Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters from the series. Original characters are just that, original, and are of my own creation. Any resemblances, mannerisms, or names similar to actual persons is pure coincidence and no infringement is intended. I claim no monetary compensation in the creation of this work of fanfiction. I enjoy playing with the characters in an effort to amuse myself and others.

A/N: I apologize for the long absence and the delay in the next chapter, especially after I said that it wouldn't be that long. Between preparing for family coming down that I haven't seen in three years, Spring Break for my local school district, and my son being hospitalized with pneumonia, I haven't had much time. My son is better and has been for the past couple of weeks, but it was still quite the ordeal. I won't promise that such a break won't happen again, but I am going to try my best to avoid it. After this chapter, only half of chapter three is written, so I will do what I can when I can and post it as soon as I can.

I want to thank everyone for the reviews I have received and for all of the alerts, story and author, that I have gotten. I know some authors withhold chapters based on reviews, but I think that even alerts are great because I still know that people enjoyed what they read. So, thank you, everyone. I get so very excited when my email alert goes off on my phone and I see that it's from .

This chapter is mild and there aren't any warnings, except for perhaps language. It is a little longer than chapter one, I think, so hopefully that will make up for the long wait. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Harry watched the blond Slytherin leave the room in near disbelief. Did he and Draco Malfoy really just have a civil conversation? He turned away from the door as he shook his head. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that the world was coming to and end.

Minerva gazed upon her former pupil in amusement. She had a pretty good idea where his thoughts were. "Much can change in 13 years, Harry," she reminded him. "Mr. Malfoy has been through many trials in the past several years. He has changed."

Harry took a deep breath and nodded his head in understanding. "Yeah," he acknowledged. "I had read about what happened to Astoria. I'm glad to see that he's come out of it as well as he has. How's Scorpius been holding up?"

Minerva pursed her lips together in sadness. "He's very quiet. After they lost Astoria and the baby, he closed himself off. When he and Draco are together, I can see how he was come out a little." She glanced over at James, who was now playing with the practice want she had gotten him. "How are the two of you doing?"

Harry smiled and shifted positions in his chair in an effort to get more comfortable. "As well as can be expected, I guess," he informed her. "He's better now than he was at first. Ginny comes by to see him when she can. The whole Weasley can stays in touch."

Minerva's head bobbed up and down as she nodded. "And how are you doing, Harry?" she asked, giving him the stern yet caring look that only she could pull off.

Harry rubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "I'm okay, Minnie," he told her. "The leg aches sometimes, but I've got my cane and potions when I need them."

"Will you be alright teaching DADA? If I know you, you will turn it into a real hands-on class."

"You wouldn't have offered me the position if you didn't think I couldn't handle it, Minerva," Harry returned with a smile. "I'll be fine. I'll remember to take it easy when I need to."

James chose that moment to rejoin his father and eagerly sat in his lap. "Dad! Look at what Aunt Minnie gave me!" h exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement. "My very own wand!"

Harry readjusted the boy and examined his gift. "It's very nice," he decided. "And it was very nice of Minerva to give you something."

James heard the unspoken warning in his dad's voice and turned to the woman. "Thank you for my wand, Aunt Minnie."

"You are most welcome, James," she replied as she smiled at him. "Now, let's get you gents settled, shall we?"

They followed the Headmistress out of her office and down the stairs. As they went through the halls, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of his school days. The stonework was new, though the layout remained the same.

Just as Harry noticed how close they were to Gryffindor Tower, they stopped. A painting of a griffin stood before them.

"Who's Head of House for Gryffindor this term?" Harry asked out of curiosity.

"Neville Longbottom has been HoH since his second term as a professor," she responded. "He's doing quite well and the children respect him."

Harry smiled and nodded his head. "Always knew he would turn out alright. And Luna?"

"Professor Longbottom has taken over for Sybil. As wonderful as Sybil was as a person, she's rather difficult to follow as a teacher. While Luna doesn't proclaim everyone's demises, the class has gained merit and popularity under her watch."

The two adults shared a laugh and turned their attention to the painting before them. "Now, I haven't set a password. I felt that I should leave that up to you. Should anything not be to your liking, let me know and we can have the house elves change it for you." After pulling out her wand, Minerva tapped twice on the painting and it slowly swung open.

Father and son followed the Headmistress in. As torches and candles lit through the room, they were held mesmerized by the sight. A warm room decorated in chocolate brown and cream surrounded them. Brown couches, chairs and tables were accentuated by cream colored pillows, throws and rugs. The walls were painted cream with dark brown floor moldings. As Harry took it all in, one thought came to mind. Home.

"Daddy, this is so cool!" James yelled as he began running around the room. He went from one side of the room to the other, picking up one item or looking at something else.

Harry slowly walked and nodded his head approvingly. Turning to Minerva, he smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Minerva," he said sincerely. "This means a lot to me. To us."

The Headmistress just smiled. "Thank you, Harry," she returned. "I shall leave you both to get settled," she stated and left through the portrait.

Harry brought his attention to James, who had finally stopped running around. He regarded the boy for a moment before scooping him up and spinning in a circle. James latched onto his father and laughed loudly.

When the two calmed down, Harry kept his arms around his son and sighed happily. "This is a new start for us, Jamie," he mused.

James nodded his head in agreement. His eyes raked over their new home and he smiled brightly. Yeah, a new start, he thought to himself. We'll both be happier, Dad. I promise.

The next couple of days were spent making their home their own. Both muggle and magical pictures adorned the shelves, cloths were unpacked and sorted, and toys, books and knick-knacks were given homes. The space was filled with the memories and love that he two brought with them.

