Chapter Ten

"You're a down right git, Potter!"

Smirking at the threatening glare that was sent ruthlessly towards him, James Sirius Potter bowed slightly at the girl in front of him. Looking mighty as the girl leaked venom through her stare. "Always here to serve you, love."

"Heartless," clucking his tongue as a brunette Hufflepuff stormed away furiously, tears accumulating in her eyes, Fred Weasley II turned to his cousin. "You could have been nicer than that, mate."

James snorted, watching the figure of his two-week fling storm away past the gates that exited the greenhouse area. "Nice?" He huffed, adjusting his robes as the fall wind brushed by them. He gave her one last final glance, remembering their very good times, and proceeded to walk further into the gardens. "I was extremely polite to the girl. She knew that we were not exclusive."

"A little more than, 'our time's up. Lovely to have met you,'—after snogging her behind the trees—could've done the trick, James." Fred added, frowning slightly at his cousin as he shrugged it off. "She was actually really nice, mate. She could have made a decent girlfriend for you...If you learned how to settle down, that is."

"Settle down?" The dark-haired Fifth Year snorted again, throwing the redhead a look as if he was losing his marbles. "What am I, middle-aged? I've got my perspectives perfectly clear, mate. And, believe me, that it's not to find a candidate to take home to meet my mummy."

Grabbing onto one of James' arms, halting him from continuing his swaggered stroll like if he was the king of the Gryffindors, Fred said, "I'm not telling you to have them meet Aunt Ginny. Just for you to stop breaking hearts as you go along." He frowned a little, looking actually very serious. "Look, James...I know this might seem a bit odd coming from me and all, but if you push it, karma will get you. One day you're going to find a girl you truly fancy and she is going to break your heart. Just like you've done to others."

Noticing the worried expression on Fred's freckly face, James tried not to frown at his cousin for talking to him about feelings and the muggle-karma concept. So instead he settled for a sigh. A little heave of air to let his cousin, and best friend, know that he got the hint. "As much as I don't think that is ever going to happen, Freds, I'll keep your advice…" He trailed off, his eyes catching sight of a pretty witch inside an empty greenhouse.

"James?" Fred raised his eyebrow.

"Tell you what, mate, that was very good advice," James replied quickly, clearing his throat and adjusting his robes once more. "See you later, yeah?"

Not bothering to reply, Fred watched his cousin strut forward, his eyes rolling to himself as he noticed the familiar girl inside of that glass classroom. Her beautiful face peering down at the plants as she showered them with a smile, her wand leaking out water to keep them strong and alive.

"—Boo!"

"Boo?" The girl repeated, not jumping as she felt a presence next to her; her gaze distracted from the plants she was attending to as they looked at a redhead march away from the outside. "When has that ever worked, Potter?"

"Not since you were about four." Twirling the girl around, carefully pulling on her arm, James' brown eyes were washed over by a stormy color. Their intensity metallic and cool into his warm ones. "I had to hug you until you stopped crying, remember? Good, good times."

Ariana Malfoy narrowed her eyes, examining the eldest of the Potter children as he smiled smoothly at her. "As I recall, Potter, you were covering my mouth and trying to bribe me so I wouldn't tell your daddy you threw me at the floor."

"Eh," he shrugged, "it was all welcoming, still."

"Is there something you wanted?" Ariana asked, her patience wearing thin as she tried pulling his clutch away from her. "I was a bit busy, James."

Trying not to smirk, the dark-haired Gryffindor slowly traced his fingers down her arms, past the sleeve of her robe and onto her own hand; his fingers wrapping around hers. "I just wanted to know how you are. You've been really silent for the past days. I know it's due to the funeral, but I just wanted to make sure you didn't need anything. I don't like seeing you sad, Ana."

Almost as if it was automatic, a tug seared into her heart. "...I'm fine," she whispered, the feel of his warm fingers giving her a peek at a cure to the failing heartstrings in her system. "…I miss him quite a lot," she added too; James gave her a little confused expression. "He was always distant, I know, but his eyes...they always shone when I was around...He was always so happy to see me...I'd had a letter from him every morning. And now...his owl doesn't come." She frowned, a pressure building behind her throat. And because of that emotion that didn't go well with her, she ripped her hand away from James in a flash of anger. "And it won't."

