A/N: Hi everyone! Thanks to those who reviewed – please keep it up! I'm afraid this chapter is slightly longer than the others as I just kept writing and by the time my brain wave had finished, I found it didn't split very well….. enjoy! –R xx
In the Previous Chapter…
He then turned to the five left. "You five turned on the people closest to you and have ended up injuring both of them. You three Slytherins turned on your friend, accusing him of horrible things. And then you Gryffindors acted upon this by taking the already fragile Rose away from him and beating him to the ground. Then, you started a fist fight in the middle of the Hall, causing many more to be injured. I'm suspending all 5 of you for two weeks. Go to your dormitories, pack some basic belongings and be back here in an hour's time. I will contact your parents to come and get you. Make sure you come back in the right frame of mind" he said, before letting the 5 boys go. He then walked over to his floo network and fire-called first the Potters, Weasleys, Scammanders and the Notts, telling them to floo to Professor Longbottom's office, Hogwarts, immediately to collect their sons. He said that he would explain what had happened when they all arrived.
One by one, the Potters, Weasleys, Scammanders and Notts flooed into Longbottom's office.
"Hey Neville" greeted Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Luna as they arrived.
"Do you mind telling us why we're here?" asked Theo Nott.
"I'm afraid that your boys have been suspended for 2 weeks" said Neville gloomily. All 8 parents gasped.
"What has Leo done this time?" asked Mrs Nott furiously.
"You may or may not be aware that our Head Girl Rose Wealsey was slipped a de-aging potion earlier this week. Scorpius Malfoy, the Head Boy, was made responsible for her." At this, Ron's face turned crimson.
"YOU TRUSTED MALFOY'S BOY WITH MY ROSIE?!" he bellowed.
"Yes Ronald, he did!" hissed Hermione, grabbing her husband back. "He's Head Boy for crying out loud! He must be trustworthy otherwise Minerva would never have trusted him with such a tricky job. How is Rosie?" Hermione asked Neville.
"That is, I'm afraid, why you are all here. The rest of the Weasleys/Potters and Scorpius' friends weren't very happy when he started to let Rose's happiness take priority. They all sided against him and it ended up in a fight which has left Scorpius severely injured." Neville explained. All the parents gasped. "Rose has become very fond of Scorpius and is very distraught that he has been hurt by the people that she thought she could trust" he continued. "As soon as Scorpius was levitated out of the Hall, they all started a fist fight and many other students have been hurt. I'm afraid Hogwarts doesn't stand violence like this, or ganging up on the Head Boy, so I've had to exclude the 5 of them for 2 weeks" he finished.
All of them stared at Neville for a few moments, before all 4 mothers turned to their husbands, saying how they couldn't believe they would do this and how they would have to be punished when they took them home.
Slowly the boys in question drifted in, drooping their heads, carrying belongings and pets. Their parents glared at them before the boys turned to their escorts home.
"Can you keep us updated with how Scorp gets along?" asked Leo, "I never wanted it to end with him getting hurt" he mumbled quietly, before walking towards the fire with his parents. Slowly, the other families left, except the Weasleys, who stood in Neville's office still.
"Who is now in charge of Rose?" asked Ron.
"That'd be me" smiled Neville, "until Scorpius recovers. Rose has become very attached to him, Ron, and I think that as soon as he is better he will be eager to continue to look after her" he said.
"Just keep her safe" Hermione said, before leading her family away. As soon as the Weasleys disappeared in the flames, Harry Potter came back through them. Surprised, Neville stood up.
"Harry?" he questioned.
"Nev, when Scorpius wakes up, let me know. I'd like to speak to him. I would have said earlier, but I didn't want all of the other parents then asking if they could hound him with questions too" he said.
"Of course. Oh and Harry?" asked Neville as he turned to leave. "Do you have to go home quite yet? It's just I'd like you to come with me to tell the Malfoys. I'd rather not tell Draco alone" he mumbled, embarrassed that he couldn't face his old school bully alone yet.
"Yeah, Gin won't notice I've gone for a while. She's screaming at Al" he replied sheeplishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Shall we apparate to Malfoy Manor then?"
"I'll see you outside the gates in a few seconds" Neville smiled.
