Scorpius watched the scenery rumble by him as he gazed out the window from his compartment on the Hogwarts Express. His first year was over and it was time to go home. But go home to what? He wasn't to live at the manor anymore. He was to live in that tiny London house with his father and Harry Potter, his father's...well. Lover, he supposed. He tried not to think about it all year, but now that he was heading home, he wondered how uncomfortable it might be, though it was a relief not having to endure the few straining bits of attention from his mother. She was gone to the continent already. She had written him a brief letter that could have been written to anyone. He had thrown it away.

How would it be to live with Harry Potter? He had heard so many stories about him over the years. Grandfather gushed about him to the point where he began to wonder a bit about his grandfather. But Scorpius himself had a Chocolate Frog card of Potter which he kept in a secret location. After he had met Albus Potter he had been embarrassed for his friends to know he had it, let alone for his own father to know. Scorpius had always admired Potter, thought of him as some sort of rock star, someone always distant that normal people weren't allowed to know. And here was Scorpius going to live with him now!

The door slid back and Albus Potter staggered in, his arms full of sweets from the cart.

"Albus! Did you buy the whole lot?"

"Nearly!" He dropped them all onto the seat between them and they both dug in.

It had been difficult at first, looking Albus in the eye once they both found out about their fathers, but on that first train ride back to Hogwarts they had told each other things they never would have gotten around to, he was certain. They were even faster friends after that. And it was a good thing, too, because the ribbing from the others once they found out had been horrendous, even after the Big Detention.

Albus grabbed a Chocolate Frog first and tore it open. Before the frog could leap away he stuffed its head into his mouth and chewed. Then he looked at the card. "It's Dad, again," he said, mouth full. "But the cv has changed." He tossed it disinterestedly onto the pile and Scorpius couldn't help but snatch it up and read it.

Instead of saying "married to Ginny Weasley" it said "divorced from Ginny Weasley after a marriage of sixteen years. Currently in residence with Draco Malfoy." Scorpius hoped it would say more, at least more about his own father, but nothing ever went into detail about the Malfoys. It was as if no one wanted to think about them.

"Didn't my father go to school with your Dad?" asked Scorpius, looking at the smiling face of the "hero pose" of Harry Potter. Potter gave an embarrassed wave from the card.

"Yeah," said Albus, a Cockroach Cluster hanging from his lips.

"Well, why don't the books ever talk about him? Didn't he ever do anything worthy of note?"

Albus stared at Scorpius. "You're kidding, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you ever read Hogwarts: A History?"

"No. My father said it was full of all sorts of lies and not to bother."

Albus rolled his eyes and sat back. "Oh, boy. Listen, Scorp. We're best mates, right?"

He gave a quick nod. "Absolutely."

"Then...if I tell you some stuff-stuff that you may not like-we'll still be mates. Right?"

Now Scorpius was feeling uneasy. "Yeah. I guess."

Albus swallowed the last of the Cockroach and sat back. "Well, they did know each other in school. As a matter of fact, they were enemies."

Yes, he had gathered that much. Especially from some of the things Grandfather had let slip. Though it didn't seem to make any sense. If they had been enemies why were they so lovey dovey now? "Seems strange," he said.

"I know," said Albus with a portentous tone. "They hated each other. They competed in Quidditch, they dueled, they...they...did horrible things to each other. And in Dad's sixth year, your dad allowed Death Eaters to get into Hogwarts and they killed Albus Dumbledore."

"Severus Snape killed Dumbledore. And why would my father do that?"

"Because he was a Death Eater."

Scorpius jumped to his feet. But the train lurched and he fell back to his seat again. "My father was not a Death Eater!"

"Yeah, he was. And so was your grandfather."

"I know about my grandfather," he said, thinking of the stately Lucius Malfoy. He didn't seem like the type, though, except for a few things he said in passing. "But not my father!"

"Haven't you ever seen the Dark Mark on his left arm?"

"No!"

"Have you ever seen his left arm?"

