Unfinished Business: Shattered Pieces
DISCLAIMER: Look at first chapter.
WARNING: Look at first chapter.
A Work of Art
"I heard from our little terrible twos that they are planning on going into Slytherin together," Harry said as he stood before the mirror and rested his glasses on his nose.
"I'm not surprised," Draco smirked as he came up behind Harry and draped his arm around the shorter man's waist. "Slytherin is, after all, the best house at Hogwarts," he teased as he pulled his husband closer to him.
"Don't let Jamie hear you say that," Harry said as he turned into the blonde. "Even though he doesn't say it, he still feels a little anxious about not ending up in Slytherin like you wanted him to," he said as he rested his hands on the blonde's chest. "The fact that half of his friends are in Slytherin doesn't help either."
"He knows that I'm proud of him no matter what house he's in."
"In his head, he knows that. But if he sees you treating Scorpius and Albus any differently when they end up in Slytherin, that won't matter."
"Don't worry. I will contain my enthusiasm," Draco smirked jokingly, though he meant what he said, before his pecked Harry on the lips.
"That's all I ask," Harry smiled as he adjusted his glasses.
"Can I ask you a question though? What's with the glasses? You haven't needed to wear them since your Hogwarts days. In fact I distinctly remember you saying what a relief it was not to have to wear them anymore."
"If I tell you, do you promise not to laugh?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"No. But I promise I'll make it up to you if I do," Draco smirked, knowing that he might not be able to keep Harry's promise. "Come on, tell me," the blonde said, placing kisses along Harry's neck as incentive.
"Alright fine. I'm wearing them because someone once told me that I looked humbled when I wore glasses, as opposed to looking edible without them. And since we know that Cormac McLaggen and his grabby hands will be there representing the Department of Mysteries, I thought it prudent to look as inedible as possible."
"I don't think that'll be possible. You still look very appetising to me," Draco said as he nibbled on Harry's ear. "But don't worry. I'll keep McLaggen's 'grabby hands' far away from you."
"I appreciate it," Harry said breathily as Draco trailed his nibbling down Harry's neck.
Just as Harry's breath hitched, as Draco pulled Harry closer and bit down on his neck, there came a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Harry said as he tried to pull away from the blonde, who had different ideas as he pulled Harry flush up against him before capturing his lips in a searing kiss.
"It's me," the voice of Scorpius called. "Papa said that he would fix up my hair after I finished getting ready."
"Crap," the elder blonde cursed under his breath as he broke the kiss. "I'll be right there!" Draco said aloud as he called out to his son.
"Okay," came the younger blonde's relieved voice.
When they heard their son's feet scampering away from their room, Draco grabbed Harry by his shirt, pulling the saviour closer to him, before placing another searing kiss on his already dazed husband's lips. He plunged his tongue deep between his love's lips and savoured as much of the man's taste before breaking the kiss again. Then he licked his lover's swollen lips and smirked.
"Just think… We're going to have a whole week of uninterrupted time together," he whispered before leaning in closer. "I'm going to do so many wicked things to you," the blonde promise, causing Harry to shiver in arousal.
With that said, Draco gave Harry one final kiss on the lips before pulling away completely and walking out of the room. It took a few moments for Harry to compose himself. Once he did, he too left his and Draco's room before heading down the stairs. He quickly spotted James and Albus adjusting the curtain on their bird cages while Lily sat sulking beside them.
As Harry descended the stairs, he spotted someone else, though he wasn't quite looking forward to talking to this particular person. Unfortunately, she had spotted him and was quickly making her way over with a broad smile on her face.
"Hello Ginny," Harry greeted pleasantly when the redhead reached him at the bottom of the stairs.
Even though Ginny had tried to make amends with Harry over what she had done all those years ago, he still felt uncomfortable around her. It was partly because the mere mention of her set Draco's temper flaring, but it was mostly due to the fact that he no longer felt like he could trust her.
"Hello Harry," she gave him a huge smile. "I see you're all set for your kids to head off to Hogwarts."
"Yep, as soon as Draco and Scorpius come down, we'll be off to the Hogwarts Express."
