Hey :) So yeah, this is the last chapter :( I know it's been short, but I didn't really want to keep posting random unrelated chapters like I think the last one is, so this is the final chapter. I hope you've enjoyed reading it, and thank you for putting up with my rambling... Thank you to all the awesome reviewers/alerters etc. Mislovestadance, in answer to you saying that Scorpius and Rose should get together, I agree- I am a Scrose shipper, and I might write a sequel or something at some point. I only didn't do anything with this one because I figured that being first years, they were probably too young for romance yet, but like I said, I might write a sequel!
Thanks again for putting up with me!
(In case of confusion, the lines mean moving to a different POV character and time frame: the first section is to Albus on the train, the second is Scorpius getting off the train, and the third one is Draco back at the Manor)
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.
Albus looked out of the window of the Hogwarts Express, and saw the smiling faces of his mother, father and sister move towards him through the steam as the train entered the platform. It was the Easter holidays, and with great excitement, he followed his friends off the train to meet his parents, who he hadn't seen for months. His parents had insisted he came home for Easter, seeing as he had spent Christmas at Hogwarts, and Scorpius and Rose had agreed to come back too, although Albus knew that Scorpius hadn't wanted to.
His friend had confided to him his worry that his parents wouldn't accept him because he had been sorted into Slytherin, and Albus was worried for his friend. He had known that something was wrong with his friend that whole year, why, one only had to mention his family, Slytherin House, or the holidays, and Scorpius would swiftly change the subject, looking around him as if someone was listening. This paranoia wasn't good for Scorpius, and Albus knew that he was being stupid. He had tried to tell Scorpius that, but when Scorpius made up his mind, he didn't change it. He was stubborn, similar to James. The only difference was that James couldn't care less about what other thought of him. But, Scorpius had relented eventually, agreeing to go home. He knew deep down that he had to tell the truth. As the train had left Hogsmeade however, Albus could see Scorpius going alarmingly pale, even paler than his normal white complexion.
By the time they reached London, Scorpius' face had taken on a slightly greenish tinge.
Scorpius took a deep breath as he stepped out of the compartment after his friends. Albus and Rose had both ran into the arms of their parents, and as Scorpius stepped off the carriage, he saw his mother and father run to greet him, smiling proudly. He gave them a sheepish grin, and glanced over at Albus, embarrassed and hoping his friend wouldn't see his mother embracing him. Luckily, Albus' mother was doing the same, and Albus seemed similarly embarrassed, glancing over at him. Scorpius laughed.
"I need to introduce you to my friends" he said, pulling his parents over to them. "This is Albus, and Rose."
Scorpius' father nodded to them, deliberately not making eye contact with Rose and Albus' parents. Scorpius remembered too late that his father had said that they were old rivals. He cursed himself. Now there was another reason for his father to be mad at him.
While their parents exchanged slightly stiff pleasantries, Albus pulled Scorpius to one side.
"Tell them now, Scorpius. It will only make things worse if you don't."
"I don't think I can" said Scorpius, cursing his wavering voice.
"Yes you can. I know you can. Just tell them. They won't be mad at you, I promise: I'm sure they would rather you told them, than keeping it from them. They'll find out sooner or later anyway."
"Okay" answered Scorpius swallowing. "I'll do it. Not now though. When we get home."
"Great" answered Albus, grinning. "Have a good holiday! I'll send you an Easter egg!"
They went back to their parents, and joining hands together, the Malfoys apparated back to the Manor.
The fire had turned to glowing ember, and the light it had cast on the walls of the drawing-room of the Manor had flickered, and nearly gone, sending the room into semi-darkness. Draco and Scorpius sat in silence. Astoria had tactfully gone to the kitchen to check that the house elves were starting on dinner, knowing that there was something Scorpius wanted to tell his father. Scorpius had told them all about his time at Hogwarts: his friends, the lessons, the teachers, all but one thing. Draco stared into the dying embers, waiting for Scorpius to say what he was about to say.
Sure enough, Scorpius cleared his throat.
"Dad" he said, his voice strong and clear. "There's something I need to tell you." Draco sat up, and looked at Scorpius, his grey eyes fixed on his son's, a faint smile on his face.
"I was put in Gryffindor. I'm sorry, I feel like I've betrayed the family. That's why I'm friends with Albus and Rose. They are Gryffindors too. I never told you because I thought you would be mad at me-"
"Scorpius!" Draco cut him off. "I know. We've known you were put in Gryffindor since September. Professor McGonagall writes letters home to every parent, to tell them that their child is well, and what house they are in."
Scorpius looked completely gobsmacked.
"So- You're not cross?"
"Do you want me to be?" asked Draco. Not getting an answer, he continued. "Look Scorp, I'm not cross with you. I'm proud of you. You are my son, and I love you. I never thought you would be in Slytherin to be honest. I hoped you wouldn't be, because I don't want you to be like I was when I was your age. I would do anything to prevent you from being like me. And you're not. You're not like me, and I am very happy about that."
Wordlessly, Scorpius came to his father, and they embraced tightly, neither one wanting the other to see the tears in their eyes.
When Scorpius was born, Draco had vowed that he would never put his son through the stiff and unloving family life that Draco had been through growing up. As Scorpius was growing up, Draco had made sure to care for him in a way his father had never done. He was ashamed of his upbringing, and never wanted his son to be put through that. Draco's upbringing had made him who he was as a teenager, he reflected, and the teenage Draco had been an idiotic and cowardly bully. He had changed however, and although he deeply regretted his actions as a Death Eater, he knew that there was nothing he could do about his past but get on with his life. It was ironic that his own son had gone and made friends with the children of his worst enemies though.
No, he realised. The apple didn't always fall close to the tree, and he was glad of it.
That's the end :) As I said before, there might be a sequel if I can think of a good plotline, and when I've finished the three other fics I'm currently working on xD Hopefully one of them should be up some time in February, but I can't promise anything because it's a bit longer than any of my others!
Please review, and tell me what you think! :)
