Times of Change

MalfoyMaiden: Whoot! I've still got it! :)) =))

KeysCanHurt: Hahahaha! =)) Totally inspired by reality =)) Yeah, Lily is so cute :)) I'll start on their third year tomorrow or something :P =))

heartshaped-sunglasses: Haha xD How things turn around, huh? xD

yellow14: Lol xD Haha, I loved Lily at that moment xD Grandparents would definitely disapprove... or at least the grandfathers. I think Narcissa would have changed somewhat, and Molly Weasley was always very considerate, understanding and patient... Lucius and Arthur... not so much xD

Chapter Twenty

Coming Home for Christmas

November came and went. Albus found it much happier and easier than the previous months. Scorpius and Rose weren't fighting anymore, which was a relief! They were cheerful and talkative during freetime, the twins had also gotten to know Rose and were less hostile towards Gryffindor Rose. During the classes that Slytherin and Gryffindor were together, Rose and Scorpius would engage in friendly competitiveness. Rose 'won' more often than Scorpius did. Although lately, Al had been excelling at Potions, and he enjoyed seeing the looks on their faces when he would beat them quietly.

Tricia Nott would often sit with them when they were doing homework in the Common Room, talking animatedly to Scorpius, usually praising him, sometimes bragging about herself. Al often wondered if Scorpius even paid any attention to the things she would say. When it became really annoying, the four boys would resort to doing their work in the library, the Grounds, even at Hagrid's Hut a few times (Hagrid seemed pleased to have guests). They didn't always study in the same spot, their general plan being to avoid Tricia. Al only found her mildly irritating, but it did get weird when she wouldn't leave Scorpius alone. It got even weirder when during the start of December, she started paying attention to Albus too. It surprised him when she randomly said he had wonderful eyes. After that, he was more than just halfhearted in their mission to get away from her during free time.

Jacqueline Chua and Paula Allen were actually quite friendly, they were also sympathetic whenever Slytherin and Ravenclaw had Defense Against the Dark Arts together. Professor Smith was just as unfair as ever during class towards Slytherin, but less so with Ravenclaw. Professor Smith's impatience and biases made it hard for the Slytherins to excel, Jacqueline and Paula, who did better, would help them out when Smith wasn't looking. Jacqueline was shy at first, and would occasionally still apologize to Scorpius for the things she said when the year had just started. But as the weeks went on, and they got used to each other, Jacqui was actually talkative and amusing. Albus did notice though that she was quieter when she was directly talking to Scorpius or directly being spoken to by Scorpius. Paula was more focused, very dedicated to her studies, it reminded him somewhat of Rose. But when she wasn't focused on the subject at hand, she would engage in conversation, and an exciting conversation it would be.

The Hufflepuffs Katy Timberwood and Raphael McCartney, Albus still hadn't gotten to know very well yet. He knew that Katy was the daughter of Tamsin Applebee and Raphael was the son of Heidi Macavoy, both Chasers of Hufflepuff before. Katy and Raph both wanted to play as Chasers for Hufflepuff in the future, just like their mothers. During Herbology, they usually kept to themselves or their House, although Raphael would occasionally go over to them and talk to them. Sometimes, they would join Albus, Scorpius and Rose when the three sat by the lake on Saturday afternoons, Rose reading a book, Al and Scorpius daring each other to walk, slide or whatever else on the frozen water. On these times, the twins would be busy, planning pranks, Al assumed. The two Ravenclaws usually didn't join them too. Katy and Raphael though, when they came over, Katy and Rose would talk about books while Raphael would sometimes join Scopius and Al, sometimes talk to Rose. It didn't go past Al unnoticed that Raphael was friendlier, funnier and more attentive when he was talking to Rose and less so when talking to Scorpius.

Mars was as distant and irritable as ever, showing no intention of befriending his roommates. Even if Al felt some sympathy for him since Mars was pretty much alone when among fellow first years, Al would rather things stayed the way they were. Mars was just too loud, hot-tempered and violent. Not something Al wanted to get used to.

