Author's note: I am so sorry I am late but I was really ill, so please don't be too angry. I forgot to say on my last chapter, but the song Yuri sings is count on me by Bruno Mars. I also looked at the fic its self and realised that it had gotten read of all my time spacing and the sorting hat song so it didn't look so good, but I went back and changed it so hopefully it is less confusing.

Chapter 2

The Slytherin common room was blissfully quiet, only the muffled noises of gently sleeping students and the soothing slosh of the lake water against the windows disturbed the sacred silence. Stepha sat, cat like, in an armchair, her book balanced on her knee and her hair in a messy ponytail.

The Slytherin common room was beautiful and vast. There were two main parts, one sunk into the ground and the other on the same level as the entrance. The floors were made of dark wood that had been smoothed by generations of students, and the dark green sofas and wooden desks that were scattered around the room, had a comfortable, elegantly worn feel. Dark wooden beams criss-crossed the ceiling in high arches and separated the two areas, the walls were hung with green and silver hangings covering the dark stone. Stepha's favourite place was by the wall farthest from the entrance, the whole wall was a window into the lake, broken only by more beams and a large fire place.

"Well, you're up early," said a voice, disturbing Stepha's meditation like reading.

"Hey, Ken." Stepha closed her book and placed it into her already packed bag.

"I thought the prefect said to be down by quarter to eight not six-thirty."

"Didn't want to be late, anyway you're up."

"Well, I'm an early riser and I had to fix this simply awful uniform," he gestured to his clothes, which, Stepha noted, were not the set uniform. Instead he wore black skinny jeans, a dark silver waistcoat and-

"Is that a cravat?!"

"Yes, much better don't you think?"

Stepha snorted, "only you Ken, only you could wear a cravat to school, and get away with it."

"At least I've got it tied properly, all those people wearing it loose to look posh," he trailed off as if imagining the fashion disaster. "Anyway you can't possibly like this uniform."

"No, I don't, it's weird and uncomfortable. I just thought that I didn't like it because I used to be able to do my work in my pyjamas," Ken stared at her in confusion, "I was home schooled."

"Not all uniforms are this awful, oh for the joys of blazers," he sighed.

"Now," he clapped his hands, "let's sort you out."

"What!? No, no, no, no. I don't want fashion advice."

"Only a little bit, if you don't like it I can take it back off," he pouted at her.

"Fine! But nothing too dramatic."

"Me? Dramatic? Never!" he grinned and set to work, Stepha groaned internally.

XXX

The common room had slowly filled with sleepy teens by the time Ken had deemed her acceptable and most of the other first years were milling around waiting for the prefect to show them back to the Great Hall. Stepha watched her reflection in the mirror. The grey, sleeveless pullover had been instantly discarded, the skirt had been changed from grey to black and given a line of dark green at the hem, and then there was the hair, the elaborate braid fell across her left shoulder, it was beautiful, with tiny braids and a thin, dark green ribbon running through the dark red strands.

"Wow," Stepha whispered, "how do you know how to do all of that?"

"Just a knack, I'm good at Transfiguration and well I did a bit of practice over the holidays," he rubbed his neck and gave her another smile.

The prefect from last night came in with her friends and stopped short when she saw the younger pupils.

"What are you two wearing!?" the prefect almost shouted at them.

"Clothes?" Ken drawled.

"McGonagall is going to have a seizure." She looked about to protest but someone cut her off.

"I think they look fine and they aren't breaking any rules, are they Miss Marks?" Scorpius' voice was calm and quite but managed to silence the whole room in seconds.

" No, not any written ones but you can't just..." she trailed off under Scorpius' cool look.

"And where exactly does it state that students must wear all of the uniform and the exact uniform that Madam Malkins provides, I am sure that Professor McGonagall will only see the excellent Transfiguration that has been demonstrated by Ken. Now I believe that you were showing us the way to the Great Hall," he gave her a expectant look and she spluttered, confused about who was in charge her or the young man standing in front of her.

