This is where you belong (Unity by Shinedown)
Scorpius wasn't certain what was going on. What he was sure of was that the tall redheaded boy looked a lot like he and his dad did. He glanced over at the brunette boy, Brais, and sighed. "Can you explain?"
The girl, Margot, turned her head and smiled at them. "We need to wave to our parents, but once the train gets going, we will try to, okay?"
He followed them, lost in thought. He wasn't stupid, not by a long shot, but this was just so strange. If he had siblings, and there was no doubt that Margot and Damon were twins, then why hadn't Dad told him? Something must have shown on his face because Brais playfully elbowed him. "Don't think so much about it until we can explain, okay?"
"Come on," Margot said, stepping back and wrapping an arm around him. She leaned down to whisper, "Your dad never knew about us."
He was able to smile at that, not really thinking about much more even when they reached a compartment and Margot did something with her wand and waved them in. Once they were in and the door was closed, Margot did another complicated wand movement, grinning wickedly. "Remind me to thank Uncle Theo tonight. If that horrid brat tries anything, it will give us a show."
Confused, Scorpius watched as Margot and Brais waved and then stepped back. Damon smirked, looking very much like Dad and pulled him forward. "We might as well give those awful morons something to think about."
"What?"
Damon snickered. "Smile at your parents and wave, Scorpius, go on."
He did as asked, hoping that someone would explain. He sat down and waited.
"So, you have two siblings," Damon said teasingly, sitting across from him with Margot.
"Are you angry?" Brais asked.
"I don't know. You said my Dad didn't know, but why didn't he know?"
"To keep us all safe," Margot explained gently. "Mummy was really young and the war was really bad. She never told us the who either, you know. Though, we did figure it out, but that can be our little secret."
He sat back and sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, why be nice to me if your mother and father obviously didn't want my dad to know he had other kids?"
"Because," Brais said with a wicked little smirk. "Once the Mean One caught sight of Damon…"
Damon pulled the leather tie out of his hair and shook his head so that his hair fell in his face. "We've been careful to stay out of the public eye, at least in Britain."
Margot glared at her twin. "I told you that Sorcha Bletchley liked you and that there was no need to impress her. You just had to go and be vain, didn't you, Dame?"
Damon waved his hand at her. "And that outfit you're wearing wasn't to get Dougal's attention?"
She pouted.
"What those two are trying to say is that Mummy's family is mostly insane." Brais shrugged. "Our uncles George, Bill, and Charlie are the only sane ones other than Mummy. Our cousin Victoire should be along in a bit."
"Yeah, when she is done snogging Teddy Lupin," Damon said cheekily.
"Victoire?" Scorpius said faintly. He wondered if he'd fallen and hit his head and this was all a wonky dream. Just an hour ago he was secure in the knowledge that he was Scorpius Draco Malfoy, only child of Draco and Astoria Malfoy nee Greengrass and only grandson of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Now though, most of that was wrong.
"Yeah, she is Uncle Bill's oldest daughter." Brais patted him on the shoulder. "Mummy and Daddy told us that we were to stand by our sane family members. As of today, you count…if you want to."
He thought about it for a long while. Siblings sounded like fun. At least, these three were anyway. But, what would Dad think? Or Mother for that matter? Biting the corner of his mouth, Scorpius shrugged. "I want to… I mean, if my parents or yours wouldn't be upset. They kept it a secret after all."
Margot snickered, moving Brais aside so she could sit next to Scorpius. "They know it isn't a secret anymore. Daddy is Daddy and always will be. That won't change. But, we wouldn't mind another sibling."
Brais laughed. "Well, more than Mummy wants to give us."
"If she ever convinces Daddy that she will be fine if they try for another," Margot said dryly.
"Wait, your Mum wants more kids?" Scorpius figured he looked really silly, but wow, just wow!
Damon looked at him, the curiosity clear on his face. "Well, yes. She had six siblings so big families aren't a problem. Grand would be happy if there were eight of us instead of just four. Daddy loves Mummy and he has put his foot down is all."
"My Mother said that it was the most horrid thing she had ever experienced and that she would never, ever do it again." All three of them were staring at him, clearly shocked. "What?"
"You really need to stick with us," Brais said, shaking his head.
"Okay, if my Dad says he won't be upset," Scorpius said with a tiny smile.
"We'll write Mummy and Daddy tonight," Margot assured him, ruffling his hair. She laughed when he scowled and tried to pat it back down. "Get used to it, Scor."
"Scor?" He gave up getting his hair to lay flat like Mother liked it and sat back, eying them warily. "Mother says we should use proper names."
"And yet you don't call your dad father, do you?"
He shrugged, feeling his cheeks heat. "Dad said that sometimes we don't have to be formal. I call him father when I am around Mother." He shrugged. "Before Grandmother and Grandfather died, they liked me to be formal as well."
