Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Rose and Albus were making their way down the train aisle when one of the compartment doors opened with a bang. "There you lot are!" said a grinning James Potter. "We were all wondering if you lot had been left at the train station!"
The "you all" that James was referring to was the whole Potter and Weasley family who appeared to be crammed into one tiny carriage compartment.
"Well come on in! Dominique, move over," said Victoire, the Head Girl and oldest Weasley cousin.
Albus of course moved right into the compartment, even though there really hadn't been enough room in the first place.
"I think that I'll keep going. It looks a little tight," Rose said to an agreeing James before heading down the aisle. Rose thought over which book she should read to occupy herself until she arrived at Hogwarts as she passed one full compartment after the other. Before she knew it, she was at the very back of the train facing the last seemingly empty compartment.
Rose breathed out a sigh of relief before sliding the door open and flinging herself down onto the seat. Only, what Rose flung herself onto ended up being a person, not a seat.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there! I thought this compartment was empty. I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe I just sat on you! And here I was hoping to read my school books, but instead I managed to sit right on your lap," an incredibly red faced Rose rambled as she tried to avoid looking the person she sat on in the eye.
When only silence met her rambling apology, Rose decided it was acceptable to take a tentative peek at the person she on whose lap she sat. Rose turned a darker shade of red upon seeing that the person she sat on was the pale boy her father had told her to beat in every single test!
The boy was just staring at Rose. Upon close inspection, Rose could see that his eyes were blue. Not ocean blue like hers were, but a pale icy blue. But what intrigued Rose the most about the boy's eyes wasn't their color, but their expression. The boy's eyes were wide with shock, and possibly embarrassment? Rose wasn't sure about the later. Maybe it was her own embarrassment she saw reflected in his eyes. But beyond the shock of her sitting on him was curiosity, a certain warmth, and what struck Rose the most; a certain emotion that could only be described as hurt. This boy had hurt in his eyes. Rose didn't know why, but all she knew was that she wanted to make that hurt go away.
With awkwardness and embarrassment long forgotten, Rose stuck out her hand and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Rose Weasley. I like reading, flying, and learning new things. I'm also rather clumsy, as you could guess since I fell on you. What's your name?"
"I'm Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy," the boy replied. He did not take her hand.
"You're a Malfoy? I've heard all about the Malfoy family!" Rose exclaimed, perhaps a bit louder than she intended.
"I bet you have," Scorpius said gravely.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound offensive. I've just heard about your family from my family and from the books I've read. The Malfoy's are one of the oldest Pureblood families in the Wizarding World!" Rose exclaimed excitedly at sharing the knowledge she gained through reading.
"Yes, and a whole lot of good that has done us," Scorpius retorted.
"You know, you're nothing like my Dad described the Malfoy family," Rose said kindly and cautiously as she tried to gauge Scorpius's emotions.
"After the war, my father tried to distance himself as much as he could from the Malfoy family name. The war broke something inside of him. It made him question everything. He didn't know who he was or what he believed in anymore. He turned to alcohol for a while to try and cope. That's actually how my mother and father came to love each other. He told me that it was amazing that she fell in love and stayed with him even after the legal terms for their arranged marriage had passed. You know, I really don't know why I'm telling you all of this. A Weasley of all people. My Dad said you would probably hate me the most out of everyone at school because of what he did to your family. Especially your Mum in his own house," Scorpius exclaimed dejectedly.
"Your father can't be held accountable for what your great aunt did to my mother. Bellatrix Lestrange was the one who tortured my Mum and carved the word Mudblood into her arm. The only thing that your father did to my mother was make childish taunts at her while they were in school. My mother has forgiven your father for that. She realizes now that it couldn't have been easy to grow up being taught that Muggles and Mudbloods are inferior and that Voldemort was right," Rose retorted fiercely.
Scorpius looked surprised that Hermione Granger-Weasley had forgiven his father, since his father hadn't yet forgiven himself. "My father still hasn't forgiven himself for his role in the war. It's eating him up inside. He rarely smiles. If he does, it's usually only at me, my Mum, or my Grandmum," Scorpius said sadly.
"I'm sorry he feels that way. My Mum once told me that the only person you can change is yourself. You can't change other people or control what they do. Your father could not control Bellatrix Lestrange's actions. He could only control his own. My Uncle Harry said that your father refused to acknowledge that it was them when they were first brought to the manor. That was doing something! He chose to LIE to his own father by playing dumb about their identities. And now he's changed. He's taught you both sides of the war. He's warned you that you might not be well liked. I know for a fact that he's donated tons of money to war relief efforts and to St. Mungos. It sounds like your Dad has definitely changed for the better, Scorpius. He may not have been the greatest person back when he was a kid, but now it sounds like he's a pretty decent man," said Rose kindly. She had to restrain herself from reaching out and rubbing Scorpius's shoulder. Although she wanted to, she figured it was a bit too soon for that kind of comfort. Words would have to suffice for the time being.
After hearing Rose Weasley's defense of his own father, Scorpius gave Rose a tentative smile. But after a few seconds, that little smile turned into a full out toothy grin that Rose couldn't help but find adorable.
