The platters of roast potatoes, chicken, gravy, etc, were soon replaced by puddings. Scorpius, not having tried any of the desserts on the table before him, tried a bit of everything.

When everyone had finished and the platters were empty again, Professor McGonagall stood up and clapped her hands.

- I have a few important notices for you all.

She looked down at all of them and her gaze rested on Scorpius. Their eyes met.

- Some of you are probably in different houses than you or anyone else expected. But, even though, to quote Professor Dumbledore, we sometimes sort too soon, rest assured that your house matches your personality if not perfectly then at least reasonably well. Now, first-years should know that the forest is strictly out of bounds to all students, and a few of our older students would do well to remember that too.

Her eyes searched out James, who had inherited his grandfather's strict disregard for the rules. Behind the headmistress' stern expression, her eyes twinkled in memory of James' father, who had been a student of hers.

- Also, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that any products from the joke shop: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are strictly banned, as are Fanged Frisbees, Dungbombs, fake wands and, I believe, a total of 513 other objects. If anybody would like to see the complete list, it's tacked to Mr Filch's office door.

She smiled.

- Now, before you all traipse off to bed, I'd like to remind you all that, even though you are split into houses, the school is still one.

A brief pause followed her words.

- Now, off to bed with all of you, classes start tomorrow!

With the usual deafening scraping of benches being pushed back, the school started to file out. Scorpius stood there, not knowing where to go, until Lily came and dragged him over to where all of the new Gryffindors were standing.

- Come on, first years, follow me!- ordered a tall, black girl with long hair tied back into two bunches.- I'm Melissa Culebras, the Gryffindor prefect.

- Pleased to meet you- said Lily, walking on her left side- I'm Lily Potter

-Potter? You mean your dad's…?

- Yes, my dad's Harry Potter, but he's really as normal as you and me. He can't even speak Parseltongue anymore, seeing as Voldemort killed the piece of his soul that was living inside Daddy.

- Wow, it must be so cool to have a dad who defeated the most evil wizard of all time!

- Yeah, maybe…but like I said, he's no different from anyone else…I mean there's his past and all but I don't expect or want any special treatment just because of who my father is.

- Well, okay, pleased to meet you too, Lily.

Scorpius walked behind them all this time, concentrating on not tripping on his slightly too big robes. When they arrived at a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress, Melissa raised her vice again.

- This is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. There's a new password every week. This week's password is faith.

The portrait swung open and Melissa climbed in. The first years followed suit.

- Right- continued the prefect- Girl's dorms are on the right, boys on the left. Good night.

She turned to the right and started to climb a spiral staircase.

- Your dorm's the first door- she called down.

The girls followed Melissa and Scorpius was left alone among the boys.

"Alone in company" he thought bitterly

A boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes behind glasses approached Scorpius.

- I'm Albus- he said-Albus Potter

- I'm Scorpius Malfoy

- Do you want me to show you to your dorm?

Scorpius looked around and saw that the common room was empty.

- Please do- he replied

- Come on, then

Albus seemed to take after his sister in the way never stopped talking.

- I'm a second-year, so we won't be in the same dorm or the same classes. Well done, by the way, for being in Gryffindor. I thought you would be in Slytherin, you know, with your dad and all…- he trailed off- Anyway, I hope they don't give a hard time, 'coz you don't seem a thing like your family. This is your dorm.

They had come to a door.

-Thanks- said Scorpius

- No problem, I was on my way up anyway.

He carried on up the stairs as Scorpius opened the door. Inside there were four boys: a small black boy who introduced himself as "Taa Culebras";an angry-looking ginger-haired boy who closed the curtains around his bed as soon as he saw the new arrival; a shy boy with brown hair; and a fat boy who complained loudly about not having eaten enough.

Scorpius introduced himself to Taa, who listened intently. After talking for a few minutes, the boys wished each other good night and Taa went to sleep. Scorpius lay in bed, his pale eyes reflecting the moon and wondered what new surprises the dawn would bring.