Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.

You're An Angel

Knocking on his father's office door with two bakery boxes in one hand, Albus waited until his father called out to come in before turning the knob to let himself in. Smiling at the unexpected presence of his Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron Albus closed the door behind him with his back. "Hey, you guys." Walking over to his father's desk Albus placed the top box onto the very crowded desktop. "Good thing I brought extra."

"Uh oh." Groaning at the delicious smells waffling from the box Hermione placed a hand on her waistline, trying to remember why it was she was trying to cut back.

Reaching out Harry flipped the box's top open, all but drooling as he took in the huge, perfectly glazed cinnamon buns. "Oh baby."

"That's what I said." Albus had to fight the urge not to eat another one as his father and uncle each took a roll, his aunt obviously losing the mental battle with herself. "It turns out that the store beside the one we're going to be checking out is a bakery. I think we might have to buy the place just so we can have breakfast at that place every day. They were giving out samples of this brownie…out of this world."

Hermione lost the battle and helped herself too. "This is the store that Draco Malfoy is going to show you this week?"

"Yup. I figured I should check the area out on my own, get a feel for it. So far I'm loving it. The building is going to need some work and remodeling, but it's been maintained pretty well. Or at least I think it has, not exactly my area of expertise after all."

Ron looked over at Harry questioningly. "You're going with them for that, right?"

Albus gave his uncle a dark look and answered before his father could finish chewing. "He is not. We'll be just fine by ourselves. The company Mr. Malfoy works for has a sterling rep, for your information. We're not idiots and neither are they. Selling us a dud would only come back to haunt them in the long run."

Ron reached out to ruffle the boy's hair. "That wasn't what I'm worried about."

"Draco hasn't caused anyone trouble since the War, Ron." Hermione reminded her husband sternly. "From all appearances he learned from his mistakes and deserves credit for reforming himself. If you want to make cracks about dangerous Malfoys, Lucius or Draco's son would be the better picks."

"Scorpius isn't so bad once you get to know him."

Three pairs of eyes turned to drill into him, Albus hunched his shoulders reflexively. "I'm just saying. He's like a male version of Andromeda really."

The Golden Trio looked at each other in silent contemplation, not quite sure if that was a reassuring comparison.

"Anyway, I'll get out of your guys' way if you're busy." Albus began, getting the feeling he better leave before they started to ask him questions he wasn't about to answer. "I just wanted to drop those off since the ones in the other box will probably all be gone by the time you get home, Dad."

"Actually, Albus, I wanted to ask you a question."

Not missing the look his father aimed in his aunt's direction Albus knew he probably wasn't going to like what she was about to say. "What's up?"

Hermione moved to stand in front of Albus, wanting his full attention. "I promised you that I would get the laws thrown out that prevent you and Louis from having romantic partners you can publically acknowledge. I meant that promise and I will do everything in my power to get those laws thrown out at the next meeting of the courts. There are a lot of people who've promised me their support, Albus, but the courts are still largely made up of individuals who are very traditional and narrow in their thinking. I've approached them one on one, I've made the arguments…but I don't think I'm going to get enough votes this time around, not unless I'm willing to owe people favors that I can't in good conscience owe."

Albus forced himself not to give away his reaction to the news, honestly not all that surprised by the news. This wasn't the first time she'd tried to get the laws thrown out after all. "It's okay, Aunt Hermione. Don't do anything you don't think is right. Louis and I know you're doing everything you can."

Hermione reached out to cup his face between her hands. "I know, Albus. But I do have a Plan B, one your father isn't terribly fond of but I think might work." The woman took a deep breath before continuing. "We all know that your father's name carries weight. A lot of people will support or abandoned projects depending on his opinions. There was even polls in the Daily Prophet when he announced his engagement to Ginny, debating whether she was good enough for the Chosen One or not."

"Yeah, Mum's still sore about that."

Hermione nodded in agreement before getting to her point. "Albus, the question I have for you is whether or not you would be willing to come completely out of the closet before the courts go into session this time. They might not be willing to throw the laws out for the good of the people, but they might be willing to do it for the Chosen One's son."

"Oh."

)

Draco sat alone in his study, pretending to read a book. He was doing a poor job of it, he hadn't turned a bloody page in at least five minutes. His son was romantically involved with another man. What the hell was he supposed to think about that? Was he supposed to tell Scorpius that Astoria had, in a state of shock, blabbed and told him? Would that destroy the fragile bond his son seemed to be trying to form with them now? But it would be a good thing, wouldn't it, for Scorpius to know that him suddenly starting to prefer men wasn't something that would change how he or Astoria felt about him, Draco silently reasoned.