"You know, you're one of the only people that has ever said something nice about my father. And you're the only person aside from my family that has talked to me today. Everyone else turned tail once they saw it was me sitting in the compartment. I guess being seen with a Malfoy is social suicide now," Scorpius joked dryly.
"Well bugger on them then. Who cares what people think? The only one you need to impress is yourself!" Rose said indignantly on Scorpius's behalf.
After Rose's last statement, both Rose and Scorpius seemed to realize the serious nature of the conversation they had just ended. Upon realizing that, they both looked away from each other rather quickly.
After a few seconds of awkward silence and the clearing of a throat, Scorpius looked up at Rose and said a simple, "Thanks."
Rose simply smiled at Scorpius and before saying, "That's what friends are for."
"I've never really had a friend before. What do friends do?" Scorpius asked as he tried to fight off a slight flush.
"Well, for one, they talk just like we've been doing. They also share books, and food, and funny stories. Oh, hey, my Mum packed me some chocolate frogs! Want one?" Rose asked excitedly.
At Scorpius's nod, Rose got up to dig in her trunk for the snack bag her mother had so carefully packed for her. After locating the bag, Rose carefully divided the chocolate frogs into two equal piles, one of which went to Scorpius.
Soon the sound of rustling filled the compartment as both children tore into their candy.
"Hey, I've got Dumbledore! Wow, that's awesome! Who do you have?" Scorpius asked.
"Morgana. I have about six of those. Do you want her?" Rose replied as she pouted at her card.
"Yes please!" Scorpius exclaimed excitedly.
"You can have her then!" Rose said as she handed Scorpius the card.
All of a sudden the door to the compartment slammed open revealing and slightly disheveled and disgruntled Albus Potter. Albus's eyes shone with relief as soon as he located the familiar flash of his cousin's hair. "There you are. Thank Merlin you have a compartment by yourself. I've taken about as much of the family as I can get. You had the right idea earlier. I don't know what I was thinking trying to squeeze in with all five thousand of our cousins," Albus exaggerated as he flopped dramatically onto the seat beside Rose.
"You have five thousand cousins? I knew that your family was large, but I didn't realize it was that large!" Scorpius joked.
Albus froze and turned his head towards the new voice so fast that he creaked his neck. "What the! OW! Who are you, and are you making fun of our family?!" a wincing Al growled at a stunned and nervous looking Scorpius.
"For goodness sake Albus, couldn't you tell Scorpius was joking? Why'd you have to pull a James and just jump to conclusions? Scorpius is my friend. Please treat him as such," Rose said rather crossly.
"Scorpius? As in Scorpius MALFOY?! Rose, your Dad warned you to stay away from the whole Malfoy family! Don't you know what they've done to our family? To your MOTHER?" Albus practically screamed the last part in panic without regards to the fact that Scorpius was also in the compartment.
Rose however was well aware that Scorpius was still there, and that he now looked ashamed and embarrassed. And this was something Rose could just not tolerate. First, Scorpius had nothing to be ashamed of, and second, no one treated someone Rose cared about that way and got away with it, even if that someone was family. And with the famous Weasley temper roaring through her blood, Rose stood up to Albus and said, "ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER, JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO JUDGE SCORPIUS WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM? I ALREADY TOLD YOU HE IS MY FRIEND! DON'T YOU TRUST MY JUDGEMENT? DO YOU THINK I WOULD BE SITTING HERE WITH HIM, SHARING CHOCOLATE FROGS AND CALLING HIM MY FRIEND IF HE WAS ANYTHING LIKE MY FATHER HAD BEEN DESCRIBING THE MALFOY FAMILY? WELL GUESS WHAT! SCORPIUS IS SMART, KIND, AND FUNNY, NOT TO MENTION NOTHING LIKE HIS FATHER WAS LIKE WHEN OUR PARENTS WERE IN SCHOOL. AND SPEAKING OF HIS FATHER, HE'S CHANGED TOO! SO DON'T EVEN GO THERE WITH YOUR NEXT COMMENT ALBUS! NOW EITHER SIT HERE AND APOLOGIZE AND ACTUALLY TALK TO SCORPIUS, OR GET THE HELL OUT! Rose screamed at an opened mouth and embarrassed looking Albus.
For a few seconds all Albus could do was open and close his mouth like a goldfish and stare at the flushed and panting Rose, but when he finally could speak, he turned to Scorpius and said, "I'm sorry Scorpius. I was way out of line. Rose is right. I shouldn't have judged you without getting to know you. I pulled definitely pulled a James."
"It's fine. Apology accepted. I guess I should get used to it," Scorpius replied good-naturedly.
"Well, if you're Rose's friend, you're going to have to be my friend too. And friends always have each other's backs. Oh, hey, can I have a chocolate frog?" Albus asked excitedly, as he was easily distracted.
"Sure," Scorpius said as he tossed Albus a frog, which the latter enthusiastically caught.
And with that Albus and Scorpius began talking about what candy was the best, as if Albus hadn't just completely judged Scorpius a full two minutes ago.
