Chapter Text
Scorpius bounced on the balls of his feet, Hogwarts letter clutched in his hand. Not that he needed the letter to enter the school, but neither Harry nor Draco had been able to pry it from his fingers since he received it. They had gone into Diagon during a lull so less people recognized them (Harry still didn’t enjoy the crowds despite them generally calming after the first year or two he had ‘returned’) and Draco couldn’t even deny that they had spoiled Scorpius with whatever he wanted.
Now as they stood at the entrance to Kings Cross, Scorpius’ trunk and his new owl on a trolly, Draco couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy. He could remember the first time he boarded the train, prepared and ready to become best friends with anyone influential -- starting with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Next to him, Harry slipped his hand into Draco’s own and gave him a tight squeeze. Draco smiled at the feeling of the simple band wrapped around his fourth finger, knowing that his choices --no matter how dire-- had led to this eventually. He might not have had Harry when they were eleven, but he had the man he grew up to be now.
“Ready to send him off?” Harry asked, reaching for the trolly with his free hand. “If you make him wait any longer, he might explode.”
“I just want a few more minutes,” Draco pleaded.
Harry laughed, tugging him along. “He isn’t going to give you a few more minutes.”
Sure enough, Scorpius had bound ahead and was pacing in front of the entrance, impatiently waiting for his fathers. He waved at them. “Come on! Papa, make him go faster!”
Draco could still remember the day Scorpius first called Harry ‘papa’ -- a simple April morning with no other real significance. Harry had placed down a stack of pancakes and asked Scorpius if he wanted syrup. The boy had nodded and said, “Yes, Papa” and never looked back from the name.
Harry motioned for Scorpius to go forward and the boy grinned before darting through the barrier. Harry then pushed the cart with one hand, tugging Draco along behind him. The bustle of the platform was chaotic enough that Draco wasn’t too worried about anyone causing any trouble. Even during the height of Voldemort’s reign, parents were more worried about getting their children on the train rather than who they were sharing the platform with.
Still, he couldn’t help but glance around, trying to place old classmates. Before he could get too lost in it, Harry tugged at his hand and then nodded toward Scorpius. Draco gave him a hesitant smile before letting go and moving around the trolly to kneel in front of his son.
“Hey, Scorpius... How’re you feeling?”
It took a moment for Scorpius’ attention to focus back on him, but the smile never left his face. “Nervous. Excited... Scared?”
“All natural, I promise.” Draco found himself adjusting Scorpius’ light jacket, not sure what else to do with his hands. “Remember all that your Papa and I taught you, okay? And remember, don’t ever be afraid to approach your head of house with any issues.”
“I know. And I won’t forget to owl you if I need help.” Scorpius turned at a sharp whistle. “Dad, I gotta go...”
“So you do.” Draco pulled him in for a tight hug. “I’m proud of you no matter what happens, okay? And no matter what house.”
“Because they all have good qualities.” Scorpius looked over to Harry. “Loyalty is just as strong as bravery, wit, and ambition.”
Harry nodded, eyes suspiciously wet. “That’s right. Don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
“I promise.” Scorpius gave Draco one last hug before running to do the same to Harry.
It didn’t take long after that for Harry and Draco to be standing there, waving as the bright, red train left the station on its journey to Hogwarts. They lingered even after most of the parents left, leaning against another peacefully. It would be strange returning to what would seem like an empty house, but Draco was glad he had Harry.
Harry snorted suddenly, drawing Draco out of his thoughts. He shook his head, tugging them back toward the entrance. “Sorry, but I just... I thought I was done remembering things.”
The lost memories hadn’t come all at once and they usually needed a catalyst, but over time Harry had gained enough of them back that he swore he hadn’t felt as if he were missing anything. But there were still moments like this where memories seemed to jump out at random. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry’s waist, hoping it was something actually funny this time.
“Share with the class?”
Harry tilted his head, as if that would help him get a clearer thought. Draco was used to him doing it (and no, he would never admit he thought it was endearing). “I think it was third-year? Your arm was injured from an animal I can’t remember right now. But you sent me the most ridiculous note in class.”
Draco scoffed. “Of course you would remember the time I was horribly maimed by one of Hagrid’s beasts.”
“Are you going to let me compliment your charm work or not?”
“Hm.” Draco broke apart as they re-entered the Muggle world. “Is it a true compliment or are you just going to mock my drawing skills?”
“I would never mock your skills, any of them.” Harry nudged him. “Even with the insult the image showed, I was impressed with what you managed to accomplish. Not just with making the drawing move, but the origami bird as well.”
“Oh, please.”
“I’m serious. I kept that until... Well, I guess until I disappeared.” Harry stopped them so he could face Draco, framing his face with his hands. “I don’t even know why I kept it, but I guess it was our first love letter.”
If Draco weren’t already married to the man, he might have gotten down on one knee right in the middle of the damn station. Instead, he simply moved forward to press a short kiss to Harry’s lips, still elated that he could just do that whenever he pleased.
“That isn’t a love letter,” Draco insisted, “but I can sure as hell show you a better one at home.”
Harry grinned. “What are we waiting for, then?”
Draco returned Harry’s grin, thankful he had gotten a second chance with him.