Thank you so much for the reviews! Trying to stave off writer's block by continuing, so fingers crossed!
thanks to Lisa and Kyp for betaing - Kyp was mvp and kindly did it whilst unwell (sorry :( )
"If I never sit on a broom again after this week, it'll be too soon," Albus groaned, gingerly clambering over the bench and slumping over the table. Scorpius grinned down at him, midway through a pot of yoghurt.
"What's the matter, Al? You look like you should be on bed rest till Sunday," Lily offered helpfully, pelting her brother with pieces of bread roll.
He held his hands up wearily to stave off a further assault. "I appreciate your so-called concern, baby sister, but if you don't let me eat, I'm going to cast a permanent sticking charm on you and we'll see how well you fly attached to a bench fit for forty people."
"Do you think it's just forty?" Lily asked, squinting up and down the bench. The Ravenclaws had stationed themselves a fair distance from the two Slytherins - Scorpius could sympathise. Also, it was nice to be able to spread out. "Bet the Slytherin benches can fit forty-one."
Albus ignored her in favour of systematically devouring an entire plate of bacon rolls.
It wasn't his wisest decision; Lily, having finished her lunch, was in the mood to be entertained. "We're going to destroy you on Saturday. You won't want to see Malfoy's face again after he wipes the floor with you - actually, you probably don't want to see his face in the first place, and who can blame you?"
Scorpius blinked at the change in tack; apparently, there was only so much pleasantry Lily could doll out in his direction.
"Seriously, Lily, the only reason I'm sitting here is because James won't stop throwing things at me to 'check my reflexes'." Albus pulled a face as he formed the air-quotes with two chunks of bread. "Don't make me move to the Hufflepuff table. Half my year still won't talk to me because I didn't know I was supposed to be dating MacGregor."
But Lily had lit upon another topic of conversation. "Rosie! Come and sit with two members of your favourite Quidditch team and an interloper."
Scorpius couldn't help a smile at that, watching Rose approach. In all honesty, he didn't see Rose supporting Slytherin from the stands. She would be, at the very least, standing with her brother, and the Weasley-leaning Gryffindor team was likely to sway Rose further in their favour. That wasn't to say he hadn't thought about wrapping his scarf around her neck 'for safe-keeping', a point of green to focus on amongst the sea of red.
She was veritably glowing; Scorpius tilted his head on one side, considering her, as she climbed into the space next to him. "What's that?"
Apparently rejuvenated by the food, Albus was finally sitting upright again. "Just tell them that you're supporting Gryffindor at the weekend," he entreated, crowding the area around Rose's plate with dishes by way of bribery. Scorpius switched the salmon out for the cheese and pickle sandwiches next to him.
"I'm not supporting Gryffindor at the weekend," Rose answered, reaching for a sandwich, and Scorpius felt a thrill go through him. "That doesn't mean," she added, interrupting Lily's loud, triumphant, 'hah!', "I'm supporting Slytherin. I'll cheer you all on individually, and hope for a draw."
"You're the worst," Lily declared, abruptly vacating the table.
Scorpius chuckled, satisfied with Rose's response. It was better than he had expected, after all. "So, where have you been, then, Miss?"
Her eyes were bright and wide, and he felt his own lips stretch into a grin to mirror hers. Her whole countenance was so joyful that, to be honest, he was expecting the answer to be a bit more exciting than, "The library."
"Nice!" Albus cheered from her other side, but Scorpius could see those private study hours holed up in empty classrooms dwindling. There wasn't the remotest chance that Madam Pince would let him tease Rose away from her books. He'd probably get strung up outside the library, left to rot as a reminder to any dissenters that the library was a blank vacuum, devouring all laughter.
Or maybe he could just get a grip and remember that he was supposed to be practising for Quidditch season anyway.
"Yes! It's been a month, so I went along to beg and plead, and she let me back in after I donated a couple of Mum's books. If I get banned from home, do you think Aunt Ginny will let me come live with you?"
"Wait," Scorpius interrupted, speaking over Albus's reassurances, "we've been dating for a month?"
Rose glanced at him, her smile fading. "Sure. One month down!"
His mouth twisted as his mind supplied the rest of the sentence. One month to go. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of it.
"So!" Albus exclaimed loudly, making the other two start and break eye contact. "The library! Why don't we finish up here, and head up there? I for one could do with some silent group study."
"Actually, I've got a few spells I need to practise," Rose said, sliding a sandwich into a pocket of her bag. "You can go to the library if you want, though, and I'll meet you there later."
Scorpius shrugged, in no hurry to reacquaint himself with the dingy book maze. "I don't mind practising with you. I think I could do with going over Arresto Momentum myself."
