Chapter 12
The next morning Draco wakes up happier and chirpier than ever. He has given the vial to Harry and soon he will receive an owl stating he's done a great job. Oh he loves it! Days are finally getting better not just for him but for everyone, the trees are growing and the flowers are blooming. He looks beside to see Scorpius and Estella sleep peacefully and then gets up to start his day. Hours have passed and though he keeps himself busy, his eyes keep glancing to his wrist watch anticipating an owl any second unless Harry messes it up. Draco stresses remembering how Harry was during potions class when the door bell finally rings. He sprints and opens the door happily to see Harry stand sheepishly in his pajamas. "Potter, what did they say?" He can insult his choice of clothes later.
"Care to invite me in?"
Draco rolls his eyes but moves aside. "Tell me will you, I was hoping to go there later this day and ask for some money ... you know or maybe you don't know but my landlord needs it and if i don't, living here shall be compromised." Draco says trailing behind him.
Harry doesn't nod just walks over to the children as they stir getting up, Scorpius sees Harry and he instantly smiles exposing his white teeth - Draco makes sure his children has the best hygiene, they might be poor but are still fully capable of grooming themselves. Estella wakes up next but looks past Harry, extending her arms towards Draco - Ah at least she still loves Draco more. "Good morning, sorry for waking you up." Harry messes Scorpius's hair.
"It's alright, we usually wake up around this time Mr. Potter."
"You can call me Harry."
"Scorpius, how about you use the washroom then help Estella while I discuss something important with Mr. Potter." Draco intervenes cradling Estella. "So? What is it Potter?"
"What is what Malfoy? I just woke up and came here."
"What? Potter it is noon and the ministry might be closing soon, what are you still doing at home? You should leave quickly!" Draco gets up motioning him out but Harry makes himself comfortable resting against the wall.
"Malfoy, the ministry remains open always and they would want you there as well so I came to pick you up considering our floos are blocked."
"Oh. WHAT! You come now so late and like this! Potter I will not be escorted by a man in ... lion red pajamas to the ministry." He expresses vexed.
"A man? I am Harry Potter." Harry smiles as Estella gasps like she's hearing it for the first time, his smile deepens. "Didn't I fight dragons?" He continues as Estella nods ecstatically.
"One dragon Potter, one." Draco says unfazed. " Also, the ministry has rules and I don't think you are an exception, not after so many years. People and especially Kingsley should have moved on."
Harry chuckles. "I will just change at the ministry, don't worry."
"You should have come pick me up earlier so I could have prepared a speech." Draco fusses patting estella's back.
"Easy there." Harry says noticing Estella's discomfort, the pats are a bit rough. "Draco, you made the vial, you know everything about it so why prepare."
"Are you forgetting that this will be the first time I will be standing in front of so many wizards after my" He whispers. "trial."
"I will be there and so will Hermione and Ron, though I doubt you care much about him."
"I don't care about either of you, but this is serious Potter. You can't expect me to just show up. I don't even have clothes."
Scorpius comes out going straight to Harry picking the sheets up. "Can we go?" He asks with the same adoration he did for the ride.
"Yes." Harry says.
"No." Draco says. "Scorpius, you are still weak and this is important, son we will go somewhere after I return."
"But I want Harry to join as well." Harry smiles helping him with the sheets.
"Harry?" When did Potter become Harry. "I am sure he has other matters - important matters that require his attention Scorpius." Draco says. "I will go and freshen Estella up, the breakfast is already made so eat it with estella while I am gone."
"Are you not going to eat papa?"
"There is no time son."
"The ministry can wait Malfoy, we can have breakfast and then leave." Harry states now folding the mattress and putting it aside - Draco wants to redo it seeing it's untidy form but he refrains. Also, who invited Potter for breakfast.
Draco takes Estella to the washroom leaving the other two behind. "So, Harry what was the first spell you learnt?"
"Umm, I don't really remember."
"How about what was the first spell you used with papa?"
"I don't remember ever using the same spell as him with him." Harry chuckles rubbing his stubble - he must shave that.
"Were you both not friends?"
Harry doesn't know what to say exactly like he could be honest, what's he got to lose but would Draco be alright with it considering there are many things that he's kept a secret from Scorpius. "We were in different houses so we had our people but I'd see him around - a lot."
