Prologue
Draco does not know how to feel. What a terrible start. Let’s rephrase: Draco doesn’t know how to feel about… well, anything in his life. When your life has been an endless cycle of choiceless pride and shame, knowing how you’re supposed to feel becomes incredibly difficult. Regret is a good word for what he’s feeling. Maybe not the best word, but it’s certainly a descriptor of his feelings on the matter. As he looks down at the mark on his forearm he’s certain at least one of the things he feels is regret. Shame too, but not pride. At least not anymore. Maybe not ever.
He was young when he was branded with the Dark Mark. Young and prideful and afraid of the consequences of shunning He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; of shunning his family. At the time, he’d convinced himself that it was his choice to take on the mark and wear it with pride, but as the years went on, and as he had a child of his own, he’s realized that though it was his choice, it was only because he had no other options to choose from. Lucius, his father, the man that raised him and showered him with love and praise when Draco made him proud, the man who taught him the ways of the world, the man who taught him such a fraught version of right and wrong, had told him that taking on the Dark Mark was the right thing to do, and as a loyal and faithful son, Draco obliged. Despite the fear and reluctance he felt, despite his longing to be on the other side, the side where he could have had friends, despite the fact that he knew this mark was not something to be worn with pride like his father suggested, Draco obliged. Now, he knows not to wear that mark with pride, because it’s not a mark, but a brand. In a world where He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, no– Voldemort is dead and gone, Draco Malfoy carries this mark of shame under his sleeve forever.
Looking at his son, his beautiful son who he loves more than anything in this world, Draco has no clue how he or any father would force such a brand onto their own child. His son who has so much potential for good. His son who’s sensitive and shy and kindhearted, yet so quick witted and sly when he wants to be– Draco has no clue how he would ever be able to hurt this boy. Because, in all honesty, that’s what Lucius did. He hurt his only son over and over again for his own supremacist beliefs. He used his beloved, only son as a vessel for the Dark Lord’s will. He forced his beliefs onto his son until that boy was so overwhelmed and confused by the world that he chose to bring more hatred into the world for himself. Now, Draco, despite his many privileges and despite his family's pardon, will never be seen with the same respect he could’ve had before. He will never have the success he could’ve had. Not that he deserves it much anymore. Now, Draco’s son will have to live forever with the great shame that the Malfoy name holds, all because Lucius Malfoy decided to hurt his child. How could a father even consider using their son like that?
Draco knows that he could never do such a thing to his son. Draco knows that his purpose in life is to make amends for the actions and supremacy of his family. Forever. So that maybe his beloved son won’t be too ashamed of his father when the time comes for him to be old enough to understand what his father has done.
Draco sits at his office chair contemplating his life. His family was once, not too long ago, in shambles; his father rotting in Azkaban, his mother off somewhere, occasionally making visits to her son when she needs something, but Draco thinks he managed to pull it all back together quite well. He somehow managed to find his beautiful and strong wife, Astoria, who has been ever patient with him over the years, through his phases of self doubt and hatred, teaching him about tolerance and helping him to correct his backwards beliefs. With Astoria by his side Draco has managed to become something like a good man, despite his flaws and his past. Above all though, Draco has become as good a father to his son, Scorpius as he can be. Though no man is perfect, he does his best to teach his son to be a good, brave, strong young man, and shown Scorpius the unconditional love that a father should show.
The Dark Mark still whispers to him, hidden beneath his sleeve, begging him to be cruel once again, but now Draco is strong enough to resist its pull, reassured by the knowledge that he will be of the last people to bear this brand on them. There will never again be a Voldemort, and if there is, Draco knows he will be brave like he never was before, and he will fight at the front lines until he falls. Draco Malfoy will spend the rest of his life trying to make sure his son doesn’t have to know the shame that his father feels. Scorpius is too young now to fully understand, but Draco knows that once he arrives at Hogwarts, Scorpius will quickly learn what his father and his family has done, and until then all Draco can do is make sure his son is strong enough to handle it and proud enough to bear it when the time inevitably comes.
Scorpius has one more year until he goes to Hogwarts. Only one more year until, Draco knows, he will start to learn about his history. Maybe Draco could prepare him more for the coming years, but for all the faults he’s learned and grown away from, he's still a coward. It's in his blood to be one. His parents backed out of every fight before they could get caught in the mess of the aftermath. He comes by his cowardice honestly at the very least, and he simply can't be brave enough for his son to know of his fathers sins from his own father's mouth.