The Houses Competition

Ravenclaw

Charms

Drabble

Prompt: [Last Line] "[He/she/name] welcomed the opportunity for a fresh start."

WC: 993

AN Alternate Universe (Deaf Scorpius); TW for canon-level violence against a minor


Draco's life had been one of stops and starts. Little steps onto the next great adventure, always seeking a better future. It was why he joined the Death Eaters, a mistake he'd regretted very quickly. It was why he married Astoria and why, when a firebomb nearly ripped his wife away from him, he'd moved his little family to foreign soil. All he'd been doing was seeking a brighter tomorrow.

The day they'd laid Astoria in the ground, Draco gave up on finding happiness for himself. For the small child in his arms, however, he'd do anything.

Moving back to Britain had been motivated by precisely that. Scorp's hearing wasn't what it should be, and St Mungo's was supposed to be the best option for deaf and hard-of-hearing wizards. Besides, all Draco's sources claimed that the time for firebombs had ended. With Granger as Minister, petty acts of revenge were no longer in vogue.

At least they weren't supposed to be. Alas, here Draco stood, desperately calling out for a son who couldn't hear him, in the middle of a mob set against him.

Malfoys had the worst luck.


Meanwhile, Scorpius searched for his father as the rush of large bodies made the ground quake underneath him. Things were so much easier in France. Now, he was lost in some place called Die-gone Alley with no one to help. Spying a lantern pole that was twisty-turvy like a beautiful flower, he pushed his way forwards. If he could just climb up it, surely he'd be able to spot Father's silky blond hair!

A gazillion jumps to reach the flower metal leaf later, Scorpius had reached the top. He looked left. No Father. He looked right. Again, a sea of unfamiliar hair met him. Suddenly, light rushed past Scorpius—a spell!

Small hands lost their grip, and the next thing Scorpius knew, he was on his back with a large man snarling at him. Scorpius thought the man must be saying something, but most of his focus was on the wand pointed at him. Besides, he couldn't be speaking too loudly. None of the people pressing in had even noticed what was happening. The wand tip began to glow a pale blue, and before he could get out of the way, a burst of pain made him grip his now bleeding arm. Trying to back away, Scorpius found himself trapped against a wall. Stuttering, he tried to use the words his healers were teaching him, but the man's lips kept forming the same word: "diff–" something.

Suddenly, a wild mane of red hair stood in front of him, obscuring the bad man from sight. Scorpius didn't know what was happening, and nerves wracked him at the thought of someone else being hurt by the man. But somehow, the girl made the man leave and saved him.

"I'm Rose G–" A burst of wind obscured the rest of her introduction, but Scorpius knew what to say in such a situation. The healers had made him practise it in front of the mirror every night before bed.

Holding his hands tight in front of him to keep from signing, Scorpius started, "I-I'm Scor-pee-us Malfoy, and I cannot hear. It's good to meet you." A bow just like Father would do when meeting important people followed though he kept his injured arm at a slight angle.

The girl pulled her hair back. "Glad to meet you, Scorp. Let's get you inside. My uncle runs a nursery. He can help your arm." Having said that, she dragged him towards the store behind them where, apparently, the flower lantern thingy was actually a sign.

As a somewhat chubby man with a gentle smile rubbed dittany into his cuts, Scorpius watched Rose tell him about her younger brother, You-go, who was his age and could be his friend if he wanted. Smiling despite the sting, Scorpius couldn't help but think that he'd had the best of luck, and maybe this move to Britain could be a fresh start after all.


Draco Malfoy almost missed the Patronus in his panic. To be fair, his son was more than slightly taller than the badger seemingly attacking his leg. Getting the idea, Draco moved away from the throng of people to receive its message.

"Your mini-me is at my shop, Green Thumb Potions Supply," Neville Longbottom's voice said. "Best come quick. He's chatting up Rose Granger-Weasley, and if Mum Weasley beats you here, I won't be held responsible for any accidental adoptions."

Grateful if somewhat wary about his son being in what amounted to the lion's den, Draco hastened towards the nursery at the edge of the alley. The sight that met his eyes was not one that he'd expected.

Even in France where his sins had not been well known, Scorpius had always been a loner, left out for his lack of hearing. It was something Draco had hoped but hadn't held much faith in the healers helping him with. It was immediately apparent that Draco hadn't beat Molly Weasley (though why she'd come, he had no idea), and with her was a whole brood of the next generation of Weasleys.

In the center of the mass of giggling children sat Scorpius excitedly interacting with kids his own age, an older child who looked like a redheaded Granger watching on. It was all he could have hoped for; indeed, it was more than he'd dared contemplate when he'd made the move.

When Potter and (Ronald) Weasley pulled him to the side in their official capacity as Aurors to ask if he wanted to file charges against the man who'd dared attack his boy, he'd been shocked. When they both shook his hands and welcomed him back to Magical Britain saying their sons were the ones currently playing with his own, the man could only think that maybe, finally, a brighter future shone on his family. He welcomed the opportunity for a fresh start.