The Christmas holidays were fast approaching, and Astoria was ecstatic. The holidays meant her son, Scorpius, was coming home and she couldn't wait to talk to her boy. Sunlight, filtered by the grey clouds that hung in the sky, streamed into the living room. The Christmas tree was currently being decorated by several house elves and Astoria herself. Just as she was levitating a particularly delicate crystal ornament she heard a hideous scream.

"THERE IS NO WAY I'M LETTING POTTER'S AND WEASELS INTO MY HOUSE!"

This shocked Astoria so much that she lost all concentration and the ornament fell to the ground and broke with a crash. She huffed and puffed, glaring fiercely at her husband when he marched into the room.

"Look what you did!" she demanded, pointing at the shards littering the hardwood floor.

Usually scolding Draco worked, as she surely held the key to his heart and will, but Draco was so furious he hardly paid any heed to her reprimand. He simply rolled his eyes, drew out his wand and said, "Reparo!"

The ornament became good as new. Astoria sighed, clearly disappointed she wouldn't have the chance to hold something over his head for the rest of the day. Instead she finished her job, levitating the ornament to its proper place, then glided over to her husband, where they both sat down on the dark green loveseat.

"What's the matter now darling? Another dastardly letter from our wayward son?" she asked, although Draco couldn't miss the sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Very funny," Draco drawled. "But, yes, he's done it again. How is this boy my son?"

"It's called procreation, dear," Astoria said. "Do we need to go over the birds and the bees?"

Draco glared daggers at her, pointing a finger at her, obviously hoping he was being threatening.

"Don't go trying to change the subject," he snapped. "I know you little housewives, you're all in cahoots!"

"Now really dear," Astoria exclaimed, holding a hand close to over her heart. "That's a horrible accusation to make!"

"Oh, really? So you're not…"

"Hermione works for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she's not a housewife."

Draco groaned pathetically, putting his head in his hands in despair. Astoria giggled, she really did have fun annoying her husband. However, she decided it was time to get serious.

"Really Draco, what is the matter? What did Scorpius say?" she asked, in the most soothing voice she could muster without bursting into a fit of laughter.

Draco mumbled something incoherent.

"What?"

Draco mumbled again.

"Draco, I can't hear you."

"HE WANTS THE POTTER BOY AND THE WEASEL GIRL OVER FOR DINNER!" he exclaimed.

Draco waited with baited breath for his wife's reply.

"That's all?" she asked, looking at him as if he had just been transfigured into a flobberworm.

"What do you mean that's all?" Draco said, indignation clearly in his tone. "A Potter and a Weasley in the Malfoy house? I accepted he was in Gryffindor, I came to terms his best friends were those… those two, under the impression that I would never have to meet them!"

"Draco," Astoria sighed, patting his head as if he were a small child. "You didn't accept it, you nearly had a heart attack and the first thing you did was write a letter to the Headmaster to make sure the Sorting Hat was fired, and you can't fire the sorting hat. Honestly, you can't expect to never meet those kids either. They're his best friends."

She looked into her husbands' icy blue-gray eyes and delivered the final blow. "And you owe Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to give their children a chance, whether you like it or not."

Draco stiffened and had suddenly wished he had never told Astoria in the first place, because she was right. He did owe it to Potter and Weasley, because they had saved his life during the War time. Not only that, but Potter had never convicted the Malfoy family of their crimes even when, Draco knew, they partially deserved it.

Astoria smiled as Draco sulked. She hopped up from her place beside him and said, "Well, now that that's settled, I'm going to go Christmas shopping!" Before Draco had a chance to look up at her she had vanished. Draco heaved a great sigh, and pulled out the crumpled letter from his pocket to read for the thousandth time.

Dear Dad,

I hope you and Mum are well. My first year has been exciting so far. I really enjoy Defense Against the Dark Arts and our flying lessons best. We should play a game of quidditch when I get back for the holidays.

Draco's lips twitched to form a half-smile.

I can't wait until I can take Care of Magical Creatures though! Then Albus, Rose and me can see Hagrid everyday! Albus said we might be able to ride a Hippogriff!

Draco's partial smile fell at these words, and he frowned. Oh. Hell. No. His son was not riding on one of those great, ugly beasts. What was that oaf, Hagrid, teaching his son?

Albus's brother, James, said dragons could eat us though. That isn't true is it?

Draco now made it a mission to kill James Potter.

Something's been bothering me… I honestly don't know if I should tell you this. Some Slytherin bloke, named Goyle pushed me and called me a 'Bloodtraitor'. I know you wanted me to be in Slytherin, dad, but I don't think I like some of them.

This part of the letter made Draco upset. He rubbed his temple with his free hand. He had been afraid of this. When he had gotten over the simple fact of "Oh Merlin my son's in bloody Gryffindor!" he knew that the pure-blood families, especially those who most resented the fall of the Dark Lord, would bully his son. He couldn't imagine how much worse it would get as he got older.

Besides all of that, it's pretty uneventful. By the way, can Albus and Rose come over for dinner during break ? Thanks!

Sincerely,

Scorpius

Draco scowled at the last scribble; the obvious clump of words that Scorpius had been hoping would go simply unnoticed. Draco noticed anything concerning the Potter's and Weasley's however, and this was no exception. He laid back and closed his eyes. Surely his son could be satisfied with some other girl or boy his age? Like Blaise's son, or even Pansy's?

Draco knew that he was wrong though. As he opened his eyes, he looked out the window as snow began to fall. For his son's sake, shouldn't he give them a chance? If not their father's, than their children. After all, it was a miracle his son was still alive. It must have taken a great deal of effort and forgiveness on Ron Wealey's part to let Scorpius within fifty feet of his little girl.

"Kassy," Draco called. One of the house elves, dressed in a prim, spotless white linen came to his aide. "Yes, Master Malfoy?"

"Start the planning for a dinner, probably on the 23rd," he said. "Scorpius's friends are coming."

Meanwhile, at the Burrow, Ron Weasley had just about choked on his cucumber sandwhich.

"My daughter at the MALFOY'S?" he screeched.

As he began to rant and rave, Hermione just rolled her eyes. "This might take awhile." She murmured to Crookshanks, the old cat purring in her arms.