• December, 2022 Weeks passed and the Quidditch season started without Albus. Even though he was back in school, he just wasn’t physically fit nor mentally fit enough to deal with the stressed of practices and matches. His school work was hard enough but he was lucky to have Scorpius there to get him caught up on the three weeks he’d missed. In the six weeks he’d been back in school he was just barely staying a float. He wasn’t miserable or lying in bed all the time, but he frequently did think of his mother and got distracted from his work or the lesson in class. Although now, school work was far from Albus’ mind and he was back in his bedroom at the family’s home in Godric’s Hollow. Albus could hardly call them a family with one very important fifth of it missing and this thought made him sad as he was looking at the mirror. He blinked his green eyes slowly, watching the reflection blink back. He looked marginally better than he had upon arriving at school six weeks ago. He’d gained about nine pounds back, so that left only six pounds to go and he’d be back to his original weight. He made a mental note to not hold back on the snacks and sweets tonight- it was, after all, New Year’s Eve and they’d be going round to the burrow for a party. Albus was skeptic of how much partying would really be going on and hoped more than anything it wouldn’t turn into a mope-fest and a memorial. He loved his mum and missed her a lot but it got hard talking about her all the time. He was ready to be okay. Sad and nostalgic occasionally, but okay. Plus, Draco Malfoy had finally caved and consented to letting Scorpius join and Potter/Weasley clan for the evening so he didn’t want to drag him down too. Albus speculated Draco’s lenience was out of a fleeting moment of pity because he’d lost his mother, which made Albus mad because he hated being pitied but he could live with it just this once since it was working out in his favour. Albus got up from his seat when he heard his name called. He looked himself over in the mirror again and now realized his bright red jeans and white t-shirt with the silver fireworks exploding across it were more fitting of the Americans’ Independence day than New Year’s Eve. However, there wasn’t time for him to rummage through his wardrobe for a new outfit so he’d just have to live with it. He pulled on some shoes and hurried down the stairs. Holding onto James while Lily held onto their father, Albus took a breath, closing his eyes and enduring the discomforts of side-long apparition. He blinked, looking around when he felt his feet sturdy on solid ground again. The were on a dirt road, and to the west was a giant iron fence and gate and standing in front of it was Scorpius and Draco Malfoy. Albus looked beyond and saw the great, towering manor. It looked exactly the way Scorpius had described it; a house, not a home. Draco stepped forward, pulling his son with him. “Potter,” he said calmly, nodding in acknowledgment. “Scorpius is to be home no later than noon tomorrow, and he’s not allowed to have more then three drinks with alcohol in them,” he instructed, giving a curt nod and squeezing Scorpius’ shoulder. “His mother’s rule, not mine,” he added. “Thank you for inviting me,” chirped Scorpius when ribbed by his father. “Not at all, Scorpius,” said Harry, offering the boy a friendly smile. He looked back at Draco and confirmed, “Noon and no more than three. I’ll be sure of it.” “Very good. Behave yourself, young man,” he muttered to his son before nodding a goodbye and turning back toward the house. Scorpius walked up to them, cheeks faintly pink. He looked more appropriately dressed, in nice but casual robes. He looked Albus up and down, an entertained expression working its way across his pale, pink-tinted face. “What… are you wearing,” he asked, cracking a wide grin. Albus narrowed his eyes and stuck his tongue out in false irritation. “It’s a holiday. I’m dressed festively,” he retorted. “Come on, boys. You can bicker just as well at the Burrow as here on a dirt road,” Lily said, giving them a look and shivering from the wind. Albus grabbed Scorpius’ hand and James’ in the other. Scorpius and James grabbed hands and moments later they were in the front yard at the Burrow. Scorpius’ legs wobbled and he looked like he was about to be sick. “I hate apparating,” he muttered before dropping to his knees and promptly getting sick into a bush. Albus knelt down beside him and pulled his hair back from his face. “Every sodding time,” he groaned once he’d finished emptying his stomach. Albus patted his back gently. “Yeah, I know… come on inside, I’ll take you to the restroom and get you cleaned up. Did you need a lie-down,” Albus said, standing up and helping Scorpius to his feet. “I don’t