~The Hogwarts Express~

n. that train that's full of noisy people who can't mind their own business

Scorpius grew up with one sister, one maid, half a mother, and half a father. It's not to say that his mother and father were one being, it's just that in this equation, two halves don't make a whole. Half of his father was always in his office trying to gain back the honor that his grandfather had thrown off a flying broomstick and buried six feet under in a cemetery. Half of his mother was pining for another wizard, a wizard of 'lowly' family status, who had been her childhood love.

Arithmetic wasn't a strong suit in this family.

~xxx~

The Hogwarts Express was crowded and stuffy with icky people everywhere. Scorpius put his head down and walked quickly so as to find an empty train carriage where these idiots wouldn't be able to bother him.

He hated it when people assumed he was shy. Go to hell you wonkered snotbrains!

Scorpius Malfoy isn't shy; he just prefers not to talk. He may be quiet but that isn't a handicap O Might Genius of the Highest Degree of Merlin's Psychology! He had been to one to many tea parties (with his mother) in a pureblood café (down the street and take a left) to know that avoidance of people lead to a weak-minded wizard (or so they say).

Ada wasn't shy. She was bold. She waltzed into rooms and demanded sweets and drinks (giving Scorpius his share of course). The adults liked that. Scorpius wasn't like that (boo hoo). He liked contemplating (thinking, mulling, observing). Sometimes he thinks too quickly. Jumping from thought to thought like a kangaroo.

Sitting quietly in a corner Scorpius turned to stare at the sky. Grey mixed with blue and tinges of cotton candy clouds swirling across the sky. He liked watching the sky. It was soothing. So he looked and looked and looked. Swinging his legs gently, as his feet didn't quite touch the ground, Scorpius gave himself a little pat on the back. It was a congratulatory pat for finding a good place to sit, and finding a nice window to sit next to. It felt like a long time just sitting there, but it felt good. It was fun to be a vegetable sometimes.

Then she walked in, all bright and sunny, obviously a people person. A dark haired boy came in with her too. They both lugged their trunks onto the holding sections of the carriage. The boy sat down to eat a sandwich he had brought with him in his pocket. The girl explored. She found him.

She was pretty, the sun setting her hair on fire (figuratively). Red hair, that meant she was a Weasley.

"You must be a Weasley." He twitched his nose. She and whoever had come in had ruined his quiet.

"Not just a Weasley. I'm Rose Weasley. Who are you?" She said this all in a strained polite voice. Perhaps he had been rude? He didn't see anything in this short, short conversation that would have set her off.

"Scorpius Malfoy." He decided to just do as she asked. Then she might leave him alone.

"Nice to meet you." She said politely (not strained anymore) as she slid into the seat across from him. "I've heard some nasty things about the Malfoys. They all can't be true can they?" Had anyone else said this in anything but a curious and detached manner, Scorpius would have blown a gasket. Even now, he was a little angry. A bubble of spinach and chili peppers brought itself to a boil in his stomach (gurgle, gurgle).

This girl had barged in, ruined his cloud watch, and was now questioning him about whether his family was really as criminal as everyone made them out to be (which they were not).

"Some." Scorpius muttered.

"Really? Like your grandfather really was a Death Eater? Did you sister really blow up a whole flight of stairs? I'm not sure even James could do that." The serious fact about his grandfather and the ridiculous news about his sister couldn't have clashed more.

"Yes. Yes. Yes. I wouldn't know." Scorpius said slowly.

"Yes you would! James Potter, that arse."

"Your cousin."

"Yep. Biggest arse around that's who." Rose chirped cheerfully.

Scorpius watched as the boy eating turned around to check on Rose.

He looked alarmed, his dark eyebrows shooting up to hide in his bangs before he darted over and pulled Rose up from her seat.

"Rose! Watch out!"

"Oh, quit it Albus. This isn't a war game. I'm just talking to Scorpius."

"Scorpius Malfoy! The dangerous Death Eater's grandson!"

Scorpius pursed his lips. He didn't even know any good jinxes or hexes or curses or anything really. Who could call that dangerous? He was about as dangerous as Rose who didn't look very dangerous. He just happened to have dangerous family.

He didn't like the word dangerous now. It was getting too generic. Perhaps something along the lines of daring or sinister or even villainous would be better.

"Well he's not so dangerous right now is he? We were just having a nice simple conversation about how arse like James is. Don't you agree?" Rose said placidly.

Scorpius observed as she clenched her other hand into a fist. He was surprised as he saw her nails dig into a skin. It was costing her to keep her temper in check? What an odd girl.

He continued to watch as she tugged her arm free and slid back into her seat.

"Sit, Albus." Rose pointed to a spot next to her. "This is my cousin, Albus Severus Potter. He's an arse too. He's also got bricks for brains. So don't mind him too much." Rose said with just a bit of edge to her voice. Her tone was short.

Interesting, Potters for cousins. He didn't know what that was like. The closest cousins he would have would have been the Black heir but the last Black had already died without leaving behind a descendant. Father called him a fool for letting his bloodline end. Scorpius wouldn't know.

So that's how the rest of the train ride went. Albus was being paranoid (until toward the end), Rose was being cheerful (though sometimes it was fake, admirable though), and Scorpius was being Scorpius. Because he couldn't be any other over analytical pureblood if he wanted to be (which he didn't).

~xxx~

Looking back, Scorpius could see that Rose had been an odd girl then too. Now she was just as strange and mayhap a lot prettier.

Mayhap…

Who used that word nowadays anyway? She wasn't maybe pretty. Actually, she probably was beyond the term pretty. Perhaps words like gorgeous, dazzling, intriguing, or (mayhap) just plain beautiful were better terms.

Absolutely beautiful…

A/N: -squeak- Long time no update? Yep...so here's another chapter! -silence- Tell me if you like it! I felt a little bad that I haven't been writing enough Scorpius POV so expect more! ^_^

Suggestions and comments are appreciated! X3