Author's Note: This is a tie-in/branch off to Starting New (Silver Fireworks Chapter 2) by spittingllama7856. It is not required to read in order to know what is going on, but we are collaborating, so for the best experience, read it, too!

This is another interlude with yet another time skip involved. Not quite a year has passed since Draco and Scorpius moved in with the twins, and I think we can safely assume that the three adults have kept a professional work environment between them even during the off-duty hours. Of course the twins have become quite taken with Scorpius, and he to them, so there was a lot more bonding going on between them that was obviously unstoppable. A kid to act like a kid with living with them is the perfect recipe for the twins, amirite?

The next chapter will parallel with this one and then continue on from that one for a couple chapters before the next Interlude. :D

Rated: K

Genre: Humor

Summary: Secrets are fun to keep, even when they're accidentally mentioned.

It's a Secret

13th of March, 2010

The twins simply knew him as The Ferret at school. Never did they expect him to show up on their doorstep with a three-year-old in tow, broke, and nowhere else to go as he all but begged for a job. Fred and George knew what they were getting themselves into when they employed the bloke and gave them the spare room in their flat. They told themselves they did it for the kid.

Scorpius had the twins wrapped around his little finger, the two utterly adored him. The months ticked by and the bond between the three only grew. His happiness meant the world to them, and they knew it meant the world to Draco, too.

Time had played its hand in breaking the blond's soul, and they wanted to be the ones to help heal it. He was more than an employee and flatmate to them, he just didn't know it yet.

"Hey Scorp', want to know a secret?" George asked the four-year-old he was watching while Fred took Draco to be integrated in at the Burrow.

Scorpius' eyes lit up like a firework at the knowledge of being trusted with a secret. He scooted closer to the ginger who was sitting on the floor with him to be able to hear George better.

"What is it?" he whispered, forgetting that the two were alone in the spacious flat.

"Fred and I have taken quite a liking to your father, and we wanted to know if that was okay with you?" George could barely finish as Scorpius suddenly hug tackled him.

"Doesthismeanyoucanbemydaddiesnowtoo?" he rattled out so fast George had to have him slow down and repeat himself.

"Only if you're alright with it, that is," the ginger chuckled.

The kid's head was nodding so much it was a wonder it didn't pop off. "I'm glad. But it has to stay a secret for now, alright?"

The kid nodded again, but the grin didn't disappear.

"Here, I made something just for you."

Scorpius accepted the red bouncy ball and put a hand over his mischievously smiling mouth to indicate a silent promise.

.oOo.

"Father! Look!"

Scorpius squealed later that evening after his father returned from his outing. He promptly took the bright red bouncy ball and stretched it out, pushing his face in it so it outlined him grinning through a now sparkling-gold rubber wall. When he pulled back, it snapped back into the shape of a red bouncy ball. Draco couldn't think of what to say at the demonstration while his son continued to stretch and bounce it around. It definitely was a Weasley invention, and it had to be in Gryffindor colors. They were poking fun at him, he just knew it.

"Where did you get this from?" Draco asked, poking at the ball.

"It's a secret," Scorpius said quickly with a grin so large it lit up his eyes.

Draco didn't like the sound of that. "What secret?"

Realizing his mistake, Scorpius got up and ran down the hall, throwing the bouncy ball behind him to distract an already confused Draco. "Daddy! I messed up!"

'Daddy?'

Originally written for:

The Houses Competition

Word count: (Per Google Docs) 523