FIRST YEAR. 19 YEARS LATER
LEAVING FOR PLATFORM 9 3/4 - MALFOY MANNER
"Scorpius" Draco called hesitantly to his son. "Come here for a moment." the young boy with slick blonde hair and pale green eyes and a calm face, left his mothers side and walked slowly towards his father. "Now son," Draco said gripping Scorpius's shoulders and crouching down to the eleven year olds height. "I've told you everything about my time at Hogwarts. And it is all the complete truth. I was a bully and a pure blood snob. But that's not who I am now thanks to-"
"Mr Potter for forgiving you. And mum because she helped you realise that your prejudices were ridiculous and that's how you fell in love, yes. You've told me all this before!" Scorpius droned in a monotone voice.
He was right. The amount of times his father had pulled him aside for a one to one. He understood how important it was, but to have to hear it a million times was just annoying. Plus his mother constantly told him that Draco was not the same person anymore.
Draco smiled weakly at Scorpius. His was his only son going away to school with the name Malfoy which was hated by so many. While he was left with his parents and wife whom didn't really get along.
"Be careful. People will judge you because of your last name. Because of my reputation and my father's reputation. Ignore them. You know who you are, you know that I'm no longer the person people think I am and you know your mother especially would never stand for this pure blood nonsense."
PLATFORM 9 3/4
Draco and Astoria were pointing out people they had known from their days at school between goodbye hugs.
"Ok, ginger hair pretty much means Weasley. They don't like me that much." Astoria shot Draco a warning look. "Ron Weasley and his wife Granger, over there, they are not fans of mine" (and I don't blame them) thought Draco. "They must be their children, the ginger boy and girl. I guess the eldest of those Weasley's will be in your year. There are the Potters" Draco nodded at Harry who had spotted him across the crowd. "Married a Weasley" he muttered to Astoria.
"Dad. Will I be in Slytherin?"
"I was, the entire Malfoy family have been." Draco quickly looked away from his son's worried face. He heard Astoria sigh and could almost feel her eyes rolling at him.
"Scorpius, it doesn't matter what house you are put in. It reflects you, who you are. Not who your family were, although it does take that into account. You can control who you're going to be. If you are sorted into Slytherin, it does not mean you are destined to believe that pure bloods are superior and bully others because of their blood status." She kissed him on the forehead and linked her arm with Draco's. "We will be proud of you no matter what house you are put in."
It was time to board the train.
Scorpius boarded feeling a mix of excitement and doubt and yet he seemed calm. To those who did not know him, he seemed to look down at others as he passed each compartment. But in reality he was worrying even more as he could not find a compartment with room for him and he felt awkward having to look around for what seemed like ages.
James and Albus Potter, and Rose Weasley had found a compartment together on the train and were now sitting in dead silence. James stared bored out the window as they were out of sight of their parents on the platform. He was dreading the classes ahead. He was smart, but not the smartest. James was good at quidditch as they practised all the time at home, especially since his mum and dad were so good at the game.
The captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team had noticed how good James was at the end of last year and had specifically singled him out before they left for the summer holidays to tell him that he should try out for the team. James was a bit disappointed that he didn't get to play in his first year like his father, but he reminded himself that neither did his mother who played professionally.
Albus sat staring wide eyed at the floor. Breathing quickly and heavily. He was too nervous about the sorting into houses despite the chat he had from his father. Albus was not sporty like his brother, or outgoing like his little sister, or even extremely smart like his cousin and best friend Rose. He was caring though and charmingly awkward, he put others needs first. Apart from when he was nervous, like at the present, as he did not notice how quiet Rose was being.
Rose's back was leaning against the window and her legs stretched out on the seat next to her while Albus and James were opposite her on the left hand side. She had a book open as usual but she didn't look at it. Instead she was intently staring through the window on the door and at the corridor. She was probably the smartest out of all the Potters and Weasley's. Her mother's brains, as her father often said. Her ginger hair was wild and fluffy, sticking out in odd places with too much volume.
Rose sighed heavily, thinking about the year ahead and how she desperately needed to get high grades to live up to the standard of cleverness and wit which she had set herself through reputation and as the daughter of the smartest witch Hogwarts had seen in many years. Suddenly she realised both Albus and James staring at her. She didn't realise how loud she had sighed. A goofy grin spread across her face and the trio burst out laughing at how tense they were.
