Ever since the meeting Alder had not left my mind. On one hand, it was annoying on the other, it was great. Annoying because it distracted me from schoolwork but great because they weren't bad thoughts. I was walking with him now. "What do you have now?" I asked.

"Potions."

"I have Potions now too!" He looked at me. His cute face looking at mine. I stared at him. Why do I find him cute? He smiled. "D-do you want walk with me?" He was silent for awhile.

"Yes." Was he blushing? We started walking. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"Hobbies? I like to practice Quidditch in my spare time."

"Oh, cool! Are you on the actual team?"

"I'm on the B team. We had to make a second team. Too many tried out that we're good."

"Awesome. If our houses ever face off together I'll root for both." I was surprised but I smiled.

"As will I." We five-hived and at his touch I felt a little warm. "But let's get going, or we'll be late." He laughed and we picked up speed. Not soon enough did we reach the classroom.

"Sense and Foley, you're late."

"Sorry!"

"It's fine just get to your seats."

"Gryffindor and Slytherin are separated," Alder said, disappointed. I sighed.

"You can sit across from me."

"Okay, but I wanted to work together."

"As did I, trust me." More than you know, I added in my head before going to my seat. My desk mate Genevieve looked at me.

"Why did you and that Gryffindor arrive late, were you doing something bad?"

"No! My God, Genevieve! We're 14!"

"But you don't deny your obvious feelings for him?" I blushed but denied it.

"What are you even talking about?" She didn't reply. I turned my eye to the teacher. She had laid out two potions.

"Can anyone tell me what potion this is?" Isla said pointing to one of of the potions.

"Felix Felicis?" I heard Alder say.

"Correct!" I felt pride surge through me.

"And this one is Amortentia," said Isla. "Can anyone tell me what Amortentia does?"

"Hey teacher! Call on the gay freak," said one of Slytherins. I suddenly felt pure rage flow over me and I stood up. I didn't know where this feeling came from.

"SHUT YOUR TRAP!" I shouted, fury blazing like a fire. "IF YOU'RE GONNA BE AN A-HOLE, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST!" I turned to the teacher. "Amortentia is the strongest love potion. As it is a love potion, it causes the ingester to become infatuated with someone. Emphasis on infatuation. It's not real love."

"Know-it-all," said the Slytherin and I snapped.

"Alright that's enough outta you, mister. SILENCIO!" Fueled by my anger, the spell shot out and hit the Slytherin square on his face. The Slytherin opened his mouth but no words came out. Everyone was looking at me in horror, before transforming into smirks. They started whispering. I sank back into my seat still livid but when I glanced at Alder all my anger vanished. He looked astonished and thankful.

"Meet me in the trophy the room," he mouthed.

"Okay," I mouthed back.

"Well, That.... That... was an interesting lesson," Isla remarked.

~~~~~~
I met with Alder in the trophy room later and he was a bundle of nerves. "Hello."

"Hi."

"Why are we here?" I asked and he looked away.

"I want to tell you a secret... it's a secret... that I don't tell many people... Saphira, a third year knows and now you'll know, promise you won't tell anyone?"

"I promise."

"Well, here goes." He removed his shirt and I saw numerous scars that looked to be from a belt.

"Have you told a teacher?" I asked, eyeing the worst ones.

"Saphira told me to and I went to see McGonagall and she said she'll alert the Ministry," he said, putting his shirt back on. Then, he told me the rest of the story. When the abuse started and what caused it. By the end of it he was crying. I sat next to him and hugged him.

"I guess we all have baggage," I said. "My parents got divorced but it's not as bad as what you go through."

"That's terrible, I'm sorry Sully."

"It's fine. And I'm here if you need me..."

We grew closer that day.