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The eight-year-old Scorpius Malfoy noisily drags out his dining chair, unable to physically lift it without help from one of the three adults in the large, elegant dining room, Grandmother Narcissa, Nana Jean, and Papa Richard. He looked over towards his Grandmother Cissa, his eyes begging for some help to move out the chair, so, that he could clamber up and get to the Christmas food already. He was so hungry and he had been waiting hours for this feast. Scorpius practically jumped up and down on the seat as he watched Nana and Papa join the table.
You are loved.
"Darling, Scorp, we must wait, remember. The surprises haven't arrived yet." Grandmother Narcissa remarked tightly, her knuckles whitening around the grip that she ad on the chair at the head of the dining table. His chair. Scorpius looked away for a second, staring away at something else. That was Grandfather Lucy's chair. He gulped the taste of pain away before glancing back towards his Grandmother, who was now seated and the white coloured had gone from her tensed hands.
The closed dining room doors swung open wide and loudly with a sharp bang, as wood hit wood. A bright, golden ray of sunshine filled the doorframe before the light started trickling into the dining room and filling the space whole with light. Two shadowy figures, one noticeably taller than the other person, were standing amongst the blinding sunshine light. The two of them were holding hands as they stepped further out of the light. At a closer glimpse, the taller figure was stroking their thumb against the knuckles of the other figure's hands. Just, like his father and mother used to do.
"Oh, Mother. How many times have I told you to stop calling Hermione and me the surprises? I wish there was another thing that you could call us." Draco drawled as he stepped properly through the ray of sunshine, moving forward into the dining room and smiling at all four people. A quiet sniffle sounded from Grandmother Cissa as she turned away from her son and gently wiped at her eyes before turning back around to watch Scorpius clamber off his chair.
"Daddy! Daddy, daddy, daddy!" Scorpius screamed excitedly, the noise filling the room as he rushed towards his father, wrapping his arms around Draco's legs and forcefully tackling him into a hug. The biggest baby bear hugs Hermione and Draco had ever seen.
This type of thing was Scorpius' favourite present which he received every single year since the death of his Mother and Father. Birthday and Christmas. The same routine happened twice every single year. Grandmother Cissa would say the exact line: "Darling, Scorp, we must wait, remember. The surprises haven't arrived yet." And then the spell would be magically performed in Malfoy Manor. The magic spell, made by family friends, then allowed Draco and Hermione to physically spend Christmas and Scorpius' birthdays with their son. It was Scorpius' favourite gift that he had ever received. And he found that he was happier every year that passed after spending it with his parents.
"Hello, sweetheart. My— haven't you gotten bigger in the past few months." Draco smiled warmly as he lifted his son properly into his arms, clutching him tighter towards his chest. "Has your Grandmother been treating my little boy well?" Draco drawled on, twirling his son around in his arms as Hermione smiled, watching the two of them. Scorpius' loud giggle started filling up the Malfoy family Manor with the warmth and life that Narcissa and Scorpius had all so desperately craved throughout the year.
Midnight. The three of them only ever had until midnight. However, every time, Hermione, Draco and Scorpius would always make all of those minutes count, right until the very last second. But, every time, Draco and Hermione wished that they had just five more minutes with Scorpius. Five more minutes for one more hug. Five more minutes for one more kiss. Five more minutes for one more moment together as a family.
"That sunshine light gets brighter every single time the spell gets cast. Also, Draco, I swear if that was part of your design for the sun rays to be golden coloured, then you will definitely be hearing about how I feel about it later." Hermione commented, laughing quietly, as she walked out of the sunshine's light rays, brushing off imaginary dust from her festive dark green-coloured dress. She glanced around the Manor dining room, gazing her eyes over the Christmas decorations. She sighed happily, allowing as much warmth as could ghost over her. "Oh, Narcissa, every year you achieve perfection with the Christmas decorations. Every. Single. Year." Hermione smiled graciously as she moved closer to hugging Draco and Scorpius. The golden smile shone around the room.
