3. Letters
Here it goes. You have to tell him. Scorpius thought to himself, staring at the blank parchment in front of him. The feast had ended ten minutes ago, and while all the other Gryffindor first years were eagerly scribbling notes to their parents on crumpled parchment, waiting for their owls to take the message of their triumphs back to their parents, Scorpius was sat at a small table in the corner of the common room, trying to word his own letter. He was already on draft number 6. ‘Ok, here goes nothing’, he whispered aloud.
Dear Father,
You may not agree with me, and you won’t like what I am about to say, but please read this.
I have been sorted in to Gryffindor. I know I should be horrified, what with coming from a long line of Slytherins, but I’m not. It’s only a house, and it is a good house, too. I’ve already made friends with some of the boys I live with, and everyone was chatting at the feast. They aren’t that bad, you know, not even the Potter/Weasley clan. James is a bit stuck up, but Rose, his cousin, said that it’s only because he’s showing off in front of his family. Albus is a bit.. simple, but he’s nice enough, we swapped chocolate frog cards on the train, he has a huge stack of them, compared to my 4, but I had a rare one he’d been looking for, so he swapped it for a signed Harry Potter one, one of granddad (he looks very sophisticated, have you seen them?) AND one of Albus Dumbledore! You have probably already thrown this in the fire or destroyed it some other way, but in case you haven’t, I’ll sign off.
I hope you aren’t too angry,
Your Scorpius.
A little way off, Rose was helping Albus write their first letter home. They decided to write a joint one, as their families were both staying at the Burrow for a few days, and it would save the owls’ energy. As she was dictating to Albus, correcting his spelling every few words, she had other things on her mind, and her eyes drifted towards the lanky, pale figure in the corner, hunched over some parchment, surrounded by several screwed up pieces.
"Trying to tell your dad? I know it's hard, I can't begin to think what my Dad would say if I told him I was friends with a pureblo-" She stopped, blushing faintly & staring at her stripy socks. He looked up, and for the first time in, well, a while, he smiled, an awkward, yet oddly attractive smile. "Are we.. friends?" She looked up, grinning, "well yeah, ...if you dont mind?" He grinned broadly then, something he'd never done, and never thought he'd do. "Sure! But.." His face fell. What would his family say, first he's sorted into Gryffindor, then he becomes friends with a mudblood? His father always detested Rose's family, as did his father before him. "Your father." She understood, she was dreading telling her grandad Weasley that the first friend she made at Hogwarts was Lucius Malfoy's grandson. They walked to the Owlery together and sent their letters, Rose using her family's old, run-down, yet still energetic little owl, Pig, Scorpius using his new, raven-black owl, his father had named Sal, secretly short for Salazar.
The next morning, the first-years tumbled out of bed and into the great hall, many still full from overeating the night before. Unfortunately, thought Rose, this didn't stop Sean Finnegan from trying to talk to her and Albus about quidditch, until the noise of hundreds of flapping wings and owl squawks sounded, announcing the arrival of the morning post. Rose gulped. What would Dad have to say about Scorpius? At this thought, she looked over to Scorpius, who was sat next to Albus, right on the corner of the bench. The (small amount of) colour had drained from his face, and he was sat rigidly in his seat, not moving a muscle. She noticed a small cut, just above his left eyebrow. Sal flew in then, and dropped a small, green envelope on Scorpius' plate. He was quite relieved, at least it wasn't a Howler. He opened the envelope with shaking hands, as Rose's own post was dropped on her lap, narrowly missing the bowl of porridge Al had pushed towards her. She had received a copy of the day's Daily Prophet from her mother, with a reminder to do her homework, a short note saying "Glad you're having fun, don't listen to mum! Love, Daddy xxx P.S. check out the 7th floor sometime, think of something you require, and watch what happens! P.P.S, say hi to Al, James & Neville for me!" in her father's scrawling, smudged handwriting, and a letter from her uncle Harry? Why was he writing to her? She tucked it inside her robes and went up to gryffindor tower, so she could read it before her first lesson. Scorpius, on the other hand, was not so pleased with his letter;
"Scorpius, I am writing to inform you that Grandad is not to hear of this. Not a word. It will not be known that a Malfoy is in Gryffindor house. Believe me, it will not go down well. I am disappointed in you, but I am not angry. The Hat knows which house is best for each student, and so maybe Gryffindor will prove to be the correct house. If this does not appear to be the case, don't hestitate to contact me & I will write to your Head immediately and ask for a re-sorting. Just because you aren't in Slytherin, doesn't mean you can't live up to Slytherin policies and ideas. Be a good student. Expect to hear from Astoria soon, she wanted to write now, but I told her to wait until you were settled. She is, and will remain, unaware of this letter. Also, if you are going to reply, do so using the envelope inside this one, or your mother will become suspicious. ~Father."
