Chapter Three

Albus' POV

'So what do you do if there's an emergency?' asks Mum, looking anxiously at me, James and Lily.

'Go to Ron and Hermione's,' choruses James, rolling his eyes; I don't blame him- we've had this lecture from Mum non-stop for the past few days and, now that she and Dad are about to actually leave, she seems to want to get in a few more runs of it.

'They'll be fine,' says Dad soothingly before turning to James and adding in an undertone, 'When I get back this house better be in exactly the same state in which I left it.'

'Yeah, yeah.'

Being the wimp that I am, I feel my stomach squirm as I picture the chaotic party we've planned for tomorrow night.

'We'll be fine,' smiles Lily, displaying the 'cute little girl' persona that seems to work brilliantly on our parents, 'I'll make sure the boys don't get up to anything.'

Both our parents look rather reassured by this. Honestly! Talk about sexism; if James or I had tried that they would have been immediately suspicious.

'Okay, well we'll see you on Sunday,' says Mum, looking rather reluctant to leave, 'We'll be back around 2.'

Dad rolls his eyes at her and opens the door, 'Come on, Gin, they'll be fine.'

'Bye! Have a good time in Paris,' we chant as they disappear down the drive and disapparate.

'Well thank God they've finally gone,' sighs James, leaning against the doorframe, 'I've got so much stuff to sort out for tomorrow.'

Again my stomach jumps at the thought of tomorrow's party. Only this time it's about the people I've invited- or haven't.

As if reading my mind, James turns to me and asks, 'Al, when are Rose, Scorpius and Katie getting here? Are they coming tonight or tomorrow?'

I pull a face and answer reluctantly, 'Well Rose and Scorpius are getting here tomorrow. I'm not sure about Katie.'

'Why not?' chips in Lily.

I'm tempted to lie but both my siblings are giving me looks which I know mean I won't get away without answering truthfully.

'I've sort of not invited Katie,' I admit, hanging my head in shame.

'Why?' asks Lily in great surprise, 'I like Katie, and James is only letting me have six guests of my own.'

Now I definitely can't answer truthfully here.

The reason I've not invited Katie yet is because I have no idea how to react when I see her. I've not seen her since I had the epiphany that I fancy her. Of course, I should have realised this months or maybe years ago, but I only thought about it properly when James mentioned it the night I got back from seeing her on Monday.

So now I break out in a sweat at the thought of her, and have no idea what I'll do when I actually see her. Part of me wants to ask her out while the other half is terrified of wrecking our friendship.

I know, I know. Harry Potter's son is a coward.

James, meanwhile, is looking at me shrewdly, 'You'd better invite her Al. Imagine her being stuck at home with her psycho family and finding out from Rose that we all had a party without her.'

Okay, I'm an awful person.

'I will invite her,' I say honestly, 'I'll send her an owl first thing tomorrow morning.'

'Good,' says James, looking more relaxed, 'right we need to get organised.'

Lily rolls her eyes, 'this is hardly a military operation, James. We're just having a few friends round.'

'Oh Lily,' laughs James, patting her on the back in a rather patronising way,' how naïve you are. There are more than just a few people coming.'

'What?' I ask, temporarily distracted from thoughts of Katie by this alarming news, 'you said thirty people, James.'

'Dear little Albus Severus,' says James, while giving me my own pat on the back, 'Everyone in your school year is coming and also about half of the year below. I've invited everyone who was in my year when I was at Hogwarts, plus everyone at the Montrose Magpies and about a dozen other people that I know. Oh and Lily's got her six friends coming.'

I let this revelation sink in, wondering how on earth we're going to keep the party a secret from Mum and Dad.

I glance at James, who is giving me a challenging look.

'Oh what the hell!' I exclaim, feeling a bit reckless all of a sudden.

James grins at me, 'I knew you'd be up for it. Now hurry up and invite Katie before I have to do it myself.'

