3...2...1... Surprise
It finally happened.
Scorpius and Al were leaving transfiguration when someone, an 4th year Ravenclaw to be exact, somehow found the audacity to insult Scorpius in earshot of Al. Scorpius had been waiting for the shoe to drop, knowing it was only a matter of time before something was said to him infront of his friends. Unfortunatley, it was in front of his best friend. Scorpius would have rather it beem Charlie or Andy, at least then he knew the only bad thing that could happen was one of them throwing words back. He had experienced Charlie's back up before and he knew Andy had a particular way with words when he overheard anyone being picked on. Andy could insult someone with words so big that the they wouldn't understand the insult, but could tell by the look on his face that he meant buisness.
But Charlie and Andy were not with him then. No, Noran Adler had to insult him while Al Potter was standing right next to him. They were turning the corner going towards the stairs when Adler knocked into Scorpius shoulder and said mockingly under his breath, "Careful snake."
"What was that?" Al stopped walking and turned towards Alder. Scorpius grabbed his friend's arm calmly and tried to pull him along up the stairs hoping to ignore Alder.
"Nothing Potter," Alder said and sneered as he began walking backwards away from the two in an oddly calm manner. Scorpius tried to keep in his groan as he knew what was most likely to occur next and wanted to avoid it. "Just make sure your little pet is on a leash next time."
Al pulled his arm out of Scorpius' grasp. Before Scorpius could react, Al punched Adler in the face. Alder was only a few inches taller than Al, but height differences never stopped Al. When his fist connected with Adler's face, there was a loud audible crack and in the next second, the 4th year was on the floor. His lip was busted and a slow trickle of blood was starting to decend from his nose. Al was standing over the boy with his fists still clenched. Alder looked up at him and quickly scrambled away. Once he was out of sight Al unclenched his fists and turned back to Scorpius. He smiled at him and began walking up the stairs.
"You didn't need to do that Al," Scorpius chided him in a soft voice.
Al huffed and smiled at his friend, "And why not Cori?"
"Because if you fought everyone that ever said anything slightly mean to me you would be in detention until your graduate."
"Only if I got caught."
Scorpius shook his head, "You don't really attempt to hide your fists Gideon."
"If I hid them, then people wouldn't know to not mess with me or the people I care about..." Al paused as a thought occured to him, "and what do you mean until I graduate? Adler is the first kid I've hit since Christmas. And before that it was Donner. And you, Andy, and Rosie have only held me back three times before, what are you not telling me Cor?"
Scorpius sighed but didn't answer.
"Cori... hey mate, talk to me," Al stepped in front of Scorpius and put his hands on his shoulders. Scorpius didn't move his head but tentatively met his best friend's eyes. With his lips together, he pulled the corners of his mouth to the side and tried to shrug Al's hands off his shoulder. Talking about this with anyone always made him uncomfortable but with Al it was more than that. He didn't need the weird feeling in his gut that came when Al touched him to mix with his feelings about the situation.
"Nothing, Al. Just drop it ok." Scorpius side stepped his friend and kept walking towards the courtyard. He needed some fresh, cool air to relax his unease.
"Cori, will you stop!" Al nearly shouted as he took long strides to catch up with him. Once they were shoulder to shoulder, Al nudged him, "Mate, if people are giving you a hard time you know you can always come to me. I won't ever hesitate to take care of it!"
"Its fine, Al. It doesn't happen often." He bit his lip and mentally slapped himself. What was it about Al that made him want to spill every secret. His sister, the other kids at school, the names he gets called. With everyone else he can keep it in no problem, but with Al, it was like the kid had the key to his secrets chest and always opened it whenever he was around.
"Often!?" Al's voice rose in pitch, nearly cracking in anger, "Cori, that shouldn't happen at all!"
"Its ok. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to it." Scorpius tried to get his friend to calm down before he went on another tirade. It didn't work.
Al grabbed his arm and pulled at him. Scorpius stopped and followed the pull, turning towards Al, "Scorpius. It's never ok. You shouldn't have to be use to it. You heard my dad at the beginning of the year. And we have been friends long enough for you to know how I feel about people being mean to others. Especially my friends. If someone was saying things about Rosie and her hair color, or Andy and his nails, or even anything about me, how would you feel? Would you just let them say those things? Would you let other be mean to your friends?" Al raised his eyebrows as Scorpius dropped his gaze away from Al's eyes and down to his chin. He thought back to three weeks ago with Charlie in the library. He had corrected the Hufflepuff students for misgendering them, whether it was by accident or on purpose hadn't mattered to him. He had just wanted to make sure that Charlie's identity was being respected. He hadn't intended to stand up to them or be protective of Charlie. He knew they didn't need protecting, but he also didn't want them to be mistreated.
Scorpius relented. Al had a point. And Scorpius would be a hypocrite to tell Al to stop standing up to people when he had done the same for Charlie.
But it wasn't the same.
Scorpius had used his words. He had corrected their mistake and mildly threatened the students. He hadn't done anything to them. He hadn't even ordered those WWW products they had joked about. But Al didn't say a word. He just rushed over to Adler and punched him in the face without a second thought. And Scorpius knew that had Adler not be afraid and scurried away, had he gotten up and continued the fight, Al would have still not said anything and continued to physically asault another student until he won. And Scorpius had a feeling that Al knew how to win a fist fight.
"I wouldn't hit them Albus." Scorpius' face didn't faulter. He looked at Al eye to eye and held his expression. It wasn't one of anger or frustration or even upset. It was firm with the feeling of finallity that Scorpius was hoping Al was noticing and accepting.
"He deserved a good punch in the nose Cor. They all do. If anyone messes with my friends, they have me to answer to."
Scorpius huffed out a breath and looked away. Sometimes he questioned why he was friends with Al. He drove him nuts. They didn't share the same views on herbology. Al was way to energetic in the morning and constantly woke him up during his good dreams. He always got ink on his nose anytime he was writing notes or studying. He never let Scorpius pour his morning orange juice, and always grabbed to many biscuts after dinner. Al was so outgoing and talkative with everyone while Scorpius would rather just be by himself. Al had good press in the paper while if Scorpius' name did appear, it was always with either shock at his success or passive agressive backhanded insults to him and his family. They were completely different. Scorpius wasn't even sure why Al even wanted to be his friend in the first place. They had almost nothing in common.
But he dropped the subject. He wasn't in the mood to keep telling Al the same things just for Al to ignore them.
Later, they met up with Rose and Andy in an empty classroom. They had claimed it as their unofficial hang out room in October. when the four of them wanted to get away from the crowds of students but also not get in trouble to constantly giving away each other's house passwords. The two Ravenclaws had started a fire in the fireplace like always and there was a pot of tea with cups on a bench beside them. Rose was laying down on a bench reading a muggle book. Andy was sitting on the old rug they had found and placed by the fire for them to sit on. He was focued intently on painting his nails. There had been a small party at Ravenclaw tower in November and some students got to playing truth or dare. Andy had been dared to paint his nails bright pink. He hadn't expected to like it as much as he did and now continued to paint his nails. He had even recently started experimenting with patterns and designs.
Scorpius threw himself down on the rug next to Andy and put his arm over his eyes.
"Bad day mate?" Andy asked.
Scorpius only groaned a soft reply. Al informed him of the interaction they had after Transfiguration earlier and Andy made a sound of understanding. Scorpius didn't correct them. He wasn't upset about the things said to him, but rather his ever growing annoyance at his friend's insistance at physically assaulting anyone who even looked at him wrong. Rosie didn't say anything, she was too engrossed in her book.
Scorpius removed his hand and craned his neck to look over at Andy. The two of them were not as close as the rest in their friend group, but Scorpius was too upset at Al to be near him and Rosie was too busy, so he chose Andy to talk to.
"What was wrong with the green before? Too much like Slytherin?"
Andy's face paled and blushed before he smiled at Scorpius, "Nah, saw Sarah Corner in the great hall the other day with a really pretty winter blue design and now I want to try it out too," He held out his hand for Scorpius to see and he sat up on his elbows to get a better view. Scorpius nodded and offered his approval before Al piped up.