"No...." He stared at his friend. Albus wouldn't lie. He couldn't, not about something so easily checked. "Was he really?" he said in a smaller voice. It kind of made him sick to his stomach.

"Well he didn't want to be," said Albus in a gentler tone. "They said he was forced to it 'cause Voldemort threatened your grandparents. So he had to do all these terrible things. And he was supposed to kill Dumbledore but he couldn't do it."

That made Scorpius feel a little better but not much. He was determined now to ask his father. He'd be the laughing stock of Slytherin next year if he didn't know all these things.

He fell silent and returned to looking out the window.

"Scorp?" came a shy voice beside him.

He continued to look out the window. "Yeah?"

"Are we all right? I mean, I didn't make it up to hurt you, or anything. It's just...the truth. And it was a long time ago 'cause obviously Dad doesn't have any hard feelings. Well, you know."

Scorpius heard the last and muttered, "Hard feelings." He suddenly burst into giggles. He looked at Albus who started laughing too. They didn't understand much about sex yet, but they knew a few obvious things and the idea of two men seemed ridiculous. They had heard all year how disgusting it was from their fellow classmates, but they had seen firsthand the love shared between the two men and they didn't find it disgusting any more than when heterosexual couples got too romantic in public.

"Hey Scorp. Do you think your dad will let you spend some of the summer at my house?"

"Maybe. Maybe you can spend the first part at my house!"

"Yeah! That's brilliant! Then I can see Dad too!"

That settled, they began feasting again on all the sweets Albus had collected.

* * *

The train was slowing down which meant it was pulling into the station. Albus and Scorpius collected their things and readied with the other students to depart for the summer.

"Do you suppose Dad will be here?" asked Albus.

"I should think so. He'd want to see you and James."

Scorpius thought it was a bit sad that these two wouldn't get to spend the whole summer with both of their parents. At least he would be with his father.

He ducked down, looking out the window as they pulled into the station. Would he be able to see his father?

"Come on, Scorp. The train's stopping."

"Okay!" They pushed their way down the corridor and got to the door just as the train hissed to a stop. The conductor opened the door and put down the step. He and Albus were the first to exit and they wandered down the platform looking for their fathers.

"Albus!"

"Dad!" Albus broke into a run and fell into his father's embrace. The man kissed his son and Albus tried to squirm out of it. "Dad. People are watching!"

"Oh. Sorry." He wore a wide grin.

Scorpius came up behind Albus. "Hullo, Mr. Potter."

"Hi, there, Scorpius. Dear me. We can't have that all summer, can we?"

"What, sir?"

"'Mr. Potter' this and 'sir' that. I think you'd better call me 'Harry'."

"But I'm never to address an adult by their first name, sir."

"And rightly so," said that familiar drawl Scorpius loved. He turned and saw the scowling countenance of his father. But he knew he wasn't scowling at him. It was just his way. "Where were you raised, Potter? A commune?"

Potter laughed. "Where did you hear that word?"

His father straightened his robes. "I've learned a thing or two over the years, you know." He turned to Scorpius and smiled. "How's my son? Was it a good year?"

"It was quite good, Father, despite a few things. Father, Albus and I were wondering if he couldn't spend the first part of the summer with us and I could spend the next part with him at his house. What do you think?"

They both looked at Potter who wore a brilliant smile. "Albus would spend part of the summer with me? That would be brilliant! Um...but we'd have to ask his mum first."

But Scorpius saw the saddened look on Draco's face. Was it because Scorpius wanted to spend part of the summer at Godric's Hollow?

"It would only be part of the summer, Father," he said, laying a hand on his arm. "Maybe just for a fortnight? We'll still have plenty of time to be together."

His father looked toward Potter who also tried to assuage him. "He'll be all right, Draco. It will be good for them. And we'll do plenty when they're with us. Pretty please?"

His father sneered at Potter. "Oh, Potter, do shut up."

"Yay!" said Albus. "I'll go find Mum!"

"Uh oh," said Potter. "I'd better go with him. Maybe I should use a Protego."

