More Than Our Abilities (Part 3)
May. 6th, 2009 01:04 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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hp_misfitficsTitle: More Than Our Abilities (Part Three)
Author: Bird G
Characters: Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley, Al Potter and a few others.
Rating: G
Word Count: 6,746
Author's Notes: Thanks to my betas![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
libbi and shiiki for all their help! Concrit is always welcome and appreciated. And, of course, the characters and world belong to JKR. I am merely borrowing them.
(Part Two.)
The first flying lesson of the year had been an unmitigated disaster.
Not for Scorpius. He had easily executed every command that Madam Bell had issued and had been sorely tempted to go higher and faster than she was allowing them if only to show that he could. And not for Rose either. She was maddeningly good flier, something Al had failed to mention.
It was Al that was the problem. He hadn't been lying when he said he wasn't good on broom. The lesson had started out well enough, with their teacher guiding them as they took the air. Being their first lesson, they hadn't been allowed more than a few feet off the ground. Scorpius hadn't been certain why she wasn't allowing them to do more (it certainly wasn't the way things had been done at Quidditch camp) but he soon got his answer. A few students had been unable to get their brooms off the ground. Then there was poor Bo whose broom drifted higher and higher with him unable to control it until finally Madam Bell flew up to retrieve him. For the rest of the lesson she kept one hand on the tail-end of his broom to prevent a repeat performance. It was probably a small comfort to him, Scorpius thought, that no one was likely to remember that after what happened to Al.
Al's flight got off with a rocky start, with his broom smacking him in the face when he called it up. It only got worse from there, as Al quickly lost control of the broom when he tried to fly. Scorpius had been reminded of those American cowboys he'd seen in his comics as he watched Al try unsuccessfully to steer his broom. Like a raging bronco, the broom bucked and heaved through the air, Al screaming and yelping in terror as it did. The entire display seemed to last for hours, the shocked silence of their classmates quickly turning to laughter and jeers. Rose's attention had been divided between yelling suggestions at Al and scolding those laughing. Scorpius had been torn between joining Rose and just ignoring the entire mess, hoping that everyone would temporarily forget he and Al were friends.
Madam Bell had caught up to Al just as he lost his grip on the broom and was thrown from it. Proving why she'd been one of the best Chasers the Heidelberg Harriers had ever had, she caught Al as easily as she would a Bludger and still remembered a Summoning Charm for the plummeting Firebolt.
Since then, Al hadn't spoken much.
"I wouldn't worry so much about what happened," Rose said earnestly, still fluttering by her cousin. "A lot of people had trouble with their flying and I don't think anyone will really remember what happened to you."
Still silent, Al shot her a dubious look. Rose plowed on, "Some did. But it was mainly that manky Larry Higgs and his friends and who cares what they think? Sodding bunch of jerks they are."
Breaking his hour-long silence, Al mumbled, "It was the Hufflepuffs too. I saw them."
Rose sighed, looking to Scorpius for help. Uncertain of what to do, Scorpius shrugged, much to Rose's apparent exasperation.
"You don't have to lie," Al continued, focusing again on his shoes as they made their way through the forest. "I know everyone was laughing at me."
Realizing the only thing that would make Al feel better would be a mass Memory Charm, Scorpius decided to change the subject. Pointing towards the building in front of them, he said, "So, that must be Hagrid's hut?"
"Well-spotted!” Rose replied, rolling her eyes. Scorpius glared at her.
"Yeah, that's it. He said we could drop by after Flying. I don't think he expected the lessons to be cut short.” Al added ruefully.
Scorpius opened his mouth to tell Al he was better off just forgetting about what happened but didn't get the chance.
"What's he doing here?"
Coming around from the garden behind Hagrid's hut were Freddy and James. Not waiting for an answer to his question, James walked right up to the three, glaring at Scorpius as he did. "Your kind isn't wanted here, Malfoy. Why don't you find some other baby Death Eaters to pal around with?"
"I invited him!" Al interjected.
"Are you daft? I told Dad he should Floo up here and demand you be re-sorted. The hat was bang out of order to put you where it did." He crossed his arms and stared down at the two of them. "Auntie Luna's right about Voldemort having put a curse on it."
"I don't think that's what she meant...." Freddy interrupted, a bemused look on his face.
"There's no way Al and Rose belong in stinkin' Slytherin. Dad once said that house was just a pit stop on the way to Azkaban," he said, returning his gaze to Scorpius.
Scorpius - who'd been just about ready to tell James to clear off - froze. That Harry Potter could have said that, could have meant it, left him feeling sick. From their expressions, Al and Rose felt similarly but Rose recovered first.
“Piss off, James,” she muttered, trying and failing to push him out of the way.
“Language, Rosie-posie!” With her hair pulled back, Scorpius could see her ears go red at the nickname. “And I'm not going anywhere. He is.”
As much as he hated the idea of giving that git any satisfaction, Scorpius was starting to wonder if it was better if he went. Freddy and James didn't want him here, maybe Hagrid didn't either. Thinking on it, he wasn't sure Al had actually told Hagrid which friend he had invited, just that he was bringing one.
“Well, he's our friend and he's not going anywhere,” Rose retorted, pulling her wand out. “Now get out of the way!”
Uncertain about this new development, Al drew his wand and faced off against his brother, schooling his face into a determined look. Scorpius followed suit.
"Relax, midgets," Freddy said, clearly trying not to laugh. James, however, was still scowling. "James was just having a go."
"I was not!"
Now it was Freddy's turn to glare at him. "Does it really matter?"
"Of course, it does--"
James was unable to finish that sentence as two large boarhound pups ran down the steps of the hut, coming straight for the small gathering.
"Fido! Fetch!" cried a delighted Rose as they licked her hands.
In the doorway of the hut stood Hagrid holding a tray of some freshly baked goods. He was a sight with his flowered apron and matching oven mitts. "Yer jus' in time. I jus' made a fresh batch o' me famous treacle fudge!"
The five looked at each other and Scorpius wasn't sure what to expect when Rose grabbed the sleeve of his robe and gave her cousin a frosty glare. "Excuse you," she said, walking past him and half-dragging Scorpius in her wake.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Al give his brother a smug little nod before following.
***
Hagrid's treacle fudge was famous for a reason, Scorpius soon learned. The taste wasn't too bad, it was more the fact that one side of his jaw felt was glued together that bothered him. Hoping a mouthful of hot tea would be enough to pry his teeth apart, Scorpius carefully took a sip, then another. Finally, he took to holding the tea in his mouth till the sugary concoction binding his teeth together melted. Unfortunately, in doing so he managed to catch Hagrid's attention.
"Yeh all right?" The conversation about next year's World Cup paused as the other four occupants of the hut turned to look at him.
Scorpius swallowed the tea with a large gulp. "I'm fine, thank you."
Nodding, Hagrid was satisfied with this answer though Scorpius swore his eyebrows had been stuck in his hairline from the moment Al introduced him. Every so often he'd glance over at Scorpius as if he couldn't quite believe he was sitting there. James' tendency to periodically glare in Scorpius' direction hadn't escaped Hagrid's notice either. Scorpius could understand the feeling. Only in his wildest daydreams and play-acting did he think he'd be sitting down for a cup of tea with a giant. And those imaginary meetings usually ended with whatever friend-or-nurse Scorpius had convinced to be the giant playing dead after being bested in a duel. He hadn't even mentioned this visit to his parents, worried they'd forbid him to go.
Though he supposed Hagrid didn't really count, being only a half-giant and a civilized one at that. He had a house and furniture and even spoke in full sentences, Scorpius noted inwardly with approval. It just went to show what he always tried to tell Grandfather - that maybe muggles and giants weren't so different from wizards.
"He probably just doesn't like it," James said nastily, disturbing Scorpius' thoughts. “Told you, you shouldn't have invited him!”
More and more tempted to just hex James and be done with it, Scorpius demanded, "What is your problem?"
"You! Al and Rose wouldn't even be in that stupid house if it weren't for you."
"That's not true," Rose interjected, nearly slamming her mug down.
“It is so!”
"Enough!" Hagrid yelled over all of them, causing Fido and Fetch to startle.
"I dun' know what's gotten into yeh, James, but Scorpius here is yer brother's friend. Yer mum and dad wouldn't like the way yer treatin' him, would they?"
"But--"
"Would they?"
"No."
"All right then. Yeh give 'em enough grief with that map business of yers."
