Scorpius stared at the copper eyes. They smiled at him and winked. His brain seemed to be mush and he began to wonder if he was seeing things. All around him, people had stopped eating. It was completely silent. His friends sat in awed silence staring at the young girl that sat down. The world stopped for a brief second and then the buzzing started.

Scorpius could hear it all around. People were whispering all around him. He saw some glance their way and quickly look away. His befuddled brain still did not seem to be working. The copper eyes continued to twinkle and a small hand reached out to shake his. He was too stunned to do anything but shake her hand.

No Potter, or Gryfindor for that matter, had ever just invited themselves to sit at the Slytherin table. Not even Blain had tried that. He and Scor saw each other during classes or in the library. Sometimes they passed while finding their seats, but never had they sat down for a meal together while at school.

"Hi. I never did get to introduce myself. I'm Lily Potter. Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to thank you again for helping me out on the train. I knew James wouldn't search your compartment too hard, and all he really needed was a chance to calm down. After I left, I realized that I knew your name but I had never told you mine and I didn't want you to think I was rude. I mean I shouted goodbye to you but never introduced myself. I would have come by sooner but it has just been so busy today, I mean homework and classes and you being older, I mean I never knew where to find you to talk to you. I guess I could have asked Al since he has some classes with you, but then I thought you had to eat sometime and I would just talk to you then. I was so glad you walked in when you did because I was almost done and I have to run. Can you believe they give homework on the first day? Anyways, I just wanted to thank you again."

All of this came in a single breath. Scorpius started open mouthed at the young girl. She didn't even seem to notice the stares and the murmurings. She sat, completely at ease. It clicked that she was waiting for an answer. He searched his brain for what to say. He could barely remember what she had said to him. Something about thanking him again he thought.

"Umm, no problem." That seemed to work for an answer. She smiled at him, and he blinked at her. He watched as she stood up from the table, leaving a half finished sandwich on her plate.

"Well, maybe I'll see you around. It was nice talking to you." She waved at him and his friends. With a bounce, she walked out of the Great Hall.

Bernadette was the first to recover, "What was that all about?"

Everyone was still in shock. Scorpius turned to her with a stunned expression, "I have no idea." He seemed to realize that people were still muttering all around him. He shook his head and placed a scowl on his face. As he glared at students around the room, the mutterings ceased. Persephone frowned at her friends.

"What was she thinking coming over here to the snake pit?"

"Well no one ever said Gryfindors were smart, just that they were brave." Grayson said and the table laughed. This seemed to ease the tension. Oz looked at them all and smiled.

"I bet her brothers put her up to it. Probably a bet that she couldn't make it out alive or something. I bet it was payback for the hair stunt she pulled." Scorpius thought about, yes that was something James would do. He was up for anything to get people talking. Scor frowned. Just one more thing for people to talk about. One more feather in the famous Potter cap.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. She had shown up with no warning, in front of tons of people, and his brain had turned to mush. He had not known what to say. Now she probably thought that he was ready to join one of the Potter fanclubs because he had not told her off.

Now he would have damage control to deal with. Half the school was already buzzing with talk about how he had been approached by a Potter. The fact that all he had done was nod stupidly would not help. He hadn't even given her his trademark scowl.

He frowned down at his food. He was no longer hungry but he did not want anyone to think that a little Potter brat had affected him in any way. He picked up his food and chewed slowly. He mentally sighed; it was turning out to be a really long day.

A few days passed before Blain cornered him. He was on his way from the dungeons. He had dropped off some of his books before dinner. The others had ducked into a classroom whispering excitedly. This left Scor all alone. They had passed a group of second year Hufflepuffs, so Scor had left them to plot some mischief. As he rounded a corner, Blain grabbed his arm.

"So is it true? You got friendly with a Potter?"

Scorpius glared at him. If looks could kill, Blain would have dropped dead. "Not a chance. She caught me unawares. Besides, I couldn't get a word in edgewise. In the few minutes she talked to me, I think she closed her mouth once."

That was a bit of a stretch. He knew that if he had been thinking properly, all he really would have done was scowl and ignore her. Blain knew tat too and he laughed. "That's Lily for you. If she is excited, she goes a mile a minute. We haven't had a moment's peace in the common room all day. You should have heard her go on about the flying lessons planned for next week. She's really good at that. Probably better than her dad. I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up on the quidditch team this year."

"Great, one more thing for them to talk about. She'll be swimming in attention by the end of the month. Just what we need, three Potters with big heads."

Blain frowned at him. "You know, they aren't like that at all. I really think you would like them if you got to know them. James can be annoying, but he doesn't do any of that stuff for attention, he does it for a laugh. And Al is the most grounded person I know. He never even knew his dad was a hero until he started going to school. And Lily, well she is like a ray of sunshine. She just makes everyone feel good about themselves. She doesn't do that for attention, she does it because she likes people."

"Whatever." Scorpius just shook his head. Blain was a Gryfindor, so naturally he would defend other Gryfindors. They may not plan for the attention, but they got it. Scorpius got attention, but he had to do something truly outstanding to get it, and it irked him that James and Albus did nothing to get the same recognition. It wasn't fair.

Blain sighed. "OK, I'll drop it, but just remember, we could see a lot more of each other if you would at least try to talk to them. You might find you enjoy their company more than your other friends. That's what I found."

Scorpius just rolled his eyes. Blain gave him a sad smile. "Well, I just wanted to check on the rumors. I'll see you around Scor." Blain turned and was gone.

As he walked to dinner, Scorpius thought about what Blain had said. It was true that Blain hung out with them less and less. He spent more time with Scor than any of the others and he seemed to leave quickly when the whole group was together.

As he entered the Great Hall, he looked to the Gryfindor table. They always seemed to be laughing and having a good time. Friends patted each other on the back. Blain was laughing at something Al was saying. It was loud and obnoxious looking over at them all. They never seemed to take anything seriously. What was Blain thinking? He was content where he was, with his friends.

He looked to the Slytherin table. It was calm and demur. Sure, friends were talking and having a good time, but they were a more reserved group. They did not shout across the room at each other. But that didn't mean they didn't have fun.

Scor sat down. He glanced once more at Blain. Blain looked up and caught his eye. There was still a sad smile on his face. It was almost like Blain was starting to give up on his friend. Scorpius felt cold as he sat down, but he lifted his head and broke eye contact with Blain. He would not let Blain see the effect his sad smile made on Scor. He looked up to see his friends arrive and he lost himself in conversation.

Later that night, he had trouble falling asleep. He thought back to last year. It seemed that Blain had made huge efforts last year to spend time with the Slytherins. He had waited for them in hall ways. He had even poked his head in after classes. He had walked with them and really tried to show them he was still their friend.

Scor was already noticing a difference. He had not stopped the group in the halls once. He had raced from Potions class to meet up with his other friends. He was making an effort with Scor, but no one else seemed to care that Blain was not around as much. He felt Blain pulling away. He talked to Scor less and less about secrets and such. Now it was banter, and small talk, and rumors.

Scor felt his chest tighten. Now it seemed that his best friend was slowly pulling away. Blain was becoming a full Gryfindor. He was making new friends, and he was leaving Scor behind to fend for himself. Scorpius felt a deep sense of loss as he drifted off to sleep.

A/N Please note I work for reviews. It helps me know what I am doing well and what I need to work on. I think that the next few chapters will focus on Blain pulling away and Lily inserting herself into the picture. I don't know if people would just as soon I get on with the Lily friendship rather than focus on his previous friendships. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks