"What are they doing here?" Nott asked as the group of Gryffindor students walked in.

"I don't know but Hufflepuff is here too," Higgs replied, both boys looked rather disgusted at the thought of sharing the room with the additional houses.

Nott groaned," Having to deal with the Ravenclaws was enough of a hassle now we have to put up with all three of them."

"Aw it's not that bad guys," Albus said optimistically.

The two glared at him," Potter if you want everyone to be friends please go join the Hufflepuffs," Nott sneered.

Albus rolled his eyes, "You guys couldn't live without me. You know we would be in last place for the house cup if Slughorn didn't love me so much. If I was a Hufflepuff then they would probably be winning right now." Higgs and Nott both scowled at Albus, but they didn't argue because it was the truth.

"What's up guys," Scorpious asked plopping his blonded head down next to Albus.

"Our whole year is here," Higgs supplied for him.

Scorpious' grey eyes scanned the room," That's weird," he muttered. Albus relaxed a little now that Scorpious was there. Higgs and Nott were a little bit stuck up and hanging out with them got old after they talked for a good fifteen minutes. The two of them had enough self-esteem to rid the world of suicide.

"Alright everyone I want you to sit down according to house," Professor Longbottom said, walking in the door. The room got quiet as students turned to see what Neville had to say. The four Slytherin boys weren't the only ones who noticed the attendance of all four houses.

"First Year Duel signups are today," Professor Longbottom told everyone. Immediately the room was filled with the sounds of excited students all whispering to each other. Albus glanced at his best friend. Scorpious' face was hard with determination; his friend had no intention of losing. He sighed Rose and Scorpious were going to kill each other. That's just great.

"I have the sheet right here. You need to find the person you're going to duel and walk up to me. I'll write you two down as opponents and then you are dismissed. I will post a schedule on the bulletin in each common room tomorrow at lunch. Good luck and remember that I will also be grading you on your performance. It will count as fifty percent of your final exam," Neville explained. Once he had finished talking Scorpious stood up silently and got in line. Rose walked up and stood next to him. The expressions on their faces were identical and neither acknowledged the other. A few other kids got up and stood in line behind them but no one else in the room had such stony faces.

Albus turned and looked at the other students. The room was a mess as students from different houses merged to try and find an opponent. Albus was the only one sitting down at the moment, since everyone else was mingling. He stood up nervously, who he picked as a partner would determine exactly how bad he was humiliated. From a strategic stand point that meant he should find a Hufflepuff to duel. A Hufflepuff wouldn't have studied for this the way a Ravenclaw would've and they wouldn't have the natural talent of a Gryffindor. From a reputation stand point though fighting a Hufflepuff was bad. It was the same as if you fought a girl if you win then everyone would tell you what a bad person you were for beating up such a nice person (except for Nott and Higgs they would tell you what a great job you did for beating up such a nice person), and if you lost then you just lost to a Hufflepuff and everyone will make fun of you (especially Nott and Higgs). Albus brought his eyebrows together, he was going to lose, he had accepted the fact. Now it was just a choice between damaging his nonexistent popularity or permanently maiming himself.

Albus looked up and scanned the potential enemies. The crowd in the room had thinned a lot and there was only about ten people left, most of whom looked rather hesitant to approach each other. Neville wasn't trying to hurry anyone and sat patiently at the front of the room. Three Hufflepuffs, three Ravenclaw, three Gryffindors, and one Slytherin, Albus counted. Everyone else in his house had their fair share of enemies, being a Slytherin, and so they hadn't had problems finding a partner. Albus knew all of the Ravenclaws from classes and he knew that fighting any one of them was suicidal.

Albus turned to continue to examine the other six first years when the boy walked up to him, "Hey Slytherin you need a partner."

"Um," Albus started. The boy had golden brown wiry hair that fell a bit past his ears and arrogant blue eyes. A gold and red stripped tie hung loosely around his neck.

"I don't expect you to want to duel me I mean we both know you are going to lose," the boy said bluntly, "unfortunately everyone else is too scared I will beat them up. I promise I'll try my best not to hurt you too bad."

Albus squinted at the boy. Did he just say what Albus thought he said? Albus had the urge to punch the kid. He knew he was going to lose but that didn't mean that this stranger could come up to him and tell him that.

"Who the heck do you think you are?" Albus asked making sure the annoyance was thick in his voice.

"I'm the son of the great Cormac McLaggan order of merlin fifth class," the boy said as if he was shocked Albus didn't know.

The urge to sock this kid was growing significantly. Nothing would've made Albus happier than to make this kid eat his words. "Clearly you don't know who I am," Albus said, already knowing that he could one up this kid in one area.

The boy raised his eyebrow amused, "Yes and who are you." He seemed to be humoring Albus under the assumption that nothing Albus said could put him to shame.

