"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please," Harry shifted nervously on the couch watching an exquisite silver pot levitating itself following a command of Mrs. Malfoy's wand.
"Do try biscuits, our elves have outdone themselves," she smiled politely and gestured to a small tower of various sweets placed on a marble coffee table.
"Thank you."
An uncomfortable silence fell in the room. Harry thought that this conversation was probably going to be the worst torture he had ever experienced in the Malfoy Manor. He took another biscuit. Might have been stalling but they indeed were delicious.
A house-elf came to his rescue with a loud pop. Bowing deeply the elf announced that Mr. Malfoy apologized for being late and should be expected to join shortly. Harry had never been so eager for the head of Malfoy family to arrive. After all, their relationship had always been defined as a mutual dislike, while Mrs. Malfoy assistance in the past did lead to the Voldemort's defeat to say the least so Harry couldn't help but feel that he owned her. He sipped his tea.
The witch sitting across him seemed to have no problem with the awkwardness of the situation. Probably it was quite common in the pureblood social circles to drink tea from expensive china rather belonging to a museum with people who once tried to lock you behind Azkaban bars. Suddenly the teapot flew again to fill in the third cup and the same minute the owner of the Manor entered the living room.
"Darling," a man with platinum locks kissed his wife's cheek. "Mr. Potter," he nodded before sitting next to his spouse. "I apologize for my being late. What brings you to our home?"
"I wanted to talk about your son," Harry started noticing the couple exchange a quick look. "I know he is not allowed to leave the Malfoy Manner considering his role in the…" he cleared his throat, "unfortunate events at Hogwarts, but I believe I can offer you a compromise."
"Please continue."
"I would like to officially invite him to the Grimmauld place. Being his ancestors home I believe this can be arranged," the Malfoys raised brows identically at his suggestion. "As the Head of the Auror Office I believe I can handle a child's birthday party."
Draco burst out laughing while Hermione tried to hide back her smile and said,
"Albus and Scorpius have managed to break all possible detention records, put both Marauders and Weasley twins to shame, all during their first year at school. While I'm personally very impressed by some of the magic Scorpius mastered and the fact that he somehow is the best student in his year despite his very busy mischief activities schedule, we grounded him, Harry, for the whole summer. I'm surprised you and Ginny didn't do the same."
"We took his broom," Harry contradicted making the blond man wince, they were strict parents with Hermione but there were certain limits in how cruel they would be to their one and only heir. "Look, I know we are not friends and all that, but you are also welcome to come, I mean, there are six more painful school years ahead of us with these two."
"Merlin bless the school," Draco joked.
Harry gave him a desperate look, put his pride aside and begged,
"Please? While I am confident about the party I'm not so sure I have it in myself to bear the consequences of Albus finding out his best friend is not there." Harry rubbed his forehead. "Sometimes I think that either the spirit of Sirius or just Black genes in general came back to life in the boy."
Hermione chuckled and gave up,
"Ah, all right. Moreover, I bet Scorpius has already read his second-year textbooks twice so we might need to distract him before he learns too much and the Hogwarts will fall."
"And you've never had a chance to see your name on my wall, Hermione," Harry added. "I bet Walburga is rolling in her grave."
A memory of the last time he discussed the Black's family tree with his fellow Gryffindor came to his mind…