door. She slammed it behind her and pulled him further down the corridor.

'How, what was that?' She asked him, staring at him.

'Pardon?'

'What was that? You didn't flinch, or recoil, or, or…' she lost what she was trying to say.

'So what, just 'cause I have a handle on emotions doesn't mean anything.'

'But, she. Her skin is green, it's repulsive.'

'Repulsive? Look, I'm not saying it isn't weird, but I like her. Just because she's different doesn't make her any less human.'

'I know but…' but Albus cut her off.

'Just like you would normally say 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. Or are you such a hypocrite that you don't even remember?' he said sharply.

'Ok… I see your point, but…'

'But nothing. It was obviously the reason she was hiding behind her book when we first came in.' he finished, Rose sensed that the conversation was over.

Rose was quiet for most of the rest of the journey. Albus and Rose played a couple of games of wizard chess, El watched the first, but then got back to her book. Rose was still mad that Albus had taken the moral high ground. The rain began to ease off and the sky darkened, so Albus and Rose changed into their robes, apparently El was already in hers, but it was totally different to Rose's. Rose wore a black skirt, white shirt, tank top and tie and long, black cloak. While El wore a floor length, black dress and cloak.

The train slowed to a halt at Hogsmeade Station. It was a mad scramble to get out of the train, everyone was running, people was shouting, owls were hooting and trunks were banging. The First Years were directed to the boats. Albus watched El out of the corner of his eye, Rose scowled at him while he sniggered at the look on El's face when she found out they had to take the little boats across the large lake.

'Albus?' A gruff voice boomed over the hysteria of the pupils.

'Ha-Hagrid?' Albus shouted, knowing full well who it was, while what felt like a million heads swivelled to see what was happening.

'Firs' Years this way. Three to a boat now. ' He winked at Albus and Rose as they climbed into a boat. El followed, gingerly. She sat between them. She had put on a wide brimmed hat, Albus guessed it was to hide her face. It was tilted low over her face but she lifted it up a fraction so that he could see her face a little. She flashed him a wicked smile, her perfect, straight, white teeth caught what little light came off the small lamp that hung off the front of the boat.

The boats began to fill up, Rose wasn't the only one to notice that they were sitting in the biggest boat, but Albus and El seemed oblivious to the fact. People were beginning to look around, she saw one girl elbow her friend and point at El.

Then, she saw him. The small, blonde boy. What was his name…? She wracked her brains, looking for the answer. Then it came to her. Scorpius Malfoy. He looked… scared. Hagrid climbed in the boat, it lurched violently. El squeaked and clutched her hat. Rose threw her a dark look. She turned back to look at the boy, he turned his thin, pale face to gaze back at her. His pale grey eyes met hers. Rose blushed and looked away quickly, but he never dropped his eyes. Hagrid turned around to check that the platform was empty, he looked surprised that the boy was standing there.

'Oh,' The boy just continued to stare.

'Well, I s'pose you'll have to squeeze.' he gestured a dustbin lid sized had towards to the little space left next to Rose. He climbed in without a word. Looks like a rabbit in the headlights… Albus though, suppressing a snigger. He squished up into the corner, pushing Rose into El. Rose flinched as she touched her, but El didn't look up.

The boats began the slow journey.

Excited voices babbled as a dark shape loomed up ahead.

Hogwarts.

It looked magnificent. All the windows were lit like something from a painting. The storm had let up and there was a cold wind blowing. Suddenly, too soon though Albus, the boats stopped. Hagrid began to climb out, onto the small bit of rock that jutted out from the side of what looked like a small landing stage, for the purpose of transporting First Years. The boat lurched violently and El grabbed Albus's arm, as if to stop him from falling out or for support. Hagrid steadied the boat and the pupils began to climb out.

Albus got up. El got up with him, still holding his arm. She looked up for the first time since getting in the boat with an apologetic look in her eyes. Albus helped her out and then turned back, holding a hand out to Rose.

'Oh, so now I exist, do I?' Rose said in a hurt tone, smacking his hand. Albus just stared after her as she began to walk off.

'I don't need your help, I'm not a damsel in distress.' She shouted back at him as she followed the crowd of students in the Great Hall.