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"I've been thinking…"

"Oh no."

"Tori, I'm serious."

"And there's a time when you aren't?" Astoria batted her eyelashes innocently.

"Astoria…" Draco clenched his teeth in frustration.

"Well go on, I never stopped you." Astoria returned to examining her appearance in the mirror. She smoothed down her hair self-consciously, mentally bracing herself for the dinner she would have to survive tonight. Draco was sitting on the edge of their bed with his shoulders slumped. His tie was loosened around his neck and his hair lacked the gel that usually kept it back. The thinning blond strands were like dry pieces of straw upon his forehead.

"Don't get angry. Just consider what I'm going to say."

"I don't like where this is going Draco."

"I've been thinking… Scorpius needs to see the Drawing Room." Astoria didn't even blink. She did not alter her nonchalant tone.

"And where on earth did you get such a moronic, pig-headed idea?"

"Astoria!"

"No, no!" Astoria turned around slowly, anger simmering beneath her words. "I'm actually curious. I am curious to know, what possessed you to even consider showing our eleven-year-old son a place which still haunts our dreams? That is a place where people were tortured and murdered, in case you've forgotten!" Draco bristled.

"How dare you even suggest that I could?"

"Well you must have! To even think about letting a first year boy see that place… I know we will have to show it to him one day, but that will not be happening until he is seventeen at least. That room holds pure evil. The most depraved, nefarious men and women walked on that floor, blood painting their hands as they touched those walls."

"Astoria, we wouldn't have to tell him everything." Astoria's jaw dropped. Her eyebrows shot up into her hair. She brought her hands up unto her hips.

"Ohhh… That makes sense." She gave an exaggerated nod. "I get it now. You will show him a place where lives ended, where the blood from the neck of his best friend's mother is stained upon the carpet – where Hermione Granger's screams as she was almost tortured to insanity will forever ring against the walls. The place where Ron Weasley's desperate bellows to hurt him instead of the woman he loved will never fade. The place above the cellar where people were trapped in for weeks, wondering how many more hours they would live for, by then longing for death, hoping only that they wouldn't be burned alive. The place where Voldemort himself walked, giving orders to destroy more thousands of more innocent people, ruin millions of more lives, leaving a gaping in hole in every family." Astoria tightened her arms around her body, struggling to speak because of how hard she was shaking. She squeezed her eyes shut, continued, growing faint with, "The place where the most evil woman in the world howled with laughter as she killed an entire row of muggle borns with the single flick of a wand. The place they locked Fenrir Greyback in on a full moon, alone with some muggle born whose mutilated body they had to retrieve and toss out the morning after. The place where your father killed innocent people right before your eyes, because he was too scared about what would happen if he refused. But I understand… you won't… tell him everything."

"Please…" Draco was struggling for breath, wiping sweat off his face. It was not like Astoria to be this harsh or unforgiving in her reminders of these unrelenting memories. But she refused to to show this terrible world to her precious son. Draco pressed his hand to his forehead, his breathing laboured. They were silent.

"He will find out anyway." Draco rasped, "He will find out viciously, brutally. From a random stranger. From a vengeful, malicious student. From his friends. Who can he rely on for the truth if not us?"

"The truth! The TRUTH?" Astoria's eyes blazed. "The truth is painful and revolting… it is something that needs to be buried away to bring anyone peace!"

"It's something he needs to know!

"You want to destroy him!" Astoria burst into tears, turning away from her husband. Draco sighed.

"Astoria…" He rose and placed a tentative hand upon her shoulder. She angrily shrugged it off. She bit into her wobbling lips, burying her sobbing face into her hands. Draco looked around at the empty room helplessly.

"Astoria… you know I only want the best for Scorpius… but…"

"He'll hate us." She wept. "He'll hate you. He'll hate me. He'll look at us like everyone else does! He'll see us for the monsters we are."

"He won't hate you." Draco replied monotonously. "You did nothing."

