I moodily start chugging down my pumpkin juice in the Great Hall, the scene from the Common Room this morning still in my mind. I lean across the table to grab a roll, accidently knocking a porcelain bowl of jam over the table, onto my robes. Groaning like a werewolf, I put the bowl back on the table where it innocently refills itself.
“Oh, what did you do, Gold?” Dom sighs, surveying my messy robes for the second time that day. “You’re having quite the beautiful start to the perfect Saturday morning, eh?”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I scan the Hall, looking for a particular sixth year. I spot her a little ways down the table and a smile spreads across my face. She’s sitting with some of her family, and the only reason I’m easily able to find her is because of her vivid, dark red hair.
“Rose!” I call, waving my arms. She sees me and I see her quickly say something to her cousin, James, before getting up and walking towards Dom and me.
“Good morning, you girls,” Rose chirps, slipping onto the bench in front of us. Her chocolate brown eyes and warm smile graces her face as she reaches for an empty goblet.
“Rose, can you clean this mess up?” I ask, pointing at my robes. Rose leans over the table to look at the red jam smeared on my robes and giggles.
“Oh Gold,” she laughs, whipping out her wand. “If it makes you feel any better, apperently Teddy's mum was kind of like you. She was supposed to have been really clumsy.” Rose casts a spell at my robes, and in an instant the jam disappears. I wish that particular member of the Weasely family had been with me this morning, when I had mud all over my robes.
“How’s Teddy doing, anyway?” I ask in general. I remember Teddy Lupin. Every now and then, I see him at the platform, usually with the Potters or with Victoire. Only for a bit of general knowledge, I like to keep in mind that he's very handsome.
Dom looks up from her plate “He’s good. He and my sister, Victorie, are still going strong. I can tell by the way his hair’s always sporting a different eye blinding color every time I see him. Last time, it was bubblegum pink,” she jokes, running a hand through her own blondish-silver hair.
Rose chuckles. “Mum and Aunt Ginny say that he gets that from his mother too.”
“OI RED, GET BACK DOWN HERE! DOM, YOU TOO! RIGHT NOW!”
I look down the table and see James waving over frantically to Rose and Dom. He looks quite worried.
“You had better go, Red,” I say, smirking.
Rose snaps her head up. “Oh, let’s not play the color game, Gold.”
I laugh. “I’m not offended by Gold. Better Gold than…” I swallow, preparing myself. “Than Marygold.”
Rose’s grin lights up her perfect face. “Scorpius and Marygold. How attractive.”
“I have to agree, your parents really didn’t do you too much justice in the name department, did they?” Dom asks. “But I’m not going to lie, you two are an attractive brother – sister pair.”
“Did you ever realize how the colours of both your hair make up the Gryffindor House colors?” Dom pipes up. She’s laughing, and her voice tinkles across the table. A few blokes even stop behind her and stare.
Sigh.
I wish I got that kind of attention. I mean, not from every bloke. Just one Slytherin bloke in particular.
Dom’s my best friend. She’s around one-sixteenth veela, which isn’t a lot, but the charm is still in her. I can see why, though. Both her parents are absolutely gorgeous. Her mum’s part-veela, while her dad still makes girls stop in their tracks, despite the fact that he’s aged a bit and has battle scars from the War.
“GET DOWN HERE NOW!” James bellows again.
“What’s gotten into him?” I ask, raising my eyebrows, although I’m not too worried. James Potter doesn’t need much to get roused up over.
Rose sighs. “Lily apparently has a boyfriend, so James wants to perfect the three unforgivable curses.”
“Does he realize his father practically threw away his teenage years to stop the three unforgivable curses from spreading?” I ask, amused.
“Of course not,” Dom says, though she’s laughing. “James is James. So, you want to come to this oh-so-inviting meeting, Gold?”
Truth is, I would absolutely love to go. Because family meetings between the Potter and Weasley family means a certain Albus Potter.
“I’ll pass. Have fun, though.”
I get up from the table and head down towards the library to get some work done. I’m still incredibly embarrassed from what happened this morning, but try as I might, I can’t stop replaying the scene in my head.
“Oi, Dom! Where’s James at? Still hiding ashamed in his room because his little brother whopped his arse in Quidditch?”
I froze on my way to my dorm. Now that I was standing up, I saw I was dripping mud. Dripping mud! How does someone actually drip mud?
“Where’s that sweaty smell coming from?” Scorpius, my lovely brother, implored from somewhere behind me. “James must be nearby.”
“Oi! That’s not James!” Dom yelled defensively.
Apparently dropping the subject right there would have actually meant something was going my way. So of course, that would have never happened.
“Goldy, what are you doing dripping mud, eh?” Scorpius asked, spotting me. “You smell like bloody hippogriffs!”
By this point, my face was radiating heat. I turned around to find my brother and his best friend staring at me.
“Hello…”
Scorpius ran over to me. “Gold, why do you look like such a mess? Did someone do this to you? Did someone push you into the mud? Is someone bullying you around? Because just tell me the name, and I'll take care of it!”
