Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, not even adorable Scorpius. Actually, I own Maria and Antonia, though.
Chapter 3: Visits, Part 1
Draco and Astoria popped into the Zabini's kitchen, starling Maria Zabini, who promptly spilled her morning cup of tea over her robe, which she cleaned with a quick Scourgify. Maria was a Spanish model whom Blaise had met at Milan Fashion Week. She was a witch, obviously, but as a half-blood, Mr. Zabini Sr. was very displeased at first with Blaise's conquest. His opinion soon changed, however, when he discovered that not only was Maria stunningly beautiful (and wealthy), but she was also very intelligent and kind. They were married soon after Draco and Astoria, and Maria had given birth to Antonia Celine Zabini on June 3, 2006. Antonia and Scorpius had been best friends since they were 3, and both families hoped nothing would change that.
"I hate to sound rude, but what are you doing here this early?" questioned Maria, baffled as to why two harried-looking Malfoys had appeared in her kitchen at 8 in the morning on a Sunday.
"Oh. Then I assume you know nothing of Scorpius' whereabouts?" Astoria's perfectly manicured brows knitted together worriedly.
"Sorry, what?" There was a pregnant pause. "My Lord! Scorpius hasn't been kidnapped, has he?" Maria gasped.
"Luckily, the situation isn't nearly that dire. However, he has…err…decided to run away," Astoria clarified hurriedly.
"You've alerted the authorities, of course?" Maria asked, turning towards Draco.
"I've a private team. Can you imagine the scandal if the public got ahold of this? 'Pureblood child runs away!' Merlin known our reputation would be destroyed and clouded by lies and rumors!"
Maria rolled her eyes. However nice the Malfoys were in private, she sometimes forgot how scrutinized they were and how their 'perfect' pureblood reputation had to remain untainted.
"I'll go get Blaise," she offered, rising. Blaise worked alongside Draco in the Ministry, but not as an Auror. He worked in the Dept. of Magical Law Enforcement as an officer, and he might be able to aid in their search.
Blaise entered the room and sat at the bar stool. "Coffee?" he offered, pouring himself a cup.
"No, thank you."
"So, down to business. When did Scorpius go missing?"
"Last night, we're assuming, or very early this morning," Astoria answered.
"I'm sure Lira knows. Shall we summon her?"
"That won't be necessary."
"Very well; I'll ask later."
"So…is there a particular reason Scorpius went missing?" Blaise inquired. Astoria and Draco exchanged a look. Draco grinned sheepishly while Astoria looked at her hands, abashed.
"Well, you see…"
Meanwhile, Angelo and Hermione had gotten to know each other better, and Hermione figured out he came from an elitist, influential, pureblooded family as conversation progressed. She found herself constantly feeling as it Angelo looked familiar.
After a long silence Hermione smiled. "Let's go to the park!" she suggested, watching Angelo's face light up.
"Alright!" In a flash, he went to his room and changed. His room, thought Hermione with a smile. She loved the boy already, with his infectious giggle and impish smile, he truly was a gift. She frowned at the thought that eventually, she would have to return him to his parents. Angelo returned to her in a pair of khakis and a sky blue polo.
"Why are you sad, Miss Mione? We're going to the park!" He bounced up and down happily.
"Sorry? Oh no, I'm not sad, just thinking." She looked at his outfit. "Oh dear, don't you have play clothes?"
"Play clothes? I play with Antonia in these." He gestured to what he was wearing.
"Oh. Who is Antonia?" asked Hermione.
"She's my best friend." He smiled happily.
"Well, I think we need to buy you some new clothes."
"Why?" Angelo cocked his head, confused.
"I doubt you'd want to wear those playing; you'd get them dirty," she explained. Angelo nodded, nut fully understanding how he would get dirty, but willing to try anyways. "I think we'd find better clothes in Muggle London," she mused aloud. "Alright Angelo? You understand, right?" Angelo smiled and agreed.
