The Good Son

Chapter Five

Infidelity

"Scamander, Lysander," called Neville, thumbing his way through the parchment of first year names. Albus scowled lightly at the man, he was hungry having barely eaten on the train and the Sorting seemed to be going on forever. Beside him, Scorpius' stomach gave a loud growl, causing a few of the students surrounding them to chuckle in amusement.

The first-year blonde scurried up to the Sorting Hat, a dreamy look in his icy blue eyes, eerily reminiscent of his mother Luna as the hat slipped down past his nose. There were a few giggles throughout the hall at the sight before the hat screamed, "Ravenclaw," and the young blonde grinned cheerfully as he made his way to sit beside his twin brother.

"Malfoy, Cassiopeia," read Neville, not hiding the disdain in his voice as he called for the platinum blonde girl, who fixed him with a glare that could curdle milk before elegantly perching herself on the stool and letting the hat sit upon her head. Albus and Scorpius both tensed, the two twelve year olds waiting apprehensively as the hat seemed to be taking quite a while to decide. From the looks of it, the girl was arguing quite vehemently with the hat. Finally, there was a loud cry of:

"GRYF–"

"WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU!" shrieked Cassiopeia, stunning the entire hall into silence. Scorpius and Albus just exchanged grins, Delphin chuckling beside them – they had all been on the receiving end of her temper before.

"SLYTHERIN!" declared the hat, in a somewhat squeaky voice. If Albus didn't know any better he would have sworn that it was terrified.

"Was that so hard?" asked Cassiopeia the hat, loudly enough for the entire hall to hear (it let out a whimper), before proudly making her way to the Slytherin table, her black tie already becoming striped with emerald and silver. Mcgonagall seemed on the verge of a stroke, obviously nobody had ever decided on their own house quite so drastically in the past. Neville Longbottom seemed apoplectic with rage.

"Bloody hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw," scowled Cassiopeia, sitting down beside Albus when Scorpius refused to scoot any further up the table, "Then when I threatened to set it on fire, it decided to put me in Gryffindor."

"How did you get it to put you in Slytherin?" asked Kat in amusement, the Outcasts clustered close together around her, the Sorting forgotten.

"I reminded him that my Great-Aunt was Bellatrix Lestrange," she smirked.

(*)(*)(*)

"We need to talk," said Hermione in a serious voice, taking a seat across the kitchen island from her husband as he sipped his evening cocoa. She had just put Hugo to bed, rather earlier than he was accustomed to but she didn't want him hearing the inevitable argument. She had already had a long overdue heart to heart with Rose about the impending divorce and her daughter's true parentage. It had come as a shock to her that Rose had already guessed that Ron wasn't her biological father. This was because, during her own sorting, the Sorting Hat had alluded to her having Slytherin blood. As Hermione was a muggle-born and Ron was a Weasley – a family that hadn't produced a Slytherin since the founding of Hogwarts – Rose had quickly deduced that her mother had been having an affair. She hadn't blamed her mother, she was twelve years old, old enough to see how miserable Hermione was with Ron and to realise that her parent's marriage was a forced arrangement rather than a love match. What had truly angered Rose was the news that Draco Malfoy was her father but not due to any bad feelings towards the pure-blood, rather it was because she fancied Scorpius Malfoy (Hermione maintained it was too young for her to fancy anyone) and was incredibly thankful that seeing at they were now aware that they were half-siblings nothing would happen between them.

Draco had spoken to both his children and explained the situation to them, Cass had been angry because she felt he was trying to replace Astoria whilst Scorpius seemed chagrined that he had siblings he had never met. All three children had agreed to keep silent on the matter until the official announcement was made.

"What about?" he asked, frowning at her tone.

"Our marriage," said Hermione, "I . . . I want a divorce Ronald."

Ron's perfectly constructed world came crashing down around him at her words, he loved her. He had always loved her, she was the only witch he had ever loved and she wanted to leave him. After seventeen years of marriage she wanted to leave him. No! They could work through this, counselling, maybe some time apart from each other . . . not a divorce.

"What?" he managed weakly, "Why?"