"Oh, Sarah Corner did something pretty with her nails, and now you are copying her. Sounds like someone has a crush."
Andy turned quickly towards Al and growled between clenched teeth, "Do not. I just liked the design." Scorpius saw his face lose its blush and remain pale. He turned towards Al and gave him a stern warning glare. Al dropped his head slightly and raised his hands in surrender. Before things could escalate between the three boys, Rosie sat up and squeeled in delight, clutching her book to her chest and kicking her feet.
"Guess they finally kissed," Andy commented before going back to his nails.
"What?" Al questioned and Andy, ignoring he air the room had had a moment before, turned to Al and nicely explained that Rosie had been reading a romance book in which the two characters were starting out the story as enemies and were supposed to end as lovers. Rosie had been expressing her expectation for them to kiss for the last hour and now he assumed that they finally had. He was right of course. Rose closed the book quickly after another page of reading and exclaimed such to the boys before reaching into her bag and pulling out a simple golden yellow leather bound journal that looked familiar and a self inking quill.
"Making notes on the love story for later," Scorpius asked curriously.
"Nope," Rosie said as she continued to write, "Book club with your sister. She finished the book earlier today and has been waiting for me to catch up. Now I gotta talk to her about Marcus and Ashley finally admitting their feelings. I bet she is kicking her feet too."
Al and Andy laughed but Scorpius appeared to have been the only one to really hear her.
"I thought you guys owled each other. How would you know she finished the book today?"
Rose looked up from the journal and smiled at him.
"You are not the only one that can instant message your sister, Ned. Thank my cousin for that."
Scorpius looked over at Al with a questioning look. How was Al to thank? But it seemed Al was just as confused. Rosie didn't continue her answer and got back to writing. Andy finally clarified for the two Slytherins.
"That book is part of a set. It is magically connected to one your sister has. When you write in one, it also appears in the other, so they can write back and forth without waiting for the owls. Pretty impressive yet simple magic. James and your Uncle George made it."
"James?!" The other two boys said at the same time.
Andy nodded but didn't seemed bothered by this information. Al questioned why James would make something for Aniara. Rosie answered him this time, "He noticed how much we owled each other and thought something like this would be more helpful in keeping us in touch."
Rosie continued to write and kick her feet some more. After she was done writing she waiting a little bit, looking down at the book. Then her eyes seemed to scan the book as if she was reading and then she laughed. Watching her sparked a memory in Scorpius. This situation seemed familiar, like he had seen it before but couldn't place it. Curious if his friends were telling the truth or going mad he decided to test this information himself. He reached out to his sister, nudging her conciousness before talking to her.
"Bear, what is this about journals writing to each other."
He felt her but didn't hear a response back. He waited a moment, thinking maybe she was in the middle of something. Then he heard Rosie give out a loud laugh and stomp her foot on the floor.
"Ani says not to worry about the journals Ned," she kept reading the journal and laughed again before continuing, "she also says to stop being jealous of our friendship."
Scorpius narrowed his eyes at Rosie, "I'm not jealous. I can talk to her whenever I want, like I am trying to right now."
"Hows that working for you Neddy boy?" Rosie said back.
"I still don't get the nick name,"
"Can I please tell him?" Andy questioned looking up from his nails.
"No!" Rosie and Scorpius said in tandum both looking towards Andy. He raised his hands in defeat and went back to work.
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Rosie kept writing in her journal, Andy was almost done painting his nails, Scorpius laid back down on the rug, and Al was drinking his milk filled tea.
*******************
Her crush on James hit her like a freight train. She was organizing her TBR pile, again, when got confused. There shouldn't have been this many books. She thought back on her reading over the last month. She had read The Cast of Cage with Rosie and was currently reading Sparrows Edge... which she started a month ago. She had never taken this long to read a book that size. A one off mystery book with less than 700 pages and she was just now finishing it. Was she really that busy in her life? She had been spending less time at Hogwarts than last term, and had finished all the text books for first year. She was cooking more with Pip but that wasn't taking up lots of her time in the day.
She picked up a book from the pile and the color caught her attention. It was red, like her journal with James, which reminded her to go check if he had written to her. She walked over to her bedside table to look at the open journal, scanning to see if he had written to her.
Oh no.
That's why she was so distracted. She kept the book open, waiting for him to write to her. He would leave her notes throughout the day, or draw her stupid little doodles when he was bored in class or studying. And she couldn't wait to hear from him. And the herbology book, Merlin! the first year herbology book was also on her bedside table, with the flower he had put in her hair pressed between the pages about aconite. Always before bed she would open the book and lightly touch the flower to calm any left over nerves from the day. And during Friday study sessions she would always situate herself to be able to see James and watch him study.
'Do I fancy James?'
When it hit her, she rushed to her lilac journal to write to Rosie. She needed to talk to someone about her feelings and she needed to do it now!
A- Rosie! Posisible minor problem, but I think I have a crush on James
Wait, was she really going to talk about her crush on Rosie's cousin! But the words were already written before she could take them back. Stupid instant messaging journal.
A- Oh Merlin, please ignore that last message. I wasn't even thinking. He is your cousin and this is probably really weird for you and you can just rip this whole page out now. Please do! Actually, just pretend we have never written to each other and we are not friends. Problem solved.
Great now she was rambling. She definitely fancied James.
R- I'm laughing so hard right now I'm going to pee my pants. Please stop!
A- Oh gods kill me now! I'm ready to decend to the depth of Hades.
R- Stop being dramatic An, its fine. Tell me about your crush on my super annoying pompus cousin.
A- He isn't pompus!
There was a long pause as Rosie didn't imediatly respond back. Aniara could see her facial expression even without projecting.
A- Ok fine, he is a bit.
R- So when did this crush start?
A- Not sure exactly. Maybe last week when he drew me this dumb doodle of a cat with glasses. Or when he gave me the journals in the first place. Or if I really think about it, when he put that flower in my hair.
R- When he WHAT?!
Aniara groaned. Why had she written that? Maybe her brain was getting all mushed from astral projecting too much.
A- At Christmas, when we first met.
R- I need all the detail and I need them yesterday! Spill!
A- Well, at the Christmas Eve Party I may have snuck downstairs and out to the garden's for some cool air. And I may have encountered your cousin doing the same thing. And then we made a bet about his herbology knowlege so we
Rosie wrote a side note as Aniara continued to write.
R- Of course he made a bet. Thats what he does.
A- went to my family's green house and.. yes I know he likes to make bets... after he won he found a flower growing outside in the snow and picked it. Then he, very smoothly I might add, put it in my hair behind my ear.
Aniara didn't see Rose write anything for a few seconds once she was done. She started to worry that Rosie was mad at her, or maybe she was second guessing her decision to hear about her crush on James. Then, in big bold letters taking up more of the page than she usually did, was Rosie enthusiastic writing.
R- WHY AM I HEARING ABOUT THIS NOW? AND I HAD SPENT THE PARTY STEPPING ALL OVER YOUR BROTHER'S FEET WHILE YOU WERE LIVING A LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ROMANCE BOOK MOMENT!
A- It wasn't like that. He was actually really annoying. He wouldn't stop holding my hand while he kept insisting that munkswood and wolfsbane were different.
R- YOU WERE HOLDING HANDS!!!!!!!!
A- Yes...
R- Aniara........ how often do you two write to each other in your journals?
It was Aniara's turn to give a long pause. She wasn't sure how honest she wanted to be to Rosie. The two girls only really wrote like this once a day with a few sporadic messages inbetween classes (not including their book club essays to each other). But with James, they were almost constantly writing messages to each other, or he was making funny doodles for her in class.
Aniara decided she had already been incredibly honest with her, and stopping her candor attitude now wouldn't help matters.
A- Every day... a lot. Basically any chance I get. Honesly Rosie, I only just noticed how much a few minutes ago when I realized that I wasn't reading as much as I used to because I've been distractedly waiting for him to write to me.
