I was listening to a song called gambling man by The Overtones when I got inspired for this one-shot. It turned out nothing like it though, oh and I only realised after I finished writing it, how old fashioned they sounded at times. (I guess it happened because I was trying to keep the age rating down) Though it's still a T because of some of the subject matter.
There's one thing James and Albus Potter like more than winding each other up and that is ganging up on their mutual rival Scorpius Malfoy. It's a pity some one in their family doesn't feel the same way.
Gambling Man
Chapter One: Albus and James
"What the devil are you doing here?" James Sirius Potter asked in an appalled tone as he came across his younger brother Albus Severus, in the midst of a Ministry New Year event.
"Making sure you're not up to your usual antics. Wouldn't want you to spike the punch like last year. I got lumbered with the task of escorting old Claudius Harolding home after he drank that near-lethal concoction of yours." Albus shot back with a smirk on his handsome face.
James made a disgusted face. He didn't like being reminded of the state his boss got in during work's New Year celebration the previous year. He would have surely been fired if they ever found any proof that it had been him who added the bottle of firewhiskey to the contents of the punch. Many people had been ill the following day after that, him included. He'd certainly learnt from his mistakes but he didn't carry all the guilt on his shoulders. How was he to know that the vender on Rauten Alley had sold him a brew double its usual strength?
"You always like to put a damper on things." James complained bitterly as he watched several couples twirl around the dance floor. That kind of dancing was such a waste of energy in his opinion. Having to watch where you step in case you accidentally trod on your partner's foot or collide with other couples, all the while making tedious small talk to your partner. James cringed at the very thought.
All the witches ever wanted to talk about was his father. Harry Potter this and Harry Potter that! Now James thought his father was a great man. However, James didn't want to talk about how he had saved the Magical community all those years ago to women he hardly knew. That was one of the reasons why he and his brother preferred to move through purely muggle social circles. That way no one knew who their father was.
No. James couldn't think of anything worse to be doing over the New Year than being here. He would have much rather gone to a muggle nightclub where nobody knew him and the music was too loud for conversation. He could also get away with consuming copious amounts of alcohol so that having his feet trodden on was insignificant. If at the end of the night he took a pretty lass back to his flat, well that was the icing on the cake. A perfect night in his opinion.
Unfortunately he was here because his Boss had bullied him into it. James was certain the old coot was trying to set him up with his granddaughter Agnes O'Brian. It was a pity the girl's looks were as plain as her personality, he couldn't find any redeeming qualities in her tonight. Since he couldn't stomach another minute with her, even if it cost him his job, he had made his excuses and escaped her Grindelaw-like grip. That was how he happened to be at the edge of the dance floor next to his brother. He shuddered at the thought Agnes O'Brian. Hell, she put the grim Slytherin girls from his year to shame, at least they had spirit.
Raking a hand through his thick dishevelled midnight black hair, James looked back at his younger brother. There was only a year between them, Albus being twenty two and James twenty three. Despite the age gap they could have been twins, they were so alike in personality and physique. Even their facial features were pretty much identical apart from their eyes. His were like warm melted chocolate whilst Albus' were more sparkling emeralds. James often bemoaned the fact that he'd not been blessed with those eyes inherited from their paternal grandmother. Women did tend to drool and make utter fools of themselves over those gemlike orbs. Not that he was ever wanting for female company. He'd already spotted four women he knew from experience, wouldn't mind leaving with him. Still, it was both amusing and pitiful the way women of all ages would fawn over his brother.
Knowing that Albus hated the attention and usually avoided formal Magical events as much as their greasy-haired classmate Sevastan Nott avoided shampoo, James had to wonder why he was at one of the most popular Ministry events of the year. "So why are you really here? You hate these events more than I do!" James asked in a tone that clearly stated that anything other than the truth would be insufficient.