Rose's Gryffindor friends Ria Coote and Demelza Sloper were different. They seemed eager to get to know Rose's Slytherin friends. Ria was quiet and observant, mostly. Al found her unusual, she noticed things a lot… It made him a little… uneasy. Demelza on the other hand was random and easily excited… interesting, really. In the several times that Rose's Gryffindor friends and Al's Slytherin friends got together, Demelza and the Higgs twins took to each other quickly. The three would joke and laugh like old friends.

Another relief for Albus was that James was talking to him again. Although being in another year and another House and having a different set of friends, they didn't have a lot of free time to talk, they still managed to exchange some words in the Great Hall during meals.

Hagrid and Thorntalon were doing well too, although on one of their visits, Hagrid had said that he might get another dog, but he wouldn't until Thorntalon was old enough. What he meant by that, Al didn't really know. How could one even tell if a Hippogriff was old enough? Thorntalon was growing large, and was already about the size of a fullgrown German Shepherd. He would go on short hopping flights, but couldn't really soar high yet. Al also noticed that Scorpius and Thorntalon were getting along quite well.

"Al! You there? You're… spacing out."

"What?" Al blinked. Scorpius and Rose were looking at him strangely, and so were Tom, Theo, Ria and Demelza, who were in the compartment with them.

"What were you thinking about?" Ria asked.

"Oh… stuff…" Albus shrugged.

"Like what?" Demelza asked eagerly.

Al ran his hand through his hair then shrugged again. "Just… this and that… how this term went…"

"This term was a lot of things," Scorpius said, "But boring is not one of them."

"You got that right!" Demelza grinned, poking Rose and winking at her.

Rose slapped Demelza's shoulder and glared at her.

"So anyway…" Tom changed the subject. "Since Ravenclaw beat Hufflepuff in the Quidditch match, who do you think will win?"

Al looked out the window. "Hufflepuff use a lot of passing techniques to score… so in the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match…"

"Ravenclaw won because they got to keep stealing the ball when the Hufflepuffs pass. We could do that!" Rose spoke confidently, but Al wondered if she felt as confident as she sounded.

"That's if you don't fall off your broom again." Scorpius snickered.

Rose glared at Scorpius before hitting his shoulder with her Hogwarts, A History book. "I wouldn't have fallen off if your stupid teammate didn't have such a thick skull!"

Scorpius laughed, yanking the book out of her hands so she couldn't use it as a weapon. "Or is it just because you have a weak head?"

"Weak head, that could be interpreted in more than one way…" Demelza sounded thoughtful while Tom and Theo burst out laughing.

"Weak head or did you mean weak mind, Scorpy?"

"Give me back my book!"

"Why? You weren't even reading!"

"It's so I can hit your head with it!"

"Then that settles it. I won't give it back 'till we reach the station."

"Snowball."

"WHAT? Just because I'm pale? Fine. Er… Carrot!"

"Uncooked meat!"

"Bloody meat!"

"Egg!"

"Apple!"

"I'm getting hungry." Theo interrupted them.

"Why do you two have to disgrace food?" Tom scolded.

The door to their compartment slid open and Mars in all his snarling troll-ish-ness showed himself. His dark eyes glared at each of them in turn before resting on Scorpius. "Think all's fine for you now, huh, Malfoy? Just you wait! When my brother an' all the others get back, you will be in so much trouble!"

"Just get out of here, Flint!" Rose stood up before all of them could react, her hair looked fiery when she was angry. "Out!"

"Got your bush-haired girlfriend to protect you? Pathetic, you can't fight your own fights." Flint towered over Rose, looking down at her. "Mulciber and Avery won't let the little red bush get in their way. Just you wait, Malfoy! They'll get back at you!"

