Being Albus Potter
Jan. 7th, 2011 12:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sesheta66Title: Being Albus Potter
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sesheta_66
Betas:alaana_fair and dysonrules
Pairing(s): Albus/Scorpius
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~ 8,000
Summary: The spitting image of his father, Albus Severus Potter is a middle child overshadowed by his father's celebrity and his siblings' popularity. The lone Hufflepuff in an all-Gryffindor family, Al can barely fly and only just scrapes by in his classes. As if all that weren't enough, his father has decided to run for Minister of Magic. Oh, and Al has a secret. One he doesn't want the media to discover before he's ready to tell his family.
Notes: Originally written for the 2010![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
the_ass_fest.
Being Albus Potter
by Sesheta
Being Harry Potter's son sucks.
Boy Who Lived. Chosen One. Saviour. Youngest Head Auror. Take your pick. Whatever you call him, he's my dad, and he casts a large shadow.
Of course, if you're an attention whore like my Quidditch star brother, it's not so bad. But I'm not. An attention whore that is. Or, for that matter, a Quidditch star. Truth be told, I can barely stay on a broom when I'm hovering two feet off the ground. Rather embarrassing, that, given my brother's star status, my dad's reputation as the youngest Seeker in a century, and my mum's job as Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies.
But I digress.
I'm the only known Hufflepuff in Potter or Weasley history. You see, I'm not smart enough for Ravenclaw like my cousin Rose. She's brilliant, just like her mum. I, on the other hand, can barely pass anything. In fact, the dread of this year's OWLs has rendered me even more useless than usual. I get sick just thinking about them.
Which supports the Sorting Hat's decision not to place me in Gryffindor with the rest of my family. I'm not nearly brave enough for the lion's den. I'm no saviour, that's for sure. Much to my professors' dismay, I can barely save a spell from going awry in Charms or Defence, a plant from dying in Herbology, or a cauldron from exploding in Potions.
Unfortunately for me, I happen to be the spitting image of my famous war hero father. I don't see it, but I suppose everyone can't be wrong. My brother laps up the attention that being a Potter kid gets him, but at least he doesn't have that hanging over him. I suspect that simply looking at me is a constant reminder - if the disappointed looks directed at me are anything to go by - that I just don't live up to people's expectations.
"What's wrong, Al?" Scorpius asks, nudging me from my musings. "You've been here for three days and I don't think I've seen you crack a smile more than twice."
I shrug. "It's nothing."
"Prat," Scorpius says, emphasising his point with a punch to my arm. "Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine with me." I let out a breath. Thank Merlin. "But just so you know, you're taking all the fun out of this visit."
I glower at my friend. He really should have been in Slytherin, the manipulative shit. Instead, he's in Ravenclaw with my cousin. Sneaky and smart - a dangerous mix. "Fine," I huff. There's no use trying to keep anything hidden from him anyway. I struggle for the words to explain how I feel. "Did you ever feel out of place? Like you don't belong?"
Scorpius levels me with a glare. "Hello? Malfoy here."
"Right. Stupid question." I regard Scorpius with a sense of awe. He'd entered Hogwarts a pariah, based solely on what his father and grandfather had done. But somehow he'd managed to make it through. His teachers love him, girls swoon over him, and he's made some good friends. "But you've found your place, right?" I glance out the window at the snow-covered grounds of the Manor and wonder what it must have been like for Scorpius growing up here. To be an only child, just he and his parents living in this vast mansion, then to be suddenly immersed at age eleven in the insanity that is Hogwarts. I return my gaze to him. "You know you belong now, yeah?"
Scorpius nods and presses his lips together in that way he has when he tries to work out a difficult Arithmancy problem. "What's this about, Al?"
"It's just ... it's hard. Being Harry Potter's son." I look down, ashamed. I know that Scorpius has had things much worse than I ever did. Sometimes I wonder how I could forget. "Never mind. It's stupid. I never had to go through what you did."
"Look, I never much liked the attention I got, but I have to admit that keeping to yourself is a lot easier when no one wants to be around you. I can't say I'd want all the attention you get, even now."
"It's just ... I dunno. I don't fit in anywhere. I know I'm not dense, but I'm barely scraping by in my subjects. Not like Lily and Rose. They're brilliant."
"Rose is brilliant, no question. And Lily is smart, yeah, but so are you. You just need to focus more. I've seen you figure things out when you aren't under pressure. You just need to relax."
I ignore his attempt to make me feel better. "And I can't fly like James." I try not to let it get to me, really I do. But the way James goes around preening all the time, chest puffed out and everything, it's all I can do sometimes not to pay the Beaters to launch a couple of Bludgers at his head. "Captain of the Quidditch team, just like our dad."
"Okay, I'll give you that. You really are atrocious on a broom."
I try to look indignant, but my heart's not in it. "Gee, thanks."
"I'm your friend, Al, but I'll not lie to you. There are plenty of people around you doing that every day."
I chuckle, thinking about all the stupid people that still follow me around, trying to befriend Harry Potter's son. Idiots. "Too true."
"So what's the real problem?"
Before I can stop myself, the words come tumbling out, like they've been waiting for me to open the door and free them. "Everyone in my family has their thing. Mine apparently is looking like my dad. But I'm too stupid and too useless to live up to being Harry Potter's son."
A deep cough sounds from the doorway. I realise too late that I've been speaking pretty loudly, as a decidedly disgruntled looking Draco Malfoy stares at me. I know that he was on the losing side of the war, or at least his dad had been, and I know my Uncle Ron thinks he's a prat, but the man seriously scares the shit out of me. He's never done or said anything to me to make me feel that way, but he just has this thing - this way of looking at you like he can see right through you. And right now, he's glaring daggers at me.
I look to Scorpius for support - I'm in their home, and he's my best friend, after all. The bastard ignores me and leaves me hanging.
"Albus," Mr Malfoy says. His voice is gentle, calm, unwavering. Completely unnerving. Like I said, he scares the shit out of me. "Tell me you don't really think that."
I squirm and look at the intricate design of the carpet. It really is quite lovely, if a bit worn on the edges. Deep jewel tones running through it. Mr Malfoy makes another noise and I shrug, still staring at the carpet, unable and unwilling to repeat the words. They hurt enough the first time, and I hadn't intended for Scorp's dad to hear. Hell, I hadn't even planned on telling Scorp. His dad sits down on the sofa next to me and I stop breathing for a moment.
I can feel his gaze boring into me and I clutch my hands together to hide the fact that they're shaking. He doesn't say a word, but I eventually relent and look up.
"You'll recall that your father and I went to school together."
I nod. They're friends of a sort now, something hard to avoid when your sons are best mates. But they were close to enemies in school, if what I've heard is true. My Uncle Ron told me a few tales when my dad wasn't around, and I'd heard a fair few whispered stories around school. My dad never talks much about Scorpius's dad, except to say that he is brilliant at potions. Not much of a stretch, really, considering he's a potions master.
"Well, I assure you he was hardly a top student." I frown. I realise now that I've never talked to my parents about their marks. Never much cared, really. I just assumed ... "If it weren't for your Aunt Hermione, I doubt your father or your uncle would have passed their OWLs." My mouth, clearly out of my control, falls open. "Well, okay, your father would have passed Defence," he corrects himself, "but not much else." He grins in a sort-of conspiratorial way, and all of a sudden he doesn't seem quite so scary. I relax a fraction. "Ask him yourself."
A distant conversation flits into my mind. "But my Uncle Ron--"
"Is an arse."
"Dad!"
I snort. After all, I've heard that from both my parents enough times over the years.
Mr Malfoy ignores Scorpius and focuses on me. "Your cousin Rose should be thankful she has her mother's brains." Scorpius looks slightly mollified. He and Rose are friends, after all. His father continues. "Your uncle has a tendency to ... well, exaggerate. Don't let his image of your father give you an impossible goal to attain. He had a lot of support from others."
My dad always says he had a lot of help from his friends. That may be true, but he's still Head Auror, he's always in the paper, and he has a whole cabinet full of awards.
Mr Malfoy puts a hand on my shoulder. It startles me, but I don't pull away. "I'm not trying to minimise your father's accomplishments, Al. He's brave and smart - traits I'd never given him credit for when we were children - and he's grown a lot since school. I'm just trying to point out that school grades are not everything." He shudders beside me. "I am exceedingly grateful that I am not judged solely on my days as an adolescent."
I look at him, and see more in his eyes than words can express. He looks somewhat sad, yet there's a twinkle there that makes me suspect he doesn't spend his days immersed in regret. I'm inexplicably pleased by that. I think I'm catching a glimpse of where Scorpius gets his strength from.
At once, I find myself awash again in the sensation of not measuring up.
As though he'd read my mind, Mr Malfoy continues. "You may not be facing the same hardships as your father did, but you have your own. Ones your father never had." I look at him sceptically. Everyone knows what my dad went through. "He didn't have siblings or parents to live up to. And I daresay he never had to live under the shadow of Harry Potter."
Lily always tells me I wear my heart on my sleeve. I never believed her before, but I wonder now if I really am that transparent.
"Albus, believe me when I say that you will figure things out. Perhaps sooner, perhaps later. That remains to be seen. But do not let the few things at which you do not excel overshadow who you are inside."
"Yeah," Scorpius adds. My lips twitch; his support means more than I can say.
"Give yourself time to figure out who you are, Al. And talk to your father," Mr Malfoy says. "He will tell you the same thing, I'd wager."
I nod. Mr Malfoy smiles and gives my shoulder a squeeze. Then he gets up and leaves the room before I have a chance to say anything. As he reaches the doorway, however, he turns round. "One more thing," he says. "Don't let your father's modesty fool you either. He really is a great man. Just ... well, a man. Not any more or less human than the rest of us."