"Exactly!" Astoria shrieked, shoving her hands into her hair. "I did nothing… people were dying, and I. Did. Nothing. I walked around with my nose in the air, pretending I believed what I knew was destroying people, destroying the world… Scorpius isn't like us! He's brave…righteous…" Astoria's face twisted in agony. "He never would have done what we did."

Astoria raised her face slowly, hiccupping and grasping for breath. "One day he'll know. One day he'll leave, and he won't. Come. Back. I'm not ready for that I'm… not… ready…"

"You think I don't remember!" Draco snarled, yanking the sleeve of his shirt up to reveal the grotesque creature, forever branded onto his skin, forever burned into his soul. The green serpent, with long silver fangs and hideous green skin. "Every second of my life." Draco hissed. "And you think I don't know that one day, my son will hate the very sight of me? You think I don't remember every time he smiles at me with that love in is eyes, that someday very soon he will curse my name and spit on my feet? No – it's worse than that. He would never do it. He isn't like me. He's good. He'll remain by my side, remembering at every second what a cowardly beast I am. What a cowardly beast has for a father." Draco raked his hands through his hair, pulling at them savagely until pain pierced his scalp. Astoria watched, her face emotionless.

"Remember when his wand chose him?" Astoria suddenly smiled fondly, "In Ollivander's? Remember how his eyes began to sparkle? Remember the laugh that escaped his lips because he couldn't help it? Remember the shine he had on his face when he saw the owls? How he tenderly extended his finger and caressed their beak." Astoria replicated the action with her own, captivated by the memories. "Remember his gasp of wonder when he saw the brooms on display? When he licked the ice cream melting off his cone, when he walked down the aisles of book, dragging his fingertips along their spines? Remember his awe as we walked down the street? At all the people, all the magic! He was enraptured!" Astoria giggled. "You know what that was… it was magic."

"Yes." Draco croaked. "I do. Oh, I do…"

"He believes in the world Draco. He believes in it's beauty, it's goodness. We don't anymore. We can't, after what we've seen. But he does. I won't let you take my son away from me. I won't let that light in his eyes die. I won't steal his innocence. I can't." Astoria held her husband's gaze, determined. "And don't even think of going behind my back. Because if you do, God have mercy."

Draco nodded.

Scorpius was seated beside his trunk, emptying it's contents unto his bed. His walls were empty, and the furniture was a plain dark brown. Nothing in the room gave any indication of the boy it belonged to. Except for Harmen, who hooted from the side.

At the bottom lay his photographs. He gently pulled them out, examining each one individually, careful not to crease the corners. The longer Scorpius was back at home, the more and more Hogwarts felt like a dream. The laughter and happiness felt like a fantasy created by his imagination.

He stared at the last photograph. He had been taking a picture of Rose and Albus, but at the last second they had pulled him in. They ended up taking a selfie of the three of them with Scorpius in the middle. They had cheeks flushed red and their Gryffindor scarves around their neck. Snowflakes decorated their hair, glittering like diamonds. They all had wide crooked smiles.

Slowly, Scorpius pulled himself up, grabbing his wand from his bedside table. He muttered a sticking charm and climbed unto his bed. He pressed the photograph to the piece of wall above his bedpost. He sat back and watched them laugh, over and over again. No matter happened in the future, they would always be laughing together in that one picture.

He heard his parents shouting from their room. Their words were nothing but incoherent anger to his ears. Scorpius sighed, rubbing his face.

The polished wooden table was a rich chocolate brown, the top covered with a pristine white tablecloth. An elaborate silver centerpiece held several wax candles, whose light was not subtle or comforting, but weak and anxiously fluttering. It was one of the few remnants of the Malfoy Family's ancestral wealth, which spent most of it's time gathering dust in a cupboard. But they always made an active effort when Lucius came for dinner, for a reason none of them completely understood. Sometimes, it was just easier to give Lucius Malfoy what he wanted and expected. Astoria wore the only expensive dress robes she owned, made of maroon colored silk. Draco had bought it for her years ago. She had wanted to reprimand him for this unnecessary expenditure, but after raising her head and looking into his wide, hopeful eyes, she could only open her arms and envelop him in her embrace. She worked as a nurse at St Mungo's, but was almost always denied promotions and higher level jobs entrusting her with more responsibility (even though she was one of the most dedicated nurses they had), a fact she had come to accept and focused on working around.