As soon as Harry mentioned the blondes upstairs, he caught sight of irritation spark in Ginny's eyes. It happened every time he mentioned either Draco or Scorpius. Even after all of this time, she still couldn't stand Draco. When Scorpius was born, that hatred had not only doubled for the Slytherin, but spilled over to the newborn mini blonde.
To Ginny's credit, she had tried to hide her dislike for Harry's husband and child, but it was too little, too late for Harry. Her hatred for Scorpius existing simply because he looked like Draco reminded Harry of Professor Snape's hatred of him because he looked like his father. He doubted his mother would have tolerated that kind of behaviour from Snape and Harry wasn't going to tolerate it from Ginny.
"If you'll excuse me-" Harry started, barely able to hide his irritation, before she grabbed his arm.
"Wait, Harry. I wanted to talk to you about something," she said as he turned to her. "Trust me, you won't regret it."
"Dad?" James called out in worry when he spotted Harry and Ginny, knowing about the hostility between his father and the black sheep of the Weasley clan.
"I'll be right there," Harry promised.
Regretting his decision even as he walked away from his kids, Harry followed Ginny to the other side of the bar. When she finally stopped far away from his table, she turned to him with that same smile as before.
'Finally,' the brown-eyed woman thought with a huge smile on her face. 'Any moment now and all of my dreams will come true. Any moment now and I will get everything that was due to me.'
Suddenly, and without any warning, a large gust of wind filled to the brim with magical energy flew through the air, hitting everyone within the Leaky Cauldron. Though not strong enough to knock anyone over, it left everyone feeling a little lightheaded.
The brown-eyed woman smiled as her spell started to take effect. She watched as everyone looked around in a dazed state, all of their eyes clouded over with the magic that was taking hold.
Everything was about to change.
"What were we talking about?" Harry said as he shook his head.
"I … don't remember," Ginny said as she blinked a few times before shrugging her shoulders. "It must not have been important if neither of us can remember," she laughed. "Let's go gather the kids before we're late for the train."
"Of course," Harry smiled.
When Harry and Ginny walked to the table it was to find that their kids were finally ready to go. As the three kids were getting up from their seats, they heard footsteps coming from the stairway. Turning to the sound, it was to find Draco Malfoy descending the stairs. Following the former Slytherin was a mini version of him, complete with slicked back hair like the blonde had in their first year at Hogwarts.
"Potter," Malfoy greeted with a nod as he passed by their table.
"Malfoy," Harry nodded back before watching as the blonde was greeted his wife, Astoria, with a peck on his cheek.
A moment of discomfort hit Harry out of nowhere, though he couldn't pinpoint where or why he was having this feeling.
"What's wrong, love," Ginny asked as she rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Nothing," Harry said, shaking the feeling away as he smiled at his wife. "I guess I'm a little anxious about my trip to the European Wizarding Conference," he said as he followed his kids out into the street where his wife's car was waiting.
"Don't worry. You'll do great," Ginny encouraged as she gave him a small kiss on the lips before they and their kids headed outside where her car awaited.
"As will you," he said as he helped to pack the luggage into the trunk. "You have an advantage that none of the other reporters have. You know the great Bulgarian Quidditch player."
"Knowing him doesn't mean that he knows me. And I don't think he'll take too kindly to a Weasley asking for an interview."
"You never know. He might do it just to gloat," he said as he and Ginny got into the car with their kids.
"You're right," Ginny smiled broadly as Harry started the car and drove away. "And I am a Potter now. Not even the great Viktor Krum would turn down the wife of Harry Potter," she said as she pecked Harry on the cheek.
"Barf," James said as he mimicked trying to throw up.
"James," Ginny warned.
"Sorry," James smirked, not looking the least bit sorry.
After a few moments of peaceful driving, Harry noticed that his youngest son looked a little troubled.
"What's wrong, Al?"
"I don't know," Albus said in confusion. "It just feels like we're missing something."
"Like what?" Ginny asked as she turned to Albus. "We double-checked everything before we packed the car."
"I know that. But I still feel like there's something we're missing," he said anxiously.
"You're probably just nervous about going to Hogwarts for the first time," Ginny reassured. "I remember when it was my first year, I packed and repacked my bags three times before your Grandma put a locking charm on it. And I'll tell you what she told me. 'If there's anything you missed, just owl us and we'll get it to you as soon as possible."
