Taming

Draco Malfoy read the note that had arrived that morning and groaned aloud.

“Bad news, dear?” his wife asked worriedly.

“Undoubtedly,” he sighed. “Minerva McGonagall wants to call on us here this afternoon ‘at a time of our convenience.’ He’s been expelled this time, I know it. We were too easy on him, Astoria. I swear, if he’s been expelled, I’m not owling Durmstrang. He can go to the local Muggle school and see how that suits him. He doesn’t deserve to be a wizard if he can’t keep up with his magical education.”

“Now, Draco darling, perhaps she has good news. Or other business all together. Perhaps the school is interested in another donation.”

“They’re always interested in a donation, but this is what I mean. You’re too quick to give Scorpius the benefit of the doubt.”

“And often you’re too quick to judge him, dear. We might have behaved more like Scorpius in our youth if we’d had the freedom. Things are different now than in our day. Morals are more liberal, and there’s no fear any more.”

“Are you saying that rather than giving me your virginity on our wedding night, you would’ve wanted to give it to some faceless classmate at the age of thirteen, and proceed to bed anyone, male or female, who took your fancy thereafter?” He asked, rather snidely.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. And goodness knows, the thought wouldn’t have occurred to me. I’m just saying that Scorpius isn’t the only boy at Hogwarts who behaves like he does, and you well know it. He’s just the only one judged by the Malfoy standards. Sometimes I wonder if he’d be good enough for your standards, regardless. Then I wonder how I was ever up to your standards myself.”

Draco visibly softened. “Astoria, don’t be foolish. You’ve always been quite perfect for me. Fine, fine. I’ll wait to hear what Minerva has to say before I jump to conclusions. He picked up a quill and jotted a reply on the back of her note and re-fastened it to the owl’s outstretched leg. He fed it a bit of toast and it flew back out the window.

As he stirred his coffee, Astoria smiled to herself. She didn’t feel badly for employing the always-helpful guilt. In light of her usually-sweet demeanor, her dear husband often forgot that she’d been a Slytherin as well.

****************

When Professor McGonagall arrived via floo in the early afternoon, Astoria greeted her and offered her tea, which she accepted.

Draco swept into the room and pecked Minerva on the cheek dryly, but not entirely without affection. “To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?”

As they sat, Minerva said, “I wanted to speak to you about Scorpius.” Draco shot his wife an arch look, but Astoria remained impassive. “I think you’ll really be proud of him this time, Draco. I think whatever you told him when you last spoke had a profound effect on him.”

“I sincerely doubt that. I merely threatened to cut off his monthly stipend if he got into trouble. It might cramp his social life a bit, but I’m afraid I let him talk his way out of any consequences once again.”

“Well, then I guess it’s all due to Mr. Potter.”

“What the hell does Harry Potter have to do with my son?”

“I see that Scorpius hasn’t bothered to write. I’m referring to Albus Potter, Harry’s middle son, who is in your son’s year. The boys have become quite inseparable.”

“Scorpius and Albus Potter?” Draco asked incredulously.

“Yes. A most delightful turn of events.”

“You may think so, but I certainly don’t think a Potter is a suitable companion for my son!”

“Honestly, Draco, if you can’t get over your petty quarrels with Harry Potter after all these years, and all you’ve been through, you’re a foolish man. I’m trying to tell you that Albus’s influence has wrought a change in Scorpius that is most pleasing.”

Astoria was having trouble holding in her smile. Since her husband’s lips were clamped in a tight line, she asked the professor, “How so, Minerva?”

“Well, he’s always been a bright boy and we’ve had no complaint with his marks, but he hasn’t missed a class in weeks. Where he used to spend his evenings in the company of shallow children who listened to music and danced and drank far into the night and changed sexual partners like most people change socks, lately he’s been spending his time with Albus’s friends and family. People like Albus’s cousin Rose Weasley, who is the top student in their year, although your son is making a run on her lately, and various other Weasley cousins and family friends. They’re by and large good children, and have obviously been a good influence on Scorpius. Your son even looks different.”

“I hope you mean he’s not wearing those appalling Muggle rags.” Draco sniffed. Although he seemed to be brightening, even with the mention of Weasleys in addition to Potters.

“For the most part. But mostly, I mean that he’s… Well, I have to say he looks positively radiant every time I see him. I think he’s genuinely in love with young Mr. Potter, as Albus has the same glow about him.”

