Albus woke up slowly the next morning, coming out of a dreamless sleep. He lay face down on his pillow, his arms around his head, sheltering him from any light in the room.

The night came back to him in flashes as he woke slowly - Scorpius' hands on his chest. Clothes on the floor. Scorpius' heavy breath on his neck and the taste of salt on his skin.

Are you ok?

Don't let me hurt you.

I love you.

Albus raised his head and looked around. He was back in the Slytherin dorm in his own bed. After a moment, he became aware of movement outside, and he pulled back the hangings on his bed just a bit to peek outside.

Scorpius was asleep in his bed, still wearing his now-wrinkled dress shirt and trousers from the previous night with Freya asleep just above his head. He was hugging his pillow, his hair messy and falling in his face, and Albus wished he'd been waking up over there instead of in his own bed.

Flint was only half on his bed with his legs hanging over the edge, snoring, wearing only his boxers and, somehow, his suspenders.

Farley was pacing back and forth, throwing his things in his rucksack, while Pucey sat on his trunk at the foot of his bed, lacing up his boots.

"All right!" yelled Farley, realizing Albus was awake. He walked over and slapped Flint on the leg to wake him. "Everyone needs to get up! Train leaves in an hour."

Scorpius jolted awake, and Albus watched as he looked around, confused. Freya hissed loudly in protest and leaped down, running under his bed. He pushed himself up, looked down at the state of what he was wearing, and then smiled for a moment before looking over at Albus, who smiled back warmly.

Behind him, Flint had woken with a jolt, nearly fell off his bed, and looked around for a moment, dazed, before running into the bathroom. Albus heard the telltale sounds of vomiting and cringed.

"Well," said Pucey, putting his hands on his hips. "It looks like everyone had a good time last night."

"I know I did," said Farley, nodding to Albus. "Anna was looking for you and we started talking. She said you two were just there as friends, so we went for a walk I'm taking her out to dinner over the break."

"Well, good luck," said Albus.

From beyond the door, Flint wretched again, and the boys cringed.

"Someone snuck in Firewhisky," explained Pucey, shaking his head.

"Anyway," said Farley, looking back to Albus, "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on your toes."

"Nope," said Albus, holding his hands up in submission. "She's a very nice girl, but she's not my type."

"Excellent," said Farley.

Flint stumbled out of the bathroom, holding onto the doorframe for support.

"Where are my pants?"

Scorpius looked at him with sympathy. "Are you sure they actually made it back to the room?"

"No," said Flint with a hiccup. "No, I'm really not."


Albus and Scorpius boarded the train back to London as early as possible and claimed one of the cabins at the end of the train. Freya, who had made her peace with Albus over the course of the semester, lay across the back of the seat around his neck.

"She's basically a living scarf," said Albus, scratching Freya's head. She rewarded him with a purr.

Scorpius, who was rummaging through his things in one of the racks, had stopped and was staring at him, smiling.

"What?"

Scorpius shook his head.

"Nothing. I just really missed you."

"Well, I would have thought you'd had enough of me last night," said Albus, grinning.

"Stop!" cried Scorpius, blushing.

"No. I'm happy. I wanna talk about it," Albus joked.

"I think it's time we did," said Scorpius. He turned around and folded his arms as the train lurched into motion. "I'm going to tell my dad everything over the break, whether he likes it or not."

Albus, who had been in a state of exhausted humor, sobered quickly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Scorpius, definitively. His mind was made up. "There's no reaction he can have that will change how I feel about you. So if you're ready to face your family, then I am too."

Albus smiled crookedly and nodded. "Never been more ready for anything."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Yes?" Scorpius called.

"Anything off the trolly, dears?"

Both roared "no!"

Scorpius checked the lock just in case.


London appeared outside the window too quickly. Scorpius had spent the last hour leaning on Albus, reading from A Christmas Carol, and wasn't ready to get off the train just yet.

Reluctantly, he bookmarked their page and set the book down, and Albus addressed the elephant in the room.

"Okay, so we tell our parents before we get back on this train, deal?"

"Deal," agreed Scorpius. "Although if I don't show up at the platform in January, you'll know why."

"It'll be okay."

"What if it isn't? What if Draco Malfoy can't stand the idea that his son isn't 'normal' and that I might be the end of the Malfoy line?"

"I don't think that will be the case," Albus said. "Your dad loves you."

"He loves me, yes. But I'm really afraid that with my mother gone, this might be too much for him."

"And if it is, you just send me an owl and I'll come find you."

Scorpius looked up at him as the train stopped. "I'll figure it out."

Albus kissed the top of Scorpius' head, reluctant to let go, but knowing he had to.

They grabbed their things from the racks as other students started moving about in the corridor. Scorpius put Freya back in her cage, cooing at her as he shut the door. Once they had all their things and before he opened the door, Scorpius pulled Albus close and kissed him one last time before the break began.

"I'm going to miss you," said Albus quietly.

