-Ch. 6-

"Alright, what've we got?" Albus Potter asked his very much Slytherin friend Priscilla. He glanced down at his schedule. First they had Potions with the Ravenclaws, followed by Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. Then was lunch break, with one more class, History of Magic, alone. Al looked through the rest of the week. Thankfully, he only had three classes with Gryffindor. One was Flying, which would be bearable, twice, double Potions, and... Defense against the Dark Arts. Of course. Al glared at the slot for Friday that showed that information as if he could intimidate it into changing.

"It's not bad..." he heard Priscilla say, but not to him. He looked up from his schedule to see her raising her eyebrows at Malfoy. "Maybe if he knows I've renounced my family name he'll like me better." Al thought sarcastically, directing his death glare at the blond. Malfoy caught his gaze. Al expected to see hate, but there was an unrecognizable emotion in them that sent a jolt down Al's spine. Was it pity? Envy? Hope? Al shook his head. Malfoys didn't have emotions, his father always said. They only cared about themselves.

The next few days passed uneventfully, the normal-ness of it only broken by Malfoy's looks. The other houses seemed to ignore him the best they could, only sparing him a glance when he was called on to answer a question or the like. After a particularly hard day of Herbology, the Flying class with Gryffindor, and Transfiguration, Albus headed to the common room to find Priscilla waiting for him. She had finished dinner early, leaving him alone with Malfoy. Awkwardness had ensued. "What was that?" he asked her, annoyed. "What was what?" she asked back, feigning innocence.

He rolled his eyes and sat in one of the chairs, his friend following suit. "Listen, I told you to make friends and I'm just leaving you oppurtunities." Priscilla said, twirling her hair. "But Malfoy?" he said, exasperated. "You need to let the past stay in the past, Albus. Things are different now. If a Potter can be in Slytherin, shouldn't that Slytherin try and surpass more boundaries?" she said, smirking at him. "Jeez, Priscilla. You spout out wisdom like a Ravenclaw. How are you even in this house?" he said jokingly. "Oh, that's easy. I'm evil." she replied, flashing a full blown grin at him.

-The Next Day-

It was Friday, the day that Albus not only had his third class with Gryffindor (the other two had been awkward enough- Rose and everyone else gawking at him the entire time), but the day he would have to face his father. He couldn't get the look on his dad's face as he saw him out of his head. Lunch before the dreaded class found him sitting at his usual spot next to Priscilla with Malfoy on her other side. despite Priscilla's nagging and Malfoy's frequent looks, Albus had yet to approach the boy. He promised himself that he would- if he got through the day.

Al picked at his food, much to the amusement of his companion. "Nervous, Potter?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. "And you bloody well know it, dementor." he grumbled, using the nickname she developed with her badgering him and "sucking the joy out of school". She rolled her eyes and finished up her food, winking at him before leaving. Albus sighed and stood up, ready to face the inevitable- when he smacked right into Malfoy. "Sorry, I-" "I didn't mean-" they both said at the same time, green meeting gray.

The blond smacked a hand over his mouth before straightening up and saying "I would apologize, Potter, but you probably deserved that." he sneered, but Albus caught a small hint of regret in the hard steel that Malfoy's eyes had become. He pushed Albus aside and left the Great Hall, Albus following right after. "I am definitely going to be talking to him after class," he thought to himself, but to request they be friends or teach him a lesson, he wasn't sure. He rushed up the stairs to make up for the time he spent poking at his food and not eating. Albus slipped in just as the bell rang.

He hurriedly took his seat next to Priscilla, with Malfoy on her other side, who gave him a reassuring grin. Or a mocking one. Sometimes it was hard to read her expressions. He looked towards the front of the class where his father was standing, smiling at the class. Many of the Gryffindor witches were giving him charming smiles and batting their eyelashes (...gross) while the boys were looking at him with a reverence. Albus rolled his eyes and assumed the look of most other Slytherins- bored. Some were glaring, but it wasn't like he hated his dad. It was more of a... strong dislike.

There was a clear dividing line between the two Houses as there had been whenever the two had met, one on the left side of the room and the other on the right. So it was a shock when Rose Weasley not only rushed in late but, with a determined look, breached the Slytherin side by sitting on the other side of her cousin. Said cousin narrowed his eyes and leaned over. "What in Merlin's name are you doing, Rose?" he whispered in her ear. But his father cleared his throat and began to speak, leaving Albus answerless.

