She || Drastoria

24 - Up On The Roof

Dearest Ly,

I'm sorry that it's been so long. It's ironic that in trying so hard to create a future, I've managed to neglect the past.

I know it's silly, but when I look at Scorp, I am sometimes reminded of Benji, and I often wonder what he would be doing today. I like to think that he would have gotten into Hogwarts and now would be entering a career involving teddy bears. A magic bear shop business, perhaps?

I'm sad that I'm going to leave my son, Ly. But I think more than that, I'm scared about leaving Draco. I know Scorp will eventually move on from it, he has such a bubbly personality and smiles so much. He'll meet so many people through life, he'll have friends a plenty and fall in love.

But Draco, he's a loner who hates being lonely.

It's his curse, and in some ways, I think it's worse than mine.

*****

His mother had been right about something. Astoria had managed to fill the Manor with a love and warmth that it had never held in Draco's time before.

He doubted it ever had, in fact.

It was like a transformation, she seemed to bring life to everything she touched, which was ironic really.

Colour filled the rooms, and gardens, and for the first time in his life, Draco appreciated just how beautiful the Manor was.

And their son... words couldn't even begin to describe how much love and affection he held for this little human that looked just like him in every way but even though he was only three years of age, Draco could see he had Astoria's compassion and vivacity for life.

He loved his family with every beat of his heart, an immense pride always spreading across his chest every time he looked at them. He'd done this, he'd chosen right with Astoria, and not one second of his life would he regret marrying for love.

They still saw his parents, their infrequent visits to the Manor fraught with tension as they failed to hide the fact that they just did not like Astoria.

Draco wanted to cut ties with them altogether, however Astoria insisted that he keep them in his life and not make the same mistake she did.

"Please don't make the same rash decision I did, Draco." She implored after they had endured a particularly difficult lunch where his mother did nothing but pick holes in the quality of the food and his father muttered on and on about Mudbloods taking over the world like the tired and broken record he was.

"When I'm gone," she continued quietly when Draco hadn't answered, "you and Scorp will need them."

He had to leave the room then, not being able to bear her talking like that, excusing himself to go and check on Scorpius who had been in his bedroom taking an afternoon nap.

"Daddy?" His son whispered in a small, sleepy voice, lifting his head off his pillow, his little face looking around, disorientated.

"It's alright, Scorp," Draco murmured quietly, crouching down to cup his son's head in his hand and tenderly kiss his messy hair. "I thought maybe we could take a walk in the garden and pick some flowers for Mummy to say thank you for cooking us a wonderful lunch."

Scorpius's silver eyes immediately lit up, his nap long forgotten. "Red ones?"

"Sure, why not?" Draco chuckled, his heart immediately lifting at his son's innocence and enthusiasm.

They walked together hand in hand as they made their way down through the grounds, Scorpius tightly clutching a posy of hand picked flowers in his little bunched fist, determined to give his mother the best gift in the world.

When they got back to the house and Scorpius ran to his mother presenting her the flowers which she accepted with tears in her eyes, Draco found himself wrapping her tightly into his arms, burying his face into her neck.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

That night, after they had put Scorpius to bed, they opened a bottle of wine and took it up to the flat bit of roof above his old bedroom where he used to escape to during his childhood whenever he wanted to hide from his parents. He doubted they had even known about it.

"I bet you used to bring girls up here all the time," Astoria teased as she snuggled against his chest.

"Never," he answered truthfully. "This was mine, and I didn't want to share it with anyone. Until I met you."

"Well, I must say, I'm honoured." She laughed, tilting her face up to kiss the underside of his chin.

A smile tugged at his lips as his heart spread with warmth. He tightened his arms around her, never wanting to let her go. "I want to share everything with you, Astoria. The feeling doesn't seem to go away."

Under the moonlight they danced and made love. He would always remember that night. Every night he would remember, in fact. Because he never once took her for granted.

His dear, sweet Astoria.

*****

"I just realised," Astoria said as she unfolded the newspaper in front of her one morning at breakfast after an owl delivery. "That, assuming they both get into Hogwarts, Scorp will be going to school with Harry Potter's kid."

She lifted up the front page to reveal a large photo of Harry at a splash park, laughing as he went down a water slide with his youngest son upon his lap. Above them a jovial headline read: 'POTTER'S PRIDE, EVEN WITH A FALL'.

Draco pulled a face, not unnoticed by her. "You wish our son to attend Hogwarts?"

"You don't?"

He seemed to hesitate and Astoria knew he was fighting with himself, the idea that Durmstrang would be a favourable move still strong in his mind.

"I suppose," he drawled, giving a half shrug. "I've never really thought about it before. I sort of felt I'd left that place behind, I guess."

Astoria, seeing the pain flit across his face as he was no doubt inflicted with unpleasant memories, jumped to her feet and moved around the table towards him.

"Nothing is ever set in stone," she said, leaning down to drape her arms around his neck as she kissed the top of his head. "He can go wherever you like."

"Wherever we like," Draco corrected her, reaching up to catch her wrist and pull her down onto his lap. "We decide these things together, remember?"

Astoria smiled, rubbing her nose against his, the love she held for him and their son beyond anything she could have ever thought capable.

"Tell me," he added, clasping his hands to her back as he looked deep into her eyes. "Tell me what you envisage our son doing."

"I just want him to be happy," Astoria answered truthfully. "I want him to make friends and live his best life the way he wants to live it."

"Then that's what he'll do," Draco answered solemnly. "I promise you, I'll never stand in the way of his wishes. I'll make sure of his happiness. For you. For him. For us."

Astoria hadn't realised they were crying until Scorpius came skidding into the kitchen with Mr Koala Bear tucked under his arm, promising them both that cuddles would make them both feel better.

*****