"But, Hagrid," Freddy implored, "that map is a family heirloom, don't you think it belongs with us?"
"Yeh should have thought of that before yeh let him catch yeh with it!"
"Maybe you could talk to Filch," Freddy continued. "He's known you for ages. You're a professor even so I'm sure he respects your opinion and--"
Despite fighting a grin at those words, Hagrid didn't waver. "Nothin' doin'. Filch isn' any more likely teh listen to me than he is teh you lot. Better off askin' Neville or even yer uncle. They're professors too."
"We tried," was James' glum reply.
Shaking his head, Hagrid stood and started gathering up the empty plates. "It's a wonder your uncles managed teh nick it off Filch the firs' time. I doubt Filch would be so dumb as teh leave it lyin' around on his desk again."
Freddy and James exchanged glances behind Hagrid's back.
"But enough of that." Hagrid joined them back at the table. "Quidditch'll be startin' soon. Yeh mus' be happy fer that."
"Me and Freddy are going to be the new Beaters," James answered confidently.
"Yeh? Yeh already try out?"
"No, but we're pretty much guaranteed the spots. We were good enough to make reserve as firsties and with Goodfellow and Dogberry gone we're next in line."
“What about you lot?” Freddy asked, looking at his cousins. “I hear Slytherin needs a new Seeker.”
Clearly, Freddy was unaware of Al's lack of flying skills. Al merely shrugged and mumbled, “I guess” whereas Rose nodded proudly. “Flint already asked us.”
Scorpius' insides twisted with these words. Playing Seeker had been the one thing he'd been looking forward to when he came to Hogwarts.
“Teddy says Slytherin hasn't had a decent team in years,” announced James, his mouth full of treacle fudge. “Can't even remember the last time they won the Quidditch Cup.”
“Got teh be close to twenty-five years now” mused Hagrid.
“Once they see you fly,” Freddy said to Rose, “I suspect they'll be begging you to be their new Seeker.”
***
“My brother thought I might be able to talk to them like my dad did but I never could, so I just keep them as pets. I have three now: Legolas, Eve and Jade.” Scorpius wasn't entirely certain how but they'd started talking about animals which led to Al spending the past fifteen minutes talking about his collections of snakes.
“Did you know snakes smell with their tongues? That's why they stick their tongues out all the time.” Al said as they made their way to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. “Well. It's not really smelling--”
“Yeah, I did,” Scorpius lied. “Listen, what kind of Quidditch experience does Rose have?”
Scorpius had spent the weekend obsessing over the coming Qudditch try-outs till deciding he needed to know more about Rose' supposed Quidditch skills. If he could, he'd ask her to play a game of one-on-one “Catch the Snitch” but first years weren't allowed their brooms aside from flying lessons and Qudditch.
“Experience?”
“Yeah! Did she go to Quidditch Camp and if so, which one? Has she had any sort of formal lessons and with whom?” Scorpius said impatiently. “Things like that.”
Al looked at his friend as if he'd grown three heads. “Quidditch Camp? She just played against our cousins and parents. We have enough people for two teams.”
“Really?” A sense of relief flooded Scorpius. Rose might have been good enough to play against her cousins but he'd been taught by some of the best players Quidditch had ever seen!
“Well, yeah.” Al paused a moment, thinking. “Though she had my mum help her with some of her moves over the summer and she did play for the Harpies. My mum, not Rose.”
“I gathered,” Scorpius said flatly, his sense of relief waning.
Al fell silent and Scorpius remembered that Quidditch probably wasn't his favorite topic at the moment. Though Scorpius was ready and willing to ask more about his snake collection if it took Al's mind off of Quidditch, he didn't get the chance.
“I also have a dog. Though it's not really my dog, more like my parents' dog. We've had her forever, her name's Maggie. Then there's the owls but they don't really count as pets, I think.” He wondered how Al managed to say all that in one breath. “Do you have any pets?”
“Just Scout -- she's my ferret. I've been asking my parents for another one but my dad doesn't like ferrets. He wanted me to get a Crup or a Kneazle.” Scorpius glanced at Al. “But my Uncle Ernie told me a ferret was a much better pet.”
Thinking back on it, Scorpius wondered if his Uncle Ernie had been entirely serious when he said that. It had been at a holiday party three years ago and Scorpius remembered thinking his uncle had probably had too much wassail. Both Uncle Ernie and Aunt Daphne had been giggling as he talked up the virtues of ferrets as pets. When Scorpius had seen him a couple weeks later, Ernie had been surprised (and quite amused) that his nephew had actually asked for and received a ferret.
“Kneazles are all right, my Aunt Hermione has one. They're all funny-looking if you ask me, like they ran into a wall face fir-- Oof!” Trying and failing to jump the trick step before they reached the first floor, Al lost his balance and stumbled into Scorpius.
Waiting till Al was steady on his feet, Scorpius pushed back, playfully banging his shoulder against Al's.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Al cried in surprise.
"So?" Scorpius answered, bumping him once more in the same fashion. Laughing, Al responded in kind, throwing his weight into it and causing Scorpius to stumble. They continued down the hall like this, each pushing harder till they were out of breath with laughter and exertion. Nearly upon the classroom, Scorpius gave Al one final hard shove, causing the other boy to lose his balance and fall. Sliding forward on his belly as much as the stone floor would allow, Al left a trail of books and parchment in his wake.
Despite his guilt, Scorpius couldn't contain his laughter. He was just thankful for Al's sake that the halls were mostly empty.
“Is everything all right?”
Scorpius glanced up from gathering Al's books to see Professor Weasley staring at the two boys. If the scars and earring weren't enough to make him intimidating, the way he was frowning at Scorpius would be. Handing Al his books and parchment, he quietly muttered his apology and earned an odd look from his friend in return.
“Yeah,” Al answered, now on his feet and brushing off his robes. “Scorpius and I were just playing, Uncle Bill. I mean, Professor Weasley.”
Professor Weasley relaxed, smiling at Al's slip. “Well, take your seats. Lesson's about to start.”
Rose was already inside, seated at one of the tables, engrossed in whatever she was writing. Or doodling, if last week's Charms lesson was anything to go by. Either his tutors had taught him more about magical theory than he thought or Professor Llewellyn took an intolerably slow pace with the subject because everything they went over last week was old hat for him. Many times Scorpius found his attention wandering to those around him, more interested in their notes than his own. Bo had frantically written down everything the Llewellyn had said – including his introduction, Mei's notes were color-coded in pink and black ink, Al had separated the information into meticulous charts and Rose had written a note to re-read page seventy-six, filling the rest of her parchment with drawings of Snitches and airplanes.
“Overall, I was pleased with your essays,” Professor Weasley said, handing their papers back to them. Predictably, Al had done well and Scorpius was glad to see that he had done even better.
This happiness was short-lived. A second later Scorpius peeked at Rose's essay -- perfect marks again.
“Now. Let's see how many of paid attention to the sidebars in the chapter.” Stifled groans rose from the class to which Professor Weasley only grinned. “Who wants to tell me what the natural habitat of a kappa is?”
Rose's hand was the first one in the air.
***
Over the next few days, Scorpius became increasingly certain that Rose was out to beat him in every subject. If he answered a question correctly, she seemed determined to beat him to the next. And if he answered a question incorrectly, she would be the first one with her hand in the air, ready to give the right answer. Several times he caught her looking over at him after their papers had been handed back, trying to peek at his scores. Of course, when Scorpius tried the same, she got all shirty. Even now, she had one arm curled protectively around her chart to block his view.
Like he'd need her help! Astronomy was the easiest subject for him so far, near-perfect marks on all his charts. (The one blot being Scorpius mistakenly putting the star Regulus in the Orion constellation rather than Leo, where it belonged.)
Though glancing over at her now, he noticed she was sitting stiffly, with one hand combing through her hair. Stranger still, she was staring straight ahead at the night sky, small frown on her face and taking no notice of him.
Shrugging it off, Scorpius went back to his chart. After neatly drawing the Cygnus constellation and breezing through the questions, he stood up to check through the telescope one last time.
And a wave of giggles erupted behind him.
Turning around, he saw Mei clumped together with her new friends – Higgs, Urquhart and Peakes – all trying to stifle their laughter. It wasn't directed at Scorpius, they barely seemed to notice him despite standing in-front of the group. Looking around however, he couldn't see what was so funny. It was only him and Rose near this telescope and Rose was still sitting stock-straight, finger-combing her hair.
