It was December 21st, only a few days to the day that makes the highlight of any child's year, Christmas! But instead of being at home, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and the delicious hot chocolate house elves make, Scorpius and his father found themselves in Diagon ally, for the second time the same week, shopping for grandmother Narcissa's big Christmas ball; to which she has invited all of wizarding England according to grandfather Lucius.
At least this shopping trip isn't with his grandmother herself, thought Scorpius, as it would take not hours but days. Shopping with his father usually goes smoothly. He always follows the same special swift itinerary.
They have already been to Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions, Flourish and Bolts even Weasley's wizard wheezes and currently they are having hot chocolates and cupcakes at the fairy bakery. Well, only Scorpius was. His father was more engrossed in today's copy of the daily prophet.
"Father, are we done shopping for today?" Scorpius asked, already feeling tired.
"Not yet son." he answered without looking up from his newspaper.
Scorpius knew where their next stop would be. It's that special shop at the end of the ally. Which is not really that special compared to the Weasley's joke shop. They sell a little of everything, decorating items, muggle books, toys and some potion ingredients his father seems to favor since it's what he gets every time they visit.
"Are you done with your cake Scorp?" his father asked, folding his newspaper and placing it on the small table.
"Almost" answered the boy. He took his chocolate mug and drunk the last drops of the thick delicious liquid and with a cheerful voice said "done".
"Can't we get some for Tiny too? He loves cupcakes so much "he pleaded for his house elf.
His father said nothing to his request as he walked towards the cashier to pay. Scorpius didn't follow his lead. He knew that if his father didn't take his hand it meant he must sit on the nearest chair and wait for him.
In a few moments, the father returned to his son's side, holding Tiny's favorite vanilla flavored cupcakes with strawberry icing in his left hand.
"You got some for Tiny! Can I hold them please?"
"No, you can't. You will be distracted and I might lose you in the crowds. It'll just put them in the bag. Follow me we have one more place to go."
The Malfoy heir did as his father ordered and followed him outside of the fairy bakery.
His father, Draco Malfoy, was a well-respected man in wizarding England. Whenever they went out together they would receive greetings from people Scorpius didn't know. He wasn't sure if his father knew them he seemed to always acknowledge their salutations yet he only answers with a simple nod.
His Mother always accused his father of being a cold man. Scorpius thinks that is an overstatement. Unfortunately, some of it was still true. The boy was eight and he had yet to see his father smile, a real genuine smile, not the one he wears on his face when meeting business associates or when his grandmother has guests at home.
They finally arrived at the shop, it's called unity, it must be because it sells items from both worlds muggle and magical.
Upon their entry to the shop, the little boy heard sounds, scary groaning sounds, like those dragons make. The older Malfoy seemed oblivious to them as he marched towards the potions' section. Scorpius tried to follow him but his curiosity won over. So he left his father's side looking for the provenance of the terrifying sounds that seemed to come from the muggle toy section. He slowly approached the shelves displaying the toys. and there they were, on the bottom one. They did look like dragons only smaller and wingless and… they were moving their heads back and forth. He wondered whether they were actual animals or just toys that the shop owner put under a spell. Either way, the blond boy was too scared to look at other toys so he rapidly left the section to look for his father.
He found him standing at the same place he left him .it looked like he had found what he needed, seeing as he was holding a jar in his right hand, and …he was smiling at something, which was not weird but slightly unusual. His Father smiles he just rarely smiles in public a genuine smile like the one he was wearing on his face at that moment.A smile he always saved to their private moments.
He followed his line of sight but couldn't find anything funny, only Mrs. Weasley, Rose's mother, reading her book, alone and in silence. He looked again for any reason that could have made his father smile so openly but he found none. Yet when he turned back to him he saw him still smiling. After a few seconds, his smile slowly turned into a deep frown and his right hand tightened around the jar causing his knuckles to lighten in colour. The curious boy glanced back at Mrs. Weasley wondering what might have made his father's mood to change so quickly. This time she wasn't alone. Behind her stood Rose's father, Mr. Weasley, who must have said something amusing because his wife was laughing so hard tears formed in her brown eyes.
His Mother hates them. She calls them very bad names. Only at home though, his grandfather forbids her from using the "m" word in public. Scorpius couldn't understand why she holds such a huge grudge against the couple. Last time he was to their home they both treated him nicely, Mrs. Weasley especially gave him more attention in those few hours than his mother has in his whole life. The only explanation she gives him every time he asked her is that they are dirty, of low blood, not worthy of their time and status.
His Mother says because of the Malfoy's high status coming from the purity of one of the most ancient wizarding lines the Malfoys were naturally more powerful, smarter and even more beautiful.
