Rowlings. HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. TM and © 2005. This fan fiction is provided for entertainment purposes and in respect to J.K. Rowlings and the talented cast of the Harry Potter films.

A/N: A short story. I've almost finished up my other fics and I seem to have a pattern. I post a new fic before I've finished my other ongoing stories. Sorry about that. But ALL my stories will be updated and finished in a reasonable time.

Enjoy.

Chapter One

Draco was frantic, he knew he had to leave. Go into hiding until things changed. He knew exactly what he had to do, but one thing was stopping him. What did he do with his seven month old son? He couldn't take him where he was going, it wasn't safe. He needed to make sure he was safe – everything Draco ever did now was for his son. Draco spent most the night thinking about it, come morning he made his decision.

Draco packed two bags, magically enlarged to hold greater contents. One bag was for himself, clothes, toiletries, money and photos of Scorpius. The other was a bag full of Scorpius' clothes, toys, bottles, dummies and nappies. He sighed he had come to his decision and he shouldn't be having second thoughts. It was the best decision for his son.

He glanced over at Scorpius in his crib, asleep for once. His heart ached for what he was about to do. Draco added two letters to Scorpius' bag and picked up the small boy. He squeezed him gently, resting his head against Scorpius' tiny head and breathing in his baby smell.

Draco stepped out into the warm summer breeze, glanced around to see if anyone was approaching. No one – unless they were hiding. He took one last look at his temporary home and said his goodbyes. He apparated to his destination and hoped he hadn't misjudged how this would play out. Before he walked up the driveway, he cuddled his son one last time and placed a single kiss to his temple.

He cast a disillusionment charm and snuck up the drive. He transfigured a pebble into a mosses basket and placed Scorpius inside. Placing one of the letters on top of him and then putting the mosses basket on the doorstep.

He walked away, tears flowing down his face. Once he reached the end of the drive, he cast a spell that would making a knocking sound on the door and then apparated away before he changed his mind.

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Harry was halfway through the exciting task of sort through the laundry, when he heard a knock at the door. Ginny and the kids were at the Burrow, giving Harry the chance to do much needed housework. Harry stuffed the clothes in his hand back in the washing machine and headed to the door.

He opened it and noticed no one was there. He went to close the door but a quiet cry made him halt. He looked down at the source of the noise and inhaled sharply. A baby was in a basket, left on his doorstep. Harry looked around and saw no one else nearby. He cast a few spells to see if it was an illusion, a trap. But no it appeared to be a baby, abandoned.

Harry gripped the mosses basket handles and gently lifted it. He carried the baby into his living room, placing the basket onto the floor. That was when Harry noticed that a letter was tucked down the side, between the side of the basket and the tiny baby.

Harry pulled the letter out and repeated the detection spells, once again nothing came of it. Harry pulled out the letter and read.

Potter,

I'm sure you are aware of recent events, seeing as you are an Auror. These events are the reason I am doing this. I must protect my son.

My parents and Scorpius' mother was killed at the hands of Yaxley the escaped Death Eater. I know that he will not rest until he has wiped out the whole of the Malfoy family. I have no one, and nowhere we can go where we will be safe.

By the time you read this I will be in another country and in hiding from Yaxley. I hope to return once he has been captured or killed. Until then I cannot remain in the UK as an open target. I could hardly go on the run with a seven month old baby.

I tried to think of the safest place for him, then I thought of you. Of all the wizards and witches, you are the one person who is powerful enough to protect him. Yaxley wouldn't go after Scorpius knowing that you will be watching over him.

Please Harry I trust that you will take care of my son. Love him and raise him, protect him and watch over him until my return.

I have arranged for some money to be transferred into your Gringotts account, it should be plenty enough to cover expenses and general cost of raising a baby, with extra to compensate you.

I do not know how long I will be gone for. If Yaxley is captured soon then I will come back for Scorpius. However he may evade the Aurors for a long time, or he may catch up with me and finish what he started. I have written Scorpius a letter, if I am gone for a long time please give him the letter. It explains why I did what I did.

It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I love my son dearly and I cannot risk his life. The safest place for him is with you.

I trust you to do this. Not for me – but for Scorpius.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Take care of him.

