The Malfoys had been enjoying a rich breakfast prepared by their freed House Elf Wilber when an owl had flown into the room, carrying the mornings addition of the Daily Prophet.
"HOO, HOO," Scorpius shouted, Narcissa pursed her lips, but said nothing to the child who was happily feeding the bird bacon, instead she reached across and added some money to the pouch on the bird's leg before taking the paper in hand. She flipped open the paper; gasping as she took in the photograph of her son and his ex-wife on its front page.
"What is it dear," Lucius asked.
"That wretched woman," she hissed venomously, reading the article rapidly:
Malfoy love rekindled – A Romance for the Ages: By Rita Skeeter
I'm sure I don't have to rehash the messy divorce of Draco and Astoria Malfoy after the birth of their son Scorpius three years ago. It seems however that this former it couple, of Pureblood society have mended their bridges, rekindled their love. In the wake of the tragic attacks the Auror's and Hitwizards faced earlier this week; Astoria Malfoy realised the tragic mistakes she had made in abandoning her family all those years ago. "When I saw the article; my stomach dropped, I didn't know if Draco was dead or alive and it broke my heart," Astoria told me, as tears rolled down her delicate cheeks. I asked her what she did upon coming to this realisation and Astoria informed me she went straight to St Mungo's where she and Draco rekindled their relationship. "He was very enthusiastic, said he forgave me for leaving him and Scorpius, said we should make a go of it for our son," Astoria told me. What a splendid outcome from such tragic circumstance, a love reformed in times of strife, and a little boy who can now grow up with both of his loving parents. "That's my biggest regret, not been around for Scorpius, I couldn't cope after he was born, been such a young mum was too much, I should have tried harder," Astoria sobbed to me, what a poor devoted mother, my hopes are she has support going forward as she builds her relationship with her son. I tried to get into the hospital to interview Draco but was stopped by Healer Susan Bones. As more information comes to light, I will keep you my loyal readers informed.
"That lying bitch," Narcissa hissed.
"Cissa," Lucius hissed gesturing to Scorpius who was staring at her wide eyed.
"Sorry Scorpius, Nanna has to go deal with a beetle infestation," she said, rising from her chair, her breakfast forgotten.
"Cissa," Lucius asked, she didn't respond, only handed him the paper before exiting the dining room.
"Why was Nanna Cissa so angry Grandpa Lucie," Scorpius asked with a pout.
"Because two mean ladies got together and wrote lies about our family," Lucius replied to his grandson, as he hurriedly scanned the article.
"What lies," Scorp asked wide eyed.
"Nothing for you to worry about, how about we finish breakfast and go feed the ducks," he asked instead, Scorpius nodded excitedly.
Susan Bones stared at the article in horror, no way was anything in it trueful; she'd seen the former Mrs Malfoy storm out of the hospital enraged yesterday and then walked in on Hermione and Draco snogging like a pair of horny teenagers a few hours later. There was no way Draco and Astoria had rekindled their romance, but Draco had a right to know what his ex was publishing about him. Taking the paper with her, she approached Draco's room and knocked, waiting for the man to invite her in, which he did promptly.
Draco and Hermione were sat on the small hospital bed, their breakfast trays in front of them, their contents half eaten.
"Hey Susan, are you here to discharge us," Hermione asked, her friend had never been one to sit around and she could tell been stuck in the hospital as a patient was getting to her.
"Not yet no," she shook her head.
"Here to check our vitals again, I've already done it, we are both fine, our magic is replenishing as it should," Hermione told her.
"I'm here to give Draco the morning Prophet, she grimaced," holding the paper out to them.
"That lying bitch," Draco growled, snatching the paper from her, Susan watched as they both read it, each growing angrier.
"Hermione it isn't true, none of it," Draco told her friend.
"I know it isn't," Hermione nodded.
"I need to go," Draco said, standing quickly on wobbly legs.
"Less than twenty-four hours ago you were clinging onto life by a hair, I would not be a good healer if I let you go," Susan told him seriously.
"Then I need a quill, ink and some parchment, I have letters to write," Draco spoke, retaking his spot on the bed.
"Who are you going to write too," Hermione asked.
"My lawyers, my parents, my ex, the Daily Prophet and the Ministry," Draco spoke his voice cold, Susan decided in that moment that she never wanted to piss off Draco, she exited the room, to find the things he needed to write his letter.
Narcissa walked calmly into the Daily Prophet building, dressed in her finest silk robes that clung to her figure perfectly, an array of expensive family jewels from both the Malfoy and Black family as well as an expression of discontent she'd mastered as a child, she had every eye upon her within seconds of entering the building, the room falling to silence except for the click of her towering heels as she bypassed the reception desk and walked directly to the Heads office.
"You can't go in there," a small, scared voice spoke up, Narcissa laughed, turning to the young girl who had spoken, she was probably a few years younger than Draco.
"Watch me," she hissed, her voice as cold as her ice queen stare, the witch squeaked and backed away as Narcissa slammed open the door and swept inside the room.
"Mrs Malfoy," Mr Hunter said, his face sweaty and red, he dabbed at his brow with a damp hanky that he held in one of his pudgy hands.
"Mr Hunter, I thought the Daily Prophet was a respectable paper," she said, tapping her fingers idly on his desk.
"It is Mrs Malfoy," he nodded.
"Why then is it printing lies about my family," she asked.
"It isn't," he protested.
"So where's your proof, verification, sources, because to me it looks like my ex-daughter in law came to yourselves telling you made up drivel and you printed it," she said.
