Astoria tapped gently on the door again.
"C'min," came a sullen voice from inside.
"The door is locked, darling," Astoria pointed out softly. There was a rustling from within, and Scorpius mumbled, "Alohamora."
Astoria opened the door and stepped into the bedroom.
Her son lay face-up on his bed, staring at the ceiling. She crossed the room, and sat down beside him.
"What's bothering you, Scorpius?"
"Nothing."
"'Nothing' wouldn't stop you from coming down to eat. When was the last time you ate anything, for that matter?"
"Idunno."
Astoria reached out and stroked her son's hair. It was a mark of his inner turmoil that he let her do so- normally, he'd bat her hand away, insisting that he wasn't a baby anymore.
"Tell me what's bothering you, darling."
"Mum-"
Scorpius turned his head to look directly at his mother, and Astoria could see the pain Gin..
"Mum, did you really, really, really like someone who didn't like you back?"
I should have known this was about a girl, Astoria thought affectionately.
"I haven't, that I can remember," she replied, smiling a little. "The only boy that I really liked is currently outside this door, waiting to be invited in."
The door opened slowly.
"How did you know I was there?" Draco demanded helplessly, smiling though as he sat down on the bed beside his wife and son.
"I have a talent for eavesdroppers," Astoria replied nonchalantly. "Now, I assume you caught the tail of this conversation. Did you have anything to add?"
"If you insist," Draco nodded, his cheeks going slightly pink. "Scorpius- you know Rose Weasley, right?"
Astoria watched her son's head whip around, alarm crossing his face.
"Her mother, Hermione Granger-"
Scorpius relaxed, his face clearing. Astoria stroked his hair fondly. So, the next generation was taking after the first.
"Hermione hated me," Draco evoked.
"And you liked her?" Scorpius asked incredulously. Draco nodded, his blush more pronounced now.
"I was horrible to her, though," he reminisced. "She hit me in the face once."
"Rose never did that to me," Scorpius blurted. He shot bolt upright, clapping both hands over his mouth. Draco's mouth quivered with the effort to hold in a smile.
"Have you told anyone about this?"
"No," Scorpius mumbled, his lower lip beginning to quiver. Astoria put an arm around his shoulders, which had started to shake.
"Everyone would just laugh if I said anything," he whispered. "She's with Bill. It hurts so much. Why does it hurt so much?"
Over her son's head, Astoria shot a helpless look at her husband. Draco shrugged. Astoria hugged Scorpius tighter.
There was a timid knock at the door.