AN: NB! Please read! Hi, everyone. Listen, I feel as if I've done you a disservice by skipping over the conversation with Ginny and Harry, as well as the very un-detailed argument between Harry and Ron.

So I've rewritten the chapter 'The Weasleys' Hatred' and split it into two. So please go read the previous chapter again, it's been replaced. Chapter 38 is now 'Confronting the Weasleys'.

Then come back and read this chapter, which is much more light-hearted. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but I feel really bad. I hope you'll enjoy the new and improved chapters 38 and 39.

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters or anything even remotely related to the Harry Potter Franchise, except my own copies of the books and some merchandise.

Of Tattoos and Magic

Harry had his own key to Malfoy Manor, as Draco had his own key to Potter's Place. Harry decided he didn't want to move out just yet, but when he did, he'd loan the house to Teddy. He felt more at home at Malfoy Manor than he did at his own house, but he didn't want his kids not to have a home to return to.

And that was another thing; now that he and Ginny were separated, how would he go about pursuing a relationship with Draco? And if he did, how would they tell their children? It was one thing to tell them the truth, but another to give them an excess of information. How would Albus and Scorpius feel about their dads dating? They'd be weirded out, Harry worried. He was weirded out! And with Ginny's hatred of homosexuality, he had no hope of ever being friends with her again if he ever got together with Draco.

This was a pity, since they seemed to have separated on a note that indicated they might salvage their friendship, if not their marriage.

When Teddy got home that night, he and Harry had a stiff drink together. Harry asked about how business was going, and Teddy almost slipped up, forgetting that Harry was referring to his guitar playing and not the potion business.

"When are you going to get rid of those ridiculous pictures all over your body?" Harry asked in a typical parental fashion.

"I love my tattoos, Harry" Teddy smiled, admiring the designs that completely obscured his arms, torso, and neck. "Al wants to get one"

"No way in hell is he getting one. Yours aren't permanent" Harry scolded.

"How do you know Albus's will be?" Teddy asked, surprised.

"I did grow up as a Muggle, Ted. I know what tattoos are" Harry said wryly.

"Okay Old Man, I'm sorry I doubted your awesomeness" Teddy said with mock-admiration. The two laughed together and drank some more. Harry had missed drinking. He was glad he could finally start drinking with his favourite drinking buddy, Draco, again. But not before they'd consummated their love, soberly.

As if reading his mind, Teddy suggested they invite Mr. Malfoy over. He was more perceptive than Harry gave him credit for.

*

Back at Hogwarts, a few days into the term, Albus was already feeling crushed by the weight of all the homework they'd been assigned. They had OWLs this year and the teachers weren't letting them forget it.

Albus was already falling behind, when he found Scorpius studying hard at the top of the Astronomy Tower, where he'd said he'd be.

He was shocked to find him studying stuff that wasn't on the syllabus.

"What are you doing, Scor?" Albus asked, draping his arms over Scorpius's shoulders from behind and placing a kiss on his neck.

"Just some extra-curricular research" Scorpius said slyly.

"Do tell" Albus encouraged.

"I'm learning Legelimency" Scorpius revealed with flair.

"Really? Can I learn too?" Albus said excitedly.

"Sure, you can try. . . No offence though babe, I don't think you'd be able to" Scorpius said, placing a side-ways kiss on Albus's nose.

"Ah, thanks for the boost of confidence" Albus said sarcastically.

"No really, it's complicated. Just read here" Scorpius indicated a passage in an old-looking book.

Albus read a few lines and to his dismay, discovered that Scorpius was right. "I'm not stupid" he said sulkily.

"I know you're not, Ally. I also know you're lazy as hell, and this branch of magic requires dedication and effort to learn"

"You know me too well, then. Where'd you find this book anyhow?" Albus asked, noting that its stamp was different to the library books.

"The restricted section" Scorpius answered simply with a smile. "Oh no I didn't sneak in" Scorpius defended, seeing Albus's eyebrows raise in surprise. "Professor Prince wrote me a permission slip. And while I was there, I also found this book on forbidden or regulated potions. For example, the recipe for Veritaserum is in here, as well as a hallucinogenic that could be a really useful addition to my range of recreational potions"

Albus couldn't help but squeeze his boyfriend lovingly. "You're a special kid, you know that, my love?"

"Not everyone thinks so" Scorpius commented apathetically, leaning back into Albus's embrace.

"Well, you're MY kind of special, 'kay?"

AN: Again, I apologize for posting a less-than-satisfactory chapter, and I hope you're okay with the alteration. If I do it again, please let me know and I'll do my best to fix it!

Reviews, as always, are greatly appreciated.

Next Chapter: Teddy's Surprise

Leah asked "Who's the hottie?" pointing inconspicuously to a heavily tattooed, long-haired young man sitting in a booth by himself.

"That," said Scorpius, "is our brother Teddy".

. . .to be continued!