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Albus was busy doing his independent potions study with a leading potions master. A new program made by Mcgonagall for every subject or job students applied for. And Albus skipped applying with other potions masters and just pouted at Scorpius’ dad until he agreed to do it. Which also meant they made a new schedule every week that matched Scorpius’ quidditch schedule.
Only sometimes a potion took longer to make than quidditch practice, so Scorpius was walking back alone, green quidditch robes only slightly muddy. Only crashing once really is an improvement for him.
“Scorpius!” Rose called down the hall.
“Hello Rose.” He smiled politely, and obligatory. Rose treatment and distancing of her cousin, contrary to the rest of her family, had only continued downhill after 4th year.
“I was thinking you’ll pick me up from Gryffindor at 6:50. That way we can be fashionably late. Make sure to wear Black with a Melon undershirt, I’ll send you a picture just to make sure. And try to leave my cousin alone for the night alright? Great, I’ll see you then.” She left before he could say a word.
He stood in shock for a few minutes before shaking his head. Instead of going to the dorms like planned he headed to the Reserved Classroom his Dad and Albus were in.
He walked in and they both looked up at him. The potion was under a stasis charm and they had their goggles pushed up on the top of their heads, with closed lab coats.
“You two look like mad potioneers.” He said.
They turned to each other with confused looks. “T-thank you?” They asked.
“You’re welcome.”
“Why aren't you getting cleaned up?” His Dad asked, eyeing his robes.
“Oh! Right. I think Rose expects me to take her to the dance? She just walked up to me, told me when to pick her up, what to wear, and told me to leave Albus alone. Which she should know is impossible.” He sat across the table from them.
“Well did you ask her? Or did she ask you?” Albus asked, trying to hide his hurt.
“Did I ask your cousin to the dance after stressing for weeks and making a fool out of myself just trying to ask you? No, I did not.” Scorpius said, making it clear Albus sounded like an idiot.
“Sorry.” Albus smiled sheepishly.
“You two really are dreadful at social interaction.” His dad drawled in that bored tone of his.
“Hey!” They both complained.
His dad rolled his eyes. “Did you at least tell the little brat no?”
“No! She just walked away before I could say anything. How do I tell her I’m going with Albus?”
His Dad and Albus gave each other a look of devious amusement.
“As much satisfaction as it would give to me’ Albus started ‘He would never go for it. Your fault, by the way, gave him one too many morals.”
“Oh Fuck off.” His dad grumbles.
“Go for what?” Scorpius asked innocently.
“Not telling her anything.” Albus said.
“But then wouldn't she be expecting me to pick her up?” Scorpius frowned.
“Exactly.’ Albus smirked. ‘Then she would get what she deserves when she was left all alone.”
“Albus!’ Scorpius reprimanded. ‘That's horrible.”
“Draco doesn't think so!” Albus argued.
“I quite agree with Albus’ plan.” Draco nodded.
Scorpius glared at his dad then looked at Albus. “I don't know if you noticed, but sometimes Dad's moral compass tends to be a bit screwy.”
“It’s not screwy.’ His dad objected. ‘It just broke the day I was born.”
Albus chuckled while Scorpius gave his dad a sad glare which earned him a hair ruffle.
“Albus! Malfoy's!” James sauntered into the room Lily followed behind him.
“You’re late for sibling, plus Scorpius, dinner Albus.”
"Sorry' Albus smiled at them. 'I messed up the potion earlier then Scorp distracted us."
"I'm assuming you two don't have Screwy moral compasses.' His Dad started. 'Say, if someone, Flower, expected someone else, Star, to take Flower to the dance. And did not ask, just assumed, then ordered Star around and didn't give Star a chance to object. Would it be horrible of Star to not correct Flowers' Entitled assumptions?"
James tilted his head like a confused crup. "I mean not if Star didn't get a chance to say no. Then it's a bigger issue and Flower needs a lesson."
"Totally unrelated…' Lily started sarcastically 'Hugo says Rose has been so demanding to everyone about the dance that even he told her she was being an entitled bitch."
"Hey!" James looked at her shocked.
"You can't say words like that." Albus frowns at her.
"I'm almost 15!" She gives them an outraged look.
"I don't think they care about that." Scorpius says endlessly amused by their sibling bickering.
"Ugh! I'm disowning both of you and becoming an only child."
