"Your memory will haunt me till the day I die
Just a shadow, a shadow of a man
I'm just a shadow, a shadow of a man"
(-) Chapter Two: First Year
As Scorpius walked with his father through King's Cross Station, he did his best to drink in the scenery. He was surrounded by mostly muggles, but every so often he'd spot a wizard and their parents. He felt somewhat self-conscious, considering he knew that he had a bit of a French accent, scars on his arms and face, and different clothes than the English wizards. Without his father beside him, he'd be a mess.
He looked up at his father in time to see him give a curt nod to another wizard. When Scorpius turned to look at the man, his heart instantly sped up, "is that… him?" he asked his father.
"Calm down Scorpius," Draco said calmly.
"You knew Harry Potter?" Scorpius exclaimed excitedly, "Were you friends at school?"
Draco stopped walking, and pulled his son close enough to whisper, "We were enemies, so do not be surprised if his children treat you like an enemy. It would be wise to avoid them."
The news excited Scorpius even more. He was proud of his father, and suddenly very interested in the history that he was never told, "why were you enemies?"
Draco had already started walking again, "hush, son. I'm sure you'll know by the end of the week."
He skipped beside his father for the rest of the way, trying not to smile too widely. When they finally passed the barrier, and loaded his luggage onto the train, his father pulled him into a hug. Draco hadn't hugged his son since he was an infant, so Scorpius was immediately taken off guard by the gesture.
"Scorpius," said his father in a broken voice, "try not to think too poorly of your father. I regret my actions. Your mother and I love you very much."
Draco let go of his son, and walked off without another word. He watched his father leave, still in shock.
(-)
Albus watched in surprise as his father shared a nod with a very pale-looking man, "Why is everyone looking at you, dad?"
"They're looking at me, I'm famous" said Ron, cutting off Harry, "It's nearly eleven; you guys better get on board."
Albus wasn't ready to go just yet. The thought had been bugging him since his birthday, "What if I'm in Slytherin?" he asked without thinking.
Harry crouched down," then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us."
Albus felt slightly reassured, and got onto the Hogwarts Express.
(-)
Albus and Rose ran through the train, looking for James. Rose slid open a compartment door, and found a pale looking blonde boy staring out the window. He turned to look at her as she was about to close the door again.
"Sorry," she said shyly, "I'm looking for my cousin…"
The blonde boy looked at her, not saying a word.
"James Potter," said Albus, "do you know him by chance?"
"Don't be stupid, Al, he's a first year," said Rose.
"Sorry," he said, "um, what's your name? I'm Albus."
The blonde boy watched them, clearly more shy than Albus. He gave a weak smile and said his name was Scorpius.
"Scorpius Malfoy?" asked Rose with a glare, "my dad warned me about you."
Albus elbowed his cousin, giving the blonde boy an apologetic look, "she doesn't mean that," he said awkwardly, "see you at the sorting."
He took Rose by the elbow and led her away from his compartment. Scorpius sighed and took out a book.
(-)
After a few compartments, Rose and Albus found the one with James. He was with four of his Gryffindor friends.
"Oh, hi Albus, hi Rose," he said, sounding bored, "we're busy, and there's no room for both of you. Go make some friends of your own."
"James, I'll tell your mom," threatened Rose.
The older brother rolled his eyes, "fine, one of you can stay, just be quiet."
Albus shared a look with Rose, annoyed at her behaviour "I'm going to go sit with that other boy, you can stay here."
Rose made no motion to stop him, and instead sat next to one of her cousin's friends, "can I play?" she asked.
Albus closed the compartment door and walked down the hall toward the nearly empty compartment. He opened the door, and found it empty save for a French muggle book. Albus sat down anyways, and started looking out the window at the scenery.
After a few minutes, he heard someone say "oh."
Albus turned around and saw the blonde boy known as Scorpio or something. He smiled, and said hello.
"Do you want me to leave?" the boy asked.
Albus looked at him in surprise, "no, I came back to sit with you."
Scorpius gave him a worried look, and then sat opposite him next to his book, "your friend didn't seem to like me much."
Albus raised an eyebrow, "sorry, her dad isn't very nice to some people. My parents have never told me anything about Malfoys."