They both headed down the platform leaving Scorpius alone with his father. He looked up at that familiar pointy face and blond hair. "It's good to be home, Father. I can't wait to see my new room."

His father looked down at him uneasily. "It's not very big."

"I don't mind. Is it big enough to share with Albus?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"Is it all right that he stay?"

"Anything you want."

"Good. Thank you."

"We will have to go to the manor for dinner a few times. Grandfather and Grandmother wish to see you."

"Of course." He was a Malfoy. He understood his duty. "Father, may I call Mr. Potter 'Harry' like he said?"

He sighed heavily. "I suppose he will insist on it. He wasn't brought up very well."

"I know. I read about it on-" He was going to say "his Chocolate Frog card," but he thought better of mentioning it.

His father ignored the hanging remark or was too distracted. He laid his hand on Scorpius' shoulder instead. "I am very happy to have you home. I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Father."

"We'll have plenty of time to hear all about your first year. I am anxious to know the things you've learned."

"Yes. I want a chance for us to talk, too. Privately."

His father looked down at him, a puzzled and worried expression frowning his blond brows. Scorpius smiled, trying to take the sting away.

Albus and Harry returned by then and his friend was smiling broadly. "It's a go! Mum said I should let you be home alone with your dad for at least a week and then I'm coming." He looked up at Scorpius' father. "I hope that's all right with you, Mr. Malfoy."

His father stared down at his friend for a long moment before he replied, barely concealing a sneer, "I suppose you had best call me...Draco."

* * *

Scorpius was amazed when his father announced they would be taking a Muggle taxi back to the London house. They shrank his trunk and hauled his owl cage into the cab with them and, cramped together, sped through London's streets.

Scorpius glued his eyes to the window, looking at all the sights and all the Muggles! They all rode in taxis and cars and buses and bicycles. He wondered where they were all going.

His father and Harry were quiet as they rode, looking from time to time at each other in that sappy way. Scorpius rolled his eyes at it and continued to study the Muggles in their funny clothes and all the strange adverts on buses and shop windows.

Finally, the taxi turned down a lovely tree-lined street and Scorpius wasn't surprised to see them stop before a large, brick house with spires and crooked towers. The obvious Wizarding house made him feel more at home in the midst of all these Muggle houses and he breathed a sigh.

He jumped out of the taxi and climbed the steps with his owl cage, not waiting for the others. He felt the wards peel off of him as he entered the foyer and looked around. He instantly liked it and thought he would like something similar when he was done with Hogwarts.

"Where's my room?"

His father sighed. "I will forgive your deplorable lack of manners, owing it to all those students you were living amongst for the last ten months. But do get them back soon."

He laughed and gave his father a hug-difficult with an owl cage in one's hand. "Sorry, Father. May I please see my room?"

"I'll take him," said Harry.

Scorpius beamed. Harry Potter was just like he thought he'd be. He was friendly, courteous, and always cheerful. He even winked at Scorpius and led him up the stairs.

He pointed out various other rooms once they got to the landing. "That's your dad's and my room-" and then he stopped himself and reddened. "Well...er...it's...um...your dad's room and I-" He looked around vaguely when Scorpius decided to rescue him.

"I know you sleep in the same room, Harry. I'm not a child."

Harry laughed uncomfortably and ran his hands through his messy hair. "And...um...this is your room!"

He opened a door not too far from his father's room and Scorpius looked inside. His face broke into a grin. It was perfect! It was in one of the crooked towers with windows from floor to ceiling overlooking the Muggle street. And a big bed like his own at the manor stood in the middle with a large wardrobe and an adjoining bathroom.

He set the owl cage by the windows and looked down to the street. "It's brilliant!" he cried.

"I knew you'd like it," said Harry. "Your dad tried to tell me that you'd prefer the one down the corridor but it was dark and the only view you had was the back garden. I reckoned a boy your age would prefer to look at the street."

"Thank you, Harry." He didn't want to seem as if his father would have chosen unwisely, so he quickly amended, "Not that Father's idea was bad. It's just...I like this one much better."

