Like always guys thank you so much for all the positive feedback! As for all the comments and PMs I've been getting about abandoning this story I would never! Sadly life gets in the way and I just started my first year of fashion school so I'm a bit busy, but this story is my baby. I want to see it done just as much as you guys do. Just because I don't post in a week doesn't mean I'm not working on it, please be patient. Anyway enjoy and please keep the reviews coming.
Scorpius pulled at his tie, loosening it as he climbed the grand staircase of Malfoy Manor after a very long day of dealing with all the incompetent idiots at the Ministry. How people could be so useless he'd never know. Problem after problem was thrown at him and because of that he hadn't been able to leave until much later than he had wanted to.
As he steps into one of the many wings of his home he hears a soft singing from behind his bedroom door. The melody carrying through the corridor and immediately soothing him with the knowledge of what lay behind the double doors. As silently as he could, he opens the door and walks into what could only be the sweetest of scenes. There on the large canopy bed lay his beautiful wife as she nursed their baby boy, singing to him as he suckled at her breast and played with a strand of her red hair.
"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen."
Scorpius leans against the door and revels in the peace of the room. His problems of before were now non-existent and all that mattered was his little family, his Lily and their Altair. With them at his side the world was absolutely perfect.
"Is your tummy full?" Lily coos once Altair stops eating and begins stretching against her with his small fists waving in the air. "You look like a little vampire," she giggles, dabbing at his pouty lips with a soft towel.
As she lifts the baby onto her shoulder to burp him, she looks up and spots him at the door. Her green eyes shining with pure love and devotion as her smile turns to Scorpius.
"Look who's here. Its daddy," she whispers into Altair's ear, turning him around so he faced Scorpius. At the sight of his father the baby squealed and wiggled against Lily's hold, kicking out his chubby legs.
Walking over to them he sits at the edge of the bed and takes his son into his arms, pressing a kiss to his cheek before covering Lily's lips with his own. He hadn't seen her all day and every second away from her and their sweet boy had felt like an eternity.
"Hello," he breathes against her warm mouth.
"We missed you," she tells him. "How was work?"
"Work was work. I rather be here with the two of you than dealing with all the unnecessary problems made by incompetent people. Maybe I should just quit, not like I actually need to work for a living."
"And lose all the power that comes with being the Minister's Undersecretary?" Lily teases.
Scorpius laughs, looking down at Altair who is busy playing with the snake pin on his tie. "I do love having all that unlimited power at my disposal."
"My Slytherin," she grins, resting her head on his shoulder and combing her fingers through her child's soft hair. "My mum is right. He looks just like you."
"He has your eyes," Scorpius replies. "And your smile. Which is quite terrible for me if I ever want to say no to him."
"He'll have you wrapped around his finger."
"Just like his mother."
"Or his Auntie Cassie. I've seen them talking in a secret once or twice, and I think they're plotting something."
"A dangerous duo those two together," he shudders for effect before Altair cries out in annoyance at not being the center of attention, his fist rubbing at his eyes tiredly.
"I think it's past someone's bedtime," Lily murmurs as she takes the crying baby into her arms, rocking him gently. "Do you want me to sing to you, my sweet boy?"
Scorpius watches as Altair begins to calm, cuddling into his mother's warmth and gazing up at her with matching green eyes. Pulling Lily into his own arms, he listens to her singing and closes his eyes, enjoying this perfect moment.
"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen…"
Scorpius wakes from his dream with a start. His chest rising and falling dramatically as he sits up on the bed, allowing the sheets to fall to his waist and away from his heated skin before glancing at Lily who continued to sleep peacefully. Carefully – as to not disturb her – he pushes the sheets away from him and swings his legs to the side of the bed, his hands running through his hair as he thought about his strange dream.
It had felt so real. Too real. He wasn't one to look for meaning behind a figment of his imagination – he'd leave that to Corrina – but none of what he had experienced had felt false. He could still hear his son's cries and his warm laugh that reminded him so much of Lily, innocent and pure. Then there was that song; the same song Lily had sang in the music room only yesterday afternoon…
"What are you doing up?" Lily asks as she presses her front to his back, resting her chin on his shoulder and placing a kiss below his ear.
He leans into her and molds her naked body around his, inhaling her sweet scent and allowing her warmth to soothe him. "I had a lot on my mind," he says while touching the star that hangs from her charm bracelet.
Altair. They had named him Altair.
"Are you still upset about Hugo knowing? Please don't be mad at me, but I couldn't just let you obliviate him. He won't say anything I swear."
"I'm not mad, love. A little worried, yes, but if you trust him then I will too."
"Am I starting to become a problem for you?" she questions softly.
He immediately turns around to face her in surprise. "You are not a problem. Why would you ask that?"
