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July 2023 | Summer after Lyra’s first year at Hogwarts | The Orchard Cottage, Wiltshire, England
The Granger-Malfoys started the day with breakfast at 08:00 in the gardens. Scorpius, the eldest at 17, looked so much like his father with his platinum blonde hair but instead of it being straight, he had his mother’s curls and hazel eyes. He sat to his father’s left and asked, “Dad, can I get the new Nimbus 5000?”
Without looking up from his newspaper, Draco answered with a firm, “no.”
“But dad…” Scorpius whined.
“I said no, Scorp.”
Before Scorpius could further protest, his siblings and mother came out with coffee, tea, juice, fruits, and waffles, so he helped them set the table instead and thought he’d bring it up again some other time.
***
An hour later, Pyxis, the second eldest and Scorpius’ twin that has Hermione’s brown hair, but Draco’s straight gelled back style and grey eyes, knocked on the door to his father’s study.
“Come in,” Draco said without looking up from the parchment that he was reading.
Pyxis walked over to his father’s desk and requested, “Dad, I was wondering if you could buy me the complete set of Gulliver’s Travels for my own personal collection?”
Draco set the parchment and his glasses aside then looked at his son, “We already have those in the family library, Pyx.”
“But dad…”
“I said no, Pyx.”
“Fine,” Pyxis grumbled as he walked out of his father’s study.
***
Not even another hour passed and Phoenix, the middle child at 15 that is the exact replica of his mother except for the fact that he was sorted into Hufflepuff, was begging if he could go over to the Weasleys – of all places. Draco looked up to the ceiling and was silently asking Merlin for patience. What is with his children being so needy today?
Finally, he said, “Not today, son.”
“But dad…”
“I said no, Nix.” Draco went back to reviewing the contract he originally was looking at before his son came barging in.
***
After being cooped up in his study for most of the day, Draco felt his wand vibrate to let him know it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He stepped out of his study and went straight to the kitchen. His menu for the night: roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Ever since marrying Hermione Granger, The Golden Girl, Savior of the Wizarding World, Heroine of the Elves and other Magical Creatures, [insert other obnoxious titles to describe his wife] Draco learned to cook, clean, and repeat without the help of a house-elf.
At 7 in the evening, the Granger-Malfoys sat around the dining table ready for dinner. Lyra made a show out of cutting into her roast beef and sweetly commented on her father’s cooking, “Daddy, I have to say, your roast beef is always the best.”
Draco smiled fondly at his daughter, blinded by his favoritism towards the youngest and only girl of the family – not to mention his mini-me in all ways, especially being the Slytherin Princess. “Thank you, darling. That’s sweet of you to say.” He paused and gave his sons a stern look. “Unlike the other ones here.”
Scorpius rolled his eyes. “Dad, I haven’t had food poisoning in 17 years from all your cooking, so that counts as more than a compliment, right?”
Pyxis added, “exemplary, dad.”
Phoenix chimed in with a “wonderful, dad. As always.” He even gave his father a thumbs up while devouring the Yorkshire pudding.
Hermione just smiled in amusement while the boys tried to appease their father.
Lyra sniffed haughtily at her brothers and said, “Speaking of roast beef, daddy. Can you buy me one of those KitchenAid mixers for my baking?”
Without missing a beat, Draco answered, “Of course, darling. I’ll have it delivered tomorrow.”
Scorpius, Pyxis, and Phoenix all stood up in outrage and complained at the same time.
“Daaaaaaad!”
“What about me?”
“You always say yes to Lyra!”
Hermione elbowed Draco in the gut and he frowned at her in confusion. He mouthed, “What?”
She gestured to the other boys with her eyes as if she was saying, “sort this out.”
He shrugged and said, “Well, how could I say no to my little girl?”
Hermione rolled her eyes – might as well do damage control, she thought.
“Scorpius, if your academic scores improve, I’ll buy you that Nimbus 5000.”
Scorpius opened his mouth to object but Hermione lifted a dainty finger that meant, “don’t talk back. I’m not finished.”
“I know the school year is months away, but a Nimbus 5000 is a lot of galleons. Though your father and I can more than afford it, you still have to work hard for it. You can’t just give your all to quidditch.”
“Yes, mum,” Scorpius answered, seemingly satisfied with his mother’s condition.
Then Hermione turned to her second son, “Pyxis, we already have Gulliver’s Travels in our library. Find something else that’s not already there and I’ll buy you those.”
“How come my grades have to improve and Pyxis doesn’t have to do anything?” Scorpius complained to his mother.
“Really, brother?” Pyxis raised an eyebrow to express sarcasm, “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
“Okay, fine. You’re a Ravenclaw, but all you do is read and study. Why don’t you try out for quidditch when school starts, then mum can buy you your own set of Gillian’s Travels or whatever.” Scorpius crossed his arms in defiance.
“It’s Gulliver’s Travels, you ignorant fool,” Pyxis hissed.
“Whatever,” Scorpius looked at his parents and said, “You, guys, said we had to try different things in school, right? Then I say Pyxis should try sports.”
Scorpius was trying so hard to hide his smile, ‘cause he could see the wheels turning in his parents’ heads and feel Pyxis’ murderous glare.
“Okay. Pyxis has to try out for quidditch, then I’ll buy him his own set. But! You don’t do anything half-assed.”
“Mum! It’s my last year at Hogwarts. I’m going to be Head Boy and what about my NEWTS?” Pyxis whined.
“Darling, I didn’t say you have to join quidditch. I just said you’d try out for it.” Hermione gave him a motherly smile and patted his cheek.
