Draco almost feels badly for clearly distressing Ronald Weasley so much – it’s not as though the children are in immediate danger, at least not to their lives. (And Rose, even less danger than Scorpius; Draco is under no illusions that should their transgression be discovered, Rose will face a far lighter penalty than will Scorpius, for all that breaking those laws was her idea.) But he’s too worried for his own son to focus on that– and furthermore it’s Weasley, so any guilt that empathy might have inspired in him is faint and fleeting.
At least those sacred words – it’s about the children – are enough to get him inside; say what one might about Ronald Weasley (and Draco could give quite an oration about the man’s flaws and shortcomings, should anyone ask) but at least his priorities are in the right place where his children are concerned. It’s the thing that turned the neutrality of disinterest and distance between them into an awkward, uneasy true over these last few years: their children are friends, so they have to deal with one another. Never like this, though…
Draco slides inside, smoothing his robes more out of nervous habit than from concern that Weasley, of all people, is going to judge his fashion choices as wanting – although they are, today; Draco is prepared for a journey to an unfamiliar world. He’s dressed for the occasion in dull gray robes that reach no further than his knees and sturdy Quidditch breeches and tall black boots beneath – clothing that, he assumes, won’t look out-of-place in the gauche and tasteless Muggle streets that abut magical society. He’s even got his wand holstered in his sleeve, out of sight, rather than dangling from his belt, and the only jewelry he’s wearing are his ubiquitous silver rings and a simple pendant necklace that carries a useful Curse, just in case it’s needed. One can never be too careful among Muggles, after all…
“They’re all right, as far as I know at least, and going to Hogwarts won’t help.” Draco may not like Weasley, but he’s not going to bait the man with needless delays when he’s worried about his daughter; he may be petty, but he’s not that cruel. He has a son himself, after all; he knows what it is to fret for a child’s well being. “They’ve…” Draco hesitates, remembering that Weasley was once an Auror and a Gryffindor and for all that his self-righteousness has always been tempered with ruthlessness, he might still balk at such a thing as this – especially given his wife’s current political situation…especially given who is tangled-up in the problem alongside Rose, and who might make an easy scapegoat…
“I’m here to ask for your help,” he says instead of explaining further, at least not yet – not until it seems safe. “I – we – need to fix something before the children get in trouble for what they’ve done, and I don’t know that I can do it without you. But…it’s illegal, both what they did and what we’ll have to do to take care of it.” Draco swallows, meeting Weasley’s eyes uncomfortably. “I need your word that if you choose not to assist me, you’ll at least keep quiet about it rather than reporting them to the Ministry. Please.”
He wonders if this was a bad idea. He wonders if he’s going to have to hex Ron Weasley in his own home, and hope he can weather whatever consequences that’s going to entail – but Draco knows that he won’t hesitate, either. If the man forces his hand, he’ll go for his wand and leave Weasley trussed-up like a spider’s meal for Granger to discover later while he tries to clean-up his son’s mess alone. He’d do anything for Scorpius, after all…including get himself sentenced to Azkaban in his son’s place.
Malfoy wants him to keep a secret from Hermione? A secret for Malfoy from his best friend and life partner? The sound of it is bloody mad, but the seriousness in Malfoy’s tone is intense and he’d shown up on his doorstep for help out of all people. Then again, who else was he supposed to rely on, some slimy former Slytherin to help him out? Did Malfoy even have friends anymore? Ron didn’t know or really care.
Except it’s about the kids. And despite that his main concern were always going to be Rose and Hugo, he didn’t mind Ferret Jr that much. Besides, if he didn’t agree with Malfoy he’d just fucking tell Hermione anyways. What did he care breaking a promise to a former Death Eater? He wasn’t Harry.
Besides, apparently it was referring to illegal activities to fix something his kid did, and there’s a pit in his stomach that he has a very accurate suspicion of what the fuck Rose went and did. “ Fine, I won’t rat you out. ”
Ron agrees, his face pinched uncomfortably and he crosses his arms in front of him as if protecting himself from the bloke out of habit. Though he’s not sure if it’s emotional or physical in his subconscious. “ Fucking get on with it though, will ya? What’d they do? ”
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