CHAPTER 3

"Malfoy and son spotted in Diagon Alley after 7 years of absence."

Draco Malfoy, yes the very one and only Draco Malfoy was recently spotted in Diagon Alley after being absent from the Wizarding World for close to 7 years. But he was not alone. With him was what most onlookers believe to be his son, the newest addition to the Malfoy family. With this brings a whole new escapade of questions, like; who's the mother? And where have the Malfoy's been for the past 7 years and most importantly why are they back now?

Some say it may have something to do with the war heroine Hermione Granger. As the pair where spotted in an intimate encounter outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, just yesterday. Could there be a romance in the futures of the Gryffindor Princess and Slytherin Prince? One could easily assume that is possible considering the more than friendly encounter these two had. However the happy moment didn't last long as Ron Weasley, long time boyfriend of Miss Granger, soon arrived on the scene to help his girlfriend escape from the "claws of the enemy" a close insider revealed. What happened next is a pure mystery, as Malfoy and his son (whose true parentage is still a mystery) disappeared soon after. The question is where are the Malfoy's now?

Don't worry my dear readers. I'll have all the details on this mystery soon enough!

Rita Skeeter

Draco sighed deeply and looked at the front picture of him and Granger talking outside the Quidditch shop. Luckily Scorpius was not entirely present in the picture. All that could be seen of the small Malfoy was his blonde hair as he hid behind his fathers legs.

Taking one last look at the article, Draco threw it furiously into the fire and watched as it burned. The entire article was a joke, but he didn't expect any less from Rita Skeeter.

"So you and Granger huh?" a voice laced with humour carried though his office, and he turned to see his best friend Blaise Zabini walking with a grin Draco knew all to well.

Still or perhaps, even more good looking than when in Hogwarts, the charming Italian was one of the few people that had actually known about Draco's life in Paris. Two years after the war Blaise joined him in Paris to help Draco with the business. He was also Scorpius' godfather and it was Blaise that made Draco see sense and helped him get a divorce from Astoria. That was no easy feat, but with Blaise's help it was a little less messy. Unlike Draco though, Blaise was not ready to move permanently to Paris and settle down and therefore spent most the remanding 5 years travelling back and forth between Paris and London.

While Draco was no longer a bachelor mostly because Scorpius was his life now, Blaise was still very much single and had always attained this to not being ready to settle down and that he didn't want to give up his freedom just yet. But Draco knew his best friend better than that and knew it was simply because Blaise hadn't found the right women yet. Not that he was looking in the right places.

Apart from being the party animal that he was, Blaise was an amazing godfather and Draco knew he would not have survived the last 3 years had it not been for Blaise. It shocked the young Italian when Draco told him that they were moving back to London.

Blaise was an exceptionally good lawyer and knew immediately that Draco was not telling him the full story but knew that when the time was right, the blonde would fill

him in on all he needed to know. But he hated to admit that his curiosity was killing him.

"I didn't know you and granger where romantically involved." Blaise smirked at Draco.

Draco didn't say much just simply rolled his eyes at his friend and took a seat behind his desk.

"This was exactly what I wanted to avoid." Draco sighed, "have you even read this trash?!" he exasperatedly as he pointed to the now completely burnt newspaper in the fire.

Draco ran his hands through his hair and moved to pour himself a glass of firewhiskey.

"That bloody Skeeter woman threw this whole thing out of proportion!" he said as he took a gulp of the firewhiskey.

"Yeah mate, she did. But you knew this was coming? You really didn't expect people to not say anything at the return of Draco Malfoy…did you?" Blaise asked with an eyebrow raised.

Draco was not naïve and would have definitely seen this coming.

"No …no I expected people to ask questions but bloody hell! Granger of all people"

Blaise simply laughed at this. So that's what this was about. Granger.

Draco always had a soft spot for the bookworm ever since from the encounter they had at Malfoy Manor when his aunt went mental on them during the war. It shocked Draco to learn that Hermione didn't blame him or harbour any ill thoughts towards him, as she subtly mentioned during his trial. But whether Draco knew it or not, Blaise knew that he still felt guilty. The last thing he wanted was to be implicated in a secret love affair with the Gryffindor.

Blaise noted that his friend looked tired and it wasn't because the day had been spent getting settled into their new house. While his mother insisted they move back into the Manor, Draco felt it was best they have their own space. So that Sunday they unpacked and made the flat feel more like home. It wasn't anything as grand as the Manor but it was no modest flat either. Would you expect any less from a Malfoy?

