A/N: So so so so so sorry for the delay guys but I haven't really been in the right headspace for writing this the past week. (Too much on my plate I guess?) Anyways, I promise I shall make it up to y'all, I've been working on a BIG scene that's taking such a terribly long time to write but it (Chapter 5) will be out soon and I swear it'll be worth the wait (The amount of hard work I've put into it). But for now, this one's a deep chapter, happy reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the dialogues and the plot and the writing (Okay, basically characters belong to JKR)

Also if you guys are looking for additional Harry Potter content (an overflow of gratitude to JKR in particular) you might wanna check out my blog, link below. (I hope advertising that is allowed here? If it's not could someone please let me know, thanks)

Okay enough talk, let's get right into it!

Chapter 4 –
Hogwarts Houses

Draco was sitting on his living room couch, in his apartment, with his wife Astoria lying down with her head in his lap. She was nearly asleep and he quietly watched the gentle creases on her face and the way her fringes fell over her eyes and the way her cheekbones stood out, even when she wasn't smiling, taking in the expression of calm and serenity on her face. In his mind, she was a picture of perfection - the ultimate Goddess of beauty.

He'd met her while he was working at the Ministry of Magic Office for the Misuse of Magical Artifacts as his very first job. She'd arrived from Beaxbautons to work there as an intern, and he'd immediately taken a liking to her. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Marrying her had been one of the happiest movements of his life. But his happiness was short lived. She'd fallen sick one year into their marriage, and the birth of Scorpius, one year after that had led to an even steeper decline in her health. She was barely holding on to life and he was holding on, holding on to her.

Draco laid her head down on the couch gently and stood up. It's about time I go check on Scorpius, he remembered.

He climbed the stairs to his son's room and knocked. "Come in!" came Scorpius' voice in a few seconds.

Draco walked in to find Scorpius deeply absorbed in a book.

"Hey son! Is that a textbook you're reading?" said Draco, surprised.

Scorpius looked up from his book distractedly. "It's Care Of Magical Creatures," he told his dad proudly. "The rest of my textbooks weren't worth reading but I think I'm going to like this subject."

Draco smiled, took the book from his hands, sat down on his chair and flipped through it. It was different from what he had in his days. Of course, it was written after he left school. He contemplated telling Scorpius for a moment that Hagrid Professor Hagrid had once taught him, but decided against it. The memory of how he had treated Hagrid once upon a time was too painful to retell.

"Looks interesting," he remarked handing the book back to Scorpius. "Is your trunk packed?"

"Yes dad, I finally got around to it this morning," Scorpius told him. Draco could notice something off in his voice, it was subdued, nerves?, he contemplated.

"So, Ready for Hogwarts?" he asked his son casually.

"I guess," said Scorpius quietly, taking a deep breath.

"What's worrying you?" frowned Draco, concerned. "You should be excited, Hogwarts is brilliant! Plus you've been waiting to go there since you could walk. What gives now?"

Scorpius lifted his eyes to look at his dad. "I'm going to be in Slytherin, aren't I?"

Draco sighed. Of course he was worried about the Sorting. Almost every kid going to Hogwarts was. He'd had it easy of course, he knew which house he'd be in and he wanted to be there. But Scorpius was more of a free spirit; he wouldn't know where he wanted to be.

He rested his chin on his fingers and calmly asked "And, what's wrong in that I dare ask?"

"Just that, you know, Voldemort was one too. And like, half of his Death Eaters."

Including me, thought Draco. Scorpius doesn't have to know that.

Draco hated it when Scorpius used Voldemort's name but for some reason he could never place, never told him to stop.

"And so was Salazar Slytherin and so was Merlin and so was Severus Snape."

"I know, I know." said Scorpius quickly. "I don't not want to be there, it's just, the idea of Voldemort's house is scary."

Daco surveryed him for a few moments. "Look," he started, "Not all Slytherins are The Dark Lord. In fact, most of them are good people. And there's no saying where you'll go yet. It doesn't run in families so much as you think it does. But wherever you go, embrace it. That house will help you to greatness. And the Sorting Hat's never failed at that."

Scorpius nodded, lost in thought.

"And you if you do go to Slytherin, the common room is really cool," Draco remarked as an afterthought.

His son's eyes lit up and twinkled with the hint of a laugh.

"And one wizard shouldn't ruin an entire house," added Scorpius.

"But it kind of does?" asked Draco.

"Yeah."

"Whichever house you go to, you'll be a credit to it," Draco told him firmly. "Everyone's scared before their Sorting, but you for one, are a tough kid. You'll get through it. And if you're a Slytherin be proud of it. Great wizards have been in Slytherin. And we have our qualities that make us strong. We're indestructible for a reason."

Scorpius smiled at him. "You're one too Dad."

"I'm what-?" asked Draco, confused.

"A great wizard. In Slytherin. You're one too and I'd love to be like you when you grow up."

So long as you don't make the same mistakes growing up as I did, Draco thought. I couldn't watch you suffer so.

He gave his son a half-smile. "You better sleep soon, long day tomorrow, you know?" he said, getting up. He ruffled Scorpius' hair before he left the room. He was so proud of his son.

Draco paused and looked at Astoria, now sleeping soundly, on the way to his bedroom. Scorpius would leave tomorrow, for Hogwarts and he'd be miles away, where he couldn't protect him. If he lost her too, he didn't know what he would do.

A/N : I feel like Draco is a very sincere and in a way, protective parent because he doesn't want his son to make the same mistakes he made while growing up. And he's also seen how much Narcissa and Lucius cared for him in the end and their love is an inspiration for him.( Does that make sense, or is it just me?)

Also, Astoria and Fleur Decalour weren't exactly friends, but Astoria always looked up to Fleur (her senior) in case you guys were wondering.

The blog link as promised (I'd absolutely love it if you guys checked it out): stargazingforwords (wordpress), my third latest post please (sorry I couldn't link it here)

Love,
SilverStars14