"Mummy! Mummy, mummy, mummy!" Scorpius wriggled in his father's long arms wrapped around his body, reaching out with her smaller arms for his mother. "Mummy and Daddy are back!" Scorpius cheered, his voice ringing out as his giggles grew louder and louder as Hermione moved even closer. She wrapped her arms around both of her boys, squeezing them tightly.
Every time, Draco and Hermione wished that they had just five more minutes with Scorpius. Five more minutes for one more hug. Five more minutes for one more kiss. Five more minutes for one more moment together as a family.
Midnight.
The old Grandfather clock on the corridor landing was only a couple of minutes away from binging to sign in at midnight. The most dreaded time of the evening when his parents would be visiting him at Malfoy Manor. Whether they were celebrating his birthday or Christmas, Scorpius never wanted the time to be over with his Mother and Father. He wanted more time with them. He desperately needed more time with Hermione and Draco.
"It will all be okay, my darling boy. You are safe. You are so safe, my darling. Grandmother Cissa takes such good care of you, and Nana Jean and Papa Richard love having you stay at their house, always chasing around the cats and staring at photographs of younger Mummy. You are loved. You are so loved. Mummy loves you very much. Daddy loves you very much. And you are never alone, Scorpius. We are always watching over you up there, sweetheart. Everyday. Every single day, we are watching over you and there is always something for us to be proud of." Hermione and Draco speak together as they clutch Scorpius closer to their chests. They weren't letting go. Not letting go. Never, ever letting go.
However, it was almost time.
"One more hug, my darling boy." Draco sadly smiled, the tears painfully stinging the corner of his slate grey eyes. No. Stay strong for him. You need to stay strong for him. Scorpius hugged tighter onto his parents, sniffling quietly on their shoulders, hoping that his Mummy and Daddy didn't notice the salty tears that were already falling from the young boy's eyes.
"One more kiss, my sweetheart." Hermione nodded, tears stinging the corner of her golden brown eyes as well. She kissed Scorpius, stroking her thumb slowly across his knuckles as he moved himself to kiss his Father one last time before they would be gone again. The three of them stood up from where they'd been crouching down on the floor. Draco held out his hand for Hermione to hold onto before they stepped back towards the door frame. The three of them never took their eyes off each other as Scorpius blinked back all the tears threatening to exit his eyes. Hermione blew a kiss towards Scorpius, as he reached and clutched the kiss in his hand. Never letting go. He would hold onto his kiss for as long as he could.
“Never let go.” Hermione nodded, sniffling. Scorpius closed his eyes, looking down towards where his tightened hand was holding his Mother's kiss hostage. His knuckles were whitening with the tension shooting through his hand as his heart was slowly breaking. He felt Grandmother Cissa's presence loom closer as the clock was ticking on in the background atmosphere.
Midnight struck.
The door closed with a loud banging swing. The golden-coloured shining light disappeared.
Gone.
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Scorpius and Albus stared up at the large, overwhelming doors as they walk slowly up the stairs until the other first-year students stop in front of them. Professor Longbottom was waiting against the staircase, smiling warmly at the new first-year Hogwarts students as he tapped his fingers quietly on the stone railing. The Professor moved to the top of the staircase, his smile growing as he stared at the new generation joining the school, greeting them. His hands moved to the front of his body as he clasped them together.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you’re here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule-breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup." Professor Longbottom explained, staring above the crowd of first years, knowing that many of these students would be the children of his own classmates and they all knew the pain that had been experienced within these Hogwarts walls.
A few minutes passed, and a quiet mumble passed between students as they waited anxiously to be let into the Great Hall. It was only a few minutes before they got sorted into the house that would be their home for the next few years, and it was anxiety-inducing for all of them.
"We're ready for you now. Follow me." Professor Neville nodded, as the Great Hall doors opened behind him and he started stalking back into the room.
