I bleed more than you think (Only want to mend by 32 Leaves)

Draco had put his foot down and insisted that he could more than competently handle taking Scorpius shopping for his school supplies. Astoria had tipped her chin up and stormed off, which was normal behaviour the past four years since spotting Scorpius and Damon's similar appearances. He was at a loss as to what he was supposed to do about the situation. His marriage had been at his father's bidding and had been bearable for a while, but was now more torture than anything.

Sighing, he went in search of his fifteen year old son who had just returned the day before from his usual summer holiday at Valhalla. Draco honestly envied Scorpius for the ease in which he had been accepted into the Zabini clan. He felt foolish whenever faced with any of them, most especially Ginny and Blaise. Astoria had been appalled by the mere idea of allowing Scorpius visit, no matter how much of that he knew was jealousy. She was jealous not only of the fact that he had, so far as she assumed, had a relationship with at Hogwarts with someone else, but that Ginny, whose blood family was seen as a joke, had married into a family with far more societal influence. No matter the rumours the Weasleys kept trying to propagate, anyone who saw Ginny and Blaise knew there was no mind control going on.

He rather felt as if he was walking a fine line, trying to keep his wife happy enough so that his life wasn't as miserable as it had been during the war and yet making sure that Scorpius had a good life, one that was more than studying and strict rules. That was one of the reasons he wanted it to just be the two of them today. They could spend hours in Quality Quidditch Supplies if they wanted. He also knew that Scorpius would insist on at least stopping in and saying hello to his 'Uncle' George. He didn't mind. George didn't give him that cold, assessing look that the children did. That made it a lot easier to be on a friendly basis with the man.

Knocking on Scorpius' door, he waited for the soft, "Come in."

He pushed open the door and laughed at the sight of Scorpius standing in the middle of chaos as the elves tried to put away all of the things that he hadn't left with and that Astoria would have a bit of a fit over if she knew about them. He spotted robes, boots, books, and what looked like at least a half dozen boxes marked with 'WWW'. "Are you ready to do your school shopping?"

Scorpius grinned. "I have new Quidditch pads, they were a birthday present."

Draco grinned, going over to the wardrobe and looking them over. He had to give them credit, they certainly knew how to search out (or have custom made) the best. It was actually something he had thought about doing for Scorpius, but had known that Scorpius' 'other family' was probably even more Quidditch mad than he was. The left bracer had an embossed dragon and the right a snake. "I'm jealous," he teased.

Scorpius smirked. "I had quite the party too."

"I'm sure you did. At least it wasn't that formal dinner you had here, eh?"

Scorpius crinkled his nose and Draco had to take a moment to school his features. Damn, but it was strange to see Ginny's little habits showing up in the one child he was able to claim publicly. He hadn't missed just how much Margot and Damon were like her over the years, but he still wasn't prepared to see those same things in Scorpius. "Your face will freeze like that, you know."

Scorpius tossed a shirt at him and rolled his eyes. "Sure it will, only if someone hits me with a hex."

"It won't be me. Well, unless you don't hurry up so we can get an early start."

Scorpius grumbled a bit, tucking away a few more things in the wardrobe, the one location that Draco had charmed for him and that not even the elves could get open. He felt giving some level of privacy was the least he could do. Both of them knew that Astoria would be in here the moment they left, searching Scorpius' belongings. It was, Draco knew, a little rebellion. He had severely cut back the level of control she had over the Manor and the elves when she had started her little hate campaign four years back almost to the day. If he were honest with himself, he wanted her to walk out. Neither of them was happy, but he knew asking her for a divorce would only make matters worse publicly as well as privately. He was not about to give those bastards more fodder for their ludicrous claims. It was the least he could do.

"Dad?"

Shaking his head, Draco smiled. "Sorry, lost in thought. Let's go, you do have a racing broom to pick out after all."

Scorpius grabbed a long, light grey lightweight coat in lieu of robes, grinning all the while. "Excellent. You do realise I'll want the new Firebolt that is specifically for Chasers, yes?"

Draco shot him a droll look. "No, I had no idea you would want any such thing. I didn't pre-order one either."