The same could not be said for his own father, but Draco could imagine few things better than his father and son breaking their ties. It would be the best thing that could happen to Scorpius.

And in the back of his mind another thought continued to circle around Draco's mind. One he hadn't shared with his wife the night before. If Scorpius chose to be with this other man, whoever he was, that would mean that the Malfoy bloodline would end with his son. It would all just end.

His father would do everything to prevent that, but he would do everything in his power to ensure that happened. He hadn't been able to die Astoria a child when it had been what she had wanted most. But Malfoys had no place in this new world they lived in. Their reign was over. It was time to make way for the new.

Sensing a presence standing over him Draco slowly looked up, meeting his father's gaze without flinching or looking away. He let his father see, as he always did, how much he despised what the man had let himself become. Perhaps he was now only the shadow of a man, but a shadow was better than a disease.

"Where is Scorpius?"

"He went out."

Lucius stared down with all his hate and disappointment plain in his eyes. "Where did he go?"

Draco thought about not telling the man, but that seemed incredibly childish under the circumstances. Especially since there was no way his father would go chasing after Scorpius. "He went to Diagon Alley. Apparently he needed to pay a visit to a bookstore."

Something flashed in his father's eyes, something that had the hairs on the back of the younger man's neck stick up. "What is it? Why does that worry you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucius responded, his face closing down so that not a hint of emotion surfaced.

Slowly Draco got to his feet, actually forcing the man to take a couple fumbled steps backwards. He knew his father, knew more than he'd ever wanted to know about how the man's mind worked. He'd watched the years stripe his father of all that had made him the man he'd loved and sought to emulate from his birth. And knowing the man before him as he did Draco knew, without being told, why he'd seen that brief look in the man's eyes. "Something's going to happen there today. Something like what happened at the school. What's going to happen? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

"He's mine. Nothing will happen that he can't handle." Lucius sneered to hide the faint glimmer of concern he felt seeing the unexpected fire entering his son's eyes. "He's not you, Draco."

Getting right up in his father's face Draco's eyes promised dark things. "I'm going to Diagon Alley. If so much as a hair on my boy's head is out of place I'm coming back here and taking it out on yours. You stopped being my father decades ago. Don't think our shared blood will save you from me now."

And turning on his heels Draco headed for the door, never so glad for the Dark Mark staining his arm. It meant he'd been trained to take lives without hesitation. And if anyone or anything meant to harm his boy, he would not hesitate.

)

Stepping out of the bookstore Scorpius was less than pleased with the establishment. As he'd hoped they'd had a few books on Veelas, but none of them had provided him with the information he needed in order to figure out what Louis Weasley had done to Rory, much less how to undo it. He supposed he could try some of the used bookstores, but he had the feeling those would be a wash too, just like the school library. Veelas were just too good at bewitching people. That or people were just too afraid of them to write anything they thought the Veelas would take offense to.

But he would figure out how to help Rory, he was determined.

Trying to remember where the nearest used bookstore was Scorpius tensed up automatically at the sound of screams ripping through the street without warning. He had just enough time to wonder what was causing the distress before three cloaked, black figures came flying around the street corner, bringing with them the darkest, most painful of memories.

Oh that was just great, Scorpius thought darkly, staying where he was while everyone around him screamed and scrambled to get away from the Dementors and the threat they posed. Just a perfect way to cap off his fruitless errand. What was next, a bloody Batilisk? And did they really think that all that screaming and running was necessary? Please. That just excited the mindless shadows more. The Slytherin's annoyance only increased when people started bumping into him, daring to invade his personal space like the mindless idiots they were.

Shaking his head at the stupidity that was most of mankind Scorpius looked around for somewhere to stand that would prevent him from being caught in the stampeding mob that was threatening to form at any moment.

And then his eyes happen to spot and catch on a single individual, a little boy not much older than five or six. It was the hair that did it, black and sticking up at the back the way a certain Potter's did. The boy was no relation, but the hair was enough to single him out for the Slytherin in those fleeting seconds. Enough time for Scorpius to make that connection as the boy cried out for his mum in stark terror as the three Demontors flew overhead.

So that without thinking Scorpius drew his wand and aimed. "Expecto Patronum!"

Blinding white light appeared from his wand, Scorpius choosing the memory of his little Easter party with Albus the night before they'd left the school as his happy thought. In the spirit of Easter they'd gone at each other like rabbits and there had been chocolate involved. It was a holiday tradition that would bear repeating if possible.

The Slytherin's patronus shone enough light that the Dementors immediately flew higher into the air in cautious retreat, but it hadn't taken on its usual shape, Scorpius realized with a frown, seeing now the form his light had taken. Why had his patronus become a bird? Since when?