She shrugs, looking away from him sadly. "It seems that way…"
"Have I made you feel like that?"
"No, of course not! You've been wonderful to me, but I can't help feeling like I haven't given you anything more than hassle."
Her words absolutely confounded Scorpius. How could she possibly think that she was the only one gaining something out of this relationship? Was she really that oblivious or was he just that cold and detached?
"Lily," he takes her face in between his hands, "you have given me so much more than you can imagine."
She looks at him with doubt and before any words can pass her lips, he silences her with a deep kiss. If Lily wouldn't believe his words, then he would just have to show her how deeply his feelings for her ran.
"I've never been happier than when I am with you," Scorpius murmurs as he pulls away from her enticing lips. His hand caressing the side of her face, tilting her chin up and holding her gaze with his own. He needed her to see how much she affected him. To witness what lay behind his own self.
"I don't want you to ever feel like you are a burden on me, my love. I have no regrets with you and in no way will you ever be a problem to me," he continues. "Never, Lily."
She leans forward to give him a gentle, lingering kiss. Her small hands wrapping around his neck as she breaks their kiss. "We still have about two hours before we have to be up, shall we go back to bed?" she smiles.
"Yes, but not for sleep." He lowers her back onto the bed, climbing on top of her and running his mouth over her breasts, his hand moving between her legs.
"Oh, Scorpius…"
The late October breeze tousled Scorpius' hair and reddened his cheeks as he stood atop the astronomy tower. His cloak unable to protect him entirely from the chilled day, but he didn't particularly care at the moment. There were just too many things running through his head for Scorpius to take notice of something as trivial as the weather. No matter what he had tried that dream continued to plague him and he was sure he had failed his Ancient Runes' exam because of it.
"It's daddy…"
Groaning, he pressed his hands to his eyes and tried wielding the image away. He was stronger than this. A simple dream couldn't possibly disrupt his state of mind in such a way! But it had. Every little thing he did or saw had only reminded him more and more of it. Even as he had made love to Lily his hand would move to rest on the lower part of her belly, imagining his heir growing inside of her. Then there was her charm bracelet that nagged at him every time he caught sight of it, the star taunting Scorpius with the memory of his child's name.
Altair. His Altair. Their Altair.
He leans over the rail in defeat, knowing well it was futile trying to forget such a beautiful scene when all he wanted was for it to be true. It's a sudden roll of thunder that makes him look up into the dark sky, the clouds emptying themselves and releasing a downpour against the castle. Each droplet alighted on his skin brings him back to the present and away from the memory of Altair's innocent eyes and chubby hands at his tie. Closing his eyes and leaning his head back, he allows the rain to fall on his face like soft kisses of ice.
After a minutes of standing under the heavy storm – his hair and clothes now drenched – he moves back inside the castle, casting a drying spell over himself. Once warm and no longer trailing water with every step he takes, Scorpius descends the staircase and follows the rest of the students towards the great hall for dinner. He hadn't eaten all day and his stomach was starting to protest.
"Have you heard?" Derrik is suddenly at his side with a grim expression.
"Heard what?"
Derrik searches through his leather messenger bag and hands him a newspaper. On the front page of the Daily Prophet in bold letters it reads:
ATTACK IN LONDON.
FIVE MUGGLE FAMILIES KILLED AND THE DARK MARK IS IMPRINTED IN THE SKY. COULD THIS BE A NEW DEATH EATER UPRISE AFTER YEARS OF PEACE?
"Bloody hell, mate. What the fuck do you think is going on?" Derrik asks as Scorpius finishes reading.
"I don't know…" he murmurs, looking away from the photograph of Harry Potter and the rest of the Aurors looking up at the disfigured sky.
"I bet all my gold that his family had something to do with this," he suddenly hears Albus say in a sure voice.
Both Scorpius and Derrik turn around to see Albus looking over his own copy of The Daily Prophet. His friends and cousins at his side, including Lily who tries shushing him to no avail.
"Albus, please –"
Her brother ignores her, shoving her out of the way and sauntering up to Scorpius. His green eyes only matching Lily's in color but lacking her warmth and innocence. He makes show of looking over Scorpius' shoulder and down to the newspaper in his hands.
"It's sad what happened, but I don't suppose my father will let this get out of hand. He'll of course catch whoever did this; he's the savior of the free world after all. If I were part of your distinguished linage I'd be a little worried, so might as well turn yourself in and save the Aurors the trouble."
"My family had nothing to do with this," Scorpius replied emotionlessly.
"Now, now, there's no reason to lie. We all know the type of family you come from," Albus continued to mock. "Your grandfather was in Azkaban and your father a coward. That doesn't really look good for anyone."
"Fuck you, Potter!" Derrik sneers.