Albus and Scorpius stared up at the ceiling in shock but the blond couldn't help the sad smile that passed by his lips at the sound of his mother's voice. His father and mother had both told him stories about the Sorting Ceremony at Hogwarts and both of them told Scorpius about what his mum had stated: "It's not real the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." Albus noticed the frown on the blond's face and gently knocked Scorpius with his arm. The blond nodded, smiling and blinking a couple of times to force the tears to disappear.
Professor Longbottom slowly lead the first-year students to the front of the Great Hall, where the Sorting Hat was lying on the stool, waiting for the ceremony to begin. "Will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Headmistress McGonagall would like to say a few words. Scorpius, Albus and all the other students in the Hall looked towards the main table as Headmistress McGonagall rose from the table and leaned closer to address all of the Hogwarts students, old and new.
"I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right-hand side of the school is out of bounds. So, any students wanting to explore should gladly explore elsewhere in the large castle. Thank you." Headmistress McGonagall smirked at the first-year students. She sat back down on her large chair, nodding and smiling warmly at Professor Longbottom, who stepped up closer towards the stool and the magical piece of parchment that revealed all the names of the first-year students.
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." Professor Longbottom explained to the collection of young-looking students, many of them looked nervous. He flicked out the parchment and lifted the hat off the stool. After many students stepped up to the stool and were sorted into their correct houses, it was finally time for Scorpius and Albus to get sorted. "Scorpius Malfoy." Professor Longbottom read out as the blond slowly stepped and sat down on the stool.
"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat shouted through the Great Hall as Scorpius stepped down and slowly made his way towards the Slytherin table. He shot a nervous glance back to Albus before sitting down beside his new housemates.
"Albus Potter." Professor Longbottom called out, smiling warmly down at the young boy before placing down the Sorting Hat onto the head of unruly hair. Albus looked out at the crowd, glancing over towards Scorpius before glancing at his brother, James Potter, who was staring at him with heat hidden behind his eyes. His whole family so far had been Gryffindors and he felt the pressure on his back that possibly he could not be. But, his father had told him that he would still be proud of him even if he wasn't sorted into the house of Gryffindor. Albus' anxious thoughts grew out of control before the Sorting Hat answered all of his questions.
"Ah, right then...hmm...right. Okay...Slytherin!!" The Sorting Hat called out and it was almost as if shock rippled through the entire student body. Albus moved off the stool and the rest of the students were sorted as he slowly made his way over towards Scorpius and the rest of his Slytherin housemates. Scorpius knocked the raven dark-haired boy gently on his shoulder, shaking his head at the boy. They blinked at each other, sending forms of reassurance to each other, hoping that helped numb the anxious thoughts and feelings that the both of them were feeling right now.
As soon as Scorpius and Albus reached their assigned dormitory in the Slytherin dungeons, Scorpius grabbed his parchment and his quill before starting on his letter home to his Grandmother Narcissa. He sniffled lightly, hating that he wasn't able to write home to his mother and father but he knew that he would be seeing them at Christmas, even if he couldn't see them for his birthday. He breathed heavily as he gently placed down the quill and started inscribing into the parchment, writing out everything Scorpius wanted to tell his Grandmother, Nana, and Papa.
Dear Grandmother,
The Sorting Ceremony went well. I hope that Mum and Dad were watching down on me and are proud of me. I really want to make them proud. I hope that they are proud of me. Do you think they would be proud of me today? I got sorted into Slytherin, which no one seemed surprised about, but I hope Mum would still be proud even though I wasn't sorted into her house of Gryffindor. My friend, Albus Potter, also got sorted into Slytherin. And I think he is a little bit disappointed because every person in his family is Gryffindor, and he will be the only one not in the lion's house.
However, classes begin tomorrow morning so I will need to get up early for my first breakfast in the Great Hall. Please tell Nana and Papa that I miss them and I miss you too, Grandmother.
