Chapter One
"Scorpius...your hair, it's-it's blue! Like-actually blue-as in not blonde!" Teddy Lupin told his youngest (and only) blood-related cousin, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy in a state of shock, his amber eyes (inherited from Remus Lupin, his father) opening so wide thatit was almost comical. No wait-it was comical.
"Hello to you too, and yes. It is blue. Need I mention that your appears to be somewhat green? Borderline a pukish yellow? It's a truly ridiculous colour Ted, you'd best get rid of it before we arrive at Hogwarts, y'know, make a good first impression as a Professor and all." Scorpius replied dryly, as he looked up from his rather thick book, his voice laced with a sarcasm that only really Teddy, the Ravenclaw's only genuine friend (yes, they were related) got to hear. Also his father, Draco Lucius Malfoy on occasion, but other than that everyone seemed to see Scorpius as the stoic, unfeeling Malfoy, just someone to spread rumours about and pick on when they were bored.
Teddy slouched lazily opposite him in the train compartment, sprawled across a whole seat as he pulled at the collar of his robes, "Careful, Mister Malfoy, I'll have you know that it's Professor Lupin to you!". The Malfoy-heir shot him a well-deserved well-practised glare and Teddy grinned good-naturedly, "Alright, alright. But seriously mate, what the fuck happened your hair?". Scorpius mumbled something incomprehensible and Teddy asked, "What? Speak up!"
"It was a spell gone wrong, okay?" Scorpius blurted out, grabbing his hair in his hands and pulling, "I was attempting Fusce dictum on the ceiling but my forehead was to close to the stream of light and this happened!" He gestured widely at the blue streak currently inhabiting his other-wise ash blonde fringe. "I've tried everything to get it out! Dad almost fell down the stair laughing when he seen it, not to mention Grandmother had a conniption!" He stared pitifully at a sniggering Teddy, "Oh please don't laugh, Ted! It's another thing for them to tease me about!" He whined childishly.
Teddy's face hardened over and he leaned forward, concerned, "They still doing that then? Not any of the Wotters, right? I got them to stop, didn't I?". Again, Scorpius muttered something quietly and Teddy repeated, "Scorpius! I'm asking as your cousin and not your professor, who's been doing this?"
"It's...it's mostly the girls funnily enough. James and Fred've left now, but they didn't bother me anyway. Albus doesn't care enough to taunt me, Hugo and Louis are only fourth years so they don't really care, so nor does Lily as she's part of their gang. But yeah, Roxanne and Rose don't really relent much, Percy's girls are too busy with studies although Lucy'll chat a bit during transfiguration which is nice. So I'm mostly fine!" Scorpius said brightly, seeing Teddy's concerned face, "I mean if it's just Rose and Roxanne-"
"Who else? Who else who isn't related to me and is bothering you?" Teddy asked sternly, and the falsely positive smile dropped slowly from Scorpius's face. The seventh-year Ravenclaw bit at his lip and avoided Teddy's concerned amber eyes.
"It's really not a big deal, I mean I've got it mostly under control and-"
"Scorpius. Tell me. Or else I'll tell Uncle Drake.".
Scorpius let loose a loud sigh, "Never thought you were one to resort to blackmail. But okay, yeah, I guess the worst are probably the Macmillan twins, for hufflepuffs those boys are brutal. Cedric Chang-McLaggen is a bit of an idiot. Rachel Parkinson knows a lot of good hexes, but honestly-those people are the only ones that actually do physical violence. Other than that, it's mostly just stupid names and being ignored." He shrugged, "I've gotten used to the silence.
Teddy stared at him in horror, "You mean to say-you mean you've got no friends? At all?" He asked incredulously and Scorpius flushed a light pink, "Well not all of us are the godson of Harry Potter, alright? Not to mention your father was a war hero, and oh! I forgot! You're a genuinely nice person!" He said defensively, "And I told you! Lucy chats to me during Transfiguration!"
"That doesn't count. You're a good guy, Scorp! I hate what people are doing to you, just because you're a Malfoy! Uncle Draco's a good guy, Aunt Cissy's a wonderful woman, they were just mislead!" Teddy argued angrily, his longish hair growing a bright shade of crimson as the ex-Gryffinfor turned Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor got more and more irritated on his behalf.
"Try telling that to the entire population of Hogwarts." Scorpius muttered, slightly flattered that Teddy was so angry for him, but then rapidly changing the subject so as to avoid further embarrassment at how he was failing at making friends, a skill that toddlers could do, yet he lacked, "So what you're saying is, it's really noticeable?"
Teddy grinned evilly , losing his temper fast, "As noticeable as Trelewny in revealing black dress robes."
Scorpius groaned, throwing his head back in exasperation, "Thanks for that mental image there, Ted! Great help that was-"
"For men." Teddy added, chuckling maniacally, "That smells like dead fish left out in the sun for a long-"
"Yes! Thank-you Edward!"
