Winter Shorts 2008 Round Two: Fic - Heart Without a Home - PG-13
Mod Note: This is the second post for today! Enjoy, and don't forget to comment! :D
Title: Heart Without A Home
Name: dorothy_in_oz
Prompt: #102 - friendship, first kiss and workaholic
Prompt given by: Anonymous
Word Count: 1250
Betas: Toto
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Fluff-fluffity-fluff. The title is shamelessly taken from the song Heart Without A Home, originally sung by Nick Carter.
Summary: Scorpius is a workaholic. Albus thinks he has the solution for that.
Scorpius Malfoy wouldn't leave his office at the end of the day with his colleagues. He would always stay at least two more hours writing reports and making sure everything was perfect before actually switching off the lights and walking away, usually when the cleaning team started their shift, sometime near eleven o'clock. It was a habit he had started to develop about two years before, but it had escalated until a point where he wouldn't leave his office for anything, not even to have lunch. It worried Albus Potter to no end.
Albus and Scorpius had been friends ever since their very first day at Hogwarts, right after Al's uncle Ron had urged his daughter to beat that Malfoy boy in every subject at school. Throughout the years, Albus had nourished a crush for his friend that had evolved into something bigger, stronger - something he could not escape. He had fallen for his best friend, for the man Scorpius had finally become once they had left school. And seeing him slowly fading away, too caught up in a job that was sucking his life away, broke Albus' heart into millions of pieces.
He remembered when the great Harry Potter buried himself in work after his much-talked-about divorce. He remembered how Ginny's absence had affected them all, how his father couldn't cope with everything, how his family had been broken and how they had to rescue the Saviour from himself. Albus knew what he had to do to help Scorpius get out of the vicious circle he had allowed himself to fall into, even though he didn't know the reasons why his friend had decided to hide under layers and layers of files.
The first attempt to save Scorpius passed through showering him with treats to lure him out of the cubicle they shared at the Ministry. It hadn't worked at first with Harry Potter, but Albus thought that it may be easier if he tried to convince Scorpius to attend a Quidditch match at eight thirty on a Wednesday. He even left the tickets on Scorpius' desk. He waited for an hour and a half, but Scorpius never showed up. When Albus Apparated to their office, he found Scorpius working frantically on a report.
The second attempt to save Scorpius ended up as unsuccessful as the first. Albus tried to stay late with Scorpius, but he wasn't able to catch the blond's attention long enough to convince him to get out and enjoy the sunny afternoons of spring. Invariably, Scorpius managed to bore Albus almost to death with inane details of his paper work. In the end, Albus resorted to his last option, the one he would have rather not use - because, even if it had been the one to shake Harry Potter from his work addiction, it was like stepping in Scorpius' personal space.
Albus had to talk to his friend and find out what was bothering him so much that he wouldn't dare to go back home after work.
~ * ~
It was near midnight when Albus re-entered their office, fully expecting to find Scorpius working on something. The cleaning team that had been informing him about Scorpius for the past fortnight hadn't reported the blond leaving, so Albus knew he was still in there.
Albus opened the door silently, in order not to startle his friend, and peeked inside. He smiled softly at the image displayed for his eyes to see.
Scorpius was bent over the desk, right hand sprawled on a mountain of papers perilously hanging from the edge of the desk, head resting on the wooden surface, snoring softly. His blond hair partially hid his left hand that seemed to be clutching some sort of frame. Albus smiled warmly at the sight then frowned when he managed to recognize the people waving at him from the magical picture captured in the frame underneath Scorpius' grip.
Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy smiled at the photographer.
Scorpius' parents had disappeared about two and a half years in strange circumstances, during a thief’s assault to their manor. Their son had never known their whereabouts after that, but Albus had thought he had got over that.
Apparently, he wasn't right.
Scorpius had to go back to an empty house, to an empty life, after work - to the despair of ignorance, to the madness of loneliness. Albus felt his heart clench in his chest as he itched to wake his friend and soothe his worries with love.
Albus got nearer the desk and finally decided to sit beside Scorpius, waiting patiently until the blond stirred and came back to consciousness.
"Score, I'm here," he said softly.
The dazed slate gaze settled on him and a sleepy smile danced on red lips.
"Hey."
"Scorpius, I know what you're doing." Albus sighed. "It's not healthy, you know?"
"What is not healthy?" Albus knew he was spot on from the way his friend stood up defensively, tucking the frame behind his back in one swift movement.