I can't stop a huge smile from blossoming. "Thanks, Mr Malfoy."
"Any time, Al."
When his dad is gone, I turn to Scorpius. "You know, your dad's all right."
"Yeah." Scorpius smiles. "He has his moments."
~ * ~ * ~
Being Scorpius Malfoy's best friend is everything.
My mood improves after that. Scorpius says no more on the subject and for that I'm thankful. We never really talk about our feelings - it's not exactly a guy thing to do, after all - and we've never had to. We get each other. He's the first friend I made at school. Like my dad and Uncle Ron, we met on the Hogwarts Express. We were both hiding from the attention - I from the adoring hordes, and he from the angry ones. I narrowly escaped a gaggle of giggling, swooning girls and found myself in a compartment facing Scorpius, wand in his hand and sneer on his face.
"What do you want?" he'd asked as he lifted his wand in my direction.
I'd thrown my hands up in surrender. "Escape," I'd replied.
It turned out he'd been seeking escape too. Under threat of death - or at least a strong hex, a number of which he'd assured me his Death Eater dad had taught him - he'd not-so-graciously allowed me to remain. We've been best mates ever since.
I watch him as he reaches for a tome on an upper shelf of his library. He could use magic - Merlin knows he's excellent with spells - but he prefers to peruse the collection, as he puts it. His long, elegant fingers run along the spines of several books as he mutters under his breath. He is every bit as refined as his father when he's in the family library. I wonder sometimes if he isn't perhaps two unique people residing in one fascinating package.
I cough to shake off the thought. Honestly, sometimes I wonder how and why my mind wanders in the directions it does.
"There you are," Scorpius says, his voice a deep, almost-purr. He pulls the book from the shelf and descends the ladder gracefully. "I knew I'd find this here." He grins as he hands the book over to me. "You're welcome," he says.
I look at the title. Preparing for your Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams: A Sure-Fire Way to Improve Your Results in Three Months or Less. Plenty of time if I start as soon as I get back to school.
"You're smarter than you think," he tells me, suddenly all serious. "All you need is focus." He grins broadly at me, and I'm struck by how beautiful he looks when his eyes light up like that. "And I will be right there with you, every step of the way."
I have a ridiculous urge to pull him into a bone-crushing hug. My fear of the OWLs has obviously driven me completely barmy. I nod instead - a much more appropriate response - and I can feel a twitch pulling at the sides of my mouth. Sure, Scorp is a Ravenclaw, and they practically live to study, but he's never really been that dedicated to the task. Everything seems to come naturally to him. Besides, I know I'll only slow him down. But he doesn't care.
Scorpius really is the best friend anyone could ask for.
~ * ~ * ~
Being Rose Weasley's cousin can be challenging.
It's Christmas and I'm back home. I miss Scorpius already, which is ridiculous considering I just spent a week at his place and he'll be coming here for New Year's. I've barely come up for air since returning, what with our house crawling with family. I've always loved Christmas and the hustle and bustle that goes with having a crowded, noisy house. Yet for some reason I long for the quiet of the Manor. Very strange.
"I think this is excellent!" Rose says for the hundredth time. She's flipping through the pages of Scorpius's book, letting out a squeal of excitement every so often. I've never known anyone besides her mother that gets so excited about books. She's a Ravenclaw through and through. And I adore her.
"Maybe I can study with you," she suggests. I don't like the idea, but I'm not sure why. I've studied with her before, but, I don't know. This was something meant to be just between Scorp and me. Which is stupid, really, since we're all studying for the same exams. An irrational need to snatch back the book comes over me.
"I'm going to grab some Butterbeer," I say, and leave her to scan the pages.
"Bloody, hell, Harry," I hear my Uncle Ron say as I approach the kitchen. I wait and listen. "Why did he have to have a kid the same age as ours?"
"What are you going on about?" my Dad asks.
"Malfoy." I roll my eyes. My uncle barely tolerates Scorpius's dad and never misses a chance to ridicule him. Well, when he's not around. And when Aunt Hermione is out of earshot. She and Mr Malfoy aren't friends or anything, but I think they like each other well enough, respect each other. Something about smart people sticking together, I suppose.
"What's wrong now?" I hear my dad's barely-contained exasperation.
"I said just a minute ago that he had a kid, same age as ours."
"And?" I imagine my dad's gaze scanning the room for something to club Uncle Ron over the head with. I barely manage to hold back a laugh.
"And!" The sound of stomping footsteps carries through the open door. "Now he's all I hear about."
"Draco?"
"No! Scorpius."
"You mean Rose?"
"Yes, Rose!" Uncle Ron's voice goes up a notch and I know my dad has to curb my uncle's rant before he gets on a roll. "She keeps talking about how smart Scorpius is. And how nice he is. And how the teachers all really like him. And --" A hand slams against the table. "She says he's had a rough go of things - because of who is father and grandfather are - and that maybe I ought to cut him a break."
I nod at the door. Good for Rose. She always has been my favourite cousin.
"You don't think she fancies him, do you?" Dad asks.
Wait, what?
"Yeah, I do."
No way. That isn't-- She doesn't-- Just ... no. No.
My dad starts to laugh, though I fail to see the humour. "You know, she could do a lot worse."
"What?"
"C'mon, Ron. Scorpius is a good kid. A great kid, isn't he Al?"
Shit. Busted. "Yes," I agree, pushing my way into the room. "Scorpius is great."
~ * ~ * ~
Being gay is hard to admit, even to myself.
We're back at school, studying for our OWLs. Without Rose. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble concentrating. Scorpius is such an interesting distraction.
Yes, there, I admit it. How can I not after the holidays? It's obvious that my interest in Scorpius goes beyond friendship, if my reaction over the break is anything to go by. I was jealous. I am jealous. Of my own cousin.
Oh, I'm not ready to tell anyone else. After all, maybe it's a passing phase. Curiosity, you know? Maybe everyone feels this. I think I read something about that somewhere. But one doesn't just walk up to one's mates and say, "Have you ever fancied a shag with another bloke?" There's just no polite way to slip it into the conversation. I know. I've tried. Well, not tried, so much as imagined it.
But Scorpius. I watch him drag his hand through his too-white-to-be-natural hair as he explains something to me. He's always animated when he studies, talking with his hands. Right now I want to run my hands through his hair too. It's soft. Much softer than mine. I know this because Scorpius doesn't do well with alcohol. One inter-house party and a few glasses of Firewhiskey, and I found myself holding his head over the toilet. Not a pretty sight. Of course, somehow he'd managed to look good, even while puking. Then again, I could be biased. I wonder how I missed the signs all this time. Now I think on it, I've probably had a thing for him since third year.
"Al!" Scorp says, shaking me out of my musings. I blink. "I don't know why I even bother!"
He really does look cute when he's annoyed. I grin at the thought. "You say that every time we study together. And still ..."
"I must have a self-destructive streak."
"Admit it." I lean across the table. I'm not sure what comes over me, but I'm feeling a little reckless. "You can't resist me."
Scorp's eyes flash for a moment. He doesn't look horrified, but I can't be sure what that look was. Before I can retract what I said - what was I thinking? - Scorp narrows his eyes and nods. "I suppose," he says. "Though I've no idea why."
I swallow. My mouth is dry and my heart begins to race. I realise he probably thinks I'm kidding and he's playing along, but still. "My shining personality?" I venture. I try for confident, but I fear I sound pathetic.
He chuckles. God, I love the sound of his laugh. I swear it runs right through me. "Something like that," he says.
I'm feeling giddy now, like maybe there's a possibility that ... well. Probably not, but a guy can hope. I try for a sultry pose and lean across the table. I figure we can laugh it off later if he thinks I've gone right off my nut. This is not at all like me, but I can't help it. Some hope from deep inside me has risen up and taken over. "Or maybe my dazzling good looks?" I nearly cringe when I hear my own words. I sound truly mad.
But this time there's no mistaking the flash in Scorpius's eyes. His pupils widen and he glances at my lips. Operating on its own, my tongue slips out to wet them. I hear a faint whimper, though I can't be sure if it came from Scorp or me. He closes his eyes and pulls back.
No, no!
Right then. I must have made the noise myself. Scorpius obviously thinks we've carried the joke on long enough. I need to regain control. Lusting after my best mate in silence is one thing. When said best mate is, so far as I know, straight, and thinks - or thought - I am too, it's something else entirely. But involuntarily moaning over him in the school library, where - oh, shit - my sister sits gaping at me from a table across the room? Well. That is too stupid to even contemplate.
Yet here I sit. Wishing that everyone would just leave us alone. Wishing for Scorpius to feel the same way about me as I feel about him. And wishing that I weren't such a chicken shit and that I'd just kiss him already. You know. Get it out there.
I glance around. Everyone remains. I dodge Lily's curious look and turn my attention back to my friend. Hands fidgeting with a quill, Scorpius stares off in the direction of a group of giggling fourth-year girls, his cheeks pink. My heart aches. Still straight then. Call me a masochist, but I picture myself grabbing Scorp's tie and pulling him across the table into a bruising kiss. I remember the story of how my dad swooped in and kissed my mum in front of everyone in the Gryffindor common room. Merlin knows Lily had them tell it over and over and over again. My stomach clenches, my need to do something actually painful. And still I do nothing. Right. Still the same old chicken shit. Brilliant.
Lily walks over and saves me from myself. I'm not sure whether I love her or hate her for it.