Which was odd but not particularly funny.
Deciding it had been nothing, he refocused his attention to his chart. The telescope was already positioned toward the horizon and all Scorpius had to do was note Deneb's placement in comparison to the moon. He couldn't see why other students found this so troublesome, yet it seemed in every lesson there was someone who needed Sinistra to hold their hand.
An unwanted question, asking about the common denominator between all those students – rose in his mind but was quickly squashed.
Once his chart was completed he rolled it up and walked back to his seat. Just then, as he grabbed his book bag, Scorpius caught site of something flying towards Rose. The snickering from his four housemates behind them was enough to tell him it hadn't been a bug. Sitting down, he noticed Rose was still staring ahead while she combed through her hair, red-faced and scowling. Before he could ask, something in her face flickered and she pulled a little wad of damp paper from her hair. She dropped it onto the piece of blank parchment on her lap where there were already many others.
His first impulse was to feel vindicated, pleased even that someone was as annoyed with her as he was. Rose had been at her jumped-up, swotty worst for days – answering every question first, nosing in to help people when her help wasn't needed, she even corrected Professor Atterberry's pronunciation of the Muggle Minister's last name in their last Muggle Studies lesson! Something like this was to be expected.
Then she glared at him, eyes bright behind her glasses and Scorpius felt horribly uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if she was going to hex him or cry or both. Instead her face twisted into a grimace and she hurriedly looked away, combing through her hair again. Snickers rose from the four behind them. Scorpius looked over his shoulder in time to see Una passing a tightly-rolled piece of parchment to Mei.
Jumped-up swot though she may be, Rose had stood up for him against her cousin. He drew his wand.
“Problem, Mr. Malfoy?”
Whipping around he saw Professor Sinistra staring at him. Slytherin's Head of House was a stern woman with hair that was completely black save for a white forelock and a penchant for wearing high-collared robes. (This time in dark red.) She had her students cowed – including Scorpius.
“I, er--” he lowered his wand, eyes darting between Mei and Rose. Finally, with as much sincerity and conviction as he could muster, “I thought I saw a bug.”
Unimpressed, Sinistra raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that would require you to draw your wand.”
He nodded and sighing, she spoke to the entire class, telling them to turn their charts in as they left. Gathering her things at a rapid pace, Rose flew out of the class, only pausing to drop off her chart. A confused Al caught his eye and Scorpius could only shrug in response. Out of all possible reactions, he hadn't expected her to run.
As he found out once he entered the stairwell, Rose hadn't run.
“--these are yours!” She threw the handful of spitballs at Higgs and Urquhart as they passed.
Momentarily shocked, Urquhart recovered quickly enough.
“I'm surprised they didn't get lost in that rat's nest. Have you ever tried brushing it?” she asked smirking as she mimed brushing her hair.
“Maybe the house-elves like it better that way?” Higgs suggested, causing the others to laugh even more.
“Maybe she has a boyfriend down in the kitchens?” Mei added to the delight of her friends.
Rose had the look of a cornered animal and he noticed for the first time that she held her wand tightly in her fist. Al seemed to notice this too because he came between the group, grabbing her by the sleeve. “C'mon it's not worth it.” When that didn't convince her to budge he added, “Professor Sinistra is on her way.”
That did it. Rose stalked off in the direction of the stairs and even the others quieted down. Though he was rather disappointed at not having hexed anyone, Scorpius rationalized it was for the best. Before boarding the train to Hogwarts his father made him promise he wouldn't get into any fights. While the elder Malfoy had specified Gryffindors in this warning, he doubted his dad would be much happier with him dueling with fellow Slytherins.
On their trek down through the castle, the group around them became smaller and smaller as some made their way to the Great Hall while the remaining Hufflepuffs departed for their own room. By the time they reached the dungeons, it was with Rose, Regina and Bo while Al and Scorpius trailed behind them.
“What happened up there?” Al whispered, slowing down as the other three turned the corner leading to their common room. “Rose wouldn't say.”
“Higgs, Urquhart and them were throwing spitballs at Rose.”
Al managed to look shocked by this. “Why?”
“They don't like her would be my guess.”
From the frown on Al's face, Scorpius guessed he had wanted a more helpful answer. He wouldn't get it though as a commotion from down the hall commanded their attention.
“I'm stuck! I'm stuck!”
As they rounded the corner, Al and Scorpius were greeted by an unusual sight. Bo seemed to be drawn into the wall, with his arms up to his elbows and his right leg up to his knee fully disappearing into the stones. Rose and Regina were anchored on other side, each holding onto an arm as they tried to pull him out.
“I can't get out! It won't let me out!” he half-sobbed, struggling as he did. His cries were soon drowned out by Regina's panicky shrieks, her elbow was now stuck also. Like quicksand, the more they fought the further they sank into the stone structure.
Rose ran between them shouting “Finite Incantatem” over and over to no avail.
“It won't work!” Scorpius shouted. “Stop fighting! It won't work!”
He turned to Al, who had both of his hands fisted in his black hair and a horrified look on his face. “Al. AL! Go see if Pucey's in her office. If she's not there try to find Sinistra or the Headmistress, ok?”
Al nodded, unmoving.
“Go!”
He ran past the others, down to where the entrance to the Slytherin common room was. Scorpius hurried over to where Rose was, planted in-between the two, grabbing both as she tried hopelessly to free them.
“Stop pulling on them, it won't work!”
“We can't leave them!”
He looked at Bo and Regina, the latter had one side of her body enveloped in the wall and the former had disappeared up his chest. Both were sniffling, obviously trying not to cry.
“You have to try and relax.” At Rose's indignant look, Scorpius continued, “I know what's happening, my Grandfather told me all about it. It's an enchantment Slytherin created to keep... intruders out. The more you struggle against it, the more it sucks you in.”
Al shot out of the common room but whatever brief flash of hope Scorpius felt died when he ran past them, heading for the stairs.
“Listen, yeah? Listen, we'll just hold onto you,” he said, hooking his arms under what was left of Bo's and motioning for Rose to do the same with Regina, “but we're not going to pull you out. We have to wait for one of the professors. They'll know what to do.”
As Scorpius had hoped, not fighting against the wall had slowed the wall's pull on the other two. But it hadn't stopped it. He worried about what would happen if help didn't come soon, trying to remember anything more his Grandfather had said that could help.
“We're not intruders,” Regina sniffled.
“What?”
“You said it was to keep out intruders but we go here! We're in Slytherin. So why is it doing this to us?”
“I...” He wasn't sure what to say. Looking helplessly at Rose, he felt her expression must mirror her own and if she didn't already know the reason then she had guessed it.
“I don't know,” Scorpius lied.
“Then how do you know we won't be stuck here forever?” Bo asked, voice trembling.
“You won't!” Rose promised. “This is a school, they wouldn't have something that dangerous here.”
“Right,” Scorpius agreed though silently he wondered what was taking Al so long. Maybe Pucey had gone home for the evening? She was married so that was a possibility. He didn't know about Sinistra or Sprout but even if they were on the grounds – the castle was huge. They could be in the greenhouses or up in one of the towers visiting another teacher or --
“Rose? Scorpius?” Al's breathless voice carried through the halls. “I found someone!”
Following his nephew was Professor Weasley, wearing a traveling cloak over his robes.
Not even bothering to lower his voice so their Professor wouldn't hear him, Scorpius exclaimed, “I said a Slytherin, Al!”
One thing he did remember clearly was that his Grandfather told him only the professors from Slytherin and the Head of Hogwarts were allowed any knowledge about the secrets of the Slytherin common room. And more so the Slytherins.
“I had students run to fetch Sinistra and Sprout,” Professor Weasley answered calmly, performing some test on the wall that caused it to glow blue.
To Bo and Regina he said, “You'll be fine, I promise. This isn't the first time this has happened. Rose, Scorpius, hold on tight, yeah?” Weasley added, eyes fixed on the wall, wand moving over it in a steady zig-zag pattern. “When I finish this, the wall is going to push them out.”
They nodded as he continued with his spellwork, murmuring the same words over and over again until it began to sound like a melody. Then there was a loud “POP” as Bo and Regina were forcibly ejected from the wall.
“Ow!” Scorpius cried as he crashed to the ground, Bo falling on top of him. Al hurried over to help them.
“Is everyone all right? Bill?” Professors Sprout and Sinistra had arrived.
“Everything's fine.”
