AlbusScorpius

On Your Side

Chapter Fourteen: Difference of Opinion

A/N: You know, I suck at making titles for chapters. I suck at making titles for stories too though, so that's no surprise.

It had been surprisingly good.

Scorpius smiled fondly as the Potter boy sighed in frustration, slumping back in a chair with a pout, glaring at the parchment in front of him. Scorpius sat at the other desk, waiting patiently as the boy answered the questions to the test Scorpius had given him, enjoying the freedom of simply admiring his student. His boyfriend, for lack of a better word. Though he supposed that was what they were.

He chuckled at the puppy-dog look he received. Definitely more than surprisingly good.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you do," Scorpius replied, rolling his eyes before returning to the papers he was supposed to be grading.

"You're not doing your work."

"I am."

Albus huffed. "You're not; you've been staring at me for the past twenty minutes!"

Scorpius smirked, eyes flickering up for a moment. "Have I really?"

"Yes!"

"Prove it."

The dark haired boy put down his quill and folded his arms across his chest, scowling at the older man. "You're an arse."

"Show respect to your Professors, Mr Potter, else I'll have to give you a detention."

A grin cracked on Albus' face at the words, leaning forward and placing his chin in his hand. "Does detention mean I get to spend more time with you?"

"I suppose I can no longer threaten you with that, can I?" Scorpius asked, attention focused on the boy again, papers forgotten. "Dock points from your house, instead?"

"A total arse."

"Five points from Gryffindor."

Albus stared, open mouthed and disbelieving. "You didn't!"

"You really expect me not to take the chance to put Slytherin in the lead? Please."

"Cheater."

"Slacker," Scorpius shot back, giving the test a pointed look. "Do your work."

"I don't want to do my work," Albus whined, standing and moving to lean against Scorpius' desk, elbows resting on the wood. "There are so many better things to do."

"Are there really?" the grey eyes flashed. "And what would they be?"

"You can teach me about other things," Albus said, a playful smile on his face. "Do some more practical exercises, Professor."

Scorpius raised a brow at the tone, reaching up and taking the gold and red tie in his hands, stroking the fabric and pulling Albus slightly closer. "Professor, hmm?"

Albus grinned, leaning forward and tilting his head slightly. Scorpius moved to kiss the boy, stopping at the last second, looking at the green eyes which had slipped shut, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, whispering against the pink lips. "Do your work; else you don't get any practical exercises, Albus."

He pulled back, picking up his quill again and turning back to grading papers, unable to keep the amused look off his face when the younger male groaned in annoyance, dragging his feet all the way back to the table and slumping in it, grumbling away as he continued to do the test, occasionally glancing up to shoot death glares at his teacher. The blond had to do everything to stop laughing.

It wasn't another good forty minutes before Albus put down his quill and looked up with a bright smile, practically launching himself round the desks and onto the edge of the table, sitting between Scorpius and his work, refusing to move. "I finished!"

"Let me go look at it then," the Professor said, moving to get up. He was blocked by Albus putting his feet up on either side of the chair.

"No, I want a reward for finishing."

"You can have a reward for answering more than sixty per cent of the questions right."

"I want a reward for finishing and for answering more than sixty per cent of the questions right," Albus corrected, leaning forward. "And then if I get more than seventy per cent of the questions right, I want a better reward. And if I answer more than eighty per cent of the questions right, I want an even better reward. And if I answer more than ninety-!"

Scorpius cut him off by pressing a hand to the boy's lips, giving him a look. "I think I get it," he teased, before removing his hand, wrapping it round the gold and red tie once again, and pulling Albus' forward, resisting the urge to comment on how adorably stupid the boy looked when he looked so proud and kissing him instead. He almost forgot that he was supposed to be marking the mini-test.

Pushing the Gryffindor away, Scorpius laughed again at the slight whine of protest, moving from his seat and heading towards the desk, picking up the quill and marking the work Albus had done. The boy made himself comfortable in Scorpius' chair, turning his attention to the paperwork.

"Those are other student's work, Albus. Hands off."

"Do you enjoy being a Professor?"

Scorpius raised a brow. "I do, yes. Not having a change of heart in your career path, are you?"

"No, I'm not, definitely not. It's just," Albus shifted awkwardly. "Recently you've been kind of down, and very stressed."

"I have?"

Albus nodded.

"I didn't realise," Scorpius admitted, brushing it off with a shrug. "I had been stressed about you and your persistence."

