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Albus's New Plan

The explanation would have been a lot easier to give if the Slytherin weren't so damn intimidating, but he'd put himself in this position, and Albus knew there was no chance of backing out now. Goyle wouldn't let him even if he tried to make a run for it or weasel out of his explanation. Plus he really did want the man's opinion, Albus reminded himself, and he wasn't going to get it unless he laid it all out for him.

"So my stupid plan was to take a note out of Violet's book and try sneak attacks on Scorpius that would mess with his head and get him back for messing with mine." For both their sakes he didn't get into what Scorpius had already done to his person. "You know how she'd cop a feel or whisper something suggestive before slithering off, getting the guy all hot and bothered until he was too insane to think straight?"

"You were going to…how do you even come up with these plans? And why has no one had your head examined at St. Mungos? How many bludgers do you take to the head in a season for that matter?"

"Hey, I said I knew it was a stupid plan."

"Stupid is a weak word in this case."

"Thanks for that." Sarcasm dripped off the words, Albus following the statement by asking the Slytherin if he wanted him to sic Louis on him.

Not about to admit that was a pretty good threat Rorake shot back that he had no problems hitting a girl-boy. Though he'd pull the punch in Weasley's case, if that ever did have to happen. Breaking something as beautiful as Louis Weasley's face was a crime his artist's heart couldn't forgive, even if the blonde constantly asked for it.

Hence the fact that he had yet to do so.

Rolling his eyes Albus turned the conversation back to its earlier point. "After analyzing the plan and noting all its many flaws I realized something really important that made me think I needed to rethink how I was looking at this thing with Scorpius. I mean I was curious about what it was like to date another guy, it was part of the reason I proposed the original plan. And it's weird, really weird in some ways, but the…physical stuff I don't mind. I'd rather be touched by him than by Violet. And yeah, part of that is the fact that she's such an easy lay, but it still got me thinking. Thinking that, well, eventually I had to admit that given the…stuff that's happened since we started pretend dating…well I'd like to give it a try for real."

"Come again." He was pretty sure he understood what the Gryffindor was saying, but he wasn't about to leave any room for misunderstanding when his best friend's happiness could be on the line.

Making a sound of frustration Albus leaned forward and rubbed his hands over his hair so that it stood up all over the place. "You didn't approve of any of this and I want to know, as his best friend who knows him better than anyone, if it's the plan you hated or the idea of us as a couple because you think we'd be a bad match."

"Is this some trick of yours to get him to stop manipulating you? By making him think he doesn't have to?" It would be a better plan than the other two, but being manipulative was also in Scorpius's nature and totally his forte. Rorake didn't really think the other teenager could turn that instinct off when it came to what he wanted and getting it, and would see through any manipulation the Gryffindor might unwisely attempt.

"No, it's not. I think now that he's figured out how much fun it is he's going to manipulate me regardless. Unfortunately."

Well at least the Gryffindor was finally realizing how easy he'd had it before he'd come up with his stupid dating scheme. Before that Scorpius had never had the opportunity to really spend time with Potter alone, thus insuring that the thickheaded Gryffindor had never really seen what Scorpius was really capable of.

It must have been a rude awakening for the poor little Gryffindor, Rorake thought with a slightly nasty smirk.

Okay, he didn't even want to know what that smirk was about. Not to mention if he punched this Slytherin he'd be more likely to break his own hand than bruise Goyle. "So to answer my earlier question…?"

Folding his arms resolutely Rorake didn't know quite how to view this sudden change in tactics from the Gryffindor, though the man's head was obviously messed up so who could blame him for not being able to follow the guy's thought process? And maybe he should just answer the question and let the two of them work it out since it was their lives they were messing with, not his, thank Merlin. If they were in charge of his happiness…shudder.

"Is that a no?"

Sighing, Rorake shook his head and decided to give the pain in his arse what he wanted. "You want to know if I think you and Scorpius could make it as a legitimate couple?" Albus nodded. "Okay then. I've never been in a relationship before, so it's not like I'm any kind of expert, but I do watch people a lot and I think I've got at least some idea what makes them work and what doesn't. In my opinion you guys could work, yes."

"Because…."

Rolling his eyes Rorake unfolded his arms so that he could check off his points with his fingers. "You're ages are close, you're not that much more immature than him, and you-"

"He is NOT more mature than me!"

"Yes, he is."

"Is not!"

"The fact that you're trying to pull me into a 'Is not, is too' argument is proof I'm right, Potter. Now do you want to continue or should I just keep letting you make an arse out of yourself?"

