Breath-Drarry COMPLETE

Chapter 38

–Scorpius POV–

How did I not know that Kingsley knew Harry?

The clatter of metal on plastic had me sighing frustratedly. The marble fell off the track of the maze ball again. Now I have to start over. Again.

At least this puzzle is different from all the others I'm used to. I'm glad Dad thought to get it for me. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Dad opened it.

"Love, guests are due to arrive any minute." I rolled my eyes.

"You still didn't send an invite to Delphi-"

"We aren't starting this right now," he stated, straightening his posture and clipping his tone. "You already know I will not have her-"

"Even though she's basically the only friend I've made in Hogwarts!" I was sitting up in my bed now, scowling at him. He looked about to respond before simply pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, looking two seconds from tearing me a new one. He turned to something on the other side of the door, then I heard Harry whispering to him.

"It's okay. He just needs a second to calm down. He knows people are coming soon. Just-"

"But he's being ridiculous. As if I would allow a girl so closely associated with- with-"

"I know. And I think deep down he does, too. Don't worry. Let's just go downstairs. If you want I can talk to him."

"Are you sure?" There was no response that I could hear. I found it a bit funny they had been whispering anyways as if that would stop me from being able to hear. Dad looked back towards me for a beat, sighing, then letting go of the door and leaving. A few seconds later, Harry walked in.

"Hey, Scor." He closed the door behind him quietly, looking around the room."

"What do you have there? The maze your father got you for Christmas?" I glanced down to said object, sitting by my side on the bed, the little marble resting on the plastic outer edge of the ball.

"Yeah."

Harry took a breath, coming closer to the bed. He gestured to it. "May I?" With an affirmative nod from me, he sat. The room fell quiet for a moment.

"You know," he began. "Your dad- he" I rolled my eyes. Of course. "...gets scared rather easily."

I blinked. Of all the things Harry could have said, I wasn't expecting that.

"And he cares about you. A lot." Ah, there it is. "More than anyone else, ever. Really."

"I think that makes him get scared even more easily. So, ah- um. He sees, sees you and... Delphini? And he sees who this girl's parents are- I'm sure you've read about them, right?" I nodded. "Well, the war was quite terrifying for all of us. I know that sometimes I wish it never happened. Wish I wasn't Harry Potter, didn't see the things I've seen... Your dad, too. And so he sees you with a child of the Rowle's. And with Mr. Lestrange. And he feels like he's in the war all over again, in a way."

I stayed silent, watching Harry, who was looking out towards the blank wall next to my closet.

"We were scared. Seeing him. You know he's meant to be in prison for all he did, right?"

"And dad isn't?" I snapped my mouth shut, realizing what I said. Harry tuurned and stared at me, eyes wide.

"He was under threat to act the way he did, your dad... he..."

"If my dad could be pardoned why couldn't Mr. Lestrange? I haven't seen him do anything bad since. He has a niece, Delphi, doesn't he? Why is it different?"