Chapter 4 : The Broken Man

A/N: All Characters belong to the Great JK Rowling. Enjoy Guys, once again. Review, Review, Review!

Xo – Audrey

As soon as the roar of applause ended I still had a hard time digesting the news. Albus, my cousin, sorted into Slytherin. I kept my eyes on the sorting hat. Wondering if it was going to shout for him to come back. To say there was an error, but to no use. The hat does not make mistakes.

"Father told me that too. Headmaster Snape loved his mother Lily and sacrificed himself to save my dad. After him telling me that it gave me hope."

Albus's words from the train rang in her ear. He was going to be happy if placed in that house. There was not a trace of worry as he sat with the Slytherins. Although they would be separated perhaps they could still talk to one another.


I could not have been more wrong. Instantly after the sorting, it was as if Albus and I did not know each other. The only time I would see him would be during our flying lessons and potions. Even then we couldn't talk because the blonde was always there. I don't know why I couldn't ever say his name. Scorpius, what an unusual friend. Every time they were they were together it was nothing but jokes and weird handshakes. Albus never noticed me staring at him waiting for a hello. It was as if I did not exist. I blamed the blonde. There was never a moment when they weren't together. I didn't know what was worse envying him for having so much time with my cousin, or that I was constantly watching them ever so often.

The thought of the blonde of him crossed my mind. Perhaps he wasn't so bad, maybe if Albus was his friend it meant that he is different. Perhaps the ties that bound his father do not apply to him.

I looked at the blonde up and down. Trying to find any details that resembled the actions of his father, Draco. Over the course of her life her father, Ron always associated the words Malfoy with the word death-eater. However, the longer I stared the more I couldn't see any affliction with the two current parties. None the less he is a Malfoy. Nearly talking to him would shame my family. I'm a Weasley, and we do not associate with Malfoys. No matter the generation or age a Malfoy was a Malfoy none the less.

It wasn't until our next potions class that I heard him speak. As usual blondie and Albus were sitting next to one another in the back room. This week we learning to conjure a sleeping draught. Crumbling the ingredients I made sure to turn my spool counter-clockwise for 5 precise turns.

Professor Slughorn stopped at my table admiring the scent of the purple potion.

"Excellent work, Miss Weasley. Clearly, you have the brains of Mrs. Granger and not her husband Randolph." Smiling politely at me then walking away.

It was fifteen minutes till the bell when we started packing up for Herbology. Attempting to leave early to score the best seat, I rushed out the door, only to realise I had forgotten my potions book. Pacing briskly back to class I was near the door frame when I heard their conversation.

"Your cousin Rose, she seems to have a fairly good knowledge of this subject." He said casually.

"Don't be fooled Scorp. She's studied nearly all the textbooks 5 times this summer." Albus said with a chuckle.

"Does she always look so tense? She seemed.. distracted today." He said, yet I couldn't quite make out what term.

"It's probably the pressure, eating away at her. Being a Weasley comes with high expectations and big shoes to fill." Albus said matter of factly.

"I can't say I know what she's going through. After the war, my father was never the same. He doesn't like to talk about the war much. Mother says he was desolate, inconsolable. He would stay up nights just for a few hours of avoiding the nightmares. My mother describes him as being hollow. He was full of self-loathe and bitterness. Then after being with her he slowly changed. He realised he didn't have to be the man he once knew. I never knew the type of person he was but the man he became is my role model." With a thoughtful look in his eye, Scorpius smiled.

"If there's one thing he presses on me is that people can change. Maybe there is hope for her family to come around." And with a swing of his backpack, him and Albus headed for the door.

I couldn't move. It was as if my feet were stuck in place cemented to the floor. Taking every bit of strength I had a ran to the nearest statue and hid. As they passed by I tried my best to stay silent. Finally,they turned the corner.

I still didn't know what to think. All those things he said still had not sunk in. Seeing his face shift to sadness at the mention of his father was saddening. Under the surface, I was moved by his story. The way he was proud of who his father reminded me of how proud I was for mine. Perhaps we did share that in common.

"No." My mind thought. No matter what happens you cannot associate yourself with him. From this moment on you will not dare utter two words to him. This you must solemnly swear.

"I could never befriend him. He is a Malfoy and I am a Weasley it would never work."

With that said I walked my way back to my common room, attempting to forget the words I heard him utter to Albus.