So, the usual "I own nothing" goes right here. Hope you enjoy the new story. I have the first few chapters written, and so long as no one else decides to dump more work on me (ya know, here at my job where I'm expected to work for the not-so-big bucks they throw at me twice a month,) I'll have more for you soon!

Chapter 1
Dear Santa,

I promise I've tried to be a really good boy this year. I didn't even get mad when Daddy made me eat peas. And they were yucky. This year I want to ask if you can bring me a new mummy. My old one left a long time ago. So I think I need a new one now. I want her to be pretty and happy. And I want her to read me stories. Can you bring me one, Santa? I know it would make my daddy really happy too.

Love,
Scorpius

That was the letter Draco Malfoy found on his kitchen table. It was written in green crayon on the back of a crumpled up, rejected proposal that he had tossed two days earlier. Draco stared at the letter, rereading it before he folded it in half and tucked it in his back pocket. There was no way he could fulfill his son's wish, especially not when Christmas was a mere three weeks away.

His marriage had been the result of Astoria Greengrass becoming pregnant with their only son, Scorpius. She had died giving birth, and he and Scorpius had been on their own for four years. Their time together was a time filled with arguments and resentment. As much as Astoria had wanted to be a mother, she wanted to be a twenty-something party girl even more. One drunken night with Draco Malfoy after three dates had landed her with a baby and a husband she wasn't sure she wanted. He hadn't thought that Scorpius could remember his mother, and maybe he didn't really. But now he was asking for one.

Little Scorpius entered the kitchen, lazily rubbing sleep from his gray eyes.

"Morning, buddy," Draco greeted him with a wide smile. The little boy, who looked so much like him, was his whole world. It killed Draco that he would have to break the news to his son that Santa could not bring him a new mother.

"Hi, Daddy. Hungry," Scorpius said, climbing onto his chair. Draco set a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of milk in front of him, and watched as he dove in. A thin stream of milk dribbled down the small boy's chin and he wiped it away with a contented sigh. "Daddy, do you think Santa got my letter yet?" he asked, worried that he had missed an important deadline.

Draco nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, I'm sure he did," he assured his son. "You know Santa has magic just like you and me. I'm sure he's going to work his hardest to bring you what you asked for, but don't be too upset if he can't. Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," he replied, spooning the last bit of oatmeal into his mouth.

Draco wiped away the remnants of breakfast from Scorpius's face and helped him down from his chair. "What do you say to going into Diagon Alley today?" he asked as he led the little boy upstairs to ready him for the day. Scorpius's gray eyes widened with excitement. When they reached the top of the stairs, he took off for his room to get dressed. "Matching socks this time. And make sure you put your shirt on right side out and the tag in the back," he instructed as he entered his own room.

Minutes later, after much struggling with his shirt, Scorpius appeared at his father's door. "I can't get them to button," he said, holding out his pants to Draco for help. Draco chuckled and gave him a hand, then declared that the Malfoy men were ready for a day out.

Diagon Alley was nearly deserted at the early hour, which was fine by Draco. Scorpius had recently developed a habit of wandering away if he wasn't holding his father's hand, and the lack of a crowd would make him easier to spot.

"Bookshop!" Scorpius cried. "Come on, Dad!" He tugged as hard as he could on Draco's hand until the older man started walking in the direction of the store. Once inside, Scorpius dropped his father's hand and took off running through the aisles of books. Draco did his best to keep up with the spirited four year-old, but found that he lost him after Scorpius took a left around an aisle.

"Scor," he called out, trying not to disturb the other patrons. He continued walking and calling out for his son until he reached the children's section. But Scorpius wasn't there. "Scorpius," he yelled out, doubling back to make his way through the rows of books He turned down the Magical History aisle and found his son sitting there with a small raven haired boy who looked to be his age.

"Hi Daddy," the small blonde greeted him, looking up at him with an adoring smile. It was the smile he used when he knew he would be in trouble and wanted to get out of it.

"Hi, who's your friend?" Draco asked, waiting for his heart beat to slow from its erratic pace.

Scorpius glanced at the boy, his small brow furrowed. "I don't know," he answered. He cocked his head to the side and asked him, "Who are you?"

The little boy smiled. "James," he replied.

"Who are you here with?" he asked, bending down to the boys' level.

"My auntie," he told him. His green eyes scanned the aisle but seemed to widen in fear when he couldn't see the one person for whom he was looking. "I don't know where she went."

Draco smiled kindly at the lost little boy. He stood up and held out a hand to the him. "Why don't we go look for her?" he offered.

Green eyes widened even further as he stared at this stranger's outstretched hand. "But Mummy said never to go anywhere with people I don't know."

"Well, I'm Scorpius's dad, and you know him," the adult reasoned. "I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you, James."

James stood and took his hand. Draco waited until Scorpius took his other hand before they set off. The trio wandered through aisles and around tables of books until James let go of Draco's hand.

"I see her," James exclaimed. "Wanna race?"

Before Draco could protest, Scorpius let go and took off with the excited boy. By the time he caught up to the two children he was furious. And the person he saw talking to his son did nothing to quell that anger.

"Hi Malfoy, missing something?"