Damon snorted. "We were taught to be formal too, but Grand and Mummy also make sure we have fun. Daddy and Uncle Theo too…okay most everyone does. We'll make sure you have plenty of fun."
"Yeah, Uncle George gave us lots of his pranks." Brais looked positively wicked.
"Which Daddy said you have to wait to use," Damon said in a tone Scorpius recognized from the times his Mother had warned him that he was stepping out of her rules of behaviour. Then the older boy grinned, ruffling Brais' hair. "That means we wait until we're at Hogwarts where you have four Prefects to keep you out of trouble."
"You three are really confusing," Scorpius muttered.
They all laughed. Margot ruffled his hair again. "We can be, for sure. It will take you a couple of weeks, but we'll not be so confusing after you get used to us."
Scorpius only hoped she was right.
-ii—
Brais laughed when Scorpius just stared at the rooms. Daddy and Grandpa had stepped in and insisted that all of them shared the rooms that had been given to his Daddy his seventh year way back when Margot and Dame had ben first years. The Headmistress had known better than to argue. The blond still looked a bit shocked. Rolling his eyes, Brais tugged him over to one of the bedrooms. "It's a good thing this is a big room, Margot said there was no way she was sharing, even with Dame."
Scorpius sat on the far bed, shrugging. "Mother will be irritated, but that is only because she thought I should have a room of my own and Dad actually laughed and said it wasn't necessary."
"As if McGonagall would have allowed it, you aren't the Minister's grandson." Damon strolled in and tossed his school robes on the bed. "Though, she won't complain that you're here and our Head of House won't either."
"Why not?" Scorpius asked even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He had quickly learnt that with this group just about anything was possible.
"Uncle Ris is our Head of House," Margot said from the doorway. "He got talked into teaching for two years, though that was our first year. Whatever Auntie Lilis said to him must have been really good. He keeps an eye on all of us. You'd know him as Ariston Moon."
"I think we should write our letters. I'm getting confused again," Scorpius murmured, slipping off the bed and opening his trunk. Finding his quill, ink, and parchment he sat at the desk next to his bed and tried to figure out what he was supposed to write. So much had happened today. He knew that Dad wouldn't really care if his letter wasn't all formal though.
Dad,
I sorted Slytherin, so you were correct. Brais, Margot, and Damon are fun. Victoire isn't bad either; she visited us on the train. I told them that I wanted to know if you were okay with us being friends. I don't want to do anything that would hurt your feelings. They told me that you didn't know about any of it and I believe them. I was told I was to stay in their rooms. On the train, I learnt that you don't tell Margot 'no' when she sets her mind to something. Is it okay if I keep staying here? They say that their Uncle Ris is our Head of House and he won't care.
Margot is funny; she ruffled my hair and refuses to call me anything except Scor. I kind of like it. Damon… well he is great! Brais, he is in my year and says he has decided we should be friends. They say that they have a little sister at home, Theodora, and that their Mummy wants more kids. Can you believe that? Then Dougal Moon and Sorcha Bletchley came into our compartment. It was so odd to see Dougal and Damon all sappy and weird around the girls. Brais and I played chess and tried to ignore the flirting. That was when Victoire hauled the older four out and sent them to their Prefect meeting. She sat with us. Brais says she is part Veela and she asked if I was too. I'm not am I? You would have said, right? She was nice though, shooing off that girl, the one whose dad was rude about me on the platform. When the others got back, it was very loud. The girl, Rose Weasley, is their cousin, but they promised that she will stay away. I don't doubt them. Damon got that look on his face, just like the one on yours when Rose's dad was so mean earlier today.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I am settling in just fine and will wait to hear from you on what I should do about the three of them.
Love,
Scorpius
-ii—
Margot all but yanked her brothers out of the room. Once they were in hers, she closed the door. "We need to write Mummy and Daddy. I say we write one letter. We can't say what we want to over the Floo."
Brais didn't question her, walking over to the desk and sitting down; he called over his shoulder, "You know that Mummy and Daddy won't mind."
She joined him, laying her hands on his shoulders. "Well, of course not. Scor needs to know that though."
She watched as Brais started the letter.
Mummy and Daddy, Uncle Theo, Grand and Grandpa,
We decided to write you together, I do hope that is all right. I sorted Slytherin; though I figure Uncle Ris already told you that. Scorpius (or Scor as Margot insists on calling him) sat with us and Victoire watched over us while Dame, Dougal, Sorcha, and Margot went to the Prefect meeting. We like him, though he is really quiet and formal. He is in our rooms with us. Rose Weasley tried to start trouble on the train, but Victoire stopped her before Uncle Theo's wards could kick in. Margot was upset. Anyway, I love you and miss you. Give Dora a big hug from me and tell her that I promise to read all of her favourite books to her when I get home at Yule.
