-Chapter One-

-Train Trip Blues-

"In, say, the event of a full-scale alien invasion, how prepared do you think this planets defences would be? Tell me."

"Albus! Have you yet?" Ginny Potter called out to her son, Albus Potter for maybe the fifth time that evening.

A small boy with messy black hair and emerald eyes was sitting in front of the television, cracking up at a rerun of Invader Zim and unable to hear his mothers' call.

"ALBUS!" She yelled.

Startled the boy jumped, causing his older sibling, James who was sitting on the settee to laugh loudly. "Mum asked you a question Al!"

Ginny, stomped into the room with her hands on her hips. "Get up and pack. We cannot waste time packing tomorrow Albus."

"But mum! Invader Zim is on! And it's the first episode! Can't I do it after?"

"You said that when Avatar was on and before that when iMarly was on. You're going to do it now young man."

"It's iCarly, Mum." James corrected. Ginny turned on her eldest son with a glare that did her mother proud.

"Don't you think that I've forgotten about you, James. Go pack! Both of you!" She snapped.

"But Invader Zi-"

"NOW!" The two boys scurried into their respective rooms, rightfully fearing their mother's wrath.

Ginny Potter shook her head. "Why did I let Harry talk me into getting one of these infernal contraptions?" She muttered.

X0xOXX0X0oX

What if I say I'm not like the others?

What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?

You're the pretender,

What if I—

Ha ha, Right, now,

I am an anti-Christ,

I am an anarch—

"SHUT IT OFF!"

Come, as you are—

When I'm a-walking,

I strut my stuff, man I'm so strung out,

I'm high as a kite, I just might,

Stop to check you out,

Let me go wiild,

Like a blister in the—

"EDWARD SCHMITT SHUT THAT HORRENDEOUS NOISE OFF OR SO HELP ME-!" The noise coming from her brother's room shut off in an instant, causing Rebecca Schmitt to sigh in relief, thank heaven for her dad's equal hate of his music.

Rebecca turned to the neatly piled items on her bed and resumed her checklist.

Five quills—Check.

Five Ink pots—Check.

There was a brief knocking on her door before her older brother Alexander burst in. "You finished packing yet, Bec?" he queried. Looking over her room.

"Just checking off my list." She responded, not looking up.

"God, Rebecca, you're like freakin' Santa." Xander laughed then sang, "She's making a list, she's checking it twice."

"Yes well I've learnt from experience now haven't I? You've never gone to Hogwarts without having to get mum and dad to send up the stuff you've forgotten."

Xander grinned. "Yeah but I always get it eventually, don't I? Jeez, little sis, you're so up-tight, you're gonna be in Ravenclaw for sure."

Rebecca looked up sharply. "And that's a bad thing?" Ticking off the last item on her list, she closed her trunk with a satisfying snap. She turned to see her blond brother staring at her intently.

"What?" She asked.

"It's not healthy to be so up-tight, Bec. I hope the friends you make at Hogwarts loosen you up."

Rebecca snorted. "Whatever."

Lala lo lo li las IMMA PAGE BREAK THINGY!

"Just remember son, chin up, back straight and face everyone with a smile." Draco Malfoy fixed his son's shirt collar as he gave advice. "Don't listen to the idiots, and don't be an idiot yourself, don't expect everyone to be nice to you but don't give them any reason to be cruel. Try to find a compartment with one or two other first years and if you manage to make any friends stick with them no matter what House you're sorted into."

Scorpius Malfoy smiled timidly at his father, he felt he might throw up from the nervousness. It was his first day at Hogwarts! He should be excited right? He'd been excited all summer! But now all he felt was nausea.

"Alright sweetie, we've got to go now." Astoria Malfoy said to her son.

Scorpius bit his lip as he dragged his trunk to the rented muggle car. Draco came up to him and took the trunk. "Go fetch Carina, Scorpius." He instructed. Draco ran up to his twin sister's room.

"It's time to go Carina."

She sat on her purple bed covers, sticking moving Holyhead Harpies stickers onto her trunk. Carina resembled her mother more than her father, her hair was a dark shade of brown and her warm brown eyes always made Scorpius happy that she was his sister.

"Bugger off slime breath. I knew that." Okay, well almost always. Shrugging Scorpius headed down the stairs and jumped into the back seat of the hired car. A minute later followed by Carina.

"Off we go." Draco Malfoy said, starting the car.

