Chapter 19
Belle wakes to a bright day outside. On her nightstand is a fancy note and a post-it from her father saying if was delivered this morning. Belle takes her shower and after dressing, opens the letter with the fancy handwriting.
Belle can't believe her eyes. He wants to know if she is taken. She decides to write back before noon shift at K.W.P.
Scorpius,
Please call me Belle. I love my name, but everyone calls me Belle. Don't worry about it. My boyfriend since the summer before fourth year just dumped me in hopes of getting with our year's bike. He came back the next day trying to get back with me. Frankly, it reeked of his parents' influence. Apparently, when your son is dating the "Heroine of Hogwarts'" little girl it opens a lot of social doors. I wish I knew where these doors were, because I'm the girl and I have never seen them. Not that I would trade on my parents' fame.
His other issue is that in breaking up with me, he cast aside his help on his work, ( meaning, I did his work and that of his teammates, made snacks for the team and for it all, got ridiculedfor being smart, a prude etc.)
Because of the jackass, my father's term for him among other choice and colorful phrases, I am sorry, but I am trying to take things slowly. Both of my parents cautioned me on not going on the rebound. So if you are still interested, we should start as friends. In the future, who knows?
How are you adjusting to England? Is it weird for you to be around your father and his family now? Are you in contact with your Greengrass family?
I am going to sign off, before I embarrass myself more.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Suzanne Weasley.
Belle seals the letter and sends it back with her owl, a gift from her godparents, Harry and Sue. The speckled snowy owl, Tundra hoots at her and nips her finger in goodbye. Belle smiles and apperates to her mother's comic store.
"You're in a good mood this morning, darling." Hermione smiles at her. That letter must have been something. Belle looks up and smiles before going about her dusting and shifting of the shelves.
"Yes, Mum. I am. That letter was just what I needed to kick myself in the bum. That and last night's trip to the past. I know what I want and I am not going to settle anymore for someone that just wants to use me for what I can do for them."
Hermione walks up and hugs her daughter. "I glad to hear that, Isabelle.
Scorpius is sitting in his bedroom listening to a book on CD when a beautiful snowy owl taps on his window.
"Why hello little one." He smiles as the owl hops in the open space. He tries not to show his soft side because his mother always said that his father and grandparents would snub him for it. In truth, Astoria and her family were the ones that always snubbed his sentimentality. The Malfoy grandparents tried to get as much real quality time in with him as possible when he came to visit his father.
He has good memories of his grandfather Luc reading to him in the library. Scorpius didn't understand a word, he was too young, but his Grandpa Luc had him snuggled into a warm blanket in front of the fire and his smooth cultured voice was lulling him to sleep.
Outside, his Grandma Cissa would play with him in the sunshine and teach him about the flowers and animals in the garden.
His father's stern face would light up every time he saw Scorpius upon his return from work, the other room, anywhere.
Scorpius feeds the little owl a treat and unties the letter from her foot. "Thank you, little girl." He softly coos to the creature. "I wish I could be myself for once. I am so scared of getting hurt again that I can't let my guard down for a moment. The only time I really felt accepted was with Isabelle. She didn't care who's son I was or anything." He whispers to the bird. It nips him on the finger and hoots before flying out the window.
Scorpius smiles at the letter in his hand. "Well, at least she wrote me back. Can't think I'm a complete loser then." He mutters as he sits back on his bed.
"Of course not, you are a genuine, proper young man. The Malfoy genes don't hurt either, son." Draco unwinds his body from the door frame.
How long has he been there?
Scorpius' father hops up on the bed to sit next to him. "I know that I have been busy Scorpius. I swore to myself that if I ever was able to gain custody of you, I would spent so much time with you that you would be begging me to go to work. I am home for the day. I told my secretary to call Uncle Blaise if something comes up.
After what I just heard, I think you and I need to talk. What's going on?"
Draco listens to Scorpius pouring his heart out about how it was in Germany. How his other grandparents treated him compared to his cousins. How he felt about his Malfoy grandparents and him. Why they seemed to treat him differently. How he was really attracted to Isabelle. It was a learning experience for Draco. He felt bad for his son who's brightest spots in his life were the four of them.
