XIII
The Great Hall was filled with silence as everyone looked at the black flags on the walls. At the end of the hall stood all the teachers, with the Headmaster in front of them. Everyone wore black robes, and in complete silence, they waited for the first word.
At last, McGonagall broke the silence.
"Today, we stand in that hall as one," she began, and Scorpius noticed that her voice was harsh and tired. "As all of you know, two days ago, a terrible event occurred at Diagon Alley. A group of dark wizards who disregarded our laws and rules brought death and destruction to our community. They killed twenty-eight innocent people, including Rubeus Hagrid, who was well-known to everyone and taught at Hogwarts for many years. His funeral will take place on Saturday at the Hogwarts fields, where he lived almost all his life and which he truly loved."
"Standing here before all of you, I want to make it clear that neither I nor any other Hogwarts teacher will tolerate such acts of violence as those that occurred at Diagon Alley. We will do everything in our power to bring to justice those who killed innocent civilians. We cannot allow those who don't deserve the title of wizard to destroy the world we have built with the tears and blood of our heroes."
As McGonagall spoke, her voice became louder and more determined. She wasn't going to stand idly by while good people were hurt. She had stood against Voldemort in the Battle of Hogwarts, and she was not about to back down against the Horntails.
The news shocked many students. A lot of voices in the Great Hall commented on the death of the teacher. Rubeus Hagrid may not have been the best teacher in the world, but he was a warm person, liked by many, and the most recognisable teacher at school. If the Horntails wanted to get the attention of the magical society, the attack on Diagon Alley and the killing of the Hogwarts teacher fulfilled that goal. But at the same time, they draw up MacGonagall's wrath, and only a madman would want that.
After hearing McGonagall's speech, Scorpius looked at Karl first. He was the only one from their pack who took a lesson in Care of Magical Creatures, and that news shocked him as well, even though he tried to hide his feelings. Maybe he was a Slytherin, but he wasn't as cold-blooded as most of his housemates. On the other hand, Scorpius realised that he also couldn't act that way, even though he preferred that no one knew about it.
After a while, Scorpius' gaze shifted to the Gryffindor table. He quickly spotted familiar faces, with Lily crying in the middle and hiding her red face in James' robe. Everyone knew that their family had a connection with Hagrid, so his death was especially painful for them.
Scorpius also noticed Albus standing silently beside his brother. He didn't cry, but he looked shocked. For a moment, Scorpius considered approaching him to offer comfort, but he knew he wasn't good at consoling others, so he quickly abandoned the idea.
In the end, Scorpius patted Karl's shoulder and left the Great Hall.
The atmosphere in school was awful after the last events, and even the vision of the coming vacation couldn't make it far better. Especially Scorpius had a bad feeling about it. The thought of the two mouths in the empty manor made him more and more grumpy. Even McGonagall's promise that he would learn charms at home didn't fix anything because it required spending time with his father. Scorpius didn't want to think how it would end.
Unfortunately, everything began to attack Scorpius from every site. The first blow came the next day when Scorpius entered the class of Defence against the Dark Arts.
"Mr Malfoy, we are truly honoured you managed to join us," Professor Willick mocked, accompanied by giggles of a few Ravenclaws.
Scorpius looked at the teacher with hate. He wasn't going to explain why he had missed the previous lesson; it wasn't their business.
"There was no other option," Scorpius replied, sitting at his place. Then he smiled with the most awful smile he could manage. "Even though that class is completely worthless, in my opinion".
The flinch on Willick's face was exactly what Scorpius wanted to see.
"If you say so. In that case, you must be well prepared to show other students how to act with the boggart. We learned it at the previous lesson, which you missed, unfortunately."
Scorpius stopped himself from snorting. In that way, Willick tried to humiliate him, but it was a really bad idea.
Without hesitation, he stood up and came closer to the old large chest in the middle of the classroom. The top of the chest quivered slightly. After the last events, Scorpius was sure that the boggart would change in the dead Astoria's body and that it would be really hard to change into something funny. However, when Willick opened the chest with his wand, from the inside shot a thick grey fog, which surrounded all students. Then, everyone saw the Dark Mark above them. A few students yelled, and a few more moved away.
Scorpius wasn't afraid of that, but he watched the green skull with a serpent in its mouth for a moment. He understood what the boggart tried to achieve and what hidden fears it wanted to unlock. The son of the Death Eater - yes, for sure, Scorpius was afraid that he would be only that. However, he wasn't going to give the boggart satisfaction. He wouldn't allow himself to think that his future was already written.
"Riddikulus!" Scorpius cast a charm, and at that exact moment, the serpent changed into a huge pretzel. The skull began to choke and spit.
Scorpius smiled viciously; however, more to Willick than the boggart. In the end, the latter felt embracement and hid in his chest. Willick still looked at Scorpius with confusion, but it was hard to say if it was more because he cast a charm with ease or because of what the boggart had changed into.
"Will we learn any more charms by the end of the semester?" Scorpius asked when the silence became too long.
Scorpius knew that there were only three weeks to the holiday break, and too many students had problems with much simpler charm so that they couldn't finish with the bogart in that time. The confusion on Willick's face was all the confirmation that Scorpius needed.
