My wife and I have just returned from seeing our son off for his first year at Hogwarts. As I was looking at that beautiful scarlet steam engine, it reminded me of my own journeys on the Hogwarts Express. Of course, if Father had gotten his way, I wouldn't have even stepped foot on that steam engine. But I digress; that's a story for another time.
When I first boarded the Hogwarts Express aged eleven, I had goosebumps. My parents had told me all about Hogwarts and I couldn't wait to experience it. More than anything, I was looking forward to making friends. Although I was surrounded by others at the endless dinner parties my mother and father threw, I never felt like they were my real friends. The only thing we really had in common was the Death Eater community our parents belonged to.
So, when I bumped into Harry Potter easily making friends on his first day, I was jealous. I won't deny that I've always been jealous of him, although I couldn't let on. Maybe that's why I bullied him so much during our school days. And there we go again; I've gone off-topic again.
Now, where was I?
Ah, yes.
What I'm really trying to say is that for those first few years, the train was my sanctuary. I wouldn't have to try to impress my parents. I could just relax; something which isn't always easy to do as Lucius Malfoy's son, believe you me. My father drummed ideologies into me almost every day; the hours spent on the Hogwarts Express allowed me to decompress and prepare myself for another school year.
It was my fifth year when everything changed. Voldemort had resurfaced and there was a lot of pressure on my father to live up to his expectations. When that didn't happen, even the ride to school was tense. It felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and the Hogwarts Express was no longer my sanctuary.
I kept my head down and did as instructed in the hopes that no one else would ever have to feel how I did. I wanted the Hogwarts Express to be a safe place for students for decades to come. My biggest hope is that Scorpius will feel safe and happy. I would be over the moon if he made a few friends along the way.
Even if it was a Weasley or a Potter.
Until next time, my friends
Draco