"I wasn't talking to you, Bletchley. Why don't you do what your family is good at and go hide under a rock instead of taking a side."
"Coming from the little boy that hides behind his daddy's name," Scorpius cuts in before Derrik throws a hex.
Albus' eyes darken at the taunt. "At least I have a father to be proud of. Yours is a good for nothing Death Eater that would be rotting away in Azkaban had it not been for mine."
"You forget who saved who's life," he spat back.
"Ah, yes. Your family's only redeeming act, is it?"
By now a circle of students had formed around them no doubt ready for a duel to break out at a second. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lily looking on in concern and clinging onto Hugo, who was whispering something into her ear.
"Thanks to that redeeming act as you call it your father is alive. Do yourself a favor and grow up, Potter. I've grown tired of your childish games."
As Scorpius tries walking off and avoid causing Lily more stress with what she was witnessing, Albus pull him back by his elbow.
"Keep your hands off of me," Scorpius snarls.
"If you say you aren't a Death Eater then I don't suppose you'd mind showing us your arm, would you?"
Scorpius feels his blood run cold. He was going to kill him. Lily or no, he had no reason to put up with this.
"Albus, enough!" Lily rushes to the imbecile's side and pulls at his arm only to have him shake her off.
"Don't we all think he should show us his arm?" Albus asks around. "We'd all feel safer knowing the truth, Malfoy. If I remember correctly your father was only sixteen when he allowed a bunch of Death Eaters into the castle, so please forgive me for being suspicious."
"Stop it!" Lily begs again.
"If you aren't a Death Eater then there shouldn't be a problem with doing what I ask. Unless, of course, you are hiding something…"
"Bravo, Potter. It's truly astonishing to see a single person spew so much shite from their mouth as you have just now. Not only are you absolutely pathetic – trying to make yourself seem smarter than you could ever possibly be – but you're unremarkable. No matter what you do it will never be enough for you to be like your precious father, nor me. I will always be ten steps ahead of you in everything. It's why I have the Head Boy badge that you were so sure would go to you. It's why I'm always the one with the snitch in my hand every game. You can never touch me no matter how much you wish you could."
Albus' eyes narrow and his smirk slowly fades with every word spoken. Scorpius knew he had hit a nerve and though he wished he didn't have to do this in front of Lily, he was tired of being the bigger person. Tired of taking the hits.
"It's why I get the last laugh every single time you open your bloody mouth. Your family must be so ashamed of how talentless you are – oh, wait – they don't know, do they? You've done so well hiding the truth of how fucking stupid you are. I could tell everyone your little secret if I really wanted to."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about," Albus gulps visibly.
He smiles. "I think you do. I'd be careful if I were you, Potter. Don't want any unplanned pregnancies ruining your brilliant future. Merlin knows the world would be better off without you procreating."
Scorpius watches Albus grow angrier. His face pales, but his eyes are like flames as he glares at him. The students and Albus' family look on in curiosity at what Scorpius knew and what had so easily silenced the Gryffindor.
"Cat got your tongue?" he asks in false innocence. "You seemed to have been having such fun poking at me and now you've gone all quiet. Did I say something wrong?"
"You're worthless," Albus replies. "There's nothing you could ever say against me, nor would anyone ever take the word of someone like you. Think what you want, Malfoy, but I'm not the one everyone hates."
"I wouldn't necessarily say that, Potter." Calliope walks up to Scorpius' side after having pushed through the gaping students, Olin and Corrina only steps behind her. "I've heard a couple of your lackeys talking behind your back. You should get better friends or is the whole school finally tired of hearing you bitch about how great your family is?"
"Who invited Zabini?" Albus says sourly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I was doing you a favor by interrupting and allowing you a moment to process the big boy words Scorpius was using. How does it feel to have a real wizard put you in your place? Must be enlightening."
"No one asked for your opinion, you troll. As for Malfoy being a real wizard don't make me laugh."
"Careful with your words, Potter. I won't allow you or anyone to speak to my fiancée like that," Olin warned.
"It's alright, Olin. You can't expect someone like this imbecile to know how to speak to someone of my stature."
"Someone of your stature?" Albus laughs. "The daughter of a wannabe Death Eater, yes? From what my Uncle Ron says your father was nothing more than Draco Malfoy's lapdog. I can't imagine how you'd ever think yourself superior to anyone when you and your cousin are equally pitiful."
Scorpius holds Calliope back when she looks ready to lunge after Albus' condescending tone. It was one thing for someone to attack her, but not her family. His cousin could be heartless and cold more often than not, yet when it came to family he knew she'd give up her life for every single person.
