Chapter 9: Everything's Just Wonderful

I love to see you walk into the room
Body shining lighting up the place
And when you talk, everybody stops
Cause they know you know just what to say

Hello - Beyonce

November 1, 2020

How the hell was I supposed to pay attention to quidditch? I had to make the biggest decision of my life and everyone was yelling 'Go, Go Gryffindor!' around me. So rude.

I weighed the pros and cons of James at least fifty times before I could even pretend to enjoy myself.

"God, what is wrong with you today, Andy? You're acting like you're being tortured not watching your brother win us a quidditch match."

"Sorry Rose, I guess I'm just not in the mood," I replied gloomily.

"Well you better get in the mood because there's definitely gonna be a party in the common room tonight," said Laura over my shoulder. "Now get up and cheer for crying out loud!"

I laughed and stood up. It was good to have fun. There was definitely too much drama at this school.

"And, yes! Weasley has spotted the snitch! He's done it! Hugo Weasley has caught the snitch, securing the first victory of the quidditch season to Gryffindor. It's about time, too. We've lost the cup five years running!" said the commentator.

Everybody was screaming like crazy and I was happy for Hugo. He'd won his very first game. All my friends could talk about was how amazing all the players on our team had been. We got to the common room and the party had already started without us. The butterbeer was flowing and the music was on, very loudly might I add.

The noise was deafening when the team walked in. They were heroes to the entire house. James stood on top of a table and called the room to silence. The music was cut and everything went quiet. You could have heard a pin drop.

"Well, that was a great game," said James slowly. Everybody cheered before falling silent once more. "Congratulations to Hugo who won us the game. We couldn't have done it without him. And our lovely chasers; Roxy, Fred and Louis," he once again paused for cheering. "Our beaters were pretty damn amazing. Al and Scorp were everywhere. Am I right?" The cheering was so loud I thought my eardrum had popped. "And lastly, you guys were fantastic. You cheered way louder than those Slytherin losers! So here's toasting to a good year!"

James raised his bottle of butterbeer and the rest of us followed suit. The party continued in the typical fashion. Some seventh years smuggled in some firewhiskey and got a few fifth years' drunk. It was all in good fun.

Sometime during the night James had found me and we found a quiet corner to talk. It was a pretty short conversation, even for us.

"So, do you have an answer?"

"No, not yet. I'm still thinking."

"C'mon Andy! I didn't ask you to marry me! Yes or no, it's a simple question."

"Alright. I'll do it. But if my father kicks me out I'm crashing on your couch."

That was it. We spent the rest of the night making out in our quiet little corner. Professor Longbottom broke up the party around 2am saying that he could hear the music in his office. Mostly everyone went to bed after that.

November 2, 2020

My head was killing in the morning. I guessed the music really must have been too loud. I looked at my clock and it said 12:36. I groaned and sat up. Unsurprisingly I was the last one still asleep.

I got dressed and walked into the common room. I saw the group of fifth years that had been drunk the night before looking very sorry for themselves. They looked how I felt.

A very cheery Scorpius met me at the foot of the stairs.

"There you are! I've been waiting all morning. We didn't get a chance to talk yesterday but I decided to let it go. The you and James thing I mean. I felt how worried you were during the match and it was horrible. I never want you to feel that way again, okay?" said Scorp as he dragged me towards the portrait hole.

"Okay, but where are you dragging me? Or is this when you kill me?" I asked suspiciously.

"Haha, very funny. You're starving so I'm taking you to Sunday lunch. Don't worry, I'm sure they don't hate you."

We walked into the Great Hall and saw James very animatedly explaining something to his family.

"Just hear me out! I'm happy and you should be happy for me. And her. She's friends with all of you. You know that she's a great person," said James pleadingly.

"That doesn't change the fact that she's a Malfoy, James. Can imagine all the crap Uncle Harry'll get for this. They will never leave him alone," said Dom.

"So he should what? Just sacrifice his own happiness for his parents. God, Dom, get a grip. It's just like this romance novel I just finished reading…" said Roxy trailing off.

The was a collective groan from the table as Scorpius and I slid into place, me next to James. They all ignored me except for Lily and Roxy who, apparently, thought I was good enough for their brother and cousin.

"Hey Andy," said a voice from behind me.

"Oh, hi Dion. What's happening?" I asked, turning to face the Hufflepuff boy.

"Nothin' really. Just wanted to say thanks for talking to me yesterday. It was pretty fun. See you around," said Dion before heading to the Hufflepuff table.

"Who was that guy?" asked James.

"Dion Carrow. He's pretty cool," I replied.

"Okay."

The rest of the meal was mostly silent. We all just ate and exchanged small talk every now and then. It was nearing half past one when James pulled me from my seat. We walked out of the Great Hall hand-in-hand to some very loud, mostly unpleasant whispering.

Once we were outside James cast a heating spell on us to keep us warm. It was really beautiful outside. The first snowfall had been the night before end everything was the colour of new fallen snow.

"It's really beautiful out here," I said to break the silence.

