Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Summary: Meeting only once in their first year, Scorpius, Albus, and Rose rekindle their lost friendship after five years of avoidance and learn how much the years have changed them. Slash. Albus/Scorpius

A/N: This has probably been overdone a thousand times, but I just couldn't get this idea out of my head. It's a little rare/freaking hard for me to write regular school life fics without throwing in a little apocalyptic/mystical plot in, but I'll try. Love it. Hate it. I think for now I'll just keep writing it until my hands get bored. Also, it's my first future gen fic so...I hope my characterizations are interesting, or at least likeable.

Enjoy!

…

Chapter One

Sorting

…

It was a strange and warm feeling to hold ones child right after birth. Still gooey and wailing after being slapped in its tiny little butt, eyes screwed shut against the bright lights of the delivery room.

It was even stranger to raise it in methods so unlike traditions. All in the efforts to mold the child into a better person than anyone ever to come from the Malfoy name. A difficult task for someone who's unwillingly been enlightened over the tragedies and disillusionment of war, and an even more difficult task to watch the result of such radical efforts as it grew and developed into someone...

Someone so unlike a Malfoy.

Eleven years since the day he held his only son in his arms fresh out of the womb, Draco found himself standing in the familiar platform with his wife and said boy by his side. And as per usual, everyone was staring and muttering under their breaths behind them. Of course, it wasn't anything nice, and it only helped in putting the pressure on him as he departed from his only child.

He took a glance at his wife who held her gaze firmly up ahead to the Hogwarts Express. She wasn't worried about the gossip around her, Draco thought wryly, she was worried about sending off her only child to the big unknown world that was boarding school.

Filled with kids around Scorpius's age.

Kids who probably would prefer to be anywhere but near a Malfoy.

The blond tensed, remembering the hell he had to go through after the war. Switching sides at the last second had given them the clear from getting put in Azkaban, though they were still taken in for questioning. The Aurors never really bothered them as much as before, and because Potter didn't see him as much of a threat anymore, neither did everyone else.

That didn't mean everything was peachy after that. With their last minute betrayal, especially on Narcissa's part, none of their old friends trusted them anymore. They considered them just as bad as the Weasleys.

Because of that, Draco was unable to get Scorpius the friends Lucius had supplied him as a child. Getting him to make friends naturally had been unsuccessful as well since the other side still considered them just as bad as those who were with Voldemort. So the boy grew up alone with not even siblings to play with.

Stranger still, Scorpius was aware of all this yet he still managed to plaster on a wild grin. Draco simply could not understand the boy. Since the day he caught him wrestling baby pythons in the gardens, he grew up with not one Malfoy or Slytherin bone in his body. Draco tried to play it off as succeeding in raising him a better person he ever was, but he couldn't deny it anymore.

The boy was different.

The question he'd been fearing up to this frightening moment of departure was if this new kind of Malfoy would survive Hogwarts.

"Don't worry," Scorpius piped up at him, his neatly combed hair practically glistening in the light. "I'm sure I'll be fine, I survived the Goyle's after all."

Draco mentally winced. Trying to get Scorpius to make friends with the Goyle's was not one of his brightest plans. Gregory still had issues with him regarding Crabbe's untimely demise during the war, so he raised his brats with the same kind of grudge on the Malfoy's. Getting Goyle's big lug of a boy off of Scorpius was a nightmare.

He was proud though that the tiny Scorpius had fought back admirably.

For once in the years he shared his life with his son, Draco truly wished Scorpius wouldn't end up in Slytherin. Tough as he was, he'd get eaten alive. It would be no different if he ended up in Gryffindor.

Hufflepuff people were nice weren't they? He'd be able to make friends and stay out of harm's way.

"Be good," Astoria leaned down and kissed her son on the cheek. A gesture that although induced the usual roll of the eyes from Scorpius, also brought a warm smile to his face.

From the corner of his eye Draco could see the familiar shock of red hair crowded together with a rambunctious group of children. Of course. He'd forgotten all about them.

