AUTHOR'S NOTE: Woo, chapter three! A little bit later than what I hoped, but I HAD MY PROM THIS WEEKEND WOO! It was in a castle. That had a cannon. And I danced like a mothafuckan epileptic klepto running from the cops in a rave room.
Again, thanks to Jenny Max. I enjoy your presence very verymuch. And special thanks to ALL YOU READERS YEAH! Keep the reviews going – every time I see a notice for one, I get snitches in my stomach x3
Harry and Ginny stood together, skimming the papers the worker had dropped off in the kitchen. When it came to paperwork, the Ministry wasn't shy to flaunt their sophisticated ability to produce it at both quantity and quality. Elegant hand, with elegant words, and elegant reasons;
Harry James Potter, son of James and Lily Potter, with willing acceptance, has been temporarily charged the protection of Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, age 9, son of Draco Lucius and Astoria Malfoy, due to unforeseen circumstances requiring the protection of a skilled and available Auror. This charge begins on the date of July 2rd, 2016, and is expected to end on July 4th, 2016.
Whoever wrote the paperwork didn't seem to acknowledge that all current Aurors were skilled Aurors. Harry would have to make a note to see the writer later to correct that thought.
The circumstances included mentioned a few things – direct attacks on specific pure blood families (suspicious), unknown third parties on the move (suspicious), uncertainty on the dangers at hand (obvious), and (most importantly) the disappearance of a Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy. Harry was in little mood to get into any sort of reading, but a charge was a charge. Best to at least skim the legalities, especially in a situation that sat the son of an ancient arch rival right in the living room.
The rest of the documents was a mix of important and ignorable information, as Harry skimmed through the papers; legal junk, possible risks, miscellaneous information, skin allergies to fluxweed, and reasons why Harry himself had been chosen for the job ("Due to unavailability of other aurors, as well as the need for the most advanced expert available"). Most, Harry guessed, had to do with bad luck.
Hyperion was one hell of a middle name, though.
The kid – Scorpius, to be exact – barely sipped his hot drink in the other room, staying as silent as a dead cat. If not for that damned scorn plastered to his pale little face, he could have been so easily ignored, and maybe even accepted as new furniture for the parlor. The kid matched the curtains... kind of. Well, he didn't match the curtains at all. But he matched the carpet.
The next step in the process of seemingly adopting a complete stranger into the household was diplomatic introduction. Harry thought so. Well, Ginny actually thought so. Harry just mindlessly nodded and agreed. It was becoming a habit today, the mindlessly nodding and agreeing.
Setting the papers on the kitchen counter, Harry followed Ginny into the living room. Ginny chose to sit in the unoccupied space of the family couch, closest to the Malfoy clone, which wasn't a big deal for Harry – he occupied the high-backed vanilla armchair a safe few feet away. That didn't mean Harry didn't want his spot on the couch back, though.
Ginny spoke first, "Hello."
No response. Ginny continued,
"My name's Ginevra Molly Potter, and this is my husband, Harry James Potter. We're both... pleased to make your acquaintance. You can stay in the guest bedroom for the night, if you'd like, or the living room if it'd suit you." Another pause, either from Ginny waiting for a response from the boy, or because she was out of words. Harry bet on the second.
However, the boy did respond, with a single crisp and clear word,
"No thank you."
It took Ginny off guard, although from Harry's point of view, the resistance was expected.
"Why so?" Ginny asked, trying to be understanding. It was strained – Ginny was a strong woman. She didn't stoop for answers – she demanded them, ladle in hand and apron around the waist. It worked well in terms of the Potter family, certainly. But the kid wasn't Potter family at all.
"I'm not living in your stupid house," the boy said, his expression stone. It lacked the trademark arrogance of his father, but it had venom and smite. Harry took back the thought that Scorpius matched the carpet after he called Harry's house unintelligent.
"Well," Ginny said, trying to make the best of the situation, "You haven't seen the guest room yet. It has a very nice bed and-"
"I'm not going to see your guest room," Scorpius said, his voice growing in authority, "I don't care about how nice the stupid bed is."
"Mr. Malfoy," Ginny spoke now with her Last-Chance-Before-I-Ground-You tone, an uncommonly used, but often effective, tactic, "Whether you want to or not, you'll be staying with us. You are going to have to sleep somewhere, and you aren't just going to grit your teeth and make things run your way. I understand you're distraught about a shift in houses, but everyone's trying their best to make things work." Except Harry. Harry wasn't. "Dinner is in four hours. If you have any problems, you can ask either me or Harry. Otherwise, I suggest getting well acquainted with the guest bedroom on the ground floor, or become even more acquainted with the sofa. Do I make myself clear, young man?"
The kid didn't respond, instead looking down at his black leather shoes.
With that, Ginny rose from her seat, heading upstairs. Before she reached the steps, however, she did have one thing to say,
"Harry James Potter, you and I are going to have a talk upstairs. Now."
Harry noted that she used her You-Are-Now-Grounded voice on him.
Foot Notes: Tom Felton has dyed his hair blond 18 times while playing the role of Draco Malfoy in the film series of Harry Potter.
I am also abandoning all hopes of having a scheduled update schedule of scheduleness. Updating on a specific day is flailing.
In other news, the epic dark-spawn-slaughtering child-saving insult-your-wives-and-rob-your-chests Gray Warden Roy is attempting to instigate a romantic relationship with Wynne from Dragon Age. She totally digs my city elf ass 8D