Drastoria
Draco Malfoy was pouting. It was his birthday, finally nine years old, and he wanted nothing more than to be zooming around the manor on his new toy broomstick. Instead he was sitting in the gardens of Malfoy manor, bored out of his skull, while his mother was hosting tea. Tea of all things! He didn't think it should be legal to be forced to endure tea on one's birthday. At least his father seemed to agree, Lucius was sitting with a bored expression on his face while he listened to Mr Greengrass drone on and on about something or the other. Draco hadn't cared to join the conversation and it looked like Lucius was wishing he hadn't either.
His mother on the other hand seemed to be loving the affair. She was sitting on the edge of her garden seat, sipping delicately from a china tea cup and conspiring with Mrs Greengrass. Matching smirks adorned the ladies lips and Draco's stomach twisted at the thought of what they could be discussing. "Play nice Draco" his mother had warned him as they had waited for their guests to arrive, "Miss Greengrass could very well be your future wife."
Wife! Draco didn't want a wife. He'd only just turned nine years old and the idea of girls altogether was appalling. What Draco wanted was a racing broom, a box stuffed full of fudge flies and sugar quills and his best friend Blaise Zabini to play with. Instead he had his mothers gardens, too sweet herbal tea, some boring adults and a girl he had no interest in.
When his mother spotted him sitting there, arms crossed, pouting and definitely not entertaining their guests she sent him a look so severe it could have withered the flowers. "Draco" she called out, her voice steely "don't be rude, talk to Miss Greengrass."
He waited until his mother had turned her back to roll his eyes and then sighed as he turned towards the girl beside him. "What's your name again?" he asked rudely. The girl's upper lip curled into a frown "Daphne" she reminded him cooly "as I have told you three times already."
Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. "Right well, Daphne, do you like flying?"
"No" she replied stiffly, rearranging the skirts of her dress. "I don't like how it messes with my hair."
Draco stared at her in disbelief. She didn't want it to mess with her hair? He looked at her wheat blonde hair, curled into tight ringlets, as if expecting it to present itself with a magical property it had concealed. "That's ridiculous," he sneered, "flying is the best thing in the world!"
Daphne lifted her chin into the air haughtily "well I think that it's overrated. Mother says that ladies -"
Draco never did get to hear what Mrs Greengrass thought about flying because he promptly stood up and walked away from her mid sentence. It was ridiculously rude and had Narcissa or Lucius caught him doing it he'd be in big trouble but it was birthday and Draco just couldn't be bothered entertaining such nonsense any longer. I mean honestly how could his mother expect him to one day marry this girl? She didn't like flying for merlin's sake!
He wandered through the garden, ducking quickly into the many rows of rose bushes, hoping to avoid the watchful eye of his mother. It was then that he saw something. A little girl sitting on the ground stroking the petals of one of the roses.
"Who are you?" he asked rudely. In all his annoyance he'd forgotten Greengrass had a little sister.
"Astoria" she replied, looking up at him with wide curious blue eyes "Astoria Greengrass."
"Hmmm" he hummed. Unlike her sister, Astoria didn't seem afraid to get her pretty red dress dirty. She was sprawled out on the ground, shoes lightly caked in mud from where she'd dashed across the freshly watered lawn.
"Im Draco" he said eventually "Draco Malfoy" he puffed out his chest a little bit arrogantly his voice taking on a haughty tone "I own this house, this is my family's manor."
Astoria looked up at the big house and smiled "It's pretty" she said "like a princess' castle."
Draco baulked "i-it's it's not a delicate princess' castle" he sneered "it's like a - like a Kings empire. With dungeons and ghosts and knights and dragons."
She didn't look scared like he'd expected her to instead her blue eyes filled with awe "are there really dragons?" she asked "can I see them?"
"Of course there is," he lied, "but no you can't, they're too dangerous for you."
Astoria lifted a dark eyebrow at him "I'm not scared" she said defiantly.
Draco sized her up trying to evaluate if she was a worthy playmate. She was smaller than her sister, which was to be expected as she was two years younger, but she looked much less stiff and uptight than Daphne. "What do you think about flying?" he asked her.
