Author's Note

Round 8

Prompt: Write about an important milestone in someone's life

Position: Seeker

Beta's: Cupcakeyyy, S.L Blake, VanillaAshes

Summary: Scorpius wants many things in life, but one is in the forefront of his mind. He wants his dad to accept his friendship with a Potter. Is that possible? He doesn't know, but he'll certainly try! (Here, The Cursed Child is used as canon.)

Scorpius paced back and forth, steadying his breathing. He had told both of his parents everything that had happened in his time-travelling adventure.

All apart from one tiny, tiny detail.

His friendship with Albus Potter hadn't been included in his tale. He knew about his father's history, and that was exactly why he had left Albus out of it. But, here he was. They knew Albus was in his House, in Slytherin, but so far, his father thought that he hated Albus. After all, he was a Potter. And Scorpius was a Malfoy.

He wasn't going to stand for this any more. Albus was his best friend, whether his parents liked it or not. They had gone through a lot, even though they were only really just finishing their second year. He knew Albus was going to tell his father, and he could only imagine what kind of a reaction that would cause. But they had both agreed that by the end of their second year, both of their parents were going to accept their friendship. No matter what it would take.

It wasn't too much to ask, after all… Right?

Scorpius took a deep breath and ran a hand through his blond hair, before knocking on the door to his father's office. He could do this. He had to do this. Everything he had been through, he wouldn't fail. He wouldn't let Albus down. He just couldn't.

"Enter."

He heard the all too familiar voice and Scorpius bit his lip nervously before opening the door before stepping into the office. His father was sitting at his desk, writing. The faint scratch of the quill on parchment could barely be heard over Scorpius's heart that was beating heavily. He felt more nervous here before his father, than he had done in the many realities he'd been through. What if his father disowned him for even wanting to be friends with Albus? It had happened before, in the Black family. Would it happen to him?

When his father finally looked up from the letter, surprise flashed in his grey eyes. Scorpius couldn't really place why. He'd love to say he was alright with it, that he could just ignore it and take it as a given fact, however, he… couldn't.

The young Malfoy gulped.

"Scorpius, I've never seen you so nervous," his father commented. His voice sounded calm and reassuring. It would have been reassuring if his heart would have taken the time to calm down, but no. It hadn't. And it most likely wouldn't. Not until he'd gotten through this… this… this awkward moment.

Putting his quill down, his father stood up and made his way over to Scorpius with concern written all over his face. Scorpius let out an embarrassed chuckle, not meaning to worry him. His father wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Scorpius bit his bottom lip anxiously.

"I have something to tell you," Scorpius blurted out, which was unlike him. He usually had more composure, and his father straightened, leaning on his desk with a frown.

"Go on."

His voice was stern, and Scorpius tried to steady his breathing once more. That was his father's serious voice, his 'no messing around' one. He could recognise that anywhere. This was it, it was now or never.

"I'mbestfriendswithAlbusPotter," Scorpius sputtered, all in one breath, looking at a particular spot on the floor of the office. There was a speck of dust. Just sitting there, existing. Like himself. Here he was, just breathing. And existing. Also, he didn't want to see the disappointment in his father's eyes. He didn't want to see the judgement. He didn't want to let him down. All Scorpius could hear was his own heavily beating heart pounding in his ears.

"You're best friends with Albus Potter?" his father repeated, his tone neutral.

The young Malfoy's mouth went dry instantly. That was worse, Scorpius thought, as his heart sped up even more. Was it healthy that it was beating this fast? Should he be concerned? Merlin, he couldn't tell how angry his father was, he couldn't read his emotions at all. Was this the time to freak out? Taking a deep breath, Scorpius looked up to meet his father's eyes. A desperate whimper escaped him. They were difficult to read, too.

"Y-yes," he stuttered.

