"So let me get this straight," said Albus trying to understand exactly what happened that resulted in his best friend breaking his arm. "You punched a tree? How? Why? Who the in the bloody hell just decides 'you know what might be fun, punching a tree'? Merlin, there had to be a reason."

Albus and Scorpius, along with the entirety of the Weasley-Potter-Lupin-Longbottom-Scamander (and whoever else was considered part of this bloody big family) were at the Potter's annual week long retreat at the Potter Mansion. Once Harry Potter had saved the wizarding world he was finally able to look at everything he had been left, but that is a story for another time. Long story short, when he found out he inherited the mansion his father and generations before him had grown up in he decided to keep it but also decided it was much too large to actually live in. Instead, once a year he and his wife invited all of their family and friends to join them on vacation. They could lounge by the pool, play quidditch, explore the library and visit neighboring towns. The Potter family stayed for the entire week as family and friends filtered in and out all spending time enjoying their summer. Once Albus had started school, he was allowed to invite friends to spend the week here. Obviously, Scorpius received his invitation before they had left for Christmas holidays their first year at Hogwarts and he had been attending every year since.

Scorpius had arrived an hour ago with a black cast on his right arm. Most of the family hadn't even seen him yet seeing as they were in town or taking a nap or whatever it is that they do during the day before all coming together for dinner each night. But Albus had been camped out in front of the fireplace all day in anticipation of his friend's arrival. Of course he started asking questions before Scorpius could even wipe the soot off of his clothing. Scorpius had tried to wave him off before giving the flimsy excuse of having punched a tree because he felt like it.

"Look, just leave it alone ok? I got pissed off, punched whatever was closest and as punishment for being an idiot, Mum refuses to heal it with magic so I get to wear this shit until we leave for school." Scorpius told his best friend, hoping to put an end to the conversation. He knew that nothing less than the truth would stop the questioning but he was given a small reprieve as the front door banged open and Albus' family filtered in.

Scorpius had loved the Potter family. When he and Albus had first become friends there was a deep fear that they would only see his father when they looked at him. But maybe it was because when the world looked at their family they only saw The Chosen One, they understood that someone is so much more than their parents. Therefore, when Scorpius had visited the family that summer after his first year at Hogwarts, he had been pleasantly surprised when they treated him like another son.

When the family matriarch saw Scorpius, she immediately went to put her bags on the ground, reaching towards the boy to give him a hug. Upon seeing Ginny Potter, Scorpius had jumped up and made his way over to the woman who was like a second mother to him. Mr. Potter clapped him on the back before picking up what his wife had dropped. Finally, Lily Potter was standing there expectantly waiting for a hug as well, but when Scorpius moved towards her, she immediately grabbed the arm that was in a cast and began examining it.

"Oh Merlin Scorp, what did you do?" Lily gasped, turning his arm to see the entirety of the cast.

"Nothing, it was stupid," he muttered, embarrassed that she was making a fuss over him.

"Why didn't your mum fix it?" She questioned.

"Because I was stupid. It's supposed to be a lesson." This time his response was slightly bitter. All of these conversations could have been avoided if his mother wasn't trying to teach him some stupid lesson.

"Why not? You couldn't have messed up badly enough to deserve this? I mean -" Lily would have continued but her father's voice interrupted the interrogation.

"Lily, you have a letter here for you."

"That must by Lysander." Lily smiled brightly as she turned and left so quickly that she didn't notice Scorpius' jaw clench or his good hand to ball up in a fist at the mention of her boyfriend, but Albus and Ginny did.

"Why don't you boys go outside, I will bring you some tea in a minute." Ginny said softly with a hand on Scorpius' arm.

"Thanks," responded Scorpius before walking towards the backyard.

Albus was silent the entire walk towards the backyard and didn't speak until they had been sitting on the porch for a few minutes.

"You saw the article didn't you?" Albus finally spoke up.

"What article? The one detailing how the world has never seen Lily happier than she is with her new boyfriend? The one that says they can't imagine her with anyone better and they hear wedding bells even if they are both only 15? Perhaps the one that says no one will ever be good enough for her, because she is Princess Potter, but this guy? This guy might be. No, I didn't see the article."

