Author's Note: Here we get a glimpse of what happened after Fred and Draco got back from the Burrow. Let's just say Draco needs a hug, the poor thing. I think this is the first time we see him essentially snap, too. It was bound to happen, honestly. A lot has happened in a year, and a lot was buried deep in that time. Let us see what happens together, yes?

Warning: Heavy implications of panic attacks. Internalized homophobia/denial of sexuality.

Word Count: (Per Google Docs) 3,220

Misdirected

13th of March, 2010

After getting Scorpius settled in their shared room for the night, Draco was reading one of the last few chapters left from the book Scorpius had picked a couple weeks ago. It was a medieval-based story about a royal night who rescued the infant prince from a man who overthrew the king—the infant's father.

"As Azarth pulled the crimson blanket over the young boy, their gazes met. 'Azarth,' he said, 'Will you always be there to protect me from harm?' The knight released the blanket mid-torso before placing a hand on Kaine's shoulder. 'I would fight until my last breath if it meant I could protect you.'"

"Would you do that for me, Father?" Scorpius asked suddenly as Draco marked his stopping point before closing the book.

The question made him wonder what his son thought of what he'd already done for him. Taking a job in a joke shop, working under the Weasley twins of all people, as well as living with them to boot, was all for Scorpius' sake. He needed security, a place to call home, and most of all, Draco wanted him to be happy.

"Of course I would, Scorpius," he responded after a long moment. "You know that everything I do—"

"—You do for me. Yeah."

Draco took a deep breath. His son had picked up on that twin speak thing, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Placing the book on the nightstand and was about to put out the oil lamp before Scorpius piped up again.

"Father?"

He sat back down on the edge of the bed, grey eyes meeting each other. "Yes, Scorpius?"

"Why don't you do anything for yourself?"

This was unexpected, Draco wondered where his son was going with this. Scorpius always was so inquisitive late at night, it was a horrible habit he couldn't break. He knew Scorpius always had the hardest of times getting to sleep since Astoria left them, and it was something he gave up trying to correct. These questions were just another way to stall the inevitable—sleep.

"I do, but my first priority is to—"

"—Make sure I am happy," Scorpius finished.

Draco would tell him this almost as often as he told him he loved him. "Are you happy?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad." Draco brushed the fringe from Scorpius' eyes, making a note to get him in for a hair trim soon.

Before he could make his second attempt to snuff the light and slip out of the room, Scorpius spoke up once more.

"Did my calling George 'daddy' upset you earlier?"

Draco felt his blood run cold at the question. He was barely able to contain the shock on his face before responding.

"Why do you ask?"

Scorpius shrugged, fidgeting with the hem of the blanket. "I don't know… you looked annoyed."

Sighing, Draco rubbed the sleepiness from his own eyes. "Look, son. You know they are just friends, right?"

"I guess. But why?"

Draco was confused now, but the tightness in his chest wouldn't subside despite the subtle breathing tactics he used to keep himself from losing it. "Why what?"

Scorpius sighed in frustration, slapping his hands over his forehead. "You don't see it?"

He thought a moment, trying to puzzle out what his son was saying. "See what? Are you referring to your 'secret' you mentioned earlier?"

The boy smirked despite himself. "Sort of..." he paused a moment before pulling his blanket up over his face to hide his bashfulness that leaked into his words. "They really like you. And I like to call them 'daddy' and 'papa.'"

The silence made Scorpius uneasy enough that he peeked out from under the blanket. "Is that okay?"

Draco's heart stopped and leapt into his throat. Scorpius was doing it again—being overly observant and speaking his mind, which he encouraged, and Scorpius used to completely thrown off guard. Draco didn't know to how to react or feel about the subject. Being gifted as an Occlumens had its perks at times, turning off his emotions was the only way he managed to face each day with a dissociative mind. Being able to tuck away the wayward thoughts about the twins, to keep how's constant worries about Scorpius at bay, it helped keep him from overthinking everything, reading into actions and gestures, or trying to decode their statements and comments. It was easier for him to keep those feelings locked up, they made it clear to him so long ago, and he couldn't risk ruining their lives again because he slipped up again.

But now, one simple statement, one simple word, one simple question from his son, tore all those mental walls down, and he didn't like it.

"They are my employers and landlords, Scorpius. They are your friends. That's it," he said sternly, getting back to his feet. "Calling them anything other than their names isn't appropriate, especially that kind of name."

"But—"

"This isn't open for discussion, Scorpius," Draco interrupted, the growing anger in his voice had Scorpius look away and curl into himself. "They are your friends at best, so you will continue to address and treat them accordingly. Understand?"

"Yeah…" He could see that Scorpius was upset based on his huffy, grumbly response. "For now."

Draco dared not question those last uttered words. He softened his tone. "Goodnight. I love you."

Scorpius mumbled a reply as Draco adjusted his blanket, gave his forehead a gentle kiss, and snuffed out the oil lamp. The darkness quickly covered the room as Draco made for the door. He had immediate business to attend to with the twins.

