I can't believe I really did it! I wrote something!
This was written in response to the new bi-daily prompts by faynia.

Title: Fathers
Author: chris
Pairing: none, AS/S friendship
Word Count: 900
Rating: G

Summary: Not everyone is happy about Albus and Scorpius friendship



"Well, if you could accuse someone of being downright evil, it would be him."

"Albus, don't listen to your uncle, he's had a bit too much to drink." Harry Potter said, walking past the couch where his youngest son sat next to his oldest friend. He ruffled the boy's short hair and leant in close to whisper, "I'm sure that Scorpius is a really nice boy."

Albus Severus Potter, 11 years old and home for his first chrismas after beginning Hogwarts, only nodded shortly and directed the gaze of his bright green eyes back towards Ron Wesley. He could be quite a stubborn little boy if it was necessary and in this he was determined to not back down.

"I can't say anything about Draco Malfoy, as I have never met him properly, but if you can judge a person by the way they bring up their kids, I'd say that he must be a very good man." Albus pronounced clearly and quite loud in the unexpected quiet of the Potter's living room.

Stunned silence followed his words and Albus looked around the room, feeling the need to take in the reactions of his family.

His father smiled at him, no surprise there, he had been the first to know about his friendship with Scorpius Malfoy and his mother frowned a little sad like she always did when he talked about Scorpi. James only rolled his eyes, it had taken a bit but he at least ignored Scorpius now whenever they crossed paths at Hogwarts and Rose had her "I've known it all the time" face on, as if she expected to be vindicated in what she had sprouted from the very first moment Albus had started talking to Scorpius on the train in summer. 'Bla, Malfoys are dark wizards, they were Death eaters, you can never trust them', ... on and on it had gone until luckily the Sorting Hat had separated them both in different houses.


More interesting were the reactions of the Wesley part of the family, and quite colourful at that.
Albus turned his head from one red head to the next, each one of those with red hair colour seemed determined to put a new shade of purple onto their faces.

Following that short blessed silence was what Albus thought to himself probably the loudest shouting match to ever take place in their home. Everyone seemed to start yelling at the same time and the few sentences he managed to understand went all along the same lines:

“He was a Death Eater!”
“Wriggled his way out of Azkaban.”
“… tried to kill me!”


And then suddenly, silence again.

Albus started to say “Wha …” when he noticed that he was unable to speak. From the look of it, so was everyone else and Uncle Ron looked about ready to explode next to him.

A hand settled on Albus shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. When he looked up, he saw his father standing behind him, one hand on his shoulder and the other hand held his wand.

He smiled sadly and started talking.
“I am sorry that I had to resort to this but I won’t have this kind of talk in my house anymore. The war is over, has been for more than twenty years and it’s time to let old anger and grudges die. I am very glad and happy that my son and the son of Draco Malfoy have managed to overcome prejudice and are friends.”

Albus could only stare openmouthed at his father, no not his father, Harry Potter.
This must have been the way he had looked like when he did all those cool and heroic things that he had only ever read about. Determined and serious. Not at all the funny and easygoing manner that he usually had at home.

Harry continued, “Scorpius Malfoy is not his father just like Draco Malfoy is not his father. Whatever wrongs Lucius Malfoy did in his lifetime, you all know that he paid the price for it.
Draco Malfoy was judged innocent by the Wizengamot, you all know that as well. Perhaps he is not the most likable guy but he is, like Albus said, a good man. He was a kid then, Merlin, like we all were!
He did what he had to do to keep his family safe and alive. Does that make him evil? He was scared, who wasn’t?
And most important and something you, Ron should be really glad about, he did save our lives. Or have you all forgotten about our visit to Malfoy Manor?”
Ron looked only confused while Aunt Hermione had opened her mouth as if to say something but the Silencing Spell they were all still under didn’t let her.
“I am disappointed that my children have to witness such intolerance. I thought we were better than that. And one last thing: I have invited Scorpius Malfoy here to stay with us after chrismas till school starts again and if you are unable to behave like adults and show common courtesy while he stays with us then it will be better if you don’t visit here at all.”

With that Harry took his hand from Albus’ shoulder and offered him his hand. “Come on, Al, let’s take a walk while the family calms down. James, Lily? Want to join us?”
Without waiting for a response from his children, who were almost running to join him at the door, Harry Potter turned around and left the room.