Yet Mrs. Weasley is a healer and his pureblood mother isn't, she holds the title of the brightest witch of her age and his mother doesn't, she and her husband fought alongside Harry Potter saving the wizarding world from a very dangerous, evil wizard while she did nothing for it.
Why would a woman save a world she doesn't belong to? And how could she save wizards deemed stronger and superior to her?
It is this kind of questions that make the little boy doubt everything his mother told him about muggles and muggle-borns. After all even Harry Potter is a half-blood.
A small movement to his right snapped him out of his trance. His father came to his side, held his hand and walked him towards the counter. Mrs. Weasley who was back to reading her book after her husband was gone stood up to welcome her two customers.
"Hello Malfoy, this is the second time this week we should make a fidelity card just for you," she said smiling.
His Father ignored her comment and handed her the jar. She took it from him with a slight look of disappointment on her face. She must hate being ignored.
"Is that going to be all?"
His Father answered her with a minor nod of the head never once looking at her face.
"Didn't you like anything Scorpius?" she asked turning to the little blond boy.
"I didn't look."
"Why not, we have the best boy toys you could ever find."
"The creatures on the shelves are too scary. I couldn't stay there. "
"What creatures?"
"The ones that look like dragons."
She seemed to consider his answer for a few seconds and then smiled at him.
"Honey, those are not alive, they are just muggle toys. You have nothing to be scared of" she assured.
"But they can move their heads and tails, they are alive" the boy protested.
"I can make them stop if you want. There is a little button that can turn them off, I'll show you" she left the counter walking towards the toy section. Coming back after a moment. Holding one scary wingless dragon in each hand.
"These are called robots they work with energy stored inside of their system" she explained while placing the offending little monsters on the counter. Trying not to look so scared Scorpius slowly retracted behind his father.
"Don't be scared sweety, I'll turn them off "she said with a little smile. She must have noticed how scared he was.
Mrs. Weasley flipped one of the creatures over, put her finger on his tail and pressed. The creature's movements stopped at once. Which made Scorpius sigh in relief.
"Do you see? It's not moving anymore. Why don't you try with the other one?" she asked. Scorpius felt his father's hand tighten around his. Silently telling him to politely decline her offer.
"Thank you, but I prefer to stay as away as possible" he answered .even if his father didn't order him to refuse he would have. The wingless dragons even when immobile were too scary.
"Do these animals live in the muggle world?" he curiously asked. He has been to the muggle world before and has yet to see them .
"They used to .millions of years ago. They don't anymore, you can go to the muggle world you will never see them," she assured.
"Why not? Did the muggles kill them?"
"No, muggles believe that what caused their extinction is either an asteroid that collided with earth millions of years ago or a big volcano"
"What are they called? And why do they look different from each other?" Scorpius felt his father's hand tighten around his hand for the second time. He must be asking too much questions.
"They are called dinosaurs' .as for their different looks it's because these two are not of the same species. This one" she said gesturing to the scarier of the two "is Tyrannosaurus Rex, it eats meat while this one" she said pointing at the second one "is an herbivore it's called a Sauropod."
"Why didn't birds disappear, or dogs? How did muggles know their names if they vanished millions of years ago? Were there other species? Do…"
"Enough with the questions Scorpius .you know we have to go home early" his father interrupted sternly.
"How much is it?" he asked Mrs. Weasley pointing at the jar he purchased.
"I love your enthusiasm little one. but since daddy is in a hurry we are going to postpone it for next time" she said then turned back to my father " well the jar costs 5 gallons but I should charge you more for always ignoring me when visiting the shop Malfoy."
"I don't ignore, I just don't talk as much as you do," he said while placing a little sac of gallons on the counter.
" 'Hello' is never too much Malfoy" she countered while putting the jar in a piece of paper and wrapping it.
"Can I just have my ingredients Granger?" he said with a barely there smile on his lips.
This time it was Mrs. Weasley who ignored him as she turned to address the younger Malfoy "since you didn't choose anything for Christmas I want you to have these" she reached under the counter to grab a box.
"These are cookies and gingerbread that I made for Christmas; eat them and next time you can give me your opinion and I can answer all your questions about dinosaurs" giving Scorpius her biggest smile.
The boy looked at his father waiting for his permission to grab the box which he didn't give.
"He has enough cookies at home Granger. You should keep them for your husband. If my memory serves me right he always hated sharing food" he said.
Mrs. Weasley seemed to consider his father's rude comment for a few seconds before answering him.
"It's going to be 10 gallons Malfoy." she abruptly announced her previously shocked face bearing an evil smirk now.
