Summary: Draco knew Scorpius' rebellious choices meant something was bothering him. He was a father after all.

Rated: K

Genre: Family

Competition/Challenge Block:
Written For: Monthly Challenges for All (Year 3); Hogwarts (Term 14)

Hogwarts: Ravenclaw: A.6; LGBTQ History & Studies (#2: Write about someone questioning something or trying to figure out something important.)

MC4A: Sp Bingo (4D-Clay); Hunt (Asexual); Link; Star (Pocky Pockets; Odd Feathers); T3 (Terse; Toad); ICs (Short Jog; Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon (Y); Zed Era; Slytherin MC; Ravenclaw MC; Old Shoes (Y); Not the Mama

Word Count: 1,020

Beta(s): HecateA

Ace in the House

The Spring holiday started out like every other one Scorpius could remember; he and Draco sitting in the solarium having omelettes and coffee. Routine had been ingrained in them, it seemed, even without his mother there to encourage the family to soak in the morning sun over breakfast.

This time, however, Draco was irritated with Scorpius for a number of valid reasons. It would be odd if he wasn't upset with his fifteen year old according to the parent handbook. Scorpius slouched back into his seat, arms loosely folded over him as he stared out the glass panels that overlooked the orchard Astoria had started. The fresh piercing on the left corner of his eyebrow was still a little tender despite having it for a couple of days now. It was in the shape of a small scorpion tail with a tiny diamond embedded on the end where the stinger and venom sack would be. He'd have to clean it as soon as he got released from the impending lecture on responsibility and rash decisions.

"I'm not getting rid of it," Scorpius said, raising his head and jutting out his chin in defiance when he sensed Draco was about to say something.

Draco looked at him while taking a slow drink of coffee, lowering the newspaper in front of him to give him his undivided attention.

"Alright," he said, lowering the clay coffee mug that Scorpius had made him years ago. "How about we discuss what is bothering you instead, then?"

This caught Scorpius off guard, and he decided to focus on the clay mug sitting on the table instead of his father. The glazed Draconis constellation on the mug was still easily identifiable after all these years, and the quality and durability showed that Dizzy the house-elf's lessons were impeccable.

"I don't know what you mean," he finally responded, busying his hands with his near-empty tea cup.

"Your friend seems to think there is," Draco continued, ignoring Scorpius' deflection. "They said you've been avoiding your friends lately?"

Scorpius bit his lip, contemplating his answer and pinning a mental note on chewing Al out later for tattling to his father over something completely silly.

"Just Brooke. She's becoming very… I don't know..." He waved his hand in the air as if wanting to grab for the right word. "Clingy?"

"Ah," Draco said knowingly, finishing his coffee before folding the newspaper up to not be distracted at all. "She's starting to notice you."

Scorpius raised his brow, flinching from the sting of his piercing. "What do you mean, notice? I've known her since first year."

"I mean, notice you," Draco emphasised the word, "or rather becoming aware of her feelings for you. Pansy was the same way. Childhood friend growing into teenage romance."

Scorpius made a face at the last word, chewing on his bottom lip even more now. "I guess…"

"It makes you uncomfortable." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah. I mean, her hugs linger a bit more than they used to and she sits a tad bit too close during meals to where our arms brush against each other. At first I thought it was an accident, but it keeps happening. She also wants to spend way more time around me and..." Scorpius shuddered slightly at the memory. "It's starting to feel weird."

"Have you told her it makes you uncomfortable?"

"No… I mean… I don't want to piss her off."

"Language."

"Sorry… Just… she's one of my best friends and… this stuff she's doing feels different, not in a friend way but…" Scorpius let out a deep, puffy breath. "Al told me I should tell her to stop too, but I think I am just reading too much into it."

"Mm…"

Scorpius waited for more, but his impatience had him nudge his father. "How did you handle Pansy?"

"I didn't," Draco responded, folding his hands together on the table. "I dated her for a while, but then… well… abruptly cut ties and moved on."

Scorpius made another face at that.

"You don't like her the way she is starting to like you, do you?"

"No," Scorpius stammered, "I mean, she's my best friend, and I love that she is. But if Al started doing the same things she did I'd be just as freaked out…"

The silence stretched on and it made Scorpius almost squirm in his seat at wanting to get away from this awkward conversation. "I don't think I really… like anyone like that… Is that weird?"

Draco shook his head slightly, not saying anything, allowing for Scorpius to speak.

"When Al told me they didn't feel like a boy or girl and just… just Al, it had me wonder if maybe there was a word out there that described me and my lack of…" he looked away then, not wanting to further explain.

"Wanting or giving romantic affection?" Draco finished.

He made a face again. "Y-yeah… It's just… weird to me."

"Well, why don't you explain to Brooke this, I am sure she will understand," Draco said. "Not only would your friend not want you to be uncomfortable, she'd also do everything she could to help you explain yourself the same way she did for Al. What word was it again that Al uses to describe themself now?"

"Agender, or nonbinary. Meaning one does not conform to male or female gender or pronouns," Scorpius said, parroting what was told to both he and Al from Brooke. "Which, if they have one, maybe I do, too."

Draco still looked like he didn't quite understand what Scorpius explained, but he didn't press it further. "If there is one, please let me know what it is. And don't worry about liking anyone, don't let others press you on it. I myself regretted giving into social pressures."

Scorpius smiled slightly, finally looking at his father for the first time since the conversation started. "Thanks, Father. I will let you know what Brooke says."

"Now, does that explain the reckless decision to get your face punctured with that thing?"

He groaned and quickly excused himself, needing to clean his new piercing.