"Yes, this way, follow me."

XXX

As they walked Scorpius dropped back towards Stepha and Ken.

"Hey, I think Malfoy wants to speak to you," Ken said, nudging her and nodding towards the boy.

"Stepha. I wanted to apologise. I should not have spoken to you like that, as you can tell I don't know much about muggleborns. My father was not brought up with very good ideas, and although he does not mean to he has hindered my understanding of the world that I am part of. I have always been told muggleborns to be slightly below purebloods in understanding and culture. My father isn't very logical on this subject and I am sorry to say that I have judged you all on his words. Growing up I have had to face much prejudice because of the mistakes of my father and grandfather, and I have grown to hate people who judge others before they have met them. But it seems that I have become one of them. So please accept my apologies and my thanks for waking me up. Also for just talking to me like you would any other, most people would bow down to me because of my father's influence, you didn't, thank you," he smiled and went to sit away from them when they reached the Great Hall.

"Scorpius?" he turned, "there is plenty of room here, if you would like to, um..." for a moment he looked surprised and then a real grin broke out across his face and he sat across from them.

XXX

"What do we have first Al?" Sam said through his toast. Albus looked at the time table that Professor Longbottom had given him.

"Umm, Charms with the... urgg the Slytherins." He looked over to their table, instantly spotting Stepha's dark red hair. She was talking to that weird kid from the train and...

"Is that Scorpius Malfoy?"

Sam glanced up, "yeah, 'course he went to Slytherin."

"Yeah." He glared at the blonde boy, why was Stepha talking to him? He was a monster, he hated muggleborns, all Slytherins did. But Stepha was a Slytherin, surely she wasn't like that, she was nice and sweet and a muggleborn, she couldn't be like that.

"Hey bro," James said, appearing besides him, Fred in tow. "Why are you staring at the Slytherins, you look like you're going to have a seizure." He laughed and ruffled Albus' hair.

"Gerrof, James." He tried to bat his brothers hand away but failed and almost fell off the bench.

"Hey, James, they're moving," Alex Jordan, James and Fred's other best friend, called down the table. The dark haired girl nodded towards the huddle of silver and green across the hall.

James' head shot up and he leapt to his feet, grinning.

"What are you going to do James, I know that look, you're going to pull some type of awful prank and mum is going to kill you. James, what are you going to do?"

"Aww, com'on Al, it's just a bit of fun with the Slytherins."

Albus glanced at their table, trying to spot the red hair again, but she was gone and he realised just who they were about to prank.

"No."

"What?"

"You heard me James, no."

"Albus, you're not mum. If you want to come fine, but you're not going to boss me around." He turned to go, Albus felt like he had betrayed him, she was only a Slytherin, what was wrong with pranking her?

"Wait, we'll come," Albus said and Sam jumped up after him.

"That's my little bro," James said and they ran after the three Slytherins.

XXX

The trio walked down the corridor, Stepha laughing at Ken trying to persuade Scorpius to let him do his hair. James held up three fingers and Alex and Fred nodded. Three. Albus wasn't so sure this was a good idea. Two. Stepha's delighted laughter made Albus feel guilty already. One. Maybe he should stop James. Zero.

"Coloratum bitumen."

There was a shriek and several angry shouts. James, Fred and Alex all grinned and went to view the damage they had made.

The three people stood, drenched in red and gold slime, strands of hair sticking to their faces.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Ken shouted, his gaze wild.

"Urggh, that's disgusting," Stepha said flicking a gloop of gunk form her hair. They turned when they heard laughter and James, Fred and Alex stepped out from the secret passage followed by Albus and Sam.

"You've been pranked by The Musketeers. It's a literary reference, I don't expect you to get it." James chortled.

"Don't worry Ken, I know how to fix it," Scorpius said pulling out his wand, "scourgify," he turned to Stepha, "scourgify."

