"Draco," the grey eyes turned and looked right into his, "I suppose… I owe you an apology." A raised eyebrow. "Back then I had thought exactly the same thing about you when our sons became friends. I swear that I have never truly believed the rumours… so I had genuinely been okay about their friendship… at least until Delphi, even though I had expected Albus to stick with Rose in Hogwarts. But I did judge you unconsciously and expect you to be unhappy to find out that Scorpius had befriended Albus. Also I had been misled by Scorpius' resemblance to you and had expected him to turn out similar to your younger self as well."
The smugness had returned to Draco's voice when he smirked and said, "Why am I not surprised to hear that?"
Harry had tightened his lips. Draco's reaction was not a pleasant one to Harry, after he had tried to give a sincere apology, but he supposed he deserved the teasing.
His host's expression had however turned serious again. "I did not expect or need your apology but I appreciate it nonetheless. However, I do want to ask you, why did you believe I would be unhappy about their friendship?"
Prejudice. The immediate answer that came into Harry's mind was not something he would be proud to admit, he hoped that Draco did not have a secret talent of Legilimency. "Hmm… because you have always disliked me, and because of your father's influence."
"I see," Draco nodded and thought for a moment, "What did you feel when you send your child to Hogwarts?"
It was a simple question but Harry could immediately remember the mixture of emotions he had felt back then when he had sent James off for the first time. It had not been any easier to send Albus and Lily off afterwards. "Worry and nervous excitement… mostly worry."
"Imagine the worry you would have felt had your family been one of the most hated families in the wizarding world that your son would likely be bullied in school with no one to rely on. Imagine your worry if your son were perhaps one of the gentlest souls there have ever been and he were rumoured to be the son of the Dark Lord."
When everything was put into perspectives like this for him, Harry could immediately feel how Draco would have felt back then. No wonder he would be relieved and grateful when he had found out that not only had his boy turned out okay in Hogwarts, he had also found himself a best friend. It also made a lot of sense that when things had gotten bad, Draco had been able to forget his pride to ask for his former enemy's favour to clear the "Son of Voldemort" rumour.
He sighed and said, "I can see your point, Draco... Also, in retrospect, I do think there were things I could have done to help dispel the rumour to make life easier for Scorpius. It's just… I guess I had been the target of so many rumours over the years that I thought I knew it all... It was my misguided belief that inaction would be the best course of action. No child deserves to be an universal target," Draco set his jaw, "especially Scorpius, and I should have known better."
Both Harry and Hermione had taken a lot of heat after the discovery of a Time Turner had become public knowledge, which had been eased to a certain extent by Delphi's arrest. One of the silver linings that came out of that whole disaster was the improvement of Scorpius' situation. While Harry did not know how things were in Hogwarts, the general public seemed to have stopped believing the "Son of Voldemort" rumour, especially because Scorpius had received much recognition for fighting and defying Delphi.
Harry's expression was one of sympathy now, "From what I know, you have been great with Scorpius, despite not being able to show your affections easily. You have obviously been trying and doing better in this regard lately. If anything, you have been a much better father to Scorpius than I have been to Albus, even when they have been most troubled. You should be proud of yourself, especially considering your wife's passing."
Draco looked solemn as he digested Harry's words, Harry was feeling uncomfortable as he replayed his own words in his head and wondered if he had said too much.
"I have never thought there would be a day in which Saint Potter would be sitting in my own dining room trying to comfort me." Harry let out a laugh, he realised he would far rather interact with the usual sarcastic Draco Malfoy than a sentimental or troubled one.
"And for the record, I have not always disliked you. I did try to talk to you at Madam Malkin's and try to befriend you at Hogwarts." Draco had tried to avoid eye contacts with Harry and he was blushing a bit. Coming from Draco Malfoy, he might as well be admitting he actually liked Harry Potter.
"Hmm… thanks. I guess."
The atmosphere was still awkward but Harry decided to make use of this good standing with his host to ask another question anyway, despite him being late for home.
"Draco, can I ask you another question?"
"Do I look like a professor to you, Potter? It is getting annoying that you keep asking this every time before asking a real question."
"Right." Harry was feeling rather dumb and he could feel his cheeks warming up. "Well, it's just my question is a bit personal, so feel free to not answer if you find it intrusive. I am wondering, how is your relationship with your aunt Andromeda?"
Draco was visually taken aback by his question but was not offended. "Hmm… Mrs Tonks had been disowned by the Black family long before my birth that I had never met her before my mother's death."
Harry could clearly heard what had not been said, "So you have met her after Mrs Malfoy's passing?"
Malfoy looked apprehensive as he searched for the words, "After the war, we have been alienated by most other pure-blood families. My mother had been feeling lost and lonely that there was a part of her that had really wanted to reconnect with ...my aunt. She had hinted it a few times but I believe she was too proud and she did not want to displease my father. It was difficult for me but after her death, I decided to reach out to aunt Andromeda as I believed it was something my mother would have wanted, something I would not have been able to do if my father was alive. She...aunt Andromeda has been surprisingly sympathetic and generous to me, a nephew who's essentially a stranger, that she even offered to help with the funeral arrangements. I politely declined but she did show up at the funeral to pay her respects. She also ended up spending some time at the Manor to help sort out some of my mother's Black heirlooms. She has offered to stay in touch but … I have not resumed contact with her afterward."
"I see." Harry sounded a little disappointed.
"Look, I do know it has been rude of me for not trying to repay her kindness… but I am very bad at these… making small talks with relatives, interacting with strangers… that I just could not get myself to write to her when there was no excuse to do so." It was curious that Draco appeared defensive to Harry.
