After -Drarry COMPLETE

Chapter 44

—9 days later—
— Draco POV—

I made my way down the stairs, looking around at the dark living room. Everything was quiet, and the small stream of moonlight coming from Harry's sliding backyard door did little to light the room, but it was enough.

Making my way to the coffee table where my wand sat, I grabbed it, using a simple spell to move the coffee table over quietly. My cold feet landed on the rug, and I stood there for a second, closing my eyes.

Think. I took deep, slow breaths. Concentrate. The happiest memory I can muster. I told myself. Scorpius... Harry... Astoria... being declared innocent... I couldn't stay on one. I've already tried Astoria, but her memory is tainted by her death. Being declared free was only legal, nobody truly sees me that way. Harry... is filled... with melancholy memories... He fills me with a loving concern... Scorpius... I took another deep breath in. Please let this work. I took a side stance, wand pointing out at the wall in front of me. I've never been able to do this. No matter how much I've tried. I can do this now. I opened my eyes, taking one last deep breath.

"Expecto-"

"Dada?"

My head snapped in the direction of the stairs behind me, where Scorpius stood. The moonlight reflected tear marks down his cheeks.

"Hey. What's wrong?" I said, putting my wand down, on the couch beside me, shifting to stand normally.

"I had a bad dream." He said, sniffling a little bit. I took two large strides over to him, crouching down to be at eye level. He took me into a hug as tight as he could make it.

"It's okay. You're super strong, no monsters can get you." I said, returning the hug. His nightmares have always been ones of fantasy. Monsters chasing him, usually.

"There weren't any monsters anymore. I was back at great auntie Andromeda's house, but you never came back to pick me up." He said, sniffling again. My face fell.

"Scor, you know I would never leave like that... come on, who's the person I care about most?" I asked in an attempt at comfort.

"I- don't know." He said with a shaky, small inhale. I lifted him up, and his tiny legs wrapped around my torso as I held him.

"Do you want me to give you a hint? I'll give you a hint." I said, I felt him nod his head against my shoulder.

"Here's your hint." I said, a slight smirk forming on my features.

"He has, white blond hair, just like his dad. He is seven years old, and he is the strongest little boy I've ever met." I placed him down on the kitchen counter, looking at him. "I know it's a difficult puzzle, but you're smart. Who do you think it is?"

I earned a smile from him at that. I spoke again. "I don't hear an answer." I said, the smirk now obvious on my face, he giggled.

"Does that mean you know?" He shook his head, fully laughing now.

"Here's another hint. His name starts with S, and ends with 'corpius" I said, holding back a laugh myself. I leaned down and gave him a hug.

"I love you."

"I love you too dada."

"I'm never going to leave you. Okay?"

"Okay."

I removed myself from the hug. He was still sat on the counter. I ruffled his hair a little bit, earning a small laugh as he weakly tried to take my hand away.

"Your birthday is soon. Isn't it?" I asked, knowing the answer already. Scorpius nodded his head eagerly.

"I'm a big kid now!"

"Yes, you are. How soon is your birthday? What month are we in?" I stepped aside, so he could see the calendar stuck to the refrigerator that read 'NOVEMBER'

"Hold on, this calendar is wrong." I said, grabbing a pen that hung off of the calendar with a string. I crossed out the last box in November, and turned the page, crossing out the first box in December.

"There. What month and day is it?"

"December second."

"Correct. And how far is that from your birthday?" I asked expectantly. Scorpius scrunched up his face, and began counting with his fingers.

"3 months!" He said excitedly, his eyes lit up.

"You're growing up so fast. I think it's too fast. You need to stay little." I told him. He seemed to disagree.

"No! I want to be a big kid." His face was one of childish anger. I chuckled, picking him up and putting him back on the floor.

"Off to bed now, it's still the middle of the night. We've stayed up long enough." I told him.

"Wait. What were you doing when I came to find you?" I looked at him, holding back any expression.

"Just practicing some difficult magic." I told him, not lying.

"Did you do it?" He asked inquisitively.

"No, I didn't. That's okay though. It's not something I need..." My mind began to wander towards the concept behind being able to cast a Patronus charm. Being able to have happy enough memories, and channel them, turn them into a light, meaningful power. One that can protect you, and people you care about.

"I'm going to get myself a glass of water. Do you want one?" I asked Scorpius.

"Okay." He said. I grabbed one glass, and one plastic cup, which I gave to Scorpius. We served ourselves water, and I moved towards what used to be Teddy's room, before remembering the coffee table I had moved over.

"Hold on one second, Scorpius." I walked towards the table, grabbing my wand from the couch, and using the same simple charm from before, to move the table from its place against the wall, to the center of the rug in the living room, where it had been previously.

"Okay. Upstairs. Let's go." I said, ushering him up, and following behind him.

"Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." I told him, pulling the covers to his shoulders.

"Goodnight dada."

I closed the door, taking a hearty gulp of my water, before making my way to the guest room, where Harry still insisted we sleep.

I closed the door quietly, staring at Harry, to make sure he doesn't wake up. He's been sleeping alright lately. He hasn't woken up in the middle of the night nearly as much as he used to. He still does have some nights, but I was happy at his progress. He hasn't hurt himself in a long while as well. I think that if we continue the way we have, he might finally be able to start on the path to healing.

I silently, stealthily, slipped myself under the covers after putting my water down on the nightstand, still observing the sleeping man beside me. I moved around, to get comfortable. And when I did, Harry stirred. I stiffened, making sure he wouldn't fully wake up. He brought an arm around my torso, cuddling into me. I returned it. And before long, I was fast asleep again.