“We have to do something about that wall,” Sprout said, fretting as she looked at the wall “This keeps happening... students miss the entrance and are trapped....”
“I don't know if there's anything that can be done to remove the enchantment --” Bill began.
“There isn't,” Sinistra interrupted. “Slytherin made certain of it.”
She sounded resigned. Motioning towards the entrance to Slytherin's common room she said, “It's getting late and I know all of you have homework. Thank you, Bill, I know you were on your way home.”
“No problem. Though I should be leaving.” Smiling at Rose and Al he added, “Stay out of trouble.”
“We will,” Rose answered, Al nodding in agreement.
***
“Doesn't he look so much older?”
After weeks of just passing them in the halls on the way to class and brief words, his cousins had finally managed to find Scorpius and have a conversation with him. One that mainly consisted of Mairi cooing over him like he was her new pet Pygmy Puff despite being only sixteen months older than Scorpius.
Their cousin, Elodie, shot her an incredulous look while her sister, Fiona, just smirked. “Tons. I'll bet he's shaving already.”
“Oh, look one of each of us in the four houses!” Mairi added with such genuine surprise that for a second he wondered if it was really the first time she noticed that. Like her dad, Mairi had been sorted in Hufflepuff and like her dad, Elodie had been sorted in Ravenclaw. Fiona, unlike anyone in her immediate family, had been sorted into Gryffindor.
“I guess your new little brother – or sister – will have to be the tie-breaker! Isn't that exciting?”
Scorpius, who had tried not to think of the impending addition to his family since his parents first told him, merely shrugged. “I suppose.”
Whatever Mairi was about to say next was cut-off by Cordelia Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, yelling, “Oi, Malfoy! If you want to be on the team, get over here!”
“Sorry,” he muttered, though he wasn't in the slightest. Fiona seemed to understand, grinning and wishing him good luck.
All four houses were gathered on the pitch to do their try-outs. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had gone in the morning and there were still a few of them milling about, including James and Freddy off on the sidelines. Gathered around Flint were a few members of the Slytherin Quidditch team along with several others who hoped to join, including Rose, Regina and Al.
“Getting a new Seeker is our priority so we'll start with those trials.”
Scorpius looked around nervously at the others.
“Teng! Plumpton! You're up first.”
Brooms in hand, the two older girls followed Flint while the hopefuls sat on the sidelines to watch and wait.
“What position?” Scorpius asked Regina. He noticed neither she nor Al had brooms, though he supposed they could use the Slytherin team brooms for tryouts.
“Seeker,” she replied confidently. “I know I won't get it.”
He would agree with that though he wouldn't say it. While she was a better flier than Al or Bo, she wasn't Quidditch material. “Then... why are you trying?”
“I want to play some day. I reckon if I try now I can figure out what they want and learn how how to play better. What about you?”
“Seeker. I'm hoping I get it this year.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. You too.”
After fifteen minutes and no Snitch to show for it, Flint called the girls down and told Moffet and Davis to get out on the field. While every bit as fruitless as their predecessors when it came to capturing the Snitch, their trial included two near-collisions in the air (with the second being not-quite-accidental) and was much more entertaining for it.
“Fitzroy! Galloway! You're up.”
Regina's try-out had a rocky beginning but improved once she spotted the Snitch and flew towards it, much steadier on the broom than she had been earlier. Scorpius held his breath as she came close to catching the Snitch and only exhaled when it zoomed from her grasp, disappearing from view again.
“Not bad, Fitzroy,” Flint said once they'd landed. Checking something off on the parchment she had in hand, Flint glanced up at Scorpius and Rose. “Weasley, Malfoy, your turn.”
At first it seemed as if Rose and Scorpius were doomed to be as unsuccessful as the others. Minutes ticked away as they scanned the skies, hoping for a glimpse of the Snitch, Rose's plaits bobbing against her shoulders as she floated on her broom. He was about to give up hope when he caught sight of something small and golden glinting in the afternoon sun, small wings fluttering as it buzzed around the center goal hoop.
A quick glance told him Rose hadn't seen it yet, her attention focused on the opposite end of the pitch. Quietly and quickly, he righted his broom and flew off, smiling in anticipation at finally besting Rose.
The Snitch stayed near the goals, darting through the left hoop once but not going very far. Scorpius could hear Rose gaining on him though he dare not look, lest he lost sight of the Snitch. He was lucky he didn't as the Snitch suddenly made a sharp right, causing him to brake and make a sharp turn. Now, he was behind Rose, close enough that one of her braids hit him in the face. Distantly, Scorpius could hear her cousins cheering her on as raced for the Snitch.
Try as he might, however, he couldn't overtake her lead, even on her Cleansweep she managed to stay just a little ahead of him. Determined not to let her win without a fight, Scorpius flew in close and nudged her over. She glanced over in confusion but when he did it a second time, Rose understood what was happening and responded in kind. Soon they were each trying to shove the other aside until it was as if they were playing a game of Shuntbumps.
With the Snitch in grasp, she jabbed a sharp elbow into his side and Scorpius was momentarily forced back. It couldn't have taken him more than a few seconds to recover but that was all the time Rose needed. She caught the Snitch.
When they landed he was in a towering temper. Rose raising the Snitch high in the air and the ensuing cheers were just fuel to the fire. Scorpius wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face.
“You cheated!” he hissed.
“I did not!” Rose now looked every bit as furious as him. “You're just jealous because I beat you.”
“I am not! You cheated - cobbing is against the rules!”
"Yeah, well, you did it too!" she sputtered. "Blatching?"
“Good job, you two!” Flint ran over to them. “Scorpius, that was some excellent flying up there. There's a spot open for you on the reserves if you want it.” She clapped his shoulder. “We'll be needing new Chasers next year, be sure to try out, yeah?”
He wanted to tell her that no, he didn't want to be a reserve, he wanted to be Seeker but didn't get the chance.
“Rose, congratulations! You're our new Seeker.”
Scorpius didn't wait to hear the rest, he grabbed his broom and stalked off the pitch.
“Keeper trials are next!” Flint called. Al looked like someone about to get a kiss from a Dementor, which made Scorpius think he was aiming for the Keeper position. He had half a mind to keep walking, to not bother watching the other try-outs and just go back to his room and sulk. It's not like Al was going to make the team anyway.
But he didn't, instead dropping to the ground next to Regina and was pleased that Rose decided to go sit with her cousins rather than by them.
First up for try-outs was Slytherin's current Keeper, Luther Swindlehurst. Tall, black and broad-shouldered he looked completely at ease up by the goals, deftly deflecting every Quaffle thrown his way. Scorpius snuck a glimpse at Al, wondering how he was taking this but much to his surprise, his friend looked quite happy with Swindlehurst's skill as Keeper.
“Potter, you're next!”
“Good luck,” Regina said, her voice drowned out by James and Freddy's cheers. Flint handed Al an old Nimbus 2001 to fly when he reached the pitch. Despite a somewhat shaky take-off, Al seemed to be doing well. He completely missed the first two Quaffles but he was in control of the broom and had yet to be thrown off, so all-in-all it was an improvement.
Until the Chaser aimed one Quaffle right at Al, maybe hoping to give him an easy catch. Instinct, however, took over and rather than catching the Quaffle Al ducked out of the way. Scorpius winced, wanting to hide his face when Al did the same with the next two throws.
“MacDougal, you wanker, are you trying to take his head off?” Freddy yelled from the sidelines. Next to him, James looked embarrassed and Rose had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with worry.
“Shut it, Weasley,” was Flint's automatic response.
“Looks like the great Harry Potter's son is scared of a Quaffle!” jeered one haughty, dark-haired boy to his laughing friends. Scorpius recognized him as Zavier Smith, a Hufflepuff in the same year as him. “What a loser.”
“You want to repeat that, you little tosser?” James had stood up, wand ready and Freddy was following suit.
“Oi! Knock it off!” Flint said. Pointing to the two Gryffindors she said, “You two can shut it or leave, your choice.”
Not waiting for a response, she wheeled around to address the Hufflepuff captain. “You can't control them, Jenkins?”
Jenkins shrugged lazily. “It was a one time thing.”
“It better stay that way or Sinistra and Atterberry will hear how you tried to sabotage our try-outs!”
“I didn't do any such thing.” But Flint was no longer listening, she had turned her back to him, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.
Not that it mattered, Al was walking off the field, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast. If he heard James calling after him, he didn't show it.
