Unexpected Things

yellow14: Excellent question! One that may be answered here in this chapter ;) People change and adapt. Scorpius did... or tried to.

heartshaped-sunglasses: Haha, she could :P xD We'll find out what happened to Dudley sooner or later. I'm not spoiling it :P xD

MalfoyMaiden: Yeah, poor Scorpy's lips :( =)) Haha, then maybe you'll like events that'll take place as this story progresses :P :)) Awww! :) Thanks fer reviewing! :D

Chapter Four

Hogwarts Express

Scorpius sighed into the sleeves of his jacket. The fingers running through his hair was… soothing. He liked the feeling. In some ways, it was also comforting... it dulled the edge of his anger and pain. Where did Jacqui learn to do that?

"Should I stop?" she sounded unsure, like she worried she was doing something wrong.

"No… continue… please."

"Okay."

Scorpius slid one of his arms out from under his head and off the table, so he could see Jacqueline's face. She had this... look of concern.

"Will they ever accept me?"

"Of course they will! I mean… remember when we first met? I, just like every other idiot, assumed you were… you know… a Death Eater… or something." Scorpius involuntarily flinched at the memory. She stopped, having felt his movement. Then she continued stroking his pale blond hair. "But then… I tried not to judge you. And you really proved my first idea wrong when you… saved Rose."

Scorpius recalled how that went. He and Rose had been fighting for weeks. Then that Quidditch match changed things when she fell off her broom after his teammate head butted her. When he caught her, she begged to be forgiven and he forgave her. How could he forget? "Yeah…"

"See? Just be yourself, do what you do." Jacqui continued. "Then sooner or later, people will see the good in you."

"But it's been two years." Scorpius muttered. "And there are still people who don't trust me." The Flints and some Slytherins remained unfriendly, a number of Gryffindors were still hostile towards descendants of Death Eaters, and a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs haven't stopped being suspicious. The rumors and questions still popped up. Oh, and what about Rose's father? Scorpius knew that Ronald Weasley still wasn't fond of Scorpius.

"People need time." Jacqui told him. "Just be patient. And don't forget that you still have friends who believe in you and trust you, you know."

"You're right." He admitted, but added. "But it's… hard."

"I know. But you're not alone. We're here to help."

Al, Lily and Rose saw the familiar pale blond head in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Let's join them!" Rose said.

"I feel like we should give them privacy…" Scorpius had his eyes closed… or half closed, and he seemed relaxed… a lot better off than earlier. Jacqui was running her fingers through his hair and whispering to him. Al didn't feel like intruding.

"Yeah, let's give them privacy." Lily agreed.

Rose frowned, apparently not happy with the idea, and even less happy because they outnumbered her. "Fine!" She snapped, going to an empty table in a far corner. They followed her and sat next to her. James was with his friends Fred Weasley, the son of Uncle George and Aunt Angelina; Louis Weasley, son of Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur; and Luke Jordan, the son of Lee and Alicia Jordan. Fred's younger sister, Roxanne was at their table, looking left out while the boys laughed and joked.

Al waved to her, mouthing an invitation. Smiling, Roxanne stood up and left the table to join them. James and his friends didn't seem to notice.

"Hi!"

"Hello, Roxanne!"

"So, Lily, are you bringing your ferret to Hogwarts?" Roxanne asked.

"Of course!" Lily answered. "I can't bear to leave Cookie behind while I'm at school!"

"Yeah, poor Cookie will be lonely!" Al was surprised by what Rose said. Since when did she care about Cookie?

"Professor Slughorn's been considering retirement for a while now… do you think he actually will?" Roxanne changed the subject when they fell silent.

"I don't know…" Al answered. "Who do you think will take his place if he will?"

"Who's Professor Slughorn again?" Lily asked.

"He's our Potions teacher." Rose answered.

"Ohh…"

"Well I hope it'll be someone just as good and just as fun." Roxanne said.

They were quiet again. Al glanced at Scorpius and Jacqui's table. "He's changed…" He said quietly.

"Who?" Rose asked.

"Scorpius."

