Everyone was looking either at James and Clarice, who were standing side by side, still holding hands, or at Albus, who was across the hall from them.

"Al," said James quietly, "You......you don't fancy Clarice......do you?"

Oh why did he ask that? Thought Rose, and one look at Scorpius told her that he was thinking the same thing.

The entire room waited on baited breath for Albus' response.

"Why do you care?" he said angrily, "She chose you, so that's all that matters, isn't it?" and with that he stormed up the stairs. They could hear the door four floors above slamming. James looked stunned, Clarice looked close to tears, and Scorpius and Rose looked regretful.

"Well...." said George, "I fancy a game of exploding snap, don't you? Come on then!" and, to the relief of the other adults and to the dismay of the other children, who wanted to know what happened, George and Angelina led the way back into the living room. Molly and Arthur brought up the rear, shepherding a very angry Fred and Roxanne, who were both clutching extendable ears.

The only people lift in the hall were Rose, Scorpius, Harry, Ginny, James, Lily, Ron, and Clarice.

"What's wrong Princess?" Harry asked Lily, who was crying silently.

"First Lysander, now Lorcan! Am I really that disgusting?" cried Lily, before running out towards the door.

"Lysander?" asked Ginny.

"We'll explain later," said Rose.

"I'll go get her," said Ron, looking sympathetically at Harry, "And I thought I had it bad when Rose started dating. But, I got the easy end apparently, one boyfriend, whose a decent bloke, and only one daughter to like him," he said, before leaving to find Lily.

"Will someone please explain this to me???" begged Harry, looking between Clarice, James, Rose, and Scorpius.

"Well," said Rose, "It all really started at the beginning of the year," the entire story was told, from the entire Lysander debacle through the events of that day. Rose and Scorpius did most of the telling, but James and Clarice contributed occasionally.

"I'm so sorry!" said Clarice once the story was over, she was crying now. "This is all my fault! I ruined everything! I always do!"

"No you didn't," said James quietly, brushing away some of her tears with his thumb, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to yell at James or hug him. Clearly James cared a lot about this girl, but at the same time family was supposed to come first. But, then again, Al wasn't being all that mature at the moment either.

"No one blames you dear," said Ginny, "This isn't anyone's fault."

"Maybe," said Clarice, looking tentatively at James, "Maybe, this is wrong. Us, I mean. I really want to be with you, but I can't make you fight with Al, it just isn't right. I'm not really worth it."

"No!" said James fiercely. He almost looked angry as he continued, "Don't you dare say you're not worth it!"

"For what it's worth," said Harry, "I'm okay with it. I'm just worried about Albus."

"You should go talk to him," said Ginny, looking at James.

"Are you mental?" asked James, "He'll kill me!"

"No he won't," said Ginny, "Anyway, your dad will go with you."

"He will?" asked James.

"I will?" asked Harry at the same time as James.

"Yes," said Ginny, "You three men need to sort this out."

Ginny, Rose, Scorpius, and Clarice watched with trepidation as Harry and James climbed the stairs.

They waited with baited breath, but heard nothing but silence.

"HE'S GONE!" shouted Harry a moment late from four floors above, "He left a note. He went back to Hogwarts! All his stuff's gone, and everything!"

James and Harry returned a moment later.

"Well," sighed Ginny, "I guess we'll talk about it later."

"I'd better go make sure Lily's okay," said Harry, before leaving the house in search of his daughter.

"And I'm going to Luna's," said Ginny, walking into the kitchen and grabbing the floo powder off the mantle.

"Well," said Rose, looking at Scorpius, "You want to go for a walk?"

"Sure," he said, and the two left hand in hand.

James and Clarice went up to James room, because the living room was occupied with the rest of the family, something that neither of them felt like facing just yet. When Fred, James' roommate, arrived a few hours later he found Clarice and James asleep on the bed, hand in hand. He slept in Hugo's room that night.

