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The enchanted fireworks were still exploding in the courtyard. Everyone else at the renewal had moved onto the food, and the dance floor, but Scorpius stayed here, preferring the company of bright lights and magic.
Pinks, purples, and blues.
Someone cleared their throat from behind him. “Mind if I sit down?”
Scorpius turned to see Ginny behind him, and waved her over. Ginny took a seat next to him on the bench. “Are you okay?” she said. Behind her, through the patio doors, was music and dancing. Ron and Hermione swaying together, and to the left, Scorpius saw a very sweaty James Potter convincing his younger brother to dance the macarena. He saw Albus grin reluctantly before the two began to dance, completely out of time, laughing throughout.
Scorpius grinned. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.”
“I used to hate weddings. Always figured something bad would happen after Fleur and Bills. At Hermione and Ron's first wedding, I was on edge the whole day. Certain that someone would do something to ruin it.” Ginny muttered, before following Scorpius’ look to the doors, “But now I suppose they aren’t so bad.”
They both turned back to the fireworks and sat in content silence, watching the sparks fly. “I’ve never been to a wedding - or I guess, a renewal - like this before.” Scorpius said to the sky. “Malfoy weddings are much more doom and gloom and everyone eats a meal very stiffly before promptly leaving at 9.30.”
Ginny chuckled under her breath. “Hopefully you’ll be present at more family functions that don’t include Malfoy Manor.”
“Malfoy weddings aren’t so bad. At least they don’t have the potter brothers' horrendous dance skills.” Scorpius grinned, gesturing over at the two, who were now in the process of organising a conga line, Harry behind them, enthusiastically gesturing to Ron and Hermione.
“My boys always know how to cause a scene.” Ginny smiled softly, laughter in her voice.
“You must be very proud of them.” Scorpius murmured, looking back to the sky. An explosion of green and white burst from the darkness. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny nod, and felt her shift closer.
“I am. Extremely.”
Scorpius smiled softly. For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to think about his Mum. It was coming up to three years since she had passed away, and Scorpius was suddenly stricken by the thought - he couldn’t remember her voice anymore. He knew that she laughed with her whole being, her shoulders shaking and her eyes brimming with happy tears. She had been happy. With his Dad. With Scorpius. The green and white fireworks spun in dazzling wheels. Scorpius didn’t know if it was the bright lights or the thoughts of his Mother, but his cheeks felt damp and his heart felt heavy. Ginny, who had been looking at the boy for some time, wrapped an arm around his shoulder gently.
“I met her once.” Ginny said under her breath. “Before the two of you were born. James and I were picking up Harry from work. This striking woman with long auburn hair and the softest smile.” Scorpius was listening now. Any memory of his Mother, he was desperate to hear. To be a part of. It almost felt like, if he heard as much as he could about her, he would know her more. Somehow, it felt as if, by hearing stories, he was living them with her too.
“She spoke to James more than she did to me, I was desperately trying to avoid making small talk with your Father.” Ginny chuckled, squeezing Scorpius’ shoulder. “I told her James and I had been to feed the ducks, I remember James giggling whilst holding her finger in his chubby hand.”
The image was so strong in her mind. Astoria, as old as she would ever look, gently resting her hands on her stomach. Ginny remembered the longing in Astorias eyes, the gentle dimples on her cheeks as she smiled at James in the pram, giving Ginny a knowing look when Draco quipped at her snarkily. “She asked me how far along I was, even though I hadn’t started showing. I hadn’t even told Harry.”
“Mum was always super intuitive. She always knew what Dad was thinking, even before he did.” Scorpius said to the sky with a smile.
“Women have a funny way of knowing things. I’m the same with Harry.” Ginny murmured.
“I wouldn’t know.” Scorpius said under his breath.
Ginny looked at him carefully. “Wouldn't you? Harry mentioned you and my niece-”
Scorpius had to stop himself from laughing in her face. He failed, guffawing before slapping his hand across his mouth and realising he had made a fool of himself in front of Albus’ mum. Again. (Although this was admittedly less embarrassing than accidentally snorting tea all over her coffee table.)
Ginny looked at him knowingly, not exactly puzzled by this outburst. “I see.” She said, soundly. Her smile widened once again all too knowingly, as if she could see something extremely clear. Ginny stepped up from the bench to leave Scorpius to his fireworks.
Scorpius stood to follow her - “See what?”
Ginny shrugged, grinning, before turning and walking through the patio doors to find her husband.
On the way through she bumped into Albus who was, by this point, extremely worn out from dancing and only a little bit tipsy. He made a beeline to Scorpius who was still standing, a little dumbfounded, by the bench.
“Your Mum is weird.” Scorpius commented.
Albus shivered and looked up at the fireworks, which were now sprouting rainbow coloured rockets.
“Intuitive fireworks? Give me a break.” He guffawed and flopped down on the bench. Scorpius felt a grin spread across his face and gestured for Albus to scooch up. He did, letting the taller boy rest his legs over his thighs. Albus rested his hands there. Scorpius’ cheeks warmed.
