SPOV
A horrible scraping sound like metal tearing against metal pierced the unconscious veil of my dreams. I almost flew straight up as light flooded aggressively against my closed lids. It felt like hephaestus himself was ringing his olympian hammer against my skull. Over and over the pressure pounded in my head as pain shot through me like an angry drumbeat.
"OWE" I groaned, registering a familiar voice speaking in the background.
"Are the sales of the album doing that well? Really? That's great news. I'm still stuck at the carnival of the moon for the next three days so I'll be in touch when I get back to London. Sounds good then. Alright bye."
My eyes adjusted to the light just in time to watch a naked and wet Albus fist pump the air and issue a quiet "Yes!" of elation. I realized the scraping sound had been him pulling open the curtains. The light had been the sun.
He was still in his twenty years old body I noted dizzily when I caught the outline of his manhood in the mirror.
The angelic brunette turned around only to spot the dazed figure now awake in his bed. He rolled his eyes at the sight of me, merely pulling the towel from his shoulders to drape it protectively around his waist.
"What is going on?" I asked dumbfounded as wave after wave of mind numbing agony washed over me. I felt like a little kid on a sandy shore, being pummeled by waves too strong to keep myself upright.
"Albus? How did your call go? Did you get good news from the agent?" Ginny Weasley asked, entering through a side door that must have led to her and Harry's apartment. She came in to the sight of Albus half naked and me in a similar state of undress… in her son's bed. "Oh… Scorpius… what a… surprise."
"Good Morning, Princess." I started politely, trying to rise from the bed until I remembered I had nothing but fitted underwear on. To my surprise I saw her blush as she took in the sight of my adult musculature.
"Mum, would you mind giving me and the idiot a moment to get ourselves dressed?" Albus had spoken more as command than as request. "I'll tell you about the call in five when Mr. Malfoy has gone."
"Its no trouble Al, we could all discuss it over breakfast if that's easier?" Mrs Potter asked carefully, inviting me along to breakfast as though she had not just found a naked boy in her son's bed.
"He's not staying for breakfast, he had too much to drink and got lost last night. He's not invited to anything as civil as a family meal."
"Albus, don't be rude. I've become good friends with Draco of late. I don't like when you're rude to anyone, but especially not to family friends."
Ginny's defense had me a little touched. Again the ravishing brunette rolled his eyes, walking over towards the heap of my clothes. The garments had all been cleaned by magic and folded in a corner by the palace elves. He tossed me the articles and turned his back on me.
"You're not even going to reprimand me for finding a hot naked boy in my bed? I feel ridiculous being the one assuring you that nothing untoward happened last night." Albus quipped at his mother.
"I didn't think anything had happened… but you mistake me for someone else if you think i'd have an issue finding anyone hot and naked in your bed with you. At least while aging potions were still at work… Just be glad it was me who fell upon the scene and not your father. I think we'd have had a different reaction to that." Ginny offered, turning around and leaving the chamber.
Just as I got up to start dressing, the beautiful ginger popped her head back in to leave us with a final remark. I had to cover my underwear with a pillow out of embarrassment. "Scorpius dear, Lily and her father went for a morning walk with some of the maxus family, so Draco and I were planning on dining together. You're both to join us in fifteen minutes in garden Aventurine."
"Oh. Yes Princess Peverell" I offered as I felt my body shrinking back to my fifteen year old self. My mind suddenly contracted and all of my emotional maturity and confidence vanished with it. I felt sick as the hangover began to take on a darker shadow in my young brain. She departed for good and Albus strode quickly over to me when he saw the green expression on my face.
"Sobrietus Maximus" He whispered putting a hand to my forehead. I shivered violently as nausea swelled inside me. "If you're going to be sick, then at least go into the bathroom first."
I nodded and ran to the elegant marbled chamber connected to his suite. I managed to hold down the contents of my stomach as the effect of Al's spell forcibly coursed the alcohol out of my system, but it was still anything but a pleasant process. A moment passed, and then another. Fingers held desperately onto stone in an effort to keep me upright. The bathroom twirled and spun ominously in the mirror and not until the roiling movement stopped did I finally notice the smudged writing etched on my arm. Deciphering it after a third read through brought a brilliant smile to my lips.
