CHAPTER 1: The Encounter
"Don't let it worry you! It's me. I'm extremely famous."
- Ron Weasley
[Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows]
Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy stared at the family that was getting further and further out of sight. So, that's the Golden Trio then. Trying not to care, he turned and looked away. He remembered his plan to act cold and sour to others when going to Hogwarts. 'Alone is better' he told himself. Not so long, he heard two children talking outside.
"You really that concern about the houses?"
"Well no. I just don't want to hear James' unending taunts if I don't really sort into Gryffindor."
"Maybe the only way to keep him quiet is just to let you be a Slytherin."
"Ha-ha, very funny Rosie. Let's take this end, all the compartments are full."
The door opened and Scorpius finally had a close look at the Golden Trio's Children. The girl who had the bushiest ginger hair that Scorpius had ever seen looked startled. Her name must be Rosie. Surprisingly, she looks good with her unruly orange hair, deep blue eyes and lots of freckles all over her face.
"What?" The boy behind her also looked into the compartment to see what surprised his cousin, "Oh!" He's as well speechless.
Scorpius' silver eyes met the boy's emerald eyes. That boy looked a lot like his father, but without the glasses. His raven black hair was messy in all directions. Scorpius remained silent and waited. Actually the silence was getting unbearable. Fortunately, the Harry Potter's carbon copy finally said something.
"Do you mind if we sit here? All the compartments are full."
Scorpius nodded. He could see 'though the girl's reluctance. Her cousin had to pull her hand and made her sit next to him across from Scorpius. Again silence. Scorpius turned to the view outside the window. After a long silence or maybe just one or two minutes, the boy talked.
"I am Albus Potter. This is my cousin Rose Weasley. You must be Scorpius Malfoy."
Scorpius turned his head toward two children in front of him. Unwittingly smirk graced his pointed face. "You don't have to talk to me, you know."
"What do you mean?" Rose said hastily, folding both her hands on her chest.
'Uh-oh, the redhead getting offensive' Scorpius thought. "Well, I suppose your family asked you not to speak with a Malfoy," he answered cautiously, not wanting to offend the girl more.
Rose's eyes widened, she then nervously said, "Y-you heard what my Dad said to me on the platform earlier?"
Scorpius chuckled, "No. But now you confirm my suspicions."
Rose, who could not hide her blush, looked away. He then heard Albus giggled. When he looked at the boy across from him, he saw the grin on his face. For the first time that day Scorpius could actually smile. Something in the way this boy's demeanor was really friendly and welcoming.
"Therefore, you should think first before speaking, Rose." Albus said gently patting his cousin's knee.
Rose embarrassedly sighed, "Well, I guess an apology is required then, on behalf of my father. He just loved messing around. To make it better, I assure you that my Mum has already scolded him, a lot actually, not only today."
"None taken," Scorpius said simply – smiling, "Really 'though, I'll make it easier for you. You both don't have to speak to me. We could just share this compartment."
"But, I want to know you." Albus said suddenly.
"W-why?"
"Why not?" again the boy gave him a genuine smile.
"Yeah, I've thought about it," Rose chimed in – looked so serious. When he and Albus looked at her, she was speaking directly to Scorpius while looking him straight in the eye. It's like a decision had been made. "My Mum said that we should not judge people before we know them personally, so I also want to know you personally."
Albus burst into laughter. It was just so instant that it was contagious making Scorpius chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry. Our Rosie here is very persevering in living my Aunt Hermione's words."
"Ah, I see – mama's girl." Scorpius smirked.
"Shut it, Albus!" Once again the red blushed on both of her cheeks.
"I'm also okay with that, then." Scorpius beamed. "I am Scorpius Malfoy. It's nice to become acquainted with the Golden Trio's children."
"Oh, not you too." Albus muttered. When Scorpius' face looked confused, he continued, "It's like everywhere I go, I'm only known as Harry Potter's son. I know how famous our parents and family are, and I love them indescribably, but sometimes it's just too burdensome."
"Tell me about it," Scorpius sighed. "At least you're known as a hero's son or daughter, I otherwise will always be the son of the death eater."
The silence that followed was very unsettling. To lighten the mood, Scorpius quickly changed the topic. "I see you both get Weasley and Potter's hair trait. No glasses, Albus?"
Albus smiled, "Nope, bless me. I hope never, although my brother James isn't so lucky."
