Holiday Surprise: Friends are Revealed
APOV
I was walking towards mom, dad, Lily and James when I turned to look back at the stupid blond. Scor and I had spent every day since the Sorting in each others company and it felt weird to be leaving him now. I don't know why my fingers on that hand were tingling.
I looked back at my mom who was waving, then to Dad who was smiling up at me from over an excited James and Connor. I returned moms wave briefly but broke off at a run in the other direction, leaving all of my luggage right there on the platform.
DPOV
"Father. Mother it is… good to see—" Scorpius started.
"Don't. I am here merely for appearances. Do not mistake my intentions." Astoria shot coldly interrupting our son. She was so kind once, I don't know how much fear it must have taken to scare her away from a family she had at one time loved so strongly.
"So your friend will be joining us tomorrow then? I admit I am curious as to who it might be." I said to Scorpius distracting him from his mother's absurd coldness. I was genuinely curious which Slytherin it was. If it had been Matheus or Aurora, Scorpius would not have been so secretive.
"Um… well about that Father… Ooomph." muscle memory and a lifetime of threats had moved me to half draw my wand before registering what the blur had actually been. He had been running so fast I had barely noticed that it was a boy who had slammed into my son.
"Watch where you're…" I started before realizing that the boy had actually been hugging my son.
"Hmhmhmhmhmhmh" Scorpius giggled.
What On Earth? I mouthed silently entirely too perplexed for actual speech.
"Um… Al… You do realize you are going to see me tomorrow right?" Scorpius asked chuckling, a smile as wide as the horizon growing on his face. My son never forgot himself around me or his mother.
Beyond that I hadn't actually seen my son laugh in years. I especially don't recall him ever giggling nor was it in his character to allow anyone to be so familiar with him.
Who on earth I began before… Impossible.
The boy pulled away from Scorpius smiling brightly with eyes as green as his Slytherin tie and completely identical to his stupid...
"Father. This would be…" Scorpius began formally his sense of ease fading fast as he realized he'd have to explain himself.
"Albus Potter." I said unmistakably, with what might have been a little too much venom for use in polite society.
"It is nice to meet you Mr. Malfoy. Scorpius speaks of you often." the Potter boy said releasing my son and extending me his small hand.
"AL! Father I make absolutely no mention of you whatsoever." Scor said quickly. I couldn't tell whether he was playing or merely reassuring me that we wouldn't have aurors smashing down our front door…
One thing was certain, I had never seen him look so content before.
"I am sorry to say Albus that my son has not done you the same courtesy." I returned shaking his hand while raising my eyebrow at Scorpius.
"Ah well… about that. Being Slytherin we both believed it wiser to receive approval from our families before either realized the other's identity." The boy said smirking, alluding to the fact that he must have also neglected to tell his family of the friendship. He spoke much too smoothly for a half Weasley or a Potter and reminded me of Scorpius or more precisely my grandfather.
"So you are a Slytherin. The son of Harry Potter landed himself in Slytherin." I mused. Ah how fate was an unusually whimsical beast. I hope this doesn't complicate anything…
HPOV
Did Albus just hug Ferret Face's son? What on earth was going on.
"Gin do you see what…" I started.
"Oh that's Allie's friend Scorpius" interrupted Lily.
"How do you know about him squirt? Al told me not to tell anyone or he'd hex off my face while I slept." asked James surprised.
"Silly Jamie, Allie writes to me all the time, especially about how troll like you've become." Lily said smiling while reaching up to pat Jame's cheek both affectionately and mockingly. Only my daughter was capable of executing both simultaneously.
"Don't look at me Harry, this is the first I've heard of it." Said Gin looking at me confused.
"So that's who it was." said Mione from beside us. I turned to look at my sister in law wearing a curious expression of smug realization. Al had mentioned something to her too. I was glad that Mione and Al were so close. I definitely couldn't handle Al's skills alone. Who better than a genius to teach a prodigy?
"Al is absolutely nuts about Scor by the way. And as unwilling to admit it as she is, Rose and I are too." Interrupted Louis coming over after being welcomed by his parents.
"AM NOT! It's just… nobody but Al and Dad can beat me at Chess… its just that he's as smart as Albus…" Rosie stumbled to her mother slightly flushed.
Hugo looked interested at the mention of someone as smart as Al.
Oh no "Ron please don't…" I called as Ginny started towards the Malfoys to stop her brother before he did something stupid.
SPOV
Father was about to express his surprise at Al's sorting when the yelling began.
