OBLIVIATE

SCORPIUS MALFOY

Scorpius did not know if the person standing in front of him laughing and joking was actually his father or if someone had taken Polyjuice to replace him. He had never seen his father act so lighthearted. He had never actually seen him laughing so heartily for that matter.

As they entered the dinning room, Scorpius waited for his father to be seated and went to stand by his chair.

"You are kidding, Malfoy. We are actually going to eat this way. Isn't this a tad more opulent, even for you?" He heard Ms. Granger say.

His father just smirked, now that was familiar but his eyes twinkled with something he couldn't name.

"Why yes Ms. Granger. This is how the royalty eat. Though I would not expect such impeccable manners from peasants like you." His father drawled in his haughty voice and he wouldn't have been surprised if Ms. Granger had hexed him for that. He had read enough about her to know that she did not tolerate anyone insulting her.

She hit his stomach playfully.

"Ow! Desist woman. Stop hitting me, at least not in front of my son. It is mortifying."

But she just laughed him off. "I am serious Draco. I am going to need speakers for a conversation, if we are having a dinner here."

"I am going to ignore the ludicrous muggle terminology. However, I will bow down to your wishes." He gestured for Twinkle. "Twinkle! Set the table at one side from here on. Ms. Granger's dish to my right and Scorpius' to my left."

Twinkle looked surprised to hear this but she obeyed and with a snap of her finger the dishes were set as wished.

"After you Ms. Granger." He was surprised as his father pulled out her chair and seated her before taking his seat. It was the etiquette for the head of the house to be seated first. He followed suit and he sat down in his chair.

His father must have seen his expression. He chuckled. "It is customary in muggles that ladies are seated first by the gentlemen."

"I thought I was a peasant and not a lady." She countered. "Thank you, Tinkle."

"Thank you, Tinkle." His father thanked him as well. The poor elf was blushing, if an elf could blush, while serving them.

"So, Scorpius. Your father has told me little about you. But he told me you liked to read. Which is your favorite book?" He was surprised to be spoken to during the meal.

"The tales of Beedle the Bard is my favorite but I also like Men who like Dragons too much." He replied slowly.

"I have read the tales Beedle the Bard too much to consider it reading again. But you know I have the original copy. I will bring it here to show it you, if you would like."

"But there is only one original copy in the world. And it is said to be lost." He truly did not know if the witch was jesting.

"I see you have done your homework. But that's not the whole truth. It was said to be lost until Dumbledore found it. He left it to me in his will."

"And why am I only hearing about this, Granger. I was not aware Dumbledore left anything to you in his will. You could have told me." His father was looking inquisitively at Ms. Granger.

"Scrimgeour came to us with Dumbledore's will just before we went on run." She explained.

"And you would still not tell me, what in the bloody hell were you doing, running along in the forests with those two imbeciles? I have a right to know Hermione. You got caught, were tortured to an inch of your life by that bitch, while I stood there like a dolt. And not a week passed you raided Gringotts and escaped on dragon. A bloody Dragon! I died a thousand deaths that day." He was nearly panting by the end of his speech.

"I told you Draco, Dumbledore didn't want us to tell anyone. Only me, Harry and Ron knew. But perhaps I could explain what happened. But this is not the place. This is dinner table, let's have a light conversation" She reached and squeezed his hand.

"Alright. So, what is a speeker?" His father inquired.

"It's called a speaker. It is a muggle device which is used to amplify any sound by a person or a computer. I will show it to you when you come to the muggle world with me." Scorpius did not know how this witch was speaking so easily of muggles in the Manor. His grandfather always expressed his disdain about the muggles. His mother and grandmother never spoke of muggles and dismissed any such conversation though not as callous as Grandfather. He had not heard even his father speak of them. His father had never spoken so much with him anyway. Whatever he knew about muggles was from the newspaper which only mentioned the misplaced disdain of muggles by most of the purebloods. Scorpius didn't know what to make of this.

"What makes you say that I will be coming with you to the muggle world?" His father asked.

"Well I am staying with you for a month. So, you will have to escort me wherever I wish to go. And I visit muggle London at least once a week." She replied boldly.

"Your wish is my command, my lady."

"You are staying at the Manor for a month?" Scorpius spluttered. He was shocked. He thought that she was just here for dinner.

"Yes, I invited Ms. Granger to stay here. She was advised by the doctor to not be left alone. You should properly welcome her, Scorpius."

"You are most welcome to stay in the Manor, Ms. Granger." He was not sure if he really wanted her here. He was afraid that she would steal his father away from him. Scorpius had thought that his father only ever reserved his smile for him. But since this woman came his father was gazing at her with an expression which Scorpius had hoped to receive from his father.

"Thank you, Scorpius. You can call me Hermione though. How about you show me you room after dinner. I am afraid your father might bore me soon enough. I may require someone to have an intelligent conversation with."

He was surprised by the request but she was smiling so warmly at him that he nodded. "Sure Ms. Granger…Hermione."

"Should I be jealous of my own son, Granger?" His father was actually pouting at Hermione.

"Well! He is more handsome than you." She responded cheekily. Scorpius blushed from the praise.

"I am wounded Granger. Truly wounded. I forbid you Scorpius to speak with my witch or else I will have to challenge you to a wizarding duel." He giggled at his father's antics. Surprising himself with the sound. But he was incensed at his father to call her his witch.

"Stop pouting, Malfoy. It doesn't suit you."

"I am not pouting. Malfoys do not pout." He said the last part in a nearly perfect imitation of Grandfather. And all of them burst out laughing.

They finished their dinner and Scorpius asked Hermione if she would like to see his room now.

"Sure. Lead the way."

"Very well! I will follow you both." His father invited himself.

They started walking when abruptly Hermione stopped.

He saw his father put his arms around her. "It's okay, love. This is not that part of the Manor. I had the that wing burned entirely after the war." He whispered to her. Scorpius watched enviously as his father kissed her temple fondly.

"I just realized that I am actually here."

"It's alright. Are you not comfortable here? We can shift to the other properties, if you wish."

"No, I am well. I am sorry Scorpius. Let's move ahead."

"That's alright, Hermione." He reassured her and started moving forward.

"Are you sure you are alright sweetheart. You don't have to stay here. We can go to the country house." He heard his father whisper from behind.

"Truly Draco. I am fine."

"This is my room, Hermione." Scorpius halted their conversation as he opened the door to his room.

"You have a beautiful room, Scorpius. Can I visit you here sometimes?"

"Sure. You can, whenever you want." He truly meant that. He wondered, if he could be friends with her. He only ever had Teddy as his friend and it got very lonely at the Manor. She seemed a lovely person, at least when she was not trying to take his father away.

"Good night then, Scorpius. Come on, you can see him tomorrow." His father bid him farewell.

"Goodnight Scorpius." She smiled warmly at him.

"Good night, Father. Goodnight, Hermione." They nodded and left.

He closed the doors to his room as he listened to the fading footsteps and the sound of laughter echoing the hallway.