A/N Some of you may notice that I've changed the name of this chapter. I did that because I didn't feal that the name that I had previously chosen matched the content of this chapter. Please enjoy.
Chapter 4 Friends
Scorpius sat in an empty compartment on the train and waved excitedly at his parents and baby sisters. Unlike others in his year he was confident because he grew up inside the walls of the ancient castle that housed the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he waved and watched his family fade into the distance he noticed two figures dressed in black hooded cloaks following his family and ducking out of sight when his mother would turn around.
As the hooded figures dashed out of his mother's sight he thought that he saw a small glimpse of long blonde hair, though he couldn't be certain as the train was rapidly picking up speed pulling him away from the hooded people and the station. His thoughts were brought to a halt as the door to his compartment slid open to reveal a girl about his age with flaming red hair, large ocean blue eyes, and freckles.
"Hello, can my cousin and I please join you in here? Everywhere else is full," asked the girl.
"Sure, there's plenty of room in here for more potential friends," said Scorpius as he helped the girl pull her trunk into the compartment. "My name is Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, but my family and friends call me Scorp," he said as he grasped James's trunk and helped him get it into the compartment and slid it in beside the one that he had pulled in for the girl.
"Can all of your new friends call you, Scorp, or is it just my pretty red headed cousin, who gets that honor," asked James as he looked the blonde over?
"Anyone who wants to be my friend can call me scorp. Just don't ever call me by any name that you might hear my baby sisters call out to me," said Scorpius as he shook hands politely with the dark headed boy with green eyes.
James smiled and shook hands. "My name is James Sirius Potter, and this is my cousin Rose Molly Weasley," said James as the two took a seat and watched the passing country side.
"Scorp, you said that your baby sisters might call out to you, how is that possible when they are younger than you and you will be attending your first year at Hogwarts with us," asked Rose curiously?
"Well you see my grandfather, mother, and father are all professors at Hogwarts. My baby sisters and I basically grew up within the walls of the school," said Scorpius with a blush rising to his cheeks.
"You grew up inside the school, wow, that's totally cool," said James. I bet you know all of its secrets without even having a map," he said with a mischievous grin on his face.
"I know of a few interesting ones," said Scorpius as he leaned forward to take something out of his trunk. "Do you guys want to play a game," offered Scorpius as he rooted through his trunk?
"Sure, what games do you have with you," asked James excitedly?
"I've got wizards chess, gob stones, and exploding snap," said Scorpius as he pulled his games out of his trunk and closed the lid so that they could use it as a table.
As they played together and ate various treats from the trolley, Rose and James bombarded Scorpius with all sorts of questions about the school. "Is it true that a giant will take us across this massive lake in boats, since this is our first year," asked Rose timidly?
"Yes, but trust me Professor Haggrid is very nice, and the boat ride is actually very fun," said Scorpius as he remembered the many times that his father had taken the entire family out onto the lake at night just to gaze up at the lights of the school.
"You said that your parents and your grandfather taught at our school, what subjects do they teach, "Asked James as he looked through his school books?
"My father teaches Defense against the Dark Arts; my mother is the head of Slytherin house and teaches Divination. What she does is really cool, but we won't get to attend her class until we are in our third year," said Scorpius. "You'll get to meet my mother first after we get to school because she also gets to sort us into our school houses," said Scorpius as he thought of getting to finally sit under the amazing talking hat that would sort them into their houses.
"My grandfather on the other hand is the one professor that I would advise not ticking off. He died at the battle of Hogwarts before I was born, but his ghost still teaches potions. My advice is to never believe for a second that he isn't watching your every move while in his class. Just because you may not see him does not mean that he isn't there. Trust me that if I hadn't the opportunity to meet him and get used to him, I'd be scared out of my robes," said Scorpius as he put his games away and looked for his robes.
"We'll be arriving soon so you'd better get into your school robes," he said as he left the compartment for the boy's loo to change in private. The idea of changing in front of the beautiful Rose Weasley was something that he just didn't want to even think about. The three arrived back in the compartment all dressed and ready to go as the train started to slow down and pull into Hogsmade Station.
