Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
I updated this chapter again (the updated version has been up on LiveJournal for a little while), I have added a few more mentions of characters...
Meeting and Prejudice (aka 'The Beginning')
I wandered along the train corridor, looking for an empty compartment. James wouldn't let me sit with him and Fred and the rest of his second year friends, like Mum made him promise he would. Not that I thought he would. I knew, even as he promised Mum, he wouldn't thinking; he was too cool for me or something like that. I noticed an empty compartment and grabbed the handle.
But as I slid the door open I noticed that it wasn't empty, but had one lone, blond haired boy, sitting in the corner, looking out the window. I started upon realising he was the boy Dad and Uncle Ron had pointed out on the platform, I didn't remember his first name, but his last name was Malfoy. I knew his dad was a member of the Wizengemot. Uncle Ron didn't like him very much. Louis told me, when I asked passing by Louis' compartment on the train, that it was because the Malfoy's were an old Pureblood family, who hated Muggleborns. So maybe I shouldn't sit with him, if he was—
"Are you just going to stand there?" the Malfoy boy asked, startling me from my thoughts. I then realised I must look kind of stupid, just standing lost in thought in the doorway.
"Oh, sorry, can I sit here?" The words had come out of my mouth before I could stop them, and I couldn't take them back, as much as I wished to.
"Sure," he replied casually, gesturing around the empty compartment. "Plenty of room."
"I'm Albus by the way. Albus Potter," I said as I took a seat, hoping he would tell me to leave.
"Scorpius Malfoy, nice to meet you," he said, politely. We both sat there for a few moments, in an awkward silence, having nothing to talk about. Then, breaking the silence, Scorpius spoke, "Are you a First year, too?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, I replied "Yeah- are you as nervous as I am?"
"Definitely," and from there we easily moved into conversation, and we talked non-stop till the trolley arrived.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" The elderly woman pushing the trolley asked us.
"Uh, five chocolate frogs, four pumpkin pastries and a box of Bertie Bott's," I answered immediately (having thought of what I would order from the trolley for only... oh... at least a month now).
"Five chocolate frogs for me as well and three licorice wands," Scorpius said.
We both handed her our money, and we took our sweets and slid the compartment door shut. We begun eating our sweets and laughing at odd stories we told each other. Pretty soon it began getting darker out and so we got on our new school robes. We were both excited and nervous and you could practically feel the electric energy in the compartment.
"What House are you going to be in?" Scorpius asked. I froze. Not only had I been contemplating that exact question for months (with James harassing me the entire time), but also I was talking to a Malfoy. Whose family, according to Louis, had been in Slytherin for generations, the one house I really did not want to be in. But he seemed different then Louis had made his family out to be. Not that Louis had probably met any Malfoy's, probably just listening to someone else talk.
"Um, well I hope to be in Gryffindor," I said unsurely. "You?"
"I don't know, probably Slytherin. I don't get along with anyone in that House, because none of them really like my family, but my whole family has been in Slytherin," Scorpius answered, in a somehow calm voice.
"Huh- well, you and I could be in Gryffindor together, then at least you'd have at least one friend in your House, right?"
He paused. "Alright, maybe I'll be in Gryffidor." The train began to slow, and then came to a complete stop.
Scorpius and I both leapt up, he slid open the compartment door, and we hurried into the already crowded hallway. We pushed through the crowd, and we were pushed along by the crowd.
As we stumbled on to the platform, Hagrid was immediately noticeable. He stood, not far away, swinging a lit lantern, calling, "Firs' years! Firs' years ove' here with me!" Scorpius and I made out way over to Hagrid, and stood with the rest of the First years, huddled together.
Hagrid led us down to the lake, where there were boats awaiting us. "Four to a boat!" Hagrid called, immediately everyone scrambled into the boats. Scorpius and I climbed in a boat. Followed quickly by a small, blonde haired girl. Moments later Rose, my cousin, joined us, making four in our boat.
