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leashy_bebesTitle: My Father Taught Me About My Heart
Rating: G
Pairing: James/Scorpius
Summary: Scorpius seeks his father's advice on the most important question of his life. [Part of the Getting There 'verse.]
Word Count: ~1100
Disclaimer: JKR's, not mine.
Draco is in the study going over accounts one evening when the Floo lights up. It's locked to everyone but immediate family, so Draco is unsurprised when Scorpius steps out of the flames. He's smartly dressed and looks, frankly, a little on edge. They greet each other and Draco moves from behind the desk to one of the two armchairs, waving Scorpius into the other.
The chairs are supremely comfortable but Scorpius sits in a tense bundle right on the edge of the seat. Draco is still casting about for a subtle way of asking what on earth is wrong when Scorpius shifts in his seat and blurts out,
"I need to know how you feel about me and James."
Draco opens his mouth to trot out the reflexive – but no less truthful for all that – I'm happy if you're happy, but Scorpius holds up a hand.
"Wait. I need you to be honest, okay? What – do you like him?"
"Scorpius. Of course I do," Draco says, wracking his brain to think of what he might have said to bring this on. "I'm sorry if I ever made either of you think otherwise."
"No, it's not – you haven't. I'm not here because of anything you've done. I just – I want your advice."
Ah. "Are the two of you having – difficulties?" Draco asks, trying to phrase it delicately.
"What? No, God, just the opposite," Scorpius says, shaking his head firmly. "I want to ask him to marry me."
Marry!
Draco's mind goes into a tailspin as he summons the brandy and pours them both a glass. "Good God," he murmurs, pressing one into Scorpius's hands.
"Do you think I'm mad?" Scorpius asks morosely, cradling his glass.
"If you love him, which I've no doubt you do, then no. Far from it." Draco has spent most of Scorpius's life wondering how honest to be with the boy on a whole variety of topics. But now, with his son a full-grown man, seriously considering committing his whole life to another person, now is the time for total honesty, Draco realises.
He sets his drink aside and leans forward, considering Scorpius carefully. "Marriage to your mother didn't just save me, it made me. I would – I shudder to think of you growing up around the man I was without her. Now you – and I am more proud than you can imagine to be able to say this – you don't need saving from anything. If you love each other equally and honestly, then I think marriage could be the best thing you will ever do."
Scorpius leans back in his chair, looking flabbergasted. "Wow, dad. That's just – thank you."
Draco inclines his head and just waits, because if he knows his son like he thinks he does, there is something more to come.
Sure enough, Scorpius takes a measured sip of his brandy and shifts a little, crossing his ankles. "I'm just...not sure what people will think," he says.
"People?"
"Well, James for one thing. I don't – tradition's not really such a big thing for him."
"I wasn't aware that it was for you either," Draco says honestly.
Scorpius shrugs. "Some things. When I can see that they work. And it's – it's been a long time now. Since I was – well, it's not far off ten years, really. And I want to marry him, obviously. I want that more and more recently. But I want to be married, too. I want – "
Draco's fairly sure the words Scorpius bit down on just then were a family. He's not going to press it though, especially if, as he suspects, Scorpius hasn't come anywhere near having this conversation with James. Still, the other hidden question – what if he says no – is obvious on Scorpius's face, and Draco pinches the bridge of his nose. For a bright lad, his son can be incredibly thick, mainly in the ways Draco is himself.
"Scorpius," he says. "The boy is besotted with you."
With that private smile Draco has always associated with James, Scorpius gives him another grateful look.
"Are you – in anyway concerned about what his family will think?" Draco asks.
"No. I mean, Al will terrorise us for a while, but – no."
"The press, then?"
"I – " Scorpius's mouth twists a little. "Maybe a little. They all love him, you know? He's – kids have posters of him on their bedroom walls, and me – well." He shrugs. "I haven't made many fans in the mainstream press, have I?"
