Ten years, we have journeyed together.
Ten years, we have spun tales.
Ten years, we have waited.
You could've been six years old when you tagged along with Harry in his first year. You could've been twelve years old when you read those three final words. Regardless, it has been a journey and you were a part of it. You hid in the cupboard with Harry at Vernon's fits of rage or Dudley's temper tantrums. You were there when Hagrid gifted Harry his first ever birthday cake. You saved the philosopher's stone with Harry. You saved Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets with Harry. You freed Sirius Black with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. You faced the return of Voldemort, shook with fear with Harry by your side. You were a member of the DA. You were unable to scream, to cry out, when Snape raised his wand at his old professor. You were standing on the Hogwarts grounds, bloodied and exhausted, and soon felt hopeless at the sight of Hagrid carrying Harry's body.
You were there.
Together we were there.
But in an alternate universe, where Harry and his friends lived and breathed, without the aid of the written word, what could be happening on this very day. Albus would hug his father, mother, and younger sister (who would be begging to go) goodbye. Rose would hug her father, mother, and younger brother (who would share the same sentiments as his cousin Lily) goodbye. Scorpius would hug his father and mother goodbye. The three would board the train - Albus and Rose together, Scorpius off somewhere else.
The Sorting would come. Will Albus' brother's teasing be fulfilled and land Albus in Salazar's house or will familial ties be proven stronger and Albus is sent to Godric's house. Perhaps, or perhaps Albus is this generation's Hermione. After all, Albus' paternal grandmother may have just been the brightest witch of her age.
If Albus was the Hermione, what does that make Rose? Maybe she did receive her mother's brains, but is her father's daughter through and through. Maybe academics come naturally, but she daydreams of flying instead of studying. Maybe she's the Ron: loyal and caring.
Then does it make Scorpius the Harry of this fan-official trio? Scorpius - the son of Draco Malfoy, the boy who bullied and rivaled with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The boy who grew up too fast, forced to prove his loyalty to Voldemort, and surely he wants Scorpius, his son, to live a different life. Scorpius could be carry that burden, the burden to change the Malfoy name to one that is more pleasing, more respected. Just like Harry, who at fifteen months, was burdened because he vanquished the dark wizard. Both boys are burden with something that was never their own doings, not really that is.
Perhaps that what happened. Perhaps the three are all in Gryffindor, two in Gryffindor and one in Slytherin, all in Slytherin, or the three are either in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. We may never know. And truthfully? I like that way much, much better. It gives us the chance to decide what happened next.
A writer's responsibility is to help cultivate our imagination and they do so by giving us a world and a story. Ms. Rowling did her part and now we must take our pens and learn what happened to our old friends these past ten years.
To sum of the past decade, can only be said with three simple words:
All was well.