"Oi Malfoy … what are you doing with my favorite nephew!" Cried a redheaded man that could only have been a Weasley.
I suddenly realized who it was, my excitement overtaking my worry.
"You must be Ron. You were the one who taught Al to play chess like that! I've never played anyone so intensely before." I said unable to contain myself.
"Scorpius you must be confused. Ronald here lacks the requisite brain function to play a game as nuanced as Wizards Chess. The barbarism I understand but…" Father said rudely eyeing Al's uncle.
"Shut it Malfoy! I, asked, you, a, question…" The redhead started again ignoring me entirely while pointing a violent finger repeatedly towards father…
uh oh…it wasn't wise to speak to father like that. Or… oh god… please don't poke him…Father would see you hanged from a gibbet if you presumed to poke him and that would have been the conclusion to my friendship with Al.
"Uncle Ron, um… this is my… 'Best' mate Scorpius." Al interrupted putting additional emphasis on 'best' to dissuade his uncle from more rudeness, I hoped for his sake it worked. The man's face contorted awkwardly as he attempted to comprehend what Al had just said. Fortunately we were saved by reinforcements from Al's enormous family.
"Allie I missed you sooo much!" cried a little redheaded girl who ran over to hug Al as intently as he had hugged me.
"So this is Scorpius huh?" she added after pulling away.
"And you must be sweet Lily. Al really does talk about you all the time." I said to the girl, who blushed at my words. Then I eyed Al in a manner that suggested what he had said to Father earlier had been stupid, but he merely smiled.
I looked back at Al's sister. She was beyond adorable and had a look that said her cuteness was akin to Rori's, a ruse to disarm her victims before she pounced. I was glad that I saw genuine kindness in her eyes.
Father was glaring at me with an expression that said my mask was slipping. I know that's what he meant because his face said he was physically pained by my words.
"HE DOES?" She cried going back to hug her brother tighter than before. Father looked like he was going to be sick and Mother had already disappeared. Well in all honesty Father didn't look sick so much as like he had finally realized the friend that would be staying at his house was really a Potter… Well on second thought 'sick' really worked too I mused humorously.
"Ron, I think your wife needs your help with the kids' stuff" said Al's mom arriving from the enormous detachment of Weasley's on the far side of the Platform. She gave her brother a look that told him he'd never see daylight again if he uttered so much as another word.
"Um… yeah… ok… sure sis." Ron said terrified, leaving without so much as a second glance towards Father.
"Um… You are one of my favorite Quidditch players of all time, that move you made with Rhea Royce against Markus Salhador during the world cup was amazing!" I managed to squeak blushing. Al's mom was so pretty and I was having trouble concentrating.
I was barely aware that Father had rolled his eyes. Mask is slipping… damn Al and his infectious humanism, I would remember to kill him for it later.
"See mom you've gone and broken my best mate already. He's always so cool and formal. I've never seen his Slytherin mask slip in front of anyone but me!" Al cried incredulously but moving to hug his mom warmly in greeting.
"AL!" I said loudly and still red faced "It does not slip, even in front of you!" I finished as Al nudged me playfully smiling wildly as though he were the funniest thing in the world. He apparently believed our plan had already worked.
Father looked at Albus curiously. The word mask was an interesting choice I suppose. Al is pretty perceptive sometimes. He can see right through you, although… sometimes he can be as dense as James too. Thats what I'd really like to know how he manages because James is as dense as Fun Maple Sludge so to match him is a feat of extraordinary achievement.
"Well its nice to know Al's newest friend is a fan. Although as you know I hardly ever play anymore. Its nice to finally meet you." She said smiling. She really hasn't played in years. "Al has been so mysterious about you…we feared his Slytherin friend was someone we'd… disapprove of." She finished looking at Al with an expression akin to the one she'd given her brother earlier. It made me fear for Al's safety.
If Ginevra Potter was anything to go by I knew it would never be smart to cross a Weasley woman. What frightened me most was how quickly she had gone from smiling to looking like she was going to strangle her son for what was so obviously the successful fruition of his plot.
"Well… that was the point. We figured for the sake of social decorum neither of you would risk open rudeness once standing in front of each other at a very public King's Cross" Al said smugly. Al's mother looked like she would hex him for his cheek.
"Draco, are you still alright having Albus over to the Manor?" she asked Father seriously. Before Father could answer HE came over to see us.
"So whats all this then?" asked THE Harry Potter.
"Pleasseeee, spare me, not another one." said Father rolling his eyes again. "If every member of your family decides to say hello we might cause a traffic jam, or scandal should a passing Prophet photographer decide to take a picture." Father sighed exasperatedly.
