The Lonely Blonde Boy
Scorpius looked out the window of the train car and waved back to his parents. They looked on at him with pride and continued to wave as the Hogwarts express started to move away from the platform. Once the train was far enough away that he couldn't see it anymore, he finally let himself wish that he wasn't alone in the train car.
"You're not alone, I'm here with you silly."
Scorpius chuckled to himself and looked down at the wand in his hand.
"Still means I'm alone Ani."
Suddenly next to him, though not to Scorpius' surprise, the ethereal form of his twin sister, Aniara, sat with her back to his shoulder. She held a book in her hands, though he only saw the outline and couldn't make out any of the words.
"Which book is that?"
"Same as yesterday, its nice and big so I won't get bored during this train ride. But why are you alone Ned?"
Scorpius looked up at the door to the car and sighed. Two kids who looked a year or two older walked by, peaking in to the compartment but walked away when they noticed the young boy's hair. His best friend Anthony Nott had promised to write him every day, and that Scorpius would make friends in his own year, but the young wizard still wished their birthdays were closer together so Anthony would be coming to Hogwarts with him this year.
"You know how it is, Bear. People take on look at the blonde hair and figure out I'm a Malfoy, son and grandson of a deatheater and thats all they see."
"They can't ignore you all year. You'll make friends eventually." Scopius could see her moving the pages of the book and decided to copy his sister. He reached into his trunk and pulled out one of the school textbooks. If he wasn't going to be making many friends, he decided he might as well get a head start on school. If he could prove he was more than just his name, then maybe people would take him seriously.
Just as he opened Hogwarts a History, the door to the compartment opened. Scorpius head shot up in hopes whoever opened it might not mind his incredibly blonde hair. Maybe a muggleborn who didn't know anything about the war or his family name.
He looked up into the greenest eyes he had ever seen with black hair framing a slightly chubby face. The boy looked to be his same age and had a weird crooked smile. Behind him was a taller girl with light red hair and a freckled face. She wore a thin, light purple jumper and faded jeans. Behind both of them stood a taller boy who looked to be a second year, with dark curly hair and the same green eyes.
"Al, would you stop blocking the door so Rose and I can sit already. I promised mom I would sit with you guys this first train ride, but after today you are on your own." The older boy spoke and ushered the other two inside the car. The younger boy moved into the car and sat down across from Scopius and was followed by the red head girl. The older boy threw their trunks into the overhead compartment and sat down next to Scopius, leaving as much space as possible. Scorpius wasn't sure if it was out of fear or general personal space.
"See, some people can look past the hair." He heard his sister say as she shifted her seated position. Scopius chuckled to himself quietly, and spoke in his mind to her, "You know you're not actually here blocking the seats right. And they can't sit on you."
"Then I will just sit on you then and look out the window at the passing scenery. How would you like that?" She spoke back rasing her voice. She knew no one else could see or hear her besides her brother.
That was their thing. Their parents didn't believe them. Even the headmistress didn't believe them either, or else she would have sent Aniara a letter as well. But they hadn't. Everyone believed she was a squib. Their parents kept her locked up in the manor, in fear of the tabloids calling her condition karma on the Malfoy name.
So with the story of poor sick Aniara Malfoy not able to attend Hogwarts, requiring her to be tutored at home, the twins were separated. Almost, anyway.
Scopius dared to speak up, not sure which answer to hope for to his question, but he had to ask it. He had deduced the three other kids identities from their looks and from the younger boy's name. He had also seen them with their parents briefly on the platform as well and was intimidated by their father. He had never met the man, and wasn't sure he wanted to. But to meet his kids might not be as intimidating.
"Were the other cars full?" He looked at the boy his age, Al, and braced himself for the answer. Any answer seemed equally saddening, but 'yes' seemed like it would hurt the least.
Al smiled at him and shook his head. "Nah, just before we got on, mum saw you sitting alone and waved down James. Told him to grab me and Rose and sit with you." His answer seemed genuine but it lacked the pitty Scorpius was expecting. He had said it like it wasn't a big deal.