"If we have enough time, we will start with Grindylows and how to deal with…"
"To release from Grindylow's grip, you need to use the Relashio charm, which generates sparks on the land or hot water if you are underwater," Scorpius recited everything he read about Grindylows some time ago. "If that is everything I can learn in your class, I'm not going to waste my time here."
Saying that Scorpius gathered his books from the desk and walked to the exit, followed by the constered eyes of other students and the hateful look of Willick. Of course, that bastard could try to give Scorpius the Troll, but Scorpius was ready to take a commissary exam to prove how stupid Willick was. Willick would have to give a long explanation of why he graded so low a student who knew all the necessary charms. Scorpius would be really eager to see that.
The Great Hall was lightened by hundreds of candles, and on the walls and above the ceiling hung many black and yellow banners. Many students wondered how it was possible that during the fight between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, calm and steady Hufflepuff gathered points with consequent stubbornness, and in the end, it won the House Cup. The Hufflepuffs couldn't be happier, and although the last events put a shadow on the school atmosphere, that day, the Great Hall was full of talks and general excitation.
Most of the students couldn't wait to come back home. McGonagall thanked everyone for their hard work during the whole year. She hoped that they would come back in September with new strength and motivation, and in the end, she wished them a great and peaceful vacation.
Scorpius sat with Zack, Karl, and Esther and looked at his dinner without enthusiasm. He accepted the thought that the next day, he would come to the Manor; he even knew more or less how he would greet his parents, but it didn't make anything better. With each passing minute, he felt more and more depressed.
"Cheer up, man!" Zack nudged him with an elbow. "You manage somehow these two months without your precious Gryffindors."
Scorpius choked with chicken and then looked at the blond with confusion.
"For sure, you won't be dying of longing because of us," Zack added.
"Indeed, especially because of you, moron," Scorpius barked when he regained his breathing.
Zachary smiled in a really Slytherin way.
"Or maybe you are so down because McGonagall won't dandle you. Ouch, it seems I hit the point!"
Zack had to jump from his seat to avoid a piece of cake thrown in his direction.
"Shut up, you oaf!
Scorpius knew that those were only innocent jokes, but Zachary was closer to the truth than he thought. Some time ago, Scorpius discovered by himself that coming back home wasn't the only reason he felt bad. There was another one - lost contact with McGonagall and Potters. Scorpius had difficulty saying it aloud, but he had to admit that he liked them, and the prospect of separation weighed strangely on him.
"You can't fool us. I see in your ugly face that…" Zack stopped abruptly, which made Scorpius look around.
Just in front of the Slytherin's table, where every talk calmed down, stood McGonagall and looked at them with gentleness in her eyes. When she got Scorpius' attention, she gave him a small letter.
"It's authorisation we have spoken about earlier."
Scorpius stood up and took the letter, feeling many confusing looks on his back.
"Thank you, Headmaster."
"The instructions are very strict, so don't try your luck in bending them."
Scorpius couldn't stop a small smile.
"Never cross my mind."
The Headmaster also smiled, then she nodded and walked away.
Scorpius stood a little longer and watched the letter he got. McGonagall not only supported him but also put much trust in him. It was the reason he felt so much respect for her. For sure, he would miss her.
"What is that?" Zack asked after a while.
"It's a secret," Scorpius whispered.
"It's authorisation to use magic outside the school," Esther explained suddenly.
"How do you know that?"
"It's rather obvious," Karl added. "You don't need to be a genius to figure that out."
The consternation on Zack's face said differently.
"Nice," he said when he digested that information in his brain. "I want something like that, too. I wouldn't need to clean my room anymore."
Scorpius snorted.
"I got it for only one purpose: to practise more. It's kind of extended homework."
Zachary flinched hearing that.
"In that case, I don't want it at all."
The four Slytherings burst into laughter, and in much better moods, they left the Great Hall.
The Hogwarts Express stopped with a loud whistle on platform nine and three-quarters at the King's Cross Station. Many students looked through the windows and waved to their family members waiting on the platform. Others began to gather their belongings and jumped off the train.
Scorpius also picked up his luggage and called for Tori, who jumped on his arm with grace and climbed on his shoulder. He scratched its soft fur on the neck and then left the train like the others.
"Take care and don't mess around!" Zachary called, pulling his far too large trunk.
"Better take that advice to yourself," Scorpius replied with a smile.
"Impossible!" The blond Slytherin laughed, waved his hand, and disappeared into the crowd.
"I will miss that prater," Karl said when he joined Scorpius. "Next months will be so empty and quiet without him around. I don't know how I can take that."
Scorpius' second roommate didn't ironise often, so he looked at him a little surprised.
"It will be a rehabilitation stay for you then."
Karl smiled slightly.
"But he is right. Try not to mess up too much during the holiday. Hogwarts would be boring without you."
Scorpius sighed.
"I appreciate your faith in me, but don't worry, I'm not so easy to get rid of. Did you see Esther?"
The Slytherin girl had sat with them on the train, but after that, she disappeared without a goodbye.
"I think she left the station already."
"No one came for her?"
Karl shrugged.
"She isn't much of a talkative person and never said a word about her relatives. Maybe you aren't the only one who has a problem with family relationships."
Scorpius flinched. Karl's words reminded him of his problems with his father.
