Seven Years of Unexpected Chapter 4, a harry potter fanfic

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Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

No one spoke. No one cheered. No one clapped. No one screamed in outrage. Everyone was staring, dumbstruck.

Except Rose. She began clapping wildly. She cheered thunderously with all her heart. She called Scorpius's name and waved aggressively, as if she was scared he wouldn't be able to hear her amid the dead silence. A couple seconds later, Al joined in, blinking his eyes rapidly. Sara quickly began clapping eagerly from the Gryffindor table, along with a few others. She elbowed Roxanne and hissed at the others around her, but they could only shake their heads in astonishment. Most of the school couldn't decide which was more surprising. A Malfoy in Gryffindor, or that a Potter and a Weasley were the only ones happy about it. Professor Longbottom began clapping enthusiastically from the teacher's table. Some of the other professors half-heartedly attempted to start an applause, but that soon trickled away.

Scorpius did not realize when he had taken off the hat, slipped off the stool, and made his way to the table. Sara pushed people aside to make room for him. She glared at James, who was gaping at Scorpius, open-mouthed. When he sat down, Sara squeezed his arm and whispered, "Nice job!", but it rang like a shout into the silent room. The others around him shrunk away, as if his touch would be acid on their skin.

The witch at the front soon forced herself to once again look down at her parchment of names. It took her a couple minutes to gather her voice. The next name struggled from her lips in a croak. No one paid much attention to the sorting after that, and the cheers, while mighty, ended abruptly and had a distracted air to them.

"Potter, Albus."

The entire room inhaled. The hall was holding its breath. They all feared another surprise.

Al proudly marched to the stool. A few seconds after the hat was placed on his head, he looked alarmed. He shook his head violently, almost knocking the ratty piece of fabric off his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, mouthing words under his breath ferociously. This went on for four minutes. Then he assumed a momentary look of disgust before nodding. The students all exchanged fearful looks, expecting the worst. Everyone braced themselves, expecting to hear Slytherin.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The room exploded. James exhaled loudly, wiping his forehead in relief. Everyone was screaming, laughing, shoving each other and tossing insults, finding it hilarious that they for a second doubted the outcome.

Al leaped off the stool and sauntered towards the Gryffindor table, ignoring the many offers from strangers for him to sit with them. He threw himself on the spot beside Scorpius, throwing his arm casually around him. Scorpius, this time, was more entertained by the shock than perturbed. Scorpius realized that this was the first time he had felt the strength and power having a friend could give you. It didn't matter who was against him. Al was at his side, and so was Rose, wherever she was sorted. Scorpius couldn't imagine something as small as different houses stopping the hurricane that was Rose Weasley.

"I begged the hat for Slytherin." Al muttered so only Scorpius could hear. "Pathetic piece of cloth refused. Said I had about as much Slytherin in me as Ron Weasley." Al shrugged.

"Can't say I'm surprised." Scorpius whispered back. "We could pretty much see your every thought while you were up there. You don't have a drop of deception in your blood." Al scrunched up his nose, but then nodded in agreement.

More students were sorted. The cheers for them were much livelier now. Finally, the second last name was called.

"Weasley, Rose."

The entire affair took less than a minute. Rose went from the sorting hat to the Gryffindor table so quickly most people missed it when they blinked. She planted herself firmly on Scorpius's opposite side. She and Sara began laughing about something with each. The last first year, Porter Zimmerman, was sorted into Hufflepuff.

The current Headmistress, Andrea Stonebrooke, stood and gave a few warm words of welcome and knowing looks to Fred and James with the regular off-limit reminders. She was a younger black woman of thirty-seven, that many made the mistake of underestimating. She had just graduated from Ravenclaw, after the war she and her younger sister had fought in. Her younger sister had not survived. She assumed the post of Transfiguration teacher after McGonagall was officially appointed Headmistress. There was some muttering when she was appointed Deputy at just thirty-two, after Flitwick retired. But Professor Stonebrooke rose to the responsibility with calm, unflinching resoluteness. It was no doubt her astounding capabilities that gave Professor McGonagall the security and strength she needed to finally retire from what she considered her home, being the last of the older generation of teachers to do so (minus Professor Slughorn who felt he was paying off a debt for the information on horcruxes he had once given Tom Riddle, and Professor Binns who probably never realized he had actually died anyway). Professor Stonebrooke did not look as severe as Professor McGonagall, and had an aura of even-tempered composition. But while Gryffindors felt a need to take out their enemies with pomp and flashy show (and often failed because of it), Ravenclaws were much more likely to patiently, silently crush you to dust beneath their foot when you least expected it.

