So things will be progressing quite quickly from now on. We will be following Lily and Scorpius as they trudge through Hogwarts life as fourth and sixth years respectively. I plan on focusing on them for the next couple of chapters as things are about to get interesting. Some things you may hate, some you may love. But it is all in the name of progress for these two lovely characters. I do hate drama but we'll be bringing some of that in soon.

Reviews are my bread and butter so please do let me know what you thought about the chapter. It helps me understand what you feel towards each character, the pacing of the story and your thoughts and if there is more of any one character that you would like to see.

Hope every one of you is safe and keeping well during the pandemic. Please take care and enjoy!

Callum was happy. He knew the boys would rib him if they saw the dopey smile on his face or the skip he had in his steps while walking to his cubicle today. It was odd, he knew, for people to see a hardened Auror in all his fitted brown robes glory whistling and skipping all the way to the lifts.

He was, at present, supposed to be writing the report of his most recent case, the case of the missing hat. You heard that right, a hat. Not just any hat though, this one belonged to a high ranking Wizengamot member and was his official court hat.

Deputy Head Auror Progbother had handed it to him with a warning that this case was to be his top most priority. Turns out it was family prank war gone too far. The serious, unsmiling wizard had called in the Auror Department and demanded that the foul player be arrested and given the highest form of punishment.

When it was revealed it was the grandson trying to play a harmless prank on his very serious grandfather the case was of course swept under the rug. Just because the kid was off the hook, unfortunately, it did not mean that he was off the hook from submitting the paperwork to close the case.

But all he could think about was red curly hair, soft full lips and a musical laugh. He was in trouble and he knew it. Not just the fact that the girl he was head over heels over came from one of the most revered and largest families in the wizarding world or that she was the niece of his boss's boss's boss. It was that he was in love and he had no idea whether she felt the same way about him or not.

At the moment though, all he could think about was her and her soft silky skin against his. They had been dating for some months now and by all means just the thought of her against him shouldn't have had him feeling parched and light headed.

"Callum!" a roll of paper crashed against his head making him look up. His cubicle neighbor was staring at him, his eyes wide and eyebrows twitching peculiarly. Callum furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, which just made his neighbor Bradley blink his eyes rapidly and twitch his eyebrows more, even nodding his head oddly. He was distracted he knew, but Bradley was an idiot and he didn't have time for his shenanigans.

Just as he was about to return to his daydreaming, Bradley's eyes widened and he ducked back down into his cubicle. Rolling his eyes at the drama, Callum quiet happily turned back to his desk where he was attempting to finish a report on his latest case, attempting being the operative word. A throat cleared behind him as soon as he had looked down at the form, making him pause. He could hear the sudden silence that had befallen the office, even the zooming memos it seemed had paused suddenly mid air.

He turned quickly, almost crashing out of his spinning chair in a clumsy moment, coming face to face with a black robed torso. Looking up his eyes came in contact with a pair of bespectacled green eyes. The lighting scar on his forehead gave away who was standing before him. His boss's boss' boss was standing at his desk looking down on him.

Callum had been with the department for about seven years now, 3 of which he was just a mere trainee. He had of course attended the lectures given by the then Head Auror. Not to mention the guest lectures at Hogwarts that Harry Potter conducted once every year for 3 days the week before Halloween. The lectures were only open to 5th Years and above. He had, for the first four years tried to sneak in to the lectures, although unsuccessfully. It wasn't a far cry to say that the only reason he had joined the Auror department was because of Harry Potter.

It wasn't because he had defeated the most powerful dark wizard in modern magical history, no it was because of that first lecture he had finally gotten to attend. Harry Potter had walked in, back straight, eyes moving quickly from one point to another assessing each and every student in the hall. He had looked into everyone's eyes, his green eyes flashing and said the words that many DA members have repeated in the various memoirs released since the battle, a little modified of course, given that this time he wasn't a student but a lecturer. - "Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what you are now: students."

At everyone's eager looks he had continued, "What I am here to show you and talk to you about will in no particular way pertain to the battles I have been a part of before my time with the Aurors. For that you can refer to the many memoirs and history books available in the library that detail all the struggles and sacrifices of the people who fought valiantly even before I was born. My recommendation, if you care for it, is the new book released by my good friend Hermione Granger-Weasley titled - A cumulative Modern history of the Last Great Wizarding War."

