Hold On To Your Hat
Title: Hold On To Your Hat
Chapter 2: “A Last Minute Cruise”
Author: dwarfandelf
Beta: No beta
Pairings: Albus Severus/Scorpius, Harry Potter/Severus Snape (planned)
Other Characters: In this chapter: Rose, Ron, Hermione, Snape, single mention of Hugo, and Albus and Scorpius
Genre: Romance, Fluff
Word Count: 3,966
Rating: PG this part, but I hope to get to NC17, or at least PG13
Warnings: None
Summary: Scorpius gets invited to spend a month with Al, Potters, and Weasleys
A/N: no comment…
Disclaimer: Characters created by JKR do not belong to me, and I am writing this purely for fun, meaning no offence.
Chapter 2: A Last Minute Cruise
Scorpius was sitting by the pool, at the table underneath a Sun-umbrella. He was leaning back, legs up on a chair, which he dragged in front of him so he can be comfortable while he read. Having gone on a toy-train ride around the exterior of the hotel, which was the only way to enter the guest rooms, having then settled in their rooms and then having tobogganed out his window to the ground in order to exit the hotel, and finally having had a huge lunch made up of various treats, Scorpius’ inner kid was satisfied for the moment and all he wanted to do now was read quietly and just chill and rest and be alone.
He had sent his parents to The Love Land so he could be alone. Scorpius unfolded his map to check if his parents were there. The map showed the whole island with all the larger Park Divisions and all the individual rides, restaurants, shops, etc, marked with their names. The Love Land was in the lower right hand corner of the island, and the only two dots on his map, which designated his parents, were slowly moving along the snaking pathway marked “The Tunnel of Love”. He snorted quietly when he imagined his parents in some soppy place, particularly his dad who always appeared sort of stern and aloof, but actually had a romantic streak in him a mile long. Or, wait. “The Tunnel of Love?” No…the meaning Scorpius’ mind supplied couldn’t be the case, this is a place for young kids…and his mind is obviously not innocent any longer, even if he hasn’t done yet any of the things he had been thinking of lately….
If his parents looked at their maps at this moment, they would see the dot marked “Scorpius” located as far away from them as one could get on the island, in the area called The Beach Land, situated in the upper left-hand corner of the map. The island did not actually have a beach, but it had a complex of pools and lagoons. Scorpius chose one wide area where the tables were not too close to each other. His left elbow was resting on the table, next to his iced coffee. The air was warm but he was comfortable in the shade. The pool sparkled blue, the people’s voices and children’s noises blended into a white noise, and Scorpius was content. He started to read. The umbrella was charmed to self-adjust according to where the sun was, so Scorpius would not have to worry about remaining in the shade while he was engrossed in his book.
“Scorpius?”
Scorpius looked up to see Rose Weasley standing next to his table.
“Hey! Fancy running into you here,” he said, somewhat surprised to see her. She was in his House, and in the same year. She was not one of his closest friends, but he knew her well enough after spending 4 years in school with her. He considered her a good friend. Rose’s father owned about a quarter of the Carnival Island, and Ginny Weasley was her aunt, so it was not at all surprising that Rose would be here, but he still did not think he would run into anybody he knows, given the number of people on the island and his intent to stay away from the places where he would be likely to see anyone he knows. It was middle of July, the greatest peak of the year in the number of visitors to the Island, but sometimes the Fates intervene to beat the odds.
“Would you mind if we sat at your table?” she asked. “All the other ones seem to be full.”
Scorpius realized that people must have come out after lunch to fill up all the tables around, as well as the space surrounding the pool, as well as the inside of the pool….
“Not at all,” Scorpius put his feet down on the ground to sit properly and nodded to Rose’s mom, “Hello, Mrs. Weasley.”
Mrs. Weasley laughed. “Mrs. Weasley is my mother in law, please, call me Hermione.”
“Um…Hermione?” Scorpius tried the name, “I’m not sure I could…”
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him, “Alright, how about Auntie Hermione, would that do?”
Scorpius nodded and smiled, “I think so, Auntie Hermione."
Scorpius watched as Rose took one chair, Mrs. Weasley another, and Rose’s brother, Hugo, went straight for the pool. Then another person showed up in front of him.
Scorpius felt a shock when he saw who that was. The boy he had a mad crush on since forever was standing there, smiling at Scorpius. He was so shaken by the sight he was expecting to see the next day, but not today, that he did not even hear what the other boy was saying.
Finally realizing, he said, “Of course you can have this chair, please,” he put the book down on the table and jumped up to turn the chair that was facing him over so Al could sit down easily.
“What is this you are reading?” Mrs. Weasley’s voice barely registered in his brain. She picked up his book and read the title, “Win or Lose: A Spectacle of Wealth and Poverty.” She looked at him, and said, “An interesting title.” Scorpius turned toward her but was at a loss for words.
