Scorpius

The first time he realized that he was different, Scorpius was five years old. He had come down to breakfast like usual and had immediately noticed that his normally smiling and alert father was gloomy and exhausted. Scorpius had immediately asked what was wrong, and his mother told him that his father had a nightmare that night. Scorpius was perplexed by that.

"Are Father's eyes scary? Are they mean to him?"

Needless to say, his parents didn't know what he meant by that. During the following questions, Scorpius realized that other people didn't dream about eyes the way he did. No, he was never scared of the eyes, why would he be? No, the dreams were never just eyes. That was simply all he could remember about the person they belonged to. Of course he dreamed about the eyes every night, what else would he dream about if not them?

When asked what color the eyes were, Scorpius realized that there was no perfect answer. It was actually quite frustrating to try and convey to color of the most stunning blue eyes he'd ever seen. The closest he got, and the description he settled with, was sapphire blue with flecks the color of the sky at various times of the day. (He didn't tell his parents, but blue was his favorite color because of those eyes.)

His parents had been a little worried, despite every reassurance he gave them that the person in his dreams was his friend. They called the family Healer to check on him, and Scorpius ended up answering all the questions he had already answered, as well as many more. He didn't understand why everyone was so rattled by his dreams of the eyes. If anything, he was surprised that they weren't upset that they themselves didn't dream about the eyes, as he told the Healer.

The report the Healer had given his parents was that the eyes were a phase, and that there was nothing to be worried about. Scorpius knew that the eyes weren't a phase, but he knew to keep quiet about them. The eyes worried his parents for some reason, and if thinking they would go away would ease their minds, then he would let them believe that.

Even at his young age, Scorpius could tell that no matter what he said, nobody would understand when he said that they eyes were probably his best friend.

Several years later, Scorpius was eight years old. He dreamed of the sapphire eyes every night still, but had learned by now that some things are better off being a secret. His parents believed what the Healer had said three years ago: that the eyes had been a phase and the dreams had gone away. Obviously they hadn't, but Scorpius let them believe that because it kept them from worrying.

By now, he and the person in the dreams had talked a lot – after all, eight years of seeing each other night allows for a lot of conversation. One morning he woke up in a panic, realizing that there was a high likelihood that he would one day forget something the person had said to him. He had immediately requested to go buy a journal for himself. His parents were a little bemused but had agreed.

After hours of searching and three stores later, he had ended up getting a blue one that was only several shades away from being the same shade of sapphire as the eyes. The pages were soon filled with remembered conversations, and something within him sighed in relief now that he could never forget.

Scorpius didn't just listen to the person talk, though. He also told them everything about himself. He knew that by eight years old, the other person probably knew more about him than he did. He didn't doubt that his person was real. His parents' reactions when he was younger was enough to prove that the idea was possible, and his dreams always felt too lifelike for it to be anything but real. Besides, he and his person couldn't be the only ones out there to dream of each other's eyes. Maybe other people dreamed of eyes as well.

Whenever he was feeling particularly lonely, it was comforting to know that the moment he fell asleep he wouldn't be alone anymore. Even when they argued (which didn't happen often, and always ended quickly) he knew that he was with his best friend in the whole world. No matter where he was or who he was with, he could count on seeing his person in his dreams at night.

He loved the dreams, but he also began to want to meet his person in real life one of these days – if nothing else, just so that he could remember what they looked like when they had to part ways.

When he was eleven, Scorpius was ready to board the train to Hogwarts. His trunk was packed and ready to go, and his owl – a Great Horned owl called Borealis – was in its cage ready to be put on the train. He knew his father both dreaded and wanted him to be in Slytherin. His mother didn't really care which House he was in. Scorpius himself was secretly hoping for Ravenclaw. He wasn't sure he would quite fit in with Slytherin, but he also wanted to be a Ravenclaw because nearly every item of clothing he had was blue, and it would be a pain to turn it all different colors or buy new clothing.

His obsession with the color blue wasn't only confined to his choices in clothing. It also extended to his room, and even sometimes to which food he ate. It was a source of amusement for his parents, and Scorpius was just glad that they weren't worried about it. His response whenever someone asked about his love of the color was that it reminded him of good memories. It was the truth, just not all of it, and that was fine by him.

"Don't take it personally if she isn't too friendly with you."

His father's words on the platform by the train sink into him. At Scorpius's confusion, his father explains that he and the girl's parents never really got along during school, and that her father in particular still holds a grudge that he might have passed on to her. Scorpius nods, because by now he is used to being judged for things he never did. When he hugs his mother, she slips a Cauldron Cake into his hand as a treat for the ride there. Cauldron Cakes are good, but he usually prefers Chocolate Frogs. Still, he thanked her before boarding the train.

Once aboard, he realized that now he had to find a place to sit. The first several compartments he glanced into were full, but the fifth one he checks has an empty seat inside. It was then that he realized that he was still holding his Cake, and he moved to put it away when he opened the door. The occupants looked up at his entrance, but his gaze was drawn to a flash of blue. He sees the Hogwarts robes, fair skin, bright red hair, and –

And eyes the color of sapphires mixed with the sky as it changes throughout the day.

He stopped breathing for a moment, and his eyes went wide as he stared at the girl in front of him. This was his person. He knew it was her, because now that he'd seen her here, he could remember seeing her in his dreams. This was the person he had told everything to, the one he'd promised to trade his Cauldron Cakes with for her Chocolate Frogs just to see her smile. This was the person he had talked with, joked with, laughed with. This was his person.

It felt like they had been frozen in time for years, but only seconds had passed. She looked as stunned to see him as he was to see her, though Scorpius noticed that her eyes slowly lit up the longer they watched each other. The others in the compartment stayed silent, something he was glad of. He wasn't sure how much questioning he could take at the moment. Perhaps they could sense that this was important – probably the most important thing he had ever experienced. The girl suddenly smiled slightly, and reached in her pocket, withdrawing a Chocolate Frog that she held out to him.

He was reminded of the Cauldron Cake in his hand at that, and the look she was giving him was well known to him. You promised. Scorpius feels himself smile widely at what is almost an inside joke, and trades items with her. If he had any doubts before, they are gone now. Nobody but her would know about the agreement he and his person had over the sweets. He realizes suddenly that they have been staring at each other for a while now, even though it hasn't been uncomfortable. They have stared at each other for much longer in their dreams as they tried to bring back memories to the real world.

"H-hi." Scorpius is a little bit in awe at the moment, though feeling strangely shy. It feels almost like he is in a dream right now – a proper one this time, one like everybody else has. He thinks she understands though, because she is looking just as overwhelmed as he is feeling.

"Hi." Her voice is quiet, and just a little breathless. Scorpius is aware of the strange looks they are getting from the others, but he chooses to ignore them. He has been waiting all his life to meet her. They can wait a few more minutes to get answers. Realizing that he doesn't even know her name (and that she doesn't know his, yet) he puts his hand out.

"I'm Scorpius Malfoy." she takes his hand and smiles. There is a hint of disbelief in both of their expressions, he is sure. After so long, this is finally happening.

"Rose Weasley. Pleasure to finally meet you." At that, he smiles as well. To outsiders listening in, it probably sounds like they have heard a lot about each other from their parents. That assumption's not wrong, but the meaning for them is very different. A moment later, she speaks again.

"Would you like to join us?" Her eyes glint as she asks the question, and he immediately responds.

"Always."