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Scorp,
I can’t believe it, but it’s out! I don’t have much time to write, the house is, as always, full of people, but I wanted you to know ASAP.
I told them this morning. Just Mom and Dad I mean (I think the Weasleys and my siblings can wait a bit longer, at least until you tell me how it went with your Dad). It wasn’t perfect, there were questions and mild doubts, but in the end, they told me they’re happy I’m happy. As we thought, they didn’t have a problem with me being bi. They were just a bit apprehensive about you. But not in the way you think! You know my family likes you. I think…it’s just different – Potter and Malfoy being friends and Potter and Malfoy being boyfriends. I wish our Dads haven’t had such a complicated history.
After they made sure I knew they were okay with it, Dad couldn’t help himself and grumbled something about ‘not believing he’s going to have to spend time with Draco bloody Malfoy’. But that’s just Dad, Scorp. He doesn’t really know what to think about your Dad after meeting you.
Anyway, I have to run, so they don’t come looking after me, but really was fine and I feel so much better with them finally knowing. Oh, and they want you to come for dinner sometime this week – the first dinner where we don’t have to hide, isn’t it so neat?! They also said you could invite your Dad, maybe, just in case that whole Al and Scorp are dating wouldn’t be awkward enough, hah.
Let me know how it went with your Dad. If you haven’t told him yet…I understand, Scorp. But I know he loves you. It’s gonna be fine. It has to be fine. And if it’s not, you can just spend the rest of the break here, until he comes around. Good luck and write back quickly.
Love,
Al
Scorpius closed the letter and pressed it to his chest. He and Al went to their respective homes for their last Christmas break before finishing school, deciding in the weeks before it would be the best time for them to tell their families about their relationship. He was happy it went well with Mr. and Mrs. Potter, but he always knew Al’s family would never stand in the way of his happiness.
He felt a pang of guilt – it’s not like his Father didn’t want him happy. Scorpius knew that his Father loved him more than anything. And it was not obvious only from the way he always bought him whatever book he wanted, or from how he dressed him well and gave him the biggest bedroom in the Manor.
Scorpius knew his Father loved him from the gentle hugs and proud smiles and praise he got from him whenever possible (He knew his Father didn’t like public displays of affection, but he still hugged Scorpius and ruffled his hair before his son had to board the Hogwarts Express). He knew his Father loved him when he spent hours with Scorpius, discussing his school subjects and helping him with Potions.
He knew it because of how he raised him to be fair and good and open-minded even after Scorpius’ Mother died. She was the one who argued with his Father’s parents and told Scorpius he can’t listen to his Grandfathers tangents about blood purity – Scorpius’ Father scarcely joined the discussion in those days, but when his wife died, he never tried to discredit any of her teachings, on the contrary, he seemed to try and encourage Scorpius to never forget her words.
However, Scorpius was still nervous as he put aside Al’s letter and slowly made his way to his Father’s study, where he would undoubtedly find the man buried beneath stacks of parchment and books. He came to a standstill before the door, which was not fully closed (if they were, Scorpius would know his Father was doing something important and he was not to be disturbed unless an emergency occurred), but the gap was so small nobody would notice anyone standing on the other side.
Scorpius felt his heart travel into his throat. His Father may not agree with Scorpius’ Grandfather on the matters of blood purity and discrimination, he may have promoted ideas of equality, but he never spoke about sexuality. Scorpius knew his Father used to have some very wrong ideas and trusted faulty ideologies in the past, and he knew he changed. But what if his Father was disgusted with him for being gay? He could still harbour certain biases, even when he was not a blood purist and rejected everything Death Eaters used to stand for. Would his father disinherit him, or worse, loathed and reject him for being gay, for being unable to marry a suitable female witch with whom he would have children who could continue the Malfoy bloodline? Not to mention what the reaction would be when he told him it’s a Potter he’s in a serious relationship with.
Well, no time like the present to find out, he told himself, knocked on the door and waited for an answer.
“Scorpius?” sounded from inside after a moment, “What are you waiting for behind that door? Come in.”
Scorpius wanted to bang his head against the wood. So much for seeming collected and normal, he thought. Scorpius usually never waited for his Father to answer before barging into a room, the knocking was always enough of a warning.
He opened the door and stepped inside, eyes darting everywhere but his Father.
The room was strangely quiet, the older man obviously waiting for Scorpius to announce the reason behind his visit, but after he did not offer one (and rather opted for settling his gaze on the carpet before him), Draco spoke.
