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Chapter Two: The Empty Carriage

Chapter Two: The Empty Carriage

Albus Potter, fully clad in his school robes, stepped out of his carriage. He was dressed smartly, of course, but his hair ruined the look. The ability to never be smoothed down was hereditary, apparently, or at least it was with Albus and Harry. Despite this, he looked like a model student, which he planned on being. Uniform correct, shoes polished, wand close to hand - hey, it was good to make a first impression! Green eyes looked around, searching for Rose. She was meant to meet him here, after she had had her mid-morning nap. At this precise moment in time, she was nowhere to be seen. That was unlike Rose, who was constantly punctual to just about everything. Something must have had gone wrong.

Pushing through the people that had started to linger in the corridor, Al searched for Rose. There was a carriage that had a door open, and if he was correct, Rose had gone into one near the driver. There was only one other nearer, and that was the one next to it, with the door firmly closed. Ignoring that one, Albus flung himself into the chosen carriage, and looked around eagerly for his cousin. She wasn't in here, but a blonde boy was. Looking up, the boy saw Al and promptly looked guilty. Once more, Albus ignored the minor detail that could prove very major later on.

"Where's Rose?" He asked the boy impatiently, demanding an answer. He may only be eleven, but being Harry Potter's son made you in control. It was just something he had picked up on when he visited the Ministry with his father, how everyone looked up to them. Currently, the boy who looked about the same age as him was too.

"Which Rose?" The boy asked, which seemed like a rather dumb question. It was Albus Potter, son of Harry Potter, best friends with Rose Weasley. Which Rose? Al couldn't believe it, and was about to reply when the boy spoke again. "If you mean Rose Weasley, then go and look over there, in the carriage next door. I saw her pass this one when she was looking for one when we first boarded, but she hasn't come this way since."

"Okay, thanks, um, what was your name?" Albus asked, his mind working on other things and not really concentrating on the boy here. Rose had to be in the carriage next door, because all logic pointed to it. He was no Aunt Hermione, but even he could guess that. So why did he feel a sudden dread, like a premonition? Rose wouldn't be that bad. She'd probably yell at him, tell him he should have woken her up earlier, but it would all be fine.

"Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy." The boy was saying, looking at Albus with his intense grey eyes. Albus smiled back, absentmindedly, shaking the boy's hand as he introduced himself. Abruptedly leaving the carriage, Albus sighed in his head, seeing the boy do exactly the same thing in the corner of his eye. Knocking on the door of the next carriage, Al opened the door, not waiting for permission to enter.

He half expected to be greeted with some kind of sarcastic, witty retort, but instead, he was greeted with silence. "Rose?" He asked, looking around, half expecting for her to miraculously appear. "Ro-ose? Rose!" But there was nothing, just the very, very slight echo of his own voice, which sounded weak and thin even to himself. According to Scorpius Malfoy, this was the last place she was, and should still be. But she wasn't here. She. Wasn't. Here. Turning on his heels, Al started to walk briskly, before speeding up into a run. He crashed into the lady with the trolley, sending both him and the trolley flying, sweets scattering everywhere and a Chocolate Frog on the run. The card landed at his feet, and Al felt physically sick as he saw who it was. Aunt Hermione. She would be out of her mind with worry when she found out...

"Now, are you alright, Mr Potter?" The lady looked down at him, glancing to check he was alright, something he wasn't sure if he would ever be again. Standing up, he looked around once more to check Rose definitely wasn't anywhere here. She wasn't.

"I think... I think Rose has been kidnapped."

The train jerked to an almighty halt and Albus wondered if it was just a coincidence. The sight of Hagrid outside made him realise it was reality. They had arrived at Hogwarts. The lady smiled at him and walked off, leaving Albus to realise she hadn't heard him. She was probably getting deaf, as she looked pretty old. Head in a daze, he was pushed along the platform before he found himself on the boat. Neville's youngest daughter, Alice Longbottom II, was next to him, but he didn't really register this detail as he couldn't really think properly. This wasn't the sort of thing that happened normally. It was something out if a book, but only this wasn't fiction. He had no clue what to do.