I was 10 nearly 11 when the house began to play up.
That was a lie.
It had its moments before. Moments where it was too cold, too dark and dusty no matter what anyone did. But now. Now I'm scared of it. It seemed to hate me somehow- to hate everyone in it. Aunt Hermione said old houses had feelings and dad must've offended it somehow. The most recent episode had been a fire engulfing my room out of the blue- it had reached my bed curtains before my parent's had burst in and woken me. The week before dad had narrowly missed being stabbed in the face in the kitchen by several flying knives.
****
It was Uncle Ron that discovered the reason.
Uncle Ron was an Auror. The wizarding police. He was until that night at least, when he discovered I had a brother.
Draco Malfoy had been a sour spot in my parents marriage for years. Mum said that dad thought more about Malfoy then her and often angerily said that dad should've married him instead for how obsessed he was with the former Slytherin's disappearence. Aunt Hermione had said that Malfoy was always a mystery and dad loved a Malfoy Mystery the best. Uncle Ron had said that Malfoy was just a git.
His sudden reappearance spelled the end of my parent's marriage. My mum screaming my dad had never loved her. She cut everyone from her life- including me, leaving almost instantly to become a professional Quidditch player. For the speed she disappeared I think she had already planned to go reguardless of the reason.
*******
Early one morning Uncle Ron Floo called to and told Dad to come to St Mungos. He advised Dad to bring me along, but didn't say why we were going.
It was minutes after we arrived A lady with a pug face and a severe haircut who dad had called Parkinson approached dad with a boy just a little bit older then me.
Scorpius Sirus James Hyperion Malfoy. It was a mouthful of a name. He had pale skin and brilliant green eyes- the same as my father's. He was beautiful in a Untouchable kind of way. Aunt Hermione later said it's because he's a Veela and that he'd learn to turn down the allure when he matured.
He was wearing a blue snowsuit complete with thick goves and a pretend white foxtail of all things when we'd arrived at St Mungos, his goggles in his hands but his blue helmet (complete with white fox ears) was still atop of his head. He was holding a blue snowboard that was flashing different colours at the sides.
"You need to take responsibility for your Son for once" Parkinson told my dad sternly. "Draco's too sick right now to care for him."
Dad was in shock and told the lady he'd care for Scorpius but he'd never heard of him before in his life- and that he'd notice if he'd slept with Draco Malfoy of all people.
As it turned out Malfoy and Parkinson been writing to Dad for years from the announcement of Scorpius's Hatching(!) to regular updates and pictures.
Mum must've been desposing of them as they arrived. Dad had later said to Uncle Ron that it explained why she was always so weird about the post and it turned out Malfoy and Parkinson had been also been warded against entering Grimmald place and the Burrow.
Uncle Ron sat me and Dad down and explained that Scorpius was the result of a life debt owed by Malfoy to my Dad. That before my birth Dad must've wanted a baby so much that Malfoy's very biology had changed from Pure blooded Wizard to Pure blooded Veela in order to syphon off some of Dads residual magic from their last meeting and produce an egg.
Unfortunately for Malfoy it also meant that Dad was now also his Mate and that his sickness was a result of a rejected bond. Scorpius told us that his Papa had known for years he'd die young and that's why they'd been snowboarding that day- to live life to the fullest and make every second an adventure before he passed.
Uncle Ron said Malfoy's hospitalisation explained the house being upset. Malfoy was a Black by blood and as far as the house was concerned the person Dad should've married.
He said it'd be too dangerous to return while Malfoy (should I be calling him Draco? Papa?) was unwell as the house would only get worse. Aurors would be sent to collect anything we'd need and we were to stay in Malfoy Manor instead with Parkinson (or Pansy as she told me to call her) and Scorpius.
*******
Scorpius it turned out was a bit of a nerd. His favourite part of the Manor was the huge library and unless we were going to visit Malfoy in the hospital he had to be dragged away from there. He knew about all kinds of things from history, to herbology to charm work and Astronomy but especially Potions. Uncle Ron said that dispite being a git Malfoy had been quite popular with the other houses at school (especially Slytherin) and begrudgingly admitted he was really clever and that's obviously where his brains come from.
Aunt Hermione spent a lot of time with Scorpius, she found the depths of his knowledge fascinating, especially considering Malfoy and Pansy had educated him by themselves.
Dad he.... he didn't seem to know what to do with Scorpius. Sometimes he'd just stare at him like he was afraid he'd disappear if he blinked. Other times he held on to both of us tightly weeping.
*****
Sometimes Dad would take me with him and Scorpius to visit Malfoy. He'd get this weid look on his face. Sort of soppy- like he was a puppy. He'd thank Malfoy over and over though he never said what for.
He apologised once for not being there- Malfoy had sneered in his sleep at that, which had Dad laughing until he snorted for some weird reason.
******
Scorpius often speaks about his Dad.
Sometimes its nice "Papa taught me lots of languages for when we travel. We go to loads of different places", "Papa says I'm nearly better at the piano then him!" Sometimes it's sad "Is Papa going to die soon?" "Papa says we must make the most of what we have because it's not for long"
I feel bad for him. I was very sad when Crookshanks died- I can't imagine loosing Dad.
Scorpius is very fun when he's in a mind to but now Malfoy has been asleep a long time and Scorpius and Dad are always sad.
Pansy says that's why she doesn't hate dad now. She says she can't be angry anymore at someone who loves Draco as much as she does.
***
It's by accident I find out Pansy was meant to Marry Malfoy. She was drinking with dad when I overheard her say how much more she hated dad the moment Malfoy had changed. Malfoy had tried to love Pansy but he couldnt love her the same anymore.
It broke her heart but she loved him too much to leave him and in turn learned to love the boy that hatched from the very magic she hated as if he was her own.
Dad told her he'd never exspect her to leave. That dispite their houses he'd never separate the unconventional family but he did intend on sealing the bond between him and Malfoy.
"Call him Draco" Pansy had said sadly.