This is my first HP fanfic. And already, slash. No Mpreg, rating subject to change (idk, probably not.) Albus/Scorpius. Past Drarry.

Prologue

The door closed with a slam, the blonde haired boy forgetting the rules and manners of the Malfoy household in his eagerness to share with his parents the new friend he'd met at the park.

"Scorpius Malfoy, what have we told you about slamming doors in this h—" Astoria let the magicked dish rag fall into the sink as she turned away to reprimand her only son as he ran into the kitchen, his small shoes covered in mud from the rain earlier in the day, and tracking it across the clean floor.

"Mum! Mum! I made a friend at the park!" Her boy looked up at her, thin, pale face lit up with childish joy, and she felt the reprimand die on her lips. She crouched down as he hopped up and down, nodding for him to go on. "And he actually wants to see me again!"

At that she was taken aback. While she loved Scorpius to death, no one else seemed to be able to stand the intense boy for more than an hour, his blunt sarcasm a hard mask to crack. Much like his father, she noted. He didn't really have friends, the playmates at the park avoiding him after the first couple of days. In fact, that was why she was surprised that he'd asked to go to the park this morning, because at night he usually trudged home, sniffling, upset over being excluded, running into her arms. Draco didn't help, telling him that they were just muggles anyway. How was an eight year old supposed to understand that?

"Really? What's his name, Scorpius?" She took his little hands, trying to get him to calm down enough to talk quieter, so she would have a better chance of understanding him.

"Um…well, I guess I had so much fun, I forgot to ask. I didn't tell him my name either, but that doesn't matter! He told me to meet him after school! What school does he go to? How come I don't go to school?" Astoria felt sadness creep on her. School. A muggle. Or, if they were lucky, Scorpius had found a muggleborn, but she doubted it, and that still wasn't the approved playmate that Draco wanted for his son. And if it were a muggle, Scorpius would have to end the friendship eventually, whether by going away to school, or by his father's orders. Draco wasn't the most…down to earth with such things as childhood friendships.

"Well, sweetie, he's probably a muggle, and goes to muggle school. You'll go to Hogwarts in three or four years, just like Mummy and Daddy did."

"Will he go too?" The look of hope was too overwhelming for Astoria to crush.

"We'll see, love, we'll see. Why don't we go wash up, and wait to tell Daddy until Mummy has a chance to talk to him, 'k?"

Later that night, after Scorpius had been sent up to bed, Astoria sat with a cup of tea in the drawing room near the fire while Draco sat in an armchair, working on paperwork for the potions certification of his latest apprentice.

"What was Scorpius banging around today about? I found him running down the halls with some strange toy in his hand. Called it an "aeroplane". It's a muggle child's toy, I'm sure." Draco didn't look up as he coldly addressed his wife.

Astoria stiffened, then sighed, turning away from her book on great Slytherin witches. She'd hoped to let Scorpius' happiness last a little longer. She was sure Draco wouldn't approve of anything less than some pureblood or nearly pure Slytherin child

"It's just a little playmate, Draco. I just wanted him to have a chance at friendship for once."

Draco sat up a little, although not looking up, and looked thoughtful for a moment. "He seems to not even get along with the children of my old classmates, but he finally makes some sort of friend, and they're muggle? I don't approve, but the child needs someone his own age for once. Merlin knows I needed one at that age. Then again, my father was a bit of a bastard. Fine, but don't let him get too attached. And I don't want the other boy over here. I'll let this go for now."

Astoria blinked, then looked down at her book again, her long brown hair hiding her small smile. Whether Draco wanted to admit it or not, he loved Scorpius and wanted his little one to be happy.

Days passed, and each day, Scorpius became even more cheerful than the last. His cheeks grew rosy in a way Astoria had never seen, and she smiled, sending silent thanks to the little boy who was the cause of all this.

Draco noticed as well, and one day walked past his child's playroom to see him coloring with a box of muggle things called crayons. He walked in, slightly curious, and reached down for the parchment; only to truly see what was on the page. Scorpius looked up at his father right in front of him.

"Oh, Father, I didn't see you!" He pulled the sheet to his chest, but Draco held out his hand. Scorpius reluctantly gave it up.