The rest of the break passed calmly enough. No body ever mentioned Albus, and when they were fortunate enough to forget about him everyone was enjoying themselves. When the time came for everyone to go back to Hogwarts James was depressed beyond belief. He went to Platform 9 3/4 to see them off, and couldn't be separated from Clarice the whole time.

"You won't," he looked a little nervous as he spoke, clutching Clarice's hand, "You won't forget about me will you. Go out with Al, just cause he's closer?"

Clarice rolled her eyes and said, "No I will not go out with Al. You're so cute when you're insecure. I don't reckon you can visit anymore, cause Al will tell on us, but I want you to write every day."

"Twice a day," he said with a grin. He kissed her softly, but they were interrupted by Ginny who said, "James, she'll still be the same when she comes for Easter. She'll miss the train!"

"Bye," he said as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hurried onto the train with the others.

"Bye!" she called as the train sped away.

"So, she's really worth it?" asked Harry, looking at James, who glared.

"Would I risk it all for someone who isn't worth it?" he said, before dissapparating.

"I guess not," said Harry, shaking his head slightly.

"You know," said Ginny, walking over to her husband, "I think she's good for him."

"I'm thinking we should just make her off limits for both of them, imagine what would happen if they got married! Albus would kill him!"

"Oh, I don't think they're anywhere near getting married," said Ginny, with a smile, "But, I wouldn't mind them getting married. She's a very nice girl, and she's good for him. Anyway, Al will get over it. I'm sure he will. How attached can you get to a girl you've never gone out with?"

"Ron and Hermione" was all Harry said.

"Yes, but they knew each other for years. I would compare them to Rose and Scorpius. Al only got to know Clarice through Rose last year. That's not very long, it's only as long as James has known her."

"Yeah..." sighed Harry. He didn't know what to do anymore. There was a loud crack as they dissapparated and appeared again in their own kitchen.

"On a different note," said Ginny, bustling around getting some tea ready, "I'm worried about Lily. I was at Luna's that day," he didn't need to ask which day, "and she gave me her take on the Lysander Lorcan issue."

"What exactly are we going to do about that?"

"Well, she says that Lysander feels really bad about it now, both how he treated Rose and how he treated Lily, but Lorcan is still pretty depressed. He really likes Clarice and--"

"What about this girl is so appealing? I'm sorry but I don't really see the draw!"

"I should hope not," said Ginny briskly, setting tea in front of Harry and sitting down next to him.

"No really, I'm trying to understand this!"

"We don't need to understand this. We just need to be supportive of both our sons and their decisions."

"Ugh! I just wish I knew how!"

"Hey, can I sit with you?"

Annabel had just walked up to the compartment where Scorpius, Rose, and Clarice were sitting.

"Sure," said Rose, before Scorpius or Clarice could reply.

"Clarice," said Annabel as she sat down. She looked really nervous as she continued, "I'm so very sorry! I'm ashamed of what I said to you that day," no one needed to ask which day, "I wish I hadn't said it. I'm really not mad at you, just Albus. I really miss spending time with you guys."

"It's okay," said Clarice.

"Friends?" confirmed Annabel.

"Friends," said Clarice with a grin.

The rest of the ride passed without incident, and they were soon arriving at Hogwarts. All the business with Al had been all but forgotten, until they arrived at the Ravenclaw table, and saw him sitting with Lorcan.

There was an awkward moment where he looked at them, and all of them were reminded of the terrible events of Christmas break, including Annabel, who quickly retreated to the Hufflepuff table.

Rose sighed.

"What?" asked Scorpius.

"I have a feeling that this isn't over. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's about to get a lot worse."

Not wanting to discourage her more Scorpius remained silent, but he couldn't help privately agreeing.

The next morning at breakfast was possibly the most awkward thing any of them had experienced.

When Rose, Scorpius, and Clarice sat down they were only separated from Albus by a few second years. Albus was sitting with Lorcan again, and it didn't take long for the group to realize that neither was talking to them. Things only got worse when James' black owl, Lynx, arrived at the table. Everyone recognized it as it landed in front of Clarice. She tore open the letter with a smile, which only got wider as she read down the page.

