Mentorship
Fourthyear brought along with it some interesting new interactions. As perusual, Gryffindor and Slytherin had the majority—if not all—oftheir classes together. Much to Scorpius Malfoy's dismay—andhappiness, he couldn't decide which it was—HeadmistressMcGonagall and the Duelling teacher, Professor Grenholt, decided uponhaving mentorship for second-years and third-years.
Luckyas fourth-years were, they were paired with the second-years. Each ofthem their own partner. Somehow, this was supposed to be a learningexperience for both parties. Scorpius gaped at the name on his stripof parchment.
LilyPotter,it read. Of all the second-years, he'd been partnered with LilyPotter.He wasn't sure whether he should be grinning or glaring. His bestfriend, Gregory Flint, patted his shoulder roughly.
"Toughbreak, man. That Potter is so small; she can't possibly have muchmagic in her. Doesn't seem to stand out very much in her classeseither. Good luck with that one." Gregory's words seemed…oddlyfitting.
"Yeah.Yeah—definitely." And yet, his own seemed ridiculously false.
Scorpiussighed; he'd not forgotten last year's sorting incident. The girlprobably thought he was a lunatic.
"Youready?" Gregory taunted. Scorpius scowled at him.
"You'rehilarious." A Gryffindor girl not too far from him shushed the twoboys. "Besides, what do you really know about her?" Gregshrugged.
"Notmuch; her brothers seem exceptionally popular, though. Apparently,the youngest is the newest hot-shot flyer for Gryffindor. The eldestis the team's star beater; you know James Potter." Scorpiusnodded. He knew alright. He'd knocked him off his broom once with abludger when he was moments from the snitch. Gryffindor had won thatgame by a landslide.
"Thatdoesn't mean anything to me. It proves nothing about the girl."He mumbled. Gregory half-shrugged.
"Well,if most of the school knows about the Potter boys, then why is thegirl so low-key? She obviously isn't anything special." Scorpiussaid nothing as Professor Grenholt had begun to speak.
"A'right,fourth-years. The Headmistress has informed me that the second-yearsare on their way. I'd like to remind you that this is as much fortheir benefit as your own. You will learn just as they will." Hemay have been imagining it—Grenholt was naturally a happyperson—but Scorpius could have sworn his eyes danced over him withamusement. "You may be surprised."
Thesecond-years arrived shortly after and took a spot standing in frontof their mentors. The classroom had been cleared and the Fourth-yearsand second-years were lined parallel to each other.
"LilyPotter, though I suppose you know that already." Scorpius noddedand shook her extended hand; marvelling at the difference between hislarge palm and her small one.
"ScorpiusMalfoy." Again, the odd difference between her high-alto voice andhis practically bass tone was mind-boggling. Gregory had been rightthough, she was rather small. Even from his own mind, he'd imaginedher to be larger. "We'll be working on disarming." He informedher as the rest of the class began. She nodded. "Let me show you."He took a step away from her and they pulled their wands out. Henoted for no particular reason that hers seemed to be rather long atabout eleven inches.
"Expelliarmus!"The red light hit her wand and sent it air bound. She watched it withwide eyes.
"Wow.I don't know if I'll be able to." He shrugged.
"Youwon't get it on your first try." She probably wouldn't, but hefelt guilty for immediately discouraging her like that. Nonetheless,she smiled and nodded.
"'Kay."She inhaled deeply and looked at him. "Expelliarmus!"His wand flew out of his hand and across the room. He looked at herin astonishment. She was utterly giddy as she apologized and went tofetch his wand. "That felt wonderful!" He smiled slightly at heras she prepared to disarm him again. She did so, unfailingly fivetimes in a row.
"Perhaps,"Professor Grenholt suggested, "you could practise in more of aduelling manner." Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Go on."Scorpius felt arrogant, but was almost glad he'd be showing her up.It was odd, seeing as how only she and the professor would know.
