"Love, Accelerated" (AS/S, PG-13)
Yet another AS/S fic that I haven't reposted. This was posted at hp_rarities, so it's safe to say that 95.43% of you haven't seen it yet.
~
Concerned Reader: What's with all the "love" in the titles? I thought the point of anonymous fic exchanges is--you know--anonymity?
lilian_cho: Well see, these fics are all sorta connected in a bundle of orgiastic frenzy in my brain.
CR: ...
lilian_cho: Like that Love Actually movie! Did anyone ever imply that the producer is crazy? Also: is it my fault that I can't tell the difference between Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson and spent 80% of the movie thinking the Dad's having an affair with his secretary?
CR: I rest my case.
~
Title: Love, Accelerated
Author: lilian_cho
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): AS/S, one-sided Lily/Scorpius. Shades of H/D, if you squint really hard.
Summary: Scorpius Malfoy returned to Hogwarts for his OWLs after two years in France. He remained blissfully unaware of Albus' and Lily's feelings, and the territorial wars that followed were a source of much annoyance to James. Harry had no idea what to do, and Draco continued to be singularly unhelpful.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Harry Potter universe - all recognisable characters and settings are the property of J. K. Rowling and her associates. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is made from this work. Please observe your local laws with regards to the age-limit and content of this work
Warning(s): Clueless!Scorpius, gratuitous mentions of Sex Magic without any actual Sex Magic being performed
Word Count: 4000+ words
Author's Notes: This is a sequel to "Love hopes all things". Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I already have a sequel planned (Spoilery sequel summary, f-locked).
Originally posted at hp_rarities here.
James' portion in life, it seemed, was to make sure that his younger brother didn't make too much of a fool of himself.
Currently Al was dithering in front of the train door, looking as if he was about to expire from happiness at any moment. James had a flashback of an overexcited seven-year-old Al holding up the line at the Disneyworld entrance.
"Do you think Score is on the train yet? I didn't see him on the platform, did you?" Al babbled. "Maybe I should wait for him on the platform-" he made to step off the train, but James firmly shoved him through the door.
"Shut up and get inside, Al. You and Lil have been plaguing me with your Malfoy fever for the entire summer." James steered his younger brother past filled compartments to the end of the train.
Al grumbled but didn't deny the truth of his statement. "You didn't hear me complain when you were mooning over Victoire's cousin from Beauxbatons."
James chose to ignore him.
Al wandered like a lost little puppy after his favorite friend. He would have kept knocking over unsuspecting First Years had James not been there to steer him through obstacles.
Even Lily was not this embarrassingly obvious in her infatuation. These past two years had seen her bloom from a shy, gentle girl prone to blushing into someone confident who knew what she wanted. James absently pondered if Al got his make-a-fool-of-himself-in-front-of-objects-of-affection genes from their Dad.
Just to annoy Al, he started whistling "Here comes the bride" under his breath.
Al sent him a warning glare before opening the door to the last compartment.
The scene that greeted them was one Scorpius Malfoy surrounded by Fourth Year groupies. Next to him was Lily, who didn't need to sit so close to Scorpius-the carriage was hardly cramped.
Judging by the red flush on Al's neck, his younger brother shared the same opinion.
Trying to deflect an all-out territorial war, James said the first thing that came to mind.
"Hi Scorpius. Lily. I thought you'll be sitting with Rose."
Lily rolled her eyes. "She's in the prefects' carriage, brother dear." Snuggling more comfortably into Scorpius' side, she added, "Why aren't you with her?"
Scorpius grinned widely at him. "James! You're a prefect! Al and Lily told me in their letters, but I couldn't believe it until I see it myself."
"Well, yeah. Got the prefect's badge and everything." He ruffled the hair at his nape and shot a glance at his too quiet brother. "It's a position of great responsibility, and now I must go-and do my prefect duties-elsewhere."
As he made his escape from the compartment, he heard Scorpius' exclamation. "Al, why are you standing over there? Come sit by me. You haven’t changed-I’m so glad."
*****
Al gazed at his best friend’s bowed head with a fond smile. Score was rummaging inside his trunk while continuing to regal Al with the story of his portkey mishap. It was heartening to see that Score’s tendency to talk non-stop when excited was still intact.
The previous summer, Al had shot up into his current height. While Al felt ungainly in his new stature, Score carried his own well-proportioned build with an easy grace. It didn’t seem possible, but Score was even more handsome now than he was one year, eight months and six days ago. Not that he had been counting or anything.
White blond hair fell in straight layers past flushed cheeks. Al’s fingers itched to find out if they were as soft as when they were children. He tugged at his own tangled mess instead.
"Found it!" Score called out triumphantly, turning to look at Al. Caught in the middle of staring, he promptly blushed.
Score cocked an eyebrow but didn’t comment on Al’s red face. "Here," he caught Al’s wrist and dropped something into his upturned palm.
"Umm, thanks?" Al looked at the tiny Eiffel tower standing on his palm. "I can use a paperweight when I’m studying in the library. Thank you!"
Score laughed and Al’s heart fluttered.
"It’s not a paperweight, Al. Were you listening to what I was saying at all?"
To Al’s relief, Score didn’t seem upset.
"Dad and I watched the last Quidditch World Cup from a skybox. The Seeker from Quiberon Quafflepunchers caught the snitch practically three meters from us." He bounced a little on his bed. "It’s charmed to play my memory of the exciting parts of the game."
