Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 1

Albus did not hesitate even for a moment to board 'The Hogwarts Express'. He took with him his small barn owl Winterhest, it's green eyes matching Albus'. Inside, students were bustling and chatting around. Albus was never good around crowds and he knew that. So he passed through the one in front of him, ignoring it as if it wasn't even there, looking for an empty carriage where he could rest in peace. He did not bother to look twice at his cousin Victoire giving Teddy Lupin a completely speechless welcome. Albus could not find his brother James, one of the only people he was comfortable with. However, Albus did not search for him long and continued on his main objective to find an empty carriage.

The train seemingly narrowed, an old trick. Mysterious it seemed to Albus, but not so for the other students. The narrowing must have been meant only for him but that was impossible, for he he was just an ordinary boy and there was not even a subtle distinction that he bore that made him special. Or so he thought. Albus rubbed his eyes and the illusion disappeared. But it had already done it's damage.

And then he spotted it. The carriage was second last on the right, where he could relax in solitary peace. But just as he was about to enter he noticed another individual approaching him. But just as he was about to check for another carriage he recognized the individual. Albus was able to recognize his red-haired cousin Rose Weasley who was already dressed in her school robes. Though he was shy, Rose's company suited him fine. They occupied the window seats and then they exchanged greetings. The journey seemed so ordinary, yet as Albus settled down, he could not stop his mind from dwelling on vague hints of peril and mystery which he had occasionally heard suppressed during his short life-was there really danger ahead? But Albus could neither hope nor despair as his mind turned in a whole new direction as a thin, cool, fair girl with black hair stepped in. She sat down next to Albus. Albus just stared through the window, waiting for the train to start while Rose and 'the girl' talked. Finally, when Albus bothered to turn his head away from the window, the girl extended her hand towards Albus and said, "Hi. I'm Ruth. And you must be Harry Potter's son. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Uh…..how do you know my father and why is it a pleasure to meet me?" Ruth looked at Albus questioningly and then Rose whispered something in her ear. Ruth nodded and said,

"Never mind"

Albus said, "Rose what is this about?

She shook her head, "Never mind Albus. You'll find out in school. I found out all about this from a school book."

"You read a school book already?"

"Yeah, in fact all the books" This comment seemed unbelievable for both Ruth and Albus.

At that moment their attention was diverted as the train started moving and Albus and Rose waved at their parents. Albus quickly realized that Ruth was waiting for Albus to have a conversation with her directly. But ignoring that, Albus looked out of the window until King's Cross was far beyond his sight. He then reached out his hand and Ruth took it and he said, "Albus"

Then, the door swung open and standing there was his brother James. Albus groaned. This was the worst possible situation that James could catch him in. Albus was already releasing his hand from Ruth's grip hoping that James would miss that little surge of friendship shown by him, and that too towards a girl. But James's keen eyes caught Albus.

James plopped himself on Rose's side. He started at it on Albus, "So Al, who's the girl? Your girlfriend?" he teased.

"I'm Ruth." Ruth answered even before Albus could open his mouth, "And I'm nobody's girlfriend."

James turned towards Rose taking his gaze off Albus. It was almost as if he had not noticed Rose, but he could not be blamed for that as Rose was the silent type. So he greeted her and then turned to Ruth and asked, "Are you a muggle, a half-blood?"

"Pure-blood."

"James raised an eyebrow, "What's your family name?"

"See, my father is Rodulphus…"

"Not your father's name! What's your family name?"

"Lestrange but…" her sentence was cut short by a gasp by James.

"You mean you're Bellatrix's daughter?"

Now Albus joined in, "Who's Bellatrix?"

James replied, "Never mind that let's hear Ruth."

Ruth said, "No! I'm not Bellatrix's daughter. How do you expect me to explain properly if you keep interrupting my sentences? As I said earlier, my father is Rodulphus Lestrange who was the husband of Bellatrix Lestrange. But after Bellatrix died he remarried my mom and so that's why my family name's still 'Lestrange'. OK?!" She was literally shouting by the end of her comment.

James did not ask her any more questions but instead said, "I bet you'll be with Snakeys. That's Slytherin." He added looking at their confused faces. He continued, "And when you go to Slytherin, I'm telling you, you're going to lose against the mighty lions, Gryffindor."

Albus rolled his eyes. This was the usual arrogant James. He said, "But James didn't you tell me that Ravenclaw won last time?"

"Shut up!" said a clearly angry James.

Ruth said, "We'll see who wins this time."

Then James left saying, "Fine see you later!"