Draco scowled. “They’re probably in heat.”

“Draco!” Astoria exclaimed.

“Draco, with all due respect, that son of yours has been in heat for years, and I think he’s finally settled down. I’ve had the distinct displeasure of hearing about his exploits over the years, and I’ve even caught him in compromising situations myself when he was as young as thirteen. The worst thing he’s been guilty of in the last month is making it difficult for me to keep my dinner down when I’m forced to watch him make moon eyes at Albus Potter all throughout the meal. For Merlin’s sake, Draco- they hold hands! This is a boy whose been caught doing a number of things that I’m certain I’ve never considered in my life before your son’s facile brain came up with them, and he carries Albus Potter’s books to class. It would be funny if it weren’t such a relief. I’m not afraid to admit that I thought he might come to a bad end.”

She had to stop her tirade when she realized that Astoria was crying. Astoria waved her hand at them and pulled a hanky from her robe pocket. “I’m sorry, go on. I’m just so happy for him!”

Even Draco smiled a little. “I suppose you’re going to tell me that I ought to send a note round to my former nemesis, Harry Potter?” he asked the professor.

“I would think it would behoove you to have Harry and Ginny over for tea. I think it’s time to mend the fences there, because I have no doubt that you’ll be seeing a lot of the Potters in the future. And Draco, dear, do try to keep in mind that for all his looks, Albus is no more Harry than Scorpius is you. He is truly a wonderful boy, and I think when you meet him, you’ll agree.”

Astoria blew her nose delicately in her hankie. “I’m sure we will. I can’t wait to meet him in person.”

“Well,” Minerva said, getting to her feet. “I must get back to the school. I feared that you might not believe me if I relayed this news any way but in person.”

Astoria smiled gratefully at her, still dabbing her eyes. “You have no idea how happy we are to hear this, Minerva.”

“Believe me, I have an idea.” With that, she stepped into the floo and vanished.

“Oh, Draco! I’m so happy for Scorpius.”

“Yes, dearest. But a Potter?”

“Draco,” she began warningly.

“I know, I know.”

She smiled. “I remember Ginny Weasley a bit from school. Would you rather I write to her?”

“No, no. I’ll write to Potter. If everything Minerva says is true, I’m going to have to make an effort to tolerate him for Scorpius’s sake. Would you be a love and pour me a bit more tea?”

“Of course, darling.” As she poured, Draco sat down at his desk and took out parchment and quill. When she walked behind him to set down his tea, she noticed he’d written, ‘Mr. Potter,’ at the top. As she looked on, he crumpled the parchment, took a fresh sheet and wrote, ‘Dear Harry,’ instead. She smiled and kissed the top of his blonde head. Then she headed for the kitchen. She wanted to instruct the house elves to create something special for dinner tonight. She felt like celebrating.

************

“Bloody buggering fuck!” Scorpius exclaimed. Albus smiled at him. For some reason, he always seemed to think it was funny when Scorpius said that, but there was no laughing matter here.

“What?”

“You and I are invited to supper at the Manor this coming Saturday night, and your parents are already confirmed attendees.”

“Bloody buggering fuck,” Albus whispered. “How did they find out? Are you going to be in trouble?”

“Well, considering our fathers, it doesn’t seem likely that this will be comfortable. But he doesn’t use the word ‘displeased’ anywhere, which is rare for a letter from my father.”

“Maybe it won’t be so bad, then.”

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

“Can I get other things up?” Albus asked with a dirty grin.

“Do you even need to ask?” The letter from his father fell on the floor, quickly forgotten as Albus straddled his lap and ran his hands through Scorpius’s hair, teasingly licking his lower lip.

Scorpius had been right about one thing. Albus Potter had seriously ruined him for considering any other lovers again. Each time they touched, sparks flew. Each time seemed better than the first, especially since Albus had grown much bolder and wasn’t shy about asking and doing and taking what he wanted.

Scorpius moaned at his boyfriend’s talented tongue, reaching his hands around to squeeze Albus’s arse, which made Albus wiggle against him in a most delicious manner. “When we get to my house, want to see if we can sneak upstairs and fuck in my childhood bed?”

“Of course I do. We can slip away unnoticed while our fathers are throwing plates.”

Scorpius snickered. But then Albus reached a hand between their bodies and cupped Scorpius’s erection, and Scorpius forgot why he was laughing.