"Listen, Ana," James whispered softly, reaching for her as she tried to hide herself by looking towards the plants again, "my dad told me once that the ones we love never truly leave us." He grabbed her face, his palms lightly on either sides of her cheeks. He noticed that the Third Year was trying not to let her silvery eyes leak those tears, the sign of weakness that no Malfoy let others see. "…And you've got to believe that."

The almost-brunette stared at her fellow house-mate. The plead in his face for her to believe what he just said shone brightly. He wanted her to be content with the idea that her grandfather passed away—not in a cruel way, but that he was always going to be present. "...Thanks," she muttered. Her hands reaching up to his, her fingers hooking onto his palms for support as she tried to contain those emotions she didn't know how to deal with.

"You've got a great heart, Ana," James said, caressing her left cheek with his finger. His eyes sparkling as he noticed her beauty.

And without a warning, or knowing how exactly he was going to play this off after, he leaned forward. His lips parted as he heard her intake of breath, his eyes closing as a reflex as soon as his forehead pressed against hers. His heart gave a bolt, her scent so close to him.

"—No way, mate, it was wickedly funny!"

"—Yeah, we deserved that detention from Neville."

And just before James could push that bolt far, before his lips closed the tiny centimeter that was left, the greenhouse gained three unexpected visitors.

Almost like a hex was thrown at him, blindsiding him completely, Scorpius watched as James Potter carefully took a step back from his sister. A revolting taste appearing at the end of his tongue as he turned to her, watching her remain on her spot, looking flushed rather than guilty or bewitched. (Oh, how he hoped she was bewitched.)

The middle Slytherin among the three glared, his teeth grinding together in deadly silence as he could already see the grin threatening to appear on his brother's face. Almost as if they stumbled upon him creating the most powerful spell since Merlin himself. He knew James, he knew the lack of seriousness this matter meant. And if they would have been a second late—he swallowed, trying not to let himself think it.

"…Erm," and as the last of the trio, Angelo rose his eyebrow. Clearing his throat as he felt the tension rise up higher than when his father swaggers out of his bedroom looking smug, sweaty and tousled after sighing contently as he passes his children. (Oh, how he hates being home for the holidays sometimes.) "Lovely day to be at the gardens, eh? Bit of fresh air does us well."

"Surprised you are out in the vegetation," Scorpius spoke, taking a couple of steps towards the couple as his sister's blush faded. "Dawn and Lily are feeding the animals raw meat in the forest, you wouldn't want to miss it, beast."

Shaking her head once with a crooked grin on her pale face, Ariana turned to her brother. Her mind steered away from the Potters, not bothering to even attempt to look at either of them as she walked towards the blonde Slytherin; her wand out as she approached closer.

With a scowl that could be said he learned from his grandfather, Scorpius' boiling blood rushed in his veins as his little sister pointed her wand-tip at him. That stupid grin still on her face. "Ana, Ana," he clucked his tongue, waiting.

Raising it up an inch, Ariana smirked as she settled on swinging it. Smacking her brother with it at the right side of his face. A little tap of her wand, and she walked away. Leaving the Slytherins and the Gryffindor to have the unavoidable conversation she was not about to be a part of.

"Detention, huh?" James asked, coughing as he turned to his brother and his friends. "And from Neville? My, you three have been reckless lately."

"What are you doing, James?" Al asked, his glare still on his face.

And because of that fire burning in his brother's emerald eyes, James grinned more grandly than ever. "Just being my charming self, little Albus."

"She's thirteen, mate," Angelo cut across, putting a palm on Al's arm, hoping he wouldn't launch himself forward. "Don't you think there's an age limit to your broomstick ride of fun?"

Scorpius exhaled, his hands secretly clutching into fists.

"Ariana is unlike other Third Years, mate. We all know that," the Gryffindor commented casually, yawning lightly as he looked out the walls of the greenhouse and noticed the march of students hurrying along. "Sort of like your sister, Zabini. Savanna is rather amazing in her own special way."