He turned to face them and caught eyes with his old school rival. They had three children, he noted, one who looked exactly like the eleven year old he attempted to befriend all those years ago. He could see the man's best friend of who knows how many years lean over to his frizzy haired daughter, muttering something in her ear that got his wife to snap at him. Probably something unintelligent about his honor or some other rot.

There was no animosity, no grudge or even irritation he used to feel of them. They were just…people. Exchanging a curt nod with the raven haired man, he turned back to his own family, and his own worries.

"You see that girl with the red frizzy hair?" he muttered to Scorpius, trying not to appear too obvious. Astoria arched an elegant eyebrow at him.

The eleven year old glanced over to the loud family trudging into the train. "Yeah…" he said uncertainly.

"That's the Weasley girl, Rose Weasley, probably inherited her mother's brains, make sure you beat her in every test." He could hear a 'pfft!' from Astoria as she tried to keep from laughing out loud.

"Yes, sir," Scorpius said importantly, though there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Draco hoped that playfulness wouldn't be cruelly snatched from any possible bullying Scorpius might be put through.

Slytherins wouldn't like him, Gryffindors wouldn't like him. With the school well learned to be against a Malfoy, Scorpius's school life was sure to be hell.

Draco bit his lip, regretting the life choices he made that would result in his son's potentially unhappy future. "Hogwarts is just seven years of education, study hard and it'll all be over soon, don't listen to what others might say about you, or about me or your mother, you're better than them."

Scorpius instantly sobered up. "I know," he said quietly. Once again Draco was stunned at how calm and collected his son was, and only at the age of eleven. He'd always wondered where this side of Scorpius came from. He wasn't like this at his age, and his father definitely wasn't if the old photographs and stories were anything to judge on.

Astoria pulled him into a hug while Draco awkwardly pat him on the shoulder, his nerves too much on end to show any other kind of affection.

"Be sure to write," Astoria nudged him onto the train.

"Every week," Scorpius assured.

His mother looked affronted. "Every night!"

"All right!" he grinned cheekily, pulling his trolley as he waved goodbye to them.

Gryffindor, Slytherin, whatever house or enemies he made, he had better have that same grin on his face when he came back for the holidays. Or Draco was going to bring a world of hurt to the damned school.

…

The train was packed.

As soon as he waved goodbye to his parents and turned around, he dropped the smile. Now that he disarmed his mother and father from worrying about him, he could have all the nerves to himself.

Scorpius wasn't stupid. In the little visits he took to Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley with his parents, the boring functions and irritating family visits, and that one time at an ill planned Hogwarts reunion, Scorpius knew all too well that no one favored hearing the name Malfoy within a hundred yard distance from them.

He understood it was why he was homeschooled, and exactly why there was so much dislike towards his family.

A war he was never even a part of. Two sides as stark as black and white. People he never had the pleasure or displeasure of meeting. They all hated him.

They all hated Malfoy's.

Scorpius couldn't say he was proud or ashamed of his family name. True they sided with a raving lunatic bent on committing the greatest genocide in history, but they did switch the last second even if to save their own hides. And his father wasn't all bad like everyone seemed to think he was. His grandfather was another story…

The eleven year old kept his head low as he swiveled through the throng of animated students, checking for any compartment that might be empty.

He slid the door of the closest one open, unaware of the laughter booming inside until it blasted past him like a hurricane.

Startled, he raised his eyebrows at the group who quickly shut up and looked at him questioningly.

He wasn't sure who they were. They were loud, a mix of red blond and black hair, and they were older than him. Familiarity was screaming at the tip of his tongue when one of them spoke. A boy with a voice that described his personality. A loud and proud prankster.

"What do you want?" he leaned over to get at better look at Scorpius. Not really knowing what else to do, the blond stood his ground, not wanting to give the impression that he could be intimidated. "You're a Malfoy aren't you?"

Scorpius frowned, cursing his trademark blonde hair and pale complexion. "Yes…"

"My dad told me about your father," the boy said conversationally. Scorpius tensed. True he wanted to concede to his fathers wishes and ignore the jabs directed to him. It was going to take a lot to ignore insults to his parents though, and if this boy was going to say something nasty, his nose was going to be well acquainted with his fist. "Says he was a bully when they went to Hogwarts."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes, immediately disliking this person. He could see the other kids behind the boy looking at him with suspicion and curiosity. Unhappy curiosity.

