A/N: I didn't quite realise how long this chapter was until I'd finished writing it, and it wouldn't split in half very well, so you're getting a very, very long chapter this time.

Unfortunately, school starts again tomorrow :( so don't expect updates quite so often.

Looking Ahead

Scorpius,

I heard from your father that your exam results were brilliant. Congratulations. After all the work you put in, you certainly deserve them. Did your friends achieve the results they wanted?

You must be back at school by now. How are you enjoying being a NEWT student? I remember finding it very strange at first; dropping subjects I had done since first year. Talking of subjects, what did you decide to continue with in the end? I'm sure that with your grades you can't have had much trouble being allowed to do whatever you liked.

I'm sorry your Grandad and I didn't make it over to visit you this summer. Grandad has been very ill lately and couldn't travel, and I wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving him alone, even with the house elves there to take care of him. The house elves have never liked him very much, is spite of us quite willingly implementing Mrs Weasley's proposals of holidays, sick pay etc. for house elves. I suppose he was quite cruel to one of our house elves, Dobby, in the past.

Anyway, I'm sure Grandad will be fine, but until he recovers I am going to be staying at home a considerable amount, so please write as often as possible. Hearing about all the things that are happening at Hogwarts is always very entertaining, and I often read parts of your letters to your Grandad, though nothing concerning Rose or Albus as I'm afraid he wouldn't particularly approve of them. But I think it really cheers him up to hear about how you are getting on at Hogwarts. It makes him feel a little more involved in the real world again, though he has convinced himself that you are in Slytherin, and is always asking how Professor Snape is getting on nowadays. You know what he's like; you saw a little of it when you came to visit last summer. He's grown steadily worse, however. Ranting about Professor Dumbledore, and how he won't have his son taught by some useless muggle-lover. I think he may still think the letters are from your father.

But I'm sure you don't wish to hear about all of this. You're young, and you must have far more interesting and exciting things to do than listen to me ramble about an old, confused man who's still stuck in the past because he can't accept that the world has moved on without him.

Write back soon, Scorpius, and bring a little laughter to this gloomy old house.

Lots of Love,

Grandma

Dear Grandma,

Yeah, Al and Rose both got great results. Rose was absolutely thrilled, but Al didn't seem quite so bothered. He doesn't tend to worry about academic stuff as much as Rose and I do.

This year I'm taking Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, Muggle Studies, Potions and Transfiguration. I wasn't planning to continue with Potions, but I got a good enough grade and I know Dad wants me to, so I thought I might as well. And besides, it keeps my options open. I still have no idea what I want to do after Hogwarts. We had a meeting with our head of house last year to discuss it, but that didn't help at all. I suppose I could do something to do with muggle relations. I think that would be quite interesting, and it would be fascinating to actually get to work with muggles and see how they live for myself, rather than just studying it in class. I think witches and wizards should get more opportunities to mingle with muggles, actually, and to be more comfortable living in the muggle world. I was talking to Professor Longbottom the other day and apparently the Ministry are considering bringing in a programme to educate people about muggles, and to promote relations between the muggle and wizarding world. Wouldn't it be great if they went ahead with it, and I could be involved with that?

I suppose that wasn't exactly a very good paragraph for you to share with Grandad, so perhaps I should tell you more about something else instead. Gryffindor won the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw last week. Ethan was playing, obviously, so Rose had to go and watch, and I went along to keep her company. Unfortunately, we ended up chatting the whole way through it and missed most of what happened, so Al had to fill us in on all the important stuff really quickly so that we could actually take part in the conversation once Ethan got changed and joined us. Luckily most of the conversation consisted of Ethan and a couple of other members of the Quidditch team analysing the match in great detail, and all we had to do was nod and smile and sound impressed.

The next match is Hufflepuff against Gryffindor, which never used to be a problem when Al, Rose and I went because none of us really cared who won, but now that we hang out with Ethan and a bunch of people who are on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team it's a bit more awkward because I always feel like I should be sitting with the Hufflepuffs and supporting them. Maybe I'll just go with some of the guys from my dorm. I just hope it's a short match. I'm not sure how much Quidditch I can sit through without Al and Rose there to distract me.