It's true, what with the number of times Scorpius has helped the Quibbler snatch scoops or high-profile interviews away from the Prophet. Still –
"I will handle the bloody press," Draco promises.
"You – "
"Oh, please, son. You know how journalism works better than anyone. If they consistently get sued for anything even vaguely defamatory they'll soon back off."
Scorpius presses his mouth into a tight line. "I just – I don't want being associated with me to cause problems for him."
Draco remembers that feeling far too well and he takes a breath, looking at Scorpius seriously.
"When I went to see your grandfather Francis, I very pointedly didn't ask for his permission, because I knew I wouldn't get it. I asked for his blessing, and I didn't get that either. But your mother and I, we made it work, and eventually, her family came around. The point is, son, if you love each other, then that will be enough for anyone whose opinion you should consider."
Scorpius looks a little like he wants to reel, and Draco can understand that. He gets on relatively well with his father-in-law these days, and he doubts Scorpius would ever have picked up on how opposed Francis Greengrass was to the match in the beginning.
"And you?" Scorpius asks. "How would you feel about – all of this?"
"I won't deny that I find the idea of being related to Potter – not your Potter, the other one – to be an...unedifying prospect. But – " Draco shrugs and gives Scorpius the hint of a smile. "I suppose I could bear it."
Scorpius relaxes at that and runs a hand over his face before draining his brandy in a way that makes Draco wince. He stays a little longer but Draco can tell his mind is on other things and he refuses a second brandy, surprising Draco with a warm hug.
"Dad, thank you for this, honestly."
"Oh, son." Draco smiles at him, feeling the same wave of affection he used to feel when Scorpius was taking his first clumsy steps or confusing himself with his first accidental magic. "You are ridiculous. But you are also the proudest accomplishment of my lifetime. Anything you need for the wedding – "
Scorpius laughs. "I haven't even asked him yet."
Draco waves a dismissive hand. "Formalities. In spite of the genes, I haven't noticed any serious insanity in James. He isn't going to say no."
When the flames die down behind Scorpius, Draco pours himself another drink and goes looking for his wife.
Rating: G
Pairing: James/Scorpius
Summary: Scorpius seeks his father's advice on the most important question of his life. [Part of the Getting There 'verse.]
Word Count: ~1100
Disclaimer: JKR's, not mine.
Draco is in the study going over accounts one evening when the Floo lights up. It's locked to everyone but immediate family, so Draco is unsurprised when Scorpius steps out of the flames. He's smartly dressed and looks, frankly, a little on edge. They greet each other and Draco moves from behind the desk to one of the two armchairs, waving Scorpius into the other.
The chairs are supremely comfortable but Scorpius sits in a tense bundle right on the edge of the seat. Draco is still casting about for a subtle way of asking what on earth is wrong when Scorpius shifts in his seat and blurts out,
"I need to know how you feel about me and James."
Draco opens his mouth to trot out the reflexive – but no less truthful for all that – I'm happy if you're happy, but Scorpius holds up a hand.
"Wait. I need you to be honest, okay? What – do you like him?"
"Scorpius. Of course I do," Draco says, wracking his brain to think of what he might have said to bring this on. "I'm sorry if I ever made either of you think otherwise."
"No, it's not – you haven't. I'm not here because of anything you've done. I just – I want your advice."
Ah. "Are the two of you having – difficulties?" Draco asks, trying to phrase it delicately.
"What? No, God, just the opposite," Scorpius says, shaking his head firmly. "I want to ask him to marry me."
Marry!
Draco's mind goes into a tailspin as he summons the brandy and pours them both a glass. "Good God," he murmurs, pressing one into Scorpius's hands.
"Do you think I'm mad?" Scorpius asks morosely, cradling his glass.
"If you love him, which I've no doubt you do, then no. Far from it." Draco has spent most of Scorpius's life wondering how honest to be with the boy on a whole variety of topics. But now, with his son a full-grown man, seriously considering committing his whole life to another person, now is the time for total honesty, Draco realises.