Love,
Scorpius x
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The scene around them was misty and see-through, almost like the scene itself was a ghost before Hermione and Draco took their seats at the main table, where the Professors sat, at the front of the Great Hall, staring around the hall as if it was their first time in the hall. It had taken some getting used to life like this, however, the two of them were used to navigating life like this now. Hermione stared over towards the Gryffindor table, smiling warmly at James Potter before glancing over towards the other children of hers and Draco's friends.
Hermione sniffled quietly as she gently rested her head on Draco's shoulder. They should be at the Manor, waiting for a letter home from Scorpius but instead, they were almost like flies in the room and watching the Sorting Ceremony themselves in person. Draco grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb against her knuckles before staring down the hall, his eyes hovering over the Slytherin table before his eyes locked onto the door that had just opened.
"Stop worrying." Draco lifted her hand to his mouth, gently placing his lips on the cold skin. "He will be fine, I promise you that our little one will be fine here. Nothing is coming after him." Draco reminded Hermione as she sniffled once again before wiping aggressively at her face.
The two of them stared down the Great Hall and that's when they noticed their son, smiling warmly as he walked through the middle of the room, towards the stool. Hermione smiled sadly at Scorpius, who was walking along with Albus Potter. She chuckled quietly, even though no one would be able to see them. There was a stark difference between herself and Draco and the other ghosts of Hogwarts.
Hermione wiped at her face all over again before Draco's voice was closer, whispering. "Of course, he ends up being friends with a Potter. Is my life cursed to be surrounded by Potters?" Draco chuckled at his own slight joke.
"Shush, the ceremony is starting. I am so glad that Neville is a Professor here." Hermione smiled warmly, turning slightly and watching the start of the sorting ceremony begin. Draco continued quietly making comments but Hermione tried her hardest to ignore the stupid comments.
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." Professor Longbottom explained to the collection of young-looking students, many of them looked nervous. He flicked out the parchment and lifted the hat off the stool. After many students stepped up to the stool and were sorted into their correct houses, it was finally time for Scorpius and Albus to get sorted into the correct Hogwarts house. "Scorpius Malfoy." Professor Longbottom read out as the blond slowly stepped and sat down on the stool. Hermione and Draco leaned forward, staring at the back of their blond son's head. Hermione's breathing grew heavier with anxiety. Draco's comments stopped dead and they watched in silence, gripping each other's hands.
"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat shouted through the Great Hall as Scorpius stepped down and slowly made his way towards the Slytherin table. Draco stood from his chair, screaming out as he cheered about his son's sorting being a success in his eyes. It was a success in Hermione's eyes too, she loved him whatever house he was a part of, but for Draco, this seemed to be a big thing. They watched as Scorpius shot back a nervous glance back to Albus before sitting down beside his new housemates.
Draco leaned in, smirking at his wife. "I told you so." He rubbed it in her face, still chuckling as he stared proudly at their son.
"I know, I know." Hermione rolled her eyes before watching the rest of the ceremony. Though, Draco had decided that he had seen all he needed and was leaning back, sending a thumbs up to his son. The son that couldn't see the thumbs up.
"Albus Potter." Professor Longbottom called out, smiling warmly down at the young boy before placing down the Sorting Hat onto the head of unruly hair. Hermione leaned forward, her breathing had started growing heavier and heavier. She shouldn't feel this anxious for her best friend's son but she was. Hermione ignored the cheers and screams that Draco was still making in celebrating which house his son had been placed into.
"Ah, right then...hmm...right. Okay...Slytherin!!" The Sorting Hat called out and it was almost as if shock rippled through the entire student body. Albus moved off the stool and the rest of the students were sorted as he slowly made his way over towards Scorpius and the rest of his Slytherin housemates. Hermione couldn't help but gasp. Her eyes slowly trailed over towards Albus' brother, James, and stared at the older Potter child's reaction to his younger brother's sorting. Hermione felt a pang in her heart but knew that perhaps Albus would find a home in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat was never wrong. He was hardly ever wrong when it came to the sorting of Hogwarts students.
