AN: This is my favourite chapter to date, since it's the most relatable for me. Fun and trippy-ness at the beginning and some fluff at the end! Yay.

If you haven't already, please R&R my friend's story as it's set in this universe. Here's the link to his profile: .net/u/2041945/EvanescentCrimson

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters or anything even remotely related to the Harry Potter Franchise, except my own copies of the books and some merchandise.

Flowers and Caterpillars

"Sweetest, are you seriously gonna get a caterpillar tattooed to your body?" Scorpius asked, giggling.

"Why the fuck not, babe?" Albus laughed.

"Why ruin this god-like body of yours by decorating it with a bug?" Scorpius argued.

"Because I saw these sexy blue caterpillars EVERYWHERE the other night" said Albus, using absurd hand-gestures to try describe his vision. Teddy just laughed.

"On the Lysergus Potion?" Scorpius whispered in surprise.

"New development?" Teddy inquired excitedly.

"Yeah, on that" Albus nodded.

"It's a variation of Asphixus. It has hallucinogenic properties" explained Scorpius in a whisper, eyeing the tattoo artist suspiciously.

"Sounds awesome! You're going to give me some, right?" Teddy asked enthusiastically.

"It's not perfect. It has some weird side effects. But when I've worked out the kinks, you'll be the first person I contact" Scorpius assured.

"Scor, I'm getting some blue caterpillars crawling down my ribs!" Albus piped up with a massive grin.

"That's great, love" Scorpius smiled, putting a slim hand on his boyfriend's head and stroking his hair affectionately. "Maybe I should get the flowers I saw" he contemplated with a finger on his chin.

"Have you guys decided yet?" the tattooist interrupted.

"Yeah, we don't have much time. We need to get back to Hogsmeade" Teddy reminded them.

"I want a flower with some blue caterpillars crawling over and around it" Albus grinned confidently. "And my friend here wants some flowers with a blue caterpillar on one of them"

Scorpius looked at Albus and laughed.

"I'll draw it up for you, just give me a minute" the artist informed them.

"Just a friend, now, am I?" Scorpius teased in a mock-angry tone.

"That's exactly it! I don't love you at all" Albus giggled with a soft, playful punch to the blonde's arm.

"I'll get you back for this" Scorpius winked suggestively, wagging a finger at Albus.

"I can't wait!" Albus licked his lips, laughing and flirting.

"Guess who I ran into the other day" said Teddy suddenly, hands between his knees in a characteristic gesture of contemplation.

"Who?" Albus asked.

"Your uncle George"

"Oh! I haven't seen him in a while. I wonder how Aunt Helen and the cousins are doing"

"He seemed a bit edgy"

"You should offer him some Asphixus to chill him out" Scorpius added.

"I don't think any Weasley would do drugs, babe" Albus said with a cocked eyebrow.

"You'll be surprised who'd do drugs, Al"

"I have your designs" Doug interrupted.

True to the idea, Albus's design featured a beautiful wild purple flower with five bright blue caterpillars crawling on and around it, and Scorpius's five beautiful wild purple flowers with a single blue caterpillar sitting on the middle one.

"Happy?" the artist asked. It was a beautiful piece of art, with vibrant colours and bold outlines.

"Awesome" Albus, Scorpius, and Teddy answered in unison, grinning like Christmas had come early.

*

"What was the surprise?" Lily yelled, leaping across the Slytherin common room to greet Albus and Scorpius when they arrived late that afternoon.

"Oh, Lils, they're super-awesome" Scorpius said excitedly.

"Totally rad" Albus nodded in agreement, his hand linked with Scorpius's.

"What are they? Tell me!" Lily nagged, almost literally jumping up and down.

The two teenagers simultaneously lifted their shirts so that their ribs were showing.

"OH MY GAWD!" the youngest Potter shrieked. "Take the plastic off!"

"Not yet, we can only do that in a few hours, tonight" Scorpius told her.

"Yeah, we'll show you properly after we take a bath" Albus nodded.

"Together" Scorpius added with a wink.

"Too much information" Matt piped up from where he was sitting by the fireplace.

"The caterpillars are exactly the same colour as Asphixus! And these flowers. . ." Lily admired quietly. "They're beautiful" she said, mesmerized, gently touching the plastic dressing of her brother's tattoo. "Were you tripping when you thought of these?" she asked with a laugh.

"Totally" Albus winked at his little sister.

"You can SO tell" she laughed again. "Dad's going to kill you when he finds out"

"Lils, Mom walked in on Scor and I shagging. I really think our parents can survive the news of me getting a tattoo" Albus laughed.

*

Said parents were presently having a cup of tea in the kitchen where they shared many memories of their married life. Ginny hadn't tried to convince Harry to try again, the way Ron was doing. She knew he wasn't in love with her anymore. They could only be happy apart.

In the months after she'd discovered the truth about Albus's sexuality, she'd asked Harry over and over what they could have done differently; what they'd done wrong. Harry hadn't known what to say but to assure her that it wasn't their fault, and that it wasn't even such a bad thing.

Ginny'd been worried about who would carry on the Potter name, and Harry had had to dutifully remind her that they had two other children, one of which would always be a Potter.

She seemed to be moving, slowly but surely, towards acceptance of Albus and Scorpius's relationship, which was good enough for Harry, for now at least. The silent war between his child and said child's mother had to end, and it never really would unless Ginny was totally at ease.

Harry was afraid. He wasn't ready to be in a relationship so soon after his separation with his wife of twenty two years. But Draco was pushing him to move in with him, and wasn't taking no for an answer.

*

Scorpius gently caressed Albus's tattoo, the perfect inverse of his own. It was even on the opposite side of his body (his being on the right and Albus's on the left).

"Does it hurt?" he asked tenderly, leaning on his elbow next to Albus on his four-poster bed. His hair, past his shoulders now, hung messily in a loose pony tail with his long fringe in his eyes.

"Not at all" Albus said with a sweet smile, reaching up to lovingly push Scorpius's blonde locks behind his ear. Scorpius had made a potion to accelerate the healing process that seemed to have worked wonderfully on their tattoos.

Scorpius softly ran his fingertips over the bright blue and purple picture, earning a cute squeal from the dark-haired boy.

"It tickles" Albus grinned. He leaned up and placed a chaste kiss on Scorpius's pink lips. Scorpius kissed him in return, only less sweetly and more passionately.

Their clothes ended up on the floor as they often did, as they proceeded to spend their night entwining themselves in a fervent display of passion. It was impossible to tell whose limbs were whose.

Lying in his best friend's arms, Albus snuggled his nose into Scorpius's chest. "Scor, I love you" he said honestly, smiling.

"I love you too, Ally"

AN: Awww, don't you feel all warm and fuzzy inside now? Aren't I grand at putting an image in your head without having to go graphic? LOL

This chapter was tribute to my first tattoo which I had done last month. My best friend, EvanescentCrimson got one with me, but it wasn't his first. It also pays respects to the upcoming acid-trip party that we're really excited for.

Remember, kids: Don't buy drugs! (Become a rock star and they give you them for free) (^^,)

Next Chapter: Dirty Harry

"Well either way, it's good stuff. Gimme more" Harry whined, grinning.

. . .to be continued!