They began devouring their feast. Rose began babbling about classes and books, and Al ignored her and jabbered on about all the things besides school the three of them were going to do, and Scorpius almost forgot who he was, and all the cold that waited outside their small circle of inextinguishable warmth.

It seemed to be a big moment when Scorpius stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room. For everyone else. They watched with bated breath behind him. Scorpius, after shortly acknowledging the magnificent splendor of the room and saying good night to an awestruck Rose, hurried upstairs into the boy's dormitories. He was more focused upon getting into his bed than having his every action analyzed. Before he'd gotten unto the train, he had solidified in his mind the lonely existence he was destined to live, down in the dark dungeons of Slytherin. He expected barren days of hiding behind books, mostly avoiding drawing the attention of the Potter-Weasleys, the Death Eater spawn, and anyone else. He would melt into the background. Become nothing. This completely opposite direction reality had taken was a little more than he could handle at the moment.

Scorpius fell unto his rich red sheets. He breathed in the sweet smell of fire and wood. A soft sheet of security settled over him. Several boys hollering as they hurtled up the stairs interrupted his reverie. The laughter came to a sudden stop.

"Oh. Look." A nasally voice sneered. "There's the Death Eater ferret." Scorpius clenched his teeth and remained silent. The other boys chuckled tentatively. Scorpius's back was turned away from them. He could only here his voice.

"Wonder why he didn't get back on the train the minute he was sorted. Thought it would be fun pretending to be a hero, eh Malfoy? Thought it would be a nice little game, pretending you were brave? Huh?" Scorpius began counting to ten in his head. He had expected this. He had been training for these insults his entire life, ever since he was five years old and was asked by a reporter what it was like having murderous scum as a father. But it was much harder to say nothing now than when he'd imagined it alone in his bedroom. The jeers and snickers became more confident.

"I guess they did think they were heroes. Thought they were the saviours of the magical world, killing people everywhere they went. Thought they were better than everyone else. Well, look where they are now. Right at the bottom, right where they belong." The boy leaned over and spit. The warm saliva landed on his ear. It dripped down, into the insides of his ear. Scorpius didn't react.

"Why don't you do everyone a favour and disappear? Isn't that what your daddy did, when things started going bad for him? When his family wasn't Voldemort's favorite anymore? Why don't you run away, just like the selfish bastard he was? Why don't you go back to your bitch of a mother?" Scorpius's eyes snapped open. His entire body became lit with fire, and every argument he was screaming to himself felt insignificant. Slowly he rose. The other boys elbowed each other, sniggering at their success in evoking a reaction. Scorpius turned his neck. The two boys immediately stopped. A third was sitting on his bed, staring out the window, paying no attention to the others (or just too scared to intervene). The fourth was smiling ravenously, his blue eyes dancing with a look that bordered on insane glee. He had light brown hair, curling against his forehead. Aiden Corner. He was the one who'd been talking. Scorpius rose to his feet, his fists clenched. He took two steps forward until he was towering over Aiden. He raised his hand and grabbed Aiden's shirt. He twisted it and pulled Aiden forward until their noses were rubbing together and he could see all the wrath that was burning in Scorpius's eyes.

"Don't ever say a word against my mum or dad." Scorpius breathed, almost without a sound. Aiden's eyes widened a fraction, but he still sneered.

"Think you can hurt me Malfoy? Who do you think they'll believe? You or me?" The boy drawled.

"Hey! What's going on?" They both turned towards the entranceway. Scorpius let go of Aiden's shirt. Aiden stumbled backward a few steps. Al was standing there, looking between the boys, confused.

