Disclaimer: I do not own any HP related characters, locations, etc. that appear in this story.
Chapter 2: Circus
Scorpius Pov
Surprised was an understatement. I had no idea how the Potter children and Weasley cousins were able to pull this off in such a short amount of time and with so much bickering. If I am being honest, in all my years spent inside the walls of Hogwarts and out since graduation with the family, I had still not gotten used to how well they function with such chaos.
The planning session at the bar had contained very little planning. The bulk of it involved Rose being able to secure a banquet hall somewhere near Weasleys Wizards Wheezes in Diagon Alley and Lily deciding that Gold was a neutral color that would make everyone happy. Even though she smirked as she suggested the color. A true Gryffindor.
The better part of the evening was spent with everyone catching up with one another, drinking, and telling stories about their mum/aunt Ginny. Though it was a good time, there were no less than three Weasley/Potter boys being carried out of the bar after closing. One being my fiancé.
One week later, and over a dozen owls and Patronus Charm's been sent between the family, everything had come together.
The banquet hall's room was decorated in what seemed like a million gold balloons, streamers, and glowing candles. There were dozens of people in attendance. Old schoolmates from Harry and Ginny's year, as well as extended family, and some of Ginny's old teammates from the Harpies and other quidditch teams she had competed against over the years.
Roxanne had the idea of having floating photos placed around the walls of the hall. The photos ranged from Ginny as a child, time on the Harpies, holding and playing with each of her children, her various brothers and parents, and of course photos of her and Harry. All the guests admired the photos as they mingled and shares memories and laughs about Ginny and her antics.
Being the first time the younger members of the family came together to put on such a big party, it turned out nicely.
"This is incredible you guys!" Ginny exclaimed after she walked around to admire the room and say a brief 'hello's' to her guests. She pulled all three of her children into one big hug and though she wasn't one for tears, I could see her eyes were full. "Thank you, I didn't know you lot had it in you."
"Gosh mum, give us some credit. We have been to a dozen parties between you and dad's 'mandatory work events'." Albus exclaimed as Ginny released them from the hug.
"Yea mum at least here we don't have to 'act our age' here. You and dad seriously do not know how to have a good time." James said smirking, in an identical look that Ginny herself always gave.
Lily looked between her two brothers, "Well she never has had to say that to me. You and Al are always the ones fighting or knocking something over. That's why I'm the favorite."
"Oh please Lu, you are the worst by far, do you not remember the time when..." James and Albus started re-telling a story of an event gone wrong with exaggerated movements and smiles.
Ginny rolled her eyes and grabbed me for a bone-crushing hug as well. "Scorpius dear, your father is sitting near the back of the room, talking with Ron and Harry. He asked for you and Albus to come and see him when you get a chance."
"Of course, I'll head over there in a bit. And Happy Birthday, Ginny" I said returning the hug with warmth. Ginny's hugs always reminded me of my mother, tight and secure.
"Auntie Gin! Mum is looking for you. She said that you need to come and settle an argument with dad." Roxy exclaimed pulling Ginny's arm in the direction of her father.
Ginny's laughs could be heard over the music and party guest, as she waved to her children following after her niece.
"... and then your hair was purple for the rest of the week. It was priceless." James finished as he hunched over laughing at the memory.
Lily, who was trying to hold back a laugh herself, swatted her hand at her brothers as they continued to laugh at her. "You two are such jerks," she said smiling at them and glancing over Albus' shoulder.
"Whatcha looking at Lils?" Albus said turning around and following her eye-sight. "Oh is that Richard I see over there with Hugo." He said teasingly.
Lilly blushed and looked away.
"Lulu you better not let dad see you two making eyes at each other. He will get suspicious." James said.
"There is nothing to get suspicious over, we are seeing each other. Casually, but still. Dad knows this." Both brothers eyed her again as James started to make kissy noises. "Ugh, Scorpius will you and my brother please hurry and get married, because you are the only one of them I can stand. And it will be nice to have a brother who has half a brain."
