Chapter 4
FMLYHM
I sat in my room at Malfoy manor, my earphones securely embedded into my ears. Recently, my parents had taken to arguments… each one seemingly louder than the one before. Today was no exception. Even my loud Muggle music couldn't drown out their words. Sighing, I slowly took out my earphones and winced at my parents' volume.
"You're never home!" shouted mum. "Now you'll be gone even longer!"
"It's not like we have much of a choice!" father shouted in response. "We've depleted all of the funds my mother had left me. We need the money!"
I sat up quickly, shocked at my father's last statement. Did that mean we had no money? I slid off my bed and, in my socks, quietly padded over to my locked door. I had insisted my father put a lock on the door once I had turned 16 stating that I needed my privacy to study. My real reason was that I hated the fact that my mother could have come into my room whenever she wanted, and that was quite often. Once I reached the door, I listened intently.
"But Draco, I haven't seen you for more than a few hours every day. I'm beginning to think I'm a single mum."
"Astoria, I have to take this job. I'll be home on holidays and we can meet up at Hogsmede on weekends."
"I understand but I don't have to like it." I could just imagine my mother pouting.
I tried to find out what job my father had taken but it seemed like that conversation was over. I was mulling over the different places that were around the wizarding village when my dad spoke again.
"You will have to take Scorpius to the train tomorrow."
"Draco, you know how much I detest that place." I rolled my eyes. My mother: drama queen.
"I know, dear. But the staff is on holiday. Do you really want our son to go by himself?" I would love that, I thought to myself. Then I could silently slink onto the train and not worry about sappy goodbyes and the like. As I was musing that over, my parents' bedroom door opened and I saw dad walk out. "Oh, Scorpius. How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," I muttered.
My father ran a hand through his long blonde hair. I looked just like him and he looked like Grandfather. I hated when everyone compared my looks to my father's. "Are you alright?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I have to get going. Sorry I can't see you off in the morning."
"No big deal," I said. I turned around and headed back into my room. I really didn't want to talk to anyone right now so I walked back over to my bed, put in my earphones, and closed my eyes.
I woke up to pounding on my door. "SCORPIUS! Get up!" Great, mum took today of all days to screech my name. I rolled over and looked at my calendar. It was then that I realized that today was the day I left for Hogwarts.
"Give me a minute!" I yelled back.
"Well, hurry up!"
I sat up way too fast… the room spun like I had been drinking. I like a good drink every now and then but last night, I stayed away from the shit. Where my dad was going, I didn't have a clue. That's why I stayed sober. I needed to figure this shit out before school started. Now, I'm at point zero… not a fucking clue. I could only think of two places he could be working: Hogsmede or Hogwarts. I was hoping it wasn't the latter. I grabbed my wand, pointed it at my head, and made the room stop spinning. Since all my things were packed up the night before, all I had to do was get dressed. I grabbed a black t-shirt, black jeans, and my black Harley boots. By the time I got downstairs, mum was pacing by the front door.
"It's about time. Let's get going. I don't want to be at that station any longer then I have to," Mum so eloquently put it.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied. When I stepped out of the door, I had to put on my sunglasses. The sun was way too bright for my tastes. This is not the way I wanted to start my final year at Hogwarts.
When I got onto the train, after Mummy Dearest made her quick getaway, I made my way through the throngs of students to a compartment near the back. As I entered, I saw my best friend, Ozbourne West and my ex, Jayde Zabini. Oz has been my friend since we were in nappies. He has long brown hair that is always in his eyes and brown eyes to match. Jayde is a beauty. Her dad, Blaise, and my dad are old school buddies. He married a gorgeous white girl so Jayde is a mix. Her toffee colored skin is finely sculpted, she is tall and slender, and her green eyes are like a cat's. We are great friends, and she was perfect in bed, but we could never function as a couple. I guess you could say we were better off as friends. I said hi and sat down next to the window.
"How was your holiday?" Oz asked.
"As good as it can be in Malfoy Manor," I returned nonchalantly as I stared out the window. I could feel Jayde scoot over to be closer and she put her hand on my shoulder.
"Scor, you seem edgy. What's on your mind?" Jayde asked.
I shrugged her off. I wasn't in the mood for twenty questions. "I'm fine," I replied. I know they didn't believe it.
"So, did you hear?" Oz asked. He knew when I wanted to be left alone. That's why he was my best friend.
I turned my attention towards him. "Hear what?"
"We have a guest teacher this year."
I rolled my eyes. Best friend or not, he also knew how to drag out a situation. "Why don't you cut out the shit and just tell me already."
He laughed and held up his hands. "Alright, man. Well, my dad heard from his drinking buddy that the 'wonderful' Harry Potter will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
"You're shitting me?" I responded. It couldn't be true.
"I swear on Merlin's balls, it's what I heard. Professor Potter… that's gonna be fucked up."