Narcissa sat dutifully at her husband's side, her face forlorn and empty. Her face seemed to be composed of thinning scraps of skin, fragile as tissue, stretched tight over pieces of protruding, prominent bones. Her hair was now white as snow. Her eyes seemed to have melted away over the years. Indeed, she looked as if she was disintegrating, disappearing. Beneath the burden of memories, or the guilt, or the exhaustion. But when she glanced towards Scorpius, she would momentarily solidify, as if her existence now depended upon nothing but him.

Tension scuttled over everyone's necks, draping their conversation. No one made any remarks about Scorpius's sorting or friends. All were hoping for the dinner to pass with little conflict, even if that meant with little enjoyment. Narcissa made small inquiries about Scorpius's classes, uttering soft, warm praises that made him blush. They sat in the Main Dining Room.

Lucius sighed with frustration when he drained the last of the wine from his glass. He struggled to turn in his seat with irritation to the small, good natured house elf standing by the doorway into the kitchen.

"Get me the wine jug." Lucius snapped with his fingers a couple times, glaring. "What are you waiting for! Get me a glass of wine you pathetic piece of incompetence!" Scorpius gasped, shocked that his own grandfather could treat such in innocent creature in such a cruel manner. The House Elf bowed hastily, turning away quickly, tears beginning to tumble from her large, earnest eyes.

"Wait Binky." Astoria placed her wine glass back upon the mahogany table. Binky froze mid-step, her back turned away from the rest of them. Astoria raised her eyes to meet her father-in-law's. "In this household," She began firmly, "We treat our House Elves with respect and dignity. As long as you are present here, we expect you to do the same." Lucius snorted.

"Do you pay them too?" He smirked sardonically at Scorpius, who didn't return it.

"Yes we do." Lucius's laughing lips twisted into a sneer. Draco glanced down at the table, breathing heavily.

"Of course you do." Lucius leaned back in his chair, disgust swimming across face. "Of course. I don't know why this surprises me." Narcissa stiffened beside him. She reached over and lightly rested her hand upon her husband's.

"Lucius," She whispered, "Maybe this isn't the time…" Lucius shoved her hand away. He leaned forward, glaring into Astoria's unrelenting eyes.

"What other changes did you decide to make to my house while I was gone?"

Astoria leaned forward, undaunted and unflinching. "Whatever Draco and I felt was necessary to change." Lucius snorted, his lips shriveling with distaste.

"You mean the things you coerced my son into accepting."

"Your son, as shocking as it may be to you, is completely capable of making his own choices in life. Anything he did, he did with his own free will." Scorpius stared intensely at his father, begging him to say something or stand up for himself. Draco kept his eyes firmly fixed upon his plate. Lucius's eyes were scornful.

"You took advantage of my lack of guidance to ensnare him. Trap him into what he didn't understand was not good for him."

"Father." Draco spoke the word sharply. The following one was more pleading, "Please." Astoria released an undignified bark of laughter. She fell back against the back of her chair, crossing her arms.

"Oh yes! Of course! It was all part of my plan to entrap your son… that makes sense! Because of all the people I could choose to trick into marrying me, I would definitely choose the most defamed and disparaged man of all. I obviously benefited greatly – now I'm part of one of the most evil, untrustworthy families in England! Looks like my plan worked!" Astoria giggled.

Draco gasped, his face crumbling. His knife and fork slipped from his hands, the sound they made as they hit the ceramic plate echoing through the silent room. Scorpius's jaw dropped. Astoria's eyes widened, shocked that she had uttered what the rest of them knew to be the truth. She whirled around in her chair and grabbed her husband's limp hand, frantically shaking her head. She cursed herself a million times in her head. Draco wouldn't meet her anguished eyes. Lucius paid no heed.