“Actually, Scorp, I think I’m the one to blame for her state.”
Scorpius froze, his muscles tensed, and he slowly turned on his heels to face Albus, who had spoken. Albus was staring straight at me, his eyebrows slightly raised.
“What?” Scorpius asked, very slowly.
“If I hadn’t trained those Slytherins to beat Gryffindor in the match last week, than James wouldn’t be training his team as hard as he is.”
I saw my brother’s shoulders visibly relax.
“Oh, you know it!” Scorpius yelled, jumping over to his best friend and high-fiving him. “You bloody well know it!”
At the sake of my brother’s short attention span, I was able to run up into the Gryffindor Girls’ Fifth Year Dorms.
Now, as I’m walking towards the library, I realize it could have be worse. Albus could have been the one commenting on my stinky smell.
But, only one thing about the embarrassing events from the morning keeps entering my head.
Albus hadn’t spoken one word directly to me.
I mean, it’s not like he ever has long, heart-wrenching conversations with me. The longest conversation we had ever had was back in my fourth year…the night when I had received my first kiss.
I push the thought out of my mind.
So, back to reality. Albus had completely ignored me. I mean, even a simple hello would have sufficed for me. But he ignored me. Which only means one thing.
He is back together with Hazelle Goldman.
Hazelle Goldman. The only other Gryffindor in my year who could give Dom’s looks a run of their money. She’s absolutely stunning. It’s disgusting.
And, what’s more, her surname stole my nickname. Goldman. Why couldn’t she have been Silvermen? Whenever Albus hears my name, he probably always thinks of her.
To top it all off, Hazelle is sweet. I mean, she’s sickly sweet. Her voice drips honey. She’s what every bloke would want in a girl. Her hair is always neat, her robes are always perfect, and she never drips mud.
Albus and her have had a thing since third year. They always seem to be off and on. Whenever Albus is with her, he appears to be in his own little world. He doesn’t even acknowledge other girls, which is the reason most of the hens in the school go after his older brother; James never seems to have a problem acknowledging anything with long hair and a tight shirt.
The only good thing about their relationship is that James and Scorpius absolutely hate her. They hate the way she has Albus under the thumb and disapprove of the relationship.
Not that their disapproval does any good to me.
I’m pretty sure they’d hate me being with Albus even more.
I know that Albus and I will never get together. It’s just not going to happen. I mean, how could a Malfoy ever snatch up a Potter boy? But a girl can dream, right? And trust me, I’ve dreamed quite often about what would happen if one day I fell down from the Astronomy tower and Albus, who would be playing Quidditch outside, would spot me falling and race over to catch me midair in his strong, masculine arms, only to freeze up when staring into my hazel eyes with his piercing green ones and finally declare his undying love for me.
Like I said – a girl can dream.
Then comes the part that turns the sweet, beautiful dream into a freighting nightmare.
James Potter and Scorpius Malfoy.
James is the son of the famous Harry Potter. Harry Potter, who defeated the horrible Voldemort. Harry Potter, who is the most famous wizard in history. Harry Potter, who is mentioned in every single one of my textbooks. Harry Potter, who sent my grandfather into prison. Harry Potter, who hated my father.
Must I go on?
Okay, so James doesn’t harbor exactly the same feelings towards Scorpius or me. I mean, how can he when I was sorted into his House – Gryffindor House- and his own brother was sorted into Slytherin House?
Still, James has never been buddy-buddy with me, even after Rose and Dom became my friends. I’m still seeker on the Quidditch team, which James is captain of, but something’s just…there. I can’t even describe it. James is the kind of bloke who’s always laughing. He’s popular, probably the most sought after male specimen at Hogwarts. He’s good-looking, he’s famous, and he and his cousin Fred are great pranksters, which they say is because of their namesakes. But for some reason, I always feel that his laughing and joking attitude is never directed towards me.
The year before I started Hogwarts, Scorpius was in his first year. When he came home that summer, he told me about his best friend – Albus Potter. Needless to say, my father wasn’t too happy. However, he never openly objected to their friendship, and after some convincing from my mum, even let Scorpius spend a week at the Potters’ house.
When I started school the next year, I saw Albus for the first time. I still remember the first thing he said to me, although I try my best not to think about it. He was the only bloke to ever make me cry, that too on a first meeting. So how I fell for him so fast , I don’t even know.
That year was when I first noticed James’ behavior towards Scorpius and me. I could feel resentment he held towards us, especially Scorpius. However, during my third year, Scorpius went to spend the holidays at the Potters and when they came back, James had become mates with Scorpius. They were very three dimensional; all they could talk about was Quidditch, chicks, and food.