“What’s going on, Scorpius? If you’re feeling bored, I shall finish here in half an hour and then I can offer you my company.”
Scorpius considered it. Should he wait after his Father was done with work? It would give him a bit longer to prepare, a bit longer to believe his Father’s love was truly unconditional. No, he was stressed about this for long enough. Time to be honest.
“I’m not bored, Father. I’m just – I have something to tell you if you – if you have time?”
He managed to keep his voice steady, but just barely. He was suddenly convinced he’s going to melt with dread before he even manages to confess anything.
His Father noticed his obvious nervousness and gave him a worried look. Scorpius knew he considered accusing him of breaking something or doing something wrong, but eventually, he just said “Of course,” and motioned for his son to take a seat in a comfortable cushioned sofa in one corner of the room.
As he watched his Father discard the quill he was holding and stand up from his chair, Scorpius was unsure how to feel about the fact that his Father obviously sensed the seriousness of the conversation they were about to have. He was glad he didn’t have to assure his Father that no, he didn’t break anything and no, he didn’t omit to tell him he was in trouble at school. He didn’t have to pretend to laugh at his attempts at lightening the mood. His Father knew very well this was serious and while being glad, Scorpius felt mainly dread.
When they were both seated, Scorpius on the couch, his Father in the armchair opposite of it, Scorpius watched his hands tremble slightly as he placed them in his lap.
He gulped.
“I, uh,” he smirked nervously, eyes still on his lap, “I don’t really know how to form sentences at this moment, so you have to forgive me if this will be a – a bit wonky. I’d also really like it if you listened to everything, so you can, uh, have a reaction to everything at once. You won’t have to scream, because I guess you’ll probably scream, multiple times.
“Why would I scream, Scorp? What’s going on?”
His Father’s voice felt very unsure, but not forceful or demanding. If Scorpius looked at him, he was sure he’d see one of his Father’s most worried expressions. The one he had only worn when there was only his closest family around. Scorpius refused to look at him, though. He pressed his hands together to mitigate the shaking; closed his eyes.
“Dad, I know you won’t be happy about this. But I want you to know it’s just how it is, and I can’t change it. I refuse to – to change it because it makes me very happy. I’m so happy, dad.”
He called him Dad so rarely, but he wanted to say it as many times as he could now. In case he wasn’t allowed to in the future.
“I’m in love. And that pers – he, he is the one. I’m gay and I know you’re disappointed and I don’t – I don’t want you to hate me, I really don’t but I’m in love with Al and nothing can change that, not the history our family has with the Weasleys, not how you feel about Potters, not anything.”
He was crying silently by now, eyes squeezed tight together. He wanted to say more, explain more, but there were no more words coming. Just have to wait for the disagreeing voice to come; just wait for the screaming and anger and disappointment.
Draco Malfoy was quiet, though. He said nothing. He didn’t even shift in his chair.
Scorpius risked a glance, prepared for his Father to start as soon as their eyes meet. The older Malfoy’s face was nothing like Scorpius imagined. His Father was looking at him with such openness and understanding Scorpius almost wanted to ask him to stop and scream instead, because he has never seen him make a face like that before. Then, he saw a tear escape from the grey eye.
Oh Merlin, he thought, he’s crying because he knows he’ll have to denounce me now because he knows I won’t let him ruin my relationship with Al. I won’t leave Al –
“Come–” Draco’s breathless whisper disturbed his frantic thoughts, “come here, son.”
Scorpius reluctantly stood and watched as his Father did the same. He had never hit him, never put a hand on him, but Scorpius remembered seeing Grandfather hitting Draco with his cane across the face three years ago, when they argued in the sitting room thinking Scorpius was with his Grandmother in the garden. (He felt like vomiting when he saw his Father’s blood drip, drip from the cut onto his refined, black robes and expensive carpet). Never being discovered for eavesdropping, Scorpius never said anything about it but felt even more uncomfortable around his Grandfather since then. He knew what Grandfather did was wrong, so wrong and his Father was so different, he’d never do anything like that. But as he took a step closer to his Father, for a split second, he wondered if he’s going to hit him, too. Deep shame filled him right away. Whatever he’s going to do, his Father will not physically hurt him. He might grab his shoulders, try to shake some sense into him, try to –
Scorpius was enveloped in a brutal embrace, his face squeezed into his Father’s soft grey robes, and he felt a gentle hand rest in his hair.