"Hey Albus," James piped up as soon as he saw how pale his little brother was. "It'll be ok. I know you hear horror stories as to how awful Slytherins can be, but they're really not that bad." Albus smiled weakly. "Any house would be lucky to have you. Plus most rivalry between houses is in quidditch. Everyone pretty much gets along despite of houses. Yeah, there are still some incidents" his voice went a bit high at the end, remembering his fight with a Slytherin as they had referred to a fellow student as having dirty blood and therefore shouldn't be allowed in the classroom.
James caught an alarmed look from Rose which told him he shouldn't have said the last thing. He knew that face, it was one he frequently got from his mother. "But it's all ok. You'll be fine. And besides, during breakfast, people pretty much sit at whatever table they want. So no matter what house you are in, we can talk every morning!"
"Why not during the rest of the day?" Albus whimpered.
"I'm a year older, we won't be in any of the same classes. But we can hang out during morning break and lunch after we've eaten, if you really want to. I just meant, that, well, at the very least we'll see each other during breakfast." He ruffled Albus's hair, who was looking much more relaxed by now. "Your my brother, we'll stick together no matter what. Right Rose?"
"Huh?" Rose hadn't really been listening, she had noticed a boy around her age, but seemed beyond his years in his wise and calm eyes, was listening into James's little speech to Albus. "Oh! Umm, yeah! We'll hang out together Albus. Even if we're not in the same house, we'll have a few classes together. It won't effect our friendship."
The boy still had not moved. He just stood there looking at James, Albus and Rose.
Scorpius had finally found a compartment he could fit in, only three people in there and plenty of room. He was about to knock and ask to join them but he heard the eldest boy with thick black hair talking about Slytherin and decided to stop and listen.
"Oi!" A boisterous voice shouted at him from the compartment.
He spun around to see that it was the red head who spoke, but she went straight to her book while the two boys looked expectantly at him. 'Ginger hair pretty much means Weasley' his father had said. Scorpius silently opened the door and stepped through.
"May I sit here?" He said in his most polite voice.
The boys smiled and tried not to laugh at his formality.
"Go ahead! No need to be so polite." James grinned.
"We know there's not much room. Just sit." Albus chimed in, feeling more his charming self.
Rose swivelled around to face James and take her legs off the seat next to her so that the blonde stranger could sit there, all the while with her nose stuck in the book without looking up. But Rose, being Rose, left a shoe on the seat as she swivelled. She lunged to grab it as Scorpius sat down but he ended up sitting on her arm.
Alarmed, he jumped up meanwhile she giggled quietly and snorted, grabbed her shoe and went back to her book again. James went back to staring bored out the window and Albus looked as he felt, extremely awkward. Looking everywhere but at the stranger.
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
Rose slammed her book down and turned to face Scorpius. "Merlin's beard! Forgot our manners." She glared at Albus and James, who looked just about as startled as Scorpius.
"James Potter, second year Gryffindor." James went for a hand shake and Albus followed suit.
"Albus Potter."
Only then did Scorpius realise the girl was waiting for a hand shake. He complied. He was impressed by their courage to introduce themselves so boldly to a complete stranger.
"The name's Rose. Rose W-"
"Red hair, you must be a Weasley. My dad told me how to spot you lot. Although my grandfather said something about hammy-down clothes which seems to be irrelevant." Scorpius couldn't believe he had said that out loud.
Rose felt the same.
"Blonde hair, all manners and no smile, you must be a Malfoy." Rose said with a tinge of bitterness.
He nodded at them but suddenly looked away ashamed and hurt as he heard the boys's sharp gasps. "I should go." He let out in an awkward yet polite hurry.
Scorpius didn't care that their families did not 'traditionally' get along, but he thought they may not feel the same, bearing in mind his family reputation and what awful things the death eaters, of which his dad, grandparents and pretty much all of his acquaintances and friends were part of. He stood and moved to leave.
He was too late. James, being the quick athlete he was, darted in front of the door to block Scorpius's escape.
"Sit." After some stern eye contact, Scorpius complied. This time sitting further away from Rose and closer to the door. James sighed, making Rose look up from her book once again. "Potters and Weasleys aren't known for getting along with Malfoys."
"There's no need to hold your last name against you." Rose mumbled and went back to her book.
Scorpius was calming slightly.
"My dad has told us so many times not to judge people on their surname, blood status or even their houses at Hogwarts." James reassured Scorpius.
