Disclaimer: Everything related to Harry Potter is property of J.K Rowling, including the characters and places. I do not own anything. Everything presented here is just for fun!

A/N: What can I say... I came back to life after a long time of absence. And I am really really sorry, but I've had the most hectic couple of months ever. I had a great end of term though so I can now focus on writing again, so yay!. This chapter has given me some major headaches and a big author's block, so some parts could definitely be improved. I'm sorry about that, but I really just wanted to publish it and call it a day.

If you find any misspelling or other grammatical atrocities please do tell me, 'cause my main objective is to improve. So, Sorry for keeping some of you waiting so long and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 13

Victory

The following morning dawned windy and cold. The snow covered the grounds and for some reason professor Longbottom thought it was a great idea to spend the first module collecting herbs that grew in the outskirts of Hogsmeade.

Albus hadn't spoken to Scorpius since their encounter in that empty classroom the day before, but he felt determined to make up for his behavior and sort things out once and for all.

He started walking alone towards Hogsmeade and it took him only a couple of minutes to sight Scorpius walking ahead of him alongside a Ravenclaw girl Albus didn't know. He stepped up his pace until he was near enough for them to hear him.

"Scorp!" he shouted, walking carefully down the inclined road.

Scorpius stopped abruptly and turned around to face him, his face flushed pink by the cold. The girl turned around too and as soon as she saw Albus walking towards them her eyes lit up with excitement.

"What?" replied Scorpius, making sure his tone was an annoyed and angry one.

Albus put his most charming expression and stopped in front of the Raveclaw girl.

"Hey babe, you mind if I have a quick word with my mate here?" he said, brushing his thumb softly against her cheek. The girl blushed immediately, her face starstruck and her face twisting in an impossibly broad smile. She seemed lost for words, and just nodded avidly, without taking her eyes off Albus.

"Thanks babe, it won't take long, I promise." he said, winking at her. The girl almost squeaked at that, and started walking away looking like she was about to faint. Scorpius just rolled his eyes, looking impressed.

"Merlin, Al, how is it that you haven't fucked every single girl in school yet with that charm?" he said, forgetting for a second that he was mad at Albus.

"That's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about." replied Albus, stepping beside Scorpius with a smile and beginning to walk down the snowy road. Scorpius made everything he could to contain his laugh, so he made some kind of weird snort.

"I'm sorry for running away...yesterday." was the first thing Albus said, slightly nervous.

"I'm sorta getting used to it, really." replied Scorpius, regaining his annoyed expression and looking forward.

"I just...needed to think."

"You do that a lot, apparently." Scorpius shot back.

Albus sighed and they walked down the road in silence for a couple of minutes.

"Did you conclude anything?" Scorpius asked suddenly, looking at Albus.

"What?"

"You said you needed to think." said Scorpius, turning left to leave the road and enter a small clearing in the snowy woods. "Did it help you at least? Or you reckon you'll need a couple more of those shag-and-run sessions before making up your mind?" his voice was ice-cold and full of irony. Albus wondered if there was anyone else in the world who could pull off a tone that sounded indifferent and aggressive at the same time like Scorpius.

"No, I–"

"Because if this behavior is going to be, like, a constant thing–" Scorpius continued as he leaned down to cut some herbs growing on the side of the clearing. "Scorp–"

"–then let me tell you it's not going to work."

"Scorpius!" Albus yelled, tired of hearing his friend speak. "It's not just my fault, alright?"

"How d'you mean?" Scorpius asked, looking back at Albus.

"Well...It's not...easy, you know..." Albus shifted uncomfortably, standing just a couple of feet away from Scorpius. He kneeled to cut a herb beside him, making some time to think about what to say. "and...well, it's bloody frustrating to just look at you being so calm and cool about it all. I mean, I freak out every time something happens between us, because I don't really know what this is, and I like you so much, but you're always so indifferent, so casual, and I just don't know if you actually feel anything for me, or if you really care about this...or maybe to you this is all just a game and I'm making a bloody fool of myself standing here talking about my feelings when you–"

Albus stopped dead when he noticed that Scorpius was now standing, looking at him with his mouth half open in a confused expression.

"You...you thought this was just...a game...to me?" Scorpius asked in a small voice, the tone changing dramatically from his usual cold drawl to a soft one.

Albus shrugged uncomfortably, unconsciously twisting and crushing the herbs in his hand. Scorpius couldn't believe the irony of it all. It seemed somehow surreal that the boy of his dreams was standing in front of him, flushed and cold, telling him that he liked Scorpius, and he was afraid of Scorpius rejecting him. Because this was Albus fucking Potter, and the irony of it all made Scorpius want to scream and laugh and cry at the same time. But he didn't do any of those things. Instead he slowly walked towards Albus, with just the sound of his footsteps in the snow. He walked until he was face to face with Albus and could feel the boy's warm breath. He leaned forward and his lips brushed softly against Albus'. It was a delicate kiss that made Albus forget everything else, automatically closing his eyes and letting go of the herbs in his hand.

