Dear Readers,
Quick note. This is part of the Slytherin!Al and Scorpius and Ravenclaw!Rose canon. I'm sort of running two of them simulataneously but in the other those three are all Gryffindor and Al suffers a serious injury.
Enjoy!
Sopphires.
Charlie and Al
Al got to his feet, champagne flute in hand.
"I am honoured." he began. "To stand here today as the best man of my best mate and my favourite cousins wedding, sorry the rest of you but Rosie's my favourite cousin no doubt about it." This earned him some laughs and a lot of smiles. "She's also another of my best friends and somehow, despite the fact Rose spent six years ignoring him, I wasn't surprised when I opened that broom cupboard to fetch my broom and found them snogging." This got Al a lot of laughs, in fact James and Fred, who were tipsy went into drunken hysterics. "I guess what I am trying to say is that no matter what people say about you being a Malfoy and a Weasley or you being only 19 or that you have only actually been speaking for two years, I'm behind you all the way, I have been and I always will be." Rose had tears in her eyes and Scorpius was beaming at him, clutching Rose's hand. "A toast then to Rose and Scorpius who are, in my opinion, the epitome of love." Everyone raised their glasses and said
"Rose and Scorpius." Al smiled, it was over, his time in the spotlight was done, no one would care about him anymore.
Charlie Weasley watched the dancing with a smile. He was the only one of Molly Weasley seven children to not settle down and start a family and for that reason he was ever so slightly the black sheep of the family, not that he really minded of course. He didn't see much of his family, preferring to stay with the dragons in Romania so when he did come back no one was so bothered that he hadn't married or even got himself a steady girlfriend, they were just glad to see him. However there were times when it was glaringly obvious that mum wanted him to have kids, bit late now was all he could say, and it was his own god daughter was married and pregnant. Besides he was a middle aged man now he was going to end up alone, or that's what mum fretted. See what mum failed to understand was that he wasn't alone, he absolutely could not be alone.
In many ways this was why he was so drawn to Al, after he had been sorted into Slytherin Charlie had known the poor kid would have a hard time. Anyone with half a brain could guess the Slytherins wouldn't like him and he hadn't thought people like James would like it either. It turned out he had been right, everyone had heard about the James hitting Al incident from Rose. The thing Charlie hadn't banked on him doing so well was making a friend. Charlie knew how important just one friend could be, you have one on your side and the rest start to follow. In Al's case his friend had been the smart, out cast son of ex-death eater Draco Malfoy, Scorpius. Scorpius had been just what Al needed, the whole pamphlet thing, all his idea. He realised that this Scorpius had dealt with this sort of thing a lot before and could help Al and he obviously was because there were no tales of Al losing it at the provocation. Yet Charlie kept a close eye on his nephew. He felt a strong bond towards him, he felt like he understood best what he was going through and as he watched him slip from the tent erected in the back garden he felt now would be a good time to exercise that bond.
Al was standing outside staring off into the garden. Charlie approached him cautiously well aware that he did not want to startle him.
"Al." he said placing a hand on his shoulder. The younger boy turned and smiled at his uncle, but Charlie knew it was forced, fake.
"Hey Uncle Charlie. How's it going? I needed some air." Charlie nodded.
"Me too, Ron's got drunk though, he seems to be trying to forget the fact that his daughter is now a Malfoy."
"Rose Malfoy, interesting ring to it." he said. His voice was completely expressionless.
"Look Al what's up?"
"What? Nothing's up."
"Really, because with the exception of the time's when you've been at his shoulder I haven't seen you." Al bit his lip. He swallowed, looking out into the distance.
"What are you implying?"
"I think we both know exactly what I'm implying." Al looked at his Uncle in mild surprise.
"You too?"
"Dragons are fascinating but they're not that interesting." Al nodded.
"I guess. After all, Uncle Bill prised himself from the tombs." Charlie smiled and nodded. "So do you actually have one?" his question remained vague and he asked it in an uncertain, halting manner.