"Expel—"
"Expelliarmus!"Lily's shout set his mind reeling. How had she been so quick? Hiswand was gone before he'd had time to register it.
"Welldone,Ms. Potter!" Grenholt clapped mildly before moving on to the nextpair.
"Sorry."Lily apologized once Scorpius had his wand back.
"Don'tapologize. It seems we need something more difficult." She smiledat him, and he couldn't resist returning the gesture. "Impedimenta,perhaps?" Lily bit her lip. "What's wrong?"
"Maybedisarming was only just luck. We—we should stick with the rest ofthe class, I reckon." She looked nervous. Though Scorpius scoldedhis mind for the thought, he couldn't help but realize she reallywas adorable-looking when she was tense. Her hands were wringing,again.
"Nonsense.That wasn't luck, not seven times straight. Grenholt won't mind,promise." She looked anxiously over her shoulder before nodding."Straightforward enough, it is." He raised his wand,"impedimenta!"She froze in her place, a completive look on her features. Minuteslater, she grinned at him.
"Wow.I'll try." Heaving a heavy breath, she raised her wand."Impedimenta!"He grunted as the spell contacted his gut and wrenched him mildly.Lily was furiously chewing her bottom lip. "I'm sorry." Shesaid hastily as she quickly made her way to his side. "Are youokay? I told you it was only luck! I hurt you, didn't I?"Scorpius pinned her flailing hands to her sides and leaned over tolook in her eyes.
"I'm—fine.Truthfully." He smiled to reassure her, but she still looked wary."Let's try again." She sighed but nodded nevertheless. Armraised, she was poised to use the hex. "Wait," Scorpius walkedbehind her, put his hand in the crook of her elbow and lowered herarm. "Don't flourish your wand." Still a bit confounded fromthe contact, she nodded without another word.
"Impedimenta!"Moments later he found himself gawking at her. "Was that okay? Youdon't feel weird, or anything?" His jaw fell, as he was unable todo much. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." She mumbled toherself.
"No,no. I'm—I'm in shock.Nothing's wrong—nothing wrong atall.I'm appalled, it took me forever to get that hex just right.Amazing. You know, I'm frightened, that by the end of the class,you'll already be on to learning to stun!" Despite the fact shelooked utterly uncomfortable, she smiled and blushed all the same.
"Okay.A few more times, you reckon?" He did, and five successful trieslater, Professor Grenholt was beaming.
"Magnificent!Class! Second and fourth-years alike, I believe we've found anexample of a job well done!" Scorpius was bemused, to say theleast, when Lily whimpered only loud enough for him to hear as thesecond years exchanged exasperated looks—and a fourth year,Scorpius recognized as Albus Potter, raised a sceptical eyebrow."Lily, demonstrate, why don't you?"
"C'mon,Lils." He felt a strange feeling at the pit of his stomach, usingthe nickname for casually. "Like before, you can do it." Her eyeswere wide and she looked absolutely terrified. Scorpius grinnedtauntingly. "If it makes you feel any better, I won't go easy onyou." Now, Lily was looking—attractively—confused. "I can'tlet the likes of a Gryffindorbeatme—not with a handful of Slytherin present." Lily's eyesnarrowed and the two circled each other, wands drawn.
"You'regoing to be sorry you said that, Malfoy." She said quietly, notmaking a show in the least. He raised an eyebrow. It was oddlyentertaining—watching this small and fragile person threatensomeone so much larger and seemingly far less breakable. He smirked.
"Expelliarmus!"To Scorpius' shock, his wand went soaring to a none-the-expectingsecond-year. This time, she smirked. He'd still been deciding uponthe easy defeat, or a more cutting win. Apparently, she'd chosen athird option—losing shamefully.
"Uh…"He glanced at his wand briefly before she pointed her wand.
"Impedimenta!"When he looked around, the class was already gone. Not expecting Lilyto still be around, he smiled to himself and shook his head as helooked at the spot where his wand had fallen. He looked closer—itwas gone. "Sorry." Lily was standing beside him suddenly,offering him his wand.
