The train came to a halt in the Hogsmeade station. Alice and James didn't see or hear from Kaylee or Fred the entire ride. James helped Alice carry her luggage off the train. They caught a horseless carriage together with Albus, Rose and Scorpius. "Hi, Alice," Rose said pushing her bushy red hair out of her face.
"Hi Rose," Alice said. She and the three of them had had a few classes together. Albus and Scorpius were in Slytherin and Rose was in Ravenclaw and they were the best of friends. Nearly inseparable. Alice was positive that Scorpius fancied Rose.
"What have you three been up to?" James asked as the carriage pulled forward.
"Just catching up, Scorpius was on holiday with his family," Rose said. Scorpius made a gagging noise. James chuckled.
"That good huh?" James asked.
"Yeah," Scorpius rolled his eyes. "So, where's Fred? Aren't you two attached at the hip?" Alice got the distinct impression that James and Scorpius didn't really like each other. "Or are you just ditching him for your next conquest?" he glanced at Alice pointedly. She blushed for the thousandth time that day.
"Scorpius!" Rose said appalled.
"It's none of your business Malfoy," James glared at him. Scorpius just glared back. The trip to the castle was uncomfortable to say the least. Once at the castle James helped Alice out of the carriage. "I'll see you around, Alice."
"I'm sure we will," Alice said as she nodded to the two people coming up to them hand-in-hand and grinning like total idiots.
"I will see you later Freddie," Kaylee cooed at him.
"Till then my dear," Fred said stealing another kiss from her. "Hi James!" Fred turned to James who just rolled his eyes.
"Come on Alice," Kaylee said grabbing her arm and dragging her along into the great hall to sit at the Hufflepuff table.
"I think I'm in love," Fred sighed as they sat at the Gryffindor table. "She's amazing!"
"Did you guys just snog the whole time? Did you even talk to her?" James asked.
"What up your arse?" Fred chuckled looking at James. "Did Jamesie-poo not find a girl to keep him occupied?" James glanced toward the Hufflepuff table where Alice and Kaylee seemed to be catching up while they waited for the feast to begin.
"You know that there's more to do with a girl than trying to suck the soul out of her like a dementor." James growled at him. Fred just chuckled.
"For your information, Kay and I did talk. She told me all about her friend Alice. She told me Alice was focused on school. She's got no time for distraction."
"I gathered that much," James snapped at Fred. "And stupid wanker Malfoy eluded that I was only trying to pull her as another conquest."
"You're not?" Fred asked.
"No," James said.
"So, you and James seemed pretty cozy on the train," Kaylee said to Alice. "Fred and I came to find you guys, but you seemed to be having a bit of a flirt and we didn't want disturb you."
"We were just talking," Alice said. "So, you and Fred then?"
"Yeah, between intense snogging sessions, we had a good long chat about ourselves." Kaylee said. "I really like him." She grinned toward Fred. "He's very sweet."
"I'll bet," Alice said. A few moments passed "Do you think James was only talking to me to add me to his list of conquests?"
"What? Who told you that?"
"It's just something Scorpius alluded to," Alice sighed. "I er…"
"You fancy him, don't you?" Kaylee said Alice felt the heat rising up her face. "Scorpius Malfoy has no idea what he's talking about. He's really just upset because the last girl he asked to Hogsmeade turned him down to go with James." Kaylee did know all of the gossip. "From what Fred has told me, James isn't the kind of guy who likes having a new girl every week. He's not what witch weekly or that rag Hogwarts times says he is. Anyway, you remember Laura King," Kaylee nodded to a girl at the Gryffindor table who was probably the most beautiful girl in the school slender perfectly manicured. "James thought that they were going to last forever, but then he found out she was tipping off all the gossip rags about their dates and she was controlling. James was not happy with her."
"What ended it?" Alice caught James' eye as she looked at him and smiled a little.
"No one really knows." Kaylee "Some think he caught her cheating. Others are convinced that she had him under a love potion. Fred doesn't even know what happened."
"Well, it's not our business." Alice said as the first years entered the hall followed by Professor Longbottom who caught his daughters' eye and smiled.
"Thank goodness, I'm starving," Kaylee said Alice rolled her eyes and laughed.
The first years were sorted as quickly as possible. The feast began right afterward. Everyone seemed as starved as Kaylee as the hall was filled with the sounds of people eating and light conversation. Alice couldn't help but glancing up at James frequently. He was very good looking and there was no way he would ever like he like that. Alice kept reminding herself that she needed to focus on school. As desert finished up Headmistress McGonagall stood up and addressed the school with the usual rules and news about quidditch.
"That will be all good evening, we will see you in the morning." The great hall started to clear out. Kaylee and Alice headed to the Hufflepuff dormitories.