Henrietta Potter And The Slytherin Child - (A 'Henrietta Potter' sequel) || D.M

31 - Christmas Eve Eve

Draco looked at me expectantly.

"So?"

"So, he's a sad boy who misses his mother and thinks that his dad doesn't want to see him cry."

"But what parent wants to see their child cry?" Draco asked incredulously as I plonked a large cardboard box in his arms.

We were up in my attic, retrieving the Christmas decorations amongst the hoards of shit I'd managed to acquire over the years.

"He needs to know he can be open in front of you, Draco. Every child needs that. And it's up to you as his father to provide that kind of emotional support."

"How do you know about this stuff? It's not like we covered how to be a fucking parent in Hogwarts."

"It's called common sense, Draco." I said, finally locating the other box.

"It's not like I had the greatest of role models." He mumbled grumpily, and I couldn't help but think of his father who had laughed as Voldemort tortured and attempted to kill a fourteen year old girl.

He had a point.

"At least you had parents." I bristled, not wanting him to win this one.

"You always have to do one better, don't you, Potter?" Draco sneered, leading the way back down from the attic.

"Yeah, and I always win, so quit trying to compete with me - Malfoy."

***

"Your dad is alright, you know,"

Draco and I, having just clambered down the hallway laden with boxes, froze at the sound of Albus's voice on the other side of the sitting room door.

"So's your mum." We heard Scorpius answer. "She's awesome, in fact."

I couldn't help but beam with pride, shooting a smug glance up at Draco who just rolled his eyes.

"She's alright, I suppose. Gets a bit big headed about being the Chosen One sometimes, though."

That little git.

Draco chuckled softly, looking at my furious face with glee. I moved to elbow him in the ribs but paused when Scorpius spoke.

"I miss my mum."

"I know." Albus replied quietly. "I'm sorry."

A silence fell, and I watched as Draco's face paled. I was just about to go through the door to make our presence known, when Scorpius asked Albus a question which caused both Draco and I to freeze in alarm yet again.

"Do you miss having a dad?"

My heart thudded anxiously in my chest. I realised I had no clue as to how he felt about being fatherless. We never spoke about it.

"I never had one." Albus answered immediately, "there's nothing to miss. Although..." He added, tailing off.

"What?" Scorpius pressed encouragingly.

"I don't know," I could almost see Albus shrug in that nonchalant way he does. "I've often thought it would be nice, you know? To have a dad. To have someone like you have."

Draco closed his eyes as though in pain. Supporting the box under one arm, I reached out a hand and lightly placed my fingers against his bicep which tensed beneath my touch. His eyes flew back open, immediately connecting with mine.

And, in that moment - a moment that had likely only lasted a mere fraction of a second yet felt like an eternity - it was as though the whole world stopped moving. Our gaze intensified as his Adam's apple bobbed prominently in his throat. Grey eyes flicked down to where my hand was still pressed against his arm and I could hear the steady thrum of his heart, matching my own furiously paced one.