The three days under his tutorial in the DADA had been revelation for a young him. That was when he had finally decided upon what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

Since joining the department as a full time Auror, he had been on a number of high profile cases, leading assault teams and reporting to the case supervisor. He had only had a few occasions where he had come in contact with the savior of the wizarding world.

In the past four years, before his promotion he had had little opportunity to talk to the man and frankly, in recent months he had avoided him like the plague given his relationship with the mans niece.

Now as he looked upon the imposing figure of his girlfriends uncle he felt all his bravado that he had collected over his years in the Auror Department slipping away. He stumbled to his feet, his eyes wide and hands twitching at his side almost raising in an awkward salute...almost. Callum saw the man's lips twitch in amusement before they settled back in a straight line.

"Sir," Callum stuttered out. Clearing his throat he stood up straighter. Harry only raised his eyebrows, nodded for him to follow and walked out of the Auror offices. Callum stood motionless, surprised and a little worried, unable to understand what his next action was to be. It wasn't until Wren, his other cubicle neighbor pushed him did he follow the former Head Auror out to his new office.

Entering the office of the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement a little nervously Callum chanced a glance at the older man. He was already sitting at his desk, engrossed in the reports sitting in front of him. While he waited he let his eyes roam around the office in an obvious attempt at controlling his nerves. Noting the frames lining the walls of the office he walked over, examining the certificates displayed proudly beside images of his family. There was one that was definitely a wedding picture. It was him and his wife Ginny Potter on their wedding day, another was with the whole family, him, his wife and the three kids, he had heard about the little cousins from Moly enough times to recognize who was who easily. Before he could analyze the other pictures though, he heard a throat clearing once again from behind him.

Indicating the seat opposite him, Harry Potter got back to the report before him. Quickly taking the cue, Callum sat himself down in the hardbacked chair. It was surprisingly comfortable and plush. He had to stop himself from twitching and as a result found himself stiff and straight backed as he grimly waited for Harry to finish his report.

The quiet was stifling and frankly nerve inducing. He could feel the sweat beads making their way down his back when finally Harry Potter looked up at him, closing the file and placing it in his out tray.

Folding his hands in front of him, his childhood idol spoke, a clear note of authority ringing in the tone. His voice grave, and quiet, hands folded in front of him, the head of his department leaned forward, looking at him intensely though his round wire rimmed spectacles, "Auror McRose."

"Sir," Callum nodded back seriously.

"I believe your last case went well?"

Callum was sure his surprise must have shown on his face. "Yes sir," he replied, a little confused given that it wasn't really a case important enough for the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement to care about, even if it related to a high ranking member of the Wizengamot. "It was just a case of a family prank war blown out of proportion."

"I heard, that's why I called you in."

That confused Callum more. "Is something wrong sir?" he couldn't help but ask, his anxiety was spiking and he could not understand what this sudden meeting was for. "I was just completing the paperwork on the case, in fact. If you want I could get it for you now..."

"No need for that," his lips twitched slightly at the mention of his report. "I noticed you were quite engrossed in the report."

Callum coughed uncomfortably, his Auror issued brown robes felt a little itchy. He just had to hope that Harry Potter wasn't as accomplished a Legilimens as he was at Occlumency. There were rumors, of course, of his impressive grasp on both art forms of magic. He only wished that the rumors about his proficiency on Legilimency was blown out of proportion because if it wasn't, he would have a very good idea of what report he was really concentrating on.

"Yes...well, umm"

Harry smirked a bit at his discomfort.

"I've been going through your file Auror McRose," Callum felt his spine straighten just a bit more, if anymore he was afraid it would snap. "In the four years you've been with the department you have been on a number of high profile cases but never a lead of one. Even though your leadership of some of our assault teams and quick thinking have led to some strong arrests. Its clear from your file that you are a good leader and investigator," Harry spoke matter-of-factly, his eyes looking at him calculatingly from behind his glasses. "So I would like to know Auror McRose, why is it that you haven't been leading more high profile investigations?"