"He was about to hit me!" Aiden pointed wildly to Scorpius, who was now brushing dirt of his robes nonchalantly.

"Scorpius wouldn't have done that."

"Yes I would have. And I still might." Al's eyes widened.

"Why?" Scorpius turned to the other boys, huddled together in the corner.

"You tell him. What did Aiden say?"

Scorpius's eyes were blazing. His lips were fixed in a hard line. They quickly decided that a Malfoy was a worse enemy to have than a Corner. With their eyes fixed upon the floor, they hastily informed Al what Aiden Corner had said and done, before quickly disappearing beneath their blankets. Scorpius wondered if they had somehow accidently switched the Gryffindors and Slytherins this year. It would explain what he was doing here anyway.

Al was seething. He whipped his head toward Aiden. "You sick, twisted…" Al said a couple more things. Things his mother would have whipped his rear hind for saying.

"Forget it Al." Scorpius felt deflated. He sighed, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"No!" Al looked seconds away from hitting Aiden. "He can't say that to you! How dare he?!" Aiden pretended not to hear.

"Al, forget it. It doesn't matter. Really. It's not worth creating trouble over." Scorpius's tone was forceful, and Al reluctantly relented.

But when everything was dark and the other boys were in their beds asleep. Al tiptoed to Aiden's bed. And Al, in a calm whisper that sent shivers of fear down Aiden's spine, made sure Aiden knew exactly what would happen if he ever spoke to Scorpius that way again. Al was scrawny, and not very threatening, but he was a Potter, and he had power. And he was going to use that power to defend his friend. The friend he never expected to have, but was coming to care for deeply.

The stares and whispers followed Scorpius to breakfast the next morning. Scorpius was beginning his first day of classes cranky and irritated. He had no doubt that Aiden Corner had already spread many fantastical tales without a shred of truth to them, about how Scorpius had tried to hurt him and assert his Malfoy superiority over everyone else. Rose was already seated at the table with a book at her side and plate full of food in front of her. She waved them over. He curls were tied back and she had a bright smile on her face. She gave Scorpius a warm hug when he arrived, that surprised him momentarily (it surprised the people near them for much longer).

"How are your housemates?" Al asked her as he grabbed a plate and sat across from them.

"Some are absolutely horrid, and the rest are too scared to disagree." Rose seemed unfazed by this.

"That sounds about right." Scorpius muttered. Al eyed him sympathetically.

"Did you write a letter to your family last night?" Rose asked casually while buttering her toast.

"Um…no, not really." Scorpius felt a stab of guilt. He had promised to send his mother a letter the minute he reached his dormitory. They had bought him his own Barn Owl, Harmen, specifically for that. They did not doubt that the school owl would mostly likely be intercepted, with Scorpius's letter appearing in the next issue of the Daily Prophet. His mother had been frantic as the date for him to leave approached. She wrung her hands and went through the checklist of supplies and reminders a million times and even considered homeschooling Scorpius for the next seven years. She would be out of her mind with worry.

Rose glanced archly from the side, raising her eyebrow. "No? What about you Al?" Al glanced uneasily towards Scorpius.

"We had a bit of a rough evening. We didn't have much energy afterwards to write."

"Well it might have been better if you had. The Daily Prophet just published an article about how Scorpius cast some sort of enchantment over us, clouding our judgement and convincing us to be friends with him." Scorpius choked, spitting his pumpkin juice back into his cup. "They also mentioned how you were sorted into Gryffindor. There are a bunch of theories of a 'new plan to restore the glory of the Malfoys' and how you were 'planted as a source of inside information'."

"What would my dad do with it anyway?"

"Besides," Al added, "The only insider information we have is that Uncle Percy is a lightweight and Aunt Hermione once had five fire whiskeys in ten minutes."

"Well anyways, your parents might have wanted to hear the truth from you two, not from the front page of the Daily Prophet." Al and Scorpius exchanged a glance.

"Do you think they believe it?" Al bit his lip.

"Of course not!" Rose snapped, "They've already had more than a lifetime's worth of the Daily Prophet's propaganda and lies. And anyway, I already wrote to them."