"Take care, Karl. See you after the break."
The boys shook hands, and each of them walked in a different direction.
Scorpius looked around the platform, searching for the well-known silhouette of his mother. Astoria stood a bit further, and her face brightened when she spotted her son. As always, she wore an elegant maroon suit, her hair tied up in a neat bun, and a piece of family jewellery was on her neck. Scorpius knew very well that his mother put a lot of effort into looking perfect in the presence of other wizards.
He left his luggage on a trolley and came closer to Astoria. She embraced him and kissed him on the forehead.
"How was your trip? Everything is alright?" she asked, still holding his face in her hands.
Scorpius understood that there was much more to that question than a courteous curiosity. For sure, his mother knew about his visit at Potter's house and his last quarrel with his father. Honest care was painted on her face.
"Yes, I haven't blown anything in the air lately," Scorpius replied with a smile. "Is father at work?"
Astoria nodded, and her smile became a little forced.
"He couldn't finish earlier, and you know how he detests coming here."
"I know", Scorpius murmured, then he released from mother's embrace and took the trolley. "I also don't want to stay here too long."
Astoria nodded one more time, and they both walked to the exit.
"Scorpius!" Someone called him when Scorpius and his mother walked through the muggles' part of the station. He turned around and spotted that Albus was running towards them.
"Hi," the Gryffindor gasped when he stopped and tried to catch his breath. "Good morning, Mrs Malfoy," he added, straightening.
Scorpius remembered how stressful his meeting with Potter's parents was, so he was a little envious of how easy Albus was in a similar situation.
"Mom, it's Albus Potter. I was in his home last Holidays," Scorpius said to his mother, whose face, in a blink, turned to the mask of formal kindness.
"Good morning, Albus. Nice to meet you."
Potter nodded slightly, then with hesitation, he pulled something from his pocket and gave it to Scorpius. A few magic photos.
"My uncle Charlie made them, and my mom brought them with her," he explained, then added with a smile. "These are for you. As a keepsake."
Scorpius watched the photos for a moment. There were pictures from Potter's house during Easter. Scorpius felt a strange dryness in his throat when he spotted himself laughing from one of the quarrels between James and Rose. Next to him sat Albus and Lily, who also burst out laughing. He understood with a painful jab that his coming back home wouldn't take place in such a nice atmosphere.
"Thanks," he replied, putting photos in his pocket.
Albus nodded.
"I heard that you got authorisation from McGonagall to exercise magic at home."
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"I wonder if there is someone at school who doesn't know about it. But yes, it's true. I also got a few heavy books so that I won't be bored during the holidays. And what are your plans?"
"As far as I know, James and Rose will go on the Quidditch camp in Croatia. About me…" he shrugged. "Probably, like always, I will go with Lily to the seaside."
"I would choose Quidditch."
"But I prefer when my feet are on the ground."
Scorpius chuckled.
"I didn't know that you have the fear of heights."
Albus also smiled a little.
"Nobody is perfect," he concluded, then added more seriously. "Sorry, but I have to go, they are waiting for me. See you."
Scorpius waved at him, and for a moment, he watched as Potter walked to his family.
"Albus," he called when the Gryffindor was a dozen steps away from him. Potter turned around and looked at him with a question. "Say hello from me to your family."
Potter smiled and nodded.
"Sure," he replied and vanished into one of the corridors.
Scorpius watched in his direction for a moment longer, and then he came back to the trolley. Astoria joined him. She didn't comment on it in any way, but her face said much about her thoughts. She was glad that her son found that kind of… friend. In truth, Scorpius was also happy about that.
The Malfoy manor welcomed them as always, with cold walls and the silence of large rooms. Scorpius left his luggage in his room, and the rest of the day he spent with his mother, talking about school and every more important event there. He also had to tell her about his visit to Potters, but Astoria didn't seem to be worried about that; on the contrary, she suggested that they should invite Potter's family the next year. Although Scorpius wasn't sure how he would convince his father of that idea, he wasn't going to tell his mother about his doubts, not at the moment.
Astoria also told him about the attack on Diagon Alley and about her place in that event. During the attack, she had been in the owlery sending letters, and when she had heard what had happened, she had hidden in the staff room with three other goblins. No one had searched in that place.
She said that when the news appeared in the newspaper, Draco had shown up at the entrance to the Gringotts. First, Aurors didn't want to let him in, but the intervention of Astoria's supervisor, who had known them both, peacefully ended the situation.
Draco and Astoria had healed injuries and helped clean all the mess. They had come back home late evening that day. Because of that, Draco had replied so late to Scorpius' letter.
Listen to that story; Scorpius felt a strange heaviness in his guts. If he hadn't written that letter, his parents wouldn't have bothered to inform him at all. Probably, they were sure that he wasn't interested in their well-being. He understood that they didn't part in a good atmosphere, but still, they were family, and he could worry about them.
That thought stabbed Scorpius a little, but he wasn't going to complain about it at that moment; in the end, it was the first day of the holidays, and his mother seemed to be in a really good mood. He didn't want to destroy it. The last time, he had withstood in peace by the time of the dinner; however, that day, he was going to improve that result.
