Disclaimer: Anything seem familiar? That's because it's not mine but the wonderful J.K. Rowling's

Rose Weasley took one last look at the muggle world and boarded the red train that waited behind her. She waved a solemn goodbye to her family, a small, slightly sad smile playing on her lips. Each one of them waved back, smiling encouragingly, except for Hugo who appeared to be too engaged in conversation with Lily to acknowledge her departure, and this bothered her somewhat.

Surely, she thought darkly, he could spare even a few seconds to say goodbye.

He was her only brother, after all, and she wouldn't see him for months, so it seemed a bit cruel of him to just ignore her like that. She shrugged it off, as she was prone to do when people really annoyed her; she had spent her life in the presence of her many cousins who wouldn't let her hear the end of it if she got emotional. Being a girl made her all the more susceptible to crimes like sulking and crying being made fun of. There were some rules that made your life a lot easier if you followed them when you were a Weasley. One such rule she had quickly learnt was: smart witches aren't sensitive, especially around certain older cousins. And Rose was incredibly smart, by anyone's standards.

Walking through the train, she spotted no one she knew amidst the hundreds of faces she passed. She didn't mind this too much; apart from the fact Albus seemed to have abandoned her, because Rose generally liked solitude. She searched for an empty compartment; every first-year's dream, but was unlucky. The only one she even dared to consider entering was already engaged by one Scorpius Malfoy. Not exactly her first choice of company, seeing as her father seemed to have such contempt for his father, but; she reasoned sensibly, this boy was not his father.

Rose did not suffer from shyness. She slid open the compartment door and the boy looked up sharply.

He had a pale face and blonde; almost white hair that hung down to almost one eyebrow, pointed features and sharp grey eyes.

'Hi,' she murmured softly, 'is it all right if I sit there?'

She indicated the seat opposite him.

Scorpius paused for a second, as though he was considering, never taking his cool grey eyes of her warm brown ones. Rose felt almost nervous as he surveyed her.

'Certainly,' he said, motioning for her to sit down. ' … Rose … am I right?'

'Yes. And you're Scorpius Malfoy.'

He didn't respond. But then, it wasn't a question. A silence followed, during which neither one of them moved.

'You have a cousin called Lily.'

'Yes, I know.'

'Hmm,' Scorpius said, looking idly out the window as the countryside sped past. 'That is most confusing. Rose … Lily …'

'Not really.'

'So, Rose. I have heard a little about your family. What do you know of mine?'

The question took her by surprise.

'Oh, um …' what she knew was none too complimentary.

He gave a small, sad smile.

'Go on. I promise I won't get mad.'

'Well … your father is Draco Malfoy. He was at school with my parents and … and often needlessly cruel to them. Your mother is Astoria. Your grandfather … is a man called Lucius Malfoy … he was a death eater for Voldemort.' At the name, the boy's face twitched slightly, but only for a fraction of a second. As was your father, for a brief time,' she paused, 'although he never killed anyone. Lucius did.'

'All true,' he frowned. 'And yet here you sit.'

She raised her eyebrows.

'Well, I wondered if you were aware of who I am,' he confessed, 'But you seem well informed and you still came to sit next to me?'

She shrugged and nodded.

'Curious …'

'Would you have sit next to me?'

'Well, yes, I suppose I would have … but your family has not acted in such away that they would logically be avoided by most other people.'

'Scorpius … I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you're not your family. You asked me what I knew of them. Perhaps you should have asked what I knew of you.'

A look of confusion passed over his face.

'Enlighten me.'

'You are an eleven year old boy destined to go to Hogwarts for the first time,' Rose simply said, shrugging. 'I don't define people by their last names.'

Scorpius smiled at her, warmly.

'I'm glad. I just hope you don't judge them by their first, either.'

She laughed and he joined in too.

'How about we start over?' he suggested, smirking.

'Fine. Hi, I'm Rose Weasley. Can I sit here?'

'Hello, Scorpius Malfoy. And no. Get the hell out.'

She froze, surprised. His face was cool and sharp as it examined hers.

'Rose. I was joking,' he said, rolling his eyes.

'Oh!' she said, and this time he started laughing. Pretty soon, the two were in convulsions. When Albus entered, they both stopped suddenly. His presence held an aura of distinct disapproval.

'Hi,' he said, staring at Scorpius, who raised his eyebrows at Rose before nodding politely.

'Uh … Rose?'

She looked at him coolly. He had given her his word they would stay together on the train.

'Yeah?'

"Could I … could I speak to you for a minute … outside?' he asked, eyeing Scorpius pointedly.

'Why?' she said, stubbornly.

He glared at her and she rolled her eyes, grimacing at the other boy apologetically, and stepped out of the compartment ungraciously.

'What the hell, Albus? Why were you so rude?'

'Rose – do you know who that boy is? He's Draco Malfoy's kid.'

