I flinched as Ron slammed his hand down on the steering wheel, creating a loud and dreadful unending beep all around us.

"For gods sake, Ron! At least warn me next time you're going to do that!" I glared at him hotly.

"These bloody gits shouldn't be allowed on the road!" He roared, at the same time as angrily sticking his middle finger up at a passing car. "Don't they know how to use a bloody roundabout?!"

"I can't believe Hermione allows you to behave like this when driving," I muttered, holding onto the passenger door for dear life as we swung hard and unexpectedly into another lane.

"She doesn't usually let me drive, to be honest," Ron said, blaring the horn once again, for no apparent reason I could figure out.

"I can't imagine why."

Ron had picked me up in Arthur's old Ford Anglia, which was - surprisingly - still going strong after he had rescued it from the Forbidden Forest. We were off to collect Rose and Albus from Kings Cross station, both of whom were returning home for the Christmas holidays.

I was anxious to see Albus again. I hadn't heard as much from him as I would have liked. Hermione said Rose wrote to them at least once a week whereas I could count on one hand how many letters I had received from Albus all term.

And all he had written about was Scorpius.

Just as I had promised Draco, I had written to Albus asking him about the trouble he and Scorpius had been getting into, but the reply I received was vague and dismissive.

You wouldn't understand, Mum. Scorpius is the only one who gets it. He knows what it's like to have a parent who everyone talks about.

It had hurt me. He never seemed bothered before about my name or status. In fact, he used to love hearing my hero stories about how I awesomely saved the world with a stick. It had been his favourite bedtime story.

At least... I thought it had.

"It's different when you start a new school," Ron shrugged when I confided my concerns. "And you remember how cruel kids can be from that age. I'm sure he'll settle in once he makes more friends."

"It seems that he only wants to be friends with Scorpius." I muttered, turning to stare out of the window as I anxiously chewed my bottom lip.

"Malfoy's son, eh?" Ron had chuckled, as if this was all highly amusing to him. Except, of course, he didn't know the half of it. "What is it with you Potters? You couldn't keep away from that git when we were at Hogwarts, either."

"RON! LOOK - THE TURNING!" I bellowed as we flew past the entrance to Kings Cross Station.

I was thrown forcibly forwards in my seat as Ron slammed hard on the brakes. Horns blared angrily around us as he put the car immediately into reverse and started backing up on the dual carriageway.

"There!" Ron beamed proudly at me once we had parked up haphazardly next to a bus.

"Err, I think this is a bus stop, Ron," I said, wiping the sweat from my brow and thanking the gods that I was still alive.

Ron looked around and shrugged. "It'll do. Now, come on! Let's go get those kiddos!"

***

"Daddy!"

A grinning red-haired girl in Gryffindor robes came flying off the train, running into Ron's outstretched arms.

"Hey, my Rosie-bear," Ron said, his voice muffled in her hair as he squeezed her tight. "How your mum and I have missed you."

My heart melting in ball of goo, I looked up and down at the bodies spilling out of the compartment doors, eager for my own parent-child reunion, but failed to see any sight of Albus.

"Is Albus far behind you?" I asked Rose once she broke away from her father, her cheeks flushed red from the cold air.

A slight frown creased her brow as she shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't know, he only ever talks to that Scorpius, now."

The bitterness in her tone shocked me; Albus and Rose had been so close before they left for Hogwarts.

"Oh... okay." I said, feeling slightly thrown as Ron and I exchanged perturbed looks. "I'll just wander down a bit further and then see if I can find him."

Ron touched my arm briefly, offering me a reassuring smile. "We'll wait for you by the car," he murmured quietly.

Walking alongside the scarlet train, my eyes swept over the faces of the many students, all looking pleased to be reunited with their families. I suddenly ached to hold my son in the same way that Ron had held his daughter.

And then I spotted two boys standing side by side dressed in Slytherin robes: one with hair resembling my own raven colour, and the other whose mane was as bright as the sun.