James, Cameron and Fred have brought back about five hundred of those really annoying fake wands that George Weasley's shop makes after the holiday, and they've been planting them in random places around the school. They're an absolute nightmare. Some of them are just the normal ones that turn into something when you pick them up, but some of them explode in your face, or seem completely normal until you try and do a spell and then they make it backfire, or shoot out fireworks, or turn you into a chicken. Needless to say, everyone is very careful before picking up a wand, and most people just avoid putting their wand down at all so that they know it's definitely theirs, and not some fake one somebody has managed to swap it for. I have to admit, it's been very entertaining. It's funniest when a teacher picks one up, and you should have seen the look on Professor Zabini's face when he picked up his wand (or what he thought was his wand) and it exploded, sending fireworks flying around the classrooms, most of which landed in cauldrons and caused them to blow up. It was utter chaos, but probably one of the best Potions classes I've ever had.

Rose and Al are both still in my Potions class, as well as Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures, but apart from that we have all taken different subjects this year. Al took Defence Against the Dark Arts – obviously, considering he came top of the entire year in it – and Charms, which Rose and I both gave up, and Rose Arithmancy, Astronomy and Study of Ancient Runes, which I couldn't have done because I didn't take Arithmancy or Ancient Runes for OWLs, and I only got an A in Astronomy. Not that I wanted to do any of them, but it's strange that the three of us can't really help each other so much anymore. It's nice to only be doing subjects I actually enjoy now, though. Well, except for Potions, but even that's not so bad, really.

I'd really like to see you and Grandad again at some point. If he can't travel then maybe I can come and stay with you again? Probably not at Christmas, because I love being Hogwarts for Christmas, but perhaps at Easter. Or if not then definitely next summer. That feels so far away!

How is Grandad now? Is he feeling any better?

Scorpius

Rose,

Help me, help me, help me!

Scorp

Scorp,

Are you okay? That sounded pretty urgent. Please don't tell me you still haven't done the Transfiguration homework! I know Al hasn't, and I know he'll end up staying up half the night doing it, but I did hope you had a little more sense. It's due tomorrow! It wouldn't hurt you two to be a little more organised sometimes. My mum says she had a homework planner when she was at school. Maybe I should get them for you and Al too. NEWTs are very important, and you won't always be able to ask me for help now that you're doing a bunch of subjects that I'm not. You really have to start taking responsibility for yourself.

Rose

Rose,

Okay, please calm down. I can just imagine you pacing up and down your dormitory, muttering about boys and putting things off and not being organised.

I think I made it sound a lot more urgent than it is, so before going off on a rant, perhaps you should actually find out what it is I want help with (oh wait, it's too late, you've already given me the lecture). In fact, I did the Transfiguration homework three days ago (the day it was given out – don't think I can be much more organised than that). I've actually been attempting to start the Potions homework (not due for another five days – again, don't think I can get much more organised than that) but I really don't understand it. Can you help me? Please?

Scorp

Scorp,

I'm sorry for overreacting and jumping to conclusions and all that, but you really should avoid being so melodramatic when you send me owls, especially when I'm already in a bad mood thanks to Al being such an idiot. And how did you know I was doing that? The pacing up and down and muttering, I mean. You know me far too well. It's a bit scary sometimes. Or maybe I just need to stop being so predictable.

Of course I'll help you with the Potions homework, though I still can't understand why you took Potions this year considering how much you've always hated it. If it's sunny again tomorrow then we could do it outside. You've got a free period before lunch tomorrow too, haven't you? How about we meet next to that beech tree by the lake, unless it's pouring with rain, in which case I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall and we can decide where to go instead (probably the library).

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, that sounds great, thanks a lot, Rose.

Goodnight.

Scorp

Scorp,

Wait, you don't have to go to bed yet, do you? I was kind of hoping we could chat for a bit. It's only eleven.

