Cassie Granger was worried. He hadn't seen her friend, Scorpius Malfoy the whole day. The last time she saw him was right after the post came at breakfast this morning. He wasn't in class, he wasn't in the dormitories, he wasn't by the lake, he wasn't in the library and he wasn't in the Quidditch pitch. She even checked the infirmary just to make sure he wasn't sprawled in one of the beds, sick with some form of disease. Nope. Scorpius Malfoy was missing and she was freaking out.

She left dinner halfway through because she had no appetite. She needed to find her friend. She dashed off to their dormitories to do a bit of investigating. Maybe Scorpius stopped by within the day and left her some clues as to where in Merlin's name he was.

She tip-toed into the boys' dormitory and found the room of Scorpius. She knew this was forbidden but she was long past caring now. She looked at his bed and found it still neatly made. She looked at his bedside table and rummaged through his trunk. Nothing! There was nothing out of the ordinary. She sighed. She decided to do one last scan of the room before seeking someplace else. It was when she flipped his sheets up and peeked under the bed where she found something – a crumpled piece of parchment. Curious, she reached to get it. She smoothed the parchment and started to read.

Dear Scorpius,

Hello son. How have you been? I trust that you are doing well in your lessons, yes? Your mother and I are doing well. We have been preparing for your being home for the holidays. You leave the day after tomorrow, right? I cannot wait to see you already. Your being away for months has made me long for our daily conversations and lessons. I miss showing you the random and sometimes useless magic that I know. Of course, I know real and very useful magic but I don't think I should be the one teaching you those.

In any case, son, I wrote to you for a very important reason. You see, you and I have always been partners. I rescue you from your mother's incessant invites to her society galas and you rescue me from your mother's incessant nagging. We have always been a wonderful pair. We tell each other everything and we are always, always honest with each other. When I was your age, I never would have imagined being this kind of a father to my child. I would have taken after my father's upbringing of me – authoritative and demanding, not leaving space for affection. But I have changed so much since then and I think that I would not have had it any other way. You mean the world to me, Scorpius and I am nothing but grateful that I have you.

I am sure you are wondering as to why I am suddenly speaking of my feelings. Not once in our daily conversations have I been this open. You see, Scorpius, there is something that I know I need to tell you. I am afraid you may feel anger and resentment towards me but I am willing to have you feel that way for me than to keep this from you. I guess there is nothing else left for me to do than to say it. Let me start from the beginning.

Scorpius, I have told you (definitely not in detail) about the Second Wizarding War. I have told you that in the beginning, my allegiances were to the Dark Lord due to my father's bidding and that for years I was tasked to do some grueling missions for the side of evil. It was only in my 6th year in Hogwarts – when I failed to do the task ahead of me – that I was brought to light into this dire situation I found myself in. I never wanted to be evil, I never wanted to be cruel and most definitely, I never wanted to be a murderer. And so I gave up my family to fight for the side of the light with which Professor Dumbledore (I'm sure you've learned about him already) offered me with. I could not have made a better decision. Pretty soon, evil was overpowered and the light prevailed and well, Harry Potter was once again the hero. (Woop-dee-doo!)

It was at the time when I was spying for the side of the light when I met her – Hermione Granger. She was in my year too and she was as clever as she was annoying. I despised her presence at first but she was eventually growing on me and pretty soon, we started to become good friends. She was kind-hearted, witty and passionate about her beliefs. She was never a bore and she cared about the people dear to her. Not long after the war, we fell in love and she became my girlfriend.

My father decided to reunite with me after the war, despite my treacherous ways. He needed his heir and he needed to look good in the eyes of society again. Since I was in the side of the light, I was tolerated more by people and I was soon able to keep the Malfoy name afloat. Hermione and I hid our relationship to the public because things were still very difficult then. But she and I remained together – very much in love.

Around a year and a half after the war, my father sprung upon me news that changed my entire life – I was betrothed. To your mother. I refused, of course, because I was madly in love with another woman but my father was persistent. Apparently, it was a union planned since your mother and I were both children and bound already by magic. Breaking such a bond held serious consequences and Hermione decided to let me go. It was a few weeks before I got married that she and I last spoke, last kissed, last saw each other. That was the last time we were together and very much in love.

It tore me apart, Scorpius. Here I thought I finally broke away from my father's horrid plans for my life. I thought choosing the light finally freed me. But I wasn't free. I apparently, was never free. Hermione was the one person I truly loved, son. Don't think I don't love your mother – she has been a good life companion and I very much care for her. After all, she gave me you, the one person who made my life worth living. I guess it is just that I don't think I ever stopped loving Hermione.

A few months ago I found out something, Scorpius. I found out Hermione and I bore a child, a baby girl. I was angry at first then shocked then livid and then I guess, happy. Happy because there was a living and breathing truth to the love Hermione and I shared. I have a daughter. You have a sister: Cassie.

