Albus woke up to Lilly's face right above him. She was laying on him, and shaking him vigorously. Thank god. It had only been a dream.
'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!'
Only then he realized that his whole family was there. And it was his birthday. Wow. With everything that was going on, he had completely forgotten about it. Today was the day he would turn fifteen.
He then noticed that his mum, Ginny, was carrying a tray with scones, waffles, and cookies, just for him.
'Breakfast in bed!', she said. 'Just like when you were little.'
'Thanks mum.' He mumbled as he got Lilly off him and grabbed the tray. Only when he took a bite of a shortbread cookie he realized he was ravenous.
He quickly ate everything, and then saw that everyone was still there.
'What's up?' Albus asked curiously.
'Um, we want to give you your present.'
'Alright. Thanks.' Albus said awkwardly. He never really liked being the center of attention, even within his own family.
Harry took his wand out of his pocket and was about to do a spell when Ginny interrupted.
'Harry, dear, I don't think using Accio on this present will be a very good idea...'
'You're right. It would be quite a sickening ride.' Harry said.
Albus wondered what it was, and what his father meant by 'sickening ride'.
'Well come on then!' Lilly exclaimed grabbing his hand and yanking him out of bed.
Lilly took him by the hand all the way to the living room, with the whole family following behind. There was a big green box with a silver ribbon around it.
Actually, it was a huge box.
When Albus stood next to it, it went up to his chest and was at least twice as wide as he was.
'Well, what are you waiting for?' Asked James, anxious to see what was in it.
'Go on. Open it. But for Dumbledore's sake, don't use any cutting charms!' Harry said with a mischievous smile.
'Alright then...' Albus said and decided not to use magic at all.
He struggled a bit opening it, but when he did, he was confused. A ferret was levitated out of the box.
Harry suddenly burst out laughing uncontrollably. Ginny seemed to understand what he was laughing about, and smiled at her husband.
Everyone else seemed confused at the sight of a ferret coming out of a box that was about ten times as big as the animal was.
'Go on. Grab it.' Said Ginny.
Obediently, he gently took the ferret. As he did so, it started to grow bigger and bigger, until it was not a ferret, but his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy, in his arms.
Albus was surprised and didn't know how to react. Scorpius was smiling at him with a wide smile. He was about to smile back, when he remembered the dream.
'Happy birthday Albus.' Scorpius said, smiling at his friend.
'Scorpius?' Albus whispered.
'Yup I'm back. I know you can't live without me.' Scorpius responded, laughing.
Albus blushed at the comment.
'Well, will you put me down already? I'd like to get a proper hug.'
Albus obediently put him down and shook off his surprise. It was his best friend for Dumbledore's sake, and it was the first time he was seeing him in three months.
Suddenly Albus felt himself being pulled into a bone crushing hug from Scorpius, and he immediately hugged back.
'You're...crushing...me. Can't...breathe!' Albus barely whispered as Scorpius loosened his grip. Albus took a deep breath and said 'thanks.'
After a few minutes, they pulled away.
'Wait. How are you here? When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?'
Harry chuckled at all of Albus' questions and reaction to his friend being here.
'My dad and I used the floo network to get here. We got here late last night. This was supposed to be a surprise, so naturally I didn't tell you, Einstein.'
'Ain-what?'
'Einstein. Muggle genius. You spell it E-I-N-S-T-E-I-N.'
'Okay whatever. Anyways, where is your dad?'
Albus heard something living in the coat closet nearby. Then a muffled voice came from it.
'...here! Potter...me out!'
'I don't know, Malfoy. How many chances will I get to have you locked in my closet?' Harry answered with a stupid grin.
'Honey let him out.' Ginny demanded with a warning glare at her husband.
'Fine' Harry mumbled. Then turned to the closet, pointed his wand at it, and said 'Alohomora'
Draco stepped out of the closet with his hair ruffled. He seemed to notice his less than pristine appearance, and he tried to fix it.