"So has mine." Scorpius replied.
Albus smiled. Harry and Draco had never got along at Hogwarts. But after the war, things seemed to clear up a bit. There were no more feelings of hatred, at least not extreme, left between many of those involved in the war itself.
A first year girl with blond, straight hair and sharp brown eyes walked past in the corridor, giggling with her friends. She stopped and looked into the compartment, she pointed at Rose's wild ginger hair and the girl and her friends giggled even louder. They suddenly stopped laughing and looked at someone coming towards them. Their faces lit with terror and ran off.
Following them, while screaming at the girls to shut up, was Molly Weasley, Rose's uncle Percy's eldest daughter, and a Gryffindor prefect in her fifth year. She was tall and had short, sharp hair with a similar colour to Rose's. And behind Molly was her younger sister, Lucy who was a third year in Ravenclaw. Lucy gently grabbed her sisters arm so she couldn't charge after the first years, this made her glasses go wonky and she had to let go to push them back in place. Molly tried to storm off again but Lucy's quiet voice stopped her.
'Molly, stop shouting at them. You know you were just as prone to giggling and gossip when you were in first year. In fact, you still are now! You're such an embarrassing, hypocritical sister.' These were the only words they heard from a very calm and rational Lucy. The very opposite to Molly.
Both sisters turned around to see their cousins James, Albus and Rose. They grinned and waved at each other, ignoring Scorpius whom they did not know.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Albus asked Scorpius eagerly once two of his cousins returned to their compartment. "James is in Gryffindor. So were my parents and Rose's parents."
James was fed up of talking about houses and so he went back to staring out the window, plus he was annoyed that his best friend Lorcan hadn't joined them yet. Rose remained silently reading her book while Albus became friends with Scorpius.
"I think I'll be in Slytherin. My whole family were."
"I was worried about being put in Slytherin, but I'm not too worried anymore. I guess I'll make friends wherever, plus I'll be in some classes with Rose."
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Scorpius asked Rose softly
"No idea." She said disinterestedly and shrugged "not sure I really care." Rose turned to the next page and continued reading, never looking up from her book.
"She does care." Albus interjected as Scorpius was slightly alarmed at her bluntness. "She's just too stubborn to admit it."
"What house do you think she'll be in?" Scorpius asked. He was curious about Rose.
She was boisterous and opinionated. Her hair seemed to reflect a disinterest in her appearance and her 'not caring what others thought' but 'she could still be fun to hang around with' attitude. But her eyes were concentrating hard showing wisdom and maturity. She was a bookworm with a loud and strong opinion but also enjoyed her friends and family.
"Oh, well, being a Weasley," Albus replied "I would say Gryffindor. But she's really book smart. So maybe Ravenclaw. But aunt Hermione was like her but was in Gryffindor. So I have no idea. Actually, sometimes I don't understand it, my uncle Percy was really smart and never seemed that brave compared to the rest of the family but he was in Gryffindor. He's not too bad now, but mum said he was a bit of a stick in the mud- sort of thing. Well not really but, he kind of rejected everyone when he moved out. Ashamed to be a Weasley. I don't know. But he's nice now, my uncle George didn't really get along with him until after the war." he continued to waffle on about the houses.
Scorpius half smiled at how chatty and excited Albus was. He was sure they were going to be good friends.
Two second years girls who were already in their robes were walking past and suddenly stopped to peep through the window. The giggled and waved at James who just winked back at them. Once the girls had gone Albus just sat staring at the floor, a bit flustered. Scorpius was confused. Rose, who had gone back to her reading, couldn't concentrate. At first she tried to hide her smile but a snort came out. Then she was fully laughing at James who playfully hit Rose with her own book and stared out the window, his ears slightly red. He was always flirting with girls.
SORTING HAT
"Good luck." Scorpius whispered to Rose and Albus, who both smiled nervously at him.
They stared at the stool where the sorting hat sat. Never had a stool been the very image of what they all feared. When it started singing, the first years all jumped a bit. Leaving James and his best friend Lorcan to chuckle at them. Lorcan was Luna's eldest son, his younger brother, Lysander, four years younger than Rose and Albus, had not yet come up to Hogwarts.
Then the hat called out the names. 'Damn it, alphabetical order,'. Rose thought, 'I'm going to be here forever.'
