AL & SCOR 3
A couple weeks had gone by since the blond Malfoy Heir had survived his assault at the hands of Acelin's cowardly Slytherins. The boys had taken up whatever strange rituals passed for normal between them, even as they continued to plan and develop the operations of the Order. With magic returned to the two it, became increasingly more difficult to argue for their continued absences. It was only because of Albus's role as program leader for the experimental strike team training program that the two boys and their friends were allowed to miss as much of the term as they did.
Scorpius didn't discuss any more of what had happened to him and Albus didn't pry. They both knew some kind of reckoning would come from either the Valois or the surviving members of the assailants families. Though… most of them were locked away in Azkaban.
If the lives of the Slytherin boys wasn't complicated enough, a new arrival to Hogwarts would make it so…
Albus POV
"I'll catch you later Rosie?" I called as I walked from the breakfast table towards the exit of the Great Hall.
Clumsy as ever, I had collided with a taller student, not looking where I was going.
"Sorry—" I began before my eyes adjusted to the sight of the most handsome model i'd ever seen. He was on par with Scorpius's twenty year old self, i noted dumbly, strong hands gripping my shoulders to steady me. I reflexively brushed the hair from my face, feeling heat already rising to my cheeks.
The seventh year was in muggle street wear, a tattoo of a Sanskrit letter written in black ink along the side of his neck. He had metal studs in each ear and gunmetal steel colored hair that made him look quite rakish. To his right was a castle elf that carried his bags, and to his left was aunt Minerva. The only personal item he had opted to keep hold of himself was a guitar case that had been slung over his arm at his back. He wore a cool, black, oversized sweatshirt over an even larger white T that peaked out from below the hem of the former. Black torn jeans accentuated his long legs, melting into a pair of distressed black suede boots near his ankles. He wore also a rather distinct chrome hearts necklace with a ravens skull pendant dangling down along his chest. I noticed several rings on his fingers, of skulls, hanya masks and snakes, a kind of grungy punk rock look to them that i liked.
"Oh good, just the student I was looking for. Mr. Potter, this is Rowan Durham, our newest Slytherin seventh year. He transferred in from Ilvermorny to study under me for his remaining time as an undergraduate. I'll be extending an internship to him post graduation. Rowan this is—"
"—Albus Potter, yes I know, i'm a fan" The hot AF boy smirked, not moving to greet me. He stood confidently with his hands in his pockets, unfazed by our meeting. I felt heat building beneath my collar this time as the transferee observed me. He merely waited for his guide to continue.
"Well, since you're now acquainted, I'm hoping you'll do me the service of giving him a tour? You're exempt from classes today, are you not?" Aunt mini asked, seeking to pawn off the newcomer on me as fast as humanly possible.
"Sure… Headmistress… I only had a million other extracurriculars to do in place of class… but how could I refuse you Aunt Mini?"
"There's a good lad. I knew I could count on you."
"Hops? Could you take Rowans things to the dungeon? I'll give him a walkabout first and deposit him in the common room at the end of the day."
The Hogwarts elf bowed low to me, though he needn't have, and both wizards noticed the strange maneuver for how out of place it , goblins and even the forest centaurs had taken to odd behaviors around me ever since news of my Rhoynar blood had been made public. It only added to the air of unease people felt around me.
"Take good care of him" The headmistress shot, entrusting her charge to me.
No sooner had the words escaped her than she too escaped into the bustle of students, not risking a change of mind on my part.
"Will you then? Be taking good care of me?" He flirted shamelessly, his sparkling ice blue eyes finding 's were somewhere between ocean blue and teal, deep and rich and mysterious. These eyes were sharp and exhilarating, a white blue like frost in the arctic.
"We'll see… depends on whether you behave" I teased back, resisting the urge to smile.
He hummed, a sort of ambiguous reply as he stood waiting.
"We'll see… anyway… where to then?"
"Great hall first, then I suppose just your Newt Subject classrooms since its already your last year. We can work backwards from there" I offered, looking around to catch several students staring.
"Sounds good" He replied nonchalantly, his American accent a kind of vague and nondescript thing. He wasn't from the south, or boston, that much I could tell. Nor did he have that thick long island / new york accent prevalent in certain muggle movies i'd seen. He sounded rather posh for someone who looked like he belonged in a heavy rock band.
I showed him the Great Hall and how to navigate the castle proper although he seemed to stare at me as often as any of the landmarks or passageways I pointed out. It wasn't the kind of intense obsessive quality i had come to expect from groupies… it was more a kind of seductive charm… daring me to sneak a glance back…
"You said you're a fan?"
"Something like that" He replied, cracking his neck as he closed his eyes. "Mostly I like the way you write… chord progression and asymmetric composition. I especially enjoyed your album Falcons. Though your voice is unbelievable too."
"You play?" I asked, motioning towards his guitar with a tilt of my head.
"Was it that obvious?" He teased, shrugging the shoulder where his instrument was strapped.
'Obviously he plays, you tit. He's talking about chord progression and is carting around a guitar' I shot to myself stupidly.
"You any good?" I recovered, pretending that that had been what i'd meant all along.
"Yes… very good actually."
"Oh and humble too."
'Arrogant American' I thought to myself, nearly rolling my eyes.
"Why switch to Hogwarts now?" I asked again after we'd walked several minutes through the third floor in silence.
"Oh, I was hoping to meet you actually" He replied in a deadpan, smiling to himself as he observed the paintings along the corridor.
"What?" Really?" I blurted, stopping us dead in our tracks. I was surprised to find myself a little embarrassed for a change.
"No" He chuckled charismatically, playing with me as though I weren't a world famous artist and wizard. The No had sounded more like, 'obviously not, silly'.
I reddened furiously, again angry with myself for letting his good looks affect me.
"I'm not living up to my dad's expectations. He's not happy about the way I dress or my fondness for music. It was a compromise for me to disappear from the states for a while. At least while he tends to business matters…" He explained, making eye contact with me once again.
'Durham' I thought to myself, his last name unfamiliar amidst my rolodex of general information.
"Falcons was one of my favorite albums. It was the first album I worked on with the rest of the band" I whispered to myself, uncertain if I should reveal anything personal to this good looking stranger.
"Each song felt like it was influenced by a different person in your life."
"Yeah… that was kind of how it came together."
"I'd love to meet whoever you wrote Blue Eyes for. My sister says it was for Scorpius… i'll admit i don't follow you guys closely enough to know. Mnemosyne was the one who introduced you guys to me."
I blushed again, causing him to regard me suspiciously.
'Mnemosyne' I thought to myself, the name familiar from somewhere. A handsome American with a famous sister?
As we walked through the kitchens towards the badgers dormitory, a Hufflepuff seventh year stalled dead in her tracks.
"Rowan! Rowan Walker?" Alexa Fawley chuffed, moving to hug the ravishing American. "Where did you pop in from? I thought you were in New York after the whole thing?"
"Lexi Girl? I don't believe it" He called back, embracing her just as warmly.
"Hang on, I thought your name was Durham?"
The Duchess looked slyly at her old friend, then over to me.
"That's his mothers name… his dad is—"
—Rowan clasped his hand over the beautiful woman's mouth, keeping her from blowing his secret.
"It's my name Lexi… I can use it if I want to" He argued suspiciously.
"You looking after him Al? He tends to get a bit lost if he's not well kