NaNoWriMo2011-b
Nov. 8th, 2011 11:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sgt_majoretteSequel to "In the Slytherin Common Room":
That was too much for everyone in the room except Flint's staunchest allies. George Weasley had been bitterly disappointed in his progeny, both of whom were prefects; this would make up for everything. "Oh, sit down, Nott!" Miranda Pucey, another second-year, choked out through tears of laughter. "At least now you know why Flint won't look at you, and it's not because you're only twelve!"
At that, Blaise Bulstrode fell off her chair, a broad grin distorting her customarily sour expression. Entering into the spirit of the thing, Vespasian Vaisey stage whispered "– and not because she has a face like an augurey, either!"
It being beneath their dignity to laugh publicly at jokes made by pre-teen children, fifth through seventh year students fled the common room en masse. Madame Pince was still the librarian and still as strict as ever; unfortunately for the good order and discipline of her library, she was, at her advanced age, deaf as a post.
By the morning, therefore, all of Hogwarts was buzzing with the story. Scorpius gave every appearance of being completely mortified by his new notoriety, but James' demonstration of Scorpius' dueling prowess was much more fun to watch. As the only Hufflepuff personally acquainted with Scorpius and the Potter boys, Tim Riddle suddenly became first among Firsties in that House. Rose meant to maintain her Ravenclaw dignity, alone if need be, but the vision of Uncle George's reaction to the news of his daughter's outburst was too much for the composure of even Hermione Granger's daughter.
Freddie "Deuce" Weasley, Griffyndor prefect and captain of the dueling club, issued an invitation to select first years to join the club. He took Scorpius aside and told him that his father and James were right that he had to be prepared to defend his own honor. "And don't let me hear you whinge about 'What if it's true? What if I am?'" Freddie said sternly.
Yet another bedroom scene:
-Harry? I met Malfoy's wife at work today...
-I can't hear you. I'm sleeping.
-Fine, then. I'll explain to everything to Malfoy. I'm sure he'll take it better coming from me.
-Oh, God.
-Well, I'd sat down at the society editor's desk, just to nick a quill and finish off a story when Asteria blew in with some Witches Institute nonsense. When she saw me, she completely [overreacted, freaked out] as if I were the one with the Dark Mark and not her ridiculous husband. Long story short, it seems that Malfoy's still [bent out of shape] about this little sex scandal our sons have embroiled his precious Scorpius in. You haven't even talked to Al yet, have you?
-Oh, God.
Father-Son Moment, Take 1
-Al? Are you there, Al?
-Dad? Dad! James, it's Dad!
-No, don't call James. I just want to talk to you. Can you take the mirror someplace private?
-I didn't do anything, Dad, honestly!
-Yes, well, it's that little matter you spoke to your mother about. The "bad word."
-It's alright, Dad. Mom explained it to me and I told Shem.
-Where did you hear it, though? Did someone call you or Scorpius a – well, that?
-Scorpius, but he decided it meant Fl- I mean, the person, liked him. Shem is weird sometimes, you know? Wouldn't it hurt? Why would you want to do that to somebody if you liked them?
-Er, well. That's the point, isn't it? If you're eleven, I mean. Remember we talked about when a man and a woman love one another and then they have a baby?
-Two boys can't have a baby, Dad.
-Er, no. But adults – grown-up people, you know – sometimes like to... ah, play at... er... even if they don't mean to make a baby. At any rate, you know, if somebody liked somebody, they would use nicer words. Does that make any sense?
-No, Dad. Not yet, anyway. I always have to think about things you tell me.
-Oh. Well, anyway, just – er, don't worry about... anything, or – look, will you tell me next time something comes up like this?
-Sure. Bye, Dad...
Harry/Draco
-May I know, Potter, why I've been summoned to the office of the Head Auror? These things might well make a wizard fear, you know.
-If you're quoting at me, Malfoy, I concede your superior education, so stop it. You know perfectly well why I invited you here. And we may as well be civil to each other, as my sons seem to have adopted yours.
-And gotten him into trouble!
-Please. Twenty points to Gryffindor and a special invitation to join the dueling club?
-Oh, of course, because that makes up for all the detentions! More to the point, why does my son suddenly have a reputation as a – oh, I can't say it! He's only eleven, for heaven's sake!
-The only reputation he has now is as a precocious duelist, and – well, I will admit that he's one of James' known accomplices. Point is, though, that my boys consider themselves honor bound to keep your son's secrets. So you're going to have to have what Mrs. Potter calls "The Other Talk" with Scorpius before things get out of hand. No doubt, for example, you'd like to know who it was that called him the name-that-must-not-be-named.
-You don't know? Head Auror and all?
-I assume you want to get a handle on this before it becomes Auror business, Malfoy.
