Chapter One: The Hogwarts Express

A/N: I know this has probably been done to death already, but I don't care! My interpritation is bound to be different, isn't it? Anyway, here it is; the kid's stories from Hogwarts. It's not going to be really long, to begin with it'll be fairly systematic bit-by-bit, but after they get settled it'll be random extracts from random years, otherwise it'll get boring.

Read at the bottom for justifications of... things.

.o0o.

At once the smoking platform seemed to be peeling away, his parents no more than dots on the stone. Soon, the countryside clouded his vision. Albus Potter looked sadly back at the station and then at his cousin Rose, who was trying hard to maintain a façade of complete indifference.

"Come on, Al," she said, seizing his hand, "let's go find a compartment."

Al followed Rose's bouncing dark red curls and brisk walk as she marched down the corridor searching for spare seats. They hurriedly dodged the flying Pygmy Puff hurtling out of his brother James' busy compartment, which was already loud and clustered with his friends and (Al thought somewhat sickeningly) his admirers. James was fourteen –already halfway through his Hogwarts education- and somehow, bizarrely, was considered quite good-looking. He could hear the girls giggling and sighing over his jokes from outside. The sound itself made him feel slightly nauseous.

"He might have saved us some seats!" hissed Rose as she marched on passed, dragging Al behind her.

"Are you crazy? Share a compartment with him and his lunatic friends?"

"They aren't all bad, surely?"

"The ones I've met are."

Rose laughed, and skidded to a halt. "This one's nearly empty," she said, "We can't be too fussy, come on."

"But Rose-" started Albus. Too late. Rose had boldly slid the door aside and was already stepping in. She was greeted with a pale, wide-eyed stare.

"Oh, hello," said Rose warmly. "We were wondering if we could share your compartment?"

The pale-faced boy nodded and the two of them bustled inside, settling their bags. Al was trying to hiss something in her ear without being overheard. "But Rose," he pulled at her robes, "Rose, that's-"

She shot him a look that would have made her mother proud. Having known her all his life, Al could read it like a book. "I know," it said plainly, "but I don't care."

"I'm Rose Weasley-Granger," she announced matter-of-factly.

"Al," said Albus informally.

The boy looked up somewhat nervously. "I'm Scorpius," he offered gingerly. "Scorpius Malfoy." He said his last name quietly, not as if he were ashamed, but more afraid of what came with it. Albus understood immediately. From what he had heard from his father, the Malfoy name was slandered with the reputation of seriously mistrusted wizards, to be avoided at all costs. Although he'd been taught never to judge someone by their last name, Al couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for him. It was one thing to be expected to grow up as a Potter, his brother had told him, yet it must be another to arrive at Hogwarts with everyone expecting you to grow up as a traitor or dark wizard.

Rose smiled for no reason other than to be considered friendly and sat down in her seat, fumbling with the straps on her hand-basket. "You aren't afraid of cats, I hope, Scorpius?"

He shook his head.

Al smiled. "You got the cat then?"

Rose beamed, nodding ecstatically, and lifted out a tiny little black kitten with a white paw and bright blue eyes. "Goblino," she explained. "Isn't he adorable?"

"Yeah," admitted Al. "But he can't deliver letters for you!"

Rose shot him a light scowl. "So? I'll just steal yours or James', won't I? An owl can't warm your bed at night, or keep you company, or-"

"Bring you mice as presents."

Scorpius made a sound like a snigger but hid it under his hand. Al laughed and Rose threw a book at him.

"Sorry, Rosie. I was only joking."

"Goblino is lovely! And even if he does bring me mice, it's only in his nature. It would be like taking broomsticks away from you and James."

Suddenly, Scorpius' face lit up. "You play Quidditch?"

Al nodded. "Me and my brother, and my sister too. We've all played minor league games and stuff."

"What position do you prefer?"

"James likes Chaser –he's on the team now, actually- and I prefer Seeker, like my dad. Chaser's quite good too, though. Lily –that's my sister- can play anything. Seriously, she's the Quidditch prodigy of the family. You've never seen such a small thing hit a Bludger so hard." He said his both with a degree of envy and pride.

"Must be cool to play Quidditch with your siblings."

"Haven't you got any?"

"My younger brother, Sirrah- but he hates Quidditch. Says a broom's no fun unless it's bewitched."

"That's terrible!" said Rose, appalled.

"Yeah, exactly." Scorpius paused uncomfortably. "Do you play, Rose?"

Rose looked embarrassed. "I can't… I'm not… too good. With brooms. Better with books, really. I like the game though!" she added somewhat lamely.

Al laughed. "And you call yourself a Weasley…"

"A Weasley-Granger," she corrected herself. "We can't all be perfect at Quidditch."

"Weasley?" Scorpius asked.

"Yeah, we're cousins." explained Rose, "My father's sister is Al's mother, hence why I'm a Weasley by name and he's a Potter." This seemed to inspire another thought. "Fancy a game of spot the cousins?" she asked.

Al laughed.

"You've got more cousins?"

"Yeah, loads. With five uncles, that can happen."

