CHAPTER ONE

"Come on Al! You are slower than jelly slugs!"

"What are those?" Albus asked his brother, James.

"You're soon to find out! Now come on! Go find Rose and Teddy while I get some snacks."

It was Albus' first time on the Hogwarts Express. His first year at Hogwarts was sure to be great. He finally found Rose and Teddy sitting together near the back of the car. They were eating what appeared to be jelly beans. They called him over, sniggering.

"Hey Al," Teddy yelled, "want some Bertie Botts Beans?"

"Er—sure. Wait, what are they?"

Teddy and Rose exchanged glances. "Er—just regular old jelly beans—with a little kick. Don't worry, they're great! Here's a—mint," he said sniggering.

"Thanks." Al put the bean in his mouth and started chewing. He automatically got a disgusted look and spit the bean out. "Gross! What the bloody hell was that? It tasted like soap!"

Rose and Teddy were laughing ecstatically. "That's because it was soap flavored!" Rose laughed. "They're Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans!"

"They really mean it by every flavor, don't they," Albus said

"Yeah, just be glad that you didn't get throw up or earthworm. Ack."

"Yeah," Rose said, "I just got earwax and he got sausage. Gross."

Just then, James came back with a bunch of treats.

"Hey, I got food! Let's see, chocolate frogs. Don't let them get away, keep the cards. Pumpkin pasties, liquorices wands, a little of everything."

They sat and ate for a while. Albus finally brought up the question haunting the back of his mind. "James, what if I get in Slytherin? I won't get to be with you guys."

"Ah, for the record, I am in Hufflepuff," Rose said, "Hufflepuff isn't bad at all. Actually, it's great!"

"No, I didn't mean it like that. Just not Slytherin, Anything but Slytherin."

"Do you have something against Slytherin?" The voice was dark and mysterious, yet young and bright.

"Get out of here Scorpius, you're in the wrong car," James said angrily.

"Oh, so you're the famous Scorpius. Our dads have a lot of—history," Al said.

"So I've heard. As everyone knows, you two are the sons of the famous Harry Potter. Don't get your hopes up, because people won't hand you everything on a silver tray."

"Just leave. We don't want any trouble," James said.

"A true Gryffindor. That's what you are. Disgusting scum. Gryffindor is for scum and mudbloods." He pointed to Rose. "Like her mother. Filthy mudblood."

At that moment, James tackled Scorpius with a truck-load of force. "Don't—you—ever—talk—about our aunt!" he yelled between hits.

"Ow! Ow! Gerrof, you idiot!" yelled Scorpius.

"James! Get off of him, he's not worth it!"

James got off. Scorpius stood up to reveal a bloody nose and a black eye. "I'll make sure my father hears about this! He'll have you expelled before you can say 'Hogwarts'!"

"My father has told me a lot about your father. According to him, you father is a dirty, lying, cheating, no-good, rotten, toe rag."

"So true, but what can I say? I take after him," Scorpius said with a smirk.

A girl with long, blond hair and bold, blue eyes walked up. "Oh, Scorp, what have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Rose jumped up to her. "He called my mother a mudblood then James attacked him! Um—what's a mudblood?"

"A mudblood is someone who is muggle-born, but has magical powers. I'm Stella, Scorpius' cousin. Speaking of the bloke, Scorp, go get yourself cleaned up and go back to our car." He walked away with a nasty look on his face. "Sorry, you guys. He takes after Uncle Draco, his father. I am quite unlike him, thank goodness. I am pure Ravenclaw."

"Ravenclaw?" James asked. "You're a Malfoy, and you're Ravenclaw?"

"Actually, I'm not a Malfoy. My last name is Pendragon. My aunt married his father, so sadly, I'm related to Scorp."

"Oh. That makes sense. What year are you?" Albus asked

"I'm a fifth year. We know all about you Potters. Very famous. People won't swarm around you asking for autographs, but you'll be well known. James would know that."

"Yeah, Al here was expecting the royal treatment, weren't you?"

"I was not!"

"I was only kidding. Boy, you sure can't take a joke!"

"Anyways, James learned that in his first year, didn't you? He asked some third years if they wanted autographs and the whole group walked away laughing. It was quite funny, if you ask me."

James' cheeks were bright red. "Yeah, well no one asked you. So, shut your trap."

"Wow, James. I thought you would tell your family about all of your Hogwarts experiences. Not just the very rare occasions when you were popular. Come, Albus, let me tell you of your brother's great adventures."

"Thanks. And call me Al."