"Don't do anything you'll regret, Potter." Scorpius said, his left fist finding its way into his pocket; a smirk appearing on his face as his expression became cool and composed. "My sister, well, how to put it..."He paused, his silvery eyes becoming mocking as Al and Zabini turned to him. "She's not something anyone wants to mess with."

Al swallowed, feeling uncomfortable.

"Feeling protective, Malfoy?" James questioned, the two top rivals of competing for the title of 'Hogwarts King' staring at each other unmoved by the motive behind their smirks. "Don't you worry, I'll take good care of her if that's the case."

"Wait," Malfoy raised his eyebrow. "You think I care about Ana?" He chuckled, lowering himself on one of the stools near the plants. "My concern was merely for you, Potter. If you wish to attract rabies from the beast, then that is on you. I was just trying to give you a heads up."

"I think I can handle a bite or two from Ana," the eldest of the Potters said smoothly, throwing a wink at his little brother that went unnoticed by Malfoy as he looked down for a millisecond. "Good luck with your detention, mates," he added, walking past the trio of Slytherins with a glorious glow to his face.

X

There she was—that girl every bloke in the castle seemed to fantasize about. She was at the furthest end of the empty classroom, looking through a stack of papers near the teacher's desk. Her green eyes scanning the parchment with great boredom; her dark hair pulled back into a messy bun as she worked as rapidly as she could to find what she was looking for.

He knew it was wrong, just letting her look through the assignments of others so she knew exactly what she needed to do. It wasn't technically cheating, though. He knew she wasn't about to copy, McGonagall knew how to spot them quicker than a rat amongst bunnies, and no one was that daft to attempt to. She was just trying to get an idea of what to do. ( A well deserved clue, he might add. It wasn't her fault that she ended up sick for three days.)

Slap.

"Pining over a Slytherin, are you?"

Snapping away from the object of his fascination, Louis Weasley turned to face a small, redheaded boy. His blue eyes glaring furiously at the boy as the students behind him chuckled from the smack upside the head he had received. "I'm not pining, Peyton. And smack me again, cousin, and Aunt Pansy will find less of a boy next time she sees you."

"Then what do you call what you're doing, mate?" Dawn Thomas asked, her own majestic blue eyes gleaming with curiosity as Lily Potter and Peyton Weasley took a seat next to their Sixth Year cousin. Both of them laughing at his mindless threat. "Just watching the scenery?"

"Piss off, D," Louis huffed, turning back to the Slytherin witch ahead. "I was just waiting for Malfoy and Al."

"Oooh!" Lily grinned, wiggling her fingers for a bit of show. "What do my brother and the git of his friend got up their sleeves now, eh?"

"Again, piss off," the blonde Weasley repeated, his eyes growing wide as the girl dropped a few papers and she reached down to get them. (All hail the keeper of skirts!) "Don't you three little lads have somewhere to be? Like drinking warm milk with house-elves? Or skipping down a jolly hill?"

"Actually, we don't. And we're so bored," Dawn sighed, walking towards the front of the desk where the Weasley/Potter three were sitting. "We took a trip to the Forbidden Forest but the unicorns were breeding and Peyton was getting whiny so we decided to leave. Now we've got nothing to do. Can't you see the horror?"

But not really paying attention, Louis hissed an, "out! Out of the way!" He was trying to look past the Second Year's head as the witch took a longer second to reach for the paper that flew far underneath the desk. "Go find your thickheaded brothers, Dawn! I'm sure the loony-twins have something to keep their monster-of-a-sister entertained."

Dawn glared.

"Don't be rude, Louis," Lily cut in, frowning at her cousin. "Lysander and Lorcan have been nothing but nice to you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. My apologies," the Gryffindor responded blankly, his lips tugging into a smile as the girl shimmied her way over the desk to adjust the pile of essays back into their original place. "—Oh! Did you see that? Merlin! I saw purple knickers!" Stopping as the two twelve year-old girls looked at him with disgust and Peyton looked like he still was too young to discover the fascination that is the undergarments of alluring witches, Louis snorted. "Kids."

