Scorpius and Rose

Prologue - Sorting

"Granger-Weasley, Rose!" Headmistress McGonagall calls.

I step tentatively onto the stage and climb onto the stool. Slowly, I put on the Sorting Hat. It talks, but different than I expected, not out loud, but in my mind.

"Another Weasley? How many of you are there? Oooh, but you're a different one aren't you? Yes, I know just what house you should be in... RAVENCLAW," He bellows, and I take him-it?- off and set him on the stool. I spot my siblings and cousins at the Gryffindor table, staring at me incredulously, their hands still at their sides. I'm in Ravenclaw.

I'm different, I think, pleased. My entire family went to Gryffindor, even my aunts and uncles. My entire family for generations, Gryffindor. My pride wilts into a twist of nerves. What if they don't like me anymore? I worry. What if I'm shunned? I take a seat at the Ravenclaw table and smile shyly at the people applauding around me.

The rest of the sorting seems to go by in a blur of wonder that I'm actually in Ravenclaw. That is, until I hear McGonagall call out a name I hadn't expected.

"Malfoy, Scorpius." As he walks up to the stool I try and recall what my Dad said about him... Ah yes, "stay clear of him"

McGonagall places the Sorting Hat on his slicked back blonde-white hair, and it immediately shouts out "RAVENCLAW." The whole hall is silenced, as he sits there in shock. Professor McGonagall places her hand on his shoulder gently, and he quickly gets up, handing the Sorting Hat to her. He races down the steps to the Ravenclaw table. People are clapping, but it's awkward. Nobody expected this. And by the looks of it, neither did Scorpius.

While the rest of the Sorting finishes I stare at the boy who seems as out of place in this house as me. After a moment he seems to recover and holds his chin high and proud, as if he can just take away everyone's memory of his previous nervousness if he acts tough now. Soon the sorting finishes, and the food appears on the platters in front of us.

Throughout the whole meal I can't stop glancing back at Scorpius, who seems to have completely pulled himself together by now. Everyone around him seems to be ignoring him, and there's space on either side of him for at least two people to sit. It's a shame. Seems like there's no getting rid of your family's reputation.