"Is this true? Did you promise to let me apologize today?" I asked elatedly when I exited the bathroom, still staring down at the smudged writing on my arm. When I looked up I noticed he was just in the process of slipping his underwear on. The moment he had his body also began to shrink back to normal size. His emerald eyes made contact with mine and I had to mentally will myself not to blush. Why did I feel like blushing? The thought was strangely disconcerting.
"We'll see during the hunt… i'm not in the mood for a heavy conversation right now. Who knows how that writing ended up on your arm." Albus tossed back angrily. "Go get showered and ready. We shouldn't keep mum and your dad waiting if we're meant to be having breakfast together."
I nodded and did as he instructed. I found my way back to my own room at the other end of the palace where I showered and changed into fresh clothes for the day. My father had already gone so I had had to rely on an elf to guide me to the correct garden.
The palace had transformed over night into a fascinating mess of tables and servants. The staff were working furiously to finish cleaning the last bits of the prior evenings revelries even as they had already begun to serve the myriad early rising guests who sought breakfast in the various halls, gardens or dining rooms.
To my shock I found Ginny laughing with my father at a large breakfast table, while my grandfather and grandmother sat reading a newspaper and magazine respectively at the opposite end. I came around Cissy to give her a kiss on the cheek, merely glaring at Lucius skeptically as my form of welcome to the detestable man.
"Good morning son. I trust you managed to amuse yourself last night… since you never came back to the Malfoy wing." My father's welcome had been half reprimand and half interrogative. He hadn't even looked up from the soft boiled eggs he was delicately in the process of cracking open. A practiced hand removed the tops of the eggs, sprinkling salt and pepper into the delicate goo inside. How best to answer his challenge?
Dismay sprang into my eyes. I could but watch helplessly as Ginny leaned in to whisper into my fathers ear. For a strange moment I didn't wonder exactly what their budding friendship might really be about. I do hope they're not having an affair.
"Even when under the influence of aging potions you're not to ever drink like that Scorpius. Do I make myself clear?" My father commanded. 'She told on me!' I grumbled to myself.
"Yes sir. It won't happen again. You have my word."
"Albus, there you are. Sit by me if you would." My imperious grandfather shot at the approaching brunette, patting the oxidized metal of the chair next to him. He folded his newspaper as though he might actually join in conversation. My brunette's hair was still a bit damp from his shower but he looked incredibly well put together merely for breakfast. A posh caramel cashmere cardigan was donned over top of his white shirt. Al didn't hesitate for a moment to acquiesce to the older man. He proceeded to pull out the chair next to Lucius as though it were the most normal thing in the world. Of course it put him squarely across from me at the table.
"I trust you managed to keep my idiot son safe from scandal?"
"Good morning all. Yes, well I'm entirely certain you have me to thank for keeping him from humiliating himself. Given the state he was in i'm surprised he survived the night. I think he was muttering something about one of the Valois girls inviting him back to their rooms? Mercifully I found him lost in the halls, or else we might have been discussing a very different story over breakfast." Albus lied, squinting pettily at me as he placed a scone onto his plate. Cheeky bastard was deliberately trying to get me in trouble.
"So are we all friends again then?" My grandfather asked, looking towards me for explanation. His question thankfully had the benefit of stopping my father from further scolding me.
"Decidedly not, although, I am assured I will have an opportunity to try and apologize again later today."
"Might we possibly discuss anything else while at table?" Albus pleaded in a posh drawl just as he elegantly retrieved a slender glass of orange juice with a bit of champagne in it.
"Alright Al, i'll let you enjoy your breakfast. We can talk later."
The moment the brunette set his glass back down I witnessed in shock as grandfather delicately seized Albus's soft hand in his own. He raised the pretty appendage ever so gracefully up to shoulder level so his eyes had better grasp of the jewel he had sought to examine. It was so tender a movement that had the shock of it not overwhelmed me I might have gotten jealous. Lucius's fingers merely ghosted over the image of his family seal on the ring which Albus now bore. The digits traced the lines with practiced familiarity, almost ritualistically.
"I see we are still wearing this old thing?"
The elderly man gently closed the seized hand, returning it to the blushing boy.
"Draco? Albus? What's this we're discussing?" Mrs. Potter inquired, noticing the strange gesture even from her seat at the far side of the table.