"Thanks Scorpius," she turned and glared at the group.

"Hey, don't get all uppity at us snakie, at least we're not known for being back stabbers." James snapped.

"Ah, yes, because we are the ones who cast spells on people on their first day."

"Like you wouldn't do it, all you snakes are the same."

"At least we don't publicly laugh at other peoples pain."

"No, instead you push them away and isolate them and get others to believe that they deserve to die, you're all prejudiced. You would do it to any Gryffindor."

"That isn't hypocritical at all," her voice dripped with sarcasm, "you know nothing about us, you cut us off, you segregate us, we look out for our own and protect each other, because no one else will. You say that we are blood supremacists yet I am a muggleborn and people have accepted me, because I wont fight them, I am one of them, and they will protect me. I am not against all Gryffindors, I am against you, James Potter, and anyone who labels me as a monster because of what house I am in. So, how do you see us now?"

The group of students that had crowded around them stared at Stepha like she was threatening there way of life, all except for the few Slytherins in the crowd, who looked at her with respect and made a tight huddle around her and glared at the Gryffindors. Stepha turned on her heel, gave one last disappointed look at Albus and left, the crowd parting like the Red Sea before her.

"Well, that's just, beside the point," James spluttered, searching for a lifeline but she was already gone.

"Shut up James," Albus said, brushing past his brother, the guilt and disappointment in him self churning in his stomach.

"Al! What's wrong with you? Al!"

XXX

"Stepha?"

She stood outside the classroom waiting for the other students to join them, and when she turned to look at Albus her look was full of cold anger, Albus could have sworn that the candle flames leaned towards her as she glared, waiting for him to speak.

"I'm sorry, I tried to stop James."

"Oh, yes, you screamed your self hoarse trying to stop him." Her voice was cold and unforgiving.

"Please, Stepha, I really am sorry, that was an awful thing to do." He grabbed her arm and tried to make her understand how guilty he felt.

"You don't think that, it's just because it's me, you feel guilty for pranking me. If it was any other Slytherin you would have laughed along with your brother, so leave..." she pulled her arm out of his grasp, "...me alone."

A group of Gryffindors came up to the room and Albus was dragged away by Sam.

"Wow, that Slytherin was so out of order, they think they can do what ever they want just because their parents are rich."

"Sam, stop it."

"What?"

"Stop talking about them like that."

The door opened and Professor Lane motioned them all in. The students shuffled about selecting seats and pulling out books and chattering. Albus and Sam took seats at the front of the room and pulled out their books.

"Al, why are you so upset about it?"

"We don't exactly treat them equally do we? They don't exactly fight back but we still keep on hitting."

"So? They're the bad guys Al, why should we treat them equally? They are the reason so many people died in the war, they started it, they don't deserve to be treated the same."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Of course, everyone knows that that's true," Sam looked confused.

"No, everyone says that's true, but we needed a scapegoat after the war, the Slytherins haven't done anything, they weren't even alive during the war. Come on Sam, think about it. This is unfair."

"I suppose, but they still think like that don't they, even with him gone."

"Stepha's a muggleborn, she obviously can't think that," Albus pointed out.

"Well, it can't just be wrong, your dad is the one that..."

"No, my dad doesn't think that, he said that he would be proud if I got into Slytherin, I'm named after a Slytherin headmaster, you can't say that Severus Snape was an anomaly and then just accept that all the other houses are all good on blind faith. There are good and bad people in every house."

"Look, Al, even if I accept that, it's not like it'll make any difference, the whole school isn't going to just cosy up with the Slytherins over night."

"I know, I just think that we should be a little bit more open minded."

"Fine, but if they really are all how the stories say then I'll hex them."

"I wouldn't expect any thing else," Albus smiled at his friend, maybe it would work, maybe the Slytherins wouldn't be so hated.

XXX

The first week of term passed quickly and with little event. Albus sat in the Great hall on Sunday evening eating dinner.