"Easy, Draco. I'm not judging. Andromeda is one of the most considerate and most sympathetic women I have ever known that I am sure she understands why you haven't been in touch. I do think she will appreciate a lot whenever you try to resume contact though."
"Hmm… I will think about it. Anyway, why are you gossipping about my familial relationship?"
"About that… I promise I will answer in a moment after asking you another question."
Draco sighed, "You are doing it again, Potter. Just fire away."
"Okay, how is your relationship with your cousin Teddy?" Harry amended the question immediately as he thought Draco would probably be too proper to recognise the name. "I mean, Edward Lupin."
It took Draco much longer to process the question than the previous one, "Edward… you mean Nymphadora Tonks and Professor Lupin's son?
"Yes. Teddy… I mean Edward, is my godson."
"I think I have heard of it... My family had never acknowledged Nymphadora as my cousin but they did feel humiliated when she married Lupin and gave birth to a half-werewolf. My father had even said some particularly insulting things about the boy both during and after the war."
Harry had instinctively balled up his fist.
"But just as my mother had wanted to reconnect with aunt Andromeda, I believe a part of her did want to return to be part of my aunt's life, even if her life consisted largely of Edward." Harry relaxed his fist. "As for me… growing up aunt Andromeda and my cousin Nymphadora had been either a cautionary tale or taboo depending on the circumstances that I did not want to have anything to do with them before the war. While I have briefly contacted Andromeda after my mother's death, I have never met Nymphadora and Edward. Honestly, I do not know anything about him."
Although Draco's answer had not been very encouraging, something told Harry that he would not mind for Scorpius to establish a relationship with his cousin.
"I see. Draco, I asked about your relationships with Andromeda and Teddy because I would like to see if you would feel okay for me to introduce Teddy to Scorpius."
"Oh."
"You do not have to say yes but I hope you understand that this question in itself is a proof of my trust in you. I was only seventeen when I was named Teddy's godfather and he became an orphan that I could not actually help raise him but I did try to help out whenever and however I can, so I inevitably feel very protective of Teddy. I would not have said this out loud if I have believed you capable of insulting or humiliating my godson in any way because after all, his very existence has probably been a disgrace to your family in the opinions of some members of your family."
He sighed again, "I could not deny the prejudice and false sense of superiority that my father had held on to until his very last breath but I want to make it very clear that my values and ideals have been completely transformed after the war." Draco let out a laugh, "Who are we pureblood elitists to look down upon anyone based on blood status when we are being deservedly looked down upon for our past crimes and misbehaviours anyway?"
"That's… a relief to hear but I don't think you should be too hard on yourself, Draco…" Harry was feeling very uncomfortable that he tried to steer the conversation back on course. "So what do you say about introducing the cousins to each other? You do not have to answer right away but for your information, Teddy was an excellent student in Hogwarts that he even ended up becoming Head boy. He is remarkably well-adjusted for an orphan and literally part of my family now that he is engaged to marry my niece. He has been working at the Ministry ever since graduation and has even gotten promoted recently. He is intelligent, friendly but also witty and fun-loving."
"Well, I think it is a great idea."
Harry could not believe what he had just heard, "You are agreeing for them to meet just like that?"
"Why not?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow, "if he really is as perfect as you have described."
"I suppose I have expected it to be some kind of dilemma to you even though you are not your father. Tonks' family has been a disgrace to your family for so many years after all."
Draco sighed for like the tenth time this morning, "Potter, how can I ever make you understand that Scorpius' happiness is perhaps the only thing that matters in my life now? I hate to see my boy lonely so I am and will always be grateful for Albus' presence in his life but I sure would love for him to have more friends and relatives so he will always be happy and supported. He is very level-headed but it does sound good for him to have a role model that he could talk to."
"Right. This is good news, I'll try to arrange for them to meet perhaps in the summer holiday, or even during the Easter break." Harry had turned to the clock and realised in horror that it was nine twenty. "Oh Merlin, Ginny will be so mad…"
Draco looked amused with a barely-suppressed smirk when he stood up and elegantly led Harry back to the fireplace in the sitting room.
Harry turned to his host before entering the fireplace and said, "Thanks for your hospitality, Draco. The food is really nice."
"You are welcome, Potter. Thank you again for letting Albus visit today, his visit really makes Scorpius' Christmas. Hmm… thank you for staying for breakfast as well."
Harry decided to do something he had debated to do since Godric's Hollow and stuck out a hand to his nemesis of seven years, "I know this is almost thirty years too late, Draco. But I want to accept your offer, if you are willing to give me a second chance."
Draco first looked stunned then turned away from him while he patiently and steadily kept his hand in place. When his host turned back to him, his eyes looked suspiciously shiny and voice sounded suspiciously nasal when he said, "How arrogant of the Saviour to presume that an offer would be kept open for him for thirty years?" before he stuck out his hand to firmly shake Harry's. Harry could see a genuine but the faintest smile on Malfoy's face, which he returned with a grin of his own.
Harry entered the fireplace before turning back to Malfoy and said, "And Draco…"
"Yes?"
"You can call me Harry if you do not mind me calling you Draco." he flooed back to his own home without hearing Draco's response.
A/N: I loved writing this chapter. It was a beautiful thing to see Harry forming a friendship with Draco in CC after all those years and everything that had happened between them. What has become even clearer for me after CC was how much similarity Harry shared with Draco that IMO, they could form a rather deep bond if they want.
On another note, I apologise in advance for a hiatus of at least 3 weeks before my next update because I have been busy and most importantly, I'll be visiting London for the very first time next week! Guess what? I'm finally going to watch HPCC! Almost flying 13 hours to watch a show is most likely the craziest thing I will have done in my life.
Anyway, thanks again for all the support. Please comment (pretty please?), cheers =)