"Your dear son has somehow ended up in possession of my ancestral seal." Lucius noted absently. It looked like he had not meant to draw attention to the ring but had merely been unable to restrain himself from examining the trinket that had once been his. It sat ominously on the same finger where the nightfyre crystal I had gifted him sat.
"Oh… Albus… return the Malfoy's ring immediately. I'm sorry Draco, I don't know how he ended up in poss—"
"—I most certainly will do nothing of the sort. Its mine now." Albus stated matter of factly as he consumed a piece of cream covered scone in perfected disinterest. He was so calm and collected that I was actually impressed by his composure. It had been rude only because he was addressing his mother.
"Albus… I won't be embarrassed in front of our new… friends… don't make me tell you again."
"Thats not necessary—"
"Ginny its quite alright—"
"Please Mrs. Potter, he can keep—"
All three generations of Malfoy had begun to protest at once. I grew red when I realized not even grandfather minded that Al was in possession of the thing. Did they know I threw it back in his face? Were they embarrassed that somehow even after Albus had stolen the thing for us I had discarded it in anger? I knew at least my grandfather had been severely taken aback by the younger potter saving him that day in knockturn alley. Did they actually like him?
"He nearly blinded me with it mum. Flung it at my face so hard he nearly took my eye out in the process. Isn't that right Scorpius? I think it's only fair it should remain with me now. Less chance of it being confiscated by the ministry as well. Don't we think?"
"Oh goody, looks like its drama for breakfast again." Lily shot appearing from the gardens with Markus Maxus by her side. Harry and Markus's mother and uncle trailed a few paces behind the younger pair, lost in deep conversation amidst the grape and water hyacynths.
"We can all discuss this later if even the need resurfaces." Narcissa commanded, putting her magazine down when it became apparent that breakfast would no longer be a quiet or private affair.
Harry eyed Lucius suspiciously as the man rose to greet Markus's uncle. "Sorry love, we already agreed to join Bill and Fleur's table for breakfast." Harry explained, implying mercifully they wouldn't be joining ours.
"The Muramasa's invited Markus, and Markus and I were planning to grab breakfast together with dad and the Delacours so it turned into an odd group affair." Lily explained. She had made a new friend it seemed. I wondered what the Muramasa's wanted with Markus? Lily would be introduced to the twins too it seemed. "A few Potters a few Maxus and a few Muramassa."
"No trouble, cousins come before friends anyway. Isn't that right?" Alex Greengrass inquired as he strode up to the table and sat himself between father and Albus. Granny Cissy looked perturbed that our table was quickly becoming a traffic jam and motioned to Lucius to politely see the Maxus's off. Harry kissed Ginny and proceeded to depart with Lily and the rest of the Italian nobles. It was lucky for us because Raven's parents and our grandfather had just decided to join him.
Lily and I made eye contact as she retreated and she had the audacity then to cast a wordless charm at my water glass. To my horror the liquid shifted into a vibrant emerald green. The little imp had the nerve to stick her tongue out at me as as the spell took effect. Only Markus had noticed the small bit of magic before I had quickly moved to drain the glass of its contents. I had had to act quickly while attention was still on the Greengrasses arrival. It wouldn't do to have them see my water the color of Al's eyes.
"Sorry about the confusion, I hope we didn't force anyone out?" Grandfather Garth asked as the group of other guests departed.
"Not at all, they had arrangements to join the Muramasa family this morning so its no imposition really." I offered politely to my mother's father. I noted the strange way Al and Raven smiled at each other as Al fed a fork full of rare cloudberries dipped in honey to the older boy. Raven had made some joke which elicited a flirtatious laugh to emanate from Al.
A chill ran up my spine when I realized everyone but my mother and aunt Daphne had come to our table. Renee and uncle Arcturus had followed their son and already Renee had struck up conversation with her old modeling friend Ginny. Father engaged Arcturus politely but he too looked like he was worried his wife might be coming with the rest of the Greengrass contingent at any moment.
Some pleasantries were exchanged and good mornings bandied to and fro before my dark haired grandfather brought the tables attention back to us.