And of course my thoughts are now back to my best friend…

atie's POV

A few days ago I thought my summer was at its lowest point and that it couldn't get any worse.

How very wrong I was.

It's now Saturday, five days after I went out with Al, and my parents still aren't talking to me.

Very mature for a couple of forty-something year olds who should know better.

The house has been locked in a state of tension ever since, with neither me nor my mother willing to be the first to speak to one another and my father resolutely taking Mum's side.

Why don't I just move out? I think, as I lie on my bed Saturday morning wondering how on earth my family life got so bad.

Because you don't have any money to buy your own place and you don't want to be a burden on your friends, I answer almost instantly.

I feel guilty for even thinking this because I know Rose's parents would gladly let me stay at theirs for as long as I like, but I can't bring myself to admit to anyone just how bad my family are.

Well, maybe I could talk to Al…

But Al clearly doesn't want to talk to me properly, or so his letters would suggest.

He kept his promise to write to me every day but he may as well not bother. His letters over the past few days have been about the most trivial things (one of them actually asked my opinion on the new legislation for Flobberworm breeding!)

It's as if he's purposely trying to avoid any discussion of emotions, which is weird considering how much we spoke about that kind of stuff on Monday.

Just at that moment, an owl soars through my open window and drops a letter on to my lap.

That'll be from Rose, I think, as I absent-mindedly open the envelope; she's been writing daily, mostly talking about Scorpius and asking whether I think he likes her or not.

Yes, he bloody does! Just go out already!

When I pull out the letter, however, I see that it is not from lovesick Rose but Albus himself.

Ooh, maybe a brand new breed of Flobberworm has been discovered!

Dear Katie,

I'm sorry my letters have been a bit dull recently- in fact I'm surprised you even bothered to open this one.

How about I make it up to you?

James has organised a party at ours tonight (Mum and Dad are in Paris for the weekend) and it'd be great if you could come.

Romeo and Juliet will be there (I'm guessing you've had similar letters from Rose as I've had from Scorpius) as well as about half the population of the country if James has his way.

Anyway, I hope your parents let you come. Let me know.

Love Al.

My stomach does the annoying leap it always does when I read the words 'love Al.' I don't really understand it because it's not as if I fancy him.

Although, he does have great eyes, and his hair is really cute, and he's an amazing friend and has a six pack…

Okay, stop right there!

Al has a fan club of girls hanging off his every word and ready to date him at the drop of a hat. He definitely does not want an average looking girl with family problems doing the same.

It would be great to go to the party though, I find myself thinking; I would get to see everyone from school again, rather than have to wait until September.

Ten minutes later and I'm coming downstairs to make some breakfast, having resolved to be mature and ask my parents about this party.

Of course I already know what their response will be, but I should get credit for trying.

Everyone is already in the kitchen when I arrive. Mum is sitting at the table drinking a coffee and looking as severe as usual, Dad is sitting opposite her reading a newspaper and Rhia is leaning against the counter texting on her mobile.

I clear my throat to announce my presence and decide to get it over with quickly.

'Mum, Dad, I've been invited to a party tonight which I would like to go to.'

Mum puts down her coffee and looks up at me, while Dad merely lifts his paper so it completely obscures his face and therefore excludes him from the conversation.

'Is this party being held by someone from your school?' asks Mum in a low voice.

I nod, 'yes the same boy who you were so polite to on Monday.'

Well, I did give being respectful a go for a minute or two…

Her face immediately falls into a frown, 'Don't be so cheeky, Katherine. And no, you cannot go.'

'Why not?' I snap impatiently, 'you let Rhia go to parties.'

'Your sister goes to parties hosted by normal people,' retorts Mum, 'I may let you go to that school Katherine, but I will not allow you to fraternise with other magic people during the holidays.'

'Still hoping to stamp the magic out of me?'

She remains silent, something which I interpret as a yes.

I roll my eyes, a surge of recklessness flowing through me, 'well I'm going to this party tonight. I want to see my friends.'