~ * ~ * ~
Being a Potter isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Dad fidgets in his seat, his hand occasionally rubbing the back of his neck. Something is bothering him. I look at Lily and she looks concerned too. She shrugs. Dozens of ideas race around my mind, but I can't settle on one.
Our parents showed up on a weekend and pulled us from school to go to Hogsmeade for dinner. For no apparent reason. Sitting in a public place could mean various things. Were they about to tell us something that would upset us, counting on the public venue to prevent a scene? That's what Mandy Brown's parents had done when they'd told their kids they were getting a divorce. I look at them. Mum squirms in her seat, but she doesn't look uncomfortable like Dad. Her lips quirk every now and again, as though laughing at some private joke.
I look at James. He's too busy with the menu - honestly, he eats enough for five grown men! I look back at Mum. I suppose it could be something positive.
The waiter brings us dessert, and I make up my mind. After he leaves, I can't stand it any longer. "Are you getting a divorce?" I blurt out. Okay, I could have been more subtle, I admit. But really.
Mum's eyes widen and she quickly scans the restaurant for any sign that someone might have heard. Horrified, she whispers, "Will you keep your voice down?"
My stomach plummets. That can't be it. Our parents can't be getting a divorce. Sure, they fight - with Mum's temper, how could they not? - but ... they're my parents. Harry and Ginny Potter. The Golden Couple according to the papers. It just can't be.
Dad frowns. "Of course not," he says, and relief washes over me. I see Lily's shoulders relax too. Thank Merlin. "What would make you say such a thing?"
The puzzled look on their faces astounds me. I mean honestly. "Well, you pulled us out of school, with no word, not even an owl in advance. And Dad, you look uncomfortable, like there's something you want to say but --"
"Your father's running for Minister," Mum says.
"Wicked," James says. I can almost see the line of witches in his mind, just waiting for a chance to chum up to the Minister's son. He's going to be even more unbearable. I groan.
"That's great," Lily says. No. No it isn't.
"Al?" Dad says. He reaches for my arm, but I shrug him off. I look at the twinkle in my brother's eyes, the encouragement in Lily's, and the joy in Mum's. Dad looks a bit worried, like he has all night. A bit unsure.
I think of Scorpius, of how I feel about him and how I can't tell him now. I had thought about talking to Dad - he always says he wants us to be ourselves, not to be pressured by other people's expectations - but now I can't even do that. Maybe it's for the best, but .... It means I can't be me. I can never tell anyone. I can't even be myself, because there will be nowhere to hide.
I remember when Dad first got promoted and how he was constantly in the papers. I recall when I first started school, how I was practically accosted on the streets by vultures from the media. How they pushed for stories, then made them up when there wasn't one. I hadn't known just how much Mum and Dad had worked to keep them away from us when we were growing up. The press has died down since, but now? Fuck. It'll be even worse.
I push back my chair and stand. "I think I'm going to be sick."
~ * ~ * ~
I hear her footsteps even before she grabs my arm and spins me around to face her. "What's wrong with you?" Lily demands.
"Seriously?" I bite off her head, but I can't be arsed to care right now. She levels me with that disgusted look usually reserved for James when he acts like a complete twat. "You can't think this is a good idea."
"Why not?" She frowns. "Dad would make a great Minister."
I begin to pace. It's all I can do to prevent myself hurling on the spot. "Why can't we, just once, have a normal life?"
"As if." She laughs. "We're Harry Potter's kids."
"Don't remind me."
"Al!"
I ignore her outrage. I don't mean it, and she knows it, but right now ... well, a part of me does. "I see Mum's all excited." She's probably behind this whole thing. "Bet she can't wait to rub noses with all the big shots. Even more than usual. She just loves all the attention."
"That's not fair," Lily says, though for the life of me I can't understand why she defends Mum. Surely she sees how much she laps it all up. "Mum may like the spotlight, but she has always put our family first."
"Yeah, right."
She smacks me upside the head so quickly I don't have the chance to dodge it. "Albus Potter!"
I rub the back of my head; she always did have strength. "I'm so sick of all this attention," I tell her, though she should know this already. "It's been like this our whole lives. And now, just when the press seems to be backing off, Dad decides to run for office."
"He's the best man for the job."
"I just know Mum put him up to it."
"Dad's not exactly a pushover," she points out. It's true. He isn't Head Auror for nothing. But he has a soft spot where Mum is concerned. He'd do anything for her. "Don't ruin this for him," Lily warns me.
"As if I could."
She sighs dramatically. "You could and you know it." She squeezes my hands and looks me straight in the eye. "You're his favourite, Al." I begin to protest - it's an old argument - but she stops me with an upraised hand. "We all know it. And if you ask him not to run, he'll listen."
I scowl. James and Lily have maintained for years that I'm Dad's favourite. Lily is definitely Mum's favourite, and James is Uncle George and Uncle Ron's. But me, Dad's favourite? I'm not convinced. Besides, even if I am, I saw the glimmer in Mum's eyes. I doubt I could beat her at this game.
Lily pushes. "Dad would never do anything to hurt any of us. You know that."
"Well ..."
"He wouldn't. Which means he'd pull out of the race if you asked him to, no matter how much it means to anyone else, including himself."
"But --"
"Be careful, Al." She sounds eerily like Mum. "Think long and hard about what you say to him."
"Albus." I turn to see, standing in the doorway, concern etched in his face, his characteristic laugh lines nowhere in sight, my dad looking every year his age. And every inch the perfect candidate for Minister of Magic. "Let's talk."
I glance once more in Lily's direction, and her eyes plead with me. Shit. I turn back to Dad and nod. Lily pecks me on the cheek and whispers, "He deserves this," before going back to the table.
I follow Dad to a bench in the courtyard. He casts a Silencing Charm around us and rests his arms on his knees. Head hanging down, he looks almost broken. When he looks at me, the sadness in his eyes hit me like a Bludger to the gut.
"What's wrong, son?"
I think about everything Lily said, about the power I supposedly have over my father. Is she right? Would Harry Potter, Head Auror and Saviour of everyone, really back down just because I asked him to? And if he does, what would that mean? Not for the wizarding world, because I frankly don't give a toss about the masses. But what would it mean to our family? James would be pissed at me, but would Lily? Would Mum ever forgive me? I see distress painted over Dad's features. What if it really hadn't been Mum's idea? What if he really wants this? I never considered that possibility before, not with how much he hates the public scrutiny. Am I willing to ruin my dad's dreams? And could I live with myself if I did?
"Why?" I ask. I need to know.
He looks surprised, but recovers quickly. "You don't think I should do this," he says.
"Did Mum talk you into it?"
He chuckles. I fail to see what's so funny. "Well, she's made no secret over the years that she'd like to see me as Minister," he admits.
Ha! I wish Lily had stuck around to hear this. "No kidding?" Yeah, I'm a smart-arse. So what of it?
Dad raises a brow. "No need for attitude," he says. But I can tell by the twitching at the corner of his mouth that he's not too upset. "Your mother may like the idea, but she has always been supportive of my decision not to run before."
"So why now?" I know I sound petulant, but I'm beyond caring.
Dad shrugs. "It's time."
That's it? What does he mean by that? "You sound like you don't have a choice."
"In a way I don't, I suppose."
"Of course you do!" I recall years of conversations. "You've always said we have choices. That our choices shape who we become."
"Very true."
"Then why?" I ask again. "You hate the constant attention."
"I do," he agrees. "But it's a necessary part of the job, when you set out to do something meaningful."
I dig the toe of my trainer into the ground. "Lots of people do meaningful things and they aren't hounded by the press."
Dad straightens up and runs his hands through his hair. "You're right. I ... perhaps meaningful wasn't the best choice of words." He taps his fingers on his knee, a nervous habit that means he's struggling for the right way to say something. "When you have a job like mine, one that affects everyone, many directly, the press comes with it. And when you are the type of person who likes to stir things up, change things ..."
"Like you?"
He nods. "The press is even more relentless."
"That's why I don't understand --"
"Kings-- Minister Shacklebolt and I made a lot of changes."
"So?"
"So I don't want to see that all go down the drain if someone else comes in and takes over."
I look at him in disbelief. He's done so much good over the years, everyone says so. "They can't do that!"
He laughs wryly. "They can and they will," he says. "Some of the other candidates have said as much."
"But that's not fair!"
"No, Al, it's not. But that's the way of things. I'm sure a lot of the old guard didn't think the changes we made were fair."
"But you made them anyway."
"Indeed we did."
"So why can't Minister Shacklebolt stay on?"
Dad sighs. "His wife is ill."
"So he's just quitting work?"
"Just the public life," he says. "Too much scrutiny."
The irony is not lost on me. "So now it's our turn to suffer?"
My dad's hand comes to rest reassuringly on my shoulder. "I certainly hope not," he says.
I allow myself to be comforted by him, if only a little. I've always known I could count on him. But now? "Lily says you'd withdraw if I asked."
"Smart girl, your sister."
My mouth falls open and my eyes widen. "You'd do that? Just because I asked?"
"Well ... no," he admits. Now I'm confused. "But if you give me valid reasons why you would prefer I didn't run, I would consider them." Strong hands turn me to face him. "And if my running would cause you or your brother or sister any harm, I would withdraw immediately." His gaze is unwavering. "Understand?"
I nod. "So if I told you that I really don't want you to become Minister, because I can't stand the press, because they won't leave me alone, and ..." I let my thoughts trail off. I can't say what I'm thinking. That I can't be myself if they're breathing down my neck. That I'll need to hide who I am. That it might break me. Lily is right. It's not about me.
"Is that how you feel?"