“I love you, Scorpius,” came from above him and that suddenly made Scorpius realize what that meant.
The greatest weight seemed to just fall from his shoulders, and he couldn’t stop the loudest sob escaping from his mouth. He was so relieved he started crying again, full force, and his tears soaked his Father’s robes and then his hair as he finally reciprocated the hug, stood closer, let his head fall on his Father’s shoulder as the other man assured him ‘this changes nothing', ‘I’m so proud of you telling me’, ‘I’d never make you leave him’ in whispers.
They stayed like that for a long time (until their arms started to hurt from the force of their embrace) before they gathered it was probably a good time to put themselves together and talk about what just happened. Scorpius didn’t really worry about anything that might be said. He was reassured by the hug which radiated only the deepest love and acceptance (Oh, and he was so glad the hug came first. How did Al manage to answer all the questions before he was finally told it’s okay? Scorpius would never exchange his observant Father for any other).
That was why, when they untangled their arms from each other, Scorpius did not feel panic when he saw his Father’s red-rimmed eyes; he just felt a bit surprised by it – he saw his Father cry only twice, and both times he very much wasn’t supposed to, so he always left quickly and quietly, hoping his Father didn’t notice him.
Now, his Father only gave him a wobbly but honest smile.
They both sat on the couch, Scorpius allowing himself to be comfortable and folding one of his legs beneath the thigh of the other one. He was still mildly stunned by his Father’s watery eyes but that didn’t stop him from looking at him properly for the first time since he entered the room.
“My turn to talk, huh?” he smirked at his son. Scorpius’ heart sang.
“Well, first of all, I hope you know how excruciatingly proud of you I am for deciding to tell me. I confess I was initially mildly offended you thought me capable of screaming or doing something worse in response to your confession. However, I gather that would be a presumption most children who never spoke with their parents about sexuality have. I too –”
He halted for a moment and reassessed, “No, before that, I want you to hear explicitly that I have no problem whatsoever with you being homosexual. I have no problem whatsoever with you living your life in whichever way you want to, as long as it is not detrimental to your health. I will accept if you decide to spend your life with a man and not be a produce a traditionally legitimate Malfoy heir.”
Scorpius’ breath hitched here. Even Al, who relentlessly tried to feed him the most optimistic ways how this conversation could go, didn’t think Draco Malfoy would without hesitation be okay with the risk of Scorpius being the last person linked by blood to the name Malfoy. His Father wasn’t done though.
“Furthermore, I can’t but support your relationship with Albus Potter. Our families may not have the best history, yet I refuse to walk the path of my ancestors and make my child unhappy, especially when I could thwart your happiness by arguing against it with something as insignificant as my childhood rivalry with Harry Potter.”
He took his son’s hand in his.
“And when you decide to tell your Grandparents, I will be there, and I shall never let them treat you as they – as they treated me.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Albus said when it was evident his Father finished. He was so happy, yet a slither of shame marred his thoughts, so he felt the need to confess: “I was so scared you’ll hate me, you know. That you’ll loathe me and scream and look at me in disgust. I’m so sorry. I feel so ashamed for even thinking that. I thought so badly about you and here you are, making me cry–” a tear indeed, again slipped past the rim of his eye and onto his cheek, “with happiness and being so accepting. You’re the best Dad, Father.”
They smiled at each other fondly and Draco assured his son it’s okay, he understands, and then made Scorpius tell him about how he and Al got together and even politely enquired about the reaction the Potter’s household had.
Scorpius told his Father what he could, tried to make up for all the lost time he could’ve spent sharing his happiness with him instead of dreading the possibility of him knowing. He even told him about their plans of getting a flat together after graduation. During this hour-long conversation, both men got comfortable and lazily drank two cups of tea brought to them by Lia, a house-elf Astoria brought with her to the Malfoy Manor.
Scorpius was never more open with his Father, this kind of freedom could not be beaten even by those months he could be found sobbing into his Father’s nightrobes, mumbling descriptions of the nightmares he used to have after what happened with the Time-Turner.
Though sometimes, sometimes Scorpius noticed his Father avert his eyes and stare into nothing for a second before catching himself and hiding his sad expression. The younger man wondered if it had anything to do with his Mother – was Draco remembering how it felt to be in love with someone? Or maybe, Scorpius pondered, could it have something to do with Father’s tears and the thing he said about –
“Father,” he asked aloud during a brief period of silence, “what did you mean when you said you won’t let my Grandparents treat me as they treated you?”
