Athena found an oddly-empty carriage in the train, but she thought nothing of it. She sat down in the farthest corner, and placed Delilah's carrier beside herself, deciding she was going to let the train calm down a bit before she'd take the rabbit out to stretch her legs. Athena was going through her cellphone, sending her parents one last text that was short, and quick, and to the point.
"I've gotten on the train. I'll see you this summer. I love you. Bye."
The "I love you" was really just a formality. She wasn't expecting a reply, and she didn't get one.
She was about to open the cage door, when a flurry of people came in, all of them walking backwards to carry their trunks in, so they didn't notice her.
"That girl has to be related to us somehow, Rose. There's no way in Merlin's Beard she isn't, not with hair like that." Said James, and Athena cleared her throat loudly, causing him to drop his trunk on his foot with a yell.
"How the bloody hell did you get in here?" He yelled, and she flinched visibly, which he this time saw. Feeling guilty, he sat down across from her.
"The door. Quite a bit before you did, actually. I've been in here since I entered the train." She responded politely, and he nodded, appearing a bit flushed at having been caught talking about her. Behind him entering were Rose and Albus. She smiled at them, and Rose immediately sat next to her, on the other side of Delilahs cage.
"Hi, Rose. Your family seems nice." Athena stated, and James let out a snort, leaning back with his arms crossed, and staring out the window as the train made its way towards Hogwarts.
Rose grinned and nodded, using Delilahs carrier as an armrest. Normally, Athena would find that action irritating, but... Right now she found it oddly comforting.
Shrugging, she opened Delilahs carrier, and the rabbit immediately hopped out onto the floor. James pulled his feet up, staring at the animal apprehensively.
"She's not going to chew your feet off!" Giggled Rose, and Athena nodded in agreement. She moved, and sat underneath the window, on the floor. Delilah ignored her for a few moments, favoring checking every corner to make sure she was safe, before hopping to Athena, and jumping into her lap. Rose stared, wide-eyed at the two. Albus seemed interested also, but James was looking out the window, seemingly unconcerned, despite the knees pressed against his chest.
Delilah pressed her paws against Athena's chest, and nudged her chin, pulling a smile from Rose and Athena alike,
"She's beautiful." Stated Albus, matter of fact. And Athena guessed Delilah was. Her body was a mix of browns. The main shade was an almost orange color, and it covered her entire body. except for her feet, ears, and her mouth and nose. Those parts were the same orange, except the tips of every hair were a deep, sandy brown. Her ears hung next to her face, and they flopped up and down when she ran. It really was a comical sight.
"I think her colorings are called Black Tort. No idea why though." She stated calmly. She was petting Delilah, and she couldn't be happier, even though she probably didn't look it. She had her rabbit, she was on her way to a Wizarding School, and she was with some unlikely, but welcome friends.
There was a knock, and a kindly, old woman poked her head in.
"Anything from the trolley, Dears?" She said, and Athena smiled, standing up and walking to the woman. She looked at the three people with her, and she smiled.
"I'm not used to all of these kinds of candies? Would you guys mind helping me out?" Rose looked at her, confused, before nodding and standing out, pointing out what all the good things were.
Athena nodded, and when she turned her head, she looked out and saw a blond-haired boy, standing all by his lonesome, and looking none too happy. He looked... Sad? She get her jaw, and looked at the trolley woman, who was waiting patiently.
"I'll have five of... Everything she just pointed out."
The woman nodded, and when she left after being payed by Athena, the girl spun around, putting all of her buys down, before running out of the carriage, hoping the boy would still be there.
He was.
"Hey, why don't you come sit with us? We've got some extra room, and we'd love the company!" She called, and the boy looked up, startled. He looked confused, but she made a "Come Hither" motion with her finger, and he followed her into the carriage hesitantly. There were soft gasps from her knew friends, and she was about to question it, when she heard a sneering jibe come from the corner.
"You're Scorpius." Said James, his upper lip pulled into a sneer.
"And you're James, that's Rose, that's Albus, and I'm Athena. And I have every right to not give you any of the treats I just bought for you all. So be nice, or I'll bloody throw it all out the window." She was matter-of-fact, staring at James like she dared him to say anything more, and James went silent, staring at her like she'd just grown another head.
Removing Delilahs' carrier from the seat and placing it on the floor, she shut the carriage door behind Scorpius, giving him a reassuring smile, that he gave back to her, if just barely.
She picked up the treats she had just bought, and sat down in her corner, patting the seat right next to her, between her and Rose, and Scorpius hesitated. She smiled encouragingly at him, and he sat down on the edge of the bench.
Athena started handing out the treats, Scorpius looking surprised as one of everything landed in his lap. She grinned at him and bumped her shoulder against his, causing him to blush slightly at the sudden contact.
"So, are you gonna stay silent, or are you gonna talk?" She asked, good-naturedly. Scorpius opened his mouth, then shut it, before saying in a small, shy voice.
"...Hi." His voice was small, and she put an arm around his shoulder, grinning.
"Hi. You don't have to talk, honest." She was sincere, and he nodded, leaning back and seeming a bit more comfortable after she removed her arm. She turned back to James, Albus, and Rose.
"Did your parent's really choose work over seeing their daughter going off to Hogwarts?" Rose suddenly asked, incredulously.
Athena really wanted to lie, but she knew relationships based on lies led nowhere.
"Well... No..." Was all she said, and all of them looked at her, confused. Even Scorpius.
"Well, you see... Both of my parents are Squibs, and they're both from strong, pure-blood families. They both got disowned when it was found out that they had no magic, and, well... They actually were none too happy when it was found that I have magic... They were livid, actually." She decided to leave out that "livid" meant she was locked in her room and became well-aquainted with her father's belt.
They all looked at her, incredulously.
"Why would they be mad? They're your parents!" Said Albus, looking every bit shocked.
"W-Well, when the news came 'round to my grandparents, they immediately wanted to take me in. But my parent's wouldn't have it. My Grandparents on both sides wanted me, but my parents refused, unless they were re-instated to be a part of the family. Rest of the family said no, and here I am." She shrugged nonchalantly, honestly wanting to drop the subject, but they were holding it tight.
"What family?" Scorpius said, looking at her with his startling grey eyes.
"...Glas." She finally answered, watching the eyes around her grow wide. Well, almost all. Delilah stayed her calm self, laying right on top of Roses' feet.
"As in, the Glas family? One of the most prestigious pure-blood families, besides the Malfoys?" Albus looked at Scorpius apologetically, and the blond-haired boy shrugged.
"I-I'd like to not talk about them, if you'd please." She said, rubbing her arm uncomfortably. They nodded, but James just had to put in his two sickles' worth.
"Explains the hair. Too bright to be a Weasley." He said this in a light, teasing tone so they knew he was kidding, but it still rubbed Athena a bit the wrong way.
"I'm going to go get changed. Delilah, be good. Stay."
The rabbit seemed to nod, and lay her head on the floor, closing her eyes and seeming to fall asleep. Rose giggled and put her hand down, rubbing the bunny's ears gently as Athena stepped out, robes in hand, searching for the girl's lavoratory.
I've made Scorpius the exact opposite f his father in his first year. Instead of being rude, mean, and demanding, I've made him shy and such. Tell me what you think!