Chapter Three
"Welcome back, everyone! So, did we all write in our journals?" Healer Donnelly looked around at everyone gathered. Again, Scorpius was beside his father, on the end of the semicircle of chairs arranged in front of her. She'd made sure there was no gap this time between the chairs; she'd made that faux pas subconsciously, in an attempt to make Mr. Malfoy comfortable. She realised she actually wasn't doing him any favours by doing that, when this was group therapy. She smiled in satisfaction when she heard the grumbles and saw the nods of assent, from everyone but…
"Mrs. Potter?" Laurel watched as Ginny seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts.
"I didn't write in it." She murmured.
"May I ask why?" When her husband opened his mouth to intervene, Laurel shook her head, "I'd like to hear it from her."
"Writing in journals or diaries is difficult. Haven't done that since second year." Ginny muttered.
"Oh, Gin." Hermione breathed, reaching across to pat her sister-in-law's hand. They were so focused on her that they didn't notice Draco anxiously shift in his seat. Laurel noticed the movement, but decided to hold off putting Mr. Malfoy at the centre of attention just this moment.
"Would it help you if I gave you another medium of recording your thoughts and feelings?" Ginny shrugged.
"I suppose. Might help." Laurel tossed a square black device to Ginny, who caught it deftly.
"That's a recorder. Speak into it, and pressing the blue button will print out a transcript of what you say."
"Thank you."
"What happened in second year?"
"I'll answer that." Draco asserted, avoiding the glare he received from Weasley.
"Alright go ahead."
"My father had this diary. I never knew what it actually was until it was too late-"
"Yeah, right." Ron scoffed. Draco pinned him with a glare.
"I had no idea, Weasley. Why would my father tell me that the diary could write back and possess people? That would just bring unwanted attention upon me, ruin my reputation."
"Would you have done anything if you had known?" Donnelly asked. There was a long pause as Draco thought about it. He looked over at his son playing on the foam puzzle pieces with the dragon.
"I don't know. Back then? Probably not. My housemates would've taken the mick out of me for helping the Weasley girl. If I'd done that, and my father found out about it… considering he was the one that put it in her things to begin with…" Draco shook his head and looked sidelong at the girl who sat on the other side of Potter. She cradled her daughter close, as much to comfort herself as well as the newborn.
"What about now?" Laurel prompted. Draco sighed.
"I would've told the Headmaster, consequences be damned. Knowing what that thing was… I know what it was like, to have a bit of his magic inside you. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what my father did. He was unwell, even then. We just didn't realise how far into his influence father was. Maybe mother did, but I didn't."
"Don't make excuses for your father, Malfoy." Ron's voice washed over them like an icy wind. Draco's eyes slid slowly toward him.
"I wasn't aware that I was, Weasel. I'm apologising for my father's actions, because there are always consequences to that kind of magic. I'm apologising because I'm sorry it happened. I'm apologising because my father cannot."
"And why can't he, eh Malfoy? Why can't he apologise for hurting my little sister?" Ron was on his feet now, his voice rising. Hermione snaked a restraining hand around his upper arm, pulling him back into his seat.
"Ron, don't." Hermione's voice was strained.
"Because even if he had any inclination to apologise, which is not in his nature to do, he's dead, Weasley. He can't apologise to anyone." Silence dropped over the room. Scorpius noticed the tension and waddled over, not to Draco, but to Ginny. He held out his dragon.
"Bayee pway with me?" Draco watched his son interact with the new mother. Ginny glanced at Draco, who gave a curt nod. Ginny smiled at Scorpius and looked at Harry, who seemed to understand what she wanted. He stood and lifted Scorpius onto the seat Harry had just vacated. Once Scorpius was settled, Harry sat beside Malfoy.
"Of course you can. But she's very little, so you need to be gentle with her. Her name is Lily." Ginny whispered conspiratorially to Scorpius.
"Wiwwy." He said quietly. Ginny chuckled.
"Close enough." She said. He waved the plush toy in front of the baby, who opened her eyes. She stared, eyes wide, before she made some cooing noises and reached her hands out. Scorpius giggled.
"Dahdee, bayee pway!" Scorpius squealed. One side of Draco's mouth curled upward in his signature smirk.
"I'm sorry you lost your father." Harry muttered to Draco, as they watched the two children play. Draco's smirk disappeared. All Harry got in response was a nod.
A/N: These chapters are short, I know. I'm hoping they'll get longer as we go forward, but I think these snapshots are a good way to ease in. Thanks for the reviews - they are love - please keep the love coming!
Replies to Reviews:
TheNameIsNym: Thanks for reviewing! I can't wait either! It is just this idea that I couldn't ignore - it was begging to be written, so let's see where I can take it!
LemonyCreams: Thanks for your review! Obviously, I had the same thought - what would it be like? So I decided to write it.