think it’d hurt to have a ten or twenty minute lie down,” he answered honestly, walking into the house with Albus. Molly Weasley the first made to get up but Albus waved her off. “Not right now, Nan,” he said apologetically, “Scorpius is ill. I’ll be back out in a few minutes, just let me get him squared away.” He was relieved that his Nana didn’t persist, just sat back down looking taken aback. Albus stood leaning back against the bathroom wall, watching Scorpius rinse his mouth. It occurred to him that he could have used magic, because he was seventeen now but it was a little late. He slid down to his behind once Scorpius laid down on the floor, closing his eyes. “I’m glad you invited me,” the blonde haired boy spoke quietly, keeping his blue eyes shut. Albus snorted without restraint. “Don’t be stupid, of course I invited you,” he said, “I invite you every bleeding year. I’m glad your father said yes this time.” “I feel bad you had to rush past your Nan because of me,” Scorpius mumbled. “You should go back and say hello. Tell her I said hello too, and that I’m sorry for being poor company right away,” he added and chuckled. “I will in a few minutes. I just… need a break. I saw her all the time for three weeks. She just saw me six weeks ago, so it’s not like she can say I’ve grown.” Albus rested his chin between his knees. “She’s really sad, but she’s trying to cover it up. I think it’s hit her harder than the rest of us because Ginny was her only girl and the baby of the family. She lost my uncle Fred a year before Victoire was born. So now she‘s outlived two of her children.” Scorpius remained silent, not knowing what he was supposed to say. He took a deep breath and sat up slowly, exhaling once he was sat up. “I think I’m all settled now,” he said softly, offering Albus a smiled. The evening didn’t turn out to be too bad, after all. It was definitely more subdue than parties at the Burrow had been until recently, but it was by no means a sob fest. The family and various friends had been talking and eating and singing. Albus and Scorpius’ classmate Frank had beaten his father Neville at five games of Wizard’s Chess, as well as beat uncle Percy four times which resulting in the man insisting Frank was cheating. “I think I’m completely ready for two thousand and twenty two to be over,” said Scorpius as they sat on the small roof outside uncle Charlie’s old room. It was five minutes to midnight now and Scorpius had had his three drinks, Albus had had four and they were now sharing his fifth. Their parents didn’t need to know everything. Albus kept shooting his clock glances. He knew who he wanted to kiss at midnight; the boy was sitting right beside him. In his lowered state of proper judgment, he thought he just might do it without any worries of how Scorpius would respond to it. “Don’t have to tell me twice,” Albus slurred, leaning his head against Scorpius’ shoulder. They were quiet for a few minutes then. Scorpius was thinking about a kiss at midnight too. His head was going mad with eternal conflict. How much he wanted to just feel Albus’ lips against his own and how wrong it’d be to do so. He knew Albus would always be his best friend and nothing as little as a kiss could ruin a strong friendship. However, Scorpius’ relationship with his parents was far from accepting. Stomach turning, Albus glimpsed thirty seconds to midnight. He took a deep breath and sat up straight, turning his body to face Scorpius. Scorpius looked at him, nervous. He was hopeful and dreading at the same time. Ten, nine, eight… their faces moved closer in sync with the family’s counting down in the living room. Seven, six, five, four… only a breath or two between their lips. Three, two, one… sweet contact. Both boys drew in breath sharply, tangling hands in each others hair. They’d done nothing like this before. Albus felt his heart soar as Scorpius’ lips received his eagerly. Scorpius panicked inwardly but was unable to deny himself the pleasure. When Albus parted his lips, Scorpius pulled away. He stared at his best friend, pale face confused and startled. Albus held his breath. “I… we… and… Merlin,” Scorpius sputtered, unable to find words. He had to get away from Albus. He had to think about this. Or better yet, not think about it at all. “I’m going to bed,” he mumbled lamely and hurried through the window, almost knocking over the drink in his haste. Albus was left on the roof, slack jawed and blinking. A smile spread across his face quickly. Scorpius kissed him back. Granted, he was freaking out after the fact but he’d still kissed back. That had to mean something. Note: Once more, thank you for your lovely reviews! I hope you enjoyed this new installment.

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