Summary: Scorpius hated the entire idea of the party being held in his honor, but his friends knew how they could help him get through it.

Rated: T

Genre: Family

Warning Tag: Grief/Mourning/ References Character Death

Competition/Challenge Block:
Written For: The Houses Competition (Year 7); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 3)
House/Class: Slytherin/Muggle Studies
Task (Prompt): Standard (Smile)
Word Count: 1,408
Beta(s): shy-n-great, DaughterOfTheOneTrueKing

Don't Forget To...

Scorpius stood in front of the floor-length mirror, adjusting the pale blue bowtie that was donned around his neck. It pulled out the blue in his otherwise silver-grey eyes, a remnant of his mother he always cherished, yet rarely displayed openly. Though Astoria's eyes were a beautiful hazel, some blue outfits she wore used to bring out the hidden color within the green.

'Remember to smile,' Scorpius reminded himself, shaking out his arms as they fell to his sides.

Squaring his shoulders, he stared at himself intently, trying to force out something other than a smirk or frown. It looked too fake. Relaxing his face with a deep breath, he tried again, showing a more genuine smile this time, but anyone who looked too closely would see that it didn't touch his eyes.

It was his coming of age party—his seventeenth birthday to be more precise, a day that was supposed to be filled with happiness, to mingle with friends and family and feel a sense of accomplishment for getting this far. It was a rite of passage, his mother used to say, and if it was important to her, then it was important to him. Instead, it only brought Scorpius sadness and a sense of loneliness. He missed his mother; she was taken away far too soon from this world.

The door to his room creaked open behind him, yet he didn't turn to see who it was, too focused on practicing the hollow smile he was expected to wear when it was time to present himself to the guests waiting in the ballroom.

Draco approached and stopped beside him. Scorpius shifted his gaze to look at his father through the mirror but didn't make any notion to speak.

"You look quite handsome," his father said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I haven't seen that bowtie in quite a while. It is a good choice."

Scorpius allowed the tight smile to fade, lowering his eyes to the floor. "I thought so, too."

"Are you ready?"

He really wasn't, but no matter what he said, it wouldn't matter. It was tradition, but he still hated it. It wouldn't be the same without her. It never would be. "Let's get it over with."

Scorpius turned to leave, but was stopped by the hand Draco still had on his shoulder holding on more firmly now.

"Hey,"—Draco kneeled down to eye-level and prompted Scorpius to look his way—"I know this is difficult for you, but I also know that this is an important moment for you as well. She would be so proud of you."

Scorpius sighed, nodding slowly in understanding.

Draco busied himself by buttoning the dark grey suit coat. "I'll be by your side the entire time if you need me to be. And she will be here with you." He placed a hand over Scorpius' heart.

It felt silly, but Scorpius found this comforting, placing his own hand over his fathers. Seventeen was just a number, after all. He would never be too old to not need his parents. His grandmother made sure to remind him of this, even going so far as to telling him that Draco often went to her for advice to this very day. Of course, Scorpius knew he could go to Narcissa or Lucius as well, but he tended to censor himself around them for various reasons.

"I appreciate it, Father, but I'll be fine." Scorpius let out a slow breath, collecting himself. "I'm ready."

Draco smiled, squeezing his hand before standing to his full height, they headed for the ballroom to get the party started.

Standing at the top of the balcony, Scorpius stared out at the people gathered below all looking upward at him, waiting for his speech. He took in a deep breath and put on a smile, but he knew it would not spread to his eyes. No one would notice, and that was fine with him.

The speech was brief and nothing but a blur in his memory now as he descended the stairs to meet up with his best friend Albus. They looked sympathetic and draped an arm around him the second Scorpius approached.

"You did it," Albus said, "Your duty is done and you're free!"

"Yeah," Scorpius said, offering a half-hearted smirk. "Thank Morgana it's over."

Albus looked around before tilting their head toward the French doors that lead to the garden. "I think Brooke wanted to meet us in the garden when you were done."

"Okay."

Scorpius still felt a little numb, but allowed Albus to lead him outside to the garden where their friend was sitting at a bench weaving a bunch of flora together. She looked up at them when they approached and a smile formed, lighting up her amber eyes. She set down her craft and bounded forward to wrap Scorpius into a warm embrace.

"You did amazing, Scorp!" she released him and grabbed her craft again. "I was hoping to finish this before you were done, thought you'd be a little longer."

She held up the circular object to show it off. "It's a flower wreath with some of your favourites."

Scorpius wasn't expecting a handmade gift, but couldn't help but smile at the sentiment. Not only were the flowers some of his favourites, but they were also some of his mother's favourites, too. Somehow he knew that Brooke was crafting this beautiful specimen for him to give to Astoria.

"It's beautiful."

Albus cleared their throat, kicking at a pebble that strayed from the nearby tree's base. "Not to ruin the moment, but we should hurry before someone comes looking for the guest of honor."

The two nodded and made for the family crypt not far from where they were. Brooke continued to finish the remaining details of the wreath as they walked, and Scorpius found himself enthralled watching her tanned fingers work the flora with such skill and precision.

"Finished. Just in time, too." She held up the finished product, flicking her dark braided hair off her shoulder. "What do you think?"

Scorpius took it with such delicacy and turned it slowly in his hand, allowing the sunlight to catch the vibrant colors of the flower petals. There were no words to describe how he felt. Brooke seemed to understand this, so she pulled her birch wand from her pocket and cast an everlasting charm so it would never wilt or die.

"Take your time, Scorp. We got it from here," Albus said, giving Scorpius a pat on his back.

Scorpius smiled at his friends before entering the crypt. He wasn't supposed to be there unattended anymore for various reasons he wished to not think about right now, but he knew his friends would come for him if he took too long.

He sat down on the cool stone floor in front of where Astoria rested in the rosewood coffin. It was covered with various gifts he had left her, from flowers to small gifts. He propped the wreath against the center of the coffin, making sure it would not fall before giving a quick, silent prayer.

"Hello, Mother," Scorpius said, voice cracking some. He cleared his throat and swallowed. "It's me. I wanted to tell you that I did it; I made it through the speech."

He leaned forward some to brush his fingers against the smooth, polished wood. "I hope I made you proud."

The silence soon blanketed over him, and Scorpius sat there, head bowed as he let the minutes slowly tick by. Time was lost on him whenever he visited her, and that was what made it dangerous if he came alone.

A gentle hand rested on his shoulder, pulling Scorpius back to the present. He looked up to see Albus, a sad smile resting on their face.

"It's time to go back."

Nodding, Scorpius got to his feet, using his wand to clear the dust from his trousers and to make himself presentable again. At least he didn't cry this time. He left the crypt with his friend, meeting back up with Brooke who was working on what looked like a flower crown.

"The king has returned!" she said, plopping the crown on Scorpius' white-blond head.

Albus crossed their arms, pouting some. "Where's mine?"

Brooke smiled, pulling the one off her head and placing it on Albus'. "Happy, Drama Queen?"

"Naturally."

Scorpius couldn't help but laugh. He really did love his friends.