For Dramionie Luver's The Sock Challenge.
Socks: Baby Booties and White Socks
"Your son doesn't have enough socks," Astoria Malfoy announced one day.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"I mean he's always wearing black socks," Astoria answered. "I thought kids liked to have a variety; I know I did."
"Well maybe girls like to have a variety of socks, but I don't think Scorpius' ideal birthday present is a pair of socks or two," he replied unsurely.
"Well, you need to make sure he likes the socks!" Astoria snapped firmly.
"What do you want me to do, take him sock shopping?" As soon as Draco suggested the idea, he regretted it. His wife's eyes glowed at the idea.
"That's perfect!" she exclaimed. "When Scorpius comes home for Christmas, you can take him sock shopping!"
Oh God, Draco thought as Astoria skipped away to put some finishing touches on the Christmas presents. What have you gotten yourself into, Draco?
Draco and Scorpius shuffled around the Muggle department store looking for socks. Scorpius had insisted that there wouldn't be a sock store, but Draco had replied that "if it's important enough for your mum to have a fit about it, then it will have its own store". Scorpius muttered something about his dad's stubbornness and Draco slapped him. The rest of the time at the department store went like that.
"Dad, just go in here," Scorpius whined, dragging his father over to a JCPenny.
Draco reluctantly followed his son into the shoe store. There were shoes everywhere, big shoes, little shoes, high heels and boots. Draco feared that he would get lost inside all of the shoes, but Scorpius pulled him over to a sock section.
"Socks don't have their own store, Dad," Scorpius told him in a matter-of-fact tone. "They have their own section in a shoe store, though."
Draco grumbled in defeat and began picking through the mounds of socks. He found a pair of knitted baby blue ones. They seemed a bit small, but they would be warm for the winter.
"How about these?" Draco showed Scorpius the socks.
"Dad!" Scorpius cried. "Those are booties! Baby booties! Only girls where those!"
"Oh…" Draco flushed in embarrassment and put the socks back. Scorpius rolled his eyes and continued looking.
"I like these much better," Scorpius announced, holding up a pair of white socks.
"Those are so plain-" Draco began.
"Dad, you sound like Mum," Scorpius reminded him.
"Damn it," Draco muttered. His face reddened.
"It's 'kay," Scorpius reassured him. "Let's go get these socks and get out of here."
Draco fished in his pocket for some Muggle money. "Damn!"
Scorpius turned. "What?"
"I don't have any money."
I never knew it was so fun to write Draco as more of the embarrassing dad. And how many people out there can say they've written two stories about socks? Huh?