XIX

Days passed one after another, filled with learning and work. Scorpius had no moments of peace, dividing his time between classes, detention with Filch, and his lessons with McGonagall. Throughout the week, the only free afternoon was on Sundays, and usually, he spent it in the library, trying to catch up on all his homework.

The weather outside made it more pleasant to stay in the warm Hogwarts' halls since it was almost constantly raining, with a chilling wind, and then, suddenly, the first snowfall of the season. Scorpius didn't envy the other students who had the opportunity to visit Hogsmeade or watch Quidditch matches. Sitting for two hours on the windswept Quidditch pitch was the last thing he could wish for. He preferred spending his time buried in books.

However, there was one aspect that soured his mood, and that was his study of runes, which continued to be a true pain for him. His runes seemed awful to him, but he didn't doubt that McGonagall would persist. The Headmaster was determined to include him in the Ancient Runes lesson group at the start of the next semester, and he hated that idea from the beginning.

With so much to do, at least he didn't have much time to dwell on the past events. He still hadn't received a response from the Ministry, and the lack of information was frustrating. He tried not to dwell on it, knowing that it wouldn't change anything. Brooding over it would only give him stomach ulcers and wouldn't bring any real benefits. So, he pushed all those unpleasant thoughts aside and focused on more immediate matters.

The heavy workload had another positive aspect – Scorpius had little time or opportunity for interactions with other students. While he sometimes missed the Potter's company, on the other hand, he didn't have to endure the presence of those who disdain him. Since Halloween, Gryffindors seemed to tolerate his presence a bit better, but almost every Ravenclaw in the school looked at him with pure venom in their eyes. He heard their whispers and saw the hatred in their glances. They considered him a murderer, no matter the circumstances, and they would do much to get rid of him from the school. It was almost miraculous that nobody had tried to beat him into the pulp. He was nearly sure that his favourites, Nash and Backsing, waited for him outside the Great Hall one day, but then Professor Flitwick had shown up, which had cooled their enthusiasm effectively.

That incident made him realise that he needed to be careful about wandering alone in Hogwarts. Without the use of magic, he stood no chance against the blocks like Nash and Backsing, and he had no intention of landing in the Hospital Wing again.

"Are you here again?" Lily asked as she entered the library one Sunday afternoon. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

Scorpius had just finished transcribing a runic spell when he saw the Gryffindor girl entering. He put his quill aside and stretched in the chair. Lily seemed to take that as an invitation because she walked closer and sat down next to him, examining his work.

"You've made a mistake here," she pointed to one of the lines on the parchment.

Scorpius glared at her.

"I don't take criticism from a red-haired brat," he grumbled, hastily hiding his work.

Lily pouted for a moment but then gave him a disarming smile.

"Don't worry, Rose has problems with that too. Sometimes, I see her staying up all night trying to draw some runes correctly. She goes through stacks of used parchment."

"Rose takes Ancient Runes?" Scorpius asked.

"Rose took everything," she replied, rolling her eyes. "She wants to be like our aunt, who was the best student at Hogwarts."

Scorpius suddenly realised that when he joined the lessons, he would have even more to do with the annoying Miss Weasley. If he already found the Potters endurable, Rose was more of an annoyance. Yet another reason not to embrace Runes with enthusiasm. However, he kept that thought to himself.

"Do you want something specific, or are you just bored?" he asked.

Lily seemed to get flustered for a moment, but then her Gryffindor blood prevailed as she stood and put her hands on her hips.

"If you're going to be mean, you won't find out why I came."

Scorpius rolled his eyes.

"I'm dying of curiosity," he quipped, then smiled mischievously. "Don't try to bait me; I can tell you're itching to tell me what's on your mind."

Lily clenched her lips, obviously struggling with herself. But then she took a deep breath, shook her head, and said, "You're awful, you know?"

"Slytherin," Scorpius replied.

"You're awful even for a Slytherin," she added.

"So why did you come here?"

"Are you going to visit us over the holidays?" she blurted out.

It caught him off guard, and for a while, he didn't know how to respond. He had no idea if she had discussed that with the others, but even if she had, he genuinely doubted that he felt ready for another integrative experiment. Especially if it meant coming face-to-face with someone he didn't dare to see at the moment. He would have to admit that he needed help; he would have to thank him, and Scorpius didn't know if he could muster the strength for that.