"Me too," said Scorpius. "It's only a couple weeks."

Albus nodded solemnly, and together, they exited the train.

The platform was a cold chaos as their classmates ran to their parents and hugged their friends goodbye. Albus saw no sign of either of his parents or his sister, but he did see Maggie and Flint sitting on their trunks, waiting against a wall.

"Be right back - just want to check on Flint."

Scorpius nodded and Albus walked over to where they sat. Flint's face was completely white, and his head was resting on the brick behind him. Maggie wasn't looking her best either, but at least she was alert.

"Is he even awake?"

"Nah," said Maggie. "Barely got 'em off the train."

Albus chuckled. "Did you ever find his pants?"

Maggie winked. "I had them."

Albus raised his eyebrows. "Really? Hey, I'm sorry about ditching last night. I hope you and Anna weren't too upset."

"No, not at all. Where did you go?"

"Scorpius and I had a talk."

Maggie perked up, intrigued, loosening her bulky scarf around her neck. "Is everything better? 'Cause you both looked miserable."

"Yeah, I think we both were."

He glanced over his shoulder and saw Scorpius still scanning the crowd.

"So you guys are back on?"

Albus grinned with a half-shrug. "Something like that."

"That," Maggie said, pointing at his chest, "is the face of a man who got laid last night."

Albus grinned even more. "Something like that."

Maggie laughed. "I'm glad you two are back on. Didn't seem right without you speaking."

"Thanks. Just wanted to make sure you guys were alright."

"We're good. Merry Christmas, Albus."

"Merry Christmas, Maggie."

Albus bent over and gave her a warm hug before walking back to where Scorpius stood.

"Is Flint okay?"

"He'll be fine."

Scorpius looked around and, after a few minutes, spotted both his father and Harry Potter talking near one of the brick pillars.

He and Albus made their way over as Lily intercepted Harry, jumping into his outstretched arms.

"There she is!" said Harry, lifting her off the ground for a moment. "How was your term?"

"It was actually really good. I've got top marks in most of my classes!"

"That's my girl," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and turning back to Draco.

"Lily here wants to be a Herbologist," bragged Harry. "I'm putting her in touch with Neville over summer break to see if she can intern with him."

"I hope he says yes," said Lily.

Draco smiled at her. "I'm sure he will. Neville and your father go way back. And there are the boys."

Scorpius was still surprised when he saw his father wearing anything other than black. For two years after Astoria had died he'd worn nothing but black robes and jumpers, and now when he wore a simple green sweater and gray slacks, Scorpius was encouraged.

"Hi, dad," he said, hugging Draco while Albus received a warm embrace from Harry.

"Did you have a good term?" asked Draco. Scorpius shrugged.

"It was pretty standard."

Draco looked at Albus and extended his hand, which Albus shook after the briefest moment of confusion.

"Mr. Malfoy," nodded Albus.

"I heard you took quite a fall a while back."

"Yes, sir," said Albus. "I'm alright now, though."

"Thank goodness," said Harry, who looked to Scorpius. "Thank you for keeping an eye on him."

"It's my job," said Scorpius.

Albus and Scorpius exchanged glances as their fathers began chatting again.

"Are you going to floo home?" Draco asked as Harry took Lily's bag from her.

"Unfortunately, no. I've got the car. Ginny needs me to pick up the things for Christmas Eve dinner."

"Ugh, grocery shopping?" moaned Lily.

"Yes, grocery shopping," said Harry, who still had his arm around her and held her close. He asked Draco, "Do you have any big plans for the holiday?"

"No, just me and Scorpius," he said. He gave Scorpius a sad smile, as though afraid his son expected more, but Scorpius just beamed.

"We always get a small ham and have our pudding first," said Scorpius brightly. "It's tradition."

Harry waited a beat, then said, "Ginny and I would love to have you over for Christmas Eve. Of course, you'll have to have your dinner first. She's a stickler for that."

Albus, who had been looking down at his shoes, looked up as though he had been slapped.

"Are you sure?" Draco looked somewhat confused. "After all the horrible things I said at Hogwarts about you and your wife's family -"

"I think helping save her son's life a few years ago more than made up for it," said Harry. "Like we said. Water under the bridge."

Albus had learned that his father's ability to move past things was greater than an ordinary man's, and while he often thought it did him more harm than good, at the moment he was grateful. As a child, he hadn't understood how lonely his father's upbringing had been. Now he knew he wouldn't wish that loneliness on anyone.

Draco looked at Scorpius. "Would you like to go to the Potters' for Christmas?"

Scorpius looked at Albus, his mouth open a bit in shock.

"I... um..." Scorpius stammered. "I... think that sounds lovely."

Albus looked at him, wide-eyed.

"It's settled then," Draco said. "We'd love to, Harry. Thank you."

"Great. Well, we'll see you then. I'll send you an owl with the address."