"OUT! OUT!" Rose shoved Mars. "LEAVE US ALONE!" She pulled her wand out from her robes and pointed it directly at Mars.

The wand seemed to alarm Mars. He stepped back, glared at them all one more time and briskly walked away.

Scorpius quietly watched the Potters and Weasleys greeting each other warmly, a big, happy family. The Higgs, Ria and Demelza had already gone to their families. Where was his? After hugging their parents and Aunt and Uncle, Al and Rose ran back to him.

"We want you to meet our family!" Rose said eagerly.

"Er…" Scorpius hadn't forgotten Mr. Weasley's glare last time they were here, or the Howler.

Al, as usual, noticed. "If it's okay with you, of course…" He glanced at his father, Harry Potter, before facing Scorpius. "Dad really wants to meet you, and Lily's really excited too… for some reason."

Scorpius looked from Rose to Al. They were encouraging… he might as well. At least he knew he had two friends he could count on to support him if something happened. "Alright." They pointed out who was who as they walked towards the family.

"That's my dad, Ron… you probably already know him… mom, Hermione, my brother, Hugo."

"You know dad, mom is Ginny, you know James-"

"Hello, Scorpius!" Harry Potter smiled.

"Hello, sir."

"Hah! None of that! Don't 'sir' me unless I'm giving a Defense Against the Dark Arts lecture."

Scorpius nodded.

"Scorpius Malfoy! Rose told me all about you!" A little girl of about eight or nine years old, with shoulder length red hair, was squealing. She was holding in her arms a furry mammal with a long body.

"Rose said what?"

"Stuff! Like how well you play Beater, and how you saved her and how-" Rose covered the girl's mouth.

"I guess… I should thank you… for what you did during that match…" Mr. Weasley muttered. Mrs. Weasley and the Potter parents were staring at him in shock.

"Uhh… you're welcome…"

"I'm Lily! And this is Cookie!" the girl had freed herself from Rose and was showing Scorpius her pet. "She's my ferret!"

"A ferret?" Scorpius observed the animal before tentatively reaching out to touch it. It didn't seem to mind when he stroked the ferret's fur. Scorpius grinned. "Cute!"

"Yeah, she is!"

"Lily, of all the pets you could have gotten, why that rat?" James shook his head disapprovingly. "And Cookie? Unbelievable. Snitch is a better name for a pet! Or Bludger or Quaffle."

"She's not a rat! And you don't name a pet after a ball!"

"Scorpius!" Scorpius turned around at the sound of his name. His parents were standing side by side. They looked uncomfortable. Then his father walked over.

Scorpius's father and Al's father stared at each other.

Finally, Draco Malfoy spoke. "Harry…" the word came out awkwardly, as if he had never used Harry Potter's first name to address him before.

Harry Potter looked surprised, but reacted calmly. "Draco."

"Well…" Scorpius was shocked by how Draco Malfoy seemed so at a loss for words. "Thanks for… keeping an eye on Scorpius until we got here."

Harry Potter nodded. "No problem."

"Bye, then…" Draco motioned for his son to follow as he walked back to his wife.

Scorpius waved at them. "Bye!" He thought he heard Mr. Weasley gasp something like "Bloody Hell!"

As he followed his parents, Scorpius wondered how the next term would go, and the school years after that. If there was anything he'd learned, it was that very few things were truly predictable. Unexpected things happen. Who knew a Malfoy would befriend a Potter and a Weasley? It was a change. And even if a few grandparents would curse and swear and disapprove, Scorpius thought it was a pleasant change.

So. What Houses do y'all think Lily and Hugo should be in? I'm curious :)

Oh, and I hope y'all have enjoyed the kids as kids in this story, in the next, they'll be thirteen-year-olds already! MWAHAHAH! Hurray for stolen innocence xD

Their third year story will be up... maybe day after tomorrow, coz I got a soccer tournament tomorrow... so whatever, just keep an eye out for it ;)