"Abel-Roy, Philomela" Professor Longbottom, head of Gryffindor and the defence against the dark arts teacher, read out from the front. She was placed into Gryffindor.
Rose's worry kept on getting her distracted. She only heard a few of the names every now and then.
"Blinston, Mae."
The blonde girl who had laughed at Rose on the train stood up. She didn't seem nervous like the rest of the first years. She gave a cocky huff to her nervous friend and strutted up to the stool. She looked down at the old hat in disgust, not believing that that 'mouldy thing', as Rose later heard her describe it, would have to touch her. Not to Rose's surprise, Mae was sorted into Slytherin.
Rose found herself only really noticing the Gryffindors, proving to herself that she knew exactly what house she wanted to be in.
"Earls, Sullivan." He was put into Gryffindor
"Fawley, Melissa." Gryffindor.
"Gardener, Annabella." Gryffindor.
"Hathaway, Grant." Longbottom's voice drifted into her ear as she watched the very exciting and seemingly charming boy with very short brunette hair hopped into the stool.
He was also sorted into Gryffindor. He was greeted enthusiastically by Sullivan Earls
Albus was also not concentrating and only heard the name Daniel Leyton being announced as he thought he recognised it. A glimmer of hope arose, he thought the Daniel may have been a boy he had been friends with when he attended a muggle primary school, just like all his cousins did as his dad and aunt Hermione had convinced his aunts and uncles. But his hopes were dashed as soon as he saw the tall boy with glasses. He was definitely not the short blonde kid from his muggle primary school. This boy was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Malfoy, Scorpius." A few gasps and mutterings could be heard at the name of Malfoy.
"Good luck!" Albus quickly whispered to Scorpius as he made his way up to the stool and the sorting hat.
"Hmmmm, a Malfoy ey? Hmmm. You're a clever one. Brave too, very loyal but only to those you completely trust, of which there are very few. Hmmmm." The sorting hat muttered so that only Scorpius could hear. "However I think you'll do best in SLYTHERIN!" He shouted the last sentence as there was a roar of applause from the Slytherin table.
"McLaggen, Wesley." Longbottom shouted out, but nobody was really listening to the boy being sorted into Gryffindor as they were all preoccupied with the famous Malfoy in Slytherin.
But the list went on. Albus and Rose were clutching each other's arms. Both feeling the full effect of their nerves.
"Potter, Albus." Again there was whispering about the name.
The sorting hat had a hard time again. "You are strong, you'd be stronger if you allowed yourself to be. Not Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. But, hmmm"
Rose saw Albus mumble something to the hat.
"Don't mind too much hey? Well that is very brave of you, but there's a hidden leader in you somewhere dear boy. SLYTHERIN!"
Albus turned white as a sheet and there was silence over the great hall due to the shock of having a Potter in Slytherin. But that was soon over as the Slytherin table cheered and Albus sat next to Scorpius. He was glad to have a friend. James caught the eye of his little brother and gave him a wide grin and a thumbs up. They were going to be fine. And Albus meant what he had said to the hat, he didn't mind too much. What had been panicking him was that his family may be disappointed in him and .
A long time passed and many names announced before it was Rose's turn.
"Weasley, Rose." Murmurs yet again over the name. Rose bitterly thought to herself, 'actually its Granger-Weasley.' But she dropped the thought as soon as she was faced with the dreaded stool.
The Potters and Weasley's were famous. Not simply because of their parents, but of the many cousins of Rose's who had come through the school and the few still left to come. There were Weasley's in almost every year. Albus was the first related to that family to ever be in Slytherin. There were a few others, like Lucy, Percy's younger daughter who was in Ravenclaw. And Dominique who was in Hufflepuff. She was Bill and Fleur's middle child. (She was the younger sister of Victoire, who was dating Teddy Lupin (Victorie was in her last year in Gryffindor). Their younger brother was the baby of the family. He was three years younger than Rose herself.
"Well this is easy enough." The sorting hat boasted loudly and sent a few students into quiet giggles. "Any house would be lucky to have you, you're as smart as any Ravenclaw, as ambitious as any Slytherin and as hardworking and fierce as an Hufflepuff. But you, young lady, are more brave and strong of character and mind. GRYFFINDOR!"
Relief washed over Rose.
DAY BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Albus and Scorpius were early down to breakfast, they sat at the Slytherin table eating toast with marmalade and excitedly talking about the holidays coming up.