She gave a dramatic sigh "Mother says i'm not allowed to" she pouted "she says i'm too young."
"Do you want to learn?"
Her eyes shone and she nodded rapidly "more than anything."
He puffed up his chest again "I could teach you, I'm brilliant at flying. Father says I'll get straight on the house team when I go to Hogwarts."
She stood up and brushed the dirt off of her dress, bouncing towards him. "Would you really show me?" she asked excitedly.
"Of course, you're a girl which is unfortunate but you're not nearly as boring as your sister. And it's my birthday so I should get to have fun. Wait -" he stopped her and narrowed his eyes.
"How do you feel about messing up your hair?"
"My hair?" Astoria asked.
"Yes," Draco confirmed.
She reached out and tugged on a dark strand, the emerald ribbon that had held it together coming loose then shrugged. "I don't really care," she said and Draco smiled.
Twenty five minutes later the adults found Draco and Astoria zooming around the edge of the gardens on toy broomsticks. She wasn't bad to say she'd never flown before and everytime she fell over she laughed and brushed off her skirt and got straight back on. Draco thought it was much better than the time he and Marcus Flint had taken Marcus' baby sister flying and she'd screamed and cried for mother at the slightest little tumble.
"Astoria Greengrass!" a shocked voice exclaimed and Draco sighed as the figure of their parents and Daphne came cutting across the gardens. "What have I told you about wandering off? And look at the state of your dress and your hair! What on earth have you been doing?"
Astoria blinked owlishly up at her mother "I was playing" she explained and Mrs Greengrass sucked in a breath. "Honestly" she hissed, "you're disgracing us in front of the Malfoy's, why can't you be more like your sister?"
Quietly, Draco was very glad that Astoria was nothing like Daphne.
"Sorry mother" Astoria said and Draco chanced a glance upwards to see his own mother pursuing her lips at him. She wouldn't scold him in front of the guests but it was clear that she was less than pleased with his decision to sneak off against her word and take Astoria flying.
"Draco" Lucius cut in "the Greengrasses were just leaving, surely you'd like to say goodbye to Daphne."
No, no he wouldn't but politeness won out and he walked slowly over to the blonde girl. "Goodbye Daphne" he said carefully and she nodded stiffly "Goodbye Draco, happy birthday."
He watched them walk to the edge of the grass, Astoria trailing behind her mother.
"Wait!" he suddenly called out. He pulled a Rose from the bush beside him and dashed after the guests.
Though later Narcissa would scold Draco for acting so improperly as to shout and chase after the guests she couldn't help but smile softly at the sweet gesture he was about to do. The Greengrasses turned around and Mrs Greengrass shared a conspiring smirk with Narcissa as she pushed Daphne forwards towards Draco and the rose.
To the shock of everyone though, Draco bent down and pressed the flower into Astoria's hands, careful to make sure the thorns didn't cut into her fingers. "You seemed to like them" he said as an explanation and Astoria beamed, tracing her little finger over the blood red petal as she had done before.
Recovering from her shock at Draco presenting Astoria with the flower and not Daphne, Mrs Greengrass stuttered "h-how lovely." Then she leaned a little closer to her youngest daughter, whispering loudly "say thank you!"
Astoria tore her gaze away from the flower, turning her smile towards Draco. "Thank you" she said softly and then she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
The Greengrasses left soon after and Draco wondered why he'd felt his face flush at her actions.
"Draco" his mother asked him later that night when she tucked him into bed, soothing a comforting hand over his blonde hair "why did you give Astoria that flower?"
Draco shrugged "she said she liked them" and then he yawned "goodnight mother."
"Goodnight Draco."
As she walked from the room Narcissa Malfoy smiled. He might not realise why he'd given her it yet but one day he would.
Scorily
Many things had changed after the war and Narcissa didn't necessarily agree with all of them. There was one thing though, one thing that would make her forever grateful that it had happened and that one thing's name was Andromeda.
Narcissa remembered the day that Andromeda had left home as though it were yesterday. "I love him mother" she'd cried and her mother had looked at her as if she were dirt under her shoe. "Bellatrix" she'd said calmly "take Cissa upstairs while I dispose of this filth."