As Neville had promised, a few seconds later, the pair was stood outside the large front gates of Malfoy Manor.
"I don't know how I'm going to tell them" said Neville, nervously.
"Just tell them exactly what you told me" Harry said quietly as the pair walked down the pathway to the front door. A house elf answered the door.
"What can I be doing for you, Misters?" he asked, but Harry and Neville didn't get a chance to reply as Draco appeared.
"Potter? Longbottom? Why are you here?" he asked, his surprise obvious in his face.
"It's about Scorpius" explained Harry simply. Draco's face immediately changed from one of surprise to one of fear.
He then led the two visitors into the kitchen. Draco had remodelled the Manor the second his father was imprisoned. The drawing room and dungeons had been completely sectioned off and he had changed the dark, gloomy interior to one filled with bright colours. He had redone the kitchen, which was green.
"I'm impressed, Draco, you've done a great job at doing this place up!" smiled Harry with awe.
"Well, Potter, I wouldn't still be living here if I hadn't done something to change it" Draco frowned.
"Please, call me Harry, it's not as if we particularly hate each other anymore" smiled Harry. He was right of course. A few days after the war, Harry and Draco had met in St Mungos. Both had been discharged after suffering minor injuries. The pair had agreed that they would start over and start to be friends. Although they were not overly close, they still met up once in a while.
"So, Harry, what about Scorpius?" asked Draco, worried.
"It's probably best that I explain from the beginning up to what I know, then Nev will fill you in on the rest" said Harry. "You understand that Rose Weasley is Head Girl this year, yes?"
"Has he got her pregnant!?" screamed Draco.
"No! No, far from it. Rose was slipped a de-aging potion. She's become a 5-year-old, and McGonagall gave Scorpius the responsibility of looking after her until an aging potion can be brewed."
Neville continued "Scorpius took to his responsibility very well and started to prioritise Rose's happiness before himself, and so when she asked if he could sit with her family at the Gryffindor table, he eventually gave in and sat with my House."
"As far as I know form what Nev has said, Hugo, Al, Leo, Lorcan and Lysander all started ganging up on Scorpius and accusing his of some terrible things, which resulted in a fight where Scorpius was thrown to the ground" Harry said.
"How badly is he hurt?" asked Draco, paling.
"His head hit the floor first" Neville said. "He's currently unconscious in the Hospital Wing with a nasty head wound. We've suspended the 5 boys and are caring as best as we can for him" assured Neville.
"Can you take me to see him?" asked Draco, walking to the fireplace. "Floo address?"
"My office, Hogwarts" said Neville.
Harry, Neville and Draco then flooed back into Hogwarts. As soon as they arrived, the 3 men rushed along the corridors, weaving in and out of the students that had started going towards their lessons. Many were surprised that Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter and Professor Longbottom were literally sprinting down the corridors, but soon got scolded by the other teachers for staring.
As they skidded to a halt outside the Hospital Wing, Neville stopped Draco by putting a hand on his shoulder.
"He looks pretty beaten up, I'll tell you that now," he said softly, before allowing them all into the room.
Draco's face sunk as he saw the state of his son.
"He'll be fine, Draco" greeted Madam Patil as the three worried men walked over to her by Scorpius' bed.
"Parvarti, haven't seen you in a while" beamed Harry before looking down at Scorpius. "How's the lad holding up?"
"He's recovering, I can assure you of that" she smiled. "He's drifting in and out of consciousness. When he is slightly conscious, he mumbles about Rose, and how he has to get to Rose and see she's alright. He really cares for her, Harry" she said.
Draco sunk down into the chair by Scorpius' bed and took his son's hand. "You'll be fine Scorp" he whispered, a tear slipping form his eye. "I know you will" he said, before standing up.
"Neville, I know that I'm technically not allowed to be here, but can I stay in Hogwarts until he recovers?" he asked, looking lost. "Astoria's away for a few weeks with some friends in France, so I would like to stay near my son whilst he is injured" he said.
"I'll ask McGonagall to come here, you can talk to her at once" he said, sending his patronus off through the doors. A few moments later, McGonagall's cat slinked into the Hospital wing.