"We're doing what we do every year." Albus said. "Christmas Eve Eve just my siblings and parents, then over to the Burrow for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day."
Scorpius couldn't help but give a small smile. "Christmas Eve Eve? That's not a thing."
Albus grinned. "It is when you have such a big family! There will be 5 of us Potters, and then the Weasley's: Rose's immediate family. Then we'll have aunt Hermione's parents and Uncle George and his family and uncle bill and his family and Uncle Percy and his family. And if he's not busy, uncle Charlie. And my grandparents! All in one house! Usually me and Rose sneak off and find a quiet place. Sometimes we get our broomsticks and just hover around until we get too cold outside."
"That sounds great." Scorpius said. "Normally it's just me, mum, dad and the grandparents. Grandfather will make pure blood comments meanwhile grandma tries to shut him up and mum gives disapproving looks. It all ends up in an argument and mum spends the rest of the day writing to her sister."
"Hey!" Rose waved and joined with boys at the Slytherin table for breakfast. She was also up early. She would often join them if they were already there. But as the three were so close, she would usually sit at the Gryffindor table if she was alone and they would join her at her table. (She was always early for breakfast)
"Hi. I was just explaining our busy Christmas to Scorpius."
"Ugh, don't remind me. I never get any reading done over the Christmas holidays!"
"That's a lie" Albus interjected quietly to only Scorpius.
Who whispered in reply to him "I believe you." But Rose didn't notice and continued talking.
"We are always given about a thousand jobs to do around the house! And only in the evenings, when the sun is setting, do me & Albus manage to sneak out." She sighed. "Those evenings are the best. Me and my best friend, trying not to worry about anything or anyone."
"Yeah but Lily always finds us, wants to join in and she ends up talking loads."
Scorpius let out a small smile at his best friends' nostalgia. "I know that it's not as bad as you make it sound."
They nodded in agreement with big grins.
"Just, don't forget to write. I'm going to be bored with my family complaining and arguing."
Rose laughed and soothingly rubbed his arm. "Don't worry. We'll write so often that you'll feel like we never really left each other's sides and you'll be sick of us."
They all laughed and chuckled.
"I doubt that I'll ever get sick of you two." Scorpius whispered honestly under his breath once they had left to go to their next class.
BOXING DAY EVENING
Albus and Rose were laying next to each other on the grass just outside the Burrow. It was pretty much quiet except the odd sound of laughter from inside.
"So." Albus broke the silence
"So what?" Rose replied peacefully, Scorpius was right, they had had a great Christmas.
"Have you written to Scorpius?"
"We've had this conversation, you know I have. Twice most days." She turned her head to look at her favourite cousin and best friend. "Have you?"
"We've had this conversation, you know I have." Albus mimicked Rose resulting in a swift and friendly punch in the arm. Which set the two off in giggles.
"Do you ever find that he's-" Rose hesitated. Albus was a lot closer to Scorpius than she was.
"He's what?" A puzzled Albus leant on his side to see Rose's face.
"He's different in his letters to actually being face to face. I find he's more open, more - I don't know." She shrugged.
"I know. He's confident and calm. But in his letters, he is more comfortable to be himself I guess."
"You make him smile a lot Albus. He's comfortable around you, I think you're an important friend to him. Maybe his only real friend. One of the few he trusts."
"Your right, apart from one thing. You're the one who makes him smile the most. Even if he doesn't always smile, his mood seems to get lighter when you walk in."
BOXING DAY EVENING - MALFOY MANNOR
Scorpius had had dinner with his family and then ran straight to his room. During dinner he had seen his Horned owl, by the name of Vincent, swoop past the window and had obviously landed in his room returning from his trip to the Burrow. Hopefully with a reply or two from his best friends.
As it was, Vincent had arrived with two letters, one from Rose and one from Albus. Both telling him all the fun they had on Christmas Day, what presents they had received and both telling the exact same stories. How Mr Weasley, Rose's dad, had stood up at the table to make a toast before they began eating and how he had congratulated Rose and Albus for their first term at Hogwarts. (Albus had said in his letter how glad he was that no one really talked about him being put in Slytherin.) At the end of his toast, Mr Weasley had congratulated (through gritted teeth and after a scowl and nudge from his wife), Albus and Rose on their new found friendship with 'that Malfoy boy' as Rose had written a direct quote in her letter whereas Albus quickly skipped over that part.