"The only person you should think pitiful is yourself, Potter," Olin spoke calmly as he looked down on Albus. "Not only have you made a fool of yourself by once again losing an argument which you started, but all anyone has heard from you is your usual whining. Yes, your father is Harry Potter, but you aren't him. No matter how many wet dreams you have you will never be like him and I suggest you work on yourself rather than latch onto the glory days that you had no part in. I also believe you should leave Scorpius alone because I'm starting to wonder if you're in love with him. You never seem to stop talking about him and it makes a person wonder…"
The Slytherins all laugh openly at Olin's insinuation, but Scorpius knew this was far from over. Albus loved having the last word and he doubted the Gryffindor would allow his pride to be stepped on in such a way. The look of pure hatred in Albus' eyes sent the message loud and clear.
"You should be more focused on the snake you're going to marry than on me, Hallowell. Everyone knows about Zabini's grandmother and how she's a gold-digging whore that's killed all of her husbands. I wouldn't be surprised if she taught her granddaughters a thing or two on how to fuck their way to being rich. Tell me, ladies, do you touch yourselves to the thought of money or will you only sick a dick if someone pays you?"
Before Olin, Scorpius, and even Derrik could pull out their wands in defense of the Zabini sisters. Calliope already had hers pointed at Albus' throat.
"Talk of my sister and grandmother like that again I dare you!" she roars.
"Miss Zabini!" Professor Slughorn calls out as he and Professor Flitwick break through the sea of students, Hugo rushing behind them. "Put your wand down this second! One hex and you'll go straight to McGonagall."
"P, let it go. He isn't worth it," Corrina pulls at Calliope's arm.
"We won't ask again, Miss Zabini."
"Calliope," Scorpius walks to her side, "walk away."
"Wand. Down."
Calliope looks towards the professors and to everyone's surprise, she throws her wand at them before slamming her fist into Albus' face. Her sharp ring cutting him deeply below his eye and causing him to bleed profusely.
"You bitch!" Albus shouts in pain, his hands going to his damaged face and touching at the wound.
Scorpius like the rest of the students and professors stood in shock after having witnessed Calliope act no better than a muggle. It was absolutely uncivilized for a wizard and especially a witch to give into a fistfight when they were able to use magic.
"You will never be worth me having to use my wand," Calliope says above all the commotion, her body shaking in anger and her own damaged hand fisted at her side.
"Miss Zabini –"
"I know where McGonagall's office is," she cuts off Professor Slughorn, walking past everyone and down the corridor with her head held high and even steps. Corrina and Olin following after her in a matter of seconds.
"All of you to your houses immediately or every single student will have a year's worth of detention!" Professor Flitwick orders after his own shock had worn off.
With that threat hanging in the air the students immediately do as their told with only a few remaining to tend to Albus or in Derrik's case just to be at Scorpius' side in case he needed backup.
"What the hell happened to you Albus?" Rose barreled towards him and looked around her many cousins for what she had missed.
"What happened is that Malfoy's fucking cousin attacked me like a damn animal!" Albus replied while allowing Lily to stop his bleeding. "You can't expect less from people like them."
"Would you stop? We need to get you Madam Pomfrey before you lose an eye," Lily glares.
Scorpius takes a deep breath and slowly walks up to them, ignoring Lily's pleading eyes for him to walk away. He knew what he was about to say wasn't wise and would probably earn him her anger, but he couldn't help it.
"You know what Potter? If you keep pushing me, I may just end up destroying your family and I won't give a fuck. I won't feel one ounce of guilt when I take something from right under your nose."
Albus stares at him in confusion while Lily tries her best to show no emotion, but Scorpius knows her better than anyone. He sees her body tense and the tremble in her hand as she clings onto her brother's arm. Even Hugo looks on in worry of what else Scorpius would say from his place next to the Scamander twins.
"I said everyone to their house!" Professor Flitwick glares at them from over his glasses. "And you, Potter, go to the infirmary to get that eye examined."
Without another word Scorpius walks off, ignoring Slughorn who tells him that the dungeons were the other way and heading down to McGonagall's office in search of his cousins, Derrik at his heels.
"What did you mean by what you said to Potter?" Derrik asks.
"That's my business."
"I tell you all my shite. What is this that will destroy their family?"
"Derrik, not now. I need to see what's going to happen to Calliope and some secrets are better left alone at the moment."
"You can't just say something like that and not expect questions!"
"Leave it alone."
"Sometimes I want to Avada Kedavra your arse I hope you know," Derrik mutters just as they spot Corrina and Olin standing in front of McGonagall's door.
"What's happening?" Scorpius asked them. "Is she in there?"
Corrina nods silently, her soft features conveying the worry she felt for her older sister. Scorpius knew that while she and Calliope were absolute opposites they were just like his mother and Aunt Daphne. They could fight and shout, but it was their love for each other that outweighed the bad.
He wraps his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her blonde head. "It'll be okay Rina."