"Houses? Was papa in a good house?"
Harry sighs. "All houses are good and he was ... should be proud of his. I know someone very brave that belonged to his house - Slytherin."
"Sil ... ether ... ren." Scorpius tries pronouncing. " What about yours?"
"Gryffindors! The bravest and most courageous!" He claims proudly and then he remembers. "Ah! I remember using" He tilts makes sure Draco is still in the washroom. "I used Rictumsempra on your father."
"What does it do?" Scorpius scoots closer.
"It tickles you." They both laugh.
"Papa hates that! Will I be in your house as well so I can fight dragons like you?!" Scorpius asks excitedly.
Harry laughs. "i doubt Malfoy would like that and you don't seem like a Gryffindor to me." He tilts his head inspecting Scorpius. "Perhaps a Ravenclaw? Are you good at studying Scorpius."
Scorpius nods seriously. "Absolutely not!" Draco comes out of the washroom. "He hasn't studied a day after ... he met you." Draco narrows his eyes at Harry. "Your poor intelligence is rubbing off on him."
"Then you might just be a Gryffindor."
"He won't be either because he is not going." Draco states seriously. "Now, all of you have some breakfast while I sit on the side preparing a speech and Do Not Disturb Me." He says to all but his gaze is fixated upon Harry. Harry gulps.
Harry helps himself to the breakfast and once again it's delicious - it's spinach omelet with sausages. "This is good." Harry says with a mouthful not even bothering to chew, helping himself to some milk.
Draco rolls his eyes. "Potter, there is tea too. You don't have to drink milk."
"Milk is good, it makes you strong." Scorpius whispers with a white mustache while Estella nods flexing her muscles.
Harry nods. "Milk is good." Once they are done, Draco washes the dishes even though Harry offers to help. "I can at least do my dish Malfoy."
"Thankyou Potter for the thought." Draco responds continuing to do the dishes - Draco doesn't trust him or his clumsy nature with the only plates he has. "Wait for me downstairs, I will get ready and head down."
Harry looks around. "I can just wait here, you can just change in the washroom."
"Potter, I can and I will but I also have to wind up the house for the children and set some rules." He sneers at Scorpius and Harry nods internally sulking for not being part of whatever it is that Draco would be telling them. Harry nods bidding farewell as Scorpius and Estella hug him tightly.
"I will make you a drawing next time."
"Thank you." Harry smiles leaving and heading down to his car. What shall he do until then? He sees the mechanic boy and waves at him which he reciprocates. Should he just go talk to him or just stay here? He just sits in his car waiting.
Draco rummages through his piles of clothes. "Nothing works!"
"Papa just wear what you wore to the museum." Scorpius helps.
"No, it will just remind them of that day and they will refuse before they can even hear my speech." His eyes land on a simple decent shirt and pant, he decides to wear that. "I look awful." He sulks seeing his reflection."
"No you look handsome." Scorpius says confidently and Draco sighs.
"Now, I will be leaving Scorpius but I need you to promise me that you aren't going to leave the house till I am back." Draco holds him tightly.
"It was only that time, I won't do it again, I promise." Draco smiles not assured but time is ticking and he needs to go. He quickly calls Luna asking her to supervise and Scorpius grunts. "I won't do it again."
"I know. Alright, I am leaving. Take care." He kisses their forehead and sprints down sitting inside the car.
Harry pokes his head out. "Aren't you going to wave at the children?"
"They are too short to reach the windows."
"What about using a chair?"
"That's dangerous. Potter just drive please." Harry nods and they head to the ministry with Draco trying his best to not chew on his nails, his heartbeat is rising and he's sure he is hyperventilating. He cannot mess this up. He looks angrily at Harry - if only Harry could do this himself.
"Malfoy, I can feel your gaze burning holes in me." Harry smirks.
"You could have just done it yourself."
"You had to show yourself at some point so why not now?"
"Because I am not prepared." He crosses his arms. "Not everyone has got a good reputation."
"I am sure you will do fine." Harry smiles.
"If this is your way of apologizing for being a nuisance these past days then it's not working, you are only making it worse."
"Who said I am apologizing to you? The children are enough and I reckon they have already forgiven me."
