I do not own these characters, JKR does. I only get to play with them for a little bit :). Thank you to Dark Mermaid for lending me your ear, for that this chapter is dedicated to you. Also, thank you to alkisti at the forums at .com, for the wonderful idea.
Platform 9 ¾ is alive today with the sounds of students and families saying their goodbyes and loading their trunks onto the scarlet train, ready for another year of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I've been through this numerous times already, being in my sixth year, yet each year I'm still filled with the anticipation that this will never be like any other year.
The whistle blows. I quickly walk over to load my own trunk onto the train, my parents following me to say their goodbyes.
"Well son," my father begins. "Try and have a good year, okay?"
I nod, hoping that I can somehow convince him I will, even if it's only to convince myself.
"Yes, love, and write to us when you can, please", my mother pleads.
"I will, Mum."
As I walk over to hug her goodbye I notice over her shoulder the stares we are getting from the other families around us. I guess I should be used to them; after all I am a Malfoy. My family lost our honour since the Second War and to say we're feeling the repercussions is to say the least.
Releasing myself from my mother's embrace, I go to give my father a quick hug.
"Try and make some friends this year, Scorpius. I hate thinking that you're just sitting there alone all the time brooding," he whispers quietly to me.
I know that this is hard for him. He feels responsible for the hard life I have to go through now because of decisions he made over twenty years ago, when he was my age. I don't blame him though.
"I'll try, Dad."
The whistle sounds again, signalling that the train is about to depart. I say a final goodbye to the both of them, then turn around and make my way onboard the train. I open the door to an empty car and sit myself down on the leather bench, looking out the window to my parents waving below. All around me I can hear other students loading in and finding their friends to sit with.
After what seems like forever, I can feel the gears grinding below me, making the engine move. I wave at my parents, watching their figures become gradually smaller until they begin to blend into the horizon.
Feeling the roaring of the engine beneath me, I rest my head on the cool glass of the window, watching the scenery streak by. As the sun starts to set, turning the bright sky to a fiery orange, I close my eyes hoping to get some rest for a little while before everything begins.
Just as I begin to feel sleep take over me, I hear the compartment door slide open.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize someone was in here."
I open my eyes to see a girl staring at me. I immediately notice her long ginger hair. She's already dressed in her school robes and toting a rather large book around.
"O-oh, uh-," I stammer, trying to find something to say.
"It's ok. I'm sorry to wake you. I was just looking for a place to sit, that's all."
"Oh. You could s-sit here if you'd like," I offer. "I'm Scorpius, by the way."
"I know who you are," she replies. "You're Draco Malfoy's son. My parents told me about your family. I've also seen you around the castle. You look like exactly like your father."
I can feel her eyes watching me, almost examining me. I look away from her, expecting her to mock me or leave the compartment for fear of being seen associating with someone like me, but she doesn't move. A silence begins to fall, the only sounds are those of the train motoring along and the chatter of students talking to each other and practicing spells.
"I'm Rose Weasley," she states, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Nice to meet you." I offer my hand out to her, and surprisingly she shakes it. I can't believe that she's being this nice to me. I know her family doesn't get along well with my family, so I was sure she would just look at my hand as if I had offered her a cold dead fish. Taking her hand back, she opens up her book and begins to study the pages, waving her wand and whispering spells. She must be getting prepared for this coming year, I guess.
"You know, you might want to put your school robes on. We're almost at the castle," she says quickly before going back to her book.
"Oh, right, thanks." I leave the compartment to go and find the nearest bathroom so I can get properly changed. Removing the clothes I'm wearing from home, I begin to put on my school clothes and put my robes on over top, bearing the Slytherin crest. Another thing I got to inherit from my father, I guess. I pick up my clothes and make my way back to the compartment, only to notice that it's empty. The Weasley girl had left, probably to go find her friends of course.
After putting my clothes into my bag in the overhead storage compartment, I hear the bell chime indicating that we were finally at our destination. I stand back up to grab my bag from the compartment above me and make my way to the aisle, ready to get off the train.
Leaving the train, I make my way to one of the more empty carriages and sit quietly as we are all pulled along to the castle. I look out of the carriage window to avoid the fleeting glances of the other students in here. They must think I don't notice, or not care at all really.
Finally approaching the giant wooden doors to enter into the castle, I feel content that I am finally here. Making my way through the hallway amongst the bustling crowd of the other students, I reach the open doors of the Great Hall and make my way over to the Slytherin table. The line-up of first years was beginning to come through the giant gilded doors, making their way to the stool placed in front of the staff table, a brown ragged hat placed on top.
The Sorting ceremony went by rather quickly this year, sorting about a dozen new first years into Slytherin house. As the last first-year was sorted into Hufflepuff, the Headmaster stood up, waving his wand to remove the stool and hat, and the entire Hall became quiet.
"I'd like to welcome you all back, to those students returning again this year, and for those students who are new here, I'd like to welcome you here and hope you enjoy your time here learning. Firstly, I'd like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Also…"
My eyes begin to wander the room, bored from having to listen to this speech yet again. It's been the same every year since I've been here. I catch a few eyes watching me from the other tables, looking back at the Headmaster, pretending they weren't staring. My housemates are all chatting and doing thing, deliberately not listening.
"…And with that being said, let's eat." The Headmaster waves his wand again and platters chock full of food appear before us on the tables. While grabbing a meat pie and placing it onto my plate, my eyes catch a flash of bright red across the room. I look up and notice that Rose is sitting across the hall facing me, her vibrant hair framing her pale face. She waves at me, her friends watching her, wondering who she might be waving to. I smile and wave back politely.
Maybe this year will be different after all, I wonder.
A/N: Well, I know this seems like a slow beginning but I'm planning on this to be a bit of a longer fic, and it should pick up pretty soon. I've never written anything with the Next Generation in it, so hopefully I did well. Please review, they really help a writer out :)
