Unspoken Love

27: SIXTH YEAR

"How is it possible you guys got taller?" Rose exclaimed as she ran towards Albus and Scorpius who had just stepped onto platform 9 3/4 alongside Harry, Ginny, and Draco. The two boys exchanged amused glances. 

     Scorpius was grateful that Albus had stayed a little shorter than him, he liked it that way and so did Albus but Scorpius had achieved 6'2, having a bit of height over his father and Albus was evening out at 6'0-- expected as Harry was only 5'8 but Ginny's stature gave him a bit of a boost. Albus and Scorpius also returned in very good shape, Scorpius from quidditch and Albus from working at the tattoo shop with Jay and also working out with him after their tattoo sessions. Needless to say they were both entering their 6th year feeling better than ever about themselves. 

"Look at you two!" Rose said as she got up close. Scorpius was standing tall with his hair styled the same as it had been at the wedding and most of the summer, with nicely styled, curly waves of pale blonde. He was wearing black earring and his locket over an emerald green jumper, he looked very Slytherin. Very Malfoy. He was worried he looked too house-pridey but he didn't hate representing Slytherin anymore, not since he started playing quidditch. Quidditch was nearly all he thought about, besides his boyfriend. He needed to be scouted this year, he needed to. 

     Albus had made the most change however. He was wearing his brown sweater, the one Scorpius had gotten him for his birthday. It was rolled up to his elbows to show his small finger tattoos that he had given himself over the summer as well as his slightly muscular forearms. Harry and Ginny were furious at first but neither could deny that if he were to be a tattoo artist...it would make sense that the boy would have tattoos. And they were amazing and all his own design. 

     This summer, through the process of rebuilding his relationship with his father, Albus also came to appreciate his own name as well. He used to hate it because his father had given it to him. But now that was just why he liked it. It meant something to his dad so then it meant something to Albus too. His initials A.S.P. make the word Asp, which was also a type of snake that he had read about in his 3rd year. An asp viper was tattooed on his index finger of his right hand to represent his name, as well as his Hogwarts house and there was a bold "S" for Scorpius on his ring finger of his left hand. 

     He wasn't one for wearing jewelry, so he only had one ring--the star one that he and Scorpius both had but he had surprised himself and done something he swore he wouldn't do. One day, he asked Octavia, the best piercer in Jay's shop, to pierce his septum. He liked it, he always felt he had a good nose--thankfully he'd gotten Ginny's and it was as subtle as he wanted it to be. Scorpius absolutely adored it and he nearly squealed when Albus showed him for the first time. Albus used to feel too uncool for piercings but with his newfound confidence in his body, tattoos, and overall style, he decided to try something new. 

"You've changed yourself!" Scorpius said, poking Rose in the shoulder. She was a bit more curvy this year, her vibrant hair had grown long and it fell in waves around her shoulders. She had gotten more ear piercings and her fingers were covered in colorful rings. She had a sort of hippie look about her as she wore a long, floral skirt and an orange halter top with dangly necklaces around her neck. She looked older and just as radiant. 

     The parents all gathered off to the side, catching up before they were to depart. Scorpius lifted one of the legs of his trousers excitedly, "Rosie look!" he said, showing off the new tattoo that Albus had given him, per his request. On his ankle, in bold were the initials A.P. for Albus Potter in Albus's own handwriting. Albus could do neat and generic lettering if he liked, but Scorpius requested his natural writing style, it felt more special. 

"Oh boy, you two are going to be completely inked by 20 years old." Rose said, eyeing Albus's new tattoos as well. 

"Don't worry, neither of us want to be covered," Scorpius said, throwing his arm around Albus's waist and squeezing, "But I completely love Albus's hand tattoos," he said, admiring them while Albus smiled shyly. Even with his new confidence, Scorpius always managed to make him blush, "And this, I love this, don't you?" the blonde continued, motioning to Albus's nose piercing.