AlbusScorpius

On Your Side

Chapter Twelve: Trickery

A/N: I am very sorry about the false update of chapter twelve that happened; I was trying to replace chapter eleven, but then accidentally just added it as a new chapter. It was well past bedtime in my defence. And this is also where the POV begins to go all WoAh TrIpPy. (Yeah, I was dying to do that)

Lucius entered his grandson's room to see the boy hunched over his trunk, creases lining his face, mouth pulled into a tight line and a strong frown on his face, despite the worry and fear that was settled in his eyes. Something was wrong. His grandson was beginning to doubt him. Lucius could tell.

"Scorpius," he greeted, a polite smile on his face, widening slightly as the boy jumped in surprise, looking up with wide eyes. "Are you ready to return to work?"

"I am, Grandfather," the younger man quickly recovered, standing and straightening his robes, a small smile on his face.

Lucius circled round Scorpius, hands folded behind his back. "Have you packed the notes I gave you?"

Hesitation.

"I have, Grandfather."

There was no sign of the unquestionable trust that there used to be.

Grey eyes flashed with anger, though the polite smile remained. "Do I hear doubt in your voice, Scorpius?"

He took far too long to answer.

"Do you not believe in what we are doing anymore?"

"Creating chaos?"

Lucius lifted his chin, standing directly in front of his grandson, eyes narrowing slightly. "Creating fear. Revenge. For your grandmother."

"When did you go to Harry Potter and ask for his help?"

The elder Malfoy faltered.

"You say he never helped us, never helped Grandma. Who asked him to?"

"We do not lower ourselves to begging for help from the alleged saviour," Lucius snarled, emphasising every other word with distaste.

Scorpius' face became harder. "If he offered his help, would you even have accepted it?"

"That's entirely beside the point."

"That's the whole point!" Scorpius snapped. He had never gotten into a fight with his grandfather before, not since he was a teenager. "How do I know that he didn't offer help and you just refused it?"

"Are you calling me a liar, boy?"

He was stepping into dangerous territory, and he knew it.

"It appears you need a little more incentive," Lucius said, eyes narrowing, stepping forward once again.

Albus grinned up at the blond man, having successfully completed every spell he was given to learn over the holidays, and even passed a small test that Scorpius had given him to make sure he still remembered everything they had done the term before. The usual big grin started to slip at the distant look in the grey eyes, his Professor not entirely paying attention.

It had been like this all week. The Transfigurations Professor hadn't been talking to anyone much, and seemed lost in his own thoughts a lot of the time. No one else seemed to have noticed, the man wasn't the most sociable person in the world after all, but Albus had. He'd brought it up with Rose, who had brushed it off without a second thought, stating he knew the man better than she did and they didn't need to worry themselves with it.

She didn't know about what he'd seen in the Manor however.

"Professor Malfoy?"

Scorpius straightened, turning his attention to Albus. "Yes? Oh right, that'll be all for today."

Albus nodded. "Are you okay, Professor?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

He bit his lip and shrugged. "You just seem a little out of it."

"Do I?" Scorpius turned away, withdrawing back into himself.

"You have for a while," Albus admitted, shifting awkwardly when his Professor turned back to him, a plan slowly forming in his mind. "Perhaps you need to get out."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, you seem to just hang about your classroom and your rooms," Albus explained, shrugging slightly. "I haven't seen you go out. I haven't seen you really interact with anyone since getting back. You're still," he hesitated. "You're still like a friend to me, and I'm worried about you."

Scorpius tried not to let it get to him. "I appreciate it, Albus. I may go out tomorrow."

"I hope you do. Will you want company?"

"No, I don't think so. I should be fine on my own. And I highly doubt I'm supposed to encourage you in breaking school rules."

The dark haired boy rocked back on his heels. "You can always give me a detention for it if it'll make you feel better."

Smirking, Scorpius' brow twitched. "Well, I do hear that the Owlery needs cleaning out. By hand."

Albus grimaced. "I think I'll pass."

"I thought so," the blond gestured towards the door, looking slightly happier than before. "Off you go then, Mr Potter."

"Later, Professor!"