R- Al and Scorpius, and now you and James! I don't think my helpless romantic heart can take it!
A- Just because I like Jay doesn't mean he likes me back!
R- Ani. He put a flower in your hair. Held your hand while he talked about plants. Made specially charmed journals so that you could not only more easily write to me, but to him. And I've seen him, while he is supposed to be studying, distracted because he is writing in his own journal to you. If you two don't eventually start dating and then get married, I will give up reading romance books because love will be dead.
A- And I'm the one being dramatic.
R- YES!
A- Just because I fancy him doesn't mean we are going to get married Rosie.
R- Does to me. I'm starting my maid of honor speech right now.
The two wrote back and forth for a little while longer before Rosie had to meet up with the other Rebel Kids. Aniara sat back in her seat at her vanity and sighed. Then she gave in and went to her red journal to see if James had written to her again. He had and they spent the rest of the even writing back and forth with Aniara blushing the entire time.
A week later, Aniara was writing to James, even though she knew he was currently in study session with his friends and the Rebel Kids.
A- What's that?
J- A doodle. I got bored during muggle studies.
A- I can see that. But what is it a doodle of?
J- Can't you tell Snowdrop? ;)
Aniara shook her head. In the corner of the page of their messages from earlier was a crude drawing of what looked like a frog with a bowtie and tophat... or maybe it was a bunny with a cake. She was having a hard time figuring it out. She had really been enjoying the journals. Being able to talk to James and Rosie almost instantly was a relief on her social life. Or more like a resuscitation of it. Her book club journal with Rosie was halfway full already, and her journal with James was full of constant back and forth messages with little drawings everywhere. James wasn't as good at drawing as Scorpius so Ani always had to decifer what he was drawing. It was a fun little game they were playing every now and then.
A- A frog with a top hat?
J- No. A bunny with a birthday cake! Because it is someone's birthday in a few days.
A- Then why draw it somewhere only I can see. Scorpius won't be able to see it.
J- Damn, guess I should have thought of that before.
She blushed at his joke.
There were only a few more days before their birthday and Aniara hadn't decided what she was going to do. Rosie and Al were planning a small surprise party for Scorpius in their empty classroom for the day before. It was going to be a small party, just their few close friends. But the last time Aniara projected into a party just made her feel that much more excluded from it. She wanted to celebrate with her brother, but he would be the only one that knows she is there and wouldn't have much attention for her anyway. But she also didn't want to celebrate their birthday alone. Her parents were going to celebrate with her on their birthday on Monday so it wasn't like she was being forgotten. But Aniara was coming to realize that the older she got, the more she was left behind in life.
James had been reasuring her he wasn't going to forget her on her birthday and had promised he and Rosie had gotten her a gift, but Aniara wasn't sure she wanted one. Maybe it would make her feel more isolated, or maybe it would make her feel more included. Aniara was questioning the direction of her life more and more and she wasn't even a teenager yet.
J- ok, I gotta get back to my astronomy essay. If I'm not focusing Charlie may hex me. And trust me they know some good hexes for a second year.
A- I can always help if you need. I'm basically a second year myself with all this free time on my hands.
She didn't want to stop talking to him. Her crush had gotten worse since she realized her feelings. Now all she wanted to do was either write to him, or protect to Hogwarts and watch him. But not in a creepy way. In like a 'I think you are super sweet and I already love to eves drop and I might as well eves drop on conversation my crush is having' kind of way. Totally not creepy.
J- Is having this book with me durring exams, which apears blank to everyone else, still considered cheating?
A- Yes Jay, its still cheating.
J- Damn. Guess I will just have to study then. Speaking of, you wouldn't happen to know when the next lunar eclipse is?
*************
They all sat in their usual spots for Friday study sessions. They had all gotten into a familiar rhythm, and honestly Friday study session was becoming relaxing for Scorpius. He didn't need to worry about have enough time in the week for revising or essay writing. He knew he had a dedicated time for that along with support from Charlie. Having second years with them was initially an annoyance, but after a while it was a good thing for everyone. The second years could help them with their questions or correct any mistakes they found in their essays, while helping the first years was a good revising exersise for the seconds years. Scorpius caught a glimps of the future and saw how this set up would be really helpful for all of them when O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s came along.
He was working on his potions essay about transformative potions and was getting tips from Charlie next to him. Aniara sat on their other side reading a book, twirling a self inking quill in her fingers. After a few minutes Charlie did their usual check in. Everyone gave their typical answers, Claire tried to lie to be able to go do something else that interested her, Farris was halfway done with his work, Rosie and Andy were a week ahead, while Al and Scorpius were set to be done by the time the session was over. And James, like always, was too engrossed in his note taking to answer Charlie.
"Jay, update." Charlie inquired as James looked back and forth between his astronomy text book and his white journal.
"S'all good. Astronomy is almost done." James didn't look up, just kept scrawling something in the corner of his journal. Then he heard his sister laugh and he tried to subtly look her way. She was holding a red book and laughing about something in it.
Everyone else seemed to accept his answer, but Scorpius was feeling that familiar spark in his memory watching James write. Charlie didn't believe James and let out a huff in frustration, "Really. It usually takes you all afternoon to finish astronomy."
"Well, I've got a good study partner."
"Did you charm that journal to give you all the answers?" Charlie questioned causing James to look up from the book and smirking. He didn't give a reply but shrugged his shoulders and went back to whatever he was writing. Rosie startled them with her sudden input
"No, just to talk to his girlfriend."
Everyone's heads turned to Rosie but she wasn't looking up at them.
"Jay doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Why would he date a book?"
"Can I get a book with all the answers?"
"Girlfriend, what girlfriend?"
"She isn't my girlfriend Rose."
Everyone's whispering in tandem caught Rosie's attention, turning her head to look up at them. She smirked at James and then winked at Scorpius. Then the spark from earlier lit a fire and Scorpius realized what he was missing. Rosie writing in her journal to his sister had looked the same way James did when he was writing in his journal. James had been the one to gift the journals to Aniara and Rosie and Scorpius had noticed before that James' journal had appeared blank.
"Do you have a journal to write to my sister too?" Scorpius' voice got a bit louder than he intended causing some of the other tables around them to shush him. James looked at him and Scorpius saw the hit of a blush on his cheeks. James nodded and Scorpius felt compelled to ask James how often he wrote to her.
"Occasionally."
Rosie scoffed at his answer, "Thats not what Ani said."
Scorpius tried his hardest to not look over at his sister. But he desperately wanted to see her reaction to all of this. He was also getting slightly protective of his sister too.
"Aniara," he sent to her.
"Oh what? Am I supposed to tell my brother everything I get up too? What's wrong with talking to James?" She said aloud.
"You could have said something?"
"Ok so maybe I write notes to her when I'm bored in class. But she's couped up alone in that large mannor. She deserves people her own age to talk to besides her brother."
"But why would she be writing to you?" Al questioned, "Her and Rosie make sense, they've been writing for months. But you guys haven't even met."
Everyone at the table was looking over at James now, completely abandoning their school work. James' cheeks got a tinge of red to them and he cleared his throat but didn't answer the question.
Rosie spoke up again, with a conspiratorial tone, "Oh they met. Remember when James snuck out of the Christmas party."
Everyone gasped at this and while James slightly glared at Rosie.
"How do you know all this?" Scorpius asked Rosie.
"Cuz I told her," Aniara answered. Scorpius continued his mental conversation with her and missed most of Rosie's explainination to the rest of the group.
"Why didn't you tell me you met James?" he sent with an annoyed tone
"So now I have to tell you about everything and about everyone I meet? You don't run my life." She sent back equally annoyed.
Scorpius huffed out loud but didn't care if anyone heard him, but sent back with a twinge of hurt, "We always tell each other everything Bear. Why the secrets?"
She didn't respond and just stared at him. He could feel her annoyance, slight guilt, and finally resignation. Then he felt her leave. He put his face in his hands and then dropped his head to the table.
