Disclaimer: I only own the original characters and the storyline. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Scorpius entered Al's room in Malfoy Manor just in time to see him send his black owl out with yet another letter. He pursed his lips unhappily. Every day since that morning of the article, Al had been fairly obsessed with his correspondence. Whenever Scorpius questioned him about it, Al merely gave him a mysterious smile and said if all went well, Scorpius would know soon. Whatever that meant.

He cleared his throat, making Al straighten and turn away from the window. His Slytherin had a sheepish grin on his face, as though he had been caught doing something he shouldn't. Scorpius sighed and crossed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Al and pulling him close, "I can lend you an owl, you know. I'm sure Shade could use some rest."

Al's eyes lit with amusement and his brows rose, "No interrogation this time?"

Scorpius nestled his face in his lover's neck, "You forget I come from a family of Slytherins. I know how much your secrecy means to you. I doubt you will tell me anything before you're good and ready. I've decided not to waste effort on trying to pry your secrets from you."

Al chuckled, his arms going around Scorpius as he buried his face in that fragrant golden hair. He sniffed deeply then pressed his lips to his boyfriend's skin, kissing and biting and sucking his way along the curve of the Gryffindor's neck and down the skin revealed by his now open shirt. "How long has it been since we've done this?" He murmured as his fingers nimbly worked on Scorpius's belt and buttons.

"Too fucking long." Scorpius groaned, allowing his hips to fall back to rest on the writing desk Al had been using moments ago, his hands clutching at Al's unruly black hair as the hot wet suction of a mouth surrounded his erection.

Al loved the power he felt when he had Scorpius in his mouth. The way his boyfriend surrendered to him, gave himself to him so whole-heartedly, so trustingly, turned him on like nothing else could. As he brought Scorpius to a loud, shuddering climax he felt himself harden to a point where it was almost painful. Rising quickly, he turned Scorpius so he was bent over the table and undid his pants, letting them fall to the floor and stepping out of them.

"Al?" Scorpius was breathless after his orgasm and sounded confused, but not afraid. He was simply curious as to where Al was going with this.

Al positioned himself between Scorpius's legs, "Bring your legs together." He said roughly, bending over so his breath fanned the side of Scorpius's face.

Whimpering at the gruff, sexy-as-fuck demand, Scorpius did as he was told, moaning as he felt his legs close around Al's long, hot length. A shuddering breath left him as Al began to move, in and out of the sheath he had created for him. Scorpius felt himself grow hard again against all odds, and whined at the sensations he felt as Al's cock pressed against his own time and time again. "Fuck. Al. I wish you were inside me." He keened, throwing his head back onto Al's shoulder, rocking into the each thrust. Al chuckled at his words, and before Scorpius realised what he was doing, he felt a finger circle his hypersensitive opening.

Crying out in surprise and pleasure, he came a second time, slumping against the table as he did. He felt Al follow soon after him, shooting on him so they were one big, sticky mess.

Both of them were silent for a while, catching their breath, then Al spoke up, still bent over his boyfriend, "Think your parents heard us?"

Scorpius snorted, turning his head so he could kiss his Slytherin soundly. "It would serve them right if they did. They've been using any means possible to keep us from having time alone for the past four days."

Al straightened and pulled away, allowing Scorpius to do the same and turn to him before pressing up against him once more, "I can't say I mind the methods they've been using. I mean, I met a vampire, Scor!"

Scorpius rolled his eyes even as his lips curved in an indulgent smile, "I should be offended that you'd rather have had the experience than spent time with me."

Al grinned cheekily, "I have the rest of my life to spend time with you. How often do you think I'll get the chance to meet a vampire?"

"If you actually take my father up on his offer? Very often." Scorpius said, wrapping his hands around Al's neck and bringing their foreheads together, sensing that the gesture was needed for the conversation ahead.

Al searched his grey eyes then sighed, "Did you ask him to do that?"

Scorpius kissed Al lightly, "Sweetheart, my father would have never agreed to offer you a job at his apothecary just because I asked. He's spoken to Slughorn and knows your grades in Potions. Besides, he's been talking about taking on an apprentice for years. He's just never found anyone he wanted to spend that much time around."

"How did you know then?" Al asked, turning Scorpius's words around in his mind.

"He asked me to his study a while ago and told me. He said he thought you might need some convincing. He said he wasn't about to let the only level-headed aspiring Potions Master he had met to get away from him." Scorpius chuckled at the shocked expression on Al's face, "What? You don't believe me?"

"You wouldn't lie about something like this." Al managed, stepping away from Scorpius and moving to sit on his bed. "I need to think about this, Scor."

Scorpius nodded, understanding. "We have a whole year left before we are done with Hogwarts, Al. Take your time. I just wanted to make sure you knew Father was serious about his offer."

