A/N: Hollywood stole my story! Or got there first…Quite upset actually…bastards, but mine'll be better. PAH! Matthew who?


Past, Present & Future

The Past

Chapter 2


Scorpius and Layla hit the ground with a thump.

'Oof.'

'Nice landing.' Layla held out her hand, it was dark and Scorpius had lost his footing on the landing and crashed onto a graveled driveway.

Scorpius looked around, getting to his feet, 'Where are w-Oh no!'

'Oh Yes!'

Scorpius groaned loudly.

'Home sweet home.' Layla sighed.

'Layla, listen, I understand what you're doing but please can we just skip this one. I really don't want to go into that house.'

'Awww Scorpy! I didn't know you felt that way, of course we can skip this one.' Layla twirled strands of hair around her finger and smiled innocently.

'Really?'

'No, of course you can't just skip this one you daft prick! It doesn't work like that. Now, move your arse! We have a busy schedule to keep too.' She pulled him forwards marching towards the house. A down stairs windows flickered and Scorpius wondered where, or more to the point when, he was heading. The house look exactly like it did when he had walked out of it aged seventeen and not returned he has a deep set hatred for this house the place he had been so miserable for so long. They stopped outside the double doors of the dining room Scorpius hesitated.

'Can you give me a clue? Just so I know what I'm about to walk into.' His childhood was full of so many unsavory memories that it would be impossible to guess which he was about to enter.

'…And ruin the surprise?' Said Layla giving the heavy doors a push open, 'Never!'

The dining room was dimly lit, the windows were heavily draped, an impressive chandelier hung over head and beneath, seated at a long, dark table handsomely decorated, sat three people. At one end sat elegant woman with a short dark bob, an angular chin and high cheek bones, and at the other, a man, late thirties his blond hair shone in the candlelight illuminating his pointed features and blank face. The third person was barely visible because he was sitting so low in his seat.

'Awwwww' Layla cooed, 'you were a bit of a cutie weren't you? I like your bow tie!' She exclaimed, nudging him in the ribs, moving towards the scene to get a better look.

Scorpius looked at his younger self he can't have been more than eight years old slouched in his chair, his plate of food practically untouched.

'Sit up straight son, how many times must I to tell you?' Her voice like cut glass broke across the silence. The eight year old slide back up the chair and continued to stare blankly at his plate.

'I think I have more exciting family memories to choose from.' Scorpius said turning to Layla who was watching the table with interest.

'Are we going to discuss this afternoon?' said Draco calmly breaking the silence, and taking a sip of wine.

'I don't know what you mean.' His Wife replied slicing the head off an asparagus spear and placing it gently in her mouth, chewing it slowly and delicately, then swallowing it almost imperceptibly.

'How dare you make a complete fool out of me today, what were trying to do?' the husband burst.

'How dare I? How dare I?' Astoria spat shrilly throwing down a napkin. 'So you can carry on with that woman and I'm just supposed to lie down and take it am I? Just be the little wifey, keep my mouth and pretend I don't see it? Well no thank you, not anymore.'

'It's not the same, I may have had…' Draco searched for the right word 'indiscretions but I do not parade it around in front of company.'

'Oh so that makes it alight I suppose…' His wife shot back.

'How can they do this in front of you?' Layla whispered taking her eyes off the table for the first time in minutes.

'I don't think they realized I was there.' Scorpius replied thoughtfully glancing at his younger self who was staring determinedly at his shoelaces. This outburst was nothing new to Scorpius, he knew all about his parents "Indiscretions"; his father had married his mother because at the time it had been the right thing to do. Draco Malfoy had emerged from the war alive but with the family name, which he so relied on, in tatters and little money to fall back on. Astoria's family, in a similar situation, proposed a union and offered their youngest daughter as the means of uniting them. It was clear early on that neither had any regard for the other, the only thing that tied them together was their equal love for status. They, both of them, found the affection they needed in the arms of another. Their situation was unusual but it was all Scorpius knew until he joined Hogwarts.

'Didn't you know what was going on?' asked Layla again softly turning head from Scorpius to the other.

' I always knew, we just never acknowledged it, it wasn't the Malfoy way.' Scorpius looked at Layla who was watching the child her eyes were sparkling with tears, 'Are we done with this one?' She nodded and the pair exited the dining room and found themselves…lost.


'This isn't the hallway.' Scorpius looked around.

'Correct!'

They emerged into the bright afternoon sunlight and, by the number of people milling around, they had arrived in the middle of a party, guests were standing idly around holding a glass of champagne aloft.

'You know where you are, don't you?' Layla shot him a sideways glance.

