"You're a down right git, Potter!"

Smirking at the threatening glare that was sent at him, James Sirius Potter bowed at the girl in front of him. "Always here to serve you, love."

"I hate you!" bellowed the Hufflepuff, stomping on his foot before storming away.

Fred clucked his tongue, turning to his cousin whom tried his hardest to ignore the throbbing of his foot. "That was heartless. You could've been nicer about it, mate."

James snorted loudly. The girl had been a fling. For two weeks. She was fortunate she got those extra eleven days most girls did not. "Nice?" he huffed, adjusting his school robes from any wrinkles. When he was done, he motioned Fred to follow him further into the gardens. "We weren't exclusive. I cannot be blamed for losing interest."

"I'm sure you could've found something else to say than 'Our time's up, sweetheart. Lovely to have met you. Return those gloves I let you borrow' - after you snogged the daylights out of her behind the trees," Fred added, frowning at his cousin's shrug. "She was actually nice. She could've made a good girlfriend...If you just learnt to settle down, that is."

"Settle down?" James repeated with outrage in his brown eyes. "What am I, a middle aged spinster? I've got my perspectives perfectly clear, mate. And it's not to find a candidate to take home to meet mummy dearest."

"I'm not saying marry the girl," Fred rolled his eyes, stopping in their walk. "Just stop being a dick. You can't keep breaking hearts like you do. You wouldn't like it if that happened to you, would you?

James raised a brow, noticing the sincere concern his cousin had over the matter. Usually, he'd frown and mock him for his interest on the subject, but instead he found himself sighing in defeat. "Fine, Freds. I'll keep that in mind before...." He trailed off, catching sight of a lonesome, pretty witch in the nearest greenhouse.

"Before what?" pressed Fred.

"Tell you what, mate, that's good advice. Thanks for that," James clapped a hand on his cousin's back, already moving forward.

Fred grunted, zeroing in on Ariana Malfoy on the other side of the glass. Her beautiful face was especially illuminated by the artificial sunlight she was standing under as she watered the plants with her wand.

"Boo!"

"Boo?" repeated Ariana without reacting the way James had intended her to. She got a glimpse of Fred marching off outside with a shake of his head before she turned to James. "When has that ever worked, Potter?"

"Not since you were about four," he said as he placed his hands on either side of her, smiling wide. He noted how his warm gaze clashed with her cool one. "I had to hug you until you stopped crying. I was basically your hero. Good times."

Ariana stepped away from him. "As I recall, Potter, you tried to bribe me so I wouldn't tell Harry my scraped knees were all your fault."

"We remember that day differently, love."

"Is there something you wanted?" she asked, her patience wearing thin already. "I'm busy."

Trying not to smirk at her attitude, because he was well aware how he irked her, James slowly traced his fingers down her arms to circle around her wrist; then, his fingers laced with hers. "I just wanted to know how you are. You've been silent —more so than usual. I know it's because of the funeral, but I wanted to see if you needed anything. I don't like seeing you sad, Ana."

James was not expecting Ariana to breakdown in tears or give even the slightest hint of a sniffle. She was a Malfoy — and not the Hermione Malfoy kind, but the Draco Malfoy sort. Ariana was unreadable. She was a mastermind in controlling her feelings. So when in a cool and clear voice she said, "I'm fine. You can go now", he was hardly surprised at the reaction.

Yet, James was not finished with her. While she might be all Malfoy, she was still human. 

"I know you miss him," he said to her, gently. It made her raise a brow at his tone because he actually was being genuine (yes, James was even surprised, too). "I won't pretend to know the sort of relationship you had with your grandfather, but I know you smiled when he was around. He wrote to you every morning, too, right? Now his owl won't come—"

"Go to hell, Potter," Ariana hissed as a surge of anger raced down her spine. 

"No, Ana. Listen," James said immediately, gripping her hands before she stormed off or hit him (the latter seemed most likely). "I just wanted to say...My dad once told me that the ones we love never really leave us. I just want you to believe that."

Ariana would be in her right to hex his bits off, she knew, but there was a plead in his face that made her pause the action she intended. Maybe James did want her to be content with the idea that her grandfather's memory would live on. These Potter/Weasleys were always on about that, believing there was more to death than what the living could see. 

He then braved himself to move his hands to cup her face. "I didn't want to hurt you, Ana. I swear it."