“It's a nice life.” Draco said at the same time Scorpius talked.
“I wished I had siblings.” He said.
“You wanted siblings?” Draco asked, concerned.
“Well.’ Scorpius shrugged guilty. ‘It would’ve been nice I guess.’ He said quietly. ‘To have someone else to play with while you were taking care of mum.”
Draco made an effort to keep his mask down. “You never said anything.”
Scorpius shrugged again, fidgeting with his hands now. “I knew it wasn't possible, and I loved it when it was just the three of us.”
Draco frowned at the thought of his child being lonely but didn't say anything else.
“So, we’re in agreement?’ Albus asked his siblings, purposefully breaking the heavy silence. ‘That Flower deserves what she gets.”
“Yeah.’ James shrugged. ‘But I would worry about Flowers' dad, I mean he might not see it as a lesson she needs. I think Flowers' mum would understand though. Mums are always more understanding.”
“Not always.” Scorpius said quietly, giving his dad a small smile.
His dad smiled back. “Go on. All of you. Get to dinner.”
“But-” Albus objected.
“You learned the objective already.’ Draco told him. ‘It's just a matter of time and properly bottingling it, which you know how to do.”
“Thanks Draco. See you next week.’ Albus said, giving the man a hug. ‘Hey, can you send some of those French chocolates that are made in Germany?”
“I’ll send all four of you a box.” Draco sighed knowing the other Potters were going to ask for one too.
“Thanks Draco!” James and Lily said brightly.
Scorpius moved around the table to give his dad a muddy hug. “Bye Dad, Love you.”
Draco hugged back contrary to his words. “Yes, Yes. Love you too. Get off me you muddy Brat."
Draco smiled as the kids left, James and Albus shoving each other and Lily jumping onto Scorpius back for a piggyback ride.
----------
Scorpius fidgeted nervously outside his own Dorm room. James had left 15 minutes ago already dressed, and Scorpius had been waiting 20 after finishing getting ready with Lily. Mostly because, “ You two are not getting Ready together! James back me up!” and “She's right! You're not going as best friends, it's not the same!”
Albus opened the door and every thought ever left Scorpius' head. Don't get him wrong, messy, grumpy, droolly, bedhead, sleepy Albus was beautiful, as was happy, hoodie in summer, hair artfully messy, talkative Albus. It’s just he’s never seen Hair styled, dress robe wearing, nervous, happy Albus.
Albus had a green undershirt that matched his eyes. A silver bow tie with Malfoy embroidered on the butterfly wings. A Black vest and a Black set of robes with constellations on them over the top.
“You look handsome.’ Albus said quietly. ‘I’ve never seen that before.’ He gestured at Scorpius’ robes which were layered. He had a simple light grey set of robes as the first set fully clasped up. Over those he had a deep purple set halfway clasped. And he finally had a white set opened over those. ‘Is that why your Dad stole you away at Hogsmeade?”
“Yeah.’ Scorpius squeaked. ‘You look beautiful! Like always of course. I’ve just never seen this Albus.’ He rambled nervously. ‘I’ve seen every other Albus I think. At least I would hope so cause I’ve seen a lot of Albus’s. That didn't make sense, but it did. Grammar is confusing! Did you know-”
Soft lips on his cut him off. Albus pulled away just enough to stop the kiss.
“It’s just me you dork. Don't be so nervous.” Albus smiled softly at him and he finally felt his mind relax, his body following slumping into Albus.
“Sorry.’ He said quietly, smiling softly back. ‘I’ve never actually been to a dance. At least one where I have a date and It's not a ball that mainly consists of people trying to convince Dad to marry me off.”
“If he was going to marry you off to anyone, he’d choose me.” Albus huffed.
“I know. That’s why I encourage them, it brings me amusement when he mentions you and they get all angry but have to hide it for obvious reasons.”
“You mean my last name?” Albus smirked.
“It might be one.” Scorpius chuckled.
“We better go before I'm tempted to stay in and do much much funner things.” Albus said with a leer.
“Albus!’ Scorpius smacked his arm. ‘Don't be crass. We’re not really in private.”
“You’re really fucking not.’ Matthew, their roommate, said from his bed. ‘Yeah.’ He said when they turned to him shocked. ‘I’m still here. Now will you two not be here so I don't have to watch this disgusting love shit anymore.”