"You were Head Auror until a couple of months ago sir, you would know about it more than I," Callum bit out. The older man wasn't wrong in his observations as these had been made by himself as well. He had fought for more cases and the right to lead an investigation or two but the Deputy Auror had always turned him away without any explanations. Callum did have a good idea as to why though but he was bot about to say the same to the man who up until a few months ago had been his boss and was now the head of the whole department of Law Enforcement. He loved his job, thank you very much.

"I want to know what you think," Harry said.

Callum had always had a very tenuous grasp on his patience and had also garnered a reputation for saying things as it is. SO understandably, when confronted he could barely hold back even against his own instincts to do so. "Deputy Head Auror Progbother, told me after many protestations that I am impulsive, insubordinate and willful. He used it as a reason to give me the reject cases and sideline me."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he clamped his mouth shut trying very valiantly to keep the rest of the unsavory words inside and not blurt them out as he was wont to do.

"You are aware I'm sure, that case assignments are left upon the discretion of the Deputy Head Auror and very rarely does the Head Auror or the Head of any department interfere. So while I was aware, truthfully I didn't care enough."

Callum felt something swoop in his stomach. For ages he had been pushing down the anger and here was his former boss telling him he didn't care.

"I'm not saying it was right, and I do feel I could have done better but at the time I did have a lot else on my plate and as long as the cases were getting dealt with it was fine with me. The department is larger from when I had first joined. Not every Auror in department gets a chance to lead on high profile cases."

"As I know it, there aren't as many crimes anymore either as there were before," Callum interjected.

"That maybe true but crime doesn't really stop. Our society is smaller than the muggle one, so we see lulls in our crimes and the emergence of Dark wizards. But never forget, that darkness is always around you. Ready to take over."

"That is well and good sir, but why am I here? It surely cannot be to wax philosophical about crime statistics."

"No it isn't," Harry replied, a small smile on his face before he turned serious once again. "Tell me Auror McRose, are you impulsive, insubordinate and willful like Deputy Head Auror Progbother believes you are?"

Callum sighed and straightened up, looking at the Man who lived defiantly, "If following my gut makes me impulsive, caring about the lives of civilians and my team makes me insubordinate and calling out foolish plans that would lead to insurmountable losses makes me willful then yes sir, I am all of that."

Harry smirked. Leaning back in his chair, his intense green eyes staring at him, an odd glint to them, and a new tone of respect in his tone Harry spoke, "There is a reason Deputy Auror Progbother was not promoted when I was, Auror McRose. And you are exactly what I was expecting you to be." Callum felt himself deflate. Seems he was going to be dismissed, once again.

Instead a khaki folio landed in front of him. He looked up a little surprised at the turn of events. Harry Potter sat in front of him, his expression serious and a lot more grave than it had been a second ago.

"Our Muggle Liaison team came across this case and its the second time the case has crossed our desks. The first time because of a lack of magical evidence at the site, on the victim or in general the case was passed back to the Muggle authorities."

Callum opened the file, it was obvious the file was extended magically, because the contents in the file would have taken up the space of at least a whole evidence room that the Muggles used regularly to store their case paperwork. Clothes, personal effects, photographs, even case notes slid out of the folio. A summary sheet floated up above the pile and he grabbed at it going through the case summary as he listened to Harry speak.

"The file as you can see has grown considerably," Harry sighed tiredly. "Our Muggle liaison and Auror representative at the time had not seen this as a magical case but since then new evidence has come to light."

"New evidence?" Callum questioned, even as he flipped through the summary, his eyes quickly skimming through the information.

"The wounds," Harry pointed to one of the images at the top of the pile, were administered magically. "Our muggle liaison, Dennis Creevey and the Auror liaison Millie James, suspected they were wounds inflicted by a knife. Inspection of the body didn't reveal any magical residue and so it was closed. The further you go you'll see that the wounds were inflicted to hide the magical damage. There were inexplicabilities that the muggles could not explain and reached out to one of our experts."

"Our experts?" Callum asked, confused.

"We have experts in magical forensics planted in many muggle law enforcement agencies," Harry waved away the question quickly. "She found internal organ failure and damage that corresponded to the use of Crucio and Transmogrification."

