Tendrils of mist seemed to cling to his father, obscuring his face and making his voice seem to come from a long way away. Scorpius shivered in his new robes and wished suddenly he could clutch at his mother's hand as someone's small brother did at the doorway to the carriage. She would be surprised though and his father would be ashamed. He was ashamed of the cold fear that clung to him as closely as the mist. His father was talking again and he tried to listen.
"You'll be all right in Slytherin. Stay away from Gryffindor and Potter and all those Weasleys. Study hard, make the most of your chances…" his father paused and looked at him almost helplessly.
Scorpius nodded. Anything, if his father would stop looking so worried and his mother would take off that frozen mask she had worn since his father had announced he would be going to Hogwarts rather than Durmstrang. Surely in Slytherin he would belong.
The platform was emptying. Only one or two students still struggled to get trunks aboard the train or hung back for a last few words with parents. Doors slammed up and down the platform and the sound echoed through the mist. Scorpius looked up at his parents and tried to find something to say. His mother brushed a kiss across his cheek and began to walk back the way they had come, head held determinedly high. His father bent down and gave him a quick and unexpected hug. Scorpius hugged back just as hard, trying not to cry. Draco pushed some money into his hand and whispered, "Neville Longbottom - herbology. He's a fool but he'll never hold your parentage against you."
Suddenly, Draco was standing again, hands in his overcoat's pockets, looking as distant as ever. Giving his son a sharp nod, he turned and walked away. Scorpius watched them go and then realised with a start that the train noise had moved from a low rumble to an impatient huffing that filled the entire platform with clouds of steam. Panicked, he began to wheel his trunk towards the train, his owl's cage swinging in his other hand. A student appeared in the carriage doorway– tall, thin, red-headed and wearing impeccable robes.
"They won't leave us here," said Frederick, "even if we wish they would."
He took the handle of Scorpius's trunk and hauled it on.