"I'm not entirely sure what that means." Albus said, with a weak smile once Scorpius broke the kiss.

"It means you're an idiot" replied Scorpius smiling, and leaned forward again to plant another kiss on his lips.

"I'm afraid I'm gonna need a little bit more than that..." said Albus, smiling but still unsure of what was happening.

"It means that I like you too, Al." Scorpius sighed heavily. "I've liked you since way before you even acknowledged my presence, and perhaps before I even dared to admit it to myself." Scorpius felt the words he really wanted to say forming in his lips, but he fought back the urge to utter them. Because saying "I love you" right now, when Albus was just starting to realize his feelings towards him could freak him out, and rip this strangely weaved relationship that sometimes felt so strong and sometimes so fragile.

But he loved how brave Albus was, how he came here and confessed his feelings, stepping into the abyss of uncertainty. Because Scorpius could never have the courage to talk about his feelings if there was a risk of being rejected or humiliated.

He focused on Albus again, who's eyes were shining and his lips were curved into a smile. And he looked so genuinely happy and relieved that it made Scorpius' heart skip a beat.

"So, will you be my boyfriend?" asked Albus suddenly. His smile wide and his expression expectant. And this request took Scorpius by surprise, and panic took over, because he just then realized they were stepping into something forbidden, and much more complicated.

"No!" he replied bluntly, mainly out of shock. But he immediately regretted what he said, as he saw in Albus' eyes the pain of rejection. And Albus' expression changed immediately, looking now very confused.

"What?"

"I mean...no, Al, of course not...it's just..." Scorpius didn't know what to say. He hadn't thought about how to talk about this, so he hesitated long enough for Albus to misunderstand everything.

"What the fuck, Scorp! you just said–" Albus started raising his tone, feeling lost and frustrated.

"It's not that, Al! I meant every word I said, but...just...just think about it. Honestly Al, every girl at school drools over you. You are famous, and you can't just go and tell everyone that suddenly you like blokes and you're dating one."

"I don't care, Scorp. I don't care what people say, I want you!"

"Well have you thought about me for a second?"

"You...?"

"Yeah, for starters my dad will slaughter me. I'm not supposed to do this, as much as I want to, and believe me, I want you more than anything. But it just can't be. I'm supposed to be a worthy heir of Malfoy, and you..." he suddenly chuckled. "Just...you're Albus Potter for fuck's sake, this is so surreal. It just...It can't be."

"So you're ashamed of being with me, is that it?" asked Albus, trying to sound casual, even though he felt hurt.

"No! of course not, Al!" Scorpius said, trying to fix the situation.

"You don't want your parents to know about me though"

"It's not that!" Scorpius sighed heavily, now starting to get angry. "I'm just saying that we shouldn't do something that we might regret later"

"I won't regret it!"

"Well then let's go find James and tell him the good news, shall we?" shot back Scorpius.

Albus felt a rush of tension at the proposition and hesitated for a moment. Because it was very different to say that he didn't care than to actually go and tell his brother everything.

"Let's go now, c'mon Al, let's go find your brother then" pressed Scorpius, taking Albus' hand and starting to walk out of the clearing, but Albus didn't move. He stayed frozen in his spot.

"I..."

"See? It's not that easy." said Scorpius finally, releasing his hand and standing in front of him.

"But..."

"Look, if you want this so bad, we can still date. I won't look at anyone else but you. But let's not rush things, let's take some time before coming out to everyone, alright?"

Albus relaxed a bit and decided that he liked the idea. They would date but without telling everybody. He could do with that...unless someone else started flirting with Scorpius or something.

"Alright...we won't tell anyone yet. But you can't be with anyone else." agreed Albus.

"Like I wanted to be with anyone else..." joked Scorpius, letting Albus grab him by the hips and kissing him on the lips. Their first kiss as a couple.

After collecting the herbs, they walked together out of the clearing holding hands, walking close to each other.

"Al! What were you two doing there?" came a voice from down the road.

They turned around and saw James approaching quickly, and Albus couldn't help feeling his muscles tensing as he immediately let go of Scorpius' hand.

"Uhh...just, you know...c..collecting herbs, nothing much...we're in Herbology now." he stuttered nervously.

"Oh, I've got free period so I'm heading to Hogsmeade. Ran out of supplies for pranks" he said rubbing his hands together to warm himself.

"By the way, congratulations on your date. Well done!" he suddenly said, punching Albus' arm softly. Albus almost choked at that, feeling a hole in his stomach as he tried to understand what james meant by that.

"uhhh...I haven't..." he stuttered, looking sideways at Scorpius, who looked just as panicked as he was.

"Well, you've got the whole school upside down right now. There was this Ravewclaw girl saying you snogged her out of the blue and all today. So you're not with her?"

"No!" replied Albus quickly, feeling relief flooding him.

"Oh, just wanted to know little bro, don't get your knickers in a twist." James replied, raising his eyebrows and smiling, ready to drop the subject. But Scorpius was feeling a bit mischievous right then.