But then he thought of another aspect, and it completely shattered his mood. He imagined talking to his father about that idea, and even the thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"Not going to happen," he replied tersely.

"Why?" The disappointment was all too clear on Lily's face.

He didn't want to lie to her, but on the other hand, he didn't want to admit his fears.

"My grandparents are coming," he said. "I haven't seen them in a year. It would be pretty mean if I didn't show up."

It seemed that that argument hit home with Lily because she relaxed a bit and nodded.

"I understand."

"Maybe next time," he said in an amicable tone.

"Maybe," she agreed, smiling shyly.

The end of the year took Scorpius by surprise. In the midst of his busy schedule, he had lost all sense of time, and before he knew it, Filch commanded them to decorate the Great Hall with holiday decorations.

In two days, most of the students would be heading home. For a brief moment, Scorpius considered staying at school, but he knew he couldn't indefinitely avoid his father. He had already stopped sending letters home, as with each passing day, he grew more fearful of what he'd receive in response. His mother was the one who had been sending him news, but her letters were exceedingly brief and contained almost no specifics. Scorpius would have to find out personally what had been happening at home and what consequences their family had faced due to recent events.

He'd be lying if he claimed he looked forward to the meeting with his father. On the contrary, he was well aware it would be an extremely tough experience. He was certain that Draco wouldn't spare him harsh words, which he'd fully deserved.

Nonetheless, he didn't intend to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. No matter what, prolonging the situation would only make things worse. The accumulated anger of his father would be even fiercer. Thinking about it, Scorpius realised that the last time he'd seen Draco, they had parted on relatively neutral terms, almost amicable. Over the past year, their turbulent relationship had somewhat stabilised. Currently, Scorpius felt as if they were back at square one. He remembered how furious Draco had become when he'd learned about the incident involving the explosion in the South Tower and how he'd threatened to disown Scorpius. It was horrifying to think about what kind of punishment Draco had prepared for him that time.

Sitting at the Great Hall table, Scorpius stared at the pancakes with maple syrup on his plate. The more he thought about his father, the less he felt like eating. He knew that feeling well. He was simply scared, though he would never admit it, not even to himself.

Lost in these unpleasant thoughts, he barely noticed a large owl that had just dropped a sealed scroll right in front of him. The sight of the Ministry of Magic seal on the parchment sent a shiver down his spine. Quickly, he grabbed the letter and hid it in the pocket of his robes. Without a word of explanation, he left his breakfast and hurriedly made his way out of the Great Hall. He found an empty classroom, locked the door behind him, and broke the seal. Leaning against the wall, he began to read the letter. After a while, his legs refused to hold him, and he sat down on the floor, his back against the wall.

Scorpius sat there in silence for several minutes, trying to sort his thoughts. He should have been happy, but instead, he felt a shiver running through his body as if he had a fever. He repeatedly returned to the Ministry's letter, making sure he hadn't misunderstood anything. Everything was stated clearly: the investigation had been closed without pressing charges, and Peggy White's death had been ruled as an "unfortunate accident with fatal consequences." Only the school where the incident occurred was required to compensate the girl's family with a sum of five thousand Galleons.

The letter was long, containing detailed explanations of the decision, along with the list of wizards creating the Wizengamot that had approved it. It was filled with the characteristic legal jargon that Scorpius couldn't quite comprehend. But he didn't really have the energy to dissect it; a hundred other thoughts consumed his mind.

Then, after he had somewhat collected himself, a sense of relief washed over him like never before. It was as if someone had lifted the weight he had been carrying for almost two months off his shoulders. A weight that had become so familiar that he began to get used to it.

Scorpius closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Finally, he could try to close that unfortunate chapter of his life. Of course, not everything was straightforward. He still had to face Filch's punishment at school and his father's anger, but at least he had been forgiven by the Ministry. And he couldn't escape the fact that he had blood on his hands, and that was something that could never be changed. He could only try to ensure that he'd never make such a mistake again.

A quarter of an hour later, he managed to get up from the floor, folded the letter, and left the classroom. After a few steps, he nearly collided with Albus. Worry was clearly written on the Gryffindor's face.

"Is something wrong?" Scorpius asked.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you the same thing. I saw you leaving the Great Hall in a hurry."

"You were looking for me? I'm touched," Scorpius quipped.

