The Empty Chamber (Harry Potter Next Generation Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven: Scorpius

Scorpius's first week at Hogwarts was not what he expected. Herbology was really fun and the Greenhouses smelled alive; like dirt and leaves and something floral and unfamiliar. The Slytherin common room was terrible and smelled like death; being under the lake, the scent of fish was pungent and the skulls lining the walls didn't exactly make it feel homey. There was also the fact that Scorpius was best friends with Al, Harry Potter's son. That's something.

Al wasn't Scorpius's only friend; Lydia was the best thing that could have happened to Scorpius. She was wicked smart, and as Al and Scorpius both were helpless when it came to homework assignments, it was convenient to have someone who knew what she was doing helping. Of course, how much she helped depended on the assignment. Sometimes she'd let them copy hers, and sometimes she wouldn't help at all. Regardless of how much she helped, she always made a point to make fun of Al's handwriting (it was pretty bad).

Lydia let either boy know when they were acting stupid, but she wasn't exempt from doing stupid things herself. This was particularly obvious in the case of James Potter.

James was always happy to tease Al, and the first full day of school, James spotted Al on the way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Al was in awful shape that day; the night before, he'd heard his father's backstory. Scorpius had always known his father's and Harry's story, and while Scorpius wasn't proud of his dad's actions, he was glad they hadn't all been told to him at Hogwarts. Finding out the legacy Al had to live up to - Scorpius was very glad he was not a Potter.

His brother's obvious distress wasn't enough to deter James as he ran into the trio Monday morning. In fact, this probably made the situation more appealing. Cocky as ever, James smiled when he saw Al, and leaned against the railing of the staircase they were all on, his arms crossed. "Nice tie, Al," James said smoothly. "I never really thought green was your color, but it does go well with your eyes." James waited for some kind of retaliation, and when none came, he continued, "Of course, Dad has the same eyes, and he never sunk that low, but it's pretty clear you're just not made of the stuff as he is. I mean, Slytherin, Al, I was thinking you'd never live this down, but then you befriended Malfoy here. Are you sure you're even a Potter?"

"Al could be plenty of things far worse than a Slytherin," Lydia's gaze was fixed on James, fixed on his fierce brown eyes. "A big-headed git, for one."

"Are you implying something, Pearce?"

"That you're a bully and far less spectacular than you think you are? Yes, that's what I was going for."

"What are you going to do about it?" James had his wand out now, and was pointing it at her. "You haven't gone to a single class yet. Try to jinx me, I dare you."

Lydia had drawn her wand now too, but Al grabbed her arm and pulled it down. Looking satisfied, James turned and began to walk down the stairs. Before Al or Scorpius knew what she was doing, Lydia reached into her bag and grabbed a textbook. With a well-aimed throw, she sent it straight at the back of James knees. His legs crumpled and he tumbled, head-first, down the staircase.

Scorpius grabbed Lydia's arm this time, "Run for it, Lydia, RUN!" He hadn't finished his sentence when she yanked her arm free and tore up the stairs, Al and Scorpius in hot pursuit.

Just as they turned the corner out of sight, they heard James' voice bellow, "STUPEFY!" A flash of light shot behind them, but none of them bothered to look over their shoulders.

From that moment onward, James directed the full blast of his cruel words not at Al, but Lydia. Scorpius had to admit that she was far better at handling insults than Al, so the shift was probably for the better. He also felt, however, that one of these days it was going to get her in trouble, even if it wasn't the kind of trouble dished out by teachers.