Observant Loneliness

Disclaimer: I do not own the Universe of Harry Potter, Hogwarts or any characters named that are owned by J.K. Rowling. All rights are owned by an amazing writer whom has filled our lives with such Drama, Love, Sadness and Happiness. Thank you.

A/N: This is my second Second-Generation Harry Potter fanfiction, and is a sequel of sorts to Reliability's Path of which I wrote last year. Both this story and Reliability's Path were actually written as prequels to another story I am trying to write up with the same characters, but a bit older, but it's still a work in progress. I guess you could say these chapters are back-stories and also to familiarize myself with the characters and their personal stories in a way. I actually love writing these Character-based chapters, so I do hope you enjoy them too!

This story takes place a few months to a couple of years after the Sorting Ceremony, and is from the perspective of Lorcan Scamander. I hope you enjoy!

Summary: Being a good listener is not all its cracked up to be, because even when you don't want to, you hear things that you don't want to know, such as how everyone seems to think that the Scamander family is made up of dotty, loony people... Things that Lorcan Scamander happens to hear daily.

Chapter One:
Gossip

Like it was a well-known fact that the Weasleys and Potters were the most famous Wizarding family in all of Wizard Britain, it was an equally known fact that the Scamander's were absolutely dotty.

Dazed with dream-ridden looks clouding their eyes, traces of a faint smile ghosting their lips and hair that was typically far too long and straggly for its own good, it was undeniable that the Scamander's were an unforgettable lot, though this was rarely found to be a good thing; the presence of a Scamander, any one of them, typically lead to confusion and puzzling conversations of which only the Scamander family would understand.

To many it was no surprise that very few people cared to share words with them on a regular basis, that was unless they were forced to or had no other option, so it came as a shock to most that the Weasley-Potter's were more than happy to exchange conversation with one of the weirdest Wizarding families around. Of course it was assumed that this only happened because the mother of that family had been a part of the second Wizarding War, and they were only being pleasant.

Of course it was conveniently forgotten that the Golden Trio were, in fact, great friends with Luna Scamander and regarded her highly.

Luckily enough for the Wizarding community however, the Scamander's were rarely around to socialise with anyone outside of their family bubble on a regular basis. More often than not, the family of fairy-chasing naturalists were traveling around the globe, searching for their make-believe creatures and quite possibly terrorising other Wizards with their weird insights on the world that they knew. Typically the family took months to return to their home in Britain, and in rare cases, years. Either way, the Wizards around them were rather happy they were gone most of the time; it meant that there was a sense of normality around them, and few less stories in the Daily Prophet about their silly adventures.

Yet like most things, the absence of the Scamander's was short-lived, for the twin sons of this rather eccentric family were to eventually enrol at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and whilst many parents seemed to dread their children sharing a year, let alone a house, with either one of these hippy-like children, it was going to happen, whether the Wizarding community like it or not.

x-x-x-x

Lorcan Scamander did not like a lot of people. In fact, anyone who wasn't his brother or his parents, he immediately did not trust. So what if he was breaking the traditional code of conduct that said Hufflepuffs should be fair or friendly to whomever they met? He didn't care, and clearly the people around him didn't, either. They had had their chances, only to blow that chance out of the murky depths of the Great Lake thanks to their judgemental, prejudiced ways. To him, they were all insufferable nitwits with pygmy puffs for brains.

Sadly for him, daily gossip and irritating conversations continuously seemed to prove his point that the general population of Hogwarts were all prejudiced idiots. Still, it managed to eliminate who he chose to talk to

Which meant everyone... almost.

Now Lorcan Scamander had not always been like this, in fact he had been quite a happy first year, ready to make friends and spend his years in Hogwarts jolly and carefree. Sure, he had been a bit quiet and said a few things that confused his fellow classmates, but he had been quite pleasant and friendly despite this, and for a while, others were the same to him.

At least, to his face they were. Behind his back had been a different matter.

It hadn't been until his third term at Hogwarts that Lorcan had experienced the hushed whispers of gossip that surrounded him. It had happened in the corridors, just after a lesson of potions that he had spent with his fellow first year Hufflepuffs and a group of Ravenclaws, of which had included his twin brother Lysander and his brothers friend, Lucy Weasley. The lesson itself had been rather uneventful, mostly note-taking with a few boring demonstrations that he had paid little attention to, so when the bell had rang for lunch, Lorcan was pretty keen to leave with his brother and spend some much needed time with him; being in different houses was difficult as he had found that he missed Lysander greatly. After all, he had been so used to spending all of his time with him without anyone but their parents around. It was strange not to stand by his side constantly, so the potions classes together were rather refreshing, allowing him to return to that sense of comfort and familiarity.

