Diamond in the Rough

Sixteen years later….

Billows of steam drifted across Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Excited voices filled the air of both parents and children as school trunks and other school paraphernalia were loaded onto the scarlet Hogwarts train. Two tall wizards, one a strikingly handsome platinum blond and the other darkly attractive, stood off to the side of a group of people that included both family and friends.


Lucius watched Hermione give last minute advice to their eleven-year-old son, Xavier. He was both excited and nervous about entering into his first year at Hogwarts. He was tall for his age and looked very similar to both Lucius and Draco at that very same age. He had his mother’s predilection for both books and inquisitiveness, an exceptionally bright lad with absolutely no guile about him. Lucius smiled as he watched Hermione hug their son. He suspected Xavier would end up being sorted into Ravenclaw, which would soon have Hermione crowing over Lucius how his blood did not reign supreme. Good Gods the woman would be unbearable, not unlike how he behaved towards her when Margarita was sorted into Slytherin, he smirked to himself.


He caught Xavier’s eye and winked then nodded at his youngest son. Xavier grinned at his father. Lucius had told him the night before that it didn’t matter what house he was sorted into as long as he did his best in school and was happy. He watched as Draco draped an arm around Xavier, the two blond heads close together. His heart swelled as he took in his entire family. The gods had indeed blessed him.


His eyes drifted towards his oldest daughter, who had his coloring and his wife’s sweet face and curls. She too was an incredibly bright girl and wilier than a fox. The girl had the ability to twist all outcomes to the best possible advantage for both she and her friends. She was angelic to behold but the girl had the very devil in her. She definitely kept both Lucius and Hermione on their toes and he couldn’t have been prouder of her.


Margarita leaned down to speak with their youngest child, Nerissa, who looked like a miniature of his wife but with silky straight golden brown hair. Nerissa was crying big, fat crystal tears as she clutched her older sister. His youngest was most assuredly the Gryffandor of the family, even at the tender age of four she had the propensity to dash into trouble headfirst. She ran the house elves ragged hiding socks all over the house and in turn setting the little buggers free much to Lucius and the elves dismay. He could have easily have strangled the youngest Weasley boy for ever having told Nerissa about Hermione’s SPEW efforts. He watched as Margarita whispered something in Nerissa’s ear that brought a smile to his youngest’s lips. Smiling Margarita turned around when two tousled dark-haired, tall teenagers sauntered up to her. Damn, when did Potter’s boys begin to look like young men?


James Potter was tall and muscular. He was the captain of the Gryffandor quidditch team. A remarkably good looking boy, maybe a little too good looking, Lucius didn’t like the way James was looking at his daughter. The little letch. Then much to Lucius’ displeasure, Albus Potter swept Margarita into a too tight hug. He was as tall as his brother and just as muscular, he played seeker for the Slytherin quidditch team and was the spitting image of his father. All of them had been surprised when Albus was sorted into Slytherin, all save Severus. Lucius knew Severus exerted quite a bit of influence on Albus the two were quite close.


Lucius looked around the platform intent on having a word with Harry Potter about his boys. Surprisingly his close-knit group of friends included the chosen one, who would have thought?


He saw Harry and his wife Ginny talking to an excited Lily; it would be her first year at Hogwarts as well. She was the spitting image of her namesake and he smiled to himself when he remembered Severus asking to be the girl’s godfather.


The Snape twins and Scorpius came to stand next to Margarita and the Potter boys. The twins were tall, very pretty girls with their father’s dark hair and Pansy’s brown eyes. The twins were fast gaining a reputation for causing hi-jinks far surpassing anything the Weasley twins had ever accomplished. No one could ever pinpoint the girls’ involvement; they had their father’s uncanny ability to be invisible when the situation warranted it.


“I am delighted I no longer teach this riffraff any longer.” Severus sighed in satisfaction.


“I’ve no doubt, especially given the way your twins terrorize the school.”


“Terrorize is a rather a strong word, Lucius and there’s been no proof of involvement.”