Scorpius chuckled slightly as Albus left the room, the Gryffindor boy heading straight to the library in search of at least one of his cousins, pleased that he'd convinced the man to get out. He didn't particularly enjoy it when the older man was so lost in his own thoughts, with that strained look on his face. Like there was something he had to do that he didn't want to. Like he was having doubts, or felt guilty.

Albus hoped he wasn't what was causing the man to feel guilty.

Dumping his books down on the table, not noticing the action making the redhead jump slightly in shock, he slouched opposite her and rested his head on his books, looking up through green eyes. "What'cha doing?"

"Studying."

"Do you ever stop studying?"

Rose raised a brow. "Yes, I do. I read sometimes. None-school related books."

"That doesn't count."

"It most certainly does. It's not studying."

Albus groaned, burying his head in his book, which was not the most comfortable thing to do.

"I finished with the map; I'll give it back to you tomorrow."

"I can't believe you steal books from the library."

She huffed slightly. "Well, I have to make up for your total lack of studying, obviously."

"Hello, my wonderful dorks!"

The two looked up at the singsong voice, Albus grinning and Rose looking slightly putout, the latter speaking first. "Lucy."

"Don't be too happy to see me, Rosie," Lucy joked, sitting down next to Albus. "How was class?"

"It was okay," Albus replied with a shrug. "How was what's-his-face?"

She scoffed, sticking her nose up and scrunching her face in disgust. "Please, Al, he's not worth the time of day, the slimy little git."

Rose smirked slightly at the boy's confused look. "Did you miss his betrayal?"

"What did he do?"

"I caught him getting all friendly with that fifth year horse from Hufflepuff," Lucy spat, glaring at nothing in particular. "Bastard."

Albus turned to Rose, horrified. She chuckled and nodded to confirm the story, looking quite smug at the next bit. "That 'fifth year horse' was quite literally a horse after Lucy found her."

"She should be glad that Professor Longbottom was there to save her skinny little arse."

"He wasn't there to save him from becoming a toad."

The only boy grimaced at this. His cousins could be brutal when they wanted to be.

Lucy grinned at that. "Has anyone found him yet?"

"Found him?"

Rose practically cackled at Albus' outburst. "We threw him out the window."

"You what?"

"We were only on the first floor, Al, it's not like he died," Lucy said, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, what do you think we are?"

"When did this happen?"

"A day ago," the brunette replied with a careless shrug. "Or two."

"Merlin's beard," he rubbed his temples.

"It should've worn off now, if someone hasn't found him and fixed him," Rose reassured.

"That's kind of beside the point."

Lucy scowled. "If I didn't know better I would've thought you were being sympathetic to him, Albus."

Albus shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sure he deserved it. If I was there, I would've done the same thing."

"We should've done the same thing to another Hufflepuff we know," Rose muttered, eyes darkening dangerously.

"Please don't," Albus begged, opening his book in hopes that it would distract from the conversation.

Lucy giggled in her usual way, making the boy feel more nervous. It was no wonder he didn't like girls.

Albus sat in the back corner of the Hogs Head, hoping he looked inconspicuous. Packed safely in the bag he'd brought with him was his invisibility cloak, allowing him to move from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade almost completely safely. He sipped on his Butterbeer and glanced towards the door again, hoping he'd picked the right place. Considering the Malfoy history, he'd assumed that this was the best bet as to where his Professor might go, as bad as he felt for stereotyping the man. He was beginning to doubt his decision.

He glanced up as the door opened however, a smile lifting his face at the sight of familiar blond hair. Target acquired.

The dark haired boy knew it was probably slightly wrong, but this seemed to be the only way he was going to get the man outside of the school to talk to. He bit on his lip as he watched the man order his drinks, hoping he would be caught, trying not to look too eager. Scorpius seemed quite happy to linger at the bar as he was ordering a drink, not turning to look at anyone else, probably lost in his own thoughts. As usual.

As soon as he turned Albus craned his neck slightly, forcing a sheepish grin as grey eyes instantly locked with his. The grin became much more confidant when he caught the pale lips tugging upwards in a suppressed smile, insides warming as Scorpius picked his drink off the counter and headed towards his student, unable to keep himself from looking slightly amused, though expectant.

"Give me one reason I shouldn't punish you for being out after curfew."

"Because I'm an adult and I can do what I want?"