Around 7 p.m., Draco came back from work. He left his things and entered the living room, where Scorpius and Astoria drank tea.
"Hi," Scorpius said when he spotted him at the door.
Draco greeted him with a slight nod, and for a while, he looked around the living room without a word. It seemed he also remembered their last talk, that strange conversation which had happened on the small street near Potter's house.
"It's great you are home. I will prepare the dinner," Astoria said in the meantime.
"Thank you, it was a long day."
Astoria smiled gently, and when she walked past Draco, she put a hand on his shoulder for a moment. It was a quick gesture, but Scorpius noticed it nonetheless. He understood that everything was planned. Probably, his parents also wondered how to act after he came back home. No one wanted a new conflict in their family.
Draco came closer and sat in the chair. He was still silent.
"I didn't bring shame to you," Scorpius said when that silence began to bother him. He didn't look at his father but at some meaningless point on the wall.
"I know."
Draco wasn't going to help Scorpius in that conversation.
"I got good grades in all classes; you should see the look on Willick's face when he graded me. He teaches Defence against the Dark Arts, and he was really eager to flunk me, but he couldn't. Even if he would try, the Headmaster…"
"I've got a letter from Professor McGonagall."
Scorpius gulped heavily.
"Yeah, she had mentioned something about it."
"In that letter, she praised your skills and enthusiasm." Suddenly, a shadow of a sad smile came through Draco's face. "When I saw what Stroke brought, I thought that you ran from the school or were grounded. It was a positive mistake."
Scorpius snorted quietly. He shouldn't be surprised. After all the mess he caused, his father had all the right to doubt Scorpius' improvement.
"She helped me a lot. I learned much thanks to her. She is…" Scorpius didn't know what words he should use to describe what he thought about the Headmaster. "I have much respect for her."
Draco nodded, but he didn't dig into that topic. After a moment of silence, Scorpius took a deep breath and asked without more hesitation:
"Will you teach me?"
It was the first time that evening that Draco looked straight at Scorpius. In his eyes was something that Scorpius hadn't seen for a long time - uncertainty. For a few seconds, Draco seemed to consider that question; then he nodded slightly.
"Of course."
Scorpius lay in his bed and looked at the ceiling brightened by the moonlight. Despite being late, he couldn't sleep; there were too many tangled thoughts in his mind. The previous evening was quite calm, mainly because his father was silent and didn't participate in talks. He was deep in his thoughts. In that case, Scorpius talked with his mother, carefully avoiding any difficult topics.
It was a true surprise that his father agreed to help without hesitation. For sure, Scorpius couldn't imagine how that help would look; they both were impulsive, and everything could end as a total disaster. However, he wanted to try. If McGonagall could put her trust in him, he could do the same to his father. Maybe, in that process, they regain the connection they had lost years ago.
Of course, everything would be hard, and success would depend on Scorpius' ability to withdraw his sharp tongue.
Scorpius looked at a piece of wood lying on the table. The stubborn thing didn't want to surrender his will and move from its place. It was the fourth day which he spent trying to learn the teleportation charm. During the days, he hung around the Manor or its surroundings, helped his mother or read, but evenings he spent sitting with his father in the living room and learning charms.
In the beginning, Scorpius felt uneasy during those lessons; it was the first time in his whole life that he talked with his father about magic. As a child, he didn't understand those subjects, and later… he didn't talk much with his father at all.
However, they quickly found common ground, especially when they both tried to talk only about the current topic. What's more, it seemed that Scorpius impressed Draco with his knowledge and abilities. Probably, father didn't know how advanced Scorpius was. Draco didn't say it aloud, but he was truly stunned when he realised what charms Scorpius had to learn during the summer.
In those new circumstances, Scorpius tried to learn how to teleport a piece of wood. For most of the time, Draco only sat in the chair and watched, from time to time, giving a little advice. He wasn't as good teacher as McGonagall, but Scorpius appreciated the patience he put into that tutoring. Even though sometimes Scorpius saw frustration or boredom painted on his father's face.
Suddenly, the piece of wood disappeared, but after a few seconds, it reappeared in the same place. Scorpius snorted with irritation and put his wand on the table. That day, he had too little patience as well, so he stood up and went to the bar to get water. His right hand trembled from fatigue.
"Take a break for today," said Draco. "Nonverbal charms, like that one, need full concentration. The more frustrated you are, the less chance for success. Go and rest, calm your mind, and we will go back to that tomorrow.
Scorpius sighed heavily and combed his hair with his hand.
"Probably, the nonverbal charms aren't my strong side. I can't focus enough. Despite how much I try, every time, some stray thought appears."
Scorpius cringed when he remembered the Proteus charm. It was the best example.
"It needs time and practice. Only the greatest wizards are able to use nonverbal charms without limitation. Most of us never get that level of skills."
"The greatest wizards… " Scorpius mumbled, then added. "I don't look so high."
Draco looked at him with disbelief.
"Even they started with moving a piece of wood. No one is born with knowledge and experience. Someone can only have a particular predisposition."
Scorpius drank the rest of the water and began to clean the mess on the table. He didn't want to quarrel about that; probably, he really needed rest.
Taking one of the books, he remembered one subject that bothered him for some time. Previously, he didn't have enough courage to ask, but that day, his father seemed to be in a good mood and, more than ever, talkative.
