The Hogwarts Express gathered speed quickly.
Within minutes, the buildings of King's Cross Station had vanished behind them, replaced by rows of grey houses, then fields stretching endlessly under a pale autumn sky.
Inside the compartment, silence settled between the two boys.
Not uncomfortable silence.
Just the quiet kind that happens when two strangers are slowly deciding whether they might become friends.
Scorpius Malfoy was the first to speak again.
"So," he said carefully, "how does it feel?"
Albus glanced up.
"How does what feel?"
"Being the son of the most famous wizard alive."
Albus groaned softly and leaned back against the seat.
"That's exactly the problem."
Scorpius tilted his head.
"Most people would enjoy that."
"Most people aren't me."
The trolley witch passed the compartment door at that moment.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
Albus shook his head.
Scorpius hesitated.
"Two chocolate frogs," he said politely.
The witch handed them over.
As soon as she left, Scorpius slid one across the table.
"Peace offering."
Albus smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
They unwrapped the chocolate frogs.
Inside Albus's box was a card featuring Albus Dumbledore.
He stared at it for a moment.
"You were named after him, right?" Scorpius asked.
Albus nodded.
"And Severus Snape."
Scorpius raised an eyebrow.
"That's… quite a legacy."
Albus gave a humorless laugh.
"Exactly."
He placed the card on the table.
"Everyone expects something from me."
"What kind of something?"
"I don't know," Albus admitted. "Bravery. Greatness. Something impressive."
He looked out the window.
"What if I'm just… normal?"
Scorpius considered that.
Then he said something unexpected.
"That sounds wonderful."
Albus blinked.
"Wonderful?"
"Yes," Scorpius said simply.
"Normal people don't have rumors about them."
The tone of his voice changed slightly when he said that.
Albus remembered the conversation from earlier.
"The rumor about you…"
Scorpius sighed.
"It started before I even arrived at Hogwarts."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Apparently someone decided it would be interesting to suggest that my father secretly used a Time-Turner to bring back the Dark Lord."
Albus frowned.
"That makes no sense."
"I know."
Scorpius looked tired suddenly.
"But rumors rarely care about logic."
He spoke the next words quietly.
"They say I'm the son of Lord Voldemort."
The compartment door suddenly slid open.
Three older students stood outside.
They had clearly been listening.
One of them smirked.
"Look, it's him."
Another whispered loudly.
"The Dark Heir."
Scorpius's shoulders stiffened.
Albus felt something hot rise in his chest.
"That's ridiculous," he said sharply.
The boys laughed.
"Defending him already, Potter?"
"Careful," another added mockingly. "Dark magic might be contagious."
Scorpius stared down at his hands.
Albus stood up.
"Leave."
The boys looked surprised.
"What?"
"I said leave."
For a moment it looked like they might argue.
Then one of them shrugged.
"Whatever."
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned.
Scorpius still hadn't looked up.
"You didn't have to do that," he muttered.
Albus sat back down.
"Yes I did."
Scorpius finally glanced at him.
"Why?"
Albus thought about that.
Then he said honestly,
"Because it's stupid."
Scorpius studied him carefully.
"You're strange," he said after a moment.
Albus smirked.
"You're the one people think is related to the Dark Lord."
Scorpius laughed for the first time.
It was a genuine laugh.
Not forced.
Not nervous.
Just simple amusement.
And something important shifted in the atmosphere of the compartment.
A friendship had quietly begun forming.
---
Hours later, the train began slowing.
The sky outside had grown darker.
Mountains rose in the distance.
The first glimpse of the Scottish Highlands appeared through the windows.
Scorpius pressed his face against the glass.
"Look."
Far across the lake, lights glittered against the dark sky.
A castle.
Huge.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Albus felt his heart begin to race.
Everything was about to change.
Friendships.
Rivalries.
Destinies.
And somewhere in the distant future, a secret hidden deep within Hogwarts would tempt two boys to do something no student had dared in decades.
Steal time itself.
---