"Wow, this is perfect!" Al gushed. "Much better than a paperweight. I mean-not that I’d be ungrateful if you give me a paperweight. I’d treasure a rock if it came from you. From France." And if Al had a modicum of common sense he would stop babbling. Right. Now.
Score chuckled. "I didn’t remember you being such a chatterbox before."
Well I didn’t remember you being so good-looking either, Al thought desperately.
"I can’t give Lily her present now."
"Huh?" Al dragged his eyes away from pursed pink lips.
Score took out a white rabbit doll in a red pinafore. "It’s all the rage at Beauxbatons. The girls collect these dolls in bikinis, tuxedoes, wedding dresses…"
The doll hung limp in Score’ grip.
"It escaped my mind that Lily’s no longer twelve." Score scrunched up his nose. "She’d probably be insulted if I give her this."
Al nodded mutely.
"I was surprised she’s still clingy though. I thought she would’ve grown out of it," Score said, not sounding entirely displeased.
Al peered at his best friend but failed to detect any irony in his smile. His mouth opened a few millimeters before snapping shut. He couldn’t explain the real reason to Lily’s clinginess without making Score suspicious of his own crush.
*****
"Lily, what are you doing here? This is the Slytherin table!"
Face impassive, Lily slid onto the bench next to Score. "Oh budge up, Al. Nobody ever said anything when I eat with Rose at the Ravenclaw table."
She transferred a piece of roast chicken to her plate and started cutting it into bite-size pieces. "Besides, while you get to monopolize Score in the dormitory, I only get to see him during meal times." If there was a slight pout in her voice, who could blame her, really?
Her brother frowned, but thankfully refrained from saying anything. Score, seemingly unaware of the tension between the Potter siblings, hummed happily around his spoon. "I miss Hogwarts food so much. I love crepes and éclairs as much as the next person, but sometimes I just want some treacle pudding and trifle."
Al snickered and put a sandwich on Score’s plate. "Here, at least have a bite of sandwich before loading yourself with all that sugar."
Not to be outdone, Lily pushed a dish in front of Score. "Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, your favourite."
Score turned and gave her a bright smile. "You remembered!"
She congratulated herself when she failed to blush. "It’s my favourite dish too." She caught her brother scowling at her behind Score’s shoulder, and turned up the wattage of her smile. "So how did you like Beauxbatons? Do you know any of the Delacours? They’re Victoire’s cousins, you know."
"I hated the Beauxbatons uniform. All the boys hated our uniform. Disregarding the uniform regulation had to be the number one violation at school. I don’t know what they were thinking-adding ribbon accents on both the boys’ and girls’ uniforms." Score bit off a mouthful of sandwich and chewed thoughtfully.
If it were James, she would have told him to eat more slowly. Score somehow managed to look endearing while eating a plate of sandwich, roast beef, treacle pudding and an unidentified blob of cream.
She narrowed her eyes when she caught Veronica Goyle making moony eyes at him. That cow. She was one year older than him, for goodness’ sake! It was bad enough that she had to watch out for Fourth Year and Fifth Year girls, now she had to ward off Sixth Year girls too?
"The Headmistress is strict, but most of the professors are nice. Classes were great, too. The Seventh Years like to tell the younger boys that there’s a Sex Magic elective for the students that are of age, but my father swore that it’s all hogwash."
At the words "Sex Magic," all the boys in the vicinity perked up.
"Maybe he didn’t want you to sign up for it," Maurice Nott said.
Score looked unimpressed. "Some parents might feel the need to lie to their children to control them, Nott. I assure you, mine does not."
Nott looked affronted at the implied insult, but Al smoothly cut in.
"Are you trying to drown your roast beef in treacle, Score?" He shook his head fondly. "You should at least pretend to eat normal food like normal people." Score grinned and swirled his roast beef in the pool of treacle.
Lily piped up. "Tell us about that time when your upperclassmen smuggle Firewhiskey into the boys’ dormitory." Score immediately started on a highly animated tale with the help of the salt and pepper shakers and an army of utensils.
*****
James had a policy of non-interference when it comes to his siblings’ as-of-yet non-existent love life. But it would soon be December, which meant Scorpius visiting during Christmas hols, which meant he had to do something before things blew up spectacularly at the Potter household. This explained why, perfectly good weather notwithstanding, he was currently skulking around in drafty Slytherin territory under his Invisibility Cloak.
Al was positively a barnacle at Scorpius’ side nowadays. Thankfully, he did not follow Scorpius into the boys’ toilet. Or if he did, James was blissfully unaware and would like to remain that way.
It was understood among the Gryffindor girls that anyone attempting to flirt with Scorpius would earn Lily’s wrath. He was amazed to witness even Fifth Year girls treading carefully around Scorpius.
Just last week Rose had tried to explain about his sister’s "queen bee" status among Gryffindors, but animals-magical or otherwise-had never been one of James’ strong points.
In the beginning, he had thought that Scorpius would fall in love (his money was on Al), and he would congratulate Al, issue the expected older-brotherly threats to Score, and console a heart-broken Lily until she bounced back to normal (or as normal as Lily could get). If Scorpius fell for Lily instead, well-Al would pine for months and months and probably run off to Uncle Charlie to escape the pain. Or something.
"Hello Scorpius, Albus. Is this seat taken?" Veronica Goyle’s sultry voice cut through James’ musings.
Scorpius smiled politely and shook his head. Al, the beginnings of a pout on his face, scooted to sit even closer to Scorpius in the leather sofa.