"Don't be mad at James, Cori. He meant well." Al had misplaced Scorpius' feelings. Scorpius was honestly indifferent about James, and, if anything, happy that his sister had more people to talk to, he was just upset at her secrets. The joys of being magical twins was there were very few things they did or could even keep from each other. If she had met him almost two months ago, why hadn't she said anything. He thought back to the night of the party and how she had acted afterwards. She had seemed more serene and happier than she was before the party began. Meeting James must have been good for her. But that didn't mean Scorpius had to be happy about it.
"I know he did Gideon. I just wish Ani would have told me."
Al nodded in understanding and once everyone was satisfied with Rosies explanaition they all continued their studying. Though Scorpius kept catching James' eyes and giving him a half hearted smile. James titled his head and gave the same smile back. Neither talked to each other for the rest of the day.
Scorpius opened his eyes Sunday morning feeling different. No, he didn't feel different, the morning did. Something was... off. In his groggy state he sat up on an elbow and looked around. His curtains were still drawn, and the dorm itself was quiet. He didn't hear Abel's snoring, or Odin's loud morning footsteps. He moved a curtain to look out at the dorm and found all the beds next to his were empty and more sunlight coming through the murky lake water outside their windows. He flopped back down on the pillow and sighed as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the morning. After a minute or two of dozing he remembers why the morning felt off.
Al hadn't woken him up.
Opening his eyes suddenly and sits up. Al's bed is made and his night robe is handing on its hook. His wand is also missing from his bedside table. Al had gotten up and either forgotten or neglected to get him up as well, for the first time all year.
'Oh no. He finally woke up and realized he doesn't want to be my friend. Or he's mad at me for acting upset with James' about writing to Ani. Or maybe something is wrong and he had to get to an emergency and forgot me. He just forgot me.'
Scorpius was anxiously running through all the reasons Al had forgotten him while he got up for the day. He put on a plain grey jumper and soft dark grey pants. He didn't do anything with his hair like usual, neglecting his curls, most of which are now flat and slightly frizzy from his sleep. He put his wand in his pants pocket and tied up his black outdoor boots. Overal, he presented himself a lot more casual that he ever had before at school. Being lost in his thoughts and dejected feelings, he missed the vey obvious gift wrapped package on his own bedside table, and left his dorm room.
The common room was filled to its normal mid sunday morning capacity, informing Scorpius that it wasn't yet noon. No one paid him much mind, as usual, but he did Al. He caught his dormmate Odin sitting by the fireplace with a book on his lap and playing chess with himself on a turntable. The kid was determined to not only one day become Slytherin's house chess champion, but Hogwarts. His downtime always consisted of either studying chess plays, or practicing them on his own. Very rarely could he get someone to play him.
"Hey, Odin, did something happen to Al this morning?" He didn't look up at Scorpius, just glanced at the open book in his lap.
"Bishop to b-4, sorry Scorpius, he got up at his usual time and said he had things to do. Also told us to be quiet when we got ready. Well, told me to be quiet. Didn't want us to accidentally wake you. He's probably in the great hall or the greenhouses. Said something about mandrake leaves. Wasn't really paying much attention."
Scorpius groaned. He hoped Al was in the great hall as he wanted to avoid the greenhouse as much as possible outside of class. He would avoid it in class too if he could. He thanked Odin and left the common room to accend the stairs in search of his friends, which he hoped were still his friends.
Al wasn't in the great hall, but before he could leave to search for him, Scorpius was called over to the Griffindor table by Charlie.
"Morning mate. How'd you sleep?"
Scorpius chuckled and nodded his head, "Haven't slept in that long since Christmas break." He noticed the time on the clock as 10:30 and sighed to himself. He was still worried about why Al hadn't woken him up, but was glad to finally not fall asleep over his food. Charlie handed him a plate filled with all his favorites. It was almost too full.
"Merlin Char, I can't eat all this, I'm not Farris."
"I know Ned. Just following orders is all." Scorpius looked up at them with a confused look but Charlie didn't give him any explaination. So, he dug into the large breakfast and ate more than he expected he would, though still not as much as Farris seemed to inhale. He looked over at Claire on Charlie's left and saw her looking through her apparently newly opened Chocolate frogs cards.
"So, you guys got any plans for today?" He asked. He hadn't spent much time with Claire one on one, so he addressed his question to both of them. They shrugged and Claire groaned as she threw down another card, "Professor Potter again, how many of him can they make. You can't even trade them anymore cause even all the muggleborns have at least three of him." Scorpius chuckled at her washed his breakfast down with orange juice.
"Nothing really. Might try a new hair color later." Charlie answered as they absent-mindedly braided a small braid on the left side of their face. They were growing out their hair more, yet it no matter the length, it never seemed to affect their almost perfect androgynous appearance. Scorpius wondered if they used actual charms to affect their gender expression besides just their hair color potions.
"Seen Al yet?"
Claire answered this time, "Nah mate. He and James inhaled their breakfast faster than Farris and left in a hurry for something." She shrugged, which indicated that she didn't seem to be worried about the boys.
"Rosie and Andy are helping their prefects with their common room," Charlie continued before Scorpius asked about them, "A 7th year freaked out last night because of all their studying and totally trashed their common room. Sticking charms, disillusionments, colliding potions. They said it was as if someone had tried to pull a prank on them, or set some kind of trap, but the poor girl was sitting in the middle of everything with her wand out and glaring at the statue of Ravenclaw. All the eagles are helping in one way or the other today." Charlie shuddered and Scorpius cringed at the mental image of the Ravenclaw common room. He had only seen it once, when he was spending time with Rosie and Andy while Al was off at Hagrids. It was a really pretty common room he knew his sister would die to see, and hoped that the students and faculty could get it back to it original state.
After breakfast he still had yet to see any of his friends. Charlie and Claire invited him along while they spent their morning playing gobstones, or changing Charlie's hair from pink (for Valentines day a week ago) to a darker red that faded to a soft orange and with pastel green tips. So far, it was Scorpius' favorite hair color combination they had done.
Hanging out with the two Griffindors had helped distract Scorpius from his worried feelings surrounding Al.
He finally saw Al for the first time that day at lunch. He was at the Griffindor table again sitting with Charlie, Farris, Claire and Andy, when the two potter boys and Rosie walked in laughing with each other.
"Glad you finally remembered me," Scorpius teased, though there was some bitterness to his words.
Rosie sat down in the open space next to him and kissed his cheek, causing an annoyed huff from Al, "As if we could forget you Ned."
"Well I spent all morning with second year Griffindors and only saw Andy for the first time 30 minutes ago, so I just assumed all my friends were abandoning me."
James sat down across from him next to Claire and Al pushed Rosie's shoulder getting her to move over so he could sit next to Scorpius. She chuckled and shifted herself so Al could sit.
"Happy Birthday Cori," Al smiled at him once he was seated.
"That's tomorrow Gideon." Scorpius corrected him.
"But we have class all day tomorrow, which is why I let you sleep in today!"
Scorpius dropped his shoulders a bit, relaxing from his anxiety this morning he wasn't aware he was still holding onto, "So you didn't forget me?"
Al's face softened and patted his thigh comfortingly, "I would never Cor."
Scorpius thanked him and they all got on to eating their lunch.
Just before dinner, Scorpius reached out to Ani. He was used to not seeing her anymore on the weekends. Sometimes she would come to a quidditch match if it was greatly anticipated and the Rebel kids were going to it. He tried to check in on her a few hours to make sure she wasn't loosing her mind. though now she has Rosie and James to talk to so he guessed he didn't need to worry about her as much anymore.
"I got to sleep in this morning. My birthday gift from Al since I can't sleep in tomorrow."
She reached back and he felt a wave of happiness from her, "Some gift! How was it?"
"Honestly, super great. I need to convince him to let me sleep in like that every weekend."
"We both know he won't"
"Yeah" He chuckled, "What did you get up to today Bear?"
