Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling. I own nothing and am making no profit.
Chapter 2
The next morning, Scorpius awoke on the early side, for him at least. His dorm was already empty, but this time he wasn't going to be late for breakfast. He wasn't sure if he was proud of his accomplishment or dreading the experience. All the same, he pulled on his clothes and made his way into the dining hall, only getting lost twice along the way.
He sat down next to rose who greeted him with an explanation of, "Not a morning person."
Apparently he had woken up really late the previous morning. The boys from the train were seated at the other table, laughing loudly about something. Glad to be ignored, Scorpius began to eat. He had barely started when the noise of a hundred some birds echoed through the hall.
He looked up to find a swarm of owls. For the first time he noticed how the ceiling projected the sky above it, though he was sure his father had mentioned it before. And speaking of his father... Amidst the cloud of birds, he spotted his father's eagle owl bearing a package and a letter. The owl swooped down and landed next to his plate.
"Hey, Hawkey." he said with a weak chuckle, remembering what he had always called the bird, as long as he remembered at least.
Hawkey nipped him affectionately and went for his toast. While the owl was distracted, Scorpius untied the box and the roll of parchment from around its leg.
Dear Scorpius, [the letter read]
How was your first day? What house did you get in to? I hope the Potter-Weasley clan didn't bother you too much. Keep your head high, you're a Malfoy, be proud of it. Your mother says hello.
With Love,
Draco Malfoy
Scorpius read through the letter twice. His father had never been very verbose, so its length wasn't surprising. Scorpius was just glad to see the familiar handwriting. But still, he wasn't sure what to write in reply. Reluctantly he pulled out a quill and a scroll of parchment from his bag, and began to write:
Dear Dad,
My first day was okay. I met Rose Weasley and Albus Severus Potter on the train. Albus didn't say much, but strange as it is, Rose isn't that bad. I got into Gryffindor, I don't think I fit in too well, but Rose has been helping me out a lot. I'll try. Tell mum I say hi back.
Miss you,
Scorpius Malfoy
With that, he sealed the roll of parchment, and attached it to Hawkey. The owl took another nibble of toast and flew off. Scorpius let out a long sigh and returned to his meal.
A few days later the morning post brought him a letter that read:
Dear Scorpius,
I am glad you enjoyed your first day and hope you have been enjoying yourself since. I question your choice of friends, but if Miss Weasley is "not that bad," as you say, then she may be a good ally to have, particularly for appearances sake. Of course, I would rather you have been chosen for Slytherin, but if the hat chose Gryffindor, well, it must have had a reason to. I hope you make some good connections. Remember, first impressions are very important.
With Love,
Draco Malfoy
Scorpius read his father's reply with a slight smile. He let out a sigh of relief as soon as he finished. His father wasn't mad at him for getting into Gryffindor, or being friends with Rose. He was a bit disappointed, but still a large weight seemed to lift from Scorpius's shoulders. He began to etch out a reply on a piece of parchment, but just as he was figuring what to say, Rose interrupted.
"What've you got there?" she asked, reading quickly over his shoulder.
He shielded the parchment from her view, "Nothing."
"It's a letter from your father."
"So what if it is?"
"What's Draco Malfoy have to say to his son?"
"Just asking how I'm doing."
"Is he a good father."
"Wha-? Of course he is!"
"If you say so…" she shrugged.
"Is Ron Weasley a good father? What about Hermione Granger?" he demanded.
"Why wouldn't they be?"
"Why wouldn't Draco Malfoy be a good father?"
"Dad says he's a 'bloody racist,' just like his father."
"What's wrong with Grandpa Lucious?"
"He was a Death Eater, just like your dad."
"Was."
"Still…"
"And your parents think they're so great."
"Why shouldn't they? They fought on the right side of the war." She thrust out her chest proudly.
"Who are you to say what the right side was? And they've apologized!"
"People can apologize and not mean it. Everyone knows the Malfoys are all a bunch of liars."
