It seemed like everyone had forgiven Harry Potter.

James saw it happening, even in his house: Mum stopped talking about how upset she was with Dad, or how annoyed she was when they had to scrimp and save for new things. Instead she took a job as a sports columnist for Quidditch Weekly. Mum even said she liked it, having something to do during the day, that it felt like being back in the thick of the games.

James just knew she was lying.

Lily forgave Dad as if it were nothing, and then she went on to become Dad's new friends' little poppet.

One evening after coming home from Grimmauld Place, Lily's hair was a bit shorter, and braided in a very modern style which Mum had never allowed her to try out before. And her robes weren't the ones she had gone in with: they where thick and brand new: embroidered with tiny with unicorns and fairies in flight.

She even had new shoes.

Mum just plastered on a fake smile and said, "Oh, Lily, I like those new ribbons in your hair. Where did you go today?"

"Oh!" Lily had cried, "Draco and Daddy and Albus and Scor and I went to see Miss Millie at Twilfit's. And Miss Millie gave us bon bons Mummy and they were so good and Daddy said I could get new robes, even though we were just going to say hallo. And then Scor danced with a dummy and it was good -even if it was a dummy and Daddy said I shouldn't laugh because it just encourages him."

Then Mum grinned. "Sounds like his father. He must be horrible."

"He's okay," Lily smiled. "He told Albus to leave me alone when Albus broke off Tina's left arm and leg. Then Albus went around saying Tina was doing alright but I didn't get why Daddy and Scor laughed, but Scor gave her to Draco and Draco healed her. He's a good Healer."

Mum just pressed her lips together. She got that dark look like when anyone mentioned anything good about Draco Malfoy.

Lily went up the stairs humming a tune James didn't know. Another thing she had learned at Grimmauld Place.

The next day Aunt Hermione came by to tea.

"Hermione," Mum looked thrilled. "How are you?"

"I've been too busy," Aunt Hermione took a biscuit. "But I read your article. You did a fabulous job, Ginny."

"Thank you," Mum beamed. "What can I do for you today?"

"It's both of you," Aunt Hermione looked at James. "I know you're starting school again, James, and you haven't been on the best of terms with your dad. I was hoping you'd want to visit him at least once before King's Cross."

"Hermione," Mum said stiffly. "I was under the impression you and Harry weren't speaking, either."

"We aren't . . . quite," Aunt Hermione took another biscuit. "Ron and Harry . . . it's been difficult. No, Draco Malfoy came to see me yesterday at my offices. I know you won't like what I have to say, Ginny, but we must accept that Harry has chosen him for his, er . . . partner, for want of a better word. Anyway, in this small matter we are in perfect agreement: James should have a relationship with Harry."

Ginny snorted. "Am I supposed to force James to go over there?"

Aunt Hermione touched her hand to her temple.

"I can't say," she sighed. "I just wanted to perhaps show you that Malfoy isn't as . . . dangerous as we thought. I know this is a bad situation for both of you, but at the end of the day, James, Draco Malfoy, a person who has hated me all his life, came to see me, about you."

James huffed. "Only as a favour to Dad."

"Perhaps," Aunt Hermione conceded. "But I don't think so. Harry wouldn't do a thing like that. But I think I better go."

Mum sat down in Aunt Hermione's vacant chair.

"Hermione's always been a meddler," Mum sniffed. "But she's also smart. It's up to you, James. I won't force you. But I wish you would try to see the good in your father and not only the bad. Harry's a good person, Jamie. And he does love you, very much."

"How can you say that," James hissed. "When Dad left us with nothing, and you have to work to pay the bills now? How can you still care for him, Mum!"

Mum's face twisted.

"Jamie," Mum sighed. "As long as you focus on what you don't have, that's all you're going to see. I have three beautiful children by your father, and we had a very long and loving marriage. Jamie, don't be so angry, love."

James stared at his mum's right knuckle, stained from ink.

One day I'll make enough for all of us to live on. Forget Harry.

James was confident that everything would work itself out once he went off to Hogwarts.

It would be like a fresh start away from home and the gossip mongers, and yet the whole family was there: Molly was a Ravenclaw prefect and Fred, Louis, and Frankie Longbottom were all Gryffindors.

Everything would finally work itself out.

Except, it didn't.

When Headmistress Sinistra called out, "James Potter!" Everyone's head swiveled and James took the walk up to the Sorting Hat with ease.

It just barely grazed his red hair when the hat cried, "SLYTHERIN!"

The room was utterly still. James looked across the tables. Fred was smirking at Louis in Gryffindor. Molly was giving a sympathetic smile from Ravenclaw, but James didn't want sympathy. He wanted to know how this could have happened.

It wasn't right!

The few Slytherins that had started clapping had stopped, and were looking infuriated at his distaste. Professor Grazia, his own head of house now, helped him down from the chair with barely-concealed impatience.

James wanted to scream.

He barely remembered the walk down to Slytherin dungeons, but it was cold and moist, even with the fire lit. Professor Grazia said precious few words before retiring, and then they were left to the prefects and their own devices.

All the Slytherins seemed to know each other, and they chose beds nearest their closest friends, or quarreled with people they had long-standing rows with. James had never felt more alone.

An older boy came into the room, he was wearing a prefects badge.

"Everyone settling in alright?"

"We're alright, Zabini," a fat boy with one eyebrow shouted. Another sniggered.

"Oh shut it, Rowle. And you Potter?"

James shrugged, and pretended to study his green and silver canopy.

"Expected to be a mewing little kneazle just like the rest of his lot," a weedy little boy laughed. The rest of the Slytherins joined in.

"Enough!" Zabini frowned. "You lot are a group, and I expect you to act as a unit. I'm not above taking points from my own house. Potter, come with me to the common room."

Zabini sank down into one of the dark green chairs like a prince surveying a barren land. All the other students had gone to their rooms to unpack. "Name's Matteo," Zabini finally volunteered.

"James," James replied. A painting of Salazar Slytherin watched him with narrowed eyes.

"You made quite a scene in there when you were Sorted, Potter," Zabini said, not bothering with his first name. "That's why they're ribbing you. They don't mean any harm, Rowle and Nott."

James nodded. Zabini had caramel coloured skin and fair eyes, with a thick head of dark wavy hair. James was sure he was the son of Blaise Zabini, the famous stage star, and if so, he would be a good friend to have. Around here it probably wouldn't due to annoy Zabini, prefect and popular.

"Why are you being nice to me?" James asked suspiciously.

Zabini just huffed. "Just listen to my advice, Potter. And if I hear you talking shit about my godfather, I'll make it so the first spell you learn is protego."

"Who's your godfather?"

But it was no use. Zabini was already walking away.

In the weeks that followed things began to follow a predicable pattern. James made a few friends. One boy in his dorm, Rosier Armstrong, was born to a pureblood mother and a Muggle father and he was teased nearly as much as James. Two of the Slytherin girls Aurora Tate and Bess Whitgrass were also friendly, and even though they were girls, they were tolerable enough.

Still, Nott and Rowle were both just as annoying and frustrating as ever. The only other boy in their year tended to take their side unless Nott and Rowle weren't around, in which case he spoke to James and Rosier.

Slytherins.

The only thing they could all agree about was the uselessness of the Gryffindors. James had thought that he would want to sit with his cousins most nights at supper but instead he found himself eating with Rosier and Aurora and Bess. The rowdiness of their table was an anathema.

James still hated being a Slytherin, but it wasn't lonely. Even Zabini was alright. From time to time he would check on James and that made Rowle and Nott green with envy.

Maybe things would work out.