A/N: Hello! This is my first HP fanfic, and I'm totally stoked about writing this. Just a warning, I'm a relatively new Harry Potter fan, and I've only read them once. Sorry if I get anything wrong, or screw up any details (feel free to let me know if i do!). Characters and setting belong to the one and only JK Rowling.
Here's the first chapter :)
Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy gazed out the window of the Hogwarts Express as the lush, green landscapes of the English countryside flew by. His grey eyes were fixed on the view outside, yet his mind was anywhere but. Scorpius' thoughts were filled with nothing but worry.
This would be his first year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Scorpius was certain all of the other first years on the train were ecstatic. He, on the other hand, was nearly sick to his stomach with dread.
Son of the one and only Draco Malfoy and Asotria Greengrass, Scorpius had good reason to be worried. His father, former Death-Eater to Voldemort, had always been a bit harsh when it came to discussing Scorpius' future at Hogwarts. Draco had made it clear that he was to be put in Slytherin, as all Malfoys before him had.
Scorpius was almost certain he would be in Slytherin, yet a small part of him was fraught with doubt. What if he was put into a different House? Would his own father disown him? He stared down at his hands that lay resting on his new robes. His palms were sweaty, his fingers trembling. Scorpius knew these feelings of uncertainty wouldn't leave him until the Sorting Hat shouted 'Slytherin'.
Yet a small part of Scorpius had always felt a slight longing to be different from his father. For his whole life, he had been endlessly compared to Draco, everyone saying they were identical. Scorpius knew better. He knew he would never be like his father. That small part of him longed to be free, and even relished the idea of being in a different House. Perhaps Ravenclaw, or even Gryffindor.
Gryffindor. Draco detested Gryffindor. Scorpius was terrified to think of what would happen if he wound up there, yet the same part of him longing to be free told him Gryffindor would be a good fit for him. His heart even swelled as thought of himself dressed in the red and gold colors of the House for the brave-hearted.
Scorpius quickly shoved that thought as far from his mind as he could. It was no use thinking such things, wishing for such things when he would clearly go to Slytherin. He was a Malfoy, after all.
Glancing up, Scorpius looked around the empty compartment, a feeling of loneliness swelling inside of him. He had been too nervous to introduce himself to anyone, content to sitting in the back compartment all by himself. Now, less than an hour into the train ride, Scorpius was beginning to regret that decision. He wanted someone to talk to, no matter who they were or what House they wished to be in.
As the loneliness hung over him like a cloud, Scorpius' thoughts drifted back to when he had just boarded the train.
He had been in no particular hurry to get on board and he ended up being one of the last to climb on. As he had been passing the already-filled compartments, his eyes had caught the gaze of a red-headed girl sitting in an apartment with a few others Scorpius recognized as the Potter children. He had spotted the girl outside on the platform, even seen her father, also a red-head, point to him and say something to the girl.
Scorpius had wondered what the man had said, but wasn't sure he really wanted to know. He had tugged on his father's sleeve and askes who they were, trying to be inconspicuous as he pointed to the family.
"Those are the Weasleys." Draco had responded nonchalantly as his mother straightened his robes for the millionth time that morning. Scorpius had been too nervous to inquire further, and sufficed himself by simply giving the Weasley girl a nod as he passed by her on the train.
Scorpius was dragged back to the present by a soft tap on the door to his compartment. Glancing upwards, he saw an older witch pushing a trolley that was positively brimming with all kinds of sweets. His mouth watering, Scorpius grabbed a few galleons from his small money pouch and purchased a bag of chocolate frogs.
Thanking the trolley witch, Scorpius closed the door and returned to his seat. He opened the first frog and saw that the collectible card that came with the treat had a picture of Dumbledore. Scorpius had heard many stories of Dumbledore from his mother. She said he was one of the greatest wizards to ever live and that he had died in the war against Voldemort. Astoria had strictly forbidden him from speaking to his father about Dumbledore. Once Scorpius had mentioned him by accident and was shocked when Draco had sat down in an armchair and started crying. He instantly apologized, but his father had forgiven him.