The blond sat at the grimy table, raising a brow. "Any particular reason you decided to come out tonight."

"Honestly?" Albus' grin widened. "I wanted to make sure you got out, I figured here was the best bet."

"I suppose I should thank you for your concern?"

"That'd be nice," the younger boy said. "How're you feeling, for being out then?"

Scorpius paused, thinking about it for a moment. Sat opposite Albus in a grubby pub in comparison to his well-kept rooms with a book? "Much better, I think."

"I'm glad," Albus said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Why did you assume I would come here then?"

"Well," the younger boy glanced around, words dying on his tongue. "I have no idea."

Scorpius chuckled and followed the boy's gaze. "It is rather filthy, isn't it?"

"Why did you come here?" Albus pressed. "Compared to your rooms this is the opposite of what you like."

"I used to come here a lot when I was at school," Scorpius replied with a shrug. "It was a popular place for the Slytherin crowd to hang out. And I got on with the owner of the time."

"The owner's changed?"

"Probably not, but he's not about as much anymore. He was getting very old."

Albus glanced towards the man serving the bar. "I think I prefer the Three Broomsticks."

"Don't say that too loudly."

He simply grinned in response.

"Besides, I would assume that Professor Longbottom would catch you out if you visiting the Three Broomsticks at this hour."

"He would, yeah. And he would tell my mum. I'd get in deep trouble."

Scorpius tried to look unimpressed. "And here you get caught by myself."

"You're not going to tell my mum though."

"What makes you think that?" Scorpius teased, pleased with the sudden doubtful look that passed over his companion's face. "I do believe I know your mother well enough to inform her that her youngest son is a dirty stop out."

"You wouldn't."

"Try stop me."

Albus pouted, brows pulling down in a frown. "I am not a dirty stop out. I'm being a caring friend!"

Scorpius chuckled once again. "The two are not entirely independent of each other."

"You're not going to punish me for being nice!"

"I'm not, no," the blond reassured. "Though if someone asks me why I'm not, I will be giving you a very severe punishment to cover my back."

Albus scoffed mockingly. "Glad to know if it boils down to it you'll happily stab me in the back."

"I never requested you join me," Scorpius replied, mirth dancing in his eyes. "In fact, I recall telling you not to accompany me."

The boy paled at the memory.

"What was the punishment I promised you? Cleaning out the Owlery?" Scorpius found himself having more fun than he'd had in a long while. He found himself often thinking that when he was hanging around the Potter child.

"Please don't."

Scorpius laughed and drank some of the firewhiskey before him, turning to look out the window.

"I don't suppose many shops are open now," Albus muttered.

"I doubt it. The shops tend to shut before dinnertime here."

"Shame, I'd kill for some sweets right now."

A fine brow rose. "Don't you think it's a little late to be thinking about sweets?"

"It's never too late to think about sweets."

"I believe they serve some sort of snack here, though I highly doubt it'll interest you. Nor would I recommend getting it on a school night."

"It'd probably be poisoned."

Scorpius gave him a look. "Remember what I said about not saying certain things too loudly?"

"Right, shutting up."

Nodding in appreciation, the blond turned to survey the others in the room as Albus drank some of the liquid in front of him, watching his companion happily. Scorpius did seem slightly more relaxed for being out, and he was taking great pride in knowing that some of that relaxation came from him and their conversations. Now that he knew Scorpius thought about him like that, he was picking out other signs to help him confirm what he was planning on doing. He didn't know much about dating; most of what he'd learnt had been from Jeremy and a couple of girls in his early teens when everyone else was doing it. But what he did know was that there were a few things that made a date a date and not hanging out with a friend.

"Did you have a nice Christmas then?" Albus asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.

Scorpius turned his attention back to the boy, a flash of something familiar crossing his face. What happened at Christmas. That was what was bothering him. "It was nice to go home and see my father. What about your Christmas?"

"Yeah, it was good. Full of family events, my family never fails to make Christmas full of people. There's enough of us."

"So I've heard," Scorpius confirmed. "My grandfather has told me how big the Weasley family grows to many times."

"Your grandfather has a scary face."

Grey eyes screwed shut and the man rubbed his temples. "Please don't tell me my grandfather saw you when you pulled that little stunt."

"No! At least, I don't think he saw me well. He was with your father when they were chasing us out."