"I'm really sorry about them. They just don't get it. You're perfect for me, no matter what your name is."

I smiled. "Why are you always so sweet to me?"

"Because ever since I saw you, Scorp and your Mum on the platform I realised that you must have it really hard. You're Dad didn't even show up to say goodbye."

I tried to cock my eyebrow like Dion had the day before.

"What's wrong with your face?" asked James.

"Damn! I thought I had it that time."

"Had what? Gas?" asked James laughing.

I lightly hit him in the stomach. "No! I can't do that eyebrow thing that everyone can do. I try all the time but I always end up looking constipated."

"That is so sad. So, so sad."

We kept walking in silence. It wasn't one of those silences where you felt like you had to say something, it was just comfortable. It felt right holding his hand.

"So what happens now?" I asked.

James stopped and just looked at me with his gorgeous blue eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Do we tell our parents or try and persuade your family that this isn't the end of the world?"

"I think we should tell our parents. Or at least I think I should. Maybe you should wait."

"I don't wanna hide from them. If you tell your parents I'll tell mine and just hope that I still have a family to go home to."

I walked into the common room and went to sit with Albus and Scorpius.

"Ah, I have to go and… do stuff. I'll see you later, Scorp."

"He won't even sit with me anymore!" I said taking Albus' empty chair.

"I'm sure he really did have to go."

"You are such a bad liar," I laughed.

But you can read my mind.

Even if I couldn't I'd still be able to tell. A big sister can always tell.

You're older by two minutes, Andy! Remember when we always used to argue about who was older? I miss that.

Miss what? Yelling at me because I am your older sister or just yelling at me?

This school is too hard. There is way too much drama here.

Speaking of drama… how long have you liked Laura?

"I do not," said Scorpius aloud.

"You don't what?" said James as he sat down beside me.

"He doesn't, ah, want to, um, he doesn't want to go home for Christmas!" I said triumphantly.

"Yeah, I hate going home," said Scorpius.

"As if. Are you doing that weird psychic link thing again?"

"What are you talking about?" we both said in sync.

"You know, that weird link thing I asked about on your birthday," James said directly to me.

What weird telepathy thing he asked about on our birthday?

"Um, I already told you that people can only do that via a really powerful spell and-"

"Save the crap, Andy. I've watched the two of you since you got here. You have a link, I'm sure of it. Why don't we just be honest right from the start?"

Just tell him. I gotta go find Al. Good luck.

Scorpius left the two of us alone and I took James' hand.

"Ever since I can remember these words and pictures have been in my head. When I was little I didn't know what it was, I just told myself that I was exactly the same as everyone else. But I nearly drowned in the big fountain at the Ministry one day and Scorpius saved me. That was when I realised it was his thoughts I could hear and see. I could feel his magic. It was amazing. You just can't imagine being able to live through someone else.

"Anyway Scorp was terrified when I told him that I knew what he was thinking. He told me that he could hear me as well and didn't speak to me for an entire day. He was so scared that we were different to everyone else. But after a while he came around and we've never been closer. We learnt to control it over time. I don't see pictures very often anymore. I feel his emotions now. And his thoughts, of course. We never told anybody and I really don't know why Scorp said I should tell you."

"Can you turn it on and off?"

"No. If one of us is asleep the other sees life through the others eyes. It's very uncomfortable sometimes. Like that night when you first kissed me. Scorp was there the whole time," I replied sheepishly.

"What do you mean by 'sees life through the others eyes?'"

"It's like I'm really him. We don't generally talk about the things that we see unless it's inevitable. I've experienced things a woman should never even think about."

"Okay, I don't wanna know. I'm just glad you told me," said James.

"Well we're being honest from the start right?"

I went to bed early that night. I was so tired from the night before I nearly fell asleep in the common room. I walked into my dorm room to see Evie sitting on her bed.

"Sorry, I didn't realise that you were in here," I said as I began to walk back to the door.

"Don't leave, Andy. This is stupid. You broke my sister's nose," she said bluntly as she got off her bed.

"I know and now I've completely stuffed up any chance for us to be friends."

"Let me finish. You didn't ruin any chance for friendship. I don't like my sister. Her mum is a total bitch to me because my dad is her ex. Rory is exactly like her mother. She is spoiled and conceited and doesn't even acknowledge me as part of her family," said Evie quietly.

"Then why do you hate me?" I asked incredulously.

"I don't but you seemed to be avoiding and Laura followed so I just started hanging around the Ravenclaw girls. They are really boring."

"So you weren't talking to us because we seemed to be avoiding you?"

"Yeah, I know it's weird."

I started laughing and Evie joined in soon after. It wasn't long before our stomachs were aching. We laughed so hard that we forgot what was funny. But we knew that we were friends again. Finally.

A/N: Hello everyone!! Sorry about not updating sooner. My school term started last week and so did my tennis season so I've been flat out busy. I'll get straight down to business. I want Scorpius to have a girlfriend too but I'm not sure who. I want to know what you think. Who should be Scorpius' girlfriend and why? Just tell me in the reviews and I'll make Scorpius a girlfriend. :)