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, we can chat for a bit if you like. I wasn't planning to actually go to bed yet; the other guys are having a game of Exploding Snap and I figured I'd join in. But I can write letters at the same time. What do you want to chat about?

Scorp

Scorp,

I don't know, I just feel like we don't talk as much as we used to, and it's always about homework, or it's part of a group conversation with Ethan and Daphne and the others. Which is fine, but I miss the conversations we used to have. Especially this year.

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, I miss that too. Maybe we should agree to meet up every so often and hang out, just the two of us. Actually, I think it's only us who have that free period tomorrow; everyone else has Charms. So we could make it a habit to always meet up during that free period, and we can study together and do homework and chat.

Why this year in particular?

Scorp

Scorp,

Yeah, that would be good.

I don't know, this year just feels so different. It's not that long now before we leave Hogwarts, and it's like I've suddenly realised that I'm going to have a whole life after Hogwarts. I mean, obviously I've always known Hogwarts couldn't go on forever, but back when we started it felt like it would. Or at least, the end of seventh year felt so far away that it wasn't worth worrying about. But now we're doing NEWTs, and in less than two years we have to leave school and get jobs and become adults. Don't you think that's a bit scary?

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, I know what you mean. We're not eleven years old anymore, and sometimes I really wish we were. Back then the teachers or our parents could make all the decisions for us, and we didn't have to worry about exams and grades and careers. But at the same time, I'm excited. It'll be great to go out and become a proper part of the wizarding world, a person in my own right, rather than simply the son of Draco Malfoy.

Scorp

P.S. Sorry for the slightly singed edges of this parchment; I wasn't quite paying attention to the game because I was writing this and the Exploding Snap cards exploded in my face. I've decided it might be a better idea just to watch for just now, while I try to figure out how to regrow my eyebrows.

Scorp,

Oops, sorry for distracting you.

Yeah, I suppose I get what you mean. And I'm determined to go into a career that none of my family have ever been involved in, so I'm not being compared to anyone. In fact, I can't wait to get married so I can change my name. I'm sick of people hearing my surname and jumping to all sorts of conclusions about me. I suppose that's not really an option. You'll just have to show the world that not all Malfoys are the same. I think you've successfully convinced most of the school of that, so how hard can it be to replicate that success in real life?

I just wish I knew what profession I want to go into. Certainly nothing at the Ministry. I suppose working as a journalist or something like that might be quite interesting, or perhaps as a teacher. But teaching's really hard to get a job in, what with Hogwarts being the only wizarding school in the country, and the standards being so high. So I'm not sure it's even worth trying to do that.

Now I think about it, you've never really mentioned what you want to do. What sort of job do you want?

Rose

Rose,

Don't be stupid, of course it's worth it to try and become a teacher, if that's what you want to do, though I'm sure you'd make an equally good journalist. Presumably you'd want to teach Transfiguration?

Scorp

Scorp,

Yeah, Transfiguration would be my first choice, how did you know? But I'm not sure I'd make a very good teacher. I get impatient too easily, and I don't think I explain things very well.

But you didn't answer my question. What career are you thinking about?

Rose

Rose,

How could you possibly think you wouldn't be a good teacher? You've been teaching me Potions since first year, and I doubt I'd even have passed my Potions exam at the end of first year without you, never mind going on to get an E in my OWL and take it for NEWT level. You're a brilliant teacher, and you explain things a lot more clearly than most of our teachers.

And as for how I knew you'd want to teach Transfiguration, are you joking? It's been your favourite subject since we started school. You've been studying NEWT spells since the beginning of fifth year, when Professor Clearwater realised you'd learnt the entire curriculum for the OWLs. What other subject would you teach? It's not like you'd ever teach Potions or anything like that. Can you imagine that? You spending every lesson teaching in that dark little dungeon? What a stupid idea! Almost as stupid as you working in an office. I suppose that would be the only problem with you teaching; the fact that you prefer to be outside rather than cooped up in some classroom. But maybe you would be allowed to teach outside in nice weather. You'd be an awesome Transfiguration teacher! I'm almost jealous of all the kids who get taught by you.