"Salazar I'm doomed if he realises it was you. You still haven't told me why you were at my house, anyway."

Albus flustered, gripping his drink harder. "It was my brother's idea."

Scorpius wasn't convinced.

"He thought it would be fun!" Albus continued, realising he was probably making his brother out to be some kind of criminal. "Really! I didn't want to do it."

"Yet you did."

"He dared me to."

"Have you never heard of saying no?"

"You can't say no to a dare, Professor."

"Honestly," the blond rolled his eyes. "Gryffindors."

Albus grinned. "You were in Slytherin, weren't you?"

"I was, correct. You know this already."

"I'm just making conversation," Albus said with a shrug. "Did you want to be there?"

"You don't really choose your house."

"Doesn't mean you wanted to go there."

Scorpius looked away. "I wanted to be in Slytherin."

There was an expectant pause.

"But?" Albus pressed.

"But what?"

"I don't know, there just felt like there was a but there."

The grey eyes glanced away. "Slytherin wasn't the Sorting Hat's first choice."

"What?"

He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "Ravenclaw was what it said first."

Albus glanced down at his drink. "My dad said that the Sorting Hat tried to put him in Slytherin."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and he asked the hat not to put him in Slytherin."

Scorpius hummed. "The Sorting Hat seemed to change its mind once I'd remembered my grandfather."

"There wasn't too much of a debate for me. Apparently the thought of me in Slytherin made the Sorting Hat laugh."

"You? A Slytherin?" the blond said with his own laugh. "I'm not surprised."

"Hey! It was a genuine worry, okay?" Albus defended, though there was a smile on his face. "My brother kept teasing me, saying I was going to end up in Slytherin, and that he was going to disown me. Dad then told me about how he asked to not go to Slytherin, and that even if I was there he would still love me."

"I should hope so."

Albus gave an amused smile. "Then the hat told me about how it had taunted my brother about going in Slytherin 'cause he was so scared about it. He didn't, though."

"He does sound rather rash."

"He is," the dark haired boy agreed. "He's wonderful though."

"I've always wondered what it would be like to have siblings."

The younger male shrugged, thinking about his own siblings. His elder brother who was everything like the stories he'd heard of their grandfather, except less of a hopeless romantic, and his little sister who was the cunning, deceitful, spoilt daddy's little girl that she was so proud of being. "It's alright."

"Just alright?"

"Certainly helps if you're bored," Albus added with a grin. "Or if you're forced to spend time with people you don't like and your siblings don't like either. James and I would sit at the back of the room and just attempt to imitate the minister whenever he was round for dinner."

"Dinner with the minister?" Scorpius smirked. "Aren't you fancy?"

Albus flushed, shifting awkwardly in his seat, causing Scorpius to chuckle.

"It sounds like you and you brother get on."

"We do. We have a fair amount in common. I get on with Lily sometimes too."

"She's a very strong woman."

"She is, I love her, most of the time, when she's not trying to enact revenge," he grimaced.

Scorpius laughed again. "Teaches you not to get on the wrong side of her."

"I did it last time to help you!" Albus defended. "Man, you're totally ungrateful today, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the grey eyes danced with mirth. "Thank you very much for trying to help me."

Albus knocked the edge of his glass on Scorpius' with a grin, lifting it and downing what was left before standing, fishing out his wallet. "Next round's on me. What do you want?"

"I only planned on having one drink-!"

"Then plan on having one more."

A soft smile took over the Professor's face and he relented, feeling somewhat pleased about the situation. "Firewhiskey, please."

While they only had one more drink each, it took them a long while to finish it. They seemed to be burning through topics like they were going out of fashion, ranging from their childhoods to whether or not the teachers were still as harsh or nice as they had been when Scorpius was at school. By the time they left it was well after curfew, closing in on midnight, leaving only because Scorpius had rushed them both to finish their drinks, claiming that he didn't want to be tired for class tomorrow.

All the way back to the castle they were bumping shoulders, standing far too close to each other for comfort, the blond not noticing what was weird about the situation as Albus passed the route to the Gryffindor towers and accompanied him to his room instead, just that there was something peculiar about it.