"Yeah, actually but I don't have the guts."
"Seriously. You got a… a… a…"
"Are sure you're gay, Al? You can't even say the word boyfriend." He had expected him to brush it off but instead Al sighed.
"I don't know. It's only ever been him. Him for, four years. You know I've never kissed anyone, not even by mistake."
"That's rough."
"Yeah but it gets worse doesn't it. He falls for my cousin and we all know how the story ends."
"Did you ever tell him?"
"What?"
"Tell him, tell Scorp, how you felt?"
"No, he made it very clear in fourth year that he was into girls. In fourth year, when I was starting to question who I was, starting to realise I liked my best friend way more than I should and all. There didn't seem to be any point risking what we had for my crush."
"You're going to bottle all that up for the rest of your life?"
"Yep."
"Okay, when you next have leave you are coming to Romania and me and my mates are taking you out."
"What?"
"Al, you need to get over this and you need to get over this sooner rather than later. The longer you hold onto your feelings for Scorp the harder it will be for you to maintain your relationship with him, and Rose."
"So what are you saying?"
"You need to get out and date. Need to find a guy who is into you and everything and that you love as much as Scorp."
"But no one knows I'm gay."
"I think we're going to have to change that."
"What? You have to be kidding me!"
"No I'm not, I'm not going to let you make my mistakes. I was so afraid of what my family would say if they found out that I was gay, that I dated girls and everything. When I was in Romania, I was free to be whoever I wanted, no one cared. I could date openly and one day, this is after the war ended this guy came from England, he'd lost everything and I fell in love with him."
"The war ended about 30 years ago."
"I know, that's the point."
"You've been in a relationship for 30 years and you never said anything!"
"Oh no, hell no! More like 15."
"15!"
"Yeah."
"But that's long enough to be married." Charlie's face darkened all of a sudden.
"Same sex marriages are illegal in Romania."
"Oh but you've been dating the guy for 15 years! How come we never met him?"
"Because he won't come back to England. He ran from his past and he can't face up to it, not everyone can."
"Is that why it took you 15 years to get with him?"
"Basically, and mum was trying to marry me off."
"That must have been awkward."
"To bloody right it was."
"So what happened?"
"We were out, in a pub and then I realised that it had been 15 years exactly since he had come to Romania so I got up and said 'I understand you probably don't want to be reminded of what happened 15 years ago that made you flee here but I want to celebrate because 15 years ago today is the day I fell in love, with you.' and then everyone was quiet and it was like I'd made some awful mistake and I couldn't read the expression on his face and then he said very quietly
'And when I fell in love with you.' Then I leant down and kissed him and we started dating." There was a pause then Charlie said "But don't get any ideas he's happily married to our Rosie and that's the way it should stay." Al nodded.
"Of course. He's my best friend and I love him, I'd never hurt him like that."
"Good for you but I think this might be as good a time as any to announce to the family that you're gay."
"What? No this is Scorp's big day, I can't hijack it." Charlie raised an eyebrow at him.
"Right. Can you tell me when the next family gathering like this will be?" there was a pause. Al knew that his family would re disperse around the world, they wouldn't all be back together for god knows when. Well probably around the time Vic gave birth but even then they may not all be together.
"I just can't. What if they reject me?"
"Albus Severus, listen to me." Al noted the use of his full name. "You were a Slytherin, but you are a good wizard. You're the best in your class at auror training and everyone knows that it has absolutely nothing to do with your father. You came through school with glowing reports from all your teachers and exceptional exam results. But it's not just that, you did something even better. You came through school with friends from all the houses. You got on with everyone when they gave you the chance. They misjudged you once and they paid for their mistake, I don't think that's going to happen again."
"You really think I should do this."
"Al you're going to regret not telling them for the rest of your life. You have to, okay, your dad showed long ago that he would love you no matter what. It's the same with your best friend. Same with me and Bill. There have been so many occasions when I have almost told your Uncle Bill that I'm gay but I lost my nerve at the last second, or we've been interrupted. I can't let you make the mistakes I've made Al, I can't. Just say it. It's two word; I'm gay. That's all you need to do. They can deal with it, that's their problem but you need to get it off your chest." Al tilted his head to the side as if considering the possibility.
