Hey guys, quick note: If I ever mess up and say "Mom" or "Mommy" instead of "Mum" or "Mummy," I'm sorry. I'm American, I'm from the south. It's hard to change my writing style enough to remember to put such little things in when I'm writing a fanfic set in Europe rather than America, but I'm starting to get the hang of it I think.

Also, oh my gosh I'm so sorry! I had this typed up for a while and have even started typing Ch. 11, but then I just noticed today that I never posted Ch. 10 so I went and edited it during school and posted it ASAP. Again, sorry. And for my Auslly fans, I'll try and update WOSC and Already There whenever I can, hopefully very soon!

I don't own Harry Potter

"Last day in Azkaban," Claire sang, as a way of morning greeting to Scorpius, waking him up on their last day of second year. Neville and Hannah had kept having to reprimand Clarie for saying so-many-more-days-of-hell, so she had replaced it with Azkaban as a sort of snip in their direction. She still held a grudge against them for her and her friends' punishments.

Actually, they all did except for Scorpius. He felt he deserved it. He'd betrayed the trust of the Longbottoms. It was one thing for the others to get in trouble. It was only their parents to be upset. But for Scorpius, it was much worse. He knew so many people were disappointed in him.

"I'm not ready for summer," Scorpius complained.

Clarie put her hands on her hips in exasperation. "You don't have to go back, you know."

"And you know I do."

They glared at each other for a long moment, before each turning away abruptly and changing the topic. They'd had this argument so many times that the two of them learned to just let it go after a few minutes or they wouldn't for hours, sometimes days. And the others had started to notice when events like this occurred.

Suddenly, Scorpius's owl, Alden, flew in through his window, and Scorpius groaned, knowing what was coming. Clarie dashed forward to grab the letter hanging from Alden's beak, but Scorpius got there first. "Move, cauldron head."

Scorpius elbowed Clarie out of the way and tore open the letter bearing his family's crest on the seal. It was a letter from his father, of course, stating that Scorpius and Aria were to return home immediately upon departure from Hogwarts, and not to idle around at friends' houses.

Scorpius sighed deeply. "I suppose this is my last day here, as well."

Clarie leaned forward to take a glance at the letter, but it was in Scorpius's good sense to keep her from seeing any of it. Clarie knew Scorpius's father was rude and not fit to raise children, but she did not understand that extent. Neville did, somewhat, along with Victorie Weasley and Teddy Lupin, but even they did not realize how hard Scorpius and his little sister had it at Malfoy Manor sometimes.

"Whatever," Clarie huffed. "Just get your stuff together. We have to be at Hagrid's before class, remember?"

"How could I forget?"

By the time Scorpius and Clarie had gotten their books together, ate breakfast, and made it down to Hagrid's, classes had already started.

"Rose and Al already left," Hagrid informed them, shaking his head with a little laugh. "Suppose since it's the last day, you two can go on as well, no charge."

"Thanks Hagrid," Scorpius said, but Clarie said nothing. She still was not pleased that Hagrid had not come to any of their calls, and had told their parents what they'd been doing months ago on top of it all.

They turned to run back to the castle, when Clarie suddenly stopped, turning back to Hagrid with wide, terrified eyes. "Hagrid," she breathed, "what happened to your face?"

She saw Scorpius walking back towards them both out of the corner of her eye, and he was frowning. Hagrid was too.

"What're you talkin about?" Hagrid reached up to his face, and Clarie was amazed to see it was completely normal. What in the world? She could've sworn there had been gashes and scrapes all over Hagrid's face just moments before.

"Clarie?" Scorpius sounded concerned.

"Never mind." Clarie glanced down at her shoes, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. That was terrifying. "Let's get to class before Dad has our heads."

"What's wrong with my face?" Hagrid called after them, sounding a bit upset now.

"Nothing!" Clarie yelled back. "Sorry Hagrid, thought I saw something. Forget I even mentioned it. See you this evening."

And she ran. Scorpius could barely keep up with how fast Clarie was running, and that's saying something. She and Scorpius had raced each other countless times, but it was usually he who won.

"Clarie!" Scorpius yelled, and Clarie yelped when he lunged for her arm, still at a run, and they both went tumbling down to the ground.

"What did you do that for?" Clarie screeched at him. "We're going to be late!"

"Who cares?" Scorpius stared at her incredulously. "Clarissa Bridget Wenlock Longbottom, you stop that this instant!"