"I'll get right on it Lil," I said smiling down at her.
With that, she reached up and kissed my cheek and swung her vibrant red hair in the direction of her brothers, and made her way to Hugo and Richard.
"You are too sweet for your own good Scorp. Lily and Mum are the furthest things from angels. Don't go over to the dark side." James laughed as he patted my back. "Alright lovebirds, I am going to mingle with everyone. Since I am single once more, I can freely go and flirt with some of mum's old Harpies teammates."
"James, they are all old enough to be your mum," Albus said matter of factly.
James wiggled his eyebrows, "Oh brother, this advice won't really work for you, I suppose. But older is much more fun." He laughed and dashed into the crowd.
"I swear I do not know how we are related," Albus said amused. "So what did mum tell you when she was hugging you?" He asked standing next to me and putting his arm around my waist from the side.
I smiled looking at everyone at the party enjoying themselves. "She just said that Dad was looking for us. He is sitting in the back of the room. I supposed we can make our way over there."
Albus nodded and we began making our way through the crowd.
"Al..bus dear, come over and say hello to your great auntie." A woman slurred from a nearby table as we walked hand and hand through the party guests.
Next to me, I heard Albus sigh as he gripped my hand even tighter. "Nice to see you, Auntie Anne. How are you?"
"I am doing well dear, you lot did a wonderful job setting up the party. I was just telling your Gran how well you all did. I wish my grandkids could pull this off." She said lifting a mug of fire whiskey to her mouth. "Is this the fiancé I have been hearing so much about? Scotty?" The older woman said eyeing me.
"It's Scorpius, Auntie. Scorpius Malfoy." Albus corrected.
"Oh well, my apologies dear. You are quite the looker. And I'm sure very patient. Our Albus here is not an easy nut to crack."
I smiled and extended my free hand to shake hers. "It's lovely to meet you as well. And not an easy one here, but he is more than worth it." I said squeezing Ablus' hand.
He smiled at me.
"What a lovely couple. So when is the big day? I expect an invitation of course. And not last minute as the invite I received for your mother's party Albus."
"Of course not, we are still in the early stages of planning." He said looking uneasy.
Albus and I had not started planning the wedding yet, it was true. But we did say we wanted a quiet celebration. Just family and a few close friends. Both of us were not really interested in the whole spectacle of weddings.
"Lovely. And I hope children are not too far in the future as well. A young couple like you should begin filling the nest as soon as humanly possible. Your parents surely took their time."
My eyes went wide and Albus begin to cough. "Aunt Anne, I hate to cut this... ugh short. But Scorpius and I need to go and help someone do something on the other side of the room. I'll be sure to have Gran send you any updates on... well anything"
"Oh yes of course dear. You two have a lovely time." She smiled, took a drink, and yelled across the room to harass another member of the Weasley family.
"That was... interesting," I said easily with a small smile.
Albus rolled his eyes and began leading me towards the back of the room where I could see my father's blonde hair. "This is what you agreed to when you put on that ring. Life at the circus, that is my family."
"I wouldn't trade it for all the sweets at Honeydukes."
—
"Boys there you are. We thought you had gotten lost. I asked Ginny to fetch you two a while ago." Dad said smiling over at me and Al.
"Please, they didn't get lost they probably snuck off to have some alone time, am I right you two?" Albus' Uncle Ron exclaimed snickering as he also had a cup in his hand and continued to drink it.
Harry looked over at his friend and didn't even try to hold his smile back. Whatever was in the drink was putting everyone in a good mood.
"Come on, Ron let's give them some privacy. I saw the girls near George and Angie gearing up for a very interesting debate about the best flying brooms." Harry said leading Ron in the opposite direction. "Draco meet us over there once you are done talking to the boys." Harry patted Albus on the back and walked towards the older Weasleys.
"Hi, dad. You look nice." I said walking towards him and hugging him.
