The Houses Competition (or THC) Round 8
Story Type: Standard (up to 3,000 words)
House: Hufflepuff
Class: Potions
Prompt: [Character] Scorpius Malfoy, [Dialogue] "I just don't see why we couldn't have stayed by the nice warm fire"
Word Count: 1175
Disclaimers/triggers: Mentions of parent death
It's Standard time! This one's admittedly shorter than I usually like but it felt fitting to end it where I did. If I'd added more, it'd be just for the sake of extra words and I didn't want that. I hope you enjoy it.
A quick fyi, I hate Christmas so I doubt there'll be any fluff from me in the coming rounds.
Lastly, a big hug for my beautiful betas, Story Please and DarylDixon'sgirl1985.
Scorpius huffed and puffed as he followed his father deeper into the forest. They had been walking for at least an hour now and the cold had penetrated through his many layers of clothes all the way to the deepest parts of his soul. He could make out the slight shiver in his father's shoulders through the thick snowfall, but the teen was well aware how stubborn his dad could be. They wouldn't stop until they reached their destination.
"How about this tree, Dad?" Scorpius tried to suggest, though Draco didn't even bother to turn back and look. "It doesn't have to be the perfect tree; any tree will do. We don't have that much space anyway; let's just pick one and go back!"
"It's not good enough. We are doing this perfectly and that tree is not even close," the older wizard grumbled, voice barely reaching the boy through the noises of nature. Scorpius sighed but kept on walking, knowing nothing he could say would convince the Malfoy patriarch.
It was their first Christmas without her. His mum had fought long and hard but not even Hermione Granger could beat Death. Scorpius was barely holding himself together on most days still but he could barely imagine what his father was going through, having lost a second wife so soon. At least Scorpius had no memories of Astoria and thus could not miss her as fiercely as Draco did.
Hermione had told him the truth before he'd left for Hogwarts. About Dad's arranged marriage to the youngest Greengrass daughter, their subsequent friendship, how she'd died bringing him into the world. Uncle Harry had once joked about how Astoria's death had brought Scorpius' parents together since "'Mione could never say no to a helpless stray."
And now she was gone too. Draco was left twice a widower and Scorpius twice an orphan. The teen could feel hot tears trail down his cheeks before they froze on his skin and he wiped at his eyes furiously. He had to be strong for his father's sake, especially on a day such as this.
"Come on, Dad, it's okay. We can get a tree from the market tomorrow. Let's go back, it'll be too dark to see soon," Scorpius called out again, pulling his cloak tighter around his body.
Ever since the funeral about a year ago, Draco had visibly stopped caring about his own health and safety. He wouldn't leave his bed at first and then he wouldn't eat, he'd go days without washing but, most of all, it was almost as though he consciously put his life at risk. His Apparating had gotten sloppier, as if he was trying to Splinch himself. He had been reprimanded countless times for taking on cases involving transmittable diseases without proper protective gear. Whenever they'd go to the Muggle world – which was rare since it brought forth too many painful memories – he would cross roads without watching, daring someone to hit him.
Scorpius had taken it upon himself to watch out for his dad. Whenever he was home, he brought him food and forced him to clean up and, while at Hogwarts, he had instructed Poppy, the elf Lucius had gotten after Dobby who was now working freely for their family, to take care of the middle-aged wizard. Sometimes though, Draco wouldn't listen, stubbornness being an inherent Malfoy trait.
"We still have time and we need to find a tree. The market will be full of people and they never have anything good enough. Plus, this is a tradition," the older blond yelled from somewhere ahead.
The tradition was something Hermione had insisted on once Scorpius was old enough to help with the tree decorations. She'd said she remembered going tree hunting with her dad and that she wanted the little boy to have the same joyful experience. So, every Yule, they would hole up in the Malfoy family cabin and, on the day before Christmas, they would venture out to their many acres of land and try to pick the best tree for their celebration.
Now that she was gone, Draco was fighting tooth and nail to keep every memory of her alive for himself and his son, and if that meant tree-hunting through a snowstorm, then so be it. No matter how much Scorpius disagreed.
"I just don't see why we couldn't have stayed by the nice warm fire," the sixteen-year-old tried again, this time stopping in his tracks. He could dig his heels in too when he wanted, literally and metaphorically.
"Because we need to find a tree!" Draco exploded a few steps ahead, turning abruptly to glare at his son and realizing the boy had stopped a while back. "We need to keep this tradition alive because-because— We just need to find a tree."
Scorpius frowned as he took in his father's face. The man was visibly close to breaking and he needed to proceed carefully.
"I know, Dad. I understand. But a tree won't bring her back. And she won't be mad if we just buy one tomorrow. Mum wouldn't want us to be out in such weather, would she?"
Draco ran a hand through his windswept hair before he exhaled, shaky from being on the border of collapse. "She would nag my head off if you caught a cold."
Scorpius huffed out a laugh and reached out to grasp his dad's shoulder; he was only slightly shorter than the older wizard now. "And if she knew I let you nearly freeze to death for this, I'd be grounded for a month. It's okay. How about we go back and watch her favourite movie instead?"
Draco's nod was nearly imperceptible and the two started their walk back huddled closely together. Scorpius could feel his dad shake with quiet sobs beside him but he let him have his moment, knowing Draco just needed to let it out.
As they reached their cabin again, the older wizard paused abruptly before pulling his son in a tight hug. "I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry I couldn't save her. I'm sorry you've had to deal with me like this. I'll do better, I promise."
"I know you will, Dad," Scorpius mumbled, tearing up again before he buried his face in his father's shoulder. "I miss her too, but we'll get through this together. One day at a time, huh?"
"One day at a time. Now hurry inside before Hermione comes back to haunt us both for being stupid," Draco tried to joke, breaking the morose mood with a spell of tear-stained laughter.
Scorpius unlocked the door and they both rushed inside, Draco locking up behind them. As they took off their coats and scarves, the boy looked over at their fireplace, to their last family picture. Hermione grinned at him through the glass, eyes twinkling with happiness and Scorpius smiled back, feeling as though she was watching them at that moment. They had a long way to go but they would pick up the pieces of their life again.