"What my father's done as a kid has nothing to do with me," he said as calmly as possible, earning a look of pure curiosity from the boy, "but if you say anything about him, any little jab, I'll beat the living crap out of you."

The group looked stunned, and for a second Scorpius thought he got his message across until they exploded in laughter. He could feel his cheeks start to turn pink. Of course they wouldn't find his warning much of a threat, they were older, and he was just an eleven year old boy, what harm could he do?

"Oh, that's priceless!" the boy guffawed, wiping a fake tear from his eye, "oh god, beat the crap out of me!" he fell into another wave of laughter. "With your skinny little hands!"

Scorpius eyed them closely. True they were laughing at him, but he couldn't find any nastiness behind their mirth. If he kept to himself well enough, he was pretty sure these people would leave him alone, they didn't seem the type who would bully anyway so there was nothing to worry about. Shaking his head he continued on his hunt for an empty compartment.

"Go on, slither away!" the boy laughed, waving him off, "you're about as Slytherin as they come!"

Slytherin?

Scorpius tried not to look too happy. It was the first time anyone said he was anything Slytherin. He didn't care much for the house, but his family apparently did, and he was aware of how distressed his father was over the slim possibility of him being sorted into the place.

Maybe the chances weren't so slim after all.

He opened the next compartment as the train started moving. What a relief, it was empty.

Pulling his trunk inside, Scorpius eyed the baggage compartment overhead with disdain. He was pretty small for his age, and his trunk was almost as tall as him, not to mention probably twice his weight. How on earth was he to lug the thing overhead?

And back down when the trip ended?

He glared at his trunk before huffing and cracking his knuckles. No way of going around it. He rolled up his sleeves and tried to think of the best way of getting the trunk up. He was too short so…

Grinning, he stood on the edges of both benches. A bit of a stretch considering the distance and the length of his legs. Getting a good footing, he leaned down and grabbed the handle of his trunk and lifted with all his might. Before he left home his mother had cast a light weight charm on it. From what he could gather as he lifted the trunk, it didn't make much of a difference.

Ignoring the screams of protest from his arms, Scorpius tightened his grip and hoisted the bulky thing as best he could, managing to get the corner to hit the edge of the baggage compartment. Gritting his teeth, he pushed harder, his head burning from all the strain. He was pretty sure a vein was pulsing visibly at his temple.

Finally, just was he got one corner of his tremendously heavy trunk to slide in, his strength started to wan and the trunk started to tip over. With miraculous speed, Scorpius grasped the handle off the edge of the baggage compartment and flung his foot up in a powerful kick, hitting the side of the trunk and getting it to slide into place. Unfortunately it dislodged a lot of dust and particles and fell over his face, though he didn't really care at the moment.

"WOO!" Scorpius cheered to himself just as the door slid open. Blinking, the blond looked down at the intruder who looked up at him with bug eyes. He realized he must look like a monkey the way he was hanging from the bars.

"Er…" the boy mumbled, taking a step back. Scorpius flopped down, unsure of what to say. He'd been hoping he could have the compartment to himself. The boy, who seemed about his height, looked familiar.

He had jet black hair, and bright green almond shaped eyes. Scorpius wasn't ignorant to history and the wild gossip going around the train. He could be wrong, there were plenty of people out there with the raven hair green eyed combo, but why did…

He studied his nose and lips. Curvy, but not girly, thin, but not too thin.

Oh. That other boy must have been this one's brother.

Bugger.

"Albus, why are you – oh!" a red hair girl peered in from next to the boy who Scorpius was now wholeheartedly sure was a Potter. Recalling his earlier talk with his father, the girl was Rose Weasley. Said girl's smile dropped when she spotted him. "Oh…"

He recognized that 'oh'. It was one full of disdain and disgust. Scorpius frowned, disliking the girl.

"You've got dirt all over your…well, all over yourself, did you know that?" she arched an eyebrow. The blond looked down at his robes, and indeed the dust he dislodged earlier was now clinging to him like a second skin.

Which reminded him.

He sneezed.

