Ravenclaw HoH, Short 2, prompt: "Literally everything about this is illegal.", WC: 627
Next-Generation. Albus and Scorpius are going to steal an illegal Time Turner from Harry's office.
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"Albus, remind me why we're doing this again?" Scorpius asks, the familiar quaking fear in his half-laughing voice. I know that he's brave enough, and strong enough to do this, but none of this stops his nervousness. "Because I wasn't especially comfortable with this plan from the start – I mean, leaving school! – but now it's much more real. We're here, aren't we? We really are going to break into the Ministry."
"Yep," I murmur, thinking through the steps of our heist.
Make way to the Ministry. Check. Drink polyjuice potion. Got bottles at the ready. Pretend to be Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Then we have to get the Time Turner and get out.
Scorpius stares at the vial in my hand, as I'm holding it out to him. There's a second of hesitation, before he takes it from me. He's more agitated than usual, which is understandable. We clink our glasses. But before we can down them together, Scorpius tells me,
"Literally everything about this is illegal."
"We're Slytherin's, it's practically expected." I grin at him. "Plus, this is important."
He nods, as though convincing himself.
Together we drink.
The sensation is the strangest I have ever felt – even more peculiar than flying. A tingling starts in my toes, then my ears, and finally my forehead. Everything is elongating and stretching and changing. Freckles sprout along my pale arms, and I know my hair must be the bright orange of Uncle Ron. Meanwhile, Scorpius has transformed into my father.
It's odd to see someone masquerading as him. Especially Scorpius, who always looks as though he's on the brink of running away. Harry Potter didn't ever look so unconfident.
"Have you got the robes, Scorp?" I ask, in Ron's marginally squeakier voice. Albeit reluctantly, Scorpius pulls out an enormous striped jumper for me, and a huge navy Auror cloak for himself. "This is very strange. You look like my dad."
"You look like Ron Weasley. Beyond exciting, yes. Terrifying, yes. But it's like I'm meeting him!" Scorpius squeals. It is the oddest thing I have ever witnessed my father do.
I smile, amused by my good friend. "Don't get your robes in a twist. We need to get inside now. Act superior – no, don't do that, you look like a prat. Better." Scorpius is halfway to rolling his eyes when the door just feet away from us bangs open and a Ministry Official steps out. Here we go.
"Yes, yes, Albus is always a bit of a nightmare at home," Scorpius says loudly, ignoring my flaring scowl. I suppose he's just in character, but it's still awful to hear from his lips. "I've never been unproud of him. But there's a certain line, you know?"
"Yeah, I get you mate," I reply, then hiss when we're in the clear, "Was that necessary?"
Scorpius shrugs. "I've got no idea what your dad is like at work." He pauses. "Would you prefer if we walked in silence?"
"No, let's just keep going. Talk about the joke shop or something." Then I say louder, "We've got new stock at the moment your James might be interested in."
No one stares in our direction, which is a blessing. I don't know where my father is for the day, but, apparently, it's commonplace for him to wander around with his best friend, chatting about anything that comes to mind. Scorpius looks about ready to burst with excitement and nervousness when we reach the Head of Auror office where my dad usually resides.
"Go in, get the Time Turner, get out," he mutters to himself. "Go in, get the illegal Time Turner, get out. We can do this, Albus."
I clap him on the shoulder.
"Of course we can."
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Thank you for reading! And to Alixx for being an absolute dream as a beta, teammate, and friend!