"Well, he is seeing somebody actually." he said, grinning at Albus.

Albus felt a rush of tension as he saw James' face lit up with intrigue.

"What? Al, What? Who? Who is it? You gotta tell me Al!"

"He just told me, you won't believe it." pressed Scorpius, almost laughing now, seeing as Albus tensed and laughed nervously.

"I don't know...sorry James, but I can't tell you yet." Albus said, playing along without knowing really why.

"Oh bloody hell Al, c'mon, please tell me, I'm gonna die if you don't tell me bro!" James pleaded, dying to know who was it.

It made them both laugh, feeling the thrill of knowing a secret nobody else knew. The excitement of stepping into the forbidden, standing just on the edge. They locked hands behind their backs, hiding them with their bodies pressed tightly together, and Al smiled.

"He won't drop it until I tell him."

"I know." replied Scorpius, still smiling as they headed together back to the castle.

"Wow, Potter, is that a lovebite?" asked Henric with a stupid smirk on his lips, brushing his fingers along Albus' right shoulder blade, just where Scorpius had bit him a couple of days ago. The mark was now dark and bruised, but thankfully it could be easily hidden under his shirt.

Albus masked the shock in his face and examined the bite through the mirror in the Slytherin changing room. He tried to pull the most nonchalant expression, thinking of a way of changing the subject

"What are you going on about, mate? does this look like a lovebite to you? Well, clearly you haven't had that many then, have you?" Albus said, because it was the only thing he could come up with.

"Oh, don't give me tha-" replied Henric, but before he could go on, Tom interrupted him.

"No, Heav, he's right, that doesn't look like a lovebite" said Tom immediately, stepping into the conversation to help. "...unless you were getting off with a bloody werewolf or something, Al. it actually looks like it must hurt quite a lot."

Albus thanked Tom with a quick nod for getting him out of the awkward situation, and when they were all changed they walked together outside and into the Quidditch pitch for their second match.

And this time Albus was unstoppable. He dashed and dodged and scored like there was no tomorrow. He felt happy and excited and it showed in his moves as he pierced through the sky on his broomstick, thinking about Scorpius' eyes following him across the pitch. He could feel the silver eyes encouraging him from somewhere in the audience, and it felt like wildfire through his body, this secret that no one else knew. Hundreds of spectators oblivious to the fact that he was dating the most beautiful boy in school. It was a scandal, and it was thrilling to have a secret this big, hiding it from the press and the rest of the people. And just knowing that Scorpius was his made him feel lightheaded and excited, giving him the strength to throw the Quaffle at light speed.

By the time the snitch was finally caught Slytherin was already scoring 160 points so the official game results were 310 to 90. And when the whistle marked the end of the game the Slytherin house erupted in cheers and applauses. Scorpius jumped up and down, clapping and feeling more excited over Quidditch than he had in his whole life. And it was all because of Albus. He was so happy for Albus, he knew this would make his whole week and he wouldn't stop talking about this match for the rest of the month. He watched the dark haired boy step down of his broom from afar and be lifted by the rest of his team. He had been undeniably the star of this match, so his friends were gathering around him to celebrate. Scorpius couldn't help feeling a bit jealous at the boy carrying Albus on his shoulders, while the rest clapped and followed him around. Suddenly Albus turned around to face the crowd and looked directly at Scorpius as he raised his hand to wave at him. Excitement and happiness covered his face and Scorpius felt himself blushing, knowing that the wave was just for him. he waved back and raised his thumb, smiling at the dark haired boy. Albus from the distance raised his thumb back at him and his smile became bigger than ever.

The clock struck midnight but the party in the Slytherin common room still continued. Tom had managed to sneak some butterbear and firewhisky into the room, claiming that the victory was worth the risk. Scorpius wasn't very excited about the idea, since he wanted to spend some time alone with Albus, but Albus was all for celebrating, feeling extremely excited about the future, knowing that winning the Quidditch cup was one step closer, and this time it was quite a realistic possibility.

After a few drinks Albus walked across the room to where Scorpius was standing.

"Hello there" he said, standing just in front of him.

"Hey, just warning you, don't do anything stupid" Scorpius replied smiling, with a glass of beer in his hand. Albus pouted and made a frustrated noise.

"I want to kiss you so bad..." he whispered, although anyone near him could hear him. But thankfully no one did apart from Scorpius.

"You're so drunk mate" Scorpius said with a chuckle. But Albus ignored him and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him in a tight hug while resting his head on Scorpius' shoulder.

"I want to fuck you." he whispered in Scorpius' ear, but suddenly he felt something hit him in the back. He turned around and saw Tom from the other side of the room gesturing him to stop, sliding a hand across his neck repeatedly. Albus got the message and released Scorpius, but just before he could step back, Scorpius grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him closer.

"If anyone's getting fucked, it's you Al." he whispered.

Albus' eyes went wide and his mouth hanged open in shock and surprise for a second. He then raised his eyebrows in a challenging expression and smiled.

"We'll see about that.