Ariana knew better than to believe anything that came out of James S. Potter's mouth, but the continuous remorse in his brown eyes wanted to convince her to do so at least this time around. She was going to reluctantly accept his answer, but then his eyes locked on hers. She saw his intentions coming, but she did not block them. Instead, she watched (albeit curious) as he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers. She held her breath when his eyes fluttered and his lips parted, closing the distance—

"No way we regret this! Best prank we've done in years!"

"I will proudly take that detention from Neville!"

Just before James could cross that tiny hair of distance between him and Ariana, doing something he had not known he had the intention of doing, the greenhouse gained three unexpected Slytherin visitors. All catching him on the move.

Like a Stinging Hex was hurled at him, blindsiding him by almost rendering him an incoherent, mumbling mess, Scorpius managed to glower at the way James was tightly pressed to his sister. A revolting image of what could have been between the two made bile pool in his mouth. He then turned that glare at Ariana, really expecting her to appear bewitched or embarrassed, but she was impassive as ever. 

Al ground his teeth in his stoic silence. He could see the grin forming on his brother's mouth, completely pleased and proud at what he had been about to do— at what he could have done if they had not been interrupted. Al shook his head, trying to get rid of the ghastly image.

"Uh," Angelo Zabini cleared his throat, bewildered yet vocal as compared to his two best friends. "Lovely day to be out, right?"

Ariana nodded. "Fresh air does everyone well."

"If that's the case," Scorpius said, finding his voice as he took a careful step in the direction of his sister, "you should be out in the forest. I hear Dawn and Lily are feeding all beasts raw meat. Your favorite."

A menacing grin tugged on Ariana's lips as she pointed her wand at him. 

Scorpius did not blink at the threat in his little sister's silver eyes. Instead, he gave the right to himself to frown in disapproval. "Oh, Beastie," he clucked his tongue, waiting for her move.

Ariana did raise her wand another inch, her grip a little tighter. She saw a flash of apprehension in Scorpius' eyes. Good. She settled on swinging it, smacking her brother's face with it. She laughed, walking away, leaving the boys to have the unavoidable conversation she wished not to be a part of.  

"Detention, huh?" James asked, clearing his throat as he rested his back against the edge of a large table behind him. "And from Neville, no less. My, you three have been reckless."

"What the hell are you doing, James?" Al cut to the chase.

James grinned larger at his brother's anger. "Just being my charming self, Albie."

"Don't call me Albie, you arsehole."

"She's thirteen, mate," Angelo said, putting a calming hand on Al's back, hoping to stop him from launching forward and starting a physical fight with James. "There has to be an age limit to your broomstick ride of fun."

At Zabini's choice of words, Scorpius clutched his hands into fists.

"Ana is unlike other Third Years, Zabini. We all know that," James said before letting out a yawning as he glanced at the glass walls of the greenhouse. Students were hurrying along, signalling the start of class soon. "Sort of like your sister Savanna. She is amazing and beautiful in her own way."

"Don't do anything you'll regret, Potter," Scorpius said, his left fist finding its way into his pocket to conceal it. A smirk appeared on his handsome face as his silver eyes became composed. "My sister is not someone anyone should mess with."

Al shifted on his feet at the threat despite knowing it was meant for James.

"Feeling protective, Malfoy?" James questioned with a laugh. "Don't you worry about it. I'll take good care of her if that's the case."

"Wait. You think I care about Ana?" Scorpius added, crossing his arms. "My concern was merely for you, Potter. If you wish to attract rabies from the beast, then that's on you. I was just offering a friendly warning."

"I think I can handle a bite or two from Ana," James said smoothly, throwing a wink at his little brother that did not go unnoticed by Malfoy. "Good luck with your detention, mates," he added, walking past the trio of Slytherins with a glorious smirk on his face.

X

There she was, the witch every bloke and girl (regardless of sexual preference, he knew— because he had taken a poll to backup his claim) in the castle fantasized about. Her green eyes, so beautiful and bright, with long, dark lashes, were scanning a stack of papers, desperately searching. Her luscious raven hair was tied to the top of her head in a messy bun, exposing her beautiful, golden skin and defined, perfect features. 

Louis Weasley knew as McGonagall's assistant that it was wrong letting Lana McLaggen shuffle past assignments of others, but it was not exactly cheating (and if it was, he'd gladly face the Headmistress' wrath for her). She was just looking for her partner's half of their project, and honestly, it wasn't her fault that she had been sick for three days. So, really, he was just helping a poor girl out because Louis was a decent human being.

