Hi, I'm Albus Potter and I'm very gay.

It is amazing to see how confident Albus is about himself in this one thing. Scorpius, for the most part, is the one who marches forward in all things, dragging Albus behind him, ignoring his friend's protests, but in this, Albus is bold and brash and open.

I'm gay. It's not the first thing he ever says, but it's fairly high up on the list. Hello, I'm Albus Potter, call me Al, I have two brothers and a sister and I love liquorice. Oh - and I'm very gay. How about you?

Scorpius stutters, stumbles, and looks away. Not me, not me, he quietly protests, but Albus only laughs, slings an arm over his shoulder, and says That's fine. You can be my straight best friend. Scorpius, right?

They're best friends from that train ride and never once does he see Albus flinch or protest or deny his own sexuality. It's almost brilliant, Scorpius thinks. Brilliant, but also dangerous. The wizarding world isn't always as accepting as it claims.

So? Albus replies one day, dabbing at his split lower lip and making eye contact with Scorpius through the mirror. Who cares? Doesn't change a thing about me.

And Scorpius feels himself flicker.