Chapter 4 Starting From Scratch
Draco's day was not going at all as he had planned. First, he was going to sit down with his son and have a heart-to-heart discussion about his mum leaving. That didn't go at all like he thought it would considering Scorpius acted like he didn't even care.
After that confusingly short conversation Draco headed back to work only to find out that he had missed a meeting and got yelled out for about an hour by his boss. He had to work over-time to finish all his work, because his boss yelling at him had cut into his regular work time.
And now here he was the recipient of an owl from his son that was nothing if not outraged. The short letter read in all caps, I HATE YOU DO YOU KNOW THAT? YOU HAVE COMPLETLEY RUINED MY LIFE! YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR AND I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU ANYMORE!
Truly NOT yours,
Scorpius (Although I think I may change my name, mum told me you chose it!)
What had he done that would have caused his son to be some enraged at him? Draco thought over the conversation he had with his son, and couldn't think of any part that was wrong. Sure…his son had seemed a little uninterested in the news that his mother had left…but why would he take his anger out on his father for that?
"A penny for your thoughts?" a voice said breaking Draco out of his pondering, "I mean most people don't stop out front of Gringotts and study letters with as much intensity as you just did."
"Oh hello Harry," Draco replied with a sigh, "It's just that I got this letter from Scorpius and I have no idea what it means."
"What does it say?" Harry asked and Draco handed the letter over to Harry who read it quickly, "Ah, so I'm guessing this morning didn't go over too well?"
"No…it went over all too well in fact. It seemed like he didn't even care that Astoria packed her bags and was off and that she never loved us. He was nonchalant about it. He quickly said that he had to go off to a tour of the castle with some kid named Albus and another kid named James," Draco replied honestly, and then the two names clicked in his head, "Albus and James…I don't know why I didn't notice it before, those are your sons aren't they?"
"Guilty as charged," Harry replied with a smile, "Well at least you know that your son has made some good quality friends!"
"Oh please, if they are anything like you they will get Scorpius into trouble at every turn," Draco teased half-heartedly.
"I resent that!" Harry said laughing, "Like you never received detention!"
"I'm not the one who said, and I quote 'There is no need to call me sir, professor!' to Snape in our sixth year," Draco replied laughing.
"Well I just got fed up with him was all," Harry defended, but couldn't help but laugh too, "Hey you want to join Ginny and I for dinner tonight? We could have Ginny look over the letter from Scorpius and see what she makes of it."
"That would be really great," Draco replied sincerely.
"Okay then, let's go," Harry replied.
The two apparated out of Diagon Alley and into the Potter's front yard. Draco followed Harry into the house and into the sitting area.
"Ginny! I'm home and I brought some company," Harry yelled into the house.
A few moments later Ginny walked into the sitting room and saw Draco standing there with her husband. She smiled and then joined them in sitting down on the couch.
"So how did it go this morning with Scorpius?" Ginny asked Draco.
"Not well at all. I told him the story and he didn't seem like he cared one bit. He was a little bit too nonchalant about it really. And then I'm at work and I get this sent to me," Draco said handing the letter over to Ginny to read.
"Oh…well I think that a misunderstanding came somewhere in your talk then," Ginny said after she read the scathing letter.
"I don't know where though! What did I say that made him think that I'm lying to him? I told him the truth," Draco replied, "To be honest; I thought my explanation would make perfect sense to him. I mean I've seen the way that he looks at his mother. He looks like he is trying to figure out what is wrong with her. He has always known that something was off between her and us."
"Well is it possible that this letter has nothing to do with your talk this morning and that there is something else that he found out?" Harry asked.
"The only thing I can think of would be from this morning," Draco said honestly, "I don't recall anything else major that could bring out this reaction!"
"So you mean to tell me that you told him everything from your past?" Harry asked doubtfully.
"Well no…not everything. I told him the things that I thought were essential," Draco replied, "I mean there were some parts that I felt that an eleven year old didn't need to comprehend yet.
"I think that's it right there," Ginny replied grimly but Draco still looked confused, "You don't think that there are other older kids at the school who sure know a heck of a lot more than he does about what happened? How easy would it be for one of them to pick on him and tell him parts that he doesn't know?"
"I never thought of that…" Draco said after a couple minutes of silence, "You know what…I think you're right."