Slap.

"You're not a decent human being," said Peyton Weasley after slapping the back of Louis' head, distracting him from the object of his desires. Lily and Dawn were at his side, laughing at the older Gryffindor. "You're being pervy pining over a Slytherin."

"I'm not pervy, nor am I pining," Louis told them, blue eyes narrowing. "I'm enjoying the scenery."

Dawn snorted, singing, "pervy," in a high tone.

"Piss off, D," Louis huffed, turning back to Lana McLaggen. "I'm just waiting for Scorpius and Al."

Lily wiggled her eyebrows, excitement on her face. "Oh, what do those two idiots have up their sleeves? I've been itching to get in a bit of trouble."

"Again, piss off," Louis repeated, his eyes growing wide when Lana dropped a few papers and she reached down to get them (all hail the inventor of skirts!). "Don't you three little lads have somewhere to be? Like drinking warm milk with house-elves? Or skipping down a jolly hill?"

"Actually, we don't. And we're so  bored," Dawn sighed, walking to the front of the desk where the Weasley/Potter three were sitting. "We took a trip to the Forbidden Forest but the unicorns were breeding and Peyton was getting whiny so we decided to leave. Now we've got nothing to do. Can't you see the horror?"

Not really paying attention, Louis hissed an, "out! Out of the way!" He was trying to look past Dawn's head as Lana took a longer second to reach for the paper that flew far underneath the desk. "Go find your thickheaded brothers, Dawn! I'm sure the loony twins have something to keep their monster-of-a-sister entertained."

Dawn glared at him now, standing on her toes to block his view now.

At the hurt in Dawn's blue eyes, Lily frowned at Louis. "Don't be a prat," she warned. "Lysander and Lorcan have been nothing but nice to you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. My apologies," he dismissed, his lips tugging into a smile as Lana shimmied her way over the desk to adjust the pile of essays back into their original place. "Oh! Did you see that? Merlin! I saw purple knickers!" Stopping as the two twelve year-old girls looked at him with disgust and Peyton looked like he still was too young to understand, Louis snorted. "Kids."

"Pervert," returned Lily, crossing her arms over her chest.

Louis huffed, rolling his eyes. "Fine. That was a bit pervy. I'm sorry I—"

The rare apology was cut short when the Transfiguration classroom door flew open, allowing an angry, redhead witch in and the two poor sods in her crossfire. 

"How dare you pull me away like that?" Rose Weasley shoved Al into Scorpius, brown eyes lethal. "What gives you the right to—"

Scorpius shoved Al right back at her. "Oh, shut up, Weasley. No one pulled you away. You followed us."

Rose's nostrils flared. "Whatever. You two owe Damien an apology."

"An apology?" Al scoffed, stepping away from the swinging zone of both his cousin and best friend. "We don't apologize to a McLaggen. Ever."

With a heart pounding inside his chest like it was trying to break free, Louis choked on the oxygen passing down his throat as the witch from ahead appeared next to him. She was so close he could smell her floral scent he had learned to recognize from the sea of girls at Hogwarts.

"Excuse me, Al," said Lana McLaggen.

Just like Louis had reacted, completely stunned, Al turned flush red as he turned to face the dazzling witch. His mouth formed a stupid smile. "Oh, so sorry, Lana. Bit distracted."

Gracing the lives of the two hormonal boys slobbering over her, Lana smiled brightly at the group staring up at her. "Beautiful day to be outside, don't you think?"

"There's a storm outside, McLaggen," Rose cut in, a frown taking over her face (she did not trust witches that claimed to be that nice).  "Care to check the weather once in a while? Maybe that way you'll spare yourself from future sickness."

Lana shrugged, not really paying attention to Rose's indirect implication that she was careless (rather dumb, actually). "While others bask themselves in the sun, Rose, I prefer the cold. There is nothing like a stroll in the rain to clear your mind."

"I like walks in the rain!" Louis practically shouted, raising his arm in the air and startling the object of his affection.

Lana gave him a a millisecond of fleeting attention. "Thanks for giving me the chance to look over your essay, Scorpius," she then said. While Scorpius was silent, with that look of annoyance that dominated his handsome features, but she still smiled at him. She couldn't help it. She appreciated the intensity that developed in his sharp features.

"That's cheating," Rose interjected, tossing Malfoy an accusatory stare. "McGonagall will fail you the entire year if she knows you let McLaggen copy off your essays."