'Really?' she asked in mock surprise.

'Rose! That man – he tried to make our parent's lives hell. And his father tried to make Granddad's life hell. What makes you so sure he won't do the same to you? Draco kept calling your mother M- Mudblood!' She glared at him. 'C'mon Rose! He tried to get Hagrid fired! And Lucius tried to get Granddad fired!'

'For heavens sake, Albus,' she snapped. 'I expect this attitude from most of the others but not you!'

He gaped after her as she spun around and re-entered the compartment.

Scorpius looked at her.

She forced a smile.

'I could hear you, you know. Sorry. But he wasn't exactly quiet.'

She groaned, embarrassed.

'Sorry about that.'

'Don't be. That was the reaction I expected.'

'Well, you shouldn't. In my opinion it leaves a pretty bad image on the Weasley and Potter family names, if that type of behaviour is anticipated.'

He stared at her for a moment as she scowled at the door.

'Why are you so different?'

She sighed.

'I have … let's see … ten cousins. All of them are really close, you know? United, as it were. But me … I never really fell into the same category as them. It's sort of hard to explain … I thought,' she said stiffly, 'That Albus was kind of like me. He is, I suppose and that's why I found it surprising to see how narrow-minded he can be. But the others ... If you mention the name 'Weasley' there is a sort of …'

'Reaction?' supplied Scorpius, bitterly.

'… Yeah,' she said looking at him closely. 'A certain mindset associated with the name – and I do not fall under it.'

'I understand more than you know,' he said grimly. 'The name 'Malfoy' … well your cousin aptly demonstrated what people think of that.'

She sighed.

'I may not apply to the bad traits that are intertwined with my name … but I also escape many good points too. Like … I don't know … they're all very daring, I suppose.'

'There are no good points associated with my family so I'm afraid I don't suffer that particular misuse of labelling.'

She grinned wryly.

'Well, Scorpius, it seems you and I have a lot more in common than I could have hoped for.'

'That's what you were talking about earlier, wasn't it? When you said "I don't judge people by their last names"?'

'Perceptive.'

'I do my best.'

She smiled, liking this boy more and more every second.

'How do you –'

The door flew open with a bang. A dark haired boy stood leaning against the doorway with an intensely displeased expression on his face.

'Rosie.' She glared at him. She hated that name.

'James. Where are the other third-years?'

He ignored her and sat down next to her, opposite Scorpius. Rose winced. James was definitely among the more outgoing and rash members of her cousins. He didn't like the Slytherins one bit.

'Hello,' said Scorpius, raising his almost invisible eyebrow, so little difference in the white against his pale face.

'Hello. I'm James Potter. Who are you?'

Scorpius,' he said, tersely. When James kept looking at him he reluctantly added, 'Malfoy.'

'Do you like purebloods, Scorpius?'

Rose rolled her eyes. James was so stupid sometimes.

'I do not think the characteristic of merely being a pureblood allows me to pass judgement on whether or not I like a person, James,' he replied, coolly. 'Do you like purebloods?'

James glared at him.

'I know you and your family,' he hissed, threateningly.

'I daresay you know of my family. We, however, have never met before.'

'What the hell do you think you're doing, talking to my cousin?'

'Talking is hardly a crime, James!' Rose cut in angrily.

'No!' He said, turning on her. 'But murder is.'

'And this boy is not guilty of that!'

'Not yet, perhaps.'

'Go to hell, James!'

'Don't turn into his first victim.'

You idiot!, she thought furiously, but took a deep breath. 'James, seriously. We're two first years, talking on the train to Hogwarts, is all. Get a grip on yourself.'

'But Rosie! This filth you're talking to –'

Even James Potter could realise when he had pushed Rose too far. Her cheeks were pink, her soft brown eyes livid and her mouth twisted in a manner that suggested she was most displeased.

'James,' she said softly and dangerously, 'Get the hell out.'

He shook his head, rose from the seat and made for the door, sneering at Scorpius as he went.

'I'm warning you, Rosie …'

She growled and he left.

'And for the last time it's ROSE,' she yelled, but he had gone.

Scorpius was watching her again.

'Damn him,' she said at last. 'Listen Scorpius, I'm so sorry. I'll leave now, you can have some peace then.'

'Don't be ridiculous, I was enjoying your company. And you have nothing to apologise for. In fact, thank you.'

'I said nothing but the truth,' she said vehemently.

'Rose …'

'Yeah?'

'Never mind. But thank you.'

'Hmm. Scorpius I've known you all of ten minutes but I almost feel closer to you than to my cousins already.'

'I feel the same way. Although my Aunt Daphne's girls are dreadfully boring, so maybe I'm not saying much.'

'I just know,' she said in a low voice, 'that the last thing James Potter would have wanted on his way to school for the first time is to be attacked by a complete stranger. He's despicable.'