"I have an announcement to make," Professor McGonagall said, standing. "This will be my last term as headmistress, I will be leaving before half-term and Professor Longbottom will be the new head master, Herbology will be taken by Professor Janes who will be shadowing Professor Longbottom until that time, Professor Mandel will also be leaving and Defence Against the Dark Arts will be taken over by Professor Potter, who you have no doubt heard of, and who will also be sitting in on some of your lessons."

The crowd of students all started muttering and whispering.

"Hey, Al I didn't know that your dad would be teaching us."

"Neither did I," he said, confused at why his father hadn't said anything.

"Well, he might let you off a detention or something," Sam said hopefully.

"Yeah right, my dad wouldn't do that, he hates favouritism."

"Ah, well. You can always hope."

Albus grinned at his friend and ate a mouthful of chicken pie.

"Com'on we have a load of homework, already, which is just unfair."

"You are so lazy, come on then," Albus said, laughing and shaking his head. They left the Great Hall and headed towards the marble staircase. As they reached the third floor they were interrupted by shouts.

"What's going on?" Sam looked at Albus, worried.

"Isn't that Frank?"

"Professor Longbottom's kid?"

"Come on," Albus said, and jogging over to the scene, which was slowly gathering a crowd.

"... you filthy little creep," one of the voices growled, Albus thought it sounded like Frank. He elbowed his way through the spectators, almost crushed by the shuffling students, until the crowd broke apart and he entered the empty circle around the fighting pair. Frank was glaring at the other boy, who was cradling his left arm close to his chest, Albus recognised him as Ken, Frank pulled his arm back and smashed it into Ken's jaw, "did your parents cry when they found out they had a disgusting monster for a son?"

"Frank! What are you doing? Stop!" Albus said, rushing forwards, and placing himself in front of the bruised boy.

"He's just a god damn snake Albus, get out of my way."

"No."

"What?" People in the crowd gasped and Frank's face turned dark red, he snarled at Albus, "if you're going to defend them over your own then you will be treated the same, now get out of my way."

"No," Albus raised his chin, knowing that it was going to hurt, Frank pulled back his arm, hatred evident in his expression.

"If you touch my brother, I will make you vomit slugs for a year," the voice was low and angry.

"James." Albus almost smiled in relief, standing inches behind Frank with his wand pointed at the back of his neck was James, flanked by Fred and Alex, Sam shuffled out from behind them and went to stand by his best friend.

"James, don't be stupid, he's just another snake."

"Frank, I don't give a Merlin, if you touch my brother I will curse your head off," he glanced at his brother and then at the kneeling person behind him, "Holy... what have you done to his arm."

"Like you wouldn't have done the same, why do you care James, just take your traitor of a brother and get out of my way."

"What the hell is wrong with you!? What could he have done to make you hurt him so much?"

"He insulted Amelia," Frank nodded towards his third year girlfriend, who tossed her hair and nodded, pouting.

"So you beat up a first year because your girlfriend told you to? What the hell Frank, he's a first year. I don't care that he's a Slytherin, you can't do that."

"KEN!" There was a scream and Stepha appeared, eyes blazing, and ran at Frank. Scorpius grabbed her and pulled her back.

"Oh my God, what have you done? I'll kill you!," her voice became low and she snarled at Frank like a wild animal, "you heartless monster." the torches in their brackets seemed to glow brighter.

"If it was anyone else, would you still have done it?" Albus said quietly, "A Ravenclaw, a Gryffindor, a Hufflepuff, would you still do what you just did to him?"

"Of course not," Frank spoke as if Albus was a child who kept on asking if he could fly.

"How is that fair? How is that right? This is all so twisted and wrong, why can't you see that?"Albus felt very tired.

"What, in the name of Merlin are you doing Potter? They're snakes, they don't deserve to be treated equally."

