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“How do I look?” Albus stepped out of the dressing room and onto the raised platform. Scorpius exhaled, gazing at his gorgeous fiancé. The inner layer of his outfit looked similar to a Muggle tuxedo, with Albus in a deep green shirt and black bow tie. The outer layer was a slick black robe.
“You look perfect.” Scorpius grinned. Albus blushed as the seamstress swept her wand around the hem of the robe.
They were coming up on one month engaged. Since the pair had graduated from Hogwarts, things were… easy. After one last summer at home they moved into a flat in London together, Scorpius training to be a healer at St. Mungos and Albus working a slew of various Muggle jobs, from barista to bookseller.
It was never really a question if they were going to be together forever; it was just a fact of the universe. It felt silly to even ask the question, and both were perfectly content as things were. Until the idea got lodged in Scorpius’ head, and he realized he wouldn’t mind it. Being tethered to his one love, for all the world to see.
“Should we get married?” Scorpius had asked, as they sat curled on the couch watching Muggle sitcoms one random evening.
“What?” Albus asked, turning his head.
“Should we? Do you think? Get married? So we can let the world know…” He picked up Albus’ left hand, gently tracing his thumb over his bare ring finger. “That we belong to each other?”
Albus flushed. “Are you asking then?”
Scorpius smiled. “I guess I am. Albus Severus Potter, will you marry me?”
Albus’ face broke into a smile, and he crashed himself into Scorpius, capturing his mouth passionately.
“Is that a yes?” Scorpius asked when they broke apart for a second for air.
Albus cackled. “Yes, you idiot. I’ll marry you.”
Scorpius couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
“Scorp? Are you gonna try yours on?” Scorpius came back to the present, inside the posh robe shop his dad had insisted they go to.
They waited a few days to tell their families, knowing it would be a big fuss. They decided to do it all at once, inviting Draco, Albus’ parents, and siblings over for dinner. There had been plenty of gasps and happy tears shed.
“There’s something you should know though, before you get all excited.” Albus had said, which brought down the energy considerably. “We’ve talked about it and don’t want a big wedding. We want to find somewhere to elope, just the two of us.” Scorpius took his hand for support. The parents made some noises of disappointment, but seemed like they were holding back for their sake.
“Are you sure?” Ginny asked, innocently.
“Look, we love you all, we really do,” Albus reassured them. “But a Weasley wedding… and a Malfoy wedding? It’s… a lot. We just think it would be more special and authentic to us if it were just the two of us.”
“Is this because of the families?” Draco asked. “Because if it is, I promise you I would never invite anyone who would cause any trouble.”
“No no, it’s not that,” Scorpius said, although trying to imagine the wider Weasley and Malfoy families interact was indeed an… interesting thought. “It’s just that… we’re not trying to prove anything to anyone. We’re just doing this for ourselves. No one else.”
Draco smiled warmly, and Ginny and Harry got up to hug them both.
A few days later, Draco had owled, asking that since they weren’t having a proper wedding, if they would at least humor him with an engagement party at Malfoy Manor. The Manor hadn’t seen a real party since Scorpius was a baby. Although they both didn’t love big events, they agreed, Scorpius really wanting to see his dad happy.
So, when Draco scheduled an appointment for their robe fitting, the couple headed to Diagon Alley to try on fancy clothes.
Scorpius stared at the clothing in front of him. A selection of shirts, pants, robes, and accessories. He skimmed his hand over the fine fabrics, but something tugged at his heart.
He popped out of the dressing room as Albus was finishing up his fitting.
Albus looked at him, still in his street clothes. “What’s wrong?” Albus asked.
“I… Don’t think I’m in the right headspace to try those on today.”
Albus looked at him, concerned. The seamstress straightened up, gesturing with her wand.
“Should I put those away?” She asked.
“Yes, please, ma’am,” Scorpius said apologetically.
She gave a small shrug and summoned the clothes from the dressing room, leading them with her wand back to their places in the store.
“What is it?” Albus asked, concern in his voice.
Scorpius bit his lip. “Can we talk at home?”
“Of course,” Albus said, putting a hand on Scorpius’ shoulder and squeezing protectively. “Let me get out of this awful thing.”
Scorpius snickered as Albus headed back into the fitting room.
***
Back at the flat, Scorpius needed time to work out what he was going to say, so he said he needed to shower.
