—Harry POV—
"So I'm never going to see you again?" asked Teddy. His hair was streak white, and we were hugging. The three of us spoke about my competence as a guardian... which started a few minor arguments. But it was decided that Teddy should stay with Andromeda from now on.
"We will see each other all the time. It will almost be like you never left... We'll have dinner, you can have play dates with Scorpius, and even Rose... your grandmother is just better at taking care of you."
"It's because of your brain medicine isn't it? I heard you guys talking. It's because your medicine doesn't work," he claimed, voice quivering. I sighed.
"Not exactly... You're smart. You know that?" I said with another sigh, slightly trembling.
"Are you going to die like Aunt Ginny and Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron were saying?"
"It sounds to me like you've been listening to a lot of adult conversations," I responded, trying to discreetly change the subject. He pulled away from our hug, and I saw a few streaks of grey in his hair, as well as his face growing longer. for a second, he reminded me of Moony.
"Because nobody tells me anything!" he shouted. "Aunt Ginny dragged me all the way to Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron's house crying about you and nobody is telling me anything! Why have you never talked to us?! Why is everyone talking about you dying?!" He said, tears streaming. I saw Andromeda standing in the corner, watching us expressionless.
"Things are just... happening. And It's best for you to stay with Andromeda. She knows better than me how to watch over you. And she will be able to prepare you for your first term at Hogwarts next year."
His lip quivered and he stared me in the eyes, trembling.
"I promise we'll see each other Teddy. I wouldn't dream of going even a month with out your smile lighting up the room," I told him.
"Can I stay with you for the rest of the week?" He whispered. "So I can say bye, and so I can get my things?" I looked up at Andromeda, knowing it wasn't the best choice for me to make any decisions. She nodded curtly.
"Yes. We'll have the rest of the week together, and You'll come back here on Sunday," I reassured. He suddenly took me into a hug that would have been bone-crushing, if it wasn't for his small size. I hugged him back softly. I felt his tears soaking through the shoulder of my shirt.
When I moved to get up, Teddy hugged me tighter, signaling he doesn't want to let go. I took him in my arms and carried him. He was heavy, but I didn't let my struggle to hold him show.
"Where's Draco?" I asked, wanting to leave.
"Upstairs with Scorpius. I'll get him now," she said, moving up the stairs beside her.
"Teddy. We can keep hugging after we put on our coats, okay?" I said, tapping him on the back. With a sniffle, he let go. I took out my wand, Accio-ing both of our coats, and helping Teddy put his on, before putting on my own. Then, as promised, I lifted him up again. He held on tightly.
—Draco POV—
I got out of the shower, allowing Harry to enter, while I got dressed. After going to Andromeda's, which was a rather interesting visit to say the least, we went back to Hermione and Weasley's to find Neville, Luna, Weaslette, and the two, drinking tea and discussing who knows what.
Before dinner, I saw the Daily Prophet from this morning as it transformed into its night-time edition, revealing the resurfaced rumors about Scorpius being Voldemort's son and how me being spotted might mean he's returned. I ripped up the paper angrily, throwing it in the trash. Don't these pigs have anything better to do than pick on a seven year-old boy? I asked myself, holding back an outraged expression, and determined to protect Scorpius from these ridiculous, baseless rumors about him and his family's 'disappearance'.
At dinner, Harry and I got in a small argument. He was attempting to serve himself alcohol, and I had to force him away from the bottle, throwing it into the garbage bin. I asked Hermione to hide the rest of her stuff, knowing it wouldn't be right to get rid of all the alcohol in what wasn't mine or Harry's house.
Right now though, I am sitting on one of the two beds in the basement. Scorpius, Teddy, and Rose are playing with her toys in her room, and I didn't bother paying attention to the others in the house.
I settled in my spot, remembering what has unfolded in these last two days. I can't believe it's only been two days. I told myself. Everything has happened so fast. We showed up, Harry went missing, I got in at least two fights with everyone else, we found Harry, settled what was happening with Teddy, and now, things were quiet. Nobody was really speaking about everything that recently occurred. I don't think anybody really wants to. It doesn't help that Weasley and I haven't been the kindest towards each other. I snapped my head in the direction of the bathroom, where I heard the water had turned off. He doesn't need me adding stress to his relationship with his best friends. Yet that's exactly what I'm doing. I sighed. At least I don't call Hermione by her last name anymore. Weasley doesn't deserve that though. Prat.