"They do, they are humans, this is crazy and messed up and wrong, just wrong." Albus spotted Professor Lane coming around the corner, obviously trying to find out what the disturbance was about, he turned to Ken, "Get to the hospital wing and Frank if you don't want to get suspended go, go and if you do this again I will tell your father."

Frank sneered and turned, his crowd of supporters following him. Ken stood and started to walk away, shaking his head at Stepha and Scorpius and waving them away with his uninjured hand.

"I'll go after him," James said, nodding awkwardly at the two Slytherins as he passed and hurrying after the injured boy. Albus looked at Stepha and nodded before turning away and walking away to the Gryffindor Tower, Sam following behind him.

XXX

James jogged down the corridor, wondering exactly why he was trying to help a Slytherin he barely knew. Ken turned in to one of the empty class rooms, James hesitated, confused at why he had gone in there and then followed, gently closing the door behind him. Ken leaned against a desk, his back facing the door, his slim, light coloured wand moving backwards and forwards over his arm. James sat on the desk next to his, watching him move the wand and heal the wounds.

"You can do healing spells? That's pretty impressive."

James saw a tiny smile form on Ken's face.

"I have a knack, I could do it before I got my wand, now it is more controlled but just as affective."

"That is pretty awesome." He paused, watching Ken slowly healing his arm.

"Why didn't you go to the hospital wing, Ken?"

"I suppose it's because I'm a good little Slytherin, if I went, the teachers would ask me questions, I think it's better for all of us if I go in with a bruised jaw and say I walked into a door, rather then with a twisted arm and tell them a third year Gryffindor beat me up," he let out a cold laugh, "I doubt they would even believe me."

James winced at the way he spoke, he had been a Slytherin for a week and he already was part of the machine, covering up the scars and huddling closer, because no one would help them. James wished he had seen it before, the hatred just seemed normal, something that you did by default. It had been going on for nineteen years, if you didn't do it you were an outcast. James looked at his hands feeling like he was just as bad as Frank.

"Don't think that," Ken said.

"What?"

"Don't think you're like Frank, you're not."

"How can you tell I was thinking about that?"

"You are a very easy person to read. Frank was wrong about you doing the same, you might not care for us, but pranking people is not the same as deliberately singling them out and injuring them, at least you don't only prank Slytherins and you don't hurt them. Frank is a pretty extreme case from what I've seen."

"Thank you," James said softly. There was a pause, the only noise was Ken mumbling softly under his breath as he fixed the marks on his arm.

"My parents never found out I was gay," Ken stopped as if unsure why he was talking about this to James, who himself felt startled, "my uncle was the first person I ever admitted it to." He faltered and took a deep breath before continuing. He kept on repeating his action, his wand slowly healing his arm, and his words low "my parents were very religious, well my mother was, my father was a wizard, but he never told her that," James remembered what Frank had said about Ken's parents, and felt sick.

"When I was ten my house was burnt to the ground, both of my parents died," his voice cracked but he continued, back and forth, healing and mending. "Imagine coming home and finding that it doesn't exist anymore, that the only family you ever knew was dead, that there was no one anymore. I never told them who I was, I never got to explain, they never truly knew me. The reason I act the way I do is because I never want that to happen again, I never want anyone to not know who I am, even if they hate me."

He stopped healing his arm and flexed his fingers, nodding at the work and rolling his shoulder. He stood and headed for the door.

"Ken?"

The boy turned, his hand above the door handle.

"Yes?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Maybe because, to you, I'm just another Slytherin."

James watched him leave, and he sat on the desk staring at the door for hours.

Or at least until Professor Lane came in and almost cursed him before realising he was a student.

XXX

Author's note: Sorry it is so short, this chapter had a lot of plot and stuff, but life kept on being in-between all the important bits, and it turns out I am not very good at writing normal life, also it doesn't have as much editing as last chapter, so there are probably a few mistakes. But I hoped you enjoyed it and please review.