House: Gryffindor
Position: Transfiguration
Drabble/Standard: Standard
Prompt: [Character] Scorpius Malfoy; [Animal] Snow hare
Word Count: 1744
Beta(s): MomoDesu, Copper's Mama
Draco, Astoria and two-year-old Scorpius were looking around in the heavy snowfall trying to catch a glimpse of the majestic snow hare. The snow hares were not that rare, and they could've easily gone to a magical zoo where snow hares were kept in captivity, but Astoria wanted to see a snow hare which was not in a zoo. Who was Draco to deny his beautiful, wonderful wife, especially with her failing health? She only had five more years to live.
So, they had to make a trip to Antarctica during summer - Antarctica's winter. Even then, it didn't seem like they would be lucky enough to see a snow hare in the wilderness.
Suddenly, Scorpius started giggling and pointed at a distant patch of snow with his gloved finger. Astoria and Draco squinted really hard and realized that the patch of snow was coming towards them. No, it was not a patch of snow, Draco realized as it got even closer to them. It was a snow hare.
Astoria gasped softly as the snow hare tried to jump over to touch Scorpius' face. She kneeled down in front of the snow hare and Scorpius giggled as the snow hare's warm paw stroked his cheek.
The hare was approximately 22.5" in length. Not too short, not too tall. It's coat was the purest of white and it's eyes were bluer than the sky on a summer day, as hard as chips of ice. Snow hares were rarely ever seen in the wilderness and almost never willingly came towards a human.
"See, Draco? I told you that we could see a snow hare. I knew it," Astoria said with a smile as she gazed upon Scorpius who was running his hands along the snow hare's pure white coat.
"Yes, darling. I should've never doubted you," Draco answered back, looking awed at what he was just witnessing. Snow hares never cared much for humans since plenty of them had become evil at some point of time. But, perhaps, it wasn't that awe-inspiring either. After all, Draco's mother had always told him that children were more of a blank slate - pure, innocent.
Suddenly, the snow hare put one of its paws on Astoria's forehead and Draco gasped as Astoria was covered in blinding white light. In the old texts he had read that some of the snow hares had the power to extend the longevity of a person they liked and, sure enough, Astoria looked more healthy and less frail once he was able to see her.
Then, a male voice all around them spoke, I cannot stop the curse.
They looked around but couldn't find anyone.
It is me, the snow hare, speaking in your minds. Now, I cannot stop the curse but I have extended the longevity of you, Ms. Astoria. You have a pure heart, your son more so. One of my brethren will keep an eye on your family. I must go now, my family is waiting.
Then, the snow hare vanished quickly, leaving the Malfoy family to ponder over what had just happened.
"Okay, Scorpius. What do you want for your seventh birthday? After all, it is a very important milestone," Draco asked, hoping against hope that it wouldn't be something ridiculous. Not that he had asked anything unreasonable, unlike Draco, but still.
Scorpius thought long and hard about it and said, "I wanna pet."
"Want a," Astoria corrected him with a smile on her face. Before the snow hare's blessing, she'd had hardly three years left after Scorpius' birth. Now, it seems as if the snow hare had granted her another decade to live. Scorpius had figured it out when he was five - looking through Draco's correspondence with the Healer responsible for Astoria's monthly checkups. Needless to say, Scorpius had been haunted by it for months to come.
"Yes, want a. Daddy, I want a pet," Scorpius said enthusiastically, his stormy gray eyes shining brightly, resembling molten silver.
"Okay then. You can pick your pet but, if it is something that would be difficult for you to take care of, then you won't be having the pet," Draco said, mentally thinking what pets could Scorpius have.
"Okay, Daddy!" Scorpius chirped and Astoria started explaining how Babbity could turn into a rabbit in 'Babbity Rabbity and the Cackling Stump'. Draco kissed her goodnight and watched as Scorpius fell victim to Astoria's calm, soothing voice and fell asleep.
A snow hare. What was a snow hare doing in a pet shop such as Magical Menagerie? And, of course, Scorpius had noticed the crowd surrounding its cage the moment he entered the shop.
The snow hare was shying away from everyone in a corner of its cage. But, when it saw Scorpius struggling against the other children and even a few adults to see the snow hare, it immediately bounded towards Scorpius.
"Father," Scorpius started, for Draco was only 'Daddy' in the privacy of their home, "I want him."
Draco didn't even bother to think how Scorpius knew that the snow hare was a male. The words from the snow hare they met in Antarctica came floating in his mind, One of my brethren will keep an eye on you.