"I don't have any cousins," sighed Scorpius. "My father's an only child and my Uncle Edward never married. It's just my brother and I."

"Could be worse."

There was suddenly a very loud bang followed by the sound of screaming, and a herd of people dashed down the corridor. Among them was a small mousy-haired boy with horn-rimmed glasses came running into their compartment.

"Honestly, those two are completely-"

"Hey, Phil."

The boy turned round to face them. "Oh, hello Rose, Al! I didn't see you to at the platform!" he pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Oh, and who's this?"

"Ah, Scorpius, this is our cousin, Phillip Weasley, he's in his second year. Phil, this is Scorpius Malfoy."

"Malfoy, eh?" said Phil a little sceptically, holding out his hand. "Well, welcome to Hogwarts I daresay. I think I should leave now though- before those two…"

Another shriek and a flock of people hurtled passed the door, and this time, Phillip went with them. Al was secretly rather glad, Phillip had never been one of his favourite cousins, just like his father was his least favourite uncle. There were highs to his family visiting them though, and if he wasn't much mistaken, two of them were at the bottom of that corridor.

"What does he mean by 'those two'?" asked Scorpius, slightly nervously.

Al laughed. "His sisters-"

"By the sound of things."

"Both unlike him in every way-"

"And all too like each other!"

Sure enough, shortly after the departure of their brother came the sound of cackling laughter. Two young witches stepped into their compartment, wands and eyes sparkling in unison. Scorpius looked up in awe. They were alike in very sense of the word, from their spiky red pigtails to their cheeky smiles. They were quite tall, probably in their last few years at Hogwarts.

"Hey! If it isn't Rose and Albus!" One of them chuckled, drawing them into a casual embrace. "Didn't see you on our hurry to get on the train! Dad was being a total nightmare-"

"As usual-"

"As usual indeed, Gwen."

"Hey!" The other one noticed Scorpius sitting by the window. "Friend of yours, Al? Introduce us!"

"Oh," said Al suddenly. "Sorry. We've only just met. This is Scorpius. And these two-" he gestured to the twins, "Are some more cousins of mine, Gwendolyn and Francesca"

"Frannie and Gwen,"

"Or Gwennie and Fran."

"Perhaps even Fwen and Gran-"

"Either way, little firstie, we welcome you to Hogwarts."

"Yeah," said Fran, "Hope to see you in Gryffindor, best house, you know!"

"Yeah, see you two later, we're off to find something else to blow up."

The two of them strode off boldly, wands and eyes twinkling dangerously alike.

"Wow," said Scorpius, "They're something."

"Aren't they just?" Giggled Rose, "Everyone loves the troublesome twins. Runs in the family, you see. Can't have a Weasley generation without them!"

"Yeah," agreed Al, "Uncle George was one of the last one, but his twin died in the War- so they came as a bit of a shock, really."

"Especially to Uncle Percy- he's so like Phillip, you wouldn't believe-"

"Boring to a capital 'B'."

"That's a bit mean Al…"

"Yeah, but it's true."

Rose ignored him. "Anyway, it's just quite ironic he should be stuck with their female doubles as daughters. Story goes he never got on too well with them…"

"And he's not exactly the doting father type, least not with them. Phillip and Peter –he's the youngest, ten- well, they're another story."

"Yeah. Boring with a capital 'B'."

"Al! You can't say that! They're very studious, is all. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Rosie, you would say that. You like books as much as they do. But at least you do other things- James says Phil never left the library last year accept to eat, sleep, and attend lessons. Seriously."

"You can't associate the word 'serious' with your brother," said Rosie icily.

Al opened his mouth to retaliate and then shut it promptly, realising she was probably right.

At uncomfortable silence drifted between the three that stretched out until they were once more interrupted by the presence of yet more cousins, in this case, a welcome interruption by four very beautiful females with an assortment of hair colours ranging from red, to blonde, to a faint strawberry colour. Scorpius mouth hung open in shock.

"Why, hello!" Victoire Weasley, tall and willowy, wrapped her arms gracefully around her cousins and pulled them into her embrace, much to their embarrassment. "I told you they'd be here, didn't I, girls? Honestly you two, can you believe Amie didn't realise you two would be starting this year?"

The one next to her, with a shining red bob scowled. "Hey, I'm not the one who forgot how many cousins we had!"

"A slip of the tongue, we have so many-"

"Lay off, Vic! You were so wrong! Just admit it already." Adrienne, the youngest of the four present, had a cheekiness her sisters lacked. Of all the cousins he'd met so far, Scorpius decided she was probably mostly like the twins he had seen earlier, but her youthful prettiness somehow set her apart. Rose seemed to catch on at his staring.

"These lot are all part Veela," she explained.

"Ever so slightly-" argued the third, a shining blonde.

"But apparently enough for you to notice!" Victoire laughed. "Forgive me. I am Victoire Weasley, and these are my sisters- Amelie, Genevieve and Adrienne." She said their names with an over-the-top French accent and all three girls laughed.

"Just call me Amie,"

"Genny. With a 'G' though."

"And Adie."

"Mum's French," explained Victoire. "She went a little overboard with our names. And she actually does say them like that. We'd sound rather stupid around school if we spoke like that."