Draco spun the paper around to face him. There, on a crudely drawn broomstick, and in red and gold, were two people, one with blonde hair, and the other with black hair. Both were smiling, and there was a gold circle near the black haired boy. "Scorpius, what is this?"

"Well, Al said something about his ad being on the Gryffindor Quidditch team when he was in school, so yesterday we played "Gryffindor seekers". Al's really proud of his Da, and his brother's going off to Hogwarts next year…"

"Wait, this boy in the park, he knows about Hogwarts? Then why does he go to Muggle School and play with…" Draco fell silent, very confused. Could it be that Scorpius had made another friend, this one a wizard? No, the few times Scorpius had ever mentioned his friend, it had been about "Al". "Scorpius Malfoy, have you been telling this boy about the Wizarding world?" Draco would have to file a report to the ministry about the muggle interaction, put them on warning, everyone would have to be interviewed, the muggle boy told it was all make believe…

"Well, he brought it up first, so I thought it was okay…he was telling me about how his brother was being homeschooled by his aunt this year to prepare for Hogwarts next year, and I said that I had to wait three years. He grinned at me and said that he just knew I had been a wizard too, but he didn't know how to ask."

Draco now was puzzled. What wizarding child was sent to Muggle School? Or, should he put it, what non-muggle born wizard child would go to muggle school?

"…And tomorrow, since he doesn't have Muggle School, he said his Da was taking his little sister and him to the park all day. Said his dad wanted to meet me. Can you come and meet Al?" Scorpius was now looking up at his father, an expectant look coming over his face. Draco, now honestly curious as to who this was, gave his son a rare smile, running a hand over the bleach blonde hair which was jutting out in all directions. He'd have to show Scorpius how to smooth it back soon. He remembered his mother's spelled hair treatment from his boyhood.

"Sure, Scorpius. I'd be glad to meet this Al and his father." He stopped when he was hugged tightly. He smiled again, wrapping his arms around his boy, an unusual close moment being exchanged.

Draco tried with everything in his power not to be the father Lucius had been. He told Scorpius when he approved, and told him when he disapproved. He smiled at times, and allowed hugs, and on special occasions, a kiss on the forehead. Hair ruffling was a calming method, one that he'd found to soothe the boy. He loved Scorpius more than…well, life itself. And he tried to minimize the coldness that was Malfoy manor, even moving down the street, the oppressive house holding too many bad memories. The Malfoy family was the warmest it had been in over a hundred years, which was saying something.

So, the following morning, around ten, Malfoy was holding his son's hand as he was practically dragged to the park. Scorpius was so excited, his little legs walking as fast as he possibly could go. Draco tried not to laugh, his boy the only one to bring out his genuine personality, no sarcasm in his laughter as he found he could no longer contain it.

Sure, Draco had contemplated his offer to go with his son afterword. What if the father recognized him only as a former Death Eater? Would he ruin his son's only friendship? Scorpius had no idea of what his father had done, Draco had always been sure to not let him know anything about the second wizard war besides the fact that Da had made mistakes, but in the end, the side of good won, and a very bad man was killed. Would meeting the father…be bad?

But then, Draco had reasoned, even if he never met the father, there would eventually be a moment of enlightenment on Scorpius' lineage, and it would be all over anyway. Better now before the attachments got painfully strong.

They got to the park after another five minutes, and Draco groaned at the sight of all the muggles and their offspring playing. Mothers looked over at the man and his son, some remarking on how sweet they were together. Scorpius chatted along for a while, pulling him this way and that, before letting go of his hand completely and running off.

Draco quickly followed, watching as his son ran up to a young boy with slightly curly dark brown hair who looked eerily familiar in a way he couldn't quite place. That was when the boy turned around, and called out for his father. Draco came up behind Scorpius and looked up to see the other man come around the corner with a small girl in his arms.

Both stopped dead, simply staring at each other.

Harry was the first to break the silence, "Well, long time no see, Malfoy. Is this your boy?" He held out his hand, which after a moment, Draco took, his eyes not meeting that of the Gryffindor.