For Clarie had been trying to gather her books and stand, but Scorpius was having none of that. "What is going on with you?" He demanded.

"Nothing," Clarie insisted. "I thought….It looked like Hagrid had a bit of mud on his face is all."

"Hagrid always has mud on his face, that's nothing new." Scorpius glared at her so fiercely that Clarie sat back down and dropped her books at her side again. "This is not the first time you've seen something that wasn't there. Tell me what you saw. What happened back there?"

Clarie bit her bottom lip. Should she really tell him this? Would Scorpius think her insane, report her to her father and have her thrown in St. Mungo's?

"I can't say," she whispered. "Papercuts, Scorpius, okay? Papercuts."

Drat. They're word for when a subject is unwelcome. Well now he was sure Clarie was hiding something major from him.

"Clarie." Scorpius groaned, but grabbed her hand lightly. "Look, you're my best friend. We're practically related. You know you can tell me anything. Whatever this is, you can't keep it inside. You're really starting to worry me. Please, Clarie, tell me what you thought you saw when you looked at Hagrid just now, and what happened with Albus back in the Forbidden Forest?"

But it wasn't just that. And Clarie couldn't tell him.

"I saw nothing." Clarie set her jaw determinedly and stared forward. She pulled her hand out of Scorpius's and stood, knowing how this must look to him. Knowing she was upsetting one of her only friends. Knowing there was nothing she could do about it. "Our first class is over. I'll be hanged if I dare miss my own father's class."

With that, Clarie stalked off down towards the greenhouses, pretending not to care if Scorpius Malfoy followed her or not.

Scorpius was dumbfounded. Clarie hadn't spoken a word to him all day after the incident with Hagrid that morning. He'd tried to get her to tell him what was wrong, but she'd shut him down quicker than he could blink. Scorpius could only assume this had something to do with her mounting resentment at him for his decision to take Aria and return to Malfoy Manor again this summer, per his father's angry request.

Clarie had come down to the Hogwarts Express to say goodbye to Albus and Rose. But although Scorpius would be traveling to Platform 9 ¾ with the both of them this year, Clarie still did not bid him goodbye.

"What's up with cranky?" Al whispered, as they lugged their suitcases into the train. Rose was saying her last goodbyes to Clarie just outside.

"No idea," Scorpius replied, which was all too true. He honestly could not figure out what he'd said or done that was so wrong it warranted the silent treatment from one of his best friends in the world.

"This isn't going to be like last summer again, is it?" Al asked nervously. "Because I don't think I can handle another showdown between the two of you the next time we're all in the same room together."

Little did Albus know, the next time Scorpius and Clarie would be in the same room together would be that very night.

"No," Scorpius laughed. "That was a stupid argument that lasted way longer than it should have. She's probably just...I dunno...experiencing….lady problems?"

He said it like a question. Albus shuddered. The two were never comfortable when this subject was brought to their attention by either girl in their little group of friends. Luckily, though, it forced Albus to look for a different subject to talk about, just in time for Rose to board the train.

"Onward we go." She smiled.

Scorpius found himself laughing, though his heart was only half into it. "Lead the way fair maiden."

Albus coughed and muttered, "You make me sick," as he brought up the rear.

"Where's Clarie?"

Scorpius's heart sank to his stomach at the sight of Hannah and Aria, standing alone in front of Scorpius's home. And he used the word 'home' lightly.

Hannah looked stressed and highly apologetic.

"She no come," Aria said, unnecessarily.

"I think she was just tired," Hannah said quickly.

"She's mad we left," Scorpius clarified. Then he sighed. "Mad enough not to say goodbye. Twice. Well, that's just lovely."

"Scorpius…" Hannah was visibly upset, so Scorpius forced a smile as he stepped forward to grab his little sister from her arms.

"Thank you for bringing her," he said, leaning forward for a one-armed hug.

Hannah stayed in the hug for much longer than was necessary. "Oh, sweetie you don't have to thank me. You know I'd do just anything for you." When she pulled away, she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. "You write whenever you get the chance, you hear me? If you need anything, we'll be here in the blink of an eye. And if you need someone to babysit—"

"I know who to call." Scorpius laughed and hugged her again. "Thanks Hannah. I'll miss you."

Hannah looked like she might cry. "Oh my babies, I'll miss you too."

Aria seemed to sense the sadness in the air. "'Anna, why you cryin'?"