"I'm Scorpius." Al noticed he didn't trust them with his last name after the response he had from Phillip.

"A pleasure."

"So, you guys nervous?" Adrienne asked brightly.

"Just a bit," muttered Al.

"Rose?"

"Terrified."

"Oh, don't worry so much!" laughed Genevieve softly, draping her arm around he shoulder. "We will love you no matter which house you're in (though I still think Hufflepuff is best), so long as you don't damage the 'wide but wonderful reputation of Weasley!' Or Potter, in your case, Al."

"Dad's words, not ours."

"Anyway," smiled Victoire, "It has been a delight to meet you, Scorpius, but I must get back to my friends. I hope to see you in Ravenclaw with Rosie and Al."

"Or Hufflepuff," said Genevieve.

"Or Gryffindor!" Adrienne smiled and followed her sisters out. "Later, cousins!"

When he was quite sure they had gone, Scorpius turned back to Rose and Al anxiously. "Are any of your cousins in Slytherin?" he asked.

They both shook their heads. "Most are in Gryffindor, but Phillip's in Hufflepuff with Genny, and Victoire and Amelie are in Ravenclaw, and our cousin Aika whom you haven't met. But not one is in Slytherin."

Scorpius looked down at his feet, and then up again. "What house do you think you'll be in?"

"Nobody knows what house they'll be in!" Squeaked Rose uncomfortably.

"Well, most of your family's in Gryffindor, aren't they? Isn't that where you want to go?"

"Well, I suppose… but Ravenclaw's lovely too and there's no denying I am a little clever, and the Hufflepuffs are very friendly and patient…"

"But you don't want to be in Slytherin, do you?"

Rose bowed her head sadly.

"I'll be in Slytherin." Said Scorpius, defeated.

"You can't know that-"

"All my family's in Slytherin. All of them."

"So?" Al suddenly felt a little angry. "My dad's godfather was a Black- came from a family of pureblood Slytherins. He was in Gryffindor. There's no reason for you to think you have to be, just because of your family."

"Al's right."

"Maybe," mumbled Scorpius shyly.

Al didn't know what bothered him so much. If Scorpius was in Slytherin, what did it matter to him? The Sorting Hat would be right in the end, wouldn't it? In fact, what did it matter if he, Albus Potter, went to Slytherin and Scorpius to Gryffindor? His father had already told him it didn't matter. And it didn't. So Al decided it was his defeated attitude that annoyed him. The fact he thought he had to be in Slytherin because of his family. That was like saying he would be expected to save the world because he was Harry Potter's son, or that every Weasley had to be good at Quidditch (which Uncle Percy and Rose had clearly proved wasn't the case).

"Mrow?" A tiny paw scratched at his leg.

"Goblino!" Rose ran forward and scooped him up. "Silly kitten…"

"So, Rose, Albus-" Scorpius started. "Any more crazy cousins be dropping in on us?"

Rose did a quick calculation. "No, unless James –you know, Al's brother- comes by, I think that's it. We've two more at Hogwarts but they never get the train."

Scorpius frowned. "How come?"

"They live in Hogsmeade."

"Why?"

Rose smiled. "Because their mother is the headteacher and their father owns a shop there."

Scorpius looked vaguely like he'd been hit in the back of the head with a bludger. "Your aunt is headmistress at Hogwarts?"

"Yep."

"And your parents saved the world?"

"Yep."

"And you've got more cousins than any other wizarding family?"

"Er, possibly. Yep."

"I think I rather envy you guys."

.o0o.

Yeah, so Scorpius isn't at all like Malfoy, apart from how he looks, obviously. And that's cool. Not everyone will be happy with that, I appreciate, but I didn't want to make him a stereotypical double of his father, seeing as Rose and Albus are pretty much their parents.

The Weasley-Delacour sisters. Amelie, Genevieve and Adrienne are mine. Yes, Bill has six girls and one son. Come on, someone was going to do it! I blame the fact they're part Veela- for some reason I'm inclined to believe they're more likely to produce female offspring. Whatever, the Weasleys need more girls!

Yes, they have a lot of cousins. They would though, wouldn't they? If you consider that at least five Weasleys get married (I wasn't sure about Charlie... sort of left him out) and all not long after the War. Ever heard of the Baby Boom? That, and the Weasleys seem to have a lot of kids anyway. In total, within this story, there are 19 new Weasleys. Don't like that? Can't help it! I like happy endings!

Naturally, due to this Baby Boom, Hogwarts probably have a lot more students.

Rose- yes, she's Hermione, but with Ron's red hair (and possibly a few other things... we'll see) And she's a Weasley-Granger. I know JKR said she was simply Rose Weasley, but I imagine Hermione keeping her name... she's cool like that... and insisting the double-barrel their kids. We'd have way too many Weasleys otherwise!

Oh, and ages. I made James fourteen because the two year age gap is soooooooo uncreative. Yes, it's a common age gap. I personally don't like it. So he's fourteen. Deal.

OK, ranting over.

Next chapter: The Sorting Ceremony! Where do you think they'll be???