Curse Of Pain

Chapter 3

Harry's POV

"Would you like some?" I asked.

"What?" The blonde man asked me.

"Uh, tea. Would you like some?" I asked again, this time a little less vague. I picked up a mug of tea that I had just recently finished, sitting on the coffee table. Malfoy sat on the opposite side of the room from me.

Somehow, when Malfoy came to pick up his son, he got tied into staying here longer, the two boys in the back room doing Merlin knows what.

"Sure." Both of us stood up and made our way to the kitchen, Malfoy sat at the stool as I put the pot on the stove and turned it on.

"A teen dad like me huh? Never expected to see that coming." Malfoy said as I leaned against the counter.

"Actually, he's my Godson. His parents, Remus and Tonks died in the war. I adopted him not long after." I looked towards the ground. It's still hard to talk about them.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear about that. Lupin was a great professor, I hated hearing about his death the day after the battle. I've met Teddy once picking Scorp up from school. He's a good kid." Malfoy stated.

I looked up at him and gave him a light smile. "Thanks. Scorpius seems to be a very polite kid."

"Why thank you, I tried to raise him right, unlike what my father did."

"Well I think you're doing a splendid job." He smiled lightly at me.

The tea finished and I poured us both some in mugs, then handed one of them to him.

"Thanks." He muttered taking the mug.

"No problem. What about Scorpius' mom?"

Malfoy's eyes softened for a moment. "Oh, Astoria Greengrass, she was two years younger than us. She died from child birth."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I remember her. She followed you around constantly back in school. She never really said much, but I do remember her staying by your side all the time."

"It's alright. We weren't planning on having kids so young, but that's what happens when one is not careful and although it took her life, I would never reverse time. Scorpius is everything to me." He looked down at the mug in his hands. "What about you, ever got married?"

I shook my head.

"No? Really? The famous Potter never settled down?"

"No, I was in a relationship with Ginny Weasley for awhile after the war, but we broke it off. I never got back out there. I wanted to focus on raising Teddy."

"I can understand that. I never got back out there either." He claimed.

"What do you do then? For a living I mean? It's got something to do with a Healer, right?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. I am a healer at St. Mungo's. I actually really like the job. I wanted to make a difference after everything I had done in the war." He looked sad, almost like he still regrets it. "What about you? How has being an Auror been?"

"Oh, actually, I never became an Auror. For several reasons. I decided I had seen enough death to last me several lifetimes and I didn't want Teddy to be alone if something happened."

He looked shocked, like he had expected by now that I'd become some big shot. "So what do you do then?"

"I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."

"Shouldn't you be at Hogwarts then, seeing as it's the middle of the school year?" He looked at me thoroughly confused.

"Technically. Professors who have children have access to floo from their offices to their houses. It's so they can teach, but also raise their kids since the school year is so long. Comes in handy too when you're a single parent."

"Oh. That's actually quite amazing. How long have you been a professor?"

"Nine years now."

"Oh so you started working there a little after we graduated."

I nodded my head yes.

Malfoy and I continued to talk throughout the evening until it was time for Scorpius to go home, since they had school in the morning.

"Bye Mr. Potter! Thanks for having me over." Scorpius called as he and Malfoy left the house.

"Come back anytime, Scorpius." I replied.

"I will! Bye Teddy! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye Scorpius!"

"Oh and Malfoy, don't be afraid to contact me if you need anything." I turned to Malfoy as he took Scorpius' hand in his.

"Thanks, you to. Nice seeing you again."

We all waved each other off before the two apparated away.

After they left, it was time for Teddy to get ready for bed.

"How did you know Mr. Malfoy?" Teddy asked me as I tucked him into bed.

"Well we went to school together."

"Were you friends?"

I shook my head. "No. Actually, we hated each other."

Teddy frowned and his hair turned black. "Well I hope that changes, you guys might be good for each other."

I looked at Teddy confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Scorpius told me that his dad is still haunted by what he did in the past, and you're haunted by the past because of the curse, snd Mr. Malfoy is a healer. Maybe he can find a cure for your curse, while you heal his heart from the past." I have never heard such insightful words come from a ten year old.

"Malfoy and I, if that were to happen, need to get through a lot of things together first. The both of us did things that hurt each other, really badly. It's gonna take time." I told him.

"I just want to see you happy." My eyes widened.

"I am happy Ted. Don't you worry about me." I said leaning down to kiss his forehead.

"I know, but that's not the type of happiness I'm talking about. I'm meaning the love kind."

My face grew hot. "Teddy, I don't think that will happen."

"Never say never." He turned over and closed his eyes. "Night Dad, love you."

"Love you too."