DISCLAIMER: I own neither song nor characters. But I do love them both.
"I didn't cry when I got a black eye
As bad as it hurt, I just grinned
But when tough little boys grow up to be dads
They turn into big babies again.
Scared me to death
When you took your first steps
And I'd fall every time you fell down
Your first day of school, I cried like a fool
And I followed your school bus to town"
*HDTLC*
Scorpius was six years old the first time he ever saw his father cry.
He had walked into the parlor, intending to find the stuffed bear that he had left in the room sometime earlier in the day. What he found was his father, left sleeve rolled up to the elbow, arm extended over the flame of a candle. Tears were rolling down his face but he didn't heed them until he noticed his young son standing in the entryway, his small arms clutched close to his chest. Draco wiped at his eyes clumsily, pulling his left arm away from the candle. He adjusted his sleeve to cover his skin once more but not before Scorpius caught a glimpse of the second-degree burn that blossomed across his arm and the ink it failed to cover.
"Father?" Scorpius had asked with a quiver in his voice and his bottom lip. Draco blinked slowly then opened his arms to his young son. Scorpius rushed into them, grey eyes closing as his father enveloped him in a hug.
"It's ok," Draco said soothingly. "It's all right." He held his son close, knowing that the child didn't understand regret and sorrow and hurt the way he did and he hoped with all his might that Scorpius never would.
*HDTLC*
Scorpius had just turned eleven when he saw his father cry the next time.
He had received his Hogwarts letter two days before when he came across his father with his head in his hands in the library. Being all of eleven and completely grown up, Scorpius walked boldly up to his father and wrapped his arms around him.
"It's gonna be ok, Father," Scorpius said to his father's shoulder. "I'll write every day and come home on breaks and it will be like I never even left. You won't miss me at all!" Draco gave a watery chuckle before returning his son's embrace.
"If you say so," Draco responded. He didn't want to tell him that it wasn't losing contact he feared. He knew he still had enemies, enemies who had children. Hatred was learned, after all.
"I do," was Scorpius's confidant answer.
*HDTLC*
It wasn't Draco who cried the first time Scorpius ended up in the hospital wing because of bullies. It was Astoria, who demanded that they go to the school NOW so that she could see her baby, determination written on her face while trying to hide to tears and guilt in her eyes.
When they arrived, Scorpius had a black eye, a broken arm, and a scowl on his face. Next to the bed he was seated on, his best friend stood with a matching scowl.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco heard Albus snap at his son. "I could have done something!"
"Told you what?" the second-year responded. "Sorry I failed to mention in Herbology that your stupid Housemates had planned to jump me. Must have slipped my mind!" The acid in his voice made Al look down in shame.
"I'm sorry about them," he muttered. "A lot of their parents have issues with your dad and it's kinda been passed on."
Guilt washed over Draco as he heard that from his place in the doorway. Neither boy had yet noticed them and he couldn't bring himself to approach now.
"Just shows you that my dad is a better person than any of their parents' then. My dad has never taught me to hate. Hate I learned from my grandfather and you know how I feel about him." Albus reached out a hand to place it on his best friend's good shoulder.
"I think you're right." The two smiled at each other. Astoria cleared her throat delicately, catching the attention of the boys.
"Mother!" he cried. "Father! You didn't have to come! I'm fine! I'm gonna be let out soon, as soon as I get my arm fixed!"
"We couldn't stay away! Someone hurt my baby!" Astoria cried, hugging him delicately, careful of his injured shoulder. She turned to his best friend without letting him go. "And thank you for being here, Albus. I'd hate to think that he could end up in here alone."
Albus smiled at her brightly. "Never," he assured. "I'll leave you three alone. Scor, I'll see you at dinner. And don't think we're done with this conversation. Either you come up with a way to make them pay or I will," he muttered quietly to the blonde before leaving the room, nodding to Draco as he passed him.
"Albus," he greeted, nodding back. Scorpius rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly at his best friend's and father's forcedly polite exchange.
"Children," he mumbled to himself. His mother heard and chuckled wetly, nodding into his unhurt shoulder.
*HDTLC*
Astoria absolutely broke down sobbing when her son came out to her and her husband. Not in front of him, obviously. She knew that would hurt him too much.
He had come home for the Easter holiday of his sixth year. This in itself was odd. He came home for Christmas every year but never went home for Easter. Well, at least not directly home. It had become a routine: the Christmas break would be split, with Scorpius and Albus spending the week leading up to Christmas at Malfoy Manor, Christmas Eve and Day with their respective families, then the last week was spent at 12 Grimmauld Place. Then the first half of Easter holidays would be spent with the Potters and the second with the Malfoys. It was the only way either boy would agree to come home at all because they refused to be separated from one another.
But this time, he had come straight home. Alone. The first couple of days were decidedly awkward. Scorpius obviously had something to share and his parents were just waiting for him to spit it out. When Albus Potter showed up at their door early one morning, Draco and Astoria knew their wait was over.
Scorpius sat them down in the sitting room. Albus stood behind his best friend, apparently there for moral support. Scorpius took a deep breath, glanced up at Al who put his hands on the blonde's shoulders, and spit it out.