Scorpius choked on his toast. "You wrote…to my parents?"

"Yes!" Rose flashed a dazzling smile. "I actually got a letter back from them this morning. Both your mum and your dad. They were very kind and courteous. Your mother sounded so happy and relieved. They both said they were very proud of you."

Scorpius tried to imagine his father, Draco Malfoy, writing a letter to his once worst enemies' daughter. Asking after Ron Weasley and Harry Potter's health. Scorpius swallowed uneasily.

"To my parents?" He repeated weakly. Rose giggled.

"Why are you so worried?" Al was grinning. He shoved a sausage in his mouth. "What did my parents say?"

"That they were very proud of you making Gryffindor and very pleased that you were making friends. They said they looked forward to meeting Scorpius. But Lily said that Uncle Harry choked on his dinner and stared at the letter for a good hour."

"And your parents?" Al smirked.

"Hugo said my dad started laughing and wouldn't stop for about ten minutes. My mum said they hadn't expected any different, whatever that meant." Rose shrugged.

Scorpius stared into his plate. "I don't know how my life became so messed up."

"Trust me mate." Al burped. "I've been asking myself the same question since I got out of diapers and learned my best friend was Rose. She should really come with a warning label. Side effects may include talking your ear off, refusal to listen to you, and accidently completely changing your life."

"Where as Al should come with a defect label at a reduced price." Rose sniffed.

Harmen arrived with a letter. Scorpius shoved it in his bag, promising to read it later. Then another owl swooped downwards, carrying a creamy letter with handwriting he didn't recognize.

"No!" Rose screeched, snatching it from his hand. She threw it in front of them on the table.

"What?" Scorpius was taken back. Al rolled his eyes.

"Don't be paranoid Rose. What's the worst a letter could do?"

"Do you listen to anything my mother tells us?

"Does anyone?"

"Remember during the Triwizard Tournament? When that Skeeter cow published that article about my mum and how she was playing both Uncle Harry and Victor Krum, and she got letters from random people with curses in them!"

Al shivered. "I still can't get over all the ones about our parents having affairs behind each other's backs. The one about your mum and my dad was one of my most traumatizing childhood experiences. That, and James locking me in the attic he said hid Voldemort's ghost. Still, it's probably just a normal letter."

"Well, would you like to check Al?" The three of them turned to stare at the cream colored envelope.

They decided they were not so hungry anymore.

Scorpius's Morning: Potions, Double Charms and History of Magic

Just like Rose, Scorpius had read all the books, memorized most of the spells, and was determined to be at the top of the class. But where Rose was a diligent, hardworking lion, Scorpius was a power-hungry snake.

Potions:

"Ah Mr. Potter! Miss Weasley! I am delighted to see you both! And who's your little friend…oh! …Mr. Malfoy…"

Slughorn steps back, pales, and swallows. He quickly gathers himself.

"I expect great things for you both! Your parents were excellent potioneers! And I also insist you attend the next slug club dinner."

Rose smiles sweetly. "Of course Professor Slughorn. If our friend Scorpius can come too!"

Professor Slughorn turns red and walks away without replying. He proceeds to ignore Scorpius's hand for the rest of class (but all the points go to Gryffindor anyway thanks to Rose).

Charms:

Professor Madgewick is a forty year old woman permanently entombed within her preconceived beliefs, making her a hard headed bigot determined to make Scorpius's life miserable.

"Malfoy! What is the incantation for a shield charm?"

"Protego."

"And the spell for penetrating another's mind?"

"Legilimens."

"And just how would you know that spell? Do you have any plans to use it?"

"No Professor. But one person once tried to use it against me."

"Professor! Those are fifth year level spells! And you learn them in Defense Against the Dark Arts, not charms! I don't think that's very fair -"

"I did not ask for your opinion Miss Weasley! Don't think I am going to treat you any different because of your parents."

"But you're totally willing to treat Scorpius differently because of his parents!"

"10 points from Gryffindor for your accusations Mr. Potter."

She ignores Scorpius and Rose's hands for about ten minutes of the class, before realizing they are the only ones who know the answers. She calls on them grudgingly, and continues to glare at them for the entire time they practise.