"Maybe. A little." I shrug. Concern for his children streams from Dad like a protective spell from the tip of a wand, wrapping itself around me to shield me from harm. I feel like a heel. "But I can take it," I say, not at all sure that I can.
~ * ~ * ~
Being Lily Potter's brother keeps me on my toes.
"I don't get what you're so upset about," Scorpius says after I get back. We're eating lunch in the Great Hall, our conversation protected by a standard Muffliato. News will break soon, but the longer we can keep it quiet, the better. Dad said he would officially put his name in as soon as he dropped us back at school, but he wants us to keep quiet for today. I look around for James to see if he's telling everyone in sight. "I mean just think about all the perks of being the Minister's kid."
I laugh. "Why the hat didn't put you in Slytherin is beyond me."
Scorp huffs in mock indignation, but he's not fooling me. He'd been a bit disappointed at the time when the hat hadn't put him in Slytherin like his father and generations of Malfoys before him. "It recognised my superior intellect." He seems to have adjusted well enough since then.
"Superior bullshitting skills is more like it."
Scorp smirks. "Semantics."
I sigh. "You know how much I hate anyone nosing around in my business."
"Is that code for being a recluse?"
"Piss off."
"Would that I could, my dear man." Scorpius adjusts his tie with such flourish he could rival his grandfather in the pompous department. "Alas, it would seem I am stuck with you."
"You might not want to be associated with me soon," I grumble. I hope it's not true, but I can't help fearing the worst.
"On the contrary, dear boy, an alliance with the offspring of the Minister could only serve to better my position in wizarding society."
I put a hand to my chest. "Is that all I am to you?" I cry. "A means to an end?"
Scorpius's shoulders shake with the effort to maintain his composure. "But of course. Surely you don't think I ..." He looks around conspiratorially, then whispers, "... like you?"
My stomach flips. Scorp hit too close to the truth on that one. I fear it's only a matter of time before people find out how I feel, even if I don't tell anyone. Lily always tells me I can't lie. And now that I've stopped lying to myself, Scorp is bound to figure it out. Then what? My face must have shown something, because he slaps my shoulder. Hard. "Al, hey."
"Hmm?"
"I'm kidding, yeah?"
"Oh." I force a smile. "Of course."
"For fuck's sake, Al!"
His shrill tone brings me back to reality. I shake my head. "Sorry. Mind wandered."
He looks unconvinced. "You can't think, after all this time --"
"No, of course not." I wave my hand in dismissal. But just how long he remains my friend, once he finds out, is a thought I can't easily brush aside. "Just remembering how everyone was at first."
Scorp frowns. I know he remembers it too. "Everyone wanting a piece of you."
I nod. "Except you." He's always been one of the few sane voices at school.
"And no one wanting a piece of me." He grins. "Except you."
His words carry more weight than he knows, and it's all I can do to keep from telling him. "Well," I tease, "you gave me no real choice, after all."
"I dazzled you with my spell work, and mesmerised you with my wit."
I cough. "Something like that."
Scorpius nudges closer, then leans in. Close. Too close. Dangerously close. The scent of sandalwood tickles my senses, like a lover's caress might do. Now I know I've lost my mind, with thoughts like that. I feel the heat of Scorpius's body next to mine. Nearly touching. My heart speeds up and my mouth goes dry. My face burns.
"Tell me just what it was, Al," Scorpius says in a voice I've never heard before. Deep. Raspy. Sexy. "What was it about me?"
I draw a breath, but it does nothing to slow my heart rate. My face grows hotter, my pants grow tighter, and I want to reach out and --
Chairs scrape as those around us get up for class. Shit. We're still in the Great Hall. How could I forget where we are? I breathe in deeply again and I'm lost once more. I turn to look at Scorpius - sitting far too close even now - and our eyes meet. The Great Hall vanishes and it's only the two of us now. No one else. I'm drawn forward.
Then someone nudges my shoulder and the spell breaks. Scorpius pulls back, gathers his books, and stands to go. When I seek out the offender, I find Lily staring. First at me, then Scorp, then back again. She regards us first as she would a puzzle, something to figure out. Then her eyes widen a fraction. The slightest hint of a smile plays at the corners of her mouth, and then she's gone.
Well fuck.
~ * ~ * ~
"Tell him," Lily says to me as I make my way into the Great Hall for dinner.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She squeezes my arm until her nails dig into my bicep. "Is this why you didn't want Dad to run for Minister? Were you afraid that everyone would find out?"
I wrench my arm free. "Again. No idea what you're on about." The girl is too smart for her own good.
"I've seen the way you look at Scorpius." I try not to react, but I can tell by her triumphant look that I've given myself away. "For the record," she whispers, "he looks at you the same way."
I walk towards the Hufflepuff table and call back over my shoulder, "You don't know what you're talking about."
But she's done it. She's planted the idea in my head and now I can't shake it. I look at her and she smirks. Bitch. Could she be right? Could he possibly feel the same way about me?
I look over at the Ravenclaw table in time to see Rose slide in beside Scorpius. She leans in and whispers something in his ear. Why is she sitting so close to him? Why isn't she moving away? She fills her plate and still she remains in his personal space. I want to scream.
She rests her hand on his and I'm out of my seat before I even know what I'm doing. I march over to them and reach through, separating them with my arm. "I'd like a word," I say to my cousin through gritted teeth.
She smiles, oblivious to my anger. "Sure," she says. Then as we're walking away, she steps back, puts a hand on Scorpius's arm and says, "I'll be right back."
I yank her other arm and snarl. "No you won't." I drag her towards the door.
She jogs to keep up. "But why ever not?" she asks in a too-sweet voice that tells me, without a doubt, that I've been had. I turn to see Lily dragging Scorpius towards us, a smug grin on her face.
"You two!" I say.
"What's going on?" Scorp asks.
My heart sinks and I feel ill. I can't do it. I can't say anything. "Nothing," I growl.
"Nonsense," Lily and Rose chime together.
"It has come to our attention that my brother has been less than forthcoming with you," Lily tells Scorpius. Oh, please, let the ground open up and swallow me now.
"And, my dear friend," Rose says to Scorp, "I believe you've been holding out on my cousin too."
Scorp looks as sick as I feel. Neither of us speaks.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Lily spits out. "You like each other. As in like each other, and everyone knows it. Now for the love of Merlin will you put us all out of our misery and go shag each other?"
"Lily!" I say, though I don't know why anything she says should shock me any more.
Rose giggles. "Yes, Lily, really. They should kiss first. Shagging can wait."
Then the two of them collapse in laughter and leave us alone in the corridor, their words lingering. Neither of us will look at each other, and after a few ridiculous moments, I find myself unable to stay silent.
"Is it true?" I ask, hope dripping off my words.
Scorp closes his eyes and nods.
"Really?" I ask. I can't believe this. He actually likes me. When he says nothing, I realise he's probably waiting for me to say something. "Me too."
He lifts his head and smiles. One of those smiles that sends shivers down my spine. Then he holds out his hand and I take it. I can't believe this is happening. I ignore the faint sound of cheering mixed with laughter that follows us as we walk hand-in-hand down the halls of Hogwarts, dinner forgotten.
We make it halfway down the hall before Scorp drags me into an alcove and presses me against the wall. My heart skips a beat. "Did you mean it?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say in a shaky voice.
He smiles again and I do what I've wanted to for a long time. I reach up and run my hands through his hair, then gently pull him in for a kiss.
Our lips touch and I'm lost. I've thought about this moment, imagined it countless times before, and not once did my imagination even come close to how wonderful this feeling is.
A soft brushing of lips soon gives way to a tangle of tongues, and I'm on fire. I clutch at his hair and he leans in, his body hot and hard against my own. Somewhere in the distant recesses of my mind, I make a note to thank my sister and my cousin. Then I promptly forget everyone and everything but Scorpius.
~ * ~ * ~
Being Scorpius Malfoy's boyfriend rocks.
It's been four months now, and I'm beginning to accept that I may have underestimated myself. I think, with Scorp by my side, maybe I can handle the press.
I told my parents right away, before they found out in the Prophet. For some reason, they didn't seem at all surprised. Or upset. Lily rolled her eyes when I told her, and assured me that it hadn't been the best kept secret, at least not in our family.
As expected, Rita Skeeter managed to get the story from some inside source at school and the next day it was front-page news. But a few weeks and a handful of stories later, no one cares anymore. Sure there are a few people who aren't happy - at school as well as the general public - but overall it's been rather anti-climactic. Just the way I like it.
I raise a glass in my dad's direction as he finishes addressing the crowd, his first speech since being sworn in as Minister. I look around the room, watching my family and friends chatting with the who's who of the wizarding world. Scorpius catches my eye and winks at me. My stomach flips, like it does every time I think about him and how good we are together. My heart races as he makes his way over to me.
I smile as he takes my hand, and in that moment I realise that being Albus Potter is not such a bad thing after all.
~ FIN ~
This entry was originally posted at http://sesheta-66.dreamwidth.org/380493.html. Feel free to reply on either post.
Author:
sesheta_66Betas:
alaana_fair and dysonrulesPairing(s): Albus/Scorpius
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~ 8,000
Summary: The spitting image of his father, Albus Severus Potter is a middle child overshadowed by his father's celebrity and his siblings' popularity. The lone Hufflepuff in an all-Gryffindor family, Al can barely fly and only just scrapes by in his classes. As if all that weren't enough, his father has decided to run for Minister of Magic. Oh, and Al has a secret. One he doesn't want the media to discover before he's ready to tell his family.
Notes: Originally written for the 2010
the_ass_fest. by Sesheta
Being Harry Potter's son sucks.
