Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter.
Note - I know this took longer than the other two, but that might happen now, since I'm starting anew, and am pretty busy this semester. But I'll be doing all I can to get these chapters out to you guys. So read, enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Rebel Malfoy
Chapter Three: Drowning
"You don't have to fight, Scorp," Trevor March mentioned as he jogged next to Scorpius early that evening, just before dinner. Scorpius knew that Trevor was very obviously slowing way down so that he could keep up, but he didn't say anything. After all, he was already thankful that Trevor allowed him to join him.
"Even if I don't fight, they're just going to keep hurting me and the others for being Slytherins. If I can at least stop them from picking on the others, then I can be proud, even if I lose," Scorpius said firmly, although his voice was a bit shaky due to his breath coming in and out in pants.
"Just don't feel obligated," Trevor told him. "You're just a kid. And I know a lot of others expect you to help out, but don't let that influence you. Us older kids will always be here to help."
Scorpius stopped running, and tried to catch his breath. Trevor stopped as well, but he didn't look as winded as Scorpius was. He looked up at a guy who had almost become an idol to Scorpius. Trevor March was a tall guy. He had sandy blonde hair and a friendly smile. Scorpius sometimes wondered how anyone could hate Trevor. It just made Scorpius burn with anger on how Trevor was treated, simply because of his House. He wasn't even from an old Slytherin family.
"Why don't you expect me to? Why aren't you like the others?" Scorpius asked a bit breathlessly.
Trevor shrugged. "I'm seventeen, soon to be eighteen in a few months. I can take care of myself. Plus, I look at Slytherin House just as I do the Slytherin Quidditch team. The weight cannot fall on one man alone. You have to do it all together. And also, you can't expect the world from someone who's just joined the ranks. It takes time," he explained
Scorpius took in a few deeper breaths as he let Trevor's words flow through his mind. "So, you don't expect anything from me?"
"No. I want things for you. I want you to do what you think is right, to be happy, and have fun," Trevor told him. "It's not my place to put expectations on you."
Scorpius finally gave a little smile. At least someone here had those thoughts.
"I can't believe that Potter was put on Gryffindor's team," Mitch muttered as all the Slytherin first years sat in the stands of the Quidditch pitch, watching as the tryouts for Slytherin's Quidditch team went on.
"Really? I would bet that as soon as the Gryffindor captain learned that he was trying out, he was put on the team right then," Lars muttered. "Potters and Weasleys run Gryffindor."
"At least our captain and players got to where they are by talent and skill," Lana commented as she watched the Chasers tryout. Aaron was up there now.
"Actually, Gryffindor's Quidditch team had a lot of class and talent last year," Amanda Baddock, a second year, commented. She had thick mahogany hair that flowed around her face and shoulders. She was a nice girl, if not a little too sarcastic some times.
"But they're Gryffindor!" Mitch complained.
"I know, so you'll probably never hear me compliment them again. But their captain was a really cool guy. He was a lot like Victoire Weasley. Actually, they always hung out a lot, probably since he's supposedly related to the Potters somehow," Amanda mentioned.
"Who was it?" Scorpius asked.
"Ted Lupin," Amanda told them.
Scorpius looked at her in surprise. Ted Lupin? "I'm distantly related to him. Through my grandmother. I think I met him once . . . but I was kind of little."
"He's a really nice guy," Amanda assured. "Personally, last year I had the feeling that once he left, nothing good would come from Gryffindor. He was their last chance, but Potter was just too big an influence."
"Then Lupin should have done something," Mitch muttered. "Especially if he was related to the Potters, in anyway."
Amanda shrugged. "We all thought that, but I just figured that maybe there was nothing he could do."
The tryouts ended well from what Scorpius could see. Aaron kept his position as Chaser on the team. And Trevor had picked Dante Montague as a Keeper. And their new Seeker was Tyson Derrick, mainly because there hadn't been too many good tryouts for the position. At least that was what Scorpius had thought, and what Rex had openly said.
