Chapter Three
Louis whistled tunefully to himself as he strode up the wide drive leading to the Malfoy residence. He had been told that Willowbank Hall was much smaller to the infamous Malfoy Manor where Pollux' grandparents lived but he wasn't sure how that could possibly be true as the Hall was a vast combination of corridors and rooms and suits that he himself could only just navigate around and he had been going there since he was twelve.
He had judged that three days should have eased his friend's worries and he was prepared to fight tooth and nail if it was not because he had had quite enough of waiting. A part of him new that Pollux had been right on some level but he had left the Hall that day knowing full well that he would be returning shortly. There was nowhere he would rather be.
When at last he had reached the looming double doors at the entrance to the Hall, his hand had barely been raised to knock before the door was being swung inward and a flustered looking Scorpius appeared before him.
"Oh thank Merlin you're here, I have no idea what you did to Pollux but he's been a mess since you left," Scorpius breathed, practically pulling Louis into the house. Louis caught him eyeing the large bouquet of flowers he was carrying and gave a small chuckle.
"These are for you mother," he smiled and Scorpius breathed out in relief, not quite sure he would have been able to cope if they had been for his brother. "Perhaps you would take them to her while I go and find Pollux," he suggested.
"Of course, he's probably by the lake," Scorpius added, taking the flowers and biding Louis good day, trying to keep his thoughts far away from what was going on between his brother and his brother's best friend. He had known Louis since the year before starting Hogwarts when he had come to stay for a week during the summer and had always liked him but he was still having trouble getting his head around the idea that Louis was anything more than Pollux' best friend. It wasn't that he had a problem with it, it was just new.
The grounds at Willowbank Hall were magnificent at this time of year and Louis was ambushed by an array of scents and colours as he wandered down towards the lake. He spotted his friend almost at once, leaning against a tree on the cusp of the wood just before it meets the lake. Dappled sunlight was playing with his hair as he fidgeted with a long blade of grass he had absentmindedly plucked on his walk down. Louis could not recall a more beautiful sight.
"You seem nervous," Louis murmured as he leant against the old oak that dominated the grounds several meters away from Pollux. Pollux' head shot upwards at the sound of his voice and his eyes fixed on him, unblinking. Neither of them spoke for what seemed like an eternity before Louis could bare it no longer. "Scorpius said you would be down here," he stated, just for something to say but then he smirked, recalling the younger boy's other observation. "He also said you've been a pain in the ass these last few days." Pollux scowled.
"No he didn't," he muttered.
"Well, he said you've been a mess and I figured that equated to the same thing," Louis mused, running a hand through his hair in a manner Pollux thought was entirely unnecessary. "I must say, I've had a very boring three days," he continued when it was clear Pollux wasn't going to say anything. "I only freaked out once and that was thinking you had only told me I needed time to think as a polite way of getting rid of me," he rambled. "Of course, Dominique told me not to be ridiculous-"
"You told Dominique?" Pollux asked incredulously.
"She could tell the second I stepped through the door, sometimes I wonder if she is really related to Luna the way she can read people," Louis shrugged nonchalantly, as if the fact that his sister knew his secret was no big deal… Which to him, it wasn't.
"Did you… Does anyone else…?" Pollux mumbled.
"Did I tell anyone else? Nope… Thought it would be best to talk to you first because for all I know you have no real interest in me and were just using me for a good snog," Louis shrugged again, perfectly aware he was baiting his best friend.
Pollux just stared at him as if he had grown two heads but remained leaning against his tree, out of Louis' reach. "Just using you for a good snog…" Pollux repeated. "Are you insane?"
"I just couldn't tell Lux," he shrugged, trying to keep the smirk from his face. "Sometimes people say things they think other people want to here, doesn't always mean it's true," he mused, enjoying the struggle and disbelief dance across his best friends face.
"Louis… You know you are the only person in the world who can tell when I am lying, don't you," Pollux stated. "You know perfectly well that I meant every word."
"Well then explain something to me," this time Louis couldn't stop the smirk. Pollux looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "Explain to me why on earth you are all the way over there," he gestured in Pollux' general direction, "and I am all the way over here," he finished, pointing to himself.
Pollux stared at Louis for several minutes, trying to comprehend how this was actually happening, perhaps he was going insane, perhaps this was a dream… But if it were a dream, Louis would not have that infuriating smirk on his face. Slowly, Pollux pushed away from the tree and began to walk over to Louis.
"Has anyone ever told you you're an idiot?" he asked with a smirk of his own.
"Only you," Louis grinned back. "Everyone else thinks I am a genius."
"Well everyone else is wrong," Pollux grinned, finally coming to a stop in front of his friend. "Louis, I..." he reached tentatively forward with his left hand but hesitated. Louis immediately caught on to what he had been about to do and reached his own hand out to grasp Pollux' long fingers. Pollux looked down at their joined hands and a smile spread across his face as he interlaced his fingers more firmly with Louis'. "Scorpius wasn't lying," he mumbled. "I have been a mess."
