Chapter 2

Platform 9¾

"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, "but no pressure."

"Ron!"

Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.

"He doesn't mean it," said Harry and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention. Catching Harry's eye, he nodded covertly to a point someone fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief in the shifting mist.

"Look who it is."

Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasized the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.

"So that's the little devil, Scorpius," said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"

When Rose had left before even listening to her parents and moved forward to the pale family, Ron mumbled, "what is she…"

Rose

I had been nervous all morning but his eyes met mine, everything suddenly fell into place. The pale boy, who had almost luminous eyes, looked curiously at me and before I could stop myself, I felt myself walking over there. All the sounds around me faded into the background; dad's chatter, mum's scolding and the high whistle of the train. The pale boy was walking towards me as well, and it felt like we were the only people there.

It seemed like we'd been walking forever before we finally stopped in front of each other, both smiling broadly.

"Rose," the pale boy spoke, and extended his hand in a welcoming manner.

I took his hand immediately and shook it.

"Hi Scorpius," I said, the nervousness bubbled up to my throat so my voice cracked, causing it to create a higher sound than normal.

"Hi Rose," he paused for a second and looked at my face before looking back into my eyes, "so your father told you to stay away from me right?"

"Yes, every day when my mum wasn´t around. Did your dad do the same?" I asked, still feeling his warm hand around mine, and not even feeling the slightest urge to let go.

"Only every other day," Scorpius smiled.

"So we are really going to do this?" I asked, hoping that he would affirm this so certain that I wouldn't feel any doubt for the rest of my life.

"Oh yes, we are going to kick against all the rules, the written and unwritten ones," Scorpius said winking at me before grinning.

I grinned back and a huge smile crept up my face.

I thought back of the first time I saw Scorpius Malfoy.

Flashback

A pale boy was already inside the wand store Ollivanders when I entered there. My eyes were immediately drawn to him. The boy, paler than any I'd seen before, had pale-blond hair, light grey eyes which contrasted deeply with the dark grey robes he was wearing. The boy looked just like the younger version of my dad's mortal enemy, Mr. Malfoy. I'd read about Mr. Malfoy in the new history book and of course dad had told me all about Mr. Malfoy, who dad seemed to refer to as 'The Ferret'.

When I pulled my glance away from the boy, I noticed that he was alone, just like I was. Mum was buying new robes with Hugo and dad had looked at the broomstick store and told me to go ahead to Ollivanders, since I didn't like broomsticks one bit.

Mr. Malfoy apparently had the same idea and when both Dad and Mr. Malfoy arrived at Ollivanders, already arguing loudly, Mr. Ollivander, who looked really, really old, told both of them to leave the store and wait outside. My cheeks turned red almost instantly in shame for my dad, and it seemed that the son of Mr. Malfoy had the same feeling, because sighing, he shook his head at his own dad.

Dad had made a scene, refusing to leave me alone, but when Mr. Ollivander had promised that no harm would come to the both of us, they continued arguing outside, heatedly.

"I will pack the wand for you Mr. Malfoy, just a minute," Mr. Ollivander said before walking away.

The pale boy nodded and turned to me.

"Hi, I'm Scorpius Malfoy," the pale boy said and extended his hand.

"Hi, I'm Rose Weasley. Nice to meet you, Scorpius," I said, smiling friendly while the redness on my cheeks from the shame of dad's scene started to fade away.

"It looks like our fathers can't stand each other," the boy said, sounding amused.

I looked outside and saw them, still shouting at each other and raising their hands in aggressive manners.

"You seem to be right," I smiled at dad's red face and the awkward, irritated curl of Mr. Malfoy's lips.

It was so funny to look at, that we both started laughing until the tears streamed down both our faces.

"Mr. Malfoy your wand is ready," Mr. Ollivander said, breaking up our laughing.

"Yes, of course. Please excuse me for a minute, Rose."

I nodded and Scorpius turned around to pay for his wand, after which he turned back to me.

