Working Through the Rest

Not What You Think

It takes a moment for me to remember why I'm lying in Scorpius' arms. I don't panic, but it's a little strange, until I remember why. My nightmare. His nightmare. Him asking me to stay.

I look at him, smiling when I realise he's sleeping peacefully. He feels safe, safe enough to let himself sleep deeply. Because of me. And while part of me is screaming that his judgement is misplaced, that I can't keep him safe, a larger part of me points out that we're safe. That it's all going to be entirely okay.

Because it will be. It will be okay. I know that there will be some threat of other because of who we happen to be. But it won't ever be a threat we can't handle. It won't ever be a threat we're not prepared for in some way. Whatever might happen, we will be okay.

Scorpius rolls over and I try to stop him tumbling out onto the floor. He groans sleepily and I laugh, shaking my head.
"Morning," he mumbles.
"Good morning," I shake my head again, still smiling. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I slept," I nod.

At this point, I think we've both accepted that the other sleeping at all is a win. If we can close our eyes and not feel scared, that's a victory. That will always be a victory. Scorpius lies back and stares up at the ceiling, sighing.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Tired," Scorpius murmurs.
"Well, there isn't anything in particular we need to do today, so you can take it slow."
"Revision?"
"Of course you think about that," I roll my eyes.
"It needs to happen."
"I know," I nod. "I know, and I'm behind."
"Well, I'm here."
"The walking library," I nod, laughing.
"Is that what you think of me?"
"Sometimes."

Scorpius laughs, shaking his head as he starts to stand up. I pull him back, hugging him again, and he rolls his eyes.
"I'm hungry," he grumbles.

I'm about to respond when there's a knock on the door and I freeze. It has only just hit me that I've just shared a bed with the son of the man who is at the door. I look at Scorpius and he nods reassuringly before calling out 'come in'.

The door opens and I'm fairly sure I'm bright red as Draco walks in. He starts to speak, and then breaks off, looking at us.
"Oh, you're here, Albus," he says slowly. "Right. Okay."
"I asked him to stay last night," Scorpius explains. "We both slept."
"I'm glad," Draco nods. "I'll – I'll leave you to it."

As the door shuts behind him, Scorpius bursts into laughter and I bury my face in a pillow, groaning. He starts to move around, humming to himself, and I stare at him.
"How are you laughing?" I mutter.
"Because he looked fairly embarrassed too," he grins. "And it was funny."
"If I agree to revise without complaining," I groan, "will you never talk about this again?"
"No complaining?" Scorpius grins slyly.
"Please never bring this up."
"I'm going to hold you to that. For a long time."
"I know."

I roll over again as he starts pulling clothes out of drawers. No matter what anyone says, I'm never going to live this down. He's never going to let me forget it.