‘I’ve not seen her for seventeen years! Can’t you understand that, Professor? I don’t want to see her! I don’t particularly want to see my father either but I won’t make a big deal about that. Just send my...mother on her way!’ Scorpius shouted as Amelia tried to calm him down by rubbing his arm soothingly.

Professor McGonagall looked unimpressed as she stood at the foot of his hospital bed. Madam Pomfrey frowned at Scorpius when he sighed impatiently as she tried to give him some pills. Amelia took them and thanked her with a strained smile and turned to Scorpius, glaring at him until he took the pills.

‘Your mother and father are here already, you should know,’ McGonagall said, ‘we’re just waiting for Harry... Mr and Mrs Potter to come so that I can speak with the parents first.’

‘Just expel me. It beats seeing that who-’ Scorpius cut his sentence short when Amelia hit his arm.

‘Never the less, I will be needing you and Mr Potter upstairs in my office in twenty minutes. I trust Miss Weasley will bring you,’ a hint of a smile appeared on McGonagall’s face and vanished in the next second. She nodded at both of them and took her leave.

‘You shouldn’t speak about your mother like that,’ Amelia said with disapproval in her voice.

‘You’re one to talk,’ Scorpius shook his head, waving away her hand as she tried to fix his hair. Amelia frowned a little, watching him groan when he tried to sit up. He gave up and lay back down, closing his eyes, ‘besides if you didn’t have a mother growing up and had a father who didn't care if you broke your arm, you would feel the same way.’

‘Your father cares a lot about you, Scorp. I can see that when he tries to talk to you and you just shut him out. He wasn’t against our relationship, no that was my parents. Not yours,’ Amelia let out a shaky breath, walking over to the other side of his bed and picking up a bag.

‘I don’t want to see her,’ Scorpius said after a while of watching her as she rooted through the bag. She pulled out a shirt and some jeans before turning around.

‘Man up,’ Amelia rolled her eyes and threw the clothes at him.

‘I can barely stand, Amelia,’ Scorpius said, wrinkling his nose at the shirt she had picked out for him. He wondered how she had even got some of his clothes since she obviously couldn’t get into the Slytherin common room...

‘Let me help you,’ Amelia said, holding out her hand for him. She bit her lip when Scorpius ignored her hand and stared intently at the shirt.

‘These aren’t mine,’ he concluded finally, holding it up and looking at her. Amelia didn't reply to him and he sighed, dropping the shirt, ‘they’re Potter’s?’

‘Oh, come on, Scorpius. I couldn't get into your dorm so I borrowed some of James’ clothes. Don’t make a big deal out of this,’ Amelia said, taking his hand, ‘now, let me help you up and get you changed.’

‘Amelia,’ he started, not taking her hand.

‘You’re so bloody stubborn!’ Amelia groaned, taking his hand and pulling him up. Scorpius grunted in pain as she sat him up successfully. He watched, massaging his back, as she closed the curtains around them and looked back at him, ‘get changed.’

‘Want to help?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow. Amelia chuckled and walked over to him. Her hands went to the buttons of his shirt and she slowly undid each one, feeling Scorpius’ fingers playing with her hair as he whispered, ‘what if I get expelled?’

‘You won’t,’ Amelia said instantly, looking down at his buttons.

‘But what if I do?’ he asked, frowning as he trailed the length of her hair right down to her stomach. His hand crawled along her stomach and stopped at her waist, waiting for her to reply. She didn't say anything, only took off his shirt and handed him his other one. Scorpius sighed and took it, putting it on but staring at her as well.

‘We should go,’ Amelia said, handing him his jeans, ‘I trust you can put that on by yourself?’

‘I guess,’ Scorpius shrugged, feeling a dull pain at the right side of his body, just above his hip. Ignoring it, he slowly stood up with Amelia’s help. She nodded and went for the curtains, ‘where are you going?’

 ‘To see James. He’s probably up there right now,’ Amelia said and turned back with her hands crossed over her chest. She watched as Scorpius took off his trousers and put his jeans on instead, ‘unless you want me to wait on you?’

‘I’d like that,’ Scorpius nodded, stowing his wand in his back pocket and walking over to her. Amelia put an arm around his waist and felt his breathing which was still quite rough.

They walked out of the hospital wing and took the stairs as slowly as they could. A few people whispered about the two of them as they passed the students.

---

‘Expelled? You can’t expel him!’ Draco cried out with a glare at Professor McGonagall. Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance at each other but were speechless.

