The weather from earlier had only improved and Scorpius breathed it in. The crispness of the morning had given way to a pleasant, clear sky and a comfortable temperature for late summer. Birds were flitting from tree to tree around them and there was a slight breeze that kept the bright sunlight from getting too warm across their shoulders.

So far, the walk had been silent between his companion and himself. It wasn't an easy silence. There were too many questions and words hanging in the quiet bubble around them, but he let it be. At the moment, he was following her lead. She had said she wasn't up to talking about it and, besides, he had nothing helpful to offer her. He certainly wasn't in any position to judge her for how she was handling the situation - he'd never had the misfortune of having anyone he knew (let alone cared about) disappear without a trace.

The idea of the walk itself may have been more for him than her. He felt more at ease ignoring unspoken things when there weren't walls around to collect them in one space. Skilt could have easily gotten the car and Rose's luggage to the manor with minor effort. (Scorpius was in a constant state of admiration for the house-elf's abilities and easy power.) He felt the walk might help distract their house guest for a bit, as well, after the emotional morning.

He still couldn't fathom her crumbling in front of him as she had and then putting herself back together just as quickly. Also amazing was the simple act of her accepting his hesitant offer of comfort with such ease. Never in his strangest thoughts had he ever expected to be so welcomed to console a near stranger, let alone Rose Weasley, of all people.

The Malfoy name had come far since his father's days at Hogwarts. Since the War. But it hadn't stopped looks and whispers from following them. His parents had tried to shelter him from most of it when he was young, but after an incident at Diagon Alley with some of those who knew his father and grandfather in those days, Scorpius's parents had gently sat him down and explained exactly what role the Malfoys had played in Voldemort's plan.

His father hadn't shied away from his part in it, laying bare his worst moments and actions. Scorpius's mother had held his hand tight through the entire recounting. Even though his father had told him many times growing up that his mother was the driving reason he was the man he was today, it was the first time Scorpius truly started to comprehend just how far she had helped him come.

Even after being told, there weren't many incidents. Only few and far between.

Then he had started at Hogwarts.

It would be unfair to say that he had had a hard time when he started school, but it was certainly a challenge to suddenly be immersed in the very place his father had explicitly betrayed so many years ago. The portraits murmured whenever he walked past them his first year, the distinct stamp of his appearance announcing his heritage almost faster than an introduction. The professors were kind, having knowledge of his father's more recent accomplishments and Scorpius found himself relying on that kindness in his first year more than his parents would have wished.

After the fall of Voldemort, his father had struggled to redeem himself and fought tooth and nail to gain his position in the Ministry. Scorpius's parents had raised him to know the value of himself, no matter the whispers or the rumors, and to fight hard to get what he wanted. His father had made sure to explain that his own childhood had been one of luxury and indulgence. It had led to his own inflated self-importance and, as a result, his downfall into the expectations of the Dark Lord. Scorpius had been raised to be grateful for the things he had and had learned when to keep his mouth shut.

The student populace of Hogwarts had perceived Scorpius very differently than the professors. They were young and had grown up being thrilled with the stories of the War and its victors. Those stories had included the tales of the sinister families that had made up the Death Eaters. Some children had even hissed that their parents had warned them about the youngest Malfoy. To stay away from him. That that sort of cowardice and corruption couldn't have just disappeared. There had been a few unsanctioned fights as a result, but Scorpius had dedicated himself to reining in his emotions even more afterwards. He respected that history did not reflect favorably on his family. For good reason. He also understood that it fell to him to be an example that not all awful things had to stay or end that way.

As a result, Scorpius remained fairly removed from the majority of the student population and did his best to stay out of the rumor and gossip mills that ran rampant throughout the ancient halls. As the years went by, the wary looks and harsh words that had once been thrown toward him dropped away. He was even good friends with most of the portraits that had been the most vehement against his presence that first year. Scorpius had people who liked him, his schoolwork was beyond reproach, and he had worked so very hard to get there.

A long sigh from beside him pulled him out of his reverie. He glanced over to Rose to find that she had stopped and was glaring ahead of them. Following her gaze, he spotted the dark green car that had been abandoned overnight.

"What were you thinking about just now?"

He looked back at her, eyebrows lifted, "What?"

She shrugged as she glanced at him briefly, "I dunno. You just seemed...very serious for most of the walk here." Her fingers lifted to gesture at her face as it took on a solemn expression, eyebrows lowering slightly, "Like this. This is what you looked like."

A small laugh bubbled out of him."

She grinned, "Was it something I should be worried about?"

"Nothing important," he responded, smiling and shaking his head before moving forward to rap his knuckles on the hood of the car. The sound was hollow underneath. It looked like a standard muggle vehicle...which meant he knew nothing about it beyond the fact that it moved people around without magic.

Glancing sideways at Rose as she came up beside him, he asked, "So, what exactly happened with it?"

Fingers worrying through the curls of her ponytail, Rose shrugged, her expression narrow with irritation, "It just died. I was driving, it started sputtering, and just...died." He watched as she pulled open the driver's side door and leaned in to pull something. He heard a sharp noise and felt the hood beneath his fingers bob up slightly before catching on something. Scorpius stepped back in surprise.

"It won't bite," came the amused response from Rose as she moved back next to him, slid her fingers under the seam of the hood and shifted something before lifting the hood open and propping it up on a thin metal rod.

He watched her with fascination as she did this and then joined her in staring down at the multitude of random shapes and belts that were revealed. Looking at it, Scorpius was baffled as to why muggles would build something that looked so complicated. Impressed, but baffled.

Rose looked over at him and he met her gaze before lifting his eyebrows and grinning, "So...teach me about muggle cars then."

Sorry for the delayed posting and I feel even worse because it's a short chapter! I may have missed my reminder to post on Sunday. :/ Oops! My apologies.

Anywho, a little bit of background into Scorpius's approach to life and why he is the way he is. Hope you all are having a lovely week!