He shook his head. "That's not nice, Tara".
Suzie stuck out her tongue at me. "Yeah, Tara".
Potter clicked his tongue. "That's what I keep telling her".
I scoffed at him. "You can shut up too".
Mature of me, I know. Scorpius leant back and blinked at Potter. "You didn't tell me you and Tara talk".
I tusked. "That's cause we don't talk".
Potter glared.
I glared back with a slight growl.
Suzie burped.
And Scorpius chewed on his lip before he whistled lowly. "Well, I'm so excited for the christmas party. Hey, do you think your dad will come, Tara?. I need another Marcus Flint chocolate frog card".
I blinked and tore my eyes off Potter. Scorpius had a proud look on his face. I frowned. "Uh...Dad doesn't exactly have a stock pile of them. Bet, you could ask Harry Potter for one. He seems like the card collector type".
Albus' eyes shined in spite and he shook his head at me in warning. Ooft...is daddy a touchy subject?. I'll have to remember that. Definitely make use of it in operation get Potter expelled.
Scorpius shook his head, not at all noticing that that was an insult at Albus' dad. "Nope, definently need a Marcus Flint card. They go for a thousand galleons now that he's retired". 
I snorted. "You only want one to sell it? Haven't you got a trust fund like the rest of us?".
He shook his head in offence. "I would never sell it, Tara. A Marcus Flint card is super dooper rare".
I shrugged. "You took one from my house once".
He rolled his eyes. "When I was eight. The one I have has a tear in the corner. Its pulling down my entire collection".
I shared a look with Suzie who gave me a blank look. I shrugged at Scorp. "You could always buy one for a thousand galleons on Wiznet".
Scorpius slumped on the bench and glowered. "Seems a perfectly good waste of galleons though, if Marcus Flint is a family friend".
I exhaled, Oh what the heck. "Fine. Whatever, I'll get you a  card for christmas".
Scorpius perked up in his seat and shot me a shit eating grin. "You're the best Tara!. I'll get you something quidditch-ish".
I nodded. "You better".
Suzie then turned to me with a whistful smile. "Do you think Tom and Tate will come?".
I tried to ignore it but I couldn't. Potter rose an incurious eyebrow. As if prompting me. And I suddenly realised why that one question about Suzie's crushes on my brothers interested him so greatly. 
Tom and Tate are currently ranked number one and two in the world. For Ireland and England repectfully. Its a chance for Albus to introduce himself, to get an in. For him to win...
So, naturally I snorted. "Fat chance. I think the family is spending christmas in the paris mansion this year. And of course the boys will fight, one will leave. Mum will cry and I'll spend christmas eve at malfoy mannor to get away from it all".
That's a lie. But I reveled in the slight disappointment behind his cold exterior. Tom and Tate are annoyingly identical. They're eachothers best friend behind closed doors. I'll actually be a tad sad to leave them on christmas eve. 
Albus tusked. "That's too bad".
I smirked. "Isn't it though".
Suzie sighed longingly. "It really is". 
I shivered at the thought of her and my brothers together....
Scorpius shrugged. "It's alright, plenty of people will be there Tara. I'm just so excited!".
Potter sighed as if this was one of their usual conversations. "Its two whole months away mate. Its literally Halloween".
Scorpius frowned. "Its j-just after you know...I'd rather forget Halloween exists".
A dark look covered Albus' face while Scorpius looked...scared.
I frowned. "Why, what happened on Halloween?".
Scorpius opened his mouth but Potter quickly cut him off with. "My grandparents died".
I gulped. I mean, I knew that. Everyone knows that...
For once I didn't know what to say. 
Potter was cold. And distant, void like usual. But I could see under all that was pain. So much pain. I couldn't imagine that's all because of Lily and James Potter. I didn't not notice the flinch from Scorpius as if he'd rather be anywhere but here. Having any conversation but this on-
"I'm sorry Albus. Tara and I don't have a lot friends and sometimes we don't think before we speak".
I swallowed and watched as Potter's pain filled eyes left mine. He stared at Suzie as if coming to from some dark memory. He gave her a curt nod. "Thank you, Suzie".
She smiled and grabbed a handful of chips, ignoring the tongs. 
But I watched Potter. Watched him stare at my friend for a moment or two longer then he should have before looking back at me. He said her name in suprise, like her was suprised by her!. Stared at her in shock and a new found appreciation.
And I can't believe I have to say this. Especially to someone I believe to be more Slytherin then the rest of us. To someone who is best friends with Scorpius Malfoy. Because if he assumed someone like Suzie was like them, then he must really think the absolute worst of me. And maybe I was wrong, maybe he never was one of us to begin with.
I shook my head at him in outrage. And I saw the panic in Scorpius' eyes. The slight "Wait a minute, Tar-"
 That he never got to finish. 
I don't want to hear his defence of a perfect Potter. I stood and ignored most in the great hall that decided to stare at me. My eyes locked on his. His emerald eyes that shined while singing 'do it'. Eyes that screamed for more hurt, more pain. A want to distract him from his own pain. I felt a tear slip because I could feel myself unravel and give in to them, playing along with no hope of ever winning. "Don't you ever look at her like that again. We're not our parents, Potter. I can't believe I thought out of everyone in this school you'd understand the most".
And I was out, making sure to drag Crabbe along with me. I could hear her whines about food but ignored them. I don't want her sitting with him. I don't know if it was the right thing to do, yelling at Albus Potter in the great hall. The school's golden boy, spitting imagine of legendary Harry Potter. All I do know is that I'm sick of it. Sick of always having to prove we're not evil just because of our last names and the colour of our robes.