Albus looked embarrassed for a moment, then grew slightly annoyed.

"It seems completely unnecessary," he muttered with irritation.

Despite everything, Scorpius was glad that Potter hadn't found him a few minutes earlier. He'd seen Scorpius in total mess often enough.

"I received a letter from the Ministry. I just wanted to read it in peace," Scorpius explained.

Albus's anger quickly disappeared, replaced by curiosity. He probably had already guessed a lot, which was confirmed by his next question.

"Is it good news?"

Scorpius nodded.

"They closed the investigation. They won't hold me accountable."

Albus smiled faintly and nodded as well.

"Thank goodness. Have you told McGonagall about that?"

"I'll tell her later after I meet with her."

"She's really worried about you, you know."

Even at the moment, Scorpius found it hard to believe that both the Headmaster and the Potter were concerned about his well-being. They didn't really have any reason to be. He hadn't done anything to deserve it. But that was the nature of Gryffindors; they could care about someone without reason. That's what set them apart. Scorpius calculated, analysed, and weighed the pros and cons of every situation, whereas they acted selflessly.

"Yes, I know," he replied, not wanting to dwell on his relationship with McGonagall.

They walked down the corridor together. Albus had Charms class, and Scorpius had Divination. When they reached the point where their paths diverged, Gryffindor stopped and looked at him seriously.

"Lily mentioned that you turned down her invitation."

Scorpius sighed slightly.

"You know how it is. I can't just run away like I did last year; that would be suicide. Asking my father for permission isn't even worth it. I don't want to spend the holiday sleeping in a stable."

Potter chuckled and nodded.

"Of course. I suspected as much. But just so you know, if your father gets too overbearing, you know where to find us."

That was actually a tempting proposition. If Draco became too unbearable, Scorpius could always Floo over to the Potters. There, his father wouldn't dare to pursue him.

Though such thoughts were entirely irrational, they lifted Scorpius's spirits, and he went on his way to the Astronomy Tower feeling quite at ease.

The holiday break had one more positive aspect: the end of their detention with Filch, which the Slytherins welcomed with great joy. The three of them were utterly fed up with working for the perpetually grumpy caretaker. He was fussy, nagging, and nitpicked every detail. Scorpius, too, was relieved to have three free afternoons since the constant grind had been taking a toll on him lately.

Scorpius sat in the train compartment with Karl and Zack, who talked about how to spend the upcoming free week. Both his friends knew very well that returning home in these circumstances was not a pleasant prospect for him. With great sensitivity, they avoided raising the issue and focused on presents, home-cooked meals, and family gatherings instead. Zachary was prepared for the usual family invasion and assumed he wouldn't manage to complete even half of his homework, and Karl planned to catch up with all the more interesting Quidditch matches. Meanwhile, Scorpius began to hope that his grandparents would indeed visit for the holidays, which should at least somewhat ease the tense situation. In their presence, his father never allowed any outbursts.

London welcomed them with heavy snowfall, and King's Cross was crowded on the platform. Scorpius bid farewell to the others, picked up his bag, and disembarked from the train. In that weather, catching a train to Wiltshire could be a bit tricky, and he wanted to arrive home at a reasonable hour.

He was already forming a plan in his head for what he would do when he returned to the manor. He had several scenarios in mind but was grateful for the two-hour train journey ahead, which would give him time to gather his thoughts and calm his nerves. He already felt a lump rising in his throat. He knew it wouldn't be pleasant, but he promised himself he would stay calm. That time, he wouldn't let his defiant tongue cause trouble. No matter what he heard, no matter how painful the words directed at him would be, he knew he deserved every bit of it.

"Scorpius."

It's a shame that the numerous scenarios he had created didn't account for one critical event. When he heard his name and turned around, he saw Draco standing a bit apart from the crowd on the platform. Scorpius stood there, feeling silly, not sure of what to do. It had never crossed his mind that his father would take the trouble to come to the train station. But then, he realised it was more than obvious. After the recent events, he had almost run abroad. No one in their right mind would allow him to travel alone in such circumstances, especially not Draco. If his father ever had an ounce of trust left in him, it was completely gone.

Draco's whole demeanour suggested that he was the last place he wanted to be. He stood unusually stiff, and his face bore an unpleasant grimace. He had never liked coming to King's Cross, and the circumstances certainly didn't make it any easier.

