Here it is! I'm sorry for the wait, but it's here!
Our day of freedom was short-lived, and I woke up the next morning both excited and nervous for my first day of classes. I got dressed quickly, and kicked the foot of Kyle's bed saying, "Wake up Sunshine," as I head to the dormitory exit. Kyle mumbled something incomprehensible under his breath. Deeming it unimportant, I ignored him and continued into the Common Room.
I walked into the Common Room with a little more confidence this time. Lucy waved at me from one of the black leather couches cheerfully. I waved back and noticed Collin, who had pretty much declared me as his protégé, wasn't far from Lucy. He was with three of his friends throwing a small trinket back and forth between them. One boy said something and pointed to the door, but I couldn't hear exactly what it was because of the sheer noise of everyone talking around me.
Collin and the other two nodded in agreement to what the first boy had said, and the four made their way to the door that led to the dungeon corridor.
'Oh great,' I thought. 'Now I have to follow them the whole way to the Great Hall.'
I tried to blend in as much as possible until Collin had stepped out of the Common Room. Relaxing slightly, I considered waiting until they were far enough down the corridor to avoid meeting up with them, but my stomach growled in protest. I had no choice. I had to follow them and risk being spotted by Collin, or go hungry. After peeking around the corner and finding that Collin and his friends weren't far up the corridor, I tiptoed as quietly as possible behind them.
We had nearly reached the great hall when a water balloon busted against my temple. I turned to see who had thrown it and saw that it was Peeves the Hogwarts Poltergeist in his outlandish attire complete with his orange bow tie, and bell covered hat. He looked similar to a jester from the old times, except he was floating in mid-air, and armed with water balloons.
Peeves threw another water balloon, but this time I quickly dodged it. 'Why were things always being thrown at me lately?'
Forgetting about lying low, I yelled at the Poltergeist, "Peeves! Now my robes are soaked!"
"Oh, little Potty. No need to get upset. Only witches melt. Wizards only look as though they've peed themselves, or have a severe sweating problem when hit with a little water," Peeves taunted with a cackle. "Go on and run to your platoon of cousins. Maybe the older Potty and his partner in crime will join the fun with me."
Peeves was right about one thing. James and Fred would join him in wrecking havoc on the school. According to James stories of his first year of Hogwarts, it had already happened before.
Professor Longbottom appeared from the doors leading to the Great Hall, most likely from hearing me yell at the Poltergeist. He began to stroll towards Peeves and I. Collin and his friends seemed unable to control their curiosity and followed a safe distance behind the professor. Collin seemed to be the leader of the group, which wasn't a surprise.
"Peeves, let's leave Mr. Potter alone." Professor Longbottom said sternly.
"Oh look! Little Longbottom Gryffindor is trying to be assertive! What are you going if I don't leave him alone? Tattle on me to Headmistress Minnie McGonagall?"
Professor Longbottom didn't seem to be fazed by any of Peeves comments and held his ground. "I could go to the Headmistress, or I could go to the Bloody Baron."
Peeves seemed to wince a bit, but he continued on. "You? Go to the Bloody Baron? You've never had more courage that a measly pussycat! When you were Potty's age, the mere mention of the Bloody Baron was enough to give you nightmares for weeks. You won't get the Baron." He blew a loud raspberry to finish his statement.
Professor Longbottom raised his eyebrows. "Really? Oh Baron! I'm in need of your assistance!" he yelled dramatically.
Peeves's arms flew over his head quickly in surrender making his bell covered hat jingle loudly. "Okay, Okay! I'll leave little Potter alone! Just shut up already before he hears you!"
"Good. Now behave yourself, and scatter." The professor stated matter-of-factly.
Peeves slunk away muttering under his breath, "I hate it when pussycat Gryffindors turn into lions."
Professor Longbottom turned to me and performed a drying charm. "There, now that you're all dry, and Peeves will be leaving you alone at least for a little while, you can go get some breakfast in the Great Hall."
"Thanks." I said grateful that I had found an adult at Hogwarts I knew I could trust.
"No problem. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." He said with a smile and a wink.