"You also get the Malfoy trait," Rose responded while observing. "White blond hair, grey eyes, pale skin with pointed chin; you looked so much like your father, Scorpius."
Scorpius chortled, "Yeah, but I am much more handsome and merrier than him." His answer made both of his new friends – 'Are they? Are they friends now?' Scorpius wondered – laughed and for a moment they just drowned in the joy of new friendship.
After a while the trolley came past the corridor. The three of them bought various kinds of sweets and snacks, and then they put them all in the space next to Scorpius. Not long after, they looked relaxed enjoying their meals.
"I can't believe she got almost everything in the cart," Rose was amazed. "Even chocolate cauldron and peppermint toads were there."
"You don't like them, you prefer chocolate frogs," Albus frowned.
"I'm talking about Lily. She'll be ecstatic when she's here."
"Lily is the girl I saw on the platform?" Scorpius asked. "I remember she was with this same little red-haired boy. Are they your siblings, Rose?"
"The boy – Hugo is. But the girl is my cousin Lily – James and Albus's baby sister."
"A Potter with red hair, never heard that," Scorpius said thoughtfully.
"You forget that I'm part Weasley," Albus grinned. "Lily inherited it from our Mum, her wit and temper too actually".
Rose cackled with laughter, "Tell him about the accident at the Potter's Meadow three days ago, Al."
Albus laughed, "It happened last Friday at our last family gathering before school, which was held at my house. Every Weasley-Potter was there, and Lily – she's been very miserable these past couple of days because she'll be the last one to stay home and not go to Hogwarts. So, James and Freddie pranked her. They said that they would take her in James' trunk. You see, Mum and Dad bought us the infinite luggage from the beginning, so we can use it for our seven years of study even to put our broom there."
"Of course Lily thought that was ridiculous," Rose chimed in giggling.
"At first," Albus responded. "However, Fred said that Lily could pretend to be gloomy and prefer to spend time with Roxy and Lucy and not come with us to King's Cross today, while in fact she would be inside James' trunk. And James said that whatever happened she could at least get a glimpse of Hogwarts Express, even Hogwarts itself if all went well; but if they got caught, Dad would never be mad at her, only to take her home."
Scorpius guffawed followed by Albus and Rose. "Are you saying that your sister finally agreed with them?"
"Wait, you are not at the funniest part yet." Rose said between laughs.
"So," Albus continued, "at last Lily wanted to try. They went to James' room and together they both put her inside the trunk – with all James' stuff – to see if she fit in there. And they just closed and locked the trunk and left the room. Lily got so angry and began to scream. My sister screams really like a banshee. Everyone in the house came and helped her out."
"She got so red, and by saying red – all of her was," Rose said, tears almost falling. "Funny thing was that she wore a red sundress that day. And her red hair seemed to be growing, she looked so scary."
"She is," Albus frowned. "So, she's getting out and suddenly all of James's stuff disappeared, all of them in front of our eyes. James went frantic. His new broom was there – the Thunderbolt IV."
"Merlin's beard! Disappeared?" Scorpius was astonished. "Did she use the vanishing spell? That's very advanced magic. How old is she?"
"That's what my Mum said. We'll learn it not until in our OWL year. The funny part is only Lily could reverse that back, and she couldn't. Lily just turned nine last July."
"Yeah, Aunt Hermione was very proud. All my uncles shrieked with laughter; Mum and Dad turned so pale."
"So, your brother lost the Thunderbolt?" Scorpius clutching his stomach exhausted from all the laughter.
"And all of his stuff. Mum was furious. There was no other time to buy all of his books. So, Aunt Angelina made Freddie share his books with James, until Mum buys them back next week and sends them to him."
"Aunt Ginny said that she was going only to buy all the used ones 'though. At least, James didn't put his robes and clothes there.'
"Yeah, but all their prank tools were there. He and Fred looked anguished, even Louis too."
"Oh, I forgot about that one," Rose burst out laughing again.
"And the broom…" Scorpius shook his head in agony.
"I know," Albus said miserably. "James is very confident to join the Gryffindor house team this year. Dad said if he managed to do it, they'd lend him Dad's old Firebolt. But, to lose the Thunderbolt, even Mum felt sympathetic. She didn't give him another punishment."
"Your sister is indeed really scary, Albus," Scorpius sighed. It felt like this was the first time in his life that he laughed this much.
"Oh, Lily is very lovable actually," Rose said. "You just must not make her mad."
A wide smile appeared on Scorpius' face. "I suppose you guys have a wonderful family. How many are you all by the way?"
