Disclaimer: Consider this story disclaimed. I do not own Harry Potter, Old School by Hedley or Anything except Aquila Malfoy. She's Mine.
Affaire de Coeur : Laws of Attraction
So why don't you meet me, down behind our old school
We'll waste away the weekend, with perfect regard for how
Cavalier we used to be, that beautiful insanity
The apathy's surrounding me
Don't close your eyes, or we'll fade away
- Old School, Hedley
The first day of classes always put Al in a mood. He didn't like them. His problem generated from the fact that they were always the same, just every teacher going over the rules and regulations.
Al rolled out of bed with his alarm going off. It was a birthday present from his mum, if he hit the sleep button more than 3 times, it turned into a howler that screamed at him in his mum's voice to get his lazy arse out of bed. Effective.
Kicking Fred's bed on the way to the bathroom, he wouldn't get up until 4 minutes before they went down to breakfast, he always took his showers the night before.
He entered the washroom, and tiredly stripped to get under the warm spray.
The only thing he liked about the first day was for the first day, most teachers sat their students alphabetically.
Since the war, Hogwarts had switched up which houses had classes together. The Gryffindors were with Ravenclaws, and the Hufflepuffs went with the Slytherins. And since they arranged them alphabetically by first name, Aquila Malfoy sat behind Albus Potter.
The thought of spending the day sitting by the amazingly pretty and good smelling Malfoy put a large smile on Al's face.
He stepped out of the shower, and shook his head. Al's older brother James, an odd person if there ever was one, often commented of how much Al reminded him of a dog in the morning.
He started off with his uniform. Robes were no longer required to be worn during the school day, just at formal feasts and occasions.
The uniform consisted of pressed grey trousers, a crisp white button down and a grey v-neck jumper. There was also a red and gold tie.
There was no crest, and the only difference from the other houses uniform was the tie, which was to help with points, and role call. The administration was trying to enforce inter-house unity as much as it could.
Finally dragging Fred out of bed, and throwing his clothes at him, Al packed his schoolbag quickly, with everything he thought he might need. Rose had put an Undetectable Extension Charm on all of their schoolbags in third year, along with a feather light charm, so they could carry all their textbooks and not worry about forgetting anything.
Fred rolled out of the bathroom, wearing his uniform sloppily, the shirt untucked, the tie undone, and his hair looked like it needed a weed wacker to tame it.
He grabbed his bag and together the cousins left the dorm down the stairs to collect Rose and go to breakfast.
aAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAa
Rose was waiting downstairs, looking perfectly pressed in the girl's version of the uniform, with her hair in a long side plait, with some wavy pieces left out to frame her face. Not her usual look.
The girl's uniform was almost the same as the boys, except for the bottom; the girls had grey pleated skirts, and had to wear tights or knee socks. Rose almost always opted for knee socks, grey ones that were knitted by Grandmum Weasley.
Aquila always wore black tights.
"Nice hair, Rosie! Dressing up for someone this morning?" Fred teased her, pulling the end of her plait. "You even have make-up on Rosie! What is this?"
Rose glared at him, pulling her hair out of his grasp. "I had no choice in my look this morning. Lily come in my dorm at six in the morning and told me she was going to make me look like a girl for the first day of classes."
"Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear." Al commented catching a glimpse of his sister coming down the stairs of the girls dorm, with her hair long a straight, her make up dark and flawless, and wearing bright red tights, gold shoes, and her tie undone. He was also disturbed to note that her skirt was much shorter than the one his mum had bought her.
"Good morning family. Doesn't Rosie look fantastic?' Lily said cheerily. "Is something wrong Al, you're glaring at me."
"Yes something is wrong, Lils, your brother has noticed that you're missing half of your skirt." Fred said, glaring at some boys who were also noticing Lily's skirt, but were more appreciative of it than her brother and cousin.
Lily rolled her eyes. "You two are ridiculous. Nikki and I put our skirts like this last week. It's a charm that Aquila Malfoy taught her. Oh look, there's Hugo. I have to go; we're eating breakfast with Nikki and Louis at the Ravenclaw table today."