"Were you looking for someone named Potter?" asked Scorpius shyly.
Albus was confused, "yeah. That's my brother, James. He's not very nice."
Scorpius fell silent for a moment, and then asked, "Is your dad Harry Potter?"
"Yeah," replied Albus, "do you know my dad?"
Scorpius bit his lip and shook his head, "my dad told me that when he went to school, he was enemies with your dad."
Albus paused, "oh."
"Does that mean we're enemies?"
They didn't know which one of them asked the question, so neither of them responded. Albus looked out the window, and Scorpius stared at the cover of his book.
"What house do you want," asked Albus, changing the subject.
"Slytherin, I guess," replied Scorpius softly, "well, that's the one most of my family was in."
"Most of my family was Gryffindor. I hope I am too."
At that moment, it seemed to both of them that they were somehow destined to be enemies.
"I'd like to be friends," said Scorpius softly, "I've never had a friend who was a wizard before."
Albus looked up at him, but Scorpius didn't look up to meet his eyes, "Let's be friends then."
(-)
"Welcome to Hogwarts, I'm Professor McGonagall," said a rather elderly looking woman, "Before you first years can join the feast, we must first sort you into your houses."
Scorpius tried to listen to the professor's speech, but Albus and his cousin were beside him talking loudly.
"I don't know if I want Ravenclaw anymore. We can be in Gryffindor together…" droned Rose.
After being in the great hall for several moments, some of the first years gasped. An old looking hat on a stool had begun to sing loudly:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Rose jumped and clapped loudly, while Albus and Scorpius looked at the hat in awe. The professor began calling names in alphabetical order.
"Hector Adams"
The first year walked to the stool shyly, and the professor put the hat on his head. All eyes in the great hall were on the young boy, until the hat suddenly yelled "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table applauded and cheered loudly. Scorpius noticed that Rose had moved closer to him. He looked at her, and she smiled slyly, "I want James to see me with you."
"Ben Grouts" announced McGonagall.
"Oh…" said Scopius, "why does your family hate me?"
"Andrea Jacobs." she announced.
Rose spoke carefully, "because your dad and grandfather were death eaters. My dad doesn't forgive people easily. Don't worry about it though, if we become good friends, my family will like you."
Scorpius nodded, "did my dad ever do anything bad?" he asked.
Rose's eyes flashed, "I wouldn't know."
"Scorpius Malfoy." called McGonagall.
Scorpius couldn't feel his legs as he walked up to the professor and the sorting hat. He sat down shakily, and McGonagall put the hat on his head. It weighed quite a bit more than he anticipated.
"Hmm," said a voice in his ear, "I know your mind. Yes… we've met before."
'When could we have met?'
"Ah, that is the question. It doesn't matter, Scorpius, but I think you still belong in the same place."
"Gryffindor!" yelled the hat.
Scorpius stood up, as shaky as he felt before, and walked over to the cheering table. He sat down next to a redheaded boy who whispered, "not much of a Malfoy, eh?"
Scorpius swallowed hard, and hoped that he wouldn't be sorted here alone.
(-)
"Albus Potter!" yelled McGonagall, eyeing him proudly. Albus walked to the stool, trying not to move too quickly or awkwardly.
This was the moment that it all came down to, and he hoped that he wouldn't be a Slytherin. He knew his father didn't care, but he wondered if maybe the rest of his family would.
"Ah, it's been a while since I've seen a Potter," said the hat, "quite a lot to live up to, isn't there?"
'I don't want to be in Slytherin.'
"Well, that's familiar," laughed the hat, "but you aren't much of a Gryffindor anymore. Too many dark memories this time around."
'What are you talking about?'
The hat laughed, and then proceeded to yell "Slytherin!"
Albus sat in shock, not wanting to get up. It seemed to him that the hall had gone silent, but he could see the Slytherin table clapping and welcoming him. Somehow, he managed to drag himself there and sit down. He looked longingly at the Gryffindor table, while Scorpius looked longingly at the Slytherin table. When their eyes met, they shared a slight smile.
"Last but not least, Rose Weasley!"
"Gryffindor!"
Albus put his head in his hands.