"Our cousins?" Rose asked, "Too many. There are twelve of us without Teddy."
"Who's Teddy?"
"My godbrother, Teddy Lupin. He graduated last year. Now he is an Auror in training, and he's dating my other cousin Victoire."
"Victoire is the oldest of us all. She is a Ravenclaw and the head girl this year. And then we have Dominique and Molly, both in Gryffindor fifth year. Oh, Dom is the Gryffindor quidditch captain this year and Molly of course the new prefect."
"After that will be my brother James and Fred, Gryffindor second year," Albus added, "Also Louis, Vic and Dom's little brother. He is in Ravenclaw."
"Okay, I'm lost," Scorpius said confused.
Rose chuckled, "Like I said, a lot. You will get used to it. They are all loud. In short, there are eight of us including me and Albus now in Hogwarts. Four remaining are Lucy and Roxy who will join us next year; and my brother Hugo will join with Lily in the next two year."
"And Lucy and Roxy are?" Scorpius wondered.
"Molly's baby sister Lucy and Freddie's little sister Roxanne," Rose added quickly.
Still wondering, Scorpius smiled. "Your family is big, you would never feel alone."
"Is that what you feel? Being an only child?" Albus tilted his head, his expression became serious.
"Sometimes," he smirked, "especially in that big manor I live in. My parents protect me so much. I was always inside the manor, never going outside or socializing, except when we went overseas for holidays. We lived three years in France when I was seven. I have several friends there, but none in England." He was gazing to the outside window; his voice became softer and quieter; Albus and Rose stared silently. "My father was thinking of enrolling me in Beauxbatons, but I don't want to. And my parents love me enough to grant my wish, so here I am."
"How…" Albus said after a moment of silence, "How big is the manor?"
Scorpius laughed, while Rose glared at him, "Albus! Of all questions, you asked him that. Sorry, Scorpius. Albus can be dense sometimes."
Scratching his head, Albus responded sheepishly, "Well, I just want to imagine how lonely it was in that big manor as Scorpius said."
"More than 35.000 square foot," he smirked. "Five floors, ten double bedrooms, a ball room, drawing rooms, libraries, a large dining room – imagine using it only by the three of us, four bathrooms and four ensuites, so many balconies, gardens and courts also quidditch pitch." Scorpius chortled seeing his two new friends gawked. "Also we have the house-elves apartments in the left wing leading to the kitchen and dining room."
Rose suddenly looked annoyed, making Scorpius grinned. "Relax, Rose. I know about your mother's work and her campaign for house-elves. They live happily in the manor. We offered them salary and holiday but they refused, so we gave them comfort. They even have family; I have seen two baby elves born in my house."
"Really? Wow…" Rose sighed. "How many are they?"
"Nine. One's still a baby."
"Wow, mate. Your house is enormous. You must be very lonely there, without friends all this time."
"I know, right?" Scorpius admitted.
"Well," Rose said after a brief moment of serenity, "while I've been enjoying our time together, it's getting dark outside. Come on, boys; I think we're nearly there. You'd both better hurry up and put your robes on. I'm going to the restroom, be back in a few minutes."
After she came out, Scorpius and Albus headed to their respective trunks and pulled on their long black robes. Scorpius' heart staggered more and more with distress. He finally made friends. But after the sorting, he wasn't so sure this friendship would last. He knew that he'd be sorted into Slytherin. Scorpius was anything and could be everything but never bold. If today Albus didn't have the big heart which he possessed, they'd never have connected and become friends.
"Care to share what's on your mind?"
Albus' voice was very light, a complete contrast to how he felt right now. Scorpius turned around to see his new friend's face. 'He looked very serene', he valued. And just like that, Scorpius could only stare – didn't know how to express his feelings.
"Maybe one day," Albus said again – thoughtfully this time, "my extended family and I could share the big manor with you?"
That's not what he was thinking about, but still it astonished him. "You are joking, right?" Scorpius choked, "with our father's history, not to mention my grandfather?"
"Well, maybe not all of them," He replied calmly, "Rose and I, perhaps."
"Because you both are my friends now?" Scorpius asked hastily – didn't want to lose the courage to ask the question that's been haunting him all day.
"Duh… Why of course! What else could it be, Scor?"
"Even, even if we are not in the same house, Al?
"Even that!" Albus said confidently. "We will still be friends, I promise."
And that made Scorpius' heart lit up instantly.