Wow. I can't believe this is chapter 18. AND CHAPTER 18 WILL BE THE GREATEST CHAPTER OF SCORPIUS MALFOY IN RED AND GOLD IN ALL OF EXISTENCE! Sorry, I'm kind of excited. So CHRISTMAS! THE BURROW! And a special guest appearance from a surprising character! YAY!
For my favorite guest reviewer: You weren't too hard on me at all! (I'm awful at conventions, you could've done much worse) And really, I love criticism, it's SUPER helpful for improving my writing, which is the main reason I'm on Fanfiction.
Ok, enough stalling, on with the story!
Christmas was fast approaching at Hogwarts. Snow had begun to drift about the grounds, and by the week before the break, the grass was so buried in white Quidditch practice had to be canceled-as was explained very loudly by an angry James Potter in the common room. Hagrid could be seen dragging giant Christmas tree's across the great hall, which was littered with holly and candles and mistletoe, which made the older students giggle. Even the Ghosts could be spotted singing carols in the corridors and, the library to the great annoyance of Rose and Mr. Boot.
As the Holidays drew ever closer Scorpius could hardly sleep for excitement. He was spending Christmas at the Potters and Weasleys, with Rose and Albus and James, who really wasn't that bad once you got to know him. Rose however, insisted they continue their visits to the library, even though as Al pointed out exasperatedly, anything useful was bound to be the restricted section.
They might have just snuck in with the cloak, but in there hurry to escape the eighth floor they'd left it in the fifth classroom to the left, and now that Basil knew they'd been there was no chance they could go get it. This had put an already moody James Potter over the edge, and he was now snappish to just about anyone who spoke to him, which was reason enough to avoid him.
The day before the holidays seemed endless, even Yaxley's class was boring, Scorpius had easily beaten every one of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw first years by now, and Professor Yaxley had decided he should just read the textbook until the holidays. In Charms Flitwick had them practicing the levitation charm, which so far only Rose and a short Slytherin boy named Pike had managed. The most exciting thing that had happened was when Al had bungled the "swish and flick" and set his feather on fire. In Transfiguration, Basil was particularly nasty after his failure to catch them on the eighth floor, snapping at Scorpius for answers he swore even Teddy wouldn't know and "accidentally" losing all of his essays. In Herbology they were dealing with a nasty plant called Devil's Snare that left them all with bruises at the end of every class.
Finally, the day of holidays was upon them. Scorpius woke up early-earlier than Al, which must have been a first. He yawned and rubbing his eyes walked over to his trunk-which he'd packed yesterday in anticipation. He fumbled a bit with the clasp and then popped it open, digging into the lump of cloaks and white shirts. Suddenly he thought of something. What was he going to wear to the platform? He'd never met the Potter's or the Weasley's for that matter, other than the ones that went to Hogwarts, but he was sure they'd be wearing muggle clothes out of kings cross and probably for most of the holidays and well-he didn't have any, at least not packed in his trunk.
xXx
Scorpius couldn't very well go to Kings Cross in his school clothes-but the only other things he had were a few formal cloaks his mother had snuck in, and a green button up he'd kept hidden at the bottom-the last thing he needed was for James Potter to find that.
Panic rose up in his stomach, which seemed to have forgotten it was meant to go below his heart, if there was anything his Scorpius' father had managed to drill into his head it was that first impression's were important, he was already a Malfoy he didn't need to seem like an idiot or worse-a prejudiced pureblood who didn't have any muggle things. He moaned digging helplessly through his trunk, but there wasn't anything there, all he had that was remotely muggle were his ratty trainers. As he turned away from the mess of red ties and black pants, he had a sudden idea
"Al!" Al would know what to do! Scorpius scrambled to his feet and in a very un-scorpius-ish way shook his friend awake.
"Al," he said, tugging the blankets off his best friends four-poster, "Wake up!"
The dark haired boy groaned, grabbing for his glasses.
"Al you have to get up now! It's important!
"What the bloody hell are you on about?" Al grumbled as Scorpius tugged his pillow away shifting nervously from foot to foot. Al sat up, sliding his feet over the edge of his bed and squinting at Scorpius through his lopsided glasses.
"Al," he said, feeling slightly stupid. "I haven't got any muggle clothes."
"What?" Al said sleepily, feeling around for his missing blankets.
"For the station, I haven't got any muggle clothes."
"Why does that matter? And what the bloody hell are you doing up this early?" Al seemed to give up on the blankets and slid out of his bed trudging over to his trunk.