No one was able to make any more comments on the situation because at that moment the fireplace burst into flames and someone stepped out of the floo. It took everyone a second to realize that it was Ron.
"What in the hell is he doing here?" Ron asked when he spotted Draco sitting on the couch.
"He needed some advice and we are happily giving it to him," Ginny replied glaring at her older brother.
"Oh, so he couldn't run to his precious Death Eater father to ask the advice?" Ron asked mockingly.
"I'll have you know that I haven't spoken to my father in years!" Draco replied standing up.
"Because that makes it so much better," Ron replied rolling his eyes.
"What is your problem?" Draco asked, "It's not like I came to your house asking for advice. This is Harry and Ginny's house and the last time I checked I'm allowed to come and knock on their door for some friendly advice!"
"But that would require you being considered a friend!" Ron replied, "Right Harry?"
"Er—Ron, he is going through a lot at the moment and he really needs help," Harry replied softly, "And he really has changed since we were at school."
"Are you kidding me?" Ron asked feeling betrayed, "You do realize this is the same guy who tried to kill you in the Room of Requirement when we would have been seventh years?"
"Hey! I didn't try to kill you! That was Crabbe that set the Fiendfyre that almost killed all of us!" Draco replied, "And I seem to remember that when you three were brought to the Malfoy Manor during Easter break that I pretended not to recognize you so that you wouldn't be killed!"
"Oh like that even begins to make up for the other things," Ron replied rolling his eyes, "We saved your life twice during the Final Battle! And you almost killed me with the poisoned Oak Matured Mead that you had sent to Professor Slughorn, remember that?"
"That wasn't meant for you! And the Dark Lord was going to kill me if I wasn't making any attempts to kill Dumbledore," Draco explained, "And you all know that I couldn't even do that! I had him up in that tower all alone and without a wand. It would have been so easy and I couldn't do it!"
"Er—you actually weren't alone," Harry replied and Draco looked at him confused, "I was up there too under an invisibility cloak. Dumbledore stunned me so I couldn't do anything…but I was there."
"Then you can testify that I wasn't going to go through with it!" Draco replied.
"Yes, I know that you wouldn't have gone through with it," Harry replied, "And so does Ron. Now can you both please put your wands away? I have my daughter Lily in the other room and it would not be pleasant if she walked in on you two dueling."
Draco and Ron had both pulled out their wands somewhere in the middle of their arguing. They both sighed and put them back into their pockets. Draco, not wanting to cause more problems decided it would be best for him to leave.
"I think it's best if I go now," Draco said while heading towards the door, "Thank you for your hospitality and your help."
"You really don't have to," Ginny replied, "Just ignore my idiotic brother. You are more than welcome to stay for dinner, really!"
"No, that's okay," Draco replied, "I can see that I'm just causing problems. But I will let you know what happens with my situation. And perhaps some night if you'd like you would join me at my house for dinner."
"Absolutely," Harry replied automatically, "We will be in touch soon."
Draco nodded and then walked out the front door. He could hear Ron arguing with Harry now and sighed. Really? Did he have to cause problems everywhere that he went? Draco walked outside and past the fence that bordered the Potter house. When he got there, he apparated back to his home on Spinner's End. Walking inside the house Draco was taken by surprise. There was a huge barn owl sitting on his kitchen table waiting for him. The owl must have realized that he was coming home and went to the home on Spinner's End as opposed to going to the Potter home.
Draco walked over to the owl and pulled the note off of it leg. He gave the owl some treats that he had sitting on the counter and then the owl flew off. Draco sat down at the table preparing himself mentally for the letter. It had the official Hogwarts seal on it, so it couldn't be anything good. After a deep breath her opened the envelope and pulled the letter out of it.
Dear Mr. Draco Malfoy,
I must regretfully inform you that your son Scorpius has been in a brawl with a student of another house. Fighting is something that is taken very seriously at Hogwarts so I request your presence at the school as soon as possible. When you arrive we may discuss the appropriate actions that must be taken in the matter of your son.
Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall (Headmistress)
Draco shook his head and put the letter back down on the table. Great! Just Great! His son had gotten into a fight before the semester even truly began. He couldn't even image why Scorpius would get into a fight! His son was mostly a pacifist. He never saw violence as the answer to anything. But then the son he had grown to know and love wasn't one to send angry scathing letters to his father either. No, there was definitely something wrong with his son and he was going to get to the bottom of it!