*1 hour later…*
Not one from shopping, Hermione was a bit unfamiliar with the assortment of shops and boutiques around Muggle London. However, she managed, stopping by a quite expensive boutique called "Boden," where she bought a few cargo shorts and cotton, short-sleeve, polos. While walking, she discovered a cute store called "Bread & Butter" that sold adorable "David & Goliath" tees. Angelo chose a few, and convinced Hermione to buy 2 matching ones. Once they finished with the clothes, she made a quick stop at Skechers, where she bought a pair of black sneakers for Angelo.
They had headed back home and quickly, Angelo changed clothes. He excitedly ran outside, dragging Hermione with him. Once he got to the park in the center of the complex, he saw many girls and boys already there, and shied away.
"Don't worry, Angelo. They're all quite nice. Oh, and the children aren't Muggles," she reminded his, as she lived in a wizarding apartment complex, "but don't be too bold about your magic." She ruffled his hair affectionately, very proud of Angelo when she discovered that he discovered how to levitate objects when the TV remote started floating towards him while they had been watching a cartoon that morning.
"OK, Miss Mione," Angelo said as he fixed his hair quickly. He grinned and then ran to join the frolicking children.
Hermione sat on a bench nearby to keep an eye on the boy, and then pulled out her paperwork. She was shortly joined by her neighbor, Gina.
"Tell me, Hermione, how did you manage to conceive, give birth to, and age a boy several years overnight?" she teased. Hermione grinned.
"Oh, I didn't give birth to him," she began. "I just got him. Haven't you heard? There's a new store called 'Boys R Us' where you can go and buy adorable boys." The two women laughed.
"Can you exchange children?" Gina asked. As the mother of two boys, she sometimes complained how she felt drained by the end of the day.
"I'm afraid not." Hermione's voice dropped from light and teasing tone to a serious one as she turned towards Gina. "Honestly, though…he, that'd be Angelo, ran away from home. I was planning on filing a report tomorrow… but… now…" Her voice drifted off.
"Angelo's just too adorable, isn't he?" Gina asked, smiling.
"Yes, and it's only been 2 days and already I love him like a son. I can't be selfish though…" she mused. "I'll ask Harry tomorrow. He'll know whether any missing persons reports have come in." As Head of the Auror department, Harry was well connected. "He's an amazing boy. Very talented too," she added as an afterthought.
"You're lucky. To have such a well-behaved child," Gina noted.
"Even though he's not mine," Hermione quickly interjected, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Yes, well, trust me. Children are crazy!" Emmett and Anthony, age 8 and 5 respectively, were boisterous and noisy, but loved to have fun and were well liked. They reminded Hermione of Fred and George. "Oh dear. Angelo's befriended them. This should be interesting…."
"Angelo!" Hermione called out. He turned. "Another rule: no being mean to anyone!" He grinned, a little abashedly, as he and Emmett were about to tackle Anthony.
The two women laughed and sat the rest of the time in a comfortable silence, Hermione's pen scratching the page occasionally.
A/N: I had a friend ask how Hermione doesn't recognize Scorpius. Well, Hermione only knew Draco from when he was 11, and I'm assuming that there would be a big difference between a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old's appearance. Also, he has some (softer) facial features from his mother, so that also would alter his look-alikeness. In the parts where the point of view is 3rd person limited to Malfoy's, Scorpius is still Scorpius. However, when the PoV is 3rd person limited to Hermione, Scorpius is Angelo. Just FYI, in case anyone is confused.
Reviewer Questions:
To KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun: My logic behind the reason for the adults' visit to the Zabinis' is that because Lira told them that Scorpius told her that he went to the Zabinis' villa, they thought Scorpius might have been lying so he could stay with the Zabinis. They weren't just going to take his word without question, right? Haha yea, from scorpion to an angel. I picture Scorpius (in this story) as an inquisitive boy who isn't exactly the perfect pureblooded child. Like in chapter 1, he didn't really like the position of authority, Master, that the house elves referred to him as. He's got a bit of Hermione embedded in him. You'll see later on ;)
To iloveflyingmotorbikes: Sorry about that! I guess I need to spend more time around 7-yr olds… LOL. If you're referring to the letter section, I changed it. So hopefully it's more "7-year-old level."