Chapter 3: Cast Away

Scorpius

His hand sat poised of a large stack of parchment, and eagle feather quill between his fingertips. He dipped the quill into a bottle of ink and made a spot on the top of the page. How was he supposed to tell his father?

He, Scorpius Malfoy, was supposed to be in Slytherin. Not in "the enemy's house". At least that's what his father said. All the Malfoys for hundreds of years had been in Slytherin. That was the whole problem. He was in Gryffindor.

He sighed for what seemed to be the billionth time that evening and started to write

Dear Dad,

How are you? I am fine. Guess what? I'm in Gryffindor! I hope you are well!

Sincerely,

Your son Scorpius

No, that wasn't right. He moved the spoiled sheet to the side and started over.

Father,

Nya nya nya! Who cares what you think? I'm a Gryffindor! Mwahahaha!

Scorps

Well, better... Still, he could do better. Scorpius moved that sheet aside as well.

Dad,

I'm writing to you from the Gryffindor Common Room. I know what you think, but please try to understand. The Sorting Hat must have had a reason, right? Please Dad, try to like it. Give Mum my love, and I will see you at Christmas Holidays.

Scorpius

Out of the three, it was the best, so it would have to do. It still wasn't great. Sighing again, Scorpius folded the letter and addressed it to his father at Malfoy Manor. Then he stuck it in his bag to send in the morning.

Sleepily he turned at looked at the magnificent grandfather clock in the corner. It was half past ten already. Finally realizing how tired he was, he turned and headed up the stairs to his new home away from home.

*

Scorpius awoke to someone frantically shaking his shoulders. His eyes flew open to see no other than Albus Potter, shaking him awake. Suddenly both boys looked uncomfortable. "You-we-breakfast is almost over," Albus stuttered. "Umm, thanks," muttered Scorpius.

In a flash he was dressed, and both boys raced down to the Great Hall.

Rose looked up at them disdainfully."You were almost very nearly late," she stated, Scorpius noticed more to Albus than him. Then she pointed at Professor Longbottom who was making his way down the Gryffindor table handing out schedule.

Just at that moment, the room was flooded with all types of owls. Students stared expectantly at the ceiling, while others outstretched their arms to catch packages dropping from the owls' talons.

Scorpius' eagle owl, Dynasty, landed in front of him with no package but a hungry gleam in his eye. Scorpius smirked and offered the owl some toast while he attached the letter to his father on Dynasty's leg. Dynasty hooted and flew off into the picture of that day's sky that gleamed on the roof.

Professor Longbottom reached his spot then and gave Scorpius his timetable. He quickly scanned the columns and then frowned. The first class was History of Magic. How was he supposed to find the classrooms?

He noticed Albus and Rose walking out of the Hall. They were in his class. He should follow them. Scorpius sauntered casually behind the two trying not to be noticed. Rose was chattering away to Albus.

"...and I said that I was related to Harry Potter. Then I found those pink knitted pyjamas from Grandmum Weasley and put those on. They are so comfy, right? So then this crazy girl in my dorm was like "Who cares who you are related to" and then I said that I care, and would you believe that she didn't even know who your dad is? I mean, come on. Then, while this other girl was explaining, I was so cosy I fell asleep. Speaking of sleeping, did you sleep in, or were you waiting for your new friend?"

Rose spoke the last sentence as coldly as a breeze in December and Scorpius wasn`t surprised when Albus recoiled. "What do you mean?" Albus inquired shakily.

Rose wheeled around. "You know full well what I mean!" she snapped. "We're supposed to stay away from Scorpius!"

The boy in question stopped short. Of course their parents wouldn't want them to be friends with him, but couldn't Albus and Rose make up their own minds?

The two were still walking ahead, but he didn't want to follow them anymore. He would find someone else to show him where History of Magic class was.

*

The teacher was a ghost, and a boring one at that. Professor Binns had apparently fallen asleep one day, and when he went to class to teach, he had left his body behind. He never stopped talking, save to shuffle his notes. Scorpius yawned and felt his mind begin to drift away.

"Ring!" Half the students jumped, awakened from their sleepy revere. Even Professor Binns looked startled. Scorpius trudged out of the classroom. What a boring class! So far, magical learning wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Defence Against the Dark Arts was next. This was what Scorpius was most excited for. He took a seat at the far left of the front of the classroom. Albus and Rose, he noticed dually, had taken front and center. Then the professor came in.

She was wearing a long white robe and had long coal-coloured hair. She was hardly taller than the fourth years; the shorter ones. She carried a Muggle businessman's briefcase and had a short dark wand. She had a golden spangled belt with matching jewellery. Despite her attire, she seemed very cross.

"I am Professor Sugarbush," there she have a short smile, then frowned again. "Take out your textbooks!" she barked.

Scorpius pulled out his book, Basics for Beginners, and began to read chapter one. What a perfect name, he thought to himself. For both the book and the Professor.

The next hour was spent reading and taking notes. Scorpius moaned. Would there be any exciting classes at Hogwarts?

His question was answered soon after lunch. It was time for Herbology with Professor Longbottom, the head of Gryffindor house.

Scorpius raced out to the greenhouses, wanting to speak to the Professor alone. Luckily, he was the first. Unsure of what to do, he knocked on the door of the first greenhouse. Professor Longbottom opened the door and ushered him inside. "I think I expected you to be here early today. What do you wish to say?"

Scorpius fidgeted. "Am I allowed to switch houses?

"Not exactly." Then the Professor got a faraway look in his eyes. "I suppose you never told him. He never was the nicest person. He was always being the boss and picking on others; us and Harry especially. I wonder how he'll take it?"

Scorpius did a tiny cough to switch the Professor's attention back to the present. He jumped. "Sorry about that. I'm sorry, but you can't switch houses once you've been sorted." Then, more gently, "Did you tell your father yet?"

Just as Scorpius nodded, the other students filed in and the class started.

Professor Longbottom mostly showed them around Greenhouse One and told them about a few of the plants. Halfway through the lesson, a tough looking boy ran out of Greenhouse Three with a leafy vine trailing from his arm. While that was being resolved, a girl tried to sneak a small blossom of a potted plant, which contained a powder that covered the girl in blisters.

A cross Professor Longbottom sent both to the hospital wings with heavy detentions lurking ahead.

*

After dinner, Scorpius sat alone in the common room doing his homework. Slowly the other students drifted off to bed until only he was left. An owl rapped on the window. Scorpius stood up and let the owl, who was his own Dynasty, in.

Dynasty hooted loudly while Scorpius untied a letter from his leg, and then flew out.

Scorpius slowly unrolled the note, and when he read the contents, he slowly sank to the floor and began to sob.

So, there's chapter 3! I hope you enjoyed it- please let me know by clicking that little blue button down there! Candy to everyone who reviews