Scorpius sat in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor, staring unseeingly into the ornate marble fireplace in front of him. He sat slouched in the high backed armchair one of his legs swung carelessly over the arm. A butter beer was in his hand, half empty, and a letter in hung from the other hand. The roaring flames seemed to have entranced him as they reflected in his eyes.

Him and Rose still had two years left at Hogwarts though it seemed so much longer. Victoire, Rose's older cousin had been out of Hogwarts for two years already, and in those two years had managed to get married, get pregnant and have a son who'd they named Sam. They'd already had a son in their first year of marriage and he'd just got a letter by owl from Rose saying that they were expecting another. She was five months along, it'd said.

Grinning he thought of his best friend's cousin, married to a man 4 years older than her. Victoire had gotten Teddy into the family just as everyone had wanted. Rose was the same age as Scorpius and judging by what the letter said he was going to go see her soon. They were on Christmas break and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had insisted that the first person in the Malfoy family to be a Gryffindor should come and stay with them, as his parents were out doing other things.

Laughing he stood up and went directly up to his room. Grabbing his trunk and wand, he randomly began stuffing things into it. Clothes, books, a sneakscope that he'd just acquired. With a flick of his wand he wrote a note to his parents telling them where'd he would be for the remainder of Christmas holiday. Humming quietly he went over to the pillow on his bed that was being occupied by a white cat. Stroking the animal behind the ears he picked it up and put it on his shoulder. The bell on the cat's red collar made a sweet, soft jingling.

"C'mon Mogget. We're going to Timber Lodge," he said.

Grabbing a handle on his trunk he closed his eyes and Disapparated with a loud crack. Feeling as though something had grabbed him behind the navel he frowned a bit uncomfortably. Opening his eyes he found himself in the kitchen of Timber Lodge, Hermione looking at him with a wide smile.

"Hello, Scorpius. Having a good Christmas so far?" she said warmly. "I see you've got you're Disapparateing license."

"Yes. I'm not quiet used to it yet though. Honestly I'm just grateful I haven't spilched anything so far. Thank you for letting me stay here Mrs. Weasley," he replied.

Ron walked into the kitchen, stopping at the sight of Scorpius. "Scorpius," he said, sitting down with the Daily Prophet in hand. "Always a pleasure to have you come and see us."

"Mr. Weasley. Thank you for allowing me to come visit during holiday," Scorpius murmured.

For Rose's sake he wished Mr. Weasley would put everything that his father had done to him during school in the past. He knew that Mr. Weasley still held a grudge against Draco Malfoy but he was good about not letting it affect the somewhat strained relationship between him and Scorpius.

Footsteps could be heard running down the stairs and the excited and unmistakable voice of Rose could be heard along with her younger brother Hugo. Both burst into the kitchen, falling over each other, and laughing. Rose looked at Scorpius with pure delight in her eyes. Laughing harder, she ran over to him and threw her arms around him.

"I'm so glad you came! Dad and Mum are going to take us to the Potter's for a party tonight. Victoire and Teddy are going to be there with little Sam and Fleur and Bill. Oh, and James, Albus and Lily will all be there too. After all it is their house. Won't it be fun?"

Scorpius nodded, a smile playing the corners of his mouth. "Wotcher, Rose. I'm sure it will but do you have to overload on me as soon as you see me?"

Hermione motioned for them to sit down. Levitating a platter of eggs, bacon, sausage and toast with her wand she grabbed as many bottles of butter beer as she could with her free hand, maneuvered over to the table and set them down. Scorpius took the platter and set it down gently before going over to the cupboard and pulling out plates. When he turned around he found himself staring into four very startled faces.

"What?"

Hermione's wide grin only grew wider. "Nothing dear. You're very helpful. Here, I'll take those."

Scorpius sat down next to Rose, nearly drooling as the smell of bacon assaulted his senses. Ron looked at the platter with the same glazed expression. As soon as the plates were set before them they dug into the meal. An hour later Ron, Hugo, and Scorpius all sat in their chairs looking rather full and sluggish.

Hermione clucked her tongue and gave Ron a simple kiss on the lips. "You never change do you, love?"

Rose studied the males that sat around the table with a look of open disgust for their lack of manners. "All of you are pigs. Big, fat, manner less pigs."

Ron shook his head. "You sound just like your mother. Guess you inherited her attitude as well as her brains."

Hugo laughed at this but quieted at the quelling look Rose shot him across the table. Turning his attention towards Scorpius and keeping a wary eye on Rose, he began talking of Quidditch.

"So, do you think that this years Gryffindor team will do good?"