"Hello Potter, this is my son, Scorpius. This, I would take it, would be your offspring?" The cold facial expression went unnoticed by the children, the red headed girl in Harry's arms tugging her father's sleeve to be put down.

"All right, Lily, there. Yes, this is Albus, and the red headed nuisance is my youngest, Lily. James is at the house, his Aunt Hermione quizzing him on Dragons or something." There, there was that stupid grin. How dare he act like nothing…oh, right. Thirteen years was a long time. Draco nodded, looking down at the two eight year olds who were giggling about three feet away.

"C'mon, Scorp! I wanna go on the swings!"

"But there are already…hey, Al, wait up! Ugh, you always do this!" His boy laughed, something he'd never heard from the boy when he was with other children.

A chord vibrated painfully in his chest. "I never expected it to be your son that Scorpius befriended at the park." He watched as Lily ran after her older brother and his blonde friend. "I thought it was a muggle boy, to be honest, with all the talk of Muggle School and aeroplanes." Harry moved to sit down on a bench, and Draco reluctantly sat down, careful to put as much distance between them as possible.

Harry chuckled, and once again, Draco's heart ached. "Gin and I thought it a good idea to put them through Muggle School, give them an education of both worlds, a better understanding of their classmates who're muggle born." Watching Scorpius and Albus across the playground, Draco noticed how close the two boys were. They fought for a swing, tussling in the wood-chips. Lily walked over and sat in it while they were occupied with their bout, to both's chagrin when they had finally dusted themselves off.

"So, I see you did end up naming them after people. Al would be Albus, I'm guessing. James and Lily pretty self explanatory."

If I ever have kids, I'll name them after my parents. Little James and Lily Potter.

Draco brushed away the voice from the past, watching his boy's face change into one of true happiness.

The pause that followed in the conversation was awkward. With all the history the two men shared, it was a wonder they could even sit on the bench together, let alone hold a conversation. Draco wouldn't hold it against Harry if he didn't answer at all. But, Potter being Potter, he simply had zoned out, responding quickly after a moment.

" Oh, yes, Albus Severus." Harry ran a hand through his hair, looking up into the sky with half lidded eyes. "He's worried about being in Slytherin because of his middle name. Good boy, he is. Though he can be wily at times. I wouldn't be surprised."

Draco looked over at the other man, puzzled. "And you wouldn't disown him for not dressing in the old family red and gold?"

"Why should I? Some of the best people I've ever known were Slytherins. Severus and…" Draco sat up for a moment, his eyes flashing with interest. "Huh, well, Snape and others, I guess."

Draco tried ignoring the disappointment and the dagger that had pierced his heart, and instead turned to his son.

"And I'll be the Minister of Magic, and you could be my underling, Scorp!"

"Al, I'm sorry, but I think you need to be smart to do that." Albus frowned, shooting back retort that he got A's on his Math tests. Harry laughed next to him, and Draco winced at the sound. How much longer could he take this?

"He's got your sarcasm, all right. Well, I better check up on Lily, nice talking to you." Draco nodded, before getting up to tell Scorpius he had to head home to do some work, and that Scorpius needed to be home for lunch in an hour.

As he walked home, the pain heavy in his heart, Draco didn't realize that Harry Potter felt a dull ache in his as well, though couldn't for the life of him figure out why.

Draco stormed into the house, ignoring his wife's call of how it went, and slammed the door to his study. He sunk into an armchair, cradling his head in his hands, his hair draping down. He couldn't hold the memories back as they began to break all the barriers he'd put up over the years.

Thanks for reading! Reviews make my day!

I usually have a fun fact (Most are historically based, some kinda gross. Feel free to comment on them.)

Fun fact: Small pox is the only eradicated disease through intense vaccinations, and only survives in a few vials in two science research facilities, one in the United States, the other in the former USSR, and there were multiple times when there was lobbying to get rid of them, although it was decided to save them in the end. The Russian vials disappeared during the USSR's collapse and haven't resurfaced. The United States, after 9/11, stockpiled enough vaccinations for their entire populations, fearing biological warfare. Nothing has ever come to pass, though, and the vials may simply have been destroyed in the upheaval.