"No, no, no Mr Potter!" Came Professor Specula's frustrated cry for the fifth time in the last hour, "That simply will not do. Are you trying to put his eye out? Look do it like this!"
She waved her own wand around in a spiral movement and calmly said, "Fumos." Thick smoke flowed from her wand until she was hidden from Albus' view. He took this opportunity to raise his eyebrows exasperatedly to an amused looking Scorpius. The smoke cleared, and Professor Specula's face appeared looking more exhausted than energetic at this point. "Your turn."
Albus twirled his wand, "Fumos!" Nothing. "How many spirals professor?"
"I have told you this already. Pay attention." She demonstrated the movement.
Albus watched carefully, "Ah yes, I see. . . . . Was that clockwise or anti clockwise?"
Scorpius ducked behind another student, so Professor Specula wouldn't see the tears of stifled laughter appearing in his eyes, ignoring Albus' pleading look for help.
"No one else can do it yet either" he whined. But just at that moment, Professor Specula's eyes lost that look of hopelessness and lit up in surprise and joy as smoke covered the small section around them. Albus looked around to see the caster and felt illogically frustrated to see it was Rose. Just like her to be so smug he thought unfairly as she was in fact looking a bit embarrassed at the sudden attention. But Albus didn't see this, all he saw was his cousin, his cousin who had told tales to his father about him, showing him up again.
He frowned at her sulkily and turned back to Scorpius who to his disgust was surveying Rose with admiration.
"Fumos." He muttered. "Fumos. Fumos. Fumos. Fumos." He kept mumbling while waving his wand increasingly erratically. Scorpius jumped back in shock suddenly blinded by a bright light appearing at the end of Albus' wand. He blinked several times clearing the spots from his vision, "Well at least you did a spell this lesson. That's more than me!" He smiled weakly.
Albus was not in a good mood by the time the class ended nearly an hour later. He threw his bag roughly over his shoulder narrowly missing a nearby Gryffindor and practically stomped out of the room. Scorpius hurried after him followed by Rose.
"It's not that bad Al. Rose was the only one who managed it and Specula said she didn't expect anyone to do it anyway. She wasn't at all surprised when she had to tell us all to practice it for homework". Scorpius reasoned.
Rose nodded fervently next to him, "Exactly. Besides I think mine was just luck. I was surprised as you were!" She added kindly.
Albus shot her a sceptical look but undeterred she continued, "I think Professor Specula was really unfair concentrating on you so much. I bet it put you off."
"I agree." Inputted Scorpius eagerly.
"You would." Albus muttered but brightened a bit nonetheless, "Yeah I felt too nervous with her there."
Rose grinned smugly, "See! I bet you will do better in your next class. Oh drat!" She exclaimed as the staircase in front of them swung away to the right.
"It's okay, it will be back in a minute and it's break so we have plenty of time." Scorpius told her.
"I know that!" She snapped, "It's just annoying!" They waited a few minutes and sure enough the stairs swung back round to them.
"Quick get down them before they move again!" Albus said.
They walked quickly down the stairs until they reached the very bottom floor.
"What's your next class Al? We're with Hufflepuff next so yours will be with Ravenclaw."
"Flying" Scorpius answered before Albus could.
"I suck at flying. James always teased me for it." Albus said his face dropping.
"Everyone sucks when you have to keep below a certain height and speed to avoid muggle detection." Rose reasoned fairly, "You will do great! It's in your blood. Both your parents were on the school Quidditch team. And your mum played professionally!"
"Your mum played professionally?" Scorpius gasped in amazement. "Who is she? Would I know her." His mouth dropped as realisation sank in, "Your mum isn't Ginny Potter, is she?"
Albus nodded embarrassed, wishing Rose had kept her mouth shut.
"The Ginny Potter? She was a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies!"
"How do you know? It was before your time." Albus asked.
"Yeah but they're my favourite team so of course I know. Would you get me her autograph?" He asked as they walked across the courtyard.
Albus didn't reply.
"I've got to go this way. Herbology." Rose told them turning right, "See you later Al!"
"Bye Rose." He replied subdued.
"Bye Rose!" Scorpius called after her cheerfully. "Your cousin is great Al. She's so nice and she's obviously very clever."
"She also ignores you completely."
Scorpius didn't seem insulted by this point, on the contrary he grinned, "Yeah but I'm working on it. She won't keep it up I'm sure."
Looking at the silly lovestruck look on Scorpius' face and admiring how optimistic he was, Albus couldn't help but cheer up somewhat. "You're an idiot." He laughed fondly.
Scorpius laughed too, "Maybe. But you just say that when I'm beating you on a broom! C'mon let's move it. It should be fun!"
It wasn't fun. One hour later they were both trudging back up to the school looking thoroughly defeated.
"At least yours wiggled. Mine stayed completely still" Scorpius complained, all trace of optimism gone from his face.
"Yeah but you didn't have everyone muttering about you."
It was true, all the students had expected Albus to be a naturally skilled flier so when he couldn't even summon his brooms they had muttered amongst themselves,
"Son of famous Harry Potter can't even summon a broom?"
"Wasn't his mum a professional chaser?"
"I heard he was rubbish at Defence Against the Dark Arts too!"
"First he's put in Slytherin and then he's rubbish at everything. I'd hate to be him right now".
Albus hadn't caught all the comments but he had heard enough to gather the general gist.
"I hate it here!" He grumbled miserably.