"It won't be too bad," Jayde chimed in. I looked to her like she had gone mad. She just sat there and put her feet up on the other side of the compartment. "Harry Potter will be too busy making sure his precious children don't get into any trouble."
"Do you forget the past that my dad has with him?" I asked her. "He'll make my last year a living Hell."
"I didn't forget, Baby. You have to start thinking positive."
I pulled Jayde in and she rested her back against my chest. It wasn't a romantic gesture; it was something that felt comforting to me. "Sorry, sweetheart. I just got a lot on my mind."
Jayde played with my finger. "I know. Let's not worry about the Potters right now. Besides, you got a Prefect meeting to run soon."
"Shit," I said as put my head back against the headrest. I was not looking forward to that. But being Head Boy, it was a requirement. "Well, doll, guess I best get going." I kissed her cheek, she moved forward, and I stood up. I slapped hands with Oz and started my way back up the corridor towards the front of the train.
I made my way down the train's corridor when I ran into Dominique. "What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked as she glared at me.
I so wasn't ready for her antics this early in the year. I decided to play with her so she'd leave me alone. "Be careful, Weasel. You may want to be a bit more polite to me from now on."
"And why would I be polite to the son of a ferret? What? Daddy dearest never told you what happened in his fourth year? I guess not. I've heard loads of stories about the ferret though, none of them all too flattering." I hated being reminded of something that happened to my father a long time ago. It was as if I had something to do with it. Hell, I wasn't even a twinkle in my bastard father's eyes. I didn't want to give her the thrill of knowing that she hit a nerve so I was glad when I had something else to distract me.
I looked over her shoulder and saw Lily Potter. She was the youngest and only girl from the infamous Boy Who Lived. Her red hair fell loosely around her shoulders and her smoldering blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the low lights of the train. I wanted to rattle her up a bit to get the focus off of me. "So Potter, I guess you'll be expecting special treatment this year, now that daddy will be underfoot?" I had to use the info that Oz gave me, hoping that it was true. When people drink they tend to forget important things like the truth.
"What are you talking about Malfoy?" Lily asked. Her voice sounded melodious to my ears, almost like an angel singing. Whoah, where the Hell did that come from? She usually didn't talk. She was a shy Slytherin which in a way was kind of an oxymoron. But, with her statement, it was clear that I knew something that they didn't. A smile found its' way across my face without me knowing.
"Oh, so you don't know?" I asked, egging them on. "Well then, I wouldn't dare spoil the surprise for you." I laughed and then left them alone, confusion crossing over their features. I was actually cheered up a bit from that altercation when I ran into Rose, literally. "Merlin, watch where you're going."
"Stuff it," she snapped back. "Isn't it bad enough that we have to share a common room? Do you really have to start the year like this?"
What was this girl going on about? She's the one starting shit. "Leave me alone."
"Whatever, Malfoy. So long as you don't go shagging every girl so I can get SOME sleep this year," she started.
I held up my hand to stop her. "Just because you can't get laid doesn't mean you have to be a hater. We better get going or the prefects just might start a riot." I turned and started walking toward the compartment. I sure as Hell didn't want to converse with the Weasel anymore.
I was done for the year, almost, after the prefect meeting. Too many altercations in too little of time. It seemed that my last year was going to be a challenge. I walked past Lily's compartment again and out of the corner of my eye, I saw that she was staring at me. I had to snicker to myself as I get that dreamy look a lot from all types of girls. But her being a Potter, I just had to keep walking.
After spending some more time with my friends, the train finally came to a stop. I rolled my head, trying to loosen up the cramp that developed, and strutted out of the train. The only reason I strutted was to uphold the Malfoy name. My father always told me to keep my head held high because Malfoy's were dignified. I hated doing it because it looked like I was a stuck up bastard. But, sometimes you have to do what everyone expects you to do. Oz just laughs every time.
We got to the Great Hall and I really didn't pay any attention to what was going on. I did look up once and caught Lily staring at me… again. I winked at her, just to push her buttons, and she quickly looked away. She blushed, a Weasley trait if I ever saw one. I still didn't pay attention when McGonagall stood up and starting speaking. I did notice that a few of the new professors were parents to some of the students. Boy, it sucked to be them. That is, until I saw the unseeable. My father was walking down the Head table to take a seat! I turned to Oz.
"What is my dad doing here?"
Oz leaned over to whisper back. "Mate, your dad is our new Potions professor AND Head of House. Man, I feel for you."
I sat back in my chair, horror struck. I could handle my father getting a job in Hogsmede but here at the school? On my last year? This was NOT going to be good.
A/N: Sorry for the extreme delay. A lot has been going on. My co-author and I would like to thank everyone who has been reviewing this story… but we'd like more. Also, thanks to all who are putting this story on alert or favorite lists. We appreciate it all. Here's hoping she's got the next chapter almost finished. Also, the chapter's name came from a song my co-author told me about. Its name is "F**k Me Like You Hate Me" by Seether. I just see Scorpius actually listening to stuff like this. Thanks again.