Scorpius and the others went down to the pitch to congratulate Aaron and Dante. Dante had been a really great friend the past month. But Scorpius soon saw a coming disaster as a group of Gryffindors came onto the pitch. Potter was there, as was one of his Weasley cousins. It seemed like it was just their Quidditch team
One boy, who wasn't even captain of their team, stormed up to Trevor. "Beat it, snakes. We've got practice now."
Trevor kept his cool, like always. "No one booked the pitch after us. So we can take as long as we want to finish up."
The boy moved and got into Trevor's face. "I said get out!" he seethed.
Trevor was still calm, although his eyes narrowed. "Bullard, get out of my face, away from my team, and eat a mint."
The boys on the team began to laugh, the first years too. But Scorpius felt too uneasy. He could feel Potter's eyes burning into him.
Trevor moved his eyes over to Gryffindor's captain. Katie Egan, a seventh year with what looked like a lot of attitude, and no control of her team. "Egan, if you don't want to lose your new Keeper, I suggest you act like a captain and get him to back off."
"What do you know about being captain, March!" Egan hissed.
"I know that when someone on my team cops attitude, I act like a captain and make them do extra laps," Trevor argued. "And I also know when they're pushing their limits. And Bullard is pushing his limits."
"What are you going to do?" Bullard mocked. Then he attempted to shove Trevor. But with Bullard being a bit skinny, and Trevor being all lean muscle, it was hardly effective. But it was enough to get Trevor going. He grabbed Bullard's hand and twisted him around, pushing his arm against his back and twisting. He looped an arm around his neck, then kicked Bullard's legs out from under him, bringing him to the ground.
But then another older Gryffindor boy rushed at the fighting pair, and tackled Trevor off of Bullard. But before Bullard could get up to help, Harvey Bravo, Slytherin's seventh year Beater, came to stand in front of him, and gave a menacing look. He swung the Beater bat in his hand almost mockingly. "Give me a reason, Bullard, I dare you," he muttered.
But then Potter looked like he was going to attempt to join the fight. Only Scorpius's fear came as he noticed that Potter was coming for him. But to Scorpius's surprise, and older boy stepped in front of him and shoved Potter, sending him to the ground. Scorpius hardly knew this older boy. Just that his name was Raven Bole, a fourth year Beater.
"If you're going to attack someone younger than you, Potter, then I think I'll do the same," Raven mocked.
Potter glared at him, but then another Gryffindor boy stepped up, glaring. "Don't threaten my teammate, Bole."
"Keep your teammate away from my housemate, Wood," Raven snarled.
"All right, boys!" Trevor's voice echoed around the pitch, catching everyone's attention. And to the Slytherins' delight, he had the older Gryffindor boy that had tackled him on his knees, holding him tightly by the throat. " Lord seems to have lost our fight. What should we do?"
"Throw him in the lake!" Aaron laughed, much to the delight of the others.
"Let him go!" Egan demanded.
"I can do that, but only after you decide something," Trevor promised. "Do we tell our Head Boy? The Head Girl? Or the headmaster, about how you came out to demand something that was not your right, then began to attack not only me, but my teammates, and a first year?" Trevor raised a brow. "Choose, Egan? Do we go and tell the truth? Or do we throw him into the lake? We throw him in the lake, and we won't be back tonight. But if we have to go and tell the truth, then the one we tell will most likely bring us back to verify the truth."
Egan looked seriously uncomfortable as she looked at her teammate, who was squirming and trying to pry Trevor's hand from his neck and forehead. His face was a bit bruised already, and Scorpius thought he already looked a bit worn out. Meanwhile, Trevor didn't seem to be tired at all.
"We need an answer, Egan," Aaron mocked.
Egan looked away. "Throw him in the lake," she mumbled.
Now Trevor glared at her. "Harvey, hold him, please?"
Harvey moved over and pulled the boy, Lord, to his feet, holding his arms as he weakly fought the hold of the much larger boy. Meanwhile Trevor stormed over to Egan, and now got into her face.
"It's nice to know that this team's captain is not only a brat, but also a lousy leader and captain. It's easy to see who'll win our match this year," Trevor growled. Then he looked back to Harvey. "All right, guys, to the lake!" He looked at Egan. "Feel free to change your mind any moment now."
