Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter!

Playing Games

After the break the game continued, with more and more of the pressure being put on Christopher's shoulders as energies flagged and the opposing team's constant endurance training became more and more apparent. The official team trained regularly for games and that, plus their largely superior skills, made them the obvious ones to place money on. Or that would have been the case if it hadn't been for the fact that a lack of social life and a need to train his body had led Christopher to build up an endurance that was in fact superior to many of Jordan's teammates. So while the opposing team had the energy to continue to run and repeatedly kick the football in the werewolf's direction Christopher more than had the energy to continue to knock the ball back over to the other side of the pitch.

In fact, the offensive side of Al's team stopped running after the other team when they went to score on Christopher, remaining on the other side to wait for their goalie to kick or throw the ball their way.

It was a strategy that not only pissed Jordan off but worked really well for them.

Ten minutes before the game was scheduled to end Albus and Gellert returned to the bleachers, the other adults opting not to comment over the fact that Albus's hair was no longer intricately braided but had been pulled back at the nape. The smug looks both men were wearing said it all, and since none of them wanted the mental images they all concentrated on the game.

Completely obvious to the undercurrents Flora wandered over to them, asking them brightly if they'd come up with good strategy to punish Jordan too while they were gone.

While Albus blushed Gellert grinned wolfishly. "The strategy session went excellent, thanks for asking."

The blonde didn't make a sound when Albus's elbow connected with his side.

"That's good." Flora agreed. "We're going out to dinner after the game and you guys have to come cause I said so."

"And you're the boss."

Nodding, pleased that her Uncle Alby realized that, Flora turned her attention back to Gellert, the look in her eyes saying that she was going to assume that he would just fall into line with her demand, smiling brightly at him before heading off to insult Jordan's team some more.

Looking over at Albus Gellert wisely spoke German since he wanted to remain in his lover's good books. "You really want to go out to dinner with them? We could go somewhere together, just the two of us." The gleam in his brown eyes indicated just what they'd be doing if it was just the two of them. "The others can look after Al, they obviously have him thoroughly covered."

He was torn, but at the end of the day he couldn't leave until he was absolutely sure that Jordan and Al weren't going to lock horns or accidentally reveal what had caused their explosive fight months ago. It still ate at him that he didn't know what had caused his best friend to go after the stupid football player like a piranha smelling blood. The possibility that something would be said or indicated later was hard to pass up, not to mention the fact that Gellert had distracted him before he could really give Al hell for coming to play the game in the first place and that needed to be taken care of too.

"Tempting, and definitely a possibility after dinner or tomorrow, but I'm going to stick with Al until he'd safely back at Durmstrang and away from Jordan. You can head back afterwards if you like. I'm sure Mickey will come and it will be nice to catch up with him."

"Mickey?" Gellert repeated.

Okay, it was a little manipulative and underhanded, but he wanted his lover to become comfortable with his family. Not to mention the fact that it would be handy to have the other man on hand if it did become necessary to give Jordan a lesson in manners. And it wasn't like he was lying, Albus told himself as he smiled casually, he wasn't trying to insinuate something that wasn't there, since Mickey had indicated subtly being a little interested in him.

"Mickey was in Gryffindor with us, a good friend of Al's brother James. He's actually Jordan's cousin, and indirectly introduced the two, but he's such a sweetie we all forgave him for it. I've always liked him."

Studying the redhead Gellert tried to decipher whether the other man was trying to make him jealous or not. That would be stupid, but Albus had been known to resort to the sort of manipulation only idiots applied since it was the best they could do upon occasion. He had no reason to be jealous or to worry, his lover would never cheat on him, if only because Albus was smart enough to know that whoever he cheated on him with would never be seen or heard from again shortly after the indiscretion. And if he did stay Albus would probably see that as a sign that he could be manipulated just that easily, which was both a good and bad thing. A bad thing because it would only encourage the redhead to employ such tactics at a later date, but good because then Albus would underestimate him and he could use that to his advantage.

Decisions, decisions.

"I'll go to dinner with everyone."

Pleasure lighting up his eyes Albus rested his head against the blonde's, taking the man's hand in his for a loving squeeze.

It was ridiculous sometimes, Gellert thought as he squeezed back, how such simple things could make his lover so happy.

