An Inquisitive Stranger -tag: Scorpius-

[Juliette Lyn Cauldwell]

It was the beginning of another school year at Hogwarts, her fifth. For most, by the age of fifteen, that “head off to school” excitement had all but worn off. Juliette, however, had always seen it as a unique opportunity - there were a whole year’s worth of new students - younger though they were - as well as many other students she had yet to meet. And the long ride back to school only added to the endless possibilities for the day. Jules had convinced her eldest brother, Owen, to take her to Kings Cross Station on his way to work so that she’d be there even earlier than the rest of the family.

Early in the morning as it was, there were only a few people at the station when the fifth-year Hufflepuff arrived, only a handful of families, and she couldn’t identify any as being from the wizarding community. Jules was still content to watch the small activity here however, and, in no hurry to make her way to the hidden Platform 9 3/4, Jules took her battered old trunk and set it down toward the side of station; sitting on top of it, she could watch most of the activity there. With her previously-used clothes that were slightly too large, and the beaten old trunk, that aside from the contented smile on her face that hinted at her inward excitement, it was likely she looked quite like a poor little orphan as she sat there alon, but the fifteen-year-old was completely unaware of that fact.

After a while, however, the few people at the station had disappeared, either getting onto a train, or meeting someone who was getting off. The youngest Cauldwell was not one to waste time in a place where there was no one or nothing of note to observe, so she quickly pulled out yesterday’s copy of “The Daily Prophet” to read it once again. Realizing the paper might be slightly strange to the right person passing her, she decided there was no point in putting off her short trip to Platform 9 3/4, where she could read the paper without concern.

The “Daily Prophet” tucked under her arm, Jules lifted her heavy trunk, and made her way to the somewhat intimidating metal barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was there to see her, and a deep breath - despite her knowledge of the magical realm, walking through a “wall” like that still felt odd” - she stepped determinedly through, finding herself at the hidden Platform where the Hogwarts Express would soon arrive.

[jessed:]

Scorpius inhaled sharply.

There was something brilliant about the way Platform 9 3/4 smelt - like it smelt of magic. He cast his gaze over the bustling students, bright and cheerful in their day clothes, each one greeting the other like lifelong friends. His parents had left already, at his insistence - Scorpius' friends tended to get edgy with his sharp-faced, cold-voiced mother and father around. Nonetheless, none of the first years dared to approach him - it seemed, he thought with a reckless smile, that his surname's reputation preceded him. He gave another wicked grin, baring his canines; sure enough, the majority of the first-years skittered backwards. In fact, one of them even tripped over her suitcase in her haste to get away.

There was nothing like it; he felt at home, even when Hogwarts was so far away. Absent-mindedly, Scorpius walked up to the glossy red Hogwart Express, it's sides heaving and it's spout issuing steam like it had just run a marathon. He ran a careless hand along it's battered side, noting each dent and chip where repairs were needed. He could imagine his father getting onto this very train a decade ago, for his fifth year ... Scorpius shook the thought that he would be like that in a year out of his mind. He was nothing like his father, after all. Au contraire, he was the opposite.

He turned back to the platform, pacing briefly. His thoughts wouldn't quite settle - sure, he was going back to school; the phrase sent butterflies racing through him. Stupid, he scolded himself mercilessly, thinking people'll come up to you and start asking questions. It's been more than a decade, after all, so what's to worry about? Still, he wasn't altogether convinced; there was bound to be some inquisitive strangers somehwere around, wondering who he was, and when they discovered his surname - his reputation, Scorpius thought, his lip curling in distaste so like his father's, they'd find reasons to disassociate themselves.

Stupid.

Trying to calm himself, he pressed his back into the cool of the barrier. The time had passed for people to come, anyway; most families Apparated onto the platform, with their children clinging to their legs, faces alarmed. The cool of the wall, the sudden solidity of it as Scorpius pulled his back away in a strange arch, not touching it so much that he sunk through, was refreshing. He pressed his head against the rough bricks, his pale throat exposed.

It was at that moment that someone crashed into him. Scorpius could almost feel the person's arms wrapping around his torso as they steadied themselves; he whirled around, face alarmed, for hadn't he been over the time limit.

"What the-?" the Malfoy heir cried indignantly.

[sorry about the sort-of-god-mod D:]

[Juliette Lyn Cauldwell]

This being her fifth year and all, Jules should have known to be on her guard when passing through the magical barrier to platform 9 3/4. Should have. But as usual, she was far too distracted by her excitement for the coming year to be thinking about more immediate considerations, like the possibility of running into someone once she reached the other side. That possibility should have occurred to her, but it simply hadn’t.

Though she thought, after four years of this, she had fully prepared herself for taking that magical passage to the platform where the Hogwarts Express would be waiting, she realized as she made her move, that it was probably not a sensation one could be fully prepared for. Once again caught off guard, Jules didn’t quite keep her balance, particularly with that oversized trunk in tow, and she tripped, ungracefully as she landed on the other side. And, whether good or bad, her fall was broken by someone who happened to be a bit too close to the “landing point” at the time.

Jules dropped her trunk, either in surprise of her fall or of it being broken, and her arms waved widely of her own accord to try to recapture control. She was finally successful, though she’d had to use the unfortunate person she’d run into as a crutch to get herself upright and steady once again. ”Sorry about that,” She said quickly, as she straightened out her clothes. ”I’m not usually so clumsy.’

It might have been just as easy to blame the person standing right next to the barrier for her fall, but Juliette usually graciously chose to give others the benefit of doubt. Picking up her abandoned trunk, which seemed, thankfully, unharmed by the incident, she turned back toward the person, giving a friendly smile. She immediately noticed the telling blond hair and the proud stance as well as his indignant response to being run into, and figured out exactly who he was. “You’re Scorpius, aren’t you. Scorpius Malfoy?” She knew she had to be right, but it was polite to ask anyways, “Nice to meet you, I’m Juliette Cauldwell, but everyone calls me Jules.” The introduction was bright and came easily; she seemed to assume that he wouldn’t choose to completely ignore her as she held out her free hand for him to shake. Of course, if he did ignore her, she wouldn’t be bothered, either, and she wasn’t going to let him get away just yet.

This was certainly a fortunate turn of events - the Malfoy heir. She had plenty of questions she’d been dying to ask him, if she ever met him, but, until this point, that had never happened. He was in for quite a surprise.

[no problem ]