She didn't answer and he felt her emotions go from happy to confused and shocked. He tried to get her attention back but she didn't respond. He wanted to try and get her attention again before he had made it up the stairs with Al and met up with Andy and Rosie on the steps towards dinner. He dropped the issue with his sister and turned towards the great hall, but his friend's didn't follow. The three of them went the opposite way from the great hall.
"Uh, guys, dinner is that way." He pointed behind him. They just glanced back at him and all got mischivous grins on their face.
"We have other plans for tonight Cori, care to join?" Al held out his hand while gestruing up the stairs with his head.
Scorpius studied their faces before giving up trying to figure out what they had up their sleves. He grabbed Al's hand and followed his friends up the stairs. Halfway towards their destination, he realized they were headed to their abandoned classroom.
"We are skipping dinner to hang out here?"
"No," Al chuckled and shook his head. Andy smiled and made a grand gesture to open the door. On the other side the room was more brightly lit than usual, with banners and signs hanging everywhere. Under a large banner with the words, "Happy Birthday" painted on very boldy in Slytherin green, were James, Claire, Farris and Charlie. They all had handmade paper party hats and Farris had a noise maker in his mouth. There were a few new tables added to the room that had finger foods and some of Scorpius' favorite snacks and candies, and another table had a pile of presents.
Once Scorpius had stepped into the room, everyone there shouted, "Happy Birthday!" Farris began making nosie with the horn in his mouth and waving his hands above his head.
Scorpius laughed and tears ghosted his eyes. He had never had a proper fun birthday party! His parents had their family birthday traditions, but it never included friends. It was always the four of them, san their grandmother after Aniara was deemed a squib. He had also been slightly worried about celebrating it this year, as it would be the first without his twin by his side.
He thanked all of them and Claire pointed her wand towards a radio in the corner and the song Grips and Grimes by the wizards band The Grindilows begam playing. He looked over at Al, who smiled at him proudly.
"Is this what you were doing all morning Gideon?"
Al didn't respond, simply winking at him and then pulled him to the one couch in the room, which was usually bare, but now had pillows and throw blankets on it. The room seemed considerably more comfortable than usual. Once they were seated, Al leaned in to whisper something in his ear, which caused a weird fluttering in Scorpius stomach. He wasn't sure where that feeling had come from, Al had spoken to him quietly before, usually when they were in the libraray or in class, but here it felt... different.
"Glad I forced you to change before dinner?"
Scorpius nodded and felt his face get a little warmer. Just 20 minutes ago Al had insisted he get changed into something less casual for dinner. Scorpius hadn't seen the point before, but Al had made the argument that it was his birthday tomorrow, and since he had to be in his school uniform all day, he should dress somewhat nice today in honor of his birthday. Scorpius was glad he had seen reason in that argument. It would have been weird to come dressed to his birthday party in boring weekend grey lounge wear.
Everyone ate the food and all their conversations were loud. Farris made a bet with Claire on how many meetballs he could fit into his mouth and ended up losing. Andy was off to one side talking with Charlie, while James and Rosie were in their typical heated cousin debate about something to do with their Uncle's products. Scorpius looked around the room and let out a big sigh. He was glad he had so many people in his life that made him feel welcome, and made him forget about his familie's repuation. He went still for a moment as he felt Al's thumb rub the knuckles on his hand. He had forgotten they were still holding hands. Al nudged his shoulder and asked, not in a whisper this time, "Good mate?"
Scorpius smiled and nodded. There was only one thing that could make this party better.
As he thought that, there was a small apparation pop next to the classroom door, and everyone stopped what they were doing to look. There, dressed in a simple sky blue dress that Scorpius knew she only wore for special occasions, was Pip. She was looking at James and simply nodded her head. James quickly jumped up from the floor next to Rosie hurried off to the side of the classroom. Then Pip looked at Scorpius.
"Happy Birthday Mister Ned! I hope you like your party, and all your presents and surprise. There is one from my on the table too!"
Scorpius thanked her, and before he could get up to give her a hug, she disapperated away with another small pop.
No one spoke, confused at why the elf had been there and left so quickly. The radio volume dimmed and James cleared his throat to get everone's attention.
"Before this party can really truely begin, you know games, and cake and presents and all, there is one more suprise." He was standing by the door to the classroom's storage closet. Everyone just looked at him, this must have been a surprise to the rest of them, as they all were silent and had confused looks on their face. James looked pointedly at Scorpius and said, "3...2...1... Surprise!" before opening the door.
***************
Aniara woke up feeling happy. She was more excited for today than for her actual birthday tomorrow. James had told her last night that her birthday gift from him would be arriving that evening. It wasn't yet noon, but she still checked her personal letter box at her window and then rushed downstairs to check the family box as well. Nothing for her yet. So she spent the day chatting to James and Rosie. James had been busy all morning getting the classroom ready for the party later that evening. Once Rosie finally was free to talk to her, she learned about the fiasco the night before with the 7th year. She was glad that through a big team effort, the common room had been restored, and hoped the 7th year girl would feel better after being treated by madam pompfry for over exahustion and stress.
Trying to entertain herself while she waited for James' gift, she reread a mystery novel about a muggle girl with an eidetic memory and how she used it to help the muggle police to locate a missing famous dog. The plot was simple and the book an easy read, but it was part of a series she loved when she was younger and reading it helped to calm her down with the memories it brought back.
Later that evening, just before dinner, and after having checked the letter boxes several times that day, she sat in her reading nook, beginning the next book in the series. Now it was a mystery about how expensive jewels were stolen from a store instead of the dog being switched with a look alike. She was two chapters in when she felt her brother nudge at her mind as he checked in on her. He always did once a day on the weekends.
"I got to sleep in this morning," he started, "My birthday gift from Al since I can't sleep in tomorrow."
She chuckled, knowing that it was honesly a really great gift from Al since he forced Scorpius up every morning. She purposely sent her happy emotions to him and responded, "Some gift! How was it?"
"Honestly, super great. I need to convince him to let me sleep in like that every weekend."
She shook her head and closed her book, "We both know he won't"
"Yeah" she felt his amusement at his friendship, "What did you get up to today Bear?"
But before she could answer, Pip appeared in her room suddenly, catching her so off guard she yelped.
"Sorry Miss Ani. But I am here to deliver a gift from a Mister Potter." Aniara looked towards her window and then Pip. Why was James' gift being sent to Pip to deliver. Then she looked at Pip's hands and saw nothing. She was utterly confused.
"Why you Pip?" She asked, and was surprised by the elf's answer. "I am the only one that can, Miss." The elf just smiled at her with a mix of joy and mischief.
She felt her brother try to get her attention again before the elf was prompting her to put her book away and get dressed.
"What do you mean, I am dressed Pip."
"No, Little Miss, no! I was given spesific instructions to make sure you were wearing something nice. Maybe the coral top Mistress got you for Christmas, with the black pants. Yes that would do nicely. And sprouse up that hair."
"Pip," Aniara questioned with her hands on her hips, "why do I need to dress nice for a birthday gift?"
"Surprise Miss Ani. Hurry, hurry!" Aniara didn't have much chance to think as the elf pushed her to her closet and grabbed the top she had suggested. It wasn't too fancy, it had slightly ruffled sleaves, with a black ribbons on the front you tied into a bow. It was a soft coral color. The elf kept rushing her to get ready as she pined back the front pieces of her hair.
"What is going on Pip." Aniara tried to question again but Pip didn't answer. Once she put on her black flats, the elf deemed her ready. Aniara looked herself over in the full length mirrior and frowned.
"Ok Miss Aniara, please take my hand,"
"Hold on Pip, one more thing. I need purple." She walked to her vanity and opened her jewelry box. She put on simple amethyst studded earings and smiled.
"Oh yes yes, purple and books, I remember Miss. Now please take my hand. You are going to be late."
Aniara paused. She was going somewhere. Not just someone in the manor as she had origianlly expected, but was actually leaving.
"What-" she said before the elf huffed and grabbed her wrist. Then Aniara felt a tugging sensation in her gut she rememebered to be apparation. Once the feeling stopped she opened her eyes to find darkness.
