Disclaimer: JKR's characters. My plot.
It was a toss-up which household was more pleased with the unfolding of the happenings at Tattage's. Narcissa squealed like a young girl, and Lucius had to rein her in as she began making all sorts of premature plans. Hermione hugged the stuffing out of Draco upon hearing the details. In fact, numerous people outside the family found the story interesting, and one of the patrons at the club wasted no time in getting the afternoon's events to the Daily Prophet:
Malfoy Family Reconciliation Imminent - Heir to be Reinstated!
After an eight-year estrangement, a minor miracle took place yesterday: Lucius Malfoy intervened to protect his son, Draco, at a private club. While details are sketchy, it appears the incident involved the transfiguration of the Parkinson patriarch into a chicken after Parkinson began harassing Draco. Lucius Malfoy was overheard stating that he chose such a form for Parkinson due to the Parkinson family dynamic and Mrs. Parkinson's overbearing nature.
The chicken could not be reached for comment. Perhaps he is busy hatching a plot for revenge (sorry, couldn't resist).
Shortly after the humiliation of Mr. Parkinson, it is said that Malfoy Jr. approached his father's table and asked "Does your recent offer still stand?" We have been informed that, whatever the details are, at Malfoy Sr.'s confirmation, the younger Malfoy said he would accept everything barring employment. Lucius was observed leaving the club immediately after this exchange, with an actual smile on his face (yes, readers, we were disconcerted to hear this, too).
It should be noted that young Malfoy was never in any real danger from Parkinson. Our source said he hadn't even drawn his wand yet, and Harry Potter was part of his lunch party.
Draco tossed the paper on the table. "Yes, I was perfectly safe since St. Potter was there, and my father took care of things. Does no one have any faith in me?"
Soft hands gently kneaded his shoulders as his wife placed a kiss on his perfect platinum hair. "I believe in you."
Her husband smirked. "You'd better, since you chose to yoke yourself to me for all eternity. It would really suck to be married to a coward."
She shrugged. "That's okay, darling. Some days it sucks anyway." He gave her a mock glare, and she grinned as she sat down. "Pass me the paper, please."
He did, and he noticed her chuckling as she read the piece. "Looks like the reporter really hates the Parkinsons. I can't believe the article was printed in its rough form by accident."
She arched a brow. "If they're anything like Pansy was in school, I assume they would be easy to despise."
"They are, and it is." He snickered, "You should have seen old Parkinson's face when Father said Scorp's parentage means that he's intelligent, and he inferred that this way, our son won't be mistaken for a canine. I thought Pansy's father would explode on the spot."
"That must have been something to see."
"It was. I'll show you in the Pensieve when we have time."
The couple was sharing an evil smile when their progeny wandered into the room. He'd opted to have a bit of a lie-in, and was still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he climbed onto his chair.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Is everything all right?" Concern washed across Hermione's features as she rose to check her child.
"I'm okay, Mummy. Just tired. I dreamed I was chasing the peacocks all night."He gave a jaw-cracking yawn, and perked up as pancakes were placed in front of him. "How long until we go to Grandmother and Grandfather Malfoys'?"
"About a week and a half-" an owl swooped into the dining room and dropped a letter in front of Draco. He scanned it and smirked at his son.
"We just received an invitation to Malfoy Manor for tomorrow."
"Draco, that's a weekday."
"That's what vacation days are for. Take a look." He passed the note to Hermione.
Son-
I trust this letter finds you and your family well (I am allowed to say 'your family,' am I not?). Mother and I are fine, if a bit annoyed. The bloody peacocks have been kicking up the most obnoxious racket I've heard since your mother took singing lessons. Something must be done. Avada'ing the birds seems a bit much, so I have decided that a retaliatory strike is necessary.
If your schedules permit, you are cordially invited to Malfoy Manor tomorrow at 1:00 to terrorize the beasts currently making my life hell.
Yours,
Father
Scorpius was bouncing in his chair hard enough that Hermione feared his magic would manifest and cause him to take flight as he begged his father to go. Draco didn't disappoint. He made a note to get the day off, and jotted a few lines back to Lucius:
Father:
We are fine, thank you for inquiring. Of course you are allowed to say 'your family.' I find it has a nice ring to it. We are terribly sorry to hear that you and Mother are encountering such difficulties at this time. I remember her singing phase, and I truly sympathize. I suppose I can find it in myself to do my filial duty and assist you in dealing with the pests.
Tomorrow at 1:00 will be fine. We'll see you then.
Draco
"Peacocks, Daddy!"
"Peacocks indeed, Scorp."
Hermione shook her head. Her men had identical maniacal gleams in their eyes at the thought of tomorrow's activities.
"Mummy doesn't look happy. Is peacock chasing related to Quidditch? She gets the same look when we talk about that."
"No, son. Your mother simply doesn't appreciate most of the finer things in life, with the exception of me." She snorted, and went back to looking at the paper.
"Look on the bright side, love: at least we aren't hunting house elves." that comment earned him a poisonous glare, and Draco prudently decided that now would be a good time to leave for work.
_-DMHG-_
The next day dawned clear and perfect, and every Malfoy with an XY set of chromosomes was eagerly watching the clock. Draco and his family arrived in Malfoy Manor precisely at 1:00. Since Lucius and Narcissa's change of heart, they had modified the wards to allow their son and his family access.
Hermione was amused to see Lucius in his "Ab" form again. He assured her that it was much more effective for physical activity. Draco had elected to remain an adult, and Scorpius was mildly confused by what to call his grandfather. This concern evaporated as soon as they exited the back door, and faced down the unruly birds.
Watching what came next, Hermione wondered distantly what word could sufficiently capture the scene. She rejected anarchy, bedlam, chaos, insanity and mayhem. In the end, she gave up trying to categorize it, and simply enjoyed it. Narcissa had wisely elected to watch from the Manor windows.
They had explained to Scorpius that they wouldn't actually attempt to grab the birds, and that no harm would be done. It turned out that their feathered opponents were faster than the wizards anyway.
Merlin, was it fun to watch.
Lucius and Scorpius teamed up, where one would flush a peacock toward the other, and off they would go, whooping and hollering, waving their small arms. They were noisier than the peacocks. As amusing as watching the 'children' was, it was 10 times funnier to see an adult Draco doing the same thing. His natural poise and grace had been abandoned, and he looked positively gangly as he ran about the yard. When he slipped on a pile of peacock poo and landed on his arse, she laughed so hard she couldn't breathe. He called a time-out at that point, and they regrouped closer to the house.
"Hold still, Draco. Honestly, I thought I would need this spell only for Scorpius." Hermione used a modified Scourgify on her husband, removing the bird droppings and grass stains. "You're a mess!"
"I don't care," he huffed while trying to get his breath back. "It was worth it. I can die a happy man now."
Scorpius contemplated the birds, and wistfully said that he just wished he'd been a bit faster. This brought a gleam to Ab's eye, and he quietly led the boy away while Hermione was occupied with her husband.
A short time later, a low-flying blur whizzed by her, fraying her nerves. "Mummy! Look what Grandfather gave me!" Her six year-old son was over the moon about his new training broom.
"LUCIUS!"