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The aroma of bacon and biscuits gradually brought Scorpius out of his restless sleep. He could hear the soft conversation of his parents and siblings coming from the kitchen. His father often made a hearty breakfast for everyone, however, this one seemed to smell more enticing than usual, with it being his last morning before starting his wizarding education at Hogwarts. His mother, being born from a non-magical family, had insisted upon all her children receiving a primary education in the Muggle world before embarking upon their journey as witches and wizards.
Scorpius was the youngest of the Granger-Malfoy children. Orion, the oldest, was embarking upon his 7th year at Hogwarts. Aurora and Cassie were beginning their 5th year, and finally Scorpius was to begin his first. He was the only one who inherited his mother’s auburn hair and hazel eyes. The rest bore a striking resemblance to their father, tall, athletic, platinum blonde with ashy gray eyes. His siblings and cousins liked to tease him by saying that an owl left him on the doorstep some 12 years ago, seemingly by accident.
He often felt out of place in his family; he was not unlike his uncle Harry in that regard. He spoke with his godfather once about how he handled being different from those around him as a child. He told Scorpius that he can’t seek his self-worth based on what others think of him. He needed to find it from within. Scorpius didn’t find that very helpful, but in retrospect, it was very sage advice.
Scorpius recounted this conversation as he brushed his teeth and got himself dressed. As he made his way down from his bedroom and into the kitchen, he found himself lingering at the bottom of the stairs, keeping quiet as to remain unnoticed by his family, while he listened to their conversation.
“He will probably end up a Ravenclaw like Cas.”
Orion was notorious for talking with his mouth full.
“I’m not too sure of that, he could be with me in Gryffindor.” Aurora added
“He better not be in my house. I don’t want to have him trailing around on my robes like a lost puppy.”
Cassie was displeased at the thought of her popularity suffering due to her baby brother clinging on to her every move.
“Would the three of you stop it?!”
He could hear the edge in his mother’s voice.
“Regardless of which house he is sorted into, I expect you to treat him as your brother and not like he has some contagious disease.”
Hermione Granger was particularly nervous about sending her youngest off to Hogwarts. She wanted him to have the experience that she never had. A place where she could be herself and immerse in the wonder, knowledge, and history that Hogwarts could provide. Yes, her other children had been successful at her alma mater, but they were more like their father in regards to their social and athletic skills. Her sweet little Scorpius found comfort in literature and science. She was proud that he was savant-like in chemistry and potion making, something he no doubt got from his father. His love of literature came from their nights in front of a roaring fireplace with the tales from both Muggle and Wizarding novels. Draco loved to read any of Tolkein’s stories to Scorp. As he got older and learned more about the wizarding side of his life, they began to compare and contrast the way Tolkein wrote about the magical world, and how it was in real life.
Scorpius decided to push through the slight feeling of rejection that sat in his chest coming from the way his siblings talked about him. Walking into the kitchen with this chin up, he made his way over to the coffee maker, and poured himself a cup.
“Interesting way to start your morning.” Orion quipped.
He ignored the snickering coming from the general direction where his twin sisters were perched by the counter. He decided to use the mug he made his father for his birthday several years ago. He had never drank coffee before, but the smell was rich and inviting. He figured it could only make him look cooler in the Great Hall at breakfast, not to mention in front of his siblings.
“Bubs,” as his mother often called him, “I didn’t know you drank coffee, if I had known you wanted some I would have saved you some cream and sugar!”
As he took a sip, he immediately regretted his decision. One, it was too hot, second it tasted terrible. He should have just made a nice cuppa like usual. He remained quiet but his face said all that needed to be. Sputtering up what little he had drank and pouring the rest of his cup in the sink he felt his eyes water a bit. He felt like such a loser.
“Good morning Scorp, happy first day of school!” His father was not a very emotive person, but was quite chipper this morning.
“Morning dad, could you make me a plate please?” As Draco began to shovel bacon, eggs, biscuits and fruit onto his plate, his mother embraced Scorpius into a warm and comforting hug. He felt himself relax as he inhaled the familiar scent of his mother’s jasmine shampoo.
“Oh darling, I am so excited for you to start school today! You are going to have such a wonderful time. You are going to love the library and the grounds and all of your siblings and cousins will be there to welcome you, oh it is going to be such fun!” Hermione was rambling.