"Because this . . . us . . . this life the two of us have," said Hermione, "It's a sham Ron, you and I were never suited. We were best friends and then after the war we got forced together by the Ministry as their Golden Couple. There were never fireworks with us, no spark, nothing."

Every word drove a steel spike through his heart.

"Seventeen years Hermione," he whispered, "We were together seventeen years and you felt this way all this time. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I couldn't be with the man I loved," she said softly, not wanting to hurt him but needing him to understand that his facade was an illusion that needed to end, "At least not publically." She had decided to be honest with him for once in their marriage, to finally lay every single one of her cards on the table and pray he understood.

"Tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means," he said quietly, his ears beginning to turn red, a sure sign that his temper was building.

"I've been unfaithful to you for our entire marriage Ron," she said, meeting his gaze head on, determined not to hang her head in shame for acting out of love for Draco.

"Who?" he said, the barely contained anger in his voice evident, "Is it . . .Harry?"

"Merlin no," she couldn't help but laugh at the absurd statement, quickly she sobered, the look in his eyes warning her that this was not the time for frivolity, "It's Draco Malfoy."

The name hung between them like a dagger on a pendulum, swinging between them, ready to stab whoever broke the silence first. Ron took the blade first, his anger exploding from him like a volcano, spraying the room with malice.

"YOU WHORE!" he bellowed, "SEVENTEEN YEARS YOU'VE BEEN KISSING ME WITH THE SAME LIPS YOU USED TO SUCK ON THE FERRETS DICK! YOU FUCKING BITCH! WHAT ABOUT ROSIE AND HUGO! WHAT THE FUCK WILL THIS DO TO THEM! DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN YOU TRAITOROUS SLUT!"

"ENOUGH!" shrieked Hermione, her voice laced with power, effectively silencing her rampaging husband. She took a deep breath and turned to him, anger evident in her chocolate brown eyes.

"Do you think for a moment," she said acidly, "that I don't know about your own extra-marital activities? Do you think that I don't know what you and Lavender get up to every month when I'm away on work? Or the brief fling you had with Romilda Vane last summer? What about your auror mission to France last year when you shagged Gabriella Delacour?"

"Do not make me out to be some harlot when you can't keep it in your pants to save your life," she spat, "I have only slept with two men in my entire life, one was the man who gave me my two beautiful children . . . and the other was you."

Ron recoiled as if struck, his eyes widening in horror as her meaning sank in. Rosie and Hugo . . . belonged to the ferret? No it couldn't be, Hugo was the spitting image of him – tall, lanky, red hair, freckles . . . she was lying. Hermione was lying. But Rosie? She had golden blonde hair. . . Her skin was pale . . . Her eyes were laced with silver . . . The evidence that had been staring him in the face for years slapped him hard in the face . . . He was not Rose Weasley's father.

He didn't realise what he was doing until he heard a cry of pain, snapping himself back to reality he saw his wife on the ground, clutching her left eye. Horror struck at what he had just done, he stared at his clenched fist as if it had betrayed him. But it hadn't. She had.

"Do not dare to lay a hand on me again," she scowled as she got to her feet, the beginning of a black eye evident on her face, "Just this once I will let it go because I understand that I have hurt you."

"Bitch," Ron spat straight in her face, blanching when he felt her wand pressed against his throat.

"I will be moving out tonight," she said in a barely controlled voice, "I had hoped that we could be amicable through this divorce but evidently not. I will be taking Hugo with me to give you alone time to calm down, we will arrange custody with our lawyers soon. I think joint custody is the most appropriate seeing as you are their dad even if Draco is their father. I've already had the divorce papers drawn up, they're in the top drawer of my desk. Do yourself a favour and sign them quickly."

She turned on her heel, slashing her wand through the air and yelling "Pack!" Instantly a suitcase enchanted with an undetectable expansion charm cast on it swept into the room, rapidly filling with her clothes and belongings.

"Take him with you," snarled Ron, reaching for his firewhiskey and pouring himself a painfully large amount, "But don't bring him back! I don't want Malfoy scum in my house."

(*)(*)(*)

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" yelled Albus, tearing down the corridor with Scorpius and Xavier hot on his heels; all three boys had their wands out as they approached the fourth year Gryffindors. Albus recognized them on sight; Seth Finnigan, Joshua Jordan and Fred II Weasley, the only fourth year Gryffindor boy missing was his brother James. On her knees in front of them, caught in a leg-locker curse knelt Cassiopeia, her wand lying across the passageway.