Scorpius was surprised. His father didn't fight against the hat's decision much at all, not for him, anyway. But why? He has always hated Gryffindor, he rarely even spoke the word, so why is he not angry? He thought of this all the way up to Gryffindor tower, where he almost bumped into Rose, who was struggling to remember the password. "Pig-no...Petunias!" "No!" "Penelope?" "Wrong again!" The Fat Lady was mocking her, as she often did to new students. "Paraphernalia." said Scorpius, sternly. Rose smiled gratefully "thanks." They walked in to the common room together, to find that they were the only ones around. Rose sat down in the biggest armchair, right next to the fire. It was cold that morning, the wind was blowing ferociously outside, causing the windows to creak under the pressure. Scorpius sat by her, on a not-so-lavish wooden chair, watching her as she pulled a letter out of her robes. "It's from my uncle Harry. I didn't think he'd write so soon, I think it might be about you." She was nearly whispering. "It's ok, Rose. You don't have to have anything to do with me. It's better that way, that way you don't need to hide anything from your family." Scorpius stood up, his icy eyes filling with tears. Rose started after him, but he made his way up the stairs to the boys' dormitory before she was halfway across the large room. She sunk into the nearest chair, and opened the letter. Maybe Scorpius was right, she thought, pulling the parchment out of its envelope. "Or not.." she said happily, reading just the words she needed to hear;
"Rosie, you made a very brave decision, letting the Malfoy boy into your carriage. Although the rest of them may not agree, don't forget - You aren't your Mum or Ginny, and he isn't Draco. Our own opinions shouldn't get in the way of yours. Draco wasn't that bad, in the end, and so give Scorpius the chance to show his true colours. Remember the pressure he'll get from his father, particularly if he isn't in Slytherin, I'd bet my broomstick he gets ten times as much as your Dad gives you.
Go easy on him, Uncle Harry, xxx"
Maybe what she feels for Scorpius won't be so bad, after all, she thought, walking happily up to her dorm, to fetch her things for her first lesson - Divination with Firenze the Centaur.
Friday, 21 October 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Chapter 2: Home
2. Home
'First Years please stand to the side whilst the other years enter the hall, first years to the SIDE please!' A very elderly, withered old woman shouted, with a high pitched, faintly scottish accent. As the older years bustled in to the infamous Hogwarts Great Hall, Rose, Scorpius and Albus were pushed against the old stone walls, still faintly scorched from the battle, 19 years previously. Rose recognised the woman as Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, and the whole school, at one point, from the descriptions her parents gave; "She seems like an old bat at first, all shrill & Scottish, but she's okay after a while" "Ronald. She was perfectly fine with me always, she didn't like you or George because you caused trouble!" "Of course she liked you, you were a goody two-shoes, but it was the cheeky ones she had a soft spot for, she always liked Fred.." Her father stopped then, walking away, not wanting to show his hurt. They rarely discuss uncle Fred, unlike her Grandmother, who always tells them of the twins' brave feats. After what seemed like an hour, the last of the older students made their way into the great hall, and Rose, who was pressed against Scorpius' torso, could breathe again. Scorpius, who had been standing rigidly against the wall, clearly uncomfortable about having Rose touching him, seemed to relax slightly.