Harry came out of the bathroom, fully dressed. I got up and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, resting my chin on his shoulder.
"You're very warm," I muttered, not moving from my position, unsure of what else to say.
"You're a bit cold yourself," he responded, turning for a proper hug. I allowed this, once again resting my chin on his shoulder, I closed my eyes and let us stand there, doing nothing in particular.
"You normally aren't so huggy," said Harry. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"It's nothing. I'm just thinking about stuff," I replied cooly.
"Like what?" He asked. I responded by giving him a light kiss on the neck, before letting go of the hug.
"How are you feeling?" I asked him, genuinely concerned.
"I'm fine... how are you feeling?" He responded. I backed up to sit down on the bed.
"I'm feeling like you're lying to avoid talking about it," I responded, looking into his eyes. He sat down as well.
"There's so many things though. I just need to sort things out in my mind."
"Sort them out loud, then. Let's start with one thing," I told him.
"Alright... I know that Ron hasn't quite fully gotten past the fact that you and I are civil to each other... to say the least."
"I know about that, trust me," I said, letting out a light scoff.
"I just feel like his approval means a lot... I know he'll get around to it. I know you aren't the way you used to be... I don't know. I guess I had my hopes a little high when it came to them automatically accepting that you've changed..."
"You know, what either of them may say doesn't change that we're happy with each other. I know things are really messy, but other's words should not be able to add to that mess," I responded.
"Things really are a disaster. I created it too."
"I think it's safe to say this was coming. It's just that nobody knew I would be involved in it," I said.
"I wish things were easier. I wish I could just prove to them how much you changed and be on with life. Maybe things would be easier if we all just saw you as a friend. Though that's not the case," he confessed. I held back a tear at the thoughts of how I used to be, and how much work Astoria put into helping me become a better person... I remember when we promised no son of ours would be raised like we were. I sniffled, realizing I had gone into a quiet sort of cry. I felt Harry scoot close to me, and wrap an arm around me.
"Hey... what's wrong?" I took a breath in.
"I'm just, remembering... stuff. My past. How it's affecting me and Scorpius."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"My stupid, bloody self as a child. There's no escaping the past. And now it's affecting my son... he doesn't know, of course. I'm so absolutely fed up with Rita Skeeter and her daily prophet gits doing anything to find a stupid story.
I don't want to be remembered as the horrible person I used to be. I just want forgiveness. And I'm raising my son to be absolutely nothing like I was. I don't want him to be tormented for my wrongdoings," I said, finally letting this off my chest. I had thought about it when the rumors first surfaced after Astoria's passing, and I pushed it away. I left England, and moved into the Muggle world to keep Scorpius from it all, and to finally move past her death. I was an idiot to come here with him. I should have known we would be spotted.
Wet tears made their way down my face, and I received a kiss on the temple from Harry, who had listened to my entire rant.
"You're doing an amazing job with Scorpius. Besides, ignore what they say... you and I were quite nasty to each other back then and, well, look at us now." I let out a small chuckle, leaning into him, still crying.
"I wouldn't change being with you for anything, Harry," I whispered.
"Me too," he whispered back with a smile.
I heard Scorpius and Teddy's footsteps as they stormed down the basement stairs, and immediately composed myself, sitting up straight, passing my fingers through my hair, and wiping my eyes.
"Dada can I sleep with you tonight?" Asked Scorpius.
"Of course," I responded, catching him as he hopped onto the bed, almost knocking me over.
"Teddy, you can sleep with me okay?" Said Harry, moving himself to the bed next to mine. I silently wished we could hug for a bit longer, and that I could cry in his arms for just another second, but I got Scorpius and myself under the covers, as Harry and Teddy did the same on the other bed.
"Goodnight," I said.
"Goodnight Dada"
"Goodnight"
"Goodnight Draco."
I got comfortable in the bed next to Scorpius, and gave him a small hug.
"I love you Scor."
"I love you too dada," he replied, hugging me tightly around the torso.
I'll always be here to protect you from anything and anyone. Including myself.