"No! Wait, Katie!" Lord struggled as Aaron and Raven moved over to help drag him along with Harvey.
Dante walked over to the first years. "Come on. You should see this. It's one of many ways we fight back."
So the first years did follow the team as they dragged off Lord, who struggled and called for his team the entire time. But no one came after them. When they came to the lake, Trevor had them stand him up straight and look out at the water.
"Here we are, Lord. It's a little cold, so you might want to hurry back to the pitch after so you can shower and change," Trevor suggested. "Also, make sure to eat some warm and healthy foods at dinner, just to avoid a cold."
"Kiss my ass, March!" Lord hissed.
Trevor shrugged. "Any other last words?"
"I'll get back at you for this!" Lord seethed.
Trevor looked away, almost like he would roll his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Toss him."
Harvey and the older boys easily heaved Lord into the water with a large splash. Scorpius watched as Lord's head resurfaced and he spluttered water. But then a hand came to his shoulder and began to lead him away.
"Come on," Aaron told him as they began to walk back toward the castle.
"That was awesome!" Mitch exclaimed with a laugh. "Why don't we do that more often?"
Trevor gave a bit of a dry smile. "We have other ways of fighting back other than that. But I have to admit that I like that one too. After all, now they know how we sometimes feel; drowning and desperately trying to get to the top."
Scorpius had procrastinated sending home a letter. He had tried before, but he just couldn't find anything that he thought about telling his parents. He couldn't tell them about what really went on, or how people felt about him. But his hesitation didn't seem to matter when his family's owl came one morning at breakfast.
"Why are your parents writing you?" Lana wondered curiously.
Scorpius shrugged as he began to open the envelope. "I don't know. Probably to yell at me for not writing sooner."
"What is it with parents and wanting letters?" Mitch grumbled as he pushed his hair away from his neck.
Scorpius unfolded the letter and began to read. Then he felt his stomach twist at the incredibly short letter from his father.
"You're lucky it was me and not your mother that read Headmaster Brown's letter about you getting into a fight."
Scorpius gulped. "Professor Brown wrote to them about the fight with Bella," he mumbled almost frightened.
"Now might be a good time to write home then," Lana told him. "Explain what happened."
That was what Scorpius did as soon as their first break in classes came around. He had sat for a moment before finally figuring out what he should say.
"Dear Mum and Dad,
Sorry I took so long to write to you, but things have been a bit hectic here. It's a lot different from what I'd expected. I've made a lot of friends in Slytherin, even with the older kids. A boy named Trevor March is the captain of our Quidditch team. He's a really nice guy, and he let's me run with him every day.
I guess I've had a few problems adjusting. While it's just like walking through Diagon Alley sometimes, it's a bit more obvious and intense here at school. But it's nothing for you to worry about, I promise.
Love,
Scorpius"
While it sounded a bit vague in places, Scorpius was sure that his parents would understand, at least his father would. And if his mother didn't know about the fight yet, then he surely wasn't going to mention it in his letters yet.
In his first month at school, Scorpius never really had a confrontation with Albus Potter. Personally, Scorpius thought that Albus Potter was always real nervous-looking, and almost uncomfortable sometimes. Not to mention quiet. While Scorpius and the others might get into a full-blown argument in Potions with the Gryffindor boys, Albus Potter never said a word.
October came around, and there was still nothing from Albus Potter. That is, until the thirty-first, which Scorpius leaned the hard way was not just Halloween.
"Hey, Scorpius, would you mind if I spent most of Christmas break at your house?" Mitch asked as the two of them walked to breakfast together. The twins were still in the common room, collaborating on a letter home.
Scorpius shrugged. "Sure, I don't mind. I'm sure my parents won't either."
"Good. I just had this memory of every time one of the older siblings came home from school and all the questions the younger ones asked. I really don't want to deal with that. And if I can get away from Nate, then it'll be perfect," Mitch remarked.
"Why do I see two hideous snakes on my birthday of all days?"
Scorpius and Mitch stopped where they were, and tensed when they turned to see Potter and his normal entourage of people walking toward them. But there were more this time. The Rose girl, and Albus Potter were with them this time.
Potter sneered. "What? No happy birthday? How rude."
