Chapter One

As the Hogwarts Express came to a stop at Platform 9 ¾, Albus Potter looked at his best friend and grinned.

"This is going to be the best Christmas holiday ever," he said, gathering up Chocolate Frog wrappers and shoving them into his bag as he stood up.

"It's so cool that your parents are letting me stay with you," Scorpius said. His parents were stuck in Norway. His mother had come down with a case of Dragon Pox. It wasn't life-threatening, but the doctor thought it would be better for her not to travel.

Albus shrugged. "They like you. Plus my dad hates your grandpa. He'd hate to see you have to stay there."

The boys stepped out of the train and onto the platform. After a bit of searching, made more difficult by the baggage they were carrying, they managed to find Albus' family in the crowd. His mother spotted the two of them first and immediately broke away from the group, sweeping Albus into a bone-crushing hug.

"I missed you so much," Ginny said, running her hands through his hair. "You look so much different than you did in September. My little boy is growing up so fast!"

"Ginny," Harry mumbled. "Let the boy breathe, for goodness sake."

She pulled back, mumbling about missing her children when they were away at school. Then she seemed to notice Scorpius standing there and she swooped in and hugged him too. Scorpius looked relieved when his hug lasted only a fraction of the time that Albus' had.

"How are you Scorpius?" she asked. "Is your mother any better?"

"She'll be okay," he said. "My dad says the doctor is being overly-cautious, but he doesn't really mind because Norway isn't bad."

"I'm glad," Ginny said. "She had us worried there for a minute! Let's go home and we can have dinner."

After dinner, Albus and Scorpius went upstairs. Harry had conjured a second bed in Albus' bedroom for Scorpius to sleep in.

"Your dad did a good job," Scorpius said appreciatively, lightly bouncing up and down on his bed. "This mattress feels great."

"He's pretty good at that stuff," Albus agreed. "Don't ever eat anything that he cooks, though. I think living with my mum has spoiled him. He burns water."

Scorpius laughed as he pulled off his sweatshirt. Albus focused on him immediately, trying hard to watch without staring. As Scorpius pulled off his t-shirt, revealing the fair skin of his chest, Albus felt a familiar tightening in his nether regions. His eyes followed the sparse trail of blonde hairs that led from Scorpius' chest down to where it disappeared into the waistband of his jeans. As he always did, he felt guilty about having these feelings for his best friend. Albus had been having these feelings for Scorpius for a long time, but he had never told a soul. How could he share his feelings with another person when he could barely even admit them to himself?

"Is it alright if I take a shower, Al?" Scorpius asked, jerking Albus away from his thoughts. He was holding his bag of toiletries and a fresh pair of boxers.

"Sure," Albus said, trying to keep his voice level. The thought of Scorpius, naked and lathered with soap, in his shower, made Albus' flesh heat.

Scorpius disappeared into the bathroom, and Albus flopped backward onto his mattress. He heard the shower start and listened to the water hitting the tile…imagined Scorpius naked and wet, covered in suds from head to toe. Before he knew it his hands were rushing to unbuckle his belt and to open his fly. His penis jutted outward against the thin fabric of his underwear and Albus rubbed his palm against himself.

He did this frequently, touched himself and imagined it was Scorpius' hand wrapped around his cock. He hated himself for it the whole time, but he pushed those feelings to the back of his mind, concentrated on the feeling of his – Scorpius' hand – wrapped around his shaft, moving up and down rhythmically. He was so worked up that long before he expected it he felt his orgasm approaching.

He stifled his groan in his pillow, continuing to pull at his penis as semen spurted from the tip and flowed over his hand. He was breathing heavily. His hand reached to his nightstand and pulled a few tissues out of the box, using them to mop up the mess he had made. The water in the bathroom turned off and he hurried to get his clothing back in order.