As they disembarked from the train Scorpius quickly led his two new friends over toward Haggrid and Fang who wagged his tail and barked madly as the familiar blonde boy who brought him treats and played with him came closer. "Hi Haggrid, these are my new friends James Potter, and Rose Weasley," said Scorpius as he happily scratched fang's floppy ears.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet ya, two. I've known all of yur parents since they were yur age," said Haggrid happily as he looked down at the two children accompanying Scorpius. "Scorp, you know where to go, why don ya take yur new friends and Fang and get into one of the boats," suggested Haggrid before he called out to the other first years in a booming voice.
"Come on you two, you're going to love this part," said Scorpius as he grabbed Fang's leash and started walking down the well-worn path toward the waiting boats.
Soon the three friends found themselves inside of the castle. James and Rose followed Scorpius up the grand staircase and stood there with him in shock taking in every little detail of the entrance hall. As the other students began to mill around them they all looked up to see a beautiful witch wearing silver robes with tight fitting sleeves trimmed in emerald green.
Ellenore waited for the last of the students to enter the room before she addressed the crowd of new students. As she looked out over the many young faces her black eyes rested on the silver eyes of her son, whom was smiling and pointing at his two new friends. The boy with messy dark black hair and green eyes was definitely the son of Harry Potter, and the red headed girl had Ron Weasley's flaming red hair, blue eyes and freckles but she definitely had Hermione's wild hair and thirst for knowledge.
As the students all drew closer Ellenore cleared her throat to get their attention. "Welcome to Hogwarts children. I am Professor Malfoy, and I am the head of Slytherin house. In a few minutes I shall lead you into the great hall and you shall be sorted into one of the four houses of Hogwarts. The four houses of Hogwarts are Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravanclaw."
"Your accomplishments and triumphs will earn your house points, and any rule breaking will lose them. The house that has the most points at the end of the year will earn the house cup. Now we have made a few changes in the way that the school meals are served since your parents attended our fine school. During special occasions like today, and any other days that the school will have a grand feast, the traditional four long tables of the four houses will be used. On those days all students are required to sit with their housemates."
"On normal days where it is not a special occasion there shall be several smaller tables spread throughout the great hall. On those days you may sit anywhere that you wish. We have done this in an attempt to make Hogwarts feel more like a home away from home, as we all know how hard it can be to leave your families behind. Please form two lines and follow me into the great hall for the sorting ceremony."
The students all lined up and followed her into the great hall excitedly. "When I call your name, please step forward and sit on the stool. I will then place the sorting hat onto your heads and you will be sorted into your new house," said Ellenore as the students stood awaiting their turn. Ellenore began to call up students one at a time and the hat called out their new houses.
"That's my dad, and baby sister's over near the end of the teachers table," said Scorpius as he smiled and waved back at his baby sisters, who were waving wildly at their big brother.
"Your sisters are cute," said James and Rose as they too waved at the twin girls.
"Did you do that to their hair," asked James nodding in the direction of Scorpius's sisters?
"No, believe it or not they've been like that since they were three or four months old," said Scorpius as his mother called out his name at last.
On hearing Scorpius's name called out, Draco looked up and watched him with proud silver eyes. Ellenore called his name again and was tapping her foot impatiently when Scorpius finally made it through the crowd of students. "Sorry, mum," he whispered softly as he took a seat on the stool.
"It's okay son, I know exactly how you feel," she said as she placed the sorting hat onto his head.
"The blood of a few of our best flows through your veins. Better for you to follow in their footsteps, for that reason it better be SLYTHERIN," screamed the hat joyfully. Scorpius was so happy that he hugged his mother before running off to join his new housemates at the Slytherin table. Scorpius's sisters were clapping and cheering happily, and Draco gave Scorpius a slight nod of approval as he took a seat with the others.
Scorpius watched as James took a seat on the stool and was sorted into Gryffindor. When it was Rose's turn it seemed to take a bit longer for her to be sorted. Then Cheers erupted from the Ravanclaw table as Rose Weasley was the first from her family to be sorted into any other house besides Gryffindor. The three friends waved to each other from their respective house tables and listened as the rest of the students were sorted The last boy to be sorted was a boy named Lewis Zabini who was also placed in to Slytherin house.