Author's Notes: After the war, I thought Muggle Studies would become a required course. Hence, why it was mentioned by Scorpius.
(Part Four.)
Author: Bird G
Characters: Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley, Al Potter and a few others.
Rating: G
Word Count: 6,746
Author's Notes: Thanks to my betas
libbi and shiiki for all their help! Concrit is always welcome and appreciated. And, of course, the characters and world belong to JKR. I am merely borrowing them.(Part Two.)
The first flying lesson of the year had been an unmitigated disaster.
Not for Scorpius. He had easily executed every command that Madam Bell had issued and had been sorely tempted to go higher and faster than she was allowing them if only to show that he could. And not for Rose either. She was maddeningly good flier, something Al had failed to mention.
It was Al that was the problem. He hadn't been lying when he said he wasn't good on broom. The lesson had started out well enough, with their teacher guiding them as they took the air. Being their first lesson, they hadn't been allowed more than a few feet off the ground. Scorpius hadn't been certain why she wasn't allowing them to do more (it certainly wasn't the way things had been done at Quidditch camp) but he soon got his answer. A few students had been unable to get their brooms off the ground. Then there was poor Bo whose broom drifted higher and higher with him unable to control it until finally Madam Bell flew up to retrieve him. For the rest of the lesson she kept one hand on the tail-end of his broom to prevent a repeat performance. It was probably a small comfort to him, Scorpius thought, that no one was likely to remember that after what happened to Al.
Al's flight got off with a rocky start, with his broom smacking him in the face when he called it up. It only got worse from there, as Al quickly lost control of the broom when he tried to fly. Scorpius had been reminded of those American cowboys he'd seen in his comics as he watched Al try unsuccessfully to steer his broom. Like a raging bronco, the broom bucked and heaved through the air, Al screaming and yelping in terror as it did. The entire display seemed to last for hours, the shocked silence of their classmates quickly turning to laughter and jeers. Rose's attention had been divided between yelling suggestions at Al and scolding those laughing. Scorpius had been torn between joining Rose and just ignoring the entire mess, hoping that everyone would temporarily forget he and Al were friends.
Madam Bell had caught up to Al just as he lost his grip on the broom and was thrown from it. Proving why she'd been one of the best Chasers the Heidelberg Harriers had ever had, she caught Al as easily as she would a Bludger and still remembered a Summoning Charm for the plummeting Firebolt.
Since then, Al hadn't spoken much.
"I wouldn't worry so much about what happened," Rose said earnestly, still fluttering by her cousin. "A lot of people had trouble with their flying and I don't think anyone will really remember what happened to you."
Still silent, Al shot her a dubious look. Rose plowed on, "Some did. But it was mainly that manky Larry Higgs and his friends and who cares what they think? Sodding bunch of jerks they are."
Breaking his hour-long silence, Al mumbled, "It was the Hufflepuffs too. I saw them."
Rose sighed, looking to Scorpius for help. Uncertain of what to do, Scorpius shrugged, much to Rose's apparent exasperation.
"You don't have to lie," Al continued, focusing again on his shoes as they made their way through the forest. "I know everyone was laughing at me."
Realizing the only thing that would make Al feel better would be a mass Memory Charm, Scorpius decided to change the subject. Pointing towards the building in front of them, he said, "So, that must be Hagrid's hut?"
"Well-spotted!” Rose replied, rolling her eyes. Scorpius glared at her.
"Yeah, that's it. He said we could drop by after Flying. I don't think he expected the lessons to be cut short.” Al added ruefully.
Scorpius opened his mouth to tell Al he was better off just forgetting about what happened but didn't get the chance.
"What's he doing here?"
Coming around from the garden behind Hagrid's hut were Freddy and James. Not waiting for an answer to his question, James walked right up to the three, glaring at Scorpius as he did. "Your kind isn't wanted here, Malfoy. Why don't you find some other baby Death Eaters to pal around with?"
"I invited him!" Al interjected.
"Are you daft? I told Dad he should Floo up here and demand you be re-sorted. The hat was bang out of order to put you where it did." He crossed his arms and stared down at the two of them. "Auntie Luna's right about Voldemort having put a curse on it."
"I don't think that's what she meant...." Freddy interrupted, a bemused look on his face.
"There's no way Al and Rose belong in stinkin' Slytherin. Dad once said that house was just a pit stop on the way to Azkaban," he said, returning his gaze to Scorpius.
Scorpius - who'd been just about ready to tell James to clear off - froze. That Harry Potter could have said that, could have meant it, left him feeling sick. From their expressions, Al and Rose felt similarly but Rose recovered first.
“Piss off, James,” she muttered, trying and failing to push him out of the way.
“Language, Rosie-posie!” With her hair pulled back, Scorpius could see her ears go red at the nickname. “And I'm not going anywhere. He is.”
As much as he hated the idea of giving that git any satisfaction, Scorpius was starting to wonder if it was better if he went. Freddy and James didn't want him here, maybe Hagrid didn't either. Thinking on it, he wasn't sure Al had actually told Hagrid which friend he had invited, just that he was bringing one.
“Well, he's our friend and he's not going anywhere,” Rose retorted, pulling her wand out. “Now get out of the way!”
Uncertain about this new development, Al drew his wand and faced off against his brother, schooling his face into a determined look. Scorpius followed suit.
"Relax, midgets," Freddy said, clearly trying not to laugh. James, however, was still scowling. "James was just having a go."
"I was not!"
Now it was Freddy's turn to glare at him. "Does it really matter?"
"Of course, it does--"
James was unable to finish that sentence as two large boarhound pups ran down the steps of the hut, coming straight for the small gathering.
"Fido! Fetch!" cried a delighted Rose as they licked her hands.
In the doorway of the hut stood Hagrid holding a tray of some freshly baked goods. He was a sight with his flowered apron and matching oven mitts. "Yer jus' in time. I jus' made a fresh batch o' me famous treacle fudge!"
The five looked at each other and Scorpius wasn't sure what to expect when Rose grabbed the sleeve of his robe and gave her cousin a frosty glare. "Excuse you," she said, walking past him and half-dragging Scorpius in her wake.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Al give his brother a smug little nod before following.
Hagrid's treacle fudge was famous for a reason, Scorpius soon learned. The taste wasn't too bad, it was more the fact that one side of his jaw felt was glued together that bothered him. Hoping a mouthful of hot tea would be enough to pry his teeth apart, Scorpius carefully took a sip, then another. Finally, he took to holding the tea in his mouth till the sugary concoction binding his teeth together melted. Unfortunately, in doing so he managed to catch Hagrid's attention.
"Yeh all right?" The conversation about next year's World Cup paused as the other four occupants of the hut turned to look at him.
Scorpius swallowed the tea with a large gulp. "I'm fine, thank you."
Nodding, Hagrid was satisfied with this answer though Scorpius swore his eyebrows had been stuck in his hairline from the moment Al introduced him. Every so often he'd glance over at Scorpius as if he couldn't quite believe he was sitting there. James' tendency to periodically glare in Scorpius' direction hadn't escaped Hagrid's notice either. Scorpius could understand the feeling. Only in his wildest daydreams and play-acting did he think he'd be sitting down for a cup of tea with a giant. And those imaginary meetings usually ended with whatever friend-or-nurse Scorpius had convinced to be the giant playing dead after being bested in a duel. He hadn't even mentioned this visit to his parents, worried they'd forbid him to go.
Though he supposed Hagrid didn't really count, being only a half-giant and a civilized one at that. He had a house and furniture and even spoke in full sentences, Scorpius noted inwardly with approval. It just went to show what he always tried to tell Grandfather - that maybe muggles and giants weren't so different from wizards.
"He probably just doesn't like it," James said nastily, disturbing Scorpius' thoughts. “Told you, you shouldn't have invited him!”
More and more tempted to just hex James and be done with it, Scorpius demanded, "What is your problem?"
"You! Al and Rose wouldn't even be in that stupid house if it weren't for you."
"That's not true," Rose interjected, nearly slamming her mug down.
“It is so!”
"Enough!" Hagrid yelled over all of them, causing Fido and Fetch to startle.
"I dun' know what's gotten into yeh, James, but Scorpius here is yer brother's friend. Yer mum and dad wouldn't like the way yer treatin' him, would they?"
"But--"
"Would they?"
"No."
"All right then. Yeh give 'em enough grief with that map business of yers."
"But, Hagrid," Freddy implored, "that map is a family heirloom, don't you think it belongs with us?"
