Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's just the way it's gotta be. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy.

Note: Just to be clear, the Gabrielle character is in no way related to Fleur or her sister.

Learning The Bond

Victoire led the way through the hallways of St Mungos, ignoring the stares they were getting as they traveled together. It wasn't every day that people saw Potters and Malfoys walking side by side peacefully after all. James and Teddy were going to be sorry they missed the show. But her man had to work and James was off in Romania for a Quidditch match.

Arriving at the correct door Victoire opened it and then stepped back to let everyone file into the room. Closing the door behind her once they were all inside Victoire wasn't surprised that all the portraits were talking, moving from painting to painting as they jostled around to get the best view possible. Her Uncle Harry was the main attraction, which was nothing new to her.

Rolling his eyes at the attention his former rival was getting, Draco glared at Victoire. "Care to shut them up so that we can get this over with?"

Victoire gave the older man a look that could kill for daring to think he could tell her what to do.

The portraits didn't like his tone of voice either and all called out various suggestions of poisons and potions he could consume that might help him with his ungracious and insulting manner. So peeved were they at his lack of respect for them that they all ignored Victoire's attempts to speak up and get to the point of their visit.

"QUIET!

All went quiet as eyes went to a portrait off to the left which featured an attractive, silver haired witch.

"My great, great, great grand nephew is here so obviously this request has something to do with him. Given the sacrifices he made in order to bring that dreadful Lord Voldemort down, I think the least we can do is put aside our egos and see what's so important that members of my family are tolerating the company of Malfoys for the first time in decades."

"You're my great, great, great grand aunt?" Harry asked, moving closer to study the portrait with interest.

"Yes, I was a Potter before I married." The witch smiled out of the portrait. "Now what have you all come to ask us? We're happy to help you."

Taking the lead Victoire explained to the portraits what had happened to her cousin and Scorpius Malfoy the day before, showing them the shards of the egg in case that was important. Once she was done explaining the portraits began talking amongst themselves, theorizing as to what might have occurred to explain the baby in Albus's arms. Again they talked over themselves, but eventually they quieted down and an old wizard that reminded Harry and Draco of their former Headmaster began to speak.

"We think that the most likely explanation is that what the boys touched was a Soul Egg." The old man began in a surprisingly deep baritone. "I would imagine none of you have heard of them, they're incredibly rare after all, especially in this day and age. I would be correct in assuming that all of you know what a Dementor is and does?" The wizard nodded when everyone nodded back at him. "Soul Eggs are the polar opposites. They come into existence as a result of an excess of positive, loving emotions in a place. They are created from love and happiness, and can only be hatched when two people of the same species touch it with their blood. The blood is absorbed into the egg and is used to create a child who is, genetically, the offspring of the two who hatched it."

"But the two people have to have a strong, emotional bond for the egg to hatch." A wizard interjected, obviously one of the people who disagreed with the wizard's diagnosis. "The one is a Potter and the other a Malfoy. They hate each other. And they're both men!"

"Gender doesn't matter and of course they have a bond." Harry's ancestor announced with a rolling of her eyes. "The Malfoys and my family have been fighting for over a century. Our fates have always been entwined. The influence we've had on each other's lives can't possibly be measured. If that's not a bond than I don't know what the heck is."

Draco and Harry were not pleased to hear they had a bond.

Albus found it funny and Scorpius just flushed and looked away.

"So if this is a Soul Egg than the baby is my grandson…genetically?" Ginny asked.

The portrait who had begun the explanation nodded his head. "Yes. That's one of the ways the egg insures that it won't be abandoned even though it wasn't born to the two naturally. The child also shares a bond with his or her creators that prevents them from leaving it without experiencing physical pain. This is because the parents are both its protection and its food supply."

"Wait, what?" Albus looked down warily at the baby in his arms. "You mean it…like a vampire?"

The wizard chuckled. "No. It doesn't feed on blood. It feeds on love and positive emotions. It's the opposite of a Dementor, as I said. When it's young it can feed only from those who share blood ties with it. The ties you two have to him, your inability to leave him without pain, will loosen after a time, especially if you love it and it feels secure enough to slow its growth."

"Slow its growth?" Lily asked, fascinated by the whole idea.

"The child will grow faster or slower depending on its parents." Piped up a new witch. "A Soul Egg can be hatched by any species after all. Some aren't what one would call particular paternal or maternal. The child's growth rate speeds up when it feels the bond isn't sufficient enough to hold his parents together or that the parents don't want it."

"So what you're saying is that we don't ever have to feed or change the kid?" Albus asked, grinning widely when a number of the former healers nodded their head in agreement. "Damn, how awesome is that." Shifting, Albus elbowed Scorpius in the side. "Do you and I know how to procreate or what? Best kid ever!"