Loudly.

"Er…hi…" the boy, Albus said uncertainly, though there was a hint of amusement in the corner of his lips, "do you mind if we…everyone else is full…"

Scorpius found himself blinking at the two again. "Uh…" he said smartly before backing up to give them room, "sure…I don't mind if you don't…"

Albus smiled toothily in relief, "thanks!" he stepped in, taking his trunk with him. Rose hesitated before following as well. Scorpius watched in fascination as the two worked together in getting their trunks in the baggage compartment with a lot less embarrassing methods than his own. He could tell that although they were happy to get a spot to sit in, that they were still a little nervous around him.

It was only natural. Malfoy's never mix with Potter's or Weasley's. They must be thinking he was going to hex them the minute they had their backs turned to him.

Unable to stand the uncomfortable stares, Scorpius pulled out the charmed handkerchief his mother supplied him with and wiped all the dirt from himself. He busily flattened the invisible wrinkles from his robes once he was done, and finally ended up staring out the window at the open field of farms and cottages.

"I'm Rose Weasley by the way."

He snapped his gaze to the girl in surprise. There was no disgust in her face this time, just a pleasant smile and an outstretched hand. Scorpius hesitantly shook it. Maybe they didn't know who he was after all and her only disgust was him being covered in dust.

"Scorpius," he said cautiously.

"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," Rose said promptly, stunning the blond, "am I right?"

"Uh…yeah," he clenched his fists, ready for the flurry of insults to start firing at him.

"I'm Albus Potter," the green eyed boy stretched his hand out as well. Scorpius shook it with a growing frown. They weren't saying anything mean. How bizarre.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked curiously, "is it because…" she pointed to herself and Albus, "because I'm a Weasley and he's – "

"No!" Scorpius cut in quickly, "no it's…I thought…because I'm a Malfoy that…well…"

But Rose got the gist of it and shrugged. "My dad always goes on about your family, but my mum always taught me never to judge someone until I got to know them, and you don't seem so bad at all."

Albus nodded in agreement, "yeah, my dad always told me I shouldn't care so much about names anyway, and even though you're a Malfoy, I wouldn't think one would hang up there like a monkey," he pointed with a slight grin to the bars Scorpius had been hanging from earlier.

Scorpius flushed. At least there were two people in the world other than his parents who didn't think he was a rotten spoiled brat.

He settled back in his seat and listened quietly as the two cousins chatted on excitedly about school, occasionally asking for his opinion.

It felt strange talking to kids his age without the threat of fists flying. Really strange.

But also nice.

…

The boat ride across the lake was a peaceful one. Albeit, a little tense. Scorpius was still sitting with Rose and Albus, but he was also sharing the boat with three other boys who didn't find his presence all too pleasing. Rose and Albus didn't seem to notice, being the chatterboxes that they were.

As they entered the majestic castle of the famous school they would be spending seven years of their life in, Scorpius noticed the note of worry coming from Albus.

"But what if I get in? I bet there's loads of people there who'd love to tear me apart!"

"You won't be, didn't you say Uncle Harry was fine with it?"

"It's not just that, I simply won't survive in Slytherin! I'd rather be in Hufflepuff!"

Scorpius bit his lip to keep from laughing. His father was also making recent wishes for him to end up in Hufflepuff if only for his safety.

"If it cheers you up any, I'm pretty sure that in whatever house I end up in, I'll be eaten alive," he told Albus cheerfully. The small boy looked at him with the same bug eyes from before.

"And you're happy!" he squeaked.

Scorpius shrugged. "I'm used to it; this won't be any different, besides if you do end up in Slytherin, there's Slughorn to protect you, I heard he loved your father."

"Well…that's true," Albus mumbled as they walked into the Great Hall. Anymore conversation was momentarily paused as they stared in wonder of the huge crowds of students divided into four tables of the houses they would all be sorted in shortly. Albus gawked as he craned his neck up at the floating candles and the charmed ceiling with its night sky and twinkling stars. Beside him he could see Scorpius do the same thing and wondered how this could be so fascinating to him when he lived in a manor probably more majestic than this.