"And look at what you have done to your son!" Lucius waved his manicured hand wildly to Scorpius. "Look at how you have polluted his mind! Look at the things you've taught him! The image is pierced into my brain – "

"You have one?" Astoria's eyes did not waver from Draco's face. "That's a surprise to me."

" – My grandson, the Malfoy heir, hugging and laughing and fraternizing with blood traitors and mudbloods!" Lucius spat the words, as if they burned his tongue. " "If I had been present in his upbringing – "

"But you weren't." Scorpius's words were as light as a feather, but they somehow struck everyone's ears with the force of a Church bell. "You weren't, because you were locked up in Azkaban, as a result of your upbringing. Because of the things you were taught, and the principles you lived by." Narcissa whimpered, grasping her husband's sleeve weakly with her skeletal hands as he leapt up, his chair screeching as it skidded back against the floor.

"How dare you you speak to me in such a way!" Lucius fumed. "Thankless boy!" He roared. Scorpius was unperturbed. He tilted his head with curiosity that only incensed his grandfather further. "You have a duty to uphold to this ancient family! A responsibility to his noble predecessors! You will one day inherit – "

"Inherit what!" Astoria threw herself up, knocking back her chair. The back broke off with a thunderous crack as it hurtled onto the ground. Scorpius squeezed his eyes shut. Astoria's entire body smoldering with outrage. "Uphold what!" She shouted, tears streaming down her face. "This family is dead, the values you lived by are dead, the world you wanted is dead. What do you even hope to accomplish by this hatred anymore? What are you even fighting for anymore! No one is winning Lucius! Everyone is losing… People died Lucius, people died! And you know…you know… most of you died with them too." Astoria fell to her knees, burying her head into her arms upon the table, the cloth now stained with sauce and wine and tears. Binky rushed to her beloved mistress's side, drawing her gently away from the . Astoria fell into her tiny house elf's arms, clutching the creature's delicate body fervently. Draco stared vacantly at the wall, at something only he could see. He didn't seem to be comprehending the confusion around him. Scorpius willed himself to move, but he was frozen to his seat. His ears were ringing. He was drowning… suffocating… The world around him was spinning and screaming and sobbing and pleading and it Just. Couldn't. Stop. They were lost in the smoke of memories, unable to discern the present from the past, the future nothing but darkness. They were eluding the shadows of what they used to be, chasing dreams they doubted could even exist, running into the arms of the people they were trying to escape. Themselves.

Hysteria blazed in Lucius's eyes. "It is the way it is supposed to be!" But even he was having trouble believing it. Lucius licked his lips, his pupils darting back and forth. "It is the way it should be! The only way… it can be… What else could it be?" Lucius's voice died in his throat. He began to stumble back, grappling backwards for his chair. He fell into it, sighing with relief.

"You're scared." Scorpius spoke up suddenly, his eyes alight with clarity and understanding. "That's it. You're all scared. You all want to be different. You do. But you don't know how. And for you, Grandfather, the easiest thing is pretending you don't want to."

"I know what I want!" Lucius bellowed, grasping for oxygen as he did so. "I know what I want! I know what is right!" Lucius choked on his words. "I would never have dreamed of being as impudent and to my elders. It's all your fault." He spat again at Astoria.

"That's enough." Scorpius rose to his feet and walked until he was right in front of his grandfather. Lucius's eyes were bloodshot. His face was rough. He flinched when Scorpius came close. He was scared, wanting desperately to take his grandson in his decrepit, dying arms. Because even though he didn't show it, he was in awe. He was in awe, and he was proud. Proud that he had lived to see a Malfoy who was brave enough to stand up for what he believed in. For what was right. Now venerable and frail, with nothing more to lose, Lucius still did not have the strength he saw in his grandson. The strength to be better. Scorpius's eyes were unforgiving, and there was no love in them. Lucius was a little bit glad. Glad that he would not be condemning a good man to love a creature as foul and wicked as him. Maybe that was the one good thing he had done in his life.