"What happened to Potter?" she asks.
"Hopefully he lost an eye," Derrik replies.
"If Calliope is expelled losing an eye will be the least of his problems," Olin murmurs as he continues to stare at the closed door.
"She won't be expelled will she?" Corrina bites at her lip in fret.
The door suddenly opens before anyone could reply, Calliope walking out calmly and giving nothing away.
"What happened?" everyone asks simultaneously.
"I don't know yet," she tells them. "McGonagall wants to speak with an actual adult so she made me write home."
"To mother and father?"
"Of course not. I don't want to worry father and mother would have my skin as a coat if I'm expelled."
"You won't be expelled," Olin assures her. "My father is on the board of governors and he won't allow anything to happen to you."
Calliope's lips curve up slightly. "Thank you, Olin."
"If you didn't write to our parents than to whom?"
"Here I am with two stunning witches on either side of me and a bottle of Ogden's finest when I suddenly get a letter saying Calliope has taken someone's eye out and I think: not my sweet little cousin!"
Everyone turns to the lively voice and standing there with a brilliant smile and arms open in await of an embrace is Anton.
"I knew you'd come!" Calliope says as she rushes into his arms, followed by Corrina and even Scorpius can't help give a smile at his cousin's presence.
Think what you will of Anton, but he was always there for all of them. From the moment they had been born he had been the one to provide comfort when their parents couldn't and while Bastian was technically the eldest it was Anton that they looked up to. Bastian would judge, but it was Anton that listened.
"Did you actually doubt me?" he asks Calliope.
"No," she replies while pressing her face into his dark suit. "You smell like home."
Anton smiles dotingly at the sisters, hugging them close in comfort and only pulling away to look at Calliope. "So what are we dealing with? I hear you took someone's eye out..."
"I should have. McGonagall might expel me either way and Potter deserved it for being such a prick."
"Potter? As in Harry Potter?" Anton lifts a dark brow.
"His son, Albus."
"What happened?"
"He offended Grandmother Antoinette and Corrina."
Anton's emerald eyes darken at Calliope's words and his grin vanishes just as fast as a snitch during a quidditch game. Scorpius watches Anton look at Corrina for confirmation and when she nods, his expression is murderous.
"What did he say?" he asked them.
Calliope looks away. "Something I rather not repeat."
Scorpius knew her words were enough to tell Anton that it hadn't just been a simple argument between house rivals.
"He's always looking for a fight with Scorpius, but he went too far this time," she murmurs. "He can say what he wants about me, but not my family. Something in me just snapped and I punched him without thinking."
Anton glances at Scorpius in question. Aside from Calliope, Corrina, and Damen, no one else in the family knew of Albus' hatred for Scorpius. He hadn't found the need to whine about being picked on like a little boy when he could fight his own battles; he'd leave the bitching to Albus.
"We'll talk about that later," he tells Scorpius with a pointed look before moving his gaze back to Calliope. "You punched him...like a muggle?"
"It wasn't my finest moment."
"I can't say I'm surprised. You punched Bastian in the groin when you were two because he told you that your dolls weren't real and everyone knew that they were your babies."
Everyone lets out a laugh and though still a bit nervous of her fate, Calliope begins to cheer up at the mention of her childhood.
"Is that why he doesn't really come near me?" she grins.
"That and the fact that after he told on you – as he tends to do – and Aunt Daphne had taken away all your toys as punishment, you warned him that next time you would use a knife for being such a tattletale."
"I'd start sleeping with an eye open, Hallowell," Derrik snickers.
"Mr. Greengrass, what are you doing here?" Headmistress McGonagall asks as she steps out of her office.
"Headmistress you look just as radiant as I recall." Anton places a kiss on her hand and to everyone's amusement the older witch looked absolutely stricken by his charm. "You haven't aged a bit since the last time I saw you."
McGonagall chortles until she remembers that students were present and there was an issue that needed to be dealt with. Clearing her throat, she focuses her attention on Calliope.
"Where are your parents?"
"My aunt and uncle are traveling overseas, Headmistress. They won't be back until later in the week I'm afraid."
"That won't do. I need to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Zabini this very moment as I have an injured student on my hands."
"I understand but from what Calliope wrote to me, you just needed to speak with an adult and it's been a few years since I was last a child."
She considers his words for a moment before exhaling deeply. "My office, Mr. Greengrass."
"After you."
As the door closes behind Anton, Calliope walks over to Olin and to Scorpius' surprise lays her head on his shoulder tiredly.
"Thank you for defending me," she murmurs.
"You're my future wife."
"I don't think your mother will allow you to marry me when she finds out what I did or if I'm expelled from school."
"I won't allow you to be thrown out and as for my mother, I'll deal with her."