He let the hot water run over his body. He rubbed his eyes until little stars appeared. He breathed in and out.
Scorpius had known for a while now that he had a different relationship with gender than most people he knew. Some people just resonated with their gender. It made sense to them. There was Lily, who loved the idea of “girl power” when she was younger. Or there was James, who thrived as the protective old brother.
Or, people never knew to question it. He suspected that was how Albus felt. But for Scorpius… his body was just his vessel. It had nothing to do with the thoughts in his mind or the feelings in his heart, or the spirit of his soul. He’d always appreciated more “feminine” things, and he loved hanging out with girls, Rose and Lily, and his classmates at St. Mungos.
He wasn’t a girl. But he wasn’t totally a boy, either. It was confusing. That’s probably why he never talked about it. He didn’t even dare to really think about it much at Hogwarts. He didn’t want the boy’s dorm to kick him out, and there wasn’t exactly a gender-neutral housing option at Hogwarts.
And if he didn’t even understand it, how could he possibly expect anyone else to?
Then, there was Albus. When they were around 15 they had come out. Scorpius as bi and Albus as gay. Though, they never really had eyes for anyone besides each other. But still, if Scorpius was anything other than a boy… would Albus still be attracted to him? If he dressed more femininely? He didn’t know how Albus would react, and he didn’t want to do anything to risk losing him… especially now.
“Scrop?” Came Albus’ voice over the running water. “You’ve been in there awhile, is everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Scorpius assured him. “My thoughts are just running away from me.”
“I can catch them for you. If you let me.”
Scorpius smiled, took a deep breath, and turned off the water.
Albus gave him some space while Scorpius changed into sweats and a t-shirt. They settled on the bed, and Albus reached out his arms so Scorpius could snuggle into them, which he gladly did. Albus laid his cheek on the top of Scorpius’ damp hair.
“Why didn’t you want to try the dress robes on today? Are you… You’re not getting cold feet are you?”
“What?” Scorpius jerked away so he could look at his fiancé. “Of course not. I can’t wait to marry you!”
Albus looked relieved, and Scorpius felt a wave of guilt that Albus would even consider that as a possibility.
“Are you anxious about the party then?”
“Well, a little, but that’s not really the issue.”
“What’s the issue then?” Albus asked, rubbing a hand gently over Scorpius’ back.
Scorpius looked at his love, searching his green eyes.
“Would you love me no matter what?” Scorpius asked softly.
“Scorp?” Albus asked, his eyes worried. “Of course. What’s this about? You’re starting to worry me.”
“It’s nothing bad, it’s just… There’s something I really want to tell you, but I don’t know how you’ll react.”
“Well… I have no idea what you would possibly tell me that would make me stop loving you, so I guess you’ll just have to try me.”
Scorpius took a shaky breath in and out, focusing on Albus’ hand still running down his back.
“When we were at the robe fitting… It just kind of hit me. I… realized I didn’t want to wear dress robes to our party.”
“Oh?” Albus asked, confused. “Because it’s too fancy? Too… Malfoy?”
“No, it’s not about that. It’s… I didn’t want to wear dress robes because what I really wanted to wear was… a dress.”
Scorpius felt Albus’s hand stop moving.
“Oh,” Albus said, tone just surprise. He looked to Scorpius.
Scorpius rubbed his eyes, heart beat picking up.
“I… I felt like, I wore a suit, it would’t really be… me. And now that we’re getting married… I want to just be me.”
He looked at Albus, trying to gauge his reaction.
“So, you would feel more like you in a dress?” Albus asked earnestly.
“I… I think so.” Scorpius confessed.
“But… I’ve never seen you wear a dress.”
“That’s true, I haven’t. Well, not that I’ve really had the opportunity, just going to work and home but… I’ve thought about it. For a while.”
“Really?” Albus asked.
Scorpius nodded. “Would that… be okay with you? If I dressed more… feminine?”
“Why would I have any say in what you wear, Scorp?”
Guilt tugged at Scorpius again. “I don’t want to upset you.”
“But why would that upset me?”
“Because… Would you love me if I was anything other than a boy?”
“What?” Albus asked.
Scorpius felt tears pricking behind his eyes. “I’m not saying I’m a girl, but what if I was something… in between? And I wanted to lean more into that in between. Would you still love me?”
Albus reached up to Scorpius’ face and wiped away the tear that had spilled.
“Are you really afraid that I might not love you? Might not love you for being you?”
