Carter

Best wishes? Were they actually kidding me? Who the hell writes a letter like that? Honestly I knew they didn't like me much. Aunt Hazel even more so once I was sorted into Slytherin but still, have some decency. I thought we were family. Clearly family means nothing to these people. Absolutely nothing.

I'd shut myself in my bed. I knew it was immature but how else was I expected to react to this letter?

"Carter?" I heard Albus call out as two sets of footsteps entered the dorm.

Great they were both here. Did they bring the girls as well?

"It's just us." Scorpius tried.

"Rose and Milla are really worried." Albus said.

"Well boohoo to them." I snapped.

"Carter tell us what happened or we're getting Professor Slughorn." Scorpius said seriously.

They still hadn't opened the drapes around my bed. At least they respected that much of my privacy.

"My parents are dead." I said as I threw the letter I'd received out from my bed to the spot I knew my friends were standing.

There was silence. I knew they were reading the letter. What else could they be doing? Then there was shuffling. I heard them moving around the room and whispering to one another.

I decided enough was enough and flung back the drapes.

"What are you two doing?" I snapped at them.

"I'm writing a letter to my father." Scorpius said.

I stared at him confused as to why he was doing that.

"Well James is probably going to ask Mum and Dad if Gwen can live with us." Albus explained. "Seeing as Louis lives in France and I'm pretty sure your sister doesn't speak French. Also Uncle Percy is a bit of a twat sometimes."

"What about Fred and Parker?" I asked him. "Surely she's closer with them than with James."

"Parker's a muggleborn so I think it might be too crazy with his parents." Albus continued having heard all of this from James. "And honestly I think your sister would die if she lived with both Fred and Uncle George."

"Why's that?" I asked him.

"You know how bad Fred is?" Albus asked me.

I just nodded.

"Well Uncle George owns a joke shop." He said.

I burst out laughing. Okay, he's right, Gwen wouldn't cope.

"Still doesn't explain why Scorp's writing to his Dad." I said.

"See if he will let you come live at the manor with us." Scorpius said as he attached the letter to his owl's leg. "I honestly doubt it would make a difference space wise. We have like a hundred empty rooms."

Both Albus and I burst out laughing at his exaggeration.

"I'm dead serious." Scorpius said causing both Albus and to stop laughing.

We stared at him looking for any hint that maybe he was joking. He wasn't.

"Your aunt and uncle are the worst." Scorpius said as he flopped down on his bed.

"Your family isn't perfect." I told him.

"Never claimed they were." He responded. "My grandparents are awful."

"They're pretty bad." Albus added.

"Shut it Albus Severus." Scorpius said.

Albus threw his pillow at Scorpius. I laughed at the two of them. No matter how terrible I was feeling, my friends could always make me feel better.

"Malfoy, Potter, there are some Gryffindors at the entrance asking for you." Denver Bletchley, one of the third year boys, said as he came to the door of our dorm.

"It'll be Milla and Rose." Albus said. "I'll go."

Albus disappeared from the dorm. I wondered if they were going to be able to come here. I didn't overly want to leave the dorm at the moment and the guys knew that. The girls were probably worried. We hadn't spoken to them since I'd left dinner last night.

Scorpius just watched me. We still hadn't heard back from his father. Perhaps he was thinking over what Scorpius asked. It would make sense.

"Oh my God Carter I'm so sorry." Milla said as she ran into the dorm and threw her arms around me.

I froze falling back on my bed, Milla now lying on top of me. After an extended moment I wrapped my arms around her as well.

"Molly and Louis told us what happened." Rose explained. "We wanted to come see you but we weren't sure if we'd be let in."

"How's Gwen?" I asked after Milla had gotten off me, her face bright red after realising what she had done.

"I don't think she's coping very well." Rose said. "Her and James were found in the common room asleep on the couch. Now she won't leave his side."

"But she hates James." Albus pointed out.