"I don't care about your birthday, Potter!" Mitch hissed.
Potter scoffed. "And I don't care about your opinion."
"Just wait, Jay," the boy with sandy hair, Kyle Matlock, said with a grin. "Remember, little Al has a gift for you."
Scorpius looked at Albus Potter now, who stepped toward him. He was a bit shorter than Scorpius, but they had a similar build. And while he had what looked like a weak sneer on his face, even Scorpius could see what must have been hesitation in his eyes.
"You shouldn't be at Hogwarts, Malfoy. After what your family has done, you don't deserve it," Albus Potter mumbled.
Scorpius felt himself tense even more. He hated these moments! These moments where he couldn't fight back! Where they attacked his family! Sometimes it felt so hard to do as his father said.
"This isn't your school to make choices, baby Potter!" Mitch seethed.
But Scorpius just glared at Albus Potter, and watched as his hands seemed to clench harder.
"If you won't listen, then you'll have to learn the hard way," little Potter said through a tensed jaw. And Scorpius didn't even move when little Potter pulled his arm back and slammed his fist into his nose. Scorpius didn't let himself wince at the intense pain, and not even when he heard the "CRACK" sound. He instead grabbed Mitch's shirt, stopping him from jumping at the younger Potter, and he ignored the laughter from the older Gryffindor boys. Scorpius instead continued to stare into the eyes of Albus Potter. He felt the blood drip from his nose in heavy and quick flows. It ran to his lips and around his mouth. And he might not throw a punch, but Scorpius felt there was one thing he could do.
Scorpius spit blood onto the face of Albus Potter, which immediately made the laughter stop, and made the younger Potter's eyes widen in what could have been horror.
Scorpius tried to hide how his insides were starting to shake. "Oops. Looks like the blood of a Malfoy got on you. Well, at least now there's something good on that ugly mug of yours, baby Potter." Then, taking Mitch with him, he walked away from the Great Hall, instead intending to go to Madam Pomfrey to fix his nose.
"I've decided something," Scorpius said suddenly as he sat with some of the other first years, each of them working on their Herbology essay.
"What's that?" Justin asked curiously.
Ever since his run-in with the younger Potter, Scorpius had been thinking about his place as a Malfoy. He was not to fight when his family name was attacked. His father wanted him to have dignity and pride in their name. Scorpius agreed with him, but sometimes it was so hard to not fight back. Especially with the Potters. It was the first thing they attacked, and the only thing they attacked him for. It made it impossible for him to fight them. And he had finally come to a conclusion.
"I've decided that I'm going to fight first," Scorpius told them.
Lars looked at him with confusion. "What?"
"I'm not going to just walk around and wait for someone to attack me for being a Slytherin, or even a Malfoy. If I'm going to be forced to fight, then I'm going to start them. I'm going to get even," Scorpius explained. "I refuse to just be a victim."
Mitch grinned. "I like it."
"You mean you're going to start attacking kids?" Miley questioned.
Scorpius nodded. "Yeah. Get them before they get me. If they think it's ok to just gang up on some kid . . . then let's see how they like it."
"It feels like stooping to their level, though," Tamara commented with a sigh.
Scorpius shrugged. "They already see us like we're lower then them. So why don't we just lower us to their level and really show them what we can do?" He scoffed. "Besides, they can't think any lower of me, personally."
"I'm with Scor!" Mitch said. "If we're going to fight, then we should call the shots."
Now Lars grinned. "And I think I know just who to start with, if we really want to get our new message across."
"What are we going to do about Weasley, though?" Rex asked as the five first year boys walked through the halls. "You know they go everywhere together."
"She can run and get a prefect for all I care," Scorpius grumbled, still sore at her in particular.
"I'll take care of her," Lars promised. "She won't get anywhere far, at least not fast."
"Then let's do this!" Rex said with excitement.
"Let's just be a bit quieter about it," Justin said with a chuckle. He himself was sporting a black eye from a run in yesterday with a few Ravenclaw boys.
"There he is," Mitch whispered to them, motioning down the stairs to the Entrance Hall, where they could see Albus Potter walking outside the doors to the castle.