Scorpius doesn't hear the rest, giving them privacy and turning to Corrina who stood near one of the many windows. Before he can walk over to her and offer his cloak, Derrik places his own around her shivering frame.
"Thank you," Corrina says in a surprise tone.
"You looked cold…" he shrugs.
For the first time since the two had met as children, Scorpius witnesses his cousin smile up at his best mate without her usual sarcasm in sight. The small gesture takes Derrik aback as well, but he responds with a boyish grin of his own. It shouldn't have felt like an intimate moment and yet Scorpius felt as if he were intruding on one. He felt out of place between the two couples even if one of them was far from anything romantic.
His thoughts take him to Lily and how she was handling the current situation. Was she mad at him for what he said in the end to Albus? He could only hope not. Was she crying because of the horrifying scene she had witnessed? Probably, and Scorpius wished nothing more than to be there to comfort her. His sweet witch hadn't deserved the moment she was forced to endure.
She deserved better than him.
Time ticks by slowly and the only sound comes from the storm outside the castle walls. The thunder drowning out all the thoughts surging in his head. He doesn't want to imagine his Lily in tears because of what her sorry excuse for a brother had caused. Maybe he should just do as he warned Albus and take her away from them. Yes, she'd inevitably miss her family and it would be hard on her, but he'd be there for her. He'd never asked his parents for much and he knew his mother adored him; she may be an ally in all of this. His grandparents would just have to adapt to her and if they didn't that was their problem, but Lily was practically a pureblood and that was all they'd care about. As for his father it would take some time for him to get used to a Potter/Weasley in their family, but Lily would grow on him as she was nothing like her blasted family. Even Cassiopeia had taken a liking to her and they had only met a single time; he doubted he'd have a problem there.
Could you really do this, Scorpius?
Would he be able to live with himself knowing all he had caused? He loved her and for that reason he didn't want to be the cause of the sadness in her eyes. Scorpius didn't want to break her spirit in his selfishness.
Calliope's voice saves him from himself. "What happened?" she asks Anton as he steps out from McGonagall's office.
"Do you want the good news or bad news?" he asks.
"Bad news."
"Bad news is that you're stuck in this shithole until you graduate next year or end up killing someone. Good news is that if I hurry I may still find those witches back at the pub."
Calliope let's out an excited laugh and jumps into Anton's arms, hugging him tightly and thanking him over and over again.
"You're on probation, Calliope. One more stunt like that and I doubt Salazar Slytherin could save you from being thrown out. Play nice with the children and share your toys, got it?"
"Got it," she presses a loud kiss to his cheek. "How did you do it?"
"Darling, I'm a Greengrass. We have our ways of persuasion –"
"Expelled are you?"
With a groan, Scorpius turns to the other side of the corridor where Albus stood looking absolutely ridiculous with a black patch over his left eye.
"Does he seriously want someone to take out his other eye?" Derrik glared, wand already in hand.
"She didn't get expelled," Corrina tells him with a scowl.
"What do you mean she didn't get expelled!" he snarls.
"Expulsion is the action of depriving someone of membership in an organization," Olin defines condescendingly. "Would you also like for me to say it in French or perhaps German? I speak five languages and in all of them expulsion means the same thing. Calliope doesn't fit the category as McGonagall forgave her."
"Wait until I tell my father you attacked me," Albus promises Calliope. "I'll have you locked in Azkaban!"
"Now, now, play nice children," Anton intervenes. "Let the grownup handle this."
Scorpius stood aside as Anton walked up to Albus, staring down at him calmly and reminding Scorpius of their Grandfather Hyperion. Even to this day his maternal grandfather scared him more his Grandfather Lucius, and it was because his anger was so quiet. He never yelled or physically attacked anyone, and that was so much worse.
"One would think that after you were left looking like that you wouldn't go poking at me, little boy. I want you to get this through that thick skull of yours as I'm only going to say it one: stay the fuck away from my family. I'm not Scorpius and I'm not Calliope, and I assure you that I don't give a single fuck who your daddy is. If you can't keep your mouth shut and play nice we'll just have to rip out that tongue of yours. I'll end you and I'll make it look like an accident, got it?"
Albus nods shakily, shrinking away Anton's vicious gaze.
"I like that we understand each other, Potter. My night was ruined because of this shite and I don't plan on making the trip to Hogwarts every time one of my cousins decides to sever one of your limbs. Now if you're done shaking like a bloody maraca and have nothing of value to say, take your scrawny arse back to the lion's den."
Not needing to be told twice, Albus races off like the ninny he was. Sometimes it really was a wonder why someone like him would end up in Gryffindor besides his obvious parentage as a reason. He had the courage of a cornered rat.