'Happy birthday Albus. Your dad thought I had to be locked in the closet to prevent you suspecting of Scorpius being here.' Draco said, glaring at Harry. 'Also, Potter, you didn't fell me you would transfigure my son into a ferret. A ferret of all things!'
Harry chuckled. 'Nice glimpse into the past, wasn't it?'
'Don't worry dad, it didn't bother me.' Scorpius assured his father. 'Anyways, where is Albus' present?'
With that, Draco disappeared back into the closet and came back out with a box.
'You got me a present?'
'Well of course I did. You're my best friend.'
'Thanks.' Said albus as he was handed the present. The box was moving on its own.
'Go on. Open it.' Scorpius said, smiling.
When Albus opened the box, a jet black puppy jumped out and started to lick his face. Both Scorpius and Harry chuckled.
'I think he likes you.' Said Draco, slightly smiling.
The pup was now smelling everything and everyone. When he got close to sniff Lilly, she jumped back.
'It's okay Lil. Come here. It won't hurt you.' Said Albus, and Lilly went and sat on the floor by Albus.
The pup followed. Scorpius came and sat down on the other side of Albus, and started petting the pup.
'So. What are you gonna name him?' Asked Lilly curiously.
'I don't really know... Something cool I guess, like Thunder or something.'
'You could name him Salazar... Everyone in Slytherin would love it.' Said James
Albus glared at his brother.'I am NOT about to name the poor pup Salazar out of all names!'
'I KNOW WHAT TO NAME HIM!' Scorpius yelled out.
'What did you come up with?' asked Albus.
Instead of answering, Scorpius took his wand from his pocket, pointed it at the dog, waved it, and a green collar with a name tag appeared.
'Padfoot' Albus read aloud and grinned at his best friend. 'That's the best idea. Padfoot. I love it!'
All the adults smiled, except for Draco.
'Padfoot?' Draco asked.
'It was Sirius' nickname.' Harry answered.
'Oh. That explains your smile. It looks too big for your own face. What, Potter, are you gonna cry?'
'I guess I feel a bit of emotion about it. He was my godfather after all. Just like your godfather was Snape. Need I remind you of what happened at his funeral?'
Draco glared at Harry and ignored the children's questioning looks. 'Padfoot. I like it.' He bent down and ruffled the dog's hair.
'But Al won't be able to take it to Hogwarts with him!' Lilly said worriedly.
'It's alright. I've made arrangements with Minerva- Professor McGonagall- for the pup to be able to come.' Draco said.
'Thank you Mr. Malfoy.' Said Albus looking up at the blond.
'You can call me Uncle Draco, if it's okay with your parents.' Draco said, and ruffle Albus' hair this time.
Both Harry and Ginny smiled at the scene.
'Uncle Draco. How long are you staying here? Are you going back?' Albus asked.
'Well I have to go back home. My vacation is already over and I have to do some stuff for the ministry, so I guess we're going back home...' Draco answered.
'Draco, if you want, Scorpius could stay here for the next 12 days. You could stay here too. We've got plenty of extra rooms.' Ginny said, placing a hand on Draco's shoulder.
Draco looked at his son and his best friend, who were both grinning at him, as if saying 'Pleeeeeeaaaaasseeeeee!'.
Next he looked at Harry, and Harry nodded at him.
'Alright. We'll stay.' Draco said. 'But we do have to go back to the Manor and get a couple of things. I'll bring a couple of house elves to help here too.' Draco said.
'No. There is no need for that. We don't support elf slavery.' Harry said.
'Potter, I am not my father. My house elves aren't slaves. I pay them and give them days off.'
'Alright then. A couple of house elves could help me out here.' Ginny said.
Draco nodded and looked at Scorpius. 'Come one Scorpius. Let's go get some stuff done.'
'Be back by dinner at 8.' Ginny said to Draco and Scorpius, sounding like a worried mother.
'We will. We'll see you later.' Scorpius said as he looked straight at Albus.
Then he got into the chimney, and disappeared in a puff of green smoke.