"We should look at the toy store while we're in Diagon," Scorpius said, pulling on his coat.

Draco's brows rose. "You can't be serious."

Laughing, Scorpius pushed him into the hallway. "Hey, I just overheard Aunt Gin trying to bribe Uncle Blaise. I figure start looking now and that way, I can pick something out at Yule if she manages to talk him into it again."

They always shopped for birthday and Yule gifts for the Zabini brood together, signing Scorpius' name only. It was a way for Draco to give his other two children gifts without the awkward situations where he would have to make excuses or explain himself. He didn't want it to be awkward, though he knew that it was mostly him that made it so despite struggling not to.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Happy Birthday."

Draco was shocked to see a wrapped present in Scorpius' hands. "You gave me a present before your annual holiday to that madhouse."

Scorpius laughed, knowing he was joking and that even the inhabitants of Valhalla were known to deem it that. "Yes, I did, but this isn't from me. I am supposed to tell you that you can't give it back and if you dare try to say thank you in any way that Grand will take her wand to you."

"Resistance is futile," he murmured, opening the gift. His jaw nearly dropped when he pulled out a coat like Scorpius' though it was several shades darker grey.

"Well, let's see then."

Draco shrugged in on with a wry smile. It fit perfectly and was near enough to the same fit as everyday robes that it wouldn't be too odd to wear it in public. Not that he wouldn't wear it; he would if only to show his appreciation in the only way he was allowed to do so. "Dare I ask who is behind this?"

Scorpius shrugged, clearly struggling to look innocent. "You know that I can't tell, so why ask?"

Tugging Scorpius to get him moving, Draco just shrugged. "Call it innate curiosity."

"Or masochism."

"Or that," he agreed. They Apparated from the entrance hall and reappeared at the far end of Diagon Alley where the high end shops were located. "So, do we do the boring part of the list first?"

Scorpius eyed him speculatively. "That depends, how boring is the list?"

Laughing, Draco pulled the list from his trouser pocket. "Books, potions ingredients, new robes…"

With the dramatic flair only teenagers possessed, Scorpius sighed heavily. "Might as well start with robes, we both know that we've got the potions ingredients in your greenhouse."

Draco slung his arm over Scorpius' shoulders, noting that they were nearly equal in height already. "It won't be too terrible. I'll tell you what," he said wryly, having given him this same bribe the past two years. "Lunch at Cerridwen's and whatever sweets you want to take back home and hide from your mother."

"Deal."

"I thought you might say that."

-ii—

They were just exiting Quality Quidditch Supplies and heading towards George's shop when the shrillest voice in Britain (other than Granger's) rose above the usual hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Draco rolled his eyes and sent Scorpius off to the relative safety of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes seeing as the entirety of Wizarding Britain knew that Molly Weasley refused to step foot inside.

"She doesn't scare me," Scorpius hissed, his anger clear.

"Nor does she scare me," Draco returned flatly. "But, you shouldn't have to deal with this particular form of insanity. Go, now."

Scorpius knew better than to sass and took the parcels, ducking into the brightly decorated shop. Draco turned, once he was certain his son was as safe as he could make him. "Mrs Weasley, to what do I owe this…pleasure?"

The dumpy woman glared at him, apparently trying to convey that he should be either scared of her or ashamed for something. Draco wasn't sure which it was, though given her delusions, he would find out soon enough. Planting her hands on her hips, Molly huffed and looked indignant. Draco really wanted to tell her that she was about as scary as a half-lame kneazle, but waited. She didn't disappoint. "You are helping them keep my baby girl prisoner!"

Oh well, this was going to be fun, he decided quickly. Adopting his 'I'm bored and you are scum on my boots' expression, he shook his head. "Mrs Weasley, have you thought about seeing the head healers? I think it would do you a world of good."

Her face did that purple-red thing as she sputtered and huffed. "My baby girl is a prisoner in those monsters' house and you jest with me! You should be thankful for what we did for you after the war! Without poor Harry speaking out for you, you would be in a cell. If you don't help, we shall see about putting you in one as you should be!"

