Author's Note: Written for...
Hogwarts Auction 2021 - Prompt: Hamilton (really using the duels/Philip Hamilton as inspiration here)
drown it out
1,452 words
At seventeen years old, Scorpius Malfoy was not oblivious to the way his female classmates swooned when he entered a room, or how they would take a longer route to their lunch tables just to pass by his. But growing used to the attention didn't make any of it easier to bear. Oftentimes, Scorpius wished people would notice him for his above average grades rather than his shining blond hair or chiseled features that made him look like a clone of his father.
He usually kept his head down at meals, idly reading from some textbook as he quickly stuffed his face, lest he make eyecontact with a student of the female variety and she get some horrible idea about his intentions.
He was mid-way through a fascinating edition of his favorite potions journal one afternoon when Albus Potter dropped onto the bench next to him heavily, muttering under his breath as he piled his plate up with sandwiches.
"What's the matter?" Scorpius wondered, tucking the journal away. Usually Albus was in bright spirits the day of a match. But here they were, an hour after Slytherin's first win of the year, and he was practically vibrating with barely-concealed anger.
"Rose," Al spat.
"Ah." Scorpius sipped at his milk thoughtfully. "What has she done this time?"
"I was just going over to say hi to Lily, you know? Congratulate her on catching the snitch, at least."
Scor nodded. He was well aware of the toll being in Slytherin had taken on Albus, and how he actively made a point of swinging by the Gryffindor table several times a week to check in on his siblings. "Sure."
"So I'm having a nice chat and suddenly she's there and asking where you are. I ignore her, of course."
"Naturally."
"And she says 'did he have to go bail his daddy out of Azkaban?'" he repeated in a falsetto mimicry of Rose's voice.
Scorpius paled at the words. "What… what did you do?"
"Nothing. I didn't want to hex her with Lily right there, she might've owled Mum," Albus reasoned.
"It's okay, Al. I understand, you're in a tough position." Scorpius began sliding off the bench. "Will you look after my bag? I'll meet you for Transfiguration."
"Wait, where are you going?"
The blond nodded across the hall, toward the Gryffindor table. "I have to say something."
Albus grabbed his wrist tightly. "Don't. Do. This," he begged. Scorpius didn't listen, twisting out of his friend's grip and storming across the hall.
Rose was talkling loudly with her friends when he reached them. He kept his distance and took a couple of deep breaths before calling out. "Weasley!"
Half a dozen redheads turned at the call but only Rose took the bait, sneering at him as she left the table and joined him by the wall.
"What do you want, snake?" she hissed.
"I want you to stop spreading lies about my family," he answered calmly. He refused to be pushed to angry outbursts like a child.
"I'm only doing my part as Head Girl in warning the students of the dangers in our school."
"If that's the way you feel, let's settle this once and for all. A duel, midnight, in the Prefects' Parlour."
She shakes her head, curls flying in every direction. "Don't be crazy."
"I'm not crazy, I'm tired. I won't let you besmirch my family's name anymore."
"It wouldn't bother you so much if it wasn't true."
"You don't know anything about me. I've been friends with Albus for six years. I've sat by and taken the hits, hoping you'd grow up at some point. But now you've gone too far, and I won't let you ruin my father's name too."
He didn't give her a chance for another retort, turning on his heel and marching from the Great Hall.
:-:
"You're going to get me in trouble," Albus moaned.
They were alone in their dormitory, having retired early in order to discuss that evening's events. Scorpius flipped through a Charms textbook while Al flopped on his bed.
"I would never do that," Scorpius assured him. "That's why I haven't asked you to be my Second. I don't want you getting punished for my doing."
"But then who? You need someone to cover your back."
Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I hardly think it's going to come to that. We're not fighting to the death. And besides, I doubt I'll even need to cast a spell."
"You're crazy, mate. Rose brags all the time about being top of Defense. You'll never win."
"We'll see about that."
:-:
Scorpius fiddled with the Head Boy badge pinned to his robes as he waited for the parlour's clock to strike midnight. He had gotten there thirty minutes early to the duel in order to be sure that Rose hadn't sabotaged it in some way, but he was fairly confident everything was in order. The old sofas with cushions all askew. Stacks of Witch Weekly magazine piled on the coffee table. A long table for meetings sporting lost class itineraries and textbooks.
One minute to midnight, Rose arrived, swiftly followed into the parlour by her best friend, a tall girl Scorpius was only vaguely aware of being a Beater from Al's matches. Thomas, perhaps. He couldn't guess at what her first name was.
He stood as they entered, keeping to the other end of the room as Thomas made herself comfortable in one of the armchairs, a devious smirk on her face.
"You sure you want to do this, Malfoy?" Rose taunted. "Wouldn't want your daddy to have to come all the way from Azkaban to visit you in the hospital wing."
Scorpius kept his features neutral, even as his blood began to boil. "I'm doing this for my family's honor. That's something you don't know anything about, Rose."
With a wave of his wand, he sent the table and chairs sliding toward the wall, making enough floorspace for them to duel.
"Now, ground rules. Let's not take this too far. First one to be incapacitated or to surrender, loses. Agreed?"
"Deal. This should be easy."
The ancient grandfather clock in the corner began to chime as Rose and Scorpius stood facing each other. They bowed once, and just as they were straightening into their dueling stances, the door slammed open. Professor Longbottom stood in the doorway in a green and pink floral bathrobe, staring at the three students with varying degrees of suspicion.
"What's going on here?" he asked, stepping fully into the room and holding up a slip of parchment. "I just received this note telling me to come here straight away."
"You're right on time, Professor," Scorpius said. "I was just making my rounds when I caught Miss Thomas breaking into the parlour and attempting to rearrange the furniture as some sort of prank. Miss Weasley and I were just discussing the merits of a detention over deduction of points."
Rose gaped at him, eyes narrowing as she realized what he had done.
The professor sighed, crumpling the note and tossing it in a nearby bin. "I'll deal with Miss Thomas. You two finish up your rounds and get to bed. Good work."
"Thank you, Professor." Scorpius beamed as he watched Rose's friend be escorted from the room.
"What is this? You want me alone and vulnerable?"
Scorpius calmly stowed his wand. "I have no intention of hurting you, Rose. As you can see, I came here alone myself. I just wanted a minute where you didn't feel the need to play up to the crowds, to make myself clear here. You can't scare me. Angering me doesn't do anyone any good. The only thing you're doing is making things hard on Albus."
"Well then he should find better friends."
"Better friends, or friends that you approve of? They may not be the same thing, you know. And to be honest, at this point, after you've taunted him so much as well, I'm not sure he's open to listening to you. But I've been by his side for six years, and I intend to be there for a lot longer, maybe even as his husband one day. So I would really appreciate it if you didn't make his life a living hell, so he'll still want to spend time with his family."
The room fell into silence, Scorpius waiting for a retort that never came. Rose stared at him, eyes wide in surprise, but didn't open her mouth. After a few moments, he left, and started heading back down to the common room, hoping he'd done enough. Even if Rose didn't listen, he was sure at the very least that he had made his father proud.