"My name is Albus, Albus Potter, son of the great Harry Potter, the boy who lived," Albus made sure that the point was taken that he was mocking the McLaggan boy. He wanted to make sure the kid understood that he didn't have to hide under his fathers' name.

The kid seemed oblivious, not understanding that Albus was making fun of his arrogance, "Well, that's all the more reason you shouldn't fight me. When I win everyone will be more likely to make fun of you. I mean its one thing to have a famous dad, its another thing to not be able to live up to your dad's name. It's ok though, not everyone can be like me."

That was the last straw, Albus was fuming. "You want a fight I'll give you one," Albus retorted marching angrily up to Neville.

"I'm fighting him Neville," Albus said jutting his finger towards McLaggan. Neville looked up at Albus surprised. It took a lot to make Albus mad and Neville had never seen him so angry. On top of that Albus wasn't really supposed to be calling Neville by his first name; he was Professor Longbottom at school. Albus' judgment wasn't very clear at the moment though.

Neville pretended that he didn't hear Albus call him that though. "Alright then I'll put Albus Potter and Garrett McLaggan on as opponents."

Albus nodded and turned to march out of the room. As he left he made sure that he bumped into McLaggan. Neville smiled from his desk. It was about time someone put some drive into Albus. Harry's son seemed permanently convinced that he would always be doomed to come in second best. Neville didn't blame him with friends like Scorpious and a family like the Potters. Neville knew he had potential though; Albus was the only one who seemed blind to the possibility of success.

Albus stormed into the common room and went to join Scorpious, Higgs, and Nott. His foul mood was noticed by the other boys but they ignored it.

"Who are you fighting Potter," Higgs asked.

"That Gryffindor git McLaggan," Albus replied.

"Gryffindor," Nott said unhappily.

"Yeah why?" Albus inquired.

Scorpious grinned and held his hand out to Nott who handed him some money. "I told you Cato," Scorpious said triumphantly.

"What?" Albus asked again confused.

"Nott thought you were going to chicken out and duel a Hufflepuff girl," Scorpious said counting his winnings, "I said you were going to pick someone better than that."

Albus didn't know whether to be mad that they were betting on him or happy that Scorpious actually thought he would duel a Gryffindor. He sat down on the couch next to Higgs.

"Who are you guys dueling," Albus asked.

"Weasley," Scorpious answered, but of course Albus already knew that.

"I've got the Ackerly girl. She's getting a bit too confident for her own good you know. Thought I would put her in her place," Higgs responded from next to Albus.

"You two are wimps fighting a bunch of girls. I am fighting Jason Thomas," Nott said proudly. Albus smiled at his friends, Nott and Higgs were some of the biggest jerks he had ever met, but Slytherin had become his family now and Higgs and Nott were part of it. The rest of the day went by fast and Albus was enjoying some of the positive attention he was getting for fighting a Gyffindor.

It wasn't until dinner that he started to regret his decision. James, Fred, Lorcan, and Lysander had walked up to Albus and Scorpious while they were walking into the Great Hall.

"Whats up boys? I hear your duel sign ups were today," James said happily. Albus hated when James was this peppy, it never meant anything good.

Lorcan smiled, "We hear you're," he said

"Fighting a Gryffindor Al," Lysander finished

"Garret McLaggan," Albus replied nervously.

"Ohhhh McLaggan," Fred said excitedly.

"Well, can't argue the choice now can we," James said.

"Rightful git that boy is," Lorcan said nodding.

"I have to say though the boy does have some substance behind his obnoxious overinflated ego," Lysander said. Albus swallowed, Lysander was the closest thing to the voice of reason that the four second year boys had. He stated facts and then the other three chose whether to ignore them or not. Being the son of two Ravenclaws, Lysander knew a lot of facts and nobody ever refuted a word he said. He was one of the reasons that James' pranks worked out so well. Lysander always thought them through logically first.

"Is he a good dueler?" Albus asked trying to sound brave.

"I hear he hexed one of the Hufflepuffs while demonstrating his superioriy to the world," Lysander said, "He said it was an accident though because it would be criminal if he was seen as a villain you know."

"Great," Albus said sarcastically. His decision to fight a Gryffindor didn't seem so brilliant now.

Fred laughed, "No worries though right. I mean you aren't the one who's going to have issues. I mean your not fighting Rosie. Malfoy you've got yourself in for one."

Scorpious smiled, "I've got it handled. Don't worry I'll win."

James smiled, "Well you know Malfoy since you are Al's best friend that means that technically you are part of the family. That means it is only right that we fear for your safety. Now that being said we also need to watch out for Rosie, so don't go easy on her kay?" James said with a glint of humor in his eyes.

"Well boys we have to be off. We've got some dung bombs to drop on some snakes. No offense," Fred said.

"See ya later Al. Try not to lose too bad," James said with a smile and with that the four were off to punish some poor Slytherin boys that were thankfully not Albus and Scorpious.

Albus sighed hopelessly. What had he gotten himself into?