Chapter 14: Of Stalking and Snowball Fights

Jade's PoV:

I grinned as I walked down the train and spotted Al talking to one of his friends.

"Hi Al!" I said with a wiggle-of-my-fingers-wave and a wink before going in search of Lily, who was sure to be there if Al was. You do know that he doesn't like you. I sighed.

Yes Bob, I know he doesn't like me in that way yet. I'm working on that.

You do understand that to him you're just his little sister's friend?

Like I said, I'm working on that.

"It's too early." I jumped and spun around to see Lily smirking at me from the doorway of a compartment.

"Stop doing that!"

"I wasn't doing anything. You need to stop spacing out," she said as she slipped back into the compartment and I followed behind. I froze. Did she suspect anything?

"Spacing out?" I asked, my voice slightly higher than normal. A sharp glance told me she noticed, but she didn't comment.

"Your eyes go all unfocused and you look like you're listening to something. It's weird. But whatever. As I was saying earlier, it's too early." I frowned in confusion.

"What's too early for what?"

"You're too early for wooing my brother. You're eleven, he's thirteen-" She was cut off by Scorpius as he slid into our compartment, obviously having caught the tail-end of our conversation.

"As opposed to when she catches up and they'll both be thirteen?" he asked with a smirk, taking a seat beside Lily. She scowled at him, but it didn't have any real venom.

"As I was saying, wait a couple years, grow curves, wait for his hormones to kick in, maybe mature a little." Her tone stated clearly that she doubted I would mature at all. "Back off for a while, then come back bigger and better. You don't want him to remember you as the creepy first year with a crush. Also, get to know him. Don't go after him just for the looks."

"How am I supposed to get to know him if I'm backing off?"

"I never said that he had to know that you knew him." I gaped at her, and even Scorpius was raising an eyebrow.

"Are you saying I should stalk him?" I asked incredulously.

"Who are we stalking?" asked Ava as she stepped in and shut the door behind her.

"We aren't stalking anyone," Lily informed her. "Opal is stalking my brother."

"Cool." I sputtered.

"Not cool! I thought I was trying not to be creepy!" Lily shrugged.

"What he doesn't know can't hurt him. Besides, it worked for mum." All eyes swiveled towards her.

"Your mum stalked Harry Potter?" asked Scorpius skeptically.

"Not according to her, but it was something along those lines. She at least watched him, which is close to stalking. Of course, they were in the same house, so that made it easier."

"Does it matter?" I asked. "The point is, I am not going to stalk Albus! It sounds like something Ava's sister would do!"

"No, she likes James," said Lily mildly. I threw my hands up in frustration. "Listen Jade," said Lily in a more serious tone. "You can't just go after Albus based on first impressions alone, you might be disappointed, and furthermore I won't let you. I might not like him much, but he is my brother, and I won't let you lead him on because of some fan girl, first year crush. Get to know him a bit, give it some time, and if you still like him when the novelty wears off then you can chase him all you want." I nodded.

"Okay, I guess I see your point. So how was your guys' Christmas?" We were soon exchanging stories of our Christmas', and after a little while I drifted off to sleep against the window.

-DT-

When I woke up I could hear Ava's steady breathing next to me and murmured conversation on the seat across from us. I battled with myself (and Bob) for a bit, but in the end my curiosity won out and I kept my eyes closed as Lily and Scorpius talked.

"So did you like the present I got you?" Scorpius was asking softly, as not to wake me and Ava. He sounded slightly awkward, as if he wasn't quite sure what to do when left practically alone with Lily.

"I loved it. Did you like mine?" Scorpius chuckled. It had a vaguely relieved tone to it. He's probably glad she's creating an actual conversation. Boys.

"Yes. I loved how you charmed it silver. I didn't even know that you knew that spell," he said, sounding more at ease.

"Color-changing charms are taught in first year, remember? But I didn't do it. I got the woman at the shop to, as not to raise suspicion."

"You're paranoid Lily."

"Well, I was doing the 'sweet and innocent' act, and I think she thought I wasn't at Hogwarts yet." He chuckled again.

"I have no idea how you ended up in Slytherin, but it suits you." I cracked one eye open to see that Lily was curled in the corner of the seat opposite Scorpius and was looking at him with her head tilted to the side and an odd, sad smile.

"Maybe, Scorpius, I'll tell you someday." I suppressed a smirk as I closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep again. They so liked each other, even if they didn't know it yet.

-DT-

I looked outside the door of the train to see snow coming down like there was no tomorrow. I glanced behind me, where Lily and Ava were looking slightly apprehensive. I grinned and grabbed their hands.

"Come on!" I yelled as I pulled them into the snow. I laughed and spun around in a circle, feeling strangely giddy. Ava was ginning at me and the corners of Lily's mouth were twitching. I smirked evilly and picked up a glob of snow, lobbing it at Lily. It smacked her in the shoulder and she growled playfully.

"I'll get you for that, Summers!"

"Catch me if you can!" I called back, picking up another snowball and throwing it at Ava who immediately retaliated. Soon we were in a furious snowball fight, laughing and shrieking as we were hit. Passersby shook their heads at the immature first years and I saw Albus and James smile at their sister letting loose like that as they made their way up to the castle. I spun to avoid an expertly aimed snowball from Ava and saw Scorpius leaning against a tree, a wistful smile on his face. We couldn't let anyone know that Lily was friends with him, but no one could complain if an ignorant Muggle-born invited a lonely-looking boy to play, could they? I threw a snowball and it caught him unawares, smacking him in the chest.

"Hey, Scorpius, right? Come and join!" He shot me a thankful smile and happily sent a snowball to the back of Lily's head, who spun, her eyes narrowing, and threw one at his stomach. We attracted even more weird and even angry looks after that, but barely even noticed. They could be as prejudiced and biased as they wanted, but we were friends, Scorpius included, and they weren't going to change that.