(Pagebreak)
"Hey-hey Al! Can I speak to you for a minute?!" Teddy asked hurriedly, practically running up to the now seventh-year Gryffindor and grabbing at his loose robe sleeve to hold him back, flashing a grin at the new first years gawping in packs at Teddy's hair as it changed colour to a deep navy, matching exactly the storming sky of the enchanted ceiling in the great hall where they currently stood.
"Arg-make it quick Ted, I've eaten about eight pumpkin pasties and I need to sleep or vomit, not quite sure which yet." The seventeen-year old groaned, rubbing his stomach but yet still turning to face his oldest brother. Teddy graced him with a quick amused smile but hastily looked around for anyone listening in.
"It's kind of a long story mate. And we can't do it here. Follow me, alright? I'll get you a good Christmas gift, I swear!" Teddy pleaded, pulling on Albus's arm. The younger boy groaned again, but dutifully followed the professor to his quarters.
"Nice place you got here, one of the perks is it?" Albus joked, looking around the small flat somewhat admirably. It was a little small, but Albus could see Teddy in everything, even as the apartment was half unpacked. The influence of both the Potters and the Malfoys shown very clearly in the knickknacks (Potters) but the very obvious expense of the knickknacks (Malfoys). He picked up a small stone dragon and smiled as it breathed smoke at him, attempting to wriggle out of his grasp.
"That was a present from Scorpius." Teddy said fondly, taking the dragon from him and throwing the creature in the air, "Watch this!" He cooed, watching as the clay figurine flew in circles above his head, puffs of silver glitter falling from it's open mouth.
"Scorpius? Scorpius Malfoy? Isn't he supposed to be some sort of a git? Sorry mate, I know he's your cousin and all, but still, he seems so cold!" Albus exclaimed, turning his gaze on the metamorphamagus incredulously.
"It's a defence mechanism!" Teddy exploded, waving his hands wildly I'm exasperation, "He's a really good guy if someone'll just get to know him! But that's the thing! No one bloody will, because of some stupid thing his father, not him! Did when he was a teenager! Dear merlin! It's idiotic! Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy is one of the sweetest kids ever-"
"Hold on-his middle's is Hyperion?" Albus laughed loudly, not at all fazed by Teddy's rant, "Merlin, that really sucks! It's worse that Severus, and merlin knows that's awful! Poor bloke!"
"Albus, this is serious! Scorpius is the reason I needed to talk to you, he's been having a hard time lately, well not so much over the summer as they couldn't get to him, but I remember him coming home from school last year covered in bruises! His arm was in a bloody cast for goodness sakes! Part of the reason I took this job was so I could keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't get murdered in his seventh year at supposedly the safest place-"
"What exactly do you want me to do, Ted?" Albus cut in, having a feeling that he was going to appear in Teddy's little speech somewhere.
"I need you to look out for him. You're a popular guy, you have friends, right? Sit with him at a meal or two, get him to talk a bit. He needs a friend in his life! Scorp's really cool when you get to know him, plus he's a genius! You could get him to help you with potions." Teddy's face darkened slightly, "And keep an eye on Rose and Roxanne, they aren't the worst but they're the only two that you can help with. Unless you fancy beating up the Macmillans for me?"
Ignoring the young Professors last sentence, Albus asked, "Why me? Why now, this year?" He was confused, the emerald-eyed boy would help out, of course. There was a reason he was almost in Hufflepuff, but he didn't understand why.
"You can't tell anyone this okay?" At Albus's nod, Teddy sighed, "Over the summer O found him hurting himself, it was his first time doing it, and he was crying when I found him and he promised me never to do it again, but I felt so guilty," Teddy's voice cracked, "I mean, I'd had loads of friends at Hogwarts, it was some of the best times of my life, but for Scorpius? He lives for coming home to a single parent family, it's his haven as dysfunctional as the Malfoys are, trust me, I love them all to bits, but they're mostly insane. He loves coming away from what he deemed as his own personal hell and yet everyone else calls home, I want him to enjoy Hogwarts like I did! Not just think of as a place that makes him hate himself enough to attempt to hurt himself."
"Merlin." Albus breathed in shock, "I knew he was getting teased but I'd no idea it was that bad!"
"So you'll do it?" Teddy looked hopeful, his amber eyes pleading, "You'll get to know him? It seems like I'm making you be his friend, I know, but after a while you won't want to leave his side."
Albus nodded his head in agreement, his brown locks bouncing with the movement, "Yeah, okay, I'll totally get to know him, but you owe me a really brilliant Christmas present!"
Teddy laughed, his hair growing to a more neutral orange, "Trust me, Scorpius'll be the best present you've ever had."
A/N NEW PROJECT WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK? I know that Albus/Scorpius isn't my usual thing but I had the idea of this and I'm falling in love with this story as I write it. Please Review!
-Lupin3Black
P.S I know Albus has black hair but I just picture him with curly brown hair, and reading glasses. I reckon James Sirius Potter should have glasses instead of Al. What do you think? Again, please reviews! If I get five reviews, I'll update 'what the keyboard recommends within two days!'