They had also written about another story that happened on Christmas Eve. Albus, Rose, James, Mr and Mrs Potter and Mr and Mrs Weasley had been playing exploding snap while Lily and Hugo played wizard chess next to them. James had managed to set fire to Lily's hair and the adults had stifled their laughter to help the poor girl out. Meanwhile Albus was imitating what had happened between fits of giggles and ended up setting fire to Rose's dressing gown.
Scorpius smiled, he could see the quite literally flaming red head squealing while someone tried to put out the fire. Albus would probably look mortified and rightfully fear for his life as Rose would scream insults at him while they chased each other.
It was getting late, Scorpius hadn't realised how late it was or that he had fallen asleep at his desk until he heard furious tapping at the window. It was an owl he did not recognise, holding a small square package. He let the barn owl in and took the roughly wrapped, brown paper parcel and gave the owl some treats as he read the note attached.
Dear Scorpius
Merry Christmas! Sorry it's late.
By the way, this is my owl. Her name is Pocket. (Don't ask, I let Albus's sister Lily name her.)
Anyway, attached should be a gift for you from me and Albus. We are sorry it's so small, but we thought you would want a little reminder this Christmas that you have friends who think you're the greatest! Can't wait to see you back at Hogwarts!
Rose
P.s: Albus here. Don't let Rose take all the credit. I did help. She doesn't know I'm adding this little note here, so don't mention it to her. She'll kill me, again. Anyway! Happy Christmas. She's right, you are the greatest and we are lucky to have you as a friend. MERLINS BEARD HERE SHE COMES! Ok bye. Hopefully she doesn't see my scruffy handwriting on her neat card before this gift goes out.
Scorpius opened the gift to reveal a small, silver picture frame with a moving photograph of the three of them sitting and laughing together outside on a bench in the snow. Scorpius could be seen smiling between the others, at something Rose and Albus were telling him with over exaggerated arm movements, obviously very excited on what they were telling him. Scorpius didn't remember a photo being taken, they must have secretly asked professor Longbottom to take it or even James.
As Scorpius went to put the frame on his chest of draws next to his bed, he realised at the end of the motion, before it reset again, Rose had out her arm around his waist. And the photo Scorpius looked deeply into Rose's eyes, staring at her, enchanted by her. Photo Rose blinked and began to reciprocate the enchanted look but the photo quickly restarted itself to the trio laughing.
Scorpius shook his head. He was so tired he was seeing things. He wrote out a quick thank you note and tucked it inside a card which he attached to Pocket and sent her home. Meanwhile he gave his two already wrapped presents to Vincent to take separately to Rose and Albus. His presents felt inferior compared to theirs. One was an extremely old, leather, hard back cover of 'Hogwarts a history' which he had found in the library at home, he recognised it as one of the original copies of the book Rose had been reading the day they had met. And the other was for Albus, a beanie hat with the chudley cannons, his favourite quidditch team, logo stitched on the front, and a matching scarf.
MARCH
"Now students," professor Longbottom began the defence against the dark arts lesson. "Today we start with gnomes."
There were a few groans from around the classroom.
"Yes, yes, I know they're not very exciting. But can anyone tell me what they know about them already?"
Rose and Scorpius's hands shot up. The Gryffindors had defence against the dark arts, potions and Herbology together. James had been right at the start of the year when he said that Albus and Rose would see each other plenty. Mae Bliston rolled her eyes at Rose's enthusiasm and giggled with her friends at the back of the class.
"Umm, ok. Well, how about we start with you Weasley." She grinned at professor Longbottom and ignored Scorpius's huff next to her.
"A gnome, or garden gnome, is a magical creature commonly known to infest the gardens of wizarding households. The correct taxonomical name for gnomes is, purportedly, Gernumbli gardensi, or sometimes referred to as Gernumblie."
"Well done. Ten points to Gryffindor. Malfoy? Anything else to add?" Longbottom looked at him expectantly, he wanted to give everyone a chance especially knowing that, as a Malfoy, the young boy wanted to prove himself different to his father and to show his true potential.
"Yes sir. Gnomes live in burrows underground, known as gnomeholes, where they dig up and eat the roots of plants, creating little heaps of earth around gardens a lot like moles. The natural predator of the Gnome is the Jarvey."
"Good. Ten points to Slytherin."
Rose and Scorpius shared smug yet encouraging smiles at each other as Albus rolled his eyes.