“I’m really looking forward to it. Pips being there with me is going to make me feel less homesick” Pips was Scorpius’s Tuxedo cat. Draco found Pips outside of his office one morning and brought him home to Scorpius. It had been at least 4 years because he was the only sibling at home at the time, the rest at Hogwarts.
He began to eat his breakfast as his father addressed the family,
“Alright guys, we are going to leave for King’s Cross in one hour. You need to make sure all of your belongings are in the foyer ready to go in the next 45 minutes. I am not sending any forgotten items to Headmaster Longbottom through the floo this year.”
Aurora rolled her eyes so hard that she earned herself a kick to the shin by Orion and a warning glare from Mom.
“Alright let's get to it.” His mother projected in agreement.
As his siblings dispersed from the kitchen, he took a deep and calming breath. He felt more at ease when it was just himself and his parents. He didn’t hate his siblings, and they didn’t hate him, but he knew that he did not fit in with them. He enjoyed being a pseudo-only child. He has spent most of his day to day life at home with his parents.
Hermione must have sensed his discomfort, she elbowed her husband in an attempt to pull his attention away from doing the dishes.
“Talk to him, hype him up, tell him everything will be fine!” She said to Draco in a hushed tone. “If I say something to him he will just brush it off because I’m his mom” Draco looked At his wife with confusion.
“He's going to be fine. He just needs to get over the hump, adjust just like all of us did” Draco tried to reassure his wife but she wasn’t convinced.
“Please, just do it. It will make me feel better.”
“Alright darling” he said as he kissed the top of her head.
Walking over to Scorpius’s place at the table and seeing him sit in that same place that once was occupied by a highchair, he couldn’t believe that he was sending off his youngest to Hogwarts. After Today the next time he sends one of his family off as King's Cross for their first trip on the Hogwarts Express will be for a grandchild. He felt a little light-headed at his own realization, shaking that off he sat down next to his son.
“Scorp, darling, what is going through that head of yours? I can almost see the smoke coming out of your ears with how fast the gears are turning.” He put his hand on the back of his youngest’s neck in an affectionate and reassuring manner.
“I’m worried I won’t find my place. I have never fit in here at home and what if I don’t fit in at school? I am not worried about fitting in academically because let’s be honest I have that in the bag, but I’m nothing like Cassie or Aurora or Orion. What happens when I get sorted into my house and I'm branded as their pesky little brother.” Scorp let out a frustrated sigh and put his head down onto the table.
“Where is this all coming from? You didn’t have any problems fitting in during primary school.” By this time, his mother had joined the conversation.
“There is so much more on the line with Hogwarts then there was at my old school. I mean hello my parents are two of the most famous wizards of this century. My brother just finished his summer internship with the Ministry of Magic, Cassie is a prefect, and Aurora is Quidditch captain. What am I? I’m the accident child who might as well be a part of a different family.” Scorpius could feel himself beginning to tear up in frustration.
“Son, listen to me. Your mother and I pretty much wrote the book on not fitting in. You know our family’s history. However, when we were forced to repeat our last year of school, I made an effort of showing who I really was underneath the crappy persona I had put up for all those years prior. I eventually found your mom, she befriended me, and by surrounding myself with people I was comfortable with, I became more confident and felt like I had earned myself a real place at school. All I’m trying to say is, be you. Not who you think other people want you to be and everything will work out fine.” His father’s speech had made him feel better.
“I love you Dad. Thank you.” Scorpius hugged his father tight and made his way to his room to finish packing his belongings.
“You know,” Hermione chimed in, “He really could be sorted into any house and it would work for him. He really has all these qualities that could go any which way.”
“Well, whichever it is, I know he will find his people.” Draco replied, getting up from the table.
Making his way over to his wife’s side he found himself wondering which house his son would end up in.
His three oldest children were each sorted into different houses, all that remained was his own house. Seeing one of the Granger-Malfoys in Slytherin green would make his ego proud. He couldn’t resist seeing his wife’s mini me donned in a touch of green and silver.
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That night as the two empty nesters sat down for dinner, Artemis, the family owl flew into the kitchen with a note from Scorpius.
He was the newest member of Hufflepuff.