Prologue:
19 years later, revised, reviewed and rewritten
"If you're not in Gryffindor we'll disinherit you." Said Ron, "but no pressure."
"Ron!" Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.
"He doesn't mean it." Said Hermione and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention. Catching Harry's eye, he nodded covertly to a point some fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.
"Look who it is."
Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasised the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly and turned away again.
"So that's little Scorpius." Said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."
"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"
"You're right, sorry." Said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Grandad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood."
But Rose was no longer listening. The blond haired boy had caught her staring at him, and he smiled. Rose noticed the little half-star shaped scar on the left side of his neck. Nevertheless, she was flustered.
Some fifty yards away, Draco Malfoy was nervous.
"Where is Scorpius?" he muttered under his breath, and then added in a faint mumble, though his wife and son heard: "If he misses the train, I'll… I'll…"
"Now, now, dear." Astoria reassured him. "He'll come. Don't worry. I know you're stressed because you don't know in which house Scorpius and his brother will be in." Draco groaned just as Scorpius came barging in the middle.
"Mum! Dad!" he yelled
"Don't call me' dad' in public!" Draco warned, but Scorpius just shrugged and Arachno smiled maliciously at his twin's usual response.
"I just came to say I found a compartment."
Arachno and Scorpius jumped onto the train as the whistle blew. Their parents waved and waved until the train was out of sight. Astoria wrapped her arms around her husband's waist.
"They'll be alright." She whispered confidently.
Absently, his hand went to his left arm where the Dark Mark was paler than his skin. "I know they will." He said. The Mark had not pained him for over nineteen years. All was well.