Hannah stroked Aria's hair. "I'm not crying, sweet girl. Don't you worry about a thing. Be good for your big brother, okay?"

"Okay. Bye bye 'Anna."

"Bye bye baby."

And Hannah had to turn around so Aria wouldn't see that she actually was crying.

Neville stepped forward then, placing one hand on Scorpius's shoulder and the other on Aria's back. "You kids need anything, promise me you'll call."

Scorpius nodded.

"Say you promise," Neville said, always a stickler. He knew Scorpius was not one who liked to lie, so he would make him say the words aloud.

"I promise to call if we need you."

Neville nodded, a small smile curving the corner of his mouth. "Alright, take care then. You'd better visit more than you did last summer."

"Yes sir," Scorpius laughed. He turned towards the house, grabbing the luggage and was about to open the door when Neville's voice called out, "And Scorpius?"

He turned. "Yes sir?"

"Don't worry about Clarie." Neville's face seemed much more open now than it had just moments before. "She'll come around. She's just upset."

Scorpius nodded again, but didn't say anything in reply. He turned and walked back to his old life, wishing he never had to, but knowing it was for the best.

"I hate leaving him here," Hannah whispered, when the door shut behind the two children she'd grown to love as her own over the past two years.

"I know," Neville sighed. "I do too. Very much."

"Then why do we?" Hannah demanded, turning her wide, teary eyes on her husband. "Why must we leave him at a place he's miserable at, where we know he won't even be looked after? Why not try and contest Draco's rights—?"

"The Malfoys would never stand for that," Neville cut her off. "Hannah, we've discussed this before. As long as Lucius and Narcissa are still living, Scorpius will never come to live with anyone other than their son. Draco may have no say-so due to his condition, but they are Scorpius's next of kin, and therefore, they have rights."

Neville was sure he could see real fire in hannah's eyes. "And when was the last time they so much as spoke one word to their grandchildren, hmm? When was the last time they bothered to pay a visit to their ailing son to see what's become of him because of their life choices? How does all that give them more rights to Scorpius and Aria's welfare than us, who look after them and love them every day of the year?"

Neville shook his head. "According to the law, blood is thicker than water."

"Hogwash." Hannah glared daggers at him. "That rule is absurd. That rule is what landed our daughter in the situation she found herself in when we first saw her."

"Hannah, can we talk about this later?" Neville pleaded, glancing back at Malfoy Manor with some trepidation. "There's nothing we can do about it now."

Hannah did not stop grumbling as he lead her away, but Neville figured even she knew he was correct. There was nothing they could do. No matter how much they loved Scorpius and Aria Malfoy, they were not their children and likely would never be.

Scorpius sighed as he made his way slowly into the house he'd grown up in, carefully setting down his little sister once they'd made it to the living room. It was always such a dreary place when Scorpius returned after a refreshing break away. What was he thinking? It was always such a dreary place period, but it was more noticeable when one had been away for a while.

"Hullo Scorpius."

Scorpius yelped, and took a step back, meaning to step in front of Aria to protect her, but finding out soon enough that that was not necessary. For it was not an intruder, nor a Death Eater, that had surprised Scorpius. It was Harry Potter.

Scorpius had the strange little deja-vu feeling that this moment was much like the one he'd experienced last summer, when Hermione Granger-Weasley had been waiting for him at his house when he'd come home from Hogwarts after first year, or when he'd gone to Number 12 Grimmauld Place for Albus's birthday and Harry Potter had surprised him in the hallway. Scorpius didn't know why he was even that surprised anymore.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Potter, didn't see you there. Er, hullo sir."

Harry smiled, which was a bit strange to Scorpius, but at least he wasn't angry. Scorpius would be terrified out of his wits to see an angry Harry Potter.

Come to think of it, it was just Scorpius's luck that he'd gotten to be best mates with the son of the man Scorpius was almost as afraid of as he was his own father.

"I was just upstairs, checking on your father. He's sleeping. Should wake in a few hours."

Merlin's beard, Scorpius thought. Had Harry Potter put a sleeping spell on his father?

"So, did you see Ginny and Lily at the platform when you and Al got there?" Harry asked, sitting on the couch like he'd done this a million times. Seeing as he and his friends checked on Scorpius's father on a near daily occurrence, though, he probably had.

"Yes sir." Scorpius sat in the chair that was closest where his sister sat in the floor, playing with Scorpius's owl. Alden had appeared out of nowhere, somehow magically knowing where Scorpius was even though he'd forgotten to tell the bird this morning that he would not be returning to Hannah and Neville's house, or to his and Aria's dorm at Hogwarts.

