Important: Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments); Writing Club (September): Book club, #6; SLASH-September: Scorpius/Teddy ii.

House: Slytherin

Prompts: (relationship) boyfriend, (trait) talkative, (au) dancer, (action) smiling, (dialogue) "Is it because I'm obviously more gay than you?", (drink) beer

Word count: 933( Excluding Author's Note, but including entire Entry and Title)

Warning: This is an AU (Alternate Universe) piece.

Characters: Scorpius Malfoy; Teddy Lupin (ii)

Author's Note: I've decided to make these a series of Drabbles and shorts. They will be updated regularly, seeing that the end of the month is nearing and I need to get as much as my Writing Club submissions in. Hope y'all like them!

As always, enjoy.

-Carolare Scarletus

"Truth or dare," he asked,

Scorpius Malfoy drew a thoughtful line across his bottom lip. He'd been too preoccupied with a muggle beer to noticed when he first slipped into the bar, but as soon as he felt his magic, he was determined to find him. When he did, he immediately set to work. No, half-hammered and already on their second pint of beer, he was beginning to think that this night would get even better. That is if Teddy Lupin wasn't so hard to get.

Smiling, Scorpius said," Truth."

"Are you really a stripper?"

"Dance instructor," he couldn't help correct with a dry chuckle. "Strippers get paid good money to dance around in nothing but their birthday suits."

"And, what do dance instructors get paid with?"

"Getting the pleasure to watch hot men like yourself use the moves we taught them."

Teddy's face turned crimson, and he turned around to face the liquor behind the bar. Scorpius watched him carefully, before turning to nurse his chalice of beer. He took three long pulls from it, already feeling the effects of the smuggled alcohol. Leave it to his friend to recommend a place disguised as a normal pub. He'd only had a few drinks and he already had a good buzz going on.

Ah, well. Might as well continue on with it.

"I always imagined you'd be a stripper…"

"Is it because I'm obviously more gay than you?" Scorpius chuckled, taking another pull from his pin. "I'm kidding, Teddy. Your turn, truth or dare?"

"Truth," Teddy immediately picked.

Frowning, Scorpius asked, "Have you always been this talkative?"

Teddy looked at him, smiling. "Of course not. It probably has something to do with you."

"Come on, mate," Scorpius laughed, pulling himself up in his chair before looking at him again. "I've done nothing. My parents think I'm mad for dropping everything back in London and pursuing this dance gig. Other than that, I've got nothing going for me. Besides get hammered every night and talking to you, I haven't accomplished shit."

"Is that really what you believe?"

Scorpius shrugged, taking another sip of his beer.

"I don't recall asking you for the truth?"

"What if I told you it was a dare?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Anyway, it's the truth. It was more so my grandparents. You know, they're not really fond that my dad married a Muggleborn. They put so much stress on me while I was going up, even though dad didn't want anything to do with their ideologies. It's your turn by the way."

Teddy thought for a moment before asking," Truth or dare, would you ever go back?"

Scorpius barked in laughter. "Why in bloody hell would I do that? I have a decent job, my own flat, plus I don't have parents nagging me all the time. I suppose I'm doing well living on my own. How about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Scorpius looked at him, hoping he wouldn't be scared off by his question. "How'd you ever end up in a place like this?"

"What do you mean? Bartending?"

"No, I mean that," Scorpius jutted his chin toward the back room. Anyone within hear-shot would be able to hear the erotic sounds escaping the closed door, and he wondered if Teddy missed the gig he had. It wasn't Scorpius' first time visiting the kid. It certainly wouldn't be his last, either. He was a good listener. Even he craved that kind of commitment. "Selling your body for money."

"I end up on some hard times," Teddy shrugged, taking another drink.

He was avoiding the question.

"Come on, now." Scorpius prodded. "It's part of the game. Tell me the truth, you've got to."

Teddy bit his lip, and for a split second Scorpius wondered what it would be like to do it for him. He'd never been completely into men. He'd dabbled with countless women in school, and on rare occasions, he shagged a couple of blokes but could never seem to find a nice medium. Women were clingy, not that men weren't within their own rights. Who knows, maybe everything was wrong with him? Scorpius liked to believe that there was someone out there whose own demons played well with his. He hoped Teddy could be that person, but it looked now to be a fleeting wish.

"We shouldn't have come back."

"Of course we should have," Scorpius hissed in perplexity.

It should've surprised him to find Teddy there, giving the circumstances that led to this night. When he first got to Paris, he stumbled upon this pub and immediately grew attached to the bloke. To say he was coerced to talk to him because of a deep-seated need to dominate him and protect him. Had he known this the sort of relationship that would've bloomed during his late nights wasting his life away with beer, Scorpius would've laughed. To say that Teddy was the best thing that ever happened to him would be an understatement. These little games of theirs fueled him and gave him purpose.

In a blink of an eye, Teddy was gone.

At the sight of his retreating back, Scorpius stood as well, leaving a hefty tip to their bartender before running to chase after him. Teddy didn't get too far before he slumped against the wall just outside the bar's entrance. Scooping him up in his arms, Scorpius Apparated them away before anyone noticed them. There, at their flat, Scorpius held them until the tears stopped and Teddy apologized to him for wanting to play this silly game with him.