"Stay here please!" Pip said before disaperating with a small pop.
Aniara tried to let her eyes adjust to see around her but there wasn't much use. She felt around and realized she was in an enclosed space. She founda wooden door and put her ear to it to hear outside. There was faint music that was slowly getting softer and she was lost for words. Where had the elf taken her and how was this James' gift to her. And before she could piece this mystery togeher she heard a voice on the other side of the door. It was a male voice and slightly muffled. Then she heard the handle to the door move and the voice became clear.
"3... 2... 1... Surprise." The door opened away from her suddenly and light flodded her eyes, making her squint for a second. Then, everything came into focus. She was looking out into a classroom that was decorated for a party with lights and banners. There was food on one table and a pile of present on another. Sitting in a cushioned sitting area by the classroom fireplace was a group of students she recognized. They were all looking at her with shocked and confused faces. Sitting on the couch, holding hands with Al, was her twin brother, and holding open the door, was James. He smiled at her with a grin so big it almost split his face.
Her mouth dropped open and she gaped at him.
"Jay... how?" She couldn't find her voice and she felt her eyes being misted with tears.
"Ani!" She heard her brother almost shout. He got up from the couch and ran towards her. She took a few steps out from the closet she was in and flung her arms around her brother. He lifted her in the air and spun her.
"How did you get here?" He asked and she vaguely heard some of the other students questioning her sudden appearance.
"Pip." She stated when he put her down.
"So that's what she was doing here! But-"
James cleared his throat and made a show of bowing to the two. "That would have been my idea! Been brainstorming for weeks on how to not only sneak her into the castle, but out of your home. And the answer couldn't have been more simple once it dawned on me."
Aniara shook her head and laughed. Of course! House elves could apparate wherever they please and through just about any wards. It was how Harry Potter had escaped her home 20 years ago. She didn't let the guilt of that fact overshadow her current emotions. She was actually at Hogwarts. Really truely inside its walls. And the people she had come to care about while watching them live here, could see her too!
"James you brilliant brilliant Griffindor!" She praised him, trying to keep her voice from squealing. She threw her arms around him and hugged him as well. He hugged her back and subtly whispered in her ear, "Happy Birthday Snowdrop."
She chuckled and whispered back, "Thanks Munkswood."
They let go of each other and the three walked back to the rest of the party, where Scorpius introduced her to them. He had remembered to introduce them back to her as if she didn't already know their names. She sent a compliment to him mentally. Rosie got up from the floor and rushed to pull Aniara into a hug. It was a good thing Aniara liked to be hugged.
"I am so glad I finally get to meet you!"
"Me to Rosie!"
The two friends hugged for a second longer before Rosie grabbed her hand and pulled her sit down with them.
Everyone began to talk all at once, questioning and scolding James about breaking the rules, but overall everyone was happy that she was there.
"Yes yes, I know the risks of having her here," James finally defended himself loudly to everyone. "She is only here for the party, and then their house elf is taking her home. And she isn't to leave the room. But come one, we couldn't throw a party for just one of them. They are twins after all."
Everyone conceded and the volume of the music was turned up again as they all got back to being happy.
"I am so jealous James got meet you before I did! I was friends with you first."
"Then you should have snuck out of the party instead of stepping on my brother's toes all night." Aniara joked with Rosie and both of them got to talking about the book they were reading, in person. Aniara was happy to actually be spending time and being acknowledged by the people around her. It made her forget all about not being able to actually attend Hogwarts and her lack of magic. She was also glad that no one questioned her health or gave her pitying looks. They just welcomed her and talked as if she had been attending Hogwarts like any other 11 year old witch.
She chatted with Claire about her top, in which Claire was very jealous, and to Charlie about hair colors. "You know, if you wanted, we could put some of that same coral pink in the ends of your hair. It would look so cool!"
"Make it purple Charlie," James threw into their conversation.
"Why purple?" They questioned. Aniara opened her mouth to give the answer, but James beat her to it.
"Its her favorite color. Kinda her thing. Her whole personality, her whole room really."
Aniara was glad everyone else was engaged in their own conversations and bets, (James and his friends really do makes bets alot), so that no one else caught his confession. Only Charlie and Rosie did.
"What?" Rosie's voice started to get loud but Charlie hushed her. Then they questioned James all the same with a suggestive smile, "How do you know what her room looks like?"
James blushed and his eyes got wide as he realized what he had said.
"Because we talk all the time. She told me. Right Ani."
Oh so close. He could have saved himself, if he hadn't asked her to corroborate. That just cracked his lie. She smiled at him and tried to hold back a chuckle. He wasn't going to get out of this now. And then she decided to throw him into his self dug hole.
"He saw it at Christmas. Remember that bet I was telling out Rosie."
"Always a bet," Charlie huffed. Rosie nodded and then Aniara heard James swear under his breath.
"They don't need to know Ani."
"You brought it up Jay," Aniara winked at him, causing Rosie to giggle.
"I, no, I... ugh, please Snow-"
But she continued before he could finish his nickname for her outloud and directed her words towards Charlie, exposing him to his friend, "He was insisting munkswood and wolfsbane were different because of their color. So I had to show him the facts in my herology textbook. The book was in my room so we had to go there. He wasn't in my room for long." She decided to cut him a bit of a break with that last lie. But James was still blushing.
"James, that is first year stuff."
"I know."
"Seriously mate they are the same plant. You are top of the class in her herbology, how did you make that mistake?"
"I was trying to win a bet ok."
"Please tell me he lost," Charlie looked at her with a smirk in their eyes.
"He still won."
"Damn!"
Aniara chuckled and James glared at her, but she could tell he wasn't really all that mad at her.
Once everyone was full up with food, they began to play some party games. Aniara didn't care that she lost almost all of them, (some required magic, and she, luckily, had the excuse of leaving her wand at home) because she got to have fun with everyone. She got to play exploding snaps with Farris and play Bertie Botts Rulette with Andy. She even was the first to get up to dance to an old Weird Sister's song.
"Yuck, change it Claire! This song is so old." Farris stated with disgust.
"So?" Aniara questioned as she continued to dance. Andy got up and joined her.
"The song came out when our parents attended Hogwarts!" Farris said as if that explained it.
Aniara and Andy shrugged. She then shimmied towards Rosie and pulled her up to dance to. The red head chuckled and hopped up to join her two friends. She then caught Claire sticking her tongue out to Farris and join the others on their impromtu dance floor. Al gave out a belly laugh and hopped up off the couch. His dancing was considerably worse than theirs.
"Gideon, why are you dancing like that?'
"Because he sucks at dancing!" Rosie laughed over her shoulder with her hands intertwined in Ani's as the two girls twisted back and forth.
"No he isn't. He was a great dancer at Christmas!"
Aniara chuckled and Rosie answered him again, not looking at him, "Because he can only ballroom dance. If its not fancy partner steps, then the boy doesn't know what to do with his feet and arms.
Al came up behind Rosie and bumped her butt with his own, "Doesn't mean I'm not having any fun!"
Everyone laughed at him and Charlie and James joined them now. It was just Farris and Scorpius let sitting.
Once the song ended, Claire chuckled and pointed her wand at the radio and made another Weird Sister's song play. Everyone on danceing playfully cheered while Farris groaned again. Aniara saw Scorpius shrug at the second year and get up to join the fun. He made his way towards Al and laughed at his friend's rediculous dance moves. Aniara got a brilliant idea and gave Rosie a look. She nodded her head towards the two boys and Rosie read her mind imediatly. She made her way to Claire and whispered something in her ear before coming back to Aniara.
The two girls giggled and watched them out of the corner of their eyes. Once the song ended, a fancy classical song came on that was perfect to dance the waltz to.
"Here you go Scorpius. Now your best friend can stop making a fool of himself."
The two girls laughed and began dancing with each other, Aniara taking the lead. James grabbed hold of Claire and began dancing with her, but it was obvious Claire was never really taught how to dance waltz. Charlie went over to Andy and the two fumbled to pick who was leading and then they each only knew one or two steps and were still fighting for leader, so they ended up stepping on each other's toes the whole time and laughing.
