As far as first days at Magical institutional boarding schools go, Albus Potter's was going terribly. Not like his older brother
s, who had more or less immediately been regarded as royalty on his first day, his last name impressing the Gryffindor table just as much as his ability to burp his ABCs'. Not like his cousin Scorpius, who had quietly slinked off to the Gryffindor table, sending a pitying look to Albus as this felt like the first time since Scorpius's birth they had been separated. Not even like Victoire's, who had a second-year apparently proposed to her that first day.
No, he would've taken a proposal from a prepubescent over this first day.
First, he had been late for the train and nearly missed it, rendering him unable to even brush his teeth before he left, then he had lost thirty galleons to Scorpius in a game of exploding snap that nearly lit the seat cushion on fire if Scorpius hadn't immediately extinguished it.
Then, to top it all off, he got sorted into Slytherin in front of his entire family. He could still hear the eerie silence as he slowly walked to the far left table, in a daze, barely noticing the blonde girl sitting across from him, smirking while he avoided eyes with everyone in the room. James would later pull him aside, attempting with wild eyes to convince him that someone, probably the Malfoy Girl, cursed the hat and they could use their 'Potter power' for a redo. Al ignored him, silently noting in his head that all the Magic that came with their last name would never hide the fact that he was clearly the black sheep (or snake, apparently) of the family. Not that it hadn't been obvious from the moment he showed far more interest in magical creatures than he ever would Quidditch, but it was now official.
He wondered where he would go this summer, as he was most likely going to be kicked out his red and gold decorated home. They'd probably give his room to Lily, who would do something utterly horrible with it like build another shrine to Oliver Wood. He imagined this would include a life-size figurine who would, most likely, sleep in his bed at night.
He walked with his head down, causing him to bump into something hard. Lifting his head to apologize and move his hair out of his eyes, Albus's mouth snapped shut as he looked into the eyes of one of his new, fellow housemates.
"Um, sorry mate," He grumbled, trying to quickly brush past him and go to his dorm.
"Mate?" He questioned, moving to block him."Thats a bit familiar, isnt it?"
"Well, it looks like we're going to be house mates for the next seven years, so." Al tried to smile, immediately regretting not taking Teddy's offer to learn some basic defense spells prior to starting at Hogwarts. He was pretty sure he called Scorpius a kiss ass for takinghim upon the offer. Typical.
"Yeah, well, we'll see about that. That would require you survivng this next seven years." The boy smirked.
"Right, well, I do actually intend to do that." Al tried to remember which pocket his wand was in, though he was pretty sure the only spell he knew how to do-lumos-wouldn't help here.
"Oh, witty. Lets see how your mouth does when I-" the rest of his threat would never be heard, as he suddenly fell back onto his bottom.
"Oh, piss off Nott, like anyone in their right mind is intimidated by the likes of you." Albus turned around to see a small girl with sleek blonde hair and blue eyes so light they were bordering on grey, grinning at the two boys with her wand out.
"Oh, come on, Rosie, this kid doesn't belong. You know that better than I do." He whined, slowly standing, his demenaor vry quickly becoming childish.
The girl raised her wand at him again, now glaring."Call me Rosie again and you'll have a lot more than a bruised bottom." She turned her head back around to Al, smirking at him,"Besides, who are you to say who does and doesn't belong here? As I recall, you were still pissing your bed until you were like, nine. Did you piss your bed until you were nine, Albus Potter?"
Laughing uncomfortably, his cheeks tinging red, Al shook his head."Uh, no."
"Wow! Would you look at that. Seems like he belongs here more than you do, Adrian." Rose hooked her arm through Al's in a manner so familiar he was slightly shaken by it. Ignoring Adrian's indignant expression, Rose lead him away, laughing. As they reached the common room he parted from her, his eyes still wide in shock.
"Um, thank you." He said, uncomfortably, now immensely aware who this girl (or more importantly, who this girls father was)"I was handling it, but-"
Rose let out a loud laugh, falling back onto the couch, ignoring the looks she was now getting."Oh, yeah, really seemed like it. Next time I'll just stand back and let him have his way with you. Say, you don't particularly enjoy having your arms attached at your sides, do you?" She raised an eyebrow at him, a gleam in her eye.
Al slowly sat down, blushing. "I thought you said he wasn't scary?"
"Well, no, he's not intentionally. But he's so thick that his moronic behavior is dangerous enough. He really shouldn't even be allowed here. I mean, that and the fact that he's a blood supremacist." She said casually
"Oh. Right." He said awkwardly."Speaking of, uh, that, why did you help me? I mean, not that you're, well you know, but-" His words were flailing and he was thankful she cut him off, even if she was smirking when she did it.
"Oh come on, the Malfoys being death eaters is so outdated. Well, my dad anyway, obviously granddad's in Askaban. Thank Merlin for that too, I don't know what I would do if I had to deal with him around the Holidays. Merry Christmas Rose, here is this incredibly old and ugly piece of jewelry that has the blood of a muggle-born in it. Let me help out it on you, with my incredibly cold, dead like hands." She mused, laughing as she said it as if she didn't sound insane.
"Oh. Right. So, then why did you help me?"
"You don't think I saw a poor, helpless stranger in need and felt morally obligated to step in with my stellar wizarding abilities?"
Albus gave her a look.
She grinned back. He wondered if it was normal to smile as much as this girl did, specifically the kind of smile that seemed a bit sadistic.
"Right, well, you might be right. I guess I just think there's something so fascinatingly scandalous about you. I mean, a Potter being sorted into Slytherin? The only thing better than that would've been if I had been sorted into Gryffindor."
"No offense, but after seeing you stupefy that kid, then make fun of him for his inability to make it to the loo in time, I don't think that was a possibility. How did you even know that, anyway?"
She rolled her eyes, kicking her feet up on the couch. "We're childhood friends. My father and his are close, so because my parents are a bit co-dependent, so are our mothers. And mothers talk. And I eavesdrop." She shrugged.
"Right. Good to know. And the spell?"
"Father taught me a few basic spells before I came here. You know, just in case."
"Oh. Right." Albus felt even dumber knowing that he hadn't taken Teddy up on his offer, now knowing two wizards in his year who already knew more magic than him.
"Yeah. Any more questions?
"No, that just about covers it." And it did.
"Great. Can I ask you something?"
"Um, yeah. I guess that seems fair." Al said, slightly taken off of a guard. She seemed to be good at that.
"Do you know that your breath smells? Because while you may not wet the bed, I can't really befriend someone who doesn't brush their teeth, either."
Al blushed slightly, about to explain his explain his terrible morning, when he stopped, feeling something dangerously close to hope in his heart."Wait. Friends?"
"Provided you brush your teeth, I don't see why not. Unless our last names doom us to a fate of epic dueling? Because, no offense, I'm pretty sure I'd kick your arse."She held up her wand and raised an eyebrow, a small smile on her face.
Al laughed lightly, grinning at Rose."No, that won't be necessary. Trust me, I know better than anyone how little your last name actually means." He said, holding up the green tie to her.
Rose grinned back at him."Well, then, friends it is."