By the end of the week, James was ready to leave the confines of their secluded rooms. He looked around his room and smiled. The walls were a perfect shade of Texas-sky blue*. The dark cherry colored floor was just right for sliding across while wearing socks. A four-poster bed, which matched the floor, was draped in emerald green A few toys littered the floor, drawings and pictures covered the walls, and books lay scattered across a desk, bedside table and a bookcase.

Growing bored and needing to get out, James left his room in search of his dad. A quick glance around the living room told him that he wasn't there. Moving to a door by a large bookcase, he quietly opened it and peeked inside. The brightly lit study held large, dark wood bookcases, furniture, tables and a desk. Books littered the shelves and end tables. Rolls of parchment and an odd leaf of lined muggle notebook paper were scattered across the desk and large coffee table. That is where James found Harry, buried up to his ears in stacks of books and papers.

As James moved to knock on the door, Harry lifted his head and smiled at the boy. Harry's normally tousled hair looked even more disheveled. Harry had been working on lesson plans for the first semester* of the new term. He now had just over a month until the first day of classes.

"Come in, Jamie," Harry instructed his son as he tiredly rubbed his hands over his face. He'd been working on lesson plans for hours and was ready to wash his hands of them. He leaned back in the chair and wrapped his arms around James when he came up to him.

"Dad, can we go exploring?" he asked hopefully. "We've been up here a week now. I need to get out and I KNOW you won't let me go on my own."

Harry nodded his head. "You're right about that one," he confirmed. "Until you know your way around the castle, I don't want you wandering around by yourself. The castle is huge and it's easy to get lost." He paused and remembered his first day of classes. "On the very first day of our first term, Ron and I were late getting to Transfiguration. We thought we'd made it in before Minerva, but she was actually in her animagus form, a tabby cat, sitting on her desk."

"What did Aunt Minnie do?" James inquired, curious about his father's school days.

"She jumped from the desk and changed back while in the air. We were scolded for being late and she suggested transfiguring us into pocket watches. When we explained that we'd gotten lost, she then suggested a map."

James laughed at the story. It wasn't often that his dad would tell stories from school, but when he did, they were usually funny. His favorite stories were of the quidditch games Harry played. He couldn't wait until he could try out for the game in his own house.

James looked up at his father with pleading eyes. "Can we please go outside today? Maybe go down to the village?"

Harry nodded his head and smiled. "Yes, we can go to Hogsmeade." He laughed when James jumped up and gave a "WHOOP!" of joy. The two left through the portrait and headed for the entrance.

The Potters walked down the halls and Harry pointed out various places and items to aid James in remembering his way through the large school. At the large double-door entrance, they were greeted by Draco and a younger replica of the Potions professor.

"Looks like we all had the same idea, eh Potter?" Draco asked as the two brunettes approached. "Headed down to Hogsmeade, then?"

Harry nodded his head. "Indeed we are, Malfoy," he confirmed. "I guess great minds think alike." He turned his attention to the boy who was trying to hide from them. "Tell me, Draco, who is this young gentleman behind you? Surely not any relation of yours. He's much too adorable to be a Malfoy."

"Very funny," the blond drolled. Draco turned slightly and revealed his son with a smile. "Harry, James, I would like to introduce you to my son, Scorpius Drake. Scorpius, this is an old classmate of mine, Harry Potter, and his son, James. Mr. Potter is going to be the Defense teacher this term."

The smaller blond looked over the newcomers with critical blue eyes. He'd heard about Harry Potter, and how he'd defeated the dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort. His father had also told him how he'd spoken on behalf of the Malfoy family and ultimately kept them out of Azkaban. And everyone knew of the accident that effectively ended his career as an Auror.

After a moment, Scorpius stepped forward shyly and tilted his head in greeting. "It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Mister Potter," he quietly replied. "And you as well, James."

"The pleasure is all mine, Scorpius," Harry said as he smiled kindly at the boy.

James took a moment to study Scorpius just as he studied them. He took one step forward and extended his hand toward the other boy without saying a word.

Scorpius stared at the offered appendage briefly, then tentatively reached with his own and grasped the hand. The two smiled at each other, words completely unnecessary.

Harry and Draco watched their sons in awe. Seeing them accepting the offered friendship brought to mind their own first encounter. The men moved their gazes from the boys to each other. Just then, a sense of understanding passed between the two of them.

Draco slowly raised his hand and offered it to Harry. He watched the green-eyed man as he thought about his actions. He could see d the doubt and uncertainty in those emerald orbs. He dint' blame the other man at all for those feelings. Just as he was about to lower his hand, he felt Harry's warm hand gripping his.

The first thing Harry thought was that Draco had soft hands. Looking down at their joined hands, Harry couldn't help but ponder what would have happened if he'd accepted Draco's offer of friendship when they were children. What even would have changed? Which ones wouldn't have happened? He knew it was pointless to think about "what if" scenarios.

With lips upturned in a small smile, Harry turned to the boys who had started a quiet conversation. "Scorpius," he interrupted, "would it be alright with you if Jamie and I joined you and your father on your trek down to Hogsmeade?"

With a quick glance to his dad, Scorpius settled his gaze on Harry. "Yes, sir," he affirmed. He took a tiny step closer to James and allowed a grin to find a home on his lips. "I would like that very much."

End Chapter 2

*1-Texas-sky blue is an actual color. It's beautiful and one-of-a-kind.

*2-I split the year up into semesters. Two per term. It's what I grew up with and what I'm used to.