Times Change

Chapter 2

"Bye, sweetheart. Have a good year." Mum and dad waved me from the platform.

I smiled small, and gave them a nod. My stomach did a few funny shakes as the train gave a lurch and started. Albus, James, and a couple of other first years sat in our compartment. I joined Albus and James in a game of exploding snap. I gleefully watched a pile blow in front of James, when he entered.

His eyes raked the compartment and found mine. Albus and James looked up at him politely. Then Albus stood up.

"Hey, you are Scorpius, right?" He asked, smiling. Scorpius nodded.

"Look, I…err…, we don't care much about the past, and so…I am Albus. Albus Potter." He stretched his hand.

On hearing the name Potter, a few people gasped and stared, Albus and James rolled their eyes and shrugged. Scorpius, however, gave a weak smile and shook his hand.

"Thanks." Scorpius said, his eyes meeting mine. "I'll come in a while." His eyes and mine connected for a few seconds, and he left.

I waited for two minutes. Then I got up. "One sec, Al and James." I said, striding out of the compartment. I walked ahead of few compartments, and stopped.

He was waiting almost in the edge of the train. He turned and saw me. We never said a word. He sat on a seat. I looked around, the place was empty. I sat next to him.

Why? What happened to me? He just stares at me, and I follow him like a magnet. Dad could be right- he is a Malfoy, and he is luring me to danger!

I glared at my hand as though it had spoken those words to me. No. I know Scorpius is the friend I wish to be with. I know. My heart says so.

"Rose Weasley." He said. I jumped. His voice was like honey. Sweet, floaty and-

"Nice name." He said feebly. "Suits you." I blushed.

"Well? Why do you think so?" I asked him, hoping to engage him in a decent conversation without staring and blushing.

"Hmm, a rose looks enchanting." He didn't blush, but a small pink tinge appeared in his cheek. I laughed.

"I look enchanting?" I asked him, surveying him.

"Hell, yeah. Must've been from your mum." He said automatically. "My dad reckons your mum looks pretty."

Talk about news. "Draco Malfoy says Hermione Granger looks pretty?" I asked him incredulously.

"The second wizarding war is over Rose. Old prejudices, old stories." Scorpius said, grinning slightly. "Funny how a person turns out if he wasn't manipulated by his dad, huh? That's the reason we don't speak about Lucius anymore. He doesn't matter, and dad says it serves him right to rot in Azkaban."

"Must make a mental note to mention it to my dad." I muttered. Scorpius' smile faded.

"Look, Rose. I don't want anybody to know about us as friends…I mean," He said, sounding anxious and giving me a reproachful look. "People will try separating us."

"But you said old prejudices-"

"Yeah, I said that. But, seriously Rose, you don't expect my dad and your mum to suddenly have a get together?" He said, sighing. "It will raise some eyebrows, Rose."

"Yeah." I muttered, thinking hard. How in the world did Scorp and I talk like this? It seemed…forbidden. Oh, we shouldn't have been talking like this. Dad will expect me to jinx him, not have sweet talks. "Listen, Scorp." I said, getting up. " I should get going. Albus will arrange a search party for me if I don't return."

Scorpius sat staring. I cocked my eyebrows. "What?" I asked.

"You called me…Scorp." He said, pronouncing the word as though it was glass. I blushed furiously.

"Don't like it?" I asked teasingly, with a mockingly disappointed tone.

Scorpius smirked, his face looking sharper. "You bet, Miss Weasley. I'll owl you, can I? After dinner to your dorm?"

Of course! My heart leapt but I returned his smirk. "You bet, Mister Malfoy." I said smoothly, turning away.

I walked back to the compartment, feeling anxious. I thought Scorp would come running behind to confirm if he could really owl me. Heck, is he serious about our friendship? I walked a bit faster, my heart feeling a bit heavy. He had just come to taunt me, hadn't he? The very idea of our friendship must have been a joke good enough for his weight in gold. A single tear streaked my face, as I was a foot away from the compartment. I brushed it away, and gripped the handle, ready to swing it to get inside.

"Rose! Wait, one sec!"

Good, I thought, my heart now fluttering. Of course, Scorp would come. He would be serious about our friendship. I turned.

God, no.

It was Albus.

"Rose, the express…"

For the first time in my life, I wasn't happy to see him.

"…the trolley lady just passed…"

Oh, is Scorp seriously not serious about our friendship?

"…will be reaching by five minutes, Rose, are you even listening?" Albus asked, tentatively, edging backwards as though I was advancing on him with a knife.

I realized I was glaring at him fiercely, deep in thought. I relaxed a bit. "Sorry Al." I said sweetly. "I was thinking about…something."

"Like…plotting to kill me?" Al asked, his sarcastic smile flickering, as though he was unsure if it wasn't true.

"Yeah. So leave me alone if you wanted to live a bit longer." I said, and walked in the compartment. James looked at me and winked. "Secret meeting?" he asked icily in my ear.

"None of your business." I told him in an equally icy tone. I saw the train slowing down, and walked to stand next to the door. I saw Albus approaching me and turned towards the gate. Al stood right behind me.

"You know Rosie, I think Al is right." He whispered in my ear huskily.

I shivered.

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