"Moving on, Gnomes are found throughout Europe and North America. A gnome in the Muggle world is an inanimate statue that looks like a small Father Christmas. Interestingly, the species has such a low level of intelligence that when a de-gnoming is being carried out they will hurry out of their burrows to see what's causing the commotion, which only renders them easier to catch. Alternatively, one can use a Jarvey to de-gnome a garden, but this method is considered much too violent and thus is seldom used. Now everyone get into partners, we are going outside to study an de-gnome around Hagrid's hut."
Albus rushed to Scorpius's side as they began to walk down, unintentionally leaving Rose on her own. She sighed and decided that she didn't mind being on her own. That's when Philomela Abel-Roy, a girl in her dormitory came and sat with her.
"Umm. hey. Do you mind if I go with you? It's just that Anna and Mel are going together."
Rose leaned past Philomela to see Melissa Fawley and Annabella Gardener chatting away together behind them. All three of these Gryffindor girls shared a dorm with Rose, she often felt left out because they were so close. Rose snapped her attention back to what Philomela was saying.
"Plus you're really smart." Philomela slapped her forehead with her palm. "Ugh, sorry Rose, that makes me sound like I'm only your partner because I have to be. I just saw you alone and thought-"
Rose laughed. "It's ok. I'm happy to be your partner. It'll be nice to hang around with a girl, that isn't a cousin, for a change. I think I spend too much time with Albus."
"Yeah, but Albus is sweet! Anna certainly thinks so."
"Ew, no! He's my cousin. Anyway," Rose and Philomela turned their attention to Professor Longbottom's instructions.
And thus continued their classes.
Rose and Scorpius were usually the first ones with their hands up. And were often asked if anyone else knew the answers, or must the entire class rely on the knowledge of the walking textbooks? As smart and competitive the two were, they remained friends. Every smug grin or exasperated huff as one was allowed to answer but not the other, was all meant in harmless digs at one another. With Albus always on hand to roll his eyes and keep the peace between the three best friends.
MAY
Charms classes were becoming more advanced, and slightly more dangerous. The first year students and moved from a basic levitation charm to a fire-making spell. Something that many of the students had been excited for, until the actual lesson came and most found that they were less than enthusiastic about it as some lost eyebrows or had permanent charred spots on their ties and shirts.
Rose sat in the courtyard on her own waiting for Scorpius and Albus to come out of their charms lesson. She had had hers in the previous week and only just managed to not burn herself despite tripping over a stack of books. She was skilled enough to stop the charm before any damage was made to herself or the books sprawled across the floor. Stopping the charm was a problem that a few Hufflepuffs had trouble with.
Rose couldn't help but giggle as she saw her friends come nearer. Scorpius looked normal, untouched but Albus was missing an eyebrow, his shirt was torn and charred and he was missing the handle of his bag as only two frayed stubs were left. He rolled his eyes and trudged towards his dormitory so that he could change his clothes, but he did not go without a few laughs from random people here and there.
"If you think he's bad, you should see Robin Stirling, from Ravenclaw." Scorpius said as the rest of his class passed them, going to their dorms to get changed and scowling at him as he was one of the only ones not burned. Rose gave him a questioning look as Robin walked passed with her hat on, whereas nobody usually bothered with them. "She set fire to the desk and her fringe. It's really not that bad, she was just embarrassed."
"Yeah, I understand that. People in my class, especially that Hufflepuff Finley Norwood, had trouble putting out the fire."
Rose couldn't help but burst out laughing as Mae Blinston walked passed. The arm of her robes had completely burnt off and there was a bald patch on the back of her head.
"Oh, and Mae got in the way of Daniel Layton's fire-making spell. I think me and Webb were the only ones who did the charm correctly."
"Webb?"
"Ravenclaw girl, I have no idea what her first name is. She's kind of lonely."
Scorpius and Rose took out their homework and got a head-start while they waited for Albus to come back. They were happy enough together to just sit there in a comfortable silence, writing essays.
"Aren't you guys fun." Albus raised his one eyebrow at them which made Rose laugh so much, she spilt ink all over a piece of parchment. As they mopped it up, Albus realised that if he didn't speak, then there wouldn't be much conversation out of his friends other than the odd sentence. "So, Rose, how was history of magic?
