Year One – The Beginning

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"There is a woman at the beginning of all great things." – Alphonse de Lamartine

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Scorpius POV

The first time I walked onto that train, I knew I was starting. Starting my life, my adventure.

I wouldn't let old prejudices and bigotry stop me from doing what I wanted. My father ruffled my hair, before charming my suitcase and owl onto the train.

"Be good Scorp," he told me, a small smile – the only emotion he displayed in public – tugging at his lips. "And give those Weasley's and Potter's hell."

I nodded. I knew what was expected of me. I had heard the stories of the Second War, of what my father had done, of what the Weasley's and Potter's had done. Of what everyone had lost. But I knew that that didn't matter, because I wasn't my father. I was smart. I was talented. I would be first in everything.

I got on the train, and found a carriage. I smiled as I settled into the comfy seats. I was found moments later by her.

Fire-red hair had fallen out of its black ribbon, falling in a craze of curls around her face. Her eyes were of a pure middle blue, like the water in the south of France. A small dusting of freckles covered the dainty nose, and the small pink lips completed the picture.

"Hi, can I sit here?" She asked. "My cousin, Al, will be here in a minute – we were kicked out of our other one, cos there's too many of us. My name's Rose by the way."

"I'm Scorpius," I introduced. "Pleased to meet you."

"Oh Rosie!" I heard a voice yell out, causing Rose to squeal before opening the carriage door.

"Albie!" She cried. "Over here!"

"Scorpius, this is my cousin Albus. Albus, this is Scorpius who has been nice enough to let us use his carriage."

Albus put out his hand, and I shook it. He was taller than me by a little, but taller than Rose by a lot. A least a head.

"Is this your first year?" I asked Albus.

"Yeah. I'm a bit nervous." He confessed.

"What for?"

"The pressure to be in Gryffindor – everyone, and I do mean everyone – in both of our families have been in Gryffindor since forever."

I shrugged. "My family have been in Slytherin since forever as well. Who knows? Maybe we'll swap."

Rose giggled. "I bet I'm either in Ravenclaw or Slytherin – I'm definitely not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, but I really, really want to be a healer."

Albus sighed, as if he'd heard it all before, which caused Rose to glare at him.

"Well, at least you know what you want to do." Albus sighed.

"It's only first year – we've got ages before we have to decide." Rose consoled, before leaving to get changed into her robes.

"So are you a Weasley?" I asked, looking at him.

He smiled, but shook his head. "I'm a Potter – you're a Malfoy, right?"

"The only one," I grinned back.

"Rose is a Weasley, and she wasn't lying when she said she'd either get in Ravenclaw or Slytherin – she's very smart, smarter than her mum, or so everyone says. She's very determined, very stubborn – my dad says she gets it from her dad, Uncle Ron."

I shrug. "My Dad doesn't know what I got off who. I'm apparently nothing like him, I'm smarter than he was, but I think I'd like to have a proper job, like a curse breaker or an auror."

"My dad and Uncle Ron are aurors – it's very boring right know, since the end of the War."

I barely noticed it when Rose reappeared, so animated Albus and I were in conversation. She curled up and went to sleep, before Albus and I went to change into our robes.

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Arriving at Hogwarts, after being bustled through by Hagrid, the half-giant and Professor for Care of Magical Creatures –who knew both the Potter's and the Weasley's intimately – was a grand moment in any 11-year-old's life.

We were met by Headmaster Flitwick, who was in his last year of teaching before retirement, who introduced the first years to the rest of Hogwarts and to the marvel that was the Sorting Hat.

The hat sat on a stool, and to those who did not come from wizardring families, looked like it should have been thrown out.

That was before it started singing.

"Welcome, welcome, you young students,
From families old and wise,
From families new and curious
Both who survived harder times.

"And who among you will follow
In the colours, oh so bold,
Of deepest blue and sunniest yellow,
Of emerald green, and red and gold.

"And so, let us begin...

"You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindor's apart.

"You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff's are true
And unafraid of toil.

"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind.

"Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make you real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends."

The hall erupted in applause, but most us first just stood there, staring at it. Flitwick clapped along with them, a small smile tugging her lips.

He took a step forward, and began calling names.

