Sunday September 1st 2019:

"If you ever gawk at my sister like that again, I will use an Unforgivable Curse without mercy," James threatened, roughly pinning his lovestruck housemate to the table.

After Lily Luna Potter's sorting, she jumped up from her seat and skipped over to her table, beaming. Louis Weasley took Lily's place, but it was near impossible for the crowd to settle after having another Potter just being settled into Gryffindor; continuing the proper Potter tradition. Those results drew the unwanted attention of many unfriendly eyes peering over at the castaway Albus Potter at his own house's table while gossiping and giggling to one another.

Months ago, Albus would actually care about what people had to say, or what they thought about him, but not any more. If anything, it was becoming more tiresome, and he felt mostly numb towards insults.

Scorpius felt likewise, but not for the same reason. The recent death of his adored mother punctured a hole in his usual high spirits, but thankfully it did not deflate, not with Albus around. Nevertheless, it hurt. Knowing there would no longer be any signatures handwritten by her in any upcoming letters sent from home. Knowing that she would not be there waiting for him at home during the holidays.

The Great Hall finally fell silent after Lily's results, curiously awaiting the results of Louis' own house.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Huh, look at that," Scorpius said, observing the long, red-haired boy's shocked but mildly pleased expression from his results. "If there's anything more surprising than a Potter not getting Gryffindor, it's a Weasley. First Hugo Granger-Weasley getting Hufflepuff, now Louis Weasley getting Ravenclaw. Wow. Our generation is making history!"

"I get it," Albus grouched.

"You should be glad. Now you're not the only one in your family to not get Gryffindor."

"Okay, one: they are not Potters, and two: they didn't get sorted into the "evil" house," Albus explained, showing off the exact number of fingers while saying them.

"I know," Scorpius said, fiddling with the sleeve of his robe.

Nevertheless, Scorpius still applauded for the new member of Ravenclaw, and so did Albus — despite his envy.

"Weasley, Lucy!"

Scorpius watched, still invested, while Albus lost interest.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

When the house-sorting was finished, the tables were brimming with the customary appetizing start-of-term feast.

At the Gryffindor table, most of the students were crowding around their newest member. Lily loved the enthusiasm, but not so much the attention. She shook hands, and pushed away her elder brother if he ever violently laid his hands on any boy who so much as pat her shoulder or back. Lucy was not getting nearly as much attention as Lily, but she did not seem to mind in the slightest, not making eye contact with anyone and simply tucking in to the feast.

Meanwhile, at the Hufflepuff table, Hugo did not receive the same level of excitement as Lily, but at the same time, more than Lucy. Being the son of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley was second best, right behind being the offspring of Harry Potter.

Albus lazily ate the food on his plate with his eyes fixed on the dish and nothing else. Scorpius kept glancing over at his friend, hoping for his attention at least once, and he overheard Dylan and the gang talking about his friend from just a few inches away — purposely out loud.

What pleased the Malfoy was Albus no longer caring about what others said about him anymore, and this time being himself and not pretending to be someone he wasn't like last year.

Abruptly strutting over to the Slytherin table was not only Lily, but James as well. James crossed his arms and frowned; his protective big brother mode was still active.

"Hi, Scorpius," Lily piped. "I heard about your mum. I'm so sorry." She held the blond close for support and he lightly patted her arm.

"Thanks, Lily," Scorpius said, taken aback by the physical contact. He had never hugged anybody except his parents, but even then, it was usually quick, especially with his father. His family typically expressed love in their own ways, but he still felt Lily's caring gesture comforting.

Lily smiled reassuringly and then inclined her head over to her younger brother. "Hey, Albus. You didn't talk to me on the train today."

"That's because I didn't feel like talking," Albus muttered, his eyes still glued to his plate.

"You were talking with Scorpius," James argued.

"That's because he doesn't judge me," Albus bluntly answered.

"I didn't judge you, and I never would," Lily said, holding Albus' shoulder.

"Albus, it's been nearly three years. You have to stop moping about all of this! It's stupid!" James snapped.

"Just leave me alone," Albus muttered through his teeth. "Is that so hard?"

"And is it so hard to actually talk to your family once in a while?" James retorted.

"Come on, James," Lily said, grabbing her brother and attempting to veer him away.

She did not need to do anything else, because this time it was James angrily leading Lily away.

"Lily seems nice. Just like you told me in your letters," Scorpius said to break the ice.

"Yeah."

"Why don't you hang out with her more?"

"We do sometimes, but not too often because then James would start harassing me that I would be hanging out with her, but not him. Also, we don't exactly have much in common."

"I see."

Following those two words was an uneventful remainder of dinner for Scorpius and Albus, until a blaring clap of thunder was heard accompanied by a rapid bright strike of lightning. The enchanted ceiling above them reflecting the outside sky only amplified the chaotic conditions.

''Uh-oh," Albus said.

"What?" Scorpius asked, concerned. "I thought you don't mind storms?"