Scorpius sniffled. “Well, you’re gay. I don’t want you to feel like I’m challenging your identity. You’ve never expressed any interest in girls, so… Yeah, I was afraid.”
“Scorpius…” Albus took his face in both hands, wiping away the tears, and pulling him in for a sweet, gentle kiss. “Yes, I like boys. But above everything, I like you. You, for exactly the person you are. If you want to wear a dress, I think that’s great. I will stand beside you. I might not exactly understand what you’re going through, but I promise I’ll try to. I’ll listen to you and support you. I love you. That’s why I want to marry you.”
Scorpius’ heart cracked open, not in pain, but it was like the last protective layer he had around his heart had finally shattered open. Albus really did love him for him. And he should have never doubted him.
Scorpius launched his arms around his love, letting more tears fall as they held each other tightly.
“I don’t understand how I got so lucky,” Scorpius said into Albus’ shoulder.
“Seriously?” Albus asked, pulling back. “Scorpius, you’re the kindest, bravest, most amazing person on this planet. You deserve everything good. I’m the lucky one for getting to give that to you.”
Scorpius wiped at his tears. “I love you” was all he could say.
Albus took his hands. “The shop had dresses, didn’t it?”
Scorpius nodded.
“Then, we’ll go back tomorrow and look at the dresses. And if the witch gives us a hard time… Our fathers will hear about it.”
Scorpius laughed at the old joke.
“You… have you told your dad at all?” Albus asked.
“No,” Scorpius exhaled. “You’re the first. I don’t know how to tell him. I don’t know if I want to put that on him.”
“Why is it putting something on him?”
“Well… remember when we both came out to our parents? We were both worried at first. It was like… we were bullied for so long, and his was another thing for them to worry about.”
“Yeah, true. But remember how happy your dad was when you told him the truth?”
Scorpius thought back. All I care about, is that you’re happy. His dad had said, and given him a massive hug.
“Maybe he’ll be happy now, too. I mean, if there’s another person who loves you exactly as you are, it’s your dad.”
Scorpius smiled slightly. “But… he’s always been so proud of his son. How can I be anything else to him?”
“He never knew you as anything else. But that doesn’t mean he won’t accept you.”
“Maybe… One step at a time, I guess.”
Albus smiled. “You’re right. And you don’t have to feel pressure to tell him if you’re not ready. You could just be… a really fabulous wizard in a dress.”
“Well, I am a really fabulous wizard,” Scorpius said jokingly.
“I know,” Albus said smiling, leaning in for another kiss. “I’m… sorry you were afraid to tell me. I don’t want you to feel that way.”
“I guess I was just afraid of losing something so good.”
“You won’t lose me. Very soon you’ll be stuck with me whether you like it or not.” He grinned mischievously.
Scorpius smiled. “Sounds brilliant.”
***
The night of the engagement party came, and Scorpius looked at themself in the massive mirror. Working with the seamstress, they had created a custom look — A perfect mix of masculine and feminine. The top looked similar to a suit jacket from the front, with a lacy black shirt underneath. The bottom was a poofy black skirt of tulle. But from behind, the back of the jacket had an open back, and around the opening were delicate silk butterflies and flowers.
Scorpius smiled, giving a twirl, loving how free he felt in the skirt. There was a soft knock at the door.
“Scorpius? Can I come in?”
“Yes!”
The door opened, Albus looking beautifully dapper, but more beautiful was the look of pure amazement on his face.
“What do you think?” Scorpius asked sheepishly.
“You look incredible!” Albus said, sweeping him into an embrace. Scorpius giggled, all of his worries replaced by a newfound confidence. Even if some of the stuffy witches and wizards down there didn’t “get it,” they didn’t care, because Albus accepted them. And that was all that mattered.
“Ah, finishing touch,” Albus said, and gently gave Scorpius a twist so they were facing in the opposite direction. Albus took out his wand and gave the back of the dress a light tap, and the butterflies came to life, gently flapping their wings. “It’s perfect,” Albus said, turning Scorpius back around.
The butterflies had actually been Albus’ idea. Beautiful creatures that have to transform to reach their true selves. It felt fitting.
Albus took Scorpius’ hand.
“Are you ready?”
Scorpius looked at his fiancé. His love. His future husband. They didn’t know what the future would hold for them. But he knew with Albus at his side, they could take on anything.
“I’m ready.”