"Oh, so now you'll sit with me? Where were you anyway?" I asked, slightly upset now, having expected Rosie to sit with me, when no one else did, but I hadn't been able to find her on the train.
"Sorry, Luce and I sat with Molly, and her friends," Rose replied, simply as if that made the whole thing better. (Lucy and Molly are my other cousins. Lucy is also a First year and Molly is a Fourth year).
"Why aren't you sitting with Lucy then?" I asked. Scorpius sat, silently watching the exchange.
"She wanted to sit with some of the First year girls from our compartment. So I came to sit with you, I figured you'd want some company," Rose said, sounding defensive now.
"Well I have Scorpius to keep me company, so I don't need your company" I sneered. Rose stared at Scorpius, as if just now realising other people were in the boat. She simply said 'Oh,' and went quiet for a moment. Of course being Rosie she couldn't let it go. "Well I can't very well get off now, we're in the middle of the lake!"
"Well, you could get off, you just might get a little wet," Scorpius pointed out, trying (and failing) to hide a smile. I didn't even try though, and I started laughing. Rosie looked quiet affronted and gave a little 'hmph', which Uncle Ron swore she got from her mother.
The rest of the boat ride was silent, as we drew nearer to the castle, that Dad said would be my home for the next seven ride across the lake was strange. The boats simply drifted across the lake magically. You couldn't see anything in the dark water of the lake except your own reflection, but I had heard the tales of merpeople and a giant squid, which lurked in the depths of the lake. We bumped against the rocky bank and the four of us clambered out of the boat. The rocks were slippery, making for a difficult climb up the banks and to the doors.
As we entered the castle I was in awe. It was warm and inviting, it was comfortable and safe, and yet massive and imposing in its grandeur. Just then a woman I could recognise anywhere appeared. She wore a set of emerald robes and an emerald hat sat on top of her head where her hair, which was once black but now mostly grey, was pulled into a tight bun.
"Follow me," McGonagall instructed in her stern, sharp voice. She then led us into a large hall with a large wooden set of doors at one side, a large staircase and high ceilings, and then spoke again,
"Stay here." McGonagall entered what must be the Great Hall, where Mum said everyone eats. As soon as the doors closed chatter broke out in the room. Lucy came and found us and I introduced Scorpius and Lucy introduced herself to Scorpius. Rose and Luce moved a little ways away and started talking about – whatever Rose and Luce always talk about. Scorpius and I stood in silence for a moment.
I nervously broke the silence, "We're finally here."
"Yep," Scorpius agreed.
"It's scary and cool, all at the same time."
"Yep," Scorpius agreed again, he paused for a moment the he asked for a second time, "What House do you want to be in?"
"Gryffindor," I answered immediately this time. Scorpius slowly nodded his head, as if thinking.
"And you?" I asked. Scorpius just shrugged.
Before I could ask about it any farther the doors to the Great Hall opened and McGonagall instructed us to follow her into the Great Hall. All of us new First years nervously walked in, following McGonagall. The Great Hall had five long banquet tables, one for every House and another at the far end of the Great Hall, for the professors. And in front of us, down the aisle in front of the professor's table, was a stool, which each one of us would sit on to get sorted. I saw people I knew all around me, which was somewhat reassuring, I spotted James, with Fred, at the Gryffindor table. Lorcan and Lysander were seated at the Ravenclaw table (of course not next to each other), and Neville was seated at the professor's table. McGonagall stood next to the stool, holding a scroll in her hand, which had the raggedy, singed Sorting Hat on it. We stopped in a group in front of the stool. Then it a hat in the fold opened and the hat began to sing. It sang a strange song, about the four houses and their attributes and he gave advice about new friendships.
When the hat had finished McGonagall spoke, "When I call your name, come and sit on this stool, and I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head, and you will be sorted into your House which will be your home at Hogwarts for the next seven years."
