Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Term 13

Additional challenges listed below

Word Count – 622

Draco Malfoy was raised to believe that money and influence were everything. Sometimes, even to the expense of your own family. The family name was only important if it came attached to a great deal of power. Once the war was over, the Malfoy name didn't hold any of that anymore. They had the money, but they were far from being the influential family they once were or having half the power they had when he was a child. Nothing was able to buy his father's way out of Azkaban. His mum was fine. She was great, really. She had reconnected with her sister, Andromeda, and she was happy. Life at the Manor was very different.

Then, came Astoria. Draco fell in love with her, but her family was not exactly happy with the relationship. Astoria didn't care one bit. She reassured Draco every day that she was going to be by his side no matter what, because he was her family. Her family. For Merlin's sake, they were not even married yet and she already considered him her family. Draco appreciated her more than he could ever say. He was not the best with words, but he didn't have to be. It only took one look at him for her to read him like an open book.

Finally, he arrived. Draco couldn't stop staring at him in his wife's arms. He was so little, so perfect. Draco thought he had known utterly unconditional love with Astoria, but with one look at Scorpius, he knew he had been wrong. Scorpius was a piece of his heart that had detached from him and would walk freely around the world one day. That scared him.

"Draco? Are you listening to me?" Astoria asked, holding the baby against her with one arm, and waving the other in front of her husband.

"What? No, sorry. I was looking at him," he admitted.

"It's alright," she laughed. "I was just asking you if you would like to hold him."

Draco's eyes went big. What if he dropped him? What if he didn't know how to hold him properly? He had never held a child before in his life. Well, he held Teddy, but Teddy was over a year old when he did. Scorpius looked so fragile.

"He's not going to break, Draco."

Draco felt like hitting his head on the wall. Did he really voice all of his concerns? He must have been more tired than he realized after waiting for Scorpius to be born for over 8 hours.

Astoria smiled. "Come here. Sit down, maybe it will give you more confidence."

Draco didn't know about that, but nodded and obeyed. He sat down by her side and positioned himself comfortably. As Astoria handed him the little white bundle, Draco instinctively moved a hand to support his head.

"See? You have nothing to worry about. You are going to be an excellent father," she said, after Scorpius was sleeping easily in his father's arms.

As he watched the little boy sleeping in his arms and the woman sleeping by his side, Draco made a promise. Draco Malfoy would never take his family for granted. He would love and appreciate them every single day. He would never let Scorpius make the same mistakes he did. Scorpius would grow up to be fair and kind to everyone. Scorpius would be the farthest possible from the spoiled brat Draco was when he was a child. Scorpius would be loved unconditionally, but he would also be taught right from wrong. Most of all, Scorpius would be happy, and Draco would make sure of that. The Malfoy name wouldn't stand for money and power anymore. The Malfoy name would stand for family.

Insane House Challenge

#962 – Trait: Appreciative

August Auction

Day 21/ Auction 3 – Family: Malfoy