)

The game ended with a shut out, the one goal Al's team had managed to score in the beginning saving them from what would have probably been a lot of overtime that would have ended with their team forfeiting simply because they hadn't the energy to go on. As it was they pretty much all dragged themselves off the pitch, with only Christopher looking like he could have gone another hour without expiring. They could have hated the werewolf for that, but he'd pretty much won them the game so they forgave him as they crowed over their victory and gave him friendly slaps on the back.

Not surprisingly Jordan's team's coach came back over to try and recruit Christopher again, which obviously pissed off several members of the team, especially their captain, but no one could deny that anyone would be lucky to have the large, silent man on their side.

Both Domi and the werewolf's father beamed with pride as they hung off him, much to Christopher's amusement.

Sitting on the bench to catch his breath Al forced himself to get to his feet when he felt Scorpius's eyes on his back, turning around to see the blonde standing off to the side with his mother, obviously waiting for the rest of them. Thank Merlin Albus had scared the hell out of Jordan earlier, that was probably the only thing that was keeping the assehole from coming over to where they were. He was doing pretty good temper wise but Al knew that he'd do his level best to shove a football down his bastard ex's throat if the man so much as started to walk towards Scorpius.

Though the chances that his two exes would attempt to interact were next to nil, thankfully. Scorpius wasn't the type to confront people unless seriously provoked and Jordan, as far as he knew, was still under the mistaken assumption that Scorpius was a typical Malfoy and therefore very much inclined to maim and kill those who pissed them off and didn't possess magic.

It was Jordan's complete lack of understanding of what kind of a man Scorpius was that had caused the arrogant ass's grand plan to backfire on him so badly the year before.

And since thinking about what Jordan had tried to do and insinuate that time made his blood start to boil Al decided that it was best if he got thinking about something else. Like what he wanted for dinner. That was a nice, safe topic to debate.

Or maybe he better go over to where Mickey was being introduced to Gellert by Albus, just in case.

Al arrived as Albus was finishing the introduction, the handshake seeming to go off without a hitch. If Gellert reminded him of a panther that was more than capable of going from vaguely bored to violent in a heartbeat…well that was fairly normal where the blonde was concerned.

Well aware of why Al had come over and trusting that the man wasn't kidding about the repercussions to be had if he were to hit on Albus in front of his new boyfriend, Mickey wisely didn't flirt, as was his nature. The Durmstrang guy didn't look all that dangerous with the curls and pretty face, but Mickey knew better than to let appearances deceive him and get him cursed into oblivion. Still, he wasn't James's friend for nothing.

"So where did you two lovebirds wander off to during the second half?" He asked innocently, ignoring the exasperated look Al sent in his direction. "You missed some awesome playing by yours truly. And Al too." He added in an afterthought tone of voice.

Slightly amused by the way Albus went red but not about to show it in front of his lover's idiotic acquaintance Gellert simply gave the older man a look that suggested he found Mickey to be about as interesting and entertaining as watching paint dry. "Since your team failed to score during the second half I doubt we missed much."

"They were strat-o-gizing." Flora informed Mickey as she came over, wrapping her arms around Gellert's leg since he was her new favorite person, leaning her head against his side. He'd given her money and might give her more later. She loved her Uncle Gellert.

Looking down at her Gellert raised a single eyebrow. "Why aren't you afraid of me the way my brother is?"

"Your hair is pretty. And you gave me money."

A considering look came into Gellert's eyes as he gave Flora his full attention, the annoyance of her hanging off him temporarily rendered unimportant. "So if I regularly gave my brother money he'd be brainwashed into liking me and my mother would stop trying to make me spend time with him in order to increase our brotherly connection?"

Flora's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What?"

"Nevermind, Sweetie." Albus patted her head and gave his lover a dark look. "And you are not bribing Tristan into liking you, Gellert. Not that he doesn't like you, he loves you, but he's not going to get over his shyness where you're concerned by you buying him stuff."

"You're biased where I'm concerned."

"Yes, yes I am, but still…Al, tell him his brother loves him."

The kid had looked more than a little intimidated by Gellert the one time he'd met the kid, but Al knew better than to say the truth given that he was already in the doghouse with his best friend. "I'm sure your brother loves you, Gellert. According to Albus you're a very loveable person once someone gets to know you, and Tristan's known you his entire life."

Gellert just rolled his eyes over the sentimentality that seemed to permeate the Gryffindor psyche. "Let's go to dinner while I still have the stomach to eat."

