Trio

12

Albus

Breakfast was a silent affair the next day. The sky was still cloudy and the snow was still melting. Owls swooped in, dropping notes and parcels at their receivers. Scorpius wasn't sent his usual bag of sweets. Albus made to ask why but pushed himself back as he somehow knew the answer. Scorpius didn't exactly look disgruntled about this and more disturbed by Polly. She was looking unusually happy today. Her shrill laughter rang throughout the long table, and she sat a good far distance away from them. Albus noticed him keep shooting furtive glances as Rose, who had her back on them and was talking to her friend Olivia Wood, whom she described to be temperamental oftentimes. Rose then made her usual visits at the Slytherin table just to greet Albus and Scorpius 'good mornings' and plopping in the bench between them. "Good Morning!" She said brightly. Albus and Scorpius looked at her as though they were attending a funeral and she was being buried. She shook her hands hysterically at their faces. "Wake up! What have you been doing last night?" She snapped at them, and they immediately jerked up. "Sorry, Rose." Albus said warily as he took a piece of toast. "Just worried about you." Scorpius blurted out offhandedly. This took Rose time to figure out and once she does, she scoffs. "Chapman!? Oh come on, guys. I'm not afraid of her, come hell or high water." She said confidently. "Told you not to say that word—"
"—Oh Scorpy, you are such a dork!" She said. But even as she said this in the confident voice of hers, Albus couldn't help noticing her cheeks growing slightly red. "It's Scorpy now, is it? Can I call you 'Rosie' then?" He asked her, wriggling his brows. Rose gave him a hard smack across the arms. "Only I can call you that. I and I alone. And no. You can't call me Rosie." She said in a tone of finality. "Oh that's great!" Scorpius said sarcastically, tickling Rose in the ribcage. She gave a high laugh. "Haven't given you permission to do that, haven't I, Scorpy?" She asked fake sweetly, batting her lashes. Scorpius blushed at this but recovered quickly. "Not fair! You don't even take any from me." He said, repeating the actions, and the two of them had a tickle match, both ending in fits of laughter.

Albus watched them. He was pleased that Scorpius and Rose were getting along. He couldn't stand their constant bickering and had learned to put up with it in the past year. He was glad the fighting slowly dissipated, and marveled at the sight of his two bestfriends having fun. But somehow it made him feel slightly lonely. He hadn't had time to ponder over it though. After another round of tickle bombs, they were interrupted by a high-voiced cough. The three of them looked up, Rose and Scorpius looking very red from laughing (or so you think). Polly Chapman was standing, her cronies standing behind her, sniggering while Chapman smiled sweetly. Somehow the smile didn't make her any more prettier than she already was not. "Hello 'Scorpy'. Hello 'Rosie'." She said in her same shrill voice. Scorpius looked ready to fight, while Albus listened apprehensively. "Just wanted to talk to little Rosie here." She said, looking at Rose with a smile and her eyes looking very cold. "Alone." She said narrowly, eyeing Albus and Scorpius. "Anything you have to say, you'll say to the three of us." Albus said fiercely, standing up. Scorpius stood up too. Polly didn't flinch, but gave another shrill laugh.

"How sweet. But I'm afraid this is a school matter. Professor McGonagall just wanted me to relay a message." She said, pulling out an official looking Hogwarts letter. "Speaking as a former President of the 'Organization Committee', before certain technical difficulties," Her eyes flashed dangerously towards Rose, who had her eyebrows raised, looking unfazed by all this. The Organization Committee was a club formed by the school. A club that's in charge of organizing certain programs that happens in Hogwarts. Polly became Junior President last year before Rose was handed the position personally by Professor McGonagall this year. "What does Professor want, Chapman?" Rose asked confidently. The ends of Chapman's lips twitched. "Oh, just some things to keep in mind as the new body president. She wants the old and experienced one to tell the new one tips about being one." She said shrilly. "Now, if you'll excuse us." She said to Albus and Scorpius. Both of whom didn't move. Albus and Scorpius both looked at Rose unsurely, who scoffed. "Honestly. You think I can't handle a girl like Chapman?" She said in a whisper. She then gave them both looks that said I'll-Be-Fine. Scorpius and Albus looked at her a few seconds longer, before reluctantly leaving the girls in the table. The two of them were talking quite normally, but Albus couldn't help but get the feeling there was something funny going on. "Hello, Albus Potter." They heard a male voice say. They turn round and spotted Cedric Chang walking towards them, looking perfectly groomed and more handsome than ever. Albus gave out a fake smile that he hoped would stay on, while he felt Scorpius stiffen and standing up straight. Cedric spotted Scorpius looking stern, and greeted him too. "Hello, Scorpius Malfoy. You're Serena's older brother. She tells me so much stuff about you." He said. Scorpius frowned. "I know I'm her brother." He said in a monotone voice. Cedric didn't spot the edge in this when Serena turned up. Albus looked almost shock at her. He never saw her up close that much, and he couldn't help but appreciate how beautiful she looked. "Hello, boys." She said to Albus and Scorpius. She then turned to Cedric. "Ced, aren't you off to Herbology first thing? Sprout'd drive nuts if her best student is late." She said and gave him a nudge on the shoulders. "I'm off to fetch my things, Scorp. I see you haven't received mail–"  She said, realizing this though, she seized up and blushed hard. "See you around, Scorpius. Albus." She said, not meeting any of their eyes and leaving the Great Hall as quickly as possible.