Albus' mind had turned off the second Lily had mentioned that Aquila taught her that charm. Does that mean her skirt will be that short too? Al thought.
"Well, now that you have had your big brother moment of the day, shall we head down to breakfast?" Rose asked, leading the way out of the portrait hole their siblings had just exited.
The threesome sat in their spot, where Fred started shoveling food on his plate like he hadn't eaten in years.
"Slow down, Freddie. The food isn't leaving." Rose commented with a disgusted face at his meal.
"MMm 'ungrdfy." Fred mumbled. The other two understood, through long practice, since the three of them were on solid foods in fact.
Al, from habit, glanced at the Ravenclaw table, zeroing in on Aquila. She was sitting with her best friend; her head band a simple black, grey and navy blue plaid to match her uniform. Her tie was a dark navy blue and black stripe.
He smiled as he laughed but then turned his attention to Professor Longbottom who was making his way down the table with the schedules.
"Good Morning Weasley's, and Potter!" Professor Longbottom was always cheerful. He handed them their schedules after checking that they didn't want to drop any of their NEWT classes, and told Al that Professor McGonagall wanted him in her office for a head's meeting during the free period.
Al's schedule was pretty good. His day today started with History of Magic with all four houses, double potions with the Ravenclaws, followed by double DADA with the Ravenclaws again. Then he had a free period before dinner.
"Let's see yours then Al!" Rose said, grabbing the schedules out of both Al and Fred's hands. "Same classes today except Al had History of Magic," "Because he's a weirdo" Fred said under his breath, "I have Muggle Studies, and Fred has Care of Magical Creatures."
"Again I ask why you take muggle studies when you have two muggle grandparents, Rose." Al said, repeating the question they had been asking since the end of second year when she chose it as one of her electives, as they got up to head to their separate classes.
Muggle Studies was mandatory for the first 2 years, than an elective for third years and up. It mostly focused on the culture of muggles, and how they aren't that different from us. It was hoped that with a better understanding of muggles, they could prevent another blood war. Surprisingly, after second year, mostly purebloods took it, interested to learn about the world they grew up knowing nothing about.
They parted from each other in the entrance hall, rose going down the hallway to the left to Muggle Studies, Fred heading out the door, while Al headed up the stairs to the second floor and History of Magic.
His entire family had questioned his decision to take a History of Magic NEWT, everyone of them had hated it with a passion. Even though Binns had been replaced by Professor Glass, a slightly crazy man with an interesting view on things, the material was too dull for any self-respecting Weasley/Potter to enjoy.
However, what they didn't figure into account was after NEWT year, they stop trying to bore the students into submission and actually taught them more recent, interesting history, as in the first and second wizarding war, the war against Grindelwald, and the events leading up to the Battle of Hogwarts. They also taught things about the Founders, and Hogwarts in the beginning. It was much more fascinating then the millions of goblin rebellions they were required to learn before NEWTs, and it didn't hurt that Aquila had chosen to stick with the subject as well.
Yes, Al had decided at first to stay with it because it was a class where he was assured to sit behind Aquila, as Glass insisted on alphabetically the entire year. But after that first week of classes, he was hooked on the content.
Sitting down in his seat from last year, he knew there was no chance of it changing, everyone loved this class after OWLs, he dug through his deceivingly small bookbag for his notebook, muggle pens, and textbook. Glass insisted on muggle supplies for this class, as it was easier to go through their notes, and there was no need for re-inking a quill half way through an important note.
After settling his materials on his desk, he turned his attention to the door, where Aquila was entering the room with her friend, Azra Zabini.
After standing at the door talking for a bit, Aquila came and sat behind Al. When she leant down to grab her books from her bag, he got a whiff of her shampoo and he inhaled deeply.
While he was in his Aquila delirium, he received a sharp poke in the back,
Jumping, he turned to see Aquila holding a pen preparing to poke him again.
"Did Longbottom tell you about the meeting during last period?" Aquila asked him, titling her head to the side like she always did when asking a question.
