It occurs to me that I haven't said this yet...
Disclaimer: The setting and majority of characters mentioned in this story belong to J.K. Rowling.
Scorpius was sitting in a tree studying when he heard Eva Sinclair of Hufflepuff and Rose Weasley walk under him.
"So are you happy for Albus?" asked Eva.
"Of course; it's awesome. I mean, I tried out for the Hufflepuff team but I'm terrible at Quidditch so I'm just glad one of us made it. And seeker! He's becoming an exact replica of Uncle Harry."
"Who wouldn't want to be?"
Rose laughed, but he couldn't get it out of his head that it seemed slightly strained. They also seemed to have conveniently sat under his tree to continue their conversation. "Exactly. And I think it'll help him come out of his shell too. He's so awesome and funny, but really shy around kids he doesn't know. I think this will be good for him."
"You sound like my mom when you talk like that. 'Come out of his shell'. You're like a wise old lady trapped in a 12 year old's body."
"Thank you?" Both girls giggled.
"Oh look, there's the man of the hour. Hey Albus!" yelled Eva.
"Hey Eva!" Albus looked at Rose with sarcastic disdain. "Uugh, what's that?" All three laughed. "Well," said Eva, getting up "I've gotta go reassure the Hufflepuff team. Rose, have fun consorting with the enemy. See ya later Albus."
"Bye!" The cousins yelled in unison.
"So..." Rose said in an insinuating voice. Scorpius couldn't quite see but he was fairly certain they were engaged in a nudge war.
"A second year on the team! And seeker, too! Do you know how rare you are?"
"Dad was on in his first year." Albus looked a bit sheepish.
"Yeah but this is amazing! Don't sell yourself short! You'll be great. I'm worried for Hufflepuff."
"I'm sorry you didn't make it."
"It's not a big deal, we all knew I wasn't that good."
"You've got other talents. Like putting up with people. I don't know how you deal with that snobby Malfoy bugging you all the time. It's the Hufflepuff, I guess."
"He's really not that bad."
"These Hufflepuffs are brainwashing you into loving everyone. It's impressive, to say the least."
"No really, he's funny, and nice when he wants to be."
"So I've just gotta wait for Malfoy to want to be nice. Forgive me for not wetting my pants at the prospect of a new best friend."
Rose sighed. "Don't you have Quidditch practice or something?"
"That I do," chuckled Albus. "See ya later, Rose."
"Congrats again!"
"Thanks!" He yelled back. Scorpius could see people come up to Albus as he made his way to the Quidditch field, looking for a high five or a fist bump and saw that Rose was right; he must have known Eva well because around kids he didn't know, he was timid, and the complete opposite of the sarcastic, confident boy he'd witnessed with Rose.
Rose seemed to have no reason to stay under the tree once all her friends had gone, so she headed back to the castle, humming a slow song as she went.
No really, he's funny and nice when he wants to be. Somehow, the fact that she said it made it true.
She stood up for him. She didn't hate him. To be fair, she'd never acted like she hated him, but it still came as a surprise. He'd never really met anyone that didn't hate him except his parents, and maybe a few teachers.
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