Chapter Text
Two men and one speech can’t change the world overnight, but they can certainly make a dent. RBF gets flooded with funding applications from groups seeking to change policy regarding privacy and defamation as well as groups seeking to research surrogacy and familial magic, and even male pregnancy (much to Mr Malfoy’s delight). Scorpius and Albus are flooded with owls, opinion pieces, and Parliament messages expressing their support and praising their bravery in going against the mould.
The greatest ripples of their actions are felt closest to Scorpius and Albus. Rose quits her job at Gringotts to travel and take on philanthropic work with Piero Zabini. This scandalizes Franky, who, after nonstop complaints that he’s the only one in the group ‘without a Slytherin hottie,’ gets Ashley Kennedy’s number from Scorpius and starts what he calls a ‘flirtationship’ with her.
After a long heart-to-heart with their mum and Coach Wood, James stops doing whatever his official job was and accepts an offer to be a reserve Chaser for the Chudley Cannons. He also comes clean to her about the real reason he was always so keen to visit France, and the Minister has an epic fit over both of her sons having illicit affairs behind her back.
Mr Malfoy fires Teddy after giving him the scolding of his life for allowing his charge to sneak around and bringing men to his son’s bedroom. To which Teddy responds, “It was only one man,” and Mr Malfoy yells back between stinging hexes, “That’s one too many!” Harry scoops Teddy up immediately to take over Al’s duties for PotterPro, and Teddy enjoys himself so much with the products and the testing that he never speaks about the Aurors again. He and James take over Rose’s tiny flat in Diagon, which they swear is perfect for the two of them despite its size.
To everyone’s surprise, there isn’t much of an effect on the Minister’s re-election campaign. Yes, she has to answer questions about her ‘deviant son’ and loses votes both because of Albus (from the more moderate Sacred Values folks) and for her new connection to the Malfoys (from everyone else). But the overwhelming numbers of young people from Al and Lily’s generation that suddenly become involved in politics make up for the lost votes and James’ absence in the campaign.
After getting over the initial shock of being outdone by Draco Malfoy at a press conference involving their sons, Harry Potter is delighted by his son’s union. He keeps daring the boys to visit Neville at Hogwarts so they can share the news with Snape and Dumbledore’s portraits—Albus Severus Malfoy, imagine what they’ll say when they hear that name! He also refuses to call Al anything other than Mr Malfoy, especially since after sharing a bottle of the man’s top-shelf whiskey with him, Harry now calls Scorpius’ dad Draco. And much to Al’s chagrin, PotterPro sales skyrocket, beating the sales records from his photoshoot incident with the Scamander twins.
For their part, Albus and Scorpius both move into the manor, into separate bedrooms—for propriety, Mr Malfoy says. Yet they share a bathroom that connects their rooms and sneak into each other’s beds at night, so Al doesn’t understand the point. Once they settle into life together at the manor, Scorpius pours himself into his potions mastery applications. He has the NEWTs and recommendation letters, the only thing he has to do is complete the essays and the obscenely complicated test brews universities send to applicants to gauge their skills.
The only one who seems to have walked away burned by the news is Mr Malfoy. After his steadfast defense of Scorpius at the press conference, the Sacred Values party released a statement declaring Mr Malfoy unfit to be a figurehead in the party. Forced to step down, Draco Malfoy instead chose to focus his energy on ‘shaping up’ the next ‘Malfoy Heir’: Albus. As Scorpius begins his applications, Albus begins to shadow Mr Malfoy and finds that running an estate is not that different from running a business—it's challenging and exhilerating. Except Mr Malfoy’s dealings are far more nuanced and strategic than Albus and Harry’s cobbled-together business plans.
About a month into their new lives, Mr Malfoy interrupts their breakfast with a pointed clearing of his throat.
“Boys,” he starts. “We have reached a point in Albus’ training where discretion is key.” He pauses dramatically to make eye contact with Scorpius and then Albus. “Which is why I must ask that Albus make an Unbreakable Vow.”
“Father! You couldn’t possibly—“
“That’s fine,” Albus says calmly. It’s only been a month, but he’s starting to understand Draco Malfoy’s games.
“Excellent. Scorpius, would you do the honors?” Mr Malfoy asks nonchalantly, as though he’s asking Scorpius to cut the first slice of cake. Scorpius looks at them warily and takes out his wand. Albus clasps Mr Malfoy’s forearm just as Mr Malfoy does the same, and Scorpius says the incantation.
“Albus Severus Potter, the financial knowledge you gain from here on out will never be shared with or in the company of anyone other than those in this room, their descendants, and any necessary solicitors or Gringotts employees,” Mr Malfoy says sternly.
“I, Albus Severus Potter, will never share the financial knowledge I gain from here on out with or in the company of anyone other than those in this room, their descendants, and any necessary solicitors or Gringotts employees,” Albus replies coolly.