All the responses that came to mind also struck Albus as possibly, maybe, just a little childish or immature, so he settled for glaring and motioned for the Slytherin, who he really, really didn't like now, to continue insulting him.

"As I was saying then, the two of you also have the same level of attractiveness, though in different categories. Money shouldn't be a problem, and you both have too much class and high opinions of yourselves to cheat, which is another big thing since you're both fiercely possessive and likely to get nasty when jealous. You know he's not after you because of your dad, which is your big button, and he knows you see him as an individual and not just as a Malfoy, which is the big thing with him even if he won't admit it. You'd have to work on learning to read him because he's never been inclined to spill his guts unless forced, and he'd have to actually learn to behave around your family and friends, no easy task, but it would be doable if you were both committed, in my opinion. Can't say for certain the outcome, but that's the breaks."

"Okay…thanks." That was the best response Albus could come up with at the moment, still smarting from the immature comment and annoyed by the fact that the majority of Goyle's thoughts on the matter coincided with his own thoughts.

"You're really going to ask him out for real?"

About to nod or make some vague confirmation Albus saw the intent look he was getting and realized that only a firm, definitive answer was going to satisfy Scorpius's fierce protector. "Yes, I'm going to ask him."

"Then at least you're both crazy." Considering the conversation over now Rorake got to his feet, holding out his hand in Albus's direction after a thoughtful pause. "If you fuck this up I'll come after you whether he wants me to or not. Just so we're clear."

Eyes narrowing suspiciously Albus studied Rorake suspiciously. "If I take your hand are you going to crush it?" He needed his hand for Quidditch after all.

"Not today."

"Fair enough." Deciding to trust for the moment Albus took Rorake's offered hand and shook it, doing his best not to wince as the Slytherin squeezed just a little too hard to mess with him. "Just for the record…if I don't deserve this hypothetic beating I'm still going to sic Louis on you."

Rorake's lips quirked into a small, wryly amused smile. "And people think you don't fight dirty."

)

Parting ways with the Slytherin after that, thank Merlin, Albus wasn't really all that surprised to see that both Scorpius and Louis had remained nearby, intending to ambush the two of them as soon as their 'private' conversation was over. Seeing the questioning look on his cousin's face Albus jerked his thumb in the direction Goyle had gone, more than happy to sic the blonde on the Slytherin after their little conversation.

When Louis stayed right where he was and gave Albus a look that conveyed the fact that he wasn't going anywhere until he knew what was going on, Scorpius reached out and gave the annoying pain a light shove in the direction Rorake had apparently gone.

"Move your skinny arse and bug Rory."

Giving Scorpius a death glare for daring to shove him on top of that insult, Louis deliberately straightened up to his full height, using it as he very pointedly looked down his nose at the smaller blonde. "I am not skinny. I'm practically perfect in every way, and unlike you I have an arse men would happily line up for, just for a chance to get their hands on it. You beat it."

"I don't see Rorake lining up for a chance, Weasley."

"Okay, okay, no bloodshed in the library. Or anywhere else for that matter unless there's a really good reason." Moving in before the two went for each other's throats Albus squeezed between them to act as a shield for both of them. "Louis, I really do need to talk to Scorpius right now. Can we please talk later?"

"Are you about to discuss doing something incredibly stupid that's going to result in you whining and complaining to me for weeks after it blows up epically in your face in ways not even I could have predicted?"

"Oi, I had enough of that from Goyle, thank you very much. And if that's what's worrying you I promise I won't come bitchin to you even if this is a bad idea. All right?"

Louis's snort made it clear he didn't believe that for a second.

"Louis."

"I'm going to record myself saying 'I told you so' on something, and when this all explodes in your face like a potion made by a Longbottom I swear I'm going to play that recording over and over again until the bloody spell wears off and I have to record it again. And again. And again until I get tired of playing it or it finally sinks into that thick skull of yours!"

Stomping his foot in agitation, it just fit his mood, Louis moved far enough away that he could glare at both of them and then turned on his heels and sauntered away with a decidedly angry swing of hip as he went off to find Rorake and see if he knew what the hell they were going to have to deal with now thanks to their idiot best friends.

"He does know how to make an exit, I'll give him that much."

Shaking his head ruefully, he'd be in for it later, Albus shoved his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. "That he does." Pause. "So can we go somewhere and talk? Unless you want to bitch about Louis some more. That we can do here, though I should point out I'm obligated to defend him regardless of what he said. Family is family and all that." And realizing how that sounded Albus winced. "Not that I won't listen…and punish him in turn if you have a legitimate reason to be angry."