Boy Who Lived. Chosen One. Saviour. Youngest Head Auror. Take your pick. Whatever you call him, he's my dad, and he casts a large shadow.
Of course, if you're an attention whore like my Quidditch star brother, it's not so bad. But I'm not. An attention whore that is. Or, for that matter, a Quidditch star. Truth be told, I can barely stay on a broom when I'm hovering two feet off the ground. Rather embarrassing, that, given my brother's star status, my dad's reputation as the youngest Seeker in a century, and my mum's job as Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies.
But I digress.
I'm the only known Hufflepuff in Potter or Weasley history. You see, I'm not smart enough for Ravenclaw like my cousin Rose. She's brilliant, just like her mum. I, on the other hand, can barely pass anything. In fact, the dread of this year's OWLs has rendered me even more useless than usual. I get sick just thinking about them.
Which supports the Sorting Hat's decision not to place me in Gryffindor with the rest of my family. I'm not nearly brave enough for the lion's den. I'm no saviour, that's for sure. Much to my professors' dismay, I can barely save a spell from going awry in Charms or Defence, a plant from dying in Herbology, or a cauldron from exploding in Potions.
Unfortunately for me, I happen to be the spitting image of my famous war hero father. I don't see it, but I suppose everyone can't be wrong. My brother laps up the attention that being a Potter kid gets him, but at least he doesn't have that hanging over him. I suspect that simply looking at me is a constant reminder - if the disappointed looks directed at me are anything to go by - that I just don't live up to people's expectations.
"What's wrong, Al?" Scorpius asks, nudging me from my musings. "You've been here for three days and I don't think I've seen you crack a smile more than twice."
I shrug. "It's nothing."
"Prat," Scorpius says, emphasising his point with a punch to my arm. "Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine with me." I let out a breath. Thank Merlin. "But just so you know, you're taking all the fun out of this visit."
I glower at my friend. He really should have been in Slytherin, the manipulative shit. Instead, he's in Ravenclaw with my cousin. Sneaky and smart - a dangerous mix. "Fine," I huff. There's no use trying to keep anything hidden from him anyway. I struggle for the words to explain how I feel. "Did you ever feel out of place? Like you don't belong?"
Scorpius levels me with a glare. "Hello? Malfoy here."
"Right. Stupid question." I regard Scorpius with a sense of awe. He'd entered Hogwarts a pariah, based solely on what his father and grandfather had done. But somehow he'd managed to make it through. His teachers love him, girls swoon over him, and he's made some good friends. "But you've found your place, right?" I glance out the window at the snow-covered grounds of the Manor and wonder what it must have been like for Scorpius growing up here. To be an only child, just he and his parents living in this vast mansion, then to be suddenly immersed at age eleven in the insanity that is Hogwarts. I return my gaze to him. "You know you belong now, yeah?"
Scorpius nods and presses his lips together in that way he has when he tries to work out a difficult Arithmancy problem. "What's this about, Al?"
"It's just ... it's hard. Being Harry Potter's son." I look down, ashamed. I know that Scorpius has had things much worse than I ever did. Sometimes I wonder how I could forget. "Never mind. It's stupid. I never had to go through what you did."
"Look, I never much liked the attention I got, but I have to admit that keeping to yourself is a lot easier when no one wants to be around you. I can't say I'd want all the attention you get, even now."
"It's just ... I dunno. I don't fit in anywhere. I know I'm not dense, but I'm barely scraping by in my subjects. Not like Lily and Rose. They're brilliant."
"Rose is brilliant, no question. And Lily is smart, yeah, but so are you. You just need to focus more. I've seen you figure things out when you aren't under pressure. You just need to relax."
I ignore his attempt to make me feel better. "And I can't fly like James." I try not to let it get to me, really I do. But the way James goes around preening all the time, chest puffed out and everything, it's all I can do sometimes not to pay the Beaters to launch a couple of Bludgers at his head. "Captain of the Quidditch team, just like our dad."
"Okay, I'll give you that. You really are atrocious on a broom."
I try to look indignant, but my heart's not in it. "Gee, thanks."
"I'm your friend, Al, but I'll not lie to you. There are plenty of people around you doing that every day."
I chuckle, thinking about all the stupid people that still follow me around, trying to befriend Harry Potter's son. Idiots. "Too true."
"So what's the real problem?"
Before I can stop myself, the words come tumbling out, like they've been waiting for me to open the door and free them. "Everyone in my family has their thing. Mine apparently is looking like my dad. But I'm too stupid and too useless to live up to being Harry Potter's son."
A deep cough sounds from the doorway. I realise too late that I've been speaking pretty loudly, as a decidedly disgruntled looking Draco Malfoy stares at me. I know that he was on the losing side of the war, or at least his dad had been, and I know my Uncle Ron thinks he's a prat, but the man seriously scares the shit out of me. He's never done or said anything to me to make me feel that way, but he just has this thing - this way of looking at you like he can see right through you. And right now, he's glaring daggers at me.
I look to Scorpius for support - I'm in their home, and he's my best friend, after all. The bastard ignores me and leaves me hanging.
"Albus," Mr Malfoy says. His voice is gentle, calm, unwavering. Completely unnerving. Like I said, he scares the shit out of me. "Tell me you don't really think that."
I squirm and look at the intricate design of the carpet. It really is quite lovely, if a bit worn on the edges. Deep jewel tones running through it. Mr Malfoy makes another noise and I shrug, still staring at the carpet, unable and unwilling to repeat the words. They hurt enough the first time, and I hadn't intended for Scorp's dad to hear. Hell, I hadn't even planned on telling Scorp. His dad sits down on the sofa next to me and I stop breathing for a moment.
I can feel his gaze boring into me and I clutch my hands together to hide the fact that they're shaking. He doesn't say a word, but I eventually relent and look up.
"You'll recall that your father and I went to school together."
I nod. They're friends of a sort now, something hard to avoid when your sons are best mates. But they were close to enemies in school, if what I've heard is true. My Uncle Ron told me a few tales when my dad wasn't around, and I'd heard a fair few whispered stories around school. My dad never talks much about Scorpius's dad, except to say that he is brilliant at potions. Not much of a stretch, really, considering he's a potions master.
"Well, I assure you he was hardly a top student." I frown. I realise now that I've never talked to my parents about their marks. Never much cared, really. I just assumed ... "If it weren't for your Aunt Hermione, I doubt your father or your uncle would have passed their OWLs." My mouth, clearly out of my control, falls open. "Well, okay, your father would have passed Defence," he corrects himself, "but not much else." He grins in a sort-of conspiratorial way, and all of a sudden he doesn't seem quite so scary. I relax a fraction. "Ask him yourself."
A distant conversation flits into my mind. "But my Uncle Ron--"
"Is an arse."
"Dad!"
I snort. After all, I've heard that from both my parents enough times over the years.
Mr Malfoy ignores Scorpius and focuses on me. "Your cousin Rose should be thankful she has her mother's brains." Scorpius looks slightly mollified. He and Rose are friends, after all. His father continues. "Your uncle has a tendency to ... well, exaggerate. Don't let his image of your father give you an impossible goal to attain. He had a lot of support from others."
My dad always says he had a lot of help from his friends. That may be true, but he's still Head Auror, he's always in the paper, and he has a whole cabinet full of awards.
Mr Malfoy puts a hand on my shoulder. It startles me, but I don't pull away. "I'm not trying to minimise your father's accomplishments, Al. He's brave and smart - traits I'd never given him credit for when we were children - and he's grown a lot since school. I'm just trying to point out that school grades are not everything." He shudders beside me. "I am exceedingly grateful that I am not judged solely on my days as an adolescent."
I look at him, and see more in his eyes than words can express. He looks somewhat sad, yet there's a twinkle there that makes me suspect he doesn't spend his days immersed in regret. I'm inexplicably pleased by that. I think I'm catching a glimpse of where Scorpius gets his strength from.
At once, I find myself awash again in the sensation of not measuring up.
As though he'd read my mind, Mr Malfoy continues. "You may not be facing the same hardships as your father did, but you have your own. Ones your father never had." I look at him sceptically. Everyone knows what my dad went through. "He didn't have siblings or parents to live up to. And I daresay he never had to live under the shadow of Harry Potter."
Lily always tells me I wear my heart on my sleeve. I never believed her before, but I wonder now if I really am that transparent.
"Albus, believe me when I say that you will figure things out. Perhaps sooner, perhaps later. That remains to be seen. But do not let the few things at which you do not excel overshadow who you are inside."
"Yeah," Scorpius adds. My lips twitch; his support means more than I can say.
"Give yourself time to figure out who you are, Al. And talk to your father," Mr Malfoy says. "He will tell you the same thing, I'd wager."
I nod. Mr Malfoy smiles and gives my shoulder a squeeze. Then he gets up and leaves the room before I have a chance to say anything. As he reaches the doorway, however, he turns round. "One more thing," he says. "Don't let your father's modesty fool you either. He really is a great man. Just ... well, a man. Not any more or less human than the rest of us."
I can't stop a huge smile from blossoming. "Thanks, Mr Malfoy."
"Any time, Al."
When his dad is gone, I turn to Scorpius. "You know, your dad's all right."
"Yeah." Scorpius smiles. "He has his moments."
Being Scorpius Malfoy's best friend is everything.
My mood improves after that. Scorpius says no more on the subject and for that I'm thankful. We never really talk about our feelings - it's not exactly a guy thing to do, after all - and we've never had to. We get each other. He's the first friend I made at school. Like my dad and Uncle Ron, we met on the Hogwarts Express. We were both hiding from the attention - I from the adoring hordes, and he from the angry ones. I narrowly escaped a gaggle of giggling, swooning girls and found myself in a compartment facing Scorpius, wand in his hand and sneer on his face.