"You seem to be forgetting who my mother is, Weasley." He frowned at her, her voice still poking at his head and threatening to bring a headache. "I did not let Lana cheat. I allowed her to look over my essay and turn in her part of the report that was missing. It was a partner project, after all, and she was sick."

"Well, the essays are alphabetized and in the spot the professor left them. Thanks again, Scorpius," Lana McLaggen smiled again, looking down at Lily and ruffling her red strands as she walked to the door. "See you three in the Common Room. You owe me a game of chess, Peyton. Don't forget."

Looking aghast, Louis bombarded Peyton with, "You play chess with her?" The boy simply shrugged. "Since when? Some communication between us would help, Peyton!"

"Lana McLaggen?" Rose snorted, looking at the group of boys around her. "What's so bloody special about Lana? She's a complete tart, you know that."

"She's sweet," Lily said nicely. "She always says hello to me. And she is pretty."

Dawn agreed with a nod. "And she's always telling us when the Thestrals are close and what spots in the forest are safe to be by."

"Neither of you should even be in the forest in the first place!" Rose scolded the two Second Year Gryffindors. "And you," she turned to Scorpius, not finding it in her heart to leave the damn idiot alone after he interrupted her time with Damien McLaggen. "Hermione's son or not, McGonagall will punish you for helping your little girlfriend with her assignment."

Malfoy sneered, his headache still pounding, but he pushed it away for a few seconds to enjoy the fury bubbling from Rose. "I assure you the detention will suffice for such prize. Lana is quite generous."

 "Oi!" Louis snapped as Rose glared, her fury more genuine than his self pity. "You do not get in with Lana McLaggen! Right?" he redirected the question to Al, who would know of the matter if it were true.

Before Rose could react to Malfoy's sickening words, Roxanne came rushing in. "Al! Rose!"

Al gripped Roxy's arm before she slipped on the marbled floor. He let her catch some air before he let her go. "What's wrong?"

"Ted's here! He pulled Dash and the Thomas twins into the Headmistress office." Swallowing a puff of oxygen, Roxy turned to Dawn. "You better go be with your brothers, D."

It was blatantly obvious Dawn was a spitting image of her mother (aside from her rich, dark skin that she got from her father), but she had also inherited Luna Lovegood's dreamy aura, her enchantment, the power to stay cheerful at all times, and that skip that made her walks jolly down a corridor. She was rarely scared of anything since she had been surrounded by odd creatures in her short life due to her mother's work. Being frightened was never an option. Yet, by the look on Roxanne Weasley's face, and the wavering tone in her voice, Dawn found herself contaminated with it.

"What is it?" she asked in a small voice.

 "I...I'm not sure," Roxy cleared her throat, something in her chest falling. "Teddy will explain everything, okay?"

Dawn took a step back, refusing to take the hand Roxanne extended out. "No," she said. "Tell me now."

Louis sobered up from being in Lana McLaggen's presence when Dawn's eyes filled with frightened tears. "Hey, come on, D," he said carefully. "I'll walk you to Teddy."

Dawn did not take the hand he was offering, either. She glanced over at Lily, searching for some strength. Of course, she knew, she would always find it with her. She gave her hand to Lily, sniffling, and they both walked with Dawn to the Headmistress' Office.

When they were well away from hearing distance, Rose turned to Roxanne to ask what Teddy had told her.

Roxanne's tan complexioned turned red when she began to cry. Scorpius stepped back, unsure what to do with the reaction (Roxanne Weasley did not cry; she left the emotional bit to her twin brother Fred). But the last time he had seen something like this, the last time he felt his heart plummet, bad news had made way from home. 

"Teddy came back from a crime scene. There was an attack on Diagon Alley," Roxanne breathed. "Few were hurt, but...but...Mister Finnegan was killed saving Mister Thomas."

Rose gasped, her palms covering her mouth as she looked at her cousin with wide, unbelieving eyes. 

Al did not know what to say, he looked just as struck as they all felt. Yet, the only good thing he knew how to do was provide some sort of affection; as such, he walked over to Roxanne, pulling her into a hug just as Rose marched up to them. 

At the huddle the relatives had become, Scorpius felt his own grief drip down his chest. The worse was yet to come, he could guess that much. He had lost his grandfather, his sister was in a coma, and now his friend had lost his father. Another name on the list of the dead.

Seamus Finnegan — Former D.A member; murdered in Diagon Alley.