The only time James’ showed resentment towards Scorpius now is when they fight about their favourite Quidditch teams, or which House is better, and that too, is all in good fun. I figured that after James and Scorpius became friends, he would soon let go of his resentment towards me. I mean, granted I didn’t spend the holidays at his house, but really, I was in Gryffindor. However, I was mistaken. If anything, his impartial attitude towards me only grew. He never openly said anything, but every now and then, I could swear that he would pass me a not so pleasant look.
So needless to say, James wouldn’t be too happy if his brother ever did decide to give me a chance.
And Scorpius?
When I was five years old, my mum arranged a week of play for me with our neigbour son, who was six. For an entire week, my mum would drop me off every morning at their house. We would play outside the entire day, climbing trees, swinging on the swing set, and other things children love to do. Whenever I came home, all I could do was look forward to the next fun day of play.
The first night I came back, Scorpius took one look at my face and ran up to his room. Every night, when my mum brought me back home, Scorpius would be waiting for me at the front door; however the second he saw my face, he would always run away.
The next week when I came downstairs for breakfast, I found my mum laughing heartily as she fumbled around the kitchen. I remember the scene clearly, since my mum thought it was important enough to put in the penseive.
“What’s it, mum?” I asked.
My mum came down to level her face with mine.
“Let’s just say you gave your brother quite a heart attack last night.” She chuckled.
“Oh, no! Heart attack! Whurr is he? Whurr is Scorp?” I asked, worried as a five year old could be and looking around for my brother.
My mum picked me up and put me on the kitchen counter.
“Oh no, sweetie, not that kind of heart attack. You just scared him.”
“Why did I scare him, mummy? I didn’t do anything. I’m not a monster!”
“Of course not Marygold, nothing as cute as you could be a monster!” My mum crossed the kitchen and picked up a small blue book, which I knew was my brother's diary. She delicately flipped it open and flicked through a few pages.
“Day one,” she read aloud. “Today, my sister went to someone’s house. When she came back, she was laughing. I’m very suspicious.” My mum flipped to the next page and continued.
“Day two: Goldy came home happy again. Something is wrong. I think she has a boyfriend. Day three: Goldy wore red today. Boyfriends and girlfriends wear red. She has a boyfriend. I must make up a plan. Day four: I have a plan. I will punch her boyfriend in the face. I think it will hurt him. Day five: I’m scared to punch him. He is bigger than me. But I will, because he is being a boyfriend to my little sister. Day six: I did not punch him. I was scared, and mum said I couldn’t leave the house alone to go to his house. So I sent the House Elf Timble, to go steal his bed from his room. Now he will have nowhere to sleep. Day seven: Timble stealed his bed. Now there is an extra bed in my house. Mum and Dad will get mad if they find out.
My mum shut the diary and came back to me, laughing whole heartedly.
“Let’s just say you won’t be having a boyfriend for a long, long time, Marygold.”
That was ten years ago and only two things have changed since then.
One: Scorpius is no longer afraid to punch someone in the face. His long list of detentions is evidence of that.
Two: Scorpius no longer keeps a diary. Although, in his defense, whenever my mum brings up that memory, he insists it was a journal.
I love my family.
So what would happen if Al and I ever got together?
James would probably only refrain from attacking me because I’m a girl. Of course, being the son of the famous Harry Potter has its perks. He would send Aurors after me. Hundreds of them. I would be be the new Voldemort – on the run, chased by a Potter, and in hiding until further notice. What’s worse is that I’d be on the run alone. Why is that?
Because Scorpius would finish off his best friend. And by doing that, he’d continue the Malfoy tradition of trying to kill a Potter. Only this time, the Malfoys would succeed.
Oh look! History does repeat itself!
Granted my father didn’t try to kill a Potter – it was the Headmaster he tried to kill, so that makes it all better. Still, he didn’t do it. He’s a little too much of a wimp to actually kill anything…which is one of the things I most respect about him.
Back to the topic. Albus would be Avada Kedevraed into obliviation by my brother. My brother would be sent to Azkaban for murder. James would take up his father’s spot as the Head of Auror office, except instead of Death Eaters, he’d be searching for me.
My dad would be convicted of raising a felon and sent to Azkaban where he’d meet Scorpius. Well, at least dad and son would be reunited.
Meanwhile, my mum would be using Wimble – that’s Timble’s son by the way – to smuggle me food from whenever and wherever possible. She’d smuggle me so much food that I’d grow fat, unable to run anywhere. I would grow as wide as a giant is tall, so I’d just sign myself up in some Giant community where they would love and take care of me as if I was their own spawn.
Maybe I’m taking this a bit too far.
What if a miracle happens and James and Scorpius decide to skip around the castle out of happiness for Al and I if we ever decided to go out? Then we’d be problem free, right?
Wrong.
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy do would not wish to become in-laws.
Lost in my thoughts, I feel myself bump into something hard. A set of strong arms steady my shoulders, and I lift my head up to find myself staring into the deep blue eyes of my boyfriend.
~~~
A/N: Hey everyone! I really hope you all like this chapter. I’d like to thank innocent for doing an absolutely AMAZING job beta-ing it! :D
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