The fireworks exploded in bright pinks. The boys watched.
“Wonder what that means.” Albus wondered aloud. Scorpius, looking at Albus’ hands, knew exactly what it meant. How was it that magical fireworks were more emotionally intelligent than his best friend?
“Who knows.” Scorpius shrugged non committedly. Albus looked over to his friend, whose face was flushed.
“What's wrong? You’ve been out here all night. Thought I’d lost you.”
“Just - tired. I guess. Lots of people.” Scorpius murmured, turning to look back at inky blackness.
Albus watched his friend, the miniscule changes in his face as the pink fireworks died down. Scorpius’ navy suit jacket had long since been discarded, so had his tie, almost as soon as the ceremony was over. The wind had pinked his cheeks and his hair was more frizzy now, instead of neatly combed. Albus loved when Scorpius looked like this: unpolished, not immaculate. Well, immaculate in a different way, Albus thought. He huffed and turned his attention to his hands, still resting on Scorpius’ thighs. The touch felt too important. Too intimate. So why couldn’t he let himself lift his hands? The fireworks whirled up again, pinks and indigos lacing the sky in showers of glittering explosions. Looking back to his friend's face, he realised Scorpius had been staring at him.
“What?” Albus said.
“Nothing.” Scorpius quickly retorted, though he didn’t stop staring. At his fluffy auburn hair, at his undone collar, his hands. This close, in the cold air, he could feel Albus’ warm breath on his cheeks.
Albus grinned cheekily, “What?” He repeated, shifting his hands further up Scorpius’ thighs. The sparks flew up above them.
Scorpius smiled knowingly at his friend, “You’re drunk.”
Looking into Scorpius’ eyes, all too earnest, Albus murmured, “I have never felt more sober.”
Scorpius studied his friend carefully. Scorpius wasn’t sure if it was the prosecco he had drunk or the fact that he knew exactly what Ginny had meant by “I see.”, but for the first and probably only time in his life, Scorpius threw caution to the wind.
Scorpius reached his hand out for Albus, adjusting so their hands were held together against his thighs. The two had held hands before, in Godrics Hollow, scared out of their minds, in potions, when Albus had been reminded of Craig, and countless times in the Slytherin dorm, in the dark, when Scorpius was fighting nightmares. Scorpius held hands with Albus when words seemed two important. And right now, in the cold night air, doing anything but look at him felt too much like a confession.
Scorpius was flustered and Albus kept looking at him like he had hung up the moon above them. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Stop looking at you like what?”
“Like drunk you is about to do something sober you will later regret.”
“Scorpius. I am not drunk.”
Scorpius hummed. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
Albus grinned at him. A shower of rainbow coloured sparks shot up and then fell through the sky. Scorpius narrowed his eyes at him, fighting back a smile.
“I think I’m just doped up on happy people and happy occasions. Maybe you’re just not used to seeing me be cheerful.” Albus teased, breath hot on Scorpius’ face. “You’ve got an eyelash.”
“What?”
Albus reached his free hand up to stop the delicate lash from falling in Scorpius’ eye. Stroked it off of his face, gently with the pad of his thumb. Held out the lash in front of his friends face. “Make a wish.”
Okay, so maybe Scorpius was going to throw caution to the wind again. His free hand moved up to hold his friend's wrist. He moved his head slightly closer, so that their noses were almost touching. The air between them buzzed.
Albus looked puzzled, “Is this you trying to make a move? I was already making a move. This was my move.” He whispered, gesturing to the eyelash.
Scorpius squinted at him, “Is this how you are in romantic situations? Because if it is, I may just give up.”
“Please don’t.” Albus said in earnest. Scorpius smiled at him.
Sure of himself for the first time in his life, Scorpius leant down and pressed a kiss to Albus’ lips. It was feather light, too quick for Albus to kiss him back. But it was a kiss. His lips left Albus’ and his eyes fluttered open. “Was - was that okay wi-” Scorpius whispered, but was cut off by Albus’ lips, capturing his. Scorpius was vaguely aware of being bathed in warm yellow light as more inevitable showers of sparks burst through the sky. Albus moved his hand to cup Scorpius’ cheek and kissed him like he was the most precious thing in the whole world. It was an awkward position, Albus had to crook his neck slightly to reach and their hands were still clasped in between them, but he didn’t care. Scorpius Malfoy kissed him. He’s kissing Scorpius Malfoy.
After a few moments, the boys pulled apart with flushed cheeks and a whole lot of unspoken words between them. Scorpius felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. “Well. We’ve never done that before.” Scorpius hummed, looking at his friend's lips, grinning.
Albus nodded, stroking Scorpius’ cheek with the pad of his thumb. Scorpius warmed to the touch, moved closer. “No, we haven’t.” Albus grinned, leaning in once again.
The world was suddenly full of colour.