Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related materials

Chapter 3
Blow-Up & Detention
(a.k.a. The Great Disaster)

Things to Note About Hogwarts:

1. If you get up early you can have a nice peaceful breakfast

2. Hogwarts wasn't quite what I had imagined... but not in a bad way

3. The food was spectacular, those House Elves really know how to cook

4. In such a big school it was relatively easy to avoid certain brothers (who have the initials J.S.P.)

5. Mum & Dad and I kept up a regular correspondence.

6. I did not like Professor Palmer anymore then I did on the first day, actually I believe my dislike has been growing

7. Professor Palmer didn't like me either (Why? What had I done to him? I will tell you; nothing, absolutely nothing. Well except disliked him from the moment I laid eyes on him. Whatever, technicalities)

8. Did I mention the food? Yeah? Well, the food is good.

9. Grandmum sent me some really fantastic treats (which I shared with Scorpius of course)

10. I'm rather good at Transfigurations

The next couple of weeks flew by in an exciting blur. I became used to classes, and everything fell into a daily schedule. This morning, like the day before, I got up and got ready, then Scorpius and I went downstairs to breakfast (early, of course). And it appeared that it was going to be another normal day—I realize now how things appear can be very deceiving. Later, during breakfast the owls came to deliver letters. A letter was dropped in front of me, it was from Mum & Dad. I looked up to see that a letter had been dropped in front of Scorpius as well. He looked unsurely at the letter. In the center was his name, in cursive, 'Scorpius Malfoy'. He snatched up the letter and headed for the door. But as he picked up the letter I saw a pair of names in the corner in the same penmanship, the names of the sender, 'Draco & Astoria Malfoy'.

As I thought about it dawned on me Scorpius still hadn't written to his parents, or received any letters from anyone. I had forgotten to bring it up, after the one time. Was I a bad friend for forgetting and not noticing when I got so many letters yet he got none. I had no time to decide this because Scorpius took the letter, put it in his schoolbag, and headed out of the Great Hall. So, I grabbed my letter from where it had fallen, stuffed it in my schoolbag and followed Scorpius.

As I left the Great Hall I spotted Scorpius, he was already at the top of the Grand Staircase. I hurried after him, taking the stairs two at a time. I called out to Scorpius, but he didn't stop, big surprise there, I know he was going to the Common Room to get away room me, to read that letter. I followed him all the way to the portrait of the Fat Lady, the entrance to the Gryffindor common rooms; where Scorpius gave the password (which is "The Bee's Knee's", who comes up with these?), and entered. But before the portrait swung shut I grabbed it and followed Scorpius into the common room and up the stairs, to the Boy's Dormitory.

But when I entered the dormitory Scorpius wasn't reading his letter, he was picking something up off his bedside table.

"Aren't you going to read you letter?" I asked Scorpius, wishing my mouth would keep shut, because really, could I have been more obvious in why I was following him? But I realize, after 11 years of life that my mouth likes to speak of its own accord. I should have at least pretended not to been following him for that reason.

"Yes Mr. Nosy, I will. But classes start soon, and I had forgotten my Defense Against the Dark Arts book and homework up here, and I needed it for class today," Scorpius replied, I detected a slight tone of annoyance in his voice (which was totally uncalled for).

"Oh—Well—Why didn't you stop when I called to you then?" I demanded, because when people call to you it is customary to stop and wait for them or at least acknowledge that you hear them.

"Because classes start soon and I had to get my book, and you would have slowed me down with your... slowness."

"Why didn't you say something at least?"

"Because maybe I didn't want to deal with your nosiness!" Scorpius bit back sharply.

I was shocked, I couldn't say anything, I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. I just simply nodded, turned around, and walked slowly down the stairs. I would be a lying if I said I wasn't a little hurt. Scorpius slowly and silently followed after me. We walked in this manner all the way to our classroom, and didn't say a word the entire time.

I was so focused on Scorpius's reaction, and his secretiveness, and his overall attitude, to even think about how much I disliked Professor Palmer, and how rude he was to me all class. I think Rose noticed something was wrong, because she kept looking over at me, giving me a concerned look. She was probably noticing my lack of reaction to Professor Palmer's rude comments.

We went on in this way throughout the class. After Double Defense Against the Dark Arts was over, right when I was heading to lunch, Scorpius disappeared. I noticed to late to follow him, so I went to lunch with Rosie and Luce. I figured he'd have to go to Potions, so he'd turn up. Rose and Luce talked around me, but I didn't hear them, I was in a strange kind of a daze. I sat there, pushing my food around on my plate, barely even eating (which was surprising, because I really like Hogwart's food).

"Albus... ALBUS!" Rose finally snapped me out of my daze. "Are you and Scorpius getting along alright?"

"Yeah..."

"Well good, because he's coming to sit down to eat, and I don't want this lunch to get more awkward and stiff, like D.A.D.A. was."

I looked up, and sure enough, Scorpius was walking towards us. He sat down next to Lucy, across the table from me.

"Where have you been?" I demanded, because, I mean, who just wanders away from people like that, without any notice?

"I didn't know you were my babysitter; I was up in the dorm," Scorpius replied casually, as he piled his plate up with food, pretending we weren't on bad terms or maybe trying to stop the arguing and leave the whole thing alone—I didn't feel like leaving it alone.

"To read that letter?"

"Yeah, you have a problem with that? I can't read my own letters without you hovering over me?" Scorpius snapped at me, obviously still upset and edgy.

"I'm not 'hovering'.I'm just worried as to why you have to hide your letter from me."

"It's not hiding, it's a personal letter, and you don't need to read it!"