"This," Albus managed to take the frame from Scorpius hands. "You cannot hide eternally here, avoiding going back home."
"I am not hiding," Scorpius retorted. "I am working."
"Yes, you are working," Albus gestured to the cubicle. "You are working on exhausting yourself and killing yourself slowly from concealing your feelings."
"You can't understand. I am working on bringing my parents back!"
"Scorpius, no one knows where your mother and your father are," Albus explained seriously. "They disappeared over two years ago. This is not healthy," he repeated.
"Why?" Scorpius rubbed his nape with shaky fingers. "Why is not healthy that I try to find a way to retrieve the only love I've ever been shown?"
"Because it is not the only love you'll ever have, Scorpius!" Albus cried out, recalling those dark times at Hogwarts when not even the teachers would look twice at that Malfoy spawn. "Because you have friends, because you have me!"
Scorpius merely looked at him.
"I know what you're doing, Scorpius, and it is not good for you." Albus stretched out a hand and caught Scorpius' twitching fingers. "You can always turn to me, Score. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. But you cannot bury yourself here for the good part of every day."
"I don't have anywhere else to go," Scorpius muttered. "I don't want to go back there, it's not a home anymore..."
"Home is where your heart is," he offered, breathless.
"I don't know where my heart is anymore."
"Oh, Score..." Albus sighed softly and pulled his friend into a tight embrace over the desk, wishing that he could comfort Scorpius. He drew soothing circles on Scorpius' back.
Suddenly, his friend looked up at him and Albus found himself fighting for air as that gaze pinned him holding him in place. And then the air was scant and it seemed like the only source for breathing was Scorpius' lips, and Albus was leaning in and Scorpius was leaning forward and somehow in the middle they shared their first kiss.
It was sweet and awkward and messy and perfect, lips on lips, the shadow of tongues dancing an intimate waltz.
When they reluctantly parted for air, Albus rested his forehead on Scorpius' and grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Like my heart has found a home," Scorpius said shyly.
Albus stood up and offered his hand to Scorpius. "Come with me, Score." He waited nervously until Scorpius smiled softly and accepted his hand.
"Take me home."
Disclaimer: This piece of fiction is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made, no copyright or trademark infringement, or offence is intended. All characters depicted in sexual situations are above the age of consent.
Title: Heart Without A Home
Name: dorothy_in_oz
Prompt: #102 - friendship, first kiss and workaholic
Prompt given by: Anonymous
Word Count: 1250
Betas: Toto
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Fluff-fluffity-fluff. The title is shamelessly taken from the song Heart Without A Home, originally sung by Nick Carter.
Summary: Scorpius is a workaholic. Albus thinks he has the solution for that.
Scorpius Malfoy wouldn't leave his office at the end of the day with his colleagues. He would always stay at least two more hours writing reports and making sure everything was perfect before actually switching off the lights and walking away, usually when the cleaning team started their shift, sometime near eleven o'clock. It was a habit he had started to develop about two years before, but it had escalated until a point where he wouldn't leave his office for anything, not even to have lunch. It worried Albus Potter to no end.
Albus and Scorpius had been friends ever since their very first day at Hogwarts, right after Al's uncle Ron had urged his daughter to beat that Malfoy boy in every subject at school. Throughout the years, Albus had nourished a crush for his friend that had evolved into something bigger, stronger - something he could not escape. He had fallen for his best friend, for the man Scorpius had finally become once they had left school. And seeing him slowly fading away, too caught up in a job that was sucking his life away, broke Albus' heart into millions of pieces.
He remembered when the great Harry Potter buried himself in work after his much-talked-about divorce. He remembered how Ginny's absence had affected them all, how his father couldn't cope with everything, how his family had been broken and how they had to rescue the Saviour from himself. Albus knew what he had to do to help Scorpius get out of the vicious circle he had allowed himself to fall into, even though he didn't know the reasons why his friend had decided to hide under layers and layers of files.
The first attempt to save Scorpius passed through showering him with treats to lure him out of the cubicle they shared at the Ministry. It hadn't worked at first with Harry Potter, but Albus thought that it may be easier if he tried to convince Scorpius to attend a Quidditch match at eight thirty on a Wednesday. He even left the tickets on Scorpius' desk. He waited for an hour and a half, but Scorpius never showed up. When Albus Apparated to their office, he found Scorpius working frantically on a report.