"Maybe you could help me with it," Albus muttered. "I can think of a few things I'd like to stop."
Quidditch began to consume him on the Friday. Scorpius was vaguely aware that this preoccupation occurred later than it would usually, but he sat up late in the common room regardless, idly playing with the balls of light Rose had helped him conjure. They disappeared at will, and he kept an eye out for any tell-tale glimmer. This was good - it helped calm his nerves, even if he was exceptionally glad that the common room was empty. He didn't like to think what he looked like, snatching at thin air.
"Big game tomorrow."
Bugger.
He made a futile grab for a vanishing ball, then turned to see April, clad in her fluffiest dressing gown. He swallowed, hard.
"I figured you'd probably be down here. Not made up with the other boys yet?"
Scorpius shrugged, tapping his wand and vanishing the balls of light. It seemed as though he wouldn't be wanting any distractions for this conversation.
"Francis says he doesn't even know what happened."
Of course she'd take Francis's side. He leaned his head back, abruptly tired of other people meddling.
"Sorry. Obviously not the time." She padded down the stairs and curled up at the end of his sofa. "I have a present for you." She held the pocket of her dressing gown open, and revealed a Snitch. "It always used to make you feel calmer."
It didn't this time, but he reached into her pocket for it anyway, his veins thrumming with adrenalin. Tomorrow felt like it was going to be a Big Day. Imagine if he embarrassed himself in front of the Weasleys, fell off his broom in front of the school, didn't notice the Snitch when it was in front of his face. His fingers closed around the other Snitch, and he felt the wings beating against his palm briefly before they furled up.
"How are your studies going?" he asked, letting his arm rest on the back of the couch. That was casual, right? Her eyes fixed on it, as though she were also remembering the times when she would have followed up by leaning into his embrace.
April smiled crookedly. "Great, thanks. Tomkins keeps coming up to me and commending me on my change of attitude. Guess I must be doing something right." She paused, and then enquired, "How's Rose?"
What was the right answer? Did she want him to say things were going well, or that they weren't going well? He reflected briefly, bitterly, on how much easier things would have been if he'd never taken Francis's advice - but then he'd have missed out on this month with Rose.
Scorpius settled for a non-committal, "Oh, you know," knowing full well that she wouldn't know.
April nodded along anyway, tightening the rope around her waist. "I'd better go to bed." She leaned forward, briefly brushing her lips against his cheekbone. It would be easy, too easy, to pull her down into a proper kiss. He didn't. "Good luck tomorrow, Scor."
His head thunked against the back of the sofa. At least he wasn't thinking about tomorrow any longer.
Anticipated or not, Saturday arrived anyway, and Scorpius was greeted by the curtains around his bed being flung open.
"Rise and shine, Snitch."
Francis. Scorpius's eyes opened, and he blinked blearily at the sheets before hauling himself up in bed.
"Going to remember which side you're on today?" Francis goaded, without malice. It was just his way. "Not going to 'forget' to catch the Snitch?"
"Please," Scorpius said disdainfully. "I could catch that thing in my sleep." Gratifyingly, his fingers closed around the Snitch April had given him, and he hurled it at Francis.
"Good to know," Francis said, seemingly unruffled, but only because the Snitch had caught flight mid-air, and thus avoided hitting him in the face. "Get dressed. Osbert told us to make sure you sit at the right table today."
Scorpius shrugged, as though where he sat was of no consequence to him, but he headed off to his shower with a sinking heart.
The empty space next to Rose at breakfast made Scorpius feel odd, unsettled somehow, especially when their eyes met across the Great Hall. She waved, and he returned it with equal awkwardness.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Lily announced as she slid in beside him.
"Save it for the Gryffindors," he advised, and her eyes crinkled with amusement. He didn't doubt she would if she could.
The disconcerted feeling followed him out onto the pitch. He hadn't been able to see Rose beforehand, having been marshalled by his team from breakfast to dormitory and out to the stands. Wind was buffeting the banners around like they were little rags. It wasn't going to make for easy flying.
Albus's face across from him was set and grim. Either way, things would be tense between them for a few days. Scorpius prayed that it would be on his terms, that Rose would sit and tell him how brilliant he had been, in low, quiet tones as he reached for the belt of her dressing gown-
The whistle blew, and Scorpius was a beat late mounting his broom.
Not a great start.
He tried to redeem himself, sweeping around the pitch, but the Snitch was nowhere to be seen. Below him, one of the Slytherin Chasers seemed to be having trouble keeping hold of the Quaffle.
"Potter scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Points racketed up on the other side of the board after that (had Gryffindor practised in the middle of a hurricane?), and Scorpius would have earned himself a month of detentions if any of the teachers had been able to hear his language. Lily was scraping a handful back, but at this point, the game was weighted heavily in Gryffindor's favour.