"Will it help, will it help in here?" he indicated to his chest. Charlie sighed.
"I don't know. A little, probably, it'll definitely take some of the weight your shoulders. You shouldn't have to hide who you are Al, you found that out long ago. You found that out when you were 11 and you proud to be Slytherin, the Proud Serpent. It's exactly the same." Al looked up at his Uncle, fear in his eyes but also a little bit of gratitude.
"Is that why you were on my side from the start? When I was sorted into Slytherin, you didn't turn against me. You looked after me."
"Of course I did, it didn't take a genius to work out they wouldn't like you. But yes it's why I was on your side. I know what it's like to be on the outside of the family. Everyone asking me when I'm going to get married and all I want to do is tell them all about him. Tell them I'm in love, tell them I've met the most wonderful man, tell them that, essentially, I am married." Al's eyes never left his face as he spoke. He listened carefully, understanding that this is what could happen to him.
"What's his name?"
"Patrick." Al smiled, it was sad though.
"I think maybe next time I am on leave I will go and meet him." Charlie clapped him on the shoulder.
"I think that is a wonderful idea, and like I said I can introduce you to some of my friends and we can take you out. Loosen you up a bit." Al smiled again.
"Do I still have to tell them?"
"I don't want to force you into anything but I think it's the right thing to do if you're sure it's who you are, and it sounds like, despite you've never actually dated, you are sure. You've been sure for four years. Do you know who you are?" Al nodded. His throat was stuck. "Are sure about who you are because I don't want to out you."
"It sounds like you're back pedalling, why?"
"I just want to be careful."
"I think I should do it before I lose my nerve. I'm not a Gryffindor, I'm not exactly brave."
"I'm a Gryffindor and I've never done it, this is nothing to do with school houses. It's the good thing about living abroad. You start to see how irrelevant sorting is. They didn't sort their students at the school in Romania, there's no 'good' house or 'bad' house. It's all about preconception. What you think of the house before you go into it and what you're told about the characteristics of the people in the house that make us like our houses. Then again I think you know a lot more about that than I do." Al nodded.
"People trying to fit themselves into a mould, they're told that Ravenclaws are smart so when they go into Ravenclaw they all feel the need to study to prove it, Hufflepuffs are supposed to be kind so they need to prove they are kind. It's only when people try to be squares instead of circles that the walls come down and you realise that they're not that different." Charlie nodded.
"You're wasted as an auror." Al laughed.
"That's all Scorp, it's going into his book."
"Ah." Silence fell between them as conversation brought them back round in a circle. Back to Scorp, and being gay and coming out to his family.
"Uncle Charlie, just say that they don't accept me. What will I do then?"
"You'll do what you did before, you win them back by showing them that you are exactly the same person as before and I'll help you. I'll be right behind you."
"You live in Romania."
"I think I could probably take a bit of leave."
"Wouldn't Patrick mind?"
"No, especially if I explained why. We have to stick together." Al nodded and smiled again.
"Okay." he said taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
The tent was still full of dancing couples when they re-entered. It was quite clear that nobody had missed either of them, all quite transfixed with the newlywed couple who were slow dancing in the centre their heads resting on each others shoulders, arms wrapped around each other in a loving embrace. Al gazed at Scorp as he held his cousin close. He watched as his white blonde hair sparkled in the lights, his pale features were delicately flushed, his red lips were slightly parted in contentment. Al sighed and looked down, averting his gaze from it. It killed him. Charlie placed a hand on his shoulder and Al cautiously looked back up at him.