“Mr. Malfoy, are you alright? You look pale…” Mrs. Weasley asked him.
He shook his head, “Please call me Scorpius,” he forced out, “I’m fine.”
Mrs. Weasley continued, “Scorpius, I confess, I am quite surprised by your choice of reading material. For a young man that was brought up in the lap of luxury…” she trailed off, but kept watching him as if expecting an answer.
“Um, well. I don’t deny it, Mrs. Weasley. However, I find that having the knowledge of social realities…of particular disparity in wealth that coexists side by side, rather…eye opening, I guess.” What they would all think of him now he did not even want to imagine. So he was born into a very rich family. Granted, some of the excesses that Malfoy family indulged in were not quite what he would chose for himself, but he also knew that Rose’s parents became very rich from Mr. Weasley’s co-ownership with his brother in Weasley Wizarding Wheezies Co., which had led them to creating and owning half of this island. He also knew that Al’s father was independently rich as well. Scorpius knew he did not wish to give up his wealth, and yet, he wished he could do something to help eradicate the worst of the poverty that he now became aware of. He did not have a clear idea at all of what he could do, but knowing about these issues cannot hurt, right? He found most all knowledge fascinating, and this particular knowledge also engaged that part of him that valued the common good.
“Of course, you are a Ravenclaw,” said Mrs. Weasley, giving him an approving smile.
“I guess I should’ve known it the first moment I met you,” beautiful voice said over to his right. Al had the most amazing voice in Scorpius’ opinion. Scorpius knew and loved Al’s voice before it broke, during, and after, and it was always beautiful to him. The voice continued, “On our first ride to Hogwarts, when I sat next to you in the train…I remember one of the first things you said to me was, ‘I wonder why is there so much steam coming from this train, when it really runs on magic?’” Al laughed and Scorpius dared to look straight into his eyes.
Looking at Al was always difficult to Scorpius. He could not help searching for him in the Hogwarts crowd and then drinking in his beauty, but he always felt he had to look away quickly, before anyone, including Al, would read the smitten adoration on his face as plainly as the words on a page.
Yes he remembered the first time he saw Al. He saw him at the Train Station the very first day in Hogwarts and thought how wonderful it is that this boy could give and receive hugs so freely and easily. But that is not why he noticed him. The reason he watched Al give and get hugs was, simply and honestly, because Scorpius was hypnotized and mesmerized by what his eyes had seen - the most beautiful person he could never imagine.
Later in the train, when this beautiful boy sat next to Scorpius, it was like a gift from the Fates. Al’s thin face had looked worried, and endlessly soulful. The first two years after that, Scorpius never thought about how it would feel to have those gorgeous eyes look at him with love; how it would feel to hold that delicate face between his palms; to have that bright soul be his - his boyfriend. He was content in the knowledge that Al was unattainable to him and he was happy to adore Al from a distance. Last year however, since his hormones had started to kick in and his sexual feelings were awakened, he had been daydreaming of making love with Al, of being with Al forever. Although in the depths of his heart he hoped that it might happen one day, for the most part he accepted that his feelings would never be revealed and his desires would never become anything other than his secret fantasy. The boy never seemed to even notice him and Scorpius was too shy and too scared kind of kid to even think of trying to approach Al.
But now, Al was smiling at him, and his eyes were smiling at him too, and Scorpius felt warm, and good. “I remember,” he said softly. “And it still remains an unexplained mystery to me. Why is there all that steam around Hogwarts Express? I can’t imagine what it could be using the steam for - it must be just for the effect, that’s what I think.”
Mrs. Weasley laughed and said, “Really, that is an excellent question, and one that I have never thought to ask! What do you think, Rose?”
“I think that you won’t be able to rest until you found the answer mom, and that you’ll probably let us all know by the end of the summer, won’t you?” Rose said, smiling at her mom.
“Are you here on vacation?” Al asked Scorpius.
“No, actually, we are here for your mom’s and Mr. Zabini’s wedding too. Mr. Zabini is my dad’s friend.”
“Oh, of course he is. They were in the same year together in Slytherin,” said Mrs. Weasley.
Clearly still reminiscing about that first time on the train to Hogwarts, Al said, “You know, it’s funny to remember that first day, how worried I was that I would be sorted into Slytherin,” he chuckled.
“You were worried? I was certain I would be,” Scorpius said.
“And somehow we all ended up somewhere other than where everyone thought we would,” Al continued, “The Hat didn’t even hesitate with me; I had barely put it on when it shouted, ‘Hufflepuff!’ It didn’t even give me a chance to talk to it like my dad said it would…”
“I was totally expecting to be in Slytherin,” said Scorpius. “After all, my entire family way back had been in Slytherin, so where else would I be? I remember though, the Hat told me inside my head, ‘I know dear that you are expecting Slytherin, but you are a TRUE--’ and then it just called out loud, ‘Ravenclaw!’ That sure wasn’t what my dad expected, so consequently, it wasn’t what I expected either.”
