The Chaser [sequel to The Mudblood]

Chapter 3: Year 1

Thank Merlin, our dorm room had some parchment in the nightstands. The next morning after completing my daily exercise routine to prevent my mum from sending me a Howler, I tightly rolled up one piece and stuck it in my tiny ponytail since it would've gotten crushed in my pocket. Then I prayed my plans to unravel Albus Potter didn't extend past twenty centimeters of paper.

Britney, for some ridiculous reason, had woken up at five in the morning to prepare for the day. I knew because she'd lit a few of the lanterns, rushed about the room, and whispered loudly to herself until Leah and I rolled out of our beds around seven. Besides my quick work out, neither of us took long to get ready, so we departed without Britney, who called, "Save me a scone, and don't start any fights!"

I hadn't even told her about my little grappling match with Albus, but I supposed I oozed enough vindictive energy to warrant her concern.

"At least she's not as overbearing as my mum," I grumbled as we walked toward the common room.

"She's definitely nicer than my mum, who was in Hufflepuff," Leah said, stiffening instantly afterward. She peeked coyly in my direction, tucking some black hair behind her ear. "Do you think Hufflepuff's the worst?"

"I think Albus Potter is the worst." I scowled ahead at him where he trailed behind the other first year boys, arms crossed guardedly over his chest. We caught up while they waited for the giant boulder blocking the exit to slide aside, and I realized why he was acting particularly cagey: his eyelids were doused in sparkly green eyeshadow.

His eyes widened like a cornered animal when I settled beside him. "One bloody word, Pucey—"

"Did Scorpius do that to you?" Leah asked, failing to stifle her giggles as much as I was.

The other three boys spun around, chorusing, "Yup" as they revealed their own sparkly eyelids. Duncan's were blue to match his irises, Mose's were red to match his lips, and Jewel's were gold to match the flecks in his brown eyes.

Leah and I burst out laughing, and she managed, "You boys do not look happy."

"Of course we're not happy!" Duncan moaned, running a hand over his face. It didn't smudge the makeup in the slightest. "Malfoy painted our faces in our sleep, and now he's been hogging the bathroom all morning so we all had to piss in a bucket!"

Leah's laughter turned into gagging. "Oh, gross."

"You could have asked to use our bathroom," I said.

"Ew, no, we don't want your girl germs," Duncan sneered, his face softening when he glanced at Leah. "Well, we don't mind yours."

"Not at all," Mose chimed in eagerly.

"In fact, we want your germs," Jewel added, earning bemused looks from everyone.

Leah was spared from answering when the exit finally opened and the boys reverted the topic to bashing Scorpius. Albus refused to speak to anyone on our walk up to the Great Hall, not even to complain.

Granted, I didn't say anything either, my mind swirling with ideas. If I knew how to remove makeup, I could offer to help Albus in exchange for my journal. I didn't, though, and the next best option was to offer my revenge services, which would mean loads more work. Pranking wasn't my expertise, but playfully torturing Scorpius didn't sound so bad.

By the time I came up with a solid scheme, we'd sat down at the Slytherin table and I realized Albus wasn't even with us. He'd gone to sit at the Gryffindor table with his four—maybe five—family members.

"Hey, Leah, look, I can fit four scones in my mouth," Duncan bragged as he pulled the platter toward himself.

Mose jumped in to grab some. "I bet I can fit five!"