bittersweet //scorbus//

a letter

Neither of the boys talked about what happened in Potions. Albus had decided that Scorpius had just liked how his clothes smelled. That was fine, Albus liked how clean wood smelled, but that didn't mean he was attracted to it. 

But Albus wondered why he smelled the fresh scent of his friend's shampoo. Albus had realized that he felt... different... about Scorpius ever since the end of third year, but he never really pondered over it.

Did Albus have a crush on his best friend?

Albus sat in the dark green love-seat in the Slytherin Common Room with a scrunched-up expression on his face.

He felt the creeeaaakkk of the chair and felt Scorpius's arm on his. Albus looked up to see Scorpius seated next to him with a sleepy look.

"Scorp?" Albus said as Scorpius laid himself across Albus's lap.

"Shut up and let me sleep here," Scorpius told Albus with a yawn, "I just studied for five straight hours for the mid-year Transfiguration exam."

"The one next month?" Albus asked as he grabbed a novel off the coffee table.

Scorpius curled up and said, "Yes, the one next month, which other one would I be referencing?" 

Albus shrugged and laughed. He read through the novel, Peter Pan, as Scorpius fell asleep. The Common Room was empty except for five second-years who were doing homework. Albus stared at an enchanted window that mimicked what you could see from the Astronomy Tower. The sun was setting, and the sky was painted with a beautiful swirl of red, orange, yellow, pink, and blue. 

Albus took in his surroundings: A beautiful sunset glowing up the otherwise dark room, a crackling fire, a scent of cinnamon, a story of a fictional boy named Peter, and the weight of a real boy named Scorpius resting on his lap. It was a lovely thing to witness.

As Christmas drew nearer and nearer, Scorpius was getting more and more worried about mid-year exams and his father, Draco.

"Scorpius, what's the matter?" asked Albus, seeing Scorpius looking at a letter from his father.

"I don't think that Father wants me to come home for the holidays." he said quietly.

"What? Did he say that?" asked Albus, disgusted.

"No, but he hasn't invited me or asked what presents I'd like. And I don't think he's really right in the head anymore. Not since Mother..." Scorpius trailed off.

"Oh Scorp," sighed Albus as he wrapped his friend in a tight hug. Scorpius cried silently into Albus's robes, trying to not let his classmates see.

Dear Dad,

It's me, Albus. I know you haven't had the best experience with the Malfoys, but Scorpius is my friend. My only friend, really. 

Look, Draco doesn't want Scorpius home for Christmas. Scorpius is really angry and sad about it. I was wondering if he could join us?

Scorpius said that nothing is the same since his mom died, and that Draco isn't all right in the head. So if he could join us, I think that'd be loads better than him staying alone at Hogwarts. (Like I said before, we don't really have any other friends. Just each other.)

Thank you, Dad. Tell Mum I said hello!

With love,

Albus Severus