ACT FIVE SCENE TWO

HOGWARTS, QUIDDITCH PITCH

Everything is a riot of noise as people cheer and shout throughout the stadium. ALBUS is slowly making his way through the busy stands decorated with the colours of the Slytherin House. He is looking for someone in the crowd, SCORPIUS.

ALBUS can't seem to find his friend among the green and silver flags and banners with snake symbols. He looks around half hopeful half frustrated wondering where SCORPIUS might be sitting, all the racket is making him regretting his choice to go and see the match.

QUIDDITCH COMMENTATOR: Welcome, welcome ladies and gentlemen – boys and girls – to the first match of the Quidditch season! (There's a loud cheer from the crowd.) Today, Gryffindor faces Slytherin to establish which House will take the lead of the Cup from the start! (The crowd cheers some more)

ALBUS is about to give up on finding SCORPIUS when he hears someone calling out for him.

SCORPIUS (waving): Albus! Albus, I'm here! Come this way!

ALBUS is finally able to identify his friend in the crowd and is immediately glad he didn't give up so soon. He walks toward SCORPIUS smiling, not even noticing people calling him names while he passes through.

KARL JENKINS: Oh dear, the Slytherin Squib has honoured us with his presence at a Quidditch match! His bad luck is definitely going to affect the Slytherin team, if Gryffindor wins it's all his fault.

ALBUS moves on to reach SCORPIUS ignoring the insinuation as he's learned to do from his wise friend. When he's with SCORPIUS everything else fades away. He can bear the noise and the bullies for him. He can bear much worse, in fact he did.

SCORPIUS: Albus! I'm so glad you came!

ALBUS (with a grin): I'm here only because you asked.

He reaches in for SCORPIUS and hugs him tightly.

You know, I don't care whether you think we should hug in this new version of us or not, and I don't care what Rose might say – I won't stop hugging you.

SCORPIUS (laughs): Quite right too.

The two boys dislocate and sit down together, enjoying each other's company while they await the beginning of the match.

QUIDDITCH COMMENTATOR: And here comes the two teams that will make this match unforgettable! Ladies and gentlemen – boys and girls – I give you the Slytherin team!

The green-and-silver coloured stands erupt into cheers as the Slytherin team members enter the pitch on board their flying broomsticks. SCORPIUS whoops and claps in excitement, ALBUS tries his best to join in and imitate him.

And now – I give you the Gryffindor team!

Gryffindor players also swarm in the pitch as a huge cheer raises from the opposite, red-and-gold coloured stands. The Slytherin side of the stadium falls silent, the only person who is still clapping and exulting is SCORPIUS. ALBUS hits him.

ALBUS: You can't clap for another House, cut it out.

SCORPIUS (still clapping): I'm clapping for Rose and you should clap her too – she's your cousin.

As they talk, MADAME HOOCH releases the Snitch and the Bludgers from the central circle of the pitch, then throws the Quaffle into the air to signal the start of play.

ROSE immediately catches the Quaffle and flies right in front of ALBUS and SCORPIUS's seats, holding the ball close to her chest. SCORPIUS cheers louder at her sight.

QUIDDITCH COMMENTATOR: The brave and quick Rose Granger-Weasley has already got hold of the Quaffle and is now approaching the hoops to attempt her first goal.

ROSE rushes toward the three hooped goal posts at the end of the pitch and throws the Quaffle through one of them before the SLYTHERIN KEEPER can even try to stop her.

And Gryffindor scores their first 10 points!

Gryffindor fans cheer loudly and SCORPIUS cheers alongside them. ALBUS squints at him and catches the adoring look that he's directing at ROSE. SCORPIUS's face is filled with happiness and pride and they're all dedicated to ROSE. ALBUS turns away, unable to sustain that view. He just wishes SCORPIUS would look him that way.

Jealousy and resentment blend together inside ALBUS's stomach. He hopes the match is over soon.


ACT FIVE SCENE THREE

HOGWARTS, GREAT HALL

At the far right of the room, everyone is dancing around the Gryffindor table. There's cheering and laughing, all Gryffindors are chanting the same song to celebrate their momentous victory.

GRYFFINDORS:
Granger-Weasley is our Queen.
She always puts the Quaffle in
She always finds a way to win
That's why Gryffindors all sings
Granger-Weasley is our Queen.

ALBUS and SCORPIUS enter, drawing the attention of some nearby students.

KARL JENKINS: From the moment the Slytherin Squib entered the pitch, I knew that the match was doomed.

YANN FREDERICKS (laughing): I've never seen the Slytherin team play so poorly, the Slytherin Squib and Voldemort's son must have cursed them.

ALBUS moves on, but SCORPIUS stop him by the arm.

SCORPIUS: I want to congratulate Rose for her victory.

ALBUS: What – you can't do that. She's the reason our House has just lost the match.

SCORPIUS: I think she was brilliant, and I want to tell her that.