And then a second patronus, also a bird flew in to fly along side his, the two moving together in a sort of dance that had the Dementors vacating the area completely now that there were two powerful patronuses to contend with.

Following the stream from the patronus Scorpius watched Albus come from the other side of the street, the Gryffindor strolling down it while others stuck their heads out of doors and alleyways. Mentally reminding himself not to appear friendly towards the man, Scorpius's eyes widened when he felt something wrap itself around his leg. Looking down the Slytherin stared at the little boy who'd attached himself to his leg.

What the hell?

The same thought was going through Albus's head as he walked over to stand in front of his lover, studying the child with interest before looking up to meet Scorpius's gaze with a questioning look.

"Get him off."

"He seems pretty determined to stay where he is." Albus pointed out with a barely concealed smirk. If the kid only knew what kind of a guy he was clinging to. "And by the way, since when is your patronus a falcon too?"

"I'd say bite me, but you already did and my mother noticed. You bastard."

Now Albus couldn't prevent a smile from sliding across his face. "Don't be blaming me for that. You know that you plus chocolate is too much of an aphrodisiac for me to resist."

Giving the Gryffindor a dark look Scorpius turned his attention to removing the child clutching his leg like it was a life preserver. "I would advise you to let me go now or else."

"Don't scare the child."

"Scorpius."

Turning their heads Scorpius and Albus watched the Slytherin's father rush over towards them, pushing people out of his way in his haste to reach his son. Both boys raising a hand in greeting Albus grinned when the elder Malfoy drew Scorpius in for a hug before the man realized what he was doing.

Looking a little embarrassed Draco drew back, giving his son a thorough looking over, studying the small child clinging to his boy's leg. "You're all right? What happened here?" The fear and unrest was still heavy in the air, but he saw no signs of danger anywhere.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Scorpius answered stiffly, still a little in shock from his father's unexpected show of worry and affection in public.

Thinking the two Malfoys might need a moment Albus squatted down so that he was the same height as the little boy, smiling kindly as he reached out to stroke the boy's head in a reassuring manner. "Hi there, I'm Albus. What's your name?"

"Not supposed to talk to strangers." Was the child's muffled response as he tightened his grip on Scorpius, his face buried against the Slytherin leg.

"That's right, you're not supposed to in most situations, but I want to help you and I can't do that if you won't talk to me. Will you at least tell me where your family is? I'm sure they're very worried about you. If you let go of Scorpius, I'll help you find them." It was only a matter of time before his lover removed the boy from his leg whether the kid wanted to let go or not.

The boy looked over at the Gryffindor with a stubborn gleam in his brown eyes. "I wanna stay with my angel."

All was silent as all three men looked down at the boy and spoke in perfect unison. "Your angel?"

"Uh huh. He's my angel." The boy announced, looking up at Scorpius in adoration. "You made the monsters go away. My mum told me that all kids have guardian angels to take care of them when bad things happen and you're mine, right? You even have pretty hair, just like in the pictures. Where are your wings? Can I see them, please?"

Albus's eyes went wild as he fought desperately not to laugh while Scorpius just shook his head slowly, too dumbfounded to speak.

"This has to be the first time a member of our family has ever been mistaken for anyone's guardian angel." Draco pointed out, a faint smile teasing his own lips.

Luck was with the men though, as moments later a frantic woman Draco vaguely recognized from his school days burst out of the interested crowd watching them, her teary gaze zeroing in on the boy with a look of outrageous relief. "Thomas!"

"Mum!"

Letting go of Scorpius's leg the boy ran to his mother, who held him for dear life as she cuddled him against her. Over the boy's head she looked to see who had been watching over her son, her eyes all but bugging out of her head when she realized that her son had been holding onto the son of Draco Malfoy. Her shock was doubled when her baby informed her that the Slytherin had saved him and was an angel.

"I…uhm…thank you…for protecting my son from the Dementors." The woman stuttered out, obviously stumbling over her thanks as she tried to figure out what had possessed the boy to come to her son's aid.

Jerking his shoulder in embarrassed acknowledgement of her thanks Scorpius did his best to keep his face as cool and expressionless as possible. Everyone was staring at him now and it was really starting to piss him off. "Just keep better track of him next time."

"He means you're welcome." Albus added helpfully, smiling at the woman in the hopes of putting her more at ease.

Scorpius looked over at the Gryffindor and scowled. "I meant exactly what I said."

Albus couldn't help himself, he had to wave his finger teasingly at the other man with a grin on his face. "Come on now, is that any way for an angel to look or speak?"