Years had passed since then. Since That Day. He had grown up a lot, but he was still a smaller than an average 11 year old, with silky soft platinum blonde hair and big, silvery eyes. He rarely spoke nowadays, unless it was to an adult who had asked him a question, his parents, or his cousin. He was still very polite, and he smiled a lot despite his shy personality. He always did as he was told, but his parents still encouraged him to try and make his own choices.

At last, the day had finally come. The day Scorpius had been waiting for for years. He grinned excitedly as he watched the tawny owl fly towards his house. "Mum! Dad! My Hogwarts letter is here!" The couple walked into the room and smiled at their son, sharing a glance between them that, in all his excitement, Scorpius found himself unable to read. The owl perched itself on the window sill, and the 11 year old allowed his mother to detach the letter from its leg. He didn't notice the owl fly away as he tore open the envelope.

His father smiled at the two, straightening the collar of his shirt. "It seems that a trip to Diagon Alley may be in order."

Scorpius had been to Diagon Alley multiple times since he was 7, but luckily none of those times were as eventful. As they walked through the bustling street he noticed there were a lot more kids his age around here now. He assumed they were Hogwarts too.

They went first to get his cauldron and scales, then for some ingredients. His father said to go and pick out an owl while he and his mother bought his books for him. Grinning, the young boy stepped into the owlery and looked around. He found that no particular owl caught his eye, except for one. A barn owl, slightly smaller than average, with a pale face and a tan brown body. She was beautiful. She was in a totally separate cage to the other owls as, the shopkeeper explained, she was unliked by them and was nipped at while sharing a cage. When his parents came back with his books, he pointed out the bird that had already taken to him, leaning through the bars of her cage to nip affectionately at his knuckles. He had decided on the name Aria for her.

Last on the list for Hogwarts was, of course, his robes. When in the shop, he was taken round the back for fitting, and Scorpius realised there was already another boy here. He was short, but not quite as short as the blonde, with spiky jet-black hair and bright green eyes. When he saw the shy boy, he grinned. "Hi! I'm Albus, what's your name?" Scorpius noted that Albus was without his parents too, as he replied with his name. "Scorpius, huh? Cool name." Another boyish grin crossed the boy's face as he looked at the youngest Malfoy. Scorpius was confused. No one had ever said they liked his name before. Then something else confused him. Albus' eyes didn't have the glint in them. They had a look of kindness, as if they were looking at a friend. The blonde grinned back. He liked this boy. As the lady started adding pins to Scorpius' robes, Albus started speaking again. "What house do you think you'll be in? All my family have been in Gryffindor so I'll probably be one too." The blonde thought about it. He knew for a fact that his father was a Slytherin, his mother a Ravenclaw. Then again, everyone else in his family had been a Slytherin, so maybe he was destined to be one too. After telling Albus this, the green-eyed boy frowned. "You never know. Neither of us may be in those houses. We might even be together in one for all we know." And with that, he started grinning at the blonde again. Scorpius hoped that was the case. His father had told him before that Scorpius wasn't suited for Slytherin, and that he didn't mind what house he was in. He really hoped he was in a house with Albus. It was nice having a friend.

His cousin Marc was also starting Hogwarts this year, and would be coming over from Italy to go. However, after a conversation with him about Hogwarts houses, Scorpius found he was not so keen on his cousin anymore.

"So, what do you think?" Marc said as he showed Scorpius his newly decorated Green and Silver room. "E-Erm... It's nice!" The small blonde wasn't exactly going to admit it, but he didn't really like the colours of the room. They looked too harsh and eerie. Marc frowned as he turned, his dark eyes trained on Scorpius. "What's up with you? You're gonna be in Slytherin too, mate!" at this the young Malfoy felt himself cringe, telling his cousin that he wasn't sure he was going to be in Slytherin, and that he didn't feel he'd get in anyway, as his father had said. Marc scoffed. "I guessed as such. You're pretty wimpy. I doubt you'd ever really fit in much." He snickered "You'll probably end up befriending Mudbloods, you little Blood-Traitor."

Scorpius felt tears spring to his eyes at the memory. He didn't want to be a blood traitor. He didn't want to betray his father. He just wanted to be himself. He didn't like judging people because of their blood. It felt wrong. His father didn't mind this at all. In fact, he encouraged Scorpius' way of thinking. The older Malfoy had been brought up to look down on Muggle-Borns, Half-Bloods and Blood-Traitors, and obviously did not want his own son to be brought up in the same way.

The last day of August arrived, and Scorpius felt himself get very nervous. What if no one liked him? What if he did badly in classes? What if the teachers also judged him for his surname?

Scorpius sighed. Too many questions were buzzing around his head, he was so confused... There was a gentle knock on his bedroom door, and the 11 year old looked up to see his father, standing and smiling sadly in the doorway. "You okay?" his voice was gentle, calming. "Yeah, of course.." Scorpius' voice cracked and he whimpered, finding he was very far from okay. His father sighed, walking over and sitting on the bed next to his son.

Draco Malfoy only then realised how little he was like his son. While they looked so very alike, Draco couldn't help but notice the subtle differences in their demeanours. As a child, Draco had always been loud and obnoxious, acting rudely to everyone who got way his way. Scorpius was calm, quiet and reserved, always so polite and gentle. He wouldn't hurt a fly, Draco however would constantly try and duel anything that moved. He sighed and chuckled at the memory, smiling down at his beloved son. "Nervous?" The smaller blonde nodded, wringing his hands together. "W-what if no one likes me?! What if-" Draco put a hand up to silence his only child. "Scorpius. While not everyone will like you, chances are that most people will. You will always remain to me one of the most likeable children I have ever met." And it was the truth. So many people had commented on what an angel Scorpius was. Kind and considerate, always willing to help out. It was one of the main reasons Draco didn't want his son in Slytherin, they would treat him awfully and he truly wouldn't understand their take on the world. Scorpius looked up at him hopefully. "Really? You really think so?" With that, Draco pulled his son into a hug. "I know so." And he did.

When I look at the workings of love and friendship, I feel as if there are a million tiny cogs and wheels working inside everyone's head. I believe that only when you allow those cogs and wheels to stop, you have found true friendship. However, when you let them start moving at the same pace as someone else's, you have found true love.

Love for a child can be seen as both of these. Love for a child is choosing the pattern at which their wheels work. Then, when the time is right, letting them choose for themselves. Serenity in a child-parent relationship is when the two sets of cogs work perfectly differently.

Is it okay? I know nothing much has really happened but it will! I promise!

I'd also like to thank the lovely person who reviewed the last chapter: Gigigryffindor

R&R!