"They're not going to make me sleep on the couch, are they?" Scorpius said, picking up his duffel bag.

"No, that would be stupid," Albus replied. He laced up his shoes.

It had been three days, and the Malfoy Manor sitting room had been put back to normal, with Draco and Scorpius' armchairs in their place before the fireplace. Everything was pristine around the manor again, save for the library, where Albus and Scorpius had constructed an elaborate fort of blankets and pillows the previous afternoon, following a long morning of giving reports at the Ministry.

Draco had instructed the house elves to leave that until the boys returned to Hogwarts after he'd found them asleep in it that morning.

"We'll be back in a couple days," Albus assured him. "And if you can't rest there or if you don't like it, we'll come back."

"But your brother is there," Scorpius said. "You haven't seen him in ages."

"My brother has barely spoken to me in ages," Albus said. "He's either not around or just doesn't talk to me."

Scorpius picked up a stack of discarded copies of The Daily Prophet from the last few days. His own face stared up at him - an old photo of himself from Hogwarts under the oversized headline Scorpius Malfoy Found!

The next read Malfoy and Potter Families Spotted at Saint Mungo's. Below was a photo showing Draco shielding Scorpius from the reporters and their cameras with Harry helping Albus along behind them. Scorpius watched as the photo cycled and Draco's hand waved the reporter away again and again.

The third, and perhaps most damning, was the paper from yesterday. The photos were smaller, but there were more. School photos of Scorpius, Albus, and Ainsley stared back at him, surrounded by text - they were grinning and laughing from the last photo day in September. The photographer - Dennis Creevy - had been particularly funny.

The account of what had happened didn't need to be sensationalized, but what was published in the Prophet was incomplete. They'd left out chunks of the torture, and the 're-education' scheme, since it was part of a pending investigation, and had instead focused more on the damning accounts of Scorpius' powers and Albus' injury, and painted Ainsley as the clueless child who may or may not have been complicit in her mother's plans.

Ainsley appeared at Scorpius' side and placed her head on his shoulder.

"I've always hated that photo of myself," Scorpius said lightly, as if it was the only thing of note on the page. He folded the papers and threw the back down on the table.

"It's a great photo," Ainsley said. "You're laughing."

"He hates the way his eyes crinkle up when he laughs," Albus told her. "I think it's quite handsome."

"I do too," Ainsley agreed. Scorpius shook his head and smiled at him, drawing Ainsley into a hug.

"Come to dinner with dad tonight," Scorpius told her. "Harry makes a mean roast, and I've been promised mashed potatoes and a movie."

"I'll try," she said with a smile. She handed Albus his cane as he stood which he accepted gratefully. Scorpius hated seeing him use it, but he hated the cringing when he limped along without it even more, so he held his tongue.

"We'll see you later," Albus said, holding his hand out for Scorpius, who took it gratefully.

Together, with Ainsley waving goodbye, they stepped into the fireplace.


The Potter household may have been cozier, but it was also more hectic. The Malfoy Manor had lent itself well to Scorpius' need for quiet, and he'd slept for most of the last 48 hours, mostly on Albus' shoulders and lap.

When they stepped out of the fireplace, they were greeted immediately with Lily's screams.

"Bloody hell, James!" she shrieked from another room. "Just because you don't live here anymore doesn't mean you get to eat all the eggs like it's okay!"

"Language, young lady!" cried Ginny from another room.

"I was hungry!" roared James from upstairs.

"Can you keep it down?" yelled Harry from the couch before the fire. Scorpius jumped. He hadn't even realized Harry was in the room. "I'm trying to concentrate!"

Harry had several folders spread out around him on the sofa, but smiled up at Albus and Scorpius over his glasses.

"Hello," he said warmly, setting the open file aside. "Scorpius, you're looking much better."

"Albus and my dad have been taking very good care of me," Scorpius assured him as he stood. Harry held out his hands for Scorpius' and examined the rings around his wrists. They were almost healed, but had left a circle of rough scar tissue just below his watch.

"At least that's healing," Harry said, looking to Albus. "And how's that leg?"

"Sore as hell," Albus said, "but it's steady. Not getting worse."

"Well, that's something," Harry said. Albus eyed his broom in the corner of the room, and looked away quickly before he thought Scorpius noticed.

But Scorpius noticed anyway.


