Draco Malfoy did as the notification from the Ministry suggested and made an appointment at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to collect his wand. The family was tense for the week leading up to the appointment. Scorpius was afraid that any minute a notification would arrive saying it was all a mistake and he was doubly afraid that it would be because of what he'd done. Both he and his parents had agreed it was best for him to stay in the house for a while following the mishap with the children in the park. So, Scorpius spent most of his time studying, playing with Bandit, and helping his mother in her greenhouse.

During one uncomfortably quiet dinner, Scorpius' grandfather broke the silence to complain about his grandson's inactivity.

"Why on earth are you spending your summer vacation sitting around in a greenhouse and playing with a puppy?" Scorpius shrugged.

"You bought him that puppy, Father," Draco reminded him from behind his copy of The Daily Prophet.

"That's beside the point! The summer before your second year, Draco, I couldn't wrench that broomstick out from under your backside to save my life! How does he expect to make his house team if he doesn't practice?"

"I don't even know if I want to try out," Scorpius blurted out.

"Why not, dear? You love Quidditch," asked his mother gently. Scorpius shrugged again.

"There's lots of good players on the team already…"

"I'm sure they can use another, son. Besides, last year's seeker graduated and that's your best position."

"Yeah, but…"

"But what?" interrupted his grandfather, "Your father was the seeker for his team. You're genetically predestined for greatness."

"That's not particularly encouraging."

"Why's that, son?"

"Because Albus Potter's in Slytherin as well and you have to know he's been drooling after the seeker position." Everyone considered the problem quietly as they picked at their dinner.

"I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet, son," Draco told him after a while, "I mean, he is half Weasley."

"So, you think I should still try out?"

"Yes, we do."

"You won't be mad if they choose Albus instead of me?"

"It will never happen," insisted his grandfather.

"No, dear, of course we won't be mad," his mother assured him.

"Not at all," his grandmother agreed.

"At least, not at you," his father contributed.

After dinner, Scorpius and his father went out to practice chasing the snitch around the meadow. Scorpius felt a little bit better knowing his family wasn't going to disinherit him if he didn't manage to take the seeker position. Now if only he could be certain his best friend wouldn't hate him if he did…

On the day of the appointment at the Ministry, Scorpius begged his father to let him accompany him.

"Don't be disappointed, son, if it doesn't work out the way we hope."

"I won't," he lied.

Arriving at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Scorpius noticed Mr. and Mrs. Potter talking to a group of aurors near the entrance.

"Look, Dad!" he cried.

"What are you doing here?" his father asked them suspiciously.

"I work here," Mr. Potter explained with mock innocence, "Didn't you know?" Draco's eyes narrowed and he ushered Scorpius toward the receptionist desk whispering, "I have a bad feeling about all this."

The receptionist's eyes fell as they approached.

"I have an appointment to collect my wand," he told her as he set the notification letter down in front of her.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm sorry," she said nervously, "You're going to have to come back another day."

"Another day? The letter says I have to wait five business days and I made an appointment."

"I'm sorry, sir. There's been a…"

"That's not fair!" Scorpius exclaimed angrily, "The letter said…"

"Is there a problem, Eunice?" Mr. Potter suddenly interrupted. Eunice flustered.

"It's just that Maxwell, the office notary, had to call in today for a family emergency. So, we can't do the paperwork without…"

"Now Eunice, that doesn't sound like such a insurmountable problem to me. Surely there's another notary loafing around somewhere in the Ministry headquarters."

"Yeah, probably," she admitted sheepishly. Mr. Potter continued.

"Draco Malfoy has come all the way down here with an appointment to get his wand so why don't we see what we can do to help?"

"I could send a note up to the Office of Licensing," she offered, "Maybe they have someone…"

"That won't be necessary, Eunice," came the voice of Mrs. Potter, "I'm a registered notary."

"There now, isn't that convenient?" Mr. Potter asked as he took his wife's arm, "How fortunate we are that I just so happened to stop by with my lovely wife, who just happens to be a registered notary and who just happens to have brought her official notary seal with her today." Everyone stared at Mr. Potter. It was Eunice who finally broke the silence.

"I'll just go and prepare the documents."

"So, Scorpius," asked Mr. Potter as soon as Eunice disappeared into the back of the office, "Are you ready for your second year at Hogwarts?"

"Nearly," he answered shyly, "My dad's helping me get ready for Quidditch tryouts."

"Well, good luck to you! Quidditch is a great game! My son James plays seeker for his house team."