Instead of staying to watch over Scorpius for the Welcome feast and see how much had changed in the Slytherin dorms and in the dungeons, Hermione and Draco left Hogwarts to go back to their original place of resting at Malfoy Manor. Soon enough, Narcissa, Jean and Richard would be hearing from Scorpius about his Sorting Ceremony and the things he experienced on his first sort of day at Hogwarts.
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"Happy Birthday!" Albus screamed as he thrust apart the curtains of Scorpius' bed and leapt onto the mattress and duvet. "Happy Birthday!" Albus screamed again, his voice ringing throughout the whole second-year boy's dormitory as the others groaned at the loud noise waking them up. Scorpius rubbed aggressively at his eyes before blinking, adjusting to the artificial bright light that was streaming through into his bedroom. "Happy Birthday! It's your birthday. It's your bloody birthday Scorpius Malfoy! Now, open your presents but open mine first because I am the best!" The dark-haired boy continued singing loudly before pushing the gifts into his arms and staring at him as if Albus was an excited puppy. Albus was acting as if it was his birthday today instead of Scorpius'.
Scorpius lifted himself up, rubbing more at his face before finally properly waking himself up. He stared down at the birthday presents, most of them lazily wrapped even though a lot of them could have used magic to wrap up the presents. He unwrapped the gift from Albus first which were many joke toys, sweets and a selection of other things from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The two of them had discussed the items being sold in the shop before and Scorpius had dreamed of being allowed to buy some of the items himself but his Grandmother Cissa was always cautious whenever it came to anything with the Weasley name plastered all over it.
"Thank you, Al." Scorpius smiled, leaning forward quickly and hugging the Potter before moving back and staring down at the other birthday presents.
Scorpius had received several books and many sweets from the rest of his roommates before turning towards the presents from Nana Jean and Papa Richard. He missed them a lot. The two of them had travelled to Australia at Christmas of last year and had still been travelling from Australia to New Zealand but they had promised they would be home before this year's Christmas holidays. The presents were items from their travels. A magnet of a kangaroo and several different sweet treats that you could only get over there. He smiled warmly, hugging the letter his Nana and Papa had sent close to his chest before moving on to the next and final birthday present.
"I'll leave you to it. Meet you down in the common room for breakfast." Albus nodded before leaping off the bed and closing the curtains, leaving Scorpius to open his Grandmother's present all alone. Scorpius nodded but it was a little too late, Albus was already leaving to move into the dormitory bathroom. He slowly opened the envelope and stared down at his Grandmother Cissa's handwriting, with tears bubbling in the corners of his eyes.
You are safe.
You are loved.
You aren’t alone.
Scorpius stared down at his Grandmother's handwriting before he glanced further down the piece of parchment, tears properly flowing out of his eyes now. Lower down on the parchment was the familiar handwriting of his mother and father. He clutched the parchment close to his chest, a bubble gets stuck in his throat as he repeats the three sentences over and over again. He reread this parchment every single night. And every single birthday, Grandmother Narcissa always magically conjured up the same handwriting with the same three sentences.
You are safe.
You are loved.
You aren’t alone.
You are safe.
You are loved.
You aren’t alone.
He shouldn't admit it, and he wouldn't to Albus or his other friends, but this piece of parchment was always his favourite birthday present. Especially, now that he was at Hogwarts for his special day and he couldn't physically see his parents as unfortunately the spell only worked at the Manor.
Too much changing of the spell could cause the spell to rip itself apart before it no longer works. Scorpius couldn't risk that, he needed the spell to stay together so that he could see his parents every year at Christmas. He relied on knowing that he got to see them. Scorpius was able to push through everything because he knew that at the end of the year, he got to see his mother and father once again.
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"Darling, Scorp, we must wait, remember. The surprises haven't arrived yet." Grandmother Narcissa stared at the eager teenager with a huge smile on her face. He was staring at the door to the dining room, waiting for the spell to settle and for the golden sunshine light to burst through the room and allow his mother and father to step through. Two shadowy figures were standing amongst the blinding sunshine light. The two of them were holding hands as they stepped further out of the light. At a closer glimpse, the taller figure was stroking their thumb against the knuckles of the other figure's hands. Just, like his father and mother always used to do with each other and even Scorpius did that gesture when he felt nervous.
