Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form.
I wrote this for someone on the FB page I admin. Enjoy. ~Calla Tor
Scorpius looked up at his father as they stood on Platform 9 ¾. His dad was watching someone over his head, as Scorpius began to turn around his father gripped his shoulder holding him in place.
"Son, I need to tell you something important." Draco said bending down slightly to match his son's height.
"What is it?" Scorpius had never heard his father so serious about anything.
"At school I wasn't the greatest, I had a reputation. People are going to judge you because of me. I want you to stay strong, fight off the score I have already given you." Draco whispered bringing Scorpius' chin up slightly with his finger.
"Alright." Scorpius was confused, why would what his father did have any effect on him?
"Scorp, at school I was a bit of a bully. I constantly bullied this one boy, he grew up with a horrible background and I hated him just because he entered a world where he was famous for something he didn't remember. At the age of 16 I became a Death Eater, I know you've heard that term. Look Scorp, when it came down to it I wasn't the greatest kid in the school. Yet when it mattered most, the boy that I had insistently bullied saved my life. He risked his own life to save mine; I'm forever in his debt."
"What does this have to do with me though dad?"
"His kids, they go to the school. I don't know how they've been raised; they may hate you for your name. I want you to prove to them that you are your own person, that you are a new generation. Just be yourself." Draco smiled at his son.
"I promise dad." Scorpius then gave his dad a hug, turned to his mother and pressed a kiss to her cheek before hopping on the train that would take him to his destiny.
It was later that evening, as Scorpius approached the Sorting Hat, that he realized how much his father's words really meant. As the hat disappeared over his eyes Scorpius desperately thought about everything that would not be what his father apparently was. The Sorting Hat, without encouragement from the eleven year old boy, placed him in Ravenclaw, the house where he would shine. Later Albus Potter and Rose Weasley would join him in the same house. At Christmas when Scorpius arrived home and told his father about his wonderful friendships with these two children did he receive a rare true smile from his father. Things were seemingly changing; even Ronald Weasley couldn't deny it.
Third year Scorpius found out the full story of his father and the boy he bullied, in his fifth year Scorpius was completely in love with his friend Rose Weasley. Yes, Draco's words did have an effect on Scorpius, even if it wasn't realized fully till years later, but Scorpius was completely different. He couldn't be considered a true Malfoy, but a 'Malfoy'. A Malfoy and a Weasley, no one, not even Draco could've realized that's what his words led to. Scorpius was his own person, not someone driven because of so called 'duty', but because of a single piece of advice.
Just be yourself.