"Well—" I began, but Rose cut me off. "BOYS!" She paused for a moment as Scorpius and I fell into silence, then she continued, "I don't mean to break up you little spat, but lunch is over, and it's time for Potions class."

We looked at one another then grabbed our bags and raced towards the dungeons, avoiding walking directly next to one another. When in the classroom we sat down (unfortunately Scorpius and I are partners) and Slughorn quickly explained the potion we were to be making, and a piece of white chalk wrote the instructions on the blackboard behind him (which made it rather difficult to see, seeing as Slughorn is rather... large). Then we began gathering our supplies. All the while Scorpius and I didn't speak a word to each other.

We were nearly done with our potion (which was turning out rather well if I do say so myself, Slughorn is always saying I get my father and grandmother's potions skills) when I asked Scorpius about the letter once more, which reflecting on it probably wasn't the wisest decision. "Why won't you tell me what is in your letter?"

"Because it's my letter, from my parents, and you don't need to see it. I'll ask you again, when did you become my babysitter?" Scorpius replied irritably.

"I'm just worried why my best friend is hiding things from me," I defended, which was a perfectly acceptable reason to be curious, really, it is.

"Really? Worried about what's in a letter from my parents?"

"Well, they don't write for a month, and then when they do write you become all secretive! I think I have reason to worry!"

"No, you don't! You're just worried because you think all these terrible about my family. You're just like everyone else Albus! You hear all these terrible things about my family, and you believe them! You think you know what my family is like, but you don't!" With that Scorpius picked up a handful of... I'm not sure what, and threw it in our potion. Then it exploded.

I say this calmly, but it was no small ordeal. I'm pretty sure at least two people were sent to the Hospital Wing (one which might have been Logan, from our dormitory). Slughorn sent us straight to the Headmaster's office (though technically, I didn't do anything). Scorpius and I walked quickly and silently to Headmaster Knave's office. We went up a spiral staircase (after telling a gargoyle the password, "School is for losers"—seriously people? Who comes up with these passwords?) to see the Headmaster sitting behind a large, ornate, wooden desk. Knave said, "So you two are the ones who caused all the commotion in the dungeons." Alright, he was calm, and didn't seem to harsh, I began to relax. Bad move.

I soon realized Knave could be unfair, mean, and calm, all at once—no one should possess these qualities in this combination, no one. And he tried to make you relax in the beginning so he can pounce on you, and rip you to shreds, really, he's like that. No matter how much I tried to explain to him that this was all Scorpius; fault, he would not listen.

And to make it worse, all the while one of the portraits behind the Headmaster's desk kept staring at me with this... look. As if he knew I would end up here and I was some despicable person who deserved the punishment I was getting, which is so not true, and his attitude was getting on my nerves. I was simply being a concerned friend, that is not a crime! Why can no one see that I have not committed a felony? But then the portrait next to that one was beaming at me like a crazy person, which was equally unsettling. And then, to top it all off, I got the night in detention!

So, a month into school and I had my first detention. What was Mum going to think?

We went to the remainder of classes and then to dinner (where Scorpius ate a lot of food, while I had no appetite what-so-ever, so it was totally not fair... though it may have something to do with the fact that he hadn't eaten any lunch...). I avoided telling Rose, because she would be rude about it, and give me some speech about how I deserved it, and I need to be more responsible. I didn't tell Lucy simply because she would tell Rose. Scorpius and I didn't speak to one another, and time seemed to drag on forever. After dinner Scorpius and I silently descended to the dungeons, for detention.

Slughorn had us cleaning cauldrons, vials, and tables. When we began Slughorn went into his office, and left us alone in the room. We worked in silence for some time.

"I'm sorry for bugging you about the letter, you were right I was making assumptions," I apologized quietly, while scrubbing a cauldron.

Scorpius looked up at me from where he was scrubbing a table, surprised. He nodded and said, "I'm sorry too. For blowing up the potion and for keeping my letter from you—"

"You don't have to apologize."

"Let me finish! There was nothing to hide in my letter, I was just being angry, and assuming things, and being purposely rude."

"You shouldn't have to show me your letters from your parents, I don't show you mine."

"Well, I want to prove there is nothing bad in the letter so... here." Scorpius pulled his letter from his schoolbag, and handed it to me. I tried to argue but he shoved the letter into my hand. I opened the letter, and read it. It was quite short, and was as follows;

'Dear Scorpius,

How has the first month of school been? We got the letter that you were sorted into Gryffindor, congratulations! I'm sorry that we didn't write earlier. Your grandmother was extremely sick, and we were helping your grandfather take care of her, and we couldn't get a moment to write to you. Your grandmother is fine now, so don't worry about her. Anyway, how are you liking classes? Have you made any good friends? Write soon.

All our love,

Your Mum & Dad'

I looked up to see Scorpius staring at me, eyebrows raised.

"Okay," I said, nodding slowly, handing the letter back to Scorpius.

"Okay?" Scorpius repeated, eyebrow's raising further.

"Okay, you were right, nothing wrong with your letter!" I admitted, giving Scorpius a smile.

"Yeah, I know," Scorpius said, smiling back at me. " I was just wondering if I could tell them yo were the good friend I made?"

"Yeah," I nodded, grin spreading.

"Alright then."

I think it was then that I realized maybe I shouldn't always believe the opinion of other people, even my family.

A little while later Slughorn came in and told us we could go. As we left Scorpius asked me, "Can I call you Al? You know, as a nickname."

"Sure," I agreed easily, paused then asked, "Can I call you Scor?"

"Absolutely not."

A/N: Alright, another chapter down, next chapter Holiday & Visits. Hoped you liked the chapter! I went through and slightly edited all the chapters, nothing to noticeable though. Any feedback is awesome