It wasn’t often that Scorpius sought his father’s company like this. Not because they didn’t like each other, or because they found their interests to be incompatible, but because long discussions and heartfelt appreciation were things the Malfoy family had always struggled to deal with.
Scorpius had struck on a Sunday, with a pleasant, cheery smile and a question of if his dad would like to go for a stroll in the grounds with him. Being the doting father he was, Draco had said yes, and suddenly Scorpius found himself midway down the courtyard, feeling his way along a hedge wall, without a single clue what to do or say next. It had seemed so easy in his head: ‘just ask for a walk, and then tell him how you feel’, but in practice, he found it to be impossible.
Back when he was a small child, back before Hogwarts and Delphi and his wonderful friendship with Albus, he used to love running through the gardens, chasing after imaginary gnomes and finding their little hideouts. He’d always go back inside, coated in mud, and Draco would tut and Astoria would laugh and everything would seem so right in the world. But then things changed. The world became a darker place, and now Scorpius was left with lingering nightmares and an embarrassing, childlike fear of the dark- something he was too scared to even admit to Albus, let alone his father.
Albus. His closest confidant. Remarkably, their friendship had strengthened since the end of their Fourth Year. They were sending more owls in a single day than they usually did in a whole week, but it wasn’t quite the same as having him there in person. Scorpius had taken to signing his owls with a little heart by his name, as though that one small symbol was enough to express the well of emotions he felt towards his best friend. Thankfully, Albus hadn’t commented on it. Scorpius knew that if he did, he’d probably feel too awkward and self-conscious to owl him anymore, because normal friends didn’t send each other little hearts at the bottom of their letters like that, did they?
Well, he and Albus were hardly ‘normal friends’. They had so much history between them that they were practically inseparable, but also- in more recent weeks- his thoughts on his best friend had changed quite dramatically.
“Dad,” Scorpius finally spoke, as they turned the corner to another row of towering hedges, “how do you actually feel about Albus?”
The question seemed to shock Draco more than anything. He gave him a confused look, and Scorpius wondered if starting out like that was a good idea at all. “Well,” his father said thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration, “I think he can be a bit irresponsible sometimes, but he’s a good kid. And I appreciate him for making you so happy.”
Scorpius smiled to himself. “Me too,” he said softly. They strolled in silence for a bit, each engrossed in their own trains of thought. Every so often, Scorpius caught his father glancing his way, but he pretended not to notice. If they met eyes, he had a feeling he’d blurt out all he wanted to say in one go, and that was exactly the sort of thing he wanted to avoid.
“Is this why you asked me for a walk?” Draco inquired. “To find out my opinion of him? Because I really don’t mind you being friends, Scorpius. I know I forced you apart already, but I’d never do that again- and I still regret ever thinking that was a good idea.”
“Oh, no, it’s not about that at all-” Scorpius said hurriedly. “I was just.. wondering, really. I wouldn’t want you to be mad at me for- uhm- being as close to him as I am.”
He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He hadn’t even said anything embarrassing yet, but he still felt like his father could tell exactly what was going through his mind as he spoke. Indeed, Draco halted in his tracks and turned to face him properly, and Scorpius was forced to stop walking to avoid leaving him behind.
“Are you alright?” his father asked, clearly concerned. Scorpius focused his attention on the gravel, and started kicking it around a bit for something to do. “No,” he mumbled under his breath. “Not really.” His cheeks were still red, and all he could think was ‘Albus, Albus, Albus’- not very helpful in the current situation.
“Well,” Draco hesitated, “whatever it is, I’m sure there’s something I could do to help. At the very least, I could try and give you advice, if.. that’s what you need?”
Scorpius thought for a moment. “Sort of?” he settled for, still avoiding his father’s gaze. “I mean, I don’t know. It’s not really a ‘problem’ I need fixing, it’s more of a.. thing, that I don’t know how to deal with. It’s hard, you know?”
Well. Of course he didn’t know, he had no idea what he was talking about.
“I just wish things were simpler, but they’re never simple with Albus.” he continued. “Everything is tricky and complicated and mixed in with literal time travel. And he makes jokes all the time, so I never know what’s serious and what’s just for a laugh. Sometimes I think I make it up in my head, to make myself feel better. I don’t do it on purpose- it’s annoying, really, because I’m looking for things I want to see and I can’t tell if they’re actually true or not- but.. I don’t know. I just really like him, dad.”
He forced himself to look up from the gravel, straight into his father’s waiting eyes. “I like him so much. And not just as a friend- I mean, in the like like way. Romantically. And I know he’s a guy, and I know that’s not normal, but-”
Scorpius found that he couldn’t say anymore after that, because he was suddenly pulled into a tight, emotional and rather strangling hug.
“Daaad-” he complained, trying to squeeze himself out of it. “You’re holding me too tight!”
His father sniffed lightly and lessened his grip a little. “Oh, Scorpius,” he said quietly, his voice muffled in Scorpius’s shoulder, “I guessed it would be something like this, but I’m so proud of you for telling me. You can always talk to me about anything, you know, I really wouldn’t mind it-”
“I know,” Scorpius shuffled his feet (surprisingly difficult in a bone-crushing hug), “I just.. I was scared, I guess. I’ve never been in love before, and it’s with a guy- with Albus. I thought you might be weirded out by it.”
“I’d never be weirded out by you.”
They pulled out of the hug. Draco was sporting an uncharacteristically warm smile. “So you don’t think it’s weird?” Scorpius asked uncertainly.
“No, of course not,” Draco said at once, “I had a bit of a thing for a Potter too when I was your age.”
It took a moment to sink in, what his father had just said. Then his eyes widened, and his lips parted, and both of them seemed to realise what had happened at exactly the same time. “DAD!” Scorpius cried out, as his father’s cheeks turned ferociously red. He could only watch in shock as the calm, collected and composed figure of Draco Malfoy melted away into a scarlet-faced mess before his eyes.
“I- didn’t know you felt that way-” Scorpius said breathlessly. His father swallowed, suddenly unable to meet his eye. “Do you- still?”
“No.” Draco said sharply, a little too quick. “Uh, no. No I don’t. It was just a silly schoolboy infatuation, it wasn’t anything serious-”
“Does that mean my crush is like that too?” Scorpius faltered. Draco’s gaze softened instantly. “Of course not,” he smiled down at him. “You and Albus are perfect for each other, and unlike me and- my Potter, you aren’t sworn enemies. In fact, you’re about as close as any two people can get. Albus is a good kid. Even if I can’t guarantee he’ll feel the same about you, I know he won’t just drop you out of his life because of something like this. He’ll understand.”
“Thanks, dad,” Scorpius grinned. It was the first time he’d properly grinned in a while, and the realisation only made him grin harder. “I feel better now that I’ve told you. Should we.. uh.. carry on walking?”
“Oh- right.”
And they continued on their stroll through the gardens, both of them immersed in their feelings, memories and excitement for the future.