But before awkward tension could fly into the room, the door of the classroom banged opened.
"—I don't see why you two ruddy idiots had to pull me away like that!" Stomping her way into the Transfiguration classroom, Rose Weasley shoved Al and Scorpius a step back as they followed her pursuit. Her anger flashing and burning in dangerous levels; levels of fury that burned as intense as her hair. "What gives you the bloody right to even—"

"Shut up, Weasley," Malfoy retorted, rolling his eyes as he walked past her. A headache rushing to him as the girl's shrill voice still echoed inside the walls of his head. "No one pulled you away. You started following us."

Rose glared roughly, her nostrils flaring as she tried controlling her breathing. "Be that as it may, Malfoy, you two owe Damien an apology."

"An apology?" Al scoffed, throwing his cousin an are-you-mental look. "We do not apologize to a McLaggen. Ever."

With a heart pounding inside his chest, Louis choked on the oxygen passing down his throat as the witch from ahead appeared next to him. Her smell of lavender so close; just separated a few inches from where he sat.

"Excuse me, Al."

And just like Louis had reacted—completely shocked and stunned—Al turned flush red as he turned to face the dazzling witch; his mouthing giving out a stupid smile as she blinked politely at him. "Y-Yeah. Erm, sorry, Lana. Bit distracted."

Gracing the lives of the two hormonal boys slobbering over her, Lana McLaggen smiled brightly at the group staring up at her. "Beautiful day to be outside, don't you think?"

"There's a storm practically happening outside, McLaggen," Rose cut in, her arms crossing over her chest as the dark-haired witch kept that sickly sweet smile. (Please. No one could be that nice, and Rose knew it. She was the nicest girl in the school, and yet, she had the fury to kill an entire village if she was having a bad day.) "Care to check the weather once in a while? Maybe that way you'll spare yourself from future sickness."

Lana shrugged, not really paying attention to the indirect statement of the redhead. "While others bask themselves in the sun, Rose, I prefer the cold. There is nothing like a stroll in the rain to clear your mind."

"—I like walks in the rain!" Louis practically shouted, raising his arm in the air and slightly startling the Slytherin witch.

"Erm..."Feeling confused and uncomfortable, Lana turned away from the one-eighth veela. "Thanks for giving me the chance to look over your essay, Scorpius," the girl said, her emerald eyes turning towards her blonde house-mate as he remained silent. The look of annoyance dominant on his gorgeous face that Lana couldn't help but to smile at it. She appreciated the intensity that could develop in his sharp features instead of the usual handsome expression. "It's going to help loads."

"That's cheating," Rose interjected, tossing Malfoy an accusing stare. "McGonagall will fail you the entire year if she knows you let McLaggen cheat off your essays."

Eying Rose like she was the infection of the worst disease, Scorpius said, "you seem to be forgetting who my mother is, Weasley." He frowned more at her, her voice still poking at his head and threatening that headache. "I did not let Lana cheat. I allowed her to look over my essay and turn in her part of the report that was missing. It was a partner project after all and she was sick."

"Well, the essays are alphabetized and in the spot the professor left them. Thanks again, Scorpius," Lana McLaggen smiled again, looking down at Lily and ruffling her red strands as she walked towards the door. "See you three in the Common Room. You owe me a game of chess, Peyton. Don't forget."

Looking aghast, Louis bombarded Peyton with, "you play chess with her?" The First Year Slytherin shrugged indifferently at his cousin. "Since when? Some communication between us would help, Peyton!"

"Lana McLaggen?" Rose snorted, looking at the group of older boys around her. "What's so bloody special about Lana? She's a complete wench, you know that."

"She's rather sweet," Lily said nicely. "She always says hello to me."

Nodding her head, Dawn said, "it's true." Her tone was the same as her best friend's. "And she's always telling us when the Thestrals are close by. And lets us know what spots in the forest are safe to be by."