"Come on Ned," Rosie teased, as the two girls effortlessly floated around the two, "Show me how to dance without stepping on your partner's toes. Oh, and by the way," the came around the boys, purposfully pushing them closer together while trying to make it look like an accident, "your sister is a much better dancer than you. I bet two sickles I won't step on her toes."
Scorpius shook his head with a smile and looked up to Al. He grabbed him by the hand and waist and began leading him. Al, making a complete 180 on his dancing prowess from just a second before, easily followed Scorpius lead and the two were waltzing around the classroom with the rest of them. Farris seemed perfectly content to sit on the couch and watch his friends.
As they all danced. Aniara kept and eye on her brother, and noticed as the song went on, the two boys slowly got closer and closer together. They had started with a proper, but respectable distance between them, but now their faces were just a inch from each other and, though still in proper waltz hold, their chests were just centimeters from touching. As the song came to an end, Aniara playfully dipped Rosie while the other girl made a flourish with her hand, showing off to the others.
The girls sat down on the floor next to Farris, having tired themselves slightly from dancing a proper waltz, and were soon joined by Claire. Another upbeat waltz came on and the other still up kept dancing together. James came over to Aniara and held out his hand.
"If you are not to tired from dancing with my cousin." He prompted. She wasn't, but something in the back of her mind told her she shouldn't so as to keep up appearances of being weak. But that voice was so small and barely audible, so, without hesitation, Aniara took his hand and began dancing with him. She heard Rosie giggle but chose to ignore it.
Instead of keeping an eye on her brother during this dance, she spent it look at James. Her heart began to beat so fast, and not just because of all the dancing. He smiled at her and gracefully spun her around. The Potter boys were not as well trained at the Malfoy twins, but they were still surprisingly good at dancing ballroom.
"Having fun?" He questioned her as they danced.
"Best night of my life!" She said back and felt a blush form on her cheeks.
He twirled her around and then began moving them father away from the rest of the group, out of earshot of anyone, "I'm glad all my friends got to meet you."
"I'm glad I got to meet them. And you guys really do make a lot of bets." There wasn't a minute of the party that went by without one of them making some stupid bet with each other.
James shrugged, "It's kind of our thing. We are not dumb with it though. We never bet more than we have with each other. Just knuts and sickles really. It only gets up to a galleon if someone is being really pompus about something or we are trying to make a point. And because, as you have seen, we make so many, the money really just gets passed back and forth before we really make any profit or get to spend it.
"So you weren't joking when you said I was a high better at Christmas."
"No I was not. 10 galleons, really Snowdrop. It's a good thing I won because I wasn't sure how I was going to explain being out that much so close to Christmas." He winked at her and her blush got even worse.
The music became simlpe background noise as everyone gathered around the fireplace. The twins were seated on the comfy sofa and everyone else was either on the floor or one of the benches holding the gift their gifts.
Aniara brushed off their appologies about not having a gift for her as well, as they hadn't known her or known she was going to be there. James gave her an appologetic look and mouthing a sorry. She smiled at him and shook her head, letting him know it was ok. Scorpius opened the gift from Pip first, which was a new set of bright colors and iridecent ink for his art. Farris and Claire had gotten him a large stash of his favorite sweets, and Charlie gifted him some muggle studying tools: highlighters, pencils, sticky notes, a personalized bookmark in Slytherin green, and specially made herbology flashcards.
"Really Char? Herbology?"
"Now you don't have to work so hard."
Scorpius thanked him and moved on to Andy's gift. It was a set of ear muffs that he had his mother charmed to block out any sounds, for when he needed total silence to study. Aniara knew the other use for the ear muffs that Andy didn't state outloud and made a note to thank him for it later. Rosie had gotten Scorpius some more ink wells for his self inking quills and a framed photo of the four of them taken a few days before Halloween.
James' gift was a bunch of products from WWW, most of which were almost a grade 4, but were still perfectly allowed at school, such as Patented Daydream charms, a resusable hangman, and an Out-To-Lunch Mustache bottle. Aniara had a feeling James had snuch in some greade 4 products to, like skiving snacks, but chose not to comment on it. Her brother could make his own decisions.
Then Al handed him his gift. Aniara looked at James and he made a gagging face. They had talked about how much Al had whinged to James about when the gift would arive and if Scorpius would like it. It annoyed James, but had made Aniara laugh. One day those boys would realize their feelings for each other.
"I left this by your bed this morning, but I guess you slept too much to notice it." Al teased.
"I only slept an extra hour and a half."
"Still to late Cori. Hope you enjoyed it because I'm not letting you sleep in again."
Scorpius made a face and Aniara sent him, "Told you so" which made him turn the face towards her. She laughed out loud.
"What happened?" Claire questioned.
"They can talk to eachother in their heads. Twin thing." Andy explained.
"Magical twin thing." Aniara corrected even more. Muggle twins couldn't do the same, even though it was a common stereotype. It was probably started by a half blood or muggleborn years ago. Maybe even a trickers pureblood.
Scorpius opened the box and gasped. Aniara looked over his shoulder to find a quill. A really fancy looking quill. A really fancy, silver grey quill with a pastel green colored feather. A really fancy, silver grey quill with a pastel green colored feather, and Scorpius' name engraved on it. Aniara knew exactly what kind of quill it was. It was a Morgman's Quill, specially designed to self ink with any quill bottle, not just the spesifically charmed inkwells, and would never break on the end no matter how much pressure you used with it. And once it was gifted, the owner would never be able to lose it. It was a super expensive quill and one Scorpius had wanted for years. Their father had one that was an anniversary gift from their mother. The producers of the quill were always very adiment that you couldn't buy the quill for yourself. They were very humble and secretive, not wanting to share the secret of their product but also not wanting it to become this incredibly overt status symbol where people bought hundreds for themselves just because they could. So the quills were not only incredibly expensive because you had to custom order them, but charmed so that if you lied about buying it for someone else, it wouldn't work. Aniara had wanted to buy the quill for him someday when she, somehow, got access to her own spendind coins, but Al beat her to it.
"Saved my Chritmas money, made a deal with my dad for some of the money, and did some stratigic betting with the others here for the rest to be able to get that for you. I saw you ogling their order form in the paper once, and know how much you love your stationary and calligraphy stuff so I got it for you."
Scorpius was speechless. Aniara could feel his amazement and affection towards Al. He tentitively picked up the quill and looked at it on all sides. It had his full name on one side and then the scorpius constellation on the other. It was a really beautiful quill.
"Well, guess you never have to get him another gift again Al," Farris joked and the other scooted closer to have a look at the quill. No one else, besides maybe a rich pureblood 7th year or a faculty member, had one. Aniara thought Farris was right, Al would never get Scorpius a gift better than that quill.
The party went on until just before curfew. Aniara was having so much fun, she forgot she had to go back home. Her heart ached having to leave everyone. She didn't know when, or if she would seen them again and just wanted to freeze time to never leave this night ever. But when Pip apparated into the classroom, informing everyone of the time, Aniara just wanted to go back to the closet, hide away, and cry.
Scorpius, fighting back his own tears at her emotions, came up to comfort her.
"It's okay Bear. You will be able to see them all again."
"But they won't see me." She said into his shoulder, trying not to sob. She didn't want to ruin the happy feelings from the party.
"I know," he sighed and rubbed her back. The second years were easily cleaning up the decorations and one of the Hogwarts elves came to clean up the food. Once everything was cleaned up, they all came to say their goodbyes to Aniara. Claire and Farris asked if they could owl her now too, to which she agreed. Rosie gave her the biggest hug and making the statement of them hanging out again in the summer, to which Aniara simply nodded. Charlie and Andy said their quick goodbyes and then left with Scorpius and Al. It was now just Aniara, James, and Pip in the classroom.
"Pip, could you hold off for one more minute please?" James asked the elf and she nodded her agreement. He pulled Aniara into a hug bigger than Rosie's and his face almost snuggled into her shoulder. "I'm so glad Pip was able to bring you. I missed your smile."