In many ways Al didn't look 19. He didn't look as old as his father had when he had turned 19, but then Al hadn't really had that life. Hogwarts had been hard but nowhere near that hard. He didn't even look as old as Scorpius, but then Scorpius had always seemed so much older than Al. He'd always had so much more experience, he'd always been there for Al to lean on because he'd faced so many hardships, he understood. Scorpius who fought for everything he had, had become the person Al would reach out to when he had problems, and generally he'd solved them. Then again what was Al to do when the person who solved his problems was the root of his problems? Al always looked for others to help him, he knew when he was beat, when he needed help, a rare gift among people to be able to shelve pride but as a result he was so vulnerable. He hadn't grown up, not really. His family and Scorp had solved his problems for him. Now that the barriers were down and Charlie was looking into his expressive green eyes he could see that Al was very much a little boy inside. He'd made his one big decision, not mentioning it and stuck by that.
Gently he steered Al towards the dancing couple. Al looked horrified at the thought of interrupting Scorp and Rose but Charlie stared him down. People parted and looked at them curiously, were they going to start dancing? Charlie reached out and touched Scorpius' shoulder. He looked up and, with a half smile, extended Rose to her Uncle. Charlie shook his head and bent forward to whispered to him. Scorpius and Rose's, she had heard too, eyes slid to Al and raised their eyebrows slightly. However they both nodded and smiled.
The entire tent had fallen silent when Al found himself standing alone in the centre of the dance floor. Both Scorp and Rose were standing closest to him on his right and Charlie a little further away on his left. The rest of his family and friends were ranged in front of him. Al found his throat had closed up. It was dry and he was unable to swallow. Unable to even to croak. Everyone was staring at him. The expectation was palpable. There were shared curious, and slightly impatient looks at him. He felt something being pushed against him. Tearing his eyes around he found that Uncle Charlie was forcing another champagne glass into his hand. Al accepted it with a silent thanks, the unwavering support in his Uncle's eyes made him feel good inside.
He downed the glass quickly, it wetted his throat and he felt better, able to speak. The extra buzz of alcohol in his system gave him an extra spark of confidence.
"Umm." he said. Not quite the start he wanted. Everyone leant forward slightly, they were really hanging on his word. He searched each face. They all looked confused, curious and a little concerned. Would the concern stay? Would they once again only see him for the label that he bore and not who he was? Uncle Charlie didn't help, his lack of confidence was un-reassuring to say the least. However he did seem sure that Al's previous success at conquering peoples misconceptions would help him here.
"Al are you alright?" Scorp was stepping forward. Al's green eyes locked with his grey ones. There was a little apprehension in his eyes as he stepped towards him, like he was really worried about what could make his best friend so speechless, so nervous. There was also a sparkling warmth, this warmth was rarely seen when Al had first met him. It had been well hidden beneath his armour, behind his walls. However his friendship with Al, a friendship with Al in which Scorp was the calm head and Al was the humour, had quickly shown the warmth that he had buried deep inside him. Al could see the love in his eyes, the love that was, sadly, platonic. He cleared his throat.
"Fine." he said, though he didn't sound it. "I'm fine, I just need to tell you all something." Scorp nodded, blinking and stepping back. "I don't want to disrupt your wedding." he added, it wasn't an afterthought, it just hadn't occurred to him to say it straight away. "I just don't know when we'll all be together again." There was more nodding and whispers. He cleared his throat unsure of how to continue. He glanced at Uncle Charlie who was still staring at him, completely stead fast. Well he had one friend, wasn't that what Scorp had told him years ago. One and the rest would follow. He should say it, blurt out the two words. That would be the easiest way. Would they even understand if he spoke quickly? He breathed deeply. It was steadying. He focused like in auror training, calming, relaxing, in the midst of chaos.
"I'm gay." Al's eyes flew open; had he just said that? There was a silence in the tent that seemed to be even more silent. Everything was completely still, the confused muttering had ended. Then there was a weird choking sound, his head whipped round. It was Scorp. He was bright red in the face and somewhere between laughing and coughing. Al felt everything inside him plummet. Was Scorp going to reject him? Of all the people he had assumed Scorp would accept him but was this something that would not be okay? He tried to not feel the stinging in his eyes, or the lump in his throat. There were muffled giggles echoing elsewhere, was someone drunk or did they not believe him?
