Sunday February 14th 2021:
With his back leaning against the chilly stoned outer wall of the castle, Scorpius bestowed his girlfriend with a heart-shaped box.
Rose untied the ribbon, removed the lid of the box, and was pleased to find what was inside. "Fizzing Whizzbees. My favourite. You know me too well."
"Happ--"
Rose pursed Scorpius' lips with her fingers. "Just because it is a certain holiday today does not mean you should acknowledge it."
Scorpius nodded, understanding Rose's prejudice for the holiday. With his mouth still shut, Scorpius presented her with a rose.
"How lovely! Not very original, but I appreciate the sentiment behind it. Thank you," Rose said.
"Before you ask, it's not a real rose, but a prop. That way it can last forever. I just cast a spell so it can have both the texture and scent of one," Scorpius explained.
"Impressive," Rose said, kissing Scorpius' cheek. "Wait, aren't these sweets from Hogsmeade?" Scorpius nodded cheerfully. "Aren't you and Albus not allowed to go there anymore?"
"Dominic went for us," Scorpius clarified.
"Okay, good," Rose said, smiling while leaning back against the stoned wall next to Scorpius.
Nearby, Lily and Nigel Finnigan-Thomas strolled along the grounds, exchanging Chocolate Frogs and their cards to each other.
"I wish we were able to go to Hogsmeade," Nigel said, watching Rose and Scorpius sharing sweets.
"I know!" Lily whined, swinging his hand collided with hers while walking. "I have to wait six and a half months to actually go."
"Try waiting two years!" Nigel said. "Then again, my brother doesn't start school until this September. At least I can brag that I start earlier than him."
"Ooh, you have a brother?"
"Aye. By blood too. Our fathers adopted us together because we were inseparable and refused to part," Nigel explained.
"Awww."
"Our dads are considering adopting another, but a baby, and most likely a girl," he said. "Not sure if I am up for that."
Lily did not chip in to what Nigel was saying, because something else caught her attention. She was glimpsing over at Albus and Abigail nearby in a shaded, easy to miss spot of the snowy courtyard. They were kissing, and when their faces parted, they smiled, but in Lily's opinion, there was no spark.
"Are your parents happy together?" Lily asked Nigel, her eyes glued on Albus and Abigail.
"Of course. What kind of silly question is that?"
"I mean, do you feel like you belong? They are making you feel welcomed and loved?" Lily elaborated.
"Absolutely," Nigel said. "They occasionally have their disagreements, but all couples do, from what I've been told. Although I could do without their little 'making up' afterwards."
"Uck!" Lily said, recalling some very similar unpleasant memories. She luckily glanced over it, and thought that if two men like her father's old friends could remain happily married for so many years, why not Albus and Scorpius? She came to a halt and said, "Nigel, I have a lot of studying I want to get done. Can I catch up with you later?"
"I don't recall you ever studying," Nigel said, suspicious of Lily's sudden request and attitude.
"It's for Potions," Lily pointed out.
Nigel's suspicions drifted away, knowing how passionate Lily was about the subject. "I understand, lass, but don't worry, this good-looking lad will return." He pointed to himself and kissed his date's hand. All the younger girls nearby fawned over him while doing so.
Lily giggled, and until he was out of sight, she took out her pocket-held notebook and scribbled.
"Oh for the love of Merlin! After a week or so, I thought you finally got over this weird obsession," a tall teen said, marching over to Lily.
"Sod off, James," Lily grumbled.
"Come on, give it," James commanded, outstretching his hand.
"Lay off! Or your secret poetry will see the light of day!" Lily warned.
"What secret poetry? I don't have secret poetry," James said.
"You mean you don't have a leather-bound journal with in-depth details about your dream girl or random things you're feeling? Hidden away under some dirty pairs of socks that Mum and Dad can't spot to clean?"
"Hey! What were you doing poking around in my room?" James panicked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Okay! I won't read it. Just don't tell anyone else, or I will turn your legs to jelly."
"Fine, fine," Lily said. "I was going to tell you my plan anyway."
"Then what the hell was the point of blackmail?" James demanded.
"For future reference," Lily replied. "Anyway, unless you're completely dumb, you know about our brother's close relationship with his bestie, right?"
"Close is an understatement, but yeah."
"Well, you know that textbook of higher level potions you let me burrow? And there is that one that draws you to the person you love with a smell?"
"You mean Amortentia?"
"Exactly! That! I'm going to brew it," Lily said, "and once they both have a whiff, we'll know for sure! And they'll know for sure!"
"Are you mad?" the brunet exclaimed. "I know you're a Master of Potions and all that, but that's pretty advanced. Second of all, that specific potion draws you by attraction, not exactly love."
"Our parents have been and still are in love, and Dad smelled her."
"How would you know that?"
"When I was little, Mum held me close to her because I was scared of the thunder outside, and I said that she smelt of fresh flowers. Dad told me that's what he smelled years ago when taking a whiff of that potion. He also said that Aunt Hermione apparently smelled fresh grass... or something."
"Still. It's a very low possibility," James said. "Oh, and guess what? Have I mentioned that the potion is incredibly poignant?! Just smelling it drives a person to obsession, you know."
"James, trust me. I know what I'm doing," Lily said. James was not convinced, and he let her know with a frown. "Even if you don't, I'm still doing it."