"You take out Greene, and I'll take out Osbert, and we'll finish this game together," Lily muttered as she passed him. "Catch that Snitch now and I'll shove it so far up you'll be tasting it."
Of course - of course that was when the Snitch made an appearance. Albus saw it a beat later, but Albus was closer, lighter, faster, flattening himself to his broom. Scorpius yelled out he didn't know what to Warrington, and both Slytherin Beaters swung the two Bludgers towards Albus.
Scorpius winced as they made their impact, and sent Albus spiralling off, the wind blustering him further away. Good. Scorpius reached the Snitch, guarding it whilst James remonstrated with Warrington, and received a Bludger two minutes later for his pains.
"Osbert scores! Ten points to Slytherin."
"Just a couple more of those," Scorpius muttered, his heart-rate easing as he noticed the Snitch had disappeared again.
His attention had been diverted too long - blinding pain shot through his shoulder as a Bludger crashed into it from behind. He swayed on his broom, clenching his jaw. Bugger, bugger, bugger. From the corner of his vision, Roxanne gave him a cheery wave, tapping her Beater's club.
Nausea spread through Scorpius's stomach, swelling up. He focused his eyes on the stand in front, trying to steady himself. Gingerly, he tried to extend his left arm, but decided it was better to keep it tucked to his middle. He could fly one-handed, surely.
He wobbled about, but eventually was capable of a jolt forward, and even established a drunken sort of weaving. It was important not to stay still so she didn't get him again, and there was no way he was getting off this broom before he'd caught the Snitch. He was distantly aware of another "Potter scores!", but he couldn't tell which Potter, and whether or not it was a good thing.
This game needed to end. Now. He glanced over to the Ravenclaw stand - and there it was.
It wasn't easy to be nonchalant in the middle of a high-speed Quidditch match, particularly one arm down. Scorpius meandered his way over, trying to look as though he didn't have control of the broom, which wasn't too difficult. Blinding pain was shooting through his shoulder with every jerky movement.
He had no idea what the score was. If he caught the Snitch now, there was every chance that Slytherin were still too far behind to win. The crowd was roaring in his ears, or was that his blood? He gritted his teeth, holding his broom as steady as he was able, and his fingers closed around the Snitch.
Sometimes, it took a moment for the commentators to catch up - normally, at this stage, Scorpius would be holding the Snitch aloft, exhibiting. He chose to head towards the ground, keen to get his arm seen to, and heard the game finishing behind him in some confusion.
"You arse, Malfoy! You absolute and complete wonderful but total arse."
Lily burst into the hospital tent where Madam Longbottom was healing his arm. She had effectively used her wand to pop his shoulder back into its socket, and he had not relished the experience.
"Lily," Madam Longbottom said reprovingly, handing Scorpius a fizzing Draught. "Here, Scorpius, this will fix your muscles, but you'll probably still experience some pain for a day or two."
"Sorry, Aunt Hannah," Lily replied. "But he is. Malfoy, I thought I was going to have a heart-attack! You must have gone for the Snitch before we knew we were clear on points! James made them review the whole thing, and there's barely a second between Greene's score and you catching the Snitch, dammit, we nearly drew!"
"I had faith," Scorpius replied drowsily, the potion easing the ache in his arm.
Lily threw her hands up in the air. "That is not the - I give up. He's all yours."
Scorpius looked up to see Rose in the tent opening, a green and red scarf around her neck. "I think we won," he told her.
She gave a quiet laugh. "Is he okay?" It took him a moment before he realised she was addressing Madam Longbottom.
"He'll be fine. I've seen worse Bludger injuries in my time, and at least they have me by the stand these days - your uncle could tell you a tale or two about that. Go on. Take him to his adoring public."
That seemed like a good idea; Scorpius slotted his fingers into Rose's outstretched hand, and allowed her to lead him from the tent.
Slytherin morale was high, and everybody was still crowded at the bottom of the pitch, slapping each other on the back. The cheers grew as Scorpius emerged, and nobody else seemed to hold Lily's reservations about how close they had come to a draw. In fact, James was the villain of the piece, coming across as a sore loser for having requested a review.
Rose's hand tightened in his, but talk soon turned to making fun of Scorpius, as he supposed was inevitable.
"Well, I've never seen a donkey on a broomstick before, so thanks to Malfoy for showing us all how it's done."
"You're not supposed to drink and fly, Malfoy!"
Since it was all relatively harmless, Scorpius ignored it with some effort, and followed the rest of the team towards the dressing room, pulled up short by Rose before he could drag her along with him.
