Warning: Abuse in this chapter...be wary.

Also, I'm very nervous about what you all will feel about the new developments going on. Please let me know! :)

Chapter 10:

It was the day after all of the confusion at the Ministry, and Ron sat babysitting his nephews. James was working hard to prove to his dad that he could be trustworthy again. He had finished all of his apologies and was quickly catching up on the paperwork that he should have finished the day before.

Harry was taking a much needed break in Hermione's office. He sat with her as she finished filing some paperwork. He had just finished telling her everything James had tested him with that week.

"I really don't know what to do with him, Hermione. Am I just a horrible parent, or what?"

"No Harry, of course not. He is at that age. Don't you remember when you were twelve?"

"I did not have as much attitude as he does."

She added quietly, "Maybe you would have done if your father had been around."

He glared at her.

"I didn't mean any offense, Harry. I just meant that he's doing it because he knows he can. He is pushing your boundaries. You have to show him who is in control."

Harry sighed and laid his head down on her desk.

"So what do I do?"

His voice was muffled with his face against the pine of the desk.

"Honestly, I think you need to be more firm with him. After what he pulled yesterday, I'm surprised you didn't spank him. It's what I would have done."

Harry moved his face enough to look at her.

"He's almost thirteen. You don't spank a teenager."

"You do when it's all that will get through to said teenager. He was almost expelled, Harry. I think this is the end of the line. I love James with all of my heart, but he needs to be taught a lesson here."

"That's why I took Quidditch away from him. And to be honest, I think that's the only thing that's gotten through to him. Although, I also think it's part of the reason he acted out yesterday."

"Well, what does Ginny say?"

He sighed. "She says she supports my decision to take him out of the game. I'm just not sure it's going to be enough."

"Well, you are a wonderful father, and I'm sure you'll come up with the perfect solution."

"Solution to what?" Ron asked as he joined them.

"Wait, who's watching the boys?" Harry asked.

"Not to worry, I left them with Seamus."

"And what part of that sentence is not supposed to worry me?"

"They're fine, Harry."

Ron sat in the other chair in front of Hermione's desk. "So what are you discussing so intently in here?"

"My rebellious son," Harry said with a note of exhaustion in his voice. "I was asking for advice on what I should do with him. What would you do, Ron?"

"I do whatever my wife tells me to do," he answered with a smile directed at Hermione.

"Good answer," she said, returning the smile.

"Well, in this case, I don't really agree with your wife. No offense."

"Why? She tell you to tan him?"

"Yes. And believe me, I've contemplated it. But he's a bit too old for that."

Ron shrugged, "I think I was his age the last time I got it from Mum."

Harry was a bit surprised to hear that.

"Wait, when? I was with you the whole time. We were in school, remember?"

Ron ran his fingers through his hair, still slightly embarrassed at the memory.

"Er...yeah, I never did tell you, did I? Do you remember that day I got the howler at school, after we took the car? Well, that night after dinner, Mum decided I needed more of a 'reminder' about the gravity of the situation. She flooed herself to Dumbledore's office and I was called in. It was definitely not a pleasant surprise."

"Where was I?" Harry asked.

"Probably sleeping. Or just in the dorm avoiding that idiot Lockhart."

"I guess I do remember you acting strangely around that time, but I thought it was just the howler."

"You know my mother. She never is content with saying something only once."

Harry laughed. He could definitely picture his mother-in-law coming to the school in all of her rage and indignation, intent on paddling her son.

"You laugh now, but you were never on the receiving end of one of her smackings. The woman has a heavy hand. I still remember how much it hurt."

Now Hermione was laughing with Harry. Ron just shook his head and shuddered. He didn't find anything funny about the situation...he just remembered the sting his mother had left in his backside all those years ago.

Before Harry and Hermione could fully recover from their bout of humor, a memo flew into the office. Harry grabbed it with a deft hand, his reflexes still sharp from his Quidditch days.

"It's from Seamus. Gin's here, she brought lunch for all of us."

Ron looked nervous. "She didn't make it herself, I hope."

"Ron, you wouldn't be insulting my wife's cooking, now would you? Because I would have to defend her honor," a slight smile was playing behind his words.

"Hey, she was my sister before she was your wife. And I know how she is in the kitchen. If she made that food herself, I'd rather go hungry."

Harry's smile broadened, but Hermione scowled at her husband. "Ronald, that isn't very nice."