The headmistress stood up to address the school before starting the feast. "All first year students should make note that the forbidden forest is strictly out of bounds. At the end of our feast the first years will follow the prefects who will lead you to your new homes while you attend to your schooling here. Now I believe that you are all hungry so let the feast begin," said Minerva as the many golden plates filled with food.
Once the feast was over the students all filed out of the great hall and the first years were all shown to their dorms. Before Scorpius could get to his dorm, however he was called into his mother's office. "Scorpius, darling please have a seat," said his mother as she held Delphine in her lap. "I wanted to make you the same offer that my father made to me years ago when I was your age," said Ellenore as Draco entered the room with a new Slytherin tie and robe in his hands for Scorpius.
"You may either live in the dorms with your fellow housemates, or can live in our quarters with the rest of your family," offered Ellenore.
"Mum, Dad if it's all the same to you, I'd rather live in the dorms with my house mates. That way I can have my peace and quiet when I need to study," said Scorpius as he tied his new tie around his neck. "I would however always try to make time to come and play with my little sisters and read them a bedtime story if I'm not too busy," said Scorpius quickly as he saw the sad puppy dog faces that his twin sisters were making.
"Will you read us Rabbity Babbity and the cackling stump tonight Scorpy," asked Cassiopeia with a hopeful expression on her little face as she tugged on the hem of his school robes?
"Sure I will, but first I've got to go find my new room in the dorm," said Scorpius as he got to his feet.
"Do you promise," asked Delphine from her mother's lap?
"Have I ever lied to you," asked Scorpius as he reached the door?
"You couldn't if you tried," the girls said sweetly in unison.
The next day Scorpius awoke very early so that he could meet his new friends in the great hall for breakfast. James and Rose came charging down the stairs as they caught sight of Scorpius waiting by the door with a happy smile on his face talking to a blonde girl with large blue eyes and strange earrings shaped like radishes.
"Hey guys this is Stella Longbottom, said Scorpius as he introduced the Hufflepuff girl to James and Rose.
"Stella, what did your dad think about you being placed in Hufflepuff instead of Gryffindor or Ravanclaw," asked Rose happily?
"Mother and father were both surprised, but they're both happy if I'm happy," said Stella as she blushed at James.
"My dad was angry that I ended up in Ravanclaw, but considering that my mum is the head healer at Saint Mongo's my mum wasn't surprised. She said that when she had been sorted that the hat had offered her the choice of being in Ravanclaw but she chose Gryffindor," said Rose as she waved to a set of twins from her house.
"I'm hungry, I hope there's pancakes," said Stella as she hooked her arm in Rose's and they skipped happily into the great hall together.
"I think that Stella Longbottom likes you James," said Scorpius with a raised eyebrow.
"What makes you say that Scorp," asked James as the two boys entered the great hall and looked around for the girls?
"Nothing mate, just the fact that ever since she saw me this morning, all she had to say was how handsome you were and how you looked so much like your father," said Scorpius as he pointed at the girl who was now blushing at James as they approached the table.
The four became close friends and were never seen too far from one another during meal times and any free time that they had. It wasn't too surprising when a week before Christmas break Scorpius came to his parents and asked their permission to go home with James and his cousin Rose for the holiday break. It was the first time that he actually saw his parents actually get in a shouting match over a discussion that pertained to him.
The fight got so bad and so loud that he felt the need to grab his sisters and take them with him and his friends to Haggrids. HE wasn't normally the last one to meet up at Haggrids but with his two five year old sisters' in tow it took him a bit longer to get through the snow. "Haggy," squealed the girls joyfully as the hairy giant opened the door for them.
"Sorry, I hope that we're not imposing Haggrid but, my parents were arguing and I just couldn't leave my little sisters to hear them," said Scorpius as he tugged the two little cloaks off of his sisters and handed them their bag of toys that he had brought for them.
"What are they arguing about," asked Haggrid as he sat his large frame down on the floor to play with the girls?