"Don't worry so have I, ask Dominique, she's staying a few extra days just to make sure I don't do anything stupid and she hates England," Louis chuckled. There was a faint blush in his cheeks that had arisen from the intimacy of their entwined hands and whenever Pollux smiled at him, he was afraid his heart might burst. Pollux himself still wasn't quite certain this wasn't a dream.
"I missed you," Pollux murmured, blushing at his own confession. "And it was only three days... I swear they were the worst three days of my life though," he snorted.
"Even worse than when we had to put up with Victoire and Teddy for the week after they got together?" Louis squirmed at the memory.
"Different kind of 'worse'," Pollux murmured, more distracted by the distance Louis' face was from his has he stepped closer to him, almost touching, and trapping him between his body and the tree.
"Do you ever think we'll be like that?" Louis whispered, the thought both daunting and oddly alluring.
"Like what?" Pollux asked to humour him.
"Like Ted and Victoire – so public about our feelings," he elaborated.
"I doubt it," Pollux' mouth was barely a breath away from the hollow behind Louis' ear. Louis heart sunk a little and almost as if Pollux had read his mind he continued: "We're naturally more reserved," he murmured. "But I have no intention of hiding how I feel, I've been doing that for far too long Louis..." He pulled away so that he could look Louis in the eye. "Now I want the world to know I'm yours," he confessed in a whisper. "And that you," he smirked, "are mine."
"Completely," Louis agreed breathlessly, moments before Pollux' lips captured his in a kiss. Blinding happiness washed over them both as they lost themselves in each other, nothing else existed-
"Mother, he's not down there!" a slightly fluster voice yelled out louder than was strictly necessary from further up the path. Louis pulled his lips from Pollux' and smiled at him.
"I think Scorpius is trying to warn us that we may have company in a few seconds," he smirked. "And I know you are prepared to tell your family about this but I somehow don't think your mother catching us like this is the best way to go about it," he smiled, squeezing Pollux' hand slightly before letting go. Pollux sighed and rested his forehead against Louis' for a moment, knowing his friend was right but being reluctant to let him go, before stepping away from him and composing his features. A fraction of a second later, Astoria Malfoy came gliding down the path.
"Oh Louis, there you are," she smiled sweetly. "I told you Scorpius!" she yelled over her shoulder before turning back to Louis. "Those flowers are beautiful darling, you didn't have to do that," she pecked him lightly on the cheek.
"Not at all Mrs Malfoy," he returned elegantly, no trace in his voice that he had just been locked in her son's embrace. "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman," he charmed, bending down to plant a kiss on her knuckles.
"Nonsense," she waved away the complement. "I see you've come to alleviate my son's foul mood," she nodded to Pollux who was now leaning against the tree, smiling at the exchange. "I don't know what's gotten into him but I'm sure you can fix it," she smiled. At that moment, Scorpius appeared behind her with a raised eyebrow and the faintest of smirks on his face. "He looks better already." Louis shot Scorpius a warning look as the younger boy covered up his snort with a cough. "You must stay for dinner," Mrs Malfoy ordered. "I simply can't stand another night of Pollux moping around and making everyone else miserable."
Louis glanced at Pollux who nodded subtly. "That would be my pleasure Mrs Malfoy," he grinned then flashed Scorpius a wink, making him pale slightly.
"Well dinner will be severed at seven as usual and Pollux if you so much as think about coming into the dining room without a smile on your face, I shall hex you into next week, is that understood?" she demanded of her eldest (if only by a few minutes) son.
"Yes mother," he smirked, still leaning against the old oak and looking more attractive than Louis thought he had a right to be. "Nothing but a smile."
"Well and your robes please, we wouldn't want you giving your father a heart attack," she retorted. With the perceptiveness only a mother has, Mrs Malfoy detected a faint blush rise in her son's cheeks and as she turned to Louis, she spotted a matching blush in his. She could not help but think that this would certainly make the meal a vast deal more interesting.
Giving them a secretive smile, Mrs Malfoy nodded and began to walk back up the path to the Hall. Scorpius gave Pollux a look.
"Don't worry little brother," Pollux smirked. "We'll keep it in our pants… While there are other people around at least," he added as an afterthought, his eyes glazing over. Scorpius looked horrified and quickly marched down the path after his mother. Once he had gone, Pollux turned to Louis to find him full on blushing now.
"It is times like this that I remember you are a Weasley," Pollux mused.
"You basically just told your brother we were going to have sex!" Louis hissed accusingly.
"Relax Louis," Pollux chuckled. "It was the fastest way to get rid of him. Now come over here, you are too far away," he ordered, pointing to the ground right by his feet. Louis glowered at him before sighing and walking back to the oak. As soon as he was in reach, Pollux reached out to grab his hands, swinging them gently. "You're so adorable when you're flustered," he teased.