"What? I'm just trying to protect us. I wouldn't want Rosie and Hugo to become orphans just because we didn't take the warning signs of something potentially harmful."

She swatted his arm playfully, and they all made their way upstairs to Harry's office, where Ginny was waiting.

The first twenty-four hours of Scorpius's time at Malfoy Manor had been pretty uneventful. He had his meals with his grandparents, and he answered more questions about his time at Hogwarts than he ever thought possible. And when he wasn't eating, he was left to his own devices. He played outside some, using his father's old broomstick to fly around the grounds. But that got old. Then he explored all of the rooms he was allowed to enter, but one could only take so many statues, gargoyles or library books that were strictly hands-off. After lunch on his second day at the manor, Scorpius decided to venture down a wing that he had never tried before. The hall was only lighted by a few dim candles, so he knew it hadn't been used very often. He tried opening the first door. Locked. He tried every other door along the wall and came to the same conclusion. He did not want to risk being caught around all of these restricted rooms, so he started to make his way back to his own corridor.

But that was when he heard the screaming. It was coming from one of the locked rooms behind him. He ran back and tried the door again. It wouldn't budge.

The screaming continued.

It sounded like a woman's voice, and she was terrified. He tried to come to another decision, but the only thing he could think about was saving that poor woman. He took out his wand, pointed it at the door and shouted, "ALOHOMORA!"

He had never used the spell, but Rose had told him about it once. It worked like a charm. He heard the lock click and the door creaked open. Without thinking, he barreled into the room. He looked around, but didn't see anything. As soon as he had come in the door, the screaming had ceased. His blood was pumping with adrenaline, and his heart was beating a mile a minute. But the more he looked around the room, all he saw was another empty study. He sighed, thinking he must have imagined the woman, even though it had sounded more real than anything he had heard in his life. He turned to leave and ran directly into someone. He looked up into the livid face of his grandfather. Lucius Malfoy was not impressed.

Harry kissed his wife tenderly on the cheek, while Ron immediately inspected the food.

"Did this come from O'Neill's?" He asked his sister suspiciously.

"Yes, Ron. Why?"

"No reason. I just really like their food," he shrugged. He didn't make eye contact, for fear of her guessing that he was overjoyed she hadn't made the food herself.

"Uh-huh," she said, not believing him for a minute.

He looked in the bag more closely.

"There isn't a lot of food here, Gin. Did you already eat or something?"

"Oh. Actually, you're right. There's really only enough food for the two of you and the boys," she indicated Ron and Hermione.

"I was hoping to bribe you with food so that you would watch them, while I take Harry out for lunch."

She gave Hermione a knowing look.

"You didn't have to bribe us, Ginny. Of course we'll watch them," Hermione said.

"Speak for yourself," Ron said. "I'll take payment."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him as Ginny turned to her sons. "Behave yourselves, boys. We'll be back soon."

Before they started to leave, Harry pulled James aside for a minute.

"Listen. I want you to know that I'm very proud of the way you owned up to your mistake from yesterday. You've been doing a great job today, and you need to be aware that it hasn't gone unnoticed."

James blushed at the compliment.

"However..." Harry held a finger up to his son, "If you misbehave while we're gone, you may have to face more trouble than you would get from me. I have it on good authority that your Aunt Hermione does not, in fact, believe you are too old for a spanking. So you better watch it with her."

James looked at his aunt and gulped. But then he spied his dad wink at Hermione as he left. He didn't know whether to take him seriously then or not, but he figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

As Harry and Ginny sat at their designated table in their favorite Italian restaurant, he couldn't help but notice that his wife was acting strangely. She was wringing her hands, taking extra long sips of her water and getting lost in her thoughts.

"Are you alright, Gin?"

She didn't seem to hear him.

"Ginny?" He asked a little louder.

"Huh? Oh...yes, I'm fine."

Harry wasn't convinced. "You want to tell me why we're out to lunch today? I mean, don't get me wrong, this is very nice. But...it's not an every day occurrence. Is there some sort of special occasion today or something?"

Ginny looked up at him and tried to smile, but it came out looking more pained than happy.

"Harry...I'm pregnant."

He froze. He was definitely not expecting her to say that. He was in so much shock, that he couldn't put two coherent thoughts together.

"Harry? Did you hear me?"

"Erm...yes, I heard you," was all he could say.

"Well...did you have any sort of reaction to what I just told you?"

He still couldn't think of any appropriate response.

"Harry, I'm having a baby. Please tell me what you're thinking."