Harry nodded. "Lily starts Hogwarts next year. She's been so excited. She and Lucy have spent a good deal of time together these last few months, discussing what it will be like for them." He chuckled. "You've met Lucy, haven't you?"

"Molly's sister, yes sir. She and your daughter are very outgoing." That was a nice enough compliment for Harry Potter's daughter and niece, right? It was the only thing he'd been able to think of at the time. It had been almost a year since he'd met either Lily Potter or Lucy Weasley.

"Yes,they are. Very outgoing and smart, the both of them. Luna's sons too, shockingly." Harry laughed, and Scorpius did too, figuring this was some sort of joke he should have been let in on.

"They'll be attending Hogwarts next year as well, then?" Scorpius asked, just to be polite. He honestly had no idea why Harry was still here, and would actually prefer him to leave. The awkward small talk was a bit much, though Scorpius appreciated the effort. He wondered if Al had put his father up to this, or maybe James. Either way, he'd kill the both of them if he ever found out this was the case.

"Lorcan and Lysander," Harry said, nodding again. Scorpius briefly wondered if Harry's head would fall off from nodding so much, because that seemed to be how he answered every question Scorpius did not dared to ask him. "The twins. Yes, they're quiet, but don't let that fool you. They're very sneaky. Might have even given Fred and George a run for their money."

"Oh, I high doubt that," Scorpius laughed, before he could stop himself.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Oh really? How would you know that?"

Scorpius seemed to shrink in on himself a little. "Well, it's just….I've heard all the stories. You see sir, Fred Weasley's portrait guards my dormitory and—"

"Fred's what?" All the color seemed to drain from Harry's face.

Scorpius was surprised. "His portrait. Didn't you know?"

"No."

Scorpius couldn't tell if Harry Potter was just shocked, angry, or upset. Maybe a mixture of them all.

"Do James and Albus know about this?" He demanded suddenly.

Scorpius didn't know what to say. "Er….I suppose? They've been to my dorm, so I suppose the must've."

Very suddenly, Harry stood. "Well then, if you'll excuse me…"

And he disappeared. Scorpius stared at the place Harry Potter had been. He hadn't even walked out the door to disapparate.

"Weird," Aria told him as she fiddled with the old radio by the fireplace.

"Yes it was," Scorpius agreed.

"Is Mama comin' home today?" Aria wondered, making Scorpius sigh. He pulled out his wand, knowing another fire was soon to come.

Three days into summer vacation, Clarie woke up several hours earlier than she needed to. Her mother wouldn't have to go to work for another two hours, and Clarie wouldn't be expected to wake until two or three hours after that. And there was no telling what time Neville would wake up during the summer. He generally liked to sleep in, but his internal alarm clock often woke him up early in the summer as well.

So Clarie was up at the crack of dawn. Her plan would require her being the only one awake for it to go off without a flaw.

Sadly, Clarie knew she would not get away with using magic this summer, despite the fact that she lived in a wizard village. No, this trip would have to be taken the muggle way. She did not want to risk being tracked.

Clarie grabbed a small bag and stuffed some breakfast bars in it, along with a water bottle. She didn't know how much she'd need, but she figured she would make it to her destination before sundown, so she wouldn't die of hunger or thirst.

And where was it, exactly, that Clarie was going? Well, her parents certainly wouldn't be happy if they found out. It was the one place in the world she was prohibited to go while Scorpius was not.

She was going to Malfoy Manor.

It was late at night when Scorpius heard the doorbell ring. He groaned, because he'd already put Aria to bed, and she was likely to wake up and want to know who was there if she heard him talking to someone.

Scorpius rolled off the couch and set his spell book down. Whoever was here was keeping him from studying some very useful charms.

The doorbell rang again. It reverberated all around the house. "Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming," Scorpius said as loudly as he could without waking up Aria.

When Scorpius yanked the door open, a finger about hit him in the eye where a short someone was about to ring the doorbell yet again.

"Watch it!" Scorpius said, grabbing the finger of a very familiar hand. His voice had turned to nearly a growl as he said, "Lower your hat."

Clarie did so sheepishly. "Sorry," she laughed.

"Bloody hell Clarie, do you have any idea what time of night it is? Aria's asleep."

"Sorry," Clarie said again, trying to push past him, but Scorpius held his arm out. Clarie frowned up at him. "What, can't I come in?"