I picked up the pace as I started towards them, calling "Al!" at the exact same time as someone shouted "Scorp!".

I glanced to my left, and there was Draco, striding across the platform towards the exact same spot as me. To our sons.

Our eyes met briefly, but we did not stop or acknowledge the other, concentrating instead on reaching our boys.

Skidding to a halt in front of him, I held my arms outstretched to Albus, keen to greet him with a hug. But he just stood, scowling at me as he refused to move from Scorpius's side, leaving my arms open and empty.

I slowly lowered my arms, trying not to let the disappointment get to me as Draco drew up beside me, sounding slightly breathless.

"Good term, Scorp?" he asked his son who, unlike mine, greeted his father with a huge grin and a loving, albeit brief, hug.

I could not help but notice Draco's eyes dart curiously to Albus.

"Where's Mum?" Scorpius asked, stepping back, and glancing around as though she might suddenly appear.

"She's at home, Scorp," Draco replied, delicately lowering his voice, "it's too cold for her to come out in this."

The disappointment in Scorpius's face made my heart twist for the poor boy, and I wondered if he knew just how ill his mother was.

"Al," I said firmly, not wanting to intrude on Draco and Scorpius's conversation any further, "come and say hello, please. I've missed you."

Sighing heavily, as though I had just asked him to tidy his room, Albus grudgingly stepped forwards and allowed me to finally hug him. However, he remained stiff and uncooperative.

"Dad, can Albus come and stay with us during the holidays?"

Draco and I simultaneously froze at Scorpius's unexpected request.

"Oh, yes please," Albus said at once, his face lighting up as he looked up at me eagerly. "Mum, can I?"

Oh, fuck. This was so awkward. I did not know what to say, let alone think.

"Not while your mother's poorly, Scorp," Draco said hurriedly, shooting me a nervous glance. "Maybe another time, hey?"

Wow, Draco, what a wonderfully tactful way of saying over your wife's dead body.

"Come on, Al," I said, sighing as I reached for his trunk, "say your goodbyes, now. Uncle Ron is waiting for us in the car."

Albus frowned, looking momentarily confused. "Grampy's car?"

I nodded, and his face instantly lit up again.

"Cool! Are we going to fly it back? Hey- Scorp!" he called loudly back over to his friend, "I forgot to tell you - my Grampy's got a flying car!"

"Albus! Shhh!" I gritted through clenched teeth, looking furtively around for any eavesdroppers. It really was not a good look for the Head Auror to be seen associating with law breakers.

But the only person who appeared to have shown any interest in my son's words was Draco.

"A quick word, Potter," he demanded, his eyes narrowing furiously as he brusquely beckoned his head at me.

Albus and Scorpius immediately took the chance to break free from us and put their heads together in animated discussion whilst Draco grabbed my arm and hastily pulled me to the side.

"Uncle Ron? Grampy?" he hissed in my ear, "And why, Potter, does our son think he is related to the Weasley's?!"

My mouth dropped open, not quite believing the audacity of this git.

"Because they ARE his family," I said with furious indignation. "The Weasley's took me in as their own when I had no one. They are as good as my parents, and Ron is as good as my brother. Blood means nothing when it comes to family."

I glared defiantly up at him, daring him to argue as I angrily snatched my arm back which he still had a fierce hold of.

But instead of arguing, his face appeared to fall slightly, and he swallowed, seemingly at a loss for words.

"I'm sorry," he said, his face full of regret as he tore his eyes away from mine to glance over to where our boys were locked deep in conversation. "I'm sorry for everything."

"I know you are," I muttered quietly, following his gaze, "and so am I. But from now on, we've got to do what's right by them... whatever it takes."

The platform emptied around us as we stood side by side, watching as our sons said their goodbyes; neither of them aware of their special connection.

A connection that tied Draco and I together - forever until the end of time.

***