"Some time ago, I read about one thing," he began, not looking at his father. When he said the first few words, he reconsidered it and started to think that it was a really bad idea. It was a perfect way to mess up their relationship in less than a minute. However, he started to talk and had the full attention of his father, so he had to continue. "The unforgivable curses, did you use them?"
Scorpius spotted how quickly his father's expression changed. Immediately, he regretted that question, so he shook his head, took books and walked towards the door.
"Please, don't answer. I shouldn't have asked in the first place."
"Are you curious if I killed someone with Avada?" Draco said, stopping Scorpius two steps from the exit. "I don't. That curse requires not only a formula to say but also a strong will to kill someone. You have to wish for someone's death with all your mind and soul. I never had enough conviction."
Scorpius looked at his father, who stopped for a moment as if he needed time to gather his thoughts. After a while, Draco moved his eyes from Scorpius to the fireplace and continued:
"I used Imperius, not once, and saw people crying with agony under the Cruciatus curse. Sometimes, I tormented them with it."
"Why did you do that?" Scorpius asked before he thought how stupid that question was.
Draco shrugged, still not looking at Scorpius.
"Because I was scared," Draco said, then sighed deeply and at last looked at his son. The painful memories changed his face. "You must understand something, Scorpius. Your grandfather, Lucius Malfoy, was one of the closest servants of the Dark Lord. He was proud of his position, of being a Death Eater. As a child, I wanted to be like him. I was ready to do everything to get his approval and didn't think about the consequences. But then the world got mad, Voldemort returned, and the terrible events took place. I was in the middle of that madness without any chance of escape. I tortured people because I knew otherwise I would be next."
Hearing that answer, Scorpius felt a cold chill on his back. When he was younger, he always thought that his father was a coward, and maybe what he said at that moment was proof of that, but would Scorpius act differently in a similar situation? Would he have enough courage?
"I'm not the Gryffindor," his father continued. "They used to die for the idea. I wanted to survive. My whole family would be killed by my mistake. I regret many things I have done then, especially when…" Draco paused and wiped his face. "Especially when I feel the consequences to this day. The same as you and Astoria."
Scorpius watched his father, not believing what he saw and heard. His father never acted like that.
"Do you really think that I don't know about it," Draco added. A bitter smile appeared on his face. "From the beginning, I knew that you would be judged by my past. I did everything in my power to minimise my presence in your life. I willingly withdrew from the wizarding world, allowed to be pushed to the margin of society. I swallowed my pride and entered the world I used to detest. Everything was in vain. I couldn't protect you the same as I couldn't protect my family in the past."
Scorpius watched his father and felt growing embarrassment. He still remembered what he had said during their last fight. Currently, he understood how cruel those words were and how deeply they hurt Draco. Of course, his father always kept those kinds of feelings for himself, but after what he said that day, it was clear that he wasn't indifferent to them.
Scorpius also felt a growing need to say something, to break a silence which lay down in the room, but he couldn't find the proper words. So he simply stood next to the door and looked at the floor before him.
Maybe Draco wrongly interpreted his silence because he sighed heavily, stood up and walked to the exit.
"Dad…" Scorpius stopped him. He didn't remember the last time when he called his father that way. "I'm sorry… I never thought… I said so many awful things… I shouldn't…"
Suddenly, he felt Draco's hand on his shoulder. However, he didn't find the courage to look at him.
"I'm really proud that you achieved so much despite all the obstacles on your way."
Scorpius felt strange. He couldn't remember ever being so touched by Draco's words, but on the other hand, that minute, he understood that he never wanted anything more; more than heard that his father was proud of him. Because of that, in the end, he looked straight into Draco's eyes.
"Thank you," he said with a soft smile.
Scorpius never thought that he would spend the holiday in such a nice and peaceful atmosphere. Coming home, he had been full of bad visions about how he would manage all those negative emotions. Instead, it seemed everything came quite easily, and after his last serious talk with Draco, even tension between them faded a little. Maybe they still weren't a perfect example of father and son, but after so many fights and quarrels, their rebuilding trust was more than Scorpius could wish for.
Astoria also looked glad with that change. She eagerly joined them and even participated in lessons, which was their first common activity for years.
One morning, at the beginning of August, his mother was a bit nervous and quiet, and when Draco left the manor earlier than usual, Scorpius began to worry.
However, when he asked his mother what worried her, she really quickly changed the topic, so he had to live with that frustrating lack of information.
Two hours later, the knocking on the door made Scorpius aware again.
"Are we waiting for someone?" he asked Astoria.
"Yes, we are. Please, go and open."
Scorpius looked at her with suspicion in his eyes but did as she asked. After a moment, everything became clear. When he opened the door, he saw the smiling faces of Albus and Lily.
Scorpius sat heavily on his bed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He didn't remember the last time when he packed in such a hurry. Of course, it was the fault of those irritating Gryffindors, who always tried to mess up his life.
"What are you doing here?" Scorpius asked, seeing the Potter siblings along with their father just inside the threshold of his home.
Lily and Albus exchanged knowing glances, and their smiles grew even wider, deepening Scorpius's irritation.
"We're kidnapping you," the girl laughed.