'You set one foot out of this house and you're not welcome back.'

I let her words sink in for a moment. Did my own mother really say that? If I go to one party then I will be effectively homeless?

Despite myself, I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I hurry out of the room and back upstairs, refusing to let her see the effects of her words.

I'm in my room for only a few moments when there's a quiet knock on the door.

'What?' I ask aggressively as I pull it open, fully expecting Mum to have come up for round two.

Instead, Rhia is standing there, looking rather upset.

'Are you going to the party anyway?' she whispers.

I nod, wondering if her and Kyle have split up or something.

'You can borrow my new red dress if you want.'

I'm temporarily stunned into speechlessness. Never, in living memory has Rhia offered to do anything for me, let alone lend me her precious clothes.

'That would be nice, thanks,' I manage to say, after a while of standing there in shock.

She gives me a half smile and disappears into her own room.

Has the world gone mad?

By eight o clock that night, I'm ready for the party. Rhia followed through on her offer and has lent me her new dress, a red one with a skater skirt which I've paired with some back heels. I've also curled my blonde hair into ringlets and put a proper amount of make-up on for the first time in ages.

I think it's fair to say that I don't get out much.

'You look great,' says Rhia, who is suddenly standing in the doorway to my bedroom.

'Erm thanks,' I reply, still unsure what to make of my sister's behaviour; I can't help feeling that I'm walking in to some kind of trap.

She takes a deep breath, 'I don't think Mum should have spoken to you like that, Katie.'

I stare at her for a while, completely nonplussed as to what to say. Rhia and I are normally ready to kill one another, but now she's actually taking my side?

'Thanks,' I say rather lamely after a few moments.

She smiles, 'Dressing up for that Albus?'

My cheeks turn a similar colour to the dress, 'No. Well, I don't think so anyway.'

She raises her eyebrows in surprise, 'he is good looking and he seemed nice.'

'He is,' I admit, marvelling at how strange it is to be discussing boys with my sister, 'but we've been friends for six years. It'd be weird to be anything more.'

She nods, 'yeah I can understand that.'

We're both silent for a while.

'We'll I'd better go,' I say awkwardly after a couple of minutes.

'Have a good night. How are you getting there?'

I smile, wink, and then disapparate.

I arrive outside a large country house that is luckily in the middle of nowhere. I say luckily because I reckon you'd be able to hear the music playing a mile away.

James evidently got the party that he wanted.

Wondering what on earth I'm letting myself in for, I push open the door and find the entrance hall crammed full of people who obviously can't fit into the other rooms.

There must be a few hundred people here, I think wildly.

Everyone from my year seems to be here, including Lucinda Nichols and her usual posse who are peering at faces, clearly trying to spot Al. There are also a couple of dozen people from the year below who I vaguely recognise, such as Michael McLaggen, the idiot Ravenclaw Keeper who is attempting to chat up some uninterested older girls, and Charlie Green, a sixth year Gryffindor Prefect wearing an incredibly sparkly dress.

'Katie!'

I look round and see Rose Weasley running towards me and hugging me.

'Hi!' I exclaim, pleased to see my best girl friend, 'You look great!'

She's wearing a black cocktail dress and arguably the highest heels I've ever seen, which is really unfair because she's incredibly tall barefoot anyway.

'You too!' she squeals excitedly, 'who are you dressing up for?'

For the second time, in ten minutes I'm asked that question, and for the second time I blush.

'No one,' I say, waving it away, 'I'm guessing you had a certain blond boy in mind though.'

She winks at me and points over to the other side of the room where Scorpius- admittedly very handsome in dark jeans and a shirt- is standing laughing with Al.

Scorpius notices me and nudges Al, who turns round and takes my breath away slightly. He's dressed in a simple jeans and shirt combination, but it still makes him look amazing. His hair is artistically ruffled and his green eyes are dancing.