I ignored a lot of them, but started paying attention as the surnames got closer to 'M'. Finally, He called out: "Malfoy, Scorpius,"

I walked up and she sat the hat on my head.

"Ah, another Malfoy," The hat purred. "it's been a while since I've had one you. You, however, are made out of different stuff than your predecessors. Hardworking, and determined, and fiercely protective. I can also see your cunning, and your demand for perfection. Never mind, I think you belong in HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Headmaster froze for a moment – so did the rest of the student body. I guess being an infamous Malfoy meant I was doomed for Slytherin...

A few moments later, "Potter, Albus," was called up.

The hat was on his head for what seemed like a long time. However, he was proclaimed a "Ravenclaw!", much to the shock of both the headmistress, several of the other staff, as well as a few Gryffindors, who, upon closer inspection, were another Potter and a few Weasley's. Albus blushed, but sat next to an older strawberry blonde boy.

Eventually, the names got to 'W', with most going to Gryffindor – all but Rose. Rose too had the hat on for a long time. I could see her lips moving.

The Hat, finally, seemed to agree with whatever she was saying. However, the rest of the hall was not prepared for it's decision: "Slytherin!"

The outcry, this time, was actual outrage. There never had been a Slytherin Weasley before, it seemed.

It took a while, but eventually the Sorting was finished, and the feast began. Despite the ruckus over him, I saw Albus eating with a ferocity that I had never seen before – he shovelled it back like it was his last meal for weeks.

I sighed and ate like how I had been taught – chew and swallow, mouth closed. A couple of the second year Hufflepuffs started talking to me, and before desert was served, I knew that this was the right place for me.

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Academic excellence was a priority, which every student at Hogwarts admired. For first years, however, so was finding the best bed in the dorm room. Hufflepuff was placed nearest to the Kitchens, which could only be opened by a secret number of taps. It was the warmest place in the castle, something the upper classmen assured me would I would be grateful of, come winter.

I claimed the bed in the corner, in the shadows, where it was the quietest and the most secluded – noise bothered me while I was trying to sleep. Two other boys, one by the name of Luke Peterson who was a muggle-born claimed the bed nearest the door, the other was Brian Murphey who was also a muggle born, claimed the bed next to Luke. There was an extra bed, but we didn't know what to do with it, so it soon became an extra set of shelves.

Letters were quickly written, for Brian and I had owls to report home with. Luke didn't, and resolved to ask a teacher or prefect tomorrow, and promptly fell asleep.

I wrote to my parents, telling them that I was in Hufflepuff – though dark green was still my favourite colour, despite the large quantaties of yellow I would be living with – and I was joined by two muggleborns. I gave this to my owl Hades, before climbing into my bed and was about to fall asleep, when I heard small knock at the door.

Glancing over at Brian, who was writing what seemed to be a very lengthy letter and had not heard the knock, I decided it was up to me to answer it.

I sighed, and opened the door, surprised to see Rose there holding onto a letter.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" She asked quietly, so not to wake anyone else.

"No, I just finished my letter, why?" I asked as I opened the door for her.

"Albie wanted me to ask you if you had an owl – he has one, and wouldn't mind sending your letter if you didn't."

"It's okay Rose, I do have one, Hades, and I already sent it home. Thank Albus for me, for offering."

"I will, sorry to bother you."

"Night Rose." I whispered back as she slipped out the door.

She opened the door almost as soon as she shut it. "Night Scorpius," She whispered, her cheeks pink.

I smiled. It didn't occur to me later that no one outside of Hufflepuff had been in the common room before Rose. She definitely was a sly one.

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It soon became very clear that when it came to Academics, Rose and I were matched. We both could get the feather to float the first time, both of our brooms zoomed into our hands at the first moments, our practical potion lessons both ended in us having the same level of achievement – flawless. Herbology was much the same, with both of us skilfully managing to not get cut, sliced or otherwise harmed during the lessons.

Test results often resulted in us both getting the same top marks, so often that the professors had to check if we were cheating off each other or not.

It surprised many that we didn't cheat.

Albus always came in the top half of the class – he wasn't as brilliant at academics as Rose and I, but in the Quidditch lessons and in Care of Magical Creatures he usually caused a three-way-tie between us.