Scorp

Scorp,

Again I'm a little scared by how well you know me. I don't think I've ever actually told anyone half of that stuff. But you are definitely avoiding my question now. Why don't you want to tell me what career you're interested in? I've told you mine.

Rose

Rose,

Cos it's a really stupid idea and you'll just laugh. It's not like it's ever going to happen anyway, so there's no point in telling anyone.

Scorp

Scorp,

Have you told your Grandma? I bet you have; you tell her everything. And if you've told her then you can tell me. I promise I won't laugh.

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, okay, I suppose. I want to work for the Ministry, promoting muggle culture among witches and wizards and encouraging them to coexist more peacefully and in closer contact. There's a new programme starting up to do that, and I'd really love to get involved, but it's never going to happen. Go on: laugh.

Scorp

Scorp,

I'm not laughing at all; I think it's a brilliant idea and I think you'd be great at it. What makes you say it's never going to happen? It's not like jobs in muggle relations require brilliant grades, just qualifications in Muggle Studies, and the right personality for it. And you clearly have both. Now I think about it, it's the perfect job for you.

Rose

Rose,

Yeah, maybe it's a good job for me, but it's still never going to happen. The Ministry would never hire a Malfoy, no matter how suited for the job, after all the history our family has. And my dad may be more tolerant than he used to be, but even he has a limit. He'd never allow me to get a job like that. The son of a Death Eater working to promote tolerance and peaceful cooperation between the wizarding world and muggles? Never. I may as well give up now.

Scorp

Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy,

Don't you dare EVER say that again! Don't you DARE give up like that! Your family's past, and any twisted beliefs your dad may still hold, have no power whatsoever to influence what you decide to do with your life, and if you ever try and suggest they do again, I will come over there myself and knock some sense into you (though maybe not right now because I haven't got a clue how to get into the Hufflepuff common room). This is the perfect job for you, and you are going to fight for it, no matter what your dad or the Ministry or any other idiots may say. Promise me you'll do that, and that you won't just give up on it?

Rose

Rose,

Tell you what, how about we make a deal? If you promise that you will make every effort possible to fulfil your dream of becoming a Transfiguration teacher, then I will never give up on working for the Ministry in their new muggle relations project. Do we have a deal?

Scorp

P.S. Apologise to your dorm mates for me for you chucking something very hard at the floor after you read my last letter and waking them up.

Scorp,

How did you know that I – actually, never mind. Yes, we have a deal.

Rose

Rose,

Sometimes you are very predictable I'm afraid.

Just out of interest, do you and Ethan ever do this? Send each other notes at night, I mean. Because Daphne and I don't, and I was wondering if it was something just you, Al and me do. And actually Al doesn't quite so much any more. So just you and me.

Scorp

Scorp,

No, Ethan and I don't. I'd never even thought about it before, actually. Maybe we should. There's something about sending letters, without being able to see the other person's face, and with it being late at night, that makes you confide things you wouldn't normally, and bring up conversations you wouldn't be comfortable discussing during the day. Do you think I should try it?

Rose

Rose,

That's completely up to you. You could try sending Ethan a letter just now and see how he responds.

Scorp

Ethan,

Sorry if I've woken you, but Al says your dorm doesn't normally go to sleep until well past one o'clock. What are you up to?

Rose

Rose,

No we're not asleep, but we're thinking about it pretty soon. Except Al, who's still finishing his Transfiguration essay in the common room. Are you okay? Do you want something?

Ethan

Ethan,

No, nothing in particular, I just wanted to chat.

Rose

Rose,

Okay, I suppose we could chat for a little while. I need to go to sleep fairly soon though, cos I have to get up very early for Quidditch practice. Did you want to chat about anything in particular?

Ethan

Ethan,

Nah, just about life in general I guess. What your plans for the future are, what career you're thinking about.