"Thanks.Shouldn't you be on to your next class?" Lily laughed.
"It'slunch, Scorpius." He smiled slightly, remembering that it was, infact, lunch.
"Oh;right." He felt his face become warm and knew his ears hadreddened. "I suppose you're a hit with your Gryffindor pals."He smirked down at her, pleased when her cheeks were overcome by afaint pink.
"Youcould say that." She said slowly. Her tone was light and teasing,but Scorpius was still confused.
--
Thenext class brought with it more interesting feats. Lily was certainlya second-year well worth mentioning. She was magnificent, so Scorpiuswas able to see.
"Stunning.We're going to work on stunning, seeing as you were able to take ontwo classes worth yesterday." Lily blinked at him.
"Itold you—"
"Itisn't a bad thing. And, no, we aren't holding back with the restof the class." She slumped a little and crossed her arms over herchest.
"Fine."She grumbled before pulling her wand out. "Don't blame me if youget hurt." Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"Tostun something isn't easy; you won't get it right away. And Iwon't get hurt." He added as an afterthought. "Go ahead."They'd isolated themselves from the rest of the class to have morespace.
"'Kay."She raised her wand and inhaled. Scorpius noted the usual air ofsevere anxiety was gone. Questionable though it was, he didn't havemuch time to ponder it before she began. "Stupefy!"His body flew through the air and he grunted as he landed on his backon the tiled floors. He walked quickly over to her, poised to ask hisquestions. She was smirking and looking haughty.
"Whatthe hell was that?" She grinned at him and put her wand in herrobes.
"Thatwas a second-year stunning a fourth-year. I never said I didn'tknow what I was doing." He gaped at her.
"Forthe love of Merlin, you're right." She smiled.
"Iknow."
--
AfterChristmas holidays Lily was far ahead of her class. Scorpius wasarrogant to the point of bragging because she was his partner. Thegirl was absolutely brilliant. Professor Grenholt had the two of themduelling already—Scorpius, with the upper-hand, had surprisinglylost a few times. The painful taunting from the Slytherin fourth andsecond-years was lessened by how utterly happy Lily was every timeshe had him defeated.
Thetwo of them certainly turned heads. A Slytherin and Gryffindor,strangely close and friendly. More so, a Malfoy and Potter—pure-bloodand Muggle-lover. If ever a destined pair of enemies, it was the twoof them—if not, a close second to James.
"HappyChristmas." Lily said brightly as she stood beside him in class. Hechuckled lowly.
"Alittle late for that, don't you think?" She nudged him what shehoped was roughly, but was less than a tickle. "Happy Christmas, toyou as well, Ms. Potter." She smiled in satisfaction.
"Thereare those Malfoy mannerisms I've been waiting for."
"Class,today we will be doing something different." Professor Grenholtsaid. "To get a better feel of where we are, we'll be having eachof our partners duel. You will be marked." The duels were calledupon alphabetical order according to second-years' names. Come'Potter, Lily' she was shaking and extremely nervous.
"C'mon,you're ten times better than the rest of them." She shot him asupposedly dangerous look. He resisted the urge to laugh; how someoneso small and intimidating could even ponder a situation in which theyinflict pain upon another was highly amusing. The two bowed andraised their wands.
"Confundo!"She said immediately.
"Protego."He hastily muttered, before the hex came in contact with him. "Acciobooks—oppugno!"The text-books were hurling towards Lily who looked determined.
"Reducto!"Scorpius looked, mouth agape, as his books were obliterated.
"Rictusempra!"Before the tickling hex could hit her like he'd hoped, she tookaction.
"Salviohexia!"She grinned before shouting, "tarantallegra!"Gasps and laughter filled the room in muffles as Scorpius' legsmoved uncontrollably. Lily looked gleeful.