Draco Malfoy

Harry's hand was trembling by the time he had finished. He looked over the top of the letter and down at the baby – Scorpius.

"What am I going to do with a seven month old baby?" Harry pondered out loud.

Of course he had James who was two and Al who was nine months old. So really he should have said, 'What am I going to do with another baby?' Harry winced when he thought of Ginny's reaction.

Looking at Scorpius he couldn't refuse Draco's request. This poor helpless baby had lost his grandparents, his mother and his father was on the run. He needed someone to protect him and raise him in Draco's absence. Harry read the letter one more time and sighed, trust Malfoy to think Harry would only protect his son and not him as well.

Scorpius stirred again and Harry carefully scooped the boy up. Holding him in his arms and looking at his face properly. He looked like a normal baby, tiny nose and cute feature. Harry couldn't see his eyes as they were closed, but his hair was trademark Malfoy – white blond and beautiful.

Harry felt the familiar sensation, he had it when James was born and again when Albus was born. Now looking down at Scorpius he felt it once more, the need to love, protect and do anything you can to help this little life.

Harry rocked Scorpius until he heard Ginny floo into the kitchen. He placed Scorpius back in the basket and entered the kitchen. He subtly cast a nonverbal silencing spell on the kitchen door. He didn't want Ginny's shouting to disrupt Scorpius.

She turned to smile at him and crossed the room to hug him. She whispered in Harry's ear, "Mum said she'd watch the kids for a few hours. So we have the house to ourselves." Ginny kissed his neck.

Harry regrettably pushed her away. "Sorry Gin. We don't have the place to ourselves." Putting off telling her why they weren't alone.

She frowned slightly, "What do you mean?" she looked put out.

"If Hermione or Ron are here they can leave, we rarely get any time alone without the kids." She complained, a common compliant of hers Harry thought.

Harry wasn't sure how to say this, he ran his hands though his hair and explained, "I think this letter will explain it better than I can." Harry handed Malfoys letter over.

She snatched it and started reading. Ginny's face grew steadily redder with rage as she read on. "The nerve of him. How dare he?"

Harry knew it would be a shock for her. Hell it was a shock to him, but Harry would deal with it, for Scorpius. Malfoy knew exactly what he was doing when he chose me to look after his son. Harry thought. No matter what Ginny said, he would fulfil Malfoys request.

"Well?" She snapped at Harry chucking the letter on the kitchen table.

"Well what Ginny? The letter explains it." He said puzzled by her question.

She glared at him. "Well what are we going to do? We're not keeping him. Malfoy is fucking deluded if he thinks I will help raise his spawn." She raged.

Harry sighed, he didn't like this side of Ginny. "Ginny be reasonable. Malfoy has lost his parents and his wife in the last month. He only has Scorpius left and wants to ensure he survives. There is a baby in our living room, a helpless baby, who currently has no family."

Her eyebrows rose in shock, "I don't give a shit who Malfoy has lost. We've all lost family and friends. Why he thinks we would raise his son I have no idea. We can watch him until we find suitable guardians, an orphanage, or foster care."

Harry was stunned. How could she be so cold hearted, "Ginny he's seven months old, younger than Al."

"So. All the better he won't remember his awful family." She spitefully yelled and Harry was glad he put the silencing spell up.

"I can't talk to you when you're being like this. Just calm down and come see Scorpius." Harry reasoned. He removed the spell and walked down the hall to Scorpius.

He noticed Scorpius was still sound asleep. Harry smiled at the contented boy, he felt pity for the poor boy. He wondered where Malfoy was and if he was safe.

Harry was determined more than ever to track down the escaped death eater, so Malfoy could be re-united with his son. Ginny didn't follow Harry. Harry heard her storm up the stairs and slam their bedroom door.

Malfoy hadn't mentioned when Scorpius last had a feed. Harry summoned a bottle of Al's formula milk, cast a spell to warm it and then lifted Scorpius to see if he wanted it. Smiling as bright grey eyes stared up at him.

"Hello Scorpius I'm Harry. I will be taking care of you until your dad comes home."

Scorpius blinked at him and made a grab for the bottle. Harry chuckled and put the bottle to Scorpius' mouth.

Scorpius drank his milk contently and Harry started thinking of ways to catch Yaxley.