Ainsley and Draco arrived at seven o'clock on the dot, and Scorpius was waiting on the other side of the fireplace for them. It had been a long day of James chattering about the last six months. He'd been working as a curse breaker with Bill, who had finally let him take on some of the more dangerous travel assignments, and had some sensational or sensationalized stories - Scorpius wasn't sure which.

"Oh, this is nice," Ainsley said as she looked around, giving Draco and Scorpius a chance to embrace. Draco had been antsy all day with Scorpius out of the house, and it showed on his face when he stepped into the Potter's home.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked when he released Scorpius.

Scorpius nodded and smiled. "Yeah, we just stayed around here today. It was pretty normal."

"Normal?" Draco asked. "Normal is good."

With that, a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass came from the kitchen, followed by the sound of James' voice.

"Damn it, Al! Watch where you're going!"

Scorpius walked through the dining room and into the kitchen, where a casserole dish lay in piece on the tile. Harry had his hands full with the stove and barely looked over his shoulder.

"It's okay," said Albus. "Here, let me get my wand -"

"Why can't you just watch where you're going?"

"James?" Harry turned around, concerned.

"What?" said James. "I know he's got a limp, but for Dumbledore's sake -"

Albus waved his wand and repaired the empty dish to its former state before bending over at great personal expense and picking it up.

"It's just a casserole dish," Albus said. "What's the problem?"

James took it from him roughly and set it on the counter where Harry needed it and didn't say another word.

Albus looked at Scorpius, completely confused, and Scorpius slipped into the kitchen.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Scorpius asked. "My dad and Ainsley are here, by the way."

"No, I think we're good," said James. "You and Al can run along. Dad and I have this."

Harry looked at James as if he'd grown another head, but said nothing.

"Just let me take the plates," Albus said.

"I've got it," said James, scooping them up. He shuffled past Albus into the dining room without a word.

"Did you two get into a fight?" Harry asked.

"No," said Albus. "But he's been like that for most of the day."

"I don't think he likes me much," said Scorpius. "I don't think he likes it when I'm around."

"It's not you," said Harry, carrying the bowl of mashed potatoes past them. "And if it is, then it's his problem to deal with."


Dinner was full of pleasant conversation - the kind Scorpius didn't feel inclined to join, for which he was grateful. He listened as Lily talked about her day with her friends in Diagon Alley, and as James told his family another story from work - this time about a trip to Russia. He listened as his father and Harry talked about Quidditch, and as Lily and Ainsley chatted about their favorite classes, which James seemed to find suspiciously interesting, and when the chatter started to be too much - too trivial for Scorpius to wrap his head around in his current state, Albus reached for his hand under the table and held it tight.

"Are you okay?" Albus asked softly as Ginny started arguing with Draco about whether or not the Harpies stood a chance in the rest of the season.

"Yeah," said Scorpius, picking at the remainder of his roast beef. "I'm fine."

"I know it's louder here than it's been the last few days," said Albus. "Thank you for being here."

"Like vecro, right?" Scorpius said.

Albus laughed, and held Scorpius' hand even tighter, and Scorpius' mood brightened just a bit. Albus was relaxed and the lines on his face had eased more over the last day - he looked more like himself.

"It's Velcro," Albus corrected. The soft smile on his face was enough to undo Scorpius, who just looked at him without saying anything.

"What?" Albus asked.

Scorpius shook his head and said "I'll tell you later."


After dinner, Albus and James were put on dish duty while everyone else settled into the living room to select a movie - which usually turned into a half hour ordeal in which votes were taken. Albus carried the dishes to the sink and stacked them up while James stood back, cleaning them with a quick spell.

"Is everything okay?" Albus asked once they were alone. "You seem like you've been mad at me for ages."

James sighed, but didn't look at him. "I'm not mad at you. I'm sorry about earlier. I know you've been through the ringer lately."

"So what's going on?"

"You don't want to hear about it."

"If it's got you being such a nutter, then I think I do."

James started levitating the plates and silverware back to their rightful places.

"I was seeing someone. We broke up a few days ago."

"I didn't know that. I didn't even know you were with anyone." said Albus. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd care much about my girl problems," James said.

"Why wouldn't I -" Albus cut himself off. "That's what this is about?"

"I mean, what am I supposed to talk to you about?" James asked.

"This is about me being with Scorpius?"

"I don't even know how to talk to you anymore."

James leaned back on the counter as the dishes finished placing themselves and folded his arms, as Albus watched, mouth agape.

"Just to clarify - this is about me and Scorpius?"