Scorpius looked at her brother, searching for an answer.
"We're going to the seaside, and we're taking you with us," Albus finally explained, and the smile on his face was proportional to Scorpius's astonishment. "You'll have a week's break from spells and theories assigned to you by McGonagall."
Scorpius stood in the doorway, trying in vain to shake off his shock.
"It's insane," he finally said when his mind regained some of its functions. "I can't just leave like that. My father..."
"He knows everything," Harry Potter cut in, standing two steps behind his children. "I contacted him a few days ago."
Both the man and the siblings not only looked amused by Scorpius's bewilderment but also determined to carry out that crazy plan to the end.
"Welcome. I hope you arrived without any problems," Astoria said, approaching them. "Come in. I've just made some cold lemonade."
Scorpius flopped onto his bed, frustration etched across his face as he stared at the ceiling. They had all been making fun of him, and worse, they had a great time doing it, even Astoria. His own mother tricked him like that. Both his parents had known and hadn't told him a thing. Suddenly, it became clear why his father had hurried off to work that day. He apparently didn't want to risk bumping into the Potters, even if he had agreed to Scorpius's trip a few days earlier. As he had said before, they might not be enemies anymore, but he preferred to avoid contact with them.
In the end, downstairs in the living room, three Gryffindors were engaged in a polite conversation with his mother. Of course, he immediately noticed a certain tension in Astoria's posture. She certainly didn't feel entirely comfortable in their presence, but years of experience and good manners had taught her to keep such emotions in check. After all, they were her son's guests and friends, and that obligated her to provide proper, albeit somewhat formal, hospitality.
Scorpius raised himself back into a sitting position and glanced at the bag lying beside his feet. Then he heard a knock on the door, and a moment later, his mother entered.
"Ready?" she asked.
Scorpius critically eyed his bag, then nodded. Astoria moved closer and sat on the bed next to him.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," she said.
He looked at her, slightly surprised. Only then he realised that his behaviour might indeed have been interpreted that way.
"It's not that. I'm just annoyed that you all had a good laugh at me. It must have been incredibly amusing to see me standing there like a salt pillar. I can understand Lily and Albus coming up with such an idea – it suits their level of maturity, but you?! Not to mention Dad."
"To be honest, he was the one who suggested keeping it a secret," Astoria replied. Scorpius stared at his mother as if he saw her for the first time in his life. A gentle, albeit slightly devious smile graced her usually calm face. Seeing that expression, Scorpius had no doubt she told him the truth. Ultimately, he just shook his head in disbelief.
"He was worried that this information might negatively impact your studies," Astoria continued. "And besides, he thought you deserved such a surprise."
What a lovely surprise, he thought sarcastically. His father probably wanted to get back at him for all the past pranks and teasing. That old snake. Despite these thoughts, Scorpius managed to pull himself together and offered a slight smile.
"I want to go; it might be fun," he said.
"In that case, let's not keep them waiting any longer," his mother replied. She was about to get up, but before she could, Scorpius unexpectedly hugged her. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he suddenly felt the need to express what he couldn't put into words. He had caused her so much pain and sadness in the past. He was so close to losing her forever recently, without saying the most important words.
"I love you," he whispered, feeling his mother also embraced him.
"I love you too, my son."
The sight of the Potter siblings and their father sitting in the Malfoy estate's living room was certainly not one Scorpius would forget quickly. They were the last people he would expect to see there. What's more, they seemed quite pleased with themselves, and when Scorpius joined them, they greeted him enthusiastically.
Lily, in particular, exuded optimism, infecting everyone with her enthusiasm and creating not only a joyful atmosphere but also a bit of chaos and commotion. Albus, in his usual manner, didn't say much, and only a calm smile on his face suggested that he was happy with how things had turned out.
Without wasting time, they bid farewell to Astoria and got into a familiar blue Ford Focus. They had nearly three hours of driving ahead of them to reach the cliffs of southern Wales, where they would spend the next week.
The journey passed quickly, thanks mainly to Lily, who kept coming up with new games and activities to keep them entertained. Sitting in the back seat of the car, they either played cards, asked riddles, or simply told stories and jokes. So, before they knew it, they had arrived in a quaint seaside town filled with the characteristic small cottages. They checked into one of the guesthouses and were assigned a two-room apartment. Mr. Potter took the smaller room, and the larger one was for the three of them. They quickly left their belongings and set off to explore the area.
"Mum went with James and Rose because she really wanted to visit Uncle Bill, who now lives in the Balkans," Lily explained as they sat in a café, eating pizza in the evening. "Unfortunately, the Quidditch camp only accepts participants from the age of fourteen, so I couldn't go yet, and Albus didn't want to, even though he could."
The Gryffindor rolled his eyes.
"You know how much I love flying on a broom," he muttered, but Scorpius almost immediately got the sense that it wasn't the only reason. However, he felt that questioning their motives in the presence of their father might be futile.
"I understand him," Scorpius chimed in. "I prefer exploring Wales than chasing after flying balls."
"You're not a Quidditch fan," Mr Potter stated more than asked.
Scorpius shrugged.
"Not really. I watch matches with my Housemates sometimes, but I just can't get as excited about it as they are. Besides, I usually have bigger concerns than the Hogwarts Quidditch teams' competitions."