"Yeah… he's angrier more often…" Rose winced, "And it's scary when he's mad at someone. I hate it whenever we fight." Al was tempted to ask her why she got snappy when Scorpius was irritable with her. She could just make peace whenever a fight would start. But instead, both would stubbornly prolong the fight. Then one or the other will tell Al that they hated it when they fought. He decided against asking. Al knew hot to avoid conflict.

"He used to be… I dunno… scared. Now he's… scary." Rose sounded like she had difficulty choosing the right words, but Al understood what she meant.

"You're right." he agreed with her.

About two years ago, when they met Scorpius on Platform 9 ¾ , he was shy, timid, but eager to prove himself… desperate even. He was determined to show people that he wasn't going to turn out dangerous like Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He was also quite positive, able to believe that people would accept him if he kept trying.

Now… Scorpius was so pessimistic… and sometimes it was like… Scorpius didn't want to try anymore. That's what scared Albus.

"He seems the same to me…"

Rose looked at Lily. "You don't see him when he's at school."

"School where there are more people who'll gossip, glare or insult…" Al added.

Lily's eyes widened. "They're mean to Scorpius!"

"Yeah, they are." Rose frowned.

Al realized they were leaving Roxanne out, so he changed the subject. "So how's your parents' business, Roxanne?"

Roxanne brightened up. "Oh, we're doing great! Dad still comes up with some great ideas, and mom helps him too."

The following days were spent packing huge trunks and preparing for school. At Platform 9 ¾ , they said goodbye to their families, but Harry called Al over before he left them. Rose went ahead with Scorpius to find a compartment, James went to join his friends. Lily and Hugo went with Rose and Scorpius.

"Yeah, dad?" Al asked when Harry led him to a somewhat secluded spot.

"I just wanted to remind you to stay within the castle at night, don't go into the forest either."

"Dad, I know that. Don't worry." Al reassured his dad. Unlike his older brother James, Al would rather not risk his House's points and reputation sneaking around in the middle of the night. No way.

"Another thing… keep an eye on Scorpius, please." Harry sounded worried, concerned. "I think he really needs friends."

"Yeah, I know, dad. I'm worried about him, really…" Al thought for a while before admitting, "I'm scared that… that…" Should he tell his father? He's an Auror… he might get defensive… and go against Scorpius. But he was Harry Potter too. He was very considerate and forgiving.

"Sometimes I wonder… or… I fear… that he might want to stop trying to convince people that he's good… do you know what I mean?" Al hoped Harry would understand.

"There are times… people who can be good… turn bad because the ones around them expect them to be so. Or…" Harry paused. "Do you remember what we told you about a house elf, Kreacher?" Al nodded. "He died before you kids were born. When Sirius Black was his master, Kreacher wasn't treated very fairly. Sirius treated Kreacher poorly, Kreacher treated Sirius poorly. Then when I inherited him, Hermione convinced us to try being nice to him. So we tried. It surprised us how nice he could be!"

"I remember that story." Harry told them before, as a bed time story, when they were younger.

"That's why I want you to be there for him, you and Rose. And help people see that he's not just a Malfoy, he's a person."

"I will." Al promised.

Rose and Scorpius found a compartment for themselves, Lily and Hugo joined twin boys in their year named Lorcan and Lysander Scamander. When Al arrived, Rose saw, with annoyance, Jacqui walking around, looking for room for herself. Scorpius, don't see her. Scorpius, don't see her.

"Isn't that Jacqui?" Damn. Scorpius saw her.

The black-haired girl stopped, hearing her name.

"Hi!" Scorpius greeted her enthusiastically. Rose felt her temper rise. Al greeted her too. Rose kept her mouth shut. That girl thought she was so perfect, she could touch Scorpius any time she wanted, did she? Is she the almighty Scorpius calm…er… calming Scorpius when he's being a hot-tempered jerk?

Where'd she get… whatever potion she was using?

"I haven't seen Paula, and I was wondering…" Jacqui began.

Scorpius and Al had stepped aside, giving her room to enter, and they were about to say she could come in, but Rose acted first. She pushed past her cousin and her friend. "No room." She snapped and slammed the door shut.

Rose couldn't explain why… but there was just something about Jacqueline Chua that Rose did not like. Just the sight of her next to Scorpius made Rose want to pull Jacqui's hair right out of her head.

