Chapter Two:

The Sorting was over, the students where fed and the headmistress had read the last of the schools notices.

'All that remains for me to say' Professor McGonagall said as she stood at the centre of the teachers table 'is to wish you all goodnight' There was a scraping of chairs as the hall filled with noise and prefects hurried to lead the new first years towards their house common rooms.

Rose and Scorpius where shunted along with the rest of the crowd as they followed the other first years to their beds, Rose waved to Albus who looked as pale as ever while his brother stared at her as though he couldn't believe she really existed.

'They wanted you to be in Gryffindor, didn't they?' Scorpius said as they crossed the entrance hall and down steps and into the long dark corridors that led to their dungeon.

'All my family have been in Gryffindor' Rose said 'well my immediate family anyway, what about you?'

'Slytherin' Scorpius confessed 'that's why I had to be in this house. I don't think mum or dad would have minded if I was in a different house. Hufflepuff might have stretched that tolerance though, but my Granddad…..Well he'd disown me if I hadn't have made it in'

'It's silly how much pressure they put on the sorting isn't it?' Rose said as they continued to follow the others, 'As if it's realistic to define an eleven and be able to adequately asses what they'll be like in the future! Did you know that Hogwarts is the only Wizarding School that separates its students?'

'No I didn't'

'And it's the only school that has house elves working in servitude, others have paid servants or at Durmstrang they make the students do all the work themselves- I'm not saying that I'd relish washing sheets or cooking but to enslave elves just because we can is down right barbaric'

'How do know all this?' Scorpius asked as he stared at Rose

'My mum told me, she's a really cleaver witch. She's the founder of S.P.E.W-'

'That Elf rights society?' Scorpius said now looking at Rose as though she had grown two heads.

'It's not just elves, it's all magical brethren' and with that she threw Scorpius a beaming smile, linked her arm through his and followed the others towards their new home.

The Slytherin common room was dark, there where no windows and the only light was from candles and torches that burned with an eerie green glow. The room itself was decorated lavishly with its house colours of green and silver.

'Welcome to Slytherin house' the prefect said 'this will be your home for the next seven years, and we all hope that you strive to continue the success that each and every member of this house as all contributed to' With that the boys and girls separated.

'Good night Rosie' Scorpius called over his shoulder as he reluctantly followed the other first year boys, Rose waved and he found that her beaming smile was a much needed tonic.

The following morning the first years where led back towards the Great Hall for breakfast, all where now dressed in their house colours, and their badges, worn with pride showed the snake of Salazar Slytherin. Professor Longbottom moved throughout the first years handing out timetables.

'You're going to love your first lesson Rosie' he said handing over the parchment before he passed on,

'How do you know him?' Scorpius asked as he looked at the receding back of the professor

'He's a friend of my mum and dad's' Rose replied as she looked down her time table, her eyes widening as she spotted their first lesson 'We've got flying first!'

The first years gobbled their food as quickly as they could, all eager to be the first out onto the grounds before all the best brooms where gone.

'Rosie!' Albus called as he hurried towards his cousin as they left the great hall 'Wait up!' Albus, a miniature spitting image of his dad came running across the grounds to Rose's side

'Have you wrote to your mum and dad yet?' he asked slightly breathlessly as Scorpius gave them space and walked a little in front.

'No not yet'

'Don't you think you should? You know - Before someone else tells them you didn't make it into Gryffindor-'

"It isn't as though I've failed a test you know!" Rose snapped 'It doesn't matter what house I'm in does it?'

'N-No' Albus said shying a little at his cousin's obvious annoyance 'It's, well it's just that you know how much it meant to them for us to be in the same house, it's only right that they hear it from you and not Victoire …or James'

'HE WOULDN'T?' Rose said her anger spilling over at Albus' words

'He talked about it…it was actually the only thing he talked about all last night'

Rose sighed and finally conceded 'I'll tell them, it's only right isn't it?' Albus nodded and as Scorpius fell back into line with them as the three first years headed towards their first lesson.

Rose, Albus and Scorpius where all naturals on a broom, all three had learned from their fathers and in Rose and Albus' case their uncles too, the lesson lasted a double period and as the teacher finally drew the class to a close it was time for break. Albus departed with his new Gryffindor friends while the other Slytherin quickly left Rose and Scorpius behind.

'I'm sorry' Scorpius said his voice low and defeatist as the other first years hurried away and he and Rose walked back towards the castle alone.

'Sorry for what?'

'F-For being the reason why the others are ignoring you-' Rose couldn't believe what Scorpius was saying it sounded mad, but before she could voice her feelings a loud voice called across the grounds.

'Oi Malfoy!' Turning Rose could see that the yell had come from a group of older boys all of them in their last years at the school and all from different house.

'I can't believe that scum like you are allowed to come here' one large Ravenclaw snarled as they closed in around the two first years.

'You shouldn't even be allowed to live' A Hufflepuff spat

'Leave him alone!' Rose shouted as she raised her wand and pointed it at the knoll of boys as they closed in around them, pushing Scorpius between them, pulling his robes, spitting and calling him filthy names.

'Who's this your girlfriend?' the Ravenclaw jeered as he pushed Scorpius to the ground and raised his foot to stomp down on Scorpius' legs

BANG!

A flash of white light shot from Rose's wand with the sound of a cannon and hit the boy square in the face as he fell backwards into the others, his hand flew to his face as it swelled in size.

'Anyone that ever again touches a hair on this boys head will have me to answer to!' Rose yelled her chest was rising and falling as though she had run a marathon, her wand hand shook slightly as she helped Scorpius to his feet her eyes never once left the boys who glared at her as though they couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.

Half pulling each other Scorpius and Rose ran from the scene, they didn't stop until they had put a good distance between themselves and the boys.

'Th-Thank you' Scorpius said, lip bleeding as tears swelled in his eyes. He sank to the ground behind a large tree his knees raised and his hands covered his head as he cried, 'Y-You've been so nice to me, y-you didn't have t-to'

'It's nothing' Rose said softly as she put her arm around his shoulders and sank to the ground beside him 'We're friends. That's what friends do; they look out for one another'

'F-Friends?' Scorpius uttered as though the word was strange to him 'I've never had a friend before'

'Well you do now' Rose said as she hugged Scorpius tightly.