They were paraded through the crowd of students, an extremely pretentious act, thought Scorpius, to the front of the hall, just in front of the teachers' table, where a rickety old stool sat, with a weathered, well-worn hat on top. The old woman, who Rose told him was called Professor McGonagall, the old witch, as she was known in his house, began to call out names; "Tilly Abbot" , a small mousy girl, who, as soon as she lifted the hat, was sorted into Hufflepuff, "Zach Bruno", a huge Slytherin boy, "Riva Charleston", a Ravenclaw girl, the list goes on and on. As he began to stare at the house banners, his worries from the night before began creeping up again. I don't want to be a loser Hufflepuff, what are they anyway, or a Gryffindor, I'd be disowned, and I guess Ravenclaw would be ok, but father wouldn't like it. Then again, do I really want to be in Slytherin? He thought, watching the gruff, oafish boys, in mucus green jumpers, cheering and grunting like neanderthals, whenever someone was sorted into their house. 'Scorpius Malfoy.' .... 'Scorpius Malfoy?' .... Scorpius felt a sharp pain in his side, and snapped back into it again. 'Wah?' 'You're up!' Rose had jabbed him with her elbow, grinning cheerfully. He walked up to the stool, feeling himself getting green. He had made his decision. His father wasn't going to like it, but he wasn't going to be in Slytherin. There'd be no way Rose would ever speak to him again, and he wasn't going to ruin what could possibly be his only chance at friendship.
"Not Slytherin eh? Well your father was in Slytherin, he was a great man, you know. Still no? right then, lets stir things up, I've not seen much happen since your father's year left, GRYFFINDOR." The hat's words were ringing in his ears. He had done it, he wasn't in Slytherin! He walked to the table proudly, but not met by loud cheers, as the others had. The hall were all shocked. A Malfoy. In Gryffindor?! Not to mention, looking happy about it?!! They soon forgot though, and he was congratulated by his new classmates, and offered a space on the creaking bench, next to a short, dark haired, Irish wizard, who was babbling quite loudly about Quidditch. “FINNEGAN BE QUIET OR MISS THE FEAST!” McGonagall boomed across the hall. A scrawny, yet quite handsome professor, in moss-green robes chuckled and whispered to the professor on his left, a slim, blonde woman, with blue robes with rather peculiar symbols on them, who smiled broadly and nodded.
The sorting carried on, until Rose and 3 other students were left. “Weasley, Rose.” Rose trotted up to the stool happily, she already had a lot to discuss with her family, a Malfoy, getting into Gryffindor! Albus had groaned at this, he wanted to be in Gryffindor, but he didn’t want to bunk with Scorpius Malloy, or whatever his name was, he wasn’t good at retaining much information. “Gryffindor!” Her stomach flipped, she got in to Gryffindor! She ran to her cousins to a large applause, although not as large as the raucous caused by Gryffindor when Albus got sorted into it. She didn’t mind though, she was in a house with Albus AND Scorpius! Wait, what? She didn’t care about Scorpius. How could she, he’s a pure-blood wannabe Slytherin!
'First Years please stand to the side whilst the other years enter the hall, first years to the SIDE please!' A very elderly, withered old woman shouted, with a high pitched, faintly scottish accent. As the older years bustled in to the infamous Hogwarts Great Hall, Rose, Scorpius and Albus were pushed against the old stone walls, still faintly scorched from the battle, 19 years previously. Rose recognised the woman as Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, and the whole school, at one point, from the descriptions her parents gave; "She seems like an old bat at first, all shrill & Scottish, but she's okay after a while" "Ronald. She was perfectly fine with me always, she didn't like you or George because you caused trouble!" "Of course she liked you, you were a goody two-shoes, but it was the cheeky ones she had a soft spot for, she always liked Fred.." Her father stopped then, walking away, not wanting to show his hurt. They rarely discuss uncle Fred, unlike her Grandmother, who always tells them of the twins' brave feats. After what seemed like an hour, the last of the older students made their way into the great hall, and Rose, who was pressed against Scorpius' torso, could breathe again. Scorpius, who had been standing rigidly against the wall, clearly uncomfortable about having Rose touching him, seemed to relax slightly.