"How are you doing with your studies, Scorpius? You’re not having troubles…adjusting, are you?" Veronica shrugged off her robe and crossed her legs.
Al’s expression could only be interpreted as fuck off. Scorpius absently turned the pages of his textbook. "I was a little behind at Charms, but Professor Flitwick had assigned me extra readings. I’ve caught up with the rest of the class now."
The Sixth Year girl leaned forward, and Wow. Veronica Goyle might not be pretty like Megan Entwhistle, but that pair of beauties would convert a red-blooded male anytime. Maybe Al could introduce them… No! What was he thinking? She was a Slytherin!
"Do tell me if you need any help. I’ve always been good at…Charms." If Scorpius couldn’t read the dripping sexual innuendo, he must be blind and deaf or both.
Placing a ribbon marker in the textbook, Scorpius didn’t even pause at the girl’s cleavage before looking at her straight in the eyes. "Thank you. But as I said, I’m all caught up now. And Rose Weasley had lent me her old Charms notes."
Veronica straightened in her seat with a smile that was too bright to be sincere. "Well, if you ever change your mind…"
Scorpius just raised an eyebrow and went back to his homework. Next to him, Al looked like he was seconds away from rubbing all over Scorpius to mark him as territory.
Right. So Scorpius was by no means clueless at other people’s attempts of flirtation. Now the question that remained was, why did he tolerate Al and Lily’s manhandling?
Adjusting his Invisibility Cloak, James leaned against the cold stone of the Slytherin Common Room and settled in for a long wait.
*****
Today was undoubtedly the most surreal day in Scorpius Malfoy’s entire fifteen years of existence.
In the morning he had woken up with Al snuggled up to his side. His best friend had blushed and mumbled something about a nightmare. Score had immediately pulled him into a long hug. It had been three years since Al’s mother passed away, but Al must still missed her from time to time.
Predictably enough, his dorm mates had whistled and catcalled when they both clambered out of his bed, but Score had walked past them with an indifferent air.
At breakfast, Lily had once again sat next to him at the Slytherin table. When he asked if her friends at Gryffindor didn’t miss her, she told him that he was sweet for being concerned.
"Don’t worry, they’re used to me sitting with Rose anyway," she had assured him while heaping mashed potatoes onto his plate. Sure enough, at lunch she had gone and sat at the Ravenclaw table with her cousin.
Al had been extraordinarily cheerful during lunch. He must be trying to shake off his nightmare, Score thought.
After lunch, their House mates had started an impromptu Quidditch scrimmage outside. Al had looked unenthusiastic at the prospect of joining in, and Score promptly suggested that they go over their Charms homework in the Common Room instead. He was instantly rewarded with Al’s puppy-like good cheer.
When Goyle had delivered her line about being "good at Charms," Score had to manfully suppress a snort. She might be blessed in the breasts department, but Charms prodigy she was not.
Thanking her politely, he offhandedly mentioned that he had Rose Weasley’s old Charms notes. Hopefully Goyle had taken the hint then. He didn’t understand why she was suddenly interested in him. There were several blond purebloods in Sixth and Seventh Year, after all. Unless she bought into the outlandish rumors that his two years at Beauxbatons had transformed him into some Sex Magic expert. Do people honestly think that France is a hotbed of sex? Score shook his head.
Two hours into doing his homework, Score had gently dislodged a half-asleep Al from his shoulder. Al had blearily nodded when Score told him he was going to the bathroom.
He had barely stepped inside the bathroom when he heard measured footsteps behind him. Whipping around with his hand inching toward his wand, he let out a sigh when he saw who it was.
"James? What are you doing so far from Gryffindor tower? I almost mistook you for some sort of stalker."
"Yeah, well-about that." James looked sheepish.
"You were stalking me?" Score’s eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe.
"No! Well, sort of," James said gruffly. "I just needed to have a private conversation with you."
Score cocked his head.
"Without Al around," James added, as if it explained everything.
"If this is about Al, I don’t think you need to worry." Score said with what he hoped was a soothing tone. "Aside from the nightmare this morning, he had been cheerful as always."
James looked at him strangely. "How did you know that he had a-never mind, I don’t want to know. Yes, this is about Al. And Lily. And you."
Score motioned for James to continue.
"Well, the thing is. The thing is-"James broke off and bit the side of his thumb. "You know how both Al and Lily have been hanging all over you? And sitting too close to you and hugging you and petting your hair?" He sounded desperate for some strange reason.
Score raised an eyebrow. "…just like they’ve always done when we were children."
"No! This and that are totally different! You’re no longer twelve, and those are not innocent friendly touches!"
"Wait," Score said with a frown. "Are you lecturing me on good and bad touches?"
James ran his fingers through brown locks with obvious frustration. "Look-Al and Lily both like you, alright? And yes, I do mean ‘like’ in that way. And due to some fascinating mixture of blindness and denial, you somehow missed what had been staring you in the face for three whole months."
James sent him a reproving look. "And I, out of the boundless goodness of my heart, had decided to confront you about this so you can choose one of my siblings while I go comfort the other one."
Score stared.
"Is this the part where I’m supposed to laugh at your joke?"
James threw up his hands in disgust.
*****
The first few seconds of seeing Scorpius Malfoy always threw Harry off balance. He looked so much like his father with his white blond hair and his immaculate Slytherin uniform. If Draco Malfoy had been a polite boy with a kind smile for everybody, that is.
"Thank you for having me over for the holidays, Mr Potter. I wasn’t looking forward to spending Christmas at Hogwarts." Scorpius’ cheeks were flushed from the cold.
