A/N: Never fear, the next chapter is here! I'm back :D missed this story, but it was good to take a break and clear my head for a bit. So, now we're back in business. I don't know how often I'll be updating over the next week or two, being the holidays and all, but I promise I'll update as often as I can!
Anyways, here's the latest! Enjoy.
Scorpius watched in fascination as the first few rays of sunlight peered over the edge of the distant horizon, waving their wispy orange tendrils in greeting to the start of a new day. He crossed his legs underneath his thin frame, propping his chin up in between his hands as he watched the sunrise.
He was currently seated on the cold, stone floor of his bedroom's small balcony. It had been three and a half weeks since he left Hogwarts. Twenty-five days since he had last seen his friends. Since he had last seen her.
Rose was all Scorpius could think about at night. He dreamed of her, longed to see her with every fiber of his being. Over the course of their last few months at Hogwarts, she had become his closest companion. He missed her dearly. The worst part was not being able to write to her, or engage in any sort of communication. Lucius was watching.
Thus far, his summer break had been rather uneventful. Scorpius felt once again the force of his grandfather's power after being under this roof again. To make matters worse, Lucius himself was coming to Malfoy Manor the very next day to stay for an entire week. He could nearly feel the choking grasp of Lucius winding its way around him, binding him to his will and wishes.
Scorpius was once again coming to the realization that this would be his life. He could never escape from this. If he hadn't already been sitting down, he would have collapsed to the cold-hard floor in defeat, knowing there was no hope of being free of his family name.
"Scorpius?" he nearly jumped out of his skin. Glancing over his shoulder, Scorpius saw his father behind him. Draco had his eyebrows raised, clearly wondering why he was on the floor when there was a perfectly good chair right next to him.
"I-I couldn't sleep." Scorpius murmured, turning his gaze back to the sky awash in an astounding array of colors.
"Me neither." Draco replied in an equally soft tone, then joined him on the floor to the right of him. Scorpius relaxed a bit, feeling the warmth of his father next to him. "You miss Hogwarts?" Draco implored. Scorpius bit his lip, trying to be careful in choosing his words. He knew the statue of one of his ancestors was standing erectly near the door, watching and listening to every word he uttered.
"Yes." He answered simply, looking down at the tiled floor.
"I understand." His father replied. Scorpius felt a surge of guilt, hoping he didn't think he hadn't missed him and Mum.
"It's good to be home, though." He hastened to add, knowing how stiff it sounded. He glanced at his father, feeling a flush of relief at the understanding look that flooded his grey eyes.
"I'm sorry." Draco whispered, wrapping his arm around Scorpius' shoulder and pulling him closer. Scorpius knew what he meant and smiled gratefully at his father before settling into Draco's side.
Sitting together as father a son, they watched the sunrise. Feeling no need to break the comfortable silence, neither said anything. They sat quietly, enjoying the breathtaking view. For the first time since the summer break had started, Scorpius felt happy, content. He and his father hadn't gotten much time to themselves, and now he felt strangely at peace with everything, feeling safe and secure in his father's embrace despite the shadow of fear and doubt that hung over the house.
When the sun was well on its way to its midday peak, Scorpius and Draco finally stood and made their way downstairs together for breakfast. Astoria was waiting patiently for them in the dining room.
"Ah, there you are," She said, smiling as Draco strolled over and leaned down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"We were watching the sunrise." He explained, sitting down at the head of the table. Scorpius scooted into his own chair across from his mother and dug into the food Amanda had just brought in.
"I see." Astoria replied, taking a small sip of her coffee. "Well, I have some good news."
"What?" Draco inquired, his head shooting upward. Scorpius leaned forward curiously as well. His mother picked up a letter next to her placemat and handed it to Draco.
"Scorpius has been invited to a three-day house party at the Scamander's place." Astoria answered. "We're all invited, actually, but someone has to stay and keep Lucius company."
"Hm." Draco muttered, inspecting the letter. "Yes, it is this weekend. You and Scorpius may go, I'll stay here with my father."