Dad has his hair tied back into his signature low ponytail and was wearing a black suit with a green shirt underneath.
"Yea Draco, best dressed by far. Don't tell granddad I said that though. He is very happy with his outfit." Albus said smiling at my father.
The two of them got on great. Albus appreciated the calmness he got from spending so much time at the Manor and also he and Dad shared interests in Alchemy.
"Thank you, now take a seat. There is something we must briefly discuss." Dad said gesturing towards the table.
Albus pulled out a chair for me and as we both sat he took my hand and held it in his on top of the table. Something he did often, without thinking about.
Dad smiled at the gesture and began talking. "As I'm sure Scorpius has told you, Albus, His Aunt Daphne, and cousin Laurel have come to stay at the Manor for a while to do a sort of reconnecting." He looked between the two of us waiting for a response.
We both nodded and he continued. "Now this shouldn't be a problem. But she is unaware of the nature of your relationship. With you both coming over for dinner in a few days, I thought it was best to ask if you would like me to let her know ahead of time or if you two would like to tell her together?"
Albus looked at me and nodded slightly. We had discussed this after the trip to the bar a few days prior. "We will tell her. Laurel knows Albus, as she was at Hogwarts when we were. But I believe she knows him as my friend. Our relationship didn't officially start until after she has graduated."
Draco nodded, "Good. I am glad you two have already discussed this. You know you have my full support in whatever you do." He smiled at his son. "I also do not want you boys to think that you are not welcomed at the Manor whenever you want to. Just because your aunt and cousin are there, doesn't mean you two cannot drop by whenever you see fit, as you normally do. Your room will remain untouched for your visits as well." He said matter of factly.
"Thank you, Draco. That's good to know." Albus stated looking relieved.
"Of course, well I am going to go have a proper drink and educate them all on the best high-end brooms you can get. I am a collector, as it may be. You boys have a good time." And with that, he was gone.
—
Once dad had left the table, Albus and I counted to sit, just talking and enjoying the break from all of the excitement and loud party guests.
"Uncle Al! Uncle Scorp!" We heard from behind us, and before we even got to adjust a small frame had jumped into Albus' arms.
"Gabe!" Albus exclaimed back just as excitedly as the three-and-a-half-year-old hugged him around the neck.
Gabriel, Teddy and Victoire's son, was a spitting image of his mother, in his natural state. Like his father, he could morph his appearance. Both of them, and his late grandmother, being Metamorphmagus'.
He was a lively kid, and nowhere near timid. Scorpius and Albus loved spending time with their nephew as did the whole Potter/Weasley/Granger clan since he was currently the only great- grandchild and nephew most of them had.
"How are you squirt?" Albus asked as Gabriel moved from his arms to mine. Hugging me and then sitting on my lap.
"I is doing well. Mummy said that I am almost old enough to go to the muggle school. She told me not to call it a muggles school though." He said excitedly playing with the napkins on the table.
"That's great kiddo. You are going to love it there. All the other kids will love you." Albus said matching his nephew's excitement.
"Yup. But I is not allowed to change my hair color or anything while I am there. Daddy has been teaching me." He went on.
"Right Gabe, not all of the kids are as special as you are. So can't show them all the great things you can do. Your uncle and I sometimes have to hide our magic too." I said to the young boy in my arms.
"Really?"
"Yup, we live next to Muggles so sometimes we have to do things like them instead of how we would normally do. It's not hard, but you have to keep practicing it. I know you can do it. You are the smartest three-year-old I know."
Gabriel smiled at me and his hair turned a platinum blonde to match mine making me and Albus laugh.
"Gabe! Didn't your mother and I tell you not to morph tonight?" Teddy said coming up to our table, presumably looking for his son.
"That's my fault, Teddy. We were talking about it and his new school and he must have done it by accident." I said still smiling softly at the young boy.
"I know, sometimes he can't control it. We are trying though right bud?"