He sets his drink aside and leans forward, considering Scorpius carefully. "Marriage to your mother didn't just save me, it made me. I would – I shudder to think of you growing up around the man I was without her. Now you – and I am more proud than you can imagine to be able to say this – you don't need saving from anything. If you love each other equally and honestly, then I think marriage could be the best thing you will ever do."
Scorpius leans back in his chair, looking flabbergasted. "Wow, dad. That's just – thank you."
Draco inclines his head and just waits, because if he knows his son like he thinks he does, there is something more to come.
Sure enough, Scorpius takes a measured sip of his brandy and shifts a little, crossing his ankles. "I'm just...not sure what people will think," he says.
"People?"
"Well, James for one thing. I don't – tradition's not really such a big thing for him."
"I wasn't aware that it was for you either," Draco says honestly.
Scorpius shrugs. "Some things. When I can see that they work. And it's – it's been a long time now. Since I was – well, it's not far off ten years, really. And I want to marry him, obviously. I want that more and more recently. But I want to be married, too. I want – "
Draco's fairly sure the words Scorpius bit down on just then were a family. He's not going to press it though, especially if, as he suspects, Scorpius hasn't come anywhere near having this conversation with James. Still, the other hidden question – what if he says no – is obvious on Scorpius's face, and Draco pinches the bridge of his nose. For a bright lad, his son can be incredibly thick, mainly in the ways Draco is himself.
"Scorpius," he says. "The boy is besotted with you."
With that private smile Draco has always associated with James, Scorpius gives him another grateful look.
"Are you – in anyway concerned about what his family will think?" Draco asks.
"No. I mean, Al will terrorise us for a while, but – no."
"The press, then?"
"I – " Scorpius's mouth twists a little. "Maybe a little. They all love him, you know? He's – kids have posters of him on their bedroom walls, and me – well." He shrugs. "I haven't made many fans in the mainstream press, have I?"
It's true, what with the number of times Scorpius has helped the Quibbler snatch scoops or high-profile interviews away from the Prophet. Still –
"I will handle the bloody press," Draco promises.
"You – "
"Oh, please, son. You know how journalism works better than anyone. If they consistently get sued for anything even vaguely defamatory they'll soon back off."
Scorpius presses his mouth into a tight line. "I just – I don't want being associated with me to cause problems for him."
Draco remembers that feeling far too well and he takes a breath, looking at Scorpius seriously.
"When I went to see your grandfather Francis, I very pointedly didn't ask for his permission, because I knew I wouldn't get it. I asked for his blessing, and I didn't get that either. But your mother and I, we made it work, and eventually, her family came around. The point is, son, if you love each other, then that will be enough for anyone whose opinion you should consider."
Scorpius looks a little like he wants to reel, and Draco can understand that. He gets on relatively well with his father-in-law these days, and he doubts Scorpius would ever have picked up on how opposed Francis Greengrass was to the match in the beginning.
"And you?" Scorpius asks. "How would you feel about – all of this?"
"I won't deny that I find the idea of being related to Potter – not your Potter, the other one – to be an...unedifying prospect. But – " Draco shrugs and gives Scorpius the hint of a smile. "I suppose I could bear it."
Scorpius relaxes at that and runs a hand over his face before draining his brandy in a way that makes Draco wince. He stays a little longer but Draco can tell his mind is on other things and he refuses a second brandy, surprising Draco with a warm hug.
"Dad, thank you for this, honestly."
"Oh, son." Draco smiles at him, feeling the same wave of affection he used to feel when Scorpius was taking his first clumsy steps or confusing himself with his first accidental magic. "You are ridiculous. But you are also the proudest accomplishment of my lifetime. Anything you need for the wedding – "
Scorpius laughs. "I haven't even asked him yet."
Draco waves a dismissive hand. "Formalities. In spite of the genes, I haven't noticed any serious insanity in James. He isn't going to say no."
When the flames die down behind Scorpius, Draco pours himself another drink and goes looking for his wife.