tw for grief
The Christmas after his mother dies, Scorpius gets invited to the Weasleys.
When Albus invites him and his father over, he does his best to make it seem like it's not a 'I'm sorry your mother died' type of thing, but Scorpius can tell that it is, at its core. He knows Albus loves him and he knows that they're as good as family.
He still knows that Albus pities him, just a little bit.
Nevertheless, he appreciates the gesture, and his father agrees, and when they get off of the Hogwarts Express, Scorpius follows Albus and Lily to find the latter two's parents. His own father had agreed to meet them at the Burrow later in the day; it had made more sense for the Potters to just pick the kids up.
Scorpius knows it makes sense. And it's not like he's nervous — he's been to the Potters and Weasleys dozens of times before. In fact, his family has been at their family events ever since Scorpius and Albus had become friends, and then especially since they've become more than. It's nothing unusual.
Still, something is off, and Scorpius can't help but stare out the window the whole drive from King's Cross, instead of making small talk with everyone else.
Everything falls into a rhythm once they get there and Scorpius and Albus set down their bags. They start a pick-up game of football with all the cousins, and it's easy for Scorpius to let the fact that someone's missing fall to the back of his mind.
It's easy, which makes him feel incredibly guilty.
It's less easy once his father comes and presses a kiss to Scorpius' forehead. He never used to do that before. It was always his mother that was giving out easy touches for free, it just wasn't in his father's nature. Scorpius knows that it's father' way of telling Scorpius that he's there, that he cares about him.
Still, it stings.
His father goes inside to talk to the adults and Scorpius stays outside for a few more minutes — until Albus notices that Scorpius isn't really feeling the game and suggests that everyone goes inside for a warm drink. Albus holds Scorpius a little closer than normal on the way back in.
Albus always notices, Scorpius is finding.
Inside, everyone is happy — it's finally Christmas season, after all! — and Scorpius sits pressed up against Albus, taking small sips from his hot chocolate, and (he hopes) giving a little smile when it's appropriate. He feels like he's on the outside of everything, even when he catches his father's eyes and the exchange a look — they're both feeling the absence of her, right now.
She should be here.
Scorpius has never felt so lonely while surrounded by so much love.
He appreciates it, though, appreciates no one bringing it up, and no one treating him any different. Fred still sprays whipped cream at him, just like anyone else, and while it doesn't quite get a laugh out of Scorpius, his smile is more genuine than before.
They have dinner, and it's loud, and it's easy for Scorpius to sit on the outside. No one misses that he's not contributing to the conversation.
Well. Not no one.
He has his father on one side, and Albus on the other, and Scorpius doesn't really understand how much Albus is actually eating since his right hand keeps on squeezing Scorpius' left.
He likes the comfort, though, and doesn't want Albus to pull away.
His father has been talking to him under his breath, little sentences and commentary on everything else happening, words meant just for Scorpius, just like it was another normal dinner.
Scorpius also hasn't missed the glances that Ginny Weasley keeps on sending his way. He can tell that she's trying to be subtle, but she's not doing as good of a job at keeping everything as nonchalant as everyone else wants it to be. Every time he catches her looking at him, he quickly looks away — he doesn't want her to look at him with that look, the same look that his teachers gave him at the start of term, the same look some of his mothers coworkers gave him at her funeral.
He doesn't need that.
Dinner ends and everyone ambles off to do their own things. Scorpius' father gives him a hug and tells him he loves him, and says he's going to read in his room. Scorpius knows that he's probably not going to read much — he understands the overwhelmed feeling that his father's probably feeling after so much normal when things just… aren't.
Eventually, Scorpius is left in the dining room with just Albus (still holding his hand) and Albus' parents.
Ginny asks if they can speak to Scorpius and Albus can probably feel the way Scorpius' hand freezes in his, but Scorpius still says that it's fine. He can talk to his boyfriend's parents.
Scorpius doesn't miss the way Harry doesn't really talk to him, instead busying himself with making tea in the little attached kitchen. Instead, it's Ginny who approaches Scorpius, and starts talking.
He expected this, really, from seeing Ginny's looks. He expected to hate it, to hate hearing how sorry they feel for him and how they're sorry for his loss and how they pity him because he's now a teenager without a mother.
Except.
Except the words don't come out like that.
Instead, Ginny starts telling Scorpius that although he wasn't born into their family and he and Albus aren't married (yet), he's part of their family.
She tells him that she knows she'll never be any type of replacement for his mother, but she loves him. And that if he ever needs someone, she and Harry are always there.
Scorpius isn't quite crying when he falls into her arms, but he's forgotten how comforting a mother's hug is.
"We love you," she says.
Scorpius breathes in the scent of her shirt, and it's nighttime, but it's like he can feel the sun shining down on him.
1010 words by gdocs
for various challenges:
wicked webs - scorpius and ginny with extra strength arachnid needles #2, (word) comforting
scamander's case - female nundu, (character) ginny
gather your party - paladin, #9, alt prompt - harry potter
halloween special event: bobbing for word counts - 1010 words; flash tattoos - #4, (character) draco malfoy
scary stories - #9 Write about a character who is lonely
moving on - hedwig #3, Write about Harry Potter
trick or treat - #1, gryffindor, (trope) found family
rake it in - red leaf #1, (genre) angst
writing club: what's in a month - #15, Molly Weasley: Write about a mother.; superpower hour - #3 (prompt) Father-figure; we're bringing sexy back - #22, Like the blood in your veins; nifty & swiftie - #12, (relationship) father/child