"It's not about him" James said. "Specifically. It's the fact that I was completely blindsided by you being gay."

"You and me both," said Albus, leaning on his cane. He glanced at it with distain.

"Listen," continued Albus, "it's not like I spent the last few years drooling over your friends when the came around. It's not like that, if that's what you're worried about."

James didn't say anything, and Albus knew he'd struck a chord.

"I'm not even sure I'm actually gay," said Albus. "I never had to think about it. I just fell in love with my best mate and that was it."

"You're lucky," said James quietly. "You really are."

"And I remember that every day. Especially now."

"How bad was it?" James asked. Albus paused a beat to consider.

"Probably the worst it could have been without someone dying," said Albus. "I'm not even sure how he survived and is still himself, to be honest."

"What about that leg?"

"I don't think it's going to get better," Albus said. It was the first time he'd said the words aloud and that somehow made them more real.

"I'm sorry, mate."

"I'd be angry," Albus said. "If it had happened any other way. But I was there for a reason. I'm making my peace with it."

"I'd already scheduled my trip home when she broke up with me," James said. "Just so you know. I needed to see you and dad were okay for myself."

"And then you came home and were a complete prat."

James looked down at his shoes, ashamed.

"I'm still Al," Albus said. "It's still the same me that wanted a dog when I was six and cried for three days when we realized Lily was allergic."

James smiled. "And I got you that stuffed one that barked."

Albus grinned. "I've still got it, actually. It's in my trunk at Hogwarts."

James was still clearly at a loss, so Albus continued.

"Just because I'm not out chasing after girls with you, or because I'm not on the same career path or whatever, doesn't mean you can't talk to me or tell me what's going on."

"You're right," said James. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," said Albus. "I just wish we'd talked about this sooner."

"You just never needed me after you got to Hogwarts," James said. "You always had Scorpius."

Albus thought about what Draco had said one night after they'd stopped searching for the day - when he'd handed a glass of scotch to Albus and sat him down in Scorpius' chair in front of the fire and looked up at Astoria's portrait where she looked down at them, worried.

"I wish I'd met her when you and Scorpius met," Draco had said wistfully. "To have had that much time..."

"I've been luckier than I should have been," Albus said. "I don't deserve..."

"Yes, you do," said James. "And I'm sorry if I -"

"Water under the bridge," interrupted Albus.

Someone cleared their throat from the doorway, and Albus turned to see Lily and Scorpius.

"We picked a movie," said Lily.

"Something called Batman Begins?" Scorpius said.

Lily grinned conspiratorially and mouthed behind Scorpius' shoulder - "Draco will hate it."


It was late when Draco and Ainsley left, and James, who had held them up by explaining superheroes to Ainsley, followed them to the fireplace as Scorpius and Draco said their goodbyes.

"So Lucius Fox isn't a wizard?" Ainsley asked.

"No," said James. "He just makes cool technology for Batman to use."

"And Batman isn't a wizard?"

"Batman is human."

"But Superman isn't?"

"No."

"But he's not a wizard either?"

"No, Superman is from another planet," James said laughing.

"Muggles are confusing," Ainsley said, looking up at him.

"You just need to watch more movies," James said, gesturing to the tower behind her. "We've got plenty."

"Come along, Ainsley," Draco said. "It's getting late."

Ainsley smiled at James and kissed Scorpius on the cheek before bidding everyone farewell and following Draco into the fire.

"She seems nice," James said after they left. "It's a shame what you've all been through."

"Speaking of," Scorpius said. "I'm exhausted."

Albus agreed and bid a good night to his family, and together, he and Scorpius climbed the stairs to his bedroom, Albus relying heavily on the railing to keep his balance.

Albus' room, Scorpius had learned, was the smallest bedroom in the house, and since it was covered in Quidditch posters and banners, it seemed even smaller. It didn't help that Albus wasn't the most organized person he'd ever met, and Scorpius often had to fight the impulse to organize the books and clothes.

He didn't have that impulse as Albus stood in the center of the room and stretched and yawned, reaching toward the ceiling. He closed the door behind them and placed his palms against it.

"What are you doing?" Albus asked.

"Sound proofing this room," Scorpius said. He looked at the door handle and Albus heard the lock click.

"Why? Is there something we need to talk about?" Albus asked.

"I don't want to talk," Scorpius said, leaving the door. Albus opened his mouth to ask questions, but wasn't given the chance. Scorpius' arms were around his waist and he kissed him hard, with purpose.

