Hey guys! So I (finally) finished the school year, so I can update a bit more. I'm anticipating four more chapters, not including this one, but that might change (depending on feedback). I want to thank the three people who have reviewed so far: MydniteShadow1996, your-epic-nerd, and Ferretess. As for the rest of you, please tell me what you think! I need to know what you like or dislike if I'm going to make this an enjoyable story. I'm sure you all have something to say if you've made it this far…
When Christmas finally rolled around, we were all excited. I'd never seen Scorpius look as happy as he did when we all boarded the Express.
"I'm just glad I don't have to go to the Manor," he whispered to me, "It would have been hell on earth."
"I'm sure it would have, but just warning you, our Christmas is kind of strange."
"Anything your family does is strange, Potter," he joked, "I'm sure it's better than my Christmases have been."
Lily and Rose joined us in our compartment.
"Has Al told you anything about our Christmas yet? 'Cause you probably want a heads-up. It's pretty weird," Lily asked me as she closed the door.
"I was about to." I turned to Scorpius, "We all stay up until midnight telling old stories about the family. Then, all the kids go to bed and Father Christmas comes and puts presents in our stockings and under the tree."
"You believe in Father Christmas? My Father told me when I was four that he's not real," Scorpius told us somewhat sadly.
"When you were four?" Lily exclaimed, "Couldn't he have given you some of your childhood?"
"He was never kind to me, Lils, even when Mum was alive. He'd go on about how I was to be the man of the house some day, which meant that I had to act like it. I never got to play with other children or anything like that."
"Well, you can play with our cousins if you want. Teddy and Victoire's twins are only a year old," Rose supplied.
"They are so cute! And they've just learned to talk, too," Lily gushed. She loved the twins, and whenever they came over she would spend all of her time with them. I wondered how she was going to split it now that her sort-of-boyfriend was staying with us.
The rest of the ride went on in much the same way. Lily, Rose, and I told Scorpius stories about our Christmases, and gave him a heads-up about the members of our oversized family. Rose warned him that her father may not like him at first. Uncle Ron despised Scorpius' father, and he was known to hold a grudge against the entire Malfoy family.
"I'm sure he'll warm up to you quickly, though," Lily added quickly when she noticed that Scorpius had begun shaking.
"It's alright, Scorpius," I whispered to him, "He won't hurt you. He's not like that. I promise."
"But he likes you," Scorpius pointed out, "My f-family, they… even the people who say they're accepting hate me because of Father."
"Uncle Ron would never hit a child, even one he thinks might be a Death Eater. It's been over twenty years, Scorp. They've all come to terms with it. He may be a bit gruff towards you, but he'd never hurt you physically. And even if he wanted to, which he won't, Aunt Hermione always keeps him in check. It'll be alright."
The worrying wore Scorpius out, and he slept for the remainder of the train ride.
"Al, what are we going to do about James? You know he hates Scorpius, and now that we're…" Lily blushed. She still couldn't tell me that they were dating. I smiled at her.
"I'll deal with him if it comes to that, but I think he'll be fine. James never beats Scorpius up, he just teases sometimes. Scorp can handle that."
"So did you hear who asked to sit next to me at the next Start-of-Term feast?" Rose asked Lily, who promptly shook her head.
"No, who?"
"Lorcan Scamander! I couldn't believe it!" Rose gushed in the most un-Roselike way I'd ever seen.
"Seriously? You're bloody lucky," Lily shrieked.
"Lils, language," I scolded her. She rolled her eyes and continued.
"Every Sixth Year girl is going to be so jealous, and everyone else for that matter. Lorcan and Lysander are the most gorgeous in the entire Sixth Year. Not as gorgeous as Score, but still."
I ignored their chatter for the remaining hour of the train ride, preferring instead to read a Muggle novel that Dad had sent me: The Outsiders. It's about a boy who lives on the wrong side of a town called Tulsa in the 1960's and his friends. It's pretty short, and by the time the train pulled into the station, I'd finished it.
"Hey, Scorpius, it's time to wake up." I shook him gently. His eyes snapped open and darted around the room in a panic.
"Calm down, Score, it was just a dream," Lily soothed. He calmed down a bit, but remained tense.
"What's wrong?" I asked nervously. He looked directly at me, and the fear in his eyes made me shudder.
"What if… what if he comes and tries to take me with him? What am I gonna do?" His breathing sped up, and he was on the verge of hyperventilation.
"Come on, let's get off the train. I promise nothing will happen." I led him onto the platform, where Teddy was waiting for us.
"Hey, guys!" He greeted us brightly, "And you must be my cousin Scorpius."
"Y-your cousin?" Scorpius was confused, "Y-you're Teddy L-Lupin?"
"Yeah, I am. Don't worry, Scorpius. It's okay, I-" He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed a pale, blond man approaching us.
"Al, get Scorpius somewhere safe," He whispered to me. James, who had just come off the train, watched Teddy and Mr. Malfoy with interest for a second, but then chose to go with Lily to say goodbye to friends.
"Scorpius, it's going to be okay. Teddy's an Auror, he's got this under control, I promise. We won't let him take you." We watched the scene from a distance, and after a while, a very angry Mr. Malfoy stormed off. Scorpius, who had been squeezing my hand in fear, let go ashamedly.
"S-sorry mate. I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright. I was scared, too. Your father isn't someone I'd like to be around either. Come on, let's go home."