Al nodded, giving his boyfriend a small smile. His green eyes raked over Scorpius's mussed appearance and his smile widened to one of pure satisfaction. He sighed wistfully, "I'm guessing you won't be able to sneak into my room tonight either?"

Scorpius laughed, kicking off his pants and shrugging off his shirt before going to Al. "My father is far less trusting than yours. He'll have both our rooms warded in the night." He bent forward so Al had to fall back onto the bed with Scorpius looming over him, "There's nothing stopping us right now though."

Al laughed, wrapping his arms around his Gryffindor and pulling him forward.

Draco Malfoy watched his son fiddle restlessly with his tie as he complained to his partner. Draco considered them thoughtfully then nodded to himself. Yes, 'partner' would be the correct term. Somehow 'boyfriend' seemed too insignificant a word to describe the relationship between the two young men.

Ever since Scorpius had come out to them all those years ago, Draco had worried about his future. He did it in the privacy of his own mind, but he did worry. During the past week though, watching Scorpius with Al, bit by bit his worry had disappeared. Al loved Scorpius, he saw, as much if not more than Draco and Astoria did. And really, what more could a father want for his son?

Tonight, New Years Eve, the Malfoy family hosted its annual Eve Ball at Malfoy Manor. Invitations had been sent out weeks in advance as usual, and as usual, Scorpius had made plans to be in Godric's Hollow with the Potters for the evening. In fact, he would be there at that moment, if Albus had not coaxed him into attending the party. Draco smirked to himself, he knew he had gone below the belt, turning to Al for support against his son but he firmly believed Scorpius and Al needed to be here tonight to face their demons. Besides, Al had confessed to having his own reasons for wanting to be at the party.

"Stop fidgeting!" Al's reproach floated to Draco's ears as the couple walked towards him, "I only just fixed it properly. If you make a mess of it once more, I won't help you."

"Al, please, I hate this! Can't we go to your place? We really don't need to be here." Scorpius whined for what Draco knew was the hundredth time.

"No." Al said firmly, "You know your father is right. We should be here presenting a united front with your family. If you want to stay with me, this is something we have to do."

The pair came to a stop close to where Draco stood, seemingly not aware of him. Scorpius put his arms around the Slytherin Potter and pulled him close, "I don't want you to get hurt."

Al's face softened as his lips curved in a small smile, one hand lifting to caress his cheek, "I can hold my own, Scor."

Scorpius tilted his face to lean into his partner's touch, "Not what I mean."

Al sighed, "I know."

Draco noted the way his son's hold tightened around the boy he loved, "If Smith has the balls to show up tonight, I'm going to kill him."

Al's expression grew hard and unforgiving but he shook his head, "If Smith shows up tonight, you will ignore him, love." It wasn't a request.

"What?! No!" Scorpius shook his head vehemently, pulling away slightly from Al, "I warned him, Al. He isn't going to get away with insulting you!"

"You are going to ignore him, Scor. I'm not arguing with you." Both boys stood apart from one another now, though still angled towards each other. "Think of it this way, your grandmother is going to be here too. Are you planning on duelling her as well? And for what? My honour?" The Slytherin's tone had an edge that warned Draco's Gryffindor son to think before responding.

Scorpius tugged on the end of his ponytail, a sign of extreme frustration, his silver eyes flashing with anger and irritation, "Do you really expect me to stand here and do nothing?! Would you, if you were in my place?"

"Yes, I would." Al retorted, folding his arms across his chest, green eyes cool as he regarded his partner, "Those people don't deserve my attention, be it good or bad."

Scorpius frowned, clearly unhappy with the logic of Al's answer.

"Spoken like a true Slytherin." Draco said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Both boys turned to him; Al looking surprised and Scorpius annoyed.

"How long have you been standing there eavesdropping?" His son asked, arching a single brow.

"If you wanted your conversation to be private, you ought to pay better attention to your surroundings." Draco said simply, smirking. "I agree with Albus. From what I've observed of Zachariah Smith's son, he's as much of an attention-seeker as his father. If you ignore him, you will infuriate him and snub him all at once."

Scorpius scowled looking from his father to partner and back, "You two agree with one another far too often for my liking."

Draco grinned at Al who chuckled in response, "We Slytherins stand up for one another. Right, Albus?"

"Right, Mr Malfoy."

Draco put an arm around his son's shoulder, "Be on your best behaviour tonight." He said sternly dropping his voice so only Scorpius could hear him as he continued, "Remember who was blamed the last time you lost your temper with someone."

Scorpius stiffened then nodded, grudgingly. "Best behaviour." He agreed, but not before shooting a smug Al a glower, "I'm only doing this because I love you."

Al laughed, "I know, love."

A little late with the update - I know. I'm sorry. Hope it was worth the wait though :)

Leave a review please!

~Living to Laugh and Love