"Lily." Albus supplied in a tone an unusual mixture of adoration and irritation. Giving his brother a sideways glance, he cocked his head towards the dance floor and sure enough, their sister Lily. At nineteen she was the youngest of the Potter siblings and the only redhead. She was wearing an elegant cobalt-blue dress to match her dazzling sapphire eyes she inherited from their maternal grandfather. From where they were standing James couldn't get a good look at her through the crowd. "She decided last minute that she wanted to come to this 'sordid' affair. The little minx just couldn't be convinced otherwise, no matter how much I tried to talk her out of it. She used 'the face' on me in the end and well, you know how she gets when she starts pouting."
James winced. He knew 'the face' well, it was amazing how much power it had on all the men in the family. The look in her deep blue eyes when she made them go all wide and watery and that damn pout of hers. It was damn near impossible to say no. It was no surprise that Albus was here if she'd used 'the face' on him.
That she wasn't allowed to come alone was no surprise. Their father was very protective over their daughter after an incident with a group of Slytherins last year, which had earned them a one way trip to Azkaban and left Lily with a phobia for water.
She was enjoying herself tonight though. When she twirled passed them and sent them a dazzling smile, James blinked. With her red wine hair twisted into an elegant knot and her fitted dress robes showing off all her womanly curves, he was not at all surprised now that he hadn't spotted her first off. She was not the tomboyish sister he remembered from this morning. "When the devil did she grow up?"
Albus laughed at the appalled look on his brother's face. In truth he thought pretty much the same thing when Lily met up with him all glammed up. His first instinct had been to drag her back upstairs and demand she change into something more age appropriate. That was when it hit him that his dear little sister was a grown woman, and not the mischievous child who would follow them around.
He wasn't about to let James know that. He wanted him to mull over why he hadn't noticed that little Lily was all grown up. "Just because you've the mental age of a thirteen year old, doesn't mean we all suffer from the disability."
"I'm not below knocking you on your arse right here, right now!" Was James surly reply as he flexed his muscles menacingly.
This didn't worry Albus in the slightest. They were pretty well matched in fighting both with and without a wand. It was all part of their favourite past time- winding each other up.
People who didn't know the brothers very well, often thought the pair couldn't stand each other, when in fact it was the complete opposite. They were best friends as well as brothers, it's just they never liked to go about things the traditional way.
"And cause a scene? Lily would love that!" Albus said feigning an air of innocence.
James grunted. Lily was just about the only person in the world who could keep the brothers in line. Not even their parents or grandparents managed it with as much success as the petite redhead.
Since their beloved Lily would indeed get very angry if they caused a scene, James dropped it. He would however, get his brother back at some point for using the 'Lily card'. "Who's that she's dancing with anyway?" James asked a little disgruntled when he caught sight of her again.
"Oscar Holden I believe, although Jasper Cohen keeps coming back for another dance." Came Albus' nonchalant reply.
"Why the devil are you letting her dance with them?" James asked appalled. "You know what they're like. They're just like us when it comes to women. I don't want her hanging around with chaps like that."
Albus shrugged. "Lily would never forgive us if we deck any of her dance partners. It'll put the others off and she'll have no one to dance with. I for one do not wish to have her mad at me."
"But surely you're not ok with it?" James pressed.
"Not at all!" He admitted. "She doesn't seem all that interested in them though." Albus explained with some relief before his forehead creased into a frown. "If I knew better, I'd say the girl is up to something, but I haven't yet worked that out."
Understanding his brother's relaxed behaviour now, James felt a little kinder towards him. If their sister was indeed up to something, then they would be finding out what exactly she was up to sooner or later- they always did. "Ah well, at least he is here to entertain us." James supplied with amusement.
"He is? Where?" Albus asked looking suddenly interested. He didn't need to ask who 'he' was. It was implied in James' tone.
There was only one person the brothers liked winding up more than each other, and that was their mutual rival from school: Scorpius Malfoy. They didn't hate the other man and there was never anything sinister behind their behaviour. They just enjoyed watching how he retaliated to their taunts and the former Slytherin would definitely give as much as he got. They all managed to get their licks in and their verbal sparing match had become a game over the years. A game all three of them enjoyed. The brothers would never admit it, but they actually liked the Malfoy heir.
