Albus Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express, the scarlet door slamming just behind him, upsetting Jester, his snowy owl. He turned around for just a second, to see his mother one last time before the train let loose a massive burst of steam and started off, drawing Al farther and farther from his parents. He Looked on at the crowd with barely contained exitement.
All was well.
***********
Al slid open the compartment door. He didn't know that this was the very same compartment that his father had ridden off to school in, or where that same boy had met his nemisis for the rest of that boys school carrer. Nor did Al know that this was the compartment where his dad had been beaten and left under his invisibility cloak for London.
All Al new was that this compartment contained the one first year that didn't seem to think Al a big celebrity. It was a small boy in a Lost Prophets T-shirt that was a tad to big for him and baggy jeans with a small loop of chain in the side.
"Mind if I sit here?" Asked Al, pointing at the seat opposite the boy. The boy shook his head, brown hair flying every which way. Al sat down, stowing his luggage above his head and poking a Bertie Botts Every Flavored Bean through the bars of Jesters cage, who ignored the peace offering and continued to glare at Al, as if it was his fault that Ginny was so inconsiderate.
Al turned back to the boy, who was staring at Jester with a faint look of disgust.
"I hate birds." said the boy bluntly. Al had no Idea how to respond to that so he was silent.
"My names Peter. Peter Johnson, but everyone calles me PJ." Said the boy, who obviously didn't give a whit if he had offended Al or not.
"Erm... Al. Albus Potter." Said Al hesitantly.
"Albus? Wasn't he the second to last headmaster of this school? The one who went off the tower to the last headmaster? Bad way to go, but better than some other ways." He took a breath and continued.
"My mom died from a bad peanut." He said, staring at Al intently.
Luckly Al was saved from answering that statement by the door to the compartment rolling open.
"anything off the cart, dears?" said the jolly trolly lady.
"I'll take 2 Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans, 3 Chocolate rogs and a Caramel Cat." Al said hastily digging for change in his jeans.
"Got any Chocolate covered Pretzels?" said PJ, as if this was the most normal thing in the world to ask for.
"No." said the Trolley Lady, taking this in stride.
"How about Lemon Drops?"
"Nope."
"Birthday Cake?"
The Trolley Lady merely raised an eybrow.
"Nothing then,thank you." said PJ, Unfazed.
the compartment door slid closed. Al occupied his time by devouring all the Bertie Botts Beans he could handle. PJ was humming contently across from him, enjoying the view out of the window.
Then the door slid open once again. A nervous Scorpius Malfoy stood on the other side, holding a squirming toad and his trunk in the other.
"Anyone looking for a friend? My Otherones Kinda threw me out." He pointed at a scuff on his robes. "Violently."
"Sure" said Albus, Happy to have someone other than PJ to talk to. He scooted aside for Malfoy, who sat down and looked questioningly at PJ, who glance over.
"You should get more sun." He said before turning back to the window.
"Git." Sneered Malfoy, who turned to Al."So your the son of the infamous Harry Potter, Huh?"
"What? Why would Dad be infamous?"
Malfoy cast Al a look before answering."So he hasn't told you yet? Father would be surprised." He then told Al the story, from Harry's birth and first defeat of Voldemort to the second war. He was in the middle of the climactic fight between Voldemort and Harry when Rose slid open the compartment door a third time.
"Oh, Hello there." She looked Shocked to find Al there. "I didn't know that the compartment was full. I guess I'll find my own then." Rose slid the the compartment door closed before Al could respond.