The boy grinned in response, despite the stern look he was receiving. "Are you complaining?"

"I can't decide."

"You have been happier this week."

Scorpius finished marking, looking up with a warm smile that made Albus' heart skip a beat. "I can blame that on you as well."

The boy opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out.

Chuckling, Scorpius moved back round to lean against his desk, Albus' feet rising to rest on the desk, either side of Scorpius, who scolded him for such an undignified action. He didn't stop. "You got more than sixty per cent."

Albus grinned. "I haven't set the rewards yet!"

"I believe I'm the one who sets the rewards," Scorpius said. "And you only get one."

"I think I should get all of them."

"You got more than seventy per cent."

"That's two rewards I get then."

Scorpius rolled his eyes, but didn't argue this time. "You got seventy nine per cent."

Albus looked completely heartbroken.

"Though I suppose seeing as it was so close, I can pretend it's eighty," Scorpius said, putting the parchment down and leaning forward, his hands grasping the sides of the chair, a mischievous smirk on his face. "I do believe that's almost the top prize."

"Can I do extra credit to make up the last ten per cent?"

Scorpius placed a chaste kiss on Albus' lips. "I'm sure I can think of something you can do."

It wasn't long before they were locked at the lips again, one of Scorpius' hands firmly on the chair to keep him steady, the other tangled in dark strands as he dominated the kiss. Albus sat, his own hands planted on the man's shoulders, gripping tightly and stretching his back and neck to try and get more of the kisses. As Scorpius' lips began to wander, nipping at the boy's jaw, pushing Albus' back up against the chair, nudging his head away gently to gain more access to his neck, Albus' hands also began to wander, green eyes fluttering as he let out a whimper of delight from having his neck sucked slightly, his hands trailing down the man's front, slipping past the barrier of his outer robes and stroking the soft fabric of the material covering his stomach.

Scorpius pulled back and all movement stopped as he sought something out in Albus' eyes, licking his lips. "I don't think this is really the right place."

"Then let's find the right place," Albus said breathlessly, firming his resolve.

The blond hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Albus nodded.

Pushing himself up, Scorpius cleared his throat and brushed down the front of his robes, turning as he began packing his things into the case he had brought them in, a smile tugging at his lips as Albus leaped out of his seat, running to his own desk and shoving his things in his bag slightly more recklessly, straightening with an eager grin, accepting the stack of work he was given to help take back to Scorpius' rooms, following the man from the room.

They both walked a lot quicker than was necessary.

Touching his wand to the lock to open it, Scorpius held the door open, glancing down the hallway as Albus entered, shutting the door behind him. Scorpius headed further into the room, setting down his case next to his desk before gesturing to it. "Set the papers down here."

Albus did so, before looking up at the Professor, shifting his weight from foot to foot, before turning away to look round the room. "Your rooms are really nice."

Scorpius gave a soft chuckle, raising a hand to turn the boy's face to look at him, raising a brow. "So you've said before."

"Well, I figured it was something I should say again."

"You know, you get really awkward when you're nervous?"

"I'm not being awkward!" Albus denied, though he knew it was true. Scorpius didn't have anything to say, merely leaning down and starting their kiss back up.

Scorpius took Albus' hands in his own, guiding the boy across the room and sitting down on the couch, pulling Albus down next to him, hands threading round the back of his neck, pulling back slightly to look into the green eyes, making sure that everything was okay.

Albus gave an embarrassed smile. "You know, this reminds me a lot of a dream I had once."

The blond smirked in a way that fully expressed why he was a Slytherin, placing a soft kiss on the edge of Albus' jaw, breath ghosting over the boy's ear. "Did you really?"

"Yeah," Albus murmured, eyes slipping shut as lips began to dance across his neck.

Scorpius hummed, tongue flickering out against the salty skin. "What happened in it?"

"You were sat here with me," Albus said, tilting his head backwards as the lips trailed further down, sucking lightly on his pulse. "In a dressing gown. I think you might've been ready for bed."

The man made a noise of understanding, signalling for him to continue, gripping the younger male's hip to keep him steady.

"And-and you kissed me."

Scorpius leant up as soon as Albus said the words, placing a tender kiss on the pink lips, lazily pushing his tongue forward, stroking it against Albus', before pulling back. "And then?"

Albus recalled the dream and began to feel his face heat up, swallowing. "And then you took your dressing gown off."

