"Weasley? Rose Weasley? You better be joking, Scorpius."

"Can I have the jam, Mom?" Scorpius ignored his father while buttering the toast.

"I'm talking to you, Scorpius." Draco Malfoy put down his cup of tea and looked at his wife. "Astoria?"

The brunette passed the jam to her son and touched his hand. "Score, your daddy wants you to answer him."

"Yeah, I dated Rose Weasley for a few months. So what?" Scorpius looked at his Dad.

"'So what'? Have I taught you nothing during all these years?"

"Yes, you have", his son answered. "That I shouldn't put pride before heart, like you did."

"I'd never say such a stupid thing."

"Not in so many words, but I know you regret what happened back then-"

"That's not what we're discussing, Scorpius. We're talking about that mud – that Weasley girl."

"Her name's Rose, Dad."

"You must admit that's a bit of a silly name, sweety pie", his mother said.

He gave her a look. "You named me Scorpius."

"A proud wizard's name. The name of a pure blood. And no matter what happened, we mustn't forget that", his Dad said. "Because one thing is certain, your Granddad never will. And he'd have a fit if he ever found out about this."

"Then don't tell him-" Scorpius started.

"Trust me, I wasn't planning on it", Draco cut in.

"Anyway, I'm not seeing Rose anymore."

"You're not?" his mother asked and looked worried. "What did she do to you?"

"Nothing, Mom. We're just better off as friends, that's all", Scorpius said and rolled his eyes.

"Good for you, Score", his mother smiled. "But don't worry, a handsome fellow like you won't stay single for long."

Scorpius didn't say anything, but he could feel his father's gaze burning upon him.

"Can I be excused?" he finally asked.

"Are you full already?" his mother asked. "You haven't touched your grape fruit."

"I'm f—" Scorpius started.

"Who is she?" his father asked.

"Who?"

His father gave him that look he knew too well. "That girl you're obviously seeing but doesn't want to tell us about. Who is she?"

Scorpius took a breath and looked down on his plate. "Lily." He rose from his chair. "Gotta go."

"Petrificus totalus." Scorpius froze and his father put down his wand. He raised his eyebrows and said in a cold voice: "Lily Potter? As in, the daughter of … Harry. Potter?"

His mother waved her wand and freed him from the spell.

Scorpius glanced at his father. He was paler than usual. "Um. Yes."

His father didn't say anything. His mother looked worried again. "Draco, darling. Are you okay?"

He closed his eyes. "How many girls are there at Hogwarts?"

"What?"

"You heard me. How many girls?"

"I dunno. Five hundred, maybe?" Scorpius answered.

"Yes. Five hundred. And you had to pick those two. The daughters of my sworn enemies."

"Don't you think you're overreacting a bit now, Dad?"

His father shook his head. "Just go. I can't look at you right now."

Scorpius tried to hide his relief. "Okay. Thanks."

"I'm not done with you", his father warned him. As Scorpius disappeared through the doors, he heard him say: "I knew we should have sent him to Durmstrang."