"Let's just say that I probably won't be joining you for the holidays, James," said Scorpius somberly.
"That's nothing worth arguing over," said Rose.
"I didn't think so either, but I think that there's more to it," said Scorpius. They've been arguing since last night. Or didn't you notice that my grandfather Professor Snape seemed distracted yesterday in potions class," asked Scorpius?
"Whatever it is it must be something bad to have a ghost worrying over it," said Rose.
As the hour grew near for curfew Scorpius decided to take his sisters with him back to the dorm. He was about to change his mind and take them to tuck them into their own beds when his grandfather came floating through the wall and stopped him. "To answer your question, they are still going at each other. I suggest that you take your little sisters back to your dormitory with you. I will ask Blinky to bring their stuff," said Severus as he floated back through the wall that he had come from.
The next morning things between his parents were no better. Scorpius took his sisters with him to the great hall and they sat between him and Rose at the breakfast table stuffing their little faces with pancakes smothered in sticky sweet syrup. "Scorpy, why are mummy and daddy mad at us," asked Cassiopeia as she took a sip of milk?
"They're not mad at you two girls if anything their probably mad at me," said Scorpius as he toyed with his eggs listlessly.
Suddenly Delphine perked up and extended her sticky syrup covered fingers toward the approaching witch. "Grammy," she squealed gleefully as Narcissa came over to the table.
"Hello, darlings," said Narcissa as she conjured a wet cloth to clean the syrup from the twins hands and faces. "Scorpius your mother said that you may go with your friends for the Holidays. As for you two syrup pixies, you will be coming and spending the Holidays with your grandpa and I," she said as she took ahold of the twins' hands.
"What about dad," asked Scorpius? "He didn't seem too pleased with me when I asked to go," he said as he hugged his sisters.
"Your father had to be taken to Saint Mongo's late last night. Apparently he is more like your grandfather than he likes to admit, because he pushed your mother too far," said Narcissa as she turned to walk from the great hall. Scorpius jumped from his chair sending it flying backwards to clatter onto the floor.
"Is my mum alright," he asked as he ran to block his grandmother's path?
"Why don't you ask her for yourself, here she comes now with your grandfather," said Narcissa as Ellenore and Lucius entered the room.
As Scorpius turned around he saw his grandfather Lucius speaking in a soothing tone to his mother, who looked pale and a bit weak and tired. "Mum, are you alright," asked Scorpius as he ran to her side?
"I'm fine darling, I'm just worried about your father," she said softly.
"He'll be fine Ellenore. I'll keep an eye on him," said Lucius soothingly. Ellenore nodded mutely and patted Scorpius on the head as she walked passed him and into the great hall almost as if she were in one of her trances.
Christmas break was fun For Scorpius and his friends, though he was having the best time of his life in the home of the Potters he still couldn't keep his mind from worrying over his parents. Harry noticed his distraction and sat down beside him out on the front step of the house. "Scorpius, James told me that he was worried about you. Is there anything that I can do to help you," he asked as he placed a fatherly arm around the boy to comfort him?
"I don't know if there's anything that you can do, sir. The problem isn't mine, it's my parent's," said Scorpius as he thought back on his mother's odd behavior and his father and her arguing.
"Why don't you tell me what's going on anyways, maybe I can help. After all I do work in the Ministry of Magic and I know people who might be able to help out," offered Harry.
"Thanks Mr. Potter," said Scorpius as he looked down at his shoes and kicked at a pile of snow.
Harry and Scorpius talked for the next two hours until Scorpius had gotten everything that was bothering him off of his chest. Then Harry got to his feet and stretched his back. "Thanks for listening to me Mr. Potter," said Scorpius as he hugged James's father around the waist before running back into the house to enjoy the rest of the holiday with his friends. Harry was deeply concerned over quite a few things that Draco's son had told him and had promised the boy that he would do everything in his power to help before things got too far out of hand.
A/N Hope that you have enjoyed what you've read so far. Please leave a review and let me know what you are thinking. Chapter 5 Sleeping Single In a Double Bed is the next chapter.
