Scorbus Oneshots

Scoripus' Epiphany

Scorpius sat across the table at Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop from Rose Granger-Weasley, the girl of his dreams. Her bushy, dark red hair had been straightened so that it fell almost down to her waist with half of it styled in an elegant bun that was tied with a yellow flower that matched her gold eyeshadow. She wore high-waisted, pale blue ripped jeans and a yellow crop top under her cropped denim jacket. Rose's deep brown eyes were focused on Scorpius and an amused smile tugged a her lips.

Finally, after five years, she'd agreed to go on a date with him. The only downside was that Albus had unfortunately got a detention so couldn't be there to wish Scorpius luck or meet him when he got back. He'd been getting into trouble more often recently and Scorpius hadn't been seeing as much of him. When he mentioned it to Rose, her eyes twinkled.

"Scorpius," Rose interrupted him softly and kindly as he spoke about missing his best friend. "I may have had some ulterior motives to coming here."

Scorpius' heart sank. "Oh."

He should have known. Nothing good ever happened to him. Albus was just an exception. Everything else in his life was always going to come crashing down.

"Albus has been getting in trouble lately because..." Rose paused. "He has a crush on you."

Scorpius chuckled, shaking his head. It was a long standing joke between his and Albus' friends that they liked each other. They acted like a couple apparently. They were more touchy than most friends with more hugging and whispering and of curse they were inseparable. During an interhouse party, when Scorpius tired quickly, he leaned his head on Albus' shoulder for a chunk of the night and their friends immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion. They were purely affectionate, Scorpius reminded them.

"No he doesn't. That's just a joke. He likes that Hufflepuff girl and has done for four months now."

"We weren't joking," Rose informed him seriously. "He acts exactly like he does when he has a crush on someone around you."

Scorpius' brain started whirring. "Wait, really? You genuinely think he likes me?"

Rose nodded. Scorpius' brow furrowed as he stared at his mug of butterbeer.

"Do you like him?" Rose questioned.

"Do you think I do?"

His whole world had been turned upside down. He couldn't think properly. Rose smiled sympathetically.

"I don't know."

"I can't tell." Scorpius stammered. "I thought I liked you but now..."

Rose's eye lit up as she got an idea. She pulled out a quill and some paper and drew a line down the middle, separating it into a pros and cons lists. Scorpius nodded. Pros and cons were how he often made difficult decisions.

"Okay." Scorpius took a deep breath. "Pro: he's kind."

Rose wrote it down.

"He's funny," Scorpius continued. "He's sweet. He's always there for me. He knows instinctively how to be with me." He thought for a moment. "Con: I can't tell if I like him in a brotherly way or not."

Rose dutifully scribbled it down, a beam on her face. "Anything else?"

"He... He makes me feel safe." Scorpius cast his mind back to all the times he was with Albus and noticed how every fleeting look, ever light touch, every word made him feel like he was okay. He had anxiety and rarely felt safe with anyone so to be one of his Safe People was unusual. It was his dad, his grandmother (Narcissa), it had been his mother and it was Albus.

"Oh, Merlin. Maybe I do like him." Scorpius' eyes widened and he asked again, "What do you think?"

Rose bit her lip, obviously overjoyed. "I think you do."

"What now?"

-

After spending his entire date with Rose figuring out just how much he was enamoured with Albus and kicking himself for not realising, Scorpius said goodbye and went back to the dorms. He was grateful that he didn't see Albus that night but not so grateful when he saw him in the morning.

He went over to hug Albus as he always did and butterflies erupted in his stomach. He'd hadn't felt like that for a very long time and it had never been so intense. They talked and Scorpius was painfully aware of how awkward everything he said sounded. Now that he knew, he couldn't act naturally. He couldn't help but hug Albus again before they parted to go to different lesson and Albus looked at him funny before leaving. Scorpius cursed himself. It was Albus. He couldn't afford to act any different because it would be really obvious.

Of course, he continued to act weird all day, pulling Rose aside to complain about what she'd done. Albus wasn't helping. They' spent the day just them and had been walked around the corridors holding hands, which sent Scorpius' heartbeat into a frenzy. Later that day, he was reading in the library when Rose came in. It was relatively empty that day, perfect for reading, but Rose didn't seem interested that, which alarmed Scorpius. She handed him a piece of paper.

I like you too.

Albus' handwriting.

His stomach dropped and he met eyes with Rose, mouth open in disbelief. She nodded.

"You told him?" was the first thing he thought to say. "Rose!"

She held up her hands. "In fairness, he came to me and he was really worried about you so I got him to confess that he had a crush on you and he pretty much knew anyway. He'd brought up the possibility earlier. So? You going to say yes? It's one of those pieces of paper where the writing appears on the matching one. You can write back right now!"

Scorpius glanced at the paper and picked up a quill, his hand shaking.

You do?

Yeah.

So, what are we because I'm a good best friend but I think I'd be a great boyfriend.

He winced at his words. "I'm terrible at flirting."

Rose, who was reading over his shoulder, nodded.

Do you want to prove that?

Rose squealed. "Say yes! Say yes!"

Scorpius hesitated, allowing himself to fully absorb what was happening.

Yes.

Rose sent him off to see Albus. She told him he was in their dorm so Scorpius headed over bumping into people and apologising profusely to everyone who walked by as he went. He arrived at the dorm and opened the door nervously but smiling. Albus sat on his bed, beaming at him. He stood up and pulled Scorpius into a hug, entwining their hands when they pulled back.


"So..." Scorpius smiled, the butterflies starting to die down and settle pleasantly. He was exhilarated but somehow calm. Albus liked him. Albus Potter had a crush on him.

"So." Albus responded, sitting down on the bed and drawing Scorpius close. Scorpius' smile grew wider and he sat there peacefully in arms he truly did feel safe in.