Mr. Weasley arrived with the drinks, and then transfigured a chair for himself from the crazy hat given to him at the entrance. Apparently, even if you owned a quarter of the island, you still have to get the hat, thought Scorpius.
“My dad was sure I would be in Gryffindor, but I ended up in Ravenclaw too,” Rose said.
“And Lily ended up in Slytherin of all places. Only James got where everyone expected all three of us Potter kids to be sorted into - Gryffindor,” Al said.
Rose sipped her strawberry cooler and said, “It just goes to show how our parents have no idea who we are. I mean really, I’m not even brave.”
Al laughed, “And my family kept thinking that I am being competitive when I simply loved to work hard and have a job done well. Is there any more Hufflepuff-like quality? And no one had thought of it - they were all afraid that I would become some power-hungry Slytherin or something.”
“Now kids,” Mr. Weasley said, “don’t be too hard on us. My whole family was in Gryffindor, and my niece Victorie was sorted there, then Teddy was sorted there, then James. It just seemed like we all expected that the trend would continue, you know. I knew Rose was smart. I knew Al was worrying too much for a Gryffindor, and he somehow never had any injuries whereas James and Teddy had them constantly…but it’s all a lot clearer in hindsight I’d say.
“Can I bring you a drink, Scorpius?” Mr. Weasley asked him.
“No, thank you, Mr. Weasley,” Scorpius said, and then he turned to Al and started, hesitantly, “is your father here as well?” He was looking at Al, but Mrs. Weasley answered him.
“No, after the wedding Ron and I are taking the kids down to Rio de Janeiro where we’ll meet up with Harry and…” she paused, and then continued, “and then we’ll all go together on a Wizard Cruise around South America.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting,” Scorpius said enthusiastically. “You know, this book I’m reading actually has a part about Rio.”
“Yeah, there are several sections of the city where magical people live, and some of them are poor districts,” Al replied to him. “It’s hard to believe that Witches and Wizards can get so poor…,” Al was looking at Scorpius with a concern in his eyes that seemed fuelled by an inner fire, “There are Wizarding Charities that help out a little, but it’s still pretty scary how things are there.”
Scorpius’ throat was dry and closed, and his heart thudded too distractingly for him to remember to take a sip of his drink.
So Al continued, “but it is not like that everywhere. In areas outside the cities, at least some areas, there are thriving magical communities. The one I’ve been to at least, helps its poor people and there seem to be only a few poor individuals anyway.”
“You’ve hit on a topic that Al is very much into,” Rose told Scorpius. “Al gets along real well with his dad’s friend, and that man has spent many years living all over South America, and in particular, in the Amazon Rain Forest. He is mostly responsible for firing Al up on all sorts of topics… it will only be a matter of time before Al starts studying potions, I’m sure.” Rose laughed, and continued, “But I really don’t want to talk about this today, as fascinating as the topic is. Today we should be talking about the wedding, and about our trip, and about Scorpius’ plans for the summer, and no heavy topics,” she finished pleadingly.
“Okay,” Scorpius smiled. “What is your Cruise route going to be?” he asked Rose, transitioning smoothly.
Even though he asked Rose, Al answered him.
“We’ll sail from Rio to Buenos Aires. Then we’ll take off into the air from there.” Al’s voice carried great excitement. “We’ll cut across Argentina and over to Chile, and then kind of go zigzag to various spots of interest, but basically we’ll be working our way up. So we’ll fly over Andes a bit, see ancient Inca’, Aztec’, and Mayan cities, some of them are Muggle ruins like Machu Pichu, and some of them Wizarding. Although some of those were both Muggle and Magical together, but it didn’t prove good for them to mix, just like it was in the rest of the world. We’ll stay a day or two with a couple of only ones surviving ancient Wizarding communities that are still in existence, which I am really excited about. Then we’ll stop to see one Canyon in Peru and go up to the Lake Titicaca, then see Angel Falls in Venezuela… and then, one that I am looking forward to the most: a two-week stay in the Amazon Forest. There are amazing Wizard-people living there…all those magical communities are in unplottable areas of the Forest, and I have only seen one community last summer. Their magic is so different…I really wish you could see it.” Al paused, looking at Scorpius, eyes glowing.
Scorpius struggled to take a breath in. Having so much of Al’s attention on him was quite flustering, specially since Al hardly ever spoke to Scorpius before.
“Do you have any plans for after the wedding? Would you like to come with us?” Al asked Scorpius, open excitement in his voice and in his face. “Aunt Hermione, he could come with us on the cruise, could he?”
“Yeah, mom, it would be cool,” said Rose.
Mrs. Weasley leaned over the table. “Scorpius, I would like to take you down there with us!” she told him.