"By the way, who are those two I often see with you?" Lily asked.
"If you're curious, you should have come and asked in person," he replied, a mischievous smile crossing his face. "I guess a brave lioness like you isn't afraid to approach the snake's nest?"
The girl pouted while Albus chuckled.
"Not everyone is as crazy as you," he retorted. "I still remember the looks on everyone's faces when you first came up to me during lunch."
Scorpius noticed that Mr Potter looked at his son oddly as if he didn't quite understand what was so amusing. Then he remembered their conversation during the holidays; Mr Potter asked if Hogwarts had really changed so much.
"Was it different before?" Scorpius asked, looking at the man. "Did you have friendships across Houses despite what happened outside of school?"
"I had friends in other Houses," Harry Potter replied thoughtfully. "Although not in Slytherin, to be honest. It's true that as we got older, the situation became more intense. But it was never such that you couldn't approach and have a conversation. For most of the time, it was more of a school rivalry than open hatred. It fell apart in our sixth year. The death of the headmaster changed Hogwarts."
Even though it wasn't Draco who ultimately killed Dumbledore, Scorpius still felt a strange tightness in his stomach. An uncomfortable silence settled at the table. Stories from the war and the tragedies that occurred then were certainly not suitable topics for summer discussions.
"You didn't answer my question," Lily spoke up again, turning back to the previous topic; Scorpius was grateful for that. He sighed lightly, trying to push away all the unpleasant thoughts and answered.
"The shorter, stocky one with dark hair is Karl Campbell, a Quidditch maniac and a unicorn enthusiast. The taller blond one is Zachary Nott, and he's the biggest chatterbox in Slytherin."
"Nott? Is he related to Theodore?" Mr Potter interjected.
Scorpius nodded.
"He's his son."
"Well, I never expected Nott to form any kind of relationship with anyone. He was always very quiet and reserved, a typical loner. He hardly talked to anyone and didn't get involved in anything. It's good that despite everything, he managed to build a life for himself after the war."
Scorpius was struck by how Harry Potter spoke about Theodore. Everyone knew that Theodore's father, Zachary's grandfather, was a loyal Death Eater, and even though Theodore hadn't participated in the battles, such associations were usually enough. Yet, Mr Potter seemed to disregard that completely and wished him well, even though he should despise him more than anyone.
Scorpius had no intention of sharing that thought with anyone. One uncomfortable silence was enough.
"I don't know who Zack's mother is; he never really talked about her, but he must have inherited his character from her because being a quiet loner is the last term I'd use to describe him."
Harry Potter smiled at that statement and nodded.
"Sometimes the apple falls very far from the tree, as they say," he added, and Scorpius couldn't shake the feeling that that statement wasn't just about Zachary.
In the evening, they couldn't go to sleep for a long time, mainly because of Lily, who, still excited, continued to plan out their activities for the next few days. And when they had finally prepared themselves and laid down in their beds, they continued talking for a while, disregarding the late hour completely.
"How did you spend your holidays?" Lily asked at one point. "I remember you didn't want to go back home."
"Better than I expected," Scorpius responded with a hint of seriousness. "Remember the authorisation I got from McGonagall? It had a clause stating that I could only practice magic in the presence of my father. At first, I thought it would be a nightmare, but it turned out differently. We sorted out our issues, and now things are quite good. Probably, it will never be the same as it used to be, but at least we can have somewhat normal conversations now."
"And how was it before?" Albus unexpectedly chimed in, looking at Scorpius strangely. "Better?"
Scorpius shrugged.
"Yes, but that was before I went to Hogwarts. You know, when I was a child, I didn't know about the war, Voldemort, Death Eaters, and all that crap."
"Are you saying your parents never told you?" Albus asked in disbelief.
Scorpius felt like an idiot, but in the end, he nodded. It was difficult for him to put his thoughts into words, even if he considered the Gryffindors sitting across from him as his friends.
"I lived in blissful ignorance, and then a bucket of cold water was poured over my head. You should understand why I held a grudge against my parents."
"They shouldn't have lied to you," Lily said with unusual seriousness.
"They did what they thought was right. They probably believed I was too young to understand all of it," Scorpius turned his gaze away and looked out the window, where it was already completely dark. "For a long time, I couldn't forgive them for it, but I guess I've matured enough to understand their decision."
Hearing that, the young Gryffindor girl smiled warmly.
"That's good because I can't imagine how you could be angry at your mum. She's such a nice person."
Scorpius smiled, too.
"You're right. I just needed a little time to remember that."
In the past, it had never occurred to him that he would share such confidences with the Gryffindors or anyone else for that matter. He couldn't fully explain it, but that pair had managed to gain a level of trust in him that he had never suspected. He could only hope that he wouldn't regret placing his trust in them, that one day he wouldn't find out that it was a huge mistake.
Scorpius felt tears welling up in his eyes. For a long moment, he stood there with his hands covering his face after a ball had hit him right in the nose. He and Albus played a volleyball match with two girls they had just met on a small court near the beach. Despite the slight age difference, the girls gave them a real thrashing. A badly received serve had sealed their defeat.
"Are you alive?" one of the girls asked.
"Yeah, but I saw all the stars," Scorpius replied.