"She's never hated him." I explained. "He just irritates her, a lot."

We all just sat quietly. It was difficult to know what they were thinking. Honestly this whole situation wasn't bothering me as much as I knew it would be bothering Gwen. I was worried for her. I know her. She's probably shut down and won't do anything.

"I heard that James convinced Neville to get Uncle Harry to come here." Rose said.

Albus shot Scorpius and I a look. He'd been right. James was trying to convince his parents to let Gwen live with them.

"I'm sure Dad will love visiting Hogwarts again." Albus responded sarcastically.

"Do you think we should go say hi?" Milla asked.

"We can go back to the common room to see him." Rose said. "I know you want to meet him."

"He's my dad's cousin." Milla defended. "I'm not like some crazy fan."

We laughed at her. We all knew she was just trying to make excuses. She had more reasons than that for wanting to meet him.

As our laughter died down an owl flew into the dorm. It was Scorpius' owl.

"Father got back to me." Scorpius said noticing the handwriting on the front.

He opened the letter and began to read it. When he finished he handed it over to me. I was curious as to why he was giving me the letter but I took it from him and began to read it.

Scorpius,

Once you have finished reading this please give it to your friend I would like him to have all this knowledge as well if he's going to be living with us. I have no qualms with him coming to stay. Potter doesn't need any more children living with him, especially if he's going to be hosting your friend's sister.

I have been avoiding talking to you about this for some time now. Your mother's condition has not improved. It has really been getting worse. When I spoke to her about this she said to me 'Draco you help that child. Maybe he will be able to help support both you and Scorp.'

Now I address you specifically Carter. You are welcome in our home. You need not worry about being too much of a bother. We have too much open space in the manor. My mother may not be supportive of us helping others however both Astoria and I believe it will be better for Scorpius and it may also assist in returning our family name to its former glory.

I'm sure, being friends with both a Potter and a Malfoy, you have seen how differently people treat others based specifically on their name.

If you would be willing I would like to understand further what exactly happened. Scorpius mentioned something called a car accident. I'm not sure what that is and I would like for it to be explained to me.

I wish you both well in the rest of your year.

Kind regards,
DM

Well he seemed nice enough. At least he didn't say best wishes. I probably would have torn up the letter if it had been signed like that.

I was mildly surprised at how polite and how kind Draco Malfoy had actually seemed. Everything I'd heard about him made him sound rather terrible.

"Your father seems strange." I eventually said to Scorpius.

"Comes with the name." Scorpius responded with a shrug.

We looked at one another. Scorpius had been hiding all the stuff about his mother from us all. I wasn't going to be the one to tell the others but he should do it. They should know.

I handed the letter back to him. I gave him a look urging him to tell the others about his mum. He just shook his head as he put the letter away in his trunk. I just shook my head in response and lay back down on my bed.

The girls decided to head back to the Gryffindor common room to say 'hello' to Albus' dad. Soon after they left both Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall entered the dorm.

"Mr Smythe, Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy, I assume you know why we're here." Professor McGonagall said to us.

"Professor, I'm fine, really." I said to them.

"What are you planning to do?" She asked me.

"My father has said he can live with us." Scorpius explained.

She had already seen Gwen. I knew that much. I imagine that she had probably been shown Gwen's letter.

"Are you sure that is wise with your mother's condition?" She asked him.

Albus turned to look at Scorpius. He was confused.

"Well when you think about it what other option is there?" Albus asked getting over his initial shock of not understanding what Professor McGonagall was talking about in reference to Scorpius. "Gwen is probably going to end up with us knowing the rest of her friends. Uncle Ron still hates all Slytherins, he's become worse towards me since I was sorted. And I don't think Dudley would be able to cope if Carter when to live with Milla."

"Father said it would be for the best." Scorpius explained. "It would provide some distraction for me. And Carter and I will have one another's support when, well, you know."

Confusing crossed Albus' face again. However this time it didn't fade as quickly as before.