Scorpius’ throat was still closed. He was bewildered by the sudden request. Rose was grinning at him as if to say, “It would be so exciting!” Mr. Weasley was regarding him with an amused expression and Scorpius could not guess what Mr. Weasley was thinking. Mrs. Weasley was looking warmly at him and then took charge by saying, “You should ask your parents. Let us know tomorrow what they say, and I imagine if they don’t say ‘no’, they will have a lot of questions for us.”
Scorpius turned to Al to see if Al really wanted him there. But what Al told him, simultaneously encouraged him and terrified him. Al said, “You and I could go ask your parents right away…and maybe have a look around this place, see if there is anything new or interesting.”
Scorpius remembered his drink. He sipped his coffee. This is just what I need now, caffeine when I can hardly control my nerves. “I need a glass of water,” he announced to no one in particular.
“I’ll get you one,” Al jumped up from his seat and was gone. There was a brief discussion about something at the table during the few moments of Al’s absence, but none of that got through to Scorpius’ dazed mind. Then Al reappeared with a tall glass of water and Scorpius gratefully drained it. That seemed to unlock his throat, so he asked Al, “what about your father? Can you ask him first if he is okay with me coming along?”
“My dad will be very glad if you could come with us, I’m sure of it.”
“Oh yes, there is no doubt,” Mrs. Weasley agreed.
After regarding Scorpius for a couple of seconds, Al continued more seriously. “Okay, I’ll ask him first, if it will make you feel better. Then we’ll ask your parents.”
Scorpius nodded and thanked them all, then stood up. He noticed that his legs were trembling slightly, and they barely held him, so he took his book and then walked carefully beside Al to the private firecall-booth inside the bar.
“I should wait for you outside,” Scorpius told Al. “What if your father doesn’t agree, it would put him in an awkward position if I was there.”
“He is not going to not agree… but since I see that is bothering you, maybe you could wait outside while I ask him, and then he can tell you himself.”
Scorpius waited outside, fear of spending a whole month with Al and his family and extended family of Weasleys, warring with a fear of not being allowed to go. Two or three minutes later Al called him in.
He sat in the front of the fireplace and leaned over the green flames with Al. On the other side was a grim-faced older man with curtains of black hair framing his face, in which a great hooked nose took a prominent position. “So, you are Scorpius,” he said. The man had a deep, slow voice.
“Yes Sir,” Scorpius said and wondered who the man was, as he knew he was not Al’s father.
Al introduced the man, “Scorpius, this is Severus Snape. He is my father’s friend.”
The man shot a fierce look in Al’s direction, but turned back to Scorpius after Al said, “Scorpius Malfoy is my friend from school. And he is also Rose’s friend, they are in the same year in Ravenclaw.”
“I taught your father, and I knew your grandfather,”-the man told Scorpius and Scorpius felt his eyes widen as he realized that the man might be The Severus Snape, former Death Eater and spy turned hero after he died on the day of the battle when Al’s dad defeated the Dark Wizard, Voldemort-“and I am pleased to meet you,” Mr. Snape said in his dark, deep, sort of dangerous tone. “Al’s father is away at the moment. Please ask your parents to firecall Mr. Harry Potter at 8 pm tonight and do not mention me to them. I would like to inform them myself of my continued existence, if you would be so kind as to grant me this favour.”
“Certainly, Mr. Snape,” Scorpius breathed out.
“And please know that you will be welcome by Al’s father and myself on the cruise with us, as well as to stay at my home prior to the Cruise,” Mr. Snape added softly.
With that Mr. Snape nodded to Al, and then turned and went away. Al pulled Scorpius by the arm out of the fireplace. Scorpius registered Al’s hand on his bare arm with a jolt, followed by the warmth in his crotch area. Oh no, please don’t let me get a boner, not now. He looked miserably at Al, willing him not to look down.
“Why do you look so scared,” Al asked him. “Severus is a great person when you get to know him, I promise you! I know he is kind of scary when you first meet him…I guess he can be mean sometimes, but with words only, so don’t worry. I mean, I get along with him so much better than with Blaise Zabini…I wish Severus was my second father. I mean, Blaise is a nice guy and all, and he seems to care for my mother a lot, but Severus is … You know, I don’t really know what my father’s relationship with him is like…I believe that Severus is in love with my dad…but don’t say this to anyone, please! I don’t know what my dad really thinks or wants; he seems to take Severus as a friend only. Either that, or he doesn’t want anyone to know, but it’s not like we are little kids and it’s not like we are blind. Sometimes I think my dad is the one who is totally blind…unless he is hiding something… But I think Severus would be so good for him, the man seems to adore him, and my dad is like…I don’t know, you’ll see for yourself. So I hope you are not going to be uncomfortable with us.”
Al was looking pleadingly at Scorpius. “No! No, I won’t,” Scorpius hurried to assure him.
“There is no need to be scared of Severus at all. My dad calls him his rock… I’m babbling, I’m sorry. Let’s go find your parents!”
Scorpius wanted to kiss Al, but he stood up, shakily, and followed him out.