The second attempt to save Scorpius ended up as unsuccessful as the first. Albus tried to stay late with Scorpius, but he wasn't able to catch the blond's attention long enough to convince him to get out and enjoy the sunny afternoons of spring. Invariably, Scorpius managed to bore Albus almost to death with inane details of his paper work. In the end, Albus resorted to his last option, the one he would have rather not use - because, even if it had been the one to shake Harry Potter from his work addiction, it was like stepping in Scorpius' personal space.
Albus had to talk to his friend and find out what was bothering him so much that he wouldn't dare to go back home after work.
~ * ~
It was near midnight when Albus re-entered their office, fully expecting to find Scorpius working on something. The cleaning team that had been informing him about Scorpius for the past fortnight hadn't reported the blond leaving, so Albus knew he was still in there.
Albus opened the door silently, in order not to startle his friend, and peeked inside. He smiled softly at the image displayed for his eyes to see.
Scorpius was bent over the desk, right hand sprawled on a mountain of papers perilously hanging from the edge of the desk, head resting on the wooden surface, snoring softly. His blond hair partially hid his left hand that seemed to be clutching some sort of frame. Albus smiled warmly at the sight then frowned when he managed to recognize the people waving at him from the magical picture captured in the frame underneath Scorpius' grip.
Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy smiled at the photographer.
Scorpius' parents had disappeared about two and a half years in strange circumstances, during a thief’s assault to their manor. Their son had never known their whereabouts after that, but Albus had thought he had got over that.
Apparently, he wasn't right.
Scorpius had to go back to an empty house, to an empty life, after work - to the despair of ignorance, to the madness of loneliness. Albus felt his heart clench in his chest as he itched to wake his friend and soothe his worries with love.
Albus got nearer the desk and finally decided to sit beside Scorpius, waiting patiently until the blond stirred and came back to consciousness.
"Score, I'm here," he said softly.
The dazed slate gaze settled on him and a sleepy smile danced on red lips.
"Hey."
"Scorpius, I know what you're doing." Albus sighed. "It's not healthy, you know?"
"What is not healthy?" Albus knew he was spot on from the way his friend stood up defensively, tucking the frame behind his back in one swift movement.
"This," Albus managed to take the frame from Scorpius hands. "You cannot hide eternally here, avoiding going back home."
"I am not hiding," Scorpius retorted. "I am working."
"Yes, you are working," Albus gestured to the cubicle. "You are working on exhausting yourself and killing yourself slowly from concealing your feelings."
"You can't understand. I am working on bringing my parents back!"
"Scorpius, no one knows where your mother and your father are," Albus explained seriously. "They disappeared over two years ago. This is not healthy," he repeated.
"Why?" Scorpius rubbed his nape with shaky fingers. "Why is not healthy that I try to find a way to retrieve the only love I've ever been shown?"
"Because it is not the only love you'll ever have, Scorpius!" Albus cried out, recalling those dark times at Hogwarts when not even the teachers would look twice at that Malfoy spawn. "Because you have friends, because you have me!"
Scorpius merely looked at him.
"I know what you're doing, Scorpius, and it is not good for you." Albus stretched out a hand and caught Scorpius' twitching fingers. "You can always turn to me, Score. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. But you cannot bury yourself here for the good part of every day."
"I don't have anywhere else to go," Scorpius muttered. "I don't want to go back there, it's not a home anymore..."
"Home is where your heart is," he offered, breathless.
"I don't know where my heart is anymore."
"Oh, Score..." Albus sighed softly and pulled his friend into a tight embrace over the desk, wishing that he could comfort Scorpius. He drew soothing circles on Scorpius' back.
Suddenly, his friend looked up at him and Albus found himself fighting for air as that gaze pinned him holding him in place. And then the air was scant and it seemed like the only source for breathing was Scorpius' lips, and Albus was leaning in and Scorpius was leaning forward and somehow in the middle they shared their first kiss.
It was sweet and awkward and messy and perfect, lips on lips, the shadow of tongues dancing an intimate waltz.
When they reluctantly parted for air, Albus rested his forehead on Scorpius' and grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Like my heart has found a home," Scorpius said shyly.
Albus stood up and offered his hand to Scorpius. "Come with me, Score." He waited nervously until Scorpius smiled softly and accepted his hand.
"Take me home."
Disclaimer: This piece of fiction is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made, no copyright or trademark infringement, or offence is intended. All characters depicted in sexual situations are above the age of consent.