Bonds of Friendship
As the days passed, James settled into life at Hogwarts and Slytherin House. Draco's words of encouragement had helped ease his initial apprehensions, and he found himself making new friends among his housemates. They were a diverse group, each with their own strengths and quirks, but united by a shared sense of ambition and determination.
One evening, as James sat in the Slytherin common room, working on his Transfiguration homework, he was joined by Scorpius Malfoy, Draco's son. Scorpius was a few years older than James and had quickly become a mentor figure to him.
"Hey, James," Scorpius greeted him with a friendly smile. "Need any help with that?"
James nodded gratefully, pushing his parchment toward Scorpius. "Yeah, I'm a bit stuck on this part."
Scorpius leaned in, explaining the concept and offering tips on how to improve James' spellwork. They spent the next hour working together, discussing their classes, sharing stories about their families, and laughing at some of the pranks the older Slytherins had pulled over the years.
As they packed up their books and prepared to head to bed, Scorpius clapped James on the shoulder. "You're doing great, James. Don't let the Sorting Hat's decision define you. Slytherin is lucky to have you."
James smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie and acceptance. "Thanks, Scorpius. I'm glad to have you as a friend."
Their friendship continued to grow in the following weeks, with Scorpius offering guidance and support whenever James needed it. James also made friends with other Slytherins, finding common ground and shared interests that strengthened their bonds.