"Yeh should have thought of that before yeh let him catch yeh with it!"
"Maybe you could talk to Filch," Freddy continued. "He's known you for ages. You're a professor even so I'm sure he respects your opinion and--"
Despite fighting a grin at those words, Hagrid didn't waver. "Nothin' doin'. Filch isn' any more likely teh listen to me than he is teh you lot. Better off askin' Neville or even yer uncle. They're professors too."
"We tried," was James' glum reply.
Shaking his head, Hagrid stood and started gathering up the empty plates. "It's a wonder your uncles managed teh nick it off Filch the firs' time. I doubt Filch would be so dumb as teh leave it lyin' around on his desk again."
Freddy and James exchanged glances behind Hagrid's back.
"But enough of that." Hagrid joined them back at the table. "Quidditch'll be startin' soon. Yeh mus' be happy fer that."
"Me and Freddy are going to be the new Beaters," James answered confidently.
"Yeh? Yeh already try out?"
"No, but we're pretty much guaranteed the spots. We were good enough to make reserve as firsties and with Goodfellow and Dogberry gone we're next in line."
“What about you lot?” Freddy asked, looking at his cousins. “I hear Slytherin needs a new Seeker.”
Clearly, Freddy was unaware of Al's lack of flying skills. Al merely shrugged and mumbled, “I guess” whereas Rose nodded proudly. “Flint already asked us.”
Scorpius' insides twisted with these words. Playing Seeker had been the one thing he'd been looking forward to when he came to Hogwarts.
“Teddy says Slytherin hasn't had a decent team in years,” announced James, his mouth full of treacle fudge. “Can't even remember the last time they won the Quidditch Cup.”
“Got teh be close to twenty-five years now” mused Hagrid.
“Once they see you fly,” Freddy said to Rose, “I suspect they'll be begging you to be their new Seeker.”
“My brother thought I might be able to talk to them like my dad did but I never could, so I just keep them as pets. I have three now: Legolas, Eve and Jade.” Scorpius wasn't entirely certain how but they'd started talking about animals which led to Al spending the past fifteen minutes talking about his collections of snakes.
“Did you know snakes smell with their tongues? That's why they stick their tongues out all the time.” Al said as they made their way to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. “Well. It's not really smelling--”
“Yeah, I did,” Scorpius lied. “Listen, what kind of Quidditch experience does Rose have?”
Scorpius had spent the weekend obsessing over the coming Qudditch try-outs till deciding he needed to know more about Rose' supposed Quidditch skills. If he could, he'd ask her to play a game of one-on-one “Catch the Snitch” but first years weren't allowed their brooms aside from flying lessons and Qudditch.
“Experience?”
“Yeah! Did she go to Quidditch Camp and if so, which one? Has she had any sort of formal lessons and with whom?” Scorpius said impatiently. “Things like that.”
Al looked at his friend as if he'd grown three heads. “Quidditch Camp? She just played against our cousins and parents. We have enough people for two teams.”
“Really?” A sense of relief flooded Scorpius. Rose might have been good enough to play against her cousins but he'd been taught by some of the best players Quidditch had ever seen!
“Well, yeah.” Al paused a moment, thinking. “Though she had my mum help her with some of her moves over the summer and she did play for the Harpies. My mum, not Rose.”
“I gathered,” Scorpius said flatly, his sense of relief waning.
Al fell silent and Scorpius remembered that Quidditch probably wasn't his favorite topic at the moment. Though Scorpius was ready and willing to ask more about his snake collection if it took Al's mind off of Quidditch, he didn't get the chance.
“I also have a dog. Though it's not really my dog, more like my parents' dog. We've had her forever, her name's Maggie. Then there's the owls but they don't really count as pets, I think.” He wondered how Al managed to say all that in one breath. “Do you have any pets?”
“Just Scout -- she's my ferret. I've been asking my parents for another one but my dad doesn't like ferrets. He wanted me to get a Crup or a Kneazle.” Scorpius glanced at Al. “But my Uncle Ernie told me a ferret was a much better pet.”
Thinking back on it, Scorpius wondered if his Uncle Ernie had been entirely serious when he said that. It had been at a holiday party three years ago and Scorpius remembered thinking his uncle had probably had too much wassail. Both Uncle Ernie and Aunt Daphne had been giggling as he talked up the virtues of ferrets as pets. When Scorpius had seen him a couple weeks later, Ernie had been surprised (and quite amused) that his nephew had actually asked for and received a ferret.
“Kneazles are all right, my Aunt Hermione has one. They're all funny-looking if you ask me, like they ran into a wall face fir-- Oof!” Trying and failing to jump the trick step before they reached the first floor, Al lost his balance and stumbled into Scorpius.
Waiting till Al was steady on his feet, Scorpius pushed back, playfully banging his shoulder against Al's.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Al cried in surprise.
"So?" Scorpius answered, bumping him once more in the same fashion. Laughing, Al responded in kind, throwing his weight into it and causing Scorpius to stumble. They continued down the hall like this, each pushing harder till they were out of breath with laughter and exertion. Nearly upon the classroom, Scorpius gave Al one final hard shove, causing the other boy to lose his balance and fall. Sliding forward on his belly as much as the stone floor would allow, Al left a trail of books and parchment in his wake.
Despite his guilt, Scorpius couldn't contain his laughter. He was just thankful for Al's sake that the halls were mostly empty.
“Is everything all right?”
Scorpius glanced up from gathering Al's books to see Professor Weasley staring at the two boys. If the scars and earring weren't enough to make him intimidating, the way he was frowning at Scorpius would be. Handing Al his books and parchment, he quietly muttered his apology and earned an odd look from his friend in return.
“Yeah,” Al answered, now on his feet and brushing off his robes. “Scorpius and I were just playing, Uncle Bill. I mean, Professor Weasley.”
Professor Weasley relaxed, smiling at Al's slip. “Well, take your seats. Lesson's about to start.”
Rose was already inside, seated at one of the tables, engrossed in whatever she was writing. Or doodling, if last week's Charms lesson was anything to go by. Either his tutors had taught him more about magical theory than he thought or Professor Llewellyn took an intolerably slow pace with the subject because everything they went over last week was old hat for him. Many times Scorpius found his attention wandering to those around him, more interested in their notes than his own. Bo had frantically written down everything the Llewellyn had said – including his introduction, Mei's notes were color-coded in pink and black ink, Al had separated the information into meticulous charts and Rose had written a note to re-read page seventy-six, filling the rest of her parchment with drawings of Snitches and airplanes.
“Overall, I was pleased with your essays,” Professor Weasley said, handing their papers back to them. Predictably, Al had done well and Scorpius was glad to see that he had done even better.
This happiness was short-lived. A second later Scorpius peeked at Rose's essay -- perfect marks again.
“Now. Let's see how many of paid attention to the sidebars in the chapter.” Stifled groans rose from the class to which Professor Weasley only grinned. “Who wants to tell me what the natural habitat of a kappa is?”
Rose's hand was the first one in the air.
Over the next few days, Scorpius became increasingly certain that Rose was out to beat him in every subject. If he answered a question correctly, she seemed determined to beat him to the next. And if he answered a question incorrectly, she would be the first one with her hand in the air, ready to give the right answer. Several times he caught her looking over at him after their papers had been handed back, trying to peek at his scores. Of course, when Scorpius tried the same, she got all shirty. Even now, she had one arm curled protectively around her chart to block his view.
Like he'd need her help! Astronomy was the easiest subject for him so far, near-perfect marks on all his charts. (The one blot being Scorpius mistakenly putting the star Regulus in the Orion constellation rather than Leo, where it belonged.)
Though glancing over at her now, he noticed she was sitting stiffly, with one hand combing through her hair. Stranger still, she was staring straight ahead at the night sky, small frown on her face and taking no notice of him.
Shrugging it off, Scorpius went back to his chart. After neatly drawing the Cygnus constellation and breezing through the questions, he stood up to check through the telescope one last time.
And a wave of giggles erupted behind him.
Turning around, he saw Mei clumped together with her new friends – Higgs, Urquhart and Peakes – all trying to stifle their laughter. It wasn't directed at Scorpius, they barely seemed to notice him despite standing in-front of the group. Looking around however, he couldn't see what was so funny. It was only him and Rose near this telescope and Rose was still sitting stock-straight, finger-combing her hair.
Which was odd but not particularly funny.