"Transmogrification!" Callum asked, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes wide. He had read about the experimental curse when starting out in the academy. The case file on that was as gruesome as they come. At the time, the presiding Auror had noted that the curse was born of a mind so twisted that it was impossible to characterize the suspect as human and only a monster could take such pleasures from torturing a living being until they resembled nothing of their old self. The Transmogrification was considered worse than the Crucio and all its evidence packed away into classified files so that no one may ever come across the atrocious curse and use it against another ever again.

Only because of his exemplary record in the academy and his personality test was he allowed in the restricted section of the Auror Library to look over the case for his thesis. And even then he had never been given full access to the incantation and many more details on the case. Till date there only a handful of people in the whole of the wizarding world that knew of the case and its details in depth.

"Its a horrible painful way to die. I had first heard about it from one of my DADA teachers, Professor Lockhart and of course when as the Head of the Department I had looked over some of the details of the case while going through the restricted section," Harry replied seriously.

"Could he..."

"He's currently a permanent resident at St. Mungo's, so no."

Callum nodded and returned his gaze to the file.

"I want you, Auror McRose, to take point on this case."

"Me?!," Callum replied, giddy and astonished.

"Of course. All those qualities of yours make you perfect for this case. I'm not giving you this case because of your relationship with my niece," Harry pointed out. Callum looked at the man surprised. While his relationship with Molly was no secret he had not thought that the man sitting opposite him knew of it at all. And frankly the thought that he might have given the case because of his relationship with the beautiful red head had never even crossed his mind.

"There are going to be people who will make such assumptions and so I want you to know this, without a spec of doubt that I chose you for this case because I think you are what this case needs."

Callum nodded, gulping his fear away, suddenly more confident seeing the trust that Harry Potter was putting on him.

"This is a case that can make or break your career Auror McRose, but more importantly this is a case that will put you on the right path in this department."

Callum nodded. His attention now solely focused on the man before him. Harry continued, "This case is now top priority for this department. Nine victims over a period of four years, with three of them in this year alone. The killer is accelerating and we need to stop him."

"We will sir."

"Good. Choose your team. Take anyone you want on this and focus on this. I want people with a fresh perspective on this."

"Will do, sir."

"Everything goes by me and no one else. Am I clear, Auror McRose?"

"Yes sir! Clear as a crystal ball sir!"

"You're dismissed."

Callum rushed out, the file in his hand and a new purpose to his steps. The images in the file were now burned in his brain. The first one he had seen when he opened the file came to mind – the image of a young girl. She couldn't have been older than 17 or 18. Lying in a pool of silk, her red dress draped around her as if she was lying down to pose for a camera, like in one of those muggle magazines. Her porcelain skin shining and red hair a halo around her head.

It was the look in her eyes that may just haunt him for the rest of his life, it was the look of utter horror and fear. Her mouth open in an unending scream and her lips carved out of her face in a bloody mess.

Lily was bored. History of Magic was as usual dragging on with their current lesson focusing on the Goblin wars of the Eighteenth century. Professor Binns in all the years since her parents had sat in this very class had not progressed from the monotoned, boring drawling that he tended to adopt when talking about his beloved subject.

The droning was not helpful in any manner to Lily Luna Potter. For the past few weeks she had taken to keeping herself as busy as she could. It had only been a month since the start of the new school year and she had found that the more busier she was the more easier it was to keep her mind away from straying to the thoughts of one platinum blond boy.

This summer is when it had all started going downhill for her really. Although with the presence of her family around her and the fact that most of the time spent outside this year was focused on quidditch she had been successful in ignoring the swooping sensation in her stomach whenever faced with her brother's blond best friend.

She felt a sigh leave her as her thoughts drifted to one Scorpius Malfoy as it tended to happen whenever her mind found itself idle. Which is why she had taken to complete her homework in classes like the History of Magic to try and keep her mind occupied. The problem now was that she was weeks ahead of her schoolwork and apart from a few essays that were assigned today for which she would need the help of the Library she did not have much to occupy her time with while Binns droned on at the front of the class.