"I don't see Weasley either," Justin mentioned.
"Perfect," Scorpius said as they hurried down the stairs.
"He must be going to watch the Gryffindor Quidditch practice," Justin mentioned as they noticed people flying around the pitch.
"Then we need to catch him before he gets there," Lars commented as they all began to move faster.
"Potter!" Scorpius called out.
Potter stopped walking and turned around. And Scorpius kind of enjoyed the slightly terrified look that came to his widening eyes. "What are you doing out here, snakes?"
Scorpius didn't answer him, but instead grabbed him by the collar, then pulled him to the ground. As he straightened up, he sent a kick to Potter's side.
"It's not fun, is it, Potter?" Scorpius hissed from where he stood. "Getting attacked for no reason! With no warning, and with no one to help you? Humiliated?" Scorpius glared down at him. "Lift him up."
Rex and Lars quickly moved over to Potter, and picked him up. Mitch moved over to help Rex keep a hold on him, but Lars being much bigger, had no trouble.
"Look around, Potter," Lars growled. "No one's going to help you. Look where being a Gryffindor and a Potter has got you? I would think about this next time you think about attacking one of us."
Mitch looked at Scorpius. "Take over, Scor. After all the crap these Potter kittens have put you through, I think you deserve it."
Scorpius could still feel the adrenaline running through him, making his insides shake and his nerves jump. And he could feel his anger. And not just his anger for what had been done to Slytherins. But his anger at the expectations of his name. And the anger of having to be around . . . Potters.
Scorpius glared at him as he threw a punch at Potter's stomach. "Your whole family is worthless, Potter! You're arrogant! Jerks! And shouldn't have been born!" He threw a punch with every accusation, but it didn't relieve his anger. It just made it grow larger and larger, making his muscles tense and tremble.
He tackled Potter, knocking him from the other guys' grip. And while he felt himself now taking a few hits from a struggling Potter, Scorpius couldn't feel the pain of it. His vision blurred, and his mind went around in circle after circle.
But then he felt himself being pulled to the ground, and arms holding him down. "Scor! Scorpius, relax! He's done. You've beaten him!" he heard the distant sound of Justin's voice.
Scorpius took in deep breaths as things began to slow down for him. His mind was still a little dizzy, but he could now see that Lars and Mitch were holding him to the ground. But he was still trembling, and his adrenaline was still slowly trickling through his veins.
Rex was kneeling next to him. "Relax, Scorpius. You kicked his ass. No need to go further than that."
While Scorpius couldn't relax, he did his best to just rest on the grass and go limp. Slowly, Lars and Mitch moved away from him, and Scorpius took the hand Mitch held out to him, and let himself be pulled up.
Potter was laying on his back as well. He was holding his nose, and Scorpius could see a broken pair of glass next to him. Blood was running down his cheeks, and there were slow-forming bruises on his face.
"We need to get you to a bathroom," Justin commented. "You've got blood on you."
"He's bleeding too," Rex commented. "I think Potter split your lip."
Slowly, Scorpius was starting to notice the stings of pain that normally came after a fight. And after wiping a thumb across his lip, he not only flinched, but came back with blood on his hand. "Let's get out of here," he mumbled, his voice a bit low and hoarse.
Potter slowly started to get up, but Mitch made sure to stomp on the already broken glasses before, gently, patting Scorpius on the back. "Let's go then."
Scorpius looked at himself in the mirror the next morning. There was a split in his bottom lip, and there was dried blood on his lips, and a bit on his chin from where'd bled in the night. He looked down at his bare chest. There were bruises on his sides, his arms, his chest, and there were scratches on his arms. His body felt a bit sore.
He looked like . . . well like something he didn't know. He'd never looked like this before. He'd never felt like this before. Because he wasn't just proud of himself, but he felt like smiling too. Maybe he could do something. And maybe his grandfather was right. "You must be the one to move first." That had to be the goal. He would move first, even next year. Gryffindors would have to watch out. Potters and Weasleys were on his list.
Scorpius cleaned the bit of dried blood from his face, and was careful with his lip. Then he slipped on his shirt and buttoned it up. He smoothed down his collar, and combed his hair perfectly. After being satisfied that his appearance was presentable, he left the bathroom and found the others getting dressed and ready.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Justin asked.
