A Day In The Life of Scorpius Malfoy

The sunlight peaked in slowly through the thick glass window of the large modern manor. The sky was still gray and heavy from last night's rain, but the faint rays that fell upon his terrace window cushions gave signs that a sunny day was yet to come. He hoped so anyways, he'd been looking forward to this day all week.

Closing the dark curtains that covered his windows, Scorpius Malfoy took a look across his bedroom. It was a large yet warm chamber, with a comfortable canopy bed, a big oak trunk packed with toys, and the shelves full of books. The floor was tidy, part in due to the house-elves scrupulous cleaning, but also because his mother made sure he picked up after himself. This was a point that she had stood firm on all of his life, one which no amount of whining or charming had been able to get him out of. Now, less than two months shy of being ten, he rather liked to keep things clean, and now did so without being told.

The one thing that stood out of place in his room was the paperback novel that lay open on the floor. It was an old, shabby copy of a Muggle tale called Treasure Island. It was his favorite book, full of adventure and pirates. He rather liked pirates, though some of his friends gently hinted that perhaps he was getting a bit old for them. His friends always only gently hinted things towards him. He was a Malfoy after all, and not to be trifled with.

He picked the book up slowly and gently smoothed out the pages. He didn't care if he was getting too old for pirates; he had loved them ever since he could remember. In fact, getting this book was one of the first memories he ever had…

He was four years old, sitting in a smelly old chair in the elaborately furnished living room. Everything in Grandfather Lucius' house was elaborate. Smelly and old too come to think of it. He was sitting across from his Grandmother Cissy, who watched him silently. Something on her face made it look like she was about to cry, and Scorpius wanted to climb over, pat her head, and tell her it would be alright, just like his mother had when he had fallen off his broomstick the day before. But he didn't know his Grandmother very well, and his father had insisted that he stay put. So he sat upright, using his pack of crayons to draw ships on the open sea.

He had sat there for ages, and had quite forgotten that he was waiting for his dad and grandfather to talk. But suddenly the doors to the parlor swung open, with his father walking quickly through. He did not seem very happy.

"Draco, you come back here this instant!" his grandfather demanded, coming through the doors. Scorpius never could help flinching when he heard that voice. It was the voice his father used when he was very unhappy or when scolding Scorpius for something that he had done wrong. Only his grandfather used it all the time.

His father ignored the call, and walked straight over to him. He bent over to pick Scorpius up and placed him firmly on his hip. The drawing Scorpius had spent the afternoon working on fluttered to the floor. He started squirming, despite to get his paper back. His father shushed him softly and picked it back up, handing it to his son gently before placing a light kiss on his forehead for further reassurance.

"Do as I say, Draco! I'm not finished with you yet!" Grandfather Lucius hissed.

"Yes, you are father. Or else I'm done with you! I will not stand by and listen to you talk about my wife and son that way any longer, or try and fill my head with anymore of your useless ancient rubbish!"

Scorpius flinched again, as his father yelled in the same, icy voice to his grandfather. Without another word, his father marched the two of them out of the Malfoy Manor, and determinedly through the grounds. That was the first, and last, time he ever saw his grandparents' house.

As soon as they were off the property, his father Apparated them to a busy street in downtown London. After checking to ensure Scorpius wasn't sick after the journey, he placed him down on his feet, grabbing his hand as they marched down the bustling streets. Scorpius had never been to this part of town, but his normal curiosity was focused on the upset look on his father's face.

"Dad, are you and Grandfather rowing?" Scorpius asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes, Scorpius. Unfortunately we are," his father replied stoically.

"Can't you go back and make up? You and Mummy always make up after your fights," Scorpius suggested helpfully. His father stopped and sighed.

"This isn't like when your Mum and I argue over who ate the last scone," he explained, picking the pace back up. "Your Grandfather is an incredibly difficult man, and there are a lot of things we no longer see eye to eye on. Things that can no longer be over looked."

"Oh," Scorpius replied softly. "What kind of things, Dad?"

His father once again stopped in his stead.

"Grown up things," he answered lamely.

"What kind of grown up things?" Draco looked intently at his son, and, knowing his hard pressed curiosity could not be so easily satiated, decided to give in. A little.

"Son, do you know what a Muggle is?" he asked.

"A Muggle? I don't think so," Scorpius replied.

"Muggles are people… like you and I… only they can't do magic," he father explained slowly.

"There are people who can't do magic?" Scorpius exclaimed loudly, shocked at hearing such a thing. His father motioned for him to keep quiet before continuing.

"Yes, they can't do magic. But…er… you shouldn't hold that against them," his father said firmly, though something in his tone sounded painful.

"Okay," Scorpius replied, though he still was quite confused.

"Look," his father expressed desperately, stopping in front of one of the giant buildings labeled Barnes & Nobles. "You like pirates right? Well, Muggles are experts on pirates. Here, I'll show you…"

It was a strange first memory to have. A tad depressing upon reflection, yet one he was somewhat particularly fond of, especially as he grew older and learned more about his family's history. He smiled at the still picture of Long John Silver that graced the cover. He had quite a soft spot for the old devil and his moral ambiguity. Placing the book back securely on his night stand, he checked his clock.