"I guess," Albus said, even though he still had that strange feeling that something was missing, and he was sure it wasn't something he could pack in his bag or have it sent to him through owl post.
"So, are you excited about becoming a Gryffindor," Ginny said, trying to change the subject.
"I guess," Albus shrugged as Ginny beamed at him. "But what if I don't end up in Griffindor?"
"He's right, you know," James goaded. "He could end up in any house really. He might even end up in Slytherin."
"That'll never happen," Ginny said with a eerily hard look in her eyes. "That house is known for breeding dark wizards and no son of mine will set foot into that house. Besides, all Weasleys have been Gryffindors, your father and his parents were all Gryffindors, and you will be no exception," she said sternly to Albus. "Right?"
"Right," Albus said, a little shaken by the intense look in her eyes.
"Good," she said before catching Harry's eyes. "What?" Ginny asked at the hard look Harry was giving her.
"You and I both know that Slytherin house has changed," he said as he turned back to the road. "I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for a few of them, Draco Malfoy, his mother, even Professor Snape. Some of them even helped us to rebuild Hogwarts."
"All for their own benefit no doubt. Do you really think they saved you or helped with the school for your sake? They were just covering their own hides. And your life wouldn't have needed saving if it weren't for them. In fact, you would still have your parents, the kids, twosets of grandparents and all of their uncles if it weren't for Slytherins. If our kids know what's good for them, they'll stay as far away from anyone associated with that house, especially the Malfoy's," she said before turning back to the kids. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Ma'am," the three young Potters said in unison, leaving a large cloud of tension in the air.
Harry shook his head in disappointment at his wife's antics. Ginny would never be able to get over her hatred for the Slytherin house, a resolve only strengthened with thoughts of Fred's death. He would need to talk to Albus later at the station and make sure his son hadn't been traumatised.
When they finally arrived at the station, everyone jumped out of the car. While James and Albus rushed to get trollies for their bags and bird cages, Harry opened the trunk.
"Dad, are you sure you can't sneak me into the conference with you," Lily asked as she helped her dad unload their luggage onto trollies. "I don't mind if it's boring. I just don't want to be left alone."
"What do you mean? You won't be alone," Harry said as he took out the last bag. "You'll be with your aunt and uncle, and Hugo."
"But it won't be the same. Everyone is going off somewhere exciting and I'm going to be left behind," she said, getting sadder the more she thought about it. "Can I at least go with James and Albus?"
"Of course not Lily. You're not old enough yet. But you could always come with me to Bulgaria," Ginny suggested as James and Albus dashed away with their trollies.
"And watch as some strange man swoons over thoughts of my aunt. I don't think so," Lily said distastefully.
As Harry looked down at his little girl, who was grabbing onto his arm with her eye glistening with unshed tear, he was caught with a sense of familiarity. For a moment, his daughter had reminded him of someone else. He could tell that his daughter wasn't tearing up for real. She was just using the tears as a means to get what she wanted. It was that act, as well as the scowl she had worn a few seconds before, that faintly reminded him of someone. But he couldn't pin point who.
When James, Albus, Rose, Dominique and Molly could no longer see their parents, as the train gained speed away from the station, they sat back in their seats.
"I was afraid we wouldn't get a seat," Rose said as she turned to her cousins.
"Me too," Albus breathed. "I'm also surprised you guys decided to sit with us instead of with the rest of your friends like Vicky did," he commented to James, Dominique and Molly.
"Vicky's not with her friends," Dominique informed. "She told me that she and the Head Boy need to get ready for the Prefects' meeting in an hour. She's been impossible to live with ever since she found out that she was Head Girl. 'It's just one more thing my Teddy and I have in common,'" the part veela said, clapping her hands together, fluttering her lashes, and sighing dramatically as she imitated her sister.
"I never knew Teddy was Head Girl," James said in mock astonishment.
While James and Dominique's cousins laughed at their immaturity, the door to their compartment opened and the boy they had seen earlier on the station appeared in the doorway. When the blonde noticed who was inside, without a word, he started to close the door.
"There's still room if you're looking for somewhere to sit," Albus called out before the boy could leave.
When the blonde pulled the door back open again, James moved over to the window seat so the new kid could sit beside Albus, who was smiling broadly at the newcomer.