It was on these days where Lorcan would stand alongside his brother and happily listen to whatever he or Lucy Weasley said. Whether it was about their up-coming Astronomy lesson with Gryffindor that night, or the notes they had taken in class, he would simply walk by them and listen to everything they said without disrupting them. It was this trait of his, the ability to intently listen regardless of the environment he was in, that he was rather proud of – he was a good listener, though very few people knew of this outside of his family.

Ultimately it was the unawareness of the people around him, and the trait he took so much pride in, that lead to Lorcan's discovery of what people truly thought of their entire family.

Walking down the corridors beside his brother, Lorcan had picked up on a giggle between a Ravenclaw prefect and her companion, a Slytherin girl about the same age he supposed, and noticed out of the corner of his eye that they were looking in their direction, heads bent close together as they talked in hushed whispers.

"Couldn't miss 'em even if you tried, could yer?"

Lorcan stiffened. It was obvious who they were talking about, though he really didn't want to believe it.

"They're such a loony lot, aren't they? Dad says the mam's really gone in the 'ead, always badgerin' on about fairies or somethin'. Doubt they're any better." The Slytherin girl was looking over at them discreetly, a smirk playing on her lips as the Ravenclaw prefect snorted into her sleeve, failing to conceal her amusement as well as her companion had.

"Tell me about it." The Ravenclaw girl was laughing unabashedly, though she managed to keep her voice down, unaware of the third party listening to their conversation. So much for the accepting nature of the Ravenclaw's they so proudly harped on about. "That Lysander Scamander is really weird, he always talks about those bloody Nurgyles or whatever they are running around, stealing his shoes. Idiot doesn't know that it's just his dorm mates doing it. They all find him nuts."

The Slytherin girl chuckled, her eyes brightening at the comment. "They're all loopy, it's no wonder no one 'cept that Weasley girl hangs round with 'em. Parents probably told 'er she 'ad to."

"Poor mite, I feel bad for her. I know she's Percy Weasley's daughter and all and he isn't anything special, but she could do so much better. Shame, really."

"Ah, she'll grow outta it eventually. Give it a year, she'll be gone as quickly as yer can say Quibbler." And with one last laugh, the two girls were out of earshot, leaving Lorcan in a shcoked daze. Was this truly what people thought of his family...?

x-x-x-x

Tuning out the conversations around him had become nearly impossible for Lorcan after the incident between the Ravenclaw prefect and the Slytherin girl. Everywhere he turned, he thought that someone was talking about his family. Most of the time they were, other times it was simply his thoughts overriding the situation at hand. Regardless, the damage had been done; he knew what they thought of him and his family, and now he no longer trusted what anyone but his brother said.

The gossiping words and whispers of the Hogwarts Halls had quickly become a daily occurrence for Lorcan Scamander, forcing him to become accustomed to the prejudiced attitude people had towards his family. It was saddening how common it was for him to simply pass by a group of students in the halls on any given day of the week, only to pick up on their obvious whispers about how he was one of 'those weirdo's'. On a few occasions he would pass by some Weasley-Potter fanatics and be treated with glares and envied, hushed tones about how his family were just so lucky to be able to acquaint themselves with such a high, esteemed family such as the Weasley's or Potters.

Not a day went by where Lorcan didn't hear some rumour or whisper that contained his family's name, and alarmingly, he had grown used to it, even anticipated it to an extent. Some days he would found himself contemplating how stupid his peers were to not notice that he knew what they said. Then again, he was so quiet; barely anyone knew he was actually there half the time. He recalled a time where some stupid witch actually spoke openly about her thoughts on the Scamander's whilst he was in the same vicinity as her. Her friend was less than stupid though, keeping their mouth shut. It had been rather interesting, to say the least.

Still, Lorcan could not deny that he was offended every time somebody talked about him or his family. Yes, some days were amusing, but it still hurt to know that was how people viewed them; weird, dotty, loopy, loony. Crazy, even. That was how people saw them, and it was unjust. Yet what could he do? He was one person, and they clearly had their set idea of what he was like. That was all they really needed, wasn't it?

So it was after that incident in his first year that Lorcan Scamander, the quiet boy that barely anyone seemed to notice, decided that they were no longer worth his time or effort. He only needed one person in his life, after all; the person he trusted the most, the one who had always been by his side and truly cared about him. As long as he had his brother by his side, he knew that he wouldn't get hurt.

And yet, it wasn't until his third year that finally Lorcan Scamander came to the realization that, despite what he thought, not everyone was like the rest of the Hogwarts population whom he had scorned him so much…

A/N: Thank you very much for reading and finishing the first chapter to this story. I apologize for the shortness of the chapter, but I do hope you enjoyed it! If you didn't enjoy it, then don't worry! There is far better fanfiction out there for you to read! :D

Take care~