Narcissa couldn't understand why Andromeda had to leave. She loved her big sister, she loved her more than anyone else in her family and now her mother was acting as though she'd killed someone. In fact she thought her mother would have preferred it if she had.
"Bella" she'd whispered, silver eyes wide and wet with unshed tears "Bella what's going on, why does Andy have to go?"
Bellatrix had taken hold of Narcissa's shoulders "because a filthy mudblood has stolen her away, little sister."
"But she's ours!" Narcissa had pouted and Bellatrix had shook her head.
"Not anymore" she'd said "she's a blood traitor now."
After that day Narcissa didn't see her sister again for decades. She didn't meet her niece, Andy didn't meet her son. She pretended it didn't hurt, pretended that having Bella and then Lucius and Draco was enough but deep down she would always want her big sister back.
The war had given that to her. In the aftermath of so much loss, Harry Potter had told Andromeda what Narcissa had done to save his life and the two had begun to repair what was once broken.
All these years later and Narcissa still wouldn't take it for granted that she was here, in Andy's home, enjoying something as simple as a cup of tea while their grandchildren played.
"He looks more and more like Draco everyday" Andromeda commented, nodding towards five year old Scorpius who was listening with awe to Teddy who was excitedly talking about his upcoming first year at Hogwarts.
Narcissa's lips curved into a smile "I know, I did hope that after carrying Draco for nine months he'd look a little more like me but he came out like a mini Lucius and now Scorpius too" she chuckled around a sip of tea "poor Astoria."
"He has your eyes at least," Andy said, "and the constellation name."
Narcissa nodded "that he does."
It was then the fireplace roared into life and to the surprise of the room Harry Potter stepped in, carrying a little girl with dark auburn hair and shining emerald eyes.
"Andromeda" he said tiredly "I'm so sorry to spring in on you like this. I was wondering if you could look after Lily here for an hour or so? I know it's a terrible imposition but there's been a work emergency and with Molly in France with Bill at the minute we're short a few babysitting hands."
Andromeda jumped up from her place at the table and took the little girl from his arms, waving off his apologies. "Don't be silly" she chastised "of course I don't mind, you've looked after Teddy enough times for me and Lily's no bother."
Harry smiled and kissed her on the cheek "thank you" he whispered then nodded to Narcissa "Mrs Malfoy" he greeted, she nodded back politely and then Harry was gone.
"I forgot he had a daughter." Narcissa said after a moment, looking down at Lily with a softness in her gaze "quite unusual for a Potter."
Andy laughed "yes it is isn't it? How many generations of Potters were just boys again? Then again her mother was the first Weasley girl in fifty years so perhaps there was luck in that."
Narcissa nodded. She'd always longed for a little girl but there hadn't been a girl born into the Malfoy line for even longer than the Potters and Weasleys and her hope had been in vain. "Would you like to hold her?" Andy asked and Narcissa nodded.
The little girl woke up from her slumber at being placed in the woman's arms and looked up at her innocently. "I'm Lily," she said.
"Im Narcissa" she told her and the little girl grinned.
"You have a pretty name."
"It's a flower too," Narcissa told her, "like yours."
"Really?" Lily smiled even wider.
It was then that Teddy came bursting over and Lily jumped out of Narcissa's arms to hug him. "Teddy, teddy, teddy!" she squealed and the older boy picked her up and gently swung her around, switching his hair to different shades of pink to her amusement.
"Can we take Lily to play?" he asked his grandmother and Andromedea nodded.
"Yes but be careful Teddy, she's not a toy."
He nodded and Andromeda knew he would take good care of her. He took great pride in being an older sibling figure to the Potter children.
"Perhaps" Andromeda said, reaching over for her sister's hand "one day little Scorpius will give you a female great grandchild."
Narcissa sighed "doubtful" she said "but I can hope."
Andy squeezed her hand before moving back to her tea "sometimes hope is all we have" and Narcissa knew she was referring to their reconciliation and smiled.
"Scorpius" Teddy called out, drawing the younger boy's attention away from his plush dragon "this is Lily."
Scorpius looked up, eyes meeting the little girls with curiosity.