‘As a matter of fact, Mr Malfoy, I have the authority to remove students from my school,’ Professor McGonagall said indignantly. She shook her head at both sets of parents, ‘I know this must be hard to hear but your sons have been fighting a lot this year. So much so that both of them have visited the hospital wing which is the last straw.’

‘I still don’t know why I’m here,’ Astoria Greengrass said.

She was sat on the right side of Draco with her long legs stretching out before her. Draco would have never admitted to her face but he supposed he had missed her, it had been seventeen years and she still looked great. She was a model though so that weighed his opinion of her. Astoria had hardly batted an eyelid at the mention of Scorpius in the hospital wing.

‘I don’t understand why you called her here? I’m the official guardian and parent of Scorpius, not her. We signed the papers seventeen years ago, Professor,’ Draco shook his head, ‘he hasn’t seen her ever and I don’t think-’

‘I don’t want to see him either, you know,’ Astoria interrupted, her eyes going to Draco, ‘but... does he look like me or you?’

 ‘He has my hair and eyes. He’s got your lips and your nose, I think,’ Draco turned to look at Astoria, sighing, ‘he’s a great kid, really, just a little rebellious.’

‘We can talk to James about this, Professor,’ Harry started, leaning forwards in his chair as Ginny nodded furiously beside him. ‘trust me, he won’t ever get in a fight for the remaining year. They’ve only got a couple of months until exams and I swear, I will get James to study and pass these exams.’

‘But harming another student-’

‘Is wrong and punishable, I know! If you want to keep him in detention for the whole year then you have our permission. Just don’t expel him, please!’ Ginny pleaded with her.

‘I’ll bring the two boys in,’ Professor McGonagall said after a few minutes of hesitation. Astoria stood up suddenly and McGonagall sighed, ‘Miss Greengrass, you are Scorpius’ parent too. Legally, you must be here for the final decision.’

‘Sit down, Astoria,’ Draco muttered, taking her hand and pulling her back down. Astoria wacked his hand away with a glare and he rolled his eyes, ‘didn't we do enough of that when we were married?’

Professor McGonagall walked out of the room without another word, going to get the two boys that were waiting anxiously to hear the news. Draco smirked at Astoria as she glared at him. He then turned to Harry and Ginny.

‘So, Potter, how’s life?’ Draco asked and didn't let him answer before saying, ‘hell, I’ll just ask. How is she... Granger? Is he treating her right?’

‘You’re still hung up on that mudblood?’ Astoria asked, letting out a little laughter, ‘what I remember from our marriage was when you shouted out her name while we were-’

‘She’s perfectly happy,’ Harry interrupted as Draco shot Astoria a cold look and she smirked back at him. Harry frowned, ‘how long have you liked her, Malfoy?’

‘Since the Yule Ball he went to. He described the mudblood as beautiful, elegant, stunning... he wouldn’t stop talking about her when I finally asked him,’ Astoria answered, shaking her head, ‘I can’t believe you’re not over her.’

‘Don’t you dare come into her life again. She’s had a lot of trouble in her life and I truly think she deserves some peace and happiness now,’ Ginny said, rubbing Harry’s arm, ‘I think we all do.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ Draco sneered, looking like his younger self for a second before he turned away from them. He looked down at his lap, deep in thought as the silence lingered.

The door opened a few minutes later and they all turned to see Professor McGonagall escorting in James and Scorpius. James glanced at his parents and stuck his hands deep into his pockets when Ginny gave him a glare that made his eyes drop to the ground permanently. Scorpius’ eyes went straight to Astoria and a brief look of confusion clouded his face before his usual sneer was back. He ran a hand through his hair, wanting Amelia to be there with him, and sat down next to his father as James did the same.

 ‘Dad,’ James started as Harry only stared at him with disappointment. James glanced at Scorpius with a fierce look and then he frowned at Astoria before turning back to his father, ‘Dad... it was my fault. I just couldn't... control my anger.’

‘Your anger? That’s exactly what you need to control, James! I didn't expect to be called down to Hogwarts just to be told that you were going to be expelled for putting another boy in the hospital wing. I didn't expect this from you at all,’ Harry shook his head, ‘and now you’re going to be expelled! Do you realise-’

‘I realise enough, Dad, alright?’ James rolled his eyes, ‘I’ve already admitted to it, what more do you want from me?’

‘I want you to not act stupid in school. I want you to focus on your studies and not beat up people just because you felt like it,’ Harry shook his head at his talking back. James mumbled something under his breath that Harry didn't catch, ‘speak up!’

‘I didn't beat him up for no reason! I did it for Amelia,’ James frowned down at his hands.