Chapter 2: “A Last Minute Cruise”
Author: dwarfandelf
Beta: No beta
Pairings: Albus Severus/Scorpius, Harry Potter/Severus Snape (planned)
Other Characters: In this chapter: Rose, Ron, Hermione, Snape, single mention of Hugo, and Albus and Scorpius
Genre: Romance, Fluff
Word Count: 3,966
Rating: PG this part, but I hope to get to NC17, or at least PG13
Warnings: None
Summary: Scorpius gets invited to spend a month with Al, Potters, and Weasleys
A/N: no comment…
Disclaimer: Characters created by JKR do not belong to me, and I am writing this purely for fun, meaning no offence.
Chapter 2: A Last Minute Cruise
Scorpius was sitting by the pool, at the table underneath a Sun-umbrella. He was leaning back, legs up on a chair, which he dragged in front of him so he can be comfortable while he read. Having gone on a toy-train ride around the exterior of the hotel, which was the only way to enter the guest rooms, having then settled in their rooms and then having tobogganed out his window to the ground in order to exit the hotel, and finally having had a huge lunch made up of various treats, Scorpius’ inner kid was satisfied for the moment and all he wanted to do now was read quietly and just chill and rest and be alone.
He had sent his parents to The Love Land so he could be alone. Scorpius unfolded his map to check if his parents were there. The map showed the whole island with all the larger Park Divisions and all the individual rides, restaurants, shops, etc, marked with their names. The Love Land was in the lower right hand corner of the island, and the only two dots on his map, which designated his parents, were slowly moving along the snaking pathway marked “The Tunnel of Love”. He snorted quietly when he imagined his parents in some soppy place, particularly his dad who always appeared sort of stern and aloof, but actually had a romantic streak in him a mile long. Or, wait. “The Tunnel of Love?” No…the meaning Scorpius’ mind supplied couldn’t be the case, this is a place for young kids…and his mind is obviously not innocent any longer, even if he hasn’t done yet any of the things he had been thinking of lately….
If his parents looked at their maps at this moment, they would see the dot marked “Scorpius” located as far away from them as one could get on the island, in the area called The Beach Land, situated in the upper left-hand corner of the map. The island did not actually have a beach, but it had a complex of pools and lagoons. Scorpius chose one wide area where the tables were not too close to each other. His left elbow was resting on the table, next to his iced coffee. The air was warm but he was comfortable in the shade. The pool sparkled blue, the people’s voices and children’s noises blended into a white noise, and Scorpius was content. He started to read. The umbrella was charmed to self-adjust according to where the sun was, so Scorpius would not have to worry about remaining in the shade while he was engrossed in his book.
“Scorpius?”
Scorpius looked up to see Rose Weasley standing next to his table.
“Hey! Fancy running into you here,” he said, somewhat surprised to see her. She was in his House, and in the same year. She was not one of his closest friends, but he knew her well enough after spending 4 years in school with her. He considered her a good friend. Rose’s father owned about a quarter of the Carnival Island, and Ginny Weasley was her aunt, so it was not at all surprising that Rose would be here, but he still did not think he would run into anybody he knows, given the number of people on the island and his intent to stay away from the places where he would be likely to see anyone he knows. It was middle of July, the greatest peak of the year in the number of visitors to the Island, but sometimes the Fates intervene to beat the odds.
“Would you mind if we sat at your table?” she asked. “All the other ones seem to be full.”
Scorpius realized that people must have come out after lunch to fill up all the tables around, as well as the space surrounding the pool, as well as the inside of the pool….
“Not at all,” Scorpius put his feet down on the ground to sit properly and nodded to Rose’s mom, “Hello, Mrs. Weasley.”
Mrs. Weasley laughed. “Mrs. Weasley is my mother in law, please, call me Hermione.”
“Um…Hermione?” Scorpius tried the name, “I’m not sure I could…”
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him, “Alright, how about Auntie Hermione, would that do?”
Scorpius nodded and smiled, “I think so, Auntie Hermione."
Scorpius watched as Rose took one chair, Mrs. Weasley another, and Rose’s brother, Hugo, went straight for the pool. Then another person showed up in front of him.
Scorpius felt a shock when he saw who that was. The boy he had a mad crush on since forever was standing there, smiling at Scorpius. He was so shaken by the sight he was expecting to see the next day, but not today, that he did not even hear what the other boy was saying.
Finally realizing, he said, “Of course you can have this chair, please,” he put the book down on the table and jumped up to turn the chair that was facing him over so Al could sit down easily.
“What is this you are reading?” Mrs. Weasley’s voice barely registered in his brain. She picked up his book and read the title, “Win or Lose: A Spectacle of Wealth and Poverty.” She looked at him, and said, “An interesting title.” Scorpius turned toward her but was at a loss for words.
“Mr. Malfoy, are you alright? You look pale…” Mrs. Weasley asked him.