"Enough." Scorpius breathed, power trembling through his words. "You will never insult my mother. You will never insult my father. You will never insult my friends. You will never hurt my family."

There was a pause.

Lucius nodded. And as he did so, he realized that Astoria was right.

He was already dead.

But then again, had he ever really been alive?

Their words were tenderly floating, drifting upon the soft darkness. Scorpius leaned forward, closer to the crack in their door, feeling them gently slide down his face. The only light was that of the moon in his parent's bedroom, splaying carelessly unto them.

"Astoria, you have always known… you knew when you were marrying me, that I am not a good man." Scorpius could imagine his mother shaking her head upon his father's chest, smiling softly as she did so.

"I don't believe that. A scared man, yes. A weak man, definitely. But you are still a good man."

"If I am not even brave enough to stand up for the most important people in my life, the only people I live for, how can I be a good man?"

"Because you never stop trying to be."

"You were wrong you know. About me being able to make my own decisions. I can't. I am too scared."

"You underestimate yourself Draco."

"No. You just see me as more than I am."

"What is this Draco? What is this life you are living? Is it not your own choice?"

"You remember Astoria. I tried to run away from you. When you told me you were pregnant. For a whole month, I was gone."

"You wanted to protect me. Me and Scorpius. I wouldn't let you."

"No. I was too scared of the person I would have to be, the person I didn't think I could be."

"You left Draco. But you came back."

Scorpius leaned away. He treaded lightly, attempting to make no sound as he returned to his bed. He imagined his father's horrified face when his mother told him they were having a baby. He imagined his mother on her side, completely awake when Draco climbed out of their bed and didn't return. The discovery didn't upset him as much as it should have. His father was scared, but he came back anyway. That was all there was to it. Scorpius had been important enough for him to face his fear.

A couple moments later, the smell of lavender drifted into his nose. He was enveloped in his mother's soft arms.

"I love you Scorpius." Astoria's breath tickled his ear. "I'm so proud of you."

"Why?" Scorpius breathed. "I've had it easy. I've never had to fight to be good."

"But you have. Oh, my darling, you have."

"Mum, you and dad chose to be good."

"No, we didn't. Once you were born, it was never a choice."

"I'm proud of you mum."

"One day you won't be."

Scorpius pulled away. Astoria's deep blue eyes rose and plummeted like the waves of the sea.

"Yes I will."

Astoria slowly shook her head, and nothing Scorpius said could dissuade from her belief.

"I can't do this."

"Yes you can."

"No I can't."

"Yes you can."

"I can't."

"Well it's too late to back out now. They're expecting you."

"I don't think they'll be that disappointed if I don't show."

"How will Rose and Albus feel?"

Scorpius groaned.

Scorpius wasn't religious. He wasn't even sure if he believed in a higher power. But standing there upon the welcome mat of the Burrow, he prayed to every deity he knew existed. He even began praying to Zeus and the Sun God of the Ancient Egyptians. He was currently begging Poseidon to create an earthquake that would destroy them all when the door swung open.

Rose was once again wearing her father's old maroon jumper. Her frizzy curls were in two messy ponytails, their tips just brushing against her shoulders. Freckles filled her shining cheeks. He grinned as she launched herself into his arms, squealing. Astoria smiled discreetly into her gloved hands.

"You came!" Rose pulled away, beaming.

"Trust me, I'm just as surprised." The house behind them was full of noise and color. His own house had been so empty and pale. But hers was full of screaming and laughter and chaos. Suspended above them were colored lights, and beyond that was a deep, darkening blue sky.

A younger girl with flaming red hair and dimples, skipped up from behind Rose. Lily Potter, with butterfly barrettes in her hair, peered curiously at Scorpius.

"Oh!" Rose stepped away from him, putting an am around her younger cousin. "Scorpius, this is Al's sister, Lily." Lily waved enthusiastically.

"Hello Lily." Lily leaned into Rose's ear, speaking loud enough for Scorpius and his mother to hear.