"Scorp, come here!" Draco's voice was warm as he stepped through the light and stared at his son. He sighed sadly. He had grown so tall. It didn't matter that they watched over him almost weekly at Hogwarts, seeing him physically in the flesh still panged at their hearts. Their son was growing and Hermione and Draco remained the age they were when they died. One day, Scorpius would be older than them with his own family and his own children.
Scorpius ran into his father's arms, they were almost the same height and in a couple of years, Scorpius probably would overtake his father's height. Hermione sniffled sadly as she moved forward through the lights, making her way over to her own mother and father, and hugging them. She squeezed them tightly in her arms. Scorpius and Draco remained in the hug.
Hugs hadn't been present in his life when he was younger, the only time he got hugs were from Narcissa and even then, they were very rare. However, Scorpius got hugs whenever he wanted them. Even if he was in trouble, his parents would hug him and even his Grandmother had learnt that Scorpius needed hugs. He was a very huggy child. Even at Hogwarts, Albus knew about Scorpius loving hugs and whenever the blond needed one, Albus was always there to hug him.
"How was your trip?" Hermione pulled back from the hug and stared at her parents.
"Good. It was great actually." Jean smiled, reaching out and pushing a stray curl behind Hermione's ear like she used to do when her daughter was younger. It was a habit that she smiled sadly at, quietly sniffling as she stared at her daughter before bringing her in for another hug. "Your father and I got to cuddle with some koalas and we met loads of kangaroos with their joeys. You would have loved it there, my darling. I sent Scorpy some sweets from there. He seemed to enjoy them." She chuckled as Hermione's arms squeezed her mother.
"We should have bought our photo album with us, Jean." Richard gently kissed Jean and hugged his arms around his two girls. Hermione's father was always the one taking photographs when she was younger and he was obsessed with having memories kept in photo albums. When Draco and Hermione announced their engagement, Richard instantly was bringing out all of the albums and flung them into Draco's arms, who loved staring at the younger photographs of Hermione. She liked them but they were slightly embarrassing when she was engaged to the man that had bullied her for her frizzy hair. Bullied her for the buck teeth and bullied her for her swottiness.
"Happy Christmas, my sweetheart," Jean whispered to Hermione before allowing her to move over towards Scorpius and Draco. Hermione gently kissed her mother before kissing her father and then moving towards her husband and their son. Jean, Richard and Narcissa seated at the table and smiled warmly at each other as wine magically poured into the glasses. The small family reunites with each other with large, squeezing hugs.
"I've missed you, darling." Hermione opened her arms for Scorpius to fling himself against his mother. She smiled as his arms wrapped around her. Merlin, Scorpius had gotten tall. She wasn't used to it. Hermione played with his blond locks as they remained in a hug, the beginnings of curls were starting to show in his hair. The perfect mixture of both of his parents. "How has school been? Have you been doing your homework on time? Treating the Professors with respect? Not causing much trouble with the Potters and the other children?" Hermione spewed off everything she needed to ask, even though she usually was watching over him, making sure that his homework was done.
"Mummm, you already know how school is going." Scorpius playfully rolled his eyes, smiling and slowly laughing as his mother pulled him closer once again.
"I know, but I enjoy hearing how you actually are doing instead of just watching everything take place." She kissed his cheek, staring at Draco and smiling at him. "Please, just reassure me that you and Albus are behaving." Hermione lectured, swot mode almost reactivating as she stared at Draco before he wrapped his arms around the two of them, squeezing them tightly.
"We are behaving. Like two perfect Slytherins." Scorpius smirked. "Though, Al did send me some more of the new range from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." He quietly commented, wriggling himself out of the hug and ducking as he made his way towards the table, spotting the shock on his mother's face as she realised what he had just muttered.
