Before he could second guess himself, Theo was on his feet, Hermione looked at him quizzically over the top of Scorpius' head.
"I think we need to speak to Draco." he sighed in explanation.
Both Hermione and Scorpius stiffened before she nodded. "Fine. I'll trust your judgement. Do not make me obliviate him, Theo." All of the children swivelled to look at her wide-eyed.
Theo snorted. "Of course not love. I'll be back shortly."
"Fuck, Aunt Mione, has anyone ever told you you're terrifying?" he heard James whisper in awe as he left.
Slipping into the common room, Theo cast an eye around the room, spotting Draco and Blaise with Pansy and the Greengrass sisters in the corner.
"Draco, a word," he clipped, unprepared for the surge of rage that hit him when Draco looked at him. Draco frowned, rising slowly as he made to go towards the dorms. "No. This way."
Theo ignored the confused looks on his friend's faces as he spun on his heel and marched back towards the door. He shut his eyes, forcing his breathing to slow as the portrait swung shut behind him. He had to get it together if he wanted Draco's help. He opened his eyes to Draco watching him warily.
"Are you going to explain what's going on?"
"Yes." Theo exhaled slowly. "But first, I need you to promise you'll hear me out and you'll be civil."
Draco frowned "Why wouldn't I be civil to you Theo?"
"I'm not talking about me. Come this way."
He led Draco back down to the portrait that hid the children from the rest of the world. Taking a deep breath, muttering the password, he stepped into the room. Hermione was back between her children, and Scorpius was back on his sofa with Cassius. James was explaining something that made Hermione and the twins laugh, the other two boys cracking reluctant smiles. He heard Draco's sharp intake of breath as an instant silence fell over the room.
Scorpius rose slowly, turning to face the teenage version of his father, his expression wary.
"Who are you?" Draco blurted.
"My name is Scorpius." the boy hedged.
"Scorpius what?"
Scorpius visibly straightened his spine before he whispered, "Malfoy."
"There is no Scorpius Malfoy!"
"Not yet." the boy whispered. Draco's jaw dropped as he paled before he whirled to face Theo.
"What the fuck is going on?" he demanded.
"Scorpius is your son." Theo paused, before deciding the whole truth was probably better if he wanted Draco's help. "Cassius is Blaise's, James is Potter's and the twins are mine."
"Then why the fuck is Granger here?" Draco howled, confusion clear on his face as he attempted to process what Theo had just told him. Theo raised an eyebrow, watching as Draco slowly turned to look at the twins properly. "Holy fuck." he whispered, spinning back towards Theo. "You're with Granger in the future?" he asked incredulously.
Out of the corner of his eye, Theo saw all the children stiffen.
"No," he replied coldly, causing Draco to frown, unsure how to make that make sense. "You told your father about us, he told mine. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks."
Draco's eyes widened. "Fuck. Is Granger still alive in the future?" he whispered, looking horrified.
"Yes. However, in order to ensure that happens, I apparently act l like an utter arse and accuse her of being a gold-digging whore before I agree to marry Pansy. My children called me their sperm donor." Draco flinched at the tone of Theo's voice. "Your father is Minister. His laws are…. well I'm sure you can imagine."
"Fuck." Draco sunk down onto the sofa Scorpius had been sitting on, gazing at the boy. "You're my son." Scorpius nodded jerkily. "Is it that bad?"
"You know what Grandfather is like."
Draco's eyes widened. "I let him?"
"I don't think you know most of it." Scorpius admitted, "Mother allows it. You…you bury yourself in work while Grandfather wages war on Muggleborns through legislation."
Draco flinched. "Fucking wonderful."
"I don't want to go home."
Draco looked at him wide-eyed. "I can imagine," he murmured eventually.
Hermione shot Theo a look that made him wince. Clearing his throat slightly he sighed when all eyes turned to him.
"How do we fix this?"
"You think we can fix this?" Draco asked incredulously.
Theo glanced quickly at Hermione. "We had a couple of ideas."
Draco and the children sat frozen once he finished speaking, each of them slowly digesting the enormity of what Theo and Hermione were proposing.
"Do you really think it's possible?" Draco voiced, quietly into the silence.
"I don't know." Theo moaned, running a hand through his hair, "Other than murder, which Hermione won't agree to, it's all we've got."
Cassius and Draco snorted, "Shame. Lucius is fucking mad." Cassius voiced, startling them all. He shrugged, noting their scrutiny, "Seemed more of a family affair before, I wasn't sure my input would be welcome, especially considering….." he trailed off looking at the twins guilty.
"Considering you were an unmitigated arse?" James voiced, wincing as Hermione's hand connected with the back of his head. "Sorry Aunt 'Mione," he muttered.
"Something like that. I had to be. Old Lucius was less vicious if he thought Scorp was behaving the way he thought he should, my also behaving like that ensured he never made a fuss about our friendship."
"Jesus Christ. How fucked up is your world?" Hermione muttered.
"MUM!" the twins turned to stare at her scandalised.
Rolling her eyes she muttered, "Do as I say not as I do?"
"I don't think I've ever heard you swear before. Even when Uncle George charmed your hair Chudley Cannon's orange and you couldn't get rid of it for a month." Alex breathed, still looking at her with wide eyes.
Hermione snorted. "Apparently future me has more control then," she replied wryly.
"Given what we're about to attempt Granger, you might want to work on that," Draco replied with amusement. "Any ideas where we start?"
"Snape," Theo replied decisively. "We start with Snape."
If Draco was confused as to why their potions professor was involved, he didn't show it, nodding his head as if it was a perfectly reasonable place to begin.