Disclaimer: I don't own anything!


A/N: So… it's been a while. *sheepish smile* So you all have to understand I'm a fourth year medical student with 36 hour duties so I haven't really had the time to update this. I'm so, so sorry. But I can't abandon this fic and that's that. I love Scorpius too much not to give him the happy ending he deserved.

Anyway, so this chapter isn't Beta-Ed so if there are any grammatical errors, I'm sorry in advance. It's been a while since I've really written something other than medical stuff so my imagination and writing is a little rusty.

Enjoy!


Courage


Scorpius slammed the latest edition of the Daily Prophet on the Gryffindor table, startling all the Gryffindors plus Luna Lovegood.

"What the fuck, Malfoy," Ron snarled, scowling at the fried chicken he had been previously munching now sprawled greasily on the ground.

"And good morning to you too," Hermione said with an amused smile. She glanced at the newspaper, prompting her smile to widen at the ridiculous newspaper version of Harry Potter. The-Boy-Who-Lived looked absolutely annoyed; she clearly remembered how he was trying to plead for everybody to back the fuck down but of course, the Wizarding World loved to hear from their precious hero now that Voldemort was dead. Hermione honestly thought the ruckus would have died down now, now that two weeks already passed since the war had ended. But of course, this was worthy of a celebration and Harry was absolutely wicked so she couldn't really fault the world.

"You make me sound like a bloody Gryffindor," Scorpius whined as he pushed Ron none-too-gently so that he could sit beside the brunette. He grabbed the newspaper and then cleared his throat, "'Scorpius Malfoy had greatly helped us in this war so leave him alone! He had been bloody brave, you git!' quoted the Boy-Who-Lived."

The said Boy-Who-Lived turned red and scowled at his snickering friends.

"I know you greatly care for me, Potter, but at least make me sound like some conniving, clever Slytherin like I've always been born as," Scorpius sighed, sadly shaking at him with disappointment.

"But you were brave," Hermione insisted, smiling at the betrayal on his face. "Probably braver than anyone of us sitting here in this Gryffindor table."

"I concur," Luna airily said, raising her hand in the air.

Scorpius rolled his eyes and angrily muttered down at the table. Hermione was tempted to reach out and brush away the fringes that escaped from his perfectly styled hair. Instead, she asked, "Still no word from the Wizengamot?"

This seemed to snap him off from his petty tantrum "Surprisingly, none," he said. "Really weird. I've been bracing myself for my very own trial but none still came." He absentmindedly scratched the place where his Dark Mark was hidden and frowned. "I'm actually starting to get really antsy about it."

After the war, the newly appointed Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt issued a decree rounding up all the known Death Eaters and forcing them to go under trial. So far, all had been convicted to a lifetime sentence at Azkaban. Scorpius, with his fainted Dark Mark on his arm, had been nervously waiting for his time to come to face the Wizengamot but none had still come. Hermione absolutely believed that he would be pardoned from whatever accusations he would be subjected to, seeing how he had been the most wonderful catalyst in this whole Wizarding War, but Scorpius wouldn't rest until he heard from the Wizengamot themselves.

"Actually," Harry piped in, "I think I know why the Wizengamot hadn't been bothering you, Malfoy."

They all looked at Harry as he pulled out a parchment from his robe pockets. Hermione peered at the words written at the top, eyes widening as she realized they were all looking at Albus Dumbledore's dying will.

"It's just a copy," Harry explained, opening the scroll that was at least 7-inches long. "The current Chief Warlock dropped by yesterday and Professor McGonagall asked for my presence. Apparently, Dumbledore had left a lot of his possessions to me." He grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Which is oddly touching, seeing the amount of things he had left."

"Yes, okay, we all know that Dumbledore loves you very much, Potter," Scorpius snapped, prompting a heated glare from Harry, "but I don't understand how this is relevant to my situation."

Harry sighed and pointed at the last paragraph. "Read it," he said.

Hermione scooted closer and squinted her eyes at the words. "'And lastly, as the current Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot'," she read aloud, "'I hearby declare Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy free from whatever charges the Wizengamot would accuse him of. He had played a significant role in the downfall of Voldemort despite the Mark on his left arm. He had been a reliable spy for the Order of the Phoenix despite the danger he knew he would be facing. Scorpius Malfoy had been very brave.'"