The drive to the station was the far from quiet. Carina yakked the entire time, debating with their parents on which House they were going to be in.

"You'll be in Ravenclaw for sure, Scorpius. I mean you got you only got your Potions 101 textbook a few days ago and since you love potions so much you'd think you'd be reading that, but no, you have to go ahead and read stuff meant for third years."

Scorpius looked up from his book and over to his sister. "Then you'll be in Gryffindor."

"I hope so, Gryffindor sounds great! Though I wouldn't mind the other Houses…"

Draco smiled to himself at his children's conversation, though not without a slight tinge of bitterness in the memory at his own first trip to Platform 9 ¾. It had been a silent affair with no guessing of Houses, it was Slytherin or you're out of the family.

Platform 9 ¾ was exactly a murky and crowded as Draco Malfoy had remembered it. Excited older students called out for their friends as usual and first years hung around their parents nervously and younger siblings that weren't yet ready to go whined to their parents.

Mr. Malfoy watched his wife as she turned to her children. "The train's due to leave in three minutes so we'd best be saying goodbye, promise to write to us about which Houses you've gotten into and any friends you make." She bent down to hug her daughter. "Carina, you go ahead I have something extra to say to your brother."

The brunette bobbed her head and dragged her trunk onto the train. Mrs. Malfoy turned to her son, "Now, Scorpius I know you often stick to your sister like glue but I think you should try to make some friends without her, okay?" Scorpius looked confused. Mrs Malfoy sighed and tried again. "What I mean is… that… you must start leading your own life, you and your sister have always stuck together, more like one person than two, but the thing is…" she searched for the words. "You've always aloud Carina to overshadow you, as a result she's always been the one making the friends and you're just part of the package of being friends with her. I just think it would be healthier for both of you if you had separate friends, separate lives, at school. Do you understand?"

Scorpius frowned. "So you… want me to… avoid Carina?"

"No! Not at all! Just don't always go out of your way to find her. Why don't you start with… sitting in a different compartment than her."

The idea was ludicrous to Scorpius, not always hang out with his twin sister? However before he could say anything else the train whistled and with a final rushed hug with his parents, Scorpius jumped onto the train seconds before it started moving.

Scorpius made his way down the train hallway looking for a compartment to sit in. When he looked into one compartment he saw that there was no option of sitting with his sister anyway, and moved on. There were a few Slytherin boys loitering in the hall and he pushed past them as well as another, smaller boy with freckles and black hair. It happened to fast then; the boy tripped and fell face first onto the floor. The Slytherin boys were all laughing and patting Scorpius on the back, as if he'd tripped the other first year on purpose.

The black haired boy looked up at Scorpius through watering eyed clutching at his now bloody nose and sent the blond the worst glare he could muster. Scorpius, who had been about to help the boy up, recoiled in and instinctively glared back.

And then the boy had scrambled up and was gone, slamming into the nearest compartment, and the Slytherin boys wandered off and all Scorpius could do was stand there in dismay at the realisation that he'd just made an enemy.

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Rebecca nearly jumped right out of her skin when her compartment door slammed open and shut in quick succession, revealing an extremely angry-looking boy with a nose bleed.

"Cahn eye sid 'ere?" He demanded. She wordlessly nodded, digging into book bag she handed him two tissues which he gratefully stuffed up his nose to stem the bleeding.

"So what happened?" She asked him when he had plonked angrily down onto the seat opposite her.

"Some git tripp'd me to impress a bunch o' Slytherin boys. Looks like he's sucking up to his future House mates." The boy answered.

"You say Slytherin as if it's a bad thing." Rebecca prompted curiously; the boy sent her a shocked look.

"Are you a muggle born or something?"

"No. I'm a halfblood. Do you have a problem with that?" She demanded, going into defensive mode.

The boy shook his head. "No way! My favourite Aunt is a muggle born; I just thought everyone from wizarding families knew Slytherin's bad reputation."

"As I said, I'm a halfblood. I grew up in a purely muggle area with only my mother to tell me about the wizarding world." She felt a strange pang of satisfaction when the boy looked at her with a kind of awe.

"That's so weird. I can't imagine living in an all-muggle community. My family knows so many wizards! Don't you have any cousins?"

"Not on my mum's side. All of her family and close friends were killed during the last war."

"Wow that sucks."

"Yeah." The pair fell into an uncomfortable silence for what was around two hours. The boy took to looking out of the train window and Rebecca started reading Hogwarts: a History a very interesting book on the school she would soon be attending.

