The Malfoys and Me

32. Hogsmeade

Your breath crystallises in front of your face as you let out an airy laugh. You and Cayla skip hand in hand through Hogsmeade, heading out of the sweets shop.

"Come on, Score!" you shout back at Scorpius, who's lagging behind a bit. He flashes you a small grin, his usually pale face red from the cold.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," he says with a laugh, "just give me a second, alright? You can't use me as your human shopping buggy and then expect me to keep up with you!" You laugh again, and you and Cayla slow down a bit, letting him catch up.

"Don't be too long, Malfoy," Cayla calls back with a laugh, "I've got a date to keep with Adam at the Hog's Head in a few minutes!"

"So you and Barque are still together?" Scorpius asks, jogging up to you, shopping parcels under both arms.

"Yeah," Cayla sighs, "but I think I might break it off soon, he's a bit... clingy."

"Hey," you say with a wink, "as long as he's still paying for the food he's alright!" you both burst out laughing, and Scorpius joins in too after a second. As you come up to the Hog's Head, Cayla lets go of your hand.

"Well, this is my stop!" she says, waving to you and walking into the building. "See you, Y/n! Bye, Malfoy!"

"Bye!" you both wave. As you wave your now empty hand, you realise just how cold it is outside. Why didn't I bring those gloves? You think with a shiver. Or at the very least a scarf! You shiver again—a bit more violently—and shake your head, as if that can warm your body up.

"Hey," says Scorpius with concern. You look over at him, and suddenly he's looming over you; he's dropped the parcels to the ground, and there's something like tender concern swimming in the mist of his grey-blue eyes. "You okay?"

"I-I..." you stammer. Your heart is suddenly pulsing in your ears, and the world seems to go out of focus all around you as you sway slightly on your feet. Scorpius grabs your hands.

"Hey, hey," he says gently, steadying you. "Is anything the matter?"

"I-it's nothing!" You say with a shaky laugh, trying to shake off the tingling sensation emanating from where his hands are holding yours, although it is warming you up quite a bit. "I-I'm just a bit cold, that's all. I... I forgot my gloves." you look away from his face, unable to look him in the eye without blushing an even deeper scarlet than the wind has already painted your face.

"W-well," Scorpius says softly and rather hesitantly, almost as if he senses the air of awkwardness— gosh, I hope not! You think. "I think I can remedy that." Then, with careful hands, Scorpius unwraps the green and silver striped scarf from around his neck and slowly, deliberately wraps your hands in his scarf, winding the fabric over and under in a secure but gentle bunch. "There," he says, and you can hear the small smile in his voice. "Now you look like a fashionable lady."

"I-I'm pretty sure muffs went out of fashion a few decades ago," you say with a laugh, and finally look up into his face. "But thank you," You smile. "I appreciate the gesture." Scorpius' eyes widen, his lips parting ever so slightly and you can almost swear his breath hitches a bit.

"I... it's no... no problem... Y/n..." he says, his last word, your name, trailing off into a whisper, as his eyes leave yours and travel searchingly around your face. You do the same, and look back down at his lips again. You can feel your breath hitch this time, as Scorpius takes an—apparently subconscious—step towards you. It would be so nice, so simple... he would only have to lean down— You sway closer to each other for a second, the world fading around you both. You think you see Scorpius leaning down ever so slightly, his lips parting, his hand reaching for yours, and—

"Oh!" Scorpius looks up sharply, and you blink rapidly and shake your head, the spell broken. Scorpius rubs his—now bare—neck. "I think I just felt a snowflake!" you look around, still half in a daze, and see that he's right! You smile again, and laugh. It's the first snowfall! You throw your head back, catching a snowflake on your tongue. You see Scorpius doing the same out of the corner of your eye, and let out a silent sigh—of relief or disappointment you can't tell. The moment is over. It's gone. Oh well, you think, straightening up and shooting a smile in your friend's direction. It's better this way. Better to be friends than... than the alternative. Scorpius smiles, and links his arm with yours, and you walk towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes at a leisurely pace.

Besides, you think, as you talk of trivial subjects and the latest school drama, he obviously doesn't want us to be anything other than friends. And that's alright with me.

~-----------------------------------~

You flop onto your bunk, and shake the snow from your hat. You look around, but no-one else is in the dorm room. You give a small sigh of relief, and take the scarf out of the pocket you had stashed it in at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes when Scorpius wasn't looking. You bring it close to your face, closing your eyes, and breathing in deeply. Your body relaxes as you take in his scent. Scorpius. You let out a small breath as your heart skips a beat, the smell of cedarwood and pine overwhelming your senses.

You get up after a second, and stow the scarf in the drawer of your dresser. As you lay it in, you see his initials stitched in iridescent silver. S. H. M. My friend, you think, a smile on your face. Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. My best friend. You smile, and gently close the drawer.