"Yes Daddy, Uncle Scorp told me that sometimes he and uncle Al have to hide all of their tricks from the muggles too." The young boy said matter of factly.
Teddy smiled as he took a seat next to his adoptive brother. "I bet they do." He smirked at Albus. "So bro, how are things going. I am under the impression from Aunt Anne that you and Scorp here are having a baby soon."
My eyes widened as Albus just shook his head. "See I told you, the circus."
"You guys would be good at it. I mean Vic and I don't leave Gabe with just anyone."
"By which you mean James," Albus said.
"Correct. Uncle Jamie is fun, but his attention span is to be desired. I am all for you two have a child. This way your nephew has someone to play with."
"You and Vic could just have another baby. Plus you have tons of cousins much older than me who could give you a baby playmate."
Teddy pretending to think about this, "Ah yes, but none of those tossers are getting married now are they?"
Before Albus could respond, Gabriel's eyes caught a laughing Ginny being partially held up by her husband dancing to the sound of a slow song playing.
"Grandma Ginny! I wanna dance with you for your birthdays!" Gabe jumped off of my lap and sprinted towards Ginny nearly knocking her and Harry over.
"GABRIEL! Be careful so you do not hurt Grandma Ginny and Grandpa Harry." We could hear Victoire yell as she dashed to collect her son.
"Yea there is no way. I am going to convince her to have another anytime soon." Teddy said as he made his way over to help his wife with their son.
—
"That was a lovely party boys. I had so much fun. Harry, Harry. Did you see Neville? Can you believe he is still so light on his feet when he dances? Hannah is so lucky." Ginny said as she held Harry's arm as they made their way out of the banquet hall.
"I thought I did a good job. Much better than our wedding for sure." Harry commented back.
"Oh come on dear. You are quite skilled as well." Ginny leaned up towards his ear and tried to whisper, "Why don't you take me home and we can practice a bit more." She said suggestively.
Albus made a sour face, and Harry just blushed while he pulled her closer.
"Goodnight boys, we will see both in a few days. Thanks again for doing all of this for your mother." Harry said as Ginny blew each of us a kiss and they apparated away.
"They are gross," Albus said taking my hand in his as we walked down the long dark hall to the main door. "Also leave it up to my siblings to get out of here, before the clean-up duty."
I laughed at my fiancé's annoyance. " I saw Lily leave with Richard hours ago. And James and Freddie were helping your uncle George and Grandad floo to the burrow. Your Aunt Angie and Gran did not look impressed."
"My family are nothing but alcoholics I tell you." Albus joked as we walked down the dark hall. "So are you feeling better about meeting with your aunt and cousin? Your dad seems to think it will go well. I trust his judgment."
Before I could answer, Albus and I heard a door slam from further down the hallway. Taking our eyes off one another we tried to focus on what had made the noise.
"Anyone there?" Albus called as we both pulled our wands out. "The party is over."
There was still no noise. Albus took a step in front of me and raised his wand saying 'Lumos' so a light glow appeared at the tip.
"Al, do you see that?" I said whispering.
"No, what is it?"
I focused my eyes a little bit more and saw two small golden spears looking at me. "Eyes. I think I see eyes."
"Do not come any closer or I will attack," Albus said loud enough so the person at the end of the hall could hear us. The only response back we received was faint whimpers.
As we inched closer, I felt a switch on the wall and flicked it on. The lights came on and illuminated the entire hallway.
Once our eyes adjusted to the newfound light, I gasped and held onto Albus' arm.
With his wand still in position, Albus took another inch closer and caught the same view as me.
A few feet away was a small child, with dirty clothes, and no shoes on staring back at us with tears in his eyes.
"Al, lower your wand. It's a child, and I think he has been abandoned." I said moving closer to the child.
From behind me, I heard Albus mutter. "A complete circus."
—
Thanks for reading. Chapter 3 we will meet to the mysterious child and where he might come from. Until next time.
Jazz.
