gorgonfondness | Vane: Family Visit

Scorpius laughs along to Rachel's comments on the state of Mia's tummy, but when the attention suddenly turns to him, he shrinks back, fighting a rush of color to his cheeks as he shakes Lemia's offered hand.

"Pleased to meet you."

It could be worse. Mel's taking his granddaughter back from Mia's arms, so he's too busy to shake Scorpius's whole arm the way he did to Draco when they first met.

"Good fellow, Draco," he says instead. "His shop really helped Meribia recover after the fighting had taken its toll on our economy."

"And without his potions, I likely wouldn't be in any fit state to entertain," Lemia adds.

"If you keep bragging on Draco, that will only encourage him," Mia says fondly. "I was just beginning my tour of the Magic Guild for Scorpius, as well as taking Cepheus for a walk in his pram."

For all the times Scorpius wants to complain about his father, the praise he hears from Mia's family - even if it is about the other Draco - makes him want to grin and say that's my dad.

He has to bite his tongue - only figuratively speaking, of course - to keep from saying just that. He's supposed to be playing the part of a cousin. So he takes note from his own and gives a slight laugh, adding a "Please don't encourage him."

"We'll let you get on with the tour, then," Lemia says with a slight laugh herself. "But first I want to indulge in my privillages as a Nana."

With that, she reaches into the pram and gives Cepheus some loving kisses and happy coos.

Once that is done, Mia leads her group out of the hallway again (though Rachel did attempt to follow once or twice) and into the school sections of the Magic Guild.

"Here are some of our classrooms, over on this side is the Grand Hall, down that way is the Guild kitchen, and over this way is where we'll get to the guest lounge and the offices for Draco, Nash, and me."

Scorpius is making a mental map of the place in his mind as he follows Mia. Not that he plans on sneaking about on his own. But, just in case.

"How many students do you have here?"

"That's a good question," Mia muses. "I'd estimate at least half of the population of Vane, if not more. The city was founded for the students and teachers of the school."

Mia would actually let him roam around if he liked.

She leads them into the guest lounge and opens the door, revealing a garden and a stone pool.

"This is probably my favorite part of the Magic Guild. I come out here sometimes to play the lute or converse with the fairies."

"It's nice," Scorpius comments lightly, looking around the garden. "If I could find place like this at Hogwarts, I'd claim it for my own."

He takes a step around to the stone pool, looking in.

"I didn't know you had so many students."

"Well, of course. Vane is the magic capital of the world. Anyone on Lunar who learns how to use magic from a school learned it at the Magic Guild."

She carefully picks Cepheus up out of the pram to walk in the garden.

"Ghaleon liked to sit out here and think. I didn't really know about what until I was older. He would play the lute out here, the same I take out here now."

"Ghaleon?"

She nods, though her back is to Scorpius right now.

"My stepfather. For lack of a better term for him. He was another of my mother's comrades in arms in the Heresy War and the Premier of Vane before I appointed Draco and Nash in the position."

Mia strokes Cepheus's hair, thoughtful.

"Most people will remember him, however, as Magic Emperor Ghaleon, the man who tried to enslave the world in his mad quest to attain godhood."

She points to a tall, black structure that looks almost like a chess rook in the distance.

"That is what remains of the Grindery, his horrid moving castle."

Scorpius squints off into the distance, trying to make out the structure points out, and frowns.

"Oh," he says, almost sorry to have brought up what might be bad memories for Mia. Enslave the world? This Ghaleon man sounds like another Grindelwald. Another Voldemort.

He hesitates on saying anything more on the matter, twisting his weight from one foot to the other.

Squinting isn't really necessary, as we neglected to mention that the distance isn't that great and the structure fairly large.

"The battle became my defining moment," she says, turning to face him now. "Vane had a second purpose: to protect the Goddess Tower. When the Grindery threatened it, I evacuated the city and used the stored magic to stop the Grindery, causing Vane to fall in the process."

"So you saved Vane?"

To put it simply.

Mia opens her mouth to speak, but another voice cuts in with, "Not just Vane, but the entire world."

"Oh, Nash," she says, turning now to see him. "You're being far too generous."

"Nonsense," Nash says. "You were brave in battle and did what needed to be done. If anyone deserves to be one of the Five Heroes, it's you."

And now that he's gotten that out of the way, he takes a look at Mia's company.

And doubletakes.

"Scorpius?! Mia had said you were coming to visit, but you've really grown up."

Nash. He remembers a Nash. Vaguely.

He grins nonetheless, offering a hand.

"It's been awhile definitely." Then he glances back at Mia, "The entire world. Really?"

"Good to see you're doing well," Nash replies, shaking his hand. "And yes, Mia, you did help save the entire world, and don't be so modest about it."

Mia's currently turning a brilliant shade of pink.

"Is that my nephew?" Nash adds, jumping to a new subject for Mia's sake and reaching to play with Cepheus. "Here, I want a turn with him before his father notices I've left in the middle of the paperwork."

In fact it was only ten minutes later before there was a loud yell of "NASH! Merlin take it! Where are you? You know self signing charms are line of sight!" This was shortly followed by loud footfalls as Draco swept out from another room, his Premier robes skimming the floor.

"Honestly, how are any of these treaties supposed to be finished? Do you... oh, Mia, and Scorpius, you made it." His earlier scowl disappeared into a smile for his (not)son and his wife and son. He stepped towards them, and tried to shove the paperwork in Nash's face so he could hold Cepheus.

"Hey now!" Nash says, catching the paperwork. "Me taking a little break isn't going to hurt anything."

"He does have a point, Beloved," Mia says to Draco, but she doesn't stop him from taking the mostly-asleep baby.

"It can be if you've got deadlines. I mean, a little breaks turns into a big one then it's breakfast of the next day and you've nothing done so you're scrambling to finish the last ten inches..."

And Scorpius trails off there, clearing his throat. Because he speaks not from experience or anything.

"Hi."

"A brief break perhaps. After this last bit of work is done." He wants to get it all finished so he had more family time to spend. Like right now, while gently rocking Cepheus in his arms. The baby sleepily blinked open, and started to fuss.

"..."

"Oh dear, and he was just getting some sleep," Mia says.

"Maybe he wants us to take a break now," Nash suggests, having organized the paperwork dumped on him.

"I fed him not long before Scorpius arrived. Maybe he needs a change? I could take him to check so you can have some time to talk with him."

Scorpius, who has been tugging at the stiff collar of his robes, pauses to oh-so-helpfully shrug his indecision. "I'm alright with just waiting here..."

"I think he's fine here," Draco started to say only to have Cepheus start to wailing and flail his little fists. He checked him.

"Seems all right. I don't know what's upsetting him," He finally sighed, and brought him over to Mia to hold. "Here."

He added to Scorpius, "It's up to you, so... Scorpius." He cleared his throat to catch the slip, "Might be a few moments."

Fortunately, the only other person around to hear the slip is Nash, but he's in on the secret anyway.

Mia carefully takes Cepheus, who begins to calm down in her hold.

"Oh, now what's upsetting you, little darling?" she asks, tugging over a little fist for a soft kiss. "Papa said you were fine. Silly dear, making a fuss for no reason."

"I'm not the one making the decisions," Scorpius, who is trying not to grin too widely at the slip, says as much in a stage whisper to Draco with a finger pointed at Cepheus. "He's clearly the one in charge here."

But while he has his father's ear, Mia seemingly handling the baby for now, he lowers his voice to add,

"Er, could I talk to you about something though? Later, I mean, when you've got the time."

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