Scorpus heart both jumped and sank at that answer. He caught the image of his sister moving to sit next to Rose across the way. She began to examine the three other kids and smiled to herself. She then winked at Scopius and spoke, "I think the boys are Potters. And she must be a Weasly. Looks a lot like her mum actually."
Scorpius tried not to smile at her comment. His sister had idolized the female of the golden trio her whole life, reading all the books on her and keeping up with all her accomplishements in the news.
Scorpius looked over at James and smiled at him kindly, "Thanks, but you don't have to sit with me. I'm good by myself."
James scoffed but smiled back, "Sure you are mate. My mum totally didn't notice the look on your face and how its the same one my uncle-"
"Mum says she sees you a lot in Flourish and Blotts." Rose cut him off before he could finish that sentence. "I've seen you a few times. Wish I could read as fast as you seem too. Mum says she has never seen you buy less than four books."
Scorpius smiled and tried not to laugh along with his sister.
"Thanks," He replyed and felt his heart rate decrease, "But I'm not the one that reads very fast. Don't get me wrong, I like reading, but Ani is the one that reads almost a book a day. I buy most of them for her really since she..."
As the words came out of his mouth, he regretted them and his face fell. He gripped his book a little tighter and turned his head to look out the window. He wasn't supposed to talk about his sister so openly. It was their parents one rule, and he had already broken it.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"Your mom said not to bring it up."
"You're the one that talked about books."
Scorpius could barely hear the two cousins arguing. He just wanted to tune out the world and talk to her alone.
"You don't need to be so dramatic Ned. It's not like I died or something. And I'm still sort of at Hogwarts with you."
"Its not the same Aniara. You are too far away. We've never been this far apart for so long." He spoke back into her mind.
"It hasn't even been two hours yet. Like I said, you are being dramatic."
"Just go out to the gardens and leave me alone will you."
"I'm not skipping our first ride on the Hogwarts express."
"You're not actaully riding it Aniara!" Scorpius mentally screamed at her. He leaned his head forcfully against the window and let out a deep breath.
He felt, more than heard, her shut her book and throw it across her bedroom.
"If you don't want me here then shut me out. But there it no need to give me a headache with your yelling. Just sit there and brood by the window while I listen in on their conversations cuz you made me lose my book, and I'm not missing a second of this ride just to go back and get it."
He sighed again and closed his eyes. As tempted at he was, he wasn't going to shut her out of his mind. It wasn't like he was in a private conversation. If she wanted to pretend she was actually on the train then he would let her.
When he opened his eyes again he saw movement. He glanced over and saw Al holding out a book to him. Scorpius' text book to be exact.
"You dropped it when you hit your head on the glass. Thought you might not want to forget it."
The boy smiled at him softly again with his crooked smile. He seemed honest, something Scorpius didn't see a lot in the people that willingly talked to him. He smiled back and took the book from him. He looked over at James and Rose, who were still bickering back and forth almost incoherently.
"They get like that sometimes. James is too blunt and it clashes with Rose's overt sensitivity." Scorpius looked back at Al and noticed his hand was still outstreched towards him.
"I'm Al Potter. But I think you might have guessed that already. Not a lot of people don't know my family, unfortunately."
Scorpius took his hand and shook it before nodding his head.
"Scorpius Malfoy, and I understand that. Though at least people don't snear at your family."
Al chuckled a little and leaned back in his seat.
"And I thought my name was horrendous. Dad says I should be proud of it, 'Bravest man he ever knew.' At least that is what my dad thinks. I'm not convinced."
Scorpius looked at Al puzzled. He searched his memory of what he knew about the Potters. There was Harry, obviously, who maried the youngest Weasly child, Ginny. He had heard his parents talk about them on occasion. Then there were their kids. James, the older second year boy sitting next to him now, who the Prophet hailed was going to be just as good at quitidge as his parents, if not better. They also had two younger daughters, who's names were escaping him at the moment, but they were not here so it wasn't all that important to remember their names as well, right?