“But weren’t you the one who detested flying on a broomstick? That’s kind of hypocritical of you, isn’t it?” Pyxis could sometimes be a little vindictive and had trouble holding his tongue, sometimes even forgetting who he was talking to.
“I’d watch what I was saying if I were you, son.” Draco glowered at Pyxis.
“Sorry,” Pyxis mumbled.
“I don’t think your mother heard that, boy.” Draco’s voice boomed and Hermione laid her hand on his, knowing he was keeping his anger in check. It was times like these that she was reminded of Lucius, but she knew he would never hurt their children as his father did to him when he was just a boy.
“Sorry, mum,” Pyxis said more loudly, afraid of his father’s outburst.
Hermione gave her son a side hug, kissed his temple, and said, “your father and I only want what’s best for you and we want to teach you that studying isn’t everything.” She looked at Scorpius who was sitting at Draco’s left, “quidditch isn’t everything either. It’s good to have many options once you’ve graduated from Hogwarts, ‘cause you never know what’s going to happen. Alright, boys?”
“Yes, mum.” Both boys looked so different, but she knew rivalries were strong between them. Surprisingly, Pyxis was the short-tempered one out of the two, and Scorpius being the reckless boy that he is, knew how to goad his twin brother to the point of a volcanic outburst.
Once the twins were sorted out, Hermione looked at her mirror image, her middle child, Phoenix. She wondered how a sweet boy could have come from Draco Malfoy and herself when they both were far from ‘nice’ and ‘amicable.’ Throughout the whole ordeal, Phoenix remained calm and impartial from his brothers’ squabbling. She smiled affectionately at him when she said, “Phoenix, love, we’ll ask Aunt Susan and Uncle Ron if you can sleep over tomorrow.”
There were no complaints from the twins as they found no fault in their brother’s request and if there was anyone who could keep the peace between the siblings, it would be Phoenix.
Finally, Hermione addressed her youngest and only daughter, “Lyra, sweetheart, I love you, but please stop sucking up to your father.” She smirked before adding, “In fact, I recall you saying along the lines of your Grandma Molly’s was the ‘best roast beef you’ve ever had' the other night.”
The boys were hiding snickers when Lyra let out a fake appalled, “mum!”
“Now, finish up your dinner then you all can help me clean up.”
“I still get my KitchenAid mixer, though. Right, mum?” Lyra looked at her with puppy dog eyes and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll tell you what, if you help Grandma Molly cook tomorrow at your Uncle Harry’s birthday, then your dad and I will buy you the KitchenAid mixer that you want.”
Lyra’s jaw dropped.
“But, mum! The Potter-Weasley bunch has like a thousand people in their family. Grandma Molly and I alone can’t do it.”
“Darling, a thousand is an exaggeration.”
Draco scoffed but hid it in a cough when Hermione glared at him.
“Besides, your dad will help, too.”
Draco sputtered, “wha-what?!”
Hermione gave him a Cheshire smile and said, “yes, darling. I volunteered you at The Burrow tomorrow.”
“We’ll talk about this later.” He whispered in her ear. Though, Draco already knows fighting his wife on this will be futile.
***
That same night, Draco and Hermione were in bed doing some ‘light’ reading. Draco’s choice was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Hermione’s was her all-time favorite, Hogwarts: A History.
Draco knew whenever Hermione picked up that book, she was feeling reminiscent, especially when he heard a long, nostalgic sigh.
“What’s wrong, love?” Draco put the book down, took off his reading glasses, and placed them on his side table, then grabbed Hermione by the waist to pull her closer.
Hermione chuckled and reached over to Draco’s side table so she could put her book on top of his. Once her book was in a safe spot, she snuggled closer to Draco’s chest.
“To answer your question, it’s just amazing how we have four kids sorted into all different houses. Talk about inter-house unity.”
Draco kissed her forehead and laid his chin on top of her head.
“Were you surprised?”
“To be honest, we already knew which houses they were going to be in before they were old enough to be invited to Hogwarts, so not really.”
“Then what are you thinking about?”
“I’m just worried about them, I guess. Especially Phoenix.”
“What’s there to worry about? He’s been at Hogwarts for 4 years.”
“Yes, but I feel like he hasn’t found his passion or niche. Scorpius has quidditch. Pyxis has academics. Lyra has cooking and baking, though I feel like she’s going to make it a business some day – truly her father’s daughter. But I feel like Phoenix is just floating around keeping the peace between his siblings.”
“It’s because he’s hanging out with that Potter girl and Weasley boy.”
Hermione rolled her eyes.
“The Potter girl’s name is Lily, and the Weasley boy is Sven.”
“Yes, yes. Those two.”
Hermione shook her head in amusement at her husband.
“Enough of those two. And don’t worry so much about Phoenix, he'll find his ‘niche’ as you call it. Anyway, you were great today, love.”
Hermione furrowed her brows in confusion.
“I know I can be tough on the boys and I’m glad they have you to back them when I’m being their stubborn dear old dad.”
“You spoil Lyra too much.”
“And that’s why you're Minister for Magic, being the diplomat and all.”
Draco looked at her in awe.
“Only one of the many reasons why I married you, love.” He laid a searing kiss on her lips hoping she’d forget that she volunteered him to cook at Potter’s birthday of all days at The Burrow tomorrow.
When they parted, Hermione whispered against his lips, “you're still cooking for Harry’s birthday tomorrow.”
He groaned and she just smiled.
“I love you, Draco.”
“I love you, too.”
There must be a blue moon tomorrow because Draco Malfoy is cooking for Harry bloody Potter, The Boy Wonder’s, birthday.