He could’ve meant Grandfather hitting him with his cane or the pained but strict expression Grandmother threw Draco’s way after they came back from a private conversation in another room, but seeing his Father blanch at the question, he wondered if it wasn’t something else.
Even if it wasn’t, he wanted to know more about his Father, wanted him to speak about his relationship with Scorpius’ Grandparents. He was old enough to know! And his Father didn’t really speak with anyone else but Scorpius, Albus (when Scorp dragged him to the Manor), or Draco’s parents when he and Scorpius visited them in France. That sudden realization hit him like a ton of bricks. How has he never thought about his Father’s lack of friends before? He always felt a bit weird when he was visiting Al in his house because Mr. Potter made small-talk about all the friends he was in contact with, but it never registered with Scorpius that might not be because his Father does not talk about his friends, but rather that he does not have any friends to small-talk about.
Scorpius consciously filed that thought in the ‘come-back-to-later’ part of his brain and focused on his Father, who looked noticeably torn between answering and changing the topic – indecisiveness of this calibre was very unlike him; he usually hid it better.
“I really wasn’t planning on having this conversation with you, I hope you realize that Scorpius.”
Ah, honesty it is, Scorpius straightened his back and tried to not seem too excited about learning something new about his Father.
“In fact, I did not think it would come to this at any point in the future –”
He seemed visibly uncomfortable and even started playing with the hem of his robe. Scorpius realized this might not be a time for excitement. His Father was rarely so visibly nervous.
“But we talked about a lot today. And I feel very grateful for that. I sincerely wish for you to be comfortable enough to share with me anything that plights you or brings you happiness. I suppose that requires me to share some things with you as well. Not everything, you are my son, not my best friend, but I gather some parts are important for you to know. Especially considering today’s revelations.”
He seemed to think for a moment.
“Scorpius,” he proclaimed in a loud, commanding voice. It was such a sudden change of tone Scorpius jumped in his seat. “My behind hurts from all this sitting,” his Father continued with a completely straight face, “therefore, we shall lift our arses at once and converse about this during a walk in the gardens.”
With that, he stood, straightened his robes, and reached for his wand to vanish the tea tray. His purposeful stance was disturbed by the sound of his son’s laugher. He always found the most peculiar ways to make the rigid manners he was raised with intentionally funny.
--------
It was freezing outside, and the gardens were covered in snow, except for the neatly swept paths. The Malfoys didn’t mind much – both were glad for the opportunity to stretch their legs.
“So,” Scorpius encouraged his Father to pick up where he left off. He received an attempt at an exasperated look in return, but it was diminished by the nervous aura that surrounded Draco since Scorpius asked that last question.
“So,” his Father repeated, “Would you like to know why I wasn’t, even for a moment, opposed to you dating a man?”
“Er, sure? Is it connected that thing about my Grandparents somehow?” Or is his Father just trying to stall?
“Yes. For one simple reason – they were, in fact, in a similar position as I was a while ago.”
“What do you mean?”
The older Malfoy sent him a ‘think-about-it-for-a-second’ look but it was heavily mixed with something not unlike fear.
Scorpius did, indeed, think about it. His Grandparents had someone tell them they were gay? Is that it? That must be it, but how is that – his Father is not – surely not!
He came to a stand-still, but his Father continued walking, pretending not to notice his son halting behind him. Scorpius shook his head disbelievingly and caught up with him, but his face did not lose its wide-eyes, open-mouth expression of utter surprise. His Father frowned when he looked over at him and saw it, but stubbornly, he looked away a second later and studied the frozen flowerbeds like they were the most interesting thing he’s ever seen in his more than 50 years of life.
“Father, why did you never tell me? How did I not know you’re bi? And why’re you so nervous, I just told you I’m bloody gay!”
“That is the question, is it not, son?” his Father mumbled, still not looking at him. “I suppose the answer is simple – I am not… bisexual.”
Scorpius gaped at him even more. He was growing very irritated with his Father refusing to look at him, to just stop and explain properly.
“What is this about then?!”
“Scorpius, I – I loved your Mother. Please know that. However, the core of the matter is that I couldn’t possibly love her as another man could. I imagine it would be fitting to say I could not love a woman just as you can’t love a woman.”
“What the fuck.”
His Father cringed at that but did not reprimand him.