Rose

Rose,

Wow, that's a deep conversation to have late at night. But I thought it was fairly obvious. I want to play Quidditch professionally. Though I'm not sure what team yet. The Holyhead Harpies maybe, or the Tornadoes if possible. Obviously the Tornadoes have always been my favourite, as I'm sure you know, but I have to keep my options open. What do you think?

How about you? What do you want to do?

Ethan

Ethan,

You know a lot more about Quidditch teams than I do; my advice probably won't be very helpful.

I was thinking I might quite like to be a teacher. Here at Hogwarts, I mean. And I know it's quite a hard job to get, but I think I'd enjoy it.

Rose

Rose,

A teacher? Really? I've never seen you as the teacher type. I guess I always figured you'd work at the Ministry, like loads of your family have. Maybe not as an Auror like your uncle and some of the others, but an office job or something like that.

What would you teach, if you did become a teacher? Potions would be the best option for you, surely, or Arithmancy? Or maybe Charms? I would say Defence Against the Dark Arts, but you didn't take that did you? Why didn't you take it again? I never understood that. Surely, considering who your parents are, you'd want to be good at Defence Against the Dark Arts?

Anyway, what do you think about the Quidditch teams? Which would be the best for me to try out for, once I leave school? And don't be so modest, and go on about not knowing anything about Quidditch teams. You're a Weasley! Your aunt used to play for the Holyhead Harpies, didn't she? So you must have had loads of opportunities to meet some of the Quidditch teams, and keep really up to date with the League.

Ethan

Ethan,

Sorry, I just realised how late it is. You should get some sleep so you can get up for Quidditch practice in the morning. We can chat more some other time, and maybe I could write to Aunt Ginny and ask for her opinion about the best Quidditch team to join.

Goodnight.

Rose

Scorp,

I've changed my mind. Let's just stick to it being you and me who do this, not Ethan. Though you could try with Daphne I suppose. Except that she goes to sleep at about ten o'clock, and doesn't like being woken up unless it's an absolute emergency. So maybe not.

Night, Scorp.

Rose

Yeah, maybe you're right. Goodnight, Rose

Scorpius,

Thank you for your last letter. I laughed so hard at your stories about the fake wands, and I think your Grandad enjoyed it too. He certainly seemed a lot more cheerful than usual for the rest of that day, and I think he was actually aware of who the letter was from, too.

It would be wonderful if you came to visit at some point. I think Grandad would really like that. A healer from St. Mungo's came to visit, and says he is probably not going to get any better now. From now on his condition will only deteriorate, though he may live for another few years still. But they can't make any promises, so you should probably make the most of any opportunity to spend time with him before … well, you know.

I really don't know what I'm going to do without him, Scorpius. I know I've had to spend the last few years caring for him, but before that it was always him who kept me strong. We've been through so much together, and so many times I've thought I was going to lose him, but I've never considered how I would cope if I actually did. He's done some awful things in the past, but I've always loved him. He often seems like a cruel person, but there's a gentler side to him, a side capable of incredible love. Your dad was the same, but in his case once Astoria discovered it she brought it out into the open so everyone could see it. It just took the right woman for him to discover what a wonderful person he really is deep down. Perhaps all Malfoy men are like that. Except you, of course. It would be finding a cruel side to you that would be difficult, not a gentle side.

Oh, look at me, rambling away. I know you often use me like a diary, confiding things in me, and I love that, but I really must try not to do the same. You're sixteen; I'm sure you don't want to hear my strange, miserable thoughts and reflections on life. Ignore that last paragraph if you like, and I'll try to behave more like your grandma from now on.

That's a wonderful idea, getting involved with improving muggle relations. The Malfoy family could do with proving that we're not all prejudiced, stuck-up, pureblood fanatics, and you're the perfect person to do that. Don't do it for that reason, though. Do it for yourself, and nobody else.

Do write again soon; the manor feels that little bit less gloomy when a letter from you arrives.

Lots of Love,

Grandma