He shook his head, “Please call me Scorpius,” he forced out, “I’m fine.”
Mrs. Weasley continued, “Scorpius, I confess, I am quite surprised by your choice of reading material. For a young man that was brought up in the lap of luxury…” she trailed off, but kept watching him as if expecting an answer.
“Um, well. I don’t deny it, Mrs. Weasley. However, I find that having the knowledge of social realities…of particular disparity in wealth that coexists side by side, rather…eye opening, I guess.” What they would all think of him now he did not even want to imagine. So he was born into a very rich family. Granted, some of the excesses that Malfoy family indulged in were not quite what he would chose for himself, but he also knew that Rose’s parents became very rich from Mr. Weasley’s co-ownership with his brother in Weasley Wizarding Wheezies Co., which had led them to creating and owning half of this island. He also knew that Al’s father was independently rich as well. Scorpius knew he did not wish to give up his wealth, and yet, he wished he could do something to help eradicate the worst of the poverty that he now became aware of. He did not have a clear idea at all of what he could do, but knowing about these issues cannot hurt, right? He found most all knowledge fascinating, and this particular knowledge also engaged that part of him that valued the common good.
“Of course, you are a Ravenclaw,” said Mrs. Weasley, giving him an approving smile.
“I guess I should’ve known it the first moment I met you,” beautiful voice said over to his right. Al had the most amazing voice in Scorpius’ opinion. Scorpius knew and loved Al’s voice before it broke, during, and after, and it was always beautiful to him. The voice continued, “On our first ride to Hogwarts, when I sat next to you in the train…I remember one of the first things you said to me was, ‘I wonder why is there so much steam coming from this train, when it really runs on magic?’” Al laughed and Scorpius dared to look straight into his eyes.
Looking at Al was always difficult to Scorpius. He could not help searching for him in the Hogwarts crowd and then drinking in his beauty, but he always felt he had to look away quickly, before anyone, including Al, would read the smitten adoration on his face as plainly as the words on a page.
Yes he remembered the first time he saw Al. He saw him at the Train Station the very first day in Hogwarts and thought how wonderful it is that this boy could give and receive hugs so freely and easily. But that is not why he noticed him. The reason he watched Al give and get hugs was, simply and honestly, because Scorpius was hypnotized and mesmerized by what his eyes had seen - the most beautiful person he could never imagine.
Later in the train, when this beautiful boy sat next to Scorpius, it was like a gift from the Fates. Al’s thin face had looked worried, and endlessly soulful. The first two years after that, Scorpius never thought about how it would feel to have those gorgeous eyes look at him with love; how it would feel to hold that delicate face between his palms; to have that bright soul be his - his boyfriend. He was content in the knowledge that Al was unattainable to him and he was happy to adore Al from a distance. Last year however, since his hormones had started to kick in and his sexual feelings were awakened, he had been daydreaming of making love with Al, of being with Al forever. Although in the depths of his heart he hoped that it might happen one day, for the most part he accepted that his feelings would never be revealed and his desires would never become anything other than his secret fantasy. The boy never seemed to even notice him and Scorpius was too shy and too scared kind of kid to even think of trying to approach Al.
But now, Al was smiling at him, and his eyes were smiling at him too, and Scorpius felt warm, and good. “I remember,” he said softly. “And it still remains an unexplained mystery to me. Why is there all that steam around Hogwarts Express? I can’t imagine what it could be using the steam for - it must be just for the effect, that’s what I think.”
Mrs. Weasley laughed and said, “Really, that is an excellent question, and one that I have never thought to ask! What do you think, Rose?”
“I think that you won’t be able to rest until you found the answer mom, and that you’ll probably let us all know by the end of the summer, won’t you?” Rose said, smiling at her mom.
“Are you here on vacation?” Al asked Scorpius.
“No, actually, we are here for your mom’s and Mr. Zabini’s wedding too. Mr. Zabini is my dad’s friend.”
“Oh, of course he is. They were in the same year together in Slytherin,” said Mrs. Weasley.
Clearly still reminiscing about that first time on the train to Hogwarts, Al said, “You know, it’s funny to remember that first day, how worried I was that I would be sorted into Slytherin,” he chuckled.
“You were worried? I was certain I would be,” Scorpius said.
“And somehow we all ended up somewhere other than where everyone thought we would,” Al continued, “The Hat didn’t even hesitate with me; I had barely put it on when it shouted, ‘Hufflepuff!’ It didn’t even give me a chance to talk to it like my dad said it would…”
“I was totally expecting to be in Slytherin,” said Scorpius. “After all, my entire family way back had been in Slytherin, so where else would I be? I remember though, the Hat told me inside my head, ‘I know dear that you are expecting Slytherin, but you are a TRUE--’ and then it just called out loud, ‘Ravenclaw!’ That sure wasn’t what my dad expected, so consequently, it wasn’t what I expected either.”