"It was great! I've got loads of notes ready for our next essay. Oh and Finley Norwood fell asleep again, Professor didn't notice until someone, although I suspect it was Grant who started it and loads of people joined in, started making objects hover around his head. Finley woke up when it all was loudly dropped on his desk and Professor gave him detention."
"Rose," Albus gave his cousin a disbelieving look as he smirked. "You were the one who started the flying objects weren't you?"
"She just said it was Grant. Who is Grant?" Scorpius asked.
"Oh, he's in Gryffindor. He's the guy who has short brunette hair. His last name is Hathaway."
"Oh no, you're not getting out of answering this Rose." Albus spoke up.
Rose huffed. "Yeah, I started it. But Finley was snoring! It was pretty funny, you should've been there."
"What's funny." Fred Weasley, Angelina and George's son and the brother of Roxanne, she was in her fourth year with James. Fred was in his fifth year with their cousin Lucy. "Apart from Albus's eyebrow."
Albus growled and covered the missing eyebrow with his hand. "Rose floated objects around some guys head because he was sleeping in class."
Fred burst out laughing. "Oh, Merlin! With stunts like that you might turn into James and Lorcan!"
Rose smiled. "I don't think I'll ever be as bad as those two."
Fred then went on to tell them how, last year, Lorcan and James had managed to slip 'Puking Pastilles' and 'Nosebleed Nougats' to most of the teachers and nearly the whole school had lessons cancelled thanks to them.
THE DAY BEFORE SUMMER HOLIDAYS
The trio lay side by side next to the lake. The warm sun beating down on them as a gentle breeze swooped over.
Albus sighed. "Have you packed yet Rose?"
"I've been packed for two days."
"Typical. You'll be out having fun while I'll be stuck indoors packing." Huffed Albus.
"I'll help you." Scorpius chimed in.
The trio remained laying in the sun for a few more minutes. A comfortable silence for two of them but the tallest and palest of them was fidgeting. He opened and closed his mouth a few times. Knowing what he wanted to ask but not sure how. He was scared. But he didn't show it.
"I-" he cleared his throat.
Albus sat up to look down on his friend who was laying still.
Scorpius continued. "I'm going abroad to France for two weeks with my parents. Then we're visiting family for a week in Sweden. Then three days in Belgium with friends of the family. But other than that I'll be home."
Albus raised his eyebrows. Scorpius had told him this the other day so he must be planning to say something else. Rose lay the other side of Scorpius, listening but too lazy to open her eyes or sit up.
"Well go on."
"I'll write to you. You don't have to but, you know," Scorpius's voice trailed off as Rose suddenly shot up staring down at him with disapproving eyes.
"Oh, yeah. And you think we won't write back?" She almost spat at him. "We have all been friends for a year now!" The boy under attack slowly sat up and squinted in the sun to see her towering above him. "Don't give us that whiny 'you don't have to but'" she mimicked him. Albus raised his eyebrows at her. Rose grabbed Albus' arms and pulled him up, then did the same to Scorpius. "Albus, go pack." Her cousin complied.
Rose still had her hands gripped on Scorpius's forearms. "You astonish me sometimes Scorpius."
He stared enquiringly into her eyes, not daring to look at her small hands holding him so close, in fear that she might let go. He liked being close to her.
"We are friends. When we get back to Hogwarts for our second year, nothing would have changed. Me and Albus will not have abandoned you!" She now hugged him and spoke softly in his ear. "Don't doubt me Scorpius, please."
Rose and Scorpius caught up to Albus and the three began to walk back to the castle.
James and Lorcan came running out laughing their heads off. Professor Nye, the head of Hufflepuff and care of magical creatures teacher, came charging after them.
James and Lorcan continued running and laughing all the way to Hagrid's house, before the half-giant hid them. Professor Nye stopped outside the doors and spoke in a loud voice.
"Students, I warn you not to go near the library. As two students just set off dung bombs outside."
The Librarian Madam Prince came coughing outside.
"Just you wait until I find those brats who-"
"Madam," Professor Nye tried to comfort her but it was no use.
"If I could, I would ban them for life from even stepping a foot in my library. But apparently I can't. But be certain that they will not be allowed in for at least two months at the start of next year!"
Rose looked at Albus and they began to laugh. Their cousin Victorie, who was in her last year, could be heard laughing behind them. They all knew that setting off a dung bomb just a few minutes ago had been the first time James and Lorcan had even been near the library.