Or to put it in simple terms: he's gorgeous.

And he's heading this way!

'Hey, Katie!' grins Scorpius, hugging me, and then turning to Rose, 'Rose, want to dance?'

I watch her nod enthusiastically and then skip off with him.

I roll my eyes at Al, 'Is it official yet?'

'Nope,' he laughs and then looks at me rather intently, 'you look amazing.'

'So do you,' I say, in as casual a voice as I can muster while fighting a strange desire to run my fingers through his hair.

'I hope you were okay after Monday,' he says, leaning towards me so we can hear each other over the loud music, 'I felt awful leaving you there.'

'It's fine,' I promise, taking a step towards him so we're mere inches apart, 'Rhia's been acting weirdly nice today anyway.'

He pulls a face, 'your sister scared me a bit.'

I laugh, 'yeah I guess she's a reminder of the fan club. And blondes aren't your types anyway.'

I think of the half a dozen or so girls he's briefly dated over the years, all of which seemed to have dark hair.

'You'd be surprised,' he says quietly, glancing at me.

I'm suddenly aware of how close we are, of how we're standing in a dimly lit room practically touching. If I stand here any longer then I'm going to end up saying something I'll regret.

Knowing me I'll probably declare undying love for him and ensure the ruin of our friendship when he stutters that he doesn't feel the same way.

Why would he ever feel the same way?

'I'm going to go and find Rose,' I say rather bluntly, and disappear through the crowds of people before I can humiliate myself by admitting I may have som feelings for Al.

Albus' POV

I stand there watching Katie's retreating figure until she disappears into the next room.

What the hell just happened there?

I was going to tell her how I felt, I'd been building up to it all day and then she just ran off at the critical moment.

She obviously doesn't feel the same, I think glumly. After all, she did leg it the moment I said I liked blondes, and not too subtly hinted that that meant her.

God, I'm such an idiot! I almost ruined our friendship by asking her out and scaring her away.

'How's it going, bro?' James knocks me on the back, spilling half a bottle of drink down both of us in the process.

'Just great,' I snap, irritated with my brother who is clearly half drunk already.

'Chill out,' he says, holding his hands up, 'go and find Katie and dance with her. I know you like her.'

'Yes, well she doesn't like me,' I hiss, 'She ran off just as I was about to ask her out.'

'Oh burn!' laughs James, 'Drink this, it'll cheer you up.'

Without warning, he tosses the bottle at me, its contents, of course, spilling everywhere, including on the very sparkly dress of the girl behind me.

'Oh shit,' I say, turning to her, 'I'm really sorry.'

'Oh it's fine,' she says looking up at me and causing me to recognise her as Charlie Green, a fellow Gryffindor but in the year below me.

She waves her wand and the dress is suddenly clean.

'Good trick,' I comment.

'It comes in useful,' she agrees, 'great party by the way.'

'Thanks. James did manage to pull it off somehow.'

'It's a little crazy,' she laughs, her eyes scanning me while she does so.

'Well that's my brother. I think there's about three hundred people here.'

Charlie laughs which lights her eyes up and makes me realise how pretty they are.

Feeling awkward upon noticing this, I take a sip of the tiny amount of liquid that's left in the bottle, more for something to do than anything else.

Charlie's gaze follows me as I do this, 'What's that?'

'I have no idea,' I say honestly, 'One of James' team mates bought a crate of his homemade alcohol. God knows what's in it.'

'Can I try it?' she asks, raising her eyebrows in what can only be described as a seductive manner.

'Erm sure,' I say, handing her the bottle.

She doesn't take the bottle, however. Instead, she leans up and kisses me.

And the next thing I know, I'm kissing her back.

I know, I know! Al and Katie are idiots for not realising they both fancy one another. But then there wouldn't be much of a story if they realised it straight away… ;)

Anyway, thanks for reading so far. I can't believe how many follows and favourites there have been after only two chapters- you guys are amazing!

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