"Maybe you should put some ice on it; you're bleeding."
Scorpius looked at his hand, where there were indeed a few red spots.
"I think I'll manage without it, but I'll take advantage of that momentary indisposition to withdraw from that embarrassing match."
Both girls smiled at them, clearly pleased with their victory.
"If you ever want to play again, we live two streets from here."
Scorpius also smiled slightly despite his bleeding nose.
"Maybe in a few years, after we've worked on our technique."
The girls waved goodbye and headed down the street towards their home. In the meantime, Scorpius walked to a public water fountain nearby and washed his face, trying to stop the nosebleed.
"Sit down and tilt your head forward," Albus ordered, then handed him a towel from his backpack. "In that case, the blood needs to flow freely."
Impressed by Gryffindor's knowledge, Scorpius sat on a nearby wall and allowed the blood from his nose to drip onto the towel.
"Speaking from experience?" Scorpius inquired.
Albus sat down next to him and smiled slightly.
"When I was a kid, I used to fight with James a lot, and he didn't always realise how strong he was, so a few times, I ended up with a nosebleed."
"It's hard to imagine. You seem like very harmonious siblings now."
"Now we are, but we both had to grow into that state. When I was little, I could be incredibly jealous of James. He, being older, could do a lot of things that I wasn't allowed to do. I couldn't come to terms with it. And then... everything changed."
Scorpius lifted his head slightly to look at Potter. If he was going to learn more, it was the perfect time to press him for more information.
"Lily mentioned some accident," Scorpius said.
Albus looked at him with surprise, then his expression turned more serious, and he nodded.
"I was almost ten years old at the time, and James was in his second year at Hogwarts. He came home for the holidays and was very excited about everything he had learned and discovered. He wanted to show me a few tricks, even though he knew he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school. I had a bad feeling about it and tried to dissuade him from the idea, but sometimes he could be very stubborn. We hid in the basement, where he demonstrated Lumos, Alohomora, and created Red Sparks. It was that spell that didn't work properly and, by sheer bad luck, hit me right in the face. In St Mungo, medics had to fight for nearly a week to save my eyesight."
Scorpius looked at him, astonished. He had suspected that the accident had been something serious, but he hadn't realised it was to that extent. It turns out that James, in his carelessness, had come dangerously close to causing permanent harm to his brother. In that light, it wasn't surprising that James had become excessively protective of Albus. He likely felt guilty and couldn't forgive himself for nearly turning his brother into a cripple.
"After I came back home," Albus continued after a short pause, "James avoided me for quite a few days. He was so ashamed of himself for not listening to my warnings that he couldn't bring himself to come into my room. And when he finally did, he apologised to me for a very long time and promised that he would never disregard my words like he did then. A lot changed in our relationship from that day on. Of course, we still had some quarrels, but it was never so intense, mainly because James would usually back down first. Ironically, there was even a time when it started to annoy me, but eventually, I understood that it was his way of making amends."
There was a silence for a moment, and then Scorpius snorted and commented:
"Who would have thought that Saint James Potter had similar sins on his conscience?"
Hearing that, Albus smiled teasingly.
"As you can see, you don't have a patent on making mistakes."
Scorpius nudged him on the shoulder, then got up, walked to the fountain, and rinsed the blood-soaked towel. He also washed his face one more time before looking at Albus and flashing a disarming smile.
"I never claimed to have a patent on mistakes, just plenty of experience."
The days passed quickly as they explored the cliffs, lounged on the beach, and visited the surrounding towns. One day, they even ventured to explore the ruins of a medieval castle, and although they didn't meet the ghost of the last prince as expected, the trip itself was highly enjoyable.
The week went by surprisingly fast, and before Scorpius knew it, they packed up the car and started their journey back home. He had never expected to feel so comfortable in that company. While initially, the presence of Mr Potter had been a bit stressful, he had quickly revealed himself to be just as warm and friendly person as his children. Not once did he bring up Scorpius's past conflicts with Draco, for which Scorpius was grateful. While many of those issues had been resolved, they still carried a certain pain and would have cast a shadow on the atmosphere. However, for most of the trip, the atmosphere remained cheerful and filled with entertainment.
As they returned to Malfoy Manor and the estate came into view on the horizon, Scorpius felt that same familiar knot in his stomach. It was the same feeling he'd experienced when returning from the Easter break to Hogwarts. He felt that that entire trip had been an unreal dream, a strange interlude lifted from the grey reality. But then he glanced at the smiling Lily and the somewhat pensive Albus, and he realised that it didn't have to be that way. It didn't have to be a one-time exception; on the contrary, it was up to them whether they wanted to continue spending time together or repeat that trip in the next year.
That thought uplifted him and untied the knot that had formed in his gut. Thanks to that, he could easily exit the car and say his goodbyes. He thanked Mr Potter for his company and assured Albus and Lily that they would meet again at King's Cross on the first day of September. Then he collected his belongings, waved goodbye to them, and walked towards the house.
A moment later, he heard the sound of the departing car, and as he reached the front door, it swung open, revealing Draco.
"Welcome back," his father greeted him, letting him inside. "I hope the trip was a success."
Scorpius smiled slightly and nodded. "More than I had hoped for."