"Rose? Why did you do that?" Al asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Move out of the way, Rose." Scorpius was less gentle, nudging Rose aside and sliding the door open. Jacqui had already started walking away. "Jacqui! It's fine! You can come in!" Scorpius went after her.

Rose felt her frown deepen. Scorpius skidded to a half just as Jacqui turned around. The two were barely inches from each others' faces. They unnecessarily stood there for several moments.

In that short span of time, which actually felt really long, Rose was tempted to slap one of them.

She would have if Al hadn't put a hand on her elbow.

"Er… compartment… y-you can come in." Scorpius pointed.

Jacqui finally found her voice too. It was about time. "Thanks!"

Rose's temper rose further when she noticed that their shoulders brushed each other as they walked back and went in. She wanted to explode when she noticed that Scorpius was also bringing Jacqui's trunk for her.

Scorpius and Jacqui sat next to each other. Jacqui kept glancing uneasily at Rose.

Rose felt an elbow touch her ribs. "What do you want?" she growled at Al.

"Apologize." He hissed.

Rose glared at him. Why should she? Jacqui was the one intruding! Besides, Al was the one who was so observant, so good at noticing feelings and that crap. Shouldn't he see what she could? Al should be able to see what was so wrong about Jacqueline Chua! He was better at this! He should!

But there he was, looking disapproving at Rose.

Her anger turned into confusion. Why was this happening? What was happening?

"Sorry if I'm intruding…" Jacqueline whispered.

"It's fine!" Al was reassuring her. Why her?

"Don't worry about it!" Scorpius smiled at her.

Rose's anger returned when Jacqui smiled back, cheeks pink.

"Can I talk to you outside, Jacqui?" the words left Rose just as she thought them. What did she want to say anyway? Rose had no idea.

"Okay."

'Damn. What to say? What to say? What to say?' Rose's thoughts were jumbled as she went outside, Jacqui following. When they were out of the compartment, Rose tried to think like Al. What emotion was on Jacqui's face? Jacqui looked scared.

Okay.

Now what?

Al would comfort her.

Rose didn't feel like it.

Damn.

This is hard.

"Why'd you make Scorpius carry your stupid trunk for you?" Rose didn't know where that came from.

Jacqui looked shocked at first, but then her already narrow eyes narrowed. "I didn't make him do that!" she retorted defensively. "He offered!"

"And you accepted his offer?"

"I doubt it would have made a difference if I refused…" Jacqui sounded like she tried not to make her tone angry, like she didn't want to argue. But so what? Rose still felt like arguing. "It was chivalrous of him…"

"Chivalry is for Gryffindors!" Rose's arguments weren't making sense. It didn't help her temper. She could make a well-constructed, convincing essay about what were the best ingredients for a potion, but this… unplanned, emotion-driven debate wasn't going as well as her essays usually did. It was frustrating.

Jacqui was staring at Rose like she was crazy.

It just made her angrier.

"Chivalry can be for Slytherins too…" then Jacqui shook her head side to side. "That's beside the point. Rose," she was using the calm tone again. Why was she trying to avoid a fight? It made Rose feel like the bad person. But then again, Rose was just too angry to acknowledge her guilt. "… what's your problem?"

"You." Again, she did not know where that came from.

Jacqui's eyes widened again. "Why?"

Rose wanted to slap that oh-so-innocent face. Before she knew what was happening, Rose felt a hand hit her face. "What was that for?" she growled.

"You started it!" Jacqueline snapped. "Why'd you slap me?"

Rose punched without thinking. Her fist drove into Jacqueline's small stomach.

"Rose! Jacqui!"

Someone had grabbed her arms and was pulling her away from Jacqui. Rose looked over her shoulder.

Al.

"That's it! I'm looking for Ria and Demelza!" She shook herself free of Al and went off to find her roommates.

Wheeeee. Oh, and... erm... just because I enjoyed writing two fights to show... y'know xD who will fight for who, doesn't mean you'll see a fight every chapter :P xD It just so happened that fight one was in chapter three and fight two was in the chapter after that :P Five will be fight free ;)