"You’re welcome. Besides, Lily and Al would never forgive me if I didn’t secure your presence for Christmas." He grinned.
Inexplicably, this made the boy blush. Ah. James was not exaggerating about the love triangle then.
"So. Uh-I thought your father’s contract in France is over by now?" Harry grasped at a different topic of conversation.
Scorpius nodded but didn’t look up from his mug of hot cocoa. "It ended a few days ago, but he had been busy making arrangements for Grandmother’s house. She decided to move back to England after all."
Lucius Malfoy’s health had deteriorated shortly after his grandson’s birth, and Narcissa had followed her husband to a sanatorium in Switzerland. After Lucius passed away, she had settled in France instead of returning to Malfoy Manor.
"She must miss her grandson living so far from her."
Scorpius looked up with a shy, pleased smile. "Dad said she used to pamper him outrageously too. It felt nice-being wanted."
Harry smiled mistily at the boy. He had been a little concerned that Scorpius would come back from his stay abroad with newly acquired airs. But no, he was still the same sweet, well-mannered boy that he had been at twelve. Except that he was currently the object of lust of Al, Lily and a horde of Hogwarts students, if James was to be believed. He shoved that disturbing thought away.
"Dad said they would be here on Boxing Day," Scorpius offered.
"That’s nice," Harry said. He wondered if Draco Malfoy had changed from the last time he saw him. "They’re both welcome to share our Boxing Day brunch, of course."
Scorpius beamed at him with a chocolate-smeared smile.
*****
Al fidgeted while his best friend bent to look for pajamas in his trunk. He had thought that sharing a bedroom would encourage things to go in the right direction, but it was Christmas Eve and Score seemed to be willfully ignoring any tension or awkwardness between them. He was not looking forward to confessing his feelings plainly-there was a reason why he had not been sorted into Gryffindor after all-but he couldn’t let Lily beat him to it. He suspected that the only thing holding his sister back was the fear that Score might find terribly forward females off-putting.
Gnawing the inside of his bottom lip, Al considered his next move. He could pull the nightmare card again, but he felt guilty exploiting his mother’s memory in that way. Besides, while it was nice being cuddled by Score all night long, it still did not help Score realize his feelings for him.
"Where are you going?" Al blurted out before he could stop himself. Score blinked wide grey eyes at him.
"I was going to change in the bathroom."
"Oh. Um, okay then."
"Okay." Score looked at Al as if he wanted to say something, but he turned his back and walked out of the door.
Al threw himself back on the bed. Was Score on to him, after all? He thought he had been discreet while stealing glances at his half-naked friend. Or maybe he was being paranoid and Score just wanted a private session with his hand before going to bed.
Once that thought entered his head, he couldn’t stop the flashes of images parading in his mind.
Score, cheeks flushed and plump lips bitten, trying to swallow a moan-
Long, tapered fingers gliding over a smooth pale chest, and-
Score, drawing an unsteady breath, hand trailing down a flat stomach-
"You can use the bathroom now, Al."
Al jumped guiltily at his friend’s voice. "That was-fast." He pulled up a pillow to cover his lap.
Score looked at him strangely. "You know that I usually take baths in the morning."
Al let out a forced chuckle. "Right, I guess it slipped my mind. My brain must have decided to take a holiday-from school, and all." His words trailed off into a nervous silence. He fervently wished that his blush was not as bad as it felt.
A cool hand settled on his forehead. "Al, you’re not coming down with a fever, are you? Your face is really red."
When the hand was lifted, Al unthinkingly grabbed Score’s wrist. Score looked as surprised as he felt, but didn’t make any move to free his hand.
Heart slamming in his chest, Al trapped the captured hand against his burning cheek.
"What would you do-" His voice came out weak, and he cleared his throat to repeat his question. "What would you do if I tell you that you’re more to me than my childhood friend, my best friend?"
Score’s eyes glittered, but he didn’t jerk his hand away. "What are you trying to say, Al?"
Al licked suddenly dry lips. "I’m saying that I love you more than a best friend, or a brother." He tightened his grip on Score’s hand, afraid that at any moment, everything would slip away.
"So this thing with Lily is not about ‘who gets to spend more time with Score’?" His friend asked.
"No, not just that. We want to be more than friends with you."
Score’s fingers twitched against his cheek.
"May I have my hand back?" He sounded uncharacteristically meek.
"No."
Later, Al would question where his nerve had come from, but right then, looking into Score’s open gaze, what happened next felt as natural as breathing.
Grey eyes widened momentarily before softening as Al pressed chapped lips against parted pink lips. Al absently noted that Score tasted like his favourite mint-cinnamon toothpaste.
Making a muffled noise in the back of his throat, Score tilted his face so that their lips fitted better. Al could hardly believe it when Score started pressing tiny kisses on the corners of his mouth.
When Score pulled away minutes later, Al made a distressed mewl of abandonment.
"We should save the kiss with tongue for the mistletoe, don’t you think?" Score sounded breathless.
"The mistletoe? But that’s in the kitchen and everyone will see-"
Score ran a red tongue over sharp front teeth. "Exactly."
"Oh. Oh!"
"Unless you think I should give a Christmas kiss to Lily and James too?"
Al growled and tackled a laughing Score into the bed.
After several gratifying moments of mauling his best friend-turned-boyfriend with open-mouthed kisses, Al sat back on his heels and gazed at Score with a look of amazed happiness. "Happy Christmas, Score."