"Neville, of course I will come. I will have to bring Rose as well, so can you please ask Parvarti to clear up Scorpius a bit – she was a little worried at the blood in Scorpius' hair when she last saw him."
Parvarti did as McGonagall and vanished the blood from Scorpius' head. Moments later, McGonagall walked in with Rose at her side. As soon as Rose saw Harry, she ran forward.
"Uncle Harry!" she cried, jumping into his arms. "Thank you for the chocolate. Scorpius wouldn't let me eat all the sweeties at once though" she scowled.
"Good" Harry smirked. "How are you, Rosie?"
"I'm good. But Scorp'us isn't." she said, pointing at Scorpius. It was then she saw Draco. "Are you Scorp'us' daddy?" she asked, walking over to Draco.
"Yeah, that's me" Draco tried to smile.
"You're sad 'cause Scorp'us is hurt" Rose said knowingly. Draco nodded. Rose then climbed onto Draco's lap, much to his surprise, and hugged her arms around his waist. "He'll be alright" she said into his jumper. Draco couldn't help but instantly love the little girl, even if she was Ron Weasley's daughter. Draco hesitantly hugged the girl in his arms back, offering her support as well as partially comforting himself.
"What's Scorp'us like at home?" asked Rose.
"He keeps to himself mostly. He's a lovely, kind boy and I really am proud of him" Draco said.
"Scorp'us is like that here" Rose commented. "He's really nice to me, Mr Malfoy, he looks after me, and makes me laugh, and hugs me when I cry, and gives me piggy backs, and stands up for me, and he taught me some magic!" she said happily.
"Oh did he?" asked Harry curiously from behind the pair. Rose eagerly nodded before taking the feather out of her pocket. She ran over to the doorway and put the feather on the floor. She then ran back to Harry and stood in front of him. "Can I borrow your wand? Scorp'us usually lets me use his, but he's asleep, so I can't really ask him. Professor McGonagall said I wasn't allowed to wake him otherwise he might not get better, and I want my Scorp'us to get better" stated Rose.
Harry smirked, amused, as he saw Draco's eyebrows soar when Rose said "My Scorpius", but nonetheless handed his niece his wand. "Just don't tell your mum" he smiled. Rose nodded before pointing towards the feather.
"Accio!" she said, before watching the feather fly straight into her tiny outstretched hand. She returned Harry's wand, and saw his face to be absolutely shocked. "Scorp'us is a good teacher" she smiled, before walking back over to Draco again. "Scorp'us is amazing at magic. He can do loads!" Rose said before cuddling back into Draco's lap.
"I have to go and make sure Gin hasn't blown up my house yelling at Al" said Harry. "I'll probably see you again in a few days, Draco. I need to speak to your son when he wakes up."
"Okay, I guess I'll see you soon" Draco said before smiling and looking back at his son.
As Harry walked out, he passed Professor McGonagall, who had been stood there the whole time.
"Rose really is a clever little girl" she beamed before wishing Harry goodbye and walking over to Draco.
"Good afternoon Draco. It's been rather a long time since I saw you last" she smiled. "You really have changed so much" she smiled.
"Thank you, Minerva. I have a question for you, actually. Seeming as my wife is away and Scorpius is injured, I was wondering if there was any chance of me staying at Hogwarts until I know my son is recovered. I really couldn't bear to be away from him when he's like this" he said softly.
"Draco, you don't need to ask. I will get one of the House elves to set up one of the guest rooms. It is nearly time for dinner, so would you and Rose like to follow me to the Great Hall?" she said before indicating for them to follow.
"Your son has been a very caring boy, Draco. You should be very proud of him" McGonagall said, taking one of Rose's hands in her own.
Draco took Rose's other hand and replied "I am. I know he'll be fine, he always is. Who is looking after Rose whilst Scorpius is unconscious?"
"Neville, but I think that Rose would quite enjoy sitting with you at the staff table for dinner tonight" McGonagall suggested quietly, hoping that Rose wouldn't hear, but she did.
"I get to sit with Mr Malfoy for dinner? And Uncle Nev too? And at the teacher's table? That's so cool!" she squealed. Both McGonagall and Draco laughed at this and continued to walk Rose to the Great Hall.