The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Jealous Boy

Platform nine and three quarters bustled with parents and younger siblings, all waiting for the red steam train to pull in. The cut stone platform could be seen clearly without the billowing white smoke coming from the engine of the Hogwarts Express. It felt both freeing and daunting at the same time. A dusty smell clung to everything, more of it kicked up with each rushed step. A panic before the storm. 

It had been months since Victoria had last laid eyes on her eldest son. She had thought the first term bad with just four months, but the seven between Christmas and July had been like a permanent dull ache. It ruined her whole week the day she had received the letter from Lucius informing her that he wanted to stay at school with the other boys for Easter. Merlin, Victoria had been in a foul mood. It made her wonder if he was avoiding home. The only reason she could think of was Tom. She would forbid him from the Manor if Lucius told her it were true. 

At five years old, Octavian Malfoy wasn't the most patient. He climbed on the bench beside his mother and stood on the slats, smacking the wall with his hands. The sharp, high pitched noise served as nothing but irritation amongst the low chatter. 

"We can go to dangonally," he said, hitting the bricks in a circle. 

"It's not that kind of wall, darling boy." Victoria smiled and reached up to tug gently at his short sleeve shirt. Even with the cooling charms cast over fabric, he still felt hot. Damned weather was too much. "Come down from there, I don't want you to fall." 

"I'm fine." Octavian wriggled away from her fingertips, taking shakey steps across the seat of the bench. "I never fa—" 

His heels hit the arm of the bench and the youngest son of Victoria Malfoy toppled backwards. A swift flick of her wand and Octavian hung suspended halfway through his fall like he had been strung up on invisible wires. He breathed a little heavier but the shock didn't seem to scare him. 

"Would you like to try that again?" Victoria lifted her wand and brought Octavian back to his feet. 

Her son smirked and threw his arms back, leaning into the charm, knowing that his mother would never let him fall. Victoria smiled at the challenge, pulling him forward suddenly and letting him fall into her arms. 

"You're being naughty." Victoria laughed as she rubbed her nose into her little boy's shoulder, making him giggle and squirm. 

Octavian squealed with laughter as the steam train pulled into the station. His mother's fingertips pushed over his sides just hard enough to tickle, his arms and legs flailing around. A whistle screeched through the noise and train doors slammed open. Her kisses on his cheek were wiped away as she lifted her head into the billowing steam to look for her son. Octavian didn't move when Lucius called to their mother, only when Victoria gave him a gentle push to guide him off her lap as she stood. 

"My angel boy, how are you?" Victoria beamed as she held her eldest son's face in her hands, kissing the top of his head as he squirmed away from her with a bright red face. "How were your exams? Did they go well?" 

"They went fine, I think." Lucius shrugged, brushing down his shirt as he watched his little brother scuff his brightly shined leather shoes against the stone floor. "I think Charms went the best, and my transfiguration practical exam went so well. I managed to turn this frog into a—" 

"Mummy." Octavian spoke over his brother as he leaned his whole body into her side, turning her attention towards him. "Can we go home now?" 

"In a minute, sweet boy." Victoria swayed as she stroked her fingers through his hair instead of pushing him away like Lucius wanted her to. "Give me a moment with your brother please. What did you turn the frog into?"