"At the poker table." James explained, cocking his head in that direction.
"What the hell is he doing there of all places? Never pegged him for a gambling man. Can't say the man has enough spine to gamble with his family's fortune. His grandfather would murder him."
"I would have agreed with you there brother, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Thought I was hallucinating at first, but no! He's there gambling away his gold. He's in one devil of a mood for some reason as well. I recon he could amuse us for quite a while."
"I recon he could too. It'll be a while before Lily gets tired of dancing and wants a break so I guess it couldn't hurt having a look. As long as we keep the dance floor in sight, Dad would have no cause for tearing me a new one." Albus agreed; eager to get some amusement out of the night.
The brothers made their way over to the poker table whilst making sure they weren't too far away from their sister. Just like James had said, Scorpius Malfoy sat at the poker table and by the looks of it, he was losing. It was a comforting sight indeed, to see the former Slytherin was enjoying himself no more than the former Gryffindors.
The Slytherin surely was annoyed at something but James wasn't convinced that it had anything to do with the card game. The blonde's steely grey eyes kept shooting glares towards the dance floor. James tried to follow the man's gaze. He was definitely scowling at someone on the dance floor, but there were too many couple to distinguish who exactly. "Who the devil is glaring at anyway?" James asked, his curiosity prickled.
Albus followed James' gaze across the ballroom, his curiosity flaring as well. "Not a clue but I pity the poor girl, I really do." He sighed when he too couldn't identify who Scorpius was staring at. "Come to think of it," Albus began in a moment of inspiration. "Rosie mentioned that he's been acting a little odd. Well, odder than usual. He frowns at the littlest things and she's caught him staring into space with a besotted look on his face of late. Seems to think the fella's in love."
"Scorpius in love?" Who'd have thought Malfoy men were born with such an organ required for that emotion." James balked at the very idea. "Surely she can't be right. And why the gal had to go and befriend him is beyond me. She managed to ignore him all the way through school so why couldn't she manage it in the office." He complained.
Albus shot his brother an exasperated look and complained, shaking his head. "You know our Rosie, always bringing in strays. She's almost as bad as Teddy in that respect, although Victoire has more or less put an end to him bringing home stray animals. Seems to think they have their hands full with Crystelle, Remy and another one on the way."
"The guy's seriously whipped." James agreed but they were going a little off topic. "Anyways. Do you recon we should work out who's put that lovesick look on his face, the one Rosie was telling you about. That way we can warn her off, we'd be doing the girl a service you know."
Both brothers wore identical mischievous grins. "It would be a plan" Albus agreed. "But good luck trying to get it out of him. Our Rosie has tried without any luck and you know how persistent she can be. He gets down right snarky when she asks."
"Eh, you don't suppose this gal of his already knows what kind of a bloke he is? She could be here and giving him the cold shoulder. That would sure account for his foul mood."
Thinking his brother may be onto something, Albus nodded. "You could be right. And we might be about to find out. Looks ready to knock the living daylights out of someone." Albus added and they both watched as Scorpius got up from the card table and headed towards the dance floor with an aggressive look on his face. "This ought to be interesting."
Unfortunately, the blonde got no further than the fringe of the dance floor. Opting to stand there menacingly and shoot daggers at someone with his eyes. Clearly disappointed, the brothers moved for a closer look. Grumbling that the dance floor was still too crowded, so they were unable to work out who the unlucky couple were.
"Don't worry, he's bound to confront her at some point." James assured Albus when he looked a little detected.
Albus immediately perked up. "To dance with or to throttle? That is the question."
They continued to stand there watching Scorpius but things weren't progressing as quickly as they hoped. "Have you caught sight of the unfortunate gal yet?" James asked.
"Nah not yet. Ergh, what the hell does she want?" Albus asked suddenly upon noticing an austere-looking woman heading their way. At first he thought he must be mistaken, that she was actually wanting someone else. But the woman wore an expression of such determination as she zeroed in on them, that he couldn't be mistaken.