Finally the boy stood up. "I'm going to go change… and try to clean myself up a little too, I guess. Then I'm going to find my family… uh, I'll see you later… maybe." The boy was almost out of the compartment when he turned back to Rebecca. "I'm Sev Potter, by the way."

Rebecca smiled. "Rebecca Schmitt."

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It was drizzling lightly when Scorpius got off the train, which only served to deepen his already terrible mood; he was lonely, tired and hungry and hadn't said a word since he'd stepped onto the train.

A thunderous voice echoed across the scores of students that Scorpius ignored at first before he realised that it was for first years. "FIRS' YEARS! FIRS' YEARS OVER HER PLEASE! FIRS' YEARS!"

Following the sound of the voice through the throng, Scorpius came up to an enormous man with a wild black hair and beard. Surrounding him were many other first years, including the boy from earlier… who was currently glaring daggers in his direction.

After a few more minutes and two additions (a small blonde girl and a pale dark-haired boy), the giant of a man said, "Is this e'eryone?" He quickly counted heads. "Righ', off we go. Follow me." The man started off in the opposite direction from where the rest of the students were going and Scorpius couldn't help but wonder if this man was really part of the school or if he had for some reason or another decided to trick gullible first years into following who knows where? What if they were being lead back to some cave where they'd be kept prisoners and hurt? What if-?

They came to a great black lake where several boats where resting on the shore.

"Alrigh', the man called, two to a boat." The other first years all piled on, Scorpius stood uncertainly on the shore. "C'mon, lad, what's yer name?" The man asked.

"S-scorpius." The boy in questioned answered.

"Are yeh afraid o' water Scorpius?" The man asked.

Scorpius shook his head mutely.

The man's beetle-like black eyes crinkled into a frown. "Then wha's the problem?"

"I just—who are you? Where are we going?" A few of the students laughed as well as Hagrid, Scorpius blushed.

"Don't worry lad, I'm not tryin' ter kidnap yer. I'm Rubeaus Hagrid, Keeper o' the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts; I'm also the Care o' Magical Creatures teacher though you won't have to deal with that for a few years yet. And I'm also the one responsible fer takin' the firs' years on the… scenic route to the castle, jus' as a li'l treat an' also so the rest of the school can settle in an' be ready fer yer sor'ing. Understand?" Scorpius nodded, flushed, he quickly jumped into the nearest boat.

Hagrid climbed into another boat and said "Forward." And at once all of the boats started moving.

"Hi." The girl on his boat whispered to Scorpius. She was the last one who came of the first years, the small one with blonde hair.

"Hi." Scorpius whispered back.

"I'm Rebecca Schmitt."

"Scorpius Malfoy." He answered. The girl didn't say anything else so Scorpius sat back and enjoyed the sight.

Oh how I adooorrrr Page break! How beautiful we are! Page breaks I love!

Albus Severus Potter was going to throw up. He was sure of it. As soon as the sorting hat had finished its song and "Ashley, Amanda!" was called up by Professor Longbottom to be sorted into Ravenclaw a wave of nausea hit.

Next came "Applebee, Jason!" Who promptly got sorted into Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff table burst into cheer as the rest clapped politely. Oh it was going to be so embarrassing! Throwing up in front of the whole Great Hall. Everyone would laugh!

And that was the only reason that as "Connor, Alison!" (Hufflepuff), "Davey, Michael!" (Gryffindor), "French, Carlene!" (Gryffindor) and "Griffin, Amy!" (Slytherin) were sorted Albus Severus Potter managed to keep his pitiful lunch to himself.

Scorpius was getting more and more nervous as his and his sibling's names drew closer. He watched as "Luke, Jeremy!" was sorted into Ravenclaw and then before he knew it, "Malfoy, Carina!" was called. Carina came shuffling past, giving her brother a shaky smile that he returned. "Good luck," he whispered.

"You too."

Scorpius watched as Carina sat on the stool and had the Sorting Hat placed on her head where it rested over both her nose and mouth. It was silent for a minute before it called out his sister's fate.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I knew it, Scorpius thought, clapping as loudly as he possibly could.

"Malfoy, Scorpius!" Professor Longbottom called up. Scorpius rushed up quickly before he could get too nervous.

The world went black as the Sorting Hat was lowered over Scorpius's eyes.

