AU! Dramione.

IWSC SEASON 4, WWN Issue 4, Writing School: Perfect People

WC: 899/900

Beauxbatons, Exchange 2

"DADDY!"

"DADDY!"

The furious shrieks reverberated through Malfoy Manor, startling Draco out of his musings. He cried out as he slipped in the shower and fell onto his bottom. He shot out of the bathroom and Accioed his bathrobe. Hastily pulling it on, he slicked back his hair and sprinted out the door.

Terror overwhelmed him at the thought of Death Eaters attacking his children. As a former Death Eater and Hermione Granger's husband, this was his worst nightmare, and it could be coming true right now!

"I'm coming!" Draco screamed as he slid down the bannister and stumbled onto his feet. Curse his ancestors for setting up Anti-Apparition wards around the house. Didn't their children ever yell out for them?

Who was he kidding? Malfoys—before Draco, at least—had never called out for their fathers in such a bold and crass manner. As a child, Draco, too, had always remained quiet as a mouse. So, his children screaming for his help both pleased him and made him long for the good old days when he could relax in the bathtub without having a heart attack.

Being a stay-at-home parent was more difficult than he'd thought it would be, but he didn't envy Hermione for working at St. Mungo's.

When Draco skidded into the living room, his hair still wet and dripping, he groaned and almost headed back upstairs to his shower.

Lyra was standing near the Christmas tree, clutching onto a large green present while Scorpius was trying to yank it away.

Draco called out, "What is the meaning of this?"

Whirling around, Scorpius's brown eyes widened. "Daddy, look! Lyra wants to open the present!"

Flipping her blond hair back, Lyra stuck out her tongue and barked, "Don't be a snitch!"

Scorpius's brown curls sparked with magic as he stomped his foot. "I'm not a snitch! Mummy will be angry if you open the box before Christmas, right, Daddy?"

Lyra's lower lip wobbled, exactly like Hermione's when she was sad.

Why did Draco always have to diffuse his children's fights? Oh, right. Stay-at-home parent.

"Lyra, Scorp's right. Mummy will be very angry. You don't want her to take away your presents, do you?"

Lyra batted her eyelashes up at him and whispered, "Daddy, we don't have to tell her anything, do we?"

Amusement and pride bubbled up in Draco's chest. Merlin, Lyra was such a Slytherin! Had he been this cunning when he was four years old? Probably not.

"Daddy, don't let her see! I'll tell Mummy!" Scorpius scowled at Lyra. "Why can't you be more like Alfie? He'd listen to Uncle Harry!"

Draco silently groaned as his hotheaded children started to argue once again.

"How about we do one thing instead?" he suggested, just before Lyra could hit Scorpius for calling her a jerk.

"What, Daddy?" Lyra asked, gazing up at him with her beautiful grey eyes.

"Don't let her see the present, Daddy, or I'll tell Mummy you stole her ice cream!" Scorpius threatened.

Draco stopped, taken aback. "But… I didn't eat it."

"Will Mummy believe you or me?" Scorpius's tone was brimming with mock-innocence.

Draco gaped at Scorpius. Did he just… Merlin, this was terrifying! He was getting threatened by his children. His father and Potter must have teamed up to teach the children to resort to such tactics.

Draco cleared his throat and said, "How about we compromise?"

"What's compomise?" Lyra frowned at him.

"It means to bargain, right, Daddy?" Scorpius demanded.

"Yes, Scorp," Draco said. "Compromise means we'll discuss what we all want and come to a decision."

"Will this let me open my presents now?" Lyra inquired impatiently.

Draco couldn't help but laugh at her Hermione-like stubbornness. He said, "Ly, you want to open your presents, yes? Scorp, you don't want to."

When they nodded, Draco turned to Lyra and asked, "Do you understand what will happen when you open your presents?"

"What do you mean, Daddy?"

"Well, when you open them, Mummy will be hurt because she wrapped the presents with so much love yesterday, remember? She even cut her finger when she was wrapping them. Then, even if Mummy doesn't find out, you won't be allowed to play with whatever is inside until tomorrow. Do you want to find out what's inside and not be allowed to play with it till tomorrow?"

Lyra's eyes widened at the question. Draco knew that not being able to play with her new toys was a horrifying thought.

So he continued, "And then, tomorrow when everyone opens their presents, you won't open your presents with them. Do you want that?"

Lyra instantly shook her head and cried, "No! I don't want to open my presents!"

Draco shook his head and persuaded her, "No, you'll open them now. Scorp can open his presents with the others tomorrow. Right, Scorp?"

Scorpius smirked wickedly and said, "Of course, Daddy! I'll open mine with Alfie!"

"No, Daddy! I don't want to open my presents now!" Lyra shrieked and shoved the green box back under the Christmas tree before she hurried out the living room.

"Thank you, Daddy," Scorpius said with a smirk on his face.

"Don't lie to Mummy about me, okay?" Draco grumbled as he ruffled Scorpius's curls.

"Only if you don't listen to me," Scorpius added before he laughed maniacally and bolted out the door.

Draco gawked at the door, bewildered at how Scorpius had manipulated him.