"Again, why does everybody make it sound like I'm some stupid brave Gryffindor," Scorpius whined, but Hermione couldn't help but see the wonderful glint in his grey eyes.

"That was very nice of Dumbledore," Hermione said with a smile, and this time didn't stop herself from reaching for his hand underneath the table. Scorpius started for a while and looked at her with wide eyes, before flashing that handsome smile of his and tightening his hand around hers.

"You can rest easy now, I think," Harry continued. "Everybody in the Wizarding World knows that you've been a bloody hero, Malfoy."

"And acted like a bloody Gryffindor," Ginny added with a teasing smile on her face. "Imagine the confusion you have created, Malfoy."

Scorpius glared. "Shut up, Weasley."


"I'm surprised I'm the one you asked out on your last Hogsmeade day."

Scorpius grinned widely as he turned around and beheld the lovely sight of Astoria. She was wearing a cute yellow dress that brought out the blueness of her eyes. Her long, black hair was braided away from her face. All in all, she looked refreshing and bright; the Astoria he remembered bedridden just three days ago in the Hospital Wing was a far cry from his young mother right now.

"Eh, I'd like the spend the last day with my mother," he cheekily said.

Astoria made a face and sauntered closer until she was standing beside him. "Ugh, it still sounds super weird," she pointed out. "Can you please stop reminding me every time we meet that we're related?"

He chuckled and merely ushered her into one of the carriages that would bring them out of Hogwarts.

Today was their last Hogsmeade day. Tomorrow, Scorpius was to go home to Malfoy Manor and start the arrangements to become the new Head of the Malfoy family. He did not bat an eye when the Wizengamot declared Lucius guilty of his Death Eater crimes and forever locked away at Azkaban until his death. He did not even feel a morsel of remorse when his Nana cried devastating tears at the news. Deep inside, he knew it was all for the best; he wished that Narcissa would realize it, even though she might really have loved such a sick, evil bastard.

Sighing, Scorpius shifted on his seat and stared unseeingly at the moving trees.

The war had finally ended. He was still stuck at a timeline he wasn't born in the first place. He knew that surprising things were still bound to happen.

'Well, at least the War had ended,' Al-the-Inner Voice pointed out.

"What are you thinking about?" Astoria questioned, peering worriedly at his pensive face. "You're awfully talkative most of the time. Seeing you all quiet worries me a little."

Despite of himself, he smiled. "Just things," he replied. "Mostly about the future."

They finally stopped near the entrance of Hogsmeade. Scorpius jumped off and helped Astoria down the carriage. The whole village was surprisingly scarce of students; most of them had returned early home, probably craving for the much needed warmth and love of home after such a devastating battle. Scorpius couldn't really fault them from missing today's activity.

Scorpius and Astoria meandered through the village, peering through shops and buying things hither thither. Hogsmeade wasn't spared from the effects of the Last Battle, but it was a relief that most of the shops still stood proud and unscathed. It would be a shame if such a cozy village got obliterated from the war.

Astoria soon pulled Scorpius into the Three Broomsticks, craving for some hot butterbeer. The whole pub thankfully has less people inside and it wasn't hard for them to look for a vacant seat. Astoria chose a table near the wide window, allowing them to view the passersby.

He surveyed the room, searching for a familiar bushy-haired student, but upon seeing that she was nowhere in sight, he sighed in disappointment and viewed the menu instead.

The DA Core were out of Hogwarts to celebrate the Light side's victory at the Borrow, together with other Order of the Phoenix members. They even invited Scorpius, seeing that he was the catalyst of it all, but he politely declined since he made plans with Astoria first. Hermione promised to be back soon, though, making him smile.

He felt a little saddened he had to miss such an event; admittedly, he had always been curious what the Burrow looked like. Rumor also has it that if you were invited at the Borrow and welcomed openly by the Weasleys, it was already a rite of passage that you belonged… that you are family. Scorpius had always been pestering Al to let him tag along every time he was to go to the Burrow, but his best friend flatly refuses, knowing how he would be treated as an unwelcome guest.

He snapped of his musings as Astoria's fingers tapped on his hand to get his attention. "Yeah?" he asked distractedly.