They were paraded through the crowd of students, an extremely pretentious act, thought Scorpius, to the front of the hall, just in front of the teachers' table, where a rickety old stool sat, with a weathered, well-worn hat on top. The old woman, who Rose told him was called Professor McGonagall, the old witch, as she was known in his house, began to call out names; "Tilly Abbot" , a small mousy girl, who, as soon as she lifted the hat, was sorted into Hufflepuff, "Zach Bruno", a huge Slytherin boy, "Riva Charleston", a Ravenclaw girl, the list goes on and on. As he began to stare at the house banners, his worries from the night before began creeping up again. I don't want to be a loser Hufflepuff, what are they anyway, or a Gryffindor, I'd be disowned, and I guess Ravenclaw would be ok, but father wouldn't like it. Then again, do I really want to be in Slytherin? He thought, watching the gruff, oafish boys, in mucus green jumpers, cheering and grunting like neanderthals, whenever someone was sorted into their house. 'Scorpius Malfoy.' .... 'Scorpius Malfoy?' .... Scorpius felt a sharp pain in his side, and snapped back into it again. 'Wah?' 'You're up!' Rose had jabbed him with her elbow, grinning cheerfully. He walked up to the stool, feeling himself getting green. He had made his decision. His father wasn't going to like it, but he wasn't going to be in Slytherin. There'd be no way Rose would ever speak to him again, and he wasn't going to ruin what could possibly be his only chance at friendship.
"Not Slytherin eh? Well your father was in Slytherin, he was a great man, you know. Still no? right then, lets stir things up, I've not seen much happen since your father's year left, GRYFFINDOR." The hat's words were ringing in his ears. He had done it, he wasn't in Slytherin! He walked to the table proudly, but not met by loud cheers, as the others had. The hall were all shocked. A Malfoy. In Gryffindor?! Not to mention, looking happy about it?!! They soon forgot though, and he was congratulated by his new classmates, and offered a space on the creaking bench, next to a short, dark haired, Irish wizard, who was babbling quite loudly about Quidditch. “FINNEGAN BE QUIET OR MISS THE FEAST!” McGonagall boomed across the hall. A scrawny, yet quite handsome professor, in moss-green robes chuckled and whispered to the professor on his left, a slim, blonde woman, with blue robes with rather peculiar symbols on them, who smiled broadly and nodded.
The sorting carried on, until Rose and 3 other students were left. “Weasley, Rose.” Rose trotted up to the stool happily, she already had a lot to discuss with her family, a Malfoy, getting into Gryffindor! Albus had groaned at this, he wanted to be in Gryffindor, but he didn’t want to bunk with Scorpius Malloy, or whatever his name was, he wasn’t good at retaining much information. “Gryffindor!” Her stomach flipped, she got in to Gryffindor! She ran to her cousins to a large applause, although not as large as the raucous caused by Gryffindor when Albus got sorted into it. She didn’t mind though, she was in a house with Albus AND Scorpius! Wait, what? She didn’t care about Scorpius. How could she, he’s a pure-blood wannabe Slytherin!
Chapter 1: Those Eyes
1. Those Eyes.
"Grandad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood." Her father's words ran through her head as she made her way through the busy train, to the compartment her cousins had occupied. Why would she marry such a snob? Scorpius Malfoy was the only first year on the platform who looked like he didn't want to be there, like he was too good for the greatest wizarding school on the planet! (it was in the world, then i remembered pigfarts ;)) She would not get along with the likes of him, she thought stubbornly, dodging a group of gossiping 3rd year Ravenclaws. She could see her cousins now, James was sat coolly in his seat, surrounded by Gryffindors, all of whom were gawping at her Uncle Harry, waving at her other cousin, Albus, who's dark head was sticking out of the window. Rose giggled and started walking faster, so she could say goodbye to her family before the train left. She was a few paces away when she bumped in to another first year. 'Sorry.' He muttered, his white blond head hung low. He was taller than her, but just as skinny, with long, lanky arms and legs. 'S'ok...you're Scorpius, right?' She replied, looking past him at her cousins, who were signalling her to come in. She smiled a little, and looked back, to be met by astonishingly bright, ice cold eyes. 'How do you know my name?' he frowned slightly, taken aback. Someone knew who he was, acknowledged him! 'Oh, my parents went to school with your parents..they, uh, they didn't exactly get along..' it was then that he realised exactly who he was talking to. 'You're a Weasley.' he looked down slightly, trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes. 