bittersweet //scorbus//

the potter home

The Hogwarts Express left at 10:00 a.m. that morning. Scorpius could hardly contain his excitement as he loaded his luggage onto the little black train, and Albus was a bit nervous. Whether he was nervous about spending three weeks with James and his father, or if he was nervous because he'd be spending three weeks with Scorpius, who he still had mixed feelings about, he was nervous nonetheless.

"Scorp, are you sure you'll be alright spending Christmas with that demon?" Albus asked as the two hopped in an empty compartment.

"Who, James?" laughed Scorpius.

Albus grunted and nodded. 

"He's not that bad," Scorpius said, settling down next to his friend, "Just a bit... rough. You know?" 

"I suppose." Albus shrugged.

The boys took in the lovely smell of peppermint and eucalyptus and the sound of excited chattering. Before they knew it, Scorpius and Albus arrived at Platform nine-and-three-quarters.

"Albus!" he heard his mother shout.

Ginny Potter came barreling down to hug Albus tightly. Scorpius smiled at the scene he was witnessing.

"And Scorpius!" she exclaimed, pulling away from her son to embrace Scorpius.

Scorpius felt more love in that five second hug from Ginny than he had felt in years. He couldn't help the tightness in which he hugged back.

"Harry couldn't come down this morning, he's taking a shift that lasts until noon. Where's Lily and James?" she asked, looking around the crowd.

"Lily is still getting off the train, James is probably saying goodbye to his girlfriend." Albus snickered.

"Oh, don't poke fun at him," Ginny snorted, "Harry always used to say goodbye to me when he went home for the summer."

She smiled warmly at the memory, as if she was still sixteen and remembering the moment alone in her little room. 

Scorpius thanked Ginny again and again for inviting him over.

"Scorp, lay off it, we wouldn't have invited you if we didn't want you." Albus said as James and Lily trotted up.

"Morning, Scorpius!" Lily greeted brightly, flashing her very white teeth.

"Hello, Lily." Scorpius said gently.

"Hi." mumbled James. He was inspecting his shoe laces and wouldn't return Scorpius's warm smile.

They all piled into Ginny's gray car, which had a front seat, a middle, and a back that could recline if you wanted more room to put things in. Ginny often used the feature to store her broomsticks. Ginny sat in the driver's seat, Lily and James in the middle, and Scorpius and Albus squeezed in the back.

Forty minutes later, the lot arrived at a cozy cottage, wooden with red bricks making up the walls. There were little lilies dotting the green and luscious garden planted in their lawn.

"I know it's not much," Albus said a bit breathlessly, nervously wiping sweat off his neck, "But it's home, I guess."

"No," Scorpius said, his eyes wide, "It's beautiful."

Albus blushed and led his friend inside. The house was stuffed with sofas and armchairs, and it was just about the comfiest looking home Scorpius had ever seen.

"My room is upstairs. Here, let's take our things up before we eat." Albus said to Scorpius.

Scorpius nodded and tailed Albus up the tall wooden stairs. 

Albus's room was navy blue with Slytherin banners and posters lining the walls. He had a twin-sized bed pushed up against the corner of the wall. His wooden floors were topped with a denim rug, which tickled their feet (Ginny had made them both take off their shoes before going inside).

As Scorpius, awe-struck, drank in the room, Albus noticed there was no mattress lying on the floor.

"Hold on, I'll be right back." he told Scorpius.

Albus ran downstairs and bumped into his mother.

"Mum, where is Scorpius's mattress?" he asked.

"Oh, it had a few holes in it. I suppose you two could just share the bed?" she replied.

James, who was reading on the sofa, glanced up with an eyebrow raised. As Albus turned crimson, he smirked and looked back down at his book.

"Okay." mumbled Albus.

"We're gonna have to share the bed!" Albus shouted as he raced up the stairs.

Scorpius quickly gasped and blushed furiously. Thankfully, Albus was busy taking extra pillows out of his closet, so he didn't notice.

"Kids! Dad's home! And lunch is ready!" Ginny called up the stairs.

Albus smiled, took Scorpius's hand, and dashed downstairs.

"Dad!" he exclaimed, wrapping him in a hug.

As Harry hugged back even tighter, he noticed Scorpius.

"Scorpius! Thank you for joining us!" 

He took Scorpius by surprised by pulling him into a warm hug. Scorpius hadn't been hugged by anyone other than Albus since he was twelve.

"Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Potter." Scorpius said happily.

"James!" Harry said, turning around.

"I think we're having chicken, is that alright?" Albus asked Scorpius.

"Yes, it's wonderful." Scorpius answered, grinning broadly.

"Dad!" Lily shouted and ran into Harry's arms.

"Oh, little Lily..." Harry laughed.

As the lot walked into the kitchen, Scorpius saw the giant Christmas tree standing tall. It was adorned in gold and silver ornaments, and a few homemade ones. There was a bright, bedazzled star sitting atop the tree.

"Aunt Luna made that for us last Christmas, Scorpius." Albus told him.

"Gotta love Luna!" Harry chimed in cheerfully.

Ginny smiled. The group sat down at the table and feasted in peppered chicken and mashed potatoes.

Scorpius hadn't felt more welcome anywhere else in his life.