Aniara blushed and was glad that James' couldn't see her face. "Me too." She agreed. After a second he dropped the hug, but didn't let her go from him his arms. He looked at her face and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. Now her blush consumed her face and she was sure James would say something about it, or tease her. He didn't say anything, just looked at her and smiled.
"I should sneak you out of your mannor more often."
"Please do." Aniara said with more pain in her voice than she meant to add. James' smile dropped a fraction but just squeezed her shoulder and let her go to Pip.
Just before they apparated back to her prison home, she heard James wish her a Happy Birthday one last time.
Aniara fell onto her bed and screamed into her pillow. She hadn't wanted to leave. She had a taste of life at Hogwarts and begged the gods and ancient wizards, sorcereresses, and enchanters change her fate. To give her magic and rewrite history so she got her Hogwarts letter and was able to be there right now instead of her overly purple room.
But nothing happened.
After she was done letting out her emotions, she got ready for bed. And like every night before, she checked her red journal for any last messages from James. Sometimes they would stay up writing to each other, and other times it was a simple goodnight message from James. Tonight she opened her book just in time to see the writing appear.
"You look really cute when you blush."
*****************
A week later the Prophet gave excelent news.
XENDER AND REAMINING DEATH EATERS CAPTURED
On the night of Februrary 27th, undesirable Number one Xender was finally captured. Evading capture since May 2nd, 1998, and after murdering many muggleborns and their families, he had finally been apprehended by reformed Death Eater and Head Auror in the department of Dark Wizards, Draco Malfoy. Many will be able to sleep soundly tonight knowing that the last of Lord Voldemort's followers and supporters have been apprehended and put behind the walls of Azkaban forever. Malfoy credits's the work of the entire DMLE and spesifically the help of his current partner Donald Gibson.
While some have speculated that Malfoy was involved in aiding in Xender's evasions from capture, almost all doubt has been squashed by this news. Pictured here, Auror Malfoy leads and unconcious Xender into the DMLE to be processed and sent to his perminant home in the North Sea.
We have reached out for a comment from Xender's most recent victim and only survivor, June Rollins, about his capture but-
Scorpius didn't need to keep reading. The weight on his chest since New Years had finally lifted and wanted to cry. He didn't as he was eating breakfast at the Slytherin table in the great hall with Al and Andy. Al was energetic as he was eating while Andy looked up from the paper to give Scorpius a smile. As he gave one back, Scorpius realized he had never recieved that smile from Andy before. He had seen it before, yes, but it was never directed at him. It was one of not only joy, but of trust and acceptance. A traitorous tear fell from his eyes as he realized an invisible barrior in their friendship had finally been moved. Scorpius wasn't sure why it was there or for how long, but he was glad it was gone. He quickly wiped away his tear and went back to his eggs and bacon.
His attention was pulled by another passing student who's voice he recognized. Eleesa Nott.
"Hey Ned, congradulate your dad for me will you?"
"Will do Eesa!"
She smiled at him went on her way.
"So random witches know the meaning of that name too?"
Scorpius chuckled and patted his friend on the face before explaining who she was to Al, "So she was there when my sister came up with the name Gideon. Quit worrying about the name and eat your breakfast."
Eleesa was a second year and didn't interact with Scorpius much, even though she was once friends with him and the older sister of his childhood friend. It was weird how much things could change in just a year or two. But Scorpius looked at his friends around him, and over at the Griffindor table and was content with the changes that were made. Life had gotten a little tougher for him since the Rollins murders and now that Xender and all the other rogue death eaters were finally locked up, he had a feeling that things were going to get better, become a lot easier, and the sneers behind his back, behind bookshelves, to his face when he was alone would stop.
They didn't.
Scorpius was in the library, studying alone. He was missing studying with Charlie, but they were completing a bet with Claire and wouldn't be joining him today. He couldn't rememeber the last time he had studied alone. Every since that first day they studied together, Charlie had made sure to never let Scorpius study alone. He was really glad to have a friend that understood some of his own struggles with being friends with an overprotecive Potter and being made fun of for things you had no control over. Being friends with Charlie was calmer than with anyone else. Charlie didn't expect anything from him or acknowledged the snickering and rude words being said behind the bookshelves around them. They simply enjoyed each other's company and offered any studying help they could give. Scorpius had shown them some note taking hacks that helped with revising while Charlie helped Scorpius with anything herbology, teaching him how to use the flashcards they got him for his birthday.
So it came as a surprise for Scorpius when he heard soft footsteps approching his table. He paused his writing to listen to them. They were not clunky like Al's or swift like Rosie's. Charlie's footsteps were slower and more even, where as these were steps made with determination. The foot steps came around the table and the person sat down across from him in Charlie's usual chair. Scorpius looked up, shocked to see a face he didn't encounter much at school.
"Hi Eleesa. Need something," He hesitantly questioned her. Eleesa was well put together and apeared calm as she carefully put her books down on the table. She looked over Scorpius shoulder, and then quickly glanced behind herself and through the bookshelves that surrounded them before meeting his eyes again. The calm on her face disapeared and gave way to anxious worry.
"I have news." Her voice was low and stern. Scorpius hadn't talked to her since the news of Xender's capture almost two weeks ago. Scorpius' heart rate picked up. Had they escaped? Did something happen to the trial records? Where they not the last death eaters like everyone had known?
"I feel, as the former best friend of your sister, its my duty to inform you of what has been going around. I'm not sure who started it, I have some theories, but I want you to be prepared for when you first hear it."
When. Not if. She was sure he would hear whatever this was and was trying to prepare him for it.
"They've given us a name. Notible purebloods, especially those of us with known death eater family members," She gestured between themselves. She was refering to her grandfather, and his father and grandfather. Scorpius nodded in understanding.
Ever since the Rollins family murder, the students at hogwarts, especially the older ones June's age, were gradually becoming more open with their hatred towards him and the other death eater decendants. There were not a lot of them at school: Scorpius, Eleesa, Clovis and Colt Zabini, August Studger, and Mallory Warrington. Dispite their family's history, none of them were really very close. They were all in Slytherin, but all different ages with their own friend groups, with Scorpius being the youngest of them. He had hoped in vain that with Xender now in azkaban that it would stop, or at the very least, lessen. But if anything, it had gotten worse. And it seemed Eleesa's news was further proof of that.
"What is is Eesa?" Scorpius questioned quietly.
The young witch rubbed her neck for a second uncharacteristically. She almost always portrayed herself to be cool and collected wth the posture of a proud pureblood, though she didn't uphold the old pureblood ideologies. When she spoke her voice broke at first before finding itself, "They are calling us Drip. It stands for death eater rich inbred pureblood. They have tried other insults on us before, have been for years apparently, but they either didn't catch on, or professors, like Potter, shut it down before it spread. But this one is sticking, and spreading like wildfire."
Scorpius held her gaze. He was trying to process this information. He had been expected to be called names, but he didn't expect a new rude slang to be invented just for him and other's like him.
"Have the Potters or Weasley's caught wind of this?"
Eleesa scoffed and shook her head, "No, the kids are too smart to use it around them. They know they would get their arses handed to them in half a second. And besides, I think it was started by the older kids. James is only a second year with me and the older Weasley kids are too busy revising for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s to notice the bully against kids they are not friends with. You're lucky to be friends with Albus and Rose. You will probably only get called that with them not around. My friends have to hear that word thrown at me in the halls." She gave him a look of jealousy before changing it to sympathy.
Scorpius gave her a guilty look. He knew he had lucked out befriending the golden kids, the other DED's didn't have the luxury of having famous friends that were known to not tollerate bullying, though sometimes Scorpius didn't think it was lucky of him. The more Al stood up for him, the more those rude words hurt him.
He thanked Eleesa for the heads up and, as she walked away just as swiftly as she came, he hoped that Aniara would never hear that word used on him or anyone else. He wasn't sure he could handle both her and Al's overprotectiveness. It just might make him snap.