The office in which they were all currently seated was done up beautifully with rich cream and brown curtains and Draco's custom mahogany desk placed in the middle of the room. Floor to ceiling of the office was covered mostly with books. Shelves upon shelves of books, and a striking fire place sat in the middle of the wall to the far left side of the room. The office main library and guest room was situated on the second floor. The main bedroom was one level down. Along with Scorp's room and what had become Blaise's room as well. While most of the house was done up in polite shades of cream and brown (Draco didn't want his home to resemble the Manor at all. While he loved his old house it always felt a little could to him.). The new Malfoy house was far more welcoming and brighter and Draco was pretty content …for now.

Blaise observed his friend and figured now was as good a chance to get an answer for a very tired looking Draco.

"Why are you back mate?" Blaise thought to try his luck. But all he received was a blank look from Draco; should have known better, Malfoy's and their damn secrets.

Before either one could continue with the conversation the office doors burst open and in a flash of blonde hair, Scorpius launched himself at his father. Scorpius had barely made his way up onto his fathers lap when his father started tickling him. He moved left and right as his father continued the tickling torture, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. Finally the tickles ceased and he looked up to his father and saw that his Uncle Blaise was also in the room.

"Uncle Blaise!' he said cheerfully.

'hey little man" Blaise responded with a big boyish grin. A lot could be said about these two Slytherins, but there was no denying they loved Scorpius very much. And perhaps it was the lack of a mother figure in his life, or because he was really such a sweet child, but affection was one thing Scorpius Malfoy was not short on. Both father and godfather dotted on him.

"Shouldn't you be in bed young man?" his father asked gently and looked to the faithful house elf that had chased the young Malfoy into the study.

"Yes but I want you to read me a story." Scorpius said as he stopped wriggling in his fathers grasp. "You promised" he pouted knowing that his father would give in to him.

"I did didn't I ?" Draco said softly, "well a promise is a promise" and scooped Scorpius up and made his way out the office, not before Blaise gave his a look that clearly stated he hadn't forgotten Draco had yet to answer his question.

Once Scorpius was in bed, Draco, as promised read his son a story. The boy's room was done in green and silver (as chosen my Draco) with silver wallpaper and embossed with dragons magically charmed to move, and bright green beddings with the Malfoy Crest embroidered on the edge of the blankets. A "home coming" gift from his grandmother. He was after all a Malfoy. His bed sat in the middle of the room with either sides of his wall covered with books and his more precious toys.

After finishing the story as promised, and making sure that Scorpius was both warm enough and comfortable, Draco retired to his room. His room was surprisingly less Slytherin but no less extravagant, with silver wallpaper, with much darker silver and black beddings and a plush black rug. A couch was placed near the roaring fire in the corner of the room and he could notice the curtains were drawn on the windows that over looked the now quiet muggle street. To the far right he had a few shelves set up with his favourite books.

He sat down on the plush bed and now that he was alone with his thoughts, it all seemed too much. Of course he didn't have much of a choice about coming back to London and he knew that he owed Blaise an explanation, especially considering all his friend had done for him. But that time would come later. Right now he had to make sure that his son was comfortable, for something told him that this move back to London was a very permanent one.

Truth was he had missed home, and would have not minded coming back, were if not for the conditions that brought him back. But Draco was an exceptionally intelligent wizard and knew he would a way out of this mess.

The fabricated words of Rita Skeeter crept into his thoughts once more and he groaned when he thought about what had been suggested in the article. Of all the witches he could have a secret affair would … it had to be Granger. Of course Draco admitted (to himself, cause Blaise would never let him live it down if he said so) but Granger was undoubtedly beautiful. But he still felt guilty for what had happened and he knew the Weasel still blamed him. But there was nothing he could do about that … not that he cared what the Weasel thought.

Draco only hoped that he had the strength to see this through. Tomorrow was going to an entirely different challenge. With that he allowed himself to slip into a dream-less slumber.

A/N: I do hope you guys like this chapter. I might have rambled on a bit…I was hoping you guys would give me some ideas for a house elf name?! i simply cant decide … I know it sounds a bit silly but I'm some what of a perfectionist so names and details are very important to me. Leave me your thoughts. Thank you to all those who are following this story and to those who've added it to their favourites! :D you make my day !