A/N: I'm going to be away on holiday for the next two weeks, so no updates for a while I'm afraid. However, I will be writing as much as possible while away so will update as soon as possible when I get back.
In the meantime, enjoy!
It's About Time
Rose,
Well, that went better than expected, didn't it? I'm not sure what we were so worried about. Though it was a bit odd. I was certainly expecting Dad to be a lot more difficult than he was. But he was perfectly polite to Scorpius, and I swear I even saw the two of them laughing together about something just before we left. I suppose it probably helps that Scorpius supports the Chudley Cannons. Even so, I didn't think Dad would take to him so immediately. He even said when we got home that perhaps he could come round to the idea of blonde grandchildren after all! I think maybe it helped that Scorpius has fallen out with his dad. It makes Dad feel like they have a common enemy.
I don't think that was the real reason, however. Scorpius is just such a likeable person. I think it would be impossible to hate him. I always wondered a little at how easily all your cousins began to like him, even after all the terrible things they'd heard about him, but now I understand. He's very unlike his dad in many ways, but at the same time I saw a little of Draco Malfoy in him. He's far more modest and significantly more pleasant to talk to – the person Draco Malfoy could have been if he'd been brought up better. Either way, he managed to win your dad over. Probably didn't hurt that he looks at you as though you were the most incredible thing he's ever seen, and he can't believe he's actually a part of your life. I think that's how your dad feels about you a lot of the time, too.
But moving on from Dad, Scorpius seems lovely. I have to admit I was always secretly a little doubtful about Ethan, though I didn't like to say anything. But there's something about Scorpius that just brings out the best in you. I've never seen two people who look so perfect together, though I have to admit it's very odd to see my daughter so happy with someone who looks the spitting image of Draco Malfoy. Not that I hold it against him, not at all. The difference between them becomes clear the moment Scorpius opens his mouth, but sometimes it's hard to remember that I'm not watching my old enemy from school, and that's when I can understand just a little why Dad was so worried. Not that he's worried now. He's been singing Scorpius' praises since the moment we arrived home, though he has asked me to tell you there is to be no snogging, or being left alone in the same room together, or anything more than hand holding. Ignore him, of course. You're a sensible person and I know I can trust you not to do anything stupid. It wouldn't be right for Dad and I to try and tell you what to do. You're seventeen, after all.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the week, and I look forward to seeing you, and Scorpius of course, again next week at the Burrow.
Love,
Mum
Mum,
You're right. Everything did go a lot better than I expected. Poor Scorp was absolutely terrified beforehand. He really, really wanted the two of you to like him, and he was thrilled when I showed him that letter from you. (You don't mind me showing it to him, do you? It wasn't like you said anything very private.) Of course, he denied most of the things you said about him. Sometimes I think he's too modest for his own good. Naturally, they were all true. He is a very likeable person, and it's almost impossible to hold a grudge against him, or be annoyed with him for very long. I would know. I've tried, and I never made it past a couple of hours before he'd say something to make me laugh and I'd completely forget that I was supposed to be angry with him.
I suppose I should probably go now. James and the others coerced Scorp into playing Quidditch with them, and I really should rescue him now.
Rose
P.S. Scorp says he'd love to go to a Chudley Cannons match sometime. You know, I had no idea Scorp even liked the Chudley Cannons. I thought he hated Quidditch, but apparently that's only playing it. He's not that keen on school Quidditch either, but apparently he and his mum are fanatical supporters of the Chudley Cannons. Weird, huh? You learn something new every day, I guess.
Draco,
I'm just writing to check that you are still happy for me to come and visit next week. I can't understand why it wouldn't be, but you said you would owl me to confirm the plans and I haven't heard from you yet so I thought it might be a good idea just to check. I'm looking forward to seeing you and Astoria again, and talking to Scorpius and hearing all about what he's been doing. He hasn't written recently and, while I'm sure he's just been busy, I miss hearing about his life.
With love,
Mother
Mother,
I'm so sorry; I had forgotten you were supposed to be coming to stay. Much as I was looking forward to seeing you too, I'm afraid now may not be the best time for a visit. For one thing, Scorpius is not here. He stormed out of the house several days ago, expressing no desire to return anytime soon, and I certainly have no intention of letting him back in the house until he has apologised for his appalling behaviour and disobedience. I'm sure you do not want to be involved in this ridiculous drama and will be happy to postpone the visit for a little while.
