Hey guys!
Here's a new chapter, brought to you by my random motivation last month, and my great beta reader!
I wish you a happy New Year, let us all try to forget that in 2021 sounds like 2020-1.
Finally, finally, people will be able to start seing that the story takes place in the Harry Potter world. I know, my story starts slow. Well, anyway, that's my favorite part of the story starting now, I hope you will enjoy (and review? Pretty please).
That chapter also starts introducing you to the changes I did to the story, and I'm really looking forward to your feedback.
Enjoy!
My adoptive parents both come into the car with me. My father helps me load my trunk into the car boot, barely fitting. My mother drives. She mentions her visit to Diagon Alley again, enthusiastic. Both her and my father are deeply disappointed when I tell them it'll be easier if they don't accompany me on the train platform. I don't need them, and I don't exactly know how to make it so a Muggle can enter and exit the entrance at platform 7½. Yes, Platform 7 ½, because Platform 9 ¾ is part of the fake information contained in the books. Even if Muggles wouldn't be able to cross the barrier, it would still be a pain for wizards trying to be sneaky to have a full pack of Muggles at the entrance. No, the real entrance of the Wizarding World stands between the Platforms Seven and Eight, more exactly at their end. I don't have more information, but Mrs Aster said I couldn't miss it. So… We'll see. I'll manage anyway, in worst case I have Arthur's phone number somewhere on my phone, even if I have no will to use it and that I'm not even sure he's reachable in the Wizarding World.
That's how I find myself pushing a trolley, on which my parents clumsily put my trunk, through the overcrowded station. Because of course it's THE start of the term from Harry Potter's epilogue and a rather impressive mass of people dressed as wizards are trying to reach Platforms Nine and Ten. I guess it has the benefit of helping real wizards to go unnoticed… Like me and that stupid trunk. How much I want to go away from all those people… I finally reach my goal and bug for a moment. I understand why Mrs Aster told me I couldn't miss the entrance.
The arrows (bright, pink, with light effects) start upon arrival on the Platforms Seven and Eight. They write, in oversized letters "WIZARDS, THIS WAY!". And, no, it definitively isn't discreet... When I pass the first I'm surprised to see it flash in blue, and the text changes to "WELCOME!". Once I finished passing it, it goes back to its initial appearance. Ten meters away, the next arrow displays soberly (as soberly as purple caps with a yellow background can be) "Thank you for choosing the Hogwarts Express, don't forget your luggage on the Muggle side, the Obliviators have better things to do, such as drinking some Firewhisky in the closest bar!". The next sign reads "I am informed that I have to stop joking about the Obliviators, the censorship is crazy these days!". I can't stop myself from laughing at those surrealistic signs. Part of me wonders if Muggles regularly see people affected with hilarity breakdowns on this platform. Probably, twice a year… Eventually, I reach a wall on which hang three arrows (still pink, bright with light-effects) pointing to the wall, indicating "If no prankster has shifted these arrows two meters to the left, you have to enter the wall here… Have a nice trip!".
Damn it, I don't know who installed that, but I'll worship the author(s) who created that piece of art for ever. Still laughing (but I'm internalizing), I push my trolley against the wall, hoping really hard for the entrance to be there and not some place else (two meters to the right, for instance). Lucky for me they're in the correct spot, and I finally find myself on the Hogwarts Express' platform. On this side, everything looks exactly like in the books. I arrived early, and there's not many people around. Nice. If I am in the Wizarding World, that also means… That I'm finally able to use my wand! I take it out of my truck, and happily welcome the feeling of holding it inside of my hand, before casting a levitation spell on my bulky luggage. It works even better than with my old wand, and I enter the train followed by my truck floating behind me like some sort of psychic powered whale. I grimace as it hits the corridor walls, and tell myself that I'll have to learn a miniaturization spell very soon. I think it should be somewhere in my Charms book, it'll keep me busy for the trip.
oOo
I choose an empty compartment at the end of the train and lock the door, hoping that no one will come so far to annoy me. I put my trunk on the bench seat in front of me, making sure to take up as much place as physically possible. The goal is to discourage anyone from engaging in social interactions with me. Then, I lie down on my own bench seat, stretching as much as I can, with the same goal in mind, and pretend to be sleeping. The good old technique of the rude invasive girl "Get the fuck away from me, thank you very much". My strategy works out rather well, and I can hear the train being filled little by little (judging by the kids screams). I wonder if Arthur will be looking for me. I hope not, my life will be more simple. He must be in seventh year now… It will be weird seeing him again.