"Oh Al." it was Scorp he was standing straight, his cheeks flushed red, Rose's hand on his back. Al looked at him unsure what that meant. "Al." he said again glancing once round at the rest of his family who were all looking at him or each other with barely concealed smirks. "Al we know." Al felt dizzy, he was falling. This wasn't real. They couldn't know. He felt his head mechanically turn to Uncle Charlie who was looking at him in disbelief, too.
"You know."
"Yes, it was sort of obvious. You never dated any girls, you never showed any interest in them. It didn't take much of a leap to figure out that you swung the other way but were too afraid of the reaction to say anything." Al closed his eyes relief flooding over him. He couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe they had known. Not just they had known they had accepted. But… he felt his stomach drop Scorp would want to know why he hadn't told him.
"Why didn't anyone say anything? Why'd you all leave it hanging over my head?"
"Well we none of us were entirely sure and we didn't want to force you. Plus I know." It took Al half a minute to register what Scorp had said. He heard the flute shatter on the floor. He turned on his heel, away from Scorp's eyes that hadn't changed, they were still full of warmth and friendship and… love. They hadn't judged him when he'd said that, hadn't judged him when he found out. He could feel the tears they were hot and incredibly unfamiliar. He had never been more ashamed.
Charlie heard the buzz of noise inside the tent grow louder and louder. He saw Harry turn to go after Al but he went and stopped him. Placing a hand on his chest he shook his head, Al needed to be alone right now. Everyone else was looking at Scorp who was starting to realise that that wasn't the brightest thing to say on his wedding night. He looked put upon and flustered, unwilling to reveal Al's secret but also well aware that the Weasley's would do everything they could to get to the bottom. Well, Charlie thought, desperate times calls for desperate measures. He knew one sure fire way to turn the heat off Al.
"Hmhm." All eyes diverted to Charlie who was standing in the centre of the dance floor. "I also have something I need to say." Everyone looked at him expectantly.
"Are you engaged?" someone shouted from the back.
"No, that's sort of the point. I'm gay, too." The silence was much more shocked after all Charlie had actually dated girls. "And if it weren't for the fact that gay marriage is not allowed in Romania I would be married." He smiled once at the shocked faces.
"Wait." said Bill. "Are you saying you're in a long term relationship with someone."
"Yes his name's Patrick I've known him for 30 years and dated him for 15." There was a thump. His mum had fainted. The rest of the tent however had erupted in cheers. He could hear calls of congratulations and well dones and finallys and he knows he shouldn't have worried. Bill stepped forward and shook his hand so vigorously that Charlie honestly thought that he was trying to wrench it from him. The words that Bill spoke were inconsequential, the silent conversation was the one that mattered. Bill understood why he had kept it a secret, he knew that Charlie had tried to tell him and he knew that Charlie had not wanted to tell them ever. Harry came to him but Charlie was already past him, he had known that he had wanted him to talk to Al and he wanted to talk to him too.
"Al." Al was sitting a little way from the marquee. He was crying quite freely and quietly, though he wasn't 100% sure why. He looked up at his Uncle Charlie. He gave the burly, tanned, scared man a watery smile and wiped his eyes.
"Everyone speculating about what he knows and forcing the embarrassing truth out?" he asked. Charlie exhaled loudly through his nose as he sat down next to his nephew.
"No." Al turned to him in shock.
"What?"
"No I think I gave them quite a good diversion." Al frowned at him, unable to piece together what he was talking about. "I told them." Al gasped.
"You… you told them." Charlie nodded.
"They took it well, really well."
"You told them everything."
"Yeah, mum fainted but I think she'll come round, in both ways." Al smiled.
"You did that for me."
"Of course I did. That's not something you want everyone to find out about. My announcement was the only thing that could trump it on the scale of epic announcements." Al chuckled quietly.