Score ran soft fingers over Al’s smiling lips.
"Happy Christmas, Al."
*****
~
Concerned Reader: What's with all the "love" in the titles? I thought the point of anonymous fic exchanges is--you know--anonymity?
lilian_cho: Well see, these fics are all sorta connected in a bundle of orgiastic frenzy in my brain.
CR: ...
lilian_cho: Like that Love Actually movie! Did anyone ever imply that the producer is crazy? Also: is it my fault that I can't tell the difference between Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson and spent 80% of the movie thinking the Dad's having an affair with his secretary?
CR: I rest my case.
~
Title: Love, Accelerated
Author: lilian_cho
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): AS/S, one-sided Lily/Scorpius. Shades of H/D, if you squint really hard.
Summary: Scorpius Malfoy returned to Hogwarts for his OWLs after two years in France. He remained blissfully unaware of Albus' and Lily's feelings, and the territorial wars that followed were a source of much annoyance to James. Harry had no idea what to do, and Draco continued to be singularly unhelpful.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Harry Potter universe - all recognisable characters and settings are the property of J. K. Rowling and her associates. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is made from this work. Please observe your local laws with regards to the age-limit and content of this work
Warning(s): Clueless!Scorpius, gratuitous mentions of Sex Magic without any actual Sex Magic being performed
Word Count: 4000+ words
Author's Notes: This is a sequel to "Love hopes all things". Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I already have a sequel planned (Spoilery sequel summary, f-locked).
Originally posted at hp_rarities here.
James' portion in life, it seemed, was to make sure that his younger brother didn't make too much of a fool of himself.
Currently Al was dithering in front of the train door, looking as if he was about to expire from happiness at any moment. James had a flashback of an overexcited seven-year-old Al holding up the line at the Disneyworld entrance.
"Do you think Score is on the train yet? I didn't see him on the platform, did you?" Al babbled. "Maybe I should wait for him on the platform-" he made to step off the train, but James firmly shoved him through the door.
"Shut up and get inside, Al. You and Lil have been plaguing me with your Malfoy fever for the entire summer." James steered his younger brother past filled compartments to the end of the train.
Al grumbled but didn't deny the truth of his statement. "You didn't hear me complain when you were mooning over Victoire's cousin from Beauxbatons."
James chose to ignore him.
Al wandered like a lost little puppy after his favorite friend. He would have kept knocking over unsuspecting First Years had James not been there to steer him through obstacles.
Even Lily was not this embarrassingly obvious in her infatuation. These past two years had seen her bloom from a shy, gentle girl prone to blushing into someone confident who knew what she wanted. James absently pondered if Al got his make-a-fool-of-himself-in-front-of-objects-of-affection genes from their Dad.
Just to annoy Al, he started whistling "Here comes the bride" under his breath.
Al sent him a warning glare before opening the door to the last compartment.
The scene that greeted them was one Scorpius Malfoy surrounded by Fourth Year groupies. Next to him was Lily, who didn't need to sit so close to Scorpius-the carriage was hardly cramped.
Judging by the red flush on Al's neck, his younger brother shared the same opinion.
Trying to deflect an all-out territorial war, James said the first thing that came to mind.
"Hi Scorpius. Lily. I thought you'll be sitting with Rose."
Lily rolled her eyes. "She's in the prefects' carriage, brother dear." Snuggling more comfortably into Scorpius' side, she added, "Why aren't you with her?"
Scorpius grinned widely at him. "James! You're a prefect! Al and Lily told me in their letters, but I couldn't believe it until I see it myself."
"Well, yeah. Got the prefect's badge and everything." He ruffled the hair at his nape and shot a glance at his too quiet brother. "It's a position of great responsibility, and now I must go-and do my prefect duties-elsewhere."
As he made his escape from the compartment, he heard Scorpius' exclamation. "Al, why are you standing over there? Come sit by me. You haven’t changed-I’m so glad."
*****
Al gazed at his best friend’s bowed head with a fond smile. Score was rummaging inside his trunk while continuing to regal Al with the story of his portkey mishap. It was heartening to see that Score’s tendency to talk non-stop when excited was still intact.
The previous summer, Al had shot up into his current height. While Al felt ungainly in his new stature, Score carried his own well-proportioned build with an easy grace. It didn’t seem possible, but Score was even more handsome now than he was one year, eight months and six days ago. Not that he had been counting or anything.
White blond hair fell in straight layers past flushed cheeks. Al’s fingers itched to find out if they were as soft as when they were children. He tugged at his own tangled mess instead.
"Found it!" Score called out triumphantly, turning to look at Al. Caught in the middle of staring, he promptly blushed.
Score cocked an eyebrow but didn’t comment on Al’s red face. "Here," he caught Al’s wrist and dropped something into his upturned palm.
"Umm, thanks?" Al looked at the tiny Eiffel tower standing on his palm. "I can use a paperweight when I’m studying in the library. Thank you!"
Score laughed and Al’s heart fluttered.
"It’s not a paperweight, Al. Were you listening to what I was saying at all?"
To Al’s relief, Score didn’t seem upset.
"Dad and I watched the last Quidditch World Cup from a skybox. The Seeker from Quiberon Quafflepunchers caught the snitch practically three meters from us." He bounced a little on his bed. "It’s charmed to play my memory of the exciting parts of the game."
"Wow, this is perfect!" Al gushed. "Much better than a paperweight. I mean-not that I’d be ungrateful if you give me a paperweight. I’d treasure a rock if it came from you. From France." And if Al had a modicum of common sense he would stop babbling. Right. Now.