Scorpius flushed more as he gapped at the Gryffindor, nodding weakly since that seemed to be the response Albus wanted.

Just as fascinated as her cousins, Victoire spoke up eagerly. "You said that these Soul Eggs are like the flip side of Dementors. Dementors, when they're fully formed, cause misery and unhappiness wherever they go. Does that mean that the child will grow up to spread feelings of love and happiness?"

"Exactly." The first wizard informed her. "A child of a Soul Egg, which is called a Katra when it reaches maturity, inspires goodwill and happiness wherever it goes. One remembers their happiest memories around them and it's impossible not to love them. They are pure and noble beings, to kill one is an act almost as heinous as the killing of a unicorn. They are worshipped by many non human species and are considered very lucky. To be the parents of one is a great honor."

)

The portraits couldn't tell the group much more than that, so they all headed out feeling very numb and addled. No one really spoke except for Lily, who had taken the baby from her brother and was talking to him, telling him all about how much fun they were going to have and how cool she thought it was to have a nephew with super powers.

"What's his name, anyway?" Lily demanded, walking backwards so that she could look from Scorpius to Albus. "Kid's gotta have a name."

"It's Phoenix. We're calling him Phoenix." Dazed, Scorpius stared at the girl without really seeing her.

"Phoenix? Why Phoenix?" Ginny asked, giving the boys a puzzled look. Not that the whole situation wasn't weird as hell to begin with.

Feeling just as shocked and dazed as Scorpius, Albus slowly ran through the conversation he and Scorpius had had before going to sleep. He really was a father, Albus thought dimly. He and Scorpius Malfoy were parents. Of the same kid. The baby in his sister's arms was his son. A mystical being yes, but also his son. A son who would be expecting all the things a son should expect and get from a father. And he didn't even have nine months to get used to the idea. He felt like his head was going to explode any minute. His partner in parenthood wasn't looking much better.

"Well I think it is a beautiful name." Victoire announced with a decisive nod. "It is unique and special, just like the baby. And you two don't need to look so worried, we will all help you with the little one. He is our flesh and blood too."

Lily chuckled as a thought occurred to her. "Wait till Gran finds out that you're a father at seventeen, Al."

What color Albus had had vanished from his face.

"It wasn't his fault." Ginny gave her daughter a 'not amused' look. "But she does have a point. We'll have to call the family in and let them know about the situation. I would be correct in assuming that it would be best if we told our respective family members separately, Mrs. Malfoy?"

Astoria's gaze was rueful. "Since we're going to be grandmothers together you might as well make that Astoria, Ginny. And yes, it would be best if we tell my in laws without your family present. I don't think Lucius will react well to the news that the heir to his family legacy is half Potter."

Draco went as pale as Albus. "Holy….I didn't realize…." The child was male and technically Scorpius's firstborn. That meant that someday, in the distance future, the baby his son and Potter's boy had created would be the legal heir to the Malfoy dynasty. It would inherit everything whether his father liked it or not. And Lucius Malfoy would like the idea about as much as his father liked the Potter family.

Everyone reacting to the revelation, even Lily lost her smirk. Only the baby remained happy, gurgling away in the girl's arms as he stared up at the pretty dangles in her ears.

"Yeah, I'm gonna be glad to miss that meeting." Lily murmured, clutching the baby a little closer protectively. He was her blood after all, which meant anyone wishing him harm was gonna have to get through her first. And Lucius was definitely going to wish the baby nothing but harm.

"Lets all just go home and talk this over." Harry finally said wearily, a headache pounding in his head at the complications the baby's existence presented.

"Whose home?" Draco reminded the man darkly, crossing his arms in front of him.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh brother."

While everyone discussed where they would be heading in heated debate, Scorpius walked over and motioned for Lily to give him the baby, the girl doing so without hesitation. Holding the baby close against his chest Scorpius just stared down at the infant, tuning out the arguing as he stared down at his son. His son, Scorpius thought as all sorts of emotions coursed through him. And here he'd thought the feeling Albus inspired him were overwhelming, Scorpius mused wryly. They were nothing in comparison to what he was feeling now. And he would not be taken away from the baby, and he would be the best father he could be. Those were the only two things Scorpius knew for sure at the moment. And he was more than prepared to make that clear to his grandfather. Lucius Malfoy had always intimidated the hell out of him, but for his son Scorpius was prepared to take whatever the old man dished out.

Slugging his arm over Scorpius's shoulder Albus stared down at the baby with the same mixture of love and protectiveness. "Whatever they say…you and I are in this together, right?"