"Wait," he said glancing back. "You haven't got any muggle clothes? What do you wear when you're not at school?"
"I dunno," Scorpius said," "Cloaks I guess. But your family, they'll all be wearing muggle clothes." Al was grabbing a pair of jeans; they didn't have any classes today as the train left at eleven O'clock.
"If it matters that much to you can borrow some of mine," Al said frowning. Scorpius visibly relaxed, he hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. Al tossed his jeans and a gray jacket onto his bed. Scorpius peered over his shoulder as he dug through his trunk.
"I dunno if I have anything that'll fit you mate, you're a bit shrimpy."
"Thanks," Scorpius said sarcastically, watching as Al tore through his messy trunk.
"Here," Al said, chucking a pair of dark blue pants over his shoulder. Scorpius caught them easily frowning, they were quite rough with an odd sort of pattern...
Al turned toward him, "They might be a bit big..." he trailed off grinning at Scorpius' bemused expression. "What, have you never seen a pair of jeans before?" Scorpius shook his head, eyeing what he supposed must be "jeans" suspiciously. Al laughed, and Scorpius started, frowning at how stupid he must look.
He pulled on the jeans, which felt a bit odd, but Al nodded.
"Here," the dark haired boy said, tossing Scorpius a dark red sweater, which he tugged over his face. It was a bit big, but it was better than his school clothes. Scorpius shoved his green trainers over his wool socks and stood up.
"We might as well go to breakfast," Al yawed, then nodded, and as Scorpius swung open the dormitory door, he couldn't help thinking they wouldn't be coming back that night, the thought made him smile slightly.
"What are you so happy about?" Al grumbled, yawning again.
"Nothing," Scorpius said, and they started toward the great hall.
Rose was waiting for them at the Gryffindor table, she frowned when she saw Scorpius.
"Isn't that Al's sweater?"
"Maybe," Scorpius said grabbing so toast.
She gave him a look but then grinned. "So we're going home."
"Yeah," Said a cheerful voice from behind them, and James Potter, followed closely by Fred Weasley, the redheaded boy from the sorting, and Teddy Lupin who was grinning broadly. They slid in next to Rose, and promptly began to pile their plates with all the food Al had not already taken. "Think it's about time we saw little sis again."
"You've got a sister?" Scorpius said, suddenly remembering the little redheaded girl from the station, he'd assumed she was a Weasely but-
"Yeah Lily," Al said through a mouthful of bacon. Rose looked disgustedly at him and then turned towards Scorpius.
"Whatev' you got Al's sweater for?" Scorpius blushed and muttered;
"I haven't got any muggle clothes."
"Seriously?" James said, spitting out his pumpkin juice. "Bloody hell Malfoy your parents are hard core." Scorpius nodded vaguely staring down at his shoes.
"Well then," Rose said promptly, "Hugo's things should fit you, he's a bit tall for his age and you're probably just as skinny." Fred grinned widely slapping him on the back, Scorpius jumped slightly and looked up.
"Welcome to the circle of Weasley hand-me-downs mate, you're practically part of the family!" They all laughed, and spent the rest of breakfast talking about their families with the exception of Scorpius, who didn't mind a bit.
xXx
The little platform was just as crowded as it had been coming to Hogwarts, and Scorpius had to elbow his way through the chattering crowds of older students, almost losing Al and Rose several times. The shining scarlet steam engine was nearly as full of people milling about the corridors and drifting from compartment to compartment, and they were nearly to the back before they found an empty one, and after they finally managed to stuff there trunks overhead, Al collapsed into the seat with a loud groan.
"So many people stepped on my toes, I don't think there anymore," he said, stretching out his feet next to a slightly disgusted Rose.
"Get your feet off the seat Al,"
"Get your seat of the feet Rosie.'
"That doesn't even make-" Scorpius laughed and leaned back, pulling out the deck of exploding snap he'd nicked from Al's trunk. Rose looked up at him frowning.
"Anyone want a go?" He said, and then spotting Rose's expression, "What?"
"It's just so odd seeing you in muggle clothes," she said, and then a smirking, "and it's hardly a go if there's no way you're going to win." Scorpius grinned and dealt the cards.
"So where exactly are we going," Scorpius asked glancing at his hand, it wasn't until now he'd realized he really didn't know were the Weasley/Potter family's lived.
"The Burrow," Rose said through pursed lips, placing a card carefully on the table.
"The what?" Scorpius asked leaning back as he topped Rose's two with a five, and letting out a sigh when it didn't explode.