Luckily for him, they were in the main room, lounging on the couch after another bizarre day. He should have realized it sooner after he left Scorpius with George and went to the Burrow with Fred for… whatever reason he used to warp his mind into saying yes to that afternoon. Getting their attention was easy when he had that borderline murderous look on his face as he stood before them, arms folded, and eyes sharp like daggers.

"Scorp finally go down, Draco?" the one on his left asked.

Draco felt his heart clench at the question, but made no notion to reply. The other sat more upright now, seeing and feeling the seriousness radiate off the blond. He gave his brother a nudge, hinting that joking was not an option for the moment.

"We need to talk," Draco finally said.

"Is something wrong, mate?"

"Obviously there is, George," Draco snapped back, looking between the two who were still leisurely lounging. "How long has Scorpius been calling you two daddy?"

"I'm Fred," he said with a smirk. "And Scorp only calls George 'daddy'. He calls me 'papa'."

"I don't care who he calls what," the blond hissed through gritted teeth, voice raising with every other word. "Why is he suddenly changing the way he addresses you two? Why am I suddenly needed to be introduced to your mother? If you are trying to do what I think it is—"

The lack of breathing properly had Draco's vision blur some, but he was feeling too angry and confused on how he was supposed to react to the situation to be able to focus on breathing. He was blind with anger. All he could think about was Scorpius replacing him with the two in front of him, but that his son mentioned that they liked him.

How did he know this? Was this simple observation Scorpius took notice of make him think that calling them those names would be alright? To fortify something between them because they all cared about him in various ways? That he would rekindle the very same feelings that ruined his life with Astoria in the first place? It was not something he was willing to handle again. He wasn't sure how the three suddenly ended up in the office space outside of the flat until the nauseating twinge in his stomach told him they apparated.

Firm hands lead him to a chair and pushed him down to sit. The authoritative handling only agitated him more, but only because their gentle squeezes of comfort on either shoulder afterward sent his mind spinning elsewhere.

"You were yelling, mate," one twin stated.

"Can't have Scorp hear that," the other added in.

Draco dug his palms into his eyes, trying to regather his wits as both twins still kept that firm, but hardly painful, grip on his shoulders. The heat he felt burning in his veins simmered out as he found himself focusing on their touch. It was strange having anyone touch him so casually, it was different, a little unnerving, but pleasant at the same time.

When Scorpius' name was said, he snapped back and suddenly stood, ripping their hands off him. "I am his father, not you two. Why is he associating that with you guys? I want to know now."

"Draco, easy," the one without the botched ear—Fred he remembered—said, voice soothing and calm. "You need to try and relax, alright?"

He shook his head, releasing a hollow laugh. "It's just a game to you two, isn't it?"

"What?"

"Scorpius, he obviously sees you two as more than just obligatory friends to want to call you…" Draco trailed off, biting his tongue and looking just past the two so he didn't have to directly see them. "He sees things he shouldn't be seeing between us. That is not okay. Yet, you make it all a game..."

Draco watched as something clicked between the twins when they exchanged that look they always did. He felt suddenly dizzy, the darkness edged the corner of his eyes, and he quickly took the closest seat to him and buried his face back in his hands. The flutter he felt in his chest was wrong, it was what caused Astoria to abandon them, and his parents to disown him. Of course they wanted to take Scorpius and leave Draco on the streets, but he did not allow that, making that rift grow even more. They scathingly told him denying Scorpius a stable upbringing was the worst decision he could've made as a parent—those were their last words to him. Everything he suppressed for the sake of normalcy—for a quiet, simple life—was long gone.

And now here he was, raising a four-and-a-half-year-old alone in a flat above a joke shop, waking up every day to switch off and go through the motions in order to avoid the same mistake again. Falling from grace was second nature now.

The words that escaped him weren't meant to be uttered. "What are you two doing to me?"

He could feel the twins' presence much closer to him now, but he dared not look up. "They are just names to him, Draco. I doubt they carry the same weight of their title that you think they do."

"How do you know what he perceives them to be when he uses them?" Draco knew they really didn't, he just wanted to stop them from trying to feed that nonsense to him. "How do I know you two aren't encouraging this? Why aren't you correcting him?"

"We're sorry, mate. Honestly it didn't really occur to us that it was going to touch a nerve with you," George said. "It surprised us, too. But you shouldn't interpret it as a bad thing."

"He's a kid. If he is that comfortable with George and I to relate us to such a good person like you, his own father, we were quite honored, really." Fred gave Draco a firm pat on the back.

"I am not a good person, Fred," Draco half-whispered.

"Oh, please. You're a great person and father to Scorp," George assured, resting his hand back on the blond's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong to ask for help, though. You've been here for about a year now, yet it still took some serious convincing to have you leave the tyke here with me for a few hours."

Fred nodded in agreement. "You are allowed to trust us like we trust you. Scorpius clearly does, and we honestly don't mind helping take care of him, only if you are alright with it of course. Try and take a page out of his book, maybe?"

Draco looked between them a couple of times before suddenly brushing off their hands to again get up and pace the room.

