Harry Potter: The Aftermath

The Hogwarts Express

Ginny rolled her eyes as Harry began to sob uncontrollably on her shoulder. "Harry, it's not the end of the world. They'll be back for Christmas before you can say 'Expect-'" "Expecto Patronum." He replied. It was a running joke they had. "By Merlin's beard!" "I love you, sons!" He hugged James and Albus tightly. "Stay out of trouble, James." His mother said. "I won't!" She sighed. Lily tugged on her mother's robes. "Why can't I go too?" She whined. "You're not old enough yet!" She snapped for the fifth time that day. "Thank goodness for that." Harry muttered. Then he looked at his youngest son. "Albus, although it pains me greatly to see you go, aren't you excited? You look very put-off." Albus, in fact, was quite nervous. He still hadn't voiced his fear yet, but he knew his father could help. "W-what if I'm in Slytherin, dad?" His father chuckled. "Is that really what is bothering you?" Albus nodded. "Why would you not want to be in Slytherin? After all I named you after-" This time he got cut off. "Yes, I know that you named me after Professor Snape, one of the greatest wizards of all time, but it seems as if..." He lowered his voice. "As if I'd be an odd one out..." Harry ruffled his hair. "If it really hurts you that much to be in that house, remember that the Sorting Hat takes your opinion into consideration. Everyone will be behind you no matter what, no matter what house you're in. Got that?" Albus smiled, with the words of his father imprinted in his head. "Thanks, dad. See you at Christmas!" He rushed onto the train, and found the compartment in which Rose, his cousin was. He went over to her, with her nose stuck in her book, and gave her a small hug. She jumped so quickly that he almost fell over. "A knock would have been nice!" She shouted at him, but she smiled. "Hello to you too." He responded. Then he looked at the book she was reading. Hogwarts: A History. "You've got to be kidding me, Rose. You have the entire year to start on that!" "Of course, but mum always drilled it into me to get an early start. You know that." He shook his head. "It's scary to go over to your mum's house at times. She always shoves books at me, telling me that she doesn't want me to end up copying you like our fathers did." She snorted. "I bet you're going to anyways." "Of course." Albus was typically shy, but he knew Rose as much as he knew his siblings, so he wasn't ever hesitant to talk to her. They went back and forth for a while, but then they both just gave up on it. After a bit, a knock came at the compartment door. A blond-haired boy with bright blue eyes was standing there. He looked up at them shyly, then asked, "Um, woul-would you guys mind if I came in? All the other compartments are full, and everyone started shooing me away when I walked up..." Albus looked him over. He seemed very much like him, and why would he turn away a first year like him, who seemed out of place...like him? "No, not at all, come in!" He eagerly said. After all...he might even get a new friend! But he wasn't looking at Rose. She was obviously not pleased with this. "Are you sure?" The boy asked. "Yes, of course." Albus replied. So this boy who struck Rose as so unappealing walked into the compartment. "What's your name?" Albus asked. "Scorpius." He replied, not mentioning his last name. "And you?" He asked, avoiding Albus' eyes. "Albus Potter," he looked over at Rose, still not noticing her expression. "And this is Rose Granger-Weasley." At this, Scorpius gulped. Then, Rose spoke for the first time since Scorpius walked in. "What is your last name?" She asked, a hint of malice in her voice. Scorpius' heart was now beating so quickly and loudly he was surprised it wasn't audible. Albus looked curiously over at Rose, confused as to what was happening. "M-malfoy." Scorpius' words dripped with shame. At this, realization dawned on Albus' face. "Oh, so you're Draco Malfoy's...son?" Scorpius' face was burning red, almost matching the color of Rose's hair. "Yes...But I'm not like that! I-" He spoke quickly, as though he needed to convince them to not hate him. But, Albus wasn't going to be one to base Scorpius' personality by his father's. He, of all people, knew how expectations could ruin a person. After all, everyone thought him to be extremely brave, and loud, a spitting image of his father. He never grew into that, though. Even though Draco Malfoy was definitely not considered the best person back in his father's time, Scorpius was clearly different. "That's fine!" He said. "Don't worry, I know how you feel..." Scorpius looked at him as if he couldn't believe him. "I-bu-tru...how? You have a great path in front of you!" "That's my point..." Albus barely thought about the words before they slipped out. "Oh." Then Albus remembered Rose again. "Rose you al-" He looked around, and couldn't find her. "Did she leave?" Scorpius just noticed this as well. "Oh, sorry..." "No, it's alright. I'm sorry. She usually doesn't act like this." After a few moments, they forgot about Rose, and the two boys talked up a storm. Just like that, a friendship blossomed. And once they reached the school, and heard Hagrid's cries of, "Fir's years o'er here!" They both rushed in, nervous and excited about the seven years to come.