"The Burrow," Al said quickly before Rose could explain. "Grandpa Weasley bought it ages ago, still lives there. It's a bit small, but it's sort of traditional to have Christmas there." Al tossed a four on the pile, which was now smoking menacingly.
"How many people are going to be there?" He asked eyeing the smoke suspiciously as Rose scanned her hand.
"Well there's Grandma and Grandpa," Rose said, shifting her cards slowly.
"And Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur," Al chimed in, though Scorpius was still watching the deck.
"Victoire, Lois, Dominique, Uncle Charlie," Rose drew a ten from her hand and placed it on the pile, which quivered angrily.
"Percy, Audrey, Lucy, Molly," Scorpius scanned his cards carefully, and stole a glance at the pile which looked about ready to blow.
"George, Angelina, Fred, Roxy," Slowly he drew a jack from his hand...
"Uncle Ron,"
"Dad," Rose interrupted, her eyes going back and forth between Scorpius and the quivering deck.
"Her dad. Aunt Hermione, Hugo." Scorpius hands were shaking slightly, it's going to blow the moment I put this down.
"Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, James, Lily." He took the jack and squeezing his eyes shut slowly lowered it onto the deck...
"Ted, Uncle Phil, Luna, Rolf, Lorcan, Lys-" But Al was cut of by a loud BANG as the deck exploded blinding the compartment in a flash of light and then sending them coughing as smoke clouded the windows. Scorpius scrambled to his feet and felt around the glass for a handle.
"Ow! Albus that's my foot!"
"I'm sorry I can't see bloody anything through this smoke!"
Scorpius felt his hand rest on the knob and shoved the door open, followed by a sputtering Rose, his blonde hair so covered in soot it was black. Rose rubbed her eyes, and meeting his eyes started to laugh.
"You look ridiculous!" Her thick red hair was caked with black, hair brown eyes sparkling.
"Speak for yourself," he said, grinning as Al toppled out of the compartment, holding out his arms and grabbing Scorpius shoulder, he glanced up at his best friend confused, and couldn't help but smirk, Al's glasses were covered in a thick layer of ash, which not only made him look quite funny, but also made it impossible for him to see anything. Rose snorted as Al grabbed at the door his sooty palms leaving dark trails across the glass.
"Al," she said, reaching for her wand.
"I can't see anything!" Al said dramatically clutching at his eyes and effectively shattering his glasses. "Why are you all fuzzy?" He said, squinting at rose, "And what's wrong with your hair mate? Wasn't it blonde?"
Scorpius couldn't hold it in anymore, he burst out laughing, Rose joined him until Al found a strand of her hair and pulled causing her to shriek loudly.
The door to the compartment next to them slid open. A tall boy with thick horn rimmed glasses and mossy brown hair leaned out, frowning at them and holding a finger up to his lips before slamming the door so hard. Scorpius was surprised the glass didn't shatter. He attempted to straighten his face as Rose frowned deeply and imitated the tall boy, pressing a finger to her lips, he felt as though his ribs might have cracked from the pressure.
The smoke had cleared, and as Scorpius made his way into the compartment followed by a very disgruntled Al, Rose dramatically slammed the door. They started to giggle, and then they were laughing, all except Al who was feeling around his pockets for his wand.
"Oh here," Rose said exasperatedly when they had finally managed to stop. "Reparo," she muttered and Al's glasses flew back together, they lenses clearing as the soot disappeared.
"Took you long enough," Al grumbled.
"Would you like me to break them again," Rose said, raising her wand menacingly, he shut up after that.
A few hours there game of exploding snap lay abandoned on the table, along with a rather impressive collection of candy wrappers if Scorpius did say so himself. The rolling farmland had disappeared, replaced by the streets of London, and Scorpius started to feel nervous again. What if the Potters didn't like him? What about the Weasleys, or all their friends his father had bullied or hurt in one-way or another? Would the fact that he was a Gryffindor be enough for them? Or would they hate him just as much as Basil? There Al and Rose's parents. They can't be that bad, he reasoned, but somehow he still felt as if the Rat from the sorting had crept back into his throat.
"You've been awfully quiet," Al said, through the last of the chocolate frogs. Scorpius gulped.
"Just a bit full," he said, attempting a smile that came out as more of a grimace.
"Are you alright?" Rose said frowning.
"Fine?" he said, but it came out as more of a question. She narrowed her eyes, but turned to the window and gasped.