"Rita verified it," he said, we have photos of Astoria at the hospital," Narcissa laughed.
"Anyone could visit the hospital, doesn't mean what they say is true," she commented as a tawny owl flew into the room, carrying with it a red envelope that began to smoke as soon as it was dropped in front of the obese balding man. Narcissa smirked as the man paled, reaching out to take the envelope in his shaking hands. She watched as the envelope unravelled and began to speak with her sons enraged voice:
Mr Hunter,
I assure you that Astoria and I have not and will not ever be rekindling our relationship. I abhor my ex, completely and utterly despise her and the fact she would go to a national tabloid and tell lies after I declined her suggestion, we restart our relationship only deepens my hatred for the wretched woman. Astoria Greengrass is a cheating little trollop and a manipulative bitch who only wanted to rekindle our sham of a relationship because the man she left me for, moved on to another hussy. The fact that she'd even dare bring my child into it is a completely other matter. If it were a sham article about myself, I'd let this slide, but my son is impressionable and news papers are kept in archives at both the Ministry and Hogwarts so the publication from this morning will always be assessable to him should he want to do research into his family history when he is older. Astoria signed over all rights to my son when she left me for Blaise Zabini, this has not changed and will not change, she can cry enough tears to fill the Atlantic Ocean as far as I care because she will not have the opportunity to see Scorpius until he is of age, and then the decision will be up to my son, not her. I request you publish a retraction and apology to my family for this fictitious article, you can expect to be contacted by my lawyers and the Ministry in due course.
"It seems that Draco can manage his own battles, Mr Hunter," Narcissa smirked as she watched the Howler disintegrate into a pile of ash.
"Mrs Malfoy," he asked, as a commotion sounded from the main room off the paper's headquarters.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME," a shrill voice sounded, Narcissa peered out of the large glass windows that lined Mr Hunter's office, watching as Auror's arrested Rita Skeeter.
"What are they doing," he asked as two Auror's approached his office.
"Didn't you know it was illegal to employ an unregistered Animagus," she asked, her voice bored.
"Mrs Malfoy please," he pleaded.
"Nobody messes with my family Mr Hunter, remember that. We entered the war on Voldemort's side, we fought for each other and survived living with that manic man, we managed to switch our alliance and get out of lengthy sentences because of who we are, one of the richest and oldest families in England. We've done a lot to change our image and to create a world where Scorpius can grow up without the burdens his father had to face. We might have changed but leopards Mr Hunter don't change their spots; deep down within us we are just as capable as we were before we turned over our new leaf's," she whispered her eyes on the advancing Auror's.
"Are you threatening me Mrs Malfoy," he asked, his voice trembling.
"No Mr Hunter, I'm promising you that should you ever publish anything about the Malfoy's that isn't factual, I will personally ensure nobody finds your body," she said idly.
"I'll tell the Aurors," he said.
"I'd like to see you try, I cast a wandless charm as I entered, that will prevent you from ever repeating this conversation," she smirked.
"A charm like that doesn't exist," he said.
"No, good thing I'm good at creating them then isn't it," she smirked as the Auror's entered the room and Mr Hunter gurgled at them, unable to share the contents of the conversation they had just had.
"Good day Mr Hunter, Harry do come round for tea, one day, so I can thank you properly for getting Draco to safety," she said leaning over to kiss the dark haired Auror on the cheek.
"Nonsense Narcissa, I was just doing my job," he protested.
"Bring those children of yours, Scorpius needs more friends, shall we say two o'clock on Saturday," she commented, patting his hand as she passed him, Harry sighed and nodded his agreement, she smiled at him as she walked out, to return to the home she and Lucius shared. After the war they'd had Malfoy Manor knocked down and the grounds cleansed of the evil magic that had seeped into their land. Where the manor once stood was a much smaller country estate with light airy interiors, exposed wooden beams and large windows that looked out onto the rolling countryside.
Scorpius dressed in a dungarees and wellies went running out of the front door of his grandparents' home excitedly, his grandpa walking behind him much slower, relying on a wooden cane to help him walk.
"Come on Grandpa Lucie," he called, Lucius smiled, his knees aching.
"I'm coming Scorp," he called as the three-year-old ran towards the duck pond, pausing a foot away from the water to wait for him to catch up. Lucius wasn't as fast as he used to be and some day's he woke up with his legs stiff and pained. He enjoyed these moments with his grandson though and wished he had similar memories with the boy's father. He hadn't been around enough for his son and only after a lifetime of mistakes did, he realise how much he'd actually missed out upon. He wouldn't miss anything else, not even if his stiff knees slowed him down.
"You can get closer Scorp," he said pausing beside the boy, Scorpius grinned, approaching the water's edge and Lucius passed him a bag filled with bird food.
"Millie, Tillie, Quillie, Willie," the boy called happily, loud quacks sounded and soon the four ducks appeared, flocking around the boy's yellow wellies excitedly for the food. Lucius watched as his grandson lent down, tickling each of their heads carefully before giving them each a handful of food.
"They're getting big," he commented, they'd found the four ducks a few months back when they had been abandoned ducklings and Scorpius had insisted, they care for them, Lucius had built a pond the very next day and he and Wilber had been feeding the feathered creatures whenever Scorpius wasn't about to keep them well for the small boy.
"They're just babies, Grandpa," Scorp said before quacking at the four ducks. No you're a baby, Lucius thought, looking at his tiny grandson, who was always so sweet and kind to anyone or thing he met. He hoped he'd have many more moments with his grandson, the boy made him want to be a better man.