History of Magic:

Goblins. Al falls asleep and drools over his desk. He talks quite a bit too. Rose and Scorpius are the only one taking notes. Scorpius gives up midway through.

But it's also a comfort, because it's the one place in the world he's not a Malfoy.

No, he's Scott Mallory. According to a two hundred year old ghost.

But Scorpius is pretty sure that even if Voldemort in all his nose less glory walked in here, Professor Binns still wouldn't stop droning on about goblins. Maybe Professor Binns is the only real fearless person here.

In Between Classes and Lessons:

If someone insulted him in front of Rose, she would yell and threaten to jinx them. If in front of Al, he would threaten to tell his father, Harry Potter (that's when Scorpius started considering if he and Al were switched at birth). But people, including the Weasley cousins, still managed to pass their remarks to Scorpius without the other two knowing.

"I don't know what game you're playing Malfoy…"

"Maybe you should ask your cousin, Rose. She's the one that's writing the rules."

"Malfoy, we know you're trying to pull a fast one over Rose and Al, and we think—

"If anything, they're trying to pull a fast one over me."

"Just because Rose and Al are too innocent to realize what you're doing, doesn't mean we all are!"

"Rose is anything but innocent."

"You're a terrible person Malfoy."

"Excuse me, I'm late."

"Don't think we like you."

"I'm not a Ravenclaw, but even I'm not that dumb."

"I can't believe you would do something so terrible."

"You must have a pretty high opinion of him, if him doing nothing is such a shock to you."

"Go away Sara! He's trying to trick my little brother!"

"Yeah, think of all the damage he could do, being mostly a stick weighing less than 40 pounds. And we all know the power his daddy has at the ministry. He could make some bad stuff happen, once the entire magical world stops hating his guts and actually begins to believe a word that comes out of his mouth."

"Sara, are you defending me or insulting me?"

"You'll learn I'm usually doing a bit of both Scorpius."

Then James and Sara started arguing over something else and completely forgot Scorpius was there.

Finally, it was lunch.

"First day, and she already assigns us a mountain of homework! It's charms, how much homework can she give? Practice the charm, read a chapter about the charm, write an essay on the history of the charm! It's Charms, not History of Magic! How much can you write about Wingardium Leviosa anyway?"

"A lot actually, considering it was one of the main reasons our parents became friends. You should know, from the amount of stories my dad tells all of us about it."

"Well I think everything Professor Madgewick does and says is ridiculous. Right Scorpius?"

Scorpius nodded stiffly, jabbing his fork into the food, shoving it into his mouth. He was as still as a rock.

"What's wrong Scorpius?" Al whispered softly.

"Minus everything?" Scorpius remarked dryly. "Minus the fact that every teacher is looking for an excuse to fail me? Minus the fact that so many people hate me and think I'm worthless I'm beginning to believe it myself? Minus the fact everywhere I go people sneer and warn others to stay away? Minus the fact my mother's parents almost disowned her for marrying my dad? Minus the fact that even though I've only ever been taught to respect people, everyone thinks my parents are bigots who have corrupted me? Minus the fact that the Daily Prophet is spitting stories to the entire magical world about what an irredeemable, atrocious person I am, who must have cast dark charms on anyone willing to come near me, because who would willingly choose to be friends with me?." His voiced dropped lower and lower, his words falling faster and faster.

"We would. We did." Al said earnestly.

"Only because Rose wanted to be a rebel and take me on as a charity case!" Scorpius snapped.

Al gasped, his emerald eyes widening with hurt. Scorpius regretted the words the instant they came out of his mouth. But he didn't think they were entirely untrue. He expected them to grab their stuff and never talk to them again. He expected Rose's face to grow red and for her eyes to light on fire and for her to hate him like everyone else.

But she didn't. She eyed him calmly. "I don't do things to spite my family. I do what I want, and if I didn't want to be your friend, not all of their hate nor all of their love would give me the slightest inclination." She looked to her side, carelessly watching Dominique make furious scribbles in her Quidditch playbook. "I became your friend because I wanted to know what you were really like. What you were really thinking. What you really felt." She looked back to Scorpius, her gaze a little empty. "But maybe all you are is a scared little boy, full of self-pity, who probably ignores kindness every time someone shows it to him."