"But out Potter," scoffed Seth, training his wand on Cass and hitting her with a muttered Levicorpus, levitating her in the air by her ankle.

"Put her down," scowled Scorpius, aiming his wand at Seth. There was a jet of pale blue light and the fourth year boy doubled over, the stinging hex catching him in his groin. Fred and Joshua were on their guard in an instant, jets of light flashing from their wands as they let fly a storm of hexes at the three Slytherin second years. They were good, both had two years worth of magical experience on the Outcasts but Albus alone made up for his inexperience with sheer magical power. Xavier and Scorpius were not as powerful as their friend but both of them had a natural skill for duelling.

It was not enough though; a stunning curse hit Xavier in his chest and sent him flying backwards against the wall, leaving Scorpius and Albus alone to face the two Gryffindors. Then Seth was back on his feet, still wincing in pain as he joined the fray.

"Twenty points from Slytherin," barked Mcgonagall, appearing from around the corner, Professor Creevey at her side, "And thirty from Gryffindor!" she added as she took in the scene. She flicked her wand, effortlessly disarming all five boys at once as catching their wands in her free hand.

"Explain yourselves," she said, her lips going so thin they seemed like to disappear.

"They attacked us professor," said Joshua quickly, "We had no choice but to defend ourselves."

"I highly doubt that," said Mcgonagall dryly, nodding towards Cassie, who lay sobbing on the floor, "I sincerely doubt that a first year girl would attack three fourth years."

"Now the truth if you will," she demanded, "Mr. Potter?"

"We were going to the library to get some books for Potions ma'am," he said honestly, "and we heard Cassie screaming for help so we came here and then we saw her and they had their wands on her so we attacked." A strain of what could be termed pride flashed through Mcgonagall's eyes as she took in the twelve year old, he would have a hard life that much was certain. But he was brave enough to defend his friends even when the odds were against him; those were the qualities that ran deeper than any house could tell.

"As admirable as your actions may be Mr. Potter, I do not condone duelling in the corridors," she said sternly, "The three of you will receive a detention," she nodded towards the three Slytherins before turning on the Gryffindors.

"Never have I been more ashamed of my own house, a week's detentions to each of you and a further twenty five points deducted . . . each. Now go to your common rooms before I make that two weeks of detention."

The boys began to disperse, Scorpius helping Cass to her feet while Albus slung a hand under Xavier's shoulders to help support his weight. Minerva Mcgonagall called out to them just as they were about to disappear around the corner.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, Mr. Avery . . . Ten points to Slytherin each – for showing outstanding loyalty to your house mates in a time of need."

(*)(*)(*)

"What's on your mind?" asked Alison, her honey coloured hair pulled into a high ponytail as she settled down beside James. She couldn't help but notice that puberty and the summer had been good to the eldest Potter of her generation, while he had always been tall for his age; his muscles had filled out quite nicely to match. His hazel eyes swirled with a liquid gold, his cheekbones seemed slightly higher as the baby fat left his face, his brown hair nearly black.

"Nothing," he said moodily, flicking a scrap of parchment into the fireplace. He flushed slightly at having her close to him, Alison was one of his best friends and he had never felt awkward around her. That was until she got her breasts and started bleeding once a month – know he felt uncomfortable being as candid with her as he used to be.

"Obviously it's something," she said perceptibly, "You don't brood."

"I do now," he said, "So let me brood in peace."

"Not till you tell me what's wrong Jamie," said Alison stubbornly.

"It's Albus okay," he said finally, "I miss my brother." It was the truth, he missed Albus. He missed the boy who used to crawl into his bed after having a nightmare when they were kids; he missed the boy who used to follow him around all the time at home; he missed his brother. And he was worried about Al; something had changed in his brother since Harry had hit him. He wasn't sure of it at first but on more than one occasion he had walked in on Albus practicing wandless magic, an impressive feat for a twelve year old. It wasn't what scared him though, what terrified him was that Al's magic seemed so much darker these days – he tried to dismiss the idea, but he just couldn't shake the darkness he himself had been struck with after Harry's assault.

