Harry Potter had just (reluctantly) invited Draco Malfoy inside. Albus Severus had just (less reluctantly) invited his best friend Scorpius inside. The two 6-year-old boys went upstairs to play.

"Do you know," Albus told Scorpius in a whisper, "I want a broom-"

"-A nimbus-"

"-no, a firebolt-"

"no,-a sky star-studded shining rocket broom-"

"-YES. That's what I want-"

"Well, I am gonna get it-"

"-No, you're not-"

"-Just watch me-"

"-Actually just watch me too-"

And this is how it came about that Albus and Scorpius slipped into the living room without a sound but with their most determined (whiney) expressions on. The kind of expression that would make any sensible person, parent or not, turn on their heels and run (anywhere, just away). Now Harry, despite his behaviour in his early teenage years, was sensible. Yes, very very sensible as he told himself (after leaving his magikeys at home again one day and doing similar things). It was a kind of reassurance. Ginny might laugh all she liked. Harry was the most sensible person in the world. But anyway. So Harry turned on his heels and ran away to watch Ginny practicing her Quidditch skills. This left Mr. Malfoy, a very disgruntled and not at all intimidating Mr. Malfoy, to look after (by which I mean avoid doing whatever it was they wanted at that moment) the children.

"Mr. Malfooy," said Albus in his most whining voice imaginable (except perhaps the one he had used on Lily the previous week every single day just to see what would happen).

Draco shuddered. He hadn't heard that tone in years. In fact, the last time he had heard it was when he had used it himself when (well all through Hogwarts actually). And he did not like hearing it again, especially from someone else. Where could Al have got it from? Draco stifled a giggle (as Malfoys do not giggle, not even when they feel like it) as he imagined Potter or even worse Ginevra using such a tone of voice.

"We want a bro-oom."

That one came from Scorpius.

Ah, thought Draco wisely to himself, it must have something to do with genntics (Draco was not an "ignorant pureblood" thank you very much Astoria, no he was not. And here was the proof - he could, he thought proudly to himself - use a Muggle medicine term (yes he did know about medicine too, a tiny little bit which he thought was a very big bit) perfectly correctly (and no, Astoria, I have not said it wrong). Yes, Scorpius must have caught it from me and taught it to Al. Ha, Potter, my son has already corrupted your son and made your life (actually, in this moment, my life) harder.

"-We want two brooms-"

"Well", Malfoy suggested tentatively (actually not tentatively thought Draco. Malfoys are not tentative, ever). "I'm sure Potter - sorry, Harry - would be happy to let you take turns on his old broom."

"But we want our OWN brooms" Al's voice was now rising to a scream. Oh no, thought Draco, oh no. Keep calm. Very calm. Edge slowly away. Towards the door. Just two more steps -

"Where are you go-iiing Daddd-yyy? You can't just leave us here all by ourselves with NO brooms."

Here Al started to sniffle. Scorpius joined in. Draco was caught in a sniffle-prison, as he thought to himself (trying to cheer himself up). It didn't work.

"We want brooms-"

"-to crash into each other and everything else with. Wait, actually to-"

Scorpius now put on his most pious expression,

"-to ensure our future wellbeing and respectability by improving our health through exercise and improving our future Quidditch skills."

Malfoy blinked. And again. And again. Where did his six-year-old son even get that from? (Must be Astoria's side, he thought to himself.)

"Daddy," said Scorpius as though reading his father's thoughts. "I mem-rised the advert on health and stuff. Thought it might come in useful."

"Hmmm," said Draco, and then "Hmmm, hmm"

"Mr Malfooy," Albus repeated (he had not lost his whining tone Malfoy noted sadly), "You sound a bit like Daddy impersonating whathisname- Dumbledore from Hogwarts."

"I, wh-what" Malfoy spluttered. True, he did not dislike Dumbledore, not anymore. But that did not mean that he was going to turn into him.

"Have a sherbert lemon" he, nevertheless felt compelled to say. In response to the boy's puzzled looks he shrugged. They then resumed their whining.

"Well,"

"-well, well, well-" Al replied seriously

"Er- what?"

"Didn't you know?" (Draco was reminded painfully of having said the same sentence to said child's father long, long ago in their school years). "Didn't you know?" Al repeated.

Just to be spiteful, Draco was sure, his own son (said son who had been whining at him for the full past hour true, but still his son), joined the chorus.

"Didn't you know? Didn't you know? Didn't you know?"

"NO", Draco finally said (well actually kind of shouted, not that he was going to admit that to himself though) while clutching his head in a mixture of despair and headache, "I DID NOT KNOW! HAPPY?"

"Well actually no," Scorpius replied, both he and his friend completely unfazed by Draco's outburst.

"What do you mean no? What do you want me to do? Ask you what you mean and then go and buy you both some kind of super-expensive racing brooms or something?"

"You mean you'll do it? Like actually do it? Like actually get the newest, most beautifullest, most amazingest brooms in the universe? (Oh, and the "well, well, well" is from a Muggle TV program we watched in the Granger's house.)" Al said in delight, either failing to or choosing to ignore the obvious sarcasm in Draco's voice (Draco strongly suspected the latter).

"Wait, you mean you actually want me to? I. was. not. being. serious. You. can. use. old. brooms. I. am. not. buying. new. brooms. because. I. am mean." Draco replied sternly, blatantly ignoring Harry's warning not to tell the kids he was "mean". "You never know what it can bring back to you." Harry had told him with a shudder (probably to do with Teddy's week of crying in response to "Harry being mean" when Teddy was a toddler).

Both children took in deep breaths and then started crying again (they weren't trying to manipulate him, they were just genuinely upset). Oh no, thought Draco, help me, help me, help me.

Suddenly Draco felt a strange foreboding. Not a moment later had Al risen into the air, his hair looking oddly like broomstick bristles. "Me want broomstick. Me broomstick. Me want broomstick ..."

Thinking back later (when he finally managed to get some peace and quiet) Draco was surprised accidental magic hadn't happened earlier. Two upset magical children - what a safe combination he thought to himself. And mean Potter he told Astoria later, leaving him to look after both of them (Astoria knew, as did everyone else Draco associated with, knew who them referred to. They were a dangerous duo she thought to herself, not without a hint of pride both with Scorpius and with her alliteration. "Well you can't really expect anything else can you?" she had replied kindly but Draco was sure there had been an amused glint in her eyes as she had said it).

It wasn't long before Draco saw both of the kids transform themselves into walking (actually flying), talking broomsticks.

But the Dangerous Duo was just as whiny in broomform and without it so it wasn't long (within the privacy of his own mind, Draco congratulated himself for holding out so long overall) before they were apparating (actually Draco was apparating while holding on to the children) into Diagon Alley to Quality Quidditch Supplies ...