Albus wrapped his arms around Scorpius' neck, kissing him back gently and carefully, telling him without words that there was no reason to rush - they had all the time in the world now.

Albus kissed down Scorpius' jaw and neck, and he felt Scorpius' hands come up the back of his shirt - warmer than they should be - pressed lightly between his shoulder blades.

"You're not going to set the bed on fire or anything, are you?" Albus asked.

"Literally? Or metaphorically?" Scorpius asked with a light, almost nonexistent moan.

Albus smiled against the pale skin of his neck. He liked where this was going.

Albus lifted his arms over his head and Scorpius pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside. Albus took Scorpius' glasses from his face and folded them, setting them atop his desk.

"You won't need them until morning," Albus said before kissing him again, unbuttoning Scorpius' shirt blindly, clumsily, as Scorpius' impatient fingers wound around his hair.

Albus made sure when they finally made it to the bed that they wound up under the blanket - Scorpius had been cold for days, and another snowstorm was starting to rage outside. He ran his hands over Scorpius' sides - ribs and hipbones still more visible than they were before - and kissed the scars around his wrists lightly, carefully.

Scorpius watched him, taking in every kiss and every touch as if it were the last. The few times they'd slipped into the Room of Requirement before Scorpius had begun losing control had been eager affairs full of whispered questions as they learned each other, and Albus' curiosity had often given way to an adorable impatience that left Scorpius laughing breathlessly.

He wasn't laughing now. He watched and felt as Albus made a study of him, leaning over him carefully, kissing his hands reverently, memorizing all the things he had taken for granted - all the things that could have become blurred memories if Scorpius hadn't been found. Scorpius kept his hands warm, touching the sore places on Albus' body so they wouldn't hurt as much, and kept his eyes on him until they kissed again and he closed his eyes under Albus' weight, his mind blissfully blank except for the taste of his mouth and the sound of his breath.


Albus lay facing Scorpius. They shared a pillow, and Albus pulled the covers up higher around them. Scorpius smiled sleepily, one arm draped lazily around Albus' waist.

There was one more thing left to do before they fell asleep.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Albus asked as he had the last two nights.

"In your bed at home," Scorpius replied quietly.

Albus brushed his hair back from his face lightly and stroked his cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Where are you going to wake up?"

"In your bedroom," Scorpius said, closing his eyes.

"What are we going to do tomorrow?"

"You're going to teach me about video games, and your mom is going to bake cookies."

"And then?"

"And then my dad is coming over and we're going out to dinner because I have to get used to the outside again," Scorpius said.

"Good," Albus said. He started over.

"Where are you going to sleep?"

Scorpius answered the questions three times until he fell asleep, thinking about where he was and where he was going to wake up, and for the first time in weeks, he slept through the night, warm and safe.


Author's Note: You guys. First, let me say that the response to this fic has been overwhelming. I'm so grateful for all the kind words and comments, and I can't wait to see how you feel about some of the coming chapters. Secondly, I want to confirm that when this fic is complete, I will make it very clear that it is the end. There will be no ambiguity. Third - and absolutely most important - I/we all have been blessed by

You guys.

First, let me say that the response to this fic has been overwhelming. I'm so grateful for all the kind words and comments, and I can't wait to see how you feel about some of the coming chapters.

Secondly, I want to confirm that when this fic is complete, I will make it very clear that it is the end. There will be no ambiguity.

Third - and absolutely most important - I/we all have been blessed by Plati-arts' today. Platina is an artist who drew the first pic of Scorpius with glasses that I fell in love with, and today, I received two gorgeous pics in my inbox.

Unfortunately, isn't letting me paste links properly (it's deleting them immediately when I save), so I'm going to have to direct you to the Archive of Our Own copy of this fic so you can see them. And please, go look at them. I'm going to break up the link so you can see it, but just remove the spaces after the slashes - and it's not even letting me save the first part of the link. I'm sorry it's complicated, but it's 100% worth it, I promise.

works/ 7714615/ chapters/ 18198004

I'm so absolutely in love with these and the rest of Plati's work - Scorbus and otherwise. Seriously, you need to see it.

There's more info over there, including a link to the rest of her work and a link to my own Tumblr where I'm accepting questions, comments and ideas. 3

I'm hoping to have some more goodies for you soon. In the meantime, I've opened up an ask section on Tumblr in case you have any questions or just want to drop by and say hi (links on AO3).

xoxo,

SP