"Welcome first years," the headmistress's voice carried out throughout the great hall, silencing the general murmur of the crowd. Albus stood on his tiptoes to get a good look at the woman. He'd seen her a few times in his short life. Professor McGonagall. A frighteningly strict woman, yet also kind and courageous. Albus smiled, remembering the last time he saw her, she was helping his father organize a few of his lectures on defense against the dark arts.

As the hat was taken out and placed on the stool, Albus took a glance at Scorpius. He was different from what he expected. He was blonde, pale, and gray eyed like every other Malfoy, but there was something different.

There was no haughtiness, no pretentious air or disgust for the people around him. He stood tall for his short size, but not obnoxiously so. It was…Albus couldn't figure it out. He saw him at the train station and could see the resemblance of father to son, but up close it was the opposite.

His eyes had so many things written in them. Pride, joy, a kind of wildness he could never imagine from a Malfoy…and it was all very quietly compacted behind those gray irises.

Exactly what kind of person was Scorpius?

"When I call out your name, please come up so that you may be sorted," McGonagall announced. Albus whipped his gaze back to the front in shock. He missed the Sorting Hat's song!

"That was an interesting song," Rose said thoughtfully from beside him.

"What did it say?" he asked curiously, kicking himself for oogling at his new friend and not paying attention.

His red haired cousin shrugged. "It said there were waves of change approaching, new bonds that will create house unity."

"Oh," Albus drooped, sad that he missed it. Rose leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"I think it might mean Scorpius."

"What? Why?" he furtively glanced at the blonde who was lazily scratching the side of his nose, oblivious to the two cousins.

"He's so different from what I thought," Rose whispered, "what if he doesn't end up in Slytherin? Or what if the song's hinting some kind of danger to the school or something?" her eyes glittered in excitement. After hearing stories from her parents, Rose had come to Hogwarts not only in the hopes of making his parents proud by being the top student, but also to have unimaginable adventures.

"That's…" Albus tried not the get too excited, he enjoyed the stories too, but he was pretty sure the only adventure they'd have would be the sorting ceremony, then it was just seven years of boring lectures and sleeping in a dorm with a random number of boys. Fun. "I guess…" he shook his head and returned his attention back to the front, waiting nervously as the crowd of students gradually became smaller and smaller. He looked over longingly at the Gryffindor table where the older students loudly welcomed the newcomers. Hopefully he'd be situated somewhere in that table.

"Scorpius Malfoy!"

Albus jumped. He was really having trouble paying attention, already the M's had been reached!

Giving Albus and Rose a small smile, the blond passed through the much smaller crowd of first years and stood before the headmistress. Albus watched as he sat down on the old rickety stool and let the sorting hat be placed over his neat blond hair. He could tell from the looks of all the houses that they weren't pleased with the boy's presence. It made him feel bad for Scorpius.

"SLY…"

There was a long pause that followed. Soon people started murmuring in apprehension. Albus started to worry too. Was the sorting hat broken?

"That. Is. Odd," a boy behind him commented.

"Did the hat die?" his companion asked morbidly.

"I don't think so…I've heard from me mum that whenever Malfoy's are sorted, the hat always yells Slytherin before it even touches their heads. Interesting it didn't this time…"

Albus bit the corner of his lip. True, the hat almost yelled Slytherin, but it stopped half way, why was that?

"My, my," the hat chuckled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

A pause of stunned silence as the startled McGonagall lifted the hat off an unsurprised Scorpius and then the entire hall was in an uproar, mainly from the yelled house table. There were students going red in protest. Albus gulped.

"Toss him over to Slytherin, that's his lot!"

"It's malfunctioning, sort him again!"

"No Malfoy's coming here!"

"He's not going to live to see tomorrow," Rose trembled. Albus nodded numbly.

The Malfoy heir stood up calmly and flashed him a tiny confident grin before walking down to the now very loudly booing Gryffindor table. Albus had to admit as he watched the blond walk to his death bed, the boy had balls. If it were him he'd be cowering behind the stool from all the booing and sneering of the house he'd be sorted in. Scorpius was definitely braver than him.

He watched with a growing pang as his new friend approached his table, but no one moved aside to let him sit. He could hear McGonagall's thundering voice demanding order in the background.