Scorpius felt the worry return as he thought of Draco. Even more so when his thoughts turned to his grandfather, Lucius Malfoy. He had always been terrified of his grandfather. His flowing silver mane of hair, accompanied by his piercing grey eyes, all served the purpose of making him even more intimidating. He hated Muggles, and hated half-bloods even more. Scorpius remembered a family dinner last year when Lucius and Draco had nearly come to blows when Lucius referred to them as 'Mudbloods'.
Scorpius found his father frightening on occasion, but he was nothing compared to Lucius. What his grandfather would think of him if he was put into a different House than Slytherin wasn't something he wanted to think about.
Instead, Scorpius focused his attention back onto his food. He sighed longingly, wishing he had someone to share it with. A friend. Even an acquaintance. Anyone, really.
When the train finally pulled to a stop, Scorpius was bored out of his mind. That feeling quickly dissipated as soon as the train screeched to halt, quickly replaced by trepidation and dread. Scorpius gathered the things he had taken with him on the train and made his way to the exit.
The first years were all hustling to get off of the train as soon as possible. Scorpius was quickly overwhelmed from all of the excited shouting and bustling. He finally made it onto the platform, only to stand confused on the brick and wonder what in the world he was supposed to do now.
"First years, first years!" A loud, gruff voice rang out over the tumultuous cacophony of the crowd. "First years over 'ere!" Scorpius followed the voice, ducking in between the older kids until he found the source of the shouts.
The first years were gathered around a giant of a man with a wild, brown mane of hair and a large beard that grizzled its way down past the man's shoulders. Scorpius' eyes widened at the sight of the hulking man, then nervously stepped forward.
"First years over here?" he asked, surprised at the squeakiness of his voice.
"Aye, my boy." The man replied, looking down at him with a broad smile. "I'm Hagrid, groundskeeper here. You must be one of 'em Malfoys." Scorpius bit his lip anxiously, then nodded.
"Scorpius Malfoy, sir." Hagrid waved his hand bashfully.
"We needn't have any of that, my lad. Please, call me Hagrid." Not waiting for an answer, Hagrid looked over the group of young wizards and witches gathered around him. The platform had emptied except for them. "Alright, listen up!" he bellowed, clapping his hands together to gain everyone's attention.
"How are we getting to Hogwarts?" a boy with thick blonde hair inquired.
"That, my dear Lorcan, would be explained to ye if ye would be quiet." Hagrid answered in the voice of someone who is slightly overwhelmed.
"I'm Lysander, not Lorcan." The boy replied. Scorpius nearly gasped when he noticed an identical boy standing right next to him.
"Yes, I'm Lorcan." The other blonde-haired boy added. Hagrid sighed and rubbed his temple.
"Aye, so ye are. My apologies." He waved his hand to beckon for everyone to follow him. "This way, first years." Scorpius found himself at the back of the group as Hagrid led them to the back of the platform to a large lake. Across the water, the towers of Hogwarts rose proudly in the sky from atop the hill it stood on, their peaks jutting into the late evening clouds.
Scorpius stood on his tip-toes to find that several boats were tied to a dock. Hagrid was currently sorting the first years into them. Scorpius was soon seated in a rowboat with Hagrid and the twin boys. The boat could have fitted more, but Hagrid took up half of the seating space.
The twins were talking rapidly to each other as the boats started moving across the water all by themselves, clearly under some sort of enchantment.
"Who are you?" Scorpius jumped slightly, then turned to find the two boys staring curiously at him.
"Scorpius Malfoy." He answered, sticking his hand out politely.
"Malfoy, you said?" one of them asked, narrowing his eyes. Scorpius felt a blush creeping up his pale cheeks.
