Sex Education // Scorbus

Chapter 6 - The Big Day

Albus walked into the teachers lounge to find Scorpius and Catrin talking. A few other professors were scattered around grading papers, or eating.

Albus quietly took the seat empty next to Scorpius, "Mind if I join you guys?"

"Not at all," Scorpius replied as they both smiled welcomingly.

"I was just telling Malfoy here that he should really look into getting a house down in Hogsmead. It's much better than living in the tiny, cramped quarters here. Trust me, I did it for five years."

"Ohh," Albus curiously turned to the blonde, "Are you thinking about moving?"

Scorpius shrugged, "I always go back to the Manor during the summer, but it's too big for me to be living in it alone and I dread it's emptiness and darkness every time summer comes back around," he explained.

"I know how you feel," Albus nodded, "I usually go bunk with my cousin Rose in her tiny flat. She says I'm always welcome but I think she secretly hates it. And now she's got her fiancé living with her, I really don't think she wants me intruding anymore."

"That's perfect then!" Catrin cheered, "Scorpius said he'd be more interested in a house if he had someone to live with and split costs," she looked between the two expectantly. "Both of you don't have a solid place to live and both would like a roommate! Bam!"

Albus chuckled nervously, "That's kind of a big commitment... And we're not, like, dating or anything..." he added quietly.

"I'd be down," Scorpius spoke hopefully.

Albus froze and his brain went fuzzy, not sure how to process this. "I mean, uh yeah we'd just have to discuss this more..."

Catrin nodded and pulled back her sleeve as if she was looking at a watch, only to reveal a empty wrist, "Well, would you look at the time? I better be off to class!" She gathered her things and bid the men goodbye. The two shared a confused look.

"I should probably be going too," Scorpius announced, slowly getting up to gather his things.

Albus sat awkwardly watching Scorpius leave, stuck with his thoughts and questioning himself on why he responded that way to the idea of living with him. He liked Scorpius a lot, in fact he probably definitely had a crush on him for Merlin's sake.

But Albus had never felt this strongly about someone before and didn't know how to deal with it.

••••

It was finally the big day. Well, James' big day.

Albus' family knew he was bringing a date but they didn't know who it was.

Scorpius could tell that Al was nervous about this and as they approached the chapel, he slipped his hand into Al's.

"Don't be nervous, Love -" Albus' insides melted, "- you said your parents know right?"

"Yeah, they know. But I've never had to introduce a guy to them before," he explained, "Especially-"

"Especially one with my last name?" Scorpius knowingly smirked.

"Yeah... that," Albus nodded. Scorpius merely squeezed his hand comfortingly.

"Don't worry, you'll be just fine. And I'm just a date right? It's not like I'm your fiancé or anything," he teased, getting a chuckle from Albus.

"You're right."

••••

The first person they stumbled upon happened to be Neville who helped calm Albus' nerves. He wiggled his eyebrows at Albus, obviously referring to Scorpius. Albus in return playfully punched his godfathers arm.

"You're making it weird!" Albus laughed.

"I'm not! What's weird is that it took so long for you guys to happen! You've been ogling each other for months!" Neville replied.

"Trust me, I've been trying," Scorpius joked, noticing Albus' cheeks turn pink. The two made eye contact for a moment and Albus turned away quickly out of embarrassment. "He's just so oblivious," Scorpius teased.

Neville chuckled, "Just like his father." He then pushed the two along.

Before Albus could open his mouth to confront Scorpius about what he just told Neville, his sister came up to them.

She quickly embraced Albus with one arm, the other holding Claire.

"Hi Lily, hi Claire-bear," Albus greeted, poking Claire's stomach as he said her nickname, making her giggle.

"Al it's great to see you, you look so nice," Lily fondly tugged at his bowtie before catching Scorpius out of the corner of her eye. "Is this your date?" she cracked a knowing smile.

"Uh yes - Lily, this is my date, Scorpius. Scorpius this is my sister Lily, and her daughter, Claire," Albus stepped to the side to introduce them.

"It's nice to meet you Lily, you have a beautiful daughter," the two shook hands and his compliment made Lily beam.

"Why thank you," she glanced over her shoulder briefly, "My husband is around here somewhere if you'd like to meet him - ah ha! Michael! Over here dear!"

Lily's husband approached and before Albus could introduce them, Lily spoke, "This is Albus' boyfriend, Scorpius."

Albus meekly protested, but no one seemed to notice him say, "Uh we're not actually boyfriends..." as the two started up a conversation.

"So do you teach at Hogwarts with Albus?" Michael asked.

"Yes, I teach History of Magic."

The two carried on for a bit while Albus sent his sister various looks across them, portraying how they're not boyfriends and she shouldn't have said that. Albus knew that she knew what he was trying to communicate but she was just playing dumb and shrugging and shaking her head.

Albus eventually pulled Scorpius away from the three.

"So we're just telling people we're boyfriends?" Albus practically gasped once they were out of ear shot from Lily and her husband. "I thought we agreed we're just dates?"

Scorpius shrugged, "I wasn't the one who introduced me as your boyfriend, that was your sister," he pointed out, a smile threatening to poke through his lips.

Albus became slightly flustered, knowing he was right, "Yeah, but what about what you told Neville?"

"That was all in good fun really, I figured he was safe to joke with since he sees us all the time," Scorpius hesitated for a moment, "Besides, do you not want to be boyfriends? I thought that's what we've been working towards these past couple months. And with all the dates, I figured we were practically there," Scorpius admitted, feeling kind of hurt and definitely confused at Albus' behavior.

This took Albus back slightly. He'd never had a true boyfriend before, and here one was - a really good one at that - presenting himself to Al, and he was panicking.

Albus frantically looked anywhere but Scorpius' face, "I-I guess I just thought this would've gone differently? The whole making this official thing? I also wasn't entirely sure how you felt..."

Scorpius nodded understandingly, "That's okay. We don't have to do it here or now if that's what you want." He gave Albus a reassuring smile, "I'm just your date for now, nothing more," Scorpius verified, recognizing Albus' anxiety.

Albus felt guilty now, but he still needed to think things through and see his mother's reaction to Scorpius first.

"I'm sorry," he tried but Scorpius shook his head.

"It's totally fine, Love." Albus' insides melted again, and his guilt grew. Scorpius slipped his hand into Albus' again and squeezed, "Is it okay if I still do this though?"

Albus nodded, "Of course."

"Good," Scorpius smiled brightly down at him.