"Scorpius, I will discuss this with your grandparents, but how about we start the healing. You don't have to call me "Father". I never wanted you to do so. That was one of your mother's things. Like calling you Scorpius the whole time. It was my father that started calling you "Scorp". I think you are too old for "Daddy", which I would of preferred when you were little, but how about "Dad"." Draco reaches out and ruffles his son's fine blonde hair.
"Thank you, Dad." Scorpius whispers.
"Alright, I will leave you alone to read your letter from Miss Weasley, but I fully expect a game of Quidditch and some chess today." He smirks. "Maybe, we'll go to Granger's comic shop." He chuckles at his son's face.
"Hermione Weasley will always be Granger to me. It's just a thing. Remember we are going to visit Auntie Andi tomorrow. She wants to see you. Teddy has a family dinner at the Burrow. It's Arthur's birthday."
Scorpius nods absently. "So my cousin still hasn't dumped the cheating slut."
This stops Draco in his tracks. "What did you just say?"
"Victoire Weasley is well known at Durmstrang, if you know what I mean. Look." He tosses his phone to his father. "Just scroll to the right. I've been documenting it to show Ted. He would not believe me otherwise." Scorpius points to his face in explanation.
The fact that she would just say, "Oh he's just a Malfoy and stirring up trouble. Look who his father is?"
"Alright, I think I'll floo over to Andi's right now. Better yet, you can bring your letter, we need to get to the Potter's"
Susan Bones-Potter opens the door to find Draco and Scorpius. Both blondes look more serious than she's seen them in a long while.
"Come in, we were just waiting for Harry to get back with Teddy."
"That's what we are here about." Draco doesn't get to finish because the door opens to reveal an angry Harry Potter. Behind him is a beat up Teddy Lupin. The older man stomps into the living room.
"Drake, Scorp, give me a moment to calm down." Harry grunts out. He takes a deep breath and looks over his godson and then to the Malfoys. "Why do I have the feeling that this will be connected?" He groans and sits down.
"Hey Scorp." Teddy gets out while whimpering. He is still sore from his full moon jaunt.
"Cousin, Dad and I have some bad news. We are sorry to add to whatever this is, but you deserve to know." Scorpius tells him gently.
The young man sits down. The fact that his hair is it's natural color of sandy brown shows how much is wrong. He sighs, reminding the elders of his father. "Tell me, Scorpius."
The blonde takes out his phone and holds it out. "I wasn't perving on her. I just figured I'd snap shots of her each time I saw her, to prove my story to you. Victoire is a favorite of Durmstrang. I've repeatedly been asked why I never sought her out. What could I say? "I can't because she's my cousin's girlfriend since Hogwarts!"."
The boys start crying. One for his broken heart and one for having to do it to him.
Teddy reaches out and pulls his younger cousin into his arms. "Thank you for doing this. I am glad someone told me. I am not mad at you, Scorpius."
Draco turns to Harry. "Alright, so that out of the way. What's got up your arse, Potter?" Harry chuckles to himself. "Like his father before him, I just had to talk some sense into my godson." Harry turns to Teddy. "When did it get turned on?"
"Last month, I went out into the forest near school and once I recovered I apperated into my room." The young man admits. "Victoire doesn't know. She is always going on about how her father would be so handsome without those "nasty" scars on his face. Mr. Weasley's scars are hardly noticeable."
Draco drops to his knees in front of his cousin's son."Edward Lupin, your former girlfriend is a fool if she doesn't see Bill as anything other than the brave, smart and protective father that has never let her down.
As for you, I don't want you to ever think or feel that something that is part of you is shameful. Your father was one of the kindest men I ever knew. He is the reason that you were a Ravenclaw.
Remus Lupin was a courageous man. Not only did he have to deal with being an outcast due to his condition, but he had to deal with loss on an epic scale. The reason you are in Harry's care is because Harry is the only member of his family left. Through your mother, Harry and I are related, but through your father, you are the only family that Harry has. You two are the last link to each other's parents."
Teddy turns to Harry. "What did you mean "like his father before him"?"
Harry takes a deep breath. "Your parents were very happy and wanted you, but still your father was scared that you would be like him. Ron, 'Mione, and I were at the Black Manor when Remus tried to convince me to let him come with us. He was freaked out. I woke him up and kicked him back to your mother. The next time I saw him was the night of the battle.
