Harry Potter: 19 Years Later

24: Scorpius' POV

Scorpius stopped, a biscuit halfway to his mouth. He'd completely forgotten about his father's request to meet him last night.

"You okay, Scorpius?" Albus asked.

Scorpius managed a small smile. "Yeah, of course. Just forgot about the Astronomy homework that's due today."

Albus nodded and laughed. "Oh."

That was untrue. Scorpius always did his homework and this time was no exception. What will Father say about this now? Never mind that, how would he communicate with his father? It would be wisest to talk to him as soon as he could, but how? It was always Draco that contacted Scorpius first.

"I forgot, Father, I'm sorry!" Scorpius pleaded, staring at his father's face in the fireplace. Draco had woken him once again.

"There's no time to forget, Scorpius!"

"It won't happen again."

Draco sighed. "Very well. Scorpius, it's November twenty-third. Do you know what that means?"

  Scorpius shrugged.

"You'll be going home for Christmas in less than a month!"

"Oh! I'd forgotten."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Honestly, boy, is there anything under that gelled hair? Anyway, you're friends with the Potter boy, I hope?"

  You told me to humiliate him. Scorpius paused, unsure of how to respond. "Yes..."

  But to his relief, Draco just laughed. "Don't worry, boy, for once you've done something correct. I want you to go home for Christmas with the Potter boy."

  Out of all the things Scorpius had expected his father to say, this definitely wasn't one of them. "I–what?"

  "You heard me. You will go home to the Potters' for Christmas."

  "B–why...? How? Why–what would I say?" A million questions raced around in Scorpius' head, spinning like gears to one of those Muggle contraptions.

  "Oh, I trust you're smart enough to think of something, boy! Say your parents have to go to some family emergency. Say your grandmother died! Your uncle broke his knee... think of something!"

  Scorpius nodded.

  "As for why.... well, Scorpius, I'll be very busy this Christmas and it would be useful to have someone spy on the Potters. What better person to do it than one of their 'friends?'" Draco chuckled. "I'm sure they'll be happy to have you over."

  Scorpius nodded again. What was he supposed to say to Albus? Hey, my dad doesn't want me home for Christmas, can I spend it with your family?

  "Scorpius..." Draco said, an unreadable expression in his eyes. "Make their Christmas a miserable one. Subtly, of course."