Scorpius nodded firmly. "Right."

"Okay." That settled, Albus glanced over at the arguing parents and then looked over at his sister. "Do me a solid, squirt? Tell the arguing grandparents that we three have got some quick errands to run and that if they're feeling like behaving like adults we'll meet up with you guys outside that restaurant near Uncle George's store, Armitage."

"I can do that." Lily gave her brother a questioning look. "What are you three going to be doing?"

"Errands." Was Albus's innocent reply as he slid a hand down to rest against the small of Scorpius's back, herding the man away from their families and off in another direction.

)

Doing his best to concentrate on the baby he was holding and not the hand pressed up against his back, Scorpius looked over at Albus, praying to every deity ever imagined that he didn't turn into a blushing idiot shortly. "So what kid of errands are we running, exactly? They're all going to be angry with us when they realize we're gone."

"The biggest immediate problem is living quarters." Albus began as he continued to direct them both. "My parents are never going to agree to let me live with your family for a month and your family would be just as thrilled to have you living with mine. That means you and I have to find a place to live with the baby for a month that isn't going to put their backs up and make one or the other feel slighted."

"And where do you propose we find such a place?"

"I have an idea. We'll go there after I make one quick stop at my girlfriend's. We were supposed to go to a concert tonight and she lives two blocks from here. She'll be less pissed off at me if I cancel in person. Oh, we should probably drop in on your girlfriend too, right? This isn't something she should read about in the paper. Where does she live?"

"My girlfriend?"

"Yeah, that really tall Slytherin girl. I've heard people say you two are all but engaged already."

Scorpius knew who the other man was talking about. "Her name is Gabrielle and she's not my girlfriend. Though we will probably get married one day." It was what their parents wanted and Gabrielle really liked the idea and him for some reason. He liked her as well, though not in that way. But since he was never going to get what he wanted romantic wise, Scorpius had always figured that marrying his best friend was the next best thing.

"Hold on." Albus stopped and looked over at Scorpius in puzzlement. "She's not your girl but you're probably going to marry her? You do know it's the twenty first century, mate. You don't have to marry anyone you don't want to."

"It's complicated. And I'll send her a letter when we're done with your errands." Gabrielle was not terribly fond of Albus, and her family…well her brothers and Albus's brother had gotten along about as well as three wet cats in a bag when they'd been at Hogwarts together. Of course Elle's brothers were as dumb as posts, but they were very big, very mean posts.

"If you say so."

)

The rest of their journey was in silence, which suited Scorpius just fine. There was less of a chance of him being an idiot if he didn't have to talk. Besides, he wasn't exactly looking forward to having to see Albus's girlfriend either. Naomi Sutherland was a year younger than them and in Hufflepuff. She was intelligent, beautiful, played Quidditch seeker like Albus and loved small animals and children.

In short, everyone agreed she'd be the perfect Mrs. Albus Potter.

Which required him to hate her guts till his dying day, Scorpius mentally added.

Arriving at their destination Scorpius opted to wait with the baby at the bottom of the stairs leading to the girl's door, the two boys figuring it was best for Albus to explain the situation first before the girl caught sight of the Slytherin and assumed the worst. That and their son was seriously adorable and they didn't want Naomi being so distracted by Phoenix's extreme cuteness while Albus explained the situation to her.

As it turned out it was a very good thing Albus wasn't holding the baby since within two minutes of the girl coming out to enthusiastically kiss Albus hello the furious Hufflepuff punched her boyfriend in the jaw, called him a couple names that Scorpius was very glad Phoenix was too young to understand, and than slammed the door in the man's face.

Doing his best to hide his concern Scorpius hurried up the steps to where Albus was gingerly moving his jaw. "Are you all right? Why did she hit you?"

Carefully prodding his cheek Albus turned and gave the Slytherin a rueful look. "She took my explanation the wrong way. And to be fair, I didn't realize how badly I'd worded it until she was calling me…words I can't say in front of the baby." Walking down the steps with Scorpius to street level Albus did his best to ignore the throbbing pain. "I said something to the effect that due to a little accident I was now a father."

"Ah." Albus and the Hufflepuff had been dating for almost a year, the girl had thought Albus had come to admit he'd cheated on her with someone else and knocked the girl up. Which just went to prove that he was right in thinking that the Sutherland girl wasn't good enough for Albus, Scorpius thought smugly to himself. Only a right prat would think someone like Albus would ever cheat.

"So yeah, when you tell your Slytherin whatever about this, you'd better be sure to explain it all very clearly to her. Because if that's how a Hufflepuff reacts to the news than I'd hate to think what a Slytherin would do to you."