The Year of Great Change

Chapter One

A New Beginning

Scorpius Malfoy looked to his father in the distance. Draco Malfoy was standing out in the meadow just beyond their little cottage. Scorpius knew that his father was still suffering from the loss of his mother, Astoria. She had died the previous year and time in general had just been difficult. It had affect all of them of course it was his mother and yet he was finding that he was making hedge way into a new life. He had to move on and so did his father. He watched as his father Draco knelt down by the grave and could see him place flowers by her grave as he had done on many days in the past year. There was something different about this time however. He would not be able to return and morn in the dark alone anymore. He was making a change in his long time career. Draco Malfoy had become a well known doctor at St. Mungo's. He had made a name for himself and was doing great things for the medical community but had lost his drive with the death of his wife. He had long suffered with the transgressions from his past and that of his father but it had seemed he was finally moving past them. He had even made a few modest discoveries that helped the entire Wizarding. His discovering involved his passion for potions and his knowledge for dark curse. They were cures and that effectively worked faster than others or just cured it which was completely new. With his mother's death however he had given up on his research and merely did his job. Scorpius looked at the sky as it turned to darkness for the coming rain.

Scorpius looked back to his father and knew that this wasn't going to bring him in. It never had and he wondered what was going through his mind to make the change had had. He had taken his advancing career at St. Mungo's and traded for the opening at Hogwarts as the school physician. Madam Pomfrey had finally retired her post. Of course there were those who also sought the position, but the good word of Harry Potter his former enemy he landed the job. Scorpius had asked why he would do such a thing. From all that he had heard Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had loathed each other from their first meeting. Only in recent years had the two gone to speaking terms. Not exactly what he would call friends but not enemies now either. Scorpius looked to the rain pouring down onto his father and could see the pain in his eyes from here. He could only pray that the change in jobs would help his father to get out of the despair he had become trapped in.

Scorpius tried to put his mind to other things like his school items. He went back up to his room to finish packing his things for his fifth year at Hogwarts. It was going to be an interesting change considering his father had changed jobs and now would be close by. Scorpius mildly wondered if this would change the behavior of his younger siblings knowing their father was closer and would be able to respond quickly to their troublesome ways... Scorpius looked to his school trunk and the school robes he had been folding. His room was simple and small, yet comfortable for his with the smell of his cauldron and the musty smell of his books. He couldn't ask for a more comfortable place. He felt comforted by his books and potions. He found it all fascinating and he had a talent for it to boot. He looked to his tall bookshelf and his small desk with his cauldron brewing his last potion of the summer. He finished packing his trunk in the remaining time before dinner. He began to head down the stairs and heard the arguing of his younger siblings.

Gemini and Arithina were arguing about who was supposed to set the table. They were twins and two years younger than him. He had a brother in between them Orion. Scorpius looked to Orion and his lanky form not too dissimilar to his own. Scorpius was tall even for his age almost six feet tall and looked to his own little brother Orion who was only several inches shorter then him. Scorpius had blonde hair like his father when Orion had brown like their mother and it was the same with the twin girls. Arithina had brown and Gemini had blonde the only physical difference between them. Arithina had a cruel nature and twist to her personality. She could be nice on occasion but she didn't let that side show very often and it was even more rare for it to be shown to those outside of the family. This had had intensified since their mothers death. Gemini had a quiet sweet nature but lack courage around other people so she didn't really have any friends. She was quiet but left alone due to her family. She was none of , but that was about it. Orion was the most outgoing and generous probably of them all. He didn't care what house you were in. he was well like by all. Even the Potter's had no issue with him. He had one of those characters that was just hard not to like. Even though his best friends were in Slytherin they tolerated his other friends simply because they were friends with him. He even had a friend in Gryffindor friend. He was a strange one for sure...

Scorpius figured he was like Gemini in the fact he was quiet and didn't have any friends. Scorpius knew his lack of friends was not out of being shy. Scorpius just didn't really like anyone... Scorpius was in the same year as one of the potter children but he didn't like anyone so they didn't socialize. It probably didn't help that Scorpius was taller than most everyone. Most people didn't approach him unless they had to. Scorpius got the impression that they were afraid of him. Scorpius wasn't really bothered by this he had other responsibilities than having friends. He was a straight A student and now a prefect for the school. Scorpius looked to his siblings and rolled his eyes. This was also what he spent his spare time doing. He took care of his siblings helping them with their homework and settled disputes... He wondered if this was part of the reason why his father took the job at Hogwarts... Scorpius mildly thought about the possibility of spare time that he might have then thought better of it. After a moment he finally went over to his sisters as he saw the fight was escalating to a possible hair pulling stage. Arithina had that look in her eyes and her hands were balled into fists. It was only a matter of moments. Orion was studiously ignoring them. Gemini was flushed faced with anger in her normally gentle eyes that were glistening.

