Chapter 2
AN: Wow, didn't expect to get so many followers, favorites and review already! Thanks so much everyone for your support! Disclaimer, since I forgot on the first chapter: I really don't own Harry Potter, because otherwise Alex would be a legit character and be a total boss. Oh, and Draco and Hermione would already be married with kids. But I'm getting there. Without further ado, here's the next chapter. I think I'll be alternating between the generation we all know and love and the next generation, because I just love Hogwarts as a setting.
Meanwhile, on the Hogwarts Express...
"Rosie! Come in and sit with us!" shouted Albus, latching onto her hand and dragging her into their compartment. She sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to go anywhere without her cousin tagging along.
"Rose! Glad you could make it!" James smiled cheekily. "We haven't seen you in ages!" She rolled her eyes, remembering that their families had eaten dinner together only a few nights before. "Allow me to introduce you to my dear friends, Lorcan and Lysander Scamander, Alden Wood, and Zachariah Goldstein. Full name, Zachariah. Don't attempt to nickname him Zack, or you'll be hexed. Badly."
"Nice to meet you all. Lorcan and Lysander, you're Aunt Luna's sons, right?" Rose asked. The two twins nodded their heads simultaneously. "Alden...Oliver and Cho Wood's son?" Rose guessed.
"Ya got me!" Alden chirped, with a clearly Scottish accent.
"And Goldstein..." Rose paused. She held up her hand before he could speak, "I know your... dad! Anthony Goldstein! Who's your mum?"
"Tracey, formerly Tracey Davis," he replied.
"Really? Probably one of the few couples that crossed houses, huh?" she asked.
"You really know our parents' generation well. Yeah, I get that a lot," he sighed.
A dark haired girl opened the door to their compartment. "Um, hi," she started shyly. "I was wondering if I could sit with you? I'm Araluen Zabini, but you can call me Ara."
"Come on in! I'm glad there's at least another girl here," Rose smiled at Ara. "By the way, that's a stunning name. Does it mean something?"
Ara smiled back, "It refers to a place of waterlilies in Australia. It's reminiscent of where my parents fell in love."
"Gorgeous!" Rose exclaimed. "I wish I had such a meaningful name, I mean, come on, Rose, how boring. I mean, I get that my mum and dad named my brother and I with the same first letters as their names, but there are so many better names that start with R! Hugo is at least interesting. Rhonda, Rihanna, Riley, Rissa, Rachel, Rebecca, even Rosalyn would add more spice... Heck, I would've been happy even with Romilda!"
"Eww, don't you remember what Uncle Ron and dad had told us about Romilda Vane?" asked Albus, scrunching up his face in disgust. "A love potion, seriously, she had no class!"
"You should be one to talk, Potter," snarked a blonde boy that had suddenly appeared, leaning up against the door.
"Scorp, play nice," admonished Ara.
"Yeah yeah, Ara, I already got the lecture from Dad, I don't need you repeating it."
"Maybe it would do you well to listen to your father," Rose replied acidly.
Scorpius narrowed his eyes. Opening his mouth to retort, Ara cut him off.
"Scorp! These are my new friends, would it kill you to be kind for once?"
"It might," he grumbled, and stepped forward into the compartment. "Hi, I'm Scorpius Malfoy. Yeah, my dad was a jerk and he passed some of it onto me. So long as you don't mess with Ara here, you're good with me. Can I sit with you all?"
Not really bothering to wait for a reply, Scorpius plopped himself rather ungracefully in between Ara and Rose, who sighed and rolled her eyes. This was going to be one long train ride, she thought as Scorpius stretched and laid back leisurely, as if he owned the place.
"Of course you may," Ara quipped sarcastically. "Please, do make yourself comfortable."
"Already am," he smirked, winking at her. "Seeing that I'm sitting next to you."
"Pick up lines? Already? Man, these first years just get crazier every year!" laughed Teddy, as he poked his head in. "Everyone all right? Just wanted to check up on you all."
"It was all fine and dandy until he got here," Rose jerked her head to the side to indicate a certain platinum-blonde haired boy.
"Finished snogging Victoire, yet?" James grinned. Teddy's cheeks reddened, and he glared at the raven-haired boy.
"None of your beeswax, James," he mumbled. "So, everyone's all right? I hope Malfoy's not causing too much trouble?"
"Don't worry, I'll keep him in line," smirked Ara.
"Sheesh, you're not my mum, Ara!" grouched Scorpius, but Teddy brightened immediately.
"I'm sure you'll be a prefect someday, Ara. I can already tell. Do me a favor and be a Gryffindor, allright?" Teddy called over his shoulder as he moved onto the next compartment.
