Disclaimer- Do not own. The story is my own creation. The characters are not.
A/N: Not so much Severus this time, and it's a bit fluffy and short. But it's a interim piece. Enter young Scorpius Malfoy. Let me know what you think.
Al stirred his cauldron in utter concentration. His mind was focused only on his potion. Severus watched the boy with a raised eyebrow. This boy was different than most of the students he had taught. He had taught a few who loved potions, who were competent in potions, but none who held as much passion for potions as the boy in front of him. Potter must have loved that his son was so different from himself...Or maybe he isn't that much different. His potions are for his friends, not for power or glory. Gryffindor loyalty in a snake! Severus frowned, watching the boy briefly stop, to remove the cauldron from the heat, and fill a vial with his potion. Al handed the flask to Severus, who quickly checked and tested it, raising an eyebrow. "Good. Bottle the rest." Al glared at him, but held his tongue, quickly filling a few vials with the remainder of the potion, before taking the cauldron to the sink to scrub it. Severus gave a sharp nod, taking the vials and placing them in a store room. He then checked the stock of ingredients, to make sure there would be enough for any experiments that they might try. He browsed the stocks for a moment, before remembering that he left a teenager alone in his lab. Severus turned on his heels and stalked back into the lab.
The boy had just finished scrubbing his cauldron and was pursuing the supply cabinets. "Touch nothing, Albus. I think it is beyond time that you return to your world. You can always come back." Severus barked, watching the boy's hands explore carelessly. Al scowled at him. "But I-" "But nothing, Albus. I expect you to return here at a later date. You need to go back now. You have classes, homework, and friends. I'm sure your friends are worried about you." Severus interrupted. Al blushed, glaring down at his feet. "How do I return here?" "Find this place within your mind. Do that now. Remember the feeling of this place, and you will be able to find it again when you sleep. That way, your body still gets the rest it needs. When you do return here, wait for me. Do not do anything until I get here. Time passes differently here than it does in the living world. Now go. You have my permission to brew that potion, if you are careful and if you do not add anything to it, outside of this place." Severus scowled at the boy, raising an eyebrow as the green eyes looked up to meet his own. Al merely nodded. "Yes sir. I will be back." He grinned, impishly. Al closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and then he disappeared. I look forward to that. That boy makes me feel old. Severus thought wryly.
Al opened his eyes with a groan. His head ached. He rubbed his head and pulled away fingers sticky with blood. He sat up slowly, frowning. He was in the potions lab, but this time he was back at Hogwarts. He glanced around at the mess and groaned. "Al?" "Scorp?" "Are you alright?" Pale white hands supported him, brushing his hair out of his eyes. Scorpius pried a small vial out of Al's hand, frowning. "Is this what caused the explosion?" Al shook his head, wincing as his head throbbed. "Don't move, Al. You know better. From the looks of it, it has only been a few minutes from the explosion." Scorpius sighed, holding the bottle to Al. Al frowned at the potion, as realization hit him. This was the potion he made before the explosion. He had placed several vials in his bag. He must have grabbed it at some point. "Sit still and I'll clean up." Scorpius ordered, picking up the cauldron. He dropped the battered cauldron into the sink, before grabbing a mop and getting to work. The blond boy made fast work on the lab, before returning to Al. "I think we best see Poppy. I don't dare try to fix your head myself." Al groaned and reached a hand up to Scorpius. Scorpius grabbed his hand and gently pulled him to his feet. He picked up Al's bag with one hand, bracing the boy with his other. Al leaned into Scorpius, sniffing the wonderful smell of the blond Slytherin. "Poppy is going to fuss." Al muttered darkly. Scorpius laughed, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulder, so that he could support the boy up the stairs. "Better you than me, mate. Last time I saw Poppy, she was threatening to tell the Headmistress." Al shook his head with a grimace. "Stop that. You hit your head hard." Scorpius ordered. "Yes Scorp. Anything you say." Al stuck his tongue out, grinning as Scorpius buffed his shoulder gently. He waited until they were closer to the hospital wing, and the voices of students were getting louder, before he removed his arm from around Al, but stayed closed by the boy. Al sighed, but didn't object.
Al scowled, closing his eyes. The pain potion Poppy have given him worked, but that festering woman refused to let him return to his dormitory. Apparently he had a concussion. He could have told her that. And of course she had made Scorpius leave, after fussing over the other boy for several moments. He smirked at the thought of his Scorpius trying to ward off the old woman. What he loved about Poppy was that she never asked questions. She had to know where his injuries, and Scorpius', came from, but she never asked. His Scorpius was very pleased with that fact. The poor boy was forever getting hurt. Al sighed, thinking over his Scorpius for several moments. He fell into a dreamless sleep, with a small smile playing over his innocent face.