"Rose!" Al was affronted. He shook his head violently, mouthing to Scorpius how she was insane and didn't know what she was saying. But Scorpius's stony gaze was fixed on her. His heart beat fast with fury.

"What do you want me to do?" He hissed icily. "Stand on this table and yell at everybody to see me for what I am?"

"Yes." She said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the entire world. Scorpius leaned back.

"You're insane." He decided.

"The world's going to think what it wants of you unless you show it something different. Either you stop caring, or you start showing them something other than what they want to see." Rose threw a potato in her mouth, swung her legs over the bench, and pulled herself up. She pushed aside the bowl of pudding and plate of potatoes. "What are you waiting for?" She tilted her head the other way. "Are you scared of what they'll think of you?" She was goading him. Provoking him. She put one foot on the bench, hoisted herself up, the other foot on the table, and hoisted herself higher.

Before Al or Scorpius could stop her, she began shouting.

"Excuse me!" She yelled to the entire great hall, atop the Gryffindor table. "Hello!" The noise slowly died down into silence. Rose appeared to be pleased.

"Miss Weasley! Get down from there!" Professor Madgewick's face was as red as Rose's hair.

"No! I want to hear what she has to say." Professor Longbottom grinned and flashed her a thumbs up. Professor Madgewick bristled. She turned to the headmistress, who was tilting her head curiously.

"Professor Longbottom is clearly showing favoritism! He is –"

"Actually," Professor Stonebrooke said pointedly, silencing the other woman, "I also want to hear what Miss Weasley has to say. After all, people don't risk both detention and making fools out of themselves for nothing."

"James and Fred do! Everyday!" Sara called out. Several people laughed. James opened his mouth to reply, but was elbowed by a chuckling Fred. Rose giggled.

"Thank you professor." She squared her shoulders and raised her chin, before beginning resolutely. "You all know I'm Rose Weasley. This is my cousin, Al Potter, and we've been best friends since we were born." Rose took a deep breath. "And now we have another friend. The kindest, bravest, most best friend we could ever ask for. And his name is Scorpius Malfoy."

Buzzing once again erupted into the air. Many people looked angry. But Professor Longbottom was beaming, and so was Al, and a lot of people looked interested to know a bit more.

"I'll admit, I did burst into his compartment and force him to be friends with me –" She paused as some people chuckled, " – But I stayed friends with him because I wanted to. Because he is amazing. He's smart. He's incredibly compassionate. And he, along with my parents and aunts and uncles, is one of the bravest people I know."

"And the worst thing is that you'll never know. Because almost all of you will see the name Malfoy, and you won't see anything beyond the blonde hair and the Slytherin he isn't but you think he is, and the other Malfoys who did bad things before him. But he's not them. He could have been, but he chose not to be. He was taught not to be. And the point is, you can only find out if you try to see what's really there. If you try to find out who he really is. But either way, most of you have bullied an eleven year old boy who you don't even know. And that makes you just as bad as any Malfoy at your age before him. It's no different than eleven year old Draco Malfoy bullying my father, or Uncle Harry. You're not being righteous people, you're being hypocrites." Rose was breathing heavily by now, but hastily added, "And I plan on us being friends for a long time, so the quicker you get used to it, the better it will be for everyone."

Rose leaped down from the bench and gently pulled Scorpius to his feet. In front of everybody, she threw her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. There were many gasps, a few glares, and some smiles too. No one clapped or cheered or said much, but it was a start. Now, some people might, at their own pace, choose to see more than what they wanted to.

Slowly, Scorpius wrapped his arms around the tiny, determined girl. Rose Weasley, his best friend. When Al got up and wrapped his arms around the both of them, Scorpius felt that after wandering for so long, he had finally come home. Everything felt possible with them beside him.

Tell me what you think! And out of curiosity, who do you think Aiden Corner's mother is?

Quote: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. ~ Helen Keller.