Before he could try to respond again, the waiter came with their food. He could sense the tension between his customers, so he tried his best to leave the food quickly and mumbled, "Enjoy your meal," before retreating post haste.

Harry looked at his wife again.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive, Harry. I performed all the detection spells I know of. Three times each. And I even picked up a muggle pregnancy test. All signs point to yes."

"But, I thought...I thought we couldn't have any more children."

Ginny nodded. "That's what the healer told us after Lily. But it wouldn't be the first time they were mistaken about something."

"I suppose you're right about that. But why now?" He lowered his voice even more before saying, "I mean, it's not like we've been extra careful over the last nine years. We thought you couldn't get pregnant. And now all of a sudden, it works? It's just so strange."

"All I know, is that we'll be having a baby in approximately eight months."

Harry ran his hands through his hair. Neither one of them had touched their food.

"This is all so overwhelming. I am in complete shock."

"Tell me about it," she said under her breath.

He looked up at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"Oh, Gin. I'm so sorry, I didn't even think about how you might be feeling right now. Just like a man, right? Are you alright? Have you been sick?"

She tried to smile. "I'm fine. I haven't felt sick at all, yet. I've just been more tired, I guess."

He took her hand in his. "Are you happy?"

"I'm not sure, Harry. I had gotten used to the idea that we were done with babies. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love all of our children. But...a baby? It's going to be a big change. By the time this child goes to Hogwarts, Lily will be twenty-one. Our sons will most likely be having children of their own. I'm in shock as well."

He took her face in his hand.

"Ginny, I love you. And yes, this will probably not be easy. But if anyone can do it, you can. And I will be with you every step of the way."

A single tear made it's way down her fair cheek.

"Thank you," she said in a whisper.

He leaned over and kissed her. Then he placed his forehead against hers and they stayed silent for a bit, relishing the moment. Then he sat up and the smile on his face threatened to take over his entire being.

"This is cause for celebration! Waiter!"

The young man headed swiftly back over to their table.

"We need some champagne over here...Er- I mean sparkling water. I'm going to be a father again!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Potter! I'll bring it straight away," he said.

Everyone in the restaurant began clapping at Harry's proud announcement. Ginny turned as red as her hair, but she was smiling at his sudden enthusiasm. If anyone could make her feel comfortable with such an unexpected change in her life, it would be her Harry.

Lucius Malfoy dragged his grandson downstairs to the main study. Scorpius had tried apologizing and explaining what had happened until he was blue in the face, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"When I give you an order, I expect you to obey me no matter what, young man. You are just like your father. You expect that you know better than your elders. Well I'm telling you right now, you will regret going into that room."

They had reached the study and Lucius hauled the terrified boy over to the desk and made him bend over it.

"Please, Grandfather, I was just trying to help! I really did think I heard someone screaming!"

Tears were streaming down his face.

"Nonsense! Why would there be anyone screaming in my house? The only person making noise here will be you, boy!"

Scorpius wondered fleetingly what had happened to his kind grandfather. And then the next thing he knew, his trousers and underpants had been charmed down to his knees.

"Hold on to the other side of the desk, Scorpius. You are not to move during this punishment, or I will begin again."

"Please don't...please, I am sorry," Scorpius pleaded quietly.

He felt something long, hard and cold touch his backside. He wanted to vomit when he realized it was his grandfather's cane. He kept hoping this was just a nightmare, but he couldn't make himself wake up.

A moment later, he heard the cane whoosh in the air and then connect with his bottom with a resounding CRACK! The impact of the cane was too much for his eleven-year-old mind to handle. He screamed and grabbed onto the desk until his knuckles were white. The cane came down harshly on his backside and upper thighs over and over, until he thought he would pass out from the pain. A pool of liquid was gathering on the desk under his face, as he bathed the wood with his tears. Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to take any more, he felt another few lashes from the cane. And then without warning, his clothing was unceremoniously returned to its proper position.

Lucius put his cane off to the side and walked over to the desk, where his grandson still stood, bent over and crying. "I am sorry you made me do that, Scorpius. Maybe now you will remember to obey me when I tell you not to do something."

He swept out of the room and Scorpius began to sob again. He wanted to go home. No, not even there. He wanted to go to Hogwarts. He needed to see the only person who genuinely cared for him. He needed her kind words and reassuring smile. He didn't care what he would have to do. After this week, he would never be staying at Malfoy Manor again.

End of Chapter