She had of course always liked Scorpius with him being one of the few people from outside her family that she spoke to and spent time with. Apart from Roger Smith, the redheaded muggle-born Gryffindor from her year who she had Arithmancy and Ancient Runes with and Anne Lowe, a half blood and amazing singer, also her dorm mate, she had a tendency to stick close to her family. While she spoke with almost everyone around her, greeting most students by name and teachers with a smile and a greeting always ready on her lips only a few were really considered a part of her circle. Lorcan and Lysander Scamander, her godmothers twin sons that were a year below her, Ally Longbottom, Neville Longbottom's only daughter and 7th year prefect the rest of her circle was filled with Weasleys and the lone Malfoy while at school.

So while it was not surprising that she was comfortable around him and tended to speak to him as though he was her best friend and not her brothers it was surprising that he had awoken this odd feeling in her. She had been on one date so far and the bloke had not lasted even halfway through the date before asking about her parents and family. This had been another reason for her to avoid the majority of the population of Hogwarts as much as possible. While they were all polite and friendly she couldn't help but feel as if it was only because of her last name.

Scorpius was nothing like the rest. He listened to her and spoke to her about various topics and was always present when she needed to vent to someone about her lug headed brothers. Everything was getting confusing now though. The sudden onset of butterflies whenever she was in his vicinity or when he turned one of his brilliant smiles her way, his stormy grey eyes that always were so intense and concentrated on her as she spoke. She didn't know what to do and how to feel when around him anymore. She knew his reputation but she also knew that if there was one person who was more loyal than her whole family included it was Scorpius Malfoy.

Was this a crush that would go away though given time or was it more? Did he even feel something remotely close to what she was feeling towards him? He was after all two years her senior and she knew experienced (she thought with a slight blush) with many girls around the school who were always ready to throw themselves at the Slytherin Devil. The same girls who had once shunned him because of his name now fluttered their eyelashes at him and her brother, giggling amongst themselves as they passed them in the corridors.

'Ugh!' Lili exclaimed in her mind. 'This was ridiculous! He was one of her closest friends and here she was getting hot and bothered because he smiled at her. WHich if she thought about it was almost all the time...'

A painful nudge in her side startles her out of her thoughts of the early morning light glinting off of the messy platinum blonde tresses of the Malfoy heir. Anne, her dorm mate and friend she sees is now quickly collecting her things to rush off to their next class. Sighing Lily picks up her bag shoving the blank pieces of parchment in her carry on and the ink and quills while tucking away thoughts of her blond friend in the back of her mind as she follows the dark haired girl out of the stuffy classroom.

"Is everything alright Lily?" Anne asks, her worried frown directed at her red haired who she had found spacing out more and more this past month.

"Yeah, everything's alright," Lily quickly replies throwing a half hearted smile her friends way in reassurance. Anne shakes her head in response but does does not push. There will be time later to grill her dorm mate and friend for now they were late for Charms.

Scorpius is bored. Potions was an easy subject for him as many others were. He excelled in all his classes with virtually no effort at all. He knew it was a point of irritation for Albus who usually griped about his inhuman ability to excel in all subjects after having spent only a minimum amount of time studying while Albus himself had to slave away in the school library before each exam.

It was also, he knew, infuriating for his professors. Since he refused to participate in classes, never raising his hands and only answering when asked a question directly the professors found him insolent and infuriating. He on the other hand was content and he knew his father had no problems with his performance in any of his subjects.

He knew his subjects well, worked quickly and efficiently on his homework, his practical application was so perfect that even if the professors wanted to deduct points for his insubordination they could not as his work was answer enough. He anyway preferred the class know it all status to remain in possession of Rose Weasley who too was annoyed by his ease in school work while she had to contend with spending most of her time slaving away with her nose in one book or another. It was a running joke in their tight knit circle that the library was Rose's true home.

Since it's theory hour he doesn't really have much to do. So what he is doing is passing his time by passing notes to Albus. Unfortunately though, Albus seems preoccupied with the class and only answers one of the five notes he's sent him. A sigh escapes Scorpius' mouth, noting the concentrated frown on his friends face he knows he is lost to the world of potions for the foreseeable future. With nothing to do he finds himself distractedly doodling.