Draco brought in his shrunken trunk and set it down, Engorging it again. "Is it all right?" he asked worriedly. "Will all the street noises bother you?"

He forgot to assure his father and shook his head wildly. "Not at all. It's perfect!"

"Oh," said his father. "I...just thought you'd want something more peaceful. Like the manor."

"Oh, I love the manor, Father. It's so green and all. But it's still green up here amongst the trees. And the street is so interesting."

"We don't have to stay away from the manor forever, you know. You will inherit it someday."

"Uh huh," he said absently. "But I think I would like a house like this when I get out of Hogwarts. Maybe Albus can be my flat mate."

"Don't be ridiculous, Scorpius. You won't need a flat mate. We're wealthy."

He turned to Draco then, just knowing he would see his scowl. "I know that, Father. But I want a flat mate just the same. So I won't get lonely. The manor could be sort of lonely sometimes."

Draco stared out the window. "Yes," he said softly. "It can be."

Harry chose that moment to put his arm around his father. It was kind of strange to see it firsthand and he turned away, a little embarrassed.

"I suppose I'd best let you get cleaned up," said Harry, heading for the door. "You're to dine at the manor tonight with your grandparents."

"What about you?" he asked, stopping Harry's progress out the door. "Aren't you coming, too?"

"No. Just you two."

"But...won't it be lonely eating here all by yourself?"

"Oh, don't worry about me. The house-elves will fix me something."

"Father!" he appealed to the blond. "Shouldn't Harry be invited to the manor?"

"In point of fact he was. But he has politely declined."

"I just thought it should just be your family, Scorp."

"But your Father's family now. Aren't you?"

"Er...." Harry looked to Draco who looked back at him with a cocky sort of look. "D-do you really want me to go?"

"Of course!" cried Scorpius, answering for his father. "Besides, I'd love to watch you and grandfather in the same room."

* * *

They arrived at the manor, all in dress robes as that was how the Malfoys sat down to dinner. Scorpius was happy to see the manor again. It was comfortable to him, but he could see how Harry seemed awkward being there. He kept pulling at the neck of his robe and his green eyes darted back and forth. Scorpius noted that Albus looked a lot like Harry, only without the glasses.

A house-elf took them to the dining hall which was already set up with crystal and silver. Harry looked even more uncomfortable but Scorpius saw his father surreptitiously take his hand, hiding it in their robes, and walk with him to the proper seat.

Scorpius took his usual place, knowing that Grandfather liked to make an entrance. Just then, he and Grandmother strolled in. He was holding her hand and first allowed her to sit before he took his place at the head of the table. Someday, Scorpius knew that his own father would sit at the head of this dining table. It saddened him that Lucius would die at some point, but Scorpius was satisfied that the Malfoy line and its heritage would continue. He supposed he would take his place at the head of the table one day, too. And he'd be sitting beside his wife, a person whom he decided would be chosen by love, not by arrangement, and he'd look at his row of children. (He had also decided that being an only child had many disadvantages. The first being how alone he felt. He planned on having several.)

"Welcome home, Scorpius," Lucius announced. "And you, too, Draco. And a special welcome to our guest. I do believe this is the first time you have seen the manor, Mr. Potter."

"Not the first time I've seen it, but the first time I've been here. As a guest, that is," said Harry. He seemed to lift his chin and look directly into his grandfather's eyes when he spoke. Interesting.

"Oh?" said Lucius, raising a thin brow.

His father muttered something into his serviette that sounded like "Voldemort" and Lucius pulled back, his usual calm exterior cracking. He reassembled his placid countenance and nodded. "I...seem to recall that now," was all he said. Then he changed the subject to wine.

Scorpius waited politely. It wasn't his turn to speak or to be spoken to, but he knew that soon his grandfather would open the discussion to talk about Hogwarts. Scorpius had prepared several amusing stories as well as some interesting side notes about various classes, his instructors, and things he observed in Slytherin.