A teasing smirk passed across Scorpius' face as the man stood, pulling at the ties that kept his outer robes together, sheading the clothing and standing in smart trousers and a button up, leaning down and pressing another kiss to Albus' lips. "And then?"

"Well, then something else happened before you pushed me backwards, and we changed location."

Scorpius didn't miss the green eyes flickering towards another door, where his bedroom lay. The blond chuckled, pushing Albus backwards to lay down and crawling on top of the boy, giving him a stern look. "I highly doubt you're ready for a change of location."

"That's okay; you're already straying from how the dream went."

"How is that?"

Albus shifted, cheeks becoming a bright red. "You weren't exactly wearing anything underneath your dressing gown."

Scorpius pressed a soft kiss against Albus' jaw once again. "Did you enjoy what dream-Scorpius had to offer?"

"I did until I was woken up."

He couldn't help but laugh at the sulky tone. "One day I'll have to make sure you finish that dream then, as it was so amazing."

Albus smiled despite his embarrassment, wrapping his arms around Scorpius' neck and pulling him forward, their noses brushing. "Can't say I'd complain."

Scorpius didn't have a chance to reply before Albus' lips were pressed against his again, losing himself in the kiss and pressing back eagerly, not wanting the moment to end. His tongue flickered out and trailed along Albus' bottom lip before weaving his fingers into the dark locks, his other hand holding the boy's hip again, stroking the skin through the fabric of his uniform.

Albus' fingers trailed around Scorpius' torso, above the smooth fabric of his button up, pulling away from the kiss and attacking the pale neck with slightly less finesse than Scorpius had done to him, though the blond certainly didn't seem to be complaining.

"Wait," Scorpius breathed. "You want to be softer, that skin's visible."

Albus hesitated for a moment before he resumed what he was doing, without as much ferocity, his fingers moving round to fiddle with the buttons of the shirt, pushing away the top two buttons and spreading the fabric, latching his mouth onto the exposed collar bone, sucking in a breath as he heard Scorpius let out a gasp of pleasure.

"Still too high."

He could hardly say he was going to reject the chance to get more of the skin bared, fingers making quick work of more buttons, not stopping this time, undoing them all and pulling the hem of the shirt from Scorpius' trousers, dislodging the shirt and reaching back to his shoulders, pushing the fabric down the pale arms. Scorpius pulled his hands back from their position to take the shirt off, tossing it over the back of the couch they were sat on before his hands began to wander round Albus' torso again, as he felt hands run back up his arms and over his collar lips soon following and ghosting over his shoulder, hands running down the centre of his chest, brushing over his nipples and splaying out over his stomach.

"Albus…"

The boy hummed in acknowledgement at his name, ducking down further and running his tongue along the man's collar, one hand wrapping round to begin tracing the outline of Scorpius' back, dipping down into the curve of his lower back, slipping further till he met the waistband of the smart trousers, gliding over the top and continuing down.

"It's only been a week," Scorpius breathed, though his voice didn't exactly sound like a protest.

"Only?" Albus asked, tilting his head back upwards and sucking lightly on the man's neck before lining up with the soft lips, green eyes flickering down to them before seeking the grey orbs.

"I should be encouraging you to go slower," the blond explained with his forearm resting against the arm of the chair, next to Albus' head.

"Should you?" Albus questioned, leaning forward and kissing Scorpius softly, hands continuing to explore, running back up the man's chest and finding his nipples again, twirling his fingers round them.

He didn't have a chance to react with anything but a gasp of surprise and pleasure as Scorpius' mouth dived down, latching onto his neck, barely aware of the hand that was undoing his robes, loosening his tie skilfully and making quick work of the buttons of his school shirt, cold skin of Scorpius' hands hitting his stomach and making him writhe slightly, one hand wrapping round to clutch at Scorpius' back, hanging on as his senses became cloudy with lust from the way that sinful mouth was dancing sucking its way down his neck and along his collar, giving one hard suck, teeth grazing his skin, making his back arch upwards, hips grinding against the other man's, making him release a groan of want.

Scorpius rolled his hips forward automatically, eyes slipping shut as a noise slipped from him, suddenly all too aware of the hardness that was growing in his pants that seemed to match Albus' state.

"Slowing down," Scorpius muttered against the skin, forcing his movements to a stop. "Got to slow down."