"Bloody likely, her dad's a Slytherin and her mum's closer to a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw. Why would anyone want to be a Gryffindork anyways?" muttered Scorpius.
"You never know, maybe she'll choose. to be a Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat does take your choice into account," Rose replied matter of factly. "I'll have you know that Harry, my mum, and my dad only sort of saved the entire wizarding world and were all, as you so eloquently put it, 'Gryffindorks.'"
"You are so Hermione Granger's daughter! Have you read Hogwarts a History fifty times already?" teased Zachariah.
"No!" Rose denied vehemently.
"Well, how many times, then?" prodded Lorcan.
"Only twenty-three..." she mumbled under her breath.
Lysander grinned. "Say, Rose, we didn't quite hear you. Be a dear and repeat it a tad bit louder so we can understand?"
"You two seem as bad as Uncle George and Fred, from the stories I've heard," commented Rose, hastily changing the subject and avoiding the question. "Are you planning on turning Hogwarts into a swamp in your fifth year?" she joked.
Lorcan and Lysander looked at each other, smirking with a mischievous glint in their eyes. James, Alden, and Zachariah face-palmed.
"Roooooose, why did you have to suggest such a thing!" groaned Alden.
"Now they're going to drag us into this whether we like it or not," moaned Zachariah. He glanced at James, and then rolled his eyes. "Sorry, I mean Alden and I will be dragged into this. James will be more than a willing participant."
"Oh, they'll forget it by fifth year," Ara waved dismissively.
"Are you kidding?" asked Alden and Zachariah simultaneously.
"They seem far too Weasley-like to be the progeny of Lovegood and Scamander," commented Scorpius dryly.
"They have spend a lot of time with us," piped Albus.
The compartment fell silent, and Rose stared out the window, watching the greenery fly by. The candy cart stopped in the doorway.
"Sweets, anyone?"
"You know, I would love a couple of chocolate frogs," stated Lorcan, nudging Lysander.
"Why not a few sugar quills? I'm low on those, and I need to refill my supplies, right Alden?" Lysander replied, tugging on Alden's arm.
As the two twins dragged both Alden and Zachariah into their argument and bickered, Rose and Ara politely refused any sweets, Rose claiming that it was likely to "rot and destroy her fantastic teeth's health," while Ara found that muggle candy was much more likeable to her taste buds. James and Albus splurged on Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, pigging out and practically inhaling the bag. Scorpius scowled, disgusted.
"Hasn't your mother taught you some basic manners?" Scorpius sniffed.
"They're part Weasley," Rose snorted. "And, they're male. What did you expect?"
Scorpius cracked a smile, and grabbed a chocolate frog off the cart and tossing the money expected. Then, the two seemed to realize that they were actually enjoying each other's company, and their smiles widened.
Eventually, fed up with Lorcan and Lysander's argument, the candy cart left abruptly, only heating the argument as the door swung shut.
"Oi!" shouted Alden. "Jus' shut yer traps!"
Everyone quieted, but Scorpius was snickering.
"How much longer?" asked Albus, boredly.
"Take a nap," snapped Scorpius. Ara smacked his arm. "What?"
"Don't order people around like you're a bitter, old, stiff git. You sound like your grandfather, for the love of sweet Circe!" she scolded.
Scorpius clenched his teeth together. "Whatever, I'm taking a nap. If no one else is, that's none of my business," he groaned, yawning. He stretched and laid down on the bench, placing his head in Ara's lap.
"Scorp! Don't you dare-" Ara warned, but was interrupted by a light snore. "Ugh." She sighed, hitting her head on the wall behind her.
After a moments pause, Rose cleared her throat. "How do you two know each other?" asked Rose.
"Our dads are best mates. My mum doesn't care for Aunt Tori, and neither do I, but my mum and our two dads founded the company they run. We've been best friends since birth," Ara replied, absentmindedly twirling a piece of Scorpius's hair.
"Does he fancy you?" Zachariah smirked.
"What? Why would he?" Ara furrowed her eyebrows.
"Clueless," murmured James.
"You've obviously got 'im whipped," winked Alden.
"Or maybe you fancy him," suggested Albus.
Ara blinked. "You're kidding me, right? He's like my brother, that's kind of disturbing. Just because we're best friends doesn't mean we're destined to get married."
"Oh, you never know, I mean take my mum and dad for an example," stated Rose. "They were best friends and fell for each other. I'm literally living proof! It could happen."
"If that does happen, then feel free to say 'I told you so,'" Ara laughed.