"What do you want?" he'd asked as he lifted his wand in my direction.
I'd thrown my hands up in surrender. "Escape," I'd replied.
It turned out he'd been seeking escape too. Under threat of death - or at least a strong hex, a number of which he'd assured me his Death Eater dad had taught him - he'd not-so-graciously allowed me to remain. We've been best mates ever since.
I watch him as he reaches for a tome on an upper shelf of his library. He could use magic - Merlin knows he's excellent with spells - but he prefers to peruse the collection, as he puts it. His long, elegant fingers run along the spines of several books as he mutters under his breath. He is every bit as refined as his father when he's in the family library. I wonder sometimes if he isn't perhaps two unique people residing in one fascinating package.
I cough to shake off the thought. Honestly, sometimes I wonder how and why my mind wanders in the directions it does.
"There you are," Scorpius says, his voice a deep, almost-purr. He pulls the book from the shelf and descends the ladder gracefully. "I knew I'd find this here." He grins as he hands the book over to me. "You're welcome," he says.
I look at the title. Preparing for your Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams: A Sure-Fire Way to Improve Your Results in Three Months or Less. Plenty of time if I start as soon as I get back to school.
"You're smarter than you think," he tells me, suddenly all serious. "All you need is focus." He grins broadly at me, and I'm struck by how beautiful he looks when his eyes light up like that. "And I will be right there with you, every step of the way."
I have a ridiculous urge to pull him into a bone-crushing hug. My fear of the OWLs has obviously driven me completely barmy. I nod instead - a much more appropriate response - and I can feel a twitch pulling at the sides of my mouth. Sure, Scorp is a Ravenclaw, and they practically live to study, but he's never really been that dedicated to the task. Everything seems to come naturally to him. Besides, I know I'll only slow him down. But he doesn't care.
Scorpius really is the best friend anyone could ask for.
Being Rose Weasley's cousin can be challenging.
It's Christmas and I'm back home. I miss Scorpius already, which is ridiculous considering I just spent a week at his place and he'll be coming here for New Year's. I've barely come up for air since returning, what with our house crawling with family. I've always loved Christmas and the hustle and bustle that goes with having a crowded, noisy house. Yet for some reason I long for the quiet of the Manor. Very strange.
"I think this is excellent!" Rose says for the hundredth time. She's flipping through the pages of Scorpius's book, letting out a squeal of excitement every so often. I've never known anyone besides her mother that gets so excited about books. She's a Ravenclaw through and through. And I adore her.
"Maybe I can study with you," she suggests. I don't like the idea, but I'm not sure why. I've studied with her before, but, I don't know. This was something meant to be just between Scorp and me. Which is stupid, really, since we're all studying for the same exams. An irrational need to snatch back the book comes over me.
"I'm going to grab some Butterbeer," I say, and leave her to scan the pages.
"Bloody, hell, Harry," I hear my Uncle Ron say as I approach the kitchen. I wait and listen. "Why did he have to have a kid the same age as ours?"
"What are you going on about?" my Dad asks.
"Malfoy." I roll my eyes. My uncle barely tolerates Scorpius's dad and never misses a chance to ridicule him. Well, when he's not around. And when Aunt Hermione is out of earshot. She and Mr Malfoy aren't friends or anything, but I think they like each other well enough, respect each other. Something about smart people sticking together, I suppose.
"What's wrong now?" I hear my dad's barely-contained exasperation.
"I said just a minute ago that he had a kid, same age as ours."
"And?" I imagine my dad's gaze scanning the room for something to club Uncle Ron over the head with. I barely manage to hold back a laugh.
"And!" The sound of stomping footsteps carries through the open door. "Now he's all I hear about."
"Draco?"
"No! Scorpius."
"You mean Rose?"
"Yes, Rose!" Uncle Ron's voice goes up a notch and I know my dad has to curb my uncle's rant before he gets on a roll. "She keeps talking about how smart Scorpius is. And how nice he is. And how the teachers all really like him. And --" A hand slams against the table. "She says he's had a rough go of things - because of who is father and grandfather are - and that maybe I ought to cut him a break."
I nod at the door. Good for Rose. She always has been my favourite cousin.
"You don't think she fancies him, do you?" Dad asks.
Wait, what?
"Yeah, I do."
No way. That isn't-- She doesn't-- Just ... no. No.
My dad starts to laugh, though I fail to see the humour. "You know, she could do a lot worse."
"What?"
"C'mon, Ron. Scorpius is a good kid. A great kid, isn't he Al?"
Shit. Busted. "Yes," I agree, pushing my way into the room. "Scorpius is great."
Being gay is hard to admit, even to myself.
We're back at school, studying for our OWLs. Without Rose. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble concentrating. Scorpius is such an interesting distraction.
Yes, there, I admit it. How can I not after the holidays? It's obvious that my interest in Scorpius goes beyond friendship, if my reaction over the break is anything to go by. I was jealous. I am jealous. Of my own cousin.
Oh, I'm not ready to tell anyone else. After all, maybe it's a passing phase. Curiosity, you know? Maybe everyone feels this. I think I read something about that somewhere. But one doesn't just walk up to one's mates and say, "Have you ever fancied a shag with another bloke?" There's just no polite way to slip it into the conversation. I know. I've tried. Well, not tried, so much as imagined it.
But Scorpius. I watch him drag his hand through his too-white-to-be-natural hair as he explains something to me. He's always animated when he studies, talking with his hands. Right now I want to run my hands through his hair too. It's soft. Much softer than mine. I know this because Scorpius doesn't do well with alcohol. One inter-house party and a few glasses of Firewhiskey, and I found myself holding his head over the toilet. Not a pretty sight. Of course, somehow he'd managed to look good, even while puking. Then again, I could be biased. I wonder how I missed the signs all this time. Now I think on it, I've probably had a thing for him since third year.
"Al!" Scorp says, shaking me out of my musings. I blink. "I don't know why I even bother!"
He really does look cute when he's annoyed. I grin at the thought. "You say that every time we study together. And still ..."
"I must have a self-destructive streak."
"Admit it." I lean across the table. I'm not sure what comes over me, but I'm feeling a little reckless. "You can't resist me."
Scorp's eyes flash for a moment. He doesn't look horrified, but I can't be sure what that look was. Before I can retract what I said - what was I thinking? - Scorp narrows his eyes and nods. "I suppose," he says. "Though I've no idea why."
I swallow. My mouth is dry and my heart begins to race. I realise he probably thinks I'm kidding and he's playing along, but still. "My shining personality?" I venture. I try for confident, but I fear I sound pathetic.
He chuckles. God, I love the sound of his laugh. I swear it runs right through me. "Something like that," he says.
I'm feeling giddy now, like maybe there's a possibility that ... well. Probably not, but a guy can hope. I try for a sultry pose and lean across the table. I figure we can laugh it off later if he thinks I've gone right off my nut. This is not at all like me, but I can't help it. Some hope from deep inside me has risen up and taken over. "Or maybe my dazzling good looks?" I nearly cringe when I hear my own words. I sound truly mad.
But this time there's no mistaking the flash in Scorpius's eyes. His pupils widen and he glances at my lips. Operating on its own, my tongue slips out to wet them. I hear a faint whimper, though I can't be sure if it came from Scorp or me. He closes his eyes and pulls back.
No, no!
Right then. I must have made the noise myself. Scorpius obviously thinks we've carried the joke on long enough. I need to regain control. Lusting after my best mate in silence is one thing. When said best mate is, so far as I know, straight, and thinks - or thought - I am too, it's something else entirely. But involuntarily moaning over him in the school library, where - oh, shit - my sister sits gaping at me from a table across the room? Well. That is too stupid to even contemplate.
Yet here I sit. Wishing that everyone would just leave us alone. Wishing for Scorpius to feel the same way about me as I feel about him. And wishing that I weren't such a chicken shit and that I'd just kiss him already. You know. Get it out there.
I glance around. Everyone remains. I dodge Lily's curious look and turn my attention back to my friend. Hands fidgeting with a quill, Scorpius stares off in the direction of a group of giggling fourth-year girls, his cheeks pink. My heart aches. Still straight then. Call me a masochist, but I picture myself grabbing Scorp's tie and pulling him across the table into a bruising kiss. I remember the story of how my dad swooped in and kissed my mum in front of everyone in the Gryffindor common room. Merlin knows Lily had them tell it over and over and over again. My stomach clenches, my need to do something actually painful. And still I do nothing. Right. Still the same old chicken shit. Brilliant.
Lily walks over and saves me from myself. I'm not sure whether I love her or hate her for it.
Being a Potter isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Dad fidgets in his seat, his hand occasionally rubbing the back of his neck. Something is bothering him. I look at Lily and she looks concerned too. She shrugs. Dozens of ideas race around my mind, but I can't settle on one.
Our parents showed up on a weekend and pulled us from school to go to Hogsmeade for dinner. For no apparent reason. Sitting in a public place could mean various things. Were they about to tell us something that would upset us, counting on the public venue to prevent a scene? That's what Mandy Brown's parents had done when they'd told their kids they were getting a divorce. I look at them. Mum squirms in her seat, but she doesn't look uncomfortable like Dad. Her lips quirk every now and again, as though laughing at some private joke.
I look at James. He's too busy with the menu - honestly, he eats enough for five grown men! I look back at Mum. I suppose it could be something positive.
