Hidden Scars

Prologue: The Start Of Something New

The morning of the first of September was filled with nervousness and excitement from many children. A family of four were jogging in the station trying to get to their destination. Two large cages rattled on top of the trolleys the eldest children were pushing; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and the blonde-headed girl held on tightly to her brother's shoulders as they walked through the brick wall leading to The Hogwarts Express.

"It's okay, Naos," the father said behind his three children. It was his son's first year of school at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry and his youngest, who was clamped onto her brother like a leech, was terrified of her brother leaving. The father, Draco Malfoy, was the last one to enter the platform, gaining a less-than-pleased look from his eldest daughter.

"Can you be any slower, dad?" the eldest girl scowled. She looked much like her paternal grandmother, Narcissa Malfoy, only with black hair that made her resemble her great Aunt Bellatrix Lestrange, who just happened to be her namesake.

"Bella, just leave it alone, you'll soon be out of his reach," the boy said to his older sister, sighing at how impatient she was. No idea how she was put in Slytherin, he thought, other than the fact that she's a right git. The boy looked exactly as his father did when he was his age, short silky pale blonde hair, clear pale skin; the only thing that was different was where his father had gray eyes, his had a tint of blue.

"Scor, I don't want you to go!" the young girl said, tightening her grip on his back and shoulders. The older girl, Bella, rolled her eyes.

The boy, known as Scor, just held the younger girl, "You'll be okay, Naomi."

Draco just watched his children as the family walked to the middle of the platform; Scor putting his little sister down on the ground so he could make sure he had everything. "Bella, take care of your brother!" he exclaimed, forcing his eldest daughter into a hug. She was going into her third year of Hogwarts, and thought that hugging her father was only for children.

Bella glared. "Dad! He's eleven years old! He can take care of himself!"

Draco shook his head. "Just watch out for him, Bella; he is your younger brother."

Bella rolled her eyes and muttered a quick, "Fine!" before she took her trolley and headed onto the Hogwarts Express.

Draco sighed and felt someone stare at him, he looked over across the platform and saw none other than his school enemy, Harry Potter. His wife, Ginny Weasley-Potter, accompanied him and what he assumed were his three children. He read in the daily prophet of the three young Potter spawns; the eldest, James Sirius, was his eldest daughter's age. His middle child, Albus Severus, was his son's age, and his youngest, Lily Luna, was two years older than his youngest daughter.

Draco also noticed Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger-Weasley with their two children, Rose and Hugo. Rose was the same age as Scorpius and Albus, while Hugo was the same age as Lily. He also saw the rest of Ron Weasley's numerous brothers, their children, and wives.

Draco smiled a little and gave a curt nod in the direction of the family. After the war, Draco had told Harry that he was sorry for the way he had treated him in school, and that he was only a death-eater because his father forced him into it. Harry accepted his apology, and they have been on good terms ever since.
Scorpius hauled on his father's robes, trying to get his attention, "Dad…"

"Yes son?" Draco asked, looking down at his only son.

Scorpius looked nervously at his father, "Where's Naomi?"

***HS***

Side by side, the Potter family pushed their youngest son, Albus' trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead, the family emerged onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist, into which Harry's eldest child, James, had already disappeared.

"Where are they?" asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed as they made their way down the platform.

"We'll find them," said Ginny reassuringly.

Albus looked around the mist for his aunts, uncles, and cousins. A group of four people emerged from the mist, standing alongside the very last carriage. Their faces only came into focus when Harry, Ginny, Lily, and Albus had drawn right up to them. The family consisted of Albus's Aunt Hermione, Uncle Ron, and their two kids.

"Hi," said Albus, sounding immensely relieved.

Rose, who was already wearing her brand-new Hogwarts robes, beamed at him.

"Parked all right, then?" Ron asked Harry. "I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confound the examiner."

"No I didn't," said Hermione, "I had complete faith in you."

"As a matter of fact, I did Confund him," Ron whispered to Harry, as together they lifted Albus's trunk and owl onto the train. "I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, and let's face it: I can use a Supersensory Charm for that."

Back on the platform, they found Lily and Hugo, Rose's younger brother, having an animated discussion about which House they would be sorted into when they finally went to Hogwarts. The conversation got even more heated when their cousins, Louis and Nymphadora added into the conversation. Lily looked up and noticed that the rest of her rather large family was now altogether.

"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you." said Ron, "But no pressure."

"Ron!"

The younger part of the Potter-Weasley clan laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.

"He doesn't mean it," said Hermione, glaring at her husband.

The two children visibly relaxed and went on talking about what to expect at Hogwarts while their parents talked about adult matters such as politics or their kids.

"Louis will be going to Hogwarts next year as well, Fleur, your house will be empty," Hermione said politely.

"You and Ron will not have any left in a few years either, unless you have another!" Fleur said in her thick French accent.

Hermione nodded, "Yeah, what do you think, Ron?"

However, Ron was no longer paying attention. Catching Harry's eye, he nodded covertly to a point some fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.

"Look who it is."

Draco Malfoy was standing there with his children; he caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.

"Mum?" Albus said quietly, "Are we really going to be disowned if were put in Slytherin?"

"What's wrong with Slytherin?" a little voice coming from Naomi Malfoy asked, looking up at the black-haired boy with big blue eyes. Naomi was very small for her age, so she only looked about four or five.

"Nothing," Ginny replied, "and no, Albus, we won't."

Naomi tilted her head and went over to the younger children, "Hi!"

"Hullo!" Lily said to the girl, "Who are you?"

"Naomi Malfoy." Naomi said beaming, "Who are you?"

"Lily Potter!" Lily said giggling.

"Naomi? Naomi? Naomi? Oh, there you are!" Draco said running over to his daughter and picking her up, "You scared me princess."

"Sorry Daddy, I was bored, and I wanted to explore! When can I go on the train, daddy?" the girl asked from her father's arms.

Draco laughed, "Another four years yet, Princess." He then turned to Harry, "Thank you for keeping her close."

Harry nodded, "She kind of just wandered over here."

Draco nodded, looking at the watch on his wrist, "It's almost eleven, Scorpius, time to get on the train."

Naomi started to cry, "No!" she yelled, climbing out of her father's arms and clinging to her brother.
Scorpius sighed and hugged the younger girl, "It's okay Naos, you'll be fine at home with dad, and I'll write every day."

"Promise?"

Scorpius nodded and looked over to the eleven-year-old Potter and Weasley. Harry gave his son a hug and ushered him towards the train, as did he with his older brother. Rose followed Albus, and, a few seconds later, when he pried his little sister off him, he followed the boy as well. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward Harry.

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he, Rose, and Scorpius craned around to look at the other students.

"Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me, I'm extremely famous."

Albus, Rose, Scorpius, Hugo, and Lily laughed. As did Scorpius' father, Draco, but his little sister, as if she just realized, was in her father's arms crying, terrified of being away from her brother, of being all alone.

The train began to move and each child raised their hands in farewell to there parents. They were starting their first adventure away from home.

Written For;

The Multi-Chapter BC with the prompt; Loneliness

The Multi-Map Chap Challenge with the prompt; Realize

The MegaNovel Competition