"I don't," Albus said, watching the Gryffindor table, "but Lil does. Hang on."

Scorpius sat there astonished from Albus purposely impending over to not just any other table, but the Gryffindor one.

Albus rushed over to his dismayed sister while James left the table with his friends — ignoring Albus — and Albus turned to look back at Scorpius, holding up his forefinger.

Scorpius nodded in understanding, even though he didn't really. It was even stranger when Albus exited the Hall with Lily.

Mounting up many flights of shifting stairs, the siblings reached the Gryffindor Tower with the bolting thunder still plaguing the youngest Potter's eardrums.

Once they arrived at the entrance — where the Fat Lady's portrait was hanging — Lily covered Albus' ears while her prefect spoke their house's password.

They entered through the portrait hole and showed up at the Gryffindor common room on the opposite side, and through Albus' eyes, it was pretty boring compared to the Slytherin's; no memorizing water or aquatic creatures floating past the windows in sight.

Another thunderclap struck.

Albus sat the startled Lily down on the velvety red couch closest to the fireplace.

One of the Gryffindor prefects -- being Fred Weasley -- approached the intruder. "Hey. What is Albus doing here? Students from other houses aren't allowed in here."

"It's just for a few minutes, please," Lily begged.

"You can take house points from me. Don't take any from her. It was my decision," Albus said.

"Why are you here?" Fred asked.

"I know how to calm her down," Albus said.

Fred studied the siblings carefully. "You're willing to intrude and risk house points just so your sister can feel better? Hmm, sounds very Gryffindor like." He smiled. "I'll let this one slide, but only this once."

Albus sat there baffled from being compared to a Gryffindor for the first time ever.

A bright white flash briefly lit up the room accompanied by another crackle and rumble from the sky, and Lily loudly gasped while squeezing her eyes shut and securely holding her knees.

"It will be okay," Albus said. He comfortably rubbed the redhead's back.

"Some Gryffindor I turned out to be. First day of being sorted, and I'm already being a coward."

"You're not a coward, Lily."

They sat there in the warmth of the fireplace, and Albus noticed Lily's droopy eyes.

"Are you feeling better?"

Lily nodded.

"Okay, well I guess you could go up to your dormitory now." Albus clapt Lily on the back and left the couch.

"Scorpius is really nice. No wonder you talk about him all the time," Lily said, her voice sounding playful but mostly uneasy due to the instability of her fear.

Albus turned around, surprised from the change of subject. "Errr, yeah. He is." He set off to leave again.

"Wait!"

Albus turned around, looking at her impatiently

"Can you read to me? Like you do at home?"

"You're eleven," Albus stated.

"But, I really think I need it."

Albus paused, but not for too long. "Fine, but I don't have a book."

Lily quickly rummaged through her robes and out came a book. It was a Muggle-written story; she was fascinated with the Muggle world. "I started reading this on the train. You can start at the bookmark!"

With a sigh, Albus returned to his curled up sister on the couch. He thought Lily would sit right next to him and maybe rest her head on his shoulder, but instead she crawled over to the opposite side and rested her back against the throw pillow she placed against the inner arm of the couch. That was something younger Lily used to do whenever he would tell her stories. She hadn't done that in a while, but Albus didn't complain, because he always thought it was quite cute. Albus started reading to her quietly, but just enough for the Gryffindor to hear.

When the story-telling was over, the storm reduced down to one thunderclap every few minutes, and Lily barely flinched, but relaxed back on the cushion. Right before she decided it was time to head to her dormitory, she leaned forward and thanked Albus with a loving but tight hug,

"Love you," Lily said.

"Love you too."

To his own surprise, Albus exited the common room with a smile gracing his features. When he reached the first turn leaving the corridor of the Gryffindor Tower, he jumped from seeing his friend standing right there.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. I just thought I would meet you up here," the blond said, shifting his feet side to side. "Also, you don't know our new password."

"Oh, that's fine. I'm glad you're here."

"Seeing you smile like that just getting back from the very house you despise is, well, surprising. Not surprising in a bad way! It's good! Like you have a good smile. It looks nice. I mean, you know..."

"I got it," Albus cut off, his smile even bigger.

"So, is Lily doing alright?" Scorpius asked, shyly stroking his hair because of the mistake in speaking he just made.

"Yeah, just read her a story. She's gonna pass out at any moment," Albus said, following Scorpius' lead.

"Why didn't James help her?" Scorpius asked, walking down the first set of moving staircases with Albus.

Albus shrugged. "I don't know. He just thinks that she needs to grow up, I guess. As you hopefully picked up on, James is not the sentimental type."

"But you are?" Scorpius inquired.

"No, I just..."

"Yes you are," Scorpius teased, lightly prodding at the other's arm.

Albus giggled with a scoff. "Uh-huh, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

"I will, and I'm sticking with it," Scorpius said, crossing his arms and appearing smug.

Albus rolled his eyes but laughed while carrying on with their walk back to the dungeons.