"Don't be rude, Lorcan." The second one said, shoving the other playfully. He took Scorpius' hand and gave it a hearty shake. "I'm Lysander Scamander. Pleased to meet you."
"Scamander?" I repeated. "Any relation to Newt Scamander?"
"He was our great-gandfather." Lorcan responded, puffing his chest out proudly. "We're the sons of Rolf Scamander and Luna Lovegood."
"Pleased to meet both of you." Scorpius said, trying to memorize the slight differences in their facial features.
"What House do you think you'll be in?" Lysander asked as they neared the dock on the opposite side of the lake.
"I-I don't know." Scorpius replied truthfully. Frankly, he was still terrified to think about it. "What do you think you'll be in?"
"Gryffindor." The twins answered in unison. Scorpius felt his heart sink. He was beginning to like these boys, but if they ended up in Gryffindor and him in Slytherin, there was no way they could be friends. The rivalry between the two Houses had lessened a bit since the defeat of Voldemort, but his father still held an extreme distaste for Gryffindors.
Scorpius didn't have time to dwell on it to much, though, as the boats were docking. Hagrid helped everyone off of their respective boats, then directed them up the huge steps into the front hall. An older witch was waiting for them, who Hagrid introduced as Headmistress McGonagall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years." The woman said kindly, but still somewhat stiffly. "Please form a line in alphabetical order before heading into the Great Hall." She disappeared into the Great Hall while Hagrid began sorting the line of nervous and excited witches and wizards.
Scorpius found himself near the center of the line as they filed into the Great Hall. He gasped at the sight before him.
The ceiling in and of itself was truly a sight to behold. It echoed the sky outside, the occasional star twinkling amongst the darkening navy blue of the night. Four long tables stretched down the center of the room, separating the students into their different Houses. Banner bearing the different symbols for each House hung from the ceiling.
All of the professors were seated along a fifth table on the opposite side of the room, facing towards the students to keep an eye on them. The largest chair in the center of the table was occupied by McGonagall, her witch's hat seated proudly atop her head.
The woman herself stood and silenced the room by simply clearing her throat. Scorpius zoned out as she made a speech, again welcoming the first years to Hogwarts. Then she began the sorting process. The Sorting Hat sang a rather cheery song that Scorpius didn't pay much attention to. He was too busy panicking over what was about to happen.
"Adams, Julianne." Was the first student to be sorted. The brown-haired witch was quickly placed into Ravenclaw.
As more students were sorted, Scorpius felt the anticipation growing inside his stomach. Part of him wanted to scream in terror, the other wanted to throw up. Thankfully, he managed to resist both urges and stand impatiently in line.
"Malfoy, Scorpius."
Scorpius flinched upon hearing his name, then strode forward, hoping he looked more confident than he felt. He sat down on the small stool and McGonagall placed the tattered hat on top of his pale, silver hair.
"Hmm, another Malfoy." The Sorting Hat murmured, softly enough that only Scorpius heard. "I definitely see some Slytherin in you." A multitude of emotions swirled through Scorpius' mind. First off was relief, knowing it would please his father if the Hat did place him in Slytherin. Yet strangely, the majority of his mind was dominated by disappointment. The longing to be different and free from his father's stamp on him was growing stronger by the second.
"So much potential." The hat whispered. "Only problem is what to do with it. For you, I'd say it better be…." Scorpius knew what he wanted. What he had always wanted. But he was too terrified to ask for it outright. The consequences could very well be catastrophic.
"Slytherin." He pleaded in a mere whisper, despite his heart yearning for the opppsite.
"GRYFFINDOR."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this! Please review and let me know what ya think :)
Edit/Update: Someone pointed out that the Sorting Hat wouldn't put someone in a House unless it was what they really wanted. This is true, and I apologize for that. Dumb mistake. I've gone back and changed a few things in this chapter, so even though Scorpius does verbally ask for Slytherin, Gryffindor was what he truly wanted. Thanks again for reading, see y'all next chapter!