Love, Brais
Margot shooed him aside. "That's really good, but now it's my turn."
Dear all,
Like Brais said, we like Scor. He was all stiff and formal, almost like he was going to an important ball not school. His daddy seems okay too, from what Scor said. I am not going to tell you what I think about his mother, though she seems like a real cow you can tell he is closer to his daddy than his mother. That is what he calls her 'Mother' though his daddy is 'Dad'. He's worried about you being upset that we have included him. He's also worried that his daddy will be upset. You don't think he will, do you? The poor kid needs us. Mummy, Grand, you agree with me, don't you? Daddy, what we said this summer holds true. You will always be my Daddy and I never want you to doubt that, no matter what. Please give Dora big hugs and kisses. I love you all and will make the boys write often. I would rather be at home with you.
Love you,
Margot
Damon snickered, kissing the top of her head. "At least you tried to be somewhat nice. Now, scoot, so I can write to them. You know if I don't, Mummy will send me a letter saying how sad she was not to hear from me."
She rolled her eyes, but moved, playfully curtsying. "As you wish."
He laughed, pulling her into his lap. "Come on now, sister mine, you know you have to read what I write and pop me like Mummy does if you don't approve."
She laughed, but didn't protest since he was spot on.
Dear All,
I didn't kill anyone, or maim them either, on the train. Sorcha and Margot had to sit on us though. Yes, I reminded Brais to wait on the pranks, Daddy. Margot decided we are adopting Scor and I happen to agree with her on the decision. He needs us. I hope none of you are angry that we did so. I will write soon or Margot will make me pay. Give Dora big hugs for me.
Love,
Dame
"Well?"
She grinned. "Not bad, Dame, it might be your best yet. Now, let's go get the one from Scor and use our Prefects badges to our advantage."
He stood, setting her on her feet. "Brais, see if you can get Scor down to the common room. We might as well start as we mean to go on; we've nothing to be ashamed of."
Margot sighed at the wary look on Brais' face, so she rushed over to hug him. "How about I send Dame with the letters and escort you two down there?"
"I'm not a baby," Brais protested.
"No, but you found out that we have another brother and that has to be a bit strange," she pointed out, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and walking him to the door.
He shrugged. "You and Dame do."
She crouched down in front of him, shaking her head. "No, baby brother, we do."
He smiled shakily. "Yes, yes we do. Don't worry, big sister, we'll make Mummy and Daddy proud of us."
Margot grinned. "Yes, yes we will. Come on, why don't we see about getting to know our brother a bit better."
They would Floo for their ice cream after they got Scorpius a bit more comfortable with them.
-ii—
Scorpius caught his letter, wondering what his Dad would say. He ignored Brais' questioning look for the moment. His hands were shaking, but he hoped he hid that as he unrolled the letter.
Scorpius,
I'm very proud of you, though I would have been regardless of where you sorted. The hat has a bit of a history with being wrong. I am not surprised that your new friends are all in Slytherin, their mother certainly should have been. It sounds like you had an eventful train ride. I know that the news yesterday shocked you almost as much as it did me. We can discuss it during the Yule holiday if you wish or you can Floo me if you'd rather not wait that long.
I am not upset by any of the friends you've made, I promise. You know I don't break promises to you. I won't tell your mother that you are staying in their rooms unless you want me to. I was at school with their father during my time at Hogwarts and if Margot is anything like her mother or grandmother; it is probably the wisest decision to not disagree with her. Her mother knows a really nasty hex, perhaps dozens knowing her and I bet she taught them all to Margot.
No, as far as I am aware you have no Veela blood, though the blond hair has been questioned many times. I do know that your Grandmother was the only blond in her family. I can look again at the family books if you would like.
As for Rose Weasley, everything I warned you about her father is true. He was an idiot and a prat in school and has never grown up. Steer clear of her, though I doubt that the group you've fallen in with will allow her anywhere near you. That being said, just have fun. I know that your mother told you to study and get top marks, so please keep this between us. I know you are bright and have no doubts that you'll do well in your classes. I'd say don't cause mayhem, but somehow I feel that it would fall on deaf ears. So, don't get caught.
Please write often and keep me updated. Oh, and if you join in any mayhem instigated by their Uncle George… be very careful and eat nothing that man gives you or you may find yourself changed into a canary, at the very least.
Love,
Dad
He snickered, he just couldn't help it. "Dad says he is okay with us being friends and with me staying in your rooms." He paused, blushing. "I mean, if you still want me to be."
"Of course," they chorused.
Scorpius grinned. He was certain that however this term went, it was going to be very interesting indeed. He couldn't wait.