Work Text:
Scorpius finds the interesting, unusual book in Dad’s study. Curiosity inspires him to pluck it off the desk like a thief in the night.
Alone in his room, he opens the book in wonder. He can’t feel any magic coming from the pages, yet it feels like this book is most certainly something special. Why else would Dad have it on his desk?
He’s entranced with the pictures in the book. All the drawings are still and unmoving. They remind him of the paintings and pictures he’s seen when Mum and Dad take him to Muggle museums. He never thought he’d find anything like it here at home, nestled in the manor.
It looks like a story about a boy who goes on adventures. But the boy doesn’t fly with a broom, instead the boy rides a flock of birds to another planet.
With little warning, Mum’s voice cuts through the silence of the room. “Are you ready for bed?” She calls out.
Startled, he scrambles to cover up the book he stole from Dad’s study with a pillow.
“Now what do you have there, Scorp?” She swoops down to give him a hug and peers over his shoulder.
Reluctantly, Scorpius reveals the book.
Her breath catches. “I thought I lost this years ago,” she whispers.
“Mum?” He sees the look of awe on her face, not quite comprehending.
“When I was little, this was one of my very favorite books.” With reverence, she picks it up and joins him on his bed. “Your grandma would read this story to me all the time.”
“I lost this book back in ‘97 when…” She carefully turns a page. Then another. And another. Her voice trails off, fingers tracing a handwritten inscription on one of the opening pages.
For my darling Hermione— This book is full of imagination and adventure. Love, Mum.
Scorpius panics when he sees Mum tear up.
“I didn’t mean to steal this important book!” He blurts out in a rush then hugs her and squeezes tightly.
“What do you mean you stole it?” He looks up and realizes she isn’t upset, she is happy despite the glassy look in her eyes. “This book has been missing for many, many years.”
“I may have stolen the book off of Dad’s desk,” he admits.
“What’s all this about stealing?” Dad enters the room and joins them, but freezes when his eyes land on the book.
He watches Dad stammer. “Ah, that. Well, you once mentioned it. So, I thought…”
Scorpius starts to feel a bit bad, because maybe it was supposed to be a surprise for Mum. He barely has a moment to sit with that feeling before Mum launches herself at both him and Dad pulling them into a big hug.
“Oh, it’s absolutely wonderful,” she exclaims with a bright smile. Dad is now smiling too. “We must read it together, tonight!”
At that, Scorpius perks up and is giddy with excitement. They tuck him into bed. Mum beams at Dad then begins to read the opening lines, “Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book…”
He doesn’t know how the book was lost, and doesn’t know how it was found, but he sure is happy he took it from Dad’s desk and now gets to read this very important book with his family.