Then Scorpius did something Albus wouldn't expect anyone to do, much less a Malfoy. He was at the end of the table, with no seat to sit on, so he did the only thing that in his mind seemed the most logical to do. He climbed the table and planted himself comfortably. This of course didn't amuse anyone.

"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall shouted, enraged, "one hundred points from Gryffindor if you don't find a seat!"

At this the table shouted in protest before grudgingly moving aside to make space. Grinning triumphantly, Scorpius sidled off the table and onto a proper seat. It was only then that Albus realized he planned that all along. Strangely cunning like a Slytherin and yet…

"He may be a Malfoy, but he was definitely sorted in the right house," the boy from behind him said with what he imagined was a grin. "Balls of steel, that one."

Albus couldn't agree more. The hall quieted again and the sorting continued.

As student after student filed up to the stool Albus amused himself with the idea of getting sorted in the same house as Scorpius. He was pretty sure Rose would be in Ravenclaw, and in Gryffindor he wouldn't be alone. Then again, did he truly belong in the courageous house?

In the hours he got to know Scorpius, despite his calm disposition, he was under the impression that the blond preferred to be in Slytherin. It's where his entire lineage was sorted; it'd be taboo to break such tradition. But he was sorted in Gryffindor and he sauntered over to the wildly rejecting table as if it were a walk in the park. As if he was okay with where the hat put him because…

Because he belonged there.

Where did Albus belong?

"Albus Potter!"

He almost pissed in his pants. Rose gave him an encouraging smile before slapping him in the back to make him move. Coughing from the force, Albus gave her a glare before walking up to the stool with trembling legs.

The old worn hat was placed on his head, and promptly slipped down to his nose, reminding Albus exactly how tiny he was.

"Oh, another one," the hat said with a chuckle. "Just like your father, I see."

Albus sat up in surprise. Not too long ago his father told him he was almost sorted in Slytherin if he hadn't asked to be in Gryffindor. Could the hat be…

"Hmm…quite difficult like the other one too…you have potential to be a brave lion, but have the calm elements of a Hufflepuff…the intellect of a Ravenclaw, and the ambitions of a Slytherin."

Albus gulped. He could choose to be in Gryffindor…could he really belong there?

"A house is just a name," the hat consoled, reading the boy's inner turmoil, "it doesn't define who you are, but only helps you grow, I merely point those in what I believe to be the right direction."

'What do you think is right for me?' Albus thought glumly.

"Are you sure you want me to tell you?" the hat asked seriously, "you are free to choose."

Albus gripped the sides of the stool. It was true, he had a choice.

What if he chose wrong though?

Scorpius had the freedom to choose, but he let the hat choose for him. And although the Gryffindor's weren't fond of the idea, he had no qualms.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

'You choose.'

"All right…" the hat was quiet for a thoughtful moment. Albus bit his lip and scrunched his eyes. "SLYTHERIN!"

It was a repeat from before. As the hat was lifted from his eyes, Albus could see the stunned silence of the student body. He took a few panicked breaths and shakily got off the stool. He noticed the Gryffindor table had frozen in the middle of making space for him, pure shock on their faces, he felt a little guilty about that, especially from the downright shocked look from James's face.

Scorpius looked impressed.

The next second there was screaming once more.

"Sort him again!"

"They'll kill him, put him here in Gryffindor!"

"He doesn't belong in Slytherin, switch him with Malfoy!

"The hat's got it wrong again!"

Didn't belong in Slytherin? Albus looked to the mildly protesting table. There was not much looks of malicious intent from the Slytherins, some were even clapping, through with great frowns of uncertainty.

His legs were still taken over by nerves as he walked to the most disliked house in the school. He almost wished he did make a choice.

Hesitantly, a group of fifth years shuffled aside to make space for him. Albus was dearly glad it was the nicer looking bunch and not the grumpy ones that were glaring at him, though they were all still very intimidating.

"Er…welcome?" a fourth year across from him said awkwardly.

Albus, placed his hands humbly on his lap, "th-thanks," he mumbled.

…

So what did you think? Should I continue?