"How do you do?" He asked her, trying to speak with the politeness his mother was always drilling into him. "I'm Scorpius."
Lily giggled "you talk funny" she said and then threw herself on the ground next to him. She was staring intently at his plush dragon looking as though she wanted to reach out and snatch it but knew better. He stared at her for a second before holding it out to her.
"Do you wanna play?" he asked her little face lit up, cheeks growing chubby as she smiled.
Teddy looked at the kids fondly, glad his cousin finally had a playmate closer to his own age before picking up his book and leaving them to it.
"And this" Scorpius explained as she ran a hand over one of his smaller dragon plushies "is a welsh green" he puffed up his chest proudly at having remembered the name his dad had told him.
"It's pretty," Lily said and Scorpius nodded. "Does he have a name?"
"Her name is Cassiopeia" he said "grandmother says it's a star like me."
"Cass-ee-pee-a?" Lily asked, sounding it out, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows as she struggled to pronounce the name.
"That's right" he said and Lily giggled.
"Cassie for short!" she exclaimed.
"What's yours?" he asked. Lily hesitated for a second before letting him look at the plush hippogriff that she hadn't let go off since she'd arrived. She was used to having to cling onto things at home or else James and Albus would throw them around but Scorpius seemed a lot less rowdy than her brothers.
"It's a hippo-piff" she told him proudly.
"It's wicked," Scorpius exclaimed. He'd always wanted a Hippogriff plush but for some reason his dad wasn't really keen on the idea.
"His name is buckbeak or beaky, daddy named him. I have lots of Hippo-piffs at home" she told him "I always give them the same name."
Scorpius smiled and started to play with 'beaky' making him fly and soar at Lily much to her amusement. She took hold of Cassie the dragon and made it swoop at Scorpius and soon they were chasing each other all around the room.
It felt like no time had passed at all when Teddy was telling Lily that Harry was back and waiting for her in the kitchen. Scorpius pouted and Lily frowned looking awfully close to tears, alarming Scorpius.
"Don't cry" he said softly but tears were already beginning to swim in her emerald eyes, just waiting to fall.
"Lily!" Harry shouted from the kitchen and with a sad shake of her head she turned to go to him.
"Wait!" Scorpius called after her. He picked up his dragon plush from the floor, the one that was the exact same colour as her pretty eyes.
"Take Cassiopeia," he said.
"Really?" she asked and he nodded.
She hugged him then "goodbye Scorpy."
"Goodbye Lily" he said and she pressed Beaky into his hands.
"Yours" she said and then she was gone.
"Where'd you get that from Lily?" Harry asked her later on as she clutched the dragon close to her chest.
"Scorpy gave it to me" she said and Harry looked at Ginny with confusion.
"What's a Scorpy?" he mouthed and Ginny shrugged.
"One of her uncles probably gave it to her, you know how they spoil her."
Harry let it go and Lily hugged the plush to her tighter, wishing she was playing dragons and hippogriffs with a certain shiny haired boy.
"Astoria!" Draco called out "Astoria!"
"What? What is it?" she asked, rushing into the room.
"Did you get Scorpius this?" he asked, holding up the stuffed Hippogriff.
Her brow wrinkled "no, I know how sensitive you are about Hippogriffs darling. Was it in the nursery?"
"I'm not sensitive," he grumbled, "stupid chicken could have bloody killed me."
Astoria rolled her eyes "perhaps your mother got it for him?" she said.
Draco frowned "maybe" he hummed, not entirely convinced.
Suddenly Scorpius ran into the room "buckbeak!" he shouted, snatching the toy from his fathers hand. Draco paled and Astoria hid a giggle behind her hand at his expression.
"What did you just call that?"
"Buckbeak" Scorpius replied back innocently "Lily gave him to me."
"L-Lily?" Draco clutched onto the desk "Lily who?"
"My friend Lily" Scorpius said as if it were obvious "I met her at aunt Andy's today."
"Lily Potter," Draco muttered, putting two and two together. He closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten.
"Astoria," he said softly, "would it be immoral to send my mother a howler?"
Her laughter at the imagery of Narcissa Malfoy receiving a howler could be heard outside the gates of the manor itself.