Judging by the sharp intake of breath from his wife, Draco knew that she also thought the same thing. Draco tried to ignore Scorpius' puppy-dog eyes, he really did, knowing that Scorpius won't be able to take care of the snow hare. However, he couldn't resist the puppy-dog eyes.
"Excuse me, Mr. Blofis? I would like to take this snow hare," Draco said as he walked over to the cage. The snow hare looked utterly miserable. Its coat didn't have the shine to it like the previous snow hare. Its eyes didn't have the same sparkle to them - they looked dull.
"Of course, of course. But, I must warn you - plenty of people have tried to take the hare as a pet. They all have been disappointed. So, you can also check our jewel-turtle and-" before Mr. Blofis could finish the sentence, Astoria cut in,
"I think we'll take this."
"Okay, madame. As you wish," Mr. Blofis said as he opened the cage. Instantly, the hare leaped from its cage to Scorpius' waiting arms, purring in satisfaction.
Mr. Blofis looked dumbfounded. "How? I mean, it has never done that before…"
"Not 'it', Mr. Blofis. The snow hare is a male," Scorpius said with the exactly right amount of concern and haughtiness. Concern that the shopkeeper doesn't even know the gender of the hare and haughtiness because he, a mere child of no experience regarding pets, was able to identify it as a male rather than the shopkeeper who had been working at the shop for more than 20 years.
"How much?" Draco asked.
"I-seven galleons. Normally, it would be more but no one could ever take it, uh, him," Mr. Blofis stuttered. Astoria simply nodded regally and paid the fee.
Scorpius had to be literally hauled away from the snow hare with promises to let him see Boreas - the name of the snow hare - soon, and 'it is really important for him to be checked-up right now. There can be no delays, Scorpius' and 'Come on, Scorp. Why don't I make you the chocolate chip cookies you adore so much?'
However, even the offer of the brilliant chocolate chip cookies that Astoria made wasn't enough to lift his mood. He only got happy once the house-elf in charge of looking after pets had informed them that the snow hare was a bit malnourished and that he should be kept in a cold environment. Other than that, there were no problems with Boreas and Scorpius immediately rushed off to see his new friend.
Scorpius spent the entire day spending time with Boreas, oohing and aahing and even cooing over the snow hare. Scorpius couldn't wait to show off Boreas to Rose Nott - daughter of Pansy and Theodore - and Bianca Zabini - daughter of Daphne and Blaise.
All in all, it was a pretty good day.
It happened on Scorpius' tenth birthday. They didn't even notice it at first, really since they had this huge party. But then, all of a sudden, Scorpius stopped talking to his friends, straightened up and ran off outside. The others thought that he was simply looking out for his pet, so no one paid him any mind. He had done it sometimes when his pet cut its paw, he just knew. No one asked how. However, the agonising scream that no doubt came from Scorpius made them all rush outside to witness a horrific sight.
Two huge dogs - hellhounds, some people muttered - were growling and snapping in front of Scorpius who was shielding his snow hare from harm. Boreas' coat was blood red in some places and he was still, too still. Scorpius himself had several deep gashes and bite marks on his body but was somehow holding his own while unknowingly using his magic to protect both him and Boreas.
Instantly, Draco and Astoria sprung into action and, within seconds, the hellhounds were nothing more than dog bone and fur.
"Scorpius!" Astoria called out as she rushed towards him just as he fell down, exhausted.
"'M fine, 'm fine. Check on Boreas," he said as he fell into Astoria's waiting arms.
Astoria took one look at Boreas and understood that he could not be saved. However, to ease her child, she forced on a smile and said, "Of course. But, you are also hurt. I'm sure Boreas won't like it if you are sick."
"Of course."
All the guests had left shortly after and Scorpius had been assigned bed rest for a week.
Needless to say, he had cried and raged and refused to believe it when he found out that Boreas was dead. He considered it his fault, though there was no one to blame if a few bloodthirsty-dogs had entered the Manor, bypassing the wards.
Scorpius never got another pet, and neither did he talk about his first and only pet to anyone, not even his closest friend - Albus Potter. Every year, on his birthday, he would talk to no one and would literally lock himself in his room. He believed that his birthday was a cursed day, even though his parents did everything in their power to make him feel otherwise.
Of course, it wasn't helped by the fact that Astoria Malfoy died on Scorpius' thirteenth birthday.