Chapter 3: Girl Meets Second Year

"Sometimes all you have to do is trust them." - Riley Matthews, Girl Meets Sneak Attack, Girl Meets World

The school holidays ended too quickly to my liking. I missed my friends - Scorpius and Albus a lot. I did maintain contact with the both of them in particular Scorpius as I knew about how ill Scorpius's mother - Astoria was. I sent him mainly flowers and chocolate - mostly chocolate to his mother - hoping that Astoria feels better. I also asked - actually begged my dad and my mum to let Scorpius stay with us for a while, but my father didn't - or decided that he shouldn't let the son of Voldemort stay with us as he still believed those various rumours about Scorpius. "He is Voldemort's son," he said when I asked him. "He is unsafe. He shouldn't be in our home, eating our food."

Albus also sent me letters as well every few days. Elliot teased me about Albus's letters a lot. "He must really like you a lot to send you letters, Slimy," he says. Slimy is my new nickname that Elliot made up as I am now a Slytherin. "I bet you like him too."

"I don't," I added. I was a bit uncertain about how much I liked Albus. He is nice and all, but I wasn't not yet interested.

First day of school (or when we catch the train to Hogwarts) is usually on the first of September. The first of September arrived with a chill in the morning. I was cold as I put my uniform on. My legs were freezing as I walked down the stairs as the early morning breeze hits me like a soggy chill. "I don't know whether or not to be disappointed," I heard my father say. "That my own daughter isn't in Gryffindor and is friends with that kid."

"Cory, we talked about this," my mother said. "Anyway, there is no proof that Scorpius isn't Voldemort's child."

"I'm not talking about Scorpius," he says. "I'm talking about Albus. I just think he isn't a good friend to Riley, Topanga."

"But Riley thinks so," she adds. "And I do too. I have written to his mother heaps of times - mostly about Albus's treatment at home with his family in particular James. Didn't you know that James is bullying Albus? Please, give the boy a chance."

"I understand, Topanga," he says.

"Understand the circumstance more, Cory," she says.

I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as I entered the kitchen to get some toast and put some jam on the toast. I start munching as I see Auggie and Elliot walk into the kitchen. "They are talking about your boyfriend," Auggie teases.

"Shut up," I said, punching him playfully in the arm. He laughs as he helps himself to some cereal.

We entered platform nine and three quarters at quarter to eleven as I sighed. Another school year putting up with those haters but as Maya would say 'Haters gonna hate', but I don't listen to Maya's advice anymore as we aren't exactly close. I said my goodbyes to my parents as I had what I thought was an awkward hug with my dad.

"Riley," he said. "We have to talk."

"Dad," I added. "I have to board the train."

"I know," he says. "But I still need to talk to you. It's about Albus. I don't want you to be friends with him anymore."

"Dad," I started. "You can't tell me who I can't be friends with. Albus is my best friend and you know that. He is nice and timid."

"I'm trying to give you advice," he says.

"And your advice is flawed," I added. "Please stay out of my life."

He gives me a hug (which was pretty awkward on my behalf) as I entered the train and headed to the compartment which I shared with Scorpius and Albus. Scorpius was already in the compartment as I entered. "Hey, Scorpius," I said, as I sat down. "How's your mother?"

"Not good," he answers. "Still very sick. How was your holiday?"

"It was alright I guess," I replied. "Except for the fact that my dad decides that I shouldn't be friends with you or Albus. Somehow, I wish he wouldn't. You guys are my best friends."

"'Best friends'," I heard a boyish voice called out. I turned around to see Albus standing there. He looked a bit pale, but he still smiled. "Hey, Scorpius. Hey, Riley. What were you saying, Riley?"

"Hey, Albus," I added. "My parents - well my dad said that I shouldn't be friends with you or Scorpius. Mainly because he thinks that you two are a bad influence on me."

"What?" He exclaimed. "But that's unfair."

"At least my mother was defending me," I added. "I heard your summer was boring, Albus."

"Boring doesn't count it," he says. "It was horrible. James kept on bullying me. And I know my dad is bitterly disappointed in me being in Slytherin. What about yours, Scorpius?"

"Not that good," Scorpius replies. "My mum is still very sick."

The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement as I see Professor McGonagall standing in front of us. "I'll be making two announcements," she says. "Firstly, I'm pleased to announce that Gryffindor's new chaser is Rose Weasley-Granger." I hear everyone cheering and clapping except for Albus who sighed. "Secondly, I'm also pleased to announce that Slytherin's new seeker is Riley Matthews."

I notice that the cheering died down as I stood there looking shocked as everyone was staring at me. I hear somebody starting to clap. I look to see who it was and I was surprised to see Rose clapping. "Well done, Riley," she cheers. I hear the rest of the school cheering and clapping (except for Maya, Polly, Craig and Karl).

The second lesson of the term was Potions with Professor Slughorn - who is the head of Slytherin House. I worked on the same table as Scorpius and Albus but I didn't work with them at all. I worked with a girl from Ravenclaw named Evelyn 'Evie' O'Brien. She has dark brown hair and light brown eyes. I always notice that she smiled a lot and is always friendly.

"Now we add the Bicorn," Evie says.

"Albus Potter," I heard Polly say. "An irrelevance. Even the portraits turn the other way when he comes up the stairs."

"Potter more like Plotter," I heard Lucas say.

"Ignore them, Albus," Evie says to Albus who was getting frustrated and angry. "Just focus on your potion. They are just getting under your skin."

"Leave him, Matthews, O'Brien and Voldemort's son be," Karl says.

Suddenly I notice Albus's and Scorpius's potion exploded. "Okay," Scorpius says. "What's the counter-ingredient? What do we need to change?"

"Everything," Albus concluded.

Thank you for reading this fanfic, guys. It means a lot. My fanfics maybe delayed in October as I'll be having major surgery so I'll be trying to upload as much as I can within the six weeks that I have before surgery. Hopefully you all like this fanfic as well, just remember to Fav/Review. Next chapter will feature Lucas and a love triangle (but wouldn't be present until later on in the story) - Lucas/Riley/Albus.