Quid Pro Quo

Scorpius could have easily heard the raised voices even if he hadn’t been standing with his ear pressed to the drawing room door.

“I can’t believe you would let your son consort with a Potter!”

“Father, there’s nothing wrong with Lily Potter. She is a nice girl.”

“She’s his daughter! She’s a blood traitor!”

“My son has done nothing wrong.”

“Have you no pride? Does the name Malfoy mean nothing to you?”

“Father, don’t you think it’s about time we faced reality? Times have changed. The Dark Lord is dead and Potter is the one that saved us from that nightmare. Scorpius loves Lily Potter. You might as well get used to the idea because if he has his way, she will be a Malfoy in a few years time.”

“OVER MY DEAD BODY! I refuse to see our family disgraced. The Dark Lord may indeed be gone, but there are still those who uphold his purist beliefs. If you and your son insist upon defying me, do not expect my protection!”

Scor heard a glass break and footsteps coming toward the door. He slipped into the library and hid behind a large bookshelf at the back of the room. The footsteps continued down the hall. He slid down the wall facing a line of foul looking books. Most of the titles were in latin, but a few wore names like Deadly Magic for the Deceptively Devious and Advances Toward Annihilation—Inroads to the Purification of our Society.

Scor thought about what he had overheard. Lucius had always seemed a bit mental to him, but his words to Draco were those of a madman. Would he really kill his own son? His grandson? Having heard so many of the stories of diabolical deeds his grandfather participated in, he would not put it past the man.

He stood up and crept out of the dark library and down the hall to his room. Posters of the Tornado’s covered one wall reminding him that he would be missing this year’s game. A picture of Lily, James, and Al smiled at him from his bedside table. Lily waved and blew a kiss at him shyly.

He flopped down on his bed missing her so much it hurt. His father was right, though Scor wasn’t sure how Draco knew it. Scor had planned on asking Lily to be his girlfriend this summer. He was sure Mr. Potter couldn’t object. She would be fifteen this year. Yes, father, if I have my way, she will be my wife one day. He had thought initially that his love for Lily would wane through the years, but if anything it had only grown stronger the closer they had become.

The Potters were so much like family to him that he could conceive of no better plan than to make sure they became so. He stared at the mirror on his mahogany bedside table hoping she would call. He wanted to apologize for not being able to come, he wanted to see her beautiful smile, most of all he wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but that was not something you told a girl over a mirror.

“Scor.” He could see the red hair from his position on the bed. He reached over and picked up his mirror and looked into her brown eyes.

“Hey.”

“You okay?” He could see the worry in her expression.

“Yeah I guess. Sorry I didn’t get to come.”

“Me too. You’re going to miss a great game you know.”

Among other things, he thought.

“Guess Al and James will have to terrorize the other team without me.” She laughed and his pulse quickened.

“I really wanted to see you,” she said softly looking at something he couldn’t see in her lap.

“I wanted to see you too, Lily. It’s dull as tombs here. I miss all the excitement over at your place.” He saw her countenance fall.

“Yeah…it’s loads of fun here…,” she said with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

“Well look at it this way, you could be here,” he said looking around at his menacingly ornate bedroom. He looked back and saw her expression brighten. A mischievous look appeared where her frown had been moments before.

“Would you Dad let me!”

“Let you what?”

“Come visit you! If you can’t come here, maybe I could come there!” His heart started pounding in his chest. She can’t come here! Not with Lucius prowling around, but how could he tell her without hurting her feelings?

“I don’t know Lily.”

“Oh come on, it’ll be great! Don’t worry about there being nothing to do. I’m sure we’ll have loads of fun. You could show me that creek you told me about and…”

“Lily, I don’t think it’s a good time. I mean, I’d love to have you come, but…my family…it’s just…”

“I wouldn’t be in the way. I promise. I just want to be there for you like you’ve been for me.”

“Well…”

“It couldn’t hurt to ask.”

“Okay, I’ll ask, but don’t expect anything.” He saw her bouncing on her bed.

“Okay.”

“Promise you won’t get your hopes up?” The look on her face told him it was already too late.

“Promise.”

“Talk to you tomorrow then.”

“Goodnight Scor.”

“G’night Lily.”

He sat the mirror back on his table feeling a bit nauseous. How could he ask his father if Lily could visit? More importantly, how could he make sure his father said no?



The next morning he woke up early and ran down to his father’s office in his socks and pajamas. He hoped to catch his dad before he left for work. Just as he expected, Draco sat at the large mahogany desk reading the Daily Prophet with a scowl on his face.

“Father,” Scor spoke softly from the door.

“Scorpius,” Draco said looking up. “What are you doing up so early?”

Scor walked across the room and stood in front of the desk.

“I needed to ask you something. You don’t have to say yes…I mean it’s okay if you don’t want to…”

“Scorpius, why don’t you just ask me first.” His father gave him a brief smile.

“Well…Lily wants to come for a visit and I…”

“So the Potter brat wants to see how the other half lives?” Lucius’s cold voice pierced the atmosphere that had briefly existed between father and son. Draco stood his face dark.

“Father!” Scor turned to see the blond-haired devil smiling wickedly.

“You know I think you should invite her Scorpius.” Scor felt his stomach lurch. He wanted to hit the man, pound his face over and over.

“No, I don’t believe that is wise.” Draco hissed through clenched teeth.

“Oh come now Draco let the boy have his fun. How often does he get to invite a friend to visit? I insist.” The piercing stare Lucius shot at Draco chilled Scor. This wasn’t going as he had planned. He was sure his father would have understood and said no, but now…

“It’s okay. Maybe next year,” Scor said hoping to put an end to the glaring match between his father and grandfather.

“This year will be perfect. You will go this instant and send an invitation to your friend.” He looked back to his father noticing his fists were clenched and his eyes were flashing as he glared at Lucius. “NOW!”

Scorpius ran out of the room. What had he done? Could he possibly protect Lily from Lucius if she came? Maybe, and he hoped and prayed it would be so, maybe her parents won’t let her come. As he entered his room and went to his desk next to the window to find quill and parchment, he wished for something he never had before. He wished that he would not get to see Lily Potter this summer.