"Mother, Father, I know this won't be the easiest thing for you to hear but I have to tell you. I like guys. As well as girls. In the same way as most guys exclusively like girls."
The entire room was dead silent. Scorpius's eyes darted from one parent to the other, gauging their reactions. There was shock from his mother and understanding from his father. Draco didn't seem surprised in the least. But then again, his poker face was a bit better than his wife's. Still, Scorpius needed something. The silence was freaking him out.
"Please say something." Ok, that was not supposed to sound so desperate. Scorpius was a Malfoy and Malfoys did not beg, dammit!
Astoria smiled at him and his face softened, relief evident. "We love you just the same, sweetheart. You are who you've always been, no matter who you love."
The words had needed to be said and their son appreciated them. Even Draco was fooled by the sentiment. Because of this, when he walked into the bedroom he shared with his wife, he was shocked to find her curled up under the covers sobbing into her pillow.
"Ria, what's wrong?" he asked, sliding in next to her and pulling her smaller body towards him.
"My baby!" she cried. "Why did this have to happen to him? He's a Malfoy! Hasn't he been through enough?"
"Shhhhhh," he whispered, cradling her closer to his chest. He stroked the back of her head calmingly as he asked, "Is this about him being bisexual?"
"Life is going to be so much harder for him, Draco," she breathed into his nightshirt. "My baby has been bullied for his last name and now for his sexuality? He's already a target and things aren't going to get any easier!"
"He's strong," he assured her. "He can handle almost anything they throw at him."
"He shouldn't have to!" she raged, breaking out of her husband's hold to flip the other way. "Life should be easy for him! He's privileged and intelligent and a good person. Isn't that the type that life is supposed to be easy for?"
"Life is easy for no one," Draco answered. "You make the best of the good and the bad situations and you hope that the ones you love will always be there to pick you up. So that must be us for him. We need to always be there to lift him back up when he hits rock bottom."
The bedroom was silent for a few minutes until the rustling of sheets broke it. Astoria turned back to her husband and wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her head into his neck.
"I love you," she murmured as he picked up his wand to put out the lights.
"I love you too."
*HDTLC*
Draco was in hysterics when Scorpius announced proudly that he was now in a relationship with none other than Albus Severus Potter. He honestly couldn't remember what he had told the boys as they sat in front of him but he didn't think it was rude. He hoped it wasn't. Astoria had taken care of the boys, playing hostess when she realized her husband was in no fit shape, and the two seventeen-year-olds soon left for the Burrow to impart the same news. After the two had left, Draco had begun pacing up and down the sitting room as his wife sat on a sofa with her legs tucked underneath her. She followed him with her eyes, an amused smile fighting its way to her features as her husband blustered and raged throughout the room.
"Potter! Why a Potter? Damn it all to hell. Father's going to be furious. He demanded that I force him to end their friendship! What's he going to say now?"
"You really give a damn what Lucius thinks?"
"No, but it's better for everyone if no one intentionally pisses him off. I don't want to deal with him. Do you?" Astoria raised her eyebrows at him. "He's done this on purpose. The Potter boy has done this on purpose."
"Oh, yes," his wife agreed with a sarcastic grin, "he's definitely seduced Scorpius. The thing is, though, I don't imagine Scorpius fought it too hard. And really, Draco, 'the Potter boy'? He was always Albus before." Draco shot a glare at her.
"You approve of this, then?"
Astoria shrugged. "I don't see why we shouldn't. It's not like he's after him for his money or doesn't honestly love him. And in all honesty, Draco, it's not like our opinion makes a difference. They knew people would be unhappy and are expecting it. We should make this easy if we can."
"Easy? The boy's a Potter."
"Exactly. You think our son will be easily accepted into their family? It took Albus's mother three years of them being friends to stop calling him Malfoy! And what about his aunts and uncles? You expect they'll be pleased?"
"Then why do this? They know that neither family will accept it readily."
Astoria gave a little laugh of exasperation. "Because they're in love, Draco! Because they couldn't care less what their families or the papers and trashy tabloids say about them! How long do you imagine it took for them to tell us?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, my love. You think they haven't been together since before Scorpius came out to us?"
"What?" he cried. "You don't think it's been that long, do you? He would have told us!"
"Sweetheart, how do you think he figured out that he's bi?" This situation was serious but she couldn't help but find her husband's facial expressions amusing as she watched his face work through shock, rage, then settle on concern.
"Why wouldn't he have told us earlier?"
Astoria pursed her lips and gave him a hard look. "I imagine because of the way you're reacting now. Would earlier have made it easier?" Draco sighed heavily then flopped down on the sofa next to her. "We have to give him our support. Isn't that what you told me when he came out to us? What difference does it make that he's given his heart to a Potter? He is still our son. No matter who he loves."
"You are right. As you always are, my dear."
"Of course I am, Draco. Of course I am."
*HDTLC*
If you were to ask, my wife would just laugh
She'd say "I know all about men
How tough little boys grow up to be dads
They turn into big babies again"
*HDTLC*
A/N: Lyrics are from Gary Allen's "Tough Little Boys". I have an idea for a second chapter of this but I'm not going to bother to write it if no one likes this. So let me know if you want a second chapter, ok? Thanks very much for reading,