19,000 Prompts, 500 Words, One Week Challenge prompt: Unearthly

AN: Reviews are always lovely. :)

Scorpius awoke to a horrible sound.

It was worse than the unearthly wailing of a banshee.

It was worse than the screams of a hundred dying cats.

It was worse than the cries of a thousand mandrakes.

Yelping, he put his hands over his ears and rolled out of bed. His small six-year-old face was scrunched up in pain.

Glancing out the window, he saw the heavy snowfall and suddenly remembered something exciting. It was Christmas! Presents!

Then he remembered that Daddy was still on a business trip in Siberia, and his excitement fell a little. Well, he still had Mommy.

Still clad in his favorite footie pajamas (the ones decorated with hippogriffs) he crept down the hallway. The sound was getting louder— he was drawing closer to the source. He kept his hands firmly pressed over his ears as he snuck down the mahogany staircase.

Certain that he could bear the sound no longer, he rushed through the Blue Hallway and entered the living room, where the sound was coming from.

For a moment Scorpius's attention was held by the dazzling Christmas tree and the large pile of presents underneath. Then he caught sight of something even better. Crouched under the Christmas tree, arranging presents, was his Mommy. And there at the mantelpiece, filling a stocking, was—

"Daddy!" shouted Scorpius. "DADDY! You're home!"

"Surprise!" shouted Draco. He picked Scorpius up and spun him around in a circle. "You didn't really think I'd miss Christmas, did you, Scorp?"

Scorpius grinned happily. Then he remembered something. "Daddy, what was that sound?" he asked. The sound had stopped.

"What sound?" asked Draco.

"The dying banshee mandrake cat sound," said Scorpius seriously.

Astoria tried to hide her laughter.

Draco looked confused. "I don't know, Scorp."

Giving up, Astoria burst into laughter, got to her feet, and wrapped her arm around Draco's shoulder. "Scorpius, love, the dying banshee mandrake cat was Daddy's singing voice."

"Ohhh," said Scorpius, nodding.

Draco was indignant. "I'm not that bad, am I? Come on!"

Astoria and Scorpius only laughed. After a moment, Draco started laughing, too. Together, the small family collapsed on the floor, laughing and talking.

Scorpius closed his eyes and snuggled up against Daddy. "This is the best surprise ever," he said happily.

"Ever?" asked Draco.

"Ever," said Scorpius. "But I don't think we should go Christmas caroling."