"I have it," said Scorpius quickly, without thinking. "I mean, I have your address somewhere."

Harry nodded. "Okay then. We'll see you Thursday at six o'clock."

"Thursday at six it is," said Draco. The two men shook hands and Harry said his goodbyes, leading Lily away as she started telling him about her friends.

Albus picked his bag up from the floor and swung it back over his shoulders, moving to follow them, but walking backward to look at Scorpius.

"Wait," he mouthed.

Scorpius, who looked utterly bewildered, nodded in agreement.


Scorpius walked through Diagon Alley with Draco, and though he was anxious about Christmas, he was overwhelmingly happy to see his father.

"How have things been?" he asked eagerly, holding onto the straps of his rucksack as they walked. "I mean... have you been keeping busy?"

"Actually, I have," said Draco. He walked with his hands behind his back as always - never in a hurry, never less than composed. "Ever since your grandfather died I've been trying to put the fortune he left behind to good use in a way that your mother would have been proud of."

"Really?"

"Yes. He did a lot of damage, my father," Draco said as they passed Ollivander's. The alley was cold and mostly empty, but there were still a few witches and wizards milling about. Scorpius was happy to see that it was covered in Christmas garland, and he smiled. It reminded him of how the Great Hall had looked the night before.

He wished he'd had more time with Albus.

"I think the best thing we can do is help the Ministry fund a task force to find those with magical blood that were disconnected in the wars of the last century. I think it's difficult for families that have been out of the community and muggle-borns to assimilate again."

"I've never really thought of that," said Scorpius.

"It was actually Granger that got me thinking about it," Draco admitted, somewhat shamefully. "She said in one of her earlier speeches that she got lucky that she made friends at Hogwarts that helped her, and every Mu.."

Draco cleared his throat. Scorpius frowned and knew what his father almost said.

"Sorry, sometimes old vocabulary creeps up on you even when you don't mean it," said Draco. "But sometimes muggle-borns don't make their friends that fast. So if the Ministry can identify them earlier, maybe they can offer some kind of support."

"Like classes?"

Draco nodded. He stopped at one of the nearby stands and ordered two cups of hot cider.

"And maybe some classes and groups for their parents," said Draco. He handed Scorpius his drink, which he accepted gratefully. Hot apple cider with cinnamon tasted like Christmas.

"Muggle-borns often wind up pretty alienated from their families after Hogwarts."

"That's what happened to Albus' grandmother, Lily," said Scorpius. "She barely had any contact with them as an adult."

Draco raised his eyebrows.

"I wouldn't have known that," he said.

"Yeah. I guess Harry said they just didn't understand her anymore," said Scorpius.

Scorpius looked at Draco, wondering if the same thing would happen to him.

Draco regarded him for a moment. "I've got to go to Gringotts for a minute. Do you want to look around a bit?"

"Yeah. I'd like that."

Draco nodded and waited a beat before pulling his son into a tight hug. "It's good to have you home, son."

Scorpius hugged him back. "I'm happy to be here."

Draco released him after a moment and held him at arm's length.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. Then we'll go home. I have a surprise for you."

"I love surprises."

"I know."

Draco left Scorpius in the center of the market, and he took the opportunity to look around and drink his cider leisurely, taking a peek at the holiday stalls lining the street. There were confections and jewelry and an entire stall devoted to notebooks that rewrote your sentiments into love poems.

What caught Scorpius' eye, however, was a small stand on a corner manned by a wizened wizard with dark skin and a long, gray beard. His stand wasn't drawing much attention, but he seemed content wrapped in his bright coat.

"Good afternoon," he said to the man politely.

"Hello, young man," he said. Scorpius recognized his accent as Egyptian. The table was covered in talismans and amulets of all kinds - some of them elaborate with gemstones and silver, and others simple with only a stone on a cord.

"What can I help you find?"

"I'm looking for a gift," said Scorpius. "Someone who's a bit accident prone. Someone who needs protecting."

"Ah," said the man, standing. He wiggled his fingers as he looked across the table.

"Well, I have a few," he said. Scorpius watched as he surveyed his wares, looking at the deep lines on his face. He wondered how old the man was, how much he'd seen...

"I think... I think this one might be the one you're looking for, young man."

He untangled a simple amulet - an amber stone - from the others. It was small, and could have disappeared in Scorpius' palm - something that could be concealed beneath Quidditch robes.

"Yes, I think this is one one," he said again, holding it out. "The gold symbol inside has a powerful protective enchantment, and it is an ancient symbol of my people for protection, used by Egyptian wizards for thousands of years."

Scorpius took the amber stone and held it up to let the light filter through.

"Yeah," he said, digging in his pocket for some coins. "This is the right one."

"Would you like to see the others?"

"No, this is the one."

Inside the amber was a small, gold scorpion.


AN: Hi! Hope you've had a good day. Little less excitement here today.

Let me know in the comments what you think and what you're imagining happening next! I love hearing from you guys.