Sadly, my luck doesn't hold, because at the moment I start wondering when the train will finally be leaving, a blond-haired child tries opening my compartment door. Finding it closed, he takes a wand from his pocket, unlocks the door, and enters while locking the door again behind him. He's way too well clothed for a kid this age, in a formal kind. Pure blood? He stares at me and lets out a sigh, so I stop pretending to be asleep to try a more direct strategy.
"Would you mind going to another compartment? You see, I want to have peace"
"I noticed, thanks. We both want the same, so you move your trunk and I sit, then we can ignore each other for the rest of the trip. Fine for you?"
Well, I guess my intimidation attempt failed. At this point, I just make my trunk levitate to the luggage net after retrieving my spellbook from it. The other kid sits carefully next to the window without facing me, and puts a huge headset on his ears before opening book, the title of which I cannot see. I suppose I could have had a worse companion. The train finally starts moving and I let out a sigh while plugging in my earphones. Unfortunately, my phone seems not to have survived the entrance into the Wizarding world and refuses to turn on. Life sucks. Such a long trip, and without music.
Since I don't have much better to do, I focus on my spellbook and quickly find the reduction spell. It doesn't look that complicated. I make my trunk levitate to the bench next to me, and try to reproduce the moves and formula described in the book. The first time, nothing happens, and at my second attempt the trunk shrinks only to instantly go back to its normal size. After some more attempts though, I manage to reduce it more sustainably. I try lifting it, but its weight didn't change. I give it its normal size back and get my Daily Life book. I'm quite sure I saw a weight-lightening spell somewhere inside. I miniaturize the trunk again to read, because it takes up too much space for my taste.
I'm casting a new series of spells to try and lighten up my trunk this time, when the boy puts down his book and removes his headset before standing up. I hope he's not about to complain about the noise, because if I can't practise my spells I will die of boredom without music to listen. But no, instead he corrects my wand movements before saying:
"You're quite strange. Are you in first year?"
"Yes I am, why you ask?"
The kid doesn't answer, but looks intrigued. I give up and ask him:
"What?"
"Nothing, I was wondering, are your parents wizards or Muggles?"
"Muggles, but you'll have to explain me why you're asking those questions."
He sighs, but eventually deigns telling me what is bothering him.
"You're using magic as if you were used to it and trained, but you just told me that you're starting first year, yet you didn't react when seeing me. What makes sense if you're a muggle-born, but that still makes you weird."
"Oh, because I was supposed to react in a specific way upon seeing you?" I ask, trying not to laugh at his arrogance.
"Well, you'll know about it eventually. Let's say that my parents, especially my father, are not really popular in Wizarding world, and so neither am I."
"I see. Well, don't worry, I don't give a fuck. So who's your father?"
"If I tell you, will you explain me how you're so at ease with magic?"
"Deal." I feel like I'm being tricked, but whatever.
"Draco Malfoy. My name is Scorpius, what about you?"
"Vivian Eris, nice to meet you, and welcome to the Sucky Names Club."
I answer, without thinking twice. A Malfoy! I can understand that he didn't want to mix with other people. It's weird for me to meet a novel character in real life… OH MY GOD. Does he know, for the fanfictions on the internet? Like let's say, the hard lemons between his dad and Harry Potter? Part of me is dying out of laughter, the other is trying to imagine the impact it can have on all those people's life, and on a whole magic society…
"And so, the magic?" Scorpius' voice, slightly annoyed, takes me out of my thoughts.
"Magic. Ehm, actually I read the Harry Potter books when I was younger, and since the first day I had my wand I tried as many things as I could, I find it amazing!"
"We agree on that. You haven't had any trouble with the Aurors?"
"Obviously not. One simply needs to avoid using their Tracked wand in a non-magical place to have peace, and it was something I was able to do."
"I see. Which House do you think you'll sorted into?"
"Probably Gryffindor, otherwise Slytherin. You?"
Scorpius hesitates for a moment, seemingly surprised, then answers.
"Okay, you're REALLY weird, usually people don't even ask me. But actually, I'm not sure. Probably Slytherin… But I'm not so certain."
"Well, wait and see. Every House has its interest."
Scorpius nods with a slightly frozen smile, and I realize than one, I just had a civilized conversation with an eleven-years old kid, two, I appreciated it, and three, worse, that I just tried comforting him. Fuck. Socializing with other human beings has a disastrous influence on me. In order to forget that traumatizing moment, I ask him:
"Your headset, it allows you to listen to music? How expensive is it?"
"Not much, something like three Galleons."
"Where'd you buy it? Is there any other cheaper option?"
"On Diagon Alley, in the Sounds of Science shop. But no, I don't think so, sorry."