‘Is she okay?’ Harry asked, looking at McGonagall and then to James who just nodded, ‘well, what could have spurred on such anger? What could have possibly made you hit him?’

‘Well, I found out that he-’ James was cut off by Scorpius.

‘Don’t,’ Scorpius shook his head, ‘that’s between me and Amelia. You don’t need to go telling her family about it.’

‘Did you do something to her? If I have to go to their house and talk to Granger about this...’ Draco trailed off.

‘It would just give you an excuse,’ Scorpius spat out, staring angrily at him and then he turned to Astoria who was just looking at him, ‘stop staring at me. You had your chance to stay but you walked. Don’t even look at me.’

‘You’ve grown up so much,’ she muttered quietly, still looking at him.

‘That’s not all that’s happened in these seventeen years you left me with him,’ Scorpius cocked a thumb at Draco and then shook his head, turning back to McGonagall, ‘is there anything you can do to not expel me?’

‘If there’s another fight, even a minor fight, then I have no choice but to banish you from my grounds without contacting your parents,’ McGonagall explained, looking at the both of them over her glasses.

‘James will behave,’ Harry said, not looking at his son, ‘I assure you.’

‘Scorpius will do whatever the hell he wants to,’ Draco said, shrugging, ‘I don’t really have a hand in the matter.’

‘I won’t fight,’ Scorpius said, looking at his father, ‘I love her too much to leave her here. Besides, there’s nothing left for me out there other than Amelia.’

‘Can I meet her?’ Astoria asked suddenly, ‘the girl you love so much. Can I meet this Amelia?’

Scorpius felt his heart thud in his chest. So this is what it felt like to have a mother who... barely cared about what he was doing or who he was with. He didn't answer her but noticed that Draco was looking at him, never moving his eyes away. Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief as McGonagall told them they would not be expelled but the next time there was a fight, they would be out of there as quick as possible.

They all stood up when McGonagall dismissed them. Scorpius led all the other out of the room and he saw Amelia standing there and biting her nails. He walked over to her and took her hand out of her mouth, looking at her nails disapprovingly.

‘Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere,’ he assured her and then rolled his eyes, ‘neither is Potter.’

‘Oh, thank God,’ she let out a breath and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. Amelia felt eyes staring at her and she looked up a little, still hugging Scorpius, to see Draco and Astoria staring at her. She pulled back a little, ‘that’s your mother?’

‘Yeah,’ Scorpius said, sighing without turning around. Amelia watched them, talking to each other quietly. She didn't know that Draco was thinking of Hermione when he saw Amelia, nor that Astoria was wishing for her sons happiness as she looked at the both of them.

‘Will you introduce me?’ asked Amelia and took his hand when he gave her an expression that clearly thought she was crazy. She kissed the palm of his hand, ‘please?’

‘Amelia, no,’ Scorpius denied her flat out, ‘I’m leaving. I need to get some pills from Madam Pomfrey anyway. You don’t have to visit me later on if you have homework to do. I think she’ll let me out tonight anyway.’

‘Scorpius,’ Amelia pleaded with him but he only pressed his lips to hers, shutting her up. They kissed for a second before he pulled back and looked into her eyes. She saw his expression and decided not to push him anymore, ‘I’ll see you later then.’

‘Love you,’ he whispered, sighing as he took a couple of steps back. Amelia watched him leave and felt a little tug at her heart when he ran a hand through his hair. He was completely out of sight when she turned to watch his parents again but found them walking towards her.

‘Astoria Greengrass,’ Astoria held out her hand for her. She took it hesitantly and shook her hand before letting go and crossing her arms over her chest. Astoria smiled, ‘you’re very pretty. I see why Scorpius likes you.’

‘Amelia George Weasley, nice to meet you,’ Amelia nodded, ignoring Draco as he made a face at her middle name. Astoria chuckled as Amelia said, ‘you’re very pretty too but it looks like Scorpius doesn’t like you very much.’

‘She’s just a pretty face, something I should have learned before I married her,’ Draco muttered, shaking his head. Astoria ignored him but he leaned forwards to Amelia who was smiling at his joke without meaning to, ‘you smile just like your mother.’

Amelia’s smile slowly turned into a frown and he shrugged, shaking his head as though he couldn't help it. Astoria rolled her eyes and asked Amelia about Scorpius, to which she answered as well as she could. She talked to Astoria and Draco for a good twenty minutes about Scorpius. Amelia didn't think Astoria was a bad person at all, in fact she was rather nice.