"I dunno. I don't even know who's going to be on the team yet. But Brian Westclox did mention something about James being captain, it being his 7th year and all." Scorpius said, eyeing another piece of sausage.

Rose smiled. "Yes, well I think that this year I'm going to try out for Keeper. Don't you think I'd be a good Keeper Scorpius?"

He coughed glancing at Ron who was looking at him over the top of his paper. "I think that you'd do good Rosie- posie. You'd be better then Gary King. Horrible at paying attention right? Last year he let a lot of goals go through. Didn't even try to stop them."

Hermione didn't look to fond of the idea. "Rose I think that you should…well I think you'd be better off focusing on your studies. You're quite brilliant dear, and Quidditch might distract you from your homework."

Rose rolled her eyes and scoffed. Shaking her head she stood up and spoke sharply. " Right then. Tomorrow's Christmas incase any body forgot. I still have some wrapping to do."

As she flounced up the stairs Hugo called after her; "Like anybody could forget Christmas Rose. "

Snickering, Scorpius watched the somewhat pained expression that crossed Hermione's face as Rose slammed the door to her bedroom. Shaking his head, he gathered up his trunk and Mogget and headed up the stairs to the guest bedroom.

Upon entering he collapsed on the queen sized bed, Mogget resting on his chest with his paws tucked under his body. The cat looked at him with unblinking green eyes. Scorpius stared back at the cat, bothered by it's intense gaze.

"What? Why are looking at me like that?"

The cat remained unblinking. Turning it's attention away from him, it studied the simple bedroom. Scorpius did the same.

A practical wardrobe sat in one corner of the room, while a rather comfy looking armchair rested on the other side. A blue throw rug lay in the middle of the floor. The room had a window and some conservative navy blue curtains accented the wine-colored paint on the wall. Smiling he made himself more comfortable, his hands under his head and arms bent at the elbows.

He liked the Weasley's home. It was comfortable and homey. There weren't any extra expensive things that just made the place look cold and unused. There was wood instead of stone making it look warmer. There were bright lights and open curtains instead of dimly lit wall sconces and drawn dark colored draperies. He felt more at home here.

His throat constricted tightly as he thought of his parents somewhere in Europe, having a good time without him. He'd come home from Hogwarts, picked up by their chauffer who'd mechanically told him that his parents were abroad with friends for the holidays. Outside he'd remained aloof and uncaring but the entire ride back to Malfoy Manor he'd been struggling not to scream and rage and cry. He'd only done so within the privacy of his own room and with the help of a muffilito charm.

When he'd received the letter from Rose, he felt a major relief. In all complete, naked honesty he was scared of being alone in the big house that Voldemort and his Great Aunt Bellatrix along with countless other Death Eaters had once occupied. Of course he knew that Voldemort was no longer a threat but it was still frightening in that house, as though remnants of evil laced the stones it was built from.

Sighing he sat up. Mogget gave a soft mewling cry of protest before jumping off the bed and padding over to the armchair. With feline grace he jumped onto the seat of the chair and curled up. Scorpius laughed aloud. The chair seemed to swallow the white cat up.

There was a knock at his door.

"Come in," he said.

Hermione entered with a small plate of ginger cookies and a glass of milk. She smiled at him softly and he was suddenly struck with a warm, flooding feeling of comfort. Setting the cookies and milk down on the side table she sat next to him on the bed. Looking straight at him, he saw sympathy and worry in her brown eyes. Patting him on the cheek she looked at Mogget sitting in the chair.

"Scorpius, I just wanted you to know that you're welcome here any time. If you're ever in trouble or anything or you just need someone to be around you can come," The words were rushed and woven with compassion. "I want you to know that in the year and a half I've known you, I've come to think of you as a son."

Scorpius stared at her, heart thumping wildly against his chest, unable to come up with anything to say. His mouth worked as he tried to form a coherent sentence but all that came out was garbled "Thank you."

She nodded again. "Don't be up here to long. We've got a party to go to. Just put on whatever you brought that looks the best and is the most comfortable."

He nodded. "Yeah, sure Mrs. Weasley."

He watched her walk out the door and his gaze flitted to Mogget. The cat was staring at him again. Frowning he looked away unnerved.

"Don't look at me like that, Moggie. I feel at home here. I wish you would," he said almost sadly.

The cat had been his constant companion and friend all those times he was alone. Mogget jumped down from the chair and came up to Scorpius purring. Rubbing up against his legs he arched his back begging to be petted. Scorpius smiled and picked him up, holding him against his shoulder.

"Are you happy here Moggie?"

The cat only purred in response.