A/N: Think this is my longest chapter so far. I wanted to fit the whole holiday in one chapter, but I had to write quite a lot. Thanks to those who reviewed.

I Am Scorpius/Rose romance will come eventually, but may take a while cos they're only twelve right now. Didn't plan to spend so long on first year originally.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.

Summer Holidays

Dear Al and Rose,

Are you enjoying yourselves at the Burrow? Let me know when you go home so I will write to you both separately again. Mum is coming back soon, and I can't wait to see her, but I've enjoyed having Dad to myself for a bit. We've talked a lot more than we normally do. I've told him loads of stuff about school, and I think he's finally accepting that I'm a Hufflepuff. I mean, he said that he was pleased before, but I don't think he really meant it. Now, though, I think he's starting to see that Hufflepuff's aren't so bad. We're not as useless as people make us out to be.

But, more importantly, we talked about the War. I've always wanted him to tell me about it not the War in general, I know all of that, but his side of it but I've never wanted to ask. I don't think he likes to remember it very much, and I don't blame him. Not after everything he's told me. It's strange to hear what really happened to him. Grandad always told me a lot of stories, but they made it sound as though the Malfoys were heroes. They weren't. I suppose you both knew that, considering who your parents are. Dad regrets all the stuff he did, though. I can tell he does. He says he still has nightmares about some of the things that happened, like Dumbledore dying and Lord Voldemort threatening him and his family, and your mum getting tortured, Rose. I always wondered why he got so angry with people for using the word Mudblood apparently he used to use it all the time before the War but he says after he saw Bellatrix torture your mum so badly he realised that she was just as much a person as him, and a lot braver.

I think I'm quite proud of my dad, actually. I know he's not a hero like your parents, and there are a lot of things I'm not proud of him doing, but he was brave sometimes. All the things he did were because he was scared of what Lord Voldemort would do to his parents if he refused, and even then he never killed anyone. He said he was about to lower his wand and accept Dumbledore's offer of help when the Death Eaters turned up, and in the final battle when Lord Voldemort ordered his Death Eaters to return to him, Dad didn't. He says he finally realised that his loyalty to Hogwarts came before everything else, even his desire to live. So yes, I'm proud to have him as my father. He's no Neville Longbottom or Harry Potter, but he's my dad.

Sorry for rambling on. I'm sure neither of you are that interested in Dad. Compared to your parents he must seem a bit pathetic. So, how have your holidays been so far? I hope you're having fun.

Scorpius


Astoria,

Do you know what day you will be home yet? I know you said it would be either Thursday or Friday, but please let me know exactly when as soon as you know. I'm planning a surprise holiday for Scorp. I won't tell you exactly where we're going I want it to be a bit of a surprise for you too but once I know when you will be back I can plan properly.

I took a piece of advice I received fro somebod and talked to Scorp about the War. Properly, I mean. It wasn't as hard as I expected. In fact, it was quite a relief. He didn't judge me at all, like anyone else would have done. He just listened, like he really understood what I had gone through and why I did the things I did. I'm suddenly beginning to be glad our son is a Hufflepuff. I don't think a Slytherin would have been quite so open and sympathetic and understanding. Or a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw, for that matter. Anyway, I'm glad I talked to him. It feels as though we're a lot closer now than we used to be.

I can't wait to see you. I've missed having you here.

Love, Draco


Scorpius,

We're having a wonderful time here at the Burrow. I think my parents are taking Hugo and I to France next Tuesday, but Albus will probably be staying at the Burrow for a little while longer. Dad's been a bit strange recently. He keeps randomly telling all these stories about things your dad did when they were at school together. I don't know why. I think maybe he's trying to persuade me not to be friends with you, but if he is then it's not working. If anything, it just shows how different you and your dad really are.

I'm glad your dad talked to you, though. It must be fascinating to hear about the War from such a completely different perspective. And it's great to know that he's not as terrible as people try to make him out to be. He's obviously a different person now from the one he used to be, anyway.

Have you started on your homework? I suppose you probably have. I tried to, but Albus and James and Uncle George stole all my schoolbooks and stuff and told me it was more important that I have fun with my family for the first couple of weeks. I understand their point, of course, but we do have a lot of homework, and I wanted to start it as soon as possible. Oh well. They have promised to give everything back when I return from France.

I hope you're having a good holiday so far. Write again soon!

Rose


Scorp,

That's great that you and your dad talked! As soon as we get back to Hogwarts I want to hear all about the stuff he told you. I've never really heard much about what the War was like for Death Eaters. I know what it was like for my dad, and for Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione, and my mum has told me all about what it was like for the people at Hogwarts. I've even talked to Uncle George about the radio station Pottermore which him and his brother and their friend set up. But I don't know any Death Eaters. I think it must have been even more awful for your dad than for lots of other people. Can you imagine having to live in a house with Lord Voldemort, and knowing that he could torture or kill you or your family at any moment? It must have been awful.

