Glory |A. Potter|

Forty-Nine

The train had hardly started when Scorpius and Jane left the company of Ramona and Albus to head to the compartment where the Prefect meeting would take place. They had been instructed to do so in the letter that had accompanied their Head Prefect crest, instructions written down by the Headmistress so they would know how to properly guide the Prefects. The day ahead would surely be a tiring one, what with all the need to speak to people, but Jane was certain she would manage.

Cleopatra walked ahead in front of them, tail raised and moving from side to side, occasionally glancing back at Jane to ensure she was still following after her before she looked ahead. Jane smiled slightly at her antics before she turned to Scorpius.

"Are you ready for today?"

"I would rather a Professor did this," he admitted, feeling her gaze on the side of his face even though he remained looking ahead. "Most of these Prefects know of their duties anyway."

"Some of them don't, though," she pointed out, "besides, you promised last year you would help me put order and to ensure everyone was paying attention."

"Of course," he smiled slightly, "I've been looking forward to this all year long."

"Good," Jane smirked, "we'll be the best Head Prefects Hogwarts has ever seen."

He sighed, "I don't know, that requires effort."

"Where's your ambition?"

"I left it at home."

Jane shook her head as they reached the front of the train and the compartment the Prefect meeting wοuld take place, Scorpius slid the door open, she called for Cleo, and soon enough, the two of them were sitting next to each other in the seats in the middle of the room, looking through the schedules left there for them by the Headmistress so they could decide on the patrols. She imagined this process could have been bothersome and tiring for the Head Prefects that didn't stand each other or for those who weren't friends, but she was fortunate enough to have Scorpius beside her, and the two of them agreed on plenty of things.

They decided pretty early on the pairs would be based on their year and house, no plans in sight for house collaboration as some of the Head Prefects had done in the past—even though it would be fun, Jane and Scorpius had no wish to have their Prefects arguing among each other every chance they got—and then they decided, with a heavy heart, to put the younger years at the patrols happening right around the curfew time while she and Scorpius along with the sixth-years took the patrols later in the night. She guessed she was losing an hour or so of sleep with that move but it wasn't like she slept much during the weekdays either. Scorpius made a lot more fuss than she did before logic took over and he begrudgingly accepted her suggestion.

Sooner than Jane had expected, the door to the compartment was sliding open and the first Prefects were slipping in. She let Scorpius offer them polite smiles while she nodded in return, and with their arrival, their planning was put to an end. Jane left the pieces of parchment containing the schedules of the Prefects on the floor as she crossed a leg over the other and made way for Cleo to jump on her lap, where she stayed. More and more Prefects entered, and when the last seat was occupied, Scorpius spoke up.

He started greeting the Prefects cordially, welcomed them, wished them a good year, reminded them why it was an honour to be chosen as a Prefect, while Jane watched the Prefects closely for any sign of anyone not paying attention. And once Scorpius finished, the roles were reversed.

Jane spoke up, informed them of all the rules they needed to pay attention to, occasionally stroking Cleopatra's fur as Scorpius watched for any signs of the Prefects losing their attention. Once or twice, he commented a person paid attention, but it was all he needed to do. They answered a good deal of questions, mainly from the fifth-year Prefects—Antonio had the most questions by far, Jane wasn't sure whether he was genuinely curious or if he just wanted to prolong this form of torture although by his slight smirk she guessed it was the second option—and once everything was settled, they handed over the schedules. There were a couple of questions during that time as well, with Antonio being obnoxious once more and bringing Jane to glare at him at a point while Scorpius answered. And once that was over, they were finally free to go.