"I can't believe you did that."
"Well I realised that they took you well, they accepted you. Stands to reason they'd accept me too, huh." Al nodded.
"I can't believe they knew, that's so embarrassing."
"I can't believe it either. I can't believe no one brought it up. Then again I guess if you never dated a boy they might think that there was a chance that they were wrong. I guess only Scorpius knew the truth because of all the time he spent with you."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Maybe he only found out recently, when he was dating Rose. When he'd proposed, I mean. Maybe he just didn't want to have that conversation with you if you didn't want to have it with him. You'd made no inclination to come out the closet anytime soon, I guess he didn't want to force you out." Al could only keep nodding.
"I don't know why I'm crying." he said finally.
"You're crying because embarrassed and ashamed that Scorpius knew your secret, but you shouldn't be. He loves just not in the way you love him." Al once more turned his head to his Uncle.
"Is just me or were not always this wise." Charlie laughed.
"Only about this." Al couldn't help the grin that was stretching across his face.
"You were right though, I feel less put upon all of a sudden. I dunno like, I feel better now that they know.""Me too kid.""It still hurts, though. It hurts a lot. Maybe I will take you up on that offer of Romania, freedom." Charlie smiled.
"I'll drink to that any day."
The dragon keepers in Romania were famous for their good humour, their ability to hold a drink and their tolerance. It didn't matter if you were a man or a woman, or if you were from Romania or Japan, or if you gay or straight, as long as you shared their principals on creature caring in the day and were looking for a good time at night the dragon keepers were your friends.
Al pulled up his cloak as he walked the final stretch of the journey. He'd taken a Portkey to the nearest town; Zimti, apparated to the village in the mountains where the dragon keepers lived and he was now strolling along one of the streets trying to find Charlie's house. He had taken him up on his offer that he had made not long ago to visit him and really let loose, maybe try his hand at dating for the first time and despite the fact that he was still hurting, a part of him was really excited.
"AL!" he looked and saw his Uncle silhouetted in the porch light at his house at the end of the street. Feeling much younger than 20, Al ran towards him and hugged him very tightly. Charlie gripped him back, his embrace strong but caring.
"Hey." said Al when he drew back.
"Hi, how's it going?"
"Good." he smiled, he could barely contain his joy at seeing his Uncle again. Writing to him was one thing, but seeing him was so much more.
"Come in, come in. Patrick just popped out, we ran out of milk." Al smiled.
"Will anybody else in out family ever get to meet this boyfriend of yours?"
"Well seeing as you will be living with us for the next two months I would be highly disappointed if you don't." they laughed as he stepped across the threshold.
Charlie's house was small and very cosy. It was all wood on the inside; wooden beams, floors, walls. The interior was open plan and all decorated very homely. Each fire place contained a roaring fire that warmed the house nicely and made Al's fingers and nose tingle.
"Not the best decision to come in October." he said. Charlie laughed.
"Yeah well just you wait, I bet you won't complain when I take you on a bender. Now how about a drink to warm you up and to prep you for tomorrow." Al pretended to consider than smiled.
"A firewhisky it is."
"Charlie I'm home!" Charlie and Al looked up from where they sat in front of the fire, a glass of firewhisky in hand. Charlie was listening to Al's hilarious tale of how his friend Matt had mistaken his examiner for his great aunt in part of their stealth auror exams and had promptly asked her why she was so fat and failed to understand why she got so offended and hexed him. Charlie put down his glass and leapt to his feet to meet the man entering the house. Al leaned back and craned his neck to get a glimpse of Charlie's elusive boyfriend.
