Harry, he wrote, and then stopped. That seemed too informal, given all that had transpired between them. Yet Mr. Potter seemed too formal, and Potter by itself seemed brusque, and too reminiscent of their school years to be comfortable.
Perhaps he was overthinking the matter, but then, perhaps he was not. The wording of this letter was all-important, for one wrong phrase could ruin everything before healing could even begin. Draco was hesitant to examine those old wounds again, but his son needed wisdom that Draco could not give, and if Scorpius' peace of mind required some degree of unpleasantness on his father's part, so be it.
Harry would do, he decided, and he picked up his quill again.
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. No doubt you find it much quieter now that the school year has begun. I am told that your Albus was sorted into Slytherin House. I hope he finds it enjoyable, and more open-minded than the Slytherin House you and I left behind.
It is on the subject of Houses that I wish to speak with you, if you would grant me but one more moment of your time, assuming, of course, you haven't put this letter down.
Draco furrowed his brow. That did not seem confident at all. How very unlike the arrogant youth that he had been twenty years ago. It might have been amusing, but Draco still had some pride left when it came to his boyhood rival. Even so, he decided, it had to be put aside, if only for now.
I realize, he wrote, that I am the last person you would expect, or desire, to receive a letter from, even after all this time. I also realize that I have no business asking you for any favors after all the grief I put you through, so it is with no small amount of shame that I must request one nonetheless.
We find our sons interestingly reversed, you might say – in different Houses than we were at that age. Your Albus, as I noted above, was recently sorted into Slytherin. My Scorpius was sorted into Gryffindor. I am very proud of him, Harry, but I'm afraid he finds it disturbing. He is the first Malfoy that I know of – and my parents informed me of many – to be sorted into that House. In his most recent letter home, he questioned his place in the Malfoy family, most, if not all, of whom were Slytherins.
Of our cousins the Blacks, however, there is one I know who shared my son's position.
It is for this reason that I write to you, Harry. My family was not fond of Sirius Black, but I know he was your godfather, and I know you became close following his escape from Azkaban – my father never got over that punch. He deserved it, in hindsight.
As I said before, you do not owe me any favors, but I implore you nonetheless to see that the sins of the father are not visited upon his child. If you find it in your heart to write my Scorpius, please tell him about Sirius. Tell him what a Gryffindor from a Slytherin family meant to the world. Obviously you knew him better than I, and it would mean a great deal more to my son coming from someone in that position.
All the Best, he wrote, and he meant it.
Draco Malfoy.