"I should be weirded-out by you saying that, shouldn't I?" Louis murmured as Pollux pulled him closer. Pollux nibbled his ear.
"Oh I've had much worst thoughts in my head for years now Louis Weasley," Pollux whispered, his teeth grazing the shell of Louis' ear. Louis blushed again and Pollux pushed him away so that he could look at him. "You will tell me to stop if it becomes too weird for you, won't you," he asked beseechingly. "The last thing I want to do is scare you away."
"Don't be silly," Louis grinned, pecking him on the lips. "You… could… never… weird… me… out," he assured, planting a teasing kiss on Pollux' lips between every word. "But I promise on the condition that you do the same?"
"Sounds fair enough, although I can't imagine you ever doing anything weird enough to freak me out," Pollux chuckled.
"Want to bet," Louis smirked. Pollux just raised an eyebrow, giving Louis consent to try. Grinning, Louis reached out but instead of grabbing Pollux like he expected, Louis found the weak spots in his sides and began tickling him relentlessly.
"Lou," Pollux gasped. "Lou, stop it!" he implored as a choked laugh escaped him. "Dammit," he muttered, reaching his own hands out to tickle Louis. The shorter man jerked so wildly, he caused them both to topple to the ground at the foot of the oak.
"Shit, shit," Louis cursed, giggling. "Lux, don't," he gasped but to no avail, having the upper hand now, Pollux was not backing down and it was several minutes before either of them were able to catch their breath back.
Louis lay on his back, looking up at the dappled leaves while Pollux lay beside him, staring intently at his face. One hand was propping his head up while the other was resting on Louis' chest, playing with the buttons on his shirt. Louis turned his head and smiled at him, making Pollux afraid his heart was going burst into a million little pieces.
"I had no idea you were so ticklish," Louis teased.
"I could say the same about you," smiled Pollux. "Although I am beginning to suspect it was all just a grand scheme to get my robes dirty," he smirked. Louis just shrugged and brought a hand up to his face to run his thumb over his jawline once again. "Louis, I…" Pollux began, looking away and sitting up. Louis immediately followed suit, reaching a hand out to his friends back.
"What is it?" he demanded, worry written across his face.
"I should have told you before but I didn't want to freak you out any more," Pollux sighed, crossing his arms over his knees and resting his head on them.
"Well tell me now," Louis insisted.
"Louis… Four years is a long time for just a crush," Pollux muttered. Louis reached around and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up at him. "I… Louis, it's not a crush anymore," he frowned.
"Just say it Lux," Louis urged softly, moving around so he was kneeling before him.
"Louis, I'm in love with you," he stated clearly, fixing Louis with his gaze to ensure he would detect any flicker of unease. For several agonising moments, Louis didn't move but eventually he let out a loud sigh of relief.
"Bloody hell Lux, I thought you were going to say you didn't fancy me at all anymore," he rolled his eyes. "Why the hell did you think I would freak out about that?" he frowned.
"I don't know Lou," Pollux sighed in frustrated. "I just feel like we're doing this all wrong, like we're going too fast… I feel like I should at least take you on a date before telling you this sort of thing…" When Louis didn't say anything, Pollux looked up, surprised to find Louis smiling down at him with his eyebrows raise as if to suggest Pollux was being thick. "What?"
"Lux, dates are for people who don't know each other…" Louis began. "They're to help people find out about the other person. You already know me better than I know myself, we don't need to go on a date," Louis explained.
"But-"
"Everyone has their own pace of doing things and we've had over seven years of getting to know each other so it is natural for us to now do things faster than a couple who have only just met," he continued. "And right now I want to tell you I love you too but I know you won't believe me-" Pollux snorted in confirmation, "-so I'm just going to wait until you can have absolutely no doubt."
"You're insane," Pollux mumbled, turning his face into Louis' outstretched arm.
"One of the reasons you love me," Louis bit his lips to stop himself grinning as Pollux looked up to glare at him before returning his face to the crook of his arm. "And right now I want to snog your pretty little face off and I can't do that while its buried in my elbow," he teased, tugging on his arm to free it from Pollux' hold. Pollux grumbled in protest, reaching forward to grab Louis and roll them onto the ground so that he could wrap himself around the smaller boy. Louis chuckled.
"You know my parents are going to Italy to see my mum's family next week and Scorpius and Andrius are going back to Hogwarts… Would you like to stay for a few days?" Pollux asked, lazily playing with seem of Louis' shirt.
"What about Castor?" Louis murmured.
"He's hardly ever around, I think he and James are thinking of buying a flat together," the other boy sighed, contentedly.
"Sounds wonderful," Louis smiled. Running his fingers through Pollux' hair absentmindedly, he could not help but think that lying there in the in the dappled sunlight with Pollux' head on his chest and his arm slung over his waist was possibly the most perfect place Louis had ever been in his entire life and Pollux was far from disagreeing with him.