"Are not!"
"Are too! Are you saying my dad was lying?"
"Maybe I am!"
"Don't you dare-!" Rose stood, pulled out her wand and raised it threateningly.
"Your dad lied." Scorpius said, standing and pulling out his wand as well.
"Expeliarmus!" Both of their wands flew out of their hands as Headmistress McGonogall came marching towards them, her lips pressed together into a thin line, "Twenty points from Gryffindor." she said, "My office. Now."
They marched silently through the empty halls. Scorpius and Rose followed the Headmistress, avoiding each other's eyes at all costs. In one hand Scorpius still clutched the letter from his father, and the reply he had been working on.
It was all her fault. Scorpius couldn't believe it, in trouble on the second day of school. His father would kill him now, if this woman didn't get to him first.
It was all his fault, the Malfoy brat. Rose's father had told her to be careful around him, and this was what she got for trying to be friends with the child of Draco Malfoy. Her mother would be proud, except for the getting in trouble part, but still, she couldn't believe his gall. She clenched her fists and snuck a glare at him.
Up and up they went. Through hallways, past pictures that chattered as they went. Finally the Headmistress came to a stop in front of a pair of stone goblins.
"Password?" one asked.
"Licorice wand." was her terse reply.
Scorpius gave her a confused look, not exactly what he had expected to hear as the password to the office of the Headmistress. He snuck a glance at Rose, she looked like she could barely stop herself from laughing. But as soon as she saw him, her face fell. She glared at him before turning ahead with a serious expression of pure distaste.
They went up once more, and into a large, circular office. The first thing Scorpius noticed was a wall of portraits, all of distinguished witches and wizards. Many seemed to have just been awoken by their arrival.
"First troublemaker of the year." an old witch cackled.
"First one caught." a wizard replied snidely.
"That's Malfoy's son, isn't it?" a younger woman piped up.
An old man with a long white beard and half moon spectacles smiled kindly at him from a central portrait, next to one of a man with greasy black year and a permanent sneer. They sat above a shelf of delicate silver instruments, whose purposes Scorpius could not even begin to fathom.
"I hope you haven't been causing too much trouble." The old man said, his eyes twinkling.
Another was about to speak when Professor McGonagall shushed them all.
"Miss Weasley, I expect better of you, both of you, Gryffindors none the less. I understand that your parents were not friends when they went to school here, but fighting will not be tolerated. Understood?"
Both Rose and Scorpius nodded resignedly.
She handed back their wands. "Now, I expect to see you resolve any future conflicts peacefully, without the use of magic, or there will be further consequences. You are dismissed."
They turned and left, without looking at the other. As Rose headed towards the dorms, Scorpius pulled out his schedule and set off for Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. He arrived 15 minutes later, distinctly late. The professor, a short, stable old man with snowy white hair, sat at the desk, doing attendance. Several Gryffindors glared at him as he entered.
"And you are?" he glanced up.
"Scorpius Malfoy- in Gryffindor. Sorry I'm late…"
"Have a seat." He motioned towards the only empty seat in the class – the middle of the front row, right next to Rose.
Scorpius sat down. He hazarded a glance at Rose, but she pointedly ignored him. He turned his attention back to the professor, who was standing.
"Everyone up." he announced.
The entire class stood.
"Wands out. Now, repeat after me: Protego!" he flicked his wand upwards. A blue light emanated from the tip of his wand.
"Protego!" the class imitated.
Scorpius felt a jolt of energy running through his arm, just as he had when he first got his wand.
"Again." The professor instructed.
"Protego!" the class repeated.
"Good. Now, can anyone tell me-"
Rose's hand shot up.
"Yes, Miss…"
"Weasley, Rose Weasley." She replied, "It's the shield charm. It magically blocks spells and physical entities."
"Good. Five points to Gryffindor. Now, can anyone else tell me why this might be useful."
Another girl, a Slytherin, raised her hand, "If someone, or something, is trying to attack you, you can defend yourself."