That is why I was so upset with you, Ted. All of our houses are set up with a wolf room. We have plenty of acreage to run, and 'Mione, Cissa or Drake will most likely be happy to make the potion. As for employment, which your father had the most trouble with, I doubt that between the three families you would be ostracized."
"Thank you, Harry."
"I'm willing to help also." Scorpius tells him. "I'm already an animangus. I turn into a black dog." This brings tears to Harry's eyes. It's coming full circle. Scorpius gets up and melts into a familiar shape. He isn't just a black dog, he's a grim.
"There you have it. A Lupin with another Black dog friend. All we are missing is a Potter stag." He jokes through his tears.
"No, we're not, Dad." James pipes up from the couch. He gets up and transforms. In front of them stands a stag.
"The Marauders are back again." Sue gasps. She, Harry and Draco openly cry at the sight of a Lupin being protected by the stag and dog again. James transforms back. "I even have the right name, James." The boy beams at the human Scorpius and Teddy.
"Yes, you do. Your grandfather would be very proud of you for this, James. He was the one that started the Marauders on their animangus forms to help Remus. I just wish he, Siri, Rem and Lils were here to see it." Amelia's teary voice comes from the kitchen doorway.
Draco and Scorpius leave for the comic store. Once inside, Draco sees for himself what his friends' daughter does to his son, just by looking up and smiling. He is the same way with Hannah. He walks over to Hermione.
"Granger, this is another hit out of the park for you." He motions to the shop. "So I have a favor to ask of you and also let you know something came up so he hasn't read her letter yet." Draco motions to Scorpius, who has greeted Isabelle with a hug and has moved to look at the inventory.
"Alright. Draco what's the favor?" She pushes her glasses up her nose. He smirks at the chunky frames. Everyone knows that she really doesn't need the glasses, but she wears them in tribute of Clark Kent, whoever that is.
"Teddy's gene turned on recently, we still don't know why. He needs the potion."
"Oh no, the poor boy! Of course. I'll get on it right away. Please warn him about the taste." Draco nods.
Scorpius walks up and pays for a copy of X-men Origins. It is about Wolverine."It's for Teddy." He tells his father.
"Good choice, Scorp. He likes the X-men." Hermione grins at the thoughtful boy.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I added to his stress, so I wanted to do something for him."
Draco clears his throat and pulls Hermione over to speak privately. "Victoire is cheating hardcore. Scorp showed Teddy the shots today."
"I knew she was just like her mother." Hermione grumbles. "There goes another wedding that Molly has been salivating over. Anything to drag Harry into the family. I'll call over later. Sounds like he isn't going to the party. Too bad we have to.
I've gotten used to Molly's ire at me. What pisses me off is that she takes it out on Belle. I try not to make George get in the middle." Draco pats her shoulder.
"'Mione, I saw the pictures. Teddy is never going back to her. I am going to have to give them to George or Fred. That way they get to Bill. He has a right to know what she is up to."
"I know. I just don't want to ruin it for Arthur."
George walks out from the back room. "What's this about ruining something for Dad?" He asks his wife and friend. "Hey, is that Scorpius? He's got to be taller than Lucius by now."
"Yeah, he is. I don't know how to frame this other than Teddy isn't coming to the party tomorrow. I mentioned something about his going to Scorpius earlier and he was surprised that Teddy hadn't dumped Victoire yet. Apparently, she is a Durmstrang bike. He showed Teddy the photos that he had collected as evidence, because of the name being associated. They are dated, many and explicit given where there are taken. They are all outside and in the open. I told Granger, that I was going to give the SD card to you to show Bill."
George's face is clouded. "Nothing against Scorp, but he is sure that it is her?"
"Yes, I guess he has been asked many times why he never tried to get with her." Draco is scratching his head, uncomfortable talking about a girl he watched grow up.
"I will talk with Bill, but this may be the last straw. If this is what I think it is, then it is by Fleur's coaxing and that will not go over good." George sighs. "I am sorry. Teddy is such a great kid."
The three parents look over to the young almost couple. "That brings back memories." Draco cracks.
"How so?" Hermione looks back at him.
"You two. George trying like mad to be your friend and yet wanting to be more. You being so scared to ruin a friendship."