"Now with that handled everyone should get back to the dungeons unless you want old Filch to give you a detention," Anton says as he looks down at his watch. "Not you Scorpius. We need to talk."
Damn it. There goes the quick escape.
"Can we do it some other time? I have somewhere I need to be and an essay that won't write itself."
"Did I not just say I hate repeating myself to Potter? I said we need to talk Scorpius Hyperion and don't you dare roll your eyes at me you little brat, I changed your damn nappies! Your essay can wait and wherever you're going isn't as important as this."
"Anton I really don't need a lecture right now. Can we please just do this when I go back home for the holidays? It's been a shitty day and I just don't want to think about it."
"You're all fucking lucky you have a cousin like me," he huffs. "The moment you're back in London we're going to have a little chat cousin to cousin whether you want to or not."
Scorpius nods. "I'll add it to my calendar."
"Do you really want to be sarcastic with me right now? I'm a second away from slapping you and it isn't going to be pretty."
Corrina and Calliope giggle from beside him, walking up to Anton and each placing a kiss on his cheek.
"Behave, ladies. Let me know if you need help burying a body or something of the sort."
"We'll hold you to that," Corrina replies in a cheerier voice.
Calliope smiles at the two as she rests her hand on their cousin's arm. "Thank you again for coming Anton."
"I'll always be there for all of you little cousin, but in the future, let's not cock-block Anton, yes?"
"Ew!" she laughs, shoving him away.
"Take care, P," he presses a kiss to her forehead. "And don't worry, your parents won't know about this incident."
"I love you."
"Love you more. Now if we're done here I'm going back to the pub to see if those witches are still there or at the most my bottle of firewhisky." He pats Scorpius on the shoulder as he walks past and towards the entrance of the castle. "Don't forget about our talk Scorp unless you want me to get Aunt Tori involved!"
"Noted," Scorpius grumbles.
"I guess we should head down to the dungeons," Derrik yawns.
"It is getting late and I don't want another run-in with someone of their family," Corrina says, following after him. "Are you coming Calliope?"
"You go on ahead," she replies. "I need to get my wand back from Slughorn."
"I'll go with you," Olin offers.
"Okay."
"Scorpius?" Corrina calls out to him.
"I'm going to see if Weaslette still needs me to be on duty."
"Only you would think about prefect duties after all this shite," Derrik rolls his eyes.
As soon as they're all of sight, Scorpius spots Hugo hiding behind a pillar. The younger boy looking anxious at the prospect of being caught with a Malfoy.
"Where is she?" Scorpius asks.
"Clock tower under the staircase –"
"Thanks!" he says, racing towards the third floor.
As expected the corridor was empty and the only movement was that of the pendulum swinging back and forth. Had it not been for the soft sound of sniffling alongside the rainfall he would have thought it completely desolate. With careful steps he walked behind the wooden staircase where Lily sat crying with her arms wrapped around her knees. He couldn't have hated himself more in that very moment. Every whimper tearing him apart.
She startles when he places his hand on her shoulder, looking up at him with bloodshot eyes and trembling lips. Taking her into his arms, Lily heaved with emotion. Her small body shaking against him with every cry until she began to calm.
"He's very mad," she whispers.
"I know. I'm sorry, Lily. You never should have seen that and I shouldn't have acted so stupidly in the end."
"Hugo thinks someone will find out because of what you said. Albus isn't as dumb as you might think."
He looks back down at her. "You still want to be with me?"
"Do you not want to?" she wipes at her eyes.
"Of course I do," he replies. "But I just thought that after all that happened…"
"I don't want to lose you Scorpius."
He places a kiss against her temple. "You won't Lily. You will always have me even if we're apart."
Lily takes his face between her small hands and draws his lips to hers; the kiss soft and heavy with emotion. Her hands drop to encircle around his neck, as his own hand tightened around her waist. Both so lost in each other that neither are aware of the vibrant eyes watching from behind the stoned archway. Without being noticed the person turns away, their hand touching the wall for a prolonged moment before walking off.
"Can we go to the room of requirement?" Lily asks as she breaks the kiss, her eyes conveying her need for him.
"Will they notice that you're gone?"
"No one wants to get in Albus' line of fire, so they'll think I'm hiding."
He stands up and offers his hand to her. "Let's go. It's been a shitty day and all I want is to be with you."
As they walk from under the staircase they pass the same wall where the intruder had been and just as before both were oblivious to small etching in the stone. An AG & DH making itself part of the castle's long history…
A lone student hurried along the third floor corridor that led to the clock tower late at night. Her hand playing with the red and gold tie around her neck while the Head Girl badge gleamed against her dark cloak. As the girl made to take a turn, she was suddenly pulled under the wooden staircase by a pair of strong, very familiar arms and her lips taken in a fiery kiss that stole away her very breath.