Albus wondered who was that Bellatrix. James had risen in anger and shock when Ruth had mentioned 'Lestrange'. A sense of betrayal passed through Albus for James hadn't told him who Belatrix Lestrange was ever before. Who was she...was she a superstar? A felon? Albus dwelt relentlessly on the same woman trying to break through with an answer by virtue of any hints James may have slipped out. But what James had done actually, was take away the atmosphere where they all were talking freely and left behind a vacuum of silence which could not and did not disappear when weak attempts of chatting was made by the three in the cabin. The vacuum stayed until a sound came, "ANYTHING FROM THE TROLLEY?" Albus knew it was the trolley woman. James had mentioned her quite a few times but Albus was not exactly hungry then and just said, "No thank you." However both Ruth and Rose decided to try some chocolates. The trolley soon left. The chocolates provided a chance for conversation. Albus saw Ruth try a jelly bean which he remembered James had asked him not to take. He said that it was a Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and that it could come in any flavor including earwax. But Albus did not tell Ruth this, but the bean must have tasted pretty good because Ruth smiled after having one.

"Can I take this?" Albus asked pointing at a chocolate frog.

"Oh sure." said Rose.

Albus took the Chocolate Frog and said, "James told me…" He took the card that came with the chocolate, "that these are a new edition…" he placed the card on the table in a specific manner, "and that if you do this…" he looked at the image of McGonagall on the card, "the picture in the card will come out and talk." And with that a small figurine which was a representation of McGonagalll stepped out of the card to the great amazement of Ruth and Rose with a blazing sign above her that read 'MINERVA MCGONAGALL'. Then the figurine said, "Minerva McGonagall is an elder in the Wizemagot and the chief supervisor of Transfiguration Today. She served tenure as a Transfiguration teacher at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft and now is the Head Mistress for that institution besides teaching Defense against the Dark Arts." And with that the figurine became still.

"See?" said Albus giving the figurine back to Rose.

"How did you know that?"Rose asked.

"James told me about it. Anyway, Ruth you want to try out with your frog card?"

"Yes" Ruth told and took a card and placed it on the table. Out came a figure with a trim military cut and a French beard. The figurine had 'KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT' blazing above him. Again, the figurine talked. It said, "Kingsley Shacklebolt stood as the Ministry of Magic for some years after the Battle of Hogwarts and after stepping down took up the position of Chief Head of Aurors before he was re-elected two years ago."

Ruth nodded and ended the discussion with a simple "I see"

"By the way Ruth, why didn't you look out of the window when the train left the station?"

"I came alone because I'm related to Bellatrix!"

"Who's Bellatrix?"

"She was an evil witch."

"So why did you come alone?"

"You don't realize that there are still so many people out there who will still stop at nothing to finish off the line of evil doers along with their relatives no matter how much we show that we've turned good! And that's why my parents asked me to stay incognito."

"Then why have you told us all this."

"Because you don't seem as bigoted as other people"

After some time, Albus asked, "Ruth why do you want to go to Slytherin? James told me Slytherin people are evil but you just now told me that your family is now good?"

Rose then said, "Albus! There is no more evil in Hogwarts! Now Slytherin is as good as Ravenclaw can be! Except of course they are still cunning and jealous"

Ruth nodded her head, "That's true, except of course not the cunning and jealous part."

Albus said, "Wait a second, how do you know all this. You're both in the first year also!"

Ruth and Rose looked at each other and said at the same time, "Boys"

Just at that moment an announcement passed through the train, "The Hogsmeade station is nearing. Please change into your school robes. Rose was already in her school robes but Ruth was not. So Albus excused himself and went outside. The carriage next to theirs, to Albus's best guess was occupied by 5th year Ravenclaws. The window was open, and it was easy for him to figure that out. However, the carriage opposite to his own did not have an open window. This further increased his curiosity to find out who was inside. So he opened the cabin door slightly. It was full of Slytherin students. A handsome yet cold boy saw Albus and approached him. He said, "What do you want Albus?"

"How do you know my name?"

"Oh you don't know do you? Such an innocent boy! " the boy said in a teasing tone, "You are so stupid not to figure out anything."

This got Albus really angry but he didn't show it. Controlling his anger he said, "Who are you?"

"Call me Scorpius. Now tell me what you're doing here."

Albus thought the truth wouldn't hurt, "Just checking the carriages near mine."

"And who might be in yours you sneak peek?"

"Rose Weasley and Ruth Lestrange"

At this, Scorpius's face morphed into a cold sneer and he said, "Hanging out with girls? Even I would expect something better from you!"

Albus went red with embarrassment, "They came to my carriage." He said defensively.

"I don't care. I don't agree with my father on many things but I do agree on one thing. You're as arrogant and vain as your father."

"And who might your father be?"

"Draco Malfoy" and with that he shut the door leaving Albus staring at the door. Albus, in his usual innocent self muttered, "Who's that?"

Ruth had finished changing and he reentered his cabin and changed into his robes.

Albus pondered over the narrowing walls. He wondered how Ruth knew his father's name. So much had happened on the train alone, and could it be that all of it was inter-related? It would make everything much easier for me, Albus thought And then his encounter with Scorpius. Though Scorpius was surely a proud and overconfident fellow there was some truth in what he said about hanging out with girls. He decided to make some friends when he reached Hogwarts. And just when he had resolved that the train stopped.