Patrick stepped forward into Al's line of view a smile on his face. Patrick was a similar height to Uncle Charlie, tall, he was slimmer but Al could tell that he was still easily as strong and muscular. He was at least three years younger, though. His skin was pale, Al wouldn't have guessed he worked with dragons until he remembered Uncle Charlie said he worked at the compound but not with the keepers. His eyes were a haunting grey, and Al found them weirdly mesmerising to look at, they were like a diamond shone under a light, the pattern never looked quite the same. He had a strong jaw line, bushy eyebrows on his rather long face and on top was an explosion of dark curls. Yep he could see why Charlie had fell for him. He wore a long dark wool coat, a scarf was draped around his neck and his gloves were in his right hand. He saw Charlie step forward and take the shopping off him with a quick peck on the lips and then gesture at the armchair where Al sat. He made his way forward and Al got up.
"Albus?"
"Al, please. You must be Patrick."
"That's me." they shook hands and Al regained his seat. "Charlie was saying something about cameras, what was he talking about?"
"You don't mind but my family really want to know what you look like. I have been given strict instructions to document this 'holiday' and bring them all back." he nodded.
"Well that's understandable. Though why we didn't just send them pictures."
"Because it was grandma's idea and I was in the room. She goes
'I need to see this man at least. I need to know what he looks like.' Then James says.
'Well Al's going he can take photos.'" Al shakes his head and takes a swig of firewhiskey. "Honestly. They would have reached your conclusion if hadn't have been for my scheming brother."
"Ah now, now words against James, I do recall hearing, or rather reading, some very good things about him." Charlie was back with another glass of firewhiskey which he handed to Patrick and settled down onto the sofa next to him. Al watched them a little wistfully. They looked so comfortable. So at ease. Al had never been in any kind of relationship before, hell he'd even messed up things with his best friend for a while.
"So Al what I really want to know before I get you pissed is how's things with Scorp?" Al chewed the inside of his lip.
"Okay." he said finally. Charlie raised an eyebrow, not in disbelief but to show that that was not an adequate answer.
"I mean we're sorting it out. He wants me to get to the bottom of it, he wants to be my best friend, and he says he'll always love me platonically but you know not the way I do."
"Well that's good."
"Yeah, you know I never realised how much he trusts me. He trusts me not to make a move on him or anything like that. I also found out that he values my friendship a little too highly."
"What do you mean?"
"Well Rosie is a Ravenclaw, remember, she sought of figured out what I meant at the wedding."
"Oh no."
"Yeah and I've been off having very regular meetings with Scorp. You can sort of see why she was suspicious. I mean we are best friends but I won't deny I've been dropping round more and only talking to him not her to try and sort it out. I feel guilty talking to her whenever we talk about it."
"So did she think Scorp was cheating on her with you."
"Well no what happened was Scorp was being an idiot, so when she started asking him what we talked about and what we did and he wouldn't tell her because he didn't want to betray my secret. Then she thought we were having an affair." Al rolled his eyes.
"That is not good."
"You think, in the end she confronted both of us after dinner and because Scorp still wouldn't betray my secret I yelled at her that I loved him and that we've been trying to get past it so we can be best friends, we're not cheating on you. You should trust him more. Then she started crying."
"Why?"
"Because she said she already knew that, she figured it out but she had thought that Scorp had reciprocated. Then I told her she was an idiot, I meant what I said and I loved them more than I cared about what I wanted. I ended up crying and I think Scorp thought the world was ending. In the end we all ended up hugging, it was pretty crazy."
"So Rose knows."
"Yeah."
"That's good."
"Yeah I feel so much less guilty, this was only a week ago but we've talked about it together. I just, I still love him but he was my best friend first, and I do need him. I just never realised how much till now. I mean I get advice on getting over him from him."
"What's his advice?"
"Coming here. He thinks this is an excellent idea."
"I thought so."
"Your support was great too though, I mean I wouldn't have thought of half the ways to cope with the publicity without you. You've been great."
"Cheers Al. I would have loved to be there when you asked the reporter whether she had a girlfriend or a boyfriend because if she had the right to ask you, you had the right to ask her and it wasn't either as if no one had heard of her because everyone read her gossip column."
"Well thank you for the idea."
"No problem." Patrick toasted his glass into the air.
"What are you toasting?"
"This wonderful idea."