Seeing that his son had noticed him, Draco nodded and started walking towards the exit of the platform. For a moment, Scorpius fought the irrational urge to run away. He knew it would be utterly pointless, but instinct told him that hiding underground was the best option. After quickly quashing all his fears, he swallowed hard and followed his father.

He caught up with him when they reached the Muggle part of the station, but neither of them said anything. They walked in silence, and Scorpius saw a familiar black Volvo, which he got in without hesitation.

Draco started the engine and drove towards the city's outskirts.

For many long minutes, an overwhelming silence reigned in the car. Scorpius felt like he ran out of air; the atmosphere around them was so thick. Several times, he tried to speak first, but he couldn't even open his mouth, let alone utter any words. Eventually, he gave up on those attempts and stared out the window at the passing landscape.

They drove to the outskirts and beyond, through snow-covered fields and small groves, which were dark and wintry dormant. Scorpius genuinely couldn't remember a time when speaking had been that difficult. With each passing moment, he longed more and more for his father to say something finally. To vent all his anger and bitterness, to mete out his punishment and conclude that matter. Waiting for it drove Scorpius mad.

"Will you say something?" he muttered through his pressed throat. He didn't, however, dare to look at his father.

In response, there was silence. Perhaps Draco had decided to ignore him altogether. Maybe that was a new form of punishment.

"And what would you like to hear?" Draco finally replied with a question.

Scorpius shrugged reflexively.

"Anything. I already know what you have to say, so why wait?"

"Since you know, why should I make the effort? Especially when you disregard my words anyway."

Suddenly, Scorpius remembered how his father had warned him about hasty actions when he drove him from St. Mungo's. But back then, the atmosphere between them was much better. That atmosphere he had effectively ruined.

"It's not like that..."

"And how is it then? Explain to me, Scorpius, how?!" Draco roared, and it was only then that Scorpius noticed how tightly he gripped the steering wheel. More words filled with anger poured from his father's mouth. "Everyone warned you, me, your mother, even the Headmaster. Do you realise what you could have done with your thoughtlessness?! You have your whole life ahead of you, and with one foolish act, you could have ruined everything. For what? What did you want to prove? That you're smarter than others? That you don't need anyone? Instead, you've endangered yourself and your classmates, and, worse, you killed that girl."

Scorpius clenched his teeth.

"I know..."

"You don't know anything!" Draco snapped. "Do you want to end up like me?! I can't fix my mistakes, and neither can you."

That comparison struck Scorpius hard. How much truth was in it? How close had he come to ending up the same way as his father? He suddenly felt a lump in his throat. It wasn't fear at that time but rather an overwhelming sense of helplessness. His father was right. He couldn't fix that mistake.

He bit his lower lip, which had started to tremble unbearably. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried in his father's presence, but he suddenly felt overwhelmed by it all. Overwhelmed by the finality of the events.

"I...," he began and stopped abruptly, not sure of what he really wanted to say. He closed his eyes and took a short breath. "I know I did something incredibly stupid. I wish I could undo it, but I can't. I also know that I let everyone down and disappointed them... in the worst possible way… For rotten troll arse… l… damn it!"

Draco's scorching gaze continued to bore into him. He hadn't even thought that he had never cursed in front of his father before. The burning sensation somewhere in his throat robbed him of speech. He would like to get out of the car and give himself some time to cool down, but he knew it was impossible. Furthermore, he felt his father's piercing gaze upon him. However, Draco remained silent for a longer moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was much calmer.

"I received a letter from the Ministry. They closed the case."

Scorpius nodded.

"I know, I received one too," he said, although his voice still trembled painfully. He felt humiliated, as he always did when he showed his weaknesses to others. Nevertheless, he was grateful to his father for changing the subject and not tormenting him further.

"You were very lucky," Draco continued. "It could have ended much worse for you. If not the involvement of..."

His father broke off his thought, but Scorpius immediately understood the rest.

"Albus did it without my knowledge. I would never have..."

"I was ready to do it myself," Draco muttered, and Scorpius couldn't help but turn and look at him. His father's face was strangely tense.

"You? But you hate them, don't you?"

"There are things more important than pride, my son."

Hearing that statement, Scorpius felt worse than ever. He rested his heavy head on the headrest and sighed with effort. He felt like an ungrateful, short-sighted idiot. He realised that for his good, his father was willing to give up everything and turn to his greatest enemies for help.