But as they arrived outside his room, Scorpius froze, turning to Albus and realising why the entire situation was weird. Not in an unpleasant way, no, but it was weird. And this scene was familiar he realised, as he looked at the Cheshire cat grin on Albus' face. He'd been here before, being walked back to his front door after dinner or drinks, his companion waiting patiently for him to open the door, followed by an all too familiar line.

"I had a great time tonight."

That was what did it.

"Al," Scorpius paused, frowning slightly and putting on his best teacher voice. "Albus, what exactly is going on?"

"Nothing, why?"

The grey eyes narrowed suspiciously and he turned, folding his arms across his chest. The dark haired boy became slightly nervous, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Albus."

"I just thought it would be nice to have drinks with you."

"Is this meant to be a date?"

Albus froze, swallowing a lump in his throat and gathering his courage. "Yes, it is."

A pale hand ran through the Professor's hair. "Albus, you shouldn't have done this. I'm trying to discourage your feelings. You should be trying to discourage them too."

"But you don't want to discourage them."

Breath caught in his throat. "Excuse me?"

"I know about the dream," Albus continued, stepping forward to close the gap between them, determination written all over his face. "I saw you, when I visited your house. You were dreaming about me."

"Albus; that is an invasion of privacy and not something you should let go to your head. You're an attractive young man; it means nothing more than I can recognise that."

He stepped closer still. "You think I'm attractive?"

Scorpius began to panic. "You are my student and I expect you to help me keep a professional and appropriate relationship between us, nothing more nothing less."

"But you want more."

"I do not, Mr Potter, you're assuming-?"

Albus practically growled at the use of his surname, walking forward until Scorpius was inches away from him, the taller man refusing to move or run away; wanting to keep the façade that it wasn't bothering him, though his face betrayed him. "I can see it in your eyes, Professor. Don't try to fool me. I know you want this just as much as I do."

"You're wrong."

"You're in denial."

"No matter what I feel it doesn't change the situation."

"You're just scared."

"Let it go, Mr Potter."

"No," he raised his chin, fingers wrapping round the fabric of Scorpius' shirt, breathing softly against the pale lips, green eyes half lidded and staring into grey. "I don't care. I want you."

If you asked him he would have said it was a moment of weakness. That if it wasn't for the situation and the closeness, and the fact he hadn't had anyone in so long, he would've never succumbed. He would have been strong, resolute, and stubborn like a mule. But he wasn't. He caved, capturing his student's lips with his own, threading his hands through the surprisingly soft black locks, not pulling away as a body pressed flush against his.

But that wouldn't be true. He did want it. He wanted it more than he could remember wanting anything. The slightly chapped lips moving against his own and the shots of electricity that went through him as their skin touched was driving him crazy. Even their noses bumping didn't bother him as Albus practically melted under his touch, one hand threading round the boy's waist to keep him standing. He just wanted more.

They eventually pulled apart, breathing heavily and staring into each other's eyes, not stepping away from one another. A slightly triumphant smile spread across Albus' face and Scorpius licked his lips, craving the touch of his kiss again.

The blond man shot back, pushing Albus away roughly enough to make him stumble, unlocking his room and speaking without turning. "Return to your dorms, Mr Potter. I think it's time for you to retire."

He didn't move, staring at Scorpius' back, half way through the door.

Pale hands gripped the doorframe. "Do not force me to take disciplinary action, Mr Potter. I will not hesitate to deduct points or give you a detention for insolence."

Albus turned, striding down the hall, his resolve more fortified than ever to win his Professor's heart.

Grey eyes followed him, sagging against the door and feeling an ache in his chest, sick to his stomach as the kiss replayed in his head. He was so screwed.

And it's the moment you've all been waiting for! Their first kiss! Though apparently some of you are waiting for naked Scorpius more :P Updated faster (I hope) than usual! And slightly shorter than planned, but longer than other chapters.

I also want to apologise for the false alarm with the update again, it was a mistake I've only ever made once before. I think. I don't really remember.

Anyway, I love this chapter, though I wish I hadn't lost practice with writing dialogue. I used to be able to make my characters talk about random things for hours! Or words. Same difference really.

R+R!

Thanks ~

Kivea R.

PREVIEW

"You have gotten much better."

"Thanks."

"I believe you're up to speed with the rest of the class now."

"Wait, what are you trying to say?"