SCORPIUS gathers his courage and walks towards the Gryffindor table, ALBUS follows him looking resigned. As they approach the table, the voices of the Gryffindor students become distinguishable.

POLLY CHAPMAN (raising a glass): Hooray for Rose beating her goal scoring record!

All Gryffindors cheer.

SCORPIUS (mumbling): Er... Rose – Hi. (ROSE turns to face him, surprised) I just... I just wanted to say – congratulations on your victory and setting a new record. You were brilliant.

ROSE (taken aback): Thank—

POLLY CHAPMAN (interrupting): Why – now even defeated Slytherin students come to congratulate our champion? That's hilarious.

YANN FREDERICKS (mocking): It makes perfect sense, the Slytherin Squib and Voldemort's son cursed the match to help us winning, it's us who should thank them.

JAMES POTTER approaches from the other side of the table and glares at YANN.

JAMES (frowning): Stop being an idiot – how can you still call them that after they've fought a powerful Dark witch who kidnapped them, saving all of us from the return of darkness. Don't you read the news?

YANN FREDERICKS: Do you call it news? That's just the usual silly rumors from Rita Skeeter, nonsense.

POLLY CHAPMAN (nodding): I don't believe anything the Daily Prophet says, it's all lies.

ROSE (standing up for ALBUS and SCORPIUS): This time it's true. My parents told me everything about it. They were brave and clever and prevented the return of the Dark Lord.

YANN FREDERICKS: Your parents are friends of the Potters, so they're affected by their celebrity as well. Of course they'd want everyone to believe the gossip and whisper the Potter name again – no offence intended, guys.

JAMES: None taken. I don't get offended by a roach like you. (He turns to his younger brother.) Ignore these imbeciles, Al.

ALBUS (with a severe look): Thanks but I don't need you – or anyone – to fight my battles, and I think I've already proven that. Me and Scorpius can take care of ourselves as we've always done.

After a short awkward silence, SCORPIUS resumes his speech.

SCORPIUS (to ROSE): Anyway – I just wanted to tell you that you were brilliant today.

He draws his wand and points it at a dish on the table, then casts a spell. He has clearly practiced it a lot and everyone is surprised by the result.

(whispered) Orchideus!

The piece of celery lying on the plate transfigures into a beautiful bouquet of roses. He hands ROSE the bouquet – everyone gasps and whoops in excitement, she looks rather amazed.

Congratulations for winning the match.

ROSE stares at SCORPIUS, wide-eyed. This time is nothing like his previous attempts to court her. This time he definitely made an impression.

In the exhilaration of the moment, ROSE reaches for SCORPIUS and tugs the collar of his robe, pulling him towards her. Quickly, she presses a kiss on his lips.

The Gryffindor crowd rejoices, ALBUS's face drops. He looks livid, as if he were about to vomit.

ROSE (releasing the grasp on SCORPIUS's collar): You know, if that offer is still valid – if you still want to go out with me, we could visit Hogsmeade together tomorrow.

SCORPIUS (thoroughly discombobulated): Yeah – okay – fine – good – nice.

He didn't expect such an enthusiastic response and he's looking more upset than pleased. He glances around nervously for ALBUS for some reassurance, but finds him near the door as he's about to leave.

ALBUS's head is turned down as if refusing to see anything more. He knows SCORPIUS has made his choice and there's nothing he can do to stop him, even though he thinks ROSE doesn't deserve him.

Before leaving, a twinkle shines inside ALBUS's eyes. All the deep words he's said to SCORPIUS a few days before about staying true to oneself disappear in the face of jealousy. Now ALBUS knows what he must do. The only way to stop the ache in his stomach is beating SCORPIUS at his own game. ALBUS should have been the first of them to find a girlfriend, and he has now only one day left to do so. He knows exactly how to do it and who to seduce to get a reaction from SCORPIUS. He wants SCORPIUS to feel the same pain he's feeling. He wants revenge.

ALBUS exits and SCORPIUS's face falls. SCORPIUS realizes he's unintentionally pushed his friend away and he's not entirely sure whether it was worth it. He's convinced himself to pursue ROSE and doesn't want to give up on her now that she's finally noticed him, but can't bear to lose his best friend either.

SCORPIUS looks around tormented as everything descend into soft black.


A/N: Thank you for reading. The reaction to the first chapter was amazing, thanks to everybody who left a kind message of support, I really appreciated them. I hope you all liked this chapter too, please let me know your opinions and comments in the reviews. See you soon~

P.S.: To VoT, the anon who compared Scorbus to Drarry: I don't ship Drarry and I've never had – not that there's something wrong with it, it's just not my thing – so I can assure you that I'm not writing this story only to fulfill my frustrated Drarry headcanon. Albus and Scorpius have completely different personalities and relationship and comparing them to Drarry means burdening them with the legacy you accuse me of putting on them. Also, you don't know me, this is the first M/M fic I've posted while I've written plenty of stories with M/F pairings, so don't be silly and don't accuse people of being heterophobic. There's no such thing as heterophobia in the first place, that's just plain ridiculous.