Lucius smirked at his old friend, “You keep telling yourself that, Severus. When did those Potter boys get so large?”


Severus smiled lazily, “Margarita is quite lovely.”


Lucius narrowed his eyes at Snape then called out, “Scorpius, I’d like a word.” Lucius signaled to his grandson, who resembled both Draco and Narcissa.


“Of course, Grandfather.”


Susannah was standing next to Hermione when she watched an interesting exchange take place between her son and Lucius. She leaned over and whispered to Hermione, “I do believe Lucius is giving Scorpius a large purse of gallons.”


Hermione turn to watch Lucius put his arm around Scorpius. She smiled, “I think he enjoys spoiling his grandson.”


Draco snorted, “Hardly, he’s paying my son money to watch my sister.”


Hermione looked at Draco her eyes wide, “He’s what?”


“He is paying Scorpius to watch over Margarita. He’s been doing it since Scorpius and Margarita began their first year at Hogwarts.”


Hermione narrowed her eyes in irritation, paying his own grandson to spy on his daughter? The man had to have his finger in everything. “He has, has he?”


Draco laughed, “Granger, given your daughter’s ability to instigate mischief, I’d probably do the same thing. She’s incorrigible, I’ve no doubt she is the little mastermind behind some of the more elaborate pranks the Snape twins have managed to pull off.”


“Margarita would never…”


Draco cocked his eyebrow at Hermione and she closed her eyes and nodded her head, “Okay, you are right. I think I’ll have a word with my daughter.”


After what seemed like hours all the children were finally loaded onto the train, family, and friends began waving goodbye as the train slowly pulled away from the station.


“Lucius, you’ve been manipulating again.” Hermione whispered furiously up at her handsome git of a husband.


“Ahhh, I’ve been found out, how fortuitous. Do you have something planned for me, Poppet?” He said in a low, husky voice.


Hermione couldn’t prevent the blush that swept across her cheeks when he used that tone of voice on her. She cleared her throat, which had become rather dry and said as nonchalantly as possible, “Ehmmm…” He chuckled darkly as he leaned down and discretely bit her earlobe. Goddess, he adored his little witch, still as lovely as the day he married her.


“Daddy, I want to go to Hogwarts.”


“Of course you do, little sprite.” Lucius scooped up his sweet bundle with one arm and pulled Hermione close to him with his other arm.

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Margarita made her way down the train corridor until she found Scorpius. She slid open the compartment door. “There you are,” she huffed and sat down next to him. The two of them were inseparable, only being a month apart in age.


“How did you manage to lose that Potter prat?” Scorpius sneered.


“Now, now, Scorpius, be nice. You like James,” Margarita tutted.


“I like Albus, James was okay until he decided to get all grabby with you.”


“Oh, stop being so protective and hand it over.”


“Hand over what?”


“Scorpius, I know Dad gave you money, he does it every year. Give over.”


“I don’t know why I ever told you.”


“You didn’t, I saw him give it to you. Dad likes to think he’s sly.”


“Grandfather is sly.”


Margarita and Scorpius grinned at one another in perfect understanding of the man named Lucius Malfoy. Scorpius handed the wallet his grandfather had given him to Margarita. She took half the money then tossed the wallet back to him. They both looked up when the Snape twins, Selena and Ondine stepped into the compartment.


“I see we’ve arrived at just the right moment.” Ondine said as she watched Scorpius tuck his wallet back into his robes.


“I’d pull that wallet back out, Scorpius. We wanted to show you a few of the modifications we’ve made to some of the latest Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes products.” Selena smiled as she sat down next to Scorpius.


Margarita smiled and leaned back, this school year was looking quite promising, she thought. Her smile broadened as James Potter made his way into the compartment, followed by Albus, Xavier and Lily. Their eyes locked and James gave her a wicked little grin that shot a quiver excitement down her spine. “Yes, quite promising indeed,” she thought.


Fin.

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