She grinned and pointed at the impatient waiter, and Scorpius hastily told his order with a sheepish grin.

While they waited for their orders, Astoria energetically discussed her plans for summer vacation. Scorpius was content watching her as she enumerated detail-by-detail her itinerary for their trip in Italy.

"So, what are you going to do this summer, Scorpius?" she then asked after a riveting story about packing all the shoes she wanted to bring for her trip.

Scorpius paused and frowned, actually at loss of what to answer to her question. He was busy planning on how to defeat Voldemort for the past few days he forgot that he actually had to spend another summer in this timeline before entering Hogwarts as a 7th year.

He absentmindedly scratched his chin and looked out of the window. "I'm not… really sure," he said. "Well, I know I'm supposed to fix up the mess Lucius Malfoy had left in this family, but besides that, I don't really know what I'll do this summer."

He had hopes he would be spending some time with Hermione, seeing that it was already the end of the Second Wizarding War and they could, well, properly discuss their relationship as what they had promised before. But he knew Hermione would also be busy spending some time with her family. Going out of town with Narcissa seemed a nice plan, but Scorpius wasn't sure she was ready for some vacation after everything that had happened.

"You're welcome to visit me at the Greengrass Manor if you like," she said with a sad smile on her face, reaching for his hand.

"And show me your collection of flowers? I can't wait," he lightly cajoled, trying to lighten up the mood.

Astoria smiled and shook her head in exasperation. "Tell me again how you're my son?" she joked. "From what you've told me, you're nothing like me. Oh, and you most definitely did not inherit such cheekiness from your father either."

"I'm an anomaly," he answered with a shrug. "It's what I'll always be."

She chuckled at his grin, and Scorpius knew he would never get sick of seeing her smile. He might not be able to go back and see his mother ever again, but at least he gained a friend in the form of a younger her. He'd take whatever he could get.

Their food soon arrived and for a moment, they enjoyed their meal in silence. Scorpius would occasionally look out of the window and felt his heart lighten every time he would see smiling passersby. It was testament that the war had really ended. There was no foreboding hanging over everybody's head; they were all free and happy and able to do whatever the hell they want to do without looking over their shoulder.

"Scorpius?"

He blinked and looked back at Astoria curiously. "Yeah?" he asked, frowning a little at the hesitancy on her face.

"I… well… I've been really, really curious about something ever since I've discovered you're my son from the future," she slowly replied.

Scorpius lifted and eyebrow and leaned closer. "Curious about what?"

Astoria sighed and leaned her chin on her open palm. "Who is your father?" she inquired all in one breath. Scorpius' eyes widened at her question and she hastily added, "I mean… you haven't really talked about him at all and I've been really dying to know who I will marry and…" She blushed and looked away. "Well, you once said you've inevitably placed him in this timeline but that's about it. That's all I knew about your father."

She looked genuinely curious and it gave his heart a little pang. "Draco Malfoy," he said without missing a bit. It hurts him how there was no recognition in his mother's eyes.

"Oh," she said. "Draco… Malfoy." The name rolled out of her tongue without much of emotion. Scorpius could recall how his father's name always had love when coming from his mother.

"He doesn't exist," he said with a sigh. "Yet, hopefully."

"Draco Malfoy," she repeated once more, prompting him to cringe at how alien his name sounded from Astoria's mouth. "What a shame. It's such a lovely name. The Dragon." A smile appeared on her mouth. "I'm sure he would have been ferocious on the battlefield."

Scorpius couldn't understand the guilt that crept its way into his heart. "He loved you very, very much," he said with utmost sincerity. "You were… you were everyting to him, the sunshine on his bleak day, the lilies of his valley. Dad used to tell me he wouldn't be who he was right now if it weren't for your love and… and he'd do everything to make you happy. He said that if it weren't for you, he'd be lost and broken and he wouldn't have me, and he never, never let a day pass by without showing you how much he loved you."

It surprised him when a tear slipped down from Astoria's eyes, but the lovely smile on her face was unmistakable. "What a lovely man," she tearfully said. "Hopefully, someday, I'd find a man just like him."

The guilt came full force as he looked away and stared at the tabletop. "I'm so, so sorry I took him away from you," he replied in a whisper.

For a moment, he was met with silence and Scorpius didn't dare look at Astoria.