Grabbing his coat, Draco walked right back out of the door he had just walked in. Once in the street and out of site of any Muggles, Draco apparated to the Wizarding village of Hogsmeade. As soon as he was there, he began walking up the pathway that would lead him to Hogwarts. It was a long trek made short by his wandering mind. It seemed like no time before he was at the large gates of Hogwarts. Once there he knocked on the gates a voice called out into the early evening.
"Please state your name and business," the voice demanded.
"Draco Malfoy and I am here to speak with the Headmistress about my son Scorpius," Draco replied.
It took several moments before the gates swung open allowing Draco to enter. Draco rushed up the sloping lawn to get out of the slowly chilling air. It wasn't bitterly cold, but he certainly didn't have a very heavy jacket on. A few moments later found him walking up the familiar staircase and through the front door. He couldn't help but be hit with a sense of déjà vu.
Professor McGonagall was waiting for him there in the Entrance Hall. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Draco looking around and reminiscing. When he finally noticed her he walked over quickly and shook her hand.
"Good evening Headmistress," Draco said while shaking her hand.
"Good evening Draco," McGonagall replied, "Although I wish you were called here for better news."
"Me as well," Draco replied solemnly.
"Shall we head up to my office? Your son is waiting there for us," McGonagall stated and Draco nodded.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Draco asked.
"Well he seems to have been walking on the grounds when a third year Slytherin passed him. The Slytherin began to tease Scorpius and Scorpius punched him in the face. This of course resulted in a brawl, but was quickly split up by Professor Longbottom," McGonagall explained," The third year boy has already been dealt with and now it's time to deal with your son. Any ideas on why he would punch the boy? I mean I don't know Scorpius very well…but he seems like an even-tempered boy."
"He normally is…but I think he found out stuff about my past today that I never told him," Draco replied sadly, "And I don't think he took it very well. He sent me a scathing letter this afternoon about how I am a liar and that he doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore."
McGonagall stopped walking and turned to look at Draco. She could tell by his wavering voice that it was really affecting him to have his son say those things. She put her hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her.
"Do you want to take your son home tonight and bring him back tomorrow night?" McGonagall asked, "He isn't missing anything because tomorrow is Sunday. I think that the two of you really need to talk this out."
Draco pondered the idea for a few moments and then nodded.
"I think that is a really good idea," Draco replied, "It will give us time to talk and he won't be able to run off with his friends."
"Run off with his friends?" McGonagall asked.
"Yeah…this morning he left after I told him about his mother leaving, to go and take a tour of the castle with James and Albus Potter," Draco explained.
"Well I've seen Scorpius several times today and every one of them he was alone," McGonagall replied, "And I saw James, Albus and a boy Kellan walking around the school and James told me he was showing his brother the castle, but Scorpius wasn't anywhere near them."
"I really, really need to speak with my son then," Draco stated with a sigh.
The two resumed walking quietly towards Professor McGonagall's office again. They got to the stone gargoyle and McGonagall said the password "Pumpkin Juice" and the gargoyle moved allowing stairs to form. The two made their way up the stairs and then into her office. Scorpius was sitting in a chair in front of her desk staring down at the hands in his lap trying to avoid his father's gaze.
"Scorpius?" Draco asked while sitting down in the chair next to his son.
It took a few moments but Scorpius finally looked up at his father. He looked back down quickly though, after catching his father's eyes.
"I will make this very short and simple," McGonagall stated as she sat down behind her desk, "We all know what Scorpius did and that it wasn't appropriate. He will be serving detention every night for the next week from Monday night until Saturday night. Is that understood?"
Scorpius nodded.
"Okay then, I think that it is time for you two to go and work things out," McGonagall stated, "You can use the floo from my office to get back home."
"Thank you very much Headmistress," Draco replied while standing up, "Come on Scorpius."
"Where are we going?" Scorpius asked confused.
"You are coming home with me. We have a lot of things that we need to discuss so we are going to spend some time together," Draco replied, "But don't worry I will have you back tomorrow evening."
"No! I don't want to go!" Scorpius angrily replied while standing up.
"Well it's not really your choice," Draco replied grabbing Scorpius' arm.
Draco pulled his son over to the fireplace and grabbed some floo powder. He stepped in with his son and then bellowed "Spinner's End!"