Anyway, my holiday's been great so far. We had to lock up Rose's books to stop her from studying (Studying! In the first week of the holidays!) But after that she agreed to just relax like the rest of us.

You know those Skiving Snackboxes that are supposed to be completely banned at Hogwarts? Apparently teachers have figured out a spell to tell whether you have eaten one or not, but my Uncle George has been developing a new lot, and the teachers won't be able to tell, So we can fake ill whenever we like! He's given me a whole bunch for free, and I reckon we should test them when we get back. How about skiving off Potions? Rose doesn't like them much, but she won't tell. She says she will, but she won't.

I've got to go now cos James is bugging me to come and play Quidditch with him but only cos he knows he will win if he plays me. Maybe I'll try and get Lily to play on my team. She's pretty good.

Al


Draco,

I will be home on Friday. My Portkey is at eleven in the morning, and then I will have to walk a little way to the house, so I should be home by eleven-thirty.

I'm glad you talked to Scorp, and I can't wait to see what this surprise holiday will be like! It will be good to spend some time together as a family again. I've missed you both so much, and I haven't seen Scorpius since September. It feels like even longer. It feels like years.

See you soon.

Love, Astoria


Rose,

Yeah, it was great to talk to Dad properly. It's a shame your dad dislikes him, and me, so much. Do you think it would make a difference if he met me, or would that just make it worse?

No, I haven't started my homework. I'm surprised you even bothered asking. Since when do Al and I do our homework early? You should know from the amount of times you've had to help me with it the night before it's due in that I'm not very good at doing my homework on time. Al's right, though. The first week of the holidays is way too early to even think about homework.

Have a good time in France, and remember to write and tell me all about it.

Scorpius


Al,

Yeah I think it was pretty horrible for Dad, and I'll tell you more about the stuff he told me once we can talk face to face. You have to tell me more about the stories you've been told, though. Not the things that everyone knows. Just the stories they only tell friends and family.

Yeah, Rose is completely mad. Don't keep her stuff locked up for too long, though. We need her to do her homework so she can help us with ours.

The Skiving Snackboxes sound great! I'm definitely up for skiving off Potions. Just not too often, cos I do need to keep my grade as high as possible. It's improved since Rose started helping me, and I don't want it to get worse again.

By the way, do your parents mind you being friends with me? Cos Rose says her dad doesn't really like it. I mean, I'm not surprised, but I wish people wouldn't hate me so much, just because I'm a Malfoy.

Scorp


Al,

Sorry to write again so soon, but straight after I sent that letter Dad told me he had packed a suitcase for me and we were going on holiday! He got authorisation to create a Portkey, and has taken us both to Spain‼ He bought a villa here so he could surprise us both. Bought a villa! I mean, I guess I always knew our family were quite well off, but normally we don't show it much. I know Dad donates to a bunch of stuff, but we don't live in a massive house like Grandad and Grandma. Anyway, just thought I would let you know.

Scorp


Scorpius,

Al just told me about you going to Spain. I hope you have a wonderful time. And really, being a Hufflepuff, you're supposed to be hardworking and diligent. So surely you should do all your homework well in advance? Perhaps my cousin is just a bad influence on you.

No, I don't think it would be a good idea for you to meet Dad. Not yet. He's not quite ready, but maybe one day.

Love,

Rose


Scorp,

Spain? Really? That's awesome! I hope you have great fun. I'm sure you will. When will you be back? Do you know yet? Cos we should meet up in Diagon Alley near the end of the holidays to get our things for school.

No, my parents don't mind me being friends with you. Dad mad his peace with your dad a long time ago, and Mum's been trying to persuade Uncle Ron that it's not so terrible for Rose to be friends with you. She's not really getting anywhere, though. Uncle Ron's very stubborn.

Al


Dear Mr Malfoy,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.

A list of books for next year is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Dabinett

Headmistress

Set Books

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 2) by Miranda Goshawk

Hogwarts, A Complete History by Hermione Granger


Al,

Has your book list arrived from Hogwarts yet? Mine has. We're probably coming back from Spain quite soon. After all, we've been here for four weeks. I'm actually starting to look forward to being back in England. Spain's incredible, but it's just so hot all the time. Let me know what day you and Rose will be in Diagon Alley and I will try to meet you there.

Scorp


Scorp,

How about next Wednesday? Lily need to get all her new stuff too so Mum and Dad are going to take her and we can meet Rose and go and get our books. Let me know if you can make it.

Al


Al,

Yeah, Wednesday should be fine. Can't wait to see you and Rose again!
Scorp