"Oh James," she said sadly, putting a comforting hand around his shoulder, "He's a Slytherin, you know what they're like."

"He's still my brother," said James petulantly, "I hate that he has to suffer through this alone."

"He isn't your brother anymore Jamie," she said softly, "He's one of them."

(*)(*)(*)

"I want daddy!" cried Hugo, sobbing freely on his new bed at Malfoy Manor. Draco had convinced Hermione to move into the Manor a week after her confrontation with Ron, when the Weasel had finally sobered up and made Hermione's infidelity public knowledge. The fallout had been catastrophic; she had been living at the penthouse of her hotel in Diagon Alley, The Rose, and it wasn't safe for her to be in public anymore. Not now that Ron had the majority of wizarding England baying for her blood. The wards and enchantments surrounding the Manor gave her a sense of security she needed for her ten year old son.

"I know sweetheart," said Hermione gently, not knowing how to break it to a ten-year-old that his father wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Now that Hermione had finally lifted the glamour of her son, his hair was sleek and platinum blonde, his cheekbones were higher; his eyes were a brilliant cyan blue, chased through with Malfoy silver.

"Where is he?" sobbed the young boy, his tears breaking Hermione's heart.

"He isn't coming," said Draco as he walked into the room, taking a seat beside his biological son and putting a comforting hand on the boys shoulder. Hugo had written Ron twice a day, every day, since Hermione had moved out and hadn't gotten a single reply.

"I'm not going to lie to you Hugo," said Draco in a serious voice, "Ron isn't coming, he doesn't want to come. It isn't your fault kid; that much is a fact." Hugo stopped crying and contemplated the older man's words.

"Daddy doesn't want to see me?" he asked quietly.

"No," said Draco, "But do you love your mother?"

"Of course I do, she's my mum," said Hugo.

"Your daddy hit her," he said carefully, looking at Hermione to see whether he was going too far. She just nodded at him to continue, whatever Draco was doing seemed to be working wonders for her son.

"He hit you?" Hugo directed the question at his mother, eyes widening in disbelief. Hermione nodded softly, wrapping her hand around his shoulder. She didn't want to colour her children's perception of Ron badly but they had to understand that the man wanted nothing to do with them anymore. Hermione had sent him a custody schedule and arrangement from her lawyer, which was mutually beneficial to both parties – Ron had torn it to shreds before granting her full custody. His stereotypical views had not stopped him from alienating his nephew, but Hermione had hoped that he would maintain a relationship with Rose and Hugo. She had been mistaken.

She had been sacked the day the scandal hit the papers, apparently the Ministry couldn't have any of its department heads involved in adultery. Harry, whom was supporting Ron in his public vendetta against her, had succeeded her as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In his opinion, she had betrayed them and should be locked up in Azkaban. Ron had taken his brother in laws former position as Head Auror and within days the entire division was in shambles under his leadership, Harry having to struggle to maintain the entire department along with the Aurors. This did not surprise Hermione; her ex-husband was a follower – not a leader. Ginny had been marginally more understanding, although her loyalty lay with her brother rather than her former sister-in-law and had asked that Hermione keep her distance from the family for the time being at least. She was furious that Ron had been betrayed by his wife, but Ginny didn't see the world through rose-tinted spectacles and had long had her suspicions. Of the entire Weasley family, she had received daily Howlers from Molly Weasley – these days she just blasted them to dust with her wand before they could start screaming – and the only members of her former family who still wrote to her were her daughter and her nephew Albus, both of whom were largely sympathetic to her. Albus personally could identify would what it was like to be alienated from the family and Hermione was shocked by the things Draco told her about her nephews treatment.

"I don't want to see anyone who hurt my mummy," said Hugo firmly, wiping away his tears as he hugged his mother.

(*)(*)(*)

A/N: Thoughts?

This story is mainly based on the idea that prejudice and bigotry can corrupt even the greatest of heroes, the concept behind this story is that the Order could never let go of their hatred of the Slytherins and Death Eaters and it grew over the years. I find it hard to believe that the Second Wizarding War ended and everyone just became pals and there was no more house rivalry.