'Of course. I'm in my parents garden.' Scorpius retorted moving forwards, eyes searching the crowd for his familiar face.

'Ooh, there you are!' Layla cried pointing ahead, Scorpius jumped a little in surprise. There he was, older than he had expected, standing tall in the corner, hands in his pockets, looking miserable and then he realized the party was his.

'Oh Layla…' Scorpius mirrored the look on the face of his younger self, 'Of all the memories you could have picked, I have plenty of shitty memories, but you have to pick the one that cost me a fortune in therapy.' He could feel his voice beginning to rise.

'I never said this was going to be fun.' Layla trilled back, 'you chose to come along.'

'NO I DIDN'T!'

'Well…no, you didn't technically, but you're here now you might as well carry on.' But Scorpius didn't want to carry on this was his seventeenth birthday party his parent had thrown for themselves by inviting the most notable magical families in the country. Not many teenagers could say the minister of magic came to their birthday. Scorpius, however, would have much rather have had his friends instead, his parents guests had no real interest in him they were too busy rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous and making those ever important connections.

Scorpius looked back at the seventeen year old, he knew exactly what he was thinking and who he wanted with him to make this entire ordeal bearable. His father was standing near by with his back to them. Scorpius could see a pale patch of bald scalp gleaming in the sun and got strange, almost savage pleasure from it. Draco's conversation ended, his companion departed with a swift nod and the father turned to face his son.

'Go and retrieve your mother, I saw her slink off earlier, she needs to be here the guests are asking after her.'

'I'd rather not.' The seventeen year old replied stiffly.

'Do not argue with me, boy. Try to act a little grateful, a lot of money was spent on today.'

'I never asked for all this.' Scorpius cut across.

'You should be using today to your advantage, you are surrounded by some of the most important names in the ministry, make connections and set the foundations for your future.' He put emphasis on the last few words a couple of guests were looking over at the altercation with mild interest. 'Go.' Draco had lowered his voice to a deadly whisper.

'Well that told you, did it?' said Layla as they Scorpius sloped off towards the house followed closely by his doppelganger and his companion.

'I don't think I can go any further, Layla, you don't understand-'

'-Of course I understand.' She said briskly, taking his hand and squeezing it, 'come on.'

He could hear it as soon as he passed the threshold, and the memory came flooding back to him, soft rhythmical thuds coming from the kitchen. But the kitchen was empty, of course it was, he knew it would be. The seventeen year old moved towards the pantry door. Why did he have to push that door open? He knew, of course he knew, what he'd find but it happened before he could stop it, the door swung open revealing Astoria pinned against the wall, dress hitched up to her waist, moaning mid-orgasm. The young man she'd seduced was a waiter, hired to hand drinks for his birthday! Astoria, finishing herself, realized they were no longer alone; she did not act surprised or remotely embarrassed instead she cast her son a lofty gaze and said.

'What is it darling?'

There were no words. Even now five years on Scorpius had no words to describe what he felt. Anger? No, he wasn't angry, he honestly didn't care who his parents chose to shag. He was slightly indignant that he'd been forced to endure his parents company on his birthday, and his mother had slipped off for a quickie, she could have waited.

But his father, who had surely known what was going on, had sent him to discover them. What kind of sick mind games were they playing, using him as a means to get back at each other. That was when he'd made to decision to get of the family before it got him.

'Goodbye Mother.'

'This was the last time you saw her wasn't it?' Said Layla softly

'I know, what an exit.' Scorpius retorted bitterly, watching himself disappear out of sight.

'Come on, I'll buy you a pint.'

The Kitchen around them vanished, they were standing in an empty pub, an elderly man stood behind the bar polishing glasses he didn't even looked up when they entered just slid two large glasses of amber liquid across to them.

'This isn't another memory is it?'

'Nah, I'm giving you half time, we've got a couple more to see yet my friend.'

'So there is more, I should know better than to get my hopes up.'

'That memory, that was the day you left home wasn't it?' It wasn't really a question, Layla stated it as she would her name and Scorpius got that idea that this little trip to the pub was to discuss what they'd just seen and to get him to open up a little.

'Yes it was. I packed my bags and stayed with Al for a little while, his parents were really good about it, his dads the reason I became an Auror actually.'

'…And you haven't spoken to them since?' Layla kept on digging, her eyes boring a hole into the side of his head.

'They added me to the company Christmas card list. That's about the best I could have expected.' He smiled falsely. "Yuletide Greetings from the Malfoy Corporation"

'That's sad…' She looked up at him through her heavy fringe and under the pressure of her gaze Scorpius looked away and took a sip of his drink, he smiled at the familiarity of it, cider and then he thought of Rose….