Deciding it had been nothing, he refocused his attention to his chart. The telescope was already positioned toward the horizon and all Scorpius had to do was note Deneb's placement in comparison to the moon. He couldn't see why other students found this so troublesome, yet it seemed in every lesson there was someone who needed Sinistra to hold their hand.
An unwanted question, asking about the common denominator between all those students – rose in his mind but was quickly squashed.
Once his chart was completed he rolled it up and walked back to his seat. Just then, as he grabbed his book bag, Scorpius caught site of something flying towards Rose. The snickering from his four housemates behind them was enough to tell him it hadn't been a bug. Sitting down, he noticed Rose was still staring ahead while she combed through her hair, red-faced and scowling. Before he could ask, something in her face flickered and she pulled a little wad of damp paper from her hair. She dropped it onto the piece of blank parchment on her lap where there were already many others.
His first impulse was to feel vindicated, pleased even that someone was as annoyed with her as he was. Rose had been at her jumped-up, swotty worst for days – answering every question first, nosing in to help people when her help wasn't needed, she even corrected Professor Atterberry's pronunciation of the Muggle Minister's last name in their last Muggle Studies lesson! Something like this was to be expected.
Then she glared at him, eyes bright behind her glasses and Scorpius felt horribly uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if she was going to hex him or cry or both. Instead her face twisted into a grimace and she hurriedly looked away, combing through her hair again. Snickers rose from the four behind them. Scorpius looked over his shoulder in time to see Una passing a tightly-rolled piece of parchment to Mei.
Jumped-up swot though she may be, Rose had stood up for him against her cousin. He drew his wand.
“Problem, Mr. Malfoy?”
Whipping around he saw Professor Sinistra staring at him. Slytherin's Head of House was a stern woman with hair that was completely black save for a white forelock and a penchant for wearing high-collared robes. (This time in dark red.) She had her students cowed – including Scorpius.
“I, er--” he lowered his wand, eyes darting between Mei and Rose. Finally, with as much sincerity and conviction as he could muster, “I thought I saw a bug.”
Unimpressed, Sinistra raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that would require you to draw your wand.”
He nodded and sighing, she spoke to the entire class, telling them to turn their charts in as they left. Gathering her things at a rapid pace, Rose flew out of the class, only pausing to drop off her chart. A confused Al caught his eye and Scorpius could only shrug in response. Out of all possible reactions, he hadn't expected her to run.
As he found out once he entered the stairwell, Rose hadn't run.
“--these are yours!” She threw the handful of spitballs at Higgs and Urquhart as they passed.
Momentarily shocked, Urquhart recovered quickly enough.
“I'm surprised they didn't get lost in that rat's nest. Have you ever tried brushing it?” she asked smirking as she mimed brushing her hair.
“Maybe the house-elves like it better that way?” Higgs suggested, causing the others to laugh even more.
“Maybe she has a boyfriend down in the kitchens?” Mei added to the delight of her friends.
Rose had the look of a cornered animal and he noticed for the first time that she held her wand tightly in her fist. Al seemed to notice this too because he came between the group, grabbing her by the sleeve. “C'mon it's not worth it.” When that didn't convince her to budge he added, “Professor Sinistra is on her way.”
That did it. Rose stalked off in the direction of the stairs and even the others quieted down. Though he was rather disappointed at not having hexed anyone, Scorpius rationalized it was for the best. Before boarding the train to Hogwarts his father made him promise he wouldn't get into any fights. While the elder Malfoy had specified Gryffindors in this warning, he doubted his dad would be much happier with him dueling with fellow Slytherins.
On their trek down through the castle, the group around them became smaller and smaller as some made their way to the Great Hall while the remaining Hufflepuffs departed for their own room. By the time they reached the dungeons, it was with Rose, Regina and Bo while Al and Scorpius trailed behind them.
“What happened up there?” Al whispered, slowing down as the other three turned the corner leading to their common room. “Rose wouldn't say.”
“Higgs, Urquhart and them were throwing spitballs at Rose.”
Al managed to look shocked by this. “Why?”
“They don't like her would be my guess.”
From the frown on Al's face, Scorpius guessed he had wanted a more helpful answer. He wouldn't get it though as a commotion from down the hall commanded their attention.
“I'm stuck! I'm stuck!”
As they rounded the corner, Al and Scorpius were greeted by an unusual sight. Bo seemed to be drawn into the wall, with his arms up to his elbows and his right leg up to his knee fully disappearing into the stones. Rose and Regina were anchored on other side, each holding onto an arm as they tried to pull him out.
“I can't get out! It won't let me out!” he half-sobbed, struggling as he did. His cries were soon drowned out by Regina's panicky shrieks, her elbow was now stuck also. Like quicksand, the more they fought the further they sank into the stone structure.
Rose ran between them shouting “Finite Incantatem” over and over to no avail.
“It won't work!” Scorpius shouted. “Stop fighting! It won't work!”
He turned to Al, who had both of his hands fisted in his black hair and a horrified look on his face. “Al. AL! Go see if Pucey's in her office. If she's not there try to find Sinistra or the Headmistress, ok?”
Al nodded, unmoving.
“Go!”
He ran past the others, down to where the entrance to the Slytherin common room was. Scorpius hurried over to where Rose was, planted in-between the two, grabbing both as she tried hopelessly to free them.
“Stop pulling on them, it won't work!”
“We can't leave them!”
He looked at Bo and Regina, the latter had one side of her body enveloped in the wall and the former had disappeared up his chest. Both were sniffling, obviously trying not to cry.
“You have to try and relax.” At Rose's indignant look, Scorpius continued, “I know what's happening, my Grandfather told me all about it. It's an enchantment Slytherin created to keep... intruders out. The more you struggle against it, the more it sucks you in.”
Al shot out of the common room but whatever brief flash of hope Scorpius felt died when he ran past them, heading for the stairs.
“Listen, yeah? Listen, we'll just hold onto you,” he said, hooking his arms under what was left of Bo's and motioning for Rose to do the same with Regina, “but we're not going to pull you out. We have to wait for one of the professors. They'll know what to do.”
As Scorpius had hoped, not fighting against the wall had slowed the wall's pull on the other two. But it hadn't stopped it. He worried about what would happen if help didn't come soon, trying to remember anything more his Grandfather had said that could help.
“We're not intruders,” Regina sniffled.
“What?”
“You said it was to keep out intruders but we go here! We're in Slytherin. So why is it doing this to us?”
“I...” He wasn't sure what to say. Looking helplessly at Rose, he felt her expression must mirror her own and if she didn't already know the reason then she had guessed it.
“I don't know,” Scorpius lied.
“Then how do you know we won't be stuck here forever?” Bo asked, voice trembling.
“You won't!” Rose promised. “This is a school, they wouldn't have something that dangerous here.”
“Right,” Scorpius agreed though silently he wondered what was taking Al so long. Maybe Pucey had gone home for the evening? She was married so that was a possibility. He didn't know about Sinistra or Sprout but even if they were on the grounds – the castle was huge. They could be in the greenhouses or up in one of the towers visiting another teacher or --
“Rose? Scorpius?” Al's breathless voice carried through the halls. “I found someone!”
Following his nephew was Professor Weasley, wearing a traveling cloak over his robes.
Not even bothering to lower his voice so their Professor wouldn't hear him, Scorpius exclaimed, “I said a Slytherin, Al!”
One thing he did remember clearly was that his Grandfather told him only the professors from Slytherin and the Head of Hogwarts were allowed any knowledge about the secrets of the Slytherin common room. And more so the Slytherins.
“I had students run to fetch Sinistra and Sprout,” Professor Weasley answered calmly, performing some test on the wall that caused it to glow blue.
To Bo and Regina he said, “You'll be fine, I promise. This isn't the first time this has happened. Rose, Scorpius, hold on tight, yeah?” Weasley added, eyes fixed on the wall, wand moving over it in a steady zig-zag pattern. “When I finish this, the wall is going to push them out.”
They nodded as he continued with his spellwork, murmuring the same words over and over again until it began to sound like a melody. Then there was a loud “POP” as Bo and Regina were forcibly ejected from the wall.
“Ow!” Scorpius cried as he crashed to the ground, Bo falling on top of him. Al hurried over to help them.
“Is everyone all right? Bill?” Professors Sprout and Sinistra had arrived.
“Everything's fine.”
“We have to do something about that wall,” Sprout said, fretting as she looked at the wall “This keeps happening... students miss the entrance and are trapped....”