Then the second born Potter, Al, short for... Scorpius gasped, "A Potter doesn't think Dumbledore was brave?"
He heard his sister giggle and without thinking turned his head to look at her. She laughed as she kicked her feet out infront of her in glee. "Dad would love him!"
Al shushed him, "Don't tell the whole bloody world now." Scorpius's cheeks blushed and quickly looked back at the boy. Al was jestering to his brother and cousin and Scorpius let out a small breath. Al must have though he had looked towards the other two in the compartment, still bickering slightly, to see if they had heard what the two boys were talking about. Scorpius wasn't used to pretending like his sister wasn't constantly in his head, projecting an astral version of herself through his magic and conciousness that only he could see and hear. He wasn't sure how he was going to make it though Hogwarts without someone thinking he is crazy for looking or interacting with something that wasn't there.
"The press would roast me alive if they knew how I felt about that man and the fact I have to carry around his ridiculous name." Al shook his head a little as he laughed, "But when people, especially dad, tell me stories about his, or I read about what he did in his life, he just doesn't seem like the morally selfless, brave man they all make him out to be. He seems more self righteous and manipulative if you ask me."
Scorpius laughed at that and did a better job at ignoring his sister's increased laughter and comments on how he should introduce Al to their dad so they can swap their opinions on the old headmaster.
"Well, even if he was that way, you are still named after a very smart and powerful wizard who did a lot for the world. I, however, am named after a stupid constellation of a scorpion."
Al nodded but laughed a little, "Hey, your namesake was brave too. He killed a mean hunter who was killing innocent animals for sport because he was trying to prove himself to the gods."
"Nah uh," Scorpius shook his head back, "That is just a myth. Orion wasn't real. You got a real person who did actual things, I got a clusters of stars that inspired a story about some made up hunter. And at least you have a respectable nickname, Al. What do I get? Score? Pee?-"
"Escuse you. I have great ones for you. Racky, Ned, Stinger, Ricky, Eight legs, Sunshine, Pickle," Scorpius ingnored her as she went on to list all her ridiculous nicknames for him.
Al laughed at his nickname suggestions and agreed that he at least got a good nickname.
"I was tempted to start going by my middle name at school. At least that name came from someone who was an objectivly good person. But with my family already calling me all, the professors calling me Mr. Potter, having other people call me another different name might just have my head spinning. So Al it is."
"Who else are you named after?"
"Someone I actually think was a truely brave man. My Uncle Fred. His middle name was Gideon after his uncle so my mom made Gideon mine as well in honor of, well both of them really." Scorpius smiled and replyed, "Well if you think thats a better name I wouldn't mind calling you Gideon if you still wanted."
Al smiled his wide crooked smile at him, causing Scorpius' heart to flutter a little. He liked Al's smile. "If you want to call me Gideon I'm not gonna stop you mate. So what is your middle name, since we are sharing."
"Oh its even worse than Scorpius!" he rubbed his temple and ignored his sister's snickering. She had to be the kid with the beautifully elegant name, Aniara Sygnus Malfoy while he was stuck with, "Hyperion. My full name is Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. Dad says its strong and regal. It commands respect. I just think it is an anoying mouthful."
Al laughed, but not in a malicious or mocking way, but in a way that Scorpius knew was because he understood. He understood having a rediculous name that he didn't like.
"Yup, that is a ridiculous mouthful. Maybe we can come up with a good nickname for you to go by at school."
"I've got the perfect one! You can have everyone just call you Arach-"
"No!" Scorpius cut her off mentally, "No I am not going to tell other kids to call me that. You and Pip are the only ones that get to!"
The two first year boys continued to talk for a moment longer until Rose noticed the time on her watch and annouced, "It's 12:30. Time for lunch boys. We still have a few more hours before we get to school so we need to eat."