The waiter brings us dessert, and I make up my mind. After he leaves, I can't stand it any longer. "Are you getting a divorce?" I blurt out. Okay, I could have been more subtle, I admit. But really.
Mum's eyes widen and she quickly scans the restaurant for any sign that someone might have heard. Horrified, she whispers, "Will you keep your voice down?"
My stomach plummets. That can't be it. Our parents can't be getting a divorce. Sure, they fight - with Mum's temper, how could they not? - but ... they're my parents. Harry and Ginny Potter. The Golden Couple according to the papers. It just can't be.
Dad frowns. "Of course not," he says, and relief washes over me. I see Lily's shoulders relax too. Thank Merlin. "What would make you say such a thing?"
The puzzled look on their faces astounds me. I mean honestly. "Well, you pulled us out of school, with no word, not even an owl in advance. And Dad, you look uncomfortable, like there's something you want to say but --"
"Your father's running for Minister," Mum says.
"Wicked," James says. I can almost see the line of witches in his mind, just waiting for a chance to chum up to the Minister's son. He's going to be even more unbearable. I groan.
"That's great," Lily says. No. No it isn't.
"Al?" Dad says. He reaches for my arm, but I shrug him off. I look at the twinkle in my brother's eyes, the encouragement in Lily's, and the joy in Mum's. Dad looks a bit worried, like he has all night. A bit unsure.
I think of Scorpius, of how I feel about him and how I can't tell him now. I had thought about talking to Dad - he always says he wants us to be ourselves, not to be pressured by other people's expectations - but now I can't even do that. Maybe it's for the best, but .... It means I can't be me. I can never tell anyone. I can't even be myself, because there will be nowhere to hide.
I remember when Dad first got promoted and how he was constantly in the papers. I recall when I first started school, how I was practically accosted on the streets by vultures from the media. How they pushed for stories, then made them up when there wasn't one. I hadn't known just how much Mum and Dad had worked to keep them away from us when we were growing up. The press has died down since, but now? Fuck. It'll be even worse.
I push back my chair and stand. "I think I'm going to be sick."
I hear her footsteps even before she grabs my arm and spins me around to face her. "What's wrong with you?" Lily demands.
"Seriously?" I bite off her head, but I can't be arsed to care right now. She levels me with that disgusted look usually reserved for James when he acts like a complete twat. "You can't think this is a good idea."
"Why not?" She frowns. "Dad would make a great Minister."
I begin to pace. It's all I can do to prevent myself hurling on the spot. "Why can't we, just once, have a normal life?"
"As if." She laughs. "We're Harry Potter's kids."
"Don't remind me."
"Al!"
I ignore her outrage. I don't mean it, and she knows it, but right now ... well, a part of me does. "I see Mum's all excited." She's probably behind this whole thing. "Bet she can't wait to rub noses with all the big shots. Even more than usual. She just loves all the attention."
"That's not fair," Lily says, though for the life of me I can't understand why she defends Mum. Surely she sees how much she laps it all up. "Mum may like the spotlight, but she has always put our family first."
"Yeah, right."
She smacks me upside the head so quickly I don't have the chance to dodge it. "Albus Potter!"
I rub the back of my head; she always did have strength. "I'm so sick of all this attention," I tell her, though she should know this already. "It's been like this our whole lives. And now, just when the press seems to be backing off, Dad decides to run for office."
"He's the best man for the job."
"I just know Mum put him up to it."
"Dad's not exactly a pushover," she points out. It's true. He isn't Head Auror for nothing. But he has a soft spot where Mum is concerned. He'd do anything for her. "Don't ruin this for him," Lily warns me.
"As if I could."
She sighs dramatically. "You could and you know it." She squeezes my hands and looks me straight in the eye. "You're his favourite, Al." I begin to protest - it's an old argument - but she stops me with an upraised hand. "We all know it. And if you ask him not to run, he'll listen."
I scowl. James and Lily have maintained for years that I'm Dad's favourite. Lily is definitely Mum's favourite, and James is Uncle George and Uncle Ron's. But me, Dad's favourite? I'm not convinced. Besides, even if I am, I saw the glimmer in Mum's eyes. I doubt I could beat her at this game.
Lily pushes. "Dad would never do anything to hurt any of us. You know that."
"Well ..."
"He wouldn't. Which means he'd pull out of the race if you asked him to, no matter how much it means to anyone else, including himself."
"But --"
"Be careful, Al." She sounds eerily like Mum. "Think long and hard about what you say to him."
"Albus." I turn to see, standing in the doorway, concern etched in his face, his characteristic laugh lines nowhere in sight, my dad looking every year his age. And every inch the perfect candidate for Minister of Magic. "Let's talk."
I glance once more in Lily's direction, and her eyes plead with me. Shit. I turn back to Dad and nod. Lily pecks me on the cheek and whispers, "He deserves this," before going back to the table.
I follow Dad to a bench in the courtyard. He casts a Silencing Charm around us and rests his arms on his knees. Head hanging down, he looks almost broken. When he looks at me, the sadness in his eyes hit me like a Bludger to the gut.
"What's wrong, son?"
I think about everything Lily said, about the power I supposedly have over my father. Is she right? Would Harry Potter, Head Auror and Saviour of everyone, really back down just because I asked him to? And if he does, what would that mean? Not for the wizarding world, because I frankly don't give a toss about the masses. But what would it mean to our family? James would be pissed at me, but would Lily? Would Mum ever forgive me? I see distress painted over Dad's features. What if it really hadn't been Mum's idea? What if he really wants this? I never considered that possibility before, not with how much he hates the public scrutiny. Am I willing to ruin my dad's dreams? And could I live with myself if I did?
"Why?" I ask. I need to know.
He looks surprised, but recovers quickly. "You don't think I should do this," he says.
"Did Mum talk you into it?"
He chuckles. I fail to see what's so funny. "Well, she's made no secret over the years that she'd like to see me as Minister," he admits.
Ha! I wish Lily had stuck around to hear this. "No kidding?" Yeah, I'm a smart-arse. So what of it?
Dad raises a brow. "No need for attitude," he says. But I can tell by the twitching at the corner of his mouth that he's not too upset. "Your mother may like the idea, but she has always been supportive of my decision not to run before."
"So why now?" I know I sound petulant, but I'm beyond caring.
Dad shrugs. "It's time."
That's it? What does he mean by that? "You sound like you don't have a choice."
"In a way I don't, I suppose."
"Of course you do!" I recall years of conversations. "You've always said we have choices. That our choices shape who we become."
"Very true."
"Then why?" I ask again. "You hate the constant attention."
"I do," he agrees. "But it's a necessary part of the job, when you set out to do something meaningful."
I dig the toe of my trainer into the ground. "Lots of people do meaningful things and they aren't hounded by the press."
Dad straightens up and runs his hands through his hair. "You're right. I ... perhaps meaningful wasn't the best choice of words." He taps his fingers on his knee, a nervous habit that means he's struggling for the right way to say something. "When you have a job like mine, one that affects everyone, many directly, the press comes with it. And when you are the type of person who likes to stir things up, change things ..."
"Like you?"
He nods. "The press is even more relentless."
"That's why I don't understand --"
"Kings-- Minister Shacklebolt and I made a lot of changes."
"So?"
"So I don't want to see that all go down the drain if someone else comes in and takes over."
I look at him in disbelief. He's done so much good over the years, everyone says so. "They can't do that!"
He laughs wryly. "They can and they will," he says. "Some of the other candidates have said as much."
"But that's not fair!"
"No, Al, it's not. But that's the way of things. I'm sure a lot of the old guard didn't think the changes we made were fair."
"But you made them anyway."
"Indeed we did."
"So why can't Minister Shacklebolt stay on?"
Dad sighs. "His wife is ill."
"So he's just quitting work?"
"Just the public life," he says. "Too much scrutiny."
The irony is not lost on me. "So now it's our turn to suffer?"
My dad's hand comes to rest reassuringly on my shoulder. "I certainly hope not," he says.
I allow myself to be comforted by him, if only a little. I've always known I could count on him. But now? "Lily says you'd withdraw if I asked."
"Smart girl, your sister."
My mouth falls open and my eyes widen. "You'd do that? Just because I asked?"
"Well ... no," he admits. Now I'm confused. "But if you give me valid reasons why you would prefer I didn't run, I would consider them." Strong hands turn me to face him. "And if my running would cause you or your brother or sister any harm, I would withdraw immediately." His gaze is unwavering. "Understand?"
I nod. "So if I told you that I really don't want you to become Minister, because I can't stand the press, because they won't leave me alone, and ..." I let my thoughts trail off. I can't say what I'm thinking. That I can't be myself if they're breathing down my neck. That I'll need to hide who I am. That it might break me. Lily is right. It's not about me.
"Is that how you feel?"
"Maybe. A little." I shrug. Concern for his children streams from Dad like a protective spell from the tip of a wand, wrapping itself around me to shield me from harm. I feel like a heel. "But I can take it," I say, not at all sure that I can.
Being Lily Potter's brother keeps me on my toes.
"I don't get what you're so upset about," Scorpius says after I get back. We're eating lunch in the Great Hall, our conversation protected by a standard Muffliato. News will break soon, but the longer we can keep it quiet, the better. Dad said he would officially put his name in as soon as he dropped us back at school, but he wants us to keep quiet for today. I look around for James to see if he's telling everyone in sight. "I mean just think about all the perks of being the Minister's kid."
I laugh. "Why the hat didn't put you in Slytherin is beyond me."
Scorp huffs in mock indignation, but he's not fooling me. He'd been a bit disappointed at the time when the hat hadn't put him in Slytherin like his father and generations of Malfoys before him. "It recognised my superior intellect." He seems to have adjusted well enough since then.