Suddenly, his mother's words came to his mind. She claimed that Draco couldn't stand on equal footing with Potter because he had a debt he could never repay. When Mr. Potter helped with Scorpius's case, that debt had only increased.

"In that case, Albus spared you from trouble," he said after a while, with a bitter smile on his lips.

Hearing that, Draco also relaxed slightly and just nodded.

"To some extent, but they dragged me and Astoria to the Ministry three times anyway."

He didn't explain further, but Scorpius guessed the rest. Those meetings certainly weren't pleasant.

"Still, it's my debt to Albus. Not yours to Mr Potter."

"Do you really think that changes anything?"

Scorpius shrugged.

"The perspective. It's probably better to owe your friends than your enemies."

His father looked at him strangely but didn't comment on it in any way.

The rest of the journey was completed in silence, but it was unlike the previous one. That time, Scorpius used the time to collect himself. Since returning from London that fateful day with Albus, he had never felt so mentally broken. While he expected his father to be angry, he didn't anticipate that there would be so much hurt in his father's voice. Scorpius was used to handling anger without a problem, but the feeling of disappointing others always threw him off balance. It was the same with McGonagall. Her disappointment was what hurt the most, the knowledge that he had failed to meet her expectations.

It was a revelation for Scorpius. He had always thought that no one had any expectations of him. He believed that people didn't care who he was or what he did. Currently, he knew that was far from the truth. He was the hope of his parents, if not to erase their family's sins, at least to improve their reputation. For McGonagall, he was a capable student who only needed guidance on the right path.

And for the first time, he had let them all down. That made him realise how much he valued their trust.

"I won't mess up like that again, I promise," Scorpius said as Draco stopped the car in front of the manor.

His father looked at him in disbelief, but seeing his determined expression, he eventually nodded in agreement.

As soon as the engine fell silent, the front door of the manor opened, and Astoria emerged. Despite the cold weather, she wore no outerwear. She approached them and stopped by the car. Scorpius couldn't close the door in time before she embraced him firmly, pulling him toward her with a determined gesture. Her breathing was ragged, and Scorpius knew that she fought back tears.

They stood like that for a long moment, neither of them saying anything. Scorpius rested his head on his mother's shoulder and closed his eyes, relishing the familiar lavender scent. He knew that smell well, and it always brought back memories of his childhood, of safety and carefree days. He would give anything to go back to that kind of life.

Finally, Astoria released her embrace and, with a forced smile, invited them inside. There, on the dining table, dinner awaited them.

Scorpius left his things in his room, took off his school robe, and washed his face. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he noticed how sunken his cheeks were and how dark the circles under his eyes had become. He knew that he hadn't been eating much lately, and he was definitely not getting enough sleep. In the midst of everything else, he hadn't been considering his well-being, but he was sure his mother had already noticed that he wasn't doing well. She was always very sensitive to his health.

Instinctively, Scorpius ran his hand along his forearm, where the scars from the curse were still visible. He honestly doubted they would ever disappear completely. He was slowly coming to terms with that fact. Without much frustration, he pulled his sleeve back down. He wiped his face and hands, then left the bathroom.

As he descended the stairs, he heard his mother's calm voice. He stopped on the last few steps, aware that the words were not intended for him.

"I'm... glad. But why did you change your mind?"

"It wouldn't help at that point. You didn't see him earlier, and I can't remember ever seeing him so... shaken."

"He's coping in his way."

"I thought he'd just be his usual stubborn self. However, it turns out he doesn't need another lecture. I think right now he needs your support more than my reprimands."

"And he'll get it. But I think your understanding is much more important. Whether you like it or not, Scorpius looks up to you. Your opinion matters to him, not mine."

"You know very well that it's not easy in our case. I never know which of my words will cause a storm. And he often doesn't make it any easier."

Scorpius decided he didn't want to listen to their conversation any longer. He'd heard enough. So he crossed the remaining distance to the dining room, leaned against the doorframe, and cleared his throat meaningfully. Both of his parents turned to him, looking visibly embarrassed. They likely did not doubt that he had overheard at least part of their conversation.

"It's good that you're here; dinner is getting cold," Astoria was the first to regain her composure.

Scorpius nodded and approached the table. However, he couldn't tear his gaze away from his father's serious face.