"Yes mom," James mocked but brought down their trunks one by one that had their pre packed lunches. He even grabbed down Scorpius' trunk.
"Oh thanks," He responded but didn't take it, "I have some money to buy food from the trolly. I didn't pack a lunch." He reached into his trouser pocket to feel the big handful of coins, but didn't pull them out. He tried not to blush out of embarrassment. He didn't want to flaunt his family wealth but his father told him it was nothing to be ashamed of, and his mom hadn't packed him food like their clearly had. But his embarrassment was washed away when James reached into his own pocket and pulled out a few galleons, "I'm saving my food money for sweets. And my Grandma makes the best turkey beef sandwiches so I am not passing up those."
Scorpius smiled. Maybe he would have some friends at school afterall.
*************
Aniara opened her eyes and streached her body. She wasn't sure how she was going to make it through a full day of classes if she was only tired after a few hours of projecting through to her brother's train ride to school. When Rose had suggested they get eat lunch, Aniara took that as her cute to take a break and get some food for herself.
She walked out from her large closet and made her way towards the kitchens of Malfoy manner.
The house was always really large, no matter how many people were there or not. But with her brother now gone for four months, it seemed bigger and emptier. It also seemed a tad darker. Aniara could always feel the dark magic that seemed to seep out of the walls of the Manor. Their father had told them their family history and what sort of things happened in their home. Lots of rooms in the manner were permanently sealed off and warded as well.
Their father hadn't shyed away from telling them the truth. Maybe a slightly more age appropiate truth, but the truth nonetheless. Though their mother did a good job at covering, or replacing the darker aspects of their home. Lots of family portraits of the five of them smiling and happy had replaced the meanier more brooding one of their ancestors. Only one was left up, of their father with his parents when their dad was just a few years older than the twins. Their grandmother refused to have it locked away in a warded room or in the family vaults.
"That is the last portrait we had done before your grandfather had to go a ruin it all. It was the last time we were a happy family." Their grandmother had argued and argued with their mother to leave it up. No matter how hurt she had been by her husband and the rest of her family, she didn't want to let go of her happy memories either.
Her grandmother was somewhere in the manor, probably reading, or talking to a portrait she had smuggled away to her wing of the manor to keep safe from Astoria's portrait purge.
As Aniara walked past the dark wing, the one where the most dark magic energy seemed to come from, she held her breath and thought of her happiest memories. She hated that she had to pass by it to get to the kitchens, but she didn't like constatly calling the house elves to bring her food. They had been through enough in their life, the least she could do was brave passing the darkwing.
She knew what had happened down there. Most of the torturing and the housing of death eaters had been down that wing of the manor. All that darkness had left an aweful stain in the house, one that could never really be removed, though it seemed to bother Aniara more than anyone else. Even her brother didn't feel as weighed down by the dark magic as she was when she went near it.
She had learned a few years ago that if she held her breath, it made passing by that wing a little easier, but no matter what she did, as she got halfway passed, she felt like a chain had been suddenly attached to her heart and began to pull her down. It slowed her run for a moment, almost stopping her. Her legs began to feel weak, as if she were trying to run through thick muddy water. Dark swirling clouds began to invade her mind, and she strained to hold onto the images of her happiest memories. But, like always, that darkness hadn't stopped her. She pushed through its grasp and quickly made it past the entrance to the dark wing and just as quickly as it had started to pull at her, it stopped, and she continued on her way to the kitchens.
"Miss Aniara! You know Madam Malfoy dosn't like you to walk all the way to the kitchen. Just call for Pip and Pip shall come to you with lunch."
Aniara smiled at the house elf and plopped herself down at the small wooden table next to the kitchen window that looked out to the hedge maze of Malfoy Manor.
"And you well know, Pip, that I don't like calling you to do everything for me like Gran does."
The small house elf smiled at her and patted her face. Before turning back to the lunch she was prepping.
"It is an honor to serve the noble House of Malfoy, Miss, and Pip does it with pride. No need to walk past that nasty place just to prove points."