"Scorpius," she quietly said, fondness in her voice that was so, so her and Scorpius was driven to look back into her eyes. They were still sad and shining with tears, but she was smiling brilliantly. "You saved your father from future turmoil and grief."

Astoria reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Your love for your father is pure and wonderful. I'm sure… no, I know that he'd rather be happy and oblivious about me rather than someone who lived in regret and sorrow."

"He loved you very, very much," he insisted, prompting Astoria to chuckle.

"And I'm sure he would be a pain in my arse like his son, but I guess that's part of the Malfoy charm, eh?" she cajoled.

Scorpius felt like crying, too, because he missed his parents so much, would miss their cozy dinners and lovely spats. Images of the Malfoy Manor, homely and a far cry from the cold, cruel he was currently living in, flashed behind his eyes.

"I miss them so much," he confessed, gazing at her hand that was still holding his.

"Oh, Scorpius," Astoria tearfully said, standing up from her bench to sit beside him and envelope him into a big, comforting hug. "I'm not… I don't think I will ever live up to the Astoria you knew. From what you've told me, she's brilliant and lovely and I'm still… I'm still me. But, I can offer you my friendship and give you all the love you deserve."

"But not too much to make it super weird, Mum," he cheekily replied through watery eyes, earning him a slap on his head.

The rest of their Hogsmeade date went on swimmingly, exchanging anecdotes that left wide smiles on their faces by the end of the day. They both decided it was time to go when the sun was already starting its slow descent down the horizon.

As they started their journey back to Hogwarts, Astoria pulled out her wand and conjured one of the largest flowers he had ever seen.

"A King Protea," Astoria offered, answering his silent question. "Sources say it was named after Proteus, the son of Poseidon, who has the ability to see the past, present, and future." She gave him a wicked grin. "Seems fitting, eh? What with your time-travelling shenanigans."

"It's beautiful," Scorpius said, accepting the gifted flower.

"It also means 'courage'," she continued. "I know that without any means of going back, it's what you needed the most."

Scorpius grinned and enveloped Astoria into a hug. "Thank you," he said, dropping the lightest of kisses on the crown of her head. "Thank you, Astoria."

As they neared Hogwarts, the sun had now completely descended, the sky a pretty painting of orange and yellow. Astoria was animatedly recounting a particularly riveting duel she had with a nasty Death Eater during the battle when they both noticed that sitting on the one of the steps towards the Great Hall was none other than Hermione Granger.

"Hey," she awkwardly greeted, slowly rising up from her seat. "Zabini said you still haven't returned from Hogsmeade so…"

"You waited for me?" Scorpius asked with raised eyebrows.

Hermione blushed and frowned. "No," she interjected, "The sunset is nice so I decided to watch it today. Obviously."

"Obviously," the Slytherin replied with a small, fond smirk on his face, noting how this just made her cheeks redden in ridiculous indignation.

Beside him, Astoria expelled an exasperated sigh. "Merlin," she said, shaking her head. "I'm going to take this as my cue to leave."

Chuckling under his breath, Scorpius turned to Astoria and gave her a one-armed hug. "Thanks for today, Astoria," he said.

The younger witch gave him a pretty smile and a soft peck on his check. "Be nice," she lightly warned, shot Hermione a genuine smile, and sauntered into Hogwarts.

They were left alone, and Scorpius couldn't really understand why he was nervous. Their conversation back at the banks of the Black Lake made it crystal clear that they still want this relationship to work – that they'd still want to be together. After that had been a whirlwind of reparations and Scorpius hadn't found the time to 'test the waters', for lack of a better phrase.

"That's a huge flower," Hermione pointed out, breaking the awkward silence between them.

"King Protea," Scorpius replied, showing the flower to Hermione for her to fully appreciate. "In the language of flowers, it means 'courage'." He smiled and shook his head. "Astoria thought it would be fitting, what with me needing it to face the future in this time period."

Hermione sadly smiled at him. "We'll always be here," she promised. "The DA Core… me… We'll be here even on days when you feel like the opposite of courageous."

"I know that," Scorpius said with an equally sad smile of his own. Then, as if his hand had its own mind, he reached out for Hermione and said, "Walk with me?"