"I'm going to be your maid of honor, agreed?" giggled Rose.
"What houses are you guys in?" asked Albus, who was fidgeting a little nervously.
"Relax, bro," James laughed clapping him on the back. "Didn't dad give you the whole spiel on Severus Snape? Besides, with two Gryffindor parents, you're probably bound to be with me. Plus, not all of my friends are in my house, since McGonagall's been working on 'interhouse unity' ever since the second war ended."
"I'm a Ravenclaw," stated Zachariah. "Figures, my dad was a Ravenclaw, too."
"I'm a Slytherin," grinned Lysander. "And my twin bro here is a Gryffindor. How wacked up is that? My mum's a Raven, dad's a Puff, I'm a snake, and my bro's a lion. Hogwarts, represent!" he laughed, slapping his brother's hand in a high five.
"Gryffindor through an' through," smiled Alden.
"Wow. I guess I'm okay with any house, then," Albus shrugged. "I thought it would be pretty exclusive, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
"It really isn't, McGonagall's been fabulous in the changes she's made. Did you know all the seventh years have to live together in one common area? It was messy in the beginning, but people get used to it and actually become great friends in the end," replied Zachariah.
Rose's mouth hung open. The boys turned to look at her. "What, Rose?" James asked curiously.
"That's not in Hogwarts: A History yet. And they just released a new edition in July and I don't remember anything about that! I'll have to write mum and ask her to write the editors for me. Seriously, they need to keep up with the times!" Rose ranted.
"Bookworm!" Lysander sing-songed.
"Duh. It's Granger's child," muttered Scorpius, who was waking up slowly.
"What house do you want to be in, Rosie?" asked Albus.
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, although I'm pretty much guaranteed Gryffindor," she replied, ignoring Alden's suggestive wink.
"Come snuggle with Wood in the tower, eh?" he joked.
"Actually, I might prefer spending time with Gold," she retorted. Zachariah grinned and nudged Alden.
"This Rose has got thorns!" Lorcan laughed.
Rose sighed. "How about you, Ara? What house?"
"I don't really care, so long as I'm with tolerable people."
Scorpius snorted. "I'm not sure how you put up with me, then."
James and Alden gasped. "Did the great, Scorpius Malfoy just imply that he is an intolerable, insufferable, bloody irritating git? The world is ending!"
"That was 2012, stupid," snapped Scorpius, who rolled his eyes as he sat up.
"He didn't deny it!"
"So that must mean-"
"That he agrees-"
"That he is an intolerable, insufferable,"
"And don't forget bloody irritating,"
"GIT!" Lorcan and Lysander chimed together.
Rose sighed, exasperated with the twins' antics. "You're going for Slytherin, then Malfoy?"
He gave her a look. "Duh."
James elbowed Albus. "How much you wanna bet that Ara's going to be in the same house as Malfoy?" he whispered.
"That's not fair, that's practically a guarantee!" Albus complained.
"Take it or leave it."
"Fine. Two galleons."
"Done!"
"Guys, I think we're here!" Rose exclaimed excitedly. The boys elbowed each other to peek out the window.
"Well isn't that the most-"
"Boring, same old same old-"
"View we've ever seen!" Lorcan and Lysander exchanged.
"Oh shut up!" snapped Rose, who pulled the two from their spots at the window to peer outside. The train came to a screeching halt, and the second and first years split up, both impatient for food from the Great Hall.
"Aldermaston, Kaden!" McGonagall called.
"Ravenclaw!" declared the hat.
"Anthony, Xavier!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Balaji, Isla!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Berrow, Evangeline!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Cauldwell, Amelia!"
"Gryffindor!"
Rose drifted off, losing interest in the sorting...
"Finnegan, Gavin!"
"Slytherin!"
Rose jerked to attention. Finnegan? A Slytherin? That was an interesting development.
…"Hopkins, Harper!"
"Hufflepuff!"
Rose drifted again, but perked up at Malfoy's name.
"Malfoy, Scorpius!"
I don't even know why I bother listening, thought Rose. Guaranteed Slytherin.
There was a long pause though, when the hat was placed on Scorpius's head.
Hmm, a Malfoy, eh? You should be easy, but you're not. You're a bit like your father, Draco in that way. I sensed that he would be a very powerful Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, but your father was set on being a Slytherin. But you, you don't care. You could be anything! The choice is yours, my boy. Although, I sense that your mother would be rather shocked if you weren't a Slytherin.
Scorpius ran through the possible scenarios that would result from being placed in a house other than Slytherin, but his eyes settled on Ara.