"Exactly. Miss…"
"Liza Erikson."
"Five points to Slytherin. The shield charm is the most basic protection spell, but that does not mean it is easy."
He was about to continue when a boy raised his hand, "Yes? Mr…"
"Todd Kersey. I don't mean any disrespect, sir, but why do we have to learn the shield charm when you can just buy charmed stuff?"
"Good question, Mr. Kersey. Charmed objects are simply nowhere near as reliable as a charm performed by oneself. They are a great convenience, but it's much better to be able to perform the charm yourself. Understood?"
Kersey nodded.
"Any further questions?"
No one moved.
"Good. Spend the remainder of the lesson practicing. Feel free to ask any questions if you have them."
Everyone scattered throughout the room, gathering in groups as teenagers were wont to. Scorpius found himself alone in a corner. He scanned the room for Rose, but she stood with her back to him, standing with a group of girls who seemed to be her room mates, and a few boys. He quickly turned away and set about practicing, but his mind was elsewhere, and by the time the bell rung, he had made little progress, beyond slightly singeing the wall.
"I expect everyone to practice." The professor said as they filled out the door.
History of Magic followed, taught by Professor Binns, who just happened to be a ghost. Scorpius tried not to fall asleep as he droned on about something historical – or so he assumed – but he failed. Next thing he knew, the bell was ringing and the professor was assigning eleven inches on the origins of magic that he had no idea how he was going to complete.
Rose was nowhere in sight as Scorpius left the classroom, and headed to the great hall for lunch. He found her sitting with her dorm mates, she looked bored, but when he arrived, there was no reply. Then came Herbology with the Ravenclaws and Transfiguration with Hufflepuff. Rose spent Herbology talking to her cousin and Transfiguration with her Gryffindor friends. Scorpius ended up working with a few Ravenclaws, who he got along well enough with, and some Hufflepuffs who ended up helping him.
That evening, he sat on his four-poster doing homework, careful not to spill any ink on to his bed. He practiced the shield charm until his dorm mates came in, and headed off to sleep. The week passed slowly, without Rose to talk to. Classes were far from easy as it was, but they were even worse when you went through them alone. He made a few friends in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, but the Gryfindors were still distant as ever – perhaps even more so, after his argument with Rose. He spend that weekend studying.
Come Monday morning, he awoke early, by his standards at least. He got dressed just as his roommates finished up and headed downstairs with the rest. He walked on his own as they talked amongst himselves. Suddenly he felt someone grabbing on to his arm.
"What?" he exclaimed, spinning around to meet his assailant, but there was no one in sight.
Something pulled him off into an empty classroom. The door slammed shut behind him.
"What's going on?" he tried to shout, but no noise came out of his mouth.
He instinctively grasped at his throat.
"What do you want with me?" he tried again, "Someone! Help me!" Still no sound escaped.
A peal of laughter echoed through the room. He glanced around, but there seemed to be no one there. Suddenly he was hoisted by his ankle and hung upside-down. He screamed in silence. Words began to appear on the wall.
"Death Eater scum" they read.
"Someone help me!" he tried again, still to no avail.
His wand! He needed his wand! He spotted it lying on the ground, useless as a simple stick. Please, let someone find him, he begged whoever was watching – as unbecoming as begging was.
Then the door flew open. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway, wand raised. In an instant he was on the ground in a heap. One of the older students who had accosted him in the train appeared in the corner.
"Come with me!" McGonagall ordered, Scorpius thought she had been angry the other day, but that was nothing.
As she led him out the door, she flicked her wand, and the words on the wall vanished. It was then that he noticed Rose standing in the doorway.
"I thought you might need some help." She remarked.
Scorpius forced himself to his feet, stepped towards her, and extended a hand, "Thank you."
To his relief she took the hand, and gave it a solid shake, "No problem." She said with a wry smile, "Breakfast?"
"I'm starving." He couldn't help but grin.