Hey Clarice!

How's Hogwarts? I bet it's really boring without me there! Have Fred and Roxanne done any good pranks yet? Because, you know, even though they're only fifth years they're pretty talented. I hope you don't kill yourself studying for N.E.W.T.s, because I'd really miss you. You and I both know that as a smart Ravenclaw you'll do fine. You won't get O's in everything like Rose and Scorpius, but unlike them you won't lock yourself in a cupboard with your textbooks for two months. Tell Rose and Scorpius I say 'Hi!' and make sure they don't do anything stupid, now that I can't pop in and fix it. Make sure to tell Lily and Hugo to bring Gryffindor Quiditch victory! (I can say that because you aren't on the Quiditch team). Write back soon!

James

Clarice was about to put the letter away when Albus, who had been standing behind her and reading over her shoulder, snatched the letter away.

"Albus give it back!" said Clarice angrily.

"You'll get your letter back," he sneered, "I just want to know what your boyfriend has to say." He read down the page, his frown deepening. "Personally, I don't see the appeal. He's just a self centered asshole, who doesn't even mention his own brother!" and with that he tore the letter up and sprinkled the remnants all over the table, "There, have your letter!" Once he was free of the letter remnants he stormed away out of the hall, walking right past a tearful Annabel who had whispered "Al..."

"You aren't going to let him get away with that are you?" demanded Rose, looking at Scorpius. "Go tell him off!"

"Me?"

"Yes you! Now go!"

"Ugh, fine! I'll see you in Arithmancy, if I live long enough to get there," he said, getting up and walking towards the doors.

"Wait!" Rose had gotten up and run after him. She gave him a quick kiss and said, "Just in case you don't live long enough to make it to Arithmancy. I love you."

"Love you too," he said, before breaking free of her arms and leaving the hall in search of his best friend.

"He'll be okay," said Clarice, walking up from behind Rose, clutching James' letter, which she had just repaired.

"Yeah, easy for you to say. Your boyfriend's in Diagon Ally. Al can't reach him from here."

"True," she said with a smirk. "I've got break now, so I'll see you in Transfiguration. I'm going to answer this," she held up the letter. "Bye!"

"Al!" called Scorpius, as he ran up the stairs after his best friend.

"What do you want Scorpius?" asked Albus, coming to a stop in front of a tapestry that housed a secret passageway up to Ravenclaw Tower.

"I want to talk."

"Okay. Talk."

"Al, you...you've gotta snap out of it!"

"Snap out of what?" asked Al angrily, walking through the tapestry and up the stairs it concealed. Scorpius followed at top speed.

"Stop being such a prat! It's not like you!"

"Then why hang around me? If I'm such a prat just go! Why do you care? It's not like anyone else does!"

"Because you're my best mate!"

"And yet you sided against me! Some way to treat your best mate!"

Dear James,

Everything here's good. I haven't even started studying for N.E.W.T.s, which, when you're friends with Rose and Scorpius, makes you feel like a slacker. I'm friends with Annabel again, she wanted me to let you know that she's apologizing, because she feels awful about what she said to me and to you that day. Well, mostly to me, but she wanted me to tell you sorry too. Rose and Scorpius are good, and I was---

"You're a bloody git!"

Clarice looked up from her parchment, which she had just splattered with ink when startled by the slamming door, to see Albus and Scorpius burst into the Ravenclaw Common Room.

"I'm the git?" shouted Scorpius.

"Yeah, you are! This isn't any of your business."

"Al, you're my friend, and so are James and Clarice!"

Neither of them had noticed that Clarice was in the room.

"I'm not your friend. If I was your friend you wouldn't side with them!

Suddenly Al pulled out his wand, and so did Scorpius. It was as if they were seeing each other clearly for the first time.

"Stupify!"

"Impedimenta!"

A/N: Hey guys! So a lot happened in this chapter. Sorry I had to leave you with a cliff hanger. Who will win the duel? REVIEW!!!!!!