Mr. Weasley arrived with the drinks, and then transfigured a chair for himself from the crazy hat given to him at the entrance. Apparently, even if you owned a quarter of the island, you still have to get the hat, thought Scorpius.
“My dad was sure I would be in Gryffindor, but I ended up in Ravenclaw too,” Rose said.
“And Lily ended up in Slytherin of all places. Only James got where everyone expected all three of us Potter kids to be sorted into - Gryffindor,” Al said.
Rose sipped her strawberry cooler and said, “It just goes to show how our parents have no idea who we are. I mean really, I’m not even brave.”
Al laughed, “And my family kept thinking that I am being competitive when I simply loved to work hard and have a job done well. Is there any more Hufflepuff-like quality? And no one had thought of it - they were all afraid that I would become some power-hungry Slytherin or something.”
“Now kids,” Mr. Weasley said, “don’t be too hard on us. My whole family was in Gryffindor, and my niece Victorie was sorted there, then Teddy was sorted there, then James. It just seemed like we all expected that the trend would continue, you know. I knew Rose was smart. I knew Al was worrying too much for a Gryffindor, and he somehow never had any injuries whereas James and Teddy had them constantly…but it’s all a lot clearer in hindsight I’d say.
“Can I bring you a drink, Scorpius?” Mr. Weasley asked him.
“No, thank you, Mr. Weasley,” Scorpius said, and then he turned to Al and started, hesitantly, “is your father here as well?” He was looking at Al, but Mrs. Weasley answered him.
“No, after the wedding Ron and I are taking the kids down to Rio de Janeiro where we’ll meet up with Harry and…” she paused, and then continued, “and then we’ll all go together on a Wizard Cruise around South America.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting,” Scorpius said enthusiastically. “You know, this book I’m reading actually has a part about Rio.”
“Yeah, there are several sections of the city where magical people live, and some of them are poor districts,” Al replied to him. “It’s hard to believe that Witches and Wizards can get so poor…,” Al was looking at Scorpius with a concern in his eyes that seemed fuelled by an inner fire, “There are Wizarding Charities that help out a little, but it’s still pretty scary how things are there.”
Scorpius’ throat was dry and closed, and his heart thudded too distractingly for him to remember to take a sip of his drink.
So Al continued, “but it is not like that everywhere. In areas outside the cities, at least some areas, there are thriving magical communities. The one I’ve been to at least, helps its poor people and there seem to be only a few poor individuals anyway.”
“You’ve hit on a topic that Al is very much into,” Rose told Scorpius. “Al gets along real well with his dad’s friend, and that man has spent many years living all over South America, and in particular, in the Amazon Rain Forest. He is mostly responsible for firing Al up on all sorts of topics… it will only be a matter of time before Al starts studying potions, I’m sure.” Rose laughed, and continued, “But I really don’t want to talk about this today, as fascinating as the topic is. Today we should be talking about the wedding, and about our trip, and about Scorpius’ plans for the summer, and no heavy topics,” she finished pleadingly.
“Okay,” Scorpius smiled. “What is your Cruise route going to be?” he asked Rose, transitioning smoothly.
Even though he asked Rose, Al answered him.
“We’ll sail from Rio to Buenos Aires. Then we’ll take off into the air from there.” Al’s voice carried great excitement. “We’ll cut across Argentina and over to Chile, and then kind of go zigzag to various spots of interest, but basically we’ll be working our way up. So we’ll fly over Andes a bit, see ancient Inca’, Aztec’, and Mayan cities, some of them are Muggle ruins like Machu Pichu, and some of them Wizarding. Although some of those were both Muggle and Magical together, but it didn’t prove good for them to mix, just like it was in the rest of the world. We’ll stay a day or two with a couple of only ones surviving ancient Wizarding communities that are still in existence, which I am really excited about. Then we’ll stop to see one Canyon in Peru and go up to the Lake Titicaca, then see Angel Falls in Venezuela… and then, one that I am looking forward to the most: a two-week stay in the Amazon Forest. There are amazing Wizard-people living there…all those magical communities are in unplottable areas of the Forest, and I have only seen one community last summer. Their magic is so different…I really wish you could see it.” Al paused, looking at Scorpius, eyes glowing.
Scorpius struggled to take a breath in. Having so much of Al’s attention on him was quite flustering, specially since Al hardly ever spoke to Scorpius before.
“Do you have any plans for after the wedding? Would you like to come with us?” Al asked Scorpius, open excitement in his voice and in his face. “Aunt Hermione, he could come with us on the cruise, could he?”
“Yeah, mom, it would be cool,” said Rose.
Mrs. Weasley leaned over the table. “Scorpius, I would like to take you down there with us!” she told him.