"Alright, break it up!" Scorpius shouted to be heard. Arithina snapped her head toward Scorpius.

"It is her turn!" Arithina snapped, her cold blue eyes like ice starring Scorpius down.

"I will do it... It is the last night for God's sake. Arithina just chill out for one night..." Scorpius said looking at Arithina know that she was the first to get upset. At this point Scorpius didn't really care who's turn it was, he wanted it quiet. Gemini looked at Scorpius and sighed.

"It is okay Scorpius I will do it. I cooked dinner, and I will set the table too I guess." Gemini said in defeat and turned to the cabinet. Arithina walked over to the table and sneered smugly.

"Mrs. Goody-to-Shoes." She said and Gemini glared at Arithina here blue eyes turned equally icy.

"Arithina, drop it!" Scorpius snapped and recoiled from his toned and avoided his eyes as he looked to the window. Orion looked up briefly then went back to the paper reading the qudditch scores no doubt. Gemini began to make each plate with the roast and she had spent the afternoon making. It was their mother's receipe and that seemed to be the way that Gemini wanted to bring their mother into their lives. She had spent many days helping their mother cook and learned everything she knew about cooking from her. It was Gemini's turn to set the table but the rule became invalid for those who cooked and Arithina knew that. This kind of behavior annoyed Scorpius to no end. He glance to the door when he still saw no sign of his father inside. It had finally grown dark outside and he wondered if his father was okay out there. Gemini had finally finished setting the table when the door opened. They saw the tall figure of their father enter. He looked tired and he was soaked to the bone no doubt. His face solemn and his eyes irritated. Scorpius wondered if he had been crying ,but knew better than to ask.

Draco wiped his face from the wet rain and shrugged off some of the rain drops on the mat. He looked to them all and seemed to have forced a smile. Draco then walked past them and went to the door just past the stairs and a door just past the stairs, which they all knew to be the his bedroom. They all sat there at the table and waited for a moment and found that he come out and had changed his clothes. His hair was still wet and they all waited to start eating. Scorpius looked their father up and down and he forced a smile again.

"Smells good; what are all you guys waiting for... Let's dig in." he said an picked up his fork and knife. Scorpius stopped looking at him and so did the others. They all began to eat their food in silence for a while before someone finally spoke. It was Draco who finally broke the silence.

"I know that my job change might be awkward for you guys at first but I feel this is the best move for us right now. I will be there if you guys need me. I will be able to help out when necessary and some people will be able to stop being as responsible for you guys. It is time you guys take responsibility for yourselves." he said and glanced only a moment at Scorpius and the others knew who he was refereeing without the glance. Scorpius felt guilt hoping that the decision for this career change was not only because of him. Draco continued since no one else seemed willing to add to the conversation.

"I will also be able to go to all of the qudditch games. I haven't been to a qudditch games a long time." He said and took a long moment looking at nothing seeing his past Scorpius could only assume. Scorpius had had the opportunity once to try out but chose not in his second year and the Slytherin team hadn't opened up again since for tryouts. To say Scorpius regretted would be an understatement. Maybe this year would be different He had the time perhaps now to tryout and maybe him and Orion would take the field. There was a brief swell of excitement within at the thought of being able to be his own man and make an image that he chose rather than just be the big brother to his siblings. Finally Draco seemed to come out of his momentary silence of his past and looked back around the table.

" I think it this will be good for all of us... So on a different subject yet still related... Scorpius I heard you made prefect. I am very proud of you." He said and looked to Scorpius his attention to him now. " Have you decided on the general direction you want to take for a career?" he asked and looked at Scorpius with true interest.. Scorpius felt put on the spot he had no idea... He hadn't even thought about that. He had been so focused on taking care of his siblings and just getting stuff done he hadn't even really thought that far ahead. Draco seemed to notice the sudden panic on Scorpius face and smiled a small smile. "It is okay Scorpius you still have time. It took me a long time to finally figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Don't worry. You will figure it out." He said and glance to the girls.