The rest of the day was spent with Scorpius and Draco racing around the Manor gardens on their brooms while Hermione, Narcissa, Jean and Richard watched from the warmth of the living room. Scorpius wasn't on the Quidditch team at Hogwarts and wasn't as passionate about the sport as his friends and his father had been but he enjoyed the sport, unlike his mother. Jean and Richard left early in the afternoon, saying their goodbyes to Cissa and Hermione before quickly saying goodbye to the still-flying Draco and Scorpius, before driving back off to London in their car.
When it came for dinner time, it seemed that time had passed by them so quickly that suddenly they realised that it was almost time for them to say goodbye. They were never prepared for this time when they had to bid goodbye to each other for another year, they were never ready for this time to strike.
Every single time they visited their son, Draco and Hermione wished that they had just five more minutes with Scorpius. Five more minutes for one more hug. Five more minutes for one more kiss. Five more minutes for one more moment together as a family.
Midnight.
The old Grandfather clock on the corridor landing was only a couple of minutes away from binging to sign in at midnight. The most dreaded time of the evening when his parents would be visiting him at Malfoy Manor. Scorpius never wanted the time to be over with his Mother and Father. He wanted more time with them. He desperately needed more time with Hermione and Draco.
"It will all be okay, my darling boy. You are safe. You are so safe, my darling. Grandmother Cissa takes such good care of you, and Nana Jean and Papa Richard love having you stay at their house, always chasing around the cats and staring at photographs of younger Mummy. You are loved. You are so loved. Mummy loves you very much. Daddy loves you very much. And you are never alone, Scorpius. We are always watching over you up there, sweetheart. Everyday. Every single day, we are watching over you and there is always something for us to be proud of." Hermione and Draco speak together as they clutch Scorpius closer to their chests. They weren't letting go. Not letting go. Never, ever letting go.
However, it was almost time.
"One more hug, my darling boy." Draco sadly smiled, the tears painfully stinging the corner of his slate grey eyes. No. Stay strong for him. Scorpius hugged tighter onto his parents, sniffling quietly on their shoulders, hoping that his Mummy and Daddy didn't notice the salty tears that were already falling from the young boy's eyes.
"One more kiss, my sweetheart." Hermione nodded, tears stinging the corner of her golden brown eyes as well. She kissed Scorpius, stroking her thumb slowly across his knuckles as he moved himself to kiss his Father one last time before they would be gone again. The three of them stood up from where they'd been crouching down on the floor. Draco held out his hand for Hermione to hold onto before they stepped back towards the door frame. The three of them never took their eyes off each other as Scorpius blinked back all the tears threatening to exit his eyes. Hermione blew a kiss towards Scorpius, as he reached and clutched the kiss in his hand. Never letting go. He would hold onto his kiss for as long as he could.
“Never let go.” Hermione nodded, sniffling. Scorpius closed his eyes, looking down towards where his tightened hand was holding his Mother's kiss hostage. His knuckles were whitening with the tension shooting through his hand as his heart was slowly breaking. He felt Grandmother Cissa's presence loom closer as the clock was ticking on in the background atmosphere.
Midnight struck.
The door closed with a loud banging swing. The golden-coloured shining light disappeared.
Gone.
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Scorpius anxiously stumbled around the Hogwarts corridors, he picked at his nails and kept biting into his lip until he was drawing blood before stopping again. He ignored his fellow fourth years. He wiped his mouth with the back of his jumper before starting to wander around the corridors, humming quietly to himself. He was too anxious to deal with humans right now. However, then he heard the laughing of the one person he really didn't want to talk to or even see right now. Albus was bounding down the corridor, right towards Scorpius and suddenly the two of them were thrust into the Room of Requirements, where they stared at each other. Scorpius' breathing grew heavier as he seated himself down on the small sofa that the room had conjured up for the two of them.