“I understand this is a shock for you, that is, in fact, one of the reasons why I never spoke of it with you. You did not need to know this and I’m telling you only because you asked, and after today, I believe you deserve your honesty and bravery to be reciprocated. I’ve never – I didn’t – your Mother and I loved each other. We had a wonderful relationship and I still…miss her terribly. But the fact is that our marriage was arranged.”
“Father, I thought – why did you even marry her, though? I thought you gave up all those ideals of what proper Purebloods were supposed to do right after the war!”
His Father finally came to a halt and turned to look at his son, who wore an indignant, incredulous expression. He couldn’t help it though. It was different than when he told his Father he was gay. Because his Father was gay and still married a woman. His Mum. Did she even know? And why did they make Scorpius? Was his Father forced just for the sake of appearances and keeping the bloodline alive? But his Mom was so great and kind and caring and she loved his Father! This was all so confusing. He didn’t know if he should be angry or sad.
“I know what you’re thinking.” There was a hand on his shoulder. His Father was looking straight into his eyes but found a spot somewhere behind Scorpius when he started talking.
“I’ve never told anyone except our family, you know. I spent a year after the War broadening my horizons and changing my mind – questioning everything that my parents taught me. I came to the conclusion I didn’t want to be a hateful blood-purist and decided to tell – hm.”
He stopped quite suddenly and turned his back to Scorpius again. The younger man decided not to comment on it as he remembered his own inability to look anywhere near his Father during his own confession.
“Tell me, dad.” Father did not seem like the right word for that careful sentence.
After a few moments, the other mam continued.
“Yes, well, I decided to tell your Grandparents about my – my sexuality, of which I was aware since the term ‘gay’ was explained to me for the first time. Needless to say, it did not go well. At all.”
Scorpius saw, even from the angle he watched, that his Father smirked ruthlessly at that. Scorpius did not believe he found it funny for a second.
“I shall spare you the details, but after a lot of…persuasion – mainly from my Father –”
Or maybe from his cane, huh? Scorpius’ violently shuddered at the invasive thought.
“It was decided I was to be married quickly to Astoria, your Mother. Your Grandparents insisted she remained unaware of my…inclinations, as they called it, but I refused to lie to her like that. We were friendly before the betrothal and I knew she was a good person. She agreed to marry me anyway. Don’t ask me why, I, myself, haven’t got the slightest idea. Then, you were born, and we were both happy to raise you together, even though we did love one another romantically. For an arranged marriage, we were much fonder of each other than we could be, you remember that.”
Scorpius did. His parents were always a perfect duo. He wanted to rack his brain for any indication his parents were different from any other normal parents, tried to find any proof of them not being just two people in love, but didn’t come up with anything right away. It was true he never saw them kiss or show any other significant sign of affection, but some parents were just like that and Scorpius was a child, after all. They also sometimes slept in different rooms, but he just supposed they had an argument he wasn’t aware of; everything was always okay between them the next morning, so he didn’t pay it much mind.
Otherwise, they were just like any other normal, loving parents. They joked a lot, sometimes cooked meals together when Lia had a day-off, they patted each other on the back, they argued about stupid stuff sometimes, they raised Scorpius as best as they could, they both always escorted him to the King’s Cross station when he had to return to school and waited for him when he came for the hols.
Still, Scorpius felt lied to. Cheated even. Why did his father have to tell him that! Why did he mar his memories of the happy family they were before his Mum died like that? For a moment, he despised his Father. Why couldn’t he just be normal and truly in love with his wife!
He wanted to slap himself for that thought instantly and was glad he wasn’t one of those people who spoke before they even finished a thought in their head. He’d never tell his Father that because that wasn’t what he truly thought about him. Hell, just moments before, he was the one scared to death his Father would call him abnormal; shame him for who he was and was not able to love.
“I know that, Father,” he assured him eventually, “I’m just confused. This – I didn’t expect that.”
“I can imagine. I’m sorry.”
He truly looked it. Apologetic, pained, and awfully ashamed. His posture was imperfect, gone was the ever-present straight (ha!) spine and self-assured expression. He looked drained, tired, just like he used to look after Scorpius’ Mother died.
Scorpius tried to imagine what it all must’ve felt like. What would it feel like if he had to renounce his whole being and marry a person he would never be able to love fully? Frankly, Scorpius would never let that happen. Even Father couldn’t have made him change his mind about Al. But what if I had my Grandfather for a Father? He tried to work with that thought for a minute and did not like the outcome at all. Traditional, strict, unloving, cold blood-purist of a Father who demanded respect and obedience above everything else. Father who refused to admit the world changed and never stopped venting his old, faulty ideologies. Father who was not above beating his child with a cane even when that child was already a respectable adult.