Score chuckled. "I didn’t remember you being such a chatterbox before."
Well I didn’t remember you being so good-looking either, Al thought desperately.
"I can’t give Lily her present now."
"Huh?" Al dragged his eyes away from pursed pink lips.
Score took out a white rabbit doll in a red pinafore. "It’s all the rage at Beauxbatons. The girls collect these dolls in bikinis, tuxedoes, wedding dresses…"
The doll hung limp in Score’ grip.
"It escaped my mind that Lily’s no longer twelve." Score scrunched up his nose. "She’d probably be insulted if I give her this."
Al nodded mutely.
"I was surprised she’s still clingy though. I thought she would’ve grown out of it," Score said, not sounding entirely displeased.
Al peered at his best friend but failed to detect any irony in his smile. His mouth opened a few millimeters before snapping shut. He couldn’t explain the real reason to Lily’s clinginess without making Score suspicious of his own crush.
*****
"Lily, what are you doing here? This is the Slytherin table!"
Face impassive, Lily slid onto the bench next to Score. "Oh budge up, Al. Nobody ever said anything when I eat with Rose at the Ravenclaw table."
She transferred a piece of roast chicken to her plate and started cutting it into bite-size pieces. "Besides, while you get to monopolize Score in the dormitory, I only get to see him during meal times." If there was a slight pout in her voice, who could blame her, really?
Her brother frowned, but thankfully refrained from saying anything. Score, seemingly unaware of the tension between the Potter siblings, hummed happily around his spoon. "I miss Hogwarts food so much. I love crepes and éclairs as much as the next person, but sometimes I just want some treacle pudding and trifle."
Al snickered and put a sandwich on Score’s plate. "Here, at least have a bite of sandwich before loading yourself with all that sugar."
Not to be outdone, Lily pushed a dish in front of Score. "Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, your favourite."
Score turned and gave her a bright smile. "You remembered!"
She congratulated herself when she failed to blush. "It’s my favourite dish too." She caught her brother scowling at her behind Score’s shoulder, and turned up the wattage of her smile. "So how did you like Beauxbatons? Do you know any of the Delacours? They’re Victoire’s cousins, you know."
"I hated the Beauxbatons uniform. All the boys hated our uniform. Disregarding the uniform regulation had to be the number one violation at school. I don’t know what they were thinking-adding ribbon accents on both the boys’ and girls’ uniforms." Score bit off a mouthful of sandwich and chewed thoughtfully.
If it were James, she would have told him to eat more slowly. Score somehow managed to look endearing while eating a plate of sandwich, roast beef, treacle pudding and an unidentified blob of cream.
She narrowed her eyes when she caught Veronica Goyle making moony eyes at him. That cow. She was one year older than him, for goodness’ sake! It was bad enough that she had to watch out for Fourth Year and Fifth Year girls, now she had to ward off Sixth Year girls too?
"The Headmistress is strict, but most of the professors are nice. Classes were great, too. The Seventh Years like to tell the younger boys that there’s a Sex Magic elective for the students that are of age, but my father swore that it’s all hogwash."
At the words "Sex Magic," all the boys in the vicinity perked up.
"Maybe he didn’t want you to sign up for it," Maurice Nott said.
Score looked unimpressed. "Some parents might feel the need to lie to their children to control them, Nott. I assure you, mine does not."
Nott looked affronted at the implied insult, but Al smoothly cut in.
"Are you trying to drown your roast beef in treacle, Score?" He shook his head fondly. "You should at least pretend to eat normal food like normal people." Score grinned and swirled his roast beef in the pool of treacle.
Lily piped up. "Tell us about that time when your upperclassmen smuggle Firewhiskey into the boys’ dormitory." Score immediately started on a highly animated tale with the help of the salt and pepper shakers and an army of utensils.
*****
James had a policy of non-interference when it comes to his siblings’ as-of-yet non-existent love life. But it would soon be December, which meant Scorpius visiting during Christmas hols, which meant he had to do something before things blew up spectacularly at the Potter household. This explained why, perfectly good weather notwithstanding, he was currently skulking around in drafty Slytherin territory under his Invisibility Cloak.
Al was positively a barnacle at Scorpius’ side nowadays. Thankfully, he did not follow Scorpius into the boys’ toilet. Or if he did, James was blissfully unaware and would like to remain that way.
It was understood among the Gryffindor girls that anyone attempting to flirt with Scorpius would earn Lily’s wrath. He was amazed to witness even Fifth Year girls treading carefully around Scorpius.
Just last week Rose had tried to explain about his sister’s "queen bee" status among Gryffindors, but animals-magical or otherwise-had never been one of James’ strong points.
In the beginning, he had thought that Scorpius would fall in love (his money was on Al), and he would congratulate Al, issue the expected older-brotherly threats to Score, and console a heart-broken Lily until she bounced back to normal (or as normal as Lily could get). If Scorpius fell for Lily instead, well-Al would pine for months and months and probably run off to Uncle Charlie to escape the pain. Or something.
"Hello Scorpius, Albus. Is this seat taken?" Veronica Goyle’s sultry voice cut through James’ musings.
Scorpius smiled politely and shook his head. Al, the beginnings of a pout on his face, scooted to sit even closer to Scorpius in the leather sofa.
"How are you doing with your studies, Scorpius? You’re not having troubles…adjusting, are you?" Veronica shrugged off her robe and crossed her legs.