'Yeah, I'm Rose. But don't worry, I won't judge you by your family, you can't choose them, right?' She smiled sweetly, trying to cheer him up. His only chance at a friend, and his family ruin it, she thought, sucks to be him. His mouth twitched a little, but his face remained neutral. The train jolted, and she desperately wanted to be back with her cousins, waving to her family, but she couldn't leave him looking so disappointed. 'Hey, why don't you come sit with me and my cousins? The other apartments are pretty much full, and they won't mind.' I hope, she added in her head. He looked up in surprise, a wannabe Gryffindor mudblood, asking him, a pureblood practical Slytherin to sit with her? 'Uh, yeah, sure, it does look cramped in the other ones.' They entered the compartment, to be met with groans and complaints from the boys. 'Ugh, why'd you let him in, he's practically a you-know-what!' 'Albus shut up, there aren't any more Death Eaters, why are you scared to say the words? Uncle Harry isn't.' With that, she remembered her family on the platform, and went to the window. Scorpius followed her, meeting his fathers eye just in time to see the disappointed look on his face. He turned and looked at Rose instead. Her Uncle Harry, "the saviour of the wizarding world" was smiling at her, with a wistful look in his eye. 'We'll be sure to write lots, to all of you!' Rose's mother and aunt shouted to them, as the train drove off. They all waved until their family was out of sight, giggling at Ron, who was waving a pumpkin pasty, which he'd managed to blag off of the trolley lady, at them. Scorpius had never experienced a family like this before.
"Grandad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood." Her father's words ran through her head as she made her way through the busy train, to the compartment her cousins had occupied. Why would she marry such a snob? Scorpius Malfoy was the only first year on the platform who looked like he didn't want to be there, like he was too good for the greatest wizarding school on the planet! (it was in the world, then i remembered pigfarts ;)) She would not get along with the likes of him, she thought stubbornly, dodging a group of gossiping 3rd year Ravenclaws. She could see her cousins now, James was sat coolly in his seat, surrounded by Gryffindors, all of whom were gawping at her Uncle Harry, waving at her other cousin, Albus, who's dark head was sticking out of the window. Rose giggled and started walking faster, so she could say goodbye to her family before the train left. She was a few paces away when she bumped in to another first year. 'Sorry.' He muttered, his white blond head hung low. He was taller than her, but just as skinny, with long, lanky arms and legs. 'S'ok...you're Scorpius, right?' She replied, looking past him at her cousins, who were signalling her to come in. She smiled a little, and looked back, to be met by astonishingly bright, ice cold eyes. 'How do you know my name?' he frowned slightly, taken aback. Someone knew who he was, acknowledged him! 'Oh, my parents went to school with your parents..they, uh, they didn't exactly get along..' it was then that he realised exactly who he was talking to. 'You're a Weasley.' he looked down slightly, trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes. 'Yeah, I'm Rose. But don't worry, I won't judge you by your family, you can't choose them, right?' She smiled sweetly, trying to cheer him up. His only chance at a friend, and his family ruin it, she thought, sucks to be him. His mouth twitched a little, but his face remained neutral. The train jolted, and she desperately wanted to be back with her cousins, waving to her family, but she couldn't leave him looking so disappointed. 'Hey, why don't you come sit with me and my cousins? The other apartments are pretty much full, and they won't mind.' I hope, she added in her head. He looked up in surprise, a wannabe Gryffindor mudblood, asking him, a pureblood practical Slytherin to sit with her? 'Uh, yeah, sure, it does look cramped in the other ones.' They entered the compartment, to be met with groans and complaints from the boys. 'Ugh, why'd you let him in, he's practically a you-know-what!' 'Albus shut up, there aren't any more Death Eaters, why are you scared to say the words? Uncle Harry isn't.' With that, she remembered her family on the platform, and went to the window. Scorpius followed her, meeting his fathers eye just in time to see the disappointed look on his face. He turned and looked at Rose instead. Her Uncle Harry, "the saviour of the wizarding world" was smiling at her, with a wistful look in his eye. 'We'll be sure to write lots, to all of you!' Rose's mother and aunt shouted to them, as the train drove off. They all waved until their family was out of sight, giggling at Ron, who was waving a pumpkin pasty, which he'd managed to blag off of the trolley lady, at them. Scorpius had never experienced a family like this before.
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