As I'm already bidding the little money I have left goodbye, two children knock at our compartment door. Scorpius sighs, but unlocks the door and lets them in. The newcomers are identical twins. They have black hair, green eyes, and are like two peas in a pod. They appear to know Scorpius, because they smile at him, and ask:
"Are you avoiding us?" (twin number one)
"If you don't love us any more, you should have told us directly instead of hiding at the bottom of the train!" (twin number two).
Scorpius simply sighs deeply before answering.
"I just wanted to have some peace. We will never hear the end of it if people see us together, and I wanted to at least have reached Hogwarts before creating scandals. I promised father to keep out of trouble."
"Come on, people will find out eventually, for those who don't already know. We kept you a seat in our compartment, are you coming? We have a new girl with us, she is super nice, and cute too!"
"Although you already seem to have company, who is this?"
"My name is Vivian, and you have my blessing to bring Scorpius and leave me to read in peace. And who are you?"
The twins look briefly surprised, then twin number two answers:
"Charming. I'm Albus Potter."
"And I'm Severus. Scorpius, you coming?"
"Yeah, coming."
The blond looks both amused and resigned. He tidies his headset and book and follows the other kids with an enthusiasm that proves that all his reluctance was just a show. I lock the door behind them. At least now I can have peace. Nevertheless, those twins… Looks like "the Cursed Child" won't happen. And that the book series' epilogue hasn't been written by someone who could see the future. Although it seems that friendship between Potter and Malfoy children seems to be happening. I ignore the loneliness starting to seep in, and enjoy the landscape, giving up on my magical training for the moment.
oOo
The train drives through steep hills, meandering between bright blue lakes and sometimes crossing vertiginous bridges. I think about trying to climb on the train's roof for fun, but I think I'll wait for the ride back. I actually want to reach Hogwarts today. The remainder of the trip is rather chilled and I use the peace to get changed quickly, putting my Hogwarts uniform on for the second time of my life. I refused to take a skirt, and I find the trousers a bit too fragile to do stunts. I hope no one counts on me to wear them often.
Eventually we reach our goal, and I hurry to leave the train before being caught in the crowd. As in the books, Hagrid is there and shouts.
"First years! This way!"
He looks a lot like his description from the books, and his size is truly impressive, especially when compared to mine. When I pass close to the carts, I can see the Thestrals, and I have to make an effort not to get closer. I find them beautiful. Beautiful and disturbing. I can also see Arthur exiting the train, wearing his Hufflepuff uniform, while I'm joining Hagrid. He doesn't see me, and I don't call him. We'll meet again soon enough.
Once all the first years have gathered, we start walking. Most of my comrades' attention is focussed on the trio formed by the Potter twins and Scorpius Malfoy, and the three of them resolutely pretend not to take notice. Actually, they form a quartet, since a girl is keeping them company, but people don't really pay attention to her. I suppose she doesn't have famous parents. We reach the lake after about ten minutes of walk and I get to the front of the group. I sit first in one of the boats, which look in a really bad shape. I'm kind of glad we had to leave or trunks on the train… The boats are filled little by little and two kids, a boy and a girl, join me, then another child with glasses that make him look even younger than he probably is. Eventually, Hagrid makes the boats start moving and we slide on the dark water. The only sounds to be heard are the wind, the water, and the quiet sounds of the words whispered by the exhausted and curious children.
Hogwarts' sight, bright in the night, is gorgeous. The lights reflect in the dark depths of water, and I tell myself that I'll absolutely have to come back here, at night, alone. I let my hand dip into the cold water, and give up on my midnight swim idea, at least until I'll have mastered the heating spell. After some time we finally reach the castle, and I get ready for the Sorting.
xxx
Silence des mots retenus par mes lèvres
Silence des sanglots que j'étouffe en pleurant
Silence de ma souffrance au gré de mes fièvres
Que j'essaye d'exorciser en m'ouvrant
Silence des mots devenus des barrières
Silence des illusions réduites à néant
Silence écrasant sur ma vie toute entière
Qui régnera toujours, tout puissant
x
Silence of the words held back from my lips
Silence of the sobs that I stifle while crying
Silence of my pain following my longings
That I try to exorcize by opening up
Silence of the words which became barriers
Silence of the illusions nullified
Crushing silence on my entire life
Who will reign forever, all mighty
-Poem written by Aurore Berger shortly after her brother passed away-
And that's it for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed.
You need to know that I never planned for Scorpius (or most of the canon characters) to have a role in this story. But then, as I was writting this chapter, I asked myself who would go to the last compartment, and that led to this. And actually, I really like the interaction between Vivian and Scorpius.
Reviews please!
See you,
Kuro