"Sorry," he murmured. "I guess that potion hasn't quite worn off yet."
"Sure," she retorted, her eyes alight with mischief. "Blame the potion."
Maybe it was the euphoria of the win, maybe it was the realisation that they only had another month, maybe it was just Rose herself, but Scorpius suddenly couldn't keep himself from leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. He felt her stiffen against him, but then her arms were up by his neck, her soft mouth responsive - this was good. This was a kiss he could see lasting.
Rose pulled away.
"You'd better get changed," she reminded him, but he was rooted to the spot. Her cheeks were high in colour, her hands trembling, and he wanted - he wanted -
She gave him a gentle nudge. "Go. And congratulations."
Scorpius was a hero in his house again that day, and they didn't want to let him forget it. Osbert invited him to sit and talk tactics over dinner. Privately, Scorpius wondered why they couldn't enjoy the win for one day, but then Osbert spoke of recommending him to be the next Quidditch Captain, and that was that. There was a space next to Rose again, but when he looked for her a second time, it had been filled by Albus.
The dampener on his day was Albus's face outside the Great Hall.
"I'll see you back at the common room," Scorpius muttered.
"See that you do. I hear Smythe has some Firewhisky," Osbert said, nudging Scorpius in a companionable manner as he passed. Scorpius rubbed his shoulder reflexively, his eyes fixed to Albus.
Albus jerked his head, and started walking to the Entrance Hall, a little out of the way of the stream of students. Scorpius caught April's eye, and half-waved to her, before following after his friend.
"Is this about the game?" he asked hesitantly, because yes, he had basically ordered a Bludger attack on Albus, but Albus's cousin had dislocated Scorpius's shoulder.
"Scorpius, when are you going to get back with April?" Albus demanded. Scorpius took stock; his feet were apart, his arms crossed, and his chin jutted out, challengingly.
"Where is this coming from?" he asked, bemused, before a horrible thought occurred to him. "Is this from Rose? Did she ask you to speak with me?"
Albus's demeanour softened marginally. "Scor, I just - this is getting too complicated. It's been a month. I know I got you two months, but Rosie was only ever willing to do it for one. Really, if it's not worked by now, I think you'd be better off cutting your losses."
Scorpius scrubbed a hand through his hair. Was Albus trying to protect him or Rose? Either way, it was too soon after the kiss to be a coincidence. "No, you're right," he answered, struggling to keep his voice level. Mentally, he chided himself. This had been the agreement, all along. Just an agreement. What use was it to drag things out? "I think - I think April is willing to talk to me again. I'll speak to Rose tomorrow, tell her we can break things off."
"Okay." Albus patted Scorpius on his arm, and a whisper of pain travelled up. "Well done today. No idea how you beat me flying like you were sat backwards on the broom."
"It's a gift." Scorpius tried to smile, and found he couldn't quite manage it. "Actually, I think I'm going to find Madam Longbottom again. See if she can give me something else for my shoulder."
He didn't bother heading up to the Infirmary, instead reasoning that Firewhisky probably contained the same numbing qualities.
Or it might have if he'd been allowed to drink it.
"Nuh-uh," April said, handing him the significantly safer but less satisfying mead. "You're lucky you even got this much. I checked with my sister, and she says Firewhisky would react badly with the painkiller potion she thinks Madam Longbottom gave you."
"Doubtful," Scorpius protested, looking around for somebody more susceptible. April rarely gave an inch when she set her mind on something like this. "Besides, I'm sure that's worn off by now."
"If you like, we can go ask Madam Longbottom what she thinks of you drinking Firewhisky now," April offered slyly.
And that was it. Game, set, and match to April, who grinned triumphantly when he took a sip of the mead.
"You're awful," he informed her glumly.
"You broke your arm! Imagine how I felt watching," April chided, leading him over to the same sofa that they had shared just yesterday. She lowered her voice, tucking her feet under her. "I was worried for you - I thought you were going to come off your broom."
He placed his free hand on her knee, stroking gently with his thumb, and watched as she inhaled sharply. It was okay; he wasn't actually dating Rose anyway, he reminded himself. Albus would probably tell her she was free tonight. She'd probably be grateful, all that time to devote to the library again. He'd just been a pest, a distraction.
"Aren't you dating Rose?" April whispered, and he was glad that she'd phrased it like that, so that he could give a simple head shake in response. No, they weren't dating. "Oh. I'm sorry."
Scorpius tilted her chin up, closing the gap between them purposefully. She had enough time and space to draw away, but she didn't. For a brief moment, he hesitated, thinking about the other kiss he'd had that day, but then he pushed it firmly out of his mind. "No, you aren't."
"No, I'm not," she answered, and let him kiss her.