Scorpius’ throat was still closed. He was bewildered by the sudden request. Rose was grinning at him as if to say, “It would be so exciting!” Mr. Weasley was regarding him with an amused expression and Scorpius could not guess what Mr. Weasley was thinking. Mrs. Weasley was looking warmly at him and then took charge by saying, “You should ask your parents. Let us know tomorrow what they say, and I imagine if they don’t say ‘no’, they will have a lot of questions for us.”
Scorpius turned to Al to see if Al really wanted him there. But what Al told him, simultaneously encouraged him and terrified him. Al said, “You and I could go ask your parents right away…and maybe have a look around this place, see if there is anything new or interesting.”
Scorpius remembered his drink. He sipped his coffee. This is just what I need now, caffeine when I can hardly control my nerves. “I need a glass of water,” he announced to no one in particular.
“I’ll get you one,” Al jumped up from his seat and was gone. There was a brief discussion about something at the table during the few moments of Al’s absence, but none of that got through to Scorpius’ dazed mind. Then Al reappeared with a tall glass of water and Scorpius gratefully drained it. That seemed to unlock his throat, so he asked Al, “what about your father? Can you ask him first if he is okay with me coming along?”
“My dad will be very glad if you could come with us, I’m sure of it.”
“Oh yes, there is no doubt,” Mrs. Weasley agreed.
After regarding Scorpius for a couple of seconds, Al continued more seriously. “Okay, I’ll ask him first, if it will make you feel better. Then we’ll ask your parents.”
Scorpius nodded and thanked them all, then stood up. He noticed that his legs were trembling slightly, and they barely held him, so he took his book and then walked carefully beside Al to the private firecall-booth inside the bar.
“I should wait for you outside,” Scorpius told Al. “What if your father doesn’t agree, it would put him in an awkward position if I was there.”
“He is not going to not agree… but since I see that is bothering you, maybe you could wait outside while I ask him, and then he can tell you himself.”
Scorpius waited outside, fear of spending a whole month with Al and his family and extended family of Weasleys, warring with a fear of not being allowed to go. Two or three minutes later Al called him in.
He sat in the front of the fireplace and leaned over the green flames with Al. On the other side was a grim-faced older man with curtains of black hair framing his face, in which a great hooked nose took a prominent position. “So, you are Scorpius,” he said. The man had a deep, slow voice.
“Yes Sir,” Scorpius said and wondered who the man was, as he knew he was not Al’s father.
Al introduced the man, “Scorpius, this is Severus Snape. He is my father’s friend.”
The man shot a fierce look in Al’s direction, but turned back to Scorpius after Al said, “Scorpius Malfoy is my friend from school. And he is also Rose’s friend, they are in the same year in Ravenclaw.”
“I taught your father, and I knew your grandfather,”-the man told Scorpius and Scorpius felt his eyes widen as he realized that the man might be The Severus Snape, former Death Eater and spy turned hero after he died on the day of the battle when Al’s dad defeated the Dark Wizard, Voldemort-“and I am pleased to meet you,” Mr. Snape said in his dark, deep, sort of dangerous tone. “Al’s father is away at the moment. Please ask your parents to firecall Mr. Harry Potter at 8 pm tonight and do not mention me to them. I would like to inform them myself of my continued existence, if you would be so kind as to grant me this favour.”
“Certainly, Mr. Snape,” Scorpius breathed out.
“And please know that you will be welcome by Al’s father and myself on the cruise with us, as well as to stay at my home prior to the Cruise,” Mr. Snape added softly.
With that Mr. Snape nodded to Al, and then turned and went away. Al pulled Scorpius by the arm out of the fireplace. Scorpius registered Al’s hand on his bare arm with a jolt, followed by the warmth in his crotch area. Oh no, please don’t let me get a boner, not now. He looked miserably at Al, willing him not to look down.
“Why do you look so scared,” Al asked him. “Severus is a great person when you get to know him, I promise you! I know he is kind of scary when you first meet him…I guess he can be mean sometimes, but with words only, so don’t worry. I mean, I get along with him so much better than with Blaise Zabini…I wish Severus was my second father. I mean, Blaise is a nice guy and all, and he seems to care for my mother a lot, but Severus is … You know, I don’t really know what my father’s relationship with him is like…I believe that Severus is in love with my dad…but don’t say this to anyone, please! I don’t know what my dad really thinks or wants; he seems to take Severus as a friend only. Either that, or he doesn’t want anyone to know, but it’s not like we are little kids and it’s not like we are blind. Sometimes I think my dad is the one who is totally blind…unless he is hiding something… But I think Severus would be so good for him, the man seems to adore him, and my dad is like…I don’t know, you’ll see for yourself. So I hope you are not going to be uncomfortable with us.”
Al was looking pleadingly at Scorpius. “No! No, I won’t,” Scorpius hurried to assure him.
“There is no need to be scared of Severus at all. My dad calls him his rock… I’m babbling, I’m sorry. Let’s go find your parents!”
Scorpius wanted to kiss Al, but he stood up, shakily, and followed him out.