Al’s expression could only be interpreted as fuck off. Scorpius absently turned the pages of his textbook. "I was a little behind at Charms, but Professor Flitwick had assigned me extra readings. I’ve caught up with the rest of the class now."
The Sixth Year girl leaned forward, and Wow. Veronica Goyle might not be pretty like Megan Entwhistle, but that pair of beauties would convert a red-blooded male anytime. Maybe Al could introduce them… No! What was he thinking? She was a Slytherin!
"Do tell me if you need any help. I’ve always been good at…Charms." If Scorpius couldn’t read the dripping sexual innuendo, he must be blind and deaf or both.
Placing a ribbon marker in the textbook, Scorpius didn’t even pause at the girl’s cleavage before looking at her straight in the eyes. "Thank you. But as I said, I’m all caught up now. And Rose Weasley had lent me her old Charms notes."
Veronica straightened in her seat with a smile that was too bright to be sincere. "Well, if you ever change your mind…"
Scorpius just raised an eyebrow and went back to his homework. Next to him, Al looked like he was seconds away from rubbing all over Scorpius to mark him as territory.
Right. So Scorpius was by no means clueless at other people’s attempts of flirtation. Now the question that remained was, why did he tolerate Al and Lily’s manhandling?
Adjusting his Invisibility Cloak, James leaned against the cold stone of the Slytherin Common Room and settled in for a long wait.
*****
Today was undoubtedly the most surreal day in Scorpius Malfoy’s entire fifteen years of existence.
In the morning he had woken up with Al snuggled up to his side. His best friend had blushed and mumbled something about a nightmare. Score had immediately pulled him into a long hug. It had been three years since Al’s mother passed away, but Al must still missed her from time to time.
Predictably enough, his dorm mates had whistled and catcalled when they both clambered out of his bed, but Score had walked past them with an indifferent air.
At breakfast, Lily had once again sat next to him at the Slytherin table. When he asked if her friends at Gryffindor didn’t miss her, she told him that he was sweet for being concerned.
"Don’t worry, they’re used to me sitting with Rose anyway," she had assured him while heaping mashed potatoes onto his plate. Sure enough, at lunch she had gone and sat at the Ravenclaw table with her cousin.
Al had been extraordinarily cheerful during lunch. He must be trying to shake off his nightmare, Score thought.
After lunch, their House mates had started an impromptu Quidditch scrimmage outside. Al had looked unenthusiastic at the prospect of joining in, and Score promptly suggested that they go over their Charms homework in the Common Room instead. He was instantly rewarded with Al’s puppy-like good cheer.
When Goyle had delivered her line about being "good at Charms," Score had to manfully suppress a snort. She might be blessed in the breasts department, but Charms prodigy she was not.
Thanking her politely, he offhandedly mentioned that he had Rose Weasley’s old Charms notes. Hopefully Goyle had taken the hint then. He didn’t understand why she was suddenly interested in him. There were several blond purebloods in Sixth and Seventh Year, after all. Unless she bought into the outlandish rumors that his two years at Beauxbatons had transformed him into some Sex Magic expert. Do people honestly think that France is a hotbed of sex? Score shook his head.
Two hours into doing his homework, Score had gently dislodged a half-asleep Al from his shoulder. Al had blearily nodded when Score told him he was going to the bathroom.
He had barely stepped inside the bathroom when he heard measured footsteps behind him. Whipping around with his hand inching toward his wand, he let out a sigh when he saw who it was.
"James? What are you doing so far from Gryffindor tower? I almost mistook you for some sort of stalker."
"Yeah, well-about that." James looked sheepish.
"You were stalking me?" Score’s eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe.
"No! Well, sort of," James said gruffly. "I just needed to have a private conversation with you."
Score cocked his head.
"Without Al around," James added, as if it explained everything.
"If this is about Al, I don’t think you need to worry." Score said with what he hoped was a soothing tone. "Aside from the nightmare this morning, he had been cheerful as always."
James looked at him strangely. "How did you know that he had a-never mind, I don’t want to know. Yes, this is about Al. And Lily. And you."
Score motioned for James to continue.
"Well, the thing is. The thing is-"James broke off and bit the side of his thumb. "You know how both Al and Lily have been hanging all over you? And sitting too close to you and hugging you and petting your hair?" He sounded desperate for some strange reason.
Score raised an eyebrow. "…just like they’ve always done when we were children."
"No! This and that are totally different! You’re no longer twelve, and those are not innocent friendly touches!"
"Wait," Score said with a frown. "Are you lecturing me on good and bad touches?"
James ran his fingers through brown locks with obvious frustration. "Look-Al and Lily both like you, alright? And yes, I do mean ‘like’ in that way. And due to some fascinating mixture of blindness and denial, you somehow missed what had been staring you in the face for three whole months."
James sent him a reproving look. "And I, out of the boundless goodness of my heart, had decided to confront you about this so you can choose one of my siblings while I go comfort the other one."
Score stared.
"Is this the part where I’m supposed to laugh at your joke?"
James threw up his hands in disgust.
*****
The first few seconds of seeing Scorpius Malfoy always threw Harry off balance. He looked so much like his father with his white blond hair and his immaculate Slytherin uniform. If Draco Malfoy had been a polite boy with a kind smile for everybody, that is.
"Thank you for having me over for the holidays, Mr Potter. I wasn’t looking forward to spending Christmas at Hogwarts." Scorpius’ cheeks were flushed from the cold.