'Don't be too hard on him, Rose,' he said, stretching out on his seat. 'I forgive him completely. I doubt he's that bad a guy. He's probably quite nice, actually.'

'Scorpius you're just too damn nice for your own good.'

'I just don't take everything to heart.'

They paused, looking out at the darkening window. The fields flashed by at high speed.

'I'm so frightened, Scorpius …'

'Yeah?'

'The sorting,' she explained. 'Absolutely every one of my cousins are in Gryffindor.'

'Everyone in my family was a Slytherin.'

'I know, that's why I was wondering … how do you feel about it?'

'I'm taking a "don't care" attitude to the whole thing. I know who I am, I don't care what other people think or want. If they don't like it, or think less of me because of the result then screw them.'

Rose sighed, wishing she didn't care like that. She would like to be a Gryffindor, of course … it was just … was she? Did she have what it takes?

Scorpius looked at her sympathetically.

'For what it's worth, I think you'd make Gryffindor anytime.'

'Really? Thanks …'

He smirked.

'Scorpius? Will you miss your family?'

'I don't know. I suppose I might, if they miss me.'

Her mind flew back to Hugo and she winced.

'I expect I'll miss my mother after a while,' he added, thoughtfully.

Rose would miss her parents a lot. She loved how her dad made her laugh and her mother gave her sound advice.

The compartment opened once more. A mousy haired girl came in and sat beside Scorpius.

'Rose,' he said, rolling his eyes at her behind the newcomer's back, 'this is my cousin, Greta Montague. Greta, Rose.'

'Hello,' Rose said.

'Hey,' Greta said, as though bored already.

'Greta's first year too,' he added grimacing.

'Ugh, Scorp, did you hear? Nott is the new head of Slytherin. How unlucky are we?'

'Nott's sound,' Scorpius rolling his eyes once more. 'He's been over to the manor a couple of times.'

'Sound? He so is not. He gave Matilda a detention for not doing an essay. What the heck was that all about?'

'Shocking,' Scorpius agreed absent-mindedly. 'Who is head of Gryffindor, again?'

She gave him a funny look.

'Longbottom. Why?,' she demanded, sharply.

'Rose might be interested.'

Greta flashed a look of suspicion on Rose.

'What did you say your name was?'

Scorpius grinned and mouthed 'my turn' to her.

Her lips twitched.

'I didn't. But Rose Weasley.'

Greta sighed and elbowed Scorpius.

'A Weasley, Scorp? Oh come on. I'd have thought you'd find some better company on the train.'

'Indeed you would. Actually, Greta, I was kind of interested myself as to who was head of Gryffindor too …'

She gasped and then glared at him.

'You wouldn't. Your dad …'

He smiled, tantalisingly.

'Wouldn't I?'

She paused.

'You're not cut out to be a Gryffindor, Scorp,' she said decidedly. 'Stop teasing.'

'Harsh. But I daresay you know me better than I do myself , so that's that, isn't it?'

They were interrupted that moment by the sweet trolley arriving.

Rose bought some cool pumpkin juice and Scorpius bought a stack of cauldron cakes. Greta bought nothing but immediately helped herself to Scorpius' food, and he ignored her, seeming to expect this.

Rose sipped her juice pensively, watching Scorpius as he began to smirk.

'So I really can't be in Gryffindor?'

'Not a chance in the world, cousin.'

His eyes glinted wickedly.

'Shame. So, Greta?' he asked, 'Who's the head of Hufflepuff?'

Rose choked on her drink as Greta glared at both of them in disgust.

'Scorp. That's not even funny.'

He smiled sweetly.

'You want a cauldron cake, Rose?'

'No, thank you,' she declined.

He raised his eyebrows.

'I'm too nervous to eat,' she confessed and he laughed.

'Nervous?' Greta asked disbelievingly. 'About what, exactly?' She sniffed. 'Is it the sorting? You're a Weasley; they're all in Gryffindor. Or is it being away at school for the first time? Again, being a Weasley, you've got, like, your whole family there.'

Scorpius had gone back to his newspaper.

'Greta, Dean Thomas is in this,' he announced quietly. 'A whole article …'

'Oh, give that to me!' she snatched it away.

He winked at Rose, smiling at his cousin's enthusiasm.

'Oh, my goodness he's so hot in this picture! Look, Scorp.' She breathed, ogling at her favourite singer.

'Yeah, I'm sure he is, Greta.' He chuckled.

Rose giggled quietly. She had been convinced on the platform she would probably be trying not to cry at this point of the journey. She most likely would be in the presence of Albus, because he was generally as freaked out as she about these things and only served to escalate her fears. Scorpius, however, had a rather soothing presence about him. She sighed comfortably. The sorting was going to happen soon, but she'd worry about the result after she got it. She pensively watched the sky turn black and the glittering stars gradually appearing.

Yes, things were looking up.

A/N: Please review, I need feedback! It will encourage and help me to continue! Thanks!