"At least I'm done working around with Filch," Scorpius said when he described the current situation at school. "I won't have to burn the midnight oil just to catch up on my homework."

"You should take better care of your health. If you fall ill, it won't help you at all," Astoria remarked.

"I know, it's just that sometimes there's simply not enough time for me even to have lunch."

"In that case, make sure to add more salads to your diet," his mother suggested, pushing the bowl closer to him.

Scorpius nodded and loaded some onto his plate, even though he felt that he couldn't fit in another bite.

"On the bright side, everything indicates that I'll be starting the Ancient Runes lessons next semester. The Headmaster is unyielding about it, even though it's a bit of a pain for me."

Unexpectedly, Scorpius's parents exchanged meaningful looks.

"If I recall correctly, you received an Outstanding in Runes," Draco said to Astoria.

She nodded, then turned to Scorpius. "If you need help, you can count on me."

Scorpius smiled and nodded. In that matter, he wouldn't refuse any help.

The next day, Scorpius' grandparents paid a visit to the Malfoy Manor. Scorpius had already known from his father that his parents hadn't been able to hide the whole ordeal from them. As soon as his grandmother started hugging him and nearly crying upon seeing him, everything became quite clear. For a long time, Scorpius had to reassure her that the situation had ended well for him and that he wouldn't face any legal consequences for the events.

Throughout the next day, the conversations mostly revolved around the curse and the incident in the owlery. But what struck Scorpius the most was that his grandmother repeated several times that nothing like that would have happened in her time at Hogwarts. He bit his tongue before mentioning that during her time, the Dark Lord had left the school. So, it was hard to believe that things were really better back then. For the sake of peace, he simply nodded and didn't argue with the stubborn old woman.

For the holidays, Scorpius received several presents. His mother gave him a new, elegant robe, his grandparents loaded him up with a bag full of sweets, and his father gifted him three books. The latter particularly intrigued him because he knew that Draco didn't give those without reason. They were all focused on advanced magic, and Scorpius was eager to dive into the details. However, having learned from experience, he only skimmed through them, deciding that he would return to these topics when he was adequately prepared. He had no desire to end up back at St. Mungo's.

Contrary to his earlier fears, the holiday season passed peacefully in a relatively friendly atmosphere. Astoria did everything to ensure every family member was content, and Scorpius didn't have much time to dwell on unpleasant memories. His mother encouraged him to help with baking, took him to the nearby village, and in the evenings, she either read books with him or watched him play wizard's chess with his grandfather. Scorpius understood well the reason for her unusual attentiveness, and even though he occasionally felt overwhelmed by it, he had no intention of complaining. That was a welcome change after all the tears she had shed because of him.

He didn't talk much with his father, still aware that not everything between them had returned to normal. Both of them seemed to fear another confrontation, which, in their case, could easily escalate into a heated argument. Scorpius knew their characters too well to have any doubts about it. Nonetheless, despite the silent truce between them, the situation was much better than Scorpius had feared before coming home. Back then, he assumed that the week would be a string of endless quarrels, anger, and reproaches. He thought that his parents would do everything to make him remember his mistakes. Instead, they were more concerned for him than anything, especially his mother. He could see that in the covert glances, she threw his way when she thought he wouldn't notice.

"I won't break," he said one day when he was alone with Astoria in the living room. "There was a time when I thought I couldn't handle it, but that's behind me now. At least, I think so."

His mother appeared initially surprised by his words, but then she smiled faintly.

"I'm glad, although it doesn't mean I'll stop worrying."

Scorpius had to sit in silence for a moment, contemplating what he should say next.

"I won't make you cry because of me again," he said eventually, looking at the floor. "I never wanted that."

"I know. But that's a mother's role. She has to let her children go and can only worry if they're happy."

If someone were to ask Scorpius that day whether he was happy, he wouldn't know what to answer. Many good and terrible things had happened, so the balance fell somewhere in between.

"I wanted to ask you something," Astoria said, making use of his silence. "On that day when that girl died, you ran away from school, didn't you?"

Scorpius looked at her in surprise. Of course, his parents had received a message from McGonagall about his disappearance, but he had never shared the details of that day with them. Perhaps he didn't want to admit to them how desperate he had been. However, he couldn't bring himself to lie, so he simply lowered his gaze and nodded.