"I'm fine," Scorpius assured them, ignoring the urge to wince every time he felt the sting of his lip.
"Let's go and see if the fear is still in Potter's eyes," Mitch said as he pushed his bangs back, showing his eyes for a brief moment, before they fell back down his forehead.
"Dude, give up and cut your hair," Lars said with a laugh as the five boys began to walk out of the dorm.
Lana was of course waiting for them at the stairs. She had already seen Scorpius's lip, so it was no surprise. But he was sure he'd get some looks from the others, especially Trevor, since Scorpius hadn't shown up for their usual morning run.
"Scorpius!" They stopped walking in through the dungeon, and turned to see Ted West and Dante running toward them.
Ted wrapped an arm around Scorpius, a grin on his face. "We heard about the beating you gave Potter! Awesome job!"
Scorpius looked at him and Dante in surprise. "What? Already?"
"Word went around last night," Dante told him. "The whole school knows."
"You going to do the same to his brother?" Ted asked as they all began to walk again.
Scorpius shook his head. "I'm not that strong."
"Well get ready, because from what I've heard, big Potter is pissed off about what you did," Dante warned.
"Baby can't even take care of himself," Rex scoffed. "Has to have his big brother take care of him."
But that didn't matter, because they had hardly made it into the Entrance Hall before they saw that James Potter must have been waiting for him. He was surprisingly alone, and didn't seem at all a bit afraid when he saw that it would be himself against a group.
"Next time you touch my brother, you're dead, Malfoy!" Potter exclaimed angrily.
"Back up, Potter!" Dante immediately retorted.
"Don't get involved, snake! This is between me and Malfoy!" Potter retorted furiously.
"Is there a problem, boys?"
Scorpius was the first to turn at the sound of such a familiar voice. Victoire Weasley was just walking into Entrance Hall, completely calm when looking at the angry and tense scene before her.
Potter looked at his cousin. "He attacked Albus, Vic! The whole school knows!"
Victoire came to stand between the Slytherins and the Gryffindor. She looked at Scorpius, and obviously noticed his split lip. Then she looked at her furious little cousin. "Sadly, James, this school is full of rumors. I can't do anything based on that."
"Albus can tell you!" Potter insisted.
"I also know of rumors of Albus attacking him and others. I cannot just trust the word of person. There has to be others that can attest to what happened," Victoire said calmly.
"You know he did it!" Potter yelled.
Victoire raised a brow. "Do not yell at me, James Sirius Potter."
"Ooooohhh!" some of Scorpius's friends mocked.
"It's not fair, Vic!" Potter yelled.
Victoire didn't seem angry, annoyed, or anything. Just calm. "James Potter, I'm not stupid. And if I could take action on just rumors and things that seemed obvious, I would have given you a detention on the first day of classes, because I know what you did. So go in there and eat." She looked at the Slytherins. "You boys too, but I want to talk to Scorpius for a moment."
Potter glared at all of them. "Watch your backs," he grumbled before storming off.
Scorpius waited next to Victoire as his friends walked toward the Great Hall too, giving him looks of encouragement, or a thumbs up in Ted's example. When they were alone in the hall, Scorpius looked up at the older girl. "What are you going to do to me?" he asked.
Victoire looked at him, then sighed. "It's not easy being Head Girl," she stated, instead of answering his question. "Things are bad, and I sometimes wonder when they got bad. But they are bad. And even though I'm Head Girl, there are just some things I can't do."
Scorpius scowled. "What do you mean?"
"I know what my cousin does," Victoire said. "I know what he and members of Gryffindor do to you guys. I know other Houses do it. But there's only so much I can do."
"You know what happened yesterday, don't you?" Scorpius guessed.
Victoire nodded. "Yes. I do . . . But, I'm not going to do anything about it."
Scorpius looked at her in surprise. "What?"
Victoire gave him a sympathetic smile. "Don't expect it every time. But I feel like I need to make up for not being able to do anything about your first day here. Because I know what happened then too. So, this one time, I'm not going to do anything. But this will be the last time. So I suggest that you be careful." She started to walk to the Great Hall herself.