"No." Scorpius was adamant about this. It was one thing for Neville and his friends to come by, or even Teddy and Victorie. They were all adults, and only those who looked after Scorpius's father ever actually saw him. They were the only ones who knew about how hard it could get in this house. Scorpius did not want Clarie to see any of that.

"Scorpius." Clarie seemed outraged. "Honestly, do you have any idea how hard it was for me to get here? I've been traveling all day trying to find your house."

Scorpius closed his eyes and rested his head against the doorframe. "And why, might I ask, did you do that Clarissa?"

"Don't you Clarissa me, Scorpius Malfoy." When Scorpius opened his eyes again, Clarie was glaring at him. "I did not come all this way without magic and risk everything I did just to have you turn me away when I ring the doorbell."

This would not go over well, Scorpius was sure. If he sent Clarie away, she'd never forgive him and he'd lose his best friend. But if he invited her in….

"No," he said, shaking his head. He felt his stomach drop with fear of what he knew was to come. "I'm sorry Clarie, but you cannot come inside. Not now, not ever. This is no place for you."

"Yet you'll let your three year old baby sister stay inside the entire summer!"

"I'm with her." Scorpius knew she was just trying to rile him up, but he nonetheless felt anger welling up inside him.

"You'd be with me too, would you not?" Clarie said defiantly. "And what is it you think would be so bad if I stepped inside your house for a bit, hmm?"

Scorpius took a step towards her. "Clarie, do Hannah and Neville even know you're here?"

"Of course not!" She threw up her hands in exasperation. "They'd never have let me come, and you know good and well that you're not planning on visiting until Al's birthday at the very least. It'll be last year all over again, and I just won't stand for that. So either you let me in, or I'll find some way to drag you and Aria back to Hogsmeade myself."

Clarie pulled out her wand and pointed it menacingly at him. This did not bother Scorpius nearly as much as it would if he were facing the tip of anyone else's wand unarmed. Clary would never do anything to endanger his life. The most she might do is stupefy him and invite herself in the house, which Scorpius seriously hoped she wasn't thinking of doing.

"Carry!"

Suddenly Aria was there, pushing her way past Scorpius before he could even blink and launching herself into Clarie's arms.

"Aria!" Scorpius was livid. "I told you to go to bed!"

"I did, but I got up again," his sister replied cheekily.

Scorpius groaned, and in his small moment of distraction, Clarie pushed right past him into the house. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!"

"What's the matter dear?" Clarie grinned back at him "Are you upset you were outwitted by a child and a girl?"

"I not a child," Aria pouted.

"Oh no, I'm sorry." Clarie beamed down at Scorpius's sister. "No, you're not a child. You're a big girl."

"I a big girl," Aria repeated, giggling. "Like Mummy."

"Bollocks," Scorpius muttered, heading into the living room for his wand that he'd stupidly left on the side table when he'd gone to answer the door. He could've ended this whole ordeal easily if he'd had his wand to trap Clarie there until her parents could come and get her.

"That a bad word!" Aria called after him.

"So don't say it," was Scorpius's response when he reentered the entryway where Clarie was still standing with Aria in her arms.

Clarie wore muggle clothes—or what passed for them. Scorpius could never understand why wizards did not know how to dress like a common muggle. Some did, like Neville or Hermione. But people like Ron and Clarie had no idea. She was wearing a long, scarlet trench coat with a bright red t-shirt and green skinny jeans. To top it all off, she had a yellow fedora and brown cowgirl boots.

"Okay," he sighed, giving up. He had to ask. "Where on earth did you get those clothes?"

"A lost-and-found." She shrugged. "I know, they're awful. Kind of liked the hat though."

"You didn't even need a hat. And who wears a yellow fedora?"

"Is that what this thing is called?"

Scorpius sighed. "Yes. I was fortunate enough to learn how to dress myself in muggle clothing when I was a boy. Our mother was quite obsessed with muggle fashion."

"I wanna wear Mummy's clothes," Aria said, pouting. Suddenly a large, green fire erupted in the grate.

Scorpius sighed and went to put it out. "At least that's where fires are supposed to be lit."

Clarie gave him a pitying look as she set Aria down. "Does this happen more often at home?"

"Couple times a week."

"Sorry Bubba," Aria mumbled. Scorpius patted her head.

"It's alright Ari. Now why don't you go on upstairs and go back to sleep."

