Metamorphosis / Scorbus

Chapter 9 - News Spreads Like Wildfire

Albus shrugged again. "Well if you
think about it, we're not just weird now; we're weird and queer."
"Queird," snickered Scorpius.
That startled a laugh from Albus. "Nerd."
Albus then snorted. "What have I gotten myself into?"

"All the terrible wordplay you could wish for," teased Scorpius. "No pun is too bad for my boyfriend."
Laughing, Albus wrapped an arm around Scorpius's waist, pulling him close for a kiss. Scorpius's lips were chapped from a week of kissing, and the tip of his nose was cold against Albus' cheek, but his laughing mouth was warm and eager as it opened to Albus'.
The shocked gasps of people nearby made Albus let go sooner than he would have liked, and wiped the laughter from his mouth.
"C'mon," he said gruffly, taking Scorpius' hand once more. "We'll be late for supper."

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The level of conversation dropped noticeably when they entered the Great Hall. Dozens of eyes fixed on them, and the susurrus of people murmuring to their neighbours followed them. Ignoring everyone, Albus marched to the Slytherin table and sat down on the bench in the empty space across from a few Slytherin students.
Rhys Selwyn frowned at their clasped hands, but greeted them as civilly as always.
Helias Wood raised an elegant eyebrow. "So it's true, then?"
"Bloody brilliant," grumbled Karl Jenkins under his breath.
Scorpius opened his mouth to speak, looking defensive.
"We don't owe them an explanation," Albus interrupted before he could speak. "It's none of their business."
"The hell it isn't," muttered Jenkins.
"Enough, Jenkins," said Selwyn. "If they want to be left alone -"
"No, it's all right," said Scorpius.
Albus scowled. "Not if Jenkins is going to be a prat about things, it isn't."
"They're just going to keep on about it," Albus told his boyfriend. "Everyone is going to keep asking, unless we do something."
"Like what?" asked Scorpius warily.
Albus hesitated. Looking pale but determined, he let go of Scorpius' hand, stood up, and stepped onto the bench, climbing to stand in the middle of the Slytherin table.
Albus shouted: "Hey!" The level of noise in the Great Hall dropped to whispers as heads turned to his direction.
"Mr Potter!" Headmistress McGonagall cried from the staff table. "Get down from there at once!"
"Sorry, Ma'am," said Albus apologetically. "This will only take a minute."
Scorpius stared up in wonder as his boyfriend turned toward the sea of curious faces. He was always good at capturing everyone's attention.
"Hi," said Albus, a bit self-consciously. "As you all know, I'm Albus Potter. Most of you know my best mate Scorpius Malfoy and I."
Albus reached down a hand to him. Scorpius took it, entranced, and let Albus draw him up to stand beside him on the table. He could feel hundreds of eyes on them, and hear whispers from every direction, but he had eyes only for the pale, scared-looking boy beside him. Albus was close enough to see the rapid pulse beating in his throat. He held onto Scorpius's hand tightly.
"You might have heard a rumour today," Albus went on. "About us. That we're -"
"Poofs?" Jenkins suggested loudly. A few people tittered. From the Gryffindor table everyone could hear James, Lily and Rose exclaim: "Shut it!"
The entire Great Hall went silent once again.
"That we're going out," Albus said more firmly. Looking to his family members he said: "Thanks guys." And continued: "Personally, I've had enough of rumors about me for one lifetime. So I wanted to be absolutely clear: Scorpius is one of the most important people in my life, and more importantly: my boyfriend."
Ignoring the rising flurry of sound from their audience, he turned to face Scorpius. Gently cupping his face in trembling hands, Albus leaned in to kiss him, right there, in front of almost everyone they knew. Scorpius closed his eyes, feeling the chapped roughness of Albus' lips on his, heart swelling with affection and pride at his boyfriend's bravery. The hall erupted in hoots, whistles, gasps, and even some cheers and scattered applause.
"So, now you know," said Albus hoarsely, raising his voice over the noise, and turning back to face the assembled students. "We're out. We're together. You can stop gossiping about us and asking us personal questions, because nothing else about this is anyone's business but ours."
"If you're quite finished, Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy ..." Professor McGonagall stood beside the Slytherin table, gesturing impatiently, face set in a scowl. "Come down from there and stop making a public spectacle of yourselves at once, or you will both be serving a week of detention. Separately."
"Yes, Ma'am," said Albus, looking sheepish.
As they climbed down, Scorpius glanced toward the staff table. He was almost sure he saw Headmistress McGonagall hide a smile. Her eyes seemed to twinkle behind her round spectacles. Professor Longbottom, the Herbology master, caught Albus' eye and winked at him, grinning with approval. Hagrid, the gamekeeper, beamed and nodded behind his white beard.
Once they were in their seats, and the other students realised the show was over, some of the attention began to recede from them.