Scorpius still scowled. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. Did he need to do a better job of hiding what he did, or just not do it? What was she saying?
Victoire didn't turn to look at him. "Whatever you need it to mean."
"Ah, Christmas time," Mitch commented he and Scorpius sat on one of the castle's windowsills. Snow was thick on the ground, and was still falling. Everything outside was white. "Last night before we're back home and safe."
Scorpius nodded. "Are you still coming over?"
"Yeah. Third day of break, I'll be there," Mitch promised. "I'd go the first day but my parents shot that down."
Scorpius laughed a little. "Just come over whenever."
"Are your parents having a Christmas dinner again?" Mitch asked curiously.
Normally, Scorpius's parents invited the Averys and Goyles over for a Christmas dinner. It was something Scorpius really enjoyed, because otherwise, Christmas got to be a bit boring and lonely as the only kid around. "Yeah, they are. Same day and time."
"We should talk to your parents about inviting some others over too," Mitch mentioned. "You know like Dante's family for example."
"Yeah. That might make it more fun," Scorpius agreed. He really did like Dante, and he was making many new friends with some of the kids of his father's friends. Kids like the Flints, Derricks, and the Nott family. While he'd always gotten on with Will whenever their fathers got together, he was also really starting to get along with Tamara as well, although as girl, she was sometimes a bit more confusing than her brother.
"Hey, Scorp," Mitch looked at his best friend, "do you think I should cut my hair?"
Scorpius shrugged. "I don't know. I think you look fine. Why do you ask?"
"Because Lana keeps saying it, and teachers keep complaining that they can't see my face. And Lars jokes about it. I just wonder if I should," he mentioned. "I mean, I guess either way, I don't really care if my hair is long or short. But . . . doing it just because people tell me too . . . it seems like I'd be giving in and not doing it strictly because I want to, you know?"
Scorpius smirked. Typical Mitch. He never wanted to do what he was told. He was the kid who did what you said not to do, and defied authority all the time. He did it to Brandon and Nate all the time, although he was much nicer about it with Brandon. He attempted to do so with Kim, but she had a bit of an influence over all of the Avery boys, being the only sister they had.
"Are you going to cut yours?" Mitch asked curiously.
Scorpius brought a hand to his hair. It was getting a bit long, almost reaching the middle of his forehead. Usually his mother kept it neat and short, and combed it to the side whenever it was so long. As of late, Scorpius hadn't really done that. He usually just combed his hair and called it good. Why make it so much nicer if he was just going to get shoved and have it be messed up?
"I don't know. I guess if my mum wants to cut it, then I won't complain," Scorpius told him.
Mitch shook his head. "You are such a conformist," he mocked with a sigh and a grin. "You need to do more things just for yourself."
"I do," Scorpius insisted. "It's just not in a rebellious fashion."
"So it's not fun," Mitch joked, making Scorpius laugh a bit too.
"Define your definition of fun," he countered.
"Ah, a true Slytherin tactic. How quaint."
"How fitting."
"It feels like it's been so long!" Astoria gushed as she hugged Scorpius tightly at King's Cross. "You look so much bigger."
"Calm down, Astoria, he's hardly changed," Draco said with a small eye roll.
Scorpius just gave his mother a tentative smile as he pulled away from the hug. "Well I've been exercising most days," he told her proudly. "So I hope I look a bit bigger."
"You do," Astoria said with a happy smile.
"Let's get you home to see your grandparents," Draco commented.
Scorpius was excited to see his grandparents again. His grandmother always fussed over him. And while that could get annoying, it usually got him a few sweets too. He also really wanted to talk with his grandfather about his time at Hogwarts. He knew his grandfather would be proud of him, fighting off the Potters, Weasleys, and Gryffindors for the good of Slytherin.
And when Scorpius got home, he was the first person he sought out in the large manor. Scorpius knew where his grandfather probably was. In his study, where Lucius Malfoy spent most of his spare time. While his father had taken over the roll as head of the manor, his grandfather still looked over and kept an eye on most of the business his father did. Scorpius saw it as Lucius being like a guide to his son.