"I've seen you before," he smiled at the blonde. "I'm Albus. This is my brother, James, and my cousins, Rose, Molly and Dominique."
"Scorpius," the blonde said, nodding to each as Albus made introductions. "You must have seen me on the platform before I boarded the train."
"No. I think I saw you at the Leaky Cauldron with your father. Did you sleep there as well? My dad decided that it was a good idea to stay over at the Leaky Cauldron so he wouldn't have to deal with the chaos of getting everyone out of the house and to the station on time. This was the first time we tried doing it this way because everyone was travelling somewhere. My dad's going to Germany for a conference, my mum's going to Bulgaria to try and interview some Quidditch player, me and my brother are off to Hogwarts and my younger sister is staying with our aunt and uncle … her parents," he finished, all in an excited voice, as he gestured to Rose, who looked slightly confused.
"Yes. We slept there as well for the same reason. And it's 'my brother and I'."
"I'm impressed," James smiled. "Most people need to be reminded about what he asked when he gets this excited."
"It wasn't that difficult," Scorpius said without boasting.
"So what house do you think you'll be in? My brother was trying to tease me about going into Slytherin. At first, I was okay with it, but then my mother started insisting that I end up in Gryffindor so I started getting worried. Then my dad told me that I was named after two previous Headmasters and one of them was a Slytherin, so now I'm not so worried."
Listening to his companion, Scorpius smiled for the first time since leaving the Leaky Cauldron as he started getting more and more comfortable around his companions. He didn't think he would since his mother had warned him about them, James and Albus especially, before boarding the train.
Though he didn't understand why, she had made him promise not to socialize with them. If it were his father who had made him promise, then he wouldn't have disobayed. But since it was only his mother, he didn't see the harm in talking to them. They were nice to him. He especially liked Albus.
While Albus was rambling on and on, with Scorpius getting to know his companions more and more by the second, the door to their compartment opened and a tall dark skinned boy poked his head inside. At the sight of Scorpius, the boy smiled.
"Scorpius. I've been looking everywhere for you. You're mother gave me specific instructions to watch over you and make sure you 'end up with the right sort'. I swear, your mum is mental," he joked as he turned to see who Scorpius' companions were.
Suddenly, a wild gleam erupted within his eyes before he stepped completely into the compartment and closed the door. Then in two steps, he jumped into the seat between James and Albus. Actually, it was more like… He pushed Albus down the seat as he squeezed himself beside James, who was staring out of the window and trying his best to ignore the intruder.
"Well, fancy meeting you here," he practically purred as he draped his arm over James' shoulder, whose only reaction was to shrug the arm off.
"BJ, you know him?" Scorpius asked as he watched James continue to ignore the boy beside him.
"Do I know James Sirius Potter?" BJ asked as he rested his elbow on the headrest and head in the palm of his hand, staring hungrily at the teen beside him. "You could say that. But does he know me?"
"I know enough about you to know that I don't want to be around you. Now get out, Zabini," James finally snapped as he turned to the intruder.
"And he finally acknowledges my presence. Why don't you take it one step further and go out with me?"
"What part of 'I don't want to be around you' didn't you understand?"
"Well I can't take what you say seriously seeing as you vowed to never stay in the company of a Slytherin."
"And that would be you-"
"And Scorpius," he said as he tipped his head to the blonde. "He's a Malfoy and will most likely end up in Slytherin."
"You're a Malfoy?" Albus asked as he turned from his brother's predicament to Scorpius.
"Yes," the blonde said, looking a little uncomfortable under the gaze of his companions.
"Well, if you don't mind that I'm a Potter, I won't mind that you're a Malfoy," Albus smiled. "I like you. My dad said that he might have been friends with your dad if he hadn't been such a jerk. But he stopped being a jerk after Voldemort was defeated. He even helped my dad rebuild Hogwarts, so he can't be all that bad."
"I don't mind, and I like you too. My mother might not like it, but I don't really care what she thinks," he said before giving BJ a pointed stare.
"Message received," BJ said as he held up his hands in surrender. "But I don't care what house you're in either," he said as he turned to James again, who was back to staring out of the window.
"This is going to be a long train ride," James mumbled.
End of Chapter: A Work of Art