Draco
Draco,
Don't be ridiculous; of course I want to be involved. Scorpius is my grandson. What on earth happened? And where is Scorpius? You can't let your sixteen-year-old son to walk out of the house and make no attempt to find him. He's underage! Where is he staying?
Mother
Mother,
I have no idea where he is staying, and have no wish to know. He is quite capable of taking care of himself, and would not be in this situation at all were it not for his incredible stubbornness. And as for what happened, I discovered recently that Scorpius is now in a relationship with an incredibly inappropriate girl by the name of Rose Weasley. I informed him that I could in no way support such a relationship and that he should break it off immediately, and he refused. As I'm sure you can understand, I was furious. That he would disobey me on account of some schoolboy crush is intolerable. Looking back, I'm aware I should perhaps have explained my concerns to him calmly and rationally, rather than getting angry. Clearly he is only continuing with this relationship in order to defy me, as teenagers are prone to doing, as there can be no real affection between him and the Weasley girl. However, what's done is done, and he will have to learn the hard way that there are consequences to his actions.
Draco
Draco,
So he and Rose finally got together? Well, it's about time!
Mother,
What an earth are you talking about?
Draco,
I am talking about the fact that Scorpius has been in love with Rose Weasley since he was fourteen. He is certainly not in the relationship in order to defy you – in fact, I don't think it even crossed his mind that you would object after you have been so supportive of his House, his subject choices, his friends, and every other decision he has made over the past six years – and it is no schoolboy crush. He holds your opinion in very high esteem and I know for a fact that he wouldn't do this if there weren't a very good reason for it. I don't know if you've fully understood the implications of his walking out of the house, but I believe I may know your son significantly better than you do, and can tell you quite confidently that what he has effectively done is chosen Rose over you. I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but it's the truth and you have to hear it. If you ever want Scorpius back you are going to have to accept that Rose comes as part of the deal. Not that you should be complaining about that. From what I've heard about her she sounds like a wonderful young woman.
And returning to my original point, you need to find out where your son is. He's sixteen, and that is most definitely not old enough to look after himself.
Mother
Mother,
In love? Don't be absurd. It's a ridiculous crush and nothing more. Perhaps not even that. You're right, though, that I've been too soft on him over the last six years. If I'd put my foot down from the beginning then it would never have got to this point.
And may I remind you that when I was sixteen you and Father forced me to become a Death Eater and attempt to murder my own headmaster. And yet you try to claim Scorpius will be incapable of finding somewhere to stay for a few weeks?
Draco
Draco,
So that's what this is about! You're still angry with your father and me for the past. I'm sorry, Draco – you can never know how sorry – but I can't change what happened in the past, and taking it out on Scorpius won't do anything but drive him away from you, and I know you'll regret that in the future. Your father certainly did, though I know he was never able to admit it.
Please don't be jealous of Scorpius. Don't let it ruin your relationship with your son.
Mother
Mother,
Jealous? Of my own son? That's ridiculous, and is certainly not what this is all about. In fact, none of this is your business at all, Mother, so I would thank you to stay out of it.
Draco
Scorp,
I can't believe Aunt Ginny made us go to bed at eleven! It's the holidays! And that she wouldn't let me come through and hang out in Al's room with you guys. Lily's already asleep so I'm really bored, but I'm sure you and Al aren't even considering going to bed yet (how could you, with all those explosions coming from James' room?) and I guess I may as well just owl you instead. It works well enough at Hogwarts. What are you and Al up to?
Rose
Rose,
Actually, Al just snuck through to help James with whatever he's doing, so I'm on my own through here.
I've been meaning to ask you, do you think your mum really meant all that about your dad liking me? Or was she just saying that? It's hard to believe it could really be that easy, after the amount of times we worried about how he would react.
Scorp
Scorp,
Yeah, I think she definitely meant it. And it's not so hard to believe; you're just a very likeable person. Funny, though, that my dad was completely okay with it and your dad was the one to freak out, after us expecting the complete opposite. I guess life's just like that sometimes.
Rose
Rose,
Yeah, I guess it is.