I know this must be difficult to grasp, son. I know that you have so many thoughts swimming in your head right now and I cannot blame you for feeling anger towards me. I never regret anything I did in the past, Scorpius. I never regret loving Hermione, I never regret marrying your mother and most especially, I never regret having you.

I needed to tell you all of this, son because I couldn't dare to look at you when you come home for the holidays not knowing the truth, not knowing the real story. My life was never easy, never free-flowing, never predictable. It was painful and difficult but I would like to think it beautiful.

I do hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me and I promise to answer any and all of your questions when you come home. I will not judge you if you want to not talk to me or see me for a couple of days but please son, please know how much I love you and that nothing will ever change that. You are my son, my heir, my reason for living.

Merlin, I have gone soft. I guess this is what time does to a man.

I'll see you in a few days, son.

Love always,

Your father, Draco Malfoy

Scorpius Malfoy was staring up at the stars in the Astronomy Tower. It was a clear winter's night and though he was freezing himself off, he needed the peace and quiet the place offered him. He had been pacing the halls of the school all day. He had dashed off outside, flew around the Quidditch pitch and finally climbed up the tower for some time to think.

He was livid after reading the letter. He felt betrayed – by his father and by his best friend. How could she have known all this time and not have told him? Did she think him a fool? Did she just use him to get closer to his… their father? He spent the entire day in thought shifting from emotions such as anger, shock, pity, anger, denial and eventually, calm. It was while he was staring up at the stars and wondering what in Merlin's name was in store for him when he felt a warm body sit next to him.

"Hi." Cassie whispered.

He turned to look at her and saw she had a worried look on her face. "Hi."

"Please don't yell at me." She begged.

"I think I have gone through so much today to have energy to yell. And if I did, I wouldn't." He looked up at the stars again and for a moment, they were silent.

"I'm sorry, Scorpius."

"Don't be." He said and turned to look at her, "It wasn't your story to tell. You were a victim as much as I was. Actually, maybe even more."

"Are you angry at him?"

"I was." He admitted. "I wanted to punch him in the face. But now I guess after so much thinking, I realized that he really didn't do anything wrong. He was the one who was wronged."

She looked at him, puzzled, "How do you mean?"

"His entire life was dictated for him and the only time when he was able to choose for himself, decide for himself even love for himself, it was short-lived because his life was already planned out for him." He explained. "He's lived a difficult life sans all the money but not once have I heard a complaint from him."

"He's a really good man, isn't he?"

Scorpius nodded. "Pity he ended up with someone as selfish as my mother."

"That's not very nice." Cassie scolded.

"It's true. He could have been with someone so much kinder, more caring and more… real."

Cassie shrugged.

"Like your mother, maybe." He added.

She laughed. "My mother is pretty amazing. Her life hasn't been very easy, too. She lost her parents after the war, she's been mocked by people all the time growing-up—"

"People like my dad." Scorpius laughed.

"—yes, people like him. And she lost the only man he has ever loved and had to raise their daughter by herself. She's had it tough yet she has never made me feel like a burden."

"She's a good woman." He stated and she nodded. They fell silent again, this time just soaking in the beauty of the Hogwarts grounds covered in a blanket of snow.

"I hope our lives won't ever be that complicated." Scorpius said, breaking the peace.

"I hope so too." Cassie whispered. "When I find love I want to hold on to it and not let it go. I want to be happy and whole for a change. I don't want my children to ever feel like they're missing half of who they are. It gets awfully lonely."

Scorpius contemplated on his sister's words. All this time, he lived a life always getting what he wanted – a new broom, tickets to the Quidditch cup, a doting father, a caring-enough mother, candies, toys, trips everywhere. Yet beside him was his sister, a young girl who has always been loved but has always felt like pieces of her were missing. Sure she was spoiled by her uncles but the one thing she wanted, she never really got.

"Cassie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Remember you used to tell me that you and your mom would always make wishes for Christmas?" He asked.

She turned to him. "Yeah, what about it?"

"Remember you used to tell me that for 5 years you've been wishing for your father?"

She blushed, "Well, yes. I have wished for that."

"What if I told you I can make that wish come true this year?"

Cassie's eyes widened in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Scorpius wrapped one arm around her shoulders and mumbled, "Just you wait and see."

Father,

Come to Platform 9 ¾ at 10 AM tomorrow. Don't bring mother. Look your best.

Scorpius

A/N: I dunno why all my stories are missing from my account! I feel so baaaaaaaad. :| Anyway, this was supposed to be chapter 4 of Dear Draco. I hope I find a way to recover them.

I don't own Harry Potter. I do own a cute and fluffy dog.