McGonagall unrolled the scroll, and picked up the hat from the stool, and then began calling names, "Ainsley, Kira." The small girl who had rode with us in the boat across the lake moved towards the stool. When she had sat down McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. The Sorting Hat paused for a moment, then called "Ravenclaw!" Everyone at the Ravenclaw burst into applause, and they made room for her at their table.
McGonagall continued calling names, and was getting closer and closer to me, and it felt like my heart was about to jump right out of my chest, it was pounding so hard.
McGonagall was getting closer to my name, as the hat continued calling out, "Ravenclaw!" "Hufflepuff!" "Gryffindor!" "Slytherin!"
"Macmillan, Noah," McGonagall called. A family friend who I had played with since I was little, moved forward and the hat was placed on his head after a short pause the hat called, "Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuffs burst into applause. Noah hurried to the Hufflepuff table, where he sat with some of his siblings.
"Malfoy, Scorpius." I watched as Scorpius walked up and sat on the stool, and McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head like she had everyone else. The Hat paused, and took a little longer, and then longer. And finally, "Gryffindor!" Everyone remained still. I started clapping, and slowly others followed. McGonagall tentatively took the Sorting Hat off of Scorpius's head as if it was going to say it was all a joke.
Scorpius slowly walked towards the Gryffindor table, were people made room for him and he sat on the bench.
McGonagall paused only another moment before resuming,
"Nott, Veronique." A girl walked proudly walked up to the stool and sat down, and when the Sorting Hat was placed on her head it immediately shouted "Slytherin!" The Slytherins broke into applause.
Then the next thing I knew I heard, "Potter, Albus." My heart dropped into my stomach as I slowly walked up to the stool and tentatively sat down. McGonagall placed the hat on my head, which fell over my eyes due to how large it was. And then, the weirdest thing happened, the Hat started talking to me! "…Very interesting… very brave and loyal… I see great potential in you… I know just where to put you," I held my breath, "Gryffindor!"
The Sorting Hat was pulled from my eyes and the light was suddenly bright, temporarily blinding me, I blinked, and my eyes quickly adjusted again. Everyone was clapping and I quickly made my way to the Gryffindor table. I sat next to Scorpius who gave me a small smile. I saw James and Fred give me a thumbs-up from down the table.
A few moments later McGonagall had gotten to Luce. "Weasley, Lucy." Luce hurried up to the stool, and sat down. The Hat paused then said "Gryffindor!" I made room next to me on the bench, and Luce came and sat.
The next name that McGonagall called was Rose's. I could tell Luce was holding her breath. "Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat called and Lucy relaxed. McGonagall had scarcely taken the Hat from Rose's head when she hopped up and ran down towards the Gryffindor, and sat between me and Lucy. After Rose "Wildsmith", "Wotton", and then "Wright" was the last to go.
So, Headmaster Knave stood, and made one short statement, "Let the feast begin," Then food started appearing in the empty dishes and everyone quickly began eating.
"Looks like you're stuck with me now," Scorpius whispered to me, throwing me a smile.
"What are you talking about?" Scorpius opened his mouth to answer, but I cut him off. "When I'm sick of you I'll just kill you," I smirked at him.
He smirked back at me, "Oh, you think you're that skilled, huh?"
"I don't think so, I know so."
"Whatever," Scorpius replied smiling, rolling his eyes. When we had finished eating dinner we had pudding.
Suddenly the food disapppeared and then Headmaster Knave stood once more, "First years follow your prefects to your House."
Scorpius, Luce, Rose, and I followed our prefect, up a large staircase, and up several more staircases. We stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. "Lemondrops," the prefect said, and the portrait swung open to reveal a warm and inviting room. "This is the Gryffindor Common Room," the prefect informed us, "And up the stairs on the right is the boy's dormitory, and the stairs on the left the girl's dormitory. Your things are up there waiting for you." We split into two groups, boys and girls, and headed up to our respective dorms, Luce, Rosie and I saying our goodbyes.