)

Scorpius did his level best to ignore Al's presence at one of the table they'd snagged and put together once they arrived at the family restaurant James's friend had recommended. It wasn't just that his mother was around and watching him like a hawk, thought that was part of it, Scorpius silently admitted to himself. He just didn't want to deal with his feelings for the Gryffindor on top of all his family problems while they were surrounded by people they both knew. Thankfully Al had decided to stick close to Mickey in case the idiot somehow managed to find one of Gellert's buttons and therefore wasn't paying him the least attention.

Though that would be an interesting way to end the evening, Scorpius thought wryly, imagining a fight between Gellert and Mickey. It would be over for James's friend in the blink of an eye. If he blinked at the wrong time he'd miss it.

And since imagining all the ways Gellert might express his displeasure with Mickey was better than thinking about his own problems, Scorpius indulged himself with that for a few minutes. Unfortunately it was instinctual for him to be aware of Al on a primitive level he couldn't seem to control, which meant he couldn't seem to stop himself from looking up and over when he sensed that the Gryffindor was leaving the table. He watched as Al headed towards the other side of the restaurant in the direction of the loo, the Slytherin's eyes about to return to his plate when he happened to notice someone making his way after Al.

That Jordan guy.

Without thinking about what he was doing Scorpius pushed back his chair and got up as well, murmuring to his mother that he'd be right back before heading off to follow after the other two.

Gellert, who'd noticed what was going on as well, decided not to inform Albus of this latest development since in his opinion it was about time the idiot stepped up and made his move where Potter was concerned. Helping Albus interfere with their roommates' love lives was not how he wanted to spend his time after all.

He'd wait for the shots to be fired before interfering.

)

Al glared at the other man, honestly not surprised that Jordan had hunted him down. The man didn't know when to give up. It was one of the reasons the bastard was so successful at football, damn him. It was also why he so often wanted to curse the man, Squib or not. But he was better than that, and he wasn't going to pull his wand on the man or knock more of Jordan's teeth out. However tempting it might be to do so.

"Make whatever you say quick and easy to answer, Jordan."

Shoving his hands in his pockets Jordan's eyes made a quick glance in the direction they'd come from, wanting to know if any of his ex's family or friends intended to join them. Teddy wasn't much of a badass, but he'd managed to pull Al off of him where others had failed. And as for the women…he'd rather not think about what they'd do to him if given a green light. His face still hurt thanks to Flora. He didn't know what his ex's friends were capable of, and would rather not find out any time soon. Especially if Al had been serious about the goalie being a werewolf.

He'd had enough embarrassment and pain for one day.

And wanting to take back control of the situation the older man leered at the other man. "Okay, fine, we'll get down to business. Though you used to be more interested in foreplay."

He couldn't roll his eyes fast enough. "Only because I had zero interest in doing more than let you feel me up a little."

"Please, I have feeling below the waist, Potter. You definitely had interest."

"I'm a teenage boy not getting laid. Of course I get hard easily. It's no reflection on you, trust me."

"Thanks for that."

Al smirked, taking some pleasure in verbally taking the man down a notch. It was almost as satisfying as beating the shit out of the bastard. "And again, I'm pointing out that I will be missed if we stay here much longer. Get on with it."

"Fine." Knowing the man was right Jordan asked his question, which had been eating at him for months now. "Okay, so I was wondering how it was that you saw through my…plan. I mean it was flawless, there was no way in hell you could have known it wasn't Malfoy. I mean seriously, do you know how much I paid that guy?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. Kurt says 'fuck you', by the way. He wasn't at all pleased when I explained to him just what you were up to with your little video."

Jordan stared at him. "You've met Kurt?"

"Teddy's a Metamorphmagus too, you gobshite. Do you really think that given the rarity of that ability he wouldn't be able to point me in the right direction when I asked him for some names?"

"Fuck me."

"I'd sooner sleep with a girl."

"No you wouldn't."

"Oh, I would. No question."

When the sound of someone clearing their throat reached both their ears the two men turned their heads in tandem, both less then pleased to see Scorpius standing in the middle of the hallway, the former Slytherin having moved into view.

"Scorpius…Jordan was just leaving."

"He can leave in a minute." Eyes narrowed and gleaming with stormy intent, Scorpius looked ever inch the member of an aristocratic, dangerous and lethal family. Moving forward with focused intent the blonde got right up Jordan's face, gently but firmly pushing Al lightly away and behind him when the Gryffindor tried to stop him. "You can stay behind me or leave, Al, those are your two choices."

Al fought back a wince. Uh oh.

Dammit.