“Yeah. Sorry Matt.” Albus apologised for them and grabbed Scorpius hand to leave.
“I’ll be out of the dorm from 12:30 to 3:00” Matt said, reading his book.
“Thanks! We owe you!” Scorpius said as they left blushing.
----------
It was 7:30 before Rose walked up to him with a tight, fake, smile. “I thought we agreed you were picking me up.” She hissed at him quietly.
Scorpius hesitated before remembering what his Dad told him. “ There is nothing wrong with telling people that what they are doing isn't right. Sometimes they don’t know and sometimes they do, and sometimes they do and they're just denying it. It’s okay to tell them, It’s even something you should do.”
“No. You told me what was going to happen, and I didn't agree and I also didn't listen because no one has to do what you tell them to.”
“Oh please.’ Rose scoffed. ‘You’ve wanted me for years. Blushing and stuttering around me, getting close to my cousin just to get close to me. Like you would say no. Now, we can fix this alright? Just take me for a dance. A proper one, I'm sure your pureblood father has taught you, I want everyone to watch.” She ordered and spat the word Pureblood like she was a step away from calling his father a death eater.
Scorpius blood boiled, and oh yeah he did have some Malfoy blood after all, or maybe it was the Black blood, didn't really matter to him.
He was so focused on his anger and Rose he missed James standing behind him leaning on a table with his arms crossed.“Let's start with you ordering me around.’ He said in a voice he barely recognized from himself. Only a slight resemblance to when he yelled at Albus 4th year. ‘You never asked me to the dance. Assuming I would say yes is a very entitled move. One should always have the option to turn someone down, not get told what you're doing, where to be, what to wear and who to talk to.”
He missed Lily, and most of the other School age Weasleys coming up behind him standing by James. “Second, if you want to insult my father, do it. Don't hide behind common words. If you want to call him a Death Eater, do it. He was one. And me and everyone else who cares about him and loves him, including your parents, has made their peace with who he was. If you can't handle that it is not his or my issue. It's yours.”
The last time Albus had been able to truly sneak up on him was during first year, But he missed Albus joining them too. “And Lastly, most importantly, the mere insinuation that someone would get close to Albus to get close to you is almost laughable. For one everyone knows how horribly you treat him. They are more likely to get close to you to get to Albus. He is kind, and brilliant, and beautiful, and so capable of love he still loves you. To degrade him to a simple connection to you is not only inaccurate, but it also shows a very high level of stupidity. Albus is everything, he is air, he is earth, he is water, he is fire, he is magic, and he is the love of my life. You are a flash of his childhood. Don't think you are ever more.” Scorpius' anger finally shrank just enough for him to process Rose’s gobsmacked teary-eyed expression.
“Salazar I’m so fucking in love with you.” Albus said from behind him and he whirled around to see tears streaming down Albus face.
Scorpius took one stride to cup Albus face in his hands, anger all but disappearing. “Why are you crying? I know I probably could’ve been nicer but I-”
“I’m not crying because you told her what she needed to hear.’ Albus interrupted him. ‘I’m crying because you said nice things about me.”
Scorpius frowns. “But I tell you nice things all the time.”
“And I almost cry every time you do.”
“One time you sent him a letter telling him you thought he was pretty when he laid in the sun and I thought someone was dying.” James interjects quietly.
They don't look at him as Scorpius laughs and Albus flips him off.
“Wow, some family you guys are.” Rose says finally coming out of shock.
“Scorpius and Albus are family Rose.’ Lily says. ‘Just as much as you are. What is it going to take for you to see that?”
“And see you're being an entitled bitch and everyone is sick of it.” James said without remorse.
“Guys.’ Hugo says quietly from behind Rose. He let his curls free and is in a three piece suit. Long yellow tie and no robes. ‘I think that might be enough.”
“Sorry Hugo.” Scorpius says sheepishly knowing it can hurt to stand by when someone you love is told harsh truths. Well almost all harsh truths, but she's been mean to Albus and Scorpius is only human.
“Thanks Scorpius. Rose’ He looks at his big sister disappointed. ‘Do you wanna dance with me or walk with me? Those are your options.”
“Since when do you think you can tell me what to do?” She asks him.
“I guess that means a walk.” He grabs her hand just firmly enough to drag her along.
No one notices their parents standing in a corner across the room listening in through a sonorous charm.