"That should be enough of a lie in, I expect," he said to himself, a mischievous grin forming on his face. He walked quietly and quickly out of his room, and made his way speedily down the long hallway. Oil lamps lit brightly as he passed, showing off the cheery and familiar character of his house. He slowed his steps as he reached the large oak door at the end of the corridor, and expertly opened the door silently.

His parents' chambers were larger than his, with a massive bed placed right in the middle. Despite its enormous size however, Scorpius always came in to find his parents sleeping the same way: right in the middle, with his Dad's arm tucked around his Mum's waist. Scorpius' grin returned to his face. They always made it so easy.

"Cannon ball!" he cried in warning, as he ran the length of their room and leapt on to their bed. His parents had just enough time to jerk awake and roll over, giving Scorpius clear room to land. His mother kept her back to him, knowing that at this hour on this particular day his interest lay with her husband. Indeed, Scorpius rolled over on to his father, ignoring his groans of protests.

"Hiya, Pops. You miss me on your business trip?" Scorpius asked brightly.

"Constantly," he responded through a yawn. His dad finally opened his eyes to see his son practically straddling him.

"Aren't you a little old to be jumping into bed with your parents?" his father asked, pushing him away gently. Scorpius laughed.

"Aren't you a little young to need a comb over?" Scorpius jested in return, running his hands through his father's receding hairline. Draco looked at him irately for a moment before flipping him over and catching him in a tight headlock.

"Aye, Dad! You're killing me!" Scorpius squealed. "Me, your only son and heir!"

"I can have another son!" his father replied with a smile, shaking Scorpius a bit harder.

"I beg to differ," his mother responded quickly, finally joining in to the conversation. "Not unless you want to carry the damn thing yourself. I told you I am not having another one of those!" Astoria Malfoy then winced a bit, realizing what she had just said in front of her beloved son.

"Not that I didn't love having you dear, but you were hell on my back," she explained simply. Scorpius laughed. He knew his mother wasn't like most women in his family's social circle. She was extremely intelligent and incredibly blunt. Coupled with a stubbornness that rivaled his father's, Scorpius had grown up listening to his parents argue and banter constantly. Though when his friend's parents fought it was often a sign of trouble, that was simply how his parents worked with one another. It was like an ongoing inside joke the three of them shared. He knew his parents loved one another. His father once confided in him that Astoria was the only woman who could handle him, while his mother expressed that Draco was the only person who she had ever met that never left her bored, which was a quality that was most important to her.

"Fine, I suppose you're safe… for now," his father granted letting him go so that Scorpius lay between them.

"So, are you ready to go to Diagon Alley today?" Scorpius chirped happily, sitting up next to his mother.

"Oh… damn," his father cursed, slapping his hand over his forehead. "Do we have to? That place is going to crawling with people. The school owls got sent out this week!"

"Dad! You promised when you got back that you'd take me there!" Scorpius reminded urgently.

"I know, but can't we just…"

"Honestly Draco, take the boy! You did promise that you'd go look at books and broomsticks when you got back. And you don't want to teach our son that it is okay to go back on his promises, do you? Especially to his family?" his mother asked in a falsely pure voice.

"Yeah, Dad! Aren't you supposed to be setting a good model for me, the impressionable child?" Scorpius inquired, leaning softly against his mother. Draco sat up quickly, and stared back and forth between his wife and son.

"I don't care if you do look just like me, you are every bit as manipulative and maniacal as she is," his father pointed expressively.

"Yeah, he got the genes of mine that counted," Astoria replied affectionately, tussling her son's hair and planting a kiss on his temple.

"Oh, fine! I give in, I'll take you. But just to look at brooms and the book store, no place else!" his father said firmly, trying to get some kind of say in the situation.

"Alright!" Scorpius shouted, jumping up and down on the far side of the bed.

"How did I end up with a son who can outsmart me at age nine?" Draco lamented as he stood next to his wife.

"Oh, honey," Astoria said kindly, propping up on her knees on the bed and pulling him close to her by his night shirt. "It isn't very hard to outsmart you."

"Oh ha ha," he replied sarcastically, pushing her head against his and running his fingers roughly through her inky black hair. "But seriously, it's ridiculous!"

"Karma is a heartless bitch, I suppose," Astoria responded softly, watching her son jump happily on their bed.

"Yeah, well so's my wife," Draco stated, pulling her chin back over to face him. She smiled happily and embraced him in a deep and passionate kiss.

"Eww," Scorpius said softly, ending his romp on the bed. He shook his head and slid down. He was used to his parents' bouts of affection; it was the other side of their constant bickering. He made his way silently out the room and headed down to the kitchen. He had grown quite able to make his own breakfast.

(A/N: This is a little short story that has been rolling around in my head. I have an idea for a giant Draco/Astoria story that I am dying to write, which is why their relationship is so crazily defined here. I am determined however to finish my Percy story before I move on to any other long ones, but I just got an urge to write this tonight. The second and probably final chapter should be put up soon!)