"Grandfather!" Scorpius greeted happily when he stepped into the study.
Lucius looked up from a piece of parchment, and gave him a small half-smile. "Welcome home, Scorpius. I assume you have much to tell me about your time at school?"
Scorpius nodded eagerly as he sat in the chair across from his grandfather's desk. Here was someone he could be honest with. He knew he could tell his grandfather all about the fights he got into, and maybe even about when he slipped up and even fought for the Malfoy name.
And so he told him about his time at Hogwarts from day one. He explained about the Weasley girl running from him, about the looks and whispers during his Sorting. He told him about what some Slytherins had at first expected of him, and of what James Potter had done to him. Scorpius notice his grandfather's face become a bit of a scowl as he continued after that. He talked about what happened at the Quidditch tryouts, how he started fighting for the Slytherin name, how he'd spat in Albus Potter's face, about how he'd later attacked him in retaliation, and about how since his latest decision, he'd been corning Gryffindors instead of being the one that was cornered.
When Scorpius finished talking, he waited for his grandfather to speak. To explain why there was that scowl. "You've . . . brawled with these boys?" Lucius said slowly.
Now Scorpius scowled, only this was for his confusion. "Well . . . yes, that's one word for it. But they attacked me, my friends, and Slytherin," Scorpius reminded.
"You got into physical fights with them?" Lucius stated.
Scorpius almost gulped. Was he going to be mad at him for fighting? "Yes, sir," he mumbled.
Lucius shook his head in obvious disappointment. "Scorpius, I thought I taught you better than that. You do not brawl with your enemies. You duel. That's why you have a wand, that's why you are a pureblood. You are the most magically inclined at that school. You should use it!"
Scorpius looked at his grandfather in even more confusion. "Wait, it's wrong of me to fight with my fists, but it's ok if I hex someone?"
"Yes!" Lucius said, like it was the most obvious thing. "Otherwise you fight like a . . . a muggle." He said it with such disgust and horror that it almost shocked Scorpius. But he was still confused.
"What's wrong with that? I mean after all, I don't know too many hexes yet anyways," Scorpius replied.
"Because you are better than mere muggles! You are a Malfoy!" Lucius said proudly. "And also, Malfoys do not lose. No longer let anyone say you lost, even yourself!"
Scorpius was still reeling over his last statement. "But . . . but it's obvious if I lose, and I do lose. I know I do."
"You never admit it!" Lucius snapped. "Also, you really need to do better about some of your . . . friends. I hate to admit it, but the once proud House of Slytherin has gone, and it now allows none pureblood families in it. I hear of half-bloods all the time . . . and even mudbloods."
Scorpius almost choked. "What?" he stuttered.
Lucius didn't seem to understand his horror. "Yes, mudbloods. I've heard of that Trevor March boy, and that's just what he is. Never be around him! He'll taint you and our name of Malfoy. As for the Flints, rumor has it that one of their relatives went off and married a half-blood, so be wary of them."
Scorpius almost felt like he'd been punched, and it was hard to breathe. "But . . . but . . ." What was his grandfather saying? "They're my friends. They're Slytherins. We fight together."
"They fight like muggles," Lucius retorted. "Stay clear of them and keep the pride of the Malfoy name and reputation. What do you think I've been teaching you all these years?"
Scorpius felt his head spin from the lack of air he seemed to be getting, and with all the words and thoughts spinning around him, it made it worse. "I . . ." It was like it was clicking. Not slowly, but fast and repeatedly. Teaching. That's what he'd been doing all these years. Not spending time with him, not making a relationship between them. He'd been . . . training him to be what he thought a Malfoy should be!
He felt sick, as if he were going to puke. He slowly stood up . . . but then practically ran from the study. A lie. That's all there was between them. A big, fat lie! Or . . . maybe not. Maybe again, Scorpius had just been too blind to see the truth. He had hoped and wished that his grandfather was just doting on him like other grandfathers. Just like at first, he had hoped and wished that his time at Hogwarts would pass with him being ignored and hearing hateful whispers from others. But he was wrong. Wrong, wrong . . .
Wrong.