"Your daughter is happily married and one of the shining stars of a society set you have never been welcome into. I think you're jealous. But, if you want to keep slandering the daughter-in-law of the Minster for Magic, do go on."

"You are part of it aren't you? She had those bastards of yours, no one is fooled by the lies that monster is spreading that say otherwise."

Oh well now. The fun was over and he was right angry. "How dare you speak of your own child in such a way? What kind of mother are you?"

She went from indignant to dismayed in the blink of an eye. "A mother who wants her baby healed and home where she belongs."

He smirked. "She is both of those things, you daft bint. It is a real pity that you can't see past your own idiocy to see the truth. Now, if you're done making a fool of yourself, I do have things to do."

"What would you know about being a good parent, Death Eater?"

He snickered, truly amused. "Really? Is that the best you've got? I don't have time for this; I only enjoy a battle of wits with those who can keep up with me. Tell your son and his annoying wife to stay away as well, I've already wasted too much of my valuable time on half-wits today."

She stormed off; pushing through the crowd that had gathered and he shook his head. "It really is a pity that she's allowed to walk freely."

Knowing his point had been made; Draco turned on his heel and walked away. He was just reaching for the door when George stepped out. "Oh good, just who I was looking for. Come on."

Unsure of what George was on about, Draco followed him around the building and in through a side door. "Why did we do that?"

"Well, it was fun to make sure that crowd knew just whose side I was on and you're angry enough that I didn't want you in the shop in case your magic decided to act up."

Unimpressed, Draco stopped in the middle of the hallway. "Oh please, I'm not five; I can control my magic just fine."

George rolled his eyes. "You were out there, since the idiot I am supposed to call Mother is still breathing."

"My point exactly."

"Control only lasts so long, you know that. I had to send Scor up to my flat for the same reason. He was livid and I'm damn surprised that I didn't have things randomly exploding as I rushed him through. What exactly was she on about this time?"

Draco held up a hand. It was one thing to get the rumour mill going, considering he knew that Marguerite would be the first to hear about it and filter out what she didn't think the rest of her family wanted to hear. It was another to have George spouting off about it. "You saw nothing and you heard nothing."

"Fine, go on up and get Scor. I saw nothing, though I do have something to say to you."

Wary, Draco motioned for him to go on.

"The bloke I saw, and heard, out there on the street should show his face at Valhalla the next time he drops by."

"What are you on about?"

George sighed. "You're all stiff and formal around all of us, though I admit you and Blaise seem to have found some sort of common ground. Drop the act, just once and see where it gets you."

Draco didn't bother replying. He didn't know how to explain that he'd like to, but when faced with all of the children watching him as if he was going to kill them all at the slightest provocation… well it was simply not conducive to being anything except defensive. Oh well, such was his life and he'd learnt to accept it. He loathed it, but had pretty much given up on it ever changing. He pushed aside his pensive mood, not wanting Scorpius to see the true depth of his feelings on this particular subject.

With a small smile, he pushed open the door to George's flat to see Scorpius reclined on the couch reading a book that Draco was certain he didn't want to know the contents of. "Come on, we are dropping everything off at the Manor and going out to dinner and then for ice cream."

"She really got you angry," Scorpius said lightly. "Are we talking ice cream in Hogsmeade or…"

"Of course not, so far as your mother needs to know we are doing a spot check at the winery."

Scorpius grinned. "Does that mean if I liberate a few bottles to take to Hogwarts, you will look the other way?"

Draco rubbed his eyes and tried to look all woebegone. "Seriously? What have I taught you?"

"What you don't know can't hurt either of us."

"Exactly, now get the parcels together. I am going to pretend I had momentary deafness, and didn't hear anything past the 'where are we getting ice cream'."

Seeing Scorpius laugh and rush to do as bidden did Draco a world of good. He was doing his best to give his son the opposite sort of childhood than his own and felt he was doing a bang up job of it thus far. Scorpius was the one bright spot in his life and Draco would do whatever he could to assure Scorpius' continued happiness, no matter what he had to do.