"Ah, another Malfoy, I saw you in your sister's mind, lovely girl. You Malfoy's are always very straightforward so you should be easy… or not…"

"Excuse me?" Scorpius thought incredulously.

"I'm the sorting hat, sonny. And you're a fair bit more complex than any other Malfoy for about two hundred years. The only House that you wouldn't fit in well with is Hufflepuff. You're knowledgeable, well above your age level. You're brave yet shy, selfish and selfless, cunning beyond compare. Oh I've never met a more beautiful mix! Such a challenge! I would ask for your preference but I can see that you have none, which, again I haven't seen in a significant amount of time! Hmmm… now where will you do best? In which House will you really thrive? Either Gryffindor or Slytherin! It's equal! But wait. The conversation that Scorpius had had with his mother earlier that day popped into his head. As if pulled into presence by the Hat.

"Your mother was right you know, take it from me, you will be great—so great!—no matter what but you will do your absolute best away from your sister. This, of course means…"

The Hat opened its hatty mouth and roared. "SLYTHERIN!"

The Hat was pulled off of Scorpius's head and he was left to wander over to Slytherin table in a slightly confused manner.

Sev narrowed his eyes at the Malfoy. I knew it, he thought as "Nott, Wrackness!" was quickly sorted into Ravenclaw.

"Oscar, Oscar!"'s sorting took a little more time, however he was eventually sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Potter, Albus!"

Shivering-from fear or cold he knew not-Sev walked up to the Sorting Hat's stool and allowed Longbottom to place the hat on his head.

"Well hullo, what do we have here?" came a voice in his head. A surprised curse slipped through his mind.

"Now no swearing sonny." the voice grunted angrily.

Sev defended himself silently. "But it was in my head!"

"And so am I."

"I didn't invite you in!" Sev protested indignantly.

"Did you enrol at Hogwarts?"

"...Yes..."

"Then you agreed to let me into your head. Now shut up so I can sort you."

"IT'S MY HEAD!"

"If you keep complaining I'll make you a Hufflepuff." the Hat snapped.

Sev bit his lip. "...Hufflepuff's not THAT bad..."

"Of course not. But you'd stand out like dogs balls."

Sev slumped in the stool, crossed his arms and pouted but remained silent.

"Thank you. Now let's see... you're intelligent with a thirst for knowledge yet... Ravenclaw is not for you... You're slightly brave... but not enough for Gryffindor. As I said before, Hufflepuff is NOT right for you... that leaves..."

Sev sensed that the Hat was going to announce its choice. Desperately he called "WAIT!"

"What?"

"It seemed like you used process of elimination. Instead of looking for the traits that I possessed, you looked for the traits that I DON'T possess. Are you sure I'm not just a boring, trait less person?"

The hat laughed out loud to the whole school before answering in Sev's head. "Cunning boy, you certainly know how to use that brain for your personal gains, don't you?"

Damn. Sev sighed; the Hat had turned his argument against him.

"Do I have your blessing?"

Another sigh. "Go ahead."

The Hat opened the rip it used for a mouth wide and hollered for all of the Great Hall to hear. "SLYTHERIN!"

As the Hat was pulled off Sev's head and he scurried to the cheering Slytherin table, one thought ran through his head.

James is going to give me HELL.

Rebecca clapped politely for the only boy she knew as we hurried to the Slytherin table, inwardly chuckling when she remembered the look of disgust he'd had for the group on the train. "Parkinson, Penelope!" (Ravenclaw), "Scamander, Lorcan!" (Slytherin) and "Scamander, Lysander!" (Gryffindor) all came before it was finally her turn.

When her name was called, Rebecca silently walked to the stool and sat, patiently waiting as Professor Longbottom placed the Hat over her head.

Barely two seconds passed, in which Rebecca thought she heard "And so the triangle is complete." Before "SLYTHERIN!" Was shouted for the entire hall to hear.

Finding herself a seat not too far from where Scorpius was sitting and watched patiently while "Tate, Cornelius!" (Hufflepuff), "Tyler, Josephine!" (Gryffindor), "Weasley, Rose!" (Ravenclaw) and "Yancy, Lawrence!" (Gryffindor) were sorted.

Professor McGonagall stood up from her place as Headmistress and the chatter around the Great Hall silenced instantly. "Today marks the beginning of a new year for Hogwarts, with many new faces, and many old. And while I do have a little bit more to say, it shall have to wait until you are all full to bursting and far too tired to pay much attention. So let us eat!"