Rivals

Chapter one: Home

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a magnificent sight to behold if you were a muggle. Tall turrets rose into the clouds, like some great giant reaching its hands into the air. The elaborate staircases that lined the outside offered easy access to outside viewing balconies that looked across a great lake and out to the horizon. To the ordinary muggle,  this sight is intimidating indeed, but for many of those from wizarding blood, the half bloods (a child born with half the family being of non magical decent and the other half having wizard or witch blood), and even the occasional muggle born, this was home.  Home where community thrived, friendships flourished, old friends were reunited, and new ones were being made. The ceaseless mirth and laughter of students was full of indistinguishable conversation, and to an outsider it sounded like the thrum of a beehive. All the students were funneling themselves into one narrow doorway, into what was known as the Great Hall.

Hogwarts functioned like a magic university of sorts, the only difference being you received an  admission letter at the age of 12, and stayed at Hogwarts for 7 years. The Great Hall was where residents could receive meals, and where assemblies were held. The meals were often cooked by the resident house-elves, who worked tirelessly in the kitchens. All and all, it was a sanctuary for both students past and present, as well as the staff who resided there. Passions and hobbies exploded among both teachers and students alike as they all tried to find a niche for themselves in this human made beehive.

A young boy, about 15, with wavy brown hair and jade-green eyes dragged his trunk through the hall by the brass side handles, looking exhausted. His outfit consisted of a black robe, white dress shirt, and a tie with red and yellow stripes. The trunk this boy carried consisted of spare robes, hygienic essentials, books and other personal belongings, as well as little trinkets and knickknacks.  Scanning the room, he found a table at which sat children who had the same outfit he did. He sat down and put his heads on his arms. That boy was Albus Potter.

"Zoning out again?" a voice asked. Albus looked up. In front of him stood a girl with copper hair, icy blue eyes, and fair skin. Freckles dotted her face here and there, and she was looking down at Albus with a friendly expression with a hint of concern.

"Ah! Estelle. Yes, yes. I was zoning out. Sorry." The boy blushes, his cheeks turning a light shade of peony. Estelle sat next to him, rubbing his back gently. "You know, I've always wondered what I'm going to do after I graduate from Hogwarts. Do you?"

Albus propped his chin up on his arms and sighed. "I don't think I do have a future. And even if I do, it'll be a bad one at that." Estelle looked at him questioningly. She did not understand how the son of the famous "Boy Who Lived" could even think that he had a bad future when he was not even graduating.

"You're the son of Harry James Potter. It doesn't matter what he had to go through. You are your own person Alby. What your father did, doesn't define your future. You and you alone are the maker of your own path."

Albus snorted. "Where'd you get that from? One of your witty muggle books? I don't think I could ever be as successful as my own father." Estelle shook her head, sighing. "I wasn't asking or pleading with you to be successful, Albus. All I was saying was that you have the power to lead your own life and do your own thing."

Albus was silent, letting the words sink in. Estelle was right. His parents weren't begging him to be as successful as they were, they were pushing him to discover his own ideas, hopes and dreams, to discover his own lifestyle. They weren't trying to force him to be like them. They wanted him to discover himself. At length, Albus let out a sigh of resignation. "You're right." he said glancing up at her, smiling faintly.

Estelle let out a hum of satisfaction, and petting Albus  on the head affectionately, she resumed her seat. At length, Albus lifted his head, glancing about the grand hall. A platinum-blonde head turned in his direction. Albus quickly ducked his head. "Malfoy." He hissed under his breath.  Albus knew he was supposed to hate the Malfoy family, but somehow, he felt different. He knew the Malfoys were to be despised of, but somehow he just couldn't bring himself to hate him. He just couldn't. 

Was it love? No. Impossible. It couldn't be love, it just couldn't. Him, Albus Potter, in love, and not only in love, but in love with a MALFOY?? "No, this can't be true. I-I can't be in love with him can I? My parents would never settle  for this. I would be an absolute bloody disgrace if I were to fall for the Malfoy's son."