"You’re welcome. Besides, Lily and Al would never forgive me if I didn’t secure your presence for Christmas." He grinned.
Inexplicably, this made the boy blush. Ah. James was not exaggerating about the love triangle then.
"So. Uh-I thought your father’s contract in France is over by now?" Harry grasped at a different topic of conversation.
Scorpius nodded but didn’t look up from his mug of hot cocoa. "It ended a few days ago, but he had been busy making arrangements for Grandmother’s house. She decided to move back to England after all."
Lucius Malfoy’s health had deteriorated shortly after his grandson’s birth, and Narcissa had followed her husband to a sanatorium in Switzerland. After Lucius passed away, she had settled in France instead of returning to Malfoy Manor.
"She must miss her grandson living so far from her."
Scorpius looked up with a shy, pleased smile. "Dad said she used to pamper him outrageously too. It felt nice-being wanted."
Harry smiled mistily at the boy. He had been a little concerned that Scorpius would come back from his stay abroad with newly acquired airs. But no, he was still the same sweet, well-mannered boy that he had been at twelve. Except that he was currently the object of lust of Al, Lily and a horde of Hogwarts students, if James was to be believed. He shoved that disturbing thought away.
"Dad said they would be here on Boxing Day," Scorpius offered.
"That’s nice," Harry said. He wondered if Draco Malfoy had changed from the last time he saw him. "They’re both welcome to share our Boxing Day brunch, of course."
Scorpius beamed at him with a chocolate-smeared smile.
*****
Al fidgeted while his best friend bent to look for pajamas in his trunk. He had thought that sharing a bedroom would encourage things to go in the right direction, but it was Christmas Eve and Score seemed to be willfully ignoring any tension or awkwardness between them. He was not looking forward to confessing his feelings plainly-there was a reason why he had not been sorted into Gryffindor after all-but he couldn’t let Lily beat him to it. He suspected that the only thing holding his sister back was the fear that Score might find terribly forward females off-putting.
Gnawing the inside of his bottom lip, Al considered his next move. He could pull the nightmare card again, but he felt guilty exploiting his mother’s memory in that way. Besides, while it was nice being cuddled by Score all night long, it still did not help Score realize his feelings for him.
"Where are you going?" Al blurted out before he could stop himself. Score blinked wide grey eyes at him.
"I was going to change in the bathroom."
"Oh. Um, okay then."
"Okay." Score looked at Al as if he wanted to say something, but he turned his back and walked out of the door.
Al threw himself back on the bed. Was Score on to him, after all? He thought he had been discreet while stealing glances at his half-naked friend. Or maybe he was being paranoid and Score just wanted a private session with his hand before going to bed.
Once that thought entered his head, he couldn’t stop the flashes of images parading in his mind.
Score, cheeks flushed and plump lips bitten, trying to swallow a moan-
Long, tapered fingers gliding over a smooth pale chest, and-
Score, drawing an unsteady breath, hand trailing down a flat stomach-
"You can use the bathroom now, Al."
Al jumped guiltily at his friend’s voice. "That was-fast." He pulled up a pillow to cover his lap.
Score looked at him strangely. "You know that I usually take baths in the morning."
Al let out a forced chuckle. "Right, I guess it slipped my mind. My brain must have decided to take a holiday-from school, and all." His words trailed off into a nervous silence. He fervently wished that his blush was not as bad as it felt.
A cool hand settled on his forehead. "Al, you’re not coming down with a fever, are you? Your face is really red."
When the hand was lifted, Al unthinkingly grabbed Score’s wrist. Score looked as surprised as he felt, but didn’t make any move to free his hand.
Heart slamming in his chest, Al trapped the captured hand against his burning cheek.
"What would you do-" His voice came out weak, and he cleared his throat to repeat his question. "What would you do if I tell you that you’re more to me than my childhood friend, my best friend?"
Score’s eyes glittered, but he didn’t jerk his hand away. "What are you trying to say, Al?"
Al licked suddenly dry lips. "I’m saying that I love you more than a best friend, or a brother." He tightened his grip on Score’s hand, afraid that at any moment, everything would slip away.
"So this thing with Lily is not about ‘who gets to spend more time with Score’?" His friend asked.
"No, not just that. We want to be more than friends with you."
Score’s fingers twitched against his cheek.
"May I have my hand back?" He sounded uncharacteristically meek.
"No."
Later, Al would question where his nerve had come from, but right then, looking into Score’s open gaze, what happened next felt as natural as breathing.
Grey eyes widened momentarily before softening as Al pressed chapped lips against parted pink lips. Al absently noted that Score tasted like his favourite mint-cinnamon toothpaste.
Making a muffled noise in the back of his throat, Score tilted his face so that their lips fitted better. Al could hardly believe it when Score started pressing tiny kisses on the corners of his mouth.
When Score pulled away minutes later, Al made a distressed mewl of abandonment.
"We should save the kiss with tongue for the mistletoe, don’t you think?" Score sounded breathless.
"The mistletoe? But that’s in the kitchen and everyone will see-"
Score ran a red tongue over sharp front teeth. "Exactly."
"Oh. Oh!"
"Unless you think I should give a Christmas kiss to Lily and James too?"
Al growled and tackled a laughing Score into the bed.
After several gratifying moments of mauling his best friend-turned-boyfriend with open-mouthed kisses, Al sat back on his heels and gazed at Score with a look of amazed happiness. "Happy Christmas, Score."
Score ran soft fingers over Al’s smiling lips.
"Happy Christmas, Al."
*****