Waited For So Long

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' or the characters from the story or anything to do with 'HP'. I am simply borrowing them for the amusement and enjoyment of others.

A/N: I want to apologize for not updating sooner. My son chose this week to get sick with a nasty virus with which he ran a high fever for several days. The original chapter was supposed to be relatively short, but I decided to make it a double chapter to thank everyone for being so patient and waiting. As always, still I hope you enjoy it!

Reviews: Sophia Clark, Techie, Will Treaty, Tsukinotora, Layla, Christina, Rainbow12004, The Undiscovered, suicidein_angeleyes, Erin Lanette, Dominique, and Demitria Miriam. Thank you all so much for your kind words, your wonderful reviews, and your great amounts of enthusiasm. You all nearly brought me to tears.

Chapter 2

Harry watched the blond Slytherin leave the room in near disbelief. Did he and Draco Malfoy really just have a civil conversation? He turned away from the door as he shook his head. If he didn't know any better, he'd think the world was coming to an end.

Minerva gazed at her former student in amusement. She knew exactly where his thoughts were. "Much has changed in 13 years, Harry," she told him. "Mr. Malfoy has been through much since you all left school. He's changed."

Harry nodded his head in understanding. "Yeah," he acknowledged. "I'd read about what happened to Astoria. I'm glad to see he's come out of it as well as he has. How's Scorpius been holding up?"

Minerva pursed her lips together in thought. "He's very quiet. After they lost Astoria and the baby, he closed himself off from just about everyone and everything. When he and Draco are together, I can see how he used to be." She glanced over at James, who was now playing with the practice wand she had gotten him. "How are the two of you doing?"

Harry smiled and shifted positions in his chair in an effort to get more comfortable. "As well as can be expected, I guess," he informed her. "He's better now than he was at first. Ginny comes by to see him sometimes. Not so much now that the season's started. The rest of the Weasleys are always in touch with us."

"Yes, but how are you, Harry?" she asked, giving him the stern yet caring look that only she could pull off.

Harry rubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "I'm okay, Minnie," he told her. "The leg aches sometimes, but I've got my cane and potions when I need them."

"Will you be alright teaching DADA? If I know you, you'll turn it into a real hands-on class."

"You wouldn't have offered me the position if you didn't I could handle it, Minerva," Harry returned with a smile. "I'll be fine. I'll remember to take it easy when I need to."

James chose that moment to rejoin his father and sat down eagerly in his lap. "Look at what Aunt Minnie gave me, Daddy!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement. "My very own wand!"

Harry readjusted the boy and examined the gift. "It's very nice," he decided. "And it was very nice of Minerva to give you something."

James heard the unspoken warning in Harry's voice and turned to the woman. "Thank you for my wand, Aunt Minnie."

"You are most welcome, James," she said as she smiled at him. "Now then. Let's go get you gents settled, shall we?"

They followed the Headmistress out of her office and down the stairs. As they went through the halls, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of his school days. The stonework was new, though the layout remained the same.

They stopped just as Harry was noticing how close they were to Gryffindor Tower. A painting of a griffin stood before them.

"Who's Head of House for Gryffindor this term?" Harry asked in curiosity.

"Neville Longbottom has been HoH since his second year teaching," she responded. "He's doing quite well and the children respect him."

Harry smiled and nodded his head. "Always knew Neville would turn out alright. And Luna?"

"Luna has taken over for Sybill in Divination. As wonderful as she was as a person, she's rather difficult to follow as a teacher. While Luna's predictions aren't as foreboding, hers are almost always right."

The two adults shared a laugh and turned their attention to the painting before them. "Now, I haven't set a password. I felt that I should leave that up to you. Should anything not be to your liking, let me know and we can have the house elves change it for you." Minerva pulled out her wand and tapped twice on the frame of the painting. Slowly, it swung open.

Father and son followed the Headmistress in. As sconces and candles lit through the room, they were held mesmerized by the sight before them. A warm room, decorated in brown and cream, surrounded them. Brown couches, chairs and tables were accentuated by cream colored pillows, throws, and rugs. The walls were painted in cream with dark brown floor moldings. As Harry took it all in, one thought came to mind. Home.

"Daddy, this is so cool!" James yelled as he began running around the room. He went from one side of the room to the other, picking up one item or looking at something else.

Harry walked slowly and nodded his head approvingly. Turning to Minerva, he smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Minerva," he said sincerely. "This means a lot to me. To us."

The Headmistress just smiled. "Thank you, Harry," she returned. "I shall leave you both to get settled," she stated and left through the portrait.

Harry brought his attention to James, who had finally stopped running around. He regarded the boy for a moment before scooping him up and spinning in a circle. James latched onto his father and laughed loudly.

When the two calmed down, Harry kept his arms around his son and sighed happily. "This is a new start for us, Jamie," he mused.

James nodded his head in agreement. His eyes raked over their new home and he smiled brightly. Yeah, a new start, he thought to himself. We'll both be happier. I promise, Daddy.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The next couple of days were spent making their home their own. Pictures were put in their places, clothes were unpacked, and toys, books, and nick-knacks were given homes. The space was filled with the memories and love the two brought with them.

By the end of the week, James was ready to leave the confines of their secluded rooms. He looked around his room and smiled. The walls were a perfect shade of Texas-sky blue*. The dark-cherry colored floor was just right for sliding across when wearing socks. A four-poster bed, which matched the floor, was draped in emerald green.