"Just to be clear, I have no single aspiration to continue our family's feud. I happen to like you," Scorpius said, looking straight into my eyes.

"It looks funny though," I said, polishing away the last tears on my cheeks.

"That, it does," he agreed.

"So, friends?" I asked.

"Friends," he stated.

I felt happy on the inside, making a friend outside my family, before Hogwarts had even started and I smiled broadly at him. But when I thought back of our fathers, I knew that the feud started because they were in different houses. What if that would happen to the both of us as well? So I asked, "even when you become a Slytherin and I'll become a Gryffindor?"

"Hell yes, I don't believe in all this feud nonsense and I also don't believe in house rivalry. Friends are friends, and I don't see what the different houses should mean to impact that friendship."

"You should be a motivational riot speaker," I blurted out, before I could stop myself.

At that he grinned and shook his head, clearly amused.

"I'll keep that in mind when I have to choose a career," Scorpius said, looking amused into my eyes.

"Ms. Weasley, it's you turn," Mr. Ollivander's voice sounded.

I didn't want him to leave yet, and for some reason he didn't seem to want to leave either, tapping his finger on the door handle.

"So I'll see you at the platform?" I asked at the same time he said, "I'll owl you."

"Great," I said, suddenly breathless.

"Great, I'll see you at the platform," and with those words, Scorpius Malfoy left the wand store.

End flashback

"Rose?" a voice sounded and brought me back to the reality.

I felt an arm closing around my own and turned to my left, where my cousin Albus suddenly stood.

"Who is this, Rose?" Al asked me.

Scorpius quickly let go of my hand and I felt sad almost immediately.

"Oh, right. Al, this is my friend Scorpius. Scorpius, this is my cousin and friend Albus, who prefers Al."

"So this is your friend 'Puck' who owled you every day? You dad's must be thrilled," Al spluttered while laughing.

I had nicknamed Scorpius, Puck, not to alarm my parents that I had contact with their enemies' son and to much pleasure of Scorpius, who disliked his own name as well. When Albus was done laughing, he extended his hand to Scorpius.

"Nice to meet a friend of Rose's," Scorpius said friendly and shook Albus extended hand.

"Yeah, you too mate," Al responded quickly.

Scorpius's brow rose slightly at the 'mate' but then he smiled at me before looking back at Al.

"So we ready to get on board the train?" Al asked the both of us.

"We sure are. Let's say goodbye to our parents and then we'll meet on the train?" I suggested to Scorpius.

"Good plan!"

Al and I hurried back to our family where all our parents stood, flabbergasted.

"Who was that Rosie?" mum asked after I hugged her.

"Oh, you know that friend Puck I met at Diagon' Alley and wrote to in the summer? That was him."

"Puck as in Scorpius as in Scorpius Malfoy, Rosie?" dad's voice trembled and sounded too sweet to actually mean it, and so I swallowed my laughter away and nodded smiling like an innocent angel.

"Yes, is that a problem Daddy?" I said, acting as if I was scared as if I'd done something wrong.

"Well… I mean."

My dad's face seemed ready to burst. I heard aunt Ginny giggle in the background before dad exploded.

"YES OF COURSE THAT IS A PROBLEM! He's a devil's child!" dad screamed over the whole platform.

I turned red immediately and hid my red cheeks with my hands. I looked at mum who was startled by dad's outburst.

"Ronald Weasley! That's enough! It's not as if the boy asked for it. Now apologize to your daughter!" mum scolded dad sternly.

At that moment the train whistles started to sound.

"Quickly, onto the train sweetheart!" mum said and motioned me to the train.

I hurried after Albus and waited by the train doors to wave at my parents. The train doors closed slowly and I swallowed again to keep myself from laughing. I saw mum keeping herself from scolding dad again, who waved me goodbye as well, ignoring mum. When the train started moving, I blew a hand kiss to Hugo and turned to the compartments.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed and followed. I have read all your reviews and will make a few adjustments in the story tomorrow! Also, I will add one more chapter, because it is (obviously!) not finished yet.

Love,

Aimee