Collin and his friends closed in, and Collin spoke up. "Fancy seeing you here. Andrew, is it?"
"Albus." I corrected. I looked to Professor Longbottom hoping he would save me from the older boy's interest in me, but he had already disappeared into the Great Hall.
"Yes, of course. Why don't you eat breakfast with us?"
"But my family and Scorpius—"
"I'm sure your family will understand. Scorpius and Lucy can join us if they'd like." Collin interrupted.
"Okay. I guess." I replied figuring I didn't really have a choice in the matter.
"Great. Let's go," he said leading me into the Great Hall.
As expected, we sat at the Slytherin table, and I began to eat my breakfast; answering questions from Collin and his friends between bites. It was the first time his friends had talked to me directly, but I found that each was very talkative and full of himself. However, none of them were as talkative or full of themselves as Collin was. During a lapse in questions, I snuck a peek at the Gryffindor table. Like yesterday, the Weasley/Potter clan plus Scorpius was gathered around the table laughing and talking. The only person missing was me. The few cousins that found me looking in their direction gave me reassuring smiles and waves. The exceptions were my brother and Scorpius. James eyed Collin sitting next to me and gave me a disapproving glare. Anyone else in my position would be thrilled to be receiving this much attention from a Seventh year as a first year. They'd be grateful to have an older student other than a relative, take them under their wing. Especially James. I figured that was probably his problem. As for Scorpius, I wasn't sure what was bothering him. James's face was just easy enough to read because I've lived with him the last 11 years (technically my whole life). Scorpius was another story. He just looked generally pouty. Like a child in a timeout watching another kid play with his favorite toy.
Headmistress McGonagall appeared at the podium in front of the staff table. "Students, before you finish your breakfast, I want to bring to your attention that your class timetables have been given to your respective house prefects. Please retrieve your schedules from them whenever you see fit before breakfast is over."
Apparently everyone in each house saw this as a "fit time to retrieve your timetable," because there was a mad dash to the section of each table where the prefects sat with stacks of parchment behind them. It didn't help that most of us weren't sitting at their own house tables, so there was scrambling at each table, and between each table. This caused the prefects to become frazzled and go into a state of panic trying not to get trampled.
The chaos and confusion ended up being a blessing. It was enough to allow me to escape from Collin and make my way toward the Gryffindor table. Surprisingly, as everyone was scrambling for their timetables, every member of the Weasley/Potter clan plus Scorpius was still sitting at the table. These were the type of students who loved chaos and confusion as much as they like causing it. Victoire looked slightly irritated, and as I got closer I found out why.
"Ugh. Doesn't anyone remember the accio charm from fourth year? Accio Weasley, Potter, and Malfoy timetables!" She exclaimed in frustration.
Eleven schedules calmly floated above the four tables and landed in a neat stack in front of Victoire. She then calmly passed them out.
I sat down between Rose and Scorpius after getting my timetable from Victoire. Scorpius was still pouting, but was trying his best not to show it, and Rose was still shoveling eggs into her mouth.
Once Scorpius and Rose had received their timetables from Victoire, Rose began to compare the three.
"Albus, Ravenclaws have Tranfiguration right after breakfast with Slytherins. And Scorpius, Ravenclaws have Charms with Gryffindors later today. And….Slytherins and Gryffindors have Double Potions before dinner.
A groan escaped from Scorpius's lips.
Rose and I looked at him in question. At first he looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Um. I just heard from my parents that Double Potions is horrible." He spat out quickly.
Rose and I glanced at each other, and silently agreed to just let it go.
We finished our breakfast mostly in silence, and watched the chaos of students still harassing their prefects for their timetables. After we were finished, Rose and I agreed to meet each other outside the Transfiguration classroom.
Thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story so far. It really means a lot to me! I'll have the next chapter written and uploaded ASAP. Review please?
P.S. Did anyone else watch the MTV movie awards? Because when Gary Oldman came on the screen I just had to yell, "It's him. Sirius Black! And he's here. At the MTV movie awards!"
Black could be anywhere...