She prettily blushed at his proffered hand but didn't hesitant in clasping it with her smaller one. Scorpius wasn't satisfied enough, although he marveled briefly how perfectly fit their hands were, and shifted his hand so that his fingers could lace through hers.

"Where are we going?" she asked, allowing Scorpius to pull her into the vast Hogwarts grounds.

Scorpius merely gave a shrug.

The silence that followed was more comfortable. He absentmindedly twirled the King Protea on his hand and allowed Hermione's soft breathing and the cool breeze to comfort him.

"Oh bollocks," Hermione suddenly murmured.

Scorpius knitted his eyebrows and looked at the frustrated witch beside him. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

Sighing, Hermione pulled him to a stop and fully faced him, her chin held high and a determined look in her eyes. Notably, her cheeks were splashed pink too. "You have to understand that I need answers to all the questions I ask," she started carefully. "For me to believe in something, I have to really read it on a book or hear it from an expert."

"O-kay, I don't know where this is going," he slowly said. "But thank you for that reminder, Granger. I'd keep that information locked in my brain."

"No, you don't understand," she whined impatiently, then raising their interlaced hands and shook it with vigor. "This means we are together, right? I know we've talked about our feelings back at the Black Lake. I know that we want to give this relationship a chance despite the small insignificant fact that you're a bloody time-traveller and the spawn of supposedly one of our archnemesis and… and that you have stupid crush on my future daughter. But there wasn't any… any worded answer if we'll continue this. I hate that it is implied but never explicitly answered. So in conclusion, I would just like to know if we are together… if… if you're my bloody boyfriend and… and you plan on staying as such for as long as you like."

By the time her little tirade ended, her face was ruddy, her breathing a little ragged.

Scorpius stared at her, gobsmacked by her rant, before a full-blown smile appeared on his face. Fondly placing a hand against Hermione's cheek, he said, "Sweet Circe, what a swot." Hermione narrowed her eyes and he would have kissed her fully on the lips if she wasn't so impatient. "To answer your bloody question, because Merlin what else do you think we're doing – yes, we are together, yes, I'm your bloody boyfriend, and yes I do plan on staying and you cannot get rid of me that easily."

In an instant, Hermione deflated. "Oh," she breathed out, her delightful lips forming a perfect 'o'. "Oh, okay then."

Then, she flashed the most dazzling grin he had ever seen and Scorpius was momentarily blinded.

Sighing, Scorpius gave up and placed a chaste, sweet kiss on her lips. "Stop overthinking, Hermione," he said with a fond shake of his head. "Someone noble with a stupid hero complex once told me that since I know I'll be stuck here forevermore, why not think about the future and settle in and Merlin, you have no idea how much space you've taken up in that department."

She prettily blushed once more and even boldly placed another kiss on his lips. "So, okay, your future," she said, pulling his hand once more to continue their directionless journey around the Hogwarts grounds. "You do plan on going back for 7th year, yeah?"

"Of course," he said without skipping a beat. "This summer will be ridiculously tiring, I'm sure. I already have scheduled meeting with the Wizengamot with regards to transferring the Malfoy riches and stuff to me as the new Head of House. Ugh, just thinking about the bureaucratic shite makes my skin crawl." As an added effect, Scorpius shivered. Hermione released a soft snort. "Purebloods, am I right?"

"Purebloods," she answered with a knowing smile. "Thank Merlin I'm Muggle-born."

"And you? What do you plan to do during your summer vacation?" he asked. They've reached the Black Lake once more, with its waters glittering under the moonlight. It was mesmerizing and Scorpius had to tug Hermione in place to let him appreciate the beautiful scene.

"We're going to Australia," she said with a sheepish smile.

Scorpius frowned and looked down at her, unsure why there was slight guilt on her face.

Sighing, Hermione continued, "My parents found out my… plan if things went downhill," she explained. "There were airplane tickets to Australia for Monica and Wendell Wilkins in one of my bedroom drawers and… simply put they weren't pleased."

He squeezed her hand in comfort. "Things didn't go downhill, though," Scorpius pointed out. "So there's that." Chuckling softly, he turned to Hermione. "You lot should really be thankful I saved you from a full year of camping out."

"Well, there's more," Hermione continued. He lifted and eyebrow in question and the sheepish smile was back on her face. "I kind of told them about you."