"Look! I can see the station!" Scorpius' eyes widened and he scooted from the window suddenly feeling a bit queasy. They were at the station, he could feel the train rumbling to a stop-somewhere outside were his best friends families-his best friends family's who might hate him said a little voice in his head.
"I can see dad!" Al said interrupting Scorpius' thoughts, Al and Rose had there noses pressed against the cold glass, and despite the warmth of the train Scorpius couldn't help but shiver, rubbing his hands along the unfamiliar sweater and running an uneasy hand through his hair which was nearly as messy as Al's.
"Come on!" Rose said leaping to her feet and scurrying past Scorpius to open the door as the conductor wished them all a happy holiday. Al rushed into the corridor to help Rose with the luggage, but Scorpius stayed firmly planted in his seat. Come on Scorpius, your a bloody Gryffindor-you can meet your friends parents-suck it up! He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment and then climbing shakily to his feet feeling as though the rat from earlier had sunk into his stomach, which was churning unpleasantly.
"You coming Scorp?" Al said, wincing as he grabbed a trunk from the overhead. Scorpius nodded and stepped out of the compartment, pulling his trunk numbly from Al's hands and following Rose towards the door. No one stared at them anymore, and Scorpius smiled slightly as the seventh years waved at them. Al waved back grinning as Rose rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, they stopped. Scorpius gulped, they'd reached the door, he could see into the bustling crowd of parents waving and smiling, he could even spot Mr. Potter, glancing around, probably for Al.
"Scorp?" Rose said, breaking him away from his thoughts. She was grinning widely, attempting to wave down a bushy haired woman who must have been her mother.
"Yeah," He said quickly, and with that he jumped onto the platform.
They bustled through the cheerful crowd, towards the Potter's who didn't seem to have noticed them yet, and were much farther away than they looked. Al and Rose were arguing about something, but Scorpius felt to sick to notice. Hello, my name is Scorpius Malfoy, it's nice to meet you, I'm sure Al's told you about me. Did that sound self-centered? Hello I'm Scorpius Malfoy, I don't know if Rose has mentioned me? He shook his head as if it would clear his thoughts, which it didn't. Suddenly there was a shriek from up ahead and Rose broke into a run.
The woman with the bushy hair drew his friend into her arms.
"Mum!" Rose squealed wrapping her arms around what must be Hermione Weasley. Scorpius blushed feeling a bit as though he was intruding on something he wasn't meant to see.
"Al!" A tall man who looked almost exactly like Al, except for a bolt of lightning signed across his forward grabbed Scorpius' best mate and swung him around.
"How was Hogwarts?"
"It's amazing dad" Came Al's muffled voice and Scorpius smiled weakly feeling extremely awkward hanging behind the little group. He felt a bit stupid, but he couldn't help the surge of envy he felt looking at the Potter's and the Weasleys, who so obviously had missed each other over the past three months. Had Draco and Adele missed him? He pushed the thought out of his mind and stared meaningfully at his trainers.
"Who's this?" The kind voice startled Scorpius and he glanced up to see a redheaded woman who could only be Albus' mother. Scorpius felt as though there was a knife in his throat, his stomach twisted unpleasantly. You've got to say something, might as well get it over with. He took a deep breath.
"Bonjour mon nom est Scorpius Malfoy , je ne sais pas si Al vous a dit de moi dans son letters-" He stopped abruptly blushing furiously as Al started to laugh.
"Wow mum you've really got him worked up, he doesn't switch languages unless he's really nervous." Scorpius grinned at Al.
"Shut up," he said nudging him.
"It's your own fault you can't get simple-"
"Oh take a tip from Scorpius Al," Rose Said, grinning at him.
"That's not fair," Al whined. "It's two against one."
"That's what you get for being such a git," Scorpius said laughing with Rose as Al faked a hurt expression.
There was a cough and Scorpius looked back at Ginny Potter who was grinning bemusedly at the three of them. Scorpius blushed.
"Erm, sorry, I'm Scorpius Malfoy, I dunno if Al's mentioned me in his letters-I grew up in France and sometimes I get a bit," he blushed, "confused." Rose snorted, and Scorpius sent her a glare.
"You look very like your father," Said a tall man with graying ginger hair that Scorpius guessed was Rose's dad, Ron Weasley. He had his eyes narrowed at Scorpius as though he didn't quite know what to make of him.
"Er, Yeah, I've been told," Scorpius said, blushing even further. The red headed woman who'd spoken first glanced angrily at Ron and then turned back to him.
"It's very nice to meet you Scorpius," she said kindly holding out her hand, which he shook nervously.