After listening to the adult's polite discourse on wines, Wizarding politics, and other Ministry matters, it was Scorpius' turn. His grandfather asked, and Scorpius answered as succinctly as he had been trained. His father was positively glowing with pride when he was done. His grandfather, too, looked surprised and pleased and said, "Thank you very much, Scorpius. That was very well done."

Then Narcissa asked him some things and he answered her and they laughed together and by then the house-elves brought the first course.

Scorpius was allowed to drink wine at home, and took small sips. He liked the red wine especially from the manor's own vineyards and looked at it sparkle in his crystal goblet as he speculated on the vintage.

Harry was looking at him strangely and Scorpius smiled back. He supposed Harry wasn't used to this sort of thing. He began to wonder what dinners would be like at the London house. Would it be more like Hogwarts with everything just sitting on the table, or would house-elves serve it? He got excited thinking that maybe they sometimes did takeaway. He'd like to try that. Father had said that they had house-elves at the house, but he knew Harry didn't like to be served by house-elves. Would Harry cook for them? What a novelty that would be!

The food was as good as he remembered it. Hogwarts was almost as good but not quite. The meal went along with Harry saying little unless actually spoken to, which wasn't often. His father talked of his work at the Ministry in vague terms, and Scorpius realized for the first time that he really had no idea what his father did. But Harry was looking at Draco with what could only be described as "love". Whatever it is that his father did, Harry seemed proud of it.

At last the dinner was over, and they all rose to retire to the parlour for port.

Scorpius tried to stifle a yawn. It wasn't polite but it had been a long day. He should have taken some Pepper Up potion.

But his father noticed and after a short time in the parlour he excused them to his grandparents. "It's been a very long day for our student. I think it time we get him into bed."

"I would like a private word with young Scorpius before you go," said his grandmother.

It surprised everyone that she said that. Not that she didn't hold her own in conversation when there was company and when they were just family as they were tonight, but it was an unusual request, to be sure. Scorpius knew she reserved her funniest stories for when he was alone with her. She used to tell him stories of the Black family. She was now the last one. He wondered if she was going to tell him one of those stories tonight.

"Of course, Grandmother," he said, and followed her into the study. She offered him the sofa and she sat beside him. Scorpius always liked this room. It had a large hippogriff head mounted on the wall and he thought he should like to have one in his study someday.

She took up his hand and gave it a kiss, smiling at him. "Scorpius, I wanted to afford you the opportunity to refuse to go back to the London house."

That surprised him. "Why would I do that?"

She sighed and folded her hands neatly in her lap. "I know you love your father, but it might be uncomfortable living with two men...as they are living."

"You mean two gay men?"

She raised a brow at that.

"I've been looking into it," he said, trying to sound worldly, "and I don't see anything wrong with it. I love Father, and I like Harry Potter. And they seem to really love each other. I don't see anything wrong with it."

"No one said anything is wrong with it, Scorpius. It merely might be awkward for you being under the same roof."

He felt his cheeks blush a little. Yes, he'd thought about that quite a bit, too. Though he didn't understand the details, he reckoned it was something he didn't really want to know much about. "It's all right. Really. It's fine. I like the house."

Resigned, she rose. "Very well, then. But if at any time you feel the least bit uncomfortable, you will Firecall your Grandmama, won't you?"

"Yes, of course. And Albus Potter will be coming in a week, too, and he's going to be there for a whole fortnight and then I'm going to go spend time in Godric's Hollow with him."

"Oh. I see." She didn't look too pleased with that news, but she took him back to the parlour where his father gave him an anxious look.

"Everything all right?" asked Draco.

"Just fine," she said. She dropped a kiss onto Scorpius' cheek and he shook hands with his grandfather.

"I'll see you soon, Grandfather, Grandmother. Bye."

They stepped into the Floo, the three of them, and whooshed away.

* * *

Scorpius awoke the next morning, slightly dazed at his new surroundings. But when he fully awoke and realized where he was, he leapt out of bed and threw open the drapes. Standing in his nightshirt, he looked out the window at all the sights. Muggles were heading out of their houses and some cars were moseying down their street. They dressed so funny! He wanted to share this with his father and tore out of his room and across the hallway to his father's room, forgetting until the instant he opened the door that he should have knocked first.