"Anton!" the blonde swats at him, breaking the kiss. "You can't just manhandle me like that."
"You like when I manhandle you," he grins. "And if I remember correctly, you didn't seem to mind it last night. In fact you kept begging for more."
"I did not beg."
"Oh, you most definitely begged, Miss Hale."
"Did. Not."
His grin only grows wider. "Darcy, should I remind you how much you enjoyed my mouth on your sweet pus –"
She covers his mouth with her hand. "Stop! I will not deal with your vulgarity after the day I've had preparing for graduation. If our Head Boy changes the tapestries one more time I won't be held responsible for hexing him into the next century!"
"My poor girl," Anton coos. "You work so hard."
"That's because some of us weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouth."
"Is that a muggle joke?"
"More like a saying."
He looks at her quizzically as he tried making sense of the phrase. "I don't get it…"
"My pureblood," she giggles, lacing her arms around his neck. "You're cute when you don't understand something."
"Cute? Like a puppy or a baby?"
"Did I emasculate you?"
"A bit," he confesses. "My cousins are cute. I'm fucking beautiful."
Darcy's head falls back as she laughs freely. "How can you be so vain?" she asks.
"It's called honesty, love, or do you not find me beautiful?"
"Maybe just a little…"
"Just a little?"
"Perhaps," she bites her lip.
His emerald eyes fall to her pink lips. "Liar," he states and silences her objection with another kiss.
Their lips parted and clasped onto one another once again with an adding of more pressure. His hand clasped gently into the back of her hair, pressing in softly and tangling within her honey tresses. His mouth tasted like the peppermint candy he always seemed to eat, cool and warm at the same time. There was nothing better than the feeling of Anton kissing her until the world vanished around them.
But it never truly vanished, not really. They could pretend all they wanted, but Darcy knew the truth. Come tomorrow it would all be over. He'd walk away and take her heart with him, and she would only have these memories of him to cling onto. The loud chime from the clock tower suddenly startles them and forces an end to their kiss. Her brown eyes turning towards the swinging pendulum and away from that emerald gaze she loved so much.
"It's midnight," she murmurs.
"Happy graduation day."
She doesn't reply; instead keeping her eyes locked on the ever moving clock. A tear sliding down her cheek and to her chin.
"Hey, why are you crying?" he wipes away the fallen tear with his thumb.
At his touch the tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. Darcy feels the muscles of her chin tremble like a small child and she looks toward the window, as if the light of the moon could soothe her. There is static in her head once more, the side effect of this constant fear, constant stress she lived with. She hears her own sounds, like a distressed child, raw from the inside. It takes something out of her Darcy didn't know she had left to give. This was the definition of absolute heartbreak.
Anton wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close, gently rubbing her arm. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture. His touch made the room warmer somehow, her future within its walls seeming a little less bleak.
"I love you," she tells him when the tears had all run out.
"I know," he mutters. "I love you too."
"We have to say goodbye today, but I don't want to. I don't want to lose you."
"You'll never lose me, Darcy. My heart is yours and it will always be yours no matter what happens after today."
"Will you marry Sabine?"
"Darcy…"
"Please, Anton. I need to know."
"There's a very high chance of that happening, yes."
She shuts her eyes tightly and clings onto him, feeling a fresh wave of tears making way.
"I don't want you to forget me," she cries. "I don't want to forget this."
"How can you possibly think I could forget this? How could I forget you, Darcy? After all this time do you not trust me?"
"They say time erases everything…"
"Not this. Nothing will ever erase this."
"How can you be so sure?"
Anton looks up at the ceiling in frustration until he drops his gaze to the wall behind her. She watches as he takes out his wand from the inside of his own cloak and walks around her, pressing the tip of his wand to the stone.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"Making sure that neither of us ever forget," he replies.
Walking up to him and looking over his shoulder, she sees what he's doing. With his wand he carves their initials into the uneven stone, forever leaving their mark there.
"There!" he says when he's finished. "What do you think?"
She blinks away the emotion in her eyes at the sight, "I love it."
"Now we'll always remember our love."
"You're not making this easy for me Anton. I have to let you go in a matter of hours and I don't know if I can take it."
"What if we didn't say goodbye?"
She looks up at him in question. "What do you mean?"
"No one knows about us," he says thoughtfully. "If we continue to be careful there isn't a reason why that would change…"
"You want me to be your mistress?"
He scowls at her use of the word.
"It would be too hard. It's already hard sneaking around the castle can you even imagine doing it out in the real world? I don't want you to lose everything because of me and besides, Iryna knows about us and she could say something. I'm not exactly her favorite person or have you forgotten?"
"Iryna has known for a few weeks now and she hasn't said anything. I trust her with my life, Darcy. She would never betray me."