"Harry Potter," Said the man who'd hugged Al.
"Yeah," Scorpius said, with a small smile. "I know."
"I suppose you would," said Mr. Potter with small smile, which widened into a grin as he said, "I've heard a lot about you." Scorpius looked at Al who shrugged, and then blushed.
Scorpius must have shaken at least twenty hands by the time they headed for the barrier that would take them off platform nine and three quarters, including everyone from little Lily Potter, who looked very much like her mother, Hermione Weasley who insisted he call her Hermione, "Mrs. Weasley is my mother in law," and Grandma Weasley who gave him a wink and muttered, "I could have sworn I knit that sweater for Al six months ago" at which he blushed.
"I didn't have any muggle things."
"Well we'll have to see about that," she said with another wink, and she stepped away to make room for Hugo, Rose's younger brother, who was in fact about his size.
"Come on Scorp," Rose said grabbing Al's wrist. And arm and Arm they walked out onto kings cross.
The station was just as crowded with muggles as it had been before when he'd seen it briefly on the first-though he didn't receive nearly as many odd looks this time, he supposed the muggle clothes and the fact that he'd decided to leave Artemis in the owlery helped a bit. The Weasley/Potter's were a chatty group and Scorpius couldn't help grinning as they pushed through the throng of people towards a rather large lot full of those odd metal boxes-what did muggles call them? Cars?
"What are those?" He whispered to Rose, pointing at a particularly shiny blue one. She laughed and Scorpius felt a bit stupid.
"You're serious? Car's, there like little trains muggles ride around in." Scorpius nodded, not really understanding but not wanting to sound any dumber than he already had. Suddenly the little group stopped abruptly and Scorpius had to glance over Al's shoulder to see Mr. Potter pulling at a very small round of keys. He shoved them into a slot in the rather large red "car" they were crowded around. Scorpius could make out the words BMW Van printed across the front over a jumble of numbers, and he eyed it suspiciously wondering if it could really move.
"Everyone in!" Mr. Potter yelled, and before Scorpius could say "how?" Rose had him by the arm and had tugged him into the contraption. As they stepped into the "car" Scorpius couldn't help but gasp-it was twice as big as it had looked from the outside, large enough for there entire party to fit comfortably, though the Grandparents had left for a rather battered one someone had said was called angela.
"Scorp?" Rose said waving her hand in front of his face. "Your drooling." He quickly wiped a hand across his mouth which was in fact rather wet, and followed her into the back, where they were quickly joined by Al, James, Fred and Teddy.
They played a quick round of gobstones, a game where the round marbles sprayed ink in the loser's face which Scorpius was particularly unlucky in, and by the time they reached the village of Ottery st catchpole Scorpius' hair had turned black for the second time that day.
"I hate this game," He grumbled, trying to tug the sticky liquid off his head.
"Really?" Al said grinning, "I love it."
"Try being blonde," Scorpius said, digging around in his trunk for a comb. James Potter clutched his heart.
"Oh the trials of being blonde," Fred joined in.
"How they tug such a morose melody on my heartstrings." Scorpius reached his hand into his hair and smeared it across the older boys face. His mouth gaped open for a moment and then his eyes narrowed.
"Oh, it's on."
The battle only ended when Al squeezed one of the marbles which let out a great spurt of ink-landing right in the center of the face of Mrs. Potter who was looking back to tell them it was time to get out.
It was a slightly subdued group that made their way towards the burrow, Scorpius had thought his mother to yell...he shuddered.
But the unpleasant thoughts, and all of his thoughts in general disappeared when he saw the house in front of him. The burrow was not huge, but not small, at least three stories of what looked like a patchwork of wood and metal and paint, splattered with every color from brown to a blinding yellow that trimmed the shutters. It was leaning so precariously it must've been held together with at least a hundred permanent sticking charms just to keep from toppling. A lone chicken was pecking at the door which was Gryffindor red, framed by a motley arrangement of overgrown plants bulging in their pot's and muddy rainboots that looked as though they'd been made before Scorpius was born.
"It's not much," Rose said noticing his open mouthed expression.
"It's the most perfect house I've ever seen," he said sincerely, and grinning broadly, he followed Mr. Potter to the Door.
Ok, guys, loved it? Hated it? This is like a week late SO SORRY! Anyway, I've decided to split Christmas into three chapters since I really wanted to get something out there. Next chapter will be beta'd by the wonderful theDreamCatcherxX ! So look forward to less Grammatical/spelling errors :) Thanks for reading and please please please review!