"Oh yeah, do you want to go together after Defence?" Al asked, trying to stay when talking to the girl he had been in love with since third year.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. What do you think McGonagall is going to discuss with us?" Aquila started absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair, distracting Al from answering the question.
"Potter!" Aquila snapped her fingers under his nose. "What do you think McGonagall is going to discuss with us!" Aquila repeated.
"Probably how to ensure house unity, and where the heads common is, and about the ball." Al replied, shaking his head out of his daze.
"Right. That's what I was thinking. We should also get together to start planning the ball, it is a big thing to plan." Aquila said, drumming her fingers on the desk now.
"Do you have any experience planning balls. I'm good at planning parties for my family, but no ball experience here." Al attempted a weak joke, at which Aquila gave a small smile at. She smiled at my joke! Granted it sucked, and she was probably smiling at how stupid it was, but a smile nonetheless!
"Yeah, I have helped with my mum and grandmother's balls. My mum sent me a list of things we should focus on." Aquila said, grinning.
"That's good." Al said, but was saved from having to say more by the arrival of Professor Glass, who for some reason entered on a broom from a window.
After an interesting History class, where Professor Glass informed them that they would be getting into the "meat and potatoes" of the second wizarding war, including the first and second battle of Hogwarts (his phrasing), he went down to the entrance hall, where he saw Rose and Fred hanging by the hourglasses.
"hey Albie, have fun in History?" Fred sniggered.
"Always." Al answered him, slugging him on the shoulder.
"If you two are done with your "manly" displays of affection, can we head down to the dungeons?" Rose questioned, with an exasperated look on her face.
They kept teasing each other all the way down to the dungeons. Potions was the one class where they never sat in alphabetical order. Rose, Fred and Al went straight to the back corner.
Aquila, Azra and their other friend Missy walked into the room, and by fate or luck, again, sat in front of the threesome. Aquila was right in front of Al.
Needless to say, Al was very distracted all class. Rose was freaking out the entire time, potions being the only subject Hogwarts offered that she was bad at.
Usually Al spent the entire class helping Rose, but he was so zoned out that he was doing his potion on auto-pilot and ignoring Rose's frantic mutterings of failings and explosions.
After their potions being graded, they were doing the Draught of Living Death, Aquila getting the best grade in the class, Al slightly behind her, with Rose coming in dead last, with a potion that looked and smelled like troll excrement.
Al's dad had horror stories about trolls. Ones from Hogwarts, and ones from his Auror days. Not pretty.
Fred and Al waited outside for Rose who was asked to stay behind and talk to Professor Phume. When she came out, she stormed past them, and refused to talk about it.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was always interesting. They had had the same teacher for the past 3 years, a retired Auror named Seamus Finnegan, who had gone to school with Rose and Al's parents, and had been in Dumbledore's army.
Professor Finnegan was currently going through battle sequences and tactics, picking up right where they left off last year.
After a rigorous Defense class, where Finnegan got so excited in giving demonstrations on a model of Hogwarts he had, that he blew it up, they left single file out the door. Al stopped right outside the door to wait for Aquila, who stopped to talk to Azra quickly.
"Aren't you coming, Al?" Rose questioned, looking back at him.
"Nah, I have to wait for Malfoy, we've got a Head's meeting with McGonagall." Al said, trying to appear nonchalant about it.
"Right. Well. Meet you in the common room then. Bring your potions homework for Rosie." Fred said steering Rose down the hall by the elbow, before she could comment on the fact that she deserved head girl more that Aquila Malfoy.
"Ready to go then Potter?" Aquila asked, adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag.
"Yupp. Do you know the password?" Al answered, starting to head down the corridor.
"Ginger Biscuits. Professor Flitwick told me when he told me about the meeting." She answered, she had to take more steps to match each long stride of Al's.
"Good, good." Al mumbled. They spent the rest of their walk to the Griffin's that protected the Headmistress' room in silence.
After relaying the password, they went up the stairs, and knocked.
"Come in." Al smiled as he recognized the brusque Scottish voice of his godmother.