Father and Child Reunion
It was assumed that the shadow of sadness on George Weasley's open countenance was a consequence of his having suffered that sharpest of bereavement, the loss of an identical twin. In fact, however, Fred Weasley never really left his brother; George felt his presence every minute of his life. It was his children that nearly broke his heart by their moral rectitude and exemplary behavior. Alfred Gideon had narrowly escaped being named Head Boy, but Roxanne Fabienne had become a Prefect that same year: George reckoned that he had failed as a father.
He was therefore surprised and delighted when on an unannounced visit to Zonko's (a division of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, Hogsmead) he happened to meet his daughter, who was looking disapprovingly at a display of Skiving Snackboxes.
"Well, well, Lady Roxanne! Fancy meeting you here!"
"Dad! Hush! Not out here! Could we – you do have a private office in here, don't you?"
An hour later, a proud papa ushered his daughter out of the shop. "The utmost discretion, madam!" he crowed as he kissed her cheek.
Father-Son Moment, Take 2
Freddie Deuce frowned at the slip of parchment. "Malfoy. You're wanted in the Headmaster's office. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'll escort you."
Scorpius thought rather that a nothing could be resolved in the common room without involving the Headmaster, but he was resolved to conduct himself as a Gryffindor. He was, however, grateful for the firm hand of the Gryffindor prefect on his shoulder as he climbed the stairs to the Headmaster's aerie.
"Dad! I mean..." Scorpius pulled up short as he noticed his father was rubbing his temples. Again. Professor Urquhart nearly smiled. "Mr. Weasley and I need to ah... inspect the kitchens. Yes, that's it. I imagine we'll be at least half an hour. If you'll excuse us. Come, Mr. Weasley."
"Oh, Scorpius."
"Dad?"
"If someone's bothering you, or – you'll tell me about it, won't you? You'll tell me who it is?
"Really, Dad, you don't have to worry..."
"Yes, Scorpius, I do. You and your mother are all I have. Do you understand that I cannot allow anything to hurt you?"
Scorpius' eyes went wide and moist, but he couldn't seem to speak.
"Please, Scorpius..."
Scorpius threw himself into his father's arms. "I love you, Dad. But I'm a Gryffindor. If I tell you, will you not do anything? Promise?"
Promise not to cut the heart out of anybody who would insult his golden child? Promise to stand back and let Potterspawn do his paternal duty?
"Promise," Draco sighed.
That was too much for everyone in the room except Flint's staunchest allies. George Weasley had been bitterly disappointed in his progeny, both of whom were prefects; this would make up for everything. "Oh, sit down, Nott!" Miranda Pucey, another second-year, choked out through tears of laughter. "At least now you know why Flint won't look at you, and it's not because you're only twelve!"
At that, Blaise Bulstrode fell off her chair, a broad grin distorting her customarily sour expression. Entering into the spirit of the thing, Vespasian Vaisey stage whispered "– and not because she has a face like an augurey, either!"
It being beneath their dignity to laugh publicly at jokes made by pre-teen children, fifth through seventh year students fled the common room en masse. Madame Pince was still the librarian and still as strict as ever; unfortunately for the good order and discipline of her library, she was, at her advanced age, deaf as a post.
By the morning, therefore, all of Hogwarts was buzzing with the story. Scorpius gave every appearance of being completely mortified by his new notoriety, but James' demonstration of Scorpius' dueling prowess was much more fun to watch. As the only Hufflepuff personally acquainted with Scorpius and the Potter boys, Tim Riddle suddenly became first among Firsties in that House. Rose meant to maintain her Ravenclaw dignity, alone if need be, but the vision of Uncle George's reaction to the news of his daughter's outburst was too much for the composure of even Hermione Granger's daughter.
Freddie "Deuce" Weasley, Griffyndor prefect and captain of the dueling club, issued an invitation to select first years to join the club. He took Scorpius aside and told him that his father and James were right that he had to be prepared to defend his own honor. "And don't let me hear you whinge about 'What if it's true? What if I am?'" Freddie said sternly.
Yet another bedroom scene:
-Harry? I met Malfoy's wife at work today...
-I can't hear you. I'm sleeping.
-Fine, then. I'll explain to everything to Malfoy. I'm sure he'll take it better coming from me.
-Oh, God.
-Well, I'd sat down at the society editor's desk, just to nick a quill and finish off a story when Asteria blew in with some Witches Institute nonsense. When she saw me, she completely [overreacted, freaked out] as if I were the one with the Dark Mark and not her ridiculous husband. Long story short, it seems that Malfoy's still [bent out of shape] about this little sex scandal our sons have embroiled his precious Scorpius in. You haven't even talked to Al yet, have you?