Harry Potter scrambled away from his father's arms so fast he nearly fell out of the bed. And that would have been bad since it was obvious they both weren't wearing any clothes.

Scorpius froze in the doorway. "I-I'm s-sorry."

Composed except for a deep blush, his father sat back against the pillows, the duvet covering his lap. His arms were crossed over his pale, bare chest. Scorpius noted that his father had skin just like him. He didn't remember ever seeing the man's chest before. Malfoys made a point always to be properly attired. "That's all right, son. I know you've never had to knock before, but I think we must employ some new rules in the mornings, eh?"

"Y-yes, Father." Scorpius darted a glance at Harry, who was sinking down lower under the duvet until only a tuft of dark hair poked out.

"Now, what is it you wanted?"

Scorpius pointed behind him as if it were obvious. "The street! I just wanted to share it with you. It's very exciting. But...I suppose...you're used to it."

His father smiled. "Seeing it through your eyes will make it new for me. Just give me moment and I'll join you. Close the door on your way out, please."

"Okay, Father." Scorpius bowed out of the room. Crikey! That was embarrassing. And then he giggled. Caught! He'd owl Albus. The boy would laugh his head off.

After a few moments his father joined him by his window, resting his hands on his shoulders. He explained to Scorpius some of the things he was seeing, why there were wires strung across the street, what those phone boxes were, and anything else that seemed strange.

"Why do you have a house on a Muggle street, Father? I didn't think you liked Muggles all that much."

"Where did you hear that?"

"From Grandfather."

Draco snorted. "I've told you before. You must take what Grandfather tells you about the Muggle world with a grain of salt. That was all a long time ago."

Scorpius looked at his father's left arm by his head. As usual, the sleeve covered it. He'd never seen his father in anything other than long sleeves. Except for this morning, that is.

"Father, I wonder if I may ask you something."

"Of course, Scorpius. Would I ever deny you anything?"

"No, Father. It's just that...I've...heard a few things and they disturbed me. I wonder if you'd tell me."

He felt the man stiffen behind him. "Yes?" he asked with a cautious voice.

"It's just that I heard rumours that you...when you went to Hogwarts...that you became a...a...Death Eater. Did you, Father?"

The man cleared his throat above Scropius' head. "And what if I had been?" he asked, voice a bit hoarse suddenly.

"I would love you just the same. I heard that you had to do it to save Grandfather and Grandmother's lives. Did you, Father?"

In answer, he slowly pushed up the dressing gown sleeve of his left arm. Scorpius looked, seeing nothing at first. But then he discerned the vague outline of something that began to look like a snake slithering out of the mouth of a skull. He let out a long breath. He hadn't wanted to believe it but he was happier knowing the truth than being out of the loop.

With courage he didn't know he had, he reached out with tentative fingers and traced the scar. The man flinched but allowed it. "Did it hurt?"

"Yes."

"Did He make you bring Death Eaters into Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"Did he tell you to kill Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes."

"Did you used to hate Harry Potter?"

He paused. "I...did, but I can't remember it now."

He turned to his father then. "Those were bad times, weren't they?"

"Yes. And we are all working very hard to make certain they never happen again. Harry is in charge of the Aurors, you know. And for years, he was an Auror himself."

"I know. I have a Chocolate Frog card of him," he admitted bravely. "I've had it for a long time."

His father looked at him curiously before a smirk curled his lips. "May I tell you a secret?" He leaned down and whispered, "I have one, too."

Scorpius smiled. That wasn't so bad. His father had told him the truth. He knew if he asked he wouldn't lie. "Thank you, Father, for your honesty. I appreciate it."

A kiss dropped onto his head. "I'll never lie to you, son. You know that. It's you and me. We're Malfoys. We always stick together."

"Yes, sir. We're Malfoys. And we've also got Harry Potter to protect us."

"Amen to that," muttered Draco.


On to Chapter Two
"Draco"

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