Growing bored and needing to get out, he left his room in search of his dad. A quick glance around the living room told him he wasn't there. Moving to a door by a large bookcase, he quietly opened it and peeked inside. The brightly lit study held large, dark wood bookcases, furniture, tables, and desk. Books littered the shelves and end tables. Rolls of parchment and an odd leaf of lined muggle notebook paper were scattered across the desk and large coffee table. That is where James found Harry, buried up to his ears in stacks of books and papers.

About the time the boy went to knock on the door, Harry lifted his head and smiled at the boy. Normally tussled hair looked even more so today. Harry had been working on lesson plans for the first semester of classes.*

"Come in, Jamie," Harry instructed his son as he tiredly rubbed his hands over his face. He'd been working on the lesson plans for hours and was ready to wash his hands of them. He leaned back in his chair and wrapped his arms around James when he came up to him.

"Can we go exploring, Daddy?" James asked hopefully. "We've been up here for a week now. I need to get out and I know you won't let me go on my own."

Harry nodded his head. "You're right about that one," He confirmed. "Until you know your way around, I don't want you wandering around by yourself. The castle is huge and it's easy to get lost." He paused and remembered his first day of classes.

"On our first day, Ron and I were late getting to Transfiguration. We thought we'd made it in before Minerva, but she was actually in her Animagus form, a tabby cat, sitting on her desk."

"What did Aunt Minnie do?" James inquired, curious about his father's school days.

"She jumped from the desk and changed back while in the air. We were scolded for being late and she suggest transfiguring us into pocket watches. When we explained that we'd gotten lost, she then suggested a map."

James laughed at the story. Harry often told him stories from when he was in school. The ones that made him laugh were his favorites by far. Most of the time, his stories had a lesson to be learned in them.

James looked up at his father with pleading eyes. "Can we please go outside today? Maybe go down to the village?"

Harry nodded his head and smiled. "Yes, we can go to Hogsmeade." Harry laughed loudly when James gave a loud "WHOOP!" of joy.

The two left through the portrait and headed toward the entrance of the great castle.

The Potters walked down the halls and Harry pointed out various places and items to aid James in remembering his way through the large school.

At the grand double-door entrance, they were greeted by Draco and a younger replica of the Potions professor.

"Looks like we all had the same idea, eh Potter?" Draco commented as the two brunettes approached. "Headed down to Hogsmeade, then?"

Harry nodded his head. "Indeed we are, Malfoy," he confirmed. "I guess great minds think alike." He turned his attention to the boy who was trying to hide from them. "Tell me, Draco. Who is this young gentleman behind you?"

Draco smiled and turned slightly, exposing his son again. "Harry, James, I would like to introduce you to my son, Scorpius Drake. Scorpius, this is an old classmate of mine, Harry Potter, and his son, James. Mr. Potter is going to be the Defense teacher this coming term."

The smaller blond looked over the newcomers with critical blue eyes. He'd heard about Harry Potter and how he'd defeated the dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort. His father had also told him how he'd spoken on behalf of the Malfoy family and ultimately kept them out of Azkaban. And everyone knew of the accident that effectively ended his career as an Auror.

After a moment, Scorpius stepped forward shy and tilted his head in greeting. "It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Mr. Potter," he quietly replied. "And you as well, James."

"The pleasure is all mine, Scorpius," Harry said as he smiled kindly at the boy.

James took a moment to study Scorpius just as he had studied them. He took one step forward and extended his hand toward the other boy without saying a word.

Scorpius stared at the offered appendage briefly, then tentatively reached with his own and grasped the other boys hand. The two smiled at one another, words completely unnecessary.

Harry and Draco watched their sons in awe. Seeing their sons accepting the offered friendship brought to mind their own first encounter. The men moved their gazes from the boys to each other. An understanding seemed to have passed between the two of them in that moment.

Draco slowly raised his hand and once again offered it to Harry. He watched the green-eyed man as he thought about his actions. He could see the doubt and uncertainty in those emerald orbs. He didn't blame the other man at all for those feelings. Just as he was about to lower his hand, he felt Harry's warm hand gripping his.

The first thing Harry thought was that Draco had soft hands. Looking down at their joined hands, Harry couldn't help but ponder what would have happened if he'd accepted Draco's offer of friendship when they were children. What events would have changed? Which ones wouldn't have happened? He also knew it was pointless to think about 'what if' scenarios.

With lips upturned in a small grin, Harry turned to the boys who had started a quiet conversation. "Scorpius," he interrupted, "would it be alright with you if Jamie and I joined you and your father on your trek down to Hogsmeade?"

With a quick glance at his dad, Scorpius settled his gaze on Harry. "Yes, sir," he affirmed. He took a tiny step closer to James and allowed a grin to find a home on his lips. "I would like that very much."

End Chapter 2

*A special thank you to Cain and JtheChosen1 who reviewed this chapter. Caught a couple of mistakes that I missed during my editing process last night. Hopefully all mistakes are fixed now. THANK YOU CAIN AND JTHECHOSEN1!!*

A/N: Well, there you have it. I hope you all find it enjoyable. I'm not sure when I'll get Chapter 3 out, as I'm still in the process of writing it. I will do my best to get it up as quickly as I can. Reviews are loved and adored. Flames are ignored. Critiques are welcome. Unbeta-ed, so any mistakes are my own.

*As anyone living in Texas knows, the sky down here is a shade of blue that you just can't find anywhere else. It's light and rich and perfectly beautiful.

*I know that they don't break the school year down into semesters, but for the sake of sanity, I'm going with it because that's what I am familiar with. For a date restriction on that, let's go with Sept. 1 through the last day of classes before Christmas holiday.