"Malfoy, Scorpius" A man's voice rings across the hall.
Almost immediately curses, whispers, and gossip rush to take the man's voice's place.
A pale thin boy slowly begins to make his way up the stool where so many of his ancestors before him have been sorted and placed in the family's house.
And it is the family's house.
No Malfoy has broken the streak since Wilbophorous Malfoy 300 years prior. He was sent to Ravenclaw. A scandal so outrageous it took until the Boy's grandfather's sorting before the family could finally put it behind them.
The Boy's expectations here are extremely low.
His father simply wants him to stay out of trouble and continue the family legacy in Slytherin. He believes it may take his grandchildren or great-grandchildren's works to redeem the family name. But now? Now the wounds are far to fresh for his son to do anything but survive and avoid controversy.
His mother wants the same, in addition to focusing on his studies he'll need it to bring back the family's stolen wealth.
What his Grandfather expects him to do….nobody's quite sure. His mind is considerably addled from years of substance abuse and drinking so his goals vary from day to day.
His grandmother wants him to live well. At least that's what he thought she said. She mumbles quite a bit
The Boy carries all those words and expectations with him as he approaches the Hat. His gait is one of person well practiced in etiquette and social protocols, but his clothes belie his financial status.
His face is an impassive mask that he's copied from his father who often deals with the same murmurs. He doesn't plan to give them the dignity of having an effect on him. The teacher at the stool lowers the hat atop his head, the brim passes over his eyes surrounding him in a musty darkness.
"Ahhhh another Malfoy. I haven't seen your family in many years." A hoarse voice whispers into his head.
Yes I'm a Malfoy let me guess? You hate us too?
"Hate? No boy I don't hate anyone. I'm just a hat, I've no reason too."
Ohh my mistake. Sorry.
"Sorry? Well you're certainly different then your father. But then again I already knew that, otherwise you'd be in Slytherin right now."
Panic rose up in the Boy's chest.
But I'm still going to be there right? I have to.
"And why is that young Malfoy?"
Because it's my father's house, my family's house! I need to be in it.
"Because?" The Hat asked coyly.
Because…Because I'm his son and he's already disappointed now. I don't need to make it worse.
"Assuming I put you there mister Malfoy, what makes you a Slytherin?"
I'm a Malfoy
"Now mister Malfoy" the hat tsked "We both know that tradition in family isn't important enough to determine our educational future"
Please I need to be in here.
"Why?"
I just told you why, do I have to again?
"Yes, Slytherin isn't the house it once was, its long since lost its luster and appeal many students from traditional Slytherin family's would rather go to another House than deal with the life a Slytherin student expects"
I don't care what other people do! I don't care what people think either or how hard it's going to be. I'm not a coward.
The Hat gave a low chuckle.
"Times are changing mister Malfoy. And that attitude is exactly why you don't belong in Slytherin. Your road ahead is hard, as is your road in this house but it's where you were born to go." The Boy could almost sense the Hat's smirk "Besides every generation deserves its own Sirius Black"
The final phrase illuminated understanding in the Boy's mind.
No please-
"GRYFFINDOR!" Thundered the Hat to the hall.
Which was answered by a resounding silence from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Even the teachers look gob smacked. The Boy doesn't even notice, he's trying to figure out how he'll tell his father.
Eventually the teacher by the stool gives him a small push and a smile
"Go on son, that's your house now"
The Boy dejectedly placed the hat back down on the stool and made his way over to his new home for the next seven years. The table's mood seemed to match the Boy's concerning placement. Some ignored him, others sneered, or simply stared.
But one smiled.
She was beautiful, painfully so, with strawberry blonde hair tied neatly in a French braid. Her eyes were bright blue, the color of oceans, and seemed to hold some sort of secret joke that she shared with a special few. As she approached him to sit down in an empty seat the Boy felt an inexplicable need to adjust his shabby clothing. However before he had a chance to do so she'd already settled herself next to him and whispered.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, my name's Victoire, I'm the Head Girl so if you need anything just ask for me."
"Th- th-thank you" The Boy managed to stutter out.
"No problem" And with that she disappeared, taking the Boy's heart with him.
His happiness proved to be short lived as another problem was staring right across from him. It was a fellow Gryffindor, a second year maybe. He was staring daggers at the Boy's face.
He realized it was one of the Potter boys his father told him to stay away from before boarding the train. The boy attempted to ignore him by watching the next Sorting, it was another Potter probably the brother of the one across. He tentatively moved up to the stool and had the Hat placed on his head. But instead of a quick sort it seemed to take as long as the Boy's. The hall grew louder with speculation after each passing second until that Hat opened its mouth to proclaim…
"SLYTHERIN"
Slytherin?.
If the Boy's sorting provoked a deafining silence the universe appeared to balance it out with a raucous uproar. One that took several minutes to settle down and numerous appeals from the teachers. Finally the red headed Girl the Boy saw at the train station with Potter arrived at the stool and was promptly sorted into Gryffindor much to the screams and cheers of the Boy's table.
The Girl made her way to the table took the empty seat next to him Victoire had occupied. Her head was surround by frizzy red curls and her gaptooth smile made The Boy cringe, but it held a sort of warmth. The Boy tried to muster one back but was assaulted by her next words.
"HI I'M ROSE WEASLEY, I SAW YOU AT THE STATION AND ON THE TRAIN MY DAD SAYS I'M SUPPOSED TO BEAT YOU AT EVERY TEST. WOW YOU MUST BE SURPRISED TO BE IN HERE YOU BEING A MALFOY AND ALL."
"Um- Um- yeah I guess" The Boy returned.
"Wait what's your first name again?" Rose asked.
"Scorpius"
"Scorpius Malfoy, Gryffindor." Rose seemed to swish the words around in her mouth for a moment before announcing.
"It fits."
Scorpius couldn't help but smile back at that.