The trains greatly intimidated the children. They puffed out their steam and blew out their loud whistles with a scary finality. For the eleven year olds, the Hogwarts Express symbolised a new freedom never before experienced. They each tried to pretend that they were glad to be rid of their parents and younger siblings, though it was weak lying. Their parents never said so, but they always remembered the same gut-wrenching nerves that came with the train and left with the friends, feasts, and magic.

Rose and Albus were stuck together like glue on the train. James greatly advised them against being friends with relatives, at least until they each found their own friends. Albus was too awkward and Rose was too nervous to take his advice. And according to what James called "tough love," he wouldn't let them sit with him.

So we find two timid eleven-year-olds dashing around the train in a frenzy, trying to find a compartment. After feeling like they had walked through the entire train, the two found a partially empty compartment.

"It's open, if you want it," said the boy. His voice had a trained, robotic quality of repeating the phrase over and over again.

"Thanks," said Al. "What's your name?"

"I'm Scorpius Malfoy," the boy said.

"Hi – can I call you Scorpy?" Rose asked.

Scorpius laughed and agreed. The three exchanged names and pretended that it didn't matter who their parents were. They spent the train ride forgetting how frightening it was to be away from home and trading chocolate frog cards and daring each other to each Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. They each had a foggy memory of a friend who resembled the child in front of them, but passed it off as a dream.


A/N: Wow, it's over! I hope that you liked it. But whether you liked it or not, please message me to tell me how I did :)