Albus whimpered at the suggestion and pulled Scorpius down as he bucked his hips upwards.

"Not helping, Albus."

"Don't want to," the boy whined.

Scorpius felt his resolve slipping, breathing heavy and erratic as he tried to force his body to listen to his mind. It wasn't working very well, not with the younger male under him with that face and those noises and-

Both men jumped out their skin as a ringing hit their ears, freezing in place with wide eyes, breathing stopping in fear, still as statues.

The blond let out a sigh of relief and slumped forward as he realised what it was.

"My alarm," Scorpius explained, feeling Albus relax underneath him. "I have to go see my Grandfather. He won't tolerate lateness."

"I suppose it's probably a good thing."

Scorpius sat up, staring down at his ruffled boyfriend, disappointment on his face as he tried to absorb the memory of what he looked like. "Yes, it is."

Albus gave a shy smile, eyes drifting over the exposed chest, feeling his lower half protest to the change of events. "Slower or something, right?"

Reaching for his shirt, Scorpius leant back on his heels as Albus pushed himself into a sitting position, pulling the clothing on and beginning to button it up. "We'll go at the pace you wish to go at, Albus. I just wasn't convinced you were exactly in the right mind to make a decision."

"I was!"

Scorpius chuckled, placing a soft kiss on the boy's forehead as he finished his buttons, reaching down to do up Albus'. "I have to dress you as well, do I?"

The boy had the decency to look embarrassed.

"Okay, off you go, I have to leave and I imagine if you take too long that curious cousin of yours will begin looking for you."

Albus gave a nervous laugh, knowing the man was talking about Lucy but thinking of Rose instantly. She would no doubt have something to say about his extended lesson. "Yeah, that wouldn't be too good."

Scorpius pulled on his outer robes, reaching for his wand and cancelling the alarm charm, pocketing it and extending a hand to help Albus up off the couch. The boy accepted it, smiling brightly as he was given a goodbye kiss, before grabbing his bag and heading towards the door, wandering off towards the library in search of his cousins.

The Malfoy heir waited for his door to close, sucking in a breath and keeping the image of the boy who had left in his mind, thinking of all the things that had lead him to what he was about to do.

Opening his eyes, he headed towards the fireplace, taking a handful of floo powder from the mantel and preparing himself for the conflict that was about to come.

The manor looked the same as it had at Christmas. Rinkle was there to greet him when he arrived, bowing low and welcoming him home as he headed through the house from the Welcoming Room, resisting the urge to visit his mother. He had to be strong to see the man, and seeing the woman of the house would only leave him shaken up. She did not enjoy seeing him unless she was having a lucid moment, and they were becoming harder to find.

It wasn't long before he was in front of an ornate door, his knuckles rapping on the wood in quick succession, holding his head high and reminding himself of his argument as he waited for the words.

"Come in."

He wrapped a hand round the silver door handle and pushed it open, stepping inside and shutting the door quietly, seeing the eldest Malfoy push himself up and stand behind his desk, a warm smile on the face.

"Welcome home, Scorpius. There was something you wished to discuss with me?"

"Thank you. I wish to discuss the integrity of the plan."

The old man knew his grandson well enough to spot the signs of doubt. He had been looking for them since their parting at the end of Christmas, and knew that he would have to keep an eye out. His diligence to look was apparently not as foolish as he had hoped it would be.

"You doubt me," Lucius stated, narrowing his eyes.

Scorpius shut his own eyes for a brief moment, trying to come up with the most diplomatic way to phrase himself. "I'm just not sure I agree with the action you're taking."

"What put these doubts in your head, Scorpius?"

"Nothing, I just- I woke up," he said, giving up on trying to reason. "I'm not going to put so many of my students at risk."

"Your students?" Lucius raised his chin. "Are your students more important than our cause?"

"Your cause," Scorpius corrected. "And they are."

"No!" the man shrieked, making Scorpius jump out his skin, the sound of a fist slamming down on the desk. "Lies! You disobedient little wrench!" the man's face was red with anger. "I will not allow you to embarrass me again!"

"You're only embarrassing yourself," Scorpius said, trying his best to hold his resolve. "And I will play no part in it."

"You're too late to change your mind, child! Your part is almost complete!"

"And I can undo it," Scorpius shot. "I know how to stop it."

"I'd like to see you try!"

The door opened and both men turned their attention, the air becoming thick with tension. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, Draco, this doesn't concern you."