"Dinner is lovely ladies." He said and looked to Gemini while he said it knowing. Scorpius figured he could hear the discord from why out there in the meadow through the rain. The yelling was hard not to hear. "Are you guys ready for school have you got everything packed and ready. I am going to have to leave the house early in the morning to head to the school. You kids are going to leave from here to Diagon alley by Floo powder and then from there walk to the train station. I know it will be a strain that you will have to leave early but I think you kids are old enough to manage that." He said looking at all them. He then looked over to Scorpius with an apologetic look before he looked back to take another bite of roast. Orion looked guilty looking down and avoiding eye contact. Draco noticed and looked to him until finally Orion meet his father's eyes.

"What is it Orion?" He said looking into his own blue eyes looking back at him. All of them had his eyes, but it made them all give the same look at times---the icy stare that they inherited from their father no doubt. Orion looked deep into their father's eyes pleadingly.

"I was hoping that I could catch up with a friend and head to the train station from there." Orion said looked to Draco his face pathetic. Draco shook his head almost immediately.

"No you can catch up with your friend on the train like everyone else. Besides I am sure their family would want the time to be with them right before they part for the school." Draco said and Orion bowed his head in defeat knowing his father was right. The rest of the dinner was uneventful and Scorpius was grateful. In the darkness at who knew what hour Scorpius awoke with a terrible thirst. He rolled out of his bed and planted his feet on the cool carpet. He rubbed his bare chest straining to catch an itch that roamed up his chest. He stood up and yawned not wanting to wake up completely he shuffled his feet to the door and didn't turn on the light. He walked down the stairs quietly not wanting to disturb anyone. He finally made it to the kitchen stone floor and curled his toes at the cold touch. He otherwise ignored the strange feeling flowing from his toes on up to his chest. He suddenly heard a soft feminine tone. It was low and sounded as if perhaps it was one of his sister singing to themselves. Scorpius shook his head to make sure he was hearing them correctly. He could hear her voice growing slightly louder. He looked around and saw no one in the still quiet kitchen that overlooked the living room. The only noise was the grandfather clock that ticked away in its mundane way. Scorpius grabbed a glass and filled it decided to tell his sister to be quiet once he finished and was on his way upstairs.

He chugged it all the way down and could still here the beautiful serene hum in his head. It was still low and soothing. He made his way up the stairs and was unfortunately more alert no and was quietly cursing his sister in his head. He peeked into Gemini's small room. She lay still and quiet her room undisturbed for any motion. Scorpius could still hear the hum... He took a moment feeling taken off guard that Arithina would be humming... He turned and peeked into her room she rolled at the sound of the door but still didn't arise and the humming still continued. He shook his head and walked to his room and stopped only briefly at Orion's door to make sure that his clock hadn't gone off early for some reason. The only thing coming from inside there was the subtle snores of Orion sleeping. Scorpius shook his head and went to his room knowing that it hadn't come from his father's room. The noise was surely for in his head maybe a tune stuck in his head. It felt uncomfortably real however and he drifted back to sleep once the noise had finally stopped and he brushed of the strange feeling to the start of school.

The next morning was extremely busy . Scorpius had to go over the list five times to make sure they had everything before finally they were able to leave for Diagon alley. It was strange to heading to the platform without their father but he knew that they were going to see him there so he supposed it wasn't that weird. It just felt weird when he passed all the kids hugging and saying goodbye to their parent's at the platform. Once they were there they all split up in the chaos to go meet their friends. Gemini however didn't. Her shy nature usually put her as Scorpius's shadow. Scorpius shrugged and knew this to be the norm once their goodbyes had been said. This time they just didn't have to say goodbye. He climbed onto the train to find a compartment with Gemini right behind him. Scorpius felt guilty when he remembered he had to go sit in the prefect compartment. He made sure Gemini was in a safe group to avoid any trouble. He ended up leaving her with a group of Ravenclaw girls that were all reading already. It was a safe place for a shy girl who didn't like to talk. They didn't really want anyone to talk when they were reading and she didn't mind the silence. It was a win, win situation. Scorpius made his way and all the way to the front compartment were all the prefects were to meet and arrange schedules, go over the rules and so on.

Scorpius crammed in and took an empty seat next to a girl he recognized to be Emily Lovegood Scamander.