"What? You said 5." said the older Malfoy protesting.
"That was before you insulted my husband."
"You can't do that. This isn't even your shop."
"Maybe not but the shop owner gave me full reign and I can do what I want while I'm in charge, 10 gallons, take it or leave it Malfoy."
"Fine! Just give me the bloody jar."
"Swearing in front of a child Malfoy. I wasn't expecting that from you," she said faking disappointment as she took the gallons from her customer's sac. when she was done she gave him the wrapped jar and returned his change.
If Mrs. Weasley hasn't noticed the little boy did. His father who was the least affectionate person in public has gone out of his way and brushed his fingers to hers while taking his packaged purchase from her.
His Father put the package in the inside of his cloak and turned to leave the shop gesturing for Scorpius to follow him.
"Scorpius come take your father's change" called Mrs. Weasley when they were about to step out of the shop.
"You can go," his father said, smiling at him.
The boy ran back to the counter. Mrs. Weasley bent trying to reach his height with the counter blocking her way and gave him his father's 5 gallons that she overcharged him with for his rudeness. Between the pieces of gold was a little cube, the size of his thumb. He looked up at her in a silent question.
"These are the cookies I wanted to give to you. Hide the box from your father and when you arrive home ask your grandmother to turn it back to its original size" she instructed in a whispering voice.
Scorpius thanked her for the cookies. Hid the box and turned to join his father by the door.
"we are done shopping now Scorp .we can go home," he said as he took his hand "brace yourself we are apparating" the boy felt the suffocating feeling of side-along apparition engulf him for a few seconds before they landed in front of their house, Malfoy Manor.
Once inside, his father rapidly climbed the stairs leading to his study after instructing his son to go find his grandmother in the sunroom and give her madam Malkins's message.
His Father spends half of his time in his study. He doesn't allow any of his family to enter his private sanctuary even his own father .the boy has always been curious about what was so special about the little room inside it. So he silently followed him trying his best not to be caught. When his father entered his study he left the door open so he quietly snuck in .his father was already in his room and has sealed the door. He decided to hide under the desk and waited for him to come out.
He knew the reason he couldn't see the door leading to the room was that his father put it under a spell .once it closes it gets sealed with the wall and changes it's coloring to match it like a camouflage.
When his father finally came out he didn't immediately close the door and started to look through the pile of files sitting on his desk. He was so engulfed in his work that he didn't see his son's little figure sneaking into his room.
Once inside his father's special room he put a little book where the door meats the frame hoping he wouldn't notice. If he discovered what he was up to he would certainly be grounded for the whole New Year.
Suddenly the sounds caused by his father's shuffling of paper stopped. He must have found what he was looking for. Scorpius could hear his footsteps as he approached the charmed door .his heartbeat loud in his ears, sweat cascading down his face and neck and hands trembling. His father was certainly scarier than Mrs. Weasley's muggle toys. if he closes the door there was no way Scorpius could get out without him knowing .just when he started seeing his right hand reach for the handle his grandfather's voice came startling not only the son but also the father who immediately let go of the handle.
"Draco! When did you come back? You took so long."
"We just arrived father. I had some places to be."
"Some places to be you say. You went to her again didn't you?"
"I don't want to have this conversation again father. I know exactly what you are going to say. You know what my reply is going to be. Why would we waste time on this subject again" said his father in a way that suggested he wouldn't say more. He could hear his grandfather sigh.
"I just don't want you to torture yourself more. What you are doing is only going to make your life miserable."
"I know, yet I prefer my life this way."
"When you are done with your work, join me in the library we have to talk about the abandoned mansions in Europe, "his grandfather said leaving the previous subject.
"I've already found what I needed .go on I'll be there in a second."
His Father stood from his desk chair and walked towards the door of his study closing it behind him completely oblivious to the opened door of his special room.
The boy inside of it sighed with relief at not being exposed for his disobedience of his father's orders. Took a deep breath and for the first time turned to look at the room.
It was as if he came back in time to that moment he entered Mrs. Weasley's shop that same morning. The room had shelves full of books and jars and decorations. the only thing missing was the toys.
He approached the bookshelves trying to read the titles. He scanned them one by one as he took them out of their places. Weirdly enough they all had the same title only different covers it was the same book Mrs. Weasley was reading that morning before her husband interrupted .his father must really like the book if he has all these versions of it.
Turning back from the books he found another set of shelves harboring little jars the one they bought today was sitting at the middle of the bottom shelf. Does his father need all of these ingredients for his potions?
There was a little red chair by the window on top of it sat a book with the same title as the others.