"Neither of you should even be in the forest in the first place!" Rose scolded the two Second Year Gryffindors. "And you," she turned to Scorpius, not finding it in her heart to leave the damn idiot alone after he interrupted her time with Damien McLaggen. (It's only fair she annoy him to death.)"Hermione's son or not, McGonagall will punish you for helping your little girlfriend with her assignment."

Malfoy leered, his headache still pounding, but he pushed it away for a few seconds to enjoy the fury bubbling from Rose. "I get rewarded later, Rosie, darling. I assure you the detention will suffice for such prize. Lana is quite generous."

"Oi!" Louis snapped as his cousin glared, her fury more genuine than his self pity.

And just before Rose could even react to Malfoy's sickening words, Roxanne came rushing in. "Al! Rose!"

"Settle down, Roxy," Al gripped the girl's arm before she slipped on the marbled floor from her race; letting her catch some air before he let her go. "What's wrong?"

"Ted's here! He pulled Dash and the Thomas twins into the Headmistress office." Swallowing a puff of oxygen, Roxy turned to the little tanned-skin girl. "You better go, Dawn. Be with your brothers."

Dawn was a spitting image of her mother—characteristically wise, of course. She had inherited Luna Lovegood's dreamy aura, her enchantment, the power to stay cheerful at all times, and that skip that made her walks jolly down a corridor. She was rarely scared of anything since she'd been surrounded by odd creatures in her short life due to her mother's work. Being frightened was never an option. But by the look on Roxanne Weasley's face, the tone of fear in her voice, Dawn found herself contaminated with it. "...Why?"

"I...I'm not sure…"Roxy cleared her throat, something in her chest falling. "Teddy will explain everything, okay, D?" Roxy tried her hardest to keep her face blank. "Come on, I'll walk you—"

Dawn took a fast step back, not allowing the redhead girl to take a hold of her hand. "No," Dawn practically hissed. "Tell me."

"D, Roxy's right. Whatever happened it's best if Ted tells you," Louis offered, forgetting his moment of pity due to Malfoy and his dream-girl as soon as the little girl's voice squeaked. "Come, Dawn. I'll walk you, yeah?" He smiled dimly at the her, reaching for her little hand as her blue eyes started accumulating tears.

The Second Year sniffled, letting Louis grab her little hand without a fight.

Sharing a long look with his news-bearing cousin, Louis directed Luna Lovegood's daughter towards the exit of the classroom.

"…Roxy, what happened?" Rose asked in a whisper. "What did Teddy tell you?"

"Spill it, Weasley. We're all going to find out eventually. Best give us a clue of how we are supposed to act." Scorpius said with Al nodding in agreement as Lily and Peyton marched after Louis and Dawn. His silver eyes looking expecting. Knowing what was coming; he could see in the girl's expression.

All these Weasley/Potters were easily read. They always wore their emotions like the finest of robes. Never getting the meaning of discretion as they let the world see how they felt.

And Roxy's hesitance gave more away.

Scorpius crossed his arms. "Now would be excellent, Weasley."

Biting her lip, tears sprinkling through her lashes, Roxy nodded solemnly. "…Teddy came back from a crime-scene with the Aurors. There was another attack, nearby Diagon Alley. A pub it seems...Few were hurt, but one killed trying to help a friend."

"Who?" Rose questioned again, her heart beating too fast. (Her father was an Auror, after all.)

"Mister Thomas and Mister Finnegan were at the pub..."Roxy murmured, thicker tears falling as she pictured the distraught faces of her friends once they found out the destruction that had fallen upon them. "...Time for another funeral."

Scorpius looked at the relatives huddle together: Al and Rose hugging Roxanne as her hurt was more dominant than theirs at the moment. They comforted her because they didn't know yet, didn't know who it was, and nor were they going to badger it out of her. She gave them what they had asked for after all, a clue.

Now they knew how they were supposed to react, how cautious they had to be from the mourning on Roxanne's face. Yet, what they didn't know was the worst to come. But for now, all they were supposed to find out was that one of their friends had just lost a father; a man who became another entry to the list of the dead.

Seamus Finnegan—Former D.A member; murdered on the outskirts of London.