"Thanks for that."

Taking Albus's hand Scorpius tugged and started walking, leading them further into the shelves so that they were close to the restricted section and therefore unlikely to be interrupted since the least used books were kept in this area.

Looking around them Albus had to laugh at the irony.

"Something amusing?"

"You could say that." Grinning widely Albus motioned around them with his free hand. "James used to bring girls here all the time to make out when he was a student. He'd get them as close to the restricted section as possible and then freak the girl out with stories about the kinds of books in there and all the nasty spells placed on some of them. James is great at ghost stories you see, so he'd have them shuddering in his arms in no time, which was exactly where he wanted them." Shaking his head Albus had to chuckle again, totally able to see it. Not that he wanted to imagine his brother snogging some girl of course, that would just be wrong, but he could appreciate the deviousness of the other man's mind.

As he'd sooner cut his own tongue out than admit James Potter could be clever at times Scorpius asked instead if Albus had ever brought a girl here for that purpose. That he was curious about.

"Nah. I'm not devious enough to pull that off. The girl would have figured out what I was up to easily enough."

Moving in close Scorpius wrapped his free hand around Albus's neck, a gleam in his eyes. "Good thing I'm devious enough for the both of us then."

On a sound of agreement Albus angled his head to meet Scorpius's, the kisses teasingly slow at first, both more amused than interested in getting hot and heavy. Naturally that didn't last of course, they were teenage boys who were getting closer and closer by the day, and soon the snogging became more heated and hard, their tongues coming into play as Albus allowed Scorpius to press him back up against a bookcase so that their bodies were flush against the other's.

This kiss meaning more now that he'd decided to really make a go of it, Albus threw himself into it with abandon, lifting his hand and, after a moment's nervous pause, slid it under Scorpius's jumper and carefully stroked his fingers up and down the Slytherin's spine, groaning when Scorpius's response to that was to grind their hips together in a way that made Albus even more nervous, but hotter too.

In some calculating, Slytherin portion of his brain Scorpius knew he should be questioningly why Albus was being so accommodating and affectionate when there was no one around them to get the 'wrong' idea about them, but that area of his mind was happily bitch slapped into mostly quiet silence as he concentrated on making Albus groan more, completely losing his head when, during a brief separation of lips for some air, Albus sighed his name.

That called for the kind of snogging and body rubbing that had both teenagers completely forgetting about their surroundings or why it was important to keep quiet and not draw attention to themselves.

)

When their ears were suddenly being twisted viciously both boys broke apart with a yelp of pained shock, the two thinking for one crazy moment that the other had magically conjured up a third hand while they were snogging and was twisting their ear for some reason. Then they looked over, their faces both flushing with horror and embarrassment as they met the gaze of the person who was actually responsible for the pain radiating from their ears.

"You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves! This is a library, not a bedroom!" The librarian, Madam Pince, was glaring at them from behind her thick glasses, her words slashing at them like a whip as she lectures them about common decency, the rules of the library concerning proper behavior AND treatment of the books, which they had been desecrating as far as she was concerned with their lewd and unwholesome behavior. From there she descended into a rant about today's children and how they were all so obsessed with fornication and their personal lives, none of them realizing that what they should be doing is focusing on improving themselves by reading and educating themselves. Albus's cousins Rose and Hugo knew that, why didn't he, hmmm?

"Uhm…I do read…and I'm…really sorry, Madam Pince."

"Sorry, hmm? More like sorry you got caught." Not about to give him an inch the librarian muttered something about his behavior only to be expected given the way his father had treated his school books before turning her death glare on Scorpius. "And you, Malfoy? What do YOU have to say for yourself, hmm?"

As one would expect from a Malfoy Scorpius had any number of scarring, less than kind responses on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them. She was so old that one good tongue lashing might finish her off, and besides that his mother would tear him a new one if she were to learn he'd verbally attacked someone old enough to be his great grandmother at the very least. And she would find out, he thought with a grimace. She had the power.

"I assure you no books were harmed by us." Was the best Scorpius could manage, an apology out of the question. He wasn't the least bit sorry after all, and her interruption was far from appreciated.

"Not sorry, I see? Well you will be shortly."

And the two teenagers were indeed very sorry very quickly as she increased her grip on their ears and then ordering them to follow her led them through the library and past an endless stream of gawkers as she marched them to the Headmaster's Office, twisting their ears that much harder every time they so much as tried to protest.

Madam Pince was tired of students misusing her beloved library, and these two were going to serve as an example of why libraries were to be respected if she had anything to say about it.

That, as far as she was concerned, was that.