"What did you want to do?" Astoria asked.

He shrugged.

"I panicked. Albus found me on the train to Brussels. At that moment, running away seemed like the best option. I didn't think about what I would do next."

He had expected a more violent reaction, but instead, Astoria just nodded as if her suspicions had been confirmed.

"I understand. It wasn't the happiest decision, but I can understand your reasons. However, I have a request. If you ever feel like the ground is slipping from under your feet again, remember that you can always find refuge here."

"I thought about coming back home, but I didn't want all of that to have an impact on you even more," he said and then forced a slight smile. "Besides, they would have looked for me here first."

Astoria smiled as well. She might be gentle and sensitive, but such calculated reasoning must have convinced her as well. After all, she had once belonged to Slytherin, too.

They sat in silence for a long moment, and then his mother combed his hair with her fingers and kissed his temple.

"I know you always try to make the right decisions," she said.

"At least I try. With varying degrees of success," Scorpius admitted.

"No one is infallible, not even you, my dear."

Scorpius rolled his eyes, and Astoria smiled and patted his shoulder.

"So, what's the deal with those Runes of yours?" she changed the subject.

He couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

"Do you really want to nag me about that during the holidays?" he asked, his voice devoid of hope.

"I don't intend to nag you, but I won't allow my son to have deficiencies in that matter."

With his grandparents away from the Malfoy Manor, peace and quiet settled in. Scorpius used the opportunity to catch up on all his homework and, despite his reservations, practice the runes. His mother was indeed very helpful in that regard, and her patience encouraged his commitment.

It was the evening before New Year's Eve when Scorpius finished his last assignments and packed his textbooks. He looked at the parchment covered in rows of runes. It was just the basics, but at least he knew that on the next meeting with McGonagall, he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself.

That day, something else occupied his mind. He entered the living room, where Draco sat by the lit fireplace with a book in his hand. When he saw his son, he closed the book and looked at him expectantly.

Scorpius stopped at the doorway and leaned against the frame. For the past hour, he had been contemplating what he should say, but ultimately, he concluded that the choice of words didn't matter. His father would probably be upset regardless. Nevertheless, he wanted to give it a try.

"I have a request," he began in a calm tone. "You don't have to agree or get angry; it's just a question."

"The preamble makes me not like that already," Draco muttered.

Scorpius sighed but kept his emotions in check. He was prepared for a refusal and was ready to accept it calmly.

"I was invited to spend the holidays at Potter's," he said directly. "I declined, knowing the situation."

He added that last part before his father could even open his mouth.

"But there's something I need to take care of there, so I would like to go to his place tomorrow."

Draco remained silent for a long while, studying him with his gaze. He made it clear through his entire demeanour that he didn't like the idea. However, to Scorpius' surprise, his father didn't get angry; rather, he sighed and shook his head.

"Should I drive you there?" he asked unwillingly.

"I was thinking more of using the fireplace. I know the address."

Draco nodded but didn't look at him anymore.

Scorpius was aware that he could breathe a sigh of relief and return to his room. After all, he had achieved his goal, and it wasn't too difficult. However, as he looked at his father, he felt bad about it.

"I don't have to do that if you don't want me to," he added.

"What I want doesn't really matter in that case. I guess it's high time I came to terms with the fact that your friendship with the Potters is a reality. I know you well enough to realise that the more I oppose it, the harder you'll push ahead. And don't deny it; you know it's true."

Scorpius nodded slightly and approached, forcing his father to look at him again.

"Not too long ago, perhaps it would have been that way, but now I don't want to choose between a friend and my family. I don't want that. I don't deny that they're important to me, but you are more. So, if you really can't come to terms with it, if it hurts your pride too much, I will end it. Albus will understand."

For the first time, he saw his father genuinely surprised by his words. Usually serious and resolute, Draco gazed at him, honestly astounded. Eventually, he collected himself, closed his eyes briefly, and then took a deep breath, standing up from his chair.

"When I was young, I always had to choose something," Draco admitted. "I was constantly forced to pick a side. It was that way back then. I want to believe that you'll live in better times. You have the right to choose your friends, and if it must be Potter, then I have to accept that."

"Thank you," Scorpius replied, not quite sure what else to say.

"And as for the matter you need to take care of," Draco added, looking at his son significantly. "I'll go with you to fulfil that duty."