A Red Hen Adventures in FanFiction Edition Copyright © 2014 by the Author Kings Cross t was misty and dim at the station, which rather fit Draco’s mood. It was too bad for Scorpius, though; for his sake Draco would have wished for bright, cheery sunshine. He reminded himself to smile for Scorpius’ sake, or at least to act normal. He couldn’t quite manage many genuine smiles on the day that he had to say goodbye to his son, the most difficult thing Draco could remember doing in a long, long time. “It’s here!” Scorpius said. “I didn’t know it would already be here! Are we late?” “No of course not, Scorpius. Settle yourself. We’re perfectly on time.” “Can I go on right now, Father?” Scorpius said eagerly, and Draco’s heart gave a painful thud. “Wait. Calm down. You’ll be getting on soon enough.” “But I want to go now!” Scorpius said belligerently. Draco pulled Scorpius closer and spoke into his ear. “Show some consideration for your moth- er’s feelings, please,” he said sternly, and Scorpius looked abashed. “It’s all right, dear,” said Astoria with a gentle 1 smile. “You’re excited. That’s perfectly natural.” come into their lives. The small hand that shook “It’s Hogwarts, Mother!” said Scorpius, and Draco’s in goodbye was clammy with nerves, but Draco could remember his own excitement at the his smile was so bright that Draco longed to pull prospect so many years ago as if it was yesterday. Scorpius into his arms and never let him go. The world had seemed limitless back then. His But he wouldn’t embarrass his son with a dis- friends near him, a golden future before him… play like that. Their private farewells had been What did Scorpius see in his own future? said at the Manor, and this was a time for them The fog parted slightly, revealing a gaggle of all to acknowledge that Scorpius was growing Potters and Weasleys, and Draco stepped back to let into a young man. them pass. Despite the inclusion of some non-red- The train pulled out and Draco watched Potter heads in the crowd, they all still seemed depress- waving to his two boys, and had a rare moment ingly similar: loud and boisterous, with no decorum of complete sympathy. There was almost an air of at all. One of them had to be Potter’s younger son, bereavement on Potter’s face under its cheerful front. who was supposed to be in Scorpius’ year. Astoria slipped her hand into the crook of His son and Harry Potter’s, starting school Draco’s arm, and he held her close. It was just together. Who knew what relationships would be the two of them again. They stayed together for started, or made impossible forever, during this trip. a moment, then Astoria stepped back. “Oh, I just Weasley was talking to his daughter Rose, spotted Queenie,” she said. “Is it still all right also in Scorpius’ year and already in her robes, for her to come to our house for dinner?” Draco strongly reminiscent of her mother in her eager- nodded. “I’ll go talk to her, then. Go on ahead to ness to get to her academic future. Draco nodded our brooms; I’ll catch up.” stiffly to Potter and Weasley as they noticed him. Draco gave her a kiss and turned to leave the sta- Twenty years after they’d gone to school together, tion, passing by the Potter and Weasley herd, now he still had little use for either of them. missing a few of the older children but augmented It seemed like too short a time till Scorpius’ by some smaller ones that must have emerged from trunk and owl cage were on the train, and Scor- the mists like loud ginger wraiths. He nodded as he pius was about to leave. Starting his own future, walked past Potter and Weasley again. away from his parents, taking a part of them with “Draco?” said a voice behind him. “Can I talk to you?” him and leaving them emptier than before he’d He turned, and smiled warmly at the woman walk- 2 3 ing up to him. “Hello, Hermione,” he said. “Of course.” nie, her scrub brush paused, scorn evident in her voice. “Girlfriend of the Boy Who Saved Us All Again.” She paused. “Think I prefer The Head Girl August 27, 2017: Dear Tiggy who Gives Head to Our Saviour. And for Head Boy, would you believe they asked Neville Longbottom?” Millie’s eyes widened and she sat back on her heels. “He couldn’t, he’s eighth-year.” “Apparently that’s what he said, too.” “Who is it, then?” Dear Tiggy: “Mauricius Fiddlethwaite.” I know Scorpius gave you instructions regarding what Millie blinked. “Who the hell is that?” he did and didn’t