Do you know what she will be? She's a Zabini. Scorpius felt a little silly mentally talking to a hat, but hey, it was magic and that's all that mattered.
She'll probably have the same choice as you, I've heard her mother is incredibly ambitious, yet also very loyal. Choose, my boy.
Slytherin.
You sure?
Positive.
"Slytherin!"
Scorpius made his way over to the Slytherin table, noticing the puzzled faces across the hall. He grinned to himself. It must have taken a while, and everyone was wondering what was wrong.
"Nott, Emelda!"
"Slytherin!"
"Potter, Albus!"
Where shall I put you, hmm? Not as brash as your brother, James, who fits into his namesake rather well. You are level-headed and cheerful. Where would you like to be?
Which house needs me the most?
Hufflepuff, it has spent too many days in the shadows.
Put me there, then!
"Hufflepuff!"
"WE GOT A POTTER!" screamed the Hufflepuff table, who was whooping at the top of its lungs.
..."Thomas, Peyton!"
"Gryffindor!"
"von Loisson, Iridia!"
"Slytherin!"
"Weasley, Rose!"
Rose took a deep breath and allowed the hat to be placed on her head.
You know, you're very similar to your mother, Hermione. I remember when she came, she could have been anything! Very sharp, your mother.
Even a Slytherin? Rose asked, confused.
Oh yes, your mother was and is very ambitious. I advised against it, though, because she would have problems with her blood purity. But you're a half-blood, so the choice is yours.
Rose thought for a moment. I think I'd like to be... a Gryffindor. It seems the closest to home.
"Gryffindor!"
"Zabini, Araluen!" Ara sat down on the stool gracefully, awaiting the hat.
I knew it! You're a tough one, just like that Scorpius boy. You should be easy, but you could fit anywhere. Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, goodness, what's the point in having me at all? Your choice, you get to choose one.
Will those in Slytherin be loyal to each other?
Yes, perhaps even more so than in Gryffindor, if you earn their respect. Not to say that there isn't a lot of competition and potential for sabotage, but I feel like you would be one most would cherish and adore. Besides, you like to be kept on your toes, that's why you put up with Scorpius's ridiculousness, eh?
Ara made eye contact with Scorpius.
Slytherin.
I figured you might. Scorpius asked where I might place you, if that helps any.
"Slytherin!"
Scorpius grinned, making room for Ara to sit.
"And that concludes the Sorting for this year! Welcome to our class of 2020!" declared Professor McGonagall. The great hall erupted in loud cheers.
"I'm absolutely rubbish at speeches," smiled McGonagall as some of the students snickered. "But I'll give it my best shot. Welcome to Hogwarts our first years! There's a few ground rules that I won't bother going over, since they would bore you to death. Not to say-" McGonagall paused, and the hall quieted after the excited whispers that rippled throughout the students. "Not to say that they're not important, but I'm sure our Head Boy, Girl, and prefects will do a splendid job for me. Welcome back to all returning students, and I hope you all will create wonderful memories together this year. Now, let's dig in!" McGonagall clapped her hands together, and the food floated through the hall and down onto all of the tables.
An otter patronus and dragon patronus suddenly flew in through the windows, pausing in front of the Headmistress to deliver their message. The Headmistress dropped her fork and screamed at the news. Everyone in the hall turned to look at her. The Headmistress? Screaming? What could have possibly made the Headmistress scream?
The patronuses vanished, and she seemed to take a few deep breaths, processing the news. She abruptly stood up, and walked back to the podium.
"Would Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Weasley please come with me?" she called.
Scorpius and Rose both froze, mid-bite. Scorpius unsteadily got up from his seat, and Rose followed. When the two reached the Headmistress at the entrance to the Great Hall, Scorpius paused and cleared his throat.
"Professor, is it bad news?" he asked timidly.
"You're not in trouble at all, if that's what you're worried about," she replied shakily.
"Can Araluen come with us, wherever we're going?" McGonagall looked down sharply at the boy.
"Why?"
"She's our best friend and support," supplied Rose, who had an unsettling feeling in the bottom of her stomach.
The Headmistress looked down her glasses. Anything to soften the blow, I'll do, she thought. "Very well. Araluen Zabini, please come with us!"
Ara hurriedly stuffed another treacle tart down her throat and jogged over to Scorpius, who grabbed her hand tightly.
The Headmistress walked away briskly, banging the doors open and heading for her office. "Your father, Mr. Malfoy, and your mother, Ms. Weasley, are here to explain something."
Ara froze. "Oh no!" she whispered.
McGonagall gave her a sharp look, clearly demanding that she not voice her suspicions. "Come into my office, your parents are waiting."