A/N ""= Speech, '' = Thoughts :D

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I pulled my trunk towards platform 9 and ¾, while my father walked by my side carrying my russet coloured bird in her cage. I'd had Lyra since my first year at Hogwarts. I named her traditionally with a name related to astrology, Lyra being a star which is situated around the "Summer sky" constellation. My mother used to spend hours with me watching the stars and teaching me which was which. My father sometimes used to join us, in the months leading up to her death he was with us almost every night. Now even saying Lyra's name almost causes him to break down.

"Thanks Father" I said, unsure of how this goodbye should go. He hasn't waved me off since she was still with us.

"Scor" He began, his voice already beginning to falter, "I know over the last few years I've not been the father I should have been but I want to change. It's just been so difficult since your mother… left us. I've realised that focusing on trying to get her back or even trying to blame other people isn't worth it if I means letting you down. That's not what she would want."

At first Scorpius didn't know how to react. 'Four years is long time to get used to him acting like this' Anger flashed through his brain, 'It took him this long to realise he was hurting me? On that day I lost not just my mother but both of my parents'. Looking back up at him, the anger left. 'Although he's messed the last few years up, aren't we essentially going through the same emotions? We do need each other. I'd rather face the rest of my life with someone to talk to rather than having an empty existence like I'd had due to him'

Scorpius didn't realise what he was doing until it had happened but he found himself throwing his arms around his father, embracing him. Draco's body quickly tense in shock and he looked around checking if there were many people around to see us. After a few seconds he relaxed and rub Scorpius' back in a comforting gesture like he used to when he was young. After a while they released each other took a step backwards.

"I know that I'm a 7th year now and I'm an adult now, but I still need you dad" Scorpius told him.

His father smiled back at him with a sort of sad smile.

"Go on Scor, the Express will be leaving in a minute. You don't want to spend the autumn stuck with an old man like me. Will you write to me – like you used to?".

Scorpius returned the smile, "Of course I will. See you at Christmas"

"See you at Christmas," Draco replied as his son started to move towards the train.

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Lily glanced around the station looking for her friends. She failed to spot them among the crowds of people on the platform. Sighing she went and stood back with her family.

"Ahh, Lily. There you are," her mother began wrapping her arm around Lily's shoulder, "I was just telling Albus that I hope to hear from you at least once every fortnight, more often if possible. You know how much I miss you when you're away"

"Mum, I'll write every time anything slightly interesting happens" She replied hugging her goodbye. Next Lily turned to her father, who shuffled her hair, messing it up like a tradition before pulling her into a hug.

"I'm going to miss you so much Lil. I hate do this, waving you off. I just want to grab you and take you home where I know you'll be safe and can't get up to so much mischief," He laughed, "This year you stay away from that forest! I don't want to hear you've been decapitated by an evil tree or anything like that and for every detention you get, you'll lose a galleon of your Christmas money"

"What?" Lily gasped, "That's not fair! I don't mean to get detentions. The professors just have it in for me"

"I think that sneaking into the potion's storeroom and blowing it up from the inside," He held his hand up to stop her from interrupting, "Accident, or no accident is worth a detention."

"Hmph," she replied, "I guess I might sort of see their point. I'll do my best this year, but no promises". She laughed while giving her father a peck on the cheek.

"Lil, come over here a second" She heard her older brother, James whisper. She walked over the short distance towards him and heard her parents divert their attention towards Albus.

"Yeah, James. What's up?" She asked.

"I know you think I'm over protective but I just worry about you. This year I'm not going to be constantly owling you and checking you're ok, but on one condition".

The news was exciting to Lily, last year her brother scared a group of first years out of their wits, while he tried to get into the castle grounds attempting to check on his sister.

"What's the condition?" She questioned, starting to consider it could possibly be even worse than being stalked by him.

"You wear this," he replied, pulling a small box out his pocket. He opened it to reveal a delicate silver bracelet with a small charm attached to one of the links. The charm was in the shape of butterfly, one of Lily's favourite animals for as long as she could remember.

"If you hold the charm and say my full name, I'll know and I'll be there straight away. I've heard rumours that, well that things are going to change again. I want you to use it if you ever feel in danger, even if it's a false alarm or you think you're just being silly. But most of all I want you to use it if a boy comes near you"

"James!" She exclaimed hitting him

He laughed and continued, "Honestly, I need to know you're safe. The world isn't the nice safe place you think it is. Plus, I'm serious about those boys! No lad is going near my little sister"

"James, shut up and help me put it on," She retorted, deciding arguing with him about it wasn't the best idea.

A few minutes later she was saying goodbye to her family and getting on the train with Al, the new bracelet securely attached to her wrist.

Standing next to the door to the train, she pulled the window down, leaning out and waving to her parents and James as the train pulled away towards Hogwarts. Sighing as they disappeared into the distance, she bent down to grab her bags and quickly turned hoping to find her friends before all the spaces in the carriages filled up.

In her rush she didn't notice the body crossing the hall behind her. Her bag hit his leg causing her to drop it and then she tripped over it as it lay on the floor.

Lily closed her eyes waiting for the pain of the floor against her body but it didn't come. Instead, she felt strong hands grabbing her waist and hoisting her up. Everything happened so fast and yet it felt like it was slow motion at the same time. After the mystery saviour stood her up, back on her feet, she took a deep breath and turned around.

***/\\/\\***

Scorpius found the carriage that his 'friends' normally occupied. Looking inside he noticed that all the seats were full, due to 2 girls who were practically drooling over the people he spent his time with. Groaning, he turned back around and headed down the other end of the train, hoping the carriage he had seen early was still empty. He had no time for fawn over girls, especially ones he knew his friends didn't care about. They had a reputation for being players, the worst of even the Slytherin house. He'd spent years following them round as he didn't really know anyone else and they were the only people who seemed to not be interested in the 'Which side will Scorpius join – Good or Bad?' debate, that everyone else was obsessed with. He knew they only wanted him with them due to his family's reputation and they didn't really care about him, but that was fine.

Scorpius steadied himself as the train lurched forward, then continued to hastily move down the narrow corridors of the Hogwarts Express. Day-dreaming he moved passed one of the doors to the train and felt the impact of a heavy bag collide with his thigh. The bag dropped out of the person's hands and before they realised what had happened they were tripping over it and heading towards the floor. Scorpius quickly dropped his own bags on the floor and grabbed the person before they hit the floor. A wave of red hair flew past his eyes before he could register who it was he saved. He helped the girl to stand back up and get her balance when she turned round and looked in his eyes.

"Scorpius?"

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A/N: Thanks for reading and a very big thanks to HorribleHolly and tez-chan who gave me my first reviews for this story.

Please R/R :D

Carolynn