The rest of class went without a hitch, Albus actually learning some things being able to ignore the note-taking Gryffindor next to him. When the bell rang signifying the end of class, most of the Slytherins rushed out of the room, leaving Albus and Priscilla alone on the left side. Other than Rose. "Well, your dad certainly knows how to teach, Asp." Priscilla said, yawning. "I'm just glad it's over. Now you can stop teasing me." he smiled at the blond. "Oh, there are plenty of things to tease you about!" She punctuated the "you" with a poke to his nose. They grinned at each other. That is, until...

Rose cleared her throat, smiling shyly at her cousin. Albus turned to her. "What do you want, Rose?" he sighed at her, knowing that if he didn't give her what she wanted he wouldn't hear the end of it. "So, um, is this your friend?" she said awkwardly, holding her books and parchment to her chest like a lifeline. "No, I just keep her around for my amusement." he said dryly, picking up his things and heading for the door. "Albus, wait!" she cried, grabbing his arm and spinning him back around. Rose had tears in her eyes. His eyes softened and he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Listen Rosie," he said, using his nickname for her in hopes it would make her feel better, "I'm really sorry for what happened on the first day of school and I do not mean my Sorting, Priscilla!" he added forcefully when the Slytherin began to pout. "But I am a Slytherin now." "But that doesn't mean we still aren't your family!" Rose said, gripping tighter onto his arm. "Well, we'll wait and see if dad disowns me or not." he joked half-heartedly, releasing her shoulder. He walked to the door, Priscilla tailing behind. He froze with his hand halfway between him and the door. "... I'll see you at breakfast, Rosie." he said without looking back, quickly leaving the room.

And who was waiting for him there? None other than Malfoy. "I really don't want to deal with you right now." Al said, hating the waver that was audible in his voice. "What's your problem?" Malfoy muttered, rubbing his shoulder where the door had hit him. "What's my problem? You're the one who keeps staring at me and snarking at me every time we talk!" Al nearly yelled, trying to keep his anger in check. Both of them were too caught up in each other to notice Priscilla sneak off, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Every time we talk? We've only talked what, zero times!?" Malfoy snapped back with just as much controlled rage as Albus. "So you didn't count all the times that you've insulted me?" Al asked, crossing his arms. "Well it's not like I wanted to!" the other boy said, before clamping a hand over his mouth again. Al had the feeling he was about to fire out a snarky comment. "Why do you do that?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. "i don't know what you're talking about, Pott-" Al put his hand up as if to say, "hold it".

"Drop the act." Al said, gears turning in his head. "Nobody's here but me. And who am I going to tell? Priscilla?" Malfoy's mouth opened and closed a couple of times, like a fish out of water. "I-I... Fine. You win." he finally said, glaring at the dark haired boy. "Now go tell everyone how Scorpius Malfoy is a disappointment to his father. That I only got into Slytherin because it's in my blood." he said bitterly. Al's eyes widened. Well then. He guessed this was why Priscilla thought they'd be good friends. "Well, you forget... I'm a disappointment too. Hey, my father did not once look at me that entire lesson." Malfoy lifted his head from where he was trying to burn a hole in the floor to look at him with wide eyes.

"Also, if we got in on blood, shouldn't I be partying it up in the Gryffindor common room boasting about how my dad is like, the best teacher in the world?" To Albus' surprise and joy, a half-smile graced the face of the pale boy across from him. "I'm pretty sure you're evil. Way down in there." he added. Albus couldn't believe he was actually comforting someone by calling them evil. "Really?" Malfoy asked, looking hopeful. And arrogant. At the same time. That was new. "Yep. I'll bet you have the qualities of the next Dark Lord." Silence filled the hall before the blond burst out laughing. Al couldn't help but join in.

"You know, you're not half bad, Potter."

"On the contrary- the Hat would have you believe I'm about 75% so."

"No really... I can see why Priscilla wanted us to be friends."

"Oh, you too? She wouldn't stop hounding me about it!"

"Might as well humor her now..."

"I want to hear you say it."

"Say what?"

"You know, you arrogant twit."

"Alright..."

"I'm waiting."

"..."

"Seriously, I'm getting wrinkles."

"Okay! Okay, jeez... I, Scorpius Malfoy..."

"Yes?"

"Am now friends..."

"With?"

"You."

"And who am I?"

"... A Potter."

"You can call me Al, you know."

"... Yeah. You can call me Scorpius."

:D Yay! Scorpibus/Alpius friendship!

:D

:D

:D

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That is all.