"I will prove any point I please however I please. Gran may think I'm a usless squib, but at least I thank our paid house elves. When has Gran ever thanked you?"
Pip didn't respond, just smiled and nodded. Thanks to Aniara's idol, Hermione Granger-Weasly, house elves now had more rights and were required to be paid. It still wasn't a perfect system. Hermione had realized that mass freeing house elves would just cause more trouble. The older elves didn't know how to live without a master to serve after doing so for close to a hundred years. And the younger elves hadn't had much of an opportunity to learn skills outside of house service. And with a mass exodous of freed elves, it was highly feared that it would be used for more nefarious intentions. House elves haven't been aloud to reproduce freely so their population has been limited and controlled. A wizard could take advantage of so many free and available elves all at once to rebind them to servatude to commit any number of horrible acts.
So the Elvish Lives For Freedom, or ELF act had been passed to begin the long journey towards full elf freedom. It was now illegal to physically mistreat elves. Elves were also required to be paid a minimum salary of 5 sickles a week along with a minimum 1 day a week off and minimum two weeks vacation time each year. Owners were allowed to offer more if they wished, even encouraged to do so with special rewards and benefits from the ministry.
It wasn't perfect, but Hermione Granger-Weasly had said it was a good start towards an even better goal. Aniara just hoped she would be alive when the better goal was reached.
Pip placed Aniara's lunch down in front of her at the table before popping off to her Gran to deliver her lunch as well. When Pip came back she brought her own lunch over to the table and sat down with Aniara.
Pip was a younger elf, so she had an easier time ignoring the long standing house elf ettique rules than the other Malfoy elves did. The two considered themselves friends, even though Pip was forced to call her Miss Aniara. Pip was also the only being that believed that she wasn't a squib, believing that Aniara could do as she claimed.
"How was Mr. Scorpius on the train? Any new friends?" Pip questioned joyfully.
"He was nervous and sad. Lonley too..." Aniara paused for some dramatic effect before she answered the elf's second question. "And he started out the first bit of the ride alone in the train car until..." she paused again and smiled mischivously at Pip.
"What? Until what Miss Ani? Don't leave Pip in such suspsense about the journey of Mr. Ned." Aniara laughed. While Pip was bound by orders to always use titles with the twin, she wasn't however forbidden from using nicknames. Most house elves were taught service ettequette from a young age, they were the unwritten rules, almost superstitions of the elves. Most things over the centeries of service to wizards that had gone from explicit orders, to implied and taught ettequette so as to limit the elves mistreatments and abuse. Most house elves believed that those ettequette rules were magically enforced through their master bond, when really they were just the result of thousands of years of slavery.
Aniara tapped her finger to her chin and feigned thinking. "Well if I am remembering correctly, and I actually can project myself to my brother's mind and not just having a vivd imagination like my mother claims,"
"Oh Miss Ani, you and Pip know you can do that." The small elf smiled and dismissed her words with a wave of her hand.
"Yes I know Pip. So if I am remembering correctly, there were three other young students in the car with my brother when I left him. I belive their names were, hmm let me think,"
"Oh miss, stop with the dramatics and get on with it."
Aniara laughed, and waved her hands in surrender, almost knocking over her cup, "Ok ok, Ned was sitting in a train car with Rose Weasly and James and Albus Potter."
Pip gasped and shot her hand to her mouth. "Miss lies!"
"Never!"
Pip cried out and got to her feet as she began to dance and sing, "Master Malfoy will be friends with the Golden kids, Master Malfoy will be friends with the saviors kids!"
"Now now Pip you are forgetting something very important."
Pip stopped her singing and dancing and looked questioningly at the young girl. Aniara just smiled back and whispered, "If Ned does become friends with the Potters, that is going to annoy the hell out of Dad!"
Pip produced a smile so wide it looked like it would break her face in two. Then the two began to dance and laugh together at the image of the future reaction of one Draco Malfoy.