He waited for her to expound on her statement, but when none came, Scorpius sighed. "A little elaboration would help, Hermione," he urged.

"All of you," she continued. "Your time travelling, your love for your father, how you became a Death Eater, how you've been the single, most wonderful catalyst the Wizarding World didn't deserve… all of it. I told them if you hadn't intervened, if you hadn't loved your father enough to travel back in time and save him, I would have… I would have wiped their memories and I wouldn't regret it at all."

A small tear slid down from her eyes and Scorpius gingerly wiped it away.

"They want to meet you, you know," she said, almost in a whisper. His hand on her cheek stilled, eyes widening at her small revelation. "Mum was ridiculously persistent." Her cheeks reddened a little as she nervously fiddled one her aberrant curls. "I think she hazarded that I may have adored you a little too much."

He blushed and stupidly grinned. Hermione slightly glared at him and gave him a playful shove.

"Merlin, I can practically see your ego expanding from her to yonder," she said with sigh. "Anyway… so are you free this Saturday?"

The grin on his face fell, his eyes widening like saucers. "Wait, I mean seriously meet me?" he asked in disbelief. "And this Saturday too?"

She weakly shrugged. "I did tell you my mother was persistent," she replied.

"Blimey, Hermione, I mean… meeting the parents already isn't it…" Scorpius stuttered.

"If… if you're uncomfortable with it, I can always tell my parents that there are other times to meet you," she hastily said, a tad disappointed perhaps, but she immediately turned her head away before Scorpius could see her eyes.

"No… it's just…" He stopped, expelled a deep sigh, and smiled. "I'm just reeling with how fast everything is going and…"

"Scorpius, really, you don't need to agree now," Hermione assured with an embarrassed smile. "My parents would understand."

"No, no, I'd love to," he said hurried. "Meet them, that is."

The grin on her face was far and wide, blimey. "Really?" she asked, as if she couldn't believe it herself.

He reached out and tugged a stray curl behind her ear. "I mean, I'm a Pureblood who had always been curious of Muggles," he nonchalantly replied. When Hermione playfully swatted his arm, he laughed. "And they're your parents. I think it would take me an hour and a half to thank them profusely for bringing you into this world."

"Noted," she replied. "I'd tell them to bring some snacks because it might take a while."

Scorpius handsomely grinned and tugged her arm, now leading her back to Hogwarts.

"I have one condition, though," he said once they were inside the toasty corridors of the school. When she looked at him, askance, he continued, "I'd like you to meet Astoria and my Nana… well, my mother too."

"Okay," she said, without skipping a beat.

"That's it?" Scorpius asked, his eyebrows almost disappearing behind his fringes. "No hesitations?"

She frowned. "Should there be?"

Scorpius sighed. "You poor, innocent, Muggle-born," he tutted. "You have to endure countless tea parties, charity events, bloody balls for Merlin's sake. You are to enter Pureblood society and such. This isn't some casual dinners, Hermione."

She had considerably paled, but still managed to lift her chin, as if ready for battle. "Okay," she echoed. "That's not going to be a problem, Scorpius."

He grinned. "My brave little Gryffindor," he tenderly said, placing a sweet kiss on her lips.

They finally reached the huge portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione was already saying her goodbye. Before she left, Scorpius offered the King Protea.

"But Astoria gave it to you," she reasoned out.

"Take it," Scorpius said with a smile. "I know you'll take great care of it."

Her eyes connected with his, eyes that always seemed to understand him and unknowingly assure him that everything would be all right in this world. He wasn't merely talking about the flower, of course. And Hermione knew that. Of course.

Instead of answering, she gingerly accepted the flower and pulled him closer to bestow him another sweet kiss full of promises.


A/N: Next chapter will be the epilogue! Man what a wild ride. I'd like to thank those who've really taken their time to read this, and especially review. I knew this fic wouldn't gain too much attention because, ya know, it's a rare pair fic and Scorpius paired with Hermione is weird but whatever I hate my brain sometimes hahaha.

Please give me your lovely reviews. If you have any fanfic recommendations, Hermione-centric ones are nice, you can include them in your reviews.

Oh, and wash your hands, stay at home as much as possible, and stay safe!