White steam erupted from the train as the resinous whistle blew, sounding its imminent departure. A family of three- a mother, father, and son- stood amid the other, larger, families on Platform 9 ¾. Their sharp, well-defined features at odds with the softer, more subdued looks of most everyone else. They spoke quietly amongst themselves, completely indifferent to almost all those around them.
Down the platform, two families blended together,- the Potters and the Weasleys- speaking to one another, beaming and laughing. Quite the adverse to the small family of three down the way.
Ron nodded to Harry, motioning towards the other family, "Look who it is." He muttered under his breath. Both of the wives had noticed two, and all four were now staring at the father and son who stood a few meters away.
Draco Malfoy turned, noticing his audience and nodded to Harry Potter, then he turned back to his wife and young boy.
"So that's little Scorpius." Ron broke the silence, then continued on, telling his small daughter, Rose, to beat Scorpius at every test in school. His wife pestered him to stop, but he paid no attention.
Draco bent down to his son, gripping his right shoulder. His silver-grey eyes stared down into the same silver-grey eyes of his only son, and Draco felt as if he were gazing into a mirror of the past. "Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, make us proud." A smiled hinted on his lips as he squeezed Scorpius' shoulder, then let it go, straightening up to his full height once more. Draco's gaze was still locked onto his son's, communicating to Scorpius without words.
Astoria knelt down before Scorpius, and took his pale face in one of her gloved hands, using the other to blot at her eyes with a lacey handkerchief. "Oh, Scorpius," The woman sighed wistfully, "My little boy!"
"Mother, don't call me that." Scorpius demanded placidly. "I'm not little anymore." His tone rang with an authority that did not match his youth.
Astoria disregarded her son's comment and, still on her knees, dragged him down into a constricting hug. "Mother, let- me- go." Scorpius choked out, grimacing.
The whistle blew again, summoning the last of the children that had not yet boarded the Hogwarts Express. Scorpius jumped at this opportunity and extracted himself from Astoria's arms. She looked hurt, so he offered his mother an apologetic smile.
"I'll see you at Christmas." He said, giving his parents one final glance before turning to step onto the scarlet train.