"Carter, you're always welcome to come for a chat." Professor Slughorn told me.

I was surprised Slughorn liked me as much as he did. I didn't have a famous name or anything. And I really wasn't that great at potions. But I suppose he was strange like that.

"Thank you Professor." I muttered.

In all honesty I found Slughorn to be rather annoying. His favouritism of certain students was probably the biggest thing.

With that, both the professors left the dorm. I don't think they were really worried about me. I'm completely fine. It's not like I'm like Gwen. Well, based on what I've heard anyway.

After the professors were gone Albus turned to Scorpius and gave him a strange look. I really couldn't be bothered with any arguments between the two of them.

"I need some sleep." I told them. "If you're going to argue please get the list of spells that Gwen says Molly uses. I really don't want to hear your arguments."

They both just glared at me before heading out of the dorm. Probably to go argue elsewhere but I didn't really care. I just wanted to sleep.

"Oi, Carter, get up." I heard Albus say as he shook me awake.

"What do you want?" I asked as I attempted to shove him off me.

"Fred said Gwen wants to see you." He explained. "They're waiting for us in the Gryffindor common room."

"You know we can't go in there." I said sitting up.

"Apparently when you're a Potter or a Weasley you can get special permissions to visit other houses." Scorpius scoffed.

Albus grabbed my pillow and threw it at Scorpius. Albus really needs a better way of showing Scorpius he's annoyed.

"Dad's here, with Mum and Lily." Albus explained. "They wanted to see Gwen. I reckon they just want to have all the family together."

"So why exactly are Scorp and I invited?" I asked him.

"Gwen wants to see you." Scorpius repeated Albus' words from before. "Honestly don't know why they're letting me tag along."

"Dad wanted to meet you properly." Albus said. "You know, without Uncle Ron being annoying."

"I don't see why your dad cares about me." Scorpius said.

By now I had gotten out of my bed and had begun changing out of the pyjamas I'd been wearing for the last couple days into something a little more presentable to see Albus' parents.

"He wants to know my friends." Albus said. "Both of you. It was easy with James; all his friends are our cousins. Well except for Gwen and Parker. But all four of the guys have spent time together over the summer. Gwen's another story."

"You know she burns all your brother's letter without even opening them." I told Albus once I was changed. "It's kind of amusing watching her sort through her mail and throwing James' letters in the fire. Well, it was. I won't get to see that now will I?"

"No, you won't." Scorpius muttered. "Instead you'll get to join me in avoiding Adeline when she comes over."

"I don't see why you hate your cousin so much." I said to him. "She's not half as bad as Felix."

At that moment there was a knock on the door to our dorm. Before any of us could respond the door opened to reveal the dirty blonde hair of Adeline Nott.

"I heard something had happened." She said to us.

"Yeah, something did happen and it's none of your concern." Scorpius said moving over to push her back out of the dorm. "Thank you for the visit but we would all prefer if you would leave us alone."

Adeline flashed pleading eyes between Albus and I in hopes that we'd allow her to stay. Albus broke.

"Scorp, do you have to be so rude?" Albus asked.

"You don't know her." Scorpius said turning around to face Albus. "Besides, don't we have to go see your dad?"

"Oh, is Albus' dad here?" Adeline asked. "Surely I can come too. I want to see Roxy again. She seems to be avoiding me recently."

"I wonder why." Scorpius muttered sarcastically.

I hit him over the head with my pillow.

"Don't you start attacking me with pillows too." Scorpius said turning to face me.

He wrapped his arms around my middle and tackled me to the ground. The two of us were wrestling, rather terribly, when we heard laughter.

"Boys are so stupid." Adeline said.

"Not all boys though." Albus added.

Both Scorpius and I glared at the two of them before getting up.

"Fine, come with us then." Scorpius said to her. "If Albus says you can."

"I don't mind." Albus said with a shrug.

Adeline squealed and we decided it was probably best if we left and headed towards the door.