Not many people knew that Minerva McGonagall was Al's godmother, just like not many people knew Severus was his middle name. Al's parents figured that if they were going to honor two headmasters that protected Harry with their lives, why not honor the woman who was so supportive of Harry as well.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, and Ms. Malfoy. I see you both got my message." McGonagall indicated with her hand to take a seat in front of her desk, where comfy armchairs were placed. "Here have a biscuit."
Al immediately reached out and grabbed his favorite mint chocolate biscuits that McGonagall kept for him, while Aquila, less sure about it, grabbed a ginger biscuit, and slowly nibbled on it.
"Right" McGonagall signed the paper she was looking at with a flourish and banished it to a shelf across the room. "On to our Meeting."
"I have chosen you as Head Boy and Girl because your marks are exemplary, your behavior excellent, and because students look up to each of you. I also believe you can work well together, if you can get past a few minor issues."
Like the fact our families hate each other. Al thought, grabbing another biscuit.
"The duties you are to perform are to care for the prefects, and all other students. You will patrol every other night from curfew till 12 am, at which time a teacher will take over from you. You will also have to run prefect meetings every month, relaying information that the teachers wish for them to know." She stopped to glare at Al who was reaching to grab yet another biscuit. He slowly retracted his hand and placed it in his lap.
"You will also be charged with the planning and running of the Easter Ball. This is an event that has went of without a hitch every other year, so I expect no less from you. You will also be expected to arrange entertainment for the Hallowe'en Feast." McGonagall finished and peered over the top of her glasses at them. "Do you understand your duties?"
They both nodded yes.
"Good, then you may leave. But before you do, the head's common room is located on the same corridor as the prefects bath. It's behind a portrait of the cherub dancing in lilies. The password is Unity. You may leave" McGonagall then slapped Al's hand as he reached for more biscuits to take on the road.
"You have had enough, Mr. Albus. I had this problem with you when you were five, I thought you grew out of it." McGonagall smiled at him kindly.
Al flashed her what his mother referred to as the Potter 'Charm Grin'. "Why, Auntie, Never! Haven't you caught on from James that Potter's never grow up?"
"I had gathered that much, Mr. Potter. Go do your homework, you don't have patrol tonight."
Al saluted her, and left the room with Aquila.
"You know Professor McGonagall really well don't you?" Aquila asked as they walked down the stairs.
"Yeah, she's my godmother. Not many people know that though." Al replied, chancing a glance at her.
"My godmother is Azra's mum, she's basically my second mother anyway." Aquila said, smiling her little smile that drove Al crazy.
"That's cool. So you've know Azra your entire life then?" Al smiled. He was finally getting to know some personal things about her.
"Yes. You've obviously know Rose and Fred your entire life, so I won't even bother asking about that!" Aquila giggled.
Al laughed, "yeah, I have. I guess you know about people knowing every single thing you've done in your life, huh, between your twin and Azra."
"Yes, yes, I definitely do!" Aquila replied. They decided to meet tomorrow in the head's common to discuss prefect rotation, and had other small talk until the fifth floor where Aquila turned right with a friendly wave, s, while Al continued up to the seventh floor.
After giving the password to the Fat Lady (Phoenix Triumphant) he climbed in the common room and headed straight to where Rose and Fred were sitting doing their homework.
"Al! Did you bring your potions assignment?" Rose said looking frantic, "I can't get any of this!"
"I haven't had time to do it yet Rosie. Calm down. I'll do it now, and give it to you after dinner." Al said soothingly.
"YES! Dinnertime!" Fred bellowed half an hour later, as he saw the other students head up to their dormitories to put their bags away and change before the meal. The threesome headed up to put on the muggle clothes they found more comfortable and put away their supplies.
Al pulled on a pair of dark wash jeans, and a grey v-neck jumper. Fred was wearing normal jeans, with a blue t-shirt and black zip-up hoodie. They went down the stairs, and waited for Rose, who emerged wearing jeans, and a long-sleeve purple shirt with a scoop neck.
"Ready Men?" She asked, walking past them.
"TO FOOD!" Fred bellowed, leading the way out of the common room. Al followed them, chuckling. He didn't know what he would do without those two.