Time passes slowly in theory hour. He's busy scratching his quill around the parchment he's supposed to be taking notes on when a soft flutter of movement in the corner of his eye distracts him from doodling the new batch of L's across the sheet. He can hear Slughorn talking about the Dreamless Sleep Potion that they are to make in the next hour as the butterfly circles around his head before gracefully landing on the cap of his inkpot. Tilting his head in curiosity he notes that the butterfly is actually an artfully folded piece of parchment. Grabbing it as soon as it stills he opens the note, inside in a neat cursive hand is a question:

Hogsmeade, this Saturday?

- Jules Rainer

His eyebrows raised, he looks up to the first bench. Noting the dark haired Ravenclaw girls eyes trained on him, an expectant smile on her face. 'Well, this is a surprise,' Scorpius thinks. Jules is a quiet goody two shoes who in her whole Hogwarts career has never stepped a toe out of line. Perpetually stuck to the first bench like Rose Weasley its definitely a surprise that she would be the one to take initiative.

Nothing against the girl or the rest of the female population of Hogwarts but he is not ignorant to the reputation he's garnered over the last year as a heartbreaker. The first ever invitation to Hogsmeade had been such a surprise to him that he had left the poor girl hanging as he ran away to hide in an alcove. For the first three years of his Hogwarts journey people had either chosen to ignore him, belittle him or call him names and in the case of the Mandrake posse be the bane of his existence by continuously bullying him and throwing hexes or dungbombs and other such unfortunate things his way.

Fourth year everything changed. The summer before he had spent training in quidditch with Albus and his dad. While he was a decent Seeker his true talents lay with the quaffle. The rigorous exercise and hours out in the sun with Albus, his dad and the extended Weasley family meant that by the time he come back to school his broader frame and the sudden growth spurt meant he was now attracting eyes everywhere.

Surprisingly, at the tryouts for the Slytherin team both Albus and him had been accepted onto the team when they had been sure that they would be laughed off of the pitch given the quite indifference and in some cases animosity that heir house mates had shown them since the night of their sorting. By the end of their fourth year, Albus had a sweet Hufflepuff girlfriend which meant he was now relegated to lonely walks through Hogsmeade.

Until that is the invitations and overt interest expressed the confusing ritual of flirting by various girls in his year and even the year above started pouring in. While Albus' relationship didn't last long Scorpius chose to turn down all the girls that suddenly wanted to be seen with him. An important reason for that was of course his infatuation with Lily potter but the most pressing one turned out to be the perceptions he realized most girls had of him.

His family name and history had ensured that without having done anything overtly bad or wrong he was considered a bad boy that some girls wanted to get a chance to tame. He had had his fair share of fights and duels but mostly in defense of others or himself but that didn't seem to register with the population. It had been a sore point with him for the longest time until last year when Lily went on her first date.

As Slughorn droned on about the ingredients to use in a dreamless sleep potion, he remembered how it had felt seeing Lily out with the other boy. It had worked as an eye opener for him. One thing he had always understood and had accepted a long time ago was that there was a good chance that what he felt for Lily may never be reciprocated. That day, seeing Lily laughing away in the window seat at Madam Pudifoots his fears had felt validated and with it came the new fear of loneliness.

Already he could see himself sitting alone in an old armchair in the vast and empty Malfoy Manor, with only memories of a life gone by to keep him company. The next day he had asked Olivia Rosen out. The Gryffindor hadn't lasted long nor had the girls that came after her. The girls had had a tendency to take out their jealous pettiness on an unsuspected Lily Potter once they had noted the closeness between the Malfoy heir and Potter princess.

His friendship with Lily would always be important to him. So the girls came and went and with it his reputation as the resident heartbreaker became permanent. Since the start of the year he's had a couple invitations but ignored it in favor of spending time with Lily and Albus. He knew the girls only wanted a piece of the Slytherin Devil (he still had no idea when or how the term was coined for him, but another he probably could attribute to his family's reputation and his now unfortunate reputation of a player) so there was no hurry in jumping into the dating game until the Hogsmeade trip was announced.