Hie slid his hands through his hair, fingers knotting in his hair. "This was supposed to be a professional arrangement, nothing else." Draco paused, glancing their way. "Is what Scorpius said true?"

"Sorry?" They asked in unison.

"About…" he cut himself off, sliding his hands over his face. "I don't even know what or how to think about you two anymore. What are you doing to me again..." Draco muttered under his breath, unsure if either of them heard.

The twins suddenly embraced him on either side, their arms loosely wrapping around his waist while resting their heads on his shoulders. The pang in his chest burned as he processed the contact between them, the warmth they radiated, the gentleness behind the action, their scent he couldn't quite describe but was still intoxicating. It felt so wrong, but so right. Draco was doing it again, overthinking everything—he needed an outlet before he fainted.

He found himself focusing on their steady breaths, syncing with it, allowing it to calm him down. He couldn't admit this breakdown was manifested fear of losing Scorpius to the twins, to think that his own son preferred them over himself. Draco wasn't completely sure why they were wanting to help him with his son, it was all a little humiliating if he had to be honest, but still secretly welcoming. This didn't turn out the way he wanted it to, everything was so backwards and confusing.

Several minutes went by—or so Draco thought—before Fred and George pulled away. The sudden disconnection left him feeling strange and cold.

"Are you going to be alright?"

Draco let out a very long, well needed breath. "Yeah."

"Look, we know that this wasn't exactly where you wanted to be by now, but don't think that you're a failure because of it," Fred said slowly, treading back into dangerous waters. "Scorpius is in good hands, with you and us. If he views George and I as part of his family, we won't object to it so long as you don't."

"We won't cross any lines if you aren't comfortable with it, but remember that we are here if you want help. We utterly adore the squirt, so we honestly don't mind. But we aren't by any stretch of the word trying to replace you, or try and take him away from you, if that is what you were thinking. You're his father first, you'll still call the shots. We simply want to be there to help." George gave Fred that secretive look again.

Draco looked between them carefully, processing what they were saying as well as coming to terms with the outcome of whatever this turned into. He wasn't sure they were picking up on his subtle suggestions of what Scorpius told him. If they were, they were pretending to be oblivious about it, and Draco was thankful for it. He was unsure how he felt about it all anymore, tasting the bitterness of rejection a second time wasn't something he wanted to experience again, but it also seemed like they were giving him space to figure it out.

How was he supposed to handle knowing they actually liked him? He didn't see any signs that Scorpius claimed to have seen, but he wasn't going to dare ask, either. Clearly he felt something for them based on how unstable his mindset was and questioning everything, but he didn't want to admit it to himself. Not yet… it was wrong, wasn't it? It messed up his otherwise stable life since the war, it left him confused and bitter during the darker days of the war...

How were they able to steer the conversation so smoothly and handle him so well? Why was he so compliant with most of their proposals or shenanigans? They were very good at making their case, but maybe it was how they always presented it that made it so easy to accept. It was almost like they knew exactly what to say to disable Draco's reasoning skills, and that, he knew, was going to be a dangerous weapon to face in the future.

But for now, Draco needed the help, at least for now until he could find a new flat and get Scorpius and himself away from all this. He needed to get away before he did something stupid, acted on something stupid.

Why did his heart always feel like glass but his mind like stone? Why couldn't they work together for a change and prevent all of this uncertainty and confusion?

"Okay," Draco heard himself say, defeated.

They both let out loud sighs of relief, brushing the fringe off their foreheads.

"Glad that's handled," Fred said.

"Care for a drink?" George offered, holding the door open to head back to the flat.

"I'd rather just go to bed."

Draco exited the office and hastily opened the door opposite, wanting to put a lot of space between himself and the twins who trailed behind. Everything that happened was starting to be processed and registered more clearly now, and the flood of embarrassment and more resentment he was probably going to feel soon was something he wanted to face quietly alone by retreating to the only private space he had—his and Scorpius' room.

George suddenly appeared in front of him with a pop, giving Draco a scare. "Aww, but we got this new flavoured alcoholic drink that is supposed to taste really good with apples."

"We know how much you love those green apples, too," Fred added in, appearing right beside his brother with a pop of his own.

Draco would never understand why they apparated everywhere, or why they always teased him about the Granny Smith Apples.

"If you didn't already notice," he said dryly, glancing at them both. "I am not fit to drink right now, and I am utterly exhausted…"

"That's a shame. The night is still young, it might've taken the edge off."

"However, we just have one more question, Draco. It's been nagging at us this entire time," George added in.

Draco rolled his eyes and let out a groan. He was mentally and emotionally drained, he wanted to bolt and hide until morning to let the humiliation pass, but he gave in, too tired to care.

"What?"

"We want to know, because it seems Scorpius is far better at it than you are."

The twins glanced at each other briefly before both continued. "Can you really tell us apart?"

Draco looked between the two, and knew after an unnecessary amount of time that the one on the left with the mangled ear was George. Unfortunately he figured it out by the lip twitch he knew George subconsciously did when they were wanting to play games rather than with the other very obvious identifier.

"Twin speak always creeped me out," he uttered to himself, locking eyes with George. "And yes I can, Fred."