XXX
Later that day, Scorpius was perched atop a large and sturdy branch of a tree, and Albus advanced over to him. "Did you just climb up the tree?" Albus asked in disbelief.
"Not exactly," Scorpius chuckled. "I used a spell. Rose showed me."
"I want to try that!" Albus said. "What spell did you two use?"
"The hover charm. Doesn't lift you all the way, but it gives you a good start." Scorpius demonstrated the proper wand movement.
Albus nodded and prepared his wand, swirling it around himself until he felt lighter and soared into the air. He beamed when seeing that his attempt succeeded enough to reach the closest branch, and he climbed from that point until he grasped Scorpius' helping hand and made himself comfortable next to Scorpius.
"Huh, great first try! I think you're better at magic than you realise," Scorpius celebrated.
"Who knows," Al shrugged. "Scorp, I need your advice on something."
"Sure. With what?"
Albus avoided eye contact and buried his hands in his lap. "Well, every time I kiss Abby, there doesn't seem to be... a spark. It took awhile for me to build up the courage to kiss her, and I thought it was great when we finally did, but I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing wrong."
"Perhaps you need more practice," Scorpius suggested. "I could help you with that."
"Really? Great. What should I do?" Albus said, delighted that his problem indeed had a solution.
"First of all, release all tension. You shouldn't kiss somebody when you feel unsure about it," Scorpius advised. "Think about her best traits. Think about what made you fall in love with her in the first place."
"Alright."
"Now, close your eyes and just imagine that I'm Abigail," Scorpius said.
"Got it — wait — what does that mean?" Albus asked.
"I think it's best that you practice as accurately as possible. So I can be the test subject," Scorpius said casually.
"You're asking me to kiss you?" Albus said, not believing the own words coming out of his mouth.
"Technically," Scorpius replied, still with that odd folksy emphasis.
"Uh, shouldn't I be practicing on a teddy bear or something," Albus stammered.
"Sorry, no teddy bears here. Only me."
'Merlin, he's serious!' Albus thought to himself.
"You're just going to kiss for about five seconds, and then we'll stop and I'll give you some pointers," Scorpius elaborated.
Albus evolved into silence, feeling like his heart was travelling up to his head, pounding from ear to ear.
"We don't have to if you don't want to —"
"No, I want to!" Albus said, immediately, surprising himself by how eager his response was.
"Brilliant. Now, close your eyes," Scorpius said, collectedly. Albus swore that he was not talking with his friend anymore, but a psychiatrist, "and just remember what I taught you."
Albus conformed, but not before swallowing a metaphorical knot down his throat. To do what he was going to do next, he must have been completely out of his mind, because his head slightly tilted to the side as his lips angled towards Scorpius' until they touched. The moment their lips encountered each other, Albus could no longer pretend that it was Abigail; her lips were plump and chapped, but these ones were soft and delicate. It was Scorpius -- he was kissing Scorpius Malfoy!
Although Abigail's lips were chapped (much like his own), Albus luxuriated in smooching them; her kisses were graceful and passionate, but there was something about the feel of Scorpius'.
Going against his own rules, Scorpius kissed back, and granted his eyes to shut down so he could savor the feeling of the other teen's unrefined but passionate lips. It was well past five seconds, but neither of them cared nor noticed.
Albus was enthralled with just how soft his best friend's lips really were. It's like he couldn't ever get enough of them. The sound of their lips barely smacking together, the feel of Scorpius' thin soft lips, it was all so stimulating. So stimulating that heat intensified Al's flesh, and something stirred within his briefs. This feeling was unfamiliar to the still amateur teen, and his body reacted rearward, thankful that he was wearing his robes for a cover up. He was unable to look at Scorpius, and he was uncertain if he wanted to because of his reaction.
Realising what he had done, Scorpius felt guilt rush over him, as he stammered, "I'm so sorry! I was — I mean —" His nostrils prevented him from finishing when they smelt a pleasing remonious scent that he couldn't quite put his finger on. The smell originated from below them, and it was held by a startled little red-head, joined by her eldest brother.
His attention retreating to the bashful brunet, Scorpius cleared his throat and tried to be laid-back. "That was, um — even better than I expected. I guess it's good to know that my little advice actually worked well in your favor. That or you didn't need help after all, and — yeah." Scorpius waved to the three Potters with the uttermost awkward shot at a smile as he leaped down to the ground and ran away.
James glanced over at Lily.
"What?" Lily asked, wondering why Albus was not his central focus.
"Aren't you going to —"
"It's too easy. I'm pretty sure what we just witnessed speaks for itself."
"It's not what it —" Albus was cut off from what he was smelling. "What's that potion?"
"Oh. This. It's — hold on, what did you smell?" Lily examined.
Albus thought discreetly as the delightful fragrance drew in then emitted out of his nostrils. "It smells... sweet. Like, peppermint chocolate, and a bit of cinnamon. Also, musty and dry parchment, much like the papers of an ancient history book, and —" His siblings reacted with hoisted brows. "Whatever. I gotta go, okay?"
Albus then imitated Scorpius' actions by jumping from the tree and fleeing.
"Well, that was pointless to brew, huh?" James said.
"Oh, shut up," Lily snarled