Rose rolled her eyes at the boys as she took out one of her books to read for the remainder ride, now that she had calmed down and was sure Albus would be able to behave himself.
"Rose, what if I get into Slytherin?" a nervous Albus suddenly asked for the thousandth time.
"Albus, it doesn't matter what house you get into. Our family will love and support you no matter what. Besides, there is nothing wrong with Slytherin. Severus Snape was in Slytherin, and he was incredibly brave," Rose said as they traveled across the lake to Hogwarts.
"My whole family, minus my Mum, has been in Slytherin. If you get in Slytherin, maybe we can be together!" Scorpius told Albus.
"But how do you know you'll be in Slytherin?" Rose questioned curiously.
"Well I don't, but if my whole family has been in that houseā¦" Scorpius began before being interrupted by an impatient Albus.
"Look, as Rose said earlier, you're nothing like how Uncle Ron or my Dad said the Malfoy family was like. I doubt you'll be in Slytherin," Albus said with a false since of finality.
"Well, I don't think you'll be in Slytherin either then!" Scorpius was quick to retort.
"Guys look! We're here!" Rose interrupted with a squeal as Hogwarts came into view.
One by one the boats landed and the kids got out. Once all of the kids were on land, they were greeted by the Herbology Professor, Neville Longbottom.
"Rose look, it's Uncle Nev!" Al exclaimed excitedly.
"Except we can't call him that now that we're at school Albus. Now shush, he's about to start talking!" Rose said as she flapped her hand in her cousin's direction.
"Hello first years. My name is Professor Longbottom. I teach Herbology here at Hogwarts and I am the Head of Gryffindor. You will soon enter into the Great Hall where you will be sorted by the sorting hat into one of the four houses. Gryffindor: home of the brave, Slytherin: home of the ambitious, Hufflepuff: home of the loyal, and Ravenclaw: home of the wise. Each house has something unique to offer and will teach you all you need to know. Now, if you'd all follow me," Neville said before opening the doors and leading the nervous first years into the Great Hall.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open to reveal the sight of four long tables packed with upperclassmen and ghosts. The whole sight was kind of overwhelming to Rose, Albus, and Scorpius as they had only heard stories and read books about Hogwarts. The real deal was so much more intense and astounding.
Professor Longbottom walked to the front of the Great Hall with a stool and an old wizard hat. The Great Hall became silent as the hat began to sing.
Rose was trying to listen to the song, but found that she couldn't over Albus's repeated mumbles of, "Not Slytherin, please not Slytherin."
Rose decided to ignore it for the first minute, but once she realized that Albus was not going to stop, she decided to make him stop by stomping down hard on Albus's foot. Albus made a high pitched squeal that unfortunately carried around the hall as the sorting hat had just finished singing. This caused a few sniggers as students looked around for the source of the sound. Luckily for Albus, who was an interesting shade of red, Professor Longbottom chose that moment to begin reading off the names of the first years about to be sorted.
"ANDERSON, MICHAEL!"
After some deliberation, the sorting hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" to the loud applause from the table decked in red and gold.
The sorting continued on until, "MALFOY, SCORPIUS!" was called to the front.
The hall suddenly became silent as everyone wanted to see where the son of an Ex-Death Eater would be placed.
The sorting hat took a long time to sort Scorpius, much to his discomfort. But, when the hat finally did decide, it shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
Dead silence.
There was no clapping. Everyone was stunned that a Malfoy had been placed anywhere but Slytherin.
Rose couldn't take it anymore, and poor Scorpius was frozen on the stool all red faced and embarrassed. She started clapping and hollering, and nudged Albus so he would do the same. Then the rest of the school followed their lead, and Scorpius was led over to the Ravenclaw table.
Nothing else noticeable happened until, "POTTER, ALBUS!" was called to the front.
The hat took a while with Albus too, but not as long as it took with Scorpius. But then, "RAVENCLAW!" The Ravenclaw table exploded with applause as a relieved looking Albus Potter stumbled over to sit next to a beaming Scorpius.
Rose was only vaguely aware that all the rest of the students were being called up. She was so busy being happy for Albus and Scorpius that it came as quite the surprise when Professor Longbottom came up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. Rose flushed and mentally cursed herself for not noticing that she had been called as she made her way up to be sorted.
When Rose put on the hat, she could hear the hat talking to itself, or her. She actually wasn't sure if the hat was talking to her, or just thinking aloud.
"Hmmm, another Weasley. I've sorted quite a few of you over the years. The rest of the clan is in Gryffindor, and you'd do well there. BUT. You are also a Granger. I see you take after your mother as opposed to your father academically. You also have a good heart and a good ability to sense reason and justice. There really isn't any other place for you other than, "RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table was absolutely beside themselves with happiness. They had gotten both a POTTER and a WEASLEY! Happy days, happy days!
A grinning Rose wove her way to the seat between Albus and Scorpius that they had made as soon as they heard that she would also be in Ravenclaw. And then, the food appeared. The three friends ate to their heart's content while meeting their fellow first years and upperclassmen. Then before they knew it, it was time for bed. They were led to the Ravenclaw tower where they then got ready for bed and almost immediately feel asleep.
