A/N: Sorry, this chapter's taken me a little longer than usual. Thanks to Kjelfalconer for reviewing again, and to Loves to read books - it's always nice to know people are looking forward to me updating. Everyone else - please review!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters etc. don't belong to me

His Father's Son

Scorp

Yeah?

Have you done the Transfiguration homework yet?

No. I was hoping Rose would help me with it. Have you?

No. I was thinking the same. But do you think she'll give us a lecture about how we shouldn't have left it til the night before?

Yes. But she'll help us anyway.

True. Oh, I just remembered something. Scorp?

Yeah?

How would you feel about doing the homework in the Gryffindor common room? Professor Longbottom said he could give you permission to come in there sometimes.

Scorp?

Scorp, for goodness' sake, stop ignoring me.

SCORP!

Professor MacAlroy's looking our way.

No he's not.

Well, I think we should concentrate right now.

No you don't.

Yes I do.

Scorp, we never concentrate in Charms.

Well, maybe we should start.

Look, if you don't want to, you can tell me. You don't have to change the subject like that.

Okay, I'm sorry Al. I wish I was brave enough, but I'm not. No one will be happy with me being allowed in the Gryffindor common room.

Except me and Rose.

Except you and Rose. I don't need to give everyone another reason to hate me.

Fair enough.

Really?

Yeah, it's your decision. Maybe I should see if Rose and I can come into your common room sometimes instead.

That would be great. But are you sure you're not going to be mad at me for being such a coward this time?

You're not a coward. And I told you before, it was a stupid thing to fight over.

Thanks, Al.


Scorp,

Sorry if I've woken you up. I just needed to ask you something. I was talking to Rose, and she said she saw a bunch of third year Gryffindors hassling you today. She said they were shoving you around and stuff. Are you okay? Cos we could go to Professor Longbottom if it's something they do a lot. Rose said she was going to come over and help you, but they all left just then and you disappeared into some class. What's going on?

Al


Al,

It's nothing. I'm fine.

Scorp


It's not nothing, Scorp. I'm your best mate, you can tell me. Me and Rose are really worried about you. You've been really quiet lately and you flinch every time a group of Gryffindors walk past you. If it's about your dad, they have no right to pick on you because of that. You're not him.

Al


Al, it's really not a big deal. They're just a bunch of idiots, but they're not bullying me or anything. It really doesn't matter. Go to sleep. Goodnight.


Rose,

I'm worried about Scorpius. I sent him an owl, but he won't admit they're bullying him. We have to do something about it. It's bad enough that his dad hasn't actually told him anything about the War, so he's just finding out now that he wasn't actually a hero. What should we do?
Al


Al,

I'm worried too, but there's really nothing we can do about it right now. Your owl just woke up half my dormitory by tapping on the window. It can wait 'til the morning. Please go to sleep.

Rose


Dear Mr Malfoy,

My name is Albus Potter. I've never actually met you but I'm very good friends with your son, Scorpius. I'm writing to you because I'm worried about him. He says you never really talked about the War much, but that his Grandad has told him lots of stories he is now discovering weren't really true. I think he's finding it quite difficult, learning that you weren't really much of a hero, no offence. Anyway, a lot of the other kids don't really like him much because of who he is. They make fun of him quite a lot, and make jokes about you in front of him and stuff. He tries to stick up for you sometimes, but can't deny the things they say, because he doesn't actually know what's true and what's not. I know you probably find it hard to talk about the War – most adults I know do – but I think it would really help if he could hear the whole truth from you. I think he's being bullied at the moment too, but he won't talk to me or Rose about it. I'm not sure what to do, but I thought you should know.

Yours Sincerely,

Albus Potter

P.S. Please don't tell Scorpius I wrote to you. I don't think he'd like it much.


Harry,

I'm starting to get a bit worried about Rose's friends. Or, in particular, on friend. Every letter she writes me it's "Scorp, Al and I did this" and "Scorp, Al and I did that". Why, out of everyone in the year, is she friends with a Malfoy? And you should be worried too. From the sound of it, Albus practically does everything with that . . . kid. They're inseparable. What should we do?

Ron


Ron,

Yeah, Al talks a lot about Scorpius. I think it's great. Scorpius sounds like a decent kid. I'm glad they've got such a great friendship. It reminds me of how you, Hermione and me used to be when we were at Hogwarts, actually. Just relax. We have no proof that Scorpius is a bad person. He's in Hufflepuff! Stop worrying so much, Ron.

Harry


Harry,

He's Draco Malfoy's son! What more proof do we need? And do you really think they're like you, Hermione and me? Cos I don't want Rose marrying that idiot. That's what happened with Hermione and me.

Ron


Ron,

You know that's not what I meant. They're not exactly like us. I just meant the way the three of them have such a close friendship. They won't get married. Relax.

Harry


Malfoy,

My daughter's been talking a lot about your son. Well, he may have fooled her – and Harry and Hermione – but he won't fool me. I know no Malfoy can be trusted. So, if you know what's good for you, keep your son away from Rose.

Ron Weasley


Albus,

I appreciate your concern for Scorpius. It's wonderful to know he has such a great friend. You're right – I haven't talked much about the War to him, and I really should have. I've regretted the way I behaved during the War for a very long time, but I am only now realising the full extent of the consequences. Not only did my decisions have terrible results at the time, they are also affecting my son's life years later. But I'm sure you don't want to listen to the ramblings of a very remorseful old man. All I really wanted to say was thank you for being Scorpius' friend when no one else is willing to, in spite of the way I treated your father years ago. And that I promise I will talk to Scorpius properly about the War as soon as I have the opportunity to.

Draco Malfoy


Ron Weasley,

You don't like me. That's fine. To be honest, I still don't like you much either. But I'm sorry. And I would really appreciate it if you would give Scorpius a chance. Perhaps I don't deserve that, but he does. I assure you he is nothing like me. And as for keeping him away from Rose, my son's decisions are his own. I will not try to control them. If he wants to be friends with her, and if she is willing to be friends with him, then I will do nothing to stop that. From Scorpius' letters, Rose sounds like an independent, intelligent girl. She is probably quite capable of judging people for herself, and I doubt she would thank you for interfering in her friendships.

Draco Malfoy


Scorpius,

I hope school is going well. I look forward to seeing you in a couple of months. Mum's trip to France has lasted a lot longer than expected, but she will be back during the second or third week of the Summer Holiday. Before that it will just be the two of us, which is good because I have some things I need to talk to you about. Enjoy the rest of the term, and good luck with your end-of-term exams.

Love, Dad