“I don't know if there's anything that can be done to remove the enchantment --” Bill began.
“There isn't,” Sinistra interrupted. “Slytherin made certain of it.”
She sounded resigned. Motioning towards the entrance to Slytherin's common room she said, “It's getting late and I know all of you have homework. Thank you, Bill, I know you were on your way home.”
“No problem. Though I should be leaving.” Smiling at Rose and Al he added, “Stay out of trouble.”
“We will,” Rose answered, Al nodding in agreement.
“Doesn't he look so much older?”
After weeks of just passing them in the halls on the way to class and brief words, his cousins had finally managed to find Scorpius and have a conversation with him. One that mainly consisted of Mairi cooing over him like he was her new pet Pygmy Puff despite being only sixteen months older than Scorpius.
Their cousin, Elodie, shot her an incredulous look while her sister, Fiona, just smirked. “Tons. I'll bet he's shaving already.”
“Oh, look one of each of us in the four houses!” Mairi added with such genuine surprise that for a second he wondered if it was really the first time she noticed that. Like her dad, Mairi had been sorted in Hufflepuff and like her dad, Elodie had been sorted in Ravenclaw. Fiona, unlike anyone in her immediate family, had been sorted into Gryffindor.
“I guess your new little brother – or sister – will have to be the tie-breaker! Isn't that exciting?”
Scorpius, who had tried not to think of the impending addition to his family since his parents first told him, merely shrugged. “I suppose.”
Whatever Mairi was about to say next was cut-off by Cordelia Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, yelling, “Oi, Malfoy! If you want to be on the team, get over here!”
“Sorry,” he muttered, though he wasn't in the slightest. Fiona seemed to understand, grinning and wishing him good luck.
All four houses were gathered on the pitch to do their try-outs. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had gone in the morning and there were still a few of them milling about, including James and Freddy off on the sidelines. Gathered around Flint were a few members of the Slytherin Quidditch team along with several others who hoped to join, including Rose, Regina and Al.
“Getting a new Seeker is our priority so we'll start with those trials.”
Scorpius looked around nervously at the others.
“Teng! Plumpton! You're up first.”
Brooms in hand, the two older girls followed Flint while the hopefuls sat on the sidelines to watch and wait.
“What position?” Scorpius asked Regina. He noticed neither she nor Al had brooms, though he supposed they could use the Slytherin team brooms for tryouts.
“Seeker,” she replied confidently. “I know I won't get it.”
He would agree with that though he wouldn't say it. While she was a better flier than Al or Bo, she wasn't Quidditch material. “Then... why are you trying?”
“I want to play some day. I reckon if I try now I can figure out what they want and learn how how to play better. What about you?”
“Seeker. I'm hoping I get it this year.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. You too.”
After fifteen minutes and no Snitch to show for it, Flint called the girls down and told Moffet and Davis to get out on the field. While every bit as fruitless as their predecessors when it came to capturing the Snitch, their trial included two near-collisions in the air (with the second being not-quite-accidental) and was much more entertaining for it.
“Fitzroy! Galloway! You're up.”
Regina's try-out had a rocky beginning but improved once she spotted the Snitch and flew towards it, much steadier on the broom than she had been earlier. Scorpius held his breath as she came close to catching the Snitch and only exhaled when it zoomed from her grasp, disappearing from view again.
“Not bad, Fitzroy,” Flint said once they'd landed. Checking something off on the parchment she had in hand, Flint glanced up at Scorpius and Rose. “Weasley, Malfoy, your turn.”
At first it seemed as if Rose and Scorpius were doomed to be as unsuccessful as the others. Minutes ticked away as they scanned the skies, hoping for a glimpse of the Snitch, Rose's plaits bobbing against her shoulders as she floated on her broom. He was about to give up hope when he caught sight of something small and golden glinting in the afternoon sun, small wings fluttering as it buzzed around the center goal hoop.
A quick glance told him Rose hadn't seen it yet, her attention focused on the opposite end of the pitch. Quietly and quickly, he righted his broom and flew off, smiling in anticipation at finally besting Rose.
The Snitch stayed near the goals, darting through the left hoop once but not going very far. Scorpius could hear Rose gaining on him though he dare not look, lest he lost sight of the Snitch. He was lucky he didn't as the Snitch suddenly made a sharp right, causing him to brake and make a sharp turn. Now, he was behind Rose, close enough that one of her braids hit him in the face. Distantly, Scorpius could hear her cousins cheering her on as raced for the Snitch.
Try as he might, however, he couldn't overtake her lead, even on her Cleansweep she managed to stay just a little ahead of him. Determined not to let her win without a fight, Scorpius flew in close and nudged her over. She glanced over in confusion but when he did it a second time, Rose understood what was happening and responded in kind. Soon they were each trying to shove the other aside until it was as if they were playing a game of Shuntbumps.
With the Snitch in grasp, she jabbed a sharp elbow into his side and Scorpius was momentarily forced back. It couldn't have taken him more than a few seconds to recover but that was all the time Rose needed. She caught the Snitch.
When they landed he was in a towering temper. Rose raising the Snitch high in the air and the ensuing cheers were just fuel to the fire. Scorpius wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face.
“You cheated!” he hissed.
“I did not!” Rose now looked every bit as furious as him. “You're just jealous because I beat you.”
“I am not! You cheated - cobbing is against the rules!”
"Yeah, well, you did it too!" she sputtered. "Blatching?"
“Good job, you two!” Flint ran over to them. “Scorpius, that was some excellent flying up there. There's a spot open for you on the reserves if you want it.” She clapped his shoulder. “We'll be needing new Chasers next year, be sure to try out, yeah?”
He wanted to tell her that no, he didn't want to be a reserve, he wanted to be Seeker but didn't get the chance.
“Rose, congratulations! You're our new Seeker.”
Scorpius didn't wait to hear the rest, he grabbed his broom and stalked off the pitch.
“Keeper trials are next!” Flint called. Al looked like someone about to get a kiss from a Dementor, which made Scorpius think he was aiming for the Keeper position. He had half a mind to keep walking, to not bother watching the other try-outs and just go back to his room and sulk. It's not like Al was going to make the team anyway.
But he didn't, instead dropping to the ground next to Regina and was pleased that Rose decided to go sit with her cousins rather than by them.
First up for try-outs was Slytherin's current Keeper, Luther Swindlehurst. Tall, black and broad-shouldered he looked completely at ease up by the goals, deftly deflecting every Quaffle thrown his way. Scorpius snuck a glimpse at Al, wondering how he was taking this but much to his surprise, his friend looked quite happy with Swindlehurst's skill as Keeper.
“Potter, you're next!”
“Good luck,” Regina said, her voice drowned out by James and Freddy's cheers. Flint handed Al an old Nimbus 2001 to fly when he reached the pitch. Despite a somewhat shaky take-off, Al seemed to be doing well. He completely missed the first two Quaffles but he was in control of the broom and had yet to be thrown off, so all-in-all it was an improvement.
Until the Chaser aimed one Quaffle right at Al, maybe hoping to give him an easy catch. Instinct, however, took over and rather than catching the Quaffle Al ducked out of the way. Scorpius winced, wanting to hide his face when Al did the same with the next two throws.
“MacDougal, you wanker, are you trying to take his head off?” Freddy yelled from the sidelines. Next to him, James looked embarrassed and Rose had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with worry.
“Shut it, Weasley,” was Flint's automatic response.
“Looks like the great Harry Potter's son is scared of a Quaffle!” jeered one haughty, dark-haired boy to his laughing friends. Scorpius recognized him as Zavier Smith, a Hufflepuff in the same year as him. “What a loser.”
“You want to repeat that, you little tosser?” James had stood up, wand ready and Freddy was following suit.
“Oi! Knock it off!” Flint said. Pointing to the two Gryffindors she said, “You two can shut it or leave, your choice.”
Not waiting for a response, she wheeled around to address the Hufflepuff captain. “You can't control them, Jenkins?”
Jenkins shrugged lazily. “It was a one time thing.”
“It better stay that way or Sinistra and Atterberry will hear how you tried to sabotage our try-outs!”
“I didn't do any such thing.” But Flint was no longer listening, she had turned her back to him, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.
Not that it mattered, Al was walking off the field, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast. If he heard James calling after him, he didn't show it.
Author's Notes: After the war, I thought Muggle Studies would become a required course. Hence, why it was mentioned by Scorpius.
(Part Four.)
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