"Headlines read 'Malfoy finally snaps.'" Father added for effect.
"Yeah it's nice to see you too Draco, and what's this about finally? Ferret." said Al's dad sarcastically.
"Draco he is absolutely adorable, I've seen pictures of your lovely wife but I really had no idea." Said Al's mom before either of our dads could speak again and bollocks up this whole thing.
She said I was ADORABLE I thought feeling my cheeks getting warm. What had Al's dad meant by Ferret?
"Nobody is more adorable than Allie, not even Louis!" cried a dejected lily in defense of her brother. She hadn't realized her mother's comment was designed to distract our parents from fighting.
"Hush Lily." said Al quieting his sister.
Although… Al did sort of inherit his mother's soft features. Essentially Al looked like his dad but with all the refinement of his mother's beauty. Kind of how Mother's features had softened m…
"On my part it is… acceptable. I trust your son will still be allowed to join us?" Father asked Ginny ignoring Harry entirely putting so much emphasis on the word us that I thought we might be a different species.
"Assuming Harry is alright with it yes I'm fine with our previous arrangements. Besides as you said we have an army of family ready to hunt you down should anything happen to my boy." shot Al's mom, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Over my dead body are you changing your mind Dad." Al said latching on to me possessively both arms wrapped about my shoulders but looking defiantly at his Dad. I half expected him to stick out his tongue. Why did Al's silliness never cease to amuse me. I couldn't contain my laughter. (I DEFY ANYONE TO ACUSE ME OF GIGGLING! A MALFOY DOES NOT GIGGLE!) Al's dad merely looked curiously at the two of us.
"Al… I don't imagine that's the most… tactful... way of asking for something." I said smiling, stabbing him in the ribs with my wand right where he was most ticklish. He released me with a yowl and a backwards jump.
"Come on dad, my cuz will take good care of my little shit of a brother." said Teddy Lupin coming over from the Weasley-Delacour group.
"Language Teddy!" said Ginny.
"Sorry mom."
If father didn't consider Teddy a Black instead of a Lupin, he might have been ill that another person had decided to join us.
"I promise I won't let Father kill my best friend." I pitched in looking at Al.
"I'm still not happy that you two kept this a secret until now. The Malfoys are…" Started Al's dad reproachfully.
"Alright well then try this." Said Al grabbing my hand and magically gluing it to his own.
What... an... Imbecile.
"AL!" Cried his Mom and I simultaneously. Harry just laughed at the motion.
"Nice you twit. How are we going to get out of this now!" I yelled.
"Oh it'll wear off in a day or two. I devised it to stick James's books to the Gryffindor Common room ceiling." Al finished smirking.
"What possessed you to think this was a better idea than using the cloak like we planned! I thought you were a genius!" I said without thinking. I forgot that the cloak was sort of a secret. Harry looked even more curiously at his son, I guess for having trusted me with the secret. I'm not even sure James had been told that the cloak had gone to his brother.
"Al, next time wait until I actually disagree before doing something silly and entirely too befitting of your uncle George." Al's dad finished.
"Well its settled now." said Teddy clapping his hand on Harry's back.
"I guess your coming over early Al." I offered annoyed. Al had acted perfectly acceptable with every other introduction. He had carefully and artfully guided my manipulation of everyone who might have initially disliked me, so why was he being so silly now? Was he that nervous about his family's reaction? Or had he just not wanted to lose me?
"You are all insane, entirely and uncompromisingly mental… but I have neither the patience nor the time to argue." Father said looking at us.
"Additionally Harry can check in on his son since we still have Ministry business to attend to. Right Potter?" Asked Father wearily.
I didn't care what Father was on about. All I could think of was Al, he was acting so strange. All his genius half replaced with silliness. This was going to be a weird holiday I thought lifting our joint hands as if to examine the spellwork. Weird indeed.
I will make you all a deal. I have two more chapters i am prepared to upload this weekend, one tomorrow and one sunday. That is, of course, provided i get enough feedback. I don't care if you leave me violent criticism or scathing and effusive strings of abusive curses as long as somebody sees fit to write something.
I am getting a lot of views, (a lot of views) but everyone seems too lazy to do much else... if you enjoy reading and you continuously come back for more please consider letting me know why. The opposite holds equally true. If you can't stand something. whether the pacing, the spacing, the characterizations, the dialogue, or anything else let me know.
(Updated April 21st)
Happy Birthday Mattie hope you're still reading.