He sat on the chair to read his father's apparently favorite book. When he opened it to find little photos that looked like they have been cut from newspapers. The first one was of the golden trio holding hands and smiling at each other. The second one had Mrs. Weasley dressed in a white gown .it must be from her wedding day. The third one was a picture of her pregnant. The boy scanned the rest of them and they all had Mrs. Weasley in them doing different tasks. Even Rose appeared in some.
Why does his father have so many pictures of Mrs. Weasley?
Between the pictures was a little piece of paper. He instantly recognized his father's elegant handwriting. It said "fresh cut grass, new parchment and…" that had absolutely no meaning he thought as he closed the book. Why his father found it necessary to seal the door was beyond him. He couldn't see anything that has to be hidden.
He removed the book he used to stop the door from closing while he was inside and rapidly left his father's sanctuary closing the door behind me. After inspecting his surroundings he finally stepped out of the study .next stop his grandmother's sunroom .that is where his father said she would be. And that is where he found her sitting in one of the chairs. Reading her favorite magazine "witch weekly". She seemed oblivious to his arrival so he took the opportunity to startle her.
Slowly, he got under the table, took a deep breath and "boo" he said in a ghost-like voice.
His Grandmother jumped. Startled, she bent to look under the table "Scorpius, what are you doing down there? You gave me quite a fright" she said. Holding her hand to her heart.
"I was trying to scare you and I succeeded. As I always do" he answered, proud of his accomplishment, as he came out from under the table.
He ran to her and climbed to sit on her lap.
"Did you do anything special with your father today sweetie?"
"Not really. we went to Madam Malkin's who by the way hasn't finished your robes yet and then we visited the bookshop, Weasley's wizard wheezes, fairy's dairy and finally ant Andromeda's shop."
"You went to the shop?"
"Yes, ante Andromeda wasn't there, but Mrs. Weasley was."
"Did you get anything from her? or did you two just went to visit" she asked a little bit curious now.
"I didn't buy anything but dad-"
"Father" she corrects and I roll my eyes at her.
"Well, father got some potion ingredients."
For a moment Scorpius contemplated telling her about his observations today and decided to just tell her what he concluded.
"Grandmother, I think father wants to be friends with Mrs. Weasley."
"What gave you that impression dear?" she asked a little bit worried.
"Father smiled at her and… I saw him brush his fingers to her hand when she handed him the jar. I think that the problem is that she doesn't want to be friends with him."
"Darling, there are a lot of things that you ignore about your father and Mrs. Weasley. Just forget about it and don't ask your father for explanations for what you saw."
"Ok. I won't. Grandmother Mrs. Weasley gave me a box of cookies, she told me to ask you to return it to its original size" he said retracting it from his pocket.
His Grandmother took her wand and whispered a spell .instantly the box returned to its original size.
"Now I have to go back to my room before father sees the box. He has forbidden me from taking it" he said as he jumped from her lap grabbed his box, gave her a kiss on the cheek and left hastily for his room.
Sitting on his bed Scorpius placed the box on his lap and opened it, it had two piles of baked goods separated, gingerbread and cookies, Scorpius bit into one of the cookies .they were really delicious, and Mrs. Weasley is a very talented cook apparently. He would make sure to tell her on his next visit to the shop.
Halfway through his box, he heard his father's cough. He lifted his head, mouth full of crumbles, and saw him there casually leaning on the door frame arms crossed before him.
"Didn't I tell you not to take the box?" he said eying the box of cookies.
"You didn't tell me, you just squeezed my hand."
"You knew what that meant. You just wanted the cookies. How do you find them anyway? I see you ate most of them."
"They are really good. Mrs. Weasley should be a chef."
"Well, I'm happy you like them because I'm taking the rest of them."
"But they are my gift" he protested.
"One that I ordered you to decline."
"Now give me the box and have a look at this book I brought to you," he said while putting the book face down on the bed .then, with both hands grabbed the box of cookies and lifted it.
"Good night son." he said as he closed the door behind him.
"Good night dad." the boy replied.
He took his father's book, flipped it over. The cover had the two animals, dinosaurs, that Mrs. Weasley showed him this morning .it's called "the complete dinosaur (life of the past)" .he didn't know his father had books about dinosaurs. They were after all muggle animals.
Scorpius opened the book and started reading about those offending creatures. Good thing they vanished millions of years ago.
author's note:
hello!
this is my first time writing anything on this site. the story was inspired by a one-shot that I have read some time ago. Unfortunately, I can't find it anymore. so I rewrote it as a first chapter. If you recognize the storyline, please comment the name of the story.
this is going to be a multichapter story. I'll be adding a new chapter every Friday.
feel free to give pieces of advice. constructive criticism is always welcome.
thank you.