"Ex-expelliarm—"
"Levicorpus!"Scorpius was yanked in the air by his ankle. He grunted in surprise."Expelliarmus."It was practically lazy, the way she'd said it. Professor Grenholtwas grinning almost as broadly as Lily as she cast her final spell."Aguamenti."She laughed as his face was pelted with water jetting out from herwand.
"Welldone, Ms. Potter." Grenholt sent an amused look in Scorpius'direction. "You as well, Mr. Malfoy. Liberacorpus."He stood and picked his wand up, extremely befuddled.
"Thatwas notnormal.Not for a second-year." Lily jabbed her finger into his side.
"Youtried to send a flock of books at me." He grinned.
"Well,maybe." A few more pairs duelled before the class ended.
"They'renever going to let me live that down." Lily looked sad, andbothered Scorpius to no end that he didn't know why.
"Who?"She smiled wryly.
"Gryffindor.My brothers will be happy, of course. Actually, it's only reallythe second-years that have a problem with me." She shifted andfidgeted as they walked to the Great Hall. The corridors of thecastle were empty, as they had been walking at a slow pace.
"Why?You were brilliant—and won them loads of points! Which remindsme—don't do that anymore. Igeta hard time because Gryffindor is going to win the House Cup again."
"Stayon course, Score." She sounded amused, and for this, Scorpius washappy.
"Right.So—why?"
"They…youknow how my father defeated Lord Voldemort?" Scorpius almostflinched at the name. People still had taken a liking to referring tothe Darkest wizard of all time as 'You-Know-Who' or 'He WhoMust Not Be Named'. He nodded, nevertheless. "Theythink…something's wrong with me."
"What?!" Her hand clamped down over his mouth. She was on her tip-toes andlooking cross.
"Couldbe louder, perhaps? I don't think all of Hogsmeade heard youcorrectly." He gave her an apologetic look. "Anyway, I heard asmall group of them saying that their parents had mentioned aconnection from Voldemort's mind and my dad's. Some of them—alot, actually—think I may have something wrong with me.Something…bad—evil." She was silent for but a moment. "Dark."
"That'sludicrous." She looked at him and shrugged.
"I'mglad you think so. I don't—er, haven't let it get to me. It'sbecoming worse as classes progress. Today, I think will be theworst." Scorpius was glaring at her, though his anger wasn'tdirected for Lily. "What?"
"'What'?You ask me, 'what'? What do you mean, what?"Lily was looking at him with wide eyes. "You can't possiblybeokay with…with…thatbeingsaid!"
"Scorpius,calm down. There's no reason to get riled up."
"Noreason! Maybe it's becauseyouaren't denying it that it's getting worse. Did you ever stop tothink that by not denying it, you looklikethere is some bad, evil, wrong—" he couldn't bring himself tosay 'Dark', "—with you?" The silence was then around then,as terrifying and sudden as a gunshot in a library. Lily was watchinghim with wide eyes, tears threatening to fall over her eyelids.
"You—"
"Lily,I didn't mean—not like that!" Scorpius desperately wanted totake back what he said—anything for some sort of reversal spell.
"Isuppose I'm a crackpot to everyone around here then." A tearslipped down her face, quickly followed by others. "I told youbecause I thought I could trust you." Then she was walking away. Ittook Scorpius a moment or two to catch his tongue.
"But—Lily,you can! I don't think—you're not—Lily!"He yelled after her as she turned a corner and disappeared. He threwhis back painfully against the wall and slumped against it. All thewhile hating himself for his thoughts.
Hehonestly hadn't thought of her having anything to do withVoldemort, or he wouldn't have been so angry. However, his actualthoughts were not to be praised. Moron,he scolded himself, youmade a twelve-year-old cry—and all you could think about was howpretty she was.
A/N:Alright, it was supposed to be a one-shot. But people put my story onAlert, so now I'm making it a short seven-plus chapter thing. Idon't think it will go any further than seven, though. Thank you tothose who are reading, reviewing and alerting and favourite-ing! :D
It'smuch appreciated. And will be if you review again! :) Thanks for reading