"You were right. He's cute…" Lily simpered sweetly. Scorpius blushed slightly. Rose gaped, her eyes gone wide.

"I said no such thing!" But Lily was already gone, giggling. "She knows I never said that!"

Scorpius coughed. "Don't worry, I know."

"And to think," Rose huffed with her hands on her hips, "Uncle Harry still thinks she's a little angel. We better hope she doesn't start to have any plans for world domination– she's got The Chosen One wrapped around her little finger." Rose suddenly straightened up.

"I'm sorry! You're both standing out in the cold! Come in!"

"Oh no," Astoria chuckled, "I really must be going. What time should I pick Scorpius up?"

"We're usually up until three on Christmas Eve." Astoria blinked, "But if you want to pick him up earlier, that's fine." Rose added hastily.

"I'll be here at eleven." Astoria nodded, squeezing Scorpius's arm in reassurance. He leaned up and kissed his mother on the cheek.

"Have fun!" She whispered. Rose pulled Scorpius into the house when she was gone, closing the door behind them.

"Scorpius!" Al rushed up from one of the couches and embraced his friend. Before Scorpius could protest, Al had grabbed his hand and yanked him to the center of the living room, a small space overflowing with redheads.

"HEY EVERYBODY!" Rose shouted. The noise slowly trickled away until what seemed to be a hundred pairs of eyes were staring up at Scorpius. He gulped. Rose and Al each grabbed one of his arms and linked it with theirs.

"This is our best friend, Scorpius." Al's eyes twinkled. Rose nudged Scorpius's foot with hers.

"Hello." Scorpius attempted weakly.

Silence.

"…the Malfoy?" Someone asked. Rose snorted.

"Do you know another Scorpius?"

"Hey Scorpius!" Fred called from the side.

"How're you doing?" James was actually smiling with encouragement.

"Good." Scorpius felt queasy.

More silence. Scorpius wanted to disappear. The Weasleys began exchanging glances of uncertainty with each other.

"I'm sorry!" He blurted out. Many looked taken aback.

"For what?" Lucy was a timid girl, and seemed shocked by her own boldness.

"I don't know… existing?" Scorpius shrugged sheepishly. A chuckle rippled over the crowd.

That's when Ron Weasley raced into the room.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you lot were actually quiet!" Ron froze in his tracks. He scratched the back of his head with confusion. The tips of his ears were red. "Oh... hello, Scorpius."

"Hello." Scorpius sighed.

Ron cleared his throat. "How are you?"

"I was pretty good. Then your daughter decided she wanted to be my friend."

The entire room burst out laughing. They resumed their conversations, and Scorpius was forgotten. Ron grinned, before returning to the kitchen.

Albus turned to the blond haired boy, who was feeling slightly more relaxed. "I have to go ask my mum something. I'll be back in a couple minutes. Rose'll take care of you." With that, he disappeared into the crowd.

Albus obviously did not know his cousin very well. Apparently, neither did Scorpius. He was currently thanking the Lord he was not alone. He really shouldn't have spoken too soon. He should have realized by now that the universe took great pleasure in making the exact opposite of what he was expecting happen.

"Well I have to go do… something. I'll be back in a bit."

"Wait… are you leaving me? Alone?"

"… I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, you can go meet the rest of the family!"

"No! Rose, don't you DARE!"

"Bye…" Rose waved and started backing away.

"No – Rose I will never forgive you for this! Rose!" Scorpius lunged for her arm, but she was already gone. Scorpius stumbled, accidently bumping into Louis.

"Oi! Watch it Malfoy!" Louis glared at him before sprinting away. Scorpius groaned.

He wasn't even sure why he was friends with a girl so unconcerned for his well being.

Wow! 11 reviews! Thank you so much! That was 2 more than my goal - All thanks to you guys! You're amazing! I loved reading what you said!

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I have another goal... I'm hoping to get to 50 reviews by the time I post the next chapter. It would be great if you could help me out again!

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." ~ Neil Gaiman