Fuck, I wouldn’t have a lot of options, would I? Even Grandmother wouldn’t help me. She was much kinder than Lucius, but her love also comes with conditions.
Yes, as Scorpius thought about it, he realized he might not have made the same decision and submitted as his Father did, but he may as well have said Goodbye to any family he had left in that case.
A pang of deep sadness for his Father enveloped him like a cold hug of the ocean.
He started sobbing again (What’s with that anyway? I’m 17, for Merlin’s sake, I shouldn’t cry like a baby no matter how emotionally taxing today proved to be.) and that caught his Father’s attention.
“Scorpius, Scorp!” His Father looked utterly helpless like he wanted to apologize again and hug him but didn’t know if it would be accepted. Scorpius flew into his arms to discard any doubts his Father might have about Scorpius’ love for him.
“I understand, Father. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was angry at you. It’s not your fault just as it’s not my fault.”
It was cold and he was crying again, tears were freezing rapidly on his cheeks and, well, he might’ve left a bugger on his Father’s robes. Oh, he was definitely gonna get a disappointed stare and a ‘this-is-not-the-way-civilized-people-should-behave’ look – not that he cared at that moment. His Father seemed to dismiss it for the time being as well.
“I was just thinking how awful that must’ve been for you. I hate Grandmother and Grandfather for doing that to you!”
“Scorpius, that’s not –”
Scorpius sprang away from his Father and accosted him.
“Don’t you dare tell me that’s not a proper way to talk about my family because that’s absolute bullshit! I know you’re trying to be a good dad and not make me worry about you, but I want you to be okay too, you know? I want you to be happy too! And I see how lonely you are, I see how you come back from France all discouraged and sad even though you try so hard to hide it from me. I’m not little anymore, I notice things and can interpret them! I saw how Grandmother looks at you sometimes, see that weird pitying glace mixed with badly hidden disgust and I see your face crumple when you see it too. And I – I saw Grandfather hit you with his ca –”
“What the fuck Scorpius.”
His Father took an involuntary step back from him. Scorpius wasn’t sure he did the right thing, telling his Father all the things he noticed because the other man seemed genuinely disturbed. And scared, his mind supplied, shared shittless.
“What do you know about that! This was not something – nobody knows that! Did he, oh Salazar, Scorp, he didn’t ever put a hand on you, did he, please – ”
“No Dad!” Scorpius rushed quickly to nip that thought in its bud. His Father, his calm, put-together Father looked like he was going to lose it any second. “He never came near, I promise. I just – I overheard you arguing one time when we were in their France residence. I just never told you. But I saw.”
And just like that, his Father hid his face in his hands and cried. He turned away from him again, but Scorpius was having none of that and carefully lead him by the elbow to the nearest bench, onto which both sat heavily, Scorpius casting a warming charm in the process with his Father’s wand.
“You were never – supposed to know that.” he whispered in anguish between his sobs, “He was never this violent – before the War – he just wanted me to be a good son – and I’m just such a disappointment, I can’t help it – useless – oh Salazar, I – I shouldn’t be telling you this.”
“Dad,” Scorpius was in pain. His Father’s words hurt so bad. He never knew he felt like that, never knew his Father hated himself like that. “I’m glad you told me, Dad, I swear. It hurts more than a Stinging hex to hear you talk about yourself like that, but I’m glad I know. I – you can’t put yourself down. I forbid it because you’re the best bloody Father I could ask for, you know? You’re great and so clever, and you’re kind even though you don’t want people to know that and I love you so much.”
“I love you too, son.” His Father whispered after he finished, his deep breathing creating puffs of mist in the winter air.
It was quiet for a while, both men thinking about what was said.
“Let’s go home, I’m freezing.” The older man said eventually.
Scorpius nodded and followed him back into the house.
“What a fucking day,” he thought he heard his Father grumble and agreed with that statement wholeheartedly, though he did not say so out loud.
It was a mess but underneath that, Scorpius was glad for how it all went. His Father still loved him, even though he was gay and in love with a Potter, and Scorpius still loved his Father, even though he had a deep well of secrets inside him.
Scorpius looked up at the afternoon sky and wondered how in the bloody name of Baron will he explain all this to Al in one letter.