-Oh, God.
Father-Son Moment, Take 1
-Al? Are you there, Al?
-Dad? Dad! James, it's Dad!
-No, don't call James. I just want to talk to you. Can you take the mirror someplace private?
-I didn't do anything, Dad, honestly!
-Yes, well, it's that little matter you spoke to your mother about. The "bad word."
-It's alright, Dad. Mom explained it to me and I told Shem.
-Where did you hear it, though? Did someone call you or Scorpius a – well, that?
-Scorpius, but he decided it meant Fl- I mean, the person, liked him. Shem is weird sometimes, you know? Wouldn't it hurt? Why would you want to do that to somebody if you liked them?
-Er, well. That's the point, isn't it? If you're eleven, I mean. Remember we talked about when a man and a woman love one another and then they have a baby?
-Two boys can't have a baby, Dad.
-Er, no. But adults – grown-up people, you know – sometimes like to... ah, play at... er... even if they don't mean to make a baby. At any rate, you know, if somebody liked somebody, they would use nicer words. Does that make any sense?
-No, Dad. Not yet, anyway. I always have to think about things you tell me.
-Oh. Well, anyway, just – er, don't worry about... anything, or – look, will you tell me next time something comes up like this?
-Sure. Bye, Dad...
Harry/Draco
-May I know, Potter, why I've been summoned to the office of the Head Auror? These things might well make a wizard fear, you know.
-If you're quoting at me, Malfoy, I concede your superior education, so stop it. You know perfectly well why I invited you here. And we may as well be civil to each other, as my sons seem to have adopted yours.
-And gotten him into trouble!
-Please. Twenty points to Gryffindor and a special invitation to join the dueling club?
-Oh, of course, because that makes up for all the detentions! More to the point, why does my son suddenly have a reputation as a – oh, I can't say it! He's only eleven, for heaven's sake!
-The only reputation he has now is as a precocious duelist, and – well, I will admit that he's one of James' known accomplices. Point is, though, that my boys consider themselves honor bound to keep your son's secrets. So you're going to have to have what Mrs. Potter calls "The Other Talk" with Scorpius before things get out of hand. No doubt, for example, you'd like to know who it was that called him the name-that-must-not-be-named.
-You don't know? Head Auror and all?
-I assume you want to get a handle on this before it becomes Auror business, Malfoy.
Father and Child Reunion
It was assumed that the shadow of sadness on George Weasley's open countenance was a consequence of his having suffered that sharpest of bereavement, the loss of an identical twin. In fact, however, Fred Weasley never really left his brother; George felt his presence every minute of his life. It was his children that nearly broke his heart by their moral rectitude and exemplary behavior. Alfred Gideon had narrowly escaped being named Head Boy, but Roxanne Fabienne had become a Prefect that same year: George reckoned that he had failed as a father.
He was therefore surprised and delighted when on an unannounced visit to Zonko's (a division of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, Hogsmead) he happened to meet his daughter, who was looking disapprovingly at a display of Skiving Snackboxes.
"Well, well, Lady Roxanne! Fancy meeting you here!"
"Dad! Hush! Not out here! Could we – you do have a private office in here, don't you?"
An hour later, a proud papa ushered his daughter out of the shop. "The utmost discretion, madam!" he crowed as he kissed her cheek.
Father-Son Moment, Take 2
Freddie Deuce frowned at the slip of parchment. "Malfoy. You're wanted in the Headmaster's office. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'll escort you."
Scorpius thought rather that a nothing could be resolved in the common room without involving the Headmaster, but he was resolved to conduct himself as a Gryffindor. He was, however, grateful for the firm hand of the Gryffindor prefect on his shoulder as he climbed the stairs to the Headmaster's aerie.
"Dad! I mean..." Scorpius pulled up short as he noticed his father was rubbing his temples. Again. Professor Urquhart nearly smiled. "Mr. Weasley and I need to ah... inspect the kitchens. Yes, that's it. I imagine we'll be at least half an hour. If you'll excuse us. Come, Mr. Weasley."
"Oh, Scorpius."
"Dad?"
"If someone's bothering you, or – you'll tell me about it, won't you? You'll tell me who it is?
"Really, Dad, you don't have to worry..."
"Yes, Scorpius, I do. You and your mother are all I have. Do you understand that I cannot allow anything to hurt you?"
Scorpius' eyes went wide and moist, but he couldn't seem to speak.
"Please, Scorpius..."
Scorpius threw himself into his father's arms. "I love you, Dad. But I'm a Gryffindor. If I tell you, will you not do anything? Promise?"
Promise not to cut the heart out of anybody who would insult his golden child? Promise to stand back and let Potterspawn do his paternal duty?
"Promise," Draco sighed.
