"Remind me, why did we let them in our carriage?" I brought my fingers to my forehead, massaging it in annoyance.

"Technically, we let ourselves in," Scorpius answered, chewing rather obnoxiously on a liquorice wand. He smacked his lips together loudly and I squirmed.

"Would it kill you to stay quiet for a minute?"

"I'm not even doing anything!" he protested.

"You're chewing too loudly!" I cried. "How is that not doing anything?"

"Merlin, why are you so uptight?" Potter interjected and I shot him a scornful look.

"I'm happy to kick your arse again," I threatened.

He rolled his eyes, refocusing his attention on the book in his hands (Yes, shocking, I know. Who would've thought he actually possessed the brain cells to read).

"I spy with my little eye-" Scorpius started and I banged my head against the window.

From my calculations, we hadn't even been on board for a full hour. Which meant I would have to suffer through another eternity of Malfoy's idiotic pastimes.

"Something green?" Rose echoed. "Your Quidditch robes?"

"Bingo!" Scorpius cried. "Your turn."

"I spy with my little eye something orange," Rose ignored the disbelieving look I sent her way as she joined in the game.

"The pumpkin pasty you ordered from the trolley," Potter answered nonchalantly. She nodded, settling back in her seat as he started examining the room.

His eyes caught mine, locking me in place.

"I spy with my little eye something grey," he murmured slowly, his low voice suddenly making the air heavier.

I coughed as he fixed me with one last unreadable expression before he shifted his attention towards Scorpius.

"Grey?" Rose interjected, her brows furrowing. "The sky outside?"

"Nope," Potter shook his head imperceptibly.

"The window frame!" Scorpius shouted triumphantly.

Potter shook his head once again. I frowned as I looked around the compartment. There didn't seem to be very many things that were grey.

"The door?" I tilted my head.

"Try again," he chuckled.

Rose and Scorpius continued guessing as I studied Potter's face. Where had he been looking when he made his statement?

A thought dawned on me but I quickly dismissed it, finding it to be absolutely ridiculous.

"You guys are all horrid guessers," Potter snorted after a few minutes. "I was talking about Gwen's eyes."

My face wrinkled in surprise. Had I really been right?

Rose and Scorpius exchanged a wordless look before mirroring the same bewildered expression I had on.

"Just thought they were pretty," he shrugged, his eyes sliding back down to the book in his lap.

Scorpius spluttered quietly while Rose turned towards me with an inquisitive twinkle in her eye. Had Albus just...complimented me?

I brought a hand up to my temple. I must've hit my head one too many times today.


"Look at how cute they are," Rose pulled on my arm. "First-years are so adorable and awkward when they stumble over each other and-"

"I get it, woman," I shoved her back. "You have some strange fetish for the newcomers."

"No, it's just always so fun watching them get sorted into their houses. Don't you remember our first-year at Hogwarts?" she sighed.

Oh, I remembered only too well how much drama had gone down because of a certain Potter being sorted into the Slytherin House.

Speaking of houses…

"Hey, Rose?" I elbowed her. "Aren't you supposed to be at the Gryffindor table?"

"Oh, Merlin's beard," she muttered. "James is gonna have my neck."

As if he had heard her remark, James's head suddenly popped up over the heads of his fellow housemates.

"My dear cousin," James bellowed above all the chattering. "Stop fraternizing with the enemy!"

"It's Gwen, you dolt," Rose shot back, rolling her eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."

I nodded my head as she scampered away, my eyes returning to the front of the Great Hall as the Sorting Hat Ceremony commenced.

With each new announcement of a house placement, the respected house would answer with a deafening roar of pride. I generally detested rowdy, boisterous events but even I couldn't help but get swept up in the school spirit as our howls bounced off the walls.

"Candace Meldeen...Ravenclaw!" the Sorting Hat announced. I jumped up onto the bench and pumped my fists in the air, shooting a smile in the girl's direction.

"Welcome to the House of Ravenclaw!" I hollered along with everyone else.

A chant followed as the girl proceeded down towards our table. I turned to the side, my eyes searching until they connected with a pair of emerald green ones.

The corners of them crinkled up in a smile as he quickly rose up on his own bench.

"I can cheer louder than you," he mouthed, sticking his tongue out.

"Daniel Goyle...Slytherin!" the Sorting Hat announced. The Slytherin House erupted in chaos as they welcomed their new member.

Potter turned back to face me smugly. Think you can do better, Mellow?

"Oh, it's on," I grinned.