want you to pack for him for Hogwarts. “Exactly,” said Queenie, and gave a disdainful sniff. “But completely unobjectionable in every way.” I’m putting this in writing so that you can show it to him Draco gave his own cauldron a swipe. “Isn’t he if he gets angry and accuses you of disobeying orders. the one who carried on the DA after Weasley and Please make sure Scorpius has his Mr. Lovegood and Longbottom were gone?” Gummidge when he goes to bed the first night Queenie nodded. “Sort of. Except Longbottom he’s at school. I know he said he’s too old for it, but wasn’t really gone, he was just hiding. Fiddlethwaite trust me, he’s going to want it his first night so far was more like his spokesman than a real leader.” away from home and I have no desire for a “That’s hardly fair, you know,” said Millie. “They repetition of the nightmare incident with the talk forgiveness and working together, but then sleepover at the Davises. stack everything with people from Potter’s side. Why couldn’t they put someone at least slightly Please Apparate directly to whichever House he’s sympathetic to us in there?” Sorted to. I’ve knitted four scarves for Mr. Gummidge; “There’s building bridges and then there’s being pleaseAugust put 27, the 1998: appropriate Girlfriend one on of him. the Boy Who Lived an idiot,” said Queenie. “Who should’ve been Head “WhoThanks, are the Head Boy and Girl?” asked Millie, her Boy? A Slytherin? Get a dose of reality, please.” voiceMistress low, as she scrubbed the second-last cauldron. She looked at the row of cauldrons. “D’you reckon “Ginny Weasley, that’s a cinch,” whispered Quee- that’s clean enough?” 4 5 “The Hufflepuffs can finish them,” said Millie preliminary enthusiasm for this project so far from Hogwarts. Our carelessly. “It’s more their kind of thing.” hope is to put together a museum exhibit, and possibly a book, “And don’t be a twat,” said Queenie, her voice describing the first school year post-Voldemort at Hogwarts and suddenly harsh. “We were assigned this room to its legacy within the wizarding world. clean. We will do it well, magic or no. That last We will be holding an information session for you and your cauldron of yours needs another wipe.” housemates on December 1. We eagerly anticipate your reply to this “And remember, they’re not Hufflepuffs any more,” said Draco, and bent over his own caul- request for your participation. If you have any questions, please dron one last time. do not hesitate to contact us, by owl or Floo, as the Department of British Wizarding Archives does not condone text messaging. Sincerely, Gerald Sutcliffe, August 29, 2017: You Are Cordially Invited Assistant Archivist, Ministry of Magic Dear Mr. Malfoy: It has been nineteen years since the defeat of Voldemort, formerly known as You-Know-Who, and the Ministry of Magic’s August 29, 1998: She turned it down Department of British Wizarding Archives has been busy “She t u r ned it do w n,” s a id Q uee n ie a s t he S ly t he r i n s preparing various projects to mark the twentieth anniversary. As tried to look like they weren’t huddled together next a member of the group of students who helped to make to the fireplace in their small common room. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ready for the new “Who? What?” asked Millie. post-Voldemort world, and helped us to usher in a new era of “Ginny Weasley. The Head Girl position. She’s peace and reconciliation in the wizarding world, you and your not going to do it.” classmates are invited to participate in one such project, under “Why not?” asked Draco. “After last year?” Neville Longbottom shook his the direction of noted Master Archivist Maximus Lore. Your head, leaning forward to poke at the fire, then sat involvement would consist mostly of interviews conducted by the down next to Queenie. “And with everything that research team, but we would also be grateful for any mementos happened to her family?” you may have of the post-war period, such as letters, newspaper Draco and Millie looked at each other, and he articles, and other personal items. There has been significant could tell she was struggling with the impulse to tell 6 7 him to shove off and go talk to somebody who actu- “Harry convinced her, actually,” said Granger. ally wanted him to be part of their conversation, but… “Really?” Queenie blinked, then gave Longbottom an insin- “Shortly after they got engaged,” said Granger, cere smile.