muggle!au :)

for assignment 4, survival skills, task 13, write about someone looking after a baby

auction, day 30, auction 4, scorpius (782 words by gdocs)

"Are you still around to watch your sister today?" Scorpius's mother asks, as Scorpius is already halfway done tying his shoes. He freezes, because he completely forgot that he promised to do this.

His mother comes into his bedroom door frame, wearing a fancy dress, her hair knotted up as she puts in her second earring.

"Yeah," Scorpius tells her, trying to act like he wasn't just about to leave and go out.

"Great, thank you," his mother says, finishing with her jewelry before walking away. As soon as she's out of sight, Scorpius whips out his phone, trying to not groan out loud.

He sends Albus a quick text that he's not able to go out — he had forgotten he has to babysit — and slides his shoes back off. Within a few moments, Albus texts him back.

Can I come over, then, instead of going out? Albus texts him.

Scorpius sighs. It's not like he thinks that his parents would have a problem with Albus coming over while he babysits his baby sister — Albus has been over countless times and he's practically part of their family.

It's just that Scorpius wanted to turn their friend outing into…

Well, into a date. It's sort of hard for him to do that if they're going to be stuck in Scorpius' house, changing diapers and burping babies. Scorpius has been wanting to have a proper date with Albus for a long time. He's spent too much time pining over Albus and he's over it.

Still, Albus is his best friend, and Albus comes over all the time. It'd be weird if Scorpius says no.

So, with a very prolonged sigh, Scorpius texts Albus back a yes. After he's done texting Albus, he puts his phone into his pocket and gets up to tiptoe into his sister, Dahlia's, room.

For a while, Scorpius had resented his parents having a baby sixteen years after he was born. He had felt like he wouldn't be able to properly bond with his little sister — she'd be learning how to walk while he was graduating high school. Now, though, Scorpius' heart swells when he looks down at his sister's tiny sleeping frame. He loves her, he really does.

Scorpius doesn't even notice Albus walk into the room until Albus is right behind him with a, "Hi."

He spins around before shouting, which is lucky, because he totally would have woken up his sister.

"Hi," Scorpius says, his heart beating a little bit faster. He's not sure if it's from Albus starling him or if it's from just seeing Albus.

He only has to pine a little bit longer. Then he can take Albus on a real date and admit his feelings. That's it.

"How are you?" Albus says. Maybe Scorpius is a little bit in love with him, but the way Albus whispers to not wake up his sister makes his heart swell.

"Good," Scorpius replies. "I'm sorry we can't go out," he tells Albus, but he's honestly more sorry for himself than he is for Albus — he knows that Albus doesn't mind, because Albus doesn't know what Scorpius had had planned for today.

"It's fine," Albus says, just like Scorpius knew he would. They're quiet for a bit, then, just looking at each other in silence. The silence is broken with a piercing cry and Scorpius twirls around to see his sister crying in her crib.

"I can get her," Albus says quickly, moving past Scorpius and picking up the baby in his arms. Scorpius watches for a second as he rocks Dahlia in his arms, making little shushing sounds to her.

And doesn't that do something to Scorpius' heart?

Dahlia quiets down after a few moments and Scorpius is just standing there, his heart going a little bit nuts. God, he really likes Albus.

"I like you," Scorpius says, out loud, because he can't control himself when Albus is standing there, a baby in his arms, and cooing down at her.

"What?" Albus asks, slowly looking up from Dahlia.

Scorpius freezes. He had wanted to make a big gesture to tell Albus, he had wanted to take Albus out and do it, but honestly, what's the difference between telling him here and telling him anywhere else?

"I like you," Scorpius repeats, standing just a little bit taller.

"Yeah?" Albus asks, and Scorpius isn't sure if his face goes all soft because of Scorpius or because of the baby.

"Yeah," Scorpius says, crossing the room and grabbing his sister out of Albus' arms.

Albus hesitates for a second, looking into Scorpius' eyes, and then he replies, "I like you too."

Scorpius' heart swells.