Yesterday morning, Astoria Malfoy poured over this week's gossip magazine. Maybe it wasn't proper to love gossip, but old habits die hard so she allowed her guilty pleasure. She was flipping through the first few pages when the magazine was yanked from her hands, she looked up to see her son staring dumbfounded at the front page. She hadn't paid it any attention, figuring that she was going to read the main story eventually. Before she could question her son's strange behavior, he threw down the paper and stormed out. All over the front page was a picture of the youngest Potter child and some boy kissing her cheek. Lily looked really happy and the picture looked candid, not staged. Scorpius had been pissed, first because the girl of his dreams was dating someone and everyone apparently thought they were so in love. Scorpius had spent the better part of six years hiding his feelings for Lily Luna Potter. It had started as he boarded the Hogwarts Express for the first time. She had caught his eye as she sat outside the train talking with her family. Albus was his best friend, he got along well with James, he loved being part of the Potter-Weasley family, but he was in love with Lily. Unfortunately, when the entire world tells you that you will never be anything better than your father before you, even if the important people tell you that's not true, you begin to believe the world. So Scorpius had long ago accepted that he would never be good enough for Lily, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt like hell to see her with someone else. He hated himself even more for being angry, because it's true that Lily is happy. He had seen them together before the end of term. And if the article is right, he should just be happy for her and he kind of hated himself for not being nothing but happy for her. It was at about this point that Scorpius turned to punch a tree.

When Scorpius had walked back into his house yesterday with a bloody and broken hand, his mom had been very kind and understanding as she cleaned off the blood and set the bones right. She didn't question why he had stormed off nor why he had returned with a broken hand, she just gave him a sad smile and set to work. Then she decided his punishment, muggle healing as opposed to magic. She said it was supposed to teach him to control his anger, Scorpius thought it was cruel and unusual punishment.

Albus was at a loss for words for a while, looking at his best friend. "I know you're supposed to be the smart one between the two of us, but that doesn't mean I'm an idiot. I've seen the way you look at my sister and it's not the way that most guys look at her. Trust me, you would not be invited to my house if that were the case." Albus frowned upon thinking about how the guys at school had begun looking at Lily in the last year or two. "You look at her the way my grandfather James looks at grandma Lily in all the old photographs, how Teddy looks at Vic. . . .I mean, my parents are in love, and I know a lot of people who are happily wedded but you all take it a step above."

"Thanks Al," Scorpius laughed bitterly, falling backwards, deeper into his seat. "But it doesn't mean anything if she doesn't like me back. I am just another one of her brothers Al."

Al couldn't help back the laugh that bubbled up behind his lips. "You're kidding right?" Scorpius gave his best friend a very confused look. "Merlin, for how much time you spend staring at her, you think you would have noticed that she looks at you the same way." Now Scorpius was really confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're a dumbass dude." Albus responded. "Listen, you are just going to have to wait okay? I know that article was praising how happy Lily is, but that's because they only get small glimpses of her. You should know by now not to trust the paper. So, and I know this is going to be hard for you, but you're just going to have to wait. It'll work out in the end." Just as Albus was done, Mrs. Potter came out with a tray of tea and cookies. "Thanks mum, but I think I'm going to take my cup inside. Scorp is probably going to stay out here for a bit though." He gave his mom a kiss on the cheek before walking away. Leaving just Ginny and Scorpius on the porch.

"He's right you know," Mrs. Potter added, after placing the tray on the small coffee table. Of course she had been listening at the door for the last couple of seconds.

"I was expecting to get threatened when he found out I liked his sister, not a pep talk to be honest." Scorpius responded. Under any other circumstances, he would have never talked to the mother of the girl he like about said girl, but he was kind of having a rough couple of days.

"Well, the threat is only effective if you two are actually dating," Ginny smirked, "But don't be surprised, he has been rehearsing his speech for awhile. I'm pretty sure it includes Teddy and James on either side of him to make him look more menacing." Ginny let out a small smile, before she gave her adopted son a kiss on the cheek. "Don't give up hope. Dinner is in an hour." With that the matriarch left Scorpius alone with a lot to think about.

Hello,

So I think this is my favorite chapter of this series of one-shots so far. Even though it took a completely different direction than what I had originally planned. Oh, well.

Please, just one singular person review. Just one, that's all I want. Also, it you guys have any ideas let me know. I have broad topics that I could write, but no ideas about how to tell the story.

Read, Review, and thanks for all you people do for writers like me,

Story Writer