"Scorpius?"

Albus fiddles with the hem of his shirt nervously as Scorpius's grey eyes travel to his face and light up with happiness. "Albus! I was just thinking about you!"

Albus's heart flip-flops in his chest. Scorpius can't just...say things like that without completely undoing him.

"I need help with this Transfiguration essay," Scorpius continues cheerfully, unaware of Albus's internal dilemma. "I need another two inches, and — Albus, are you okay? You look pale. Paler than me, even."

So he had noticed. Albus curses his complexion — why couldn't he have dark skin like Dad? But then the paleness would be more pronounced, would it? (He's ramble-thinking again.)

"I'm fine," he murmurs; Scorpius's bright eyes are unnerving and he loses his courage. Thank Merlin I'm not a Gryffindor. "I just came to see if you need help with your essay. I finished mine."

"Oh!" Scorpius brightens up even more. "Good thing we're on the same level!" He scoots over and Albus drags a chair over from another table, feeling disappointed and relieved.


Here's the thing.

Albus is in love with Scorpius, but Scorpius is in love with Rose, and Rose just sees him as a friend.

"I'm sorry," Rose says desperately. "I'm so sorry, Al, but I don't know what to do! He keeps following me like a persistent puppy. If I could make him fall in love with you instead, I'd gladly do it."

"There's always Amortentia," Albus suggests, but it's halfhearted and despite everything, he can't bring himself to drug Scorpius. He wants Scorpius to fall in love with him naturally, not because it's potion-induced.

Rose opens her mouth to respond, but Scorpius chooses that very second to come wandering over. His mouth is speaking words to Albus, but his eyes are on Rose, and Albus has the sudden urge to just walk away — he feels like he's interrupting a private moment.

But he can't.


"I want to show you something," Rose says one afternoon. They're sitting in the library and studying for an upcoming Charms exam, and Scorpius is nowhere in sight — probably in the Slytherin common room or enjoying the sunny weather by the lake. He's outgrown his awkward phase and made more friends, so Albus doesn't see him much anymore.

Albus has his very large, meddling family, so he doesn't need friends.

"What?" he asks. "I thought we were going to study."

"We did, and now I'm bored," she says. "I can't think properly. I want to go on a walk."

Albus looks at her strangely — Rose never goes on walks — but agrees to her request, and the two of them quickly pack up their books and head out of the library. Rose takes them up to the seventh floor.

Albus frowns. "Are we going to the Room of Requirement?"

"Maybe," Rose says mysteriously (but her evasiveness is a dead giveaway of the real answer). She says nothing as she paces in front of the wall three times and the grand door appears.

Inside is a nondescript room, plain and simple, with only a little furniture and a chessboard. There's another door off to one side, a door that looks like it leads to another room. Weirdly enough, it has a lock.

Albus thinks nothing of it, which is his first mistake.

"James and Lily should be by in a second," Rose states, and Albus glances at her with alarm. She'd mentioned nothing earlier about his brother and sister — what was going on?

"Rose," he begins slowly, "what —"

The door bursts open again and James and Lily walk in, accompanied by a confused-looking Scorpius. They stop dead when they see Rose and Albus. Scorpius immediately stands taller and Albus's heart sinks.

"Good, you're here," Rose is the first to speak, glancing at each of them in turn and only sparing Scorpius a dismissive look. "We need to talk to you both about something — now!"

Suddenly, Albus and Scorpius are surrounded by the other three and Albus finds his hands bound and before he can fight back, he's being pushed into the other room. Scorpius is yelling as he's being bound by Lily. Neither of them can reach their wands.

"What's going on?" Albus shouts angrily, glaring at Rose. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

James smirks. "Staging an intervention," he says, "but it's just you two. Alone"

"An intervention for wha —" Lily waves her wand and Scorpius falls silent.

"We think that you guys need to talk," she says smugly. "Alone. I think there are some…unresolved personal issues that need to be aired out." She shoots a knowing look at Albus and his blood freezes. No, Lily, I'm going to kill —

"We'll be outside, doing whatever the hell we want," James says. "While you guys talk, I'm finally going to beat Rose at chess."

"And I'm going to watch Rose kick his arse," Lily adds, smiling as Rose opens her mouth to retort. "There's no way you'll beat her, James."

Rose nods. James swells, about to reply.

"Hey!" Albus shouts. "When are you going to let us out?" So I can kill all of you.

"We'll take turns standing by the door and listening to you two," Rose says. "When we're satisfied, we'll let you out."

Albus scowls, but it's not too bad. As soon as he can get rid of these binds, he can reach his wand and —

"Don't think we've forgotten about your wands!" Lily says cheerfully and plucks Albus's wand from his pocket as James does the same for Scorpius. "We'll return them to you later, but for now, get to talking." She waves her wand and Scorpius's voice is restored. "Have fun, you two!"

The door slams closed behind her and Albus meets Scorpius's eyes resignedly. Anger bubbles deep in his stomach but he has to admit that this isn't such a harebrained scheme — for those three. Albus wants to hex them at least five different ways, but first, he's got to face the double whammy before him — being stuck in a small room with his crush, and being forced to confess his feelings.

Merlin, he was going to need a lot of luck for this one.


One hour later

"How do you think Albus is faring?" Rose asks Lily. James has door duty and has his ear pressed to the door.

"Oh, he's either snogging Scorpius, or he's slowly going mad," Lily replies flippantly. "It's probably the latter because the idiot is a bloody chicken."

"Desperation will win out," Rose predicts confidently. "He can't be stuck in there forever, right?"

"You underestimate Al's pride," Lily says gravely. "He'd rather stay stuck in that room for the rest of his life than admitting to his love. I don't get him. I'd just get the love confessions over with so everyone is happy."

"He's stubborn," Rose agrees, "but he'll get hungry and tired and even more pissed off. He'll give in eventually."

"I hope so because this is ridiculous." Looking annoyed, Lily rolls her eyes.

"It is," Rose acquiesces, her gaze intensifying as she gazes at her cousin. "Admit it. You're enjoying this."

"...Maybe a little bit," Lily murmurs, grinning. "It's about time Al—"

"Guys," James says, drawing their attention to him. He sounds terse but excited. "You won't believe this, but I think — I think Al is finally making a move."

Rose and Lily look at each other, and then they both spring to their feet and race to the door.


Ten minutes later, Albus and Scorpius walk out. James, Lily, and Rose stand by the main door, looking proud.

Albus exchanges a shy look with Scorpius. Nothing definitive had happened in there but…feelings had been aired out and they knew exactly where the other person stood.

Let's just say that Rose wasn't Scorpius's muse anymore.


1313 words

All Aboard - Blue Train: Emotions - 4. Cheerful

Founder Says - Helga - 5. "Admit it. You're enjoying this." / "Maybe a little bit."

Honeydukes Hoarder - Gummies - 9. Scorpius/Albus Severus

Truth or Dare - Truths - 2. Genre: Fluff

Cliche Away: 1. Character A is in love with their best friend.; 12. Character A and Character B are trapped in a room together.; 13. Character C plays matchmaker for Characters A and B.

1000 - 406. (pairing) Albus/Scorpius

366 - 73. Dilemma