WRITTEN FOR QLFC, RESERVE LEAGUE
S4, Finals 2
Chaser 2: First Love Beguiling Bubbles
WC: 1375
"Al?"
Albus hesitated. His hand hovered just above the First Love Beguiling Bubbles vial resting on the shelf.
"What are you doing, Al?" Scorpius's lyrical voice reached his ears, and Albus winced, not knowing how to explain the situation.
How could he tell his best friend he wanted to slip him the potion because that was the only way Scorpius would possibly love him? How could he tell Scorpius how much he wanted to hold his hand? To kiss him? To gaze at him to his heart's content?
No. He couldn't scare Scorpius off. Scorpius was his best friend—his only friend.
"Nothing," Albus lied, trying to keep his tone light. "I was just looking through these products. They're marvellous, aren't they?"
"They are," Scorpius said, grinning as he reached Albus's side. As if on instinct, Scorpius wrapped his arm around Albus's shoulders and began leading him towards another aisle. "Let's go look at the treats."
Relieved that Scorpius didn't know of his plan to buy the Beguiling Bubbles, Albus let out a soft sigh and happily walked off with the blond. Scorpius's arm radiated warmth, and there was nowhere else Albus would have rather been than stuck to his best friend.
Although Albus had wanted to buy the Beguiling Bubbles, Scorpius hadn't let him out of his sight, and Albus had to leave Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes without the product. He decided he would return later to buy it, but Scorpius stayed glued to his side for the entirety of the trip.
Discouraged, Albus reached Hogwarts without purchasing a single vial of Beguiling Bubbles.
"Are you feeling okay, Al?" Scorpius asked, pushing a cup of tea towards him.
Albus sighed and nodded, not wanting Scorpius to worry. "I'm fine," he murmured, fidgeting with the handle of his teacup. He stared at the steaming hot liquid inside, wondering if he could use something else to charm Scorpius instead.
Maybe he could use Amortentia… No, he couldn't brew Amortentia. He was fifteen.
"You don't seem fine," Scorpius said, his grey eyes dark with concern. "Maybe you should drink your tea. That always cheers you up. Do you want to go to the pitch instead? Maybe go flying or..."
"I'm fine. See?" Albus smiled at Scorpius's worry and raised the cup to his lips. He took a long sip and closed his eyes with a soft sigh. "This is wonderful."
"Are you feeling better now?"
Albus opened his eyes and met Scorpius's anxious gaze. "Yes, I'm feeling better. Don't worry about me, Scorp. I just didn't sleep well, that's all."
"Okay," Scorpius murmured, but it seemed as if he was waiting for something.
"What do you want?" Albus questioned, and Scorpius quickly shook his head.
"Nothing. I was just… Nothing. You drink your tea," Scorpius said smoothly, leaning back. He kept his eyes trained on Albus, which made the boy a bit self-conscious.
"Do I have something on my face?" Albus patted his face, feeling for any blemishes or acne but not finding any.
"No, no, you're perfect," Scorpius said absentmindedly, and Albus's breath hitched. Scorpius quickly corrected himself, "I meant your face is fine."
"Okay," Albus murmured, his heart thumping violently against his ribs.
The days passed, and Scorpius kept on staring at Albus as if he was waiting for something to happen. Every morning when they slid out of bed and went to get ready, Scorpius would stare at Albus's face while giving him his tie or his bag or whatever Albus forgot that day. At breakfast, Scorpius would stare at Albus while handing him a cup of tea or a scone or a piece of toast. Or while sitting beside Albus in most of their classes, Scorpius would gently bump his shoulder with his and stare.
Although Albus was secretly delighted that the love of his life was staring at him almost constantly, he still wondered what was going on in Scorpius's mind.
Albus plucked up his courage and finally asked Scorpius.
"Wh-What are you talking about?" Scorpius asked, not meeting Albus's eyes. They were seated near the lake, their shoes off and their bags lying next to them. The tree's shadow granted them a semblance of privacy, and Albus was relieved not many students were around.
"Why have you been staring at me for the past two weeks?" Albus asked bluntly.
"I haven't been—"
"Scorp. Who do you think you're trying to lie to? It's me. Albus Severus Potter. Your best friend. Your 'buddy', your mate, your—"
"Okay, don't be dramatic. Fine, I'll tell you," Scorpius said with a loud sigh. He picked up a small pebble and rolled it on his palm. Albus knew his best friend's tics; he knew Scorpius was nervous about something.
"Go on, then. I'm listening."
"I… I slipped you a potion, but it doesn't seem to be working," Scorpius muttered, still not looking at Albus.
"You… what? You tried to poison me?"
Scorpius's head snapped up, and his eyes widened. "What? No! I would never poison you, Al! You're my best friend. Why would you think that?"
Albus blushed. "Sorry, I was just reading that novel you gave me and—"
"I really need to stop giving you those mystery novels, Al. I don't want you to ever think I would hurt you."
Albus's face warmed at his words. He gazed down at his lap and mumbled, "Okay…"
Scorpius reached over and took Albus's hand in his. "Hey, look at me."
When Albus looked up, Scorpius smiled and said, "Promise me you won't go running off on me?"
"Why would I—"
"Just promise me."
"Fine. I promise."
"I… slipped you a potion from your uncle's shop," Scorpius admitted under his breath.
Albus was so focused on Scorpius's hand in his that he almost missed what Scorpius had said. Almost. Albus looked up at Scorpius and frowned. "Which potion? I don't think it has affected me in any way. Was it an expired Canary Cream?"
"No, it was… it was the Beguiling Bubbles," Scorpius muttered.
Albus stiffened as realisation hit. "You were trying to prank me? Scorp..."
"No, I wasn't pranking you, Al! You've got to believe me!" Scorpius cried, grabbing Albus's hands and squeezing them. "I was just trying to make you fall in love with me, but the potion must have been past its expiration date. It wasn't a prank, believe me. I'm in love with you, and I know you must be horrified right now, but I can't stop thinking about you or dreaming about you, and I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me, but I didn't want you to run off and never be my friend again, and—"
The words 'I'm in love with you' echoed in Albus's ears, and he gathered his bearings and decided to do something completely Gryffindor.
He swooped in and covered Scorpius's mouth with his.
Scorpius went silent. Albus's hands were sweating, and his heart was pounding as he waited for Scorpius to do something—anything.
And then, Scorpius's lips parted, and his tongue peeked out, pressing against Albus's, and Albus was in heaven.
It was an awkward first kiss with more teeth and tongue than necessary, but it was still perfect.
When they parted, Scorpius's face was red, his pupils were blown wide, and his lips were bruised; Albus had never seen a more beautiful sight.
Albus whispered, "I already love you, you idiot."
"Y-You do?"
"Of course. The potion didn't work on me, did it?"
"Oh," Scorpius whispered, nibbling on his lower lip. "I didn't think you'd feel that way about me."
"Why not? There's nothing wrong with you," Albus said pointedly. "You're handsome, you're smart, you're talented, you're funny, you're a wonderful friend, you always support me. I could go on and on about how much I love you."
"I love you, too," Scorpius whispered, his face reddening even more.
Albus beamed and moved closer to him. He gave Scorpius a sweet kiss on his cheek before saying, "Honestly, I wanted to slip you that potion, too. But you led me away so I couldn't buy it without you seeing it."
"What a coincidence," Scorpius murmured, shyly entwining his fingers with Albus's. "Looks like we were both idiots."
Albus laughed, his heart almost bursting with happiness.