Following Albus' gaze, James felt the colour drain from his face. Agnes O'Brian was coming to accost him again. Grabbing his brother and cursing, James made a run for it and managed to lose her in the crowd.
"Care to explain what that was all about?" Albus asked.
James sent him a withering look before something else caught his attention. "Maybe later but for now, it looks like he's making his move." James explained, cocking his head towards their target.
Scorpius was indeed weaving his way through the dancing couples. Unfortunately they had difficult keeping track of him through the crowd. They did notice however, Jasper Cohen leaving the dance floor looking none too pleased.
Straining to spot Scorpius and his dance partner, the brothers caught a flash of cobalt blue as the couple twirled by them. "Merlin's beard! I'm gonna kill him!" Albus growled, taking a step onto the dance floor.
James surprised them both by grabbing his brother's arm and preventing him from storming up to the couple. "Now hold on," He began reasonably.
"Don't you dare defend him." Albus threatened.
"You can't go around making ludicrous assumptions like that. What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking for someone who doesn't really gamble, he certainly gambled away his chance of leaving here with no broken bones quickly enough." Albus growled.
"Chill. Don't be being too rash about this. Remember our Lily wouldn't be interested in him in that kind of way and she'd just be angry at you for assuming that she was. There must be a perfectly good explanation for them to be dancing. Maybe Rosie introduced them and mentioned he was feeling a little down and needs cheering up." James suggested but he himself didn't sound convinced.
"I don't believe that's a reason for them to be dancing together." Albus disagreed but at least he wasn't acting on his impulse to knock the living daylights out of Scorpius. Not wanting to upset his sister had seen to that.
"But you have to admit, it's a lot more realistic than what you're thinking." James reasoned.
Albus had to agree with that.
"And I suppose we could also say that he's really interested in the gal he was glowering at before." James added.
"And how did you come to that conclusion?" Albus asked, giving his brother a funny look.
"Well our Lily is the most beautiful gal here of course. He's just trying to make this other one jealous. He's even willing to risk us laying into him in order to do so. That shows dedication, you have to admit." James explained. "Besides, our Lily must be happy to go along with it since she's more than capable of taking care of herself after Dad gave her all those extra duelling lessons."
"I hope you're right." Albus said. "Because if she is the one he's besotted with and she sets her mind on having him. Well, we'd be stuck with him, and don't you suggest otherwise; you know we will. Lily will just use 'the face' if ever we decide to gang up on him. It would definitely be us she'll be mad at, you know. She's always supported the underdog and in today's society the Malfoys are certainly that, despite their reluctance to admit it."
James looked horrified at the very idea. He'd been the one trying to talk Albus out of believing there was something going on between Lily and Scorpius. Now he'd been talked into thinking that maybe there was. "She wouldn't be that cruel after all we've done for her in the past?" He asked.
"I wouldn't count on it." Albus muttered and cocked his head towards the couple. In the midst of their argument the brothers hadn't been watching how the pair were interacting. Their Lily looked positively thrilled to be in his arms, she was laughing away at whatever he was saying. And Scorpius, well there was a rare smile on his lips and he looked- well for want of a better word, he looked complete.
James groaned as he watched them. "She'd be a nightmare to live with if I kill him for this, wouldn't she?" he asked begrudgingly.
Their sister's next actions answered his question so Albus didn't have to. In front of everyone Lily cupped Scorpius' face between her palms. She then preceded to urge the man who was so much taller than herself, to bend slightly as she moved onto the tips of her toes and planted a smacking kiss on his lips. That kiss seemed to go on forever for the two men watching the couple miserably.
From the way the couple were looking at each other, Lily would indeed be furious if either of them caused the former Slytherin any harm. It was clear that she already though of him as hers.
"Well, Hell."
Soo, what do you think?
I could make it a two-shot and add a chapter from Lily and Scorpius' point of view if there is demand.