"But Carry's here," she protested.

"Clarie will still be here in the morning."

"She will?" Aria asked excitedly, at the same time Clarie said in a shocked voice, "I will?"

"Yes, yes." Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Well we can't just let her out into the street at this time of night, now can we?"

It had still taken a while for Scorpius and Clarie to wrangle Aria into bed, but that was something they were both used to from the many nights at the Longbottoms' house.

They were both breathing hard when they finally shut the door behind them, both leaning against it. Clarie laughed. "That was fun. Like old times, eh?"

"Old times?" Scorpius couldn't help but grin in spite of himself. "Clarie, I just saw you three days ago."

She beamed up at him.

"Scorpius!" A voice yelled. They both jumped, and Clarie's eyes widened slightly.

Scorpius shut his eyes. "Clarie, stay right where you are, I mean it." Then he walked for the door in which the voice was coming from. Clarie could hear him all the way down the hall as he entered the room and said, in an exasperated tone, "Merlin, Father, can't you keep your voice down? Aria's just been put to sleep."

Clarie crept closer to hear more clearly what was being said.

"There's someone else here!" Draco Malfoy barked. "I know it, I heard voices!"

"Father, you've been at the firewhiskey again. There's no one else here."

Clarie bit her lip. Scorpius hated to lie, and she knew he was only doing so for her benefit. Draco Malfoy would not like her being here one bit.

"I am not an invalid!" Draco cried. "I am your father and you will not lie to me! Tell me who is in this house right now before I'm forced to get up and see for myself. And your little friend won't like it if I find them on my premises uninvited, I can assure you that."

"Okay, okay!"

Clarie was hiding just by the doorframe and could see through the small crack into the room. Scorpius was holding his hands up in surrender as his father thrashed around in his bed. "Father, please calm down. It's just Mr. Weasley. He came to check on you, but I told him to bugger off until the morning, that it was bad enough he made house calls during the day. He needn't bother you with his presence during night hours as well. I'm sure he's leaving as we speak."

"See to it that he does," Draco seethed. Just as Scorpius went to turn around, though, Draco's hand whipped out from under the covers and wrapped itself tightly around Scorpius's lower arm. "And if I find out that you're lying to me, boy, there will be severe consequences."

"Yes sir." Scorpius ripped his arm away from his father's grasp, and Clarie just had time to scoot along the wall several steps before Scorpius came out. "How much of that did you hear?" He asked in a low, dangerous tone that Clarie had never thought in a million years would come from sweet little Scorpius Malfoy's mouth.

"Not much," she lied, but her voice came out as a sort of squeak, and she knew she'd been caught.

Scorpius let out a snort."Yeah, I bet." He sighed. "It doesn't matter. Come with me. I'll get you settled in for the night."

He set off at a brisk pace down the long hallway and Clarie nearly had to run to keep up. "These are our guest chambers," he said, keeping his eyes away from Clarie's. His voice was flat, emotionless. "I want you to lock the door the moment I leave and do not open it for anyone. If there is an emergency, I have a key. Ring the bell to let me know when you're awake and I'll tell you if it is safe to come out or not."

"I'm trapped?" Clarie said, incredulous.

"Think of it however you like." Scorpius still would not look at her.

"Scorpius...your father—"

"Papercuts, Clarie," Scorpius said, finally turning his intense eyes on her. He was using her words from the other day against her, Clarie was sure. But the ferocity she saw in his eyes made Clarie shut up pretty quick. She didn't need Scorpius to be any madder at her than he already was.

She sighed and stepped into the room. Scorpius shut the door behind her with a loud 'thud' before Clarie even had the chance to tell him good night.

Scorpius lay awake in his bed, tossing and turning. He was angry, so very angry, at Clarie, at his father, at the world in general. But mostly he just felt miserable. He was home, but this place hadn't really been his home since his mother had been killed. So really, Scorpius was away from his home. His home was Hogwarts, and the Longbottoms' small house. His home was his new family. His home was Neville out in the garden at all hours, and Hannah trying to teach Aria how to cook. His home was his friends and his baby sister. Scorpius was homesick, plain and simple. Homesick, even though by all legal standards, he was home.

Scorpius highly doubted Malfoy Manor would ever feel like home to him again.

I guess we'll pick up around the same spot next chapter. It would go o

n way too long if I continued this the way I wanted to, so until then, later muggles.

*I don't own anything you might recognize.

God bless you all!

-Daddysgirl11