"You bought it with scoops of ice cream and a ride in your fancy car." Draco scowls.
Harry grins and remembers Scorpius. "What rules did you set up then?"
"None that concern you Potter." Draco tilts his head scrutinizing at Harry. "I am starting to think you are infatuated with my children."
"Infatuated!" Harry laughs. "I see you are still serious about Scorpius not attending hogwarts."
"Yes and I will remain to be for his safety."
"He has potential."
"The world won't care about that ... and neither should you." Harry looks at Draco confused. "I appreciate you doing things for him but I'd also appreciate you not riling his brain and feeding into his delusions."
"Delusions? Malfoy those are true!"
"It's not for you to decide and care for! I am his father and I know best." Draco feels anger.
"Oh, so the apple actually doesn't fall far from the tree." Harry scowls gripping the steering wheel tighter - he despises people who can't think ahead.
"What do you mean? I am nothing like my father." Draco says offended - he can't let Harry anger him, it will reflect bad in the ministry. "I wouldn't have thought about it if it wasn't for the danger you put my son in Potter. If you, the savior is like this then I don't even want to imagine how the rest will be." The car halts suddenly as Harry presses on the brake, Draco falls forward but Harry puts his arm across preventing him from making impact with the dashboard. "Are you mental Potter!"
Harry breathes deeply regaining his composure; he didn't mean for Scorpius to get hurt, not that day or any day before. "I am sorry but you cannot use this as an excuse to not let him experience hogwarts! I of all people should have not attended considering my past but I did and I don't regret a single moment!"
"Oh, so you don't regret battling the dark lord when you were barely of age!" Draco pushes Harry's hand away. "You don't regret Cedric dying in your arms or Snape dying or Fred Weasley dying!" Draco screams and silence spreads in the car. Harry gazes up and his view is hazy, when did they start fighting? He was merely discussing, he can see darkness around Draco and him, engulfing them. "I regret a lot!" Draco pulls up his sleeve exposing his mark and Harry's out of his daze, he blinks rapidly then rubs his eyes. "Will you say something!"
"Huh?"
Draco sighs then rests back on the seat. "Just drive Potter but know I am nothing like my father." Harry wants to says something, many things come to mind but he can't speak, he can't form the right words so he drives. People died and he still gets nightmares, Draco might have it worse with no one around, he remembers Hermione mentioning he has no friends but still the bad has passed and now it's all good hopefully. He wants to show him the brighter picture but he knows Draco will smack him ... literally and then smack him with his ill-fated reality. They reach the ministry in complete painful silence and the car stops in front. It would have been a wonderful ride like last time if it wasn't for them bickering.
"Wait for me outside Kingsley's office, I will be there shortly."
"I don't want to go in alone." Draco says quickly, his fingers gripping the handle. Harry nods and they walk in together, in the view of everyone and Draco feels miserable. Why did Harry have to remind him of his past right before this! Everyone stares like hawks and he wants to run away, never show himself again but he has to ... he keeps reminding himself. For Scorpius and Estella. Once he's got enough galleons, he will leave with them and never return.
"Are you alright?" Harry asks and Draco nods looking down. "If I were you, I'd walk with my head held high. You just made a vial that is supposed to do wonders for us."
"Just a vial to distinguish evil stones from good ones." Draco sighs.
"I am sorry Draco."
"I am sorry too." They reach Harry's office and he quickly changes leaving Draco outside, Draco feels people drilling holes in his back and he turns to see no one. He felt like this during his trial as well, he had expected to be executed by the wizards before he could even reach Azkaban but Harry showed up and he sighed in relief even though he didn't deserve it - he knew Harry would save him just like how he saved him before. He could do anything except keep his righteous mouth shut, Draco grips the door handle tightly refraining from barging in when Harry comes out in a suit - decent.
"Let's go." They walk to Kingsley's office and Draco hears the noise inside, he halts as his feet refuse to walk any further. "It will be fine Malfoy, I will be right behind." Draco sees that Harry has lift a hand perhaps to soothe him but he is lost in thought unsure and eventually drops it. Draco sighs. "The earlier you get done, the earlier you can leave ... from the wizarding world." Draco nods and pushes the door open as all stop their conversation and land their gaze upon him like starved predators. Draco gulps.