"Scorp, what's going on?" Albus recognised instantly the amount of worry and anxiety that was oozing through the blond's face. Scorpius gulped loudly, his hands clenched in his lap as he stared down at them before deciding to glance up at Albus. "Scorp, what's wrong? Is it your grandmother?" He questioned, slowly moving and sitting down on the sofa before leaning closer towards the blond. "Do you need a hug? Is that why you are so quiet?" Albus opened his arms but the blond just gently shook his head.
"Al, I really need to be honest with you..." Scorpius started speaking but his voice trailed off and he became quiet. "I'm gay." The blond just came out and said it. He needed to get it off his chest; this was the only way. His breathing had calmed but it heightened and grew heavier all over again. Scorpius waited for a reaction from Albus but it seemed that the boy was just repeating the comment over and over again in his head. However, then Albus smiled and the smile grew larger as he reached forward and pulled Scorpius in for a hug.
"Me too," Albus whispered, chuckling quietly as he sniffled. Scorpius pulled away and stared at Albus, his eyebrows raised.
"What? You aren't joking right now to make me feel comfortable, are you?" Scorpius asked.
"No, Scorp, I wouldn't joke about that. I'm gay too." Albus smiled, grabbing Scorpius' hands and staring up at the blond. "And bloody Godric, I really like you." He admitted, a small blush appearing on his skin as he rubbed his thumb against the knuckles of Scorpius' hand.
"I really like you too," Scorpius confessed.
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Hermione and Draco were sitting together, reading in their favourite hiding place during their time at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirements. Hermione was humming, bobbing her head to a random tune as the doors were suddenly opened and two students were thrust into the room.
Albus was bounding down the corridor, right towards Scorpius and suddenly the two of them were thrust into the Room of Requirements, where they stared at each other. Scorpius' breathing grew heavier as he seated himself down on the small sofa that the room had conjured up for the two of them.
"What's happening?" Draco questioned, staring at Albus and Scorpius.
"Shush." Hermione slapped him lightly on the arm, standing and hovering near their son.
"Scorp, what's going on?" Albus recognised instantly the amount of worry and anxiety that was oozing through the blond's face. Scorpius gulped loudly, his hands clenched in his lap as he stared down at them before deciding to glance up at Albus. "Scorp, what's wrong? Is it your grandmother?" He questioned, slowly moving and sitting down on the sofa before leaning closer towards the blond. "Do you need a hug? Is that why you are so quiet?" Albus opened his arms but the blond just gently shook his head.
"Al, I really need to be honest with you..." Scorpius started speaking but his voice trailed off and he became quiet. "I'm gay." The blond just came out and said it. He needed to get it off his chest; this was the only way. However, then Albus smiled and the smile grew larger as he reached forward and pulled Scorpius in for a hug.
Hermione gasped, wanting desperately to reach for Scorpius to pull him into a hug but Albus was already there before Hermione. Draco instead hugged Hermione as they watched with pride. She wiped a few happy tears from her eyes.
"Me too," Albus whispered, chuckling quietly as he sniffled. Scorpius pulled away and stared at Albus, his eyebrows raised.
"What? You aren't joking right now to make me feel comfortable, are you?" Scorpius asked.
"No, Scorp, I wouldn't joke about that. I'm gay too." Albus smiled, grabbing Scorpius' hands and staring up at the blond. "And bloody Godric, I really like you." He admitted, a small blush appearing on his skin as he rubbed his thumb against the knuckles of Scorpius' hand.
"I really like you too," Scorpius confessed.
"I'm proud of you, my darling." Hermione smiled, sniffling as she laid her head down on Draco's shoulder. "I am so, so, so proud of you, Scorp." Hermione wiped at her face. She sniffled once again, Draco hugging her closer as they watched the two teenagers move back out of the Room of Requirement, leaving Hermione and Draco alone.
"He could have gone for someone better than a Potter." Draco laughed.
"At least it wasn't a Weasley," Hermione whispered, shaking her head, knowing that for Draco, a Weasley definitely would have been worse.
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