Scorpius’ magic swirls around their arms and settles, marking the Vow complete. Mr Malfoy grins. “Excellent, excellent! Come along, Albus, there’s much you need to learn.” Mr Malfoy practically bounces off his chair and hurries to his study, leaving a dazed Scorpius and Albus behind at the breakfast table. Albus chuckles as he rushes from his seat and runs after him, Scorpius’ laughter echoing behind him.
When he reaches Mr Malfoy’s study, Albus sees the man sitting at his desk holding a large, leather-bound ledger to his chest.
“I understand you’re interested in philanthropy,” he says, clearly containing the excitement in his voice.
“Yes,” Albus says carefully.
“Part of being the Malfoy Heir, the head of the Malfoy family, is handling the family’s philanthropic efforts and political interests.” Al tenses at the words. Though he’s gladly joined his fellow snakes at Malfoy Manor and is ready to become a Malfoy, he never signed up to go against his mum and dad politically. He tries not to scowl as he takes a seat across Mr Malfoy. The man smiles at his hesitation and hands over the ledger. Albus opens it to the latest record and his eyes widen. He reads it once, twice, then looks up to see a grinning Mr Malfoy, then reads the page again.
Justice for Elves 40,000 galleons
Werewolf Welfare 50,000 galleons
Validation for Veelas 30,000 galleons
The list goes on. He flips through earlier entries, they show the same thing. Albus feels his jaw drop.
“You… you’ve been funding the groups that fund my mum,” he whispers.
Mr Malfoy smirks.
“But… but you were practically the head of the Sacred Values party?” he asks, reeling in shock.
Mr Malfoy’s smirk turns into a kind smile, the likes of which Albus has never seen on him before. “After the war, I swore I’d do anything I could to right the wrongs I made in the war and to keep people like Voldemort from taking power. As the Malfoy Heir, with all this money and power I realized I could… keep those that aided Voldemort in check and sabotage them as needed. I couldn’t fund your mum directly, but I could damn well make sure she received the funds she needed in another way.”
Albus stares, mouth agape.
“Also, do you think your mother would have been as prepared for her arguments at the Wizengamot if she thought I’d go easy on her?” he continues with a wicked grin.
And Albus realizes he’s fucking right. Coach Wood and his mum strategize specifically for the ‘Malfoy factor’ which has more often than not proved necessary when going up against the Sacred Values berks. He needs a minute to reset since he feels like his world just turned upside down.
When he finally regains his composure, Albus says, “How… how do I keep this going?”
“That’s exactly what I hoped you’d ask,” Mr Malfoy responds, a full smirk back on his face.
Turns out that Slytherin sabotage involves far more maths than Albus expected. His rudimentary balance sheets are not sophisticated enough to manage both estate matters and the extensive philanthropic records Mr Malfoy keeps throwing at him. There’s so much more he wishes he knew, but he doesn’t even know where to start. And he certainly won’t start by asking Mr Malfoy, who only has patience for about an hour of instruction per day. It’s frustrating and daunting, and Albus finds himself dreaming of Muggle finance courses and cursing Hogwarts for not teaching them anything beyond magic—as if they didn’t have to pay taxes.
It’s a beautiful fall day, and Scorpius has dragged Albus for a walk around the manor grounds. Vibrant red and yellow leaves crunch at their feet and their hands are linked. The chill in the air gives the tip of Scorpius’ nose a hint of rose that Albus can’t help but kiss and kiss. They reach the pond, the one where that photo of Scorpius was taken, and the water is the same color as the stones on their matching rings. They find the lone bench along the pond and sit facing each other. Energy and happiness radiate from Scorpius, melting away any frustration or concern Al might have brought with him.
He bites his lip and takes Albus’ hands in his. “I bought a flat in Edinburgh,” he says.
“What?”
“I bought a flat in Edinburgh,” he repeats, his grin steadfast. “I got into the potions mastery program at the Stinchcombe School of Potions in Edinburgh.”
“Merlin’s tits, Scorp, that’s incredible!” Albus hollers, pride and love filling his heart.
“Yes, and there are Muggle schools there where you can learn finance so you can do the heir things without tearing your hair out,” Scorpius says with a hopeful smile, and Albus’ jaw drops.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes!”
“I can come with you?” Albus asks.
“Only if you want to,” Scorpius says with a smile.
“Of course I want to! But… but what about your father and the heir lessons and all that?” Albus asks, hoping against all hope that they can make this happen.
“He’ll be fine, and he’ll be here when we finish school. We have the rest of our lives to be the Malfoys—to be the heir and manage the estate and all of that. Let’s do this first, together. We have time.”
Albus grins and wraps Scorpius in his arms. His very own Ophiuchus; his star that chose his own constellation and wears it proudly. They’re both so full of life, and love, and purpose—all of which they found together. Scorpius pulls away and takes Albus’ face in his hands. He’s glowing, peaceful and excited and so so fond. More beautiful than the boy in the lake, or the boy in the river he slyly asked to marry. Scorpius kisses Albus deeply, a kiss that feels like a new beginning. But also like forever, like his, like home.