"Has anyone seen fit yet to credit either of you two geniuses with a liberal heaping of praise?" Garth began as he motioned to Al and I. He had interrupted the table's conversations to continue loudly on the topic. "You realize that there aren't but maybe thirty fully trained warlocks on the planet capable of the performance you two gave last night? Everyone has been talking about it and I do mean everyone."
No sooner had my grandfather finished his sentence than the conversations at three of our neighboring tables ceased abruptly as well. Several prominent wizards ventured glances our way as though to acknowledge the veracity of the claim. That did cause Al and I to sneak a shy peek at each other.
"A toast then." Raven offered, seizing on the opportunity. "To the prodigies." He offered lifting a glass. Everyone at the table joined us although Ginny seemed lost in thought. "To the prodigies!"
"You really did make quite a splash." My father added, indicating his approval. His choice of words however had set off an all too familiar worry in my heart. "Despite your loss Scorpius, you should be brimming with pride for how you conducted yourself in your duel."
My grandparents nodded and so did Raven. "Here here Scorpius." Cissy toasted. Again everyone cheered.
"Are you proud of your son's performance, Princess Peverell?" Lucius asked from his end of the table. "He's gearing up to be a remarkable testament to your family's name." The brunette blushed at the praise while his mother froze contemplatively at the choice of words.
"My son's prodigious abilities seem to be advancing on all fronts…" She began carefully. "However, some might have questioned the wisdom of you two creating a spectacle like that. Aunt Hermione is a spy master and one of your tutors… I guarantee you she would not… will not… be pleased to hear you so casually gave everyone a glimpse at your real power."
Everyone present understood her point all too well.
Again the table broke into groups of side conversation and I was left to listen to Al and Raven as they exchanged cryptic tidbits of information in between jokes and flirtatious banter. It was clear to Al that Raven was gay and interested in him. I might have debated the cruelty of Al playing along with my cousins obvious attempts at courtship. Something did strike a cord in me as I watched them however.
"Core members would be you and me, Louis and Lily, Lorcan and Lysander as well as Rose. Tier two would be Aurora, Max, Melody and Matheus. Potentials would be Markus, Ariana Dumbledore, Izanagi and Izanami, Vexler Avery and Alexander Sorrenson."
I was put so off guard by what i'd heard that the fork bearing my eggs paused midway to my mouth.
"The Muramasa twins?"
"They've expressed an interest in meeting you. I know the two well and am told they have sympathies for our aims. In an abstract sort of way."
"That could be interesting. They're very influential players. Markus could be interesting too. We'll see what Lily has to say after the weekend is up."
"What about him? He should be part of the core don't you think?" Alex offered, motioning towards me with a head tilt. They looked at me and Al had the audacity to reply with:
"We'll see how today goes first. I'll let you know."
"When did you two become such nefarious little schemers?" I asked sharply, interrupting their exchange while underscoring the oddity that was their budding friendship. When did my cousin and Al grow so close? Was it because Alex had rescued him from the dragon in Romania?
They shared a glance and started laughing which set off an irritation in me that I couldn't quite explain. I wanted to hit them for that.
That thought vanished when a regal looking house elf walked over to our table to place a note in father's hand and then an identical note in Mrs. Weasley's.
"It seems last nights duel has made you both eligible to participate in the Hibaernium." Father explained as he finished reading the note and replaced it in the waiting elf's small hand. "Your names have been added to the huntsman's lantern."
"Oh my, that is an honor." Renee observed, glancing between myself and my father.
"Both of you should go get ready. Change into something more suitable and find Cyrille, he'll know who to speak to about this." Mrs Potter ordered of both of us. There was something oddly comforting about the way she thought she could instruct me. It was strangely motherly which had been something I had missed very much lately. I nodded and rose even before Albus. I exchanged only the briefest of glances with my Father. He nodded and motioned with a head tilt for me to leave the table. Al rose too and surreptitiously lay a hand on Raven's shoulder as farewell.
"Oh and Scorpius. Come here for a moment."
Everyone turned and watched as I made my way around the table to the beautiful woman. She moved carefully to adjust my collar and a stray piece of hair before leaning in to whisper in my ear. "Good luck out there today."
I blushed, both at her words and the instinct she had had to groom me. 'She must be a wonderful mother' I thought chancing a look in Al's direction. I caught him smiling just as he turned away.