Albus said that Ravenclaw wasn't only for the brightest or smartest, otherwise both Rose and I would be there too. It was for those who had an open mind. Rose agreed with this, saying it was the only way their non-related Aunt Luna would have gotten into the house.

Their many Gryffindor relatives thought it was funny, that a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin were beating the entire Ravenclaw first-year pupils, so much so that the three of us didn't discuss school work with any Gryffindor in hearing range, as It often caused tension between my two best friends.

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As Christmas approached, the tension between Rose and Albus and their cousins lessoned, so much so that Albus actually managed to beat Rose by one point, which surprisingly made Rose giddy with joy.

The day before we all left for Christmas break, Rose was practically skipping from class to class, she was that happy.

She also promised me that she'd send me a present.

Well, not in so many words, but she asked who were was my favourite Quidditch team. My answer didn't really surprise her – anyone in green – but she nodded before darting off.

I wondered what she wanted for Christmas.

I asked Albus, who shrugged. "I get her Muggle books – she loves them. I don't know why. But that's my gift, so you can't give her that. Asked her yet?"

"Girls are hard to buy for," I told him with a sigh. "Without giving the game away."

He shrugged. "She likes the Winged Animal Olympic team – you know, the ones with the flying horses? Get her something about them."

I nodded, and resolved to get her a poster.

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Coming back in January, I was met on the train by Albus, who was grinning from ear to ear, while wearing a very lumpy green jumper with a big letter 'A' stitched onto the front.

"Thanks for the hat mate!" He exclaimed, pulling out the Blue and white – well, green and grey now – cap that I had gotten him from Christmas. It had both the Ravenclaw and the Gryffindor crests on the back – the Gryffindor crest was in blue as course.

Rose joined us a moment later, also in a lumpy green jumper, but hers had the letter 'R' on it. She hugged me, grinning and blushing at the same time.

"Thank you so, so, so, soooo much for the poster! It was brilliant! How did you know?"

"A little birdy told me. Thank you for the poster of the national Irish Quidditch team."

She shrugged, still grinning. "They wear a lot of green." She said simply.

"And thank you Albus, for your present! I love the book!"

Albus blushed slightly. "S'no problem."

Rose rolled her eyes, before staring at Albus intently.

Albus sighed at her actions.

I sent him a quizzical look.

He chuckled before explaining. "It's my birthday in a few weeks – Rose is trying to see if she can telepathically tell me what she's got for me."

"Well, I haven't got you anything! Why didn't you say?"

Albus shrugged. "It's not important. I'll only be 12. Wait until I'm 17, then you can spoil me."

"He's been saying that all Christmas break whenever anyone asks him what he wants." Rose informed me, now glaring at her cousin. "He likes dragons though."

"Rose!" Albus hissed, making Rose giggle.

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The rest of the year passed as it had started.

Rose and I were tied for all classes, Albus included in that tie for Quidditch and Care of Magical Creatures. He also started to excel at Defence Against the Dark Arts, no doubt falling back on his Father's skills.

His birthday at the end of January, which he begged us all to forget, was a simple occasion – he woke up with a mound of presents at the end of his bed, including presents from Rose and I, as well as presents from all his school-going relatives. Mine followed closely after in February. Rose's birthday was at the beginning of May, and she too received a mound of presents.

The rest of the year, with the repeated exception of a Weasley or Potter birthday, was rather normal – Ravenclaw took out the Quidditch cup much to Al's glee, with Gryffindor second and Slytherin third.

Hufflepuff and Slytherin tied for the House cup, so the Great Hall was divided into yellow and green. The Headmaster gave her closing speech, saying how wonderful it was teaching at Hogwarts for over 70 years, and that the new Headmaster would no doubt continue on with Hogwarts' grand legacy.

The train ride home was also as normal as possible.

Albus slept, with Rose and I playing a 6-hour long game of Wizard's chess. Neither of us were close to winning, nor were we close to losing either.

Albus woke up and suggested that we change clothes and that ended our first year at Hogwarts.

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In the upcoming years, I would find that I prayed they all were as easy as the first. But it never happened.

So this is the first chapter –what do you think so far?