Everything seemed normal when they returned to the year two thousand and eighteen.

The world hadn't ended; the human race was still in existence, and they were both still Slytherins.

He should have known his dad was just being a drama queen.

Scorpius could hardly sleep that night after they arrived back for their last night at Hogwarts. The temptation to owl home was too immense, but what would he say? Hi Mum, just checking to see if you're alive again?

He would find out the following day. He just had to be patient; he had waited long enough, after all.

"Relax," Albus said, grinning as Scorpius scoffed down his breakfast the next morning. "The Hogwarts Express isn't going to leave any sooner just because you've finished your breakfast in record time."

"I know, I'm just anxious," Scorpius said. "What if it didn't work? What if she's still dead? It would feel like I've lost her all over again."

"Well if you ask me, she looked spooked enough to think there must be something behind it." Albus shrugged. "I think she thought you were your dad though. Thank god she didn't start snogging you. That would have been awkward."

"Gross!" Scorpius spluttered, almost choking on his sausage. "Kindly don't ever go there again!"

*****

As the train chugged southwards, Scorpius's heart rate increased pace. His palms started to feel clammy and his chest became unnaturally tight.

The idea that it hadn't worked terrified him. Because if this didn't work, he didn't know what else would.

He needed his mother back so much. He and Freida needed her.

He wondered how his sister was; if the time travel had gone successfully, it meant she wouldn't have ever suffered the pain of losing their mum and he was glad he may have saved her from that.

He might even tell her about it one day when she was older. Whether she'd believe him or not was another thing. But he didn't feel right keeping things from her.

But for now, he and Albus swore to keep it to themselves.

Scorpius felt the Time-Turner in his pocket. He would return it to his father's study at once, of course. He hadn't been worried about its absence being noticed because Scorpius knew that his father had been scared when he had been caught with it; and knew he had intended to put it away for good.

The journey seemed to last forever. Scorpius thought he would surely go mad when it slowly and finally chugged into London, making its way painfully slowly towards King's Cross where he was praying his mother was waiting for him.

"Come on," said Albus, standing up as the train eventually came to a halt. "I thought you'd be the first one off."

But Scorpius suddenly had a horrific feeling.

"What if she's still dead?" He cried, remaining firmly rooted to his seat. "Al, I don't think I could take losing her all over again. And why the hell would my mother ever take the word of two thirteen year old boys?"

"Well you're not going to find out staying on this train, are you?" Albus said quite reasonably. "Come on, man, you can do this. I did not just risk getting grounded for life by my dad for you to run away. Now get your butt off this train and go and give your mother a hug. I have a good feeling, Scorp. I'm telling you, she looked freaked out."

Scorpius nodded, shakily getting to his feet as Albus passed him his trunk. He followed him down the corridor and stepped out onto the platform.

"Oh look, there's my parents," Albus said, motioning over to where Scorpius recognised Harry Potter and his Aunt Ginny stood. "I'd better go. Good luck."

He gave him a meaningful pat on his shoulder before walking off.

Scorpius looked up and down the platform, butterflies taking flight furiously around in his stomach. Please be here, Mum, he silently begged.

"Ah, son, there you are. Good journey?"

Scorpius span round at the familiar voice, and saw his father approaching. He nearly gasped out loud in shock.

He was nothing like the father he had said goodbye to at the end of Easter. For a start, he looked ten years younger; his face no longer shrouded in a deep mournful sadness. If anything, he very much resembled the Draco Malfoy he had seen on his time travels.

This was good, Scorpius thought. Because his father shouldn't be grief stricken. Not if his mum was still alive.

"Yeah, it was alright," Scorpius said nervously, trying desperately not to risk the temptation to ask about his mum.

"Was that Potter's kid I just saw you talking to?" His father asked, frowning. "I didn't know you two were friends."

Scorpius was surprised at the look of distaste upon his dad's face; his top lip curling into a sneer as he said the name Potter.

This was odd; his parents had always been okay, even encouraging of his friendship with his formally estranged cousin.

"Well, he's in my house and my year, isn't he?" Scorpius said somewhat defensively.

His father gave him a strange look that made Scorpius feel uneasy. "Before you left," his father continued, "you told me you thought the whole Potter clan were a bunch of, and I quote, 'fucktards'."

Scorpius reeled back. He would never say that about Albus. He would never say the word fucktard either.

"Well, I guess people change," Scorpius tried to say as casually as he could, panic rising in his chest.

His dad gave him a withering look, but then obviously decided to drop it.

"Come on, your mum's waiting in the car, she would have come and met you, but she's dealing with an important work call."

Scorpius's heart soared. His mother. It had worked! He didn't care that he was the kind of person who called his best mate a fucktard if he had his mum back.

It was all going to be okay.

He followed his dad, trying not to skip as they made their way off the platform and towards the car park.

The car they stopped at wasn't the modest family estate that had sat in their driveway all those years. He wasn't sure of the make of it but it looked pretty flash and... expensive.

"New car, Dad?" Scorpius asked as he watched his father flick open the boot and expertly throw his trunk in with ease.

He turned, giving his son an odd look. "It's the same one I dropped you off in at the start of term. Although I suppose we are due for a new update. It has been six months."

Oh. Scorpius supposed the lack of his mother's illness must have made them better off. Couldn't be a bad thing.

"Well get in; the longer we're away from the business, the more money we lose." His father barked in a tone that Scorpius didn't recognise as he slammed the boot shut and walked round to the driver's side.

Taking a deep breath, Scorpius went to the passenger door where he guessed his mum was sat, not being able to see inside for the tinted windows. He wanted to say hello properly before he jumped in the back.

His hand paused on the handle. He was about to see his mother.

He took one last deep breath and opened the door.

And there she was; red hair, utterly beautiful... healthy looking face. His wonderful mother. She was alive! It had worked!

"Mum!" He cried, reaching out to hug her.

But to his dismay, she held up a hand signalling him to stop as she bellowed furiously into a phone headset.

"IF YOU DON'T GET THOSE FUCKING CANAPÉS SORTED THEN YOU CAN CONSIDER YOURSELF FUCKING FIRED YOU FUCKING FUCKTARD!"

Scorpius looked on at his mother in horror as she whipped the headset off her head and finally turned round in her seat to face him.

"Scorp!" She smiled. "Sorry, just having a chat with Loony. How was school?"

"I..." Scorpius didn't know what to say. He suddenly realised his parents were unrecognisable to him. His mum would never talk to his aunt like that. She respected Luna. So much so, in fact, that she would tell anyone off caught calling her by that very name that he and Albus secretly called her. Loony.

What the fuck had happened?

But the worse was yet to come. The very, very worst that made Scorpius suddenly understand what his father was talking about when he advised against messing with time.

"Where's Freida?" He asked, looking at the empty space where he assumed his sister's car seat would be; if at least, not her.

Both his mum and dad turned to look at him in bewilderment. And their answer was given in unison.

"Who?"

Oh... shit.

*****