Couldn't his father just tell him he hated him already? Scorpius hated this suspense. He wondered what was going on inside his head. Was he already plotting his disinheritance? Which hex he could use to blast his name off the family tree? Would he go for a simple fire charm or would he choose something more aggressive, like Bombarda? Oh, what would that mean, though? Him choosing the Blasting Curse? He hated him, didn't he? Yes, he did. He hadn't reacted yet, so he had to be planning his son's demise!

"How long?" his father questioned, his voice still neutral.

Scorpius looked down at the floor again, his heart still beating heavily. He took great interest in the speck of dust, once again. Or whatever it was. If it was dust, it was a huge amount of it, which would mean that their house-elves…

"We met on the train," he told him truthfully, in a small voice.

"Hmm."

Scorpius looked up in confusion as he watched his father go back to his desk, sitting down once more. What was going on, why was everything… calm? Why was he so calm? Scorpius was practically burning alive right now, and there was his father, just… He bit down a confused sigh as he watched as his father picked up a piece of parchment before turning and looking at him with his lips turned upwards. He was smiling! What… What was he smiling about? And… why? Had he just decided on the curse for the family tree?

"'Dear Draco,'" his father picked up one piece of parchment that was lying on his desk and continued to read aloud, "'my son just told me he and Scorpius are best friends. That if we try to split them up we'll lose them both. It was hard to stay serious throughout his heartfelt confession, I have to admit. Now, as I'm sitting here, writing this, I'm wondering how long it will take for Scorpius to tell you. From what I gather, he isn't one to just do it straight away and get it over with, so if I were to guess I'd say he will wait for the very last minute of summer. I'm tempted to just sit it out and wait patiently, but then again I can't help but be amused by the idea of just telling them that we knew all along,'" his father stopped reading, and Scorpius looked up. A feeling of relief washed over him at the amusement in his father's eyes. For once, Scorpius had no idea what to say.

"Scorpius, you are your own person. You can make friends with whoever you want and live with the consequences. I'm your father, and it's not my decision. It's your decision, your life."

Scorpius's eyes filled with tears; he couldn't believe it. Was this a dream? Or… wait, what consequences? A flicker of dread sparked in his belly before he pushed it back down. No. He had been working so hard to get this exact response from him! Well, no, not necessarily this exact response, as he hadn't figured his father would threaten him with possible consequences, but this was Draco Malfoy he was talking to, so who was he kidding?

"I…" Scorpius didn't know how to reply. He was speechless. "But…"

"So, how about we prove Potter wrong, eh?" his father said with a smirk on his face and Scorpius, despite the situation, couldn't help but laugh. Even as adults, his father still talked ill about Potter from time to time. There was no way that those two were friends, all of a sudden.

"You don't hate me?" Scorpius asked quietly. He had never seen his father move his head so fast, their eyes locking.

"I could never hate you." Those words sounded so sincere that Scorpius felt tears well up in his eyes again. He was oddly emotional today, what was wrong with him?

He felt happier than he had done since coming home. He had reached an important milestone with his father and he couldn't help but finally be excited for the summer. He could even ask his father about spending time with Albus, instead of going all summer without seeing his best friend. Though as he started to smile, wiping a tear that had escaped and fallen down his cheek, he couldn't help but frown.

"Father…" Scorpius started, and his father looked back up to meet his son's gaze.

"Yes, son?"

"About the consequences… what did you mean by that?" he asked, a little fear in his eyes. He bit his lip when his father did something Scorpius rarely saw him do. He smirked in response.

"Don't worry about that, yet. You'll find out soon enough."

Scorpius' frown deepened and he sighed. He felt oddly accepting of this fact. That didn't mean that he wanted to find out, though. But nevermind that, he had just received his dad's approval! That was what he had been worried about all summer, and now that he had gone through with his plan and promise to Al, he could just enjoy his time.

That was all that mattered.

As he walked out of his father's office, through their mansion, and out the back door, he couldn't help but grin. Excitement he hadn't felt in a long while, flooded through him. He'd done it! He had talked to his father, and there hadn't even been mention of Blasting Curses nor the family tree!

That was a win. Right?