"Superior bullshitting skills is more like it."
Scorp smirks. "Semantics."
I sigh. "You know how much I hate anyone nosing around in my business."
"Is that code for being a recluse?"
"Piss off."
"Would that I could, my dear man." Scorpius adjusts his tie with such flourish he could rival his grandfather in the pompous department. "Alas, it would seem I am stuck with you."
"You might not want to be associated with me soon," I grumble. I hope it's not true, but I can't help fearing the worst.
"On the contrary, dear boy, an alliance with the offspring of the Minister could only serve to better my position in wizarding society."
I put a hand to my chest. "Is that all I am to you?" I cry. "A means to an end?"
Scorpius's shoulders shake with the effort to maintain his composure. "But of course. Surely you don't think I ..." He looks around conspiratorially, then whispers, "... like you?"
My stomach flips. Scorp hit too close to the truth on that one. I fear it's only a matter of time before people find out how I feel, even if I don't tell anyone. Lily always tells me I can't lie. And now that I've stopped lying to myself, Scorp is bound to figure it out. Then what? My face must have shown something, because he slaps my shoulder. Hard. "Al, hey."
"Hmm?"
"I'm kidding, yeah?"
"Oh." I force a smile. "Of course."
"For fuck's sake, Al!"
His shrill tone brings me back to reality. I shake my head. "Sorry. Mind wandered."
He looks unconvinced. "You can't think, after all this time --"
"No, of course not." I wave my hand in dismissal. But just how long he remains my friend, once he finds out, is a thought I can't easily brush aside. "Just remembering how everyone was at first."
Scorp frowns. I know he remembers it too. "Everyone wanting a piece of you."
I nod. "Except you." He's always been one of the few sane voices at school.
"And no one wanting a piece of me." He grins. "Except you."
His words carry more weight than he knows, and it's all I can do to keep from telling him. "Well," I tease, "you gave me no real choice, after all."
"I dazzled you with my spell work, and mesmerised you with my wit."
I cough. "Something like that."
Scorpius nudges closer, then leans in. Close. Too close. Dangerously close. The scent of sandalwood tickles my senses, like a lover's caress might do. Now I know I've lost my mind, with thoughts like that. I feel the heat of Scorpius's body next to mine. Nearly touching. My heart speeds up and my mouth goes dry. My face burns.
"Tell me just what it was, Al," Scorpius says in a voice I've never heard before. Deep. Raspy. Sexy. "What was it about me?"
I draw a breath, but it does nothing to slow my heart rate. My face grows hotter, my pants grow tighter, and I want to reach out and --
Chairs scrape as those around us get up for class. Shit. We're still in the Great Hall. How could I forget where we are? I breathe in deeply again and I'm lost once more. I turn to look at Scorpius - sitting far too close even now - and our eyes meet. The Great Hall vanishes and it's only the two of us now. No one else. I'm drawn forward.
Then someone nudges my shoulder and the spell breaks. Scorpius pulls back, gathers his books, and stands to go. When I seek out the offender, I find Lily staring. First at me, then Scorp, then back again. She regards us first as she would a puzzle, something to figure out. Then her eyes widen a fraction. The slightest hint of a smile plays at the corners of her mouth, and then she's gone.
Well fuck.
"Tell him," Lily says to me as I make my way into the Great Hall for dinner.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She squeezes my arm until her nails dig into my bicep. "Is this why you didn't want Dad to run for Minister? Were you afraid that everyone would find out?"
I wrench my arm free. "Again. No idea what you're on about." The girl is too smart for her own good.
"I've seen the way you look at Scorpius." I try not to react, but I can tell by her triumphant look that I've given myself away. "For the record," she whispers, "he looks at you the same way."
I walk towards the Hufflepuff table and call back over my shoulder, "You don't know what you're talking about."
But she's done it. She's planted the idea in my head and now I can't shake it. I look at her and she smirks. Bitch. Could she be right? Could he possibly feel the same way about me?
I look over at the Ravenclaw table in time to see Rose slide in beside Scorpius. She leans in and whispers something in his ear. Why is she sitting so close to him? Why isn't she moving away? She fills her plate and still she remains in his personal space. I want to scream.
She rests her hand on his and I'm out of my seat before I even know what I'm doing. I march over to them and reach through, separating them with my arm. "I'd like a word," I say to my cousin through gritted teeth.
She smiles, oblivious to my anger. "Sure," she says. Then as we're walking away, she steps back, puts a hand on Scorpius's arm and says, "I'll be right back."
I yank her other arm and snarl. "No you won't." I drag her towards the door.
She jogs to keep up. "But why ever not?" she asks in a too-sweet voice that tells me, without a doubt, that I've been had. I turn to see Lily dragging Scorpius towards us, a smug grin on her face.
"You two!" I say.
"What's going on?" Scorp asks.
My heart sinks and I feel ill. I can't do it. I can't say anything. "Nothing," I growl.
"Nonsense," Lily and Rose chime together.
"It has come to our attention that my brother has been less than forthcoming with you," Lily tells Scorpius. Oh, please, let the ground open up and swallow me now.
"And, my dear friend," Rose says to Scorp, "I believe you've been holding out on my cousin too."
Scorp looks as sick as I feel. Neither of us speaks.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Lily spits out. "You like each other. As in like each other, and everyone knows it. Now for the love of Merlin will you put us all out of our misery and go shag each other?"
"Lily!" I say, though I don't know why anything she says should shock me any more.
Rose giggles. "Yes, Lily, really. They should kiss first. Shagging can wait."
Then the two of them collapse in laughter and leave us alone in the corridor, their words lingering. Neither of us will look at each other, and after a few ridiculous moments, I find myself unable to stay silent.
"Is it true?" I ask, hope dripping off my words.
Scorp closes his eyes and nods.
"Really?" I ask. I can't believe this. He actually likes me. When he says nothing, I realise he's probably waiting for me to say something. "Me too."
He lifts his head and smiles. One of those smiles that sends shivers down my spine. Then he holds out his hand and I take it. I can't believe this is happening. I ignore the faint sound of cheering mixed with laughter that follows us as we walk hand-in-hand down the halls of Hogwarts, dinner forgotten.
We make it halfway down the hall before Scorp drags me into an alcove and presses me against the wall. My heart skips a beat. "Did you mean it?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say in a shaky voice.
He smiles again and I do what I've wanted to for a long time. I reach up and run my hands through his hair, then gently pull him in for a kiss.
Our lips touch and I'm lost. I've thought about this moment, imagined it countless times before, and not once did my imagination even come close to how wonderful this feeling is.
A soft brushing of lips soon gives way to a tangle of tongues, and I'm on fire. I clutch at his hair and he leans in, his body hot and hard against my own. Somewhere in the distant recesses of my mind, I make a note to thank my sister and my cousin. Then I promptly forget everyone and everything but Scorpius.
Being Scorpius Malfoy's boyfriend rocks.
It's been four months now, and I'm beginning to accept that I may have underestimated myself. I think, with Scorp by my side, maybe I can handle the press.
I told my parents right away, before they found out in the Prophet. For some reason, they didn't seem at all surprised. Or upset. Lily rolled her eyes when I told her, and assured me that it hadn't been the best kept secret, at least not in our family.
As expected, Rita Skeeter managed to get the story from some inside source at school and the next day it was front-page news. But a few weeks and a handful of stories later, no one cares anymore. Sure there are a few people who aren't happy - at school as well as the general public - but overall it's been rather anti-climactic. Just the way I like it.
I raise a glass in my dad's direction as he finishes addressing the crowd, his first speech since being sworn in as Minister. I look around the room, watching my family and friends chatting with the who's who of the wizarding world. Scorpius catches my eye and winks at me. My stomach flips, like it does every time I think about him and how good we are together. My heart races as he makes his way over to me.
I smile as he takes my hand, and in that moment I realise that being Albus Potter is not such a bad thing after all.
This entry was originally posted at http://sesheta-66.dreamwidth.org/380493.html. Feel free to reply on either post.
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Date: 2011-01-07 06:08 am (UTC)BRB.
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Date: 2011-01-07 06:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-07 06:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-07 09:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-07 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-07 09:06 pm (UTC)And this part had my gut clentching...Scorpius nudges closer, then leans in. Close. Too close. Dangerously close. The scent of sandalwood tickles my senses, like a lover's caress might do. Now I know I've lost my mind, with thoughts like that. I feel the heat of Scorpius's body next to mine. Nearly touching. My heart speeds up and my mouth goes dry. My face burns.
"Tell me just what it was, Al," Scorpius says in a voice I've never heard before. Deep. Raspy. Sexy. "What was it about me?"
I get shivers over deep raspy sexy voices. :)
Oh and I looooooove the smart plotting girls they are so brilliantly smart.
The last line made me :) :) :)
I don't always read alot of this pairing but I'm so happy I read this lovely story.
I'm mostly a H/D girl(as you know) but I find these two sexy cause well they are at least usually physically their fathers sons and that is *hot*
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Date: 2011-01-07 11:25 pm (UTC)Very nice. :)
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Date: 2011-01-08 01:57 am (UTC)*Huggles you tight*
Tiger!PawPrint of Approval!
Date: 2011-01-15 04:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 05:38 pm (UTC)Loved it. Poor Al..... lol. Typical teenager, eh.
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Date: 2012-01-07 02:56 am (UTC)This was nicely written and I loved Rose and Lily's scheming.
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Date: 2012-04-04 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-06 09:31 pm (UTC)Draco was wonderful too!
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Date: 2015-05-08 11:44 pm (UTC)