Taken by Surprise

Chapter 1

Harry stood rooted to the spot; his mouth was hanging open as he looked around with a dazed expression of someone recently hit by Confundus Charm. He realised his mistake the moment he stepped inside Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts – there was no way he would find Al here. A wide staircase stretched before him, covered with red velvety-looking carpet, showing images of women wrapped in togas, wearing masks and holding long scrolls of parchment. And up and down the stairs moved a chattering crowd of students and professors, followed by walking wardrobes, parts of forests and castles; tumbling down chintz armchairs, a waltzing table, an impressive mantelpiece; musical instruments, playing of their own accord; books, reciting passages out loud and many other inanimate objects sprung to life.

Entranced, Harry could only stare; out of all the wizarding places this struck Harry as the most magical one. The air itself here was unlike anywhere else; it was joyous and wondrous and free; people looked happy and the hall was filled with laughter. It was like getting a blast of Cheering Charm – worked wonders on one’s mood. Harry’s inner rebel took a large sniff. It was certainly very unlike the Ministry of Magic, where he spent most of his time and whose walls have become rather oppressive in recent years. For a split second he forgot the reason he was here until he heard, through the buzz of voices and sounds surrounding him like a thick cocoon, someone calling his name.

‘Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter? Are you all right?’

Harry turned around and came face to face with Scorpius Malfoy, grinning at him. Harry smiled back, deeply relieved. Finding Scorpius was the next best thing to finding his son – Scorpius would definitely know where Al was. They were inseparable most of the time; so much that once out of Hogwarts they decided to pursue the stage, entered the W. A. D. A. and rented a flat in the muggle neighbourhood nearby.

‘Scorpius!’ said Harry. ‘You have no idea how glad I am to see you!’

‘Is everything all right?’ asked Scorpius again with that perfect smile that made girls passing by swoon.

‘I’ve come to find Al, but I don’t know where to begin.’ replied Harry with a wry smile. ‘How do you navigate this place?’

Scorpius laughed.

‘Well, it certainly takes time and skill to learn the trick. But it’s no worse than Hogwarts.’

Harry let his doubt show on his face.

‘No, really. There are no ghosts to accidentally walk through, doors don’t pretend to be anything else but doors and staircases don’t move.’

‘Unlike everything else it seems.’ said Harry, pointing around. ‘Anyway, can you tell me where Al is?’

‘He’s not here. His class is away for the day. They’re doing some charity stuff for orphans or something. Just the kind of thing Al loves.’ replied Scorpius.

Harry’s smile faded. Not that the fact that his son was helping those in need made him unhappy, but he really needed him now. It was one of many disadvantages of having grown-up kids, he decided. You could no longer keep track of them.

‘Is something wrong?’ asked Scorpius, frowning.

Everything – was what Harry wanted to say, but it would not do. It had nothing to do with Scorpius. It was a family matter and Harry needed his family to deal with it. Though, maybe it was a good idea to deal with it on his own at first, before dumping it onto one of his children. The way it was dumped onto him: out of the clear blue sky. Or was he just too blind to see?

When Harry didn’t reply, Scorpius’s worry increased.

‘Mr. Potter, you are all right, aren’t you? Listen, our flat is a short way from here. Why don’t we go there and I make you a cup of tea – or something – something stronger? You look like you need it. I’m sure I must have a bottle of Ogdens somewhere.’

Harry shook his head and tried to smile, but his attempt failed and he just shook his head again.

‘I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about. There is – was – a matter I wanted to talk to Al about. But it can wait. It’s ok. I should go.’ he rambled distractedly, turning to leave. He seemed to change his mind the next moment though, because he turned back to Scorpius and after some minor hesitation added, not quite meeting Scorpius’s eye. ‘I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell Al that I was here. I don’t want him to get all worked up. It’s really nothing. I’ll send him an owl and arrange to meet when his back from wherever he is. Well, bye then, Scorpius. It was nice to see you again.’

Harry turned to leave, but Scorpius stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

‘I don’t think I should be letting you go all on your own right now, Mr. Potter. Not in the state you are in. You are not yourself.’ he said gravely.

‘Really, Scorpius, I can take care of myself.’ said Harry, looking rather startled. He hoped he didn’t look as bad as he felt. Though, probably he did. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, didn’t he? Could never quite keep his feelings from showing on his face, could he?

‘I don’t think you can.’ insisted Scorpius, the pressure of his hand on Harry’s shoulder increasing perceptibly. ‘What if you Splinch yourself while Apparating? What am I going to tell Al then? When I could have prevented it? I don’t think so, Mr. Potter.’ he finished with a teasing smile.

Harry rolled his eyes.

‘First of, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me ‘Mr. Potter’? Harry will do just fine. And, secondly, I am sure I can manage to Apparate without Splinching myself even when I am not quite myself. Which I am not, by the way.’ he added hastily, in case Scorpius got it into his head that he was indeed out of sorts.
But for all that it achieved he could have just saved his breath. Scorpius looked at him shrewdly as if knowing exactly what he was thinking and Harry wondered if old Draco trained his son in Legilimency.

Then, he sighed and put his hands up in mock-surrender. Scorpius, he noted, looked rather pleased with himself.

‘Fine. Lead the way. At least I finally get to see where my son lives now.’

Since Al moved out, Harry was yet to see the place and his curiosity was as unconquerable as ever so as not to take the best of him and make him follow Scorpius.