Draco turned to his son, raising a fine brow. "Scorpius? Why aren't you at Hogwarts?"

"It's none of your concern, Draco!" Lucius repeated. "Go and see to your whore."

The younger men turned their anger to the elder. "I believe it is my concern, father. When you're raising your voice to my son under my roof, it's my concern."

"It's not your roof until I'm dead."

"Scorpius," Draco's voice became softer. "Why are you here?"

"Grandfather wanted me to do something," Scorpius said, glancing back to the old man. "I said no."

"Insolence! I try to raise a disciplined grandson and you spoil him with your new found sensitivity," Lucius spat. "Your son is a disobedient fool!"

"My son is an adult and can make his own choices," Draco corrected.

"Do his own choices include his choice in romantic companionship?" Lucius questioned, face twisting with disgust.

Scorpius looked to his father, feeling his heart sink as the man hesitated.

"They do," Draco said after a pause, holding his head high. "I've never been more proud of my son than when he is willing to make his own choices, whether I approve of them or not."

"You'll not get another chance to put it right, Scorpius," Lucius said, ignoring his son. "Once the others find out-!"

"What others?"

"I would be so stupid as to tell a blood traitor."

"I am not a blood traitor," Draco snapped defensively. "I'm merely doing what's best for my family and trying to adjust the twisted view you gave me!"

"You stand up for the man who killed your mother!"

"Harry Potter did not kill mother!"

"I don't want to be in this anymore, Grandfather," Scorpius cut in, pulling a stop to the argument he had heard a million times. "It's wrong."

Lucius straightened, a sneer forming on his lips. "Then you leave me no choice. If you do not perform your duty, then I will be forced to dispose of our disturbing problem."

"How dare you threaten my family? Your family?" Draco shouted as Scorpius stood frozen to the spot. "You won't lay a hand on Astoria!"

"If neither of you are willing to make up for your mistakes, then I will fix them!"

"Astoria is not a mistake, she's my wife!"

"She's your whore!" Lucius snapped. "She was not your wife before Scorpius was conceived!"

"I love her and you will not poison this family any more than you have done in mother's name. She does not deserve it."

"She certainly doesn't love you back; she needs a mind to do that."

Scorpius shut his eyes, forcing back his fear, as his father began to falter. "Mother does not need to be involved in whatever it is Grandfather is planning. She's not a problem that needs disposing of."

"Scorpius-!"

Lucius smirked in triumph as the man shook his head, raising a hand to cut his father off.

"Please don't hurt her."

"There's more at stake here than just your mother," Draco whispered, stepping towards his son and placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I don't know what it is he's making you do, but I know that if you think it's wrong that should come first."

"I expect you to have finished in a fortnight, Scorpius," Lucius commanded.

Scorpius nodded reluctantly, taking his father's arm and dragging the older man from the room before he had time to protest, shutting the door to Lucius' study before they headed down the hall.

"What is going on, Scorpius?"

"You have to trust me, father. I can't let him hurt mother."

"Something tells me that this is going to hurt more than just your mother."

"He wants to take away something precious from Harry Potter, and all the other people who abandoned us."

"Losing your grandmother has driven him insane, Scorpius, you can't seriously-!"

"I have to find a way to stop it without him knowing," Scorpius pressed, turning to his father as they arrived at the Welcoming Hall. "I can't let him hurt mother."

Draco clenched his jaw, sucking in a breath before clasping his arms around Scorpius, face contorted with pain. "I trust you. But please, if you cannot, then you mustn't allow him to blackmail you."

"I know," Scorpius gave a tight smile and pulled back. "I have to get back."

"Good luck."

I wasn't sure if I should combine this chapter with the next one, but I think it would be weird with the time gap that's going to be between them. So it's shorter than it was going to be, but it'll be a better progression. I can't believe that we're about two thirds of the way through this story.

And I know, I know, I'm very weak-willed. I just had to give into the demands. Here's your half naked Scorpius. I really pissed off my beta because I sent it to her half-finished and purposely cut off half way through that little scene in Scorpius' rooms just to irritate her. I'm so nice!

Lots of love for alerts, reviews, and faves!

R+R

Thanks ~

Kivea R.

PREVIEW

"No, Al, we have to sit down and seriously consider our options."

"Can't we act now and think later?"

"You're so much like your brother sometimes."

"We are kind of related, it's not surprising."