The smell of coal filled the platform choking the living daylights out of him. Parents hustled and bustled, panicking after their children and doting on them as if they were really the most special thing in their hearts. It almost made him vomit. His father loved him, there was no doubt about that, but it was different. There was none of that smothering or tenderness. They had an understanding between themselves; a distance they always maintained. If anyone didn't know better they'd think they were just acquaintances that looked alarmingly alike, but, unfortunately, everyone did know better. Their family name was infamous and not a single soul didn't know who they were. His family's past allegiances were something to be spat on and mocked. Never mind he was an individual separate from that of his forefather's, a completely different person.
His surname predetermined his fate and there was nothing he would ever be able to do to change that. He realized he would forever and always be on the fringes of society. Surprisingly, that didn't bother him much as he never liked being the center of attention, but sometimes he desperately wished someone would at least acknowledge him, not treated him like he was some sort of deadly disease. Wishing was all in vain though as it was never going to change. In the distance he heard a familiar sound.
"For Merlin's sake, son. The Express!" Mr. Malfoy hissed.
Scorpius soon snapped out of his thoughts, quickly hugged his mother, nodded at his father, and boarded the train to hell. He could not wait for the surprises sixth year had in store.
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Rose boarded the train waving frantically to her family to her mom, dad, aunt, and uncle. She had seen pictures of them from their golden Hogwarts days and they had not changed one bit, especially her Uncle Harry. His emerald eyes twinkled possibly even more than before, but a hint of aging had touched them making him all the more alluring. What she dared not reveal to her mom or dad, which was very, very rare, she did with Harry. She was so close to all of them and it was in a way painful to leave home every year.
The train sped off making them tiny specks in the distance and that's when she at last drew back into her compartment. Hugo managed to find another compartment with his friends leaving her all alone. After the War a lot of parents had chosen to hire private tutors instead of sending them off to Hogwarts making the castle seem a whole lot bigger than it already was.
She wasn't exactly unpopular, but it was well known that Rose Weasley was not a person one wanted to interrupt as she went through her ritual. She immediately put on her robes and pinned on her Head Girl badge, brushed her hair, and took out a varnish and started polishing her wand.
"This year is going to be a good one," she whispered to herself as she had a habit of doing.
She finished getting ready and headed out to the corridor. Being Head Girl had its advantages. Everyone cleared a way for her and cheerily said their 'hellos' as she passed by. She enjoyed being respected. It was a welcome change. Nobody ever really dared to mess with her before and even less now. She broke up a few small fights along the way to the prefect's compartment. She got there a bit early and waited for each of the House's prefects to arrive. Though she was early, it still annoyed her that they didn't arrive in an orderly fashion.
Their job was important and it seemed like she was the only one that saw it that way. She checked her watch again and cleared her throat. Everyone kept talking amongst themselves. She scowled, got on top of one of the seats and wolf-whistled. All the prefects groaned and covered their ears. Silence fell across the room. Rose smiled sweetly and started the meeting.
"We have very important matters to discuss, so if everyone could please put all personal matters to the side for the time being, it'd be lovely," she grinned. "Now there has been a problem with firewhiskey being brought on school grounds. You can see how that can be a big problem. Anyone have any suggestions that could solve this little problem?"
Nobody volunteered, she guessed because nobody really cared. Being a prefect to them was only an excuse to abuse their powers. She knew this would have to be solved as soon as possible. If no one cooperated with her nothing would get done and the Head Girl badge would have been for nothing, a year wasted.
"Very well, moving on. There is also—" she stopped midsentence as the compartment door flew open.
He sat down on the nearest chair and followed her with his icy-blue eyes. She cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry, but this compartment has been reserved for prefects only," she hinted.
The young man smirked while he searched his robe pockets. He threw something at her feet. It was the Head Boy badge. Rose could feel the color coming to her face and her heartbeat raced frantically. He sat there with a smile on his face, feet propped up on the chair in front of him.
"Is there a problem now?" he said while inspecting his nails.
She simply smiled and shook her head.
"Well, carry on," he waved his hand in the air.
She took a deep breath and continued down her list of topics that needed to be dealt with completely ignoring him. She couldn't believe her luck. How was she going to try to make this work when the Head Boy didn't care at all and better yet he was a Malfoy? She ran through her head all the preset judgments he'd have in store for her. When she addressed everything the prefects started separating. He got up from his seat and without one word left the compartment. She looked after him and realizing he left his badge on the floor she picked it up and went after him.
"Mr. Malfoy!" she called out.
He immediately turned around upon hearing that name. She almost ran straight into him.
"Mr. Malfoy is my father," he said looking down at her. "My name is simply Scorpius or just Malfoy if you prefer, Ms. Weasley."
The color drained from her face.
"Well, I just wanted to give you this," she put the badge in his hand. "And I prefer Rose if you don't mind."
He smiled.
"Don't you want to bask in the glory of your family's name?" he scoffed, she only frowned.
"I'd rather just make a name for myself," she said as she walked away.
He shook his head, thrust his hands in his pockets, and headed back to his compartment. Though he couldn't believe it, the year had gotten worse even before it even began.
