Thursday December 15th 2022:

In the library (which shifted into a typical hangout spot for Albus), Scorpius startled his friend by piling several books onto the table with a thud.

"I need your help," Scorpius said.

"Morning to you too," Albus retorted.

"I really need help with studying." Scorpius balanced himself on the table with his hands unthinkingly close to Albus'.

"Wow, it's been a while since I've heard you say that." While talking, Albus multitasked with jotting down notes from the book he was reading at that moment.

"I am aware," Scorpius said dryly. "Which subject do you need help with?"

"Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"What? I thought you passed."

"Yes, but I still need help."

"Aren't you still a tutor? Along with Rose?"

Scorpius twiddled his fingers. " Rose is. I've been… distracted, by other things. She got on my case about it since I made her a promise. I wanted to ask you. But I suppose I can try and ask Ro--"

"No no! It's fine," Albus interrupted, suddenly shoving his book and notes to the side.

"You're the best!" Scorpius exclaimed.

Students – of course including Madam Pince – shushed the thrilled Malfoy. Scorpius apologised and took a seat next to his tutor.

They started off with Inanimatus Conjurus in Transfiguration, when somebody eventually disrupted their studies by violently shoving into Scorpius.

"Ow!"

Dylan and Horace walked by, snickering.

Over the years, Albus learned that raging at Dylan or Horace was not as effective as he hoped, so he did not bother giving them ammo, but he did glare.

Seeing Scorpius rub his arm, the bullies laughed again. "You're seriously that weak?" Dylan said.

"Reacting after purposely getting hit is not weak," Scorpius defended.

The bullies laughed again, and Horace continued on with his own business, while Dylan stayed behind and abducted the book Albus and Scorpius were studying. "You're still trying to learn Transfiguration? Seriously?"

"Transfiguration is one of the most difficult branches of magic. Everyone knows that. And he still passed," Albus said.

"Maybe all of the attention he gets finally got to his brain and now he's retarted." Madam Pince silence Dylan from her desk.

Dylan left, but not before smacking his victims in the back of the heads with the book. The duo moaned and rubbed their heads.

"You okay?" Albus asked. "I'm fine. Are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Come on, let's continue with our studies," Scorpius said, opening the very book Dylan hit them with.

"Wow, yeah. That's the spirit, you dork!" Albus said, playfully shoving the blond. "Don't listen to what he said."

"I don't plan to. Now, where were we?"

Albus admired how much Scorpius seemed to enjoy this session; it's been a while since he's seen him being excited about studying in general. Whenever Scorpius was excited, it was inevitable for Albus to not get over how precious he was, and he could not help but smile as well.

Scorpius admired Albus' teaching skills and how sincerely he took whatever he was speaking about. That was one of the Potter's best traits; his passion. While he mostly grasped what was being taught to him in this lesson, Scorpius would occasionally focus on Albus while he was speaking or scribbling down notes, marvelling at him.

XXX

In the Transfiguration classroom, the two friends sat together. Scorpius swished his wand in the ways that he practised, and Albus complimented his good work.

Despite Scorpius' progress, him and Albus disliked Dylan sitting so close behind them; it felt unsettling, and the fear distracted Scorpius, but that is most likely Dylan's intent, so they pretended like he was not there.

With a wave of his wand, Scorpius performed the spell, and successfully. However, to him and Albus' horrors, the conjured object was transformed into an armadillo; Scorpius practically shrieked. Rotten timing with Professor Meldis checking up on their progression.

"I'm not sure how this happened," Scorpius panicked to the observing professor.

Albus scowled over at Dylan behind him; he was snickering quietly and looked pleased with himself.

"Try again, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Meldis said. "I'm afraid I won't be able to give you many more chances."

Meldis checked on another student and Scorpius stared at the armadillo with wide eyes, contemplating what he could have done wrong.

"It was Dylan," Albus whispered.

Scorpius was close to turning around, but Albus stopped him.

"Oh, well, at least it wasn't me," Scorpius said. "I'll wait for Professor Meldis to witness me do the spell this time."

Albus nodded. Scorpius called Professor Meldis to return over to his table, and not only did he undo the transfiguration – to which Albus apologized to the armadillo for – but he waved his wand once more, resulting in a brass candelabra to unveil itself out of thin air.

"Excellent work. It takes talent and much effort to conjure an object of that size," Professor Meldis said. Scorpius eagerly high-fived his study partner.

After class, the duo strolled over to their spot at the pine tree close to the Whomping Willow. The ground was littered with fluffy, thick snow, but Scorpius had an enchanted waterproof blanket they could sit on.

"Phew, thanks! Have I mentioned that you're the best? Because you are! Thank Merlin Professor McGonagall is not our Transfiguration professor. She would not have given me another chance," Scorpius said, giving Albus a slight tickle on the neck.

"I knew you could do it."

They sat there, watching the snow gracefully fall, while their minds were preoccupied with other things. Scorpius wondered if he should confess a secret he had concerning the tutoring to Albus, and Albus wondered if he should confess his feelings. There have been a few signs to suggest that Scorpius might return his feelings, so he was finally willing to give it a shot. But before he had the chance, Scorpius said, "I know you're not exactly a social gathering sort of bloke, but… would you be interested in attending Slughorn's upcoming Christmas party with me?"

Albus' heart skipped a beat. "Are you asking me as your date or something?"

"Err, I suppose technically."

That was a satisfying enough answer for Albus. "If it's to go with you, then sure. Though from what I've heard about Slughorn, he might become obsessed with me. You know, being another Potter and all."

"Brilliant!" Scorpius said, seemingly ignoring the rest of what Albus said. "Also, there's something important I wanted to tell you." Scorpius was suddenly incredibly apprehensive.

"Me too, actually," Albus admitted shyly.

"Really?''

"Yeah!"

"I don't feel ready just yet. I have a few things to set in order first. You can tell me what you were going to say though."

"I think I'll wait too."

"Sure. If that's what you want."

Neither of them would admit it, but they were both dying to know what the other had to say. They were at a loss for words prior to those vague confessions. All they could do was simply sit in their spot, yet again concentrating on the graceful falling snowflakes with their minds racing.