"I know that, sir."

"Curious thing though. My younger son, Albus, has been talking about nothing but playing Quidditch since he was a toddler, but now all of a sudden he seems reluctant to try out. How do you account for a change like that?"

"Well, maybe he doesn't want to play against his own brother?" Scorpius' father suggested. Mr. Potter laughed aloud and Mrs. Potter said,

"You don't know our boys, Draco. The sibling rivalry in our household would make Regsaic the Horrible and Vicerak the Conqueror shake hands and say, 'Can't we all just get along?'"

"Just out of curiosity, Scorpius, what position are you thinking of going out for?" Scorpius' smile suddenly fell. He wondered if the great Harry Potter also possessed mind reading capabilities.

"Well, seeker really is my best position…" Mr. Potter chuckled.

"Now, how did I know you were going to say that?" Scorpius shrugged and looked up and Mr. Potter. He was still smiling. He seemed more bemused than upset.

"Good old Quidditch," he said happily, "You know I've developed some of the best friendships I've ever had playing Quidditch, including this one." He kissed his wife on the head. "Do you know what a good friend does for you, Scorpius?"

"Sir?"

"A good friend inspires you to be the best person you can be, to never give up, and to go for your dreams. Wouldn't you agree, Draco?"

"What? Oh…I reckon that's about right."

"Al always tells me what a good friend you are to him and I know he wants to be a good friend to you as well."

"He is!" said Scorpius emphatically, "He's the best friend I've ever had!"

"Then I know I can count of the both of you to encourage each other to do your best, not only at those tryouts, but at every match." Scorpius smiled and nodded.

"After all, the important thing isn't who gets the spot on the roster but that one of you is there to take my James down a notch!" Scorpius laughed aloud at that and even his father had to hide a smile by pretending to examine a poster on the wall.

They were interrupted by the return of Eunice with the documents. Scorpius watched as his father signed them all and Mrs. Potter sealed them. Before he signed the last document, Eunice informed him that he had to take an oath. "Upon my honor," he read aloud, "I swear my wand shall never seek to deprive any person of life, liberty, or due justice."

"Hmm," he said as he signed the final document, "Maybe they should have made me say that when they gave me my wand in the first place."

"Would it have made a difference?" Mrs. Potter asked him.

"I suppose not," he admitted, "Some people get to learn the hard way." Finally, Eunice produced a long narrow box from a safe in the wall behind her which she handed to Draco. He opened it and pulled his wand from inside. The wand took on a glow as it touched his hand. He pursed his lips and Scorpius wondered if he was going to cry in front of the entire office.

"It seems to remember me," he murmured.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Eunice asked delicately, "I'm sorry, sir. I just need to check in the restricted wand." He pulled the restricted wand from his robes and handed it to Eunice. "Thank you, sir. You're free to go."

"Does it feel all right, dad?" Scorpius asked as they headed toward the main hall of the Ministry and the exit. He nodded.

"Like the day I got it." They all piled into the lift and Mr. Potter pushed the correct buttons. Suddenly, Draco turned to him.

"You did this for us. Thank you."

"No thanks needed, Draco. You've served your time and it's right that you should have it back."

"Do you know how long it's been since I last held my own wand? I don't think I really believed they still had it!" Mr. Potter nodded solemnly.

"I remember it well."

Draco looked up from his wand, slightly embarrassed. "I suppose you would, wouldn't you."

"What do you mean?" inquired Scorpius.

"Mr. Potter was the one who took it off me in the first place," Draco explained to his son.

"It was the wand I had in my hand when I faced Voldemort," Mr. Potter added and Draco looked quite surprised.

"I didn't know that."

"That's really cool, Dad!" cheered his son.

"Well…anyway…Thank you for whatever you did to make it happen. Do you think my parents…" Mr. Potter interjected, "I'm afraid that's a little more complicated. Their convictions are substantially more…" He paused, glancing down at Scorpius.

"I understand," Draco assured him, not really wanting his twelve-year-old exposed to an elaborate retelling of his grandparents' decades long resume of conspiracy and violence.

"Dad?" Scorpius asked, "May I invite Albus to spend the weekend?"

"Of course."

"Can Albus spend the weekend at my house, Mr. Potter? I've got a new puppy!" Mrs. Potter looked at her husband with raised eyebrows.

"I'll have to get back to you on that, Scorpius, but I'd say there's a strong possibility."

"Great! We can practice Quidditch together!"