Those closest to him knew the real him and that was all that was important to him so he was happy to play the role of the devil. His summers served as enough of an escape from the perceptions built on his family's past. It was of course noted by the Hogwarts Gossip Network that the big bad Slytherin Devil laughed openly and softened considerably in the presence of one Lily Luna Potter. Even Albus, his best friend since they met on the train in first year had never been able to quite so easily coax out his lighter side as his baby sister.

He stares at the parchment thinking. Jules had for the duration of the past two years only been in a relationship with one very focused and very aggressively handsome Scott Davies. Seriously, the boy was was unnaturally good looking. No one with any amount of good genetics could have the clean faced sharp look that he had with the cheekbones and overly blue eyes that girls tended to swoon over. No surprise then that he too had half the female population and some of the out males of Hogwarts falling feet first to get even a little bit of attention from him. The invitation if he thought about it should not have come as much of a surprise.

Scott and Jules had had a very public and messy break up just last week when he had confessed to being attracted to Bobby Rogers, the 5th Year muggle born who was one of the few openly gay students at Hogwarts. It would be an understatement to say that Jules had not taken well to discovering that her boyfriend was bisexual and breaking up with her at the start of the year to explore a possible relationship with the other boy. While Davies had hoped to keep it civil the corridor had soon filled with the normally perfect and poised Jules' shrieks and cries. He had been afraid for the poor boy who looked like he would rather be absorbed by the earth than stand there as the most humiliating episode of his life played out for all of Hogwarts to see.

Scorpius sighed. He really was not in the mood to be the rebound guy. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was waiting for Lily to come up to him and confess her feelings for him. No matter what he had said to Teddy he didn't think he himself could ever have the courage to proposition the younger girl. She's too important to him, one of his closest friends and he's afraid of losing her if he ever confesses his true feelings for her. And so he had resigned himself to suffering in silence. Not to mention he was a Malfoy and she was a Potter. The Devil and the princess, she was also two years his junior and his best friends baby sister. She was the light to his darkness. She's the one destined to take over the world and he destined to watch from the corner as she achieves all she sets her sights on.

He looks up once again his eyes flitting quickly over the attractive Ravenclaw's back as she took notes. Her attractiveness was not in question nor her intelligence. He knew he would not be be in wont of awkward ice breakers and could easily carry a decent conversation with her. But the scene of her losing her temper over the poor Ravenclaw captain wouldn't stop playing through his mind.

On auto pilot he goes through the motions of preparing his ingredients and completing his potion. His mind reeling with the possibilities around possibly dating Jules Rainer. At the end of the class as Slughorn arrives at his table, he happily exclaims it to be the best potion brewed by a student in his first try. Scorpius is truly taken aback by the praise knowing that he hadn't been paying as much attention to the potion as he should have. But since the result is what it should be he only shrugs of the surprise and looks proudly at his work.

"Very good my boy," Slughormn thumps him on the back, "20 points to Slytherin for exceptional skill at the art of potion brewing!"

As Slughorn bustles away to look at the work of his other classmates, Scorpius busies himself packing up his supplies and clearing the contents of his cauldron.

Walking out with Albus he spies Jules just a couple steps ahead of him. Taking a quick decision, he slides in next to her, his carefree smirk in place, "See you this Saturday Jules," he says, throwing her a wink for good measure.

Without waiting for her to say something but quickly noting the smile and slight blush on her, he moves to rejoin Albus on their way to the Great Hall. They have quidditch practice after lunch and he is starving.

I can't remember if I have said this before but here goes. I don't consider Cursed Child as canon even though I have gone through its Wiki and I have picked up the story line around Astoria's illness from the same. It was only done so as it best suited my plot and it would help me build the character I wanted Scorpius to have. With his mother not in the picture Scorpius is definitely a broody, dark guy. Although he's passionate he's also less confident of himself and the effects of the continuous animosity of his classmates too of course has shaped him a little. We have mostly seen him with the Potters and Weasley's and his dad so never had the opportunity to properly showcase this side of him until this chapter.

Let me know what you thought of the chapter. I'll be waiting!

Take care all and please stay safe. To anyone who isn't doing well during this time whether mentally or physically, know that the world stands with you and you are always welcome to leave me a message if you want to talk to someone but don't know who to talk to...

Take care.