"Draco…" Astoria responded, giving him a pointed look. Scorpius watched as Draco took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I'll be alright." He assured her, smiling the best he could. He didn't fool anyone. Scorpius could see the fear and terror hidden deep in his father's eyes.
"I can stay with you-"
"Astoria." Draco gave her a look that said everything. Scorpius swallowed nervously, watching as his mother reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"It's settled, then." She said in a resigned voice, then stood to her feet, the chair scraping against the hardwood floor. "I better respond and tell them we're coming."
Scorpius could tell she wasn't too pleased with the situation, but Draco had been insistent. Part of him was worried over what would transpire with just his father and grandfather in the house, yet the other was ecstatic at the thought of seeing his friends again. His heart gave a little leap when he realized Rose might be there as well.
Summer break suddenly didn't seem so bad after all.
Rose nearly flew face-first into the grass, her broom shaking violently beneath her.
"Watch it!" she shouted to Albus as he grinned mischievously from his own broom. The bludger (that was really just a baseball they had charmed into flying) had hit her broom, almost sending her into a fall.
"That's the way Quidditch works, Rose." Albus fired back. Rose shot him a dirty glare before swinging viciously at the quaffle and sending it flying through the air towards her fellow chaser, the one and only Ron Weasley.
"I got it!" he shouted, lunging atop his broom for the enchanted, flying ball. He missed by mere inches and the quaffle flew past him towards Ginny.
"I give up!" Hugo yelled from the goalpost. Rose looked at her brother/teammate in pity. They were being absolutely decimated by the other team.
They were three and a half weeks into summer break, and Rose was somewhere in between having the time of her life, and wishing more than anything that it would end. She had been staying at the Burrow with her grandparents and other relatives for the past week, yet she still missed Scorpius terribly. He was one of her closest friends, but she couldn't even send him a letter, lest she risk Lucius finding out.
"It would help immensely if you could stop a ball every new and then." Ron shouted to his son.
"Ron!" Hermione yelled from the sideline, where she sat on a quilt with Molly. "Be nice." Arthur, who was the acting referee, blew his whistle.
"Unnecessary rudeness." He exclaimed, causing a ripple of laughter to pass through the group.
"Really Ron, you should be kicked out of the game." Harry teased from his current position next to James at the opposite goalpost.
"I was joking." Ron muttered in defense as he dismounted his broom.
Rose smiled to herself at her father's antics while she climbed off her own broom and walked to the shed. She was about halfway there when an owl suddenly swooped in front of her, bearing a letter inside a blue envelope. Curious, she dropped her broom and unfastened the envelope from the owl, giving it a scratch on the neck in thanks.
As the owl fluttered away gracefully into the mid-morning sky, Rose opened the envelope and pulled out the sheet of cream-colored parchment nestled inside. Her eyes scanned the paper, lighting up as she read its contents.
To Miss Rose Weasley:
You are invited to a three-day house party at the residence of Lorcan and Lysander Scamander. Food will be provided throughout the course of the event. Parents and siblings are welcome to stay as well. Festivities will commence at noon on Friday the 15th of July. If you are able to attend, please RSVP. We hope to see you on the 15th!
Best wishes to you and yours,
The Scamander Family
"Mum!" Rose shouted whirling around on the grass and racing full speed towards her mother.
"What is it, dear?" Hermione Weasley inquired, giving her a worried look. Rose handed her the letter, catching her breath as she read it.
"May I go?" She asked, trying to put on the most innocent face she could. Her mother finished reading and looked back up at her.
"I'll have to clear it with your father, but I'm pretty certain you can."
Rose gave a yell of excitement, dancing around the blanket as Molly and Hermione chuckled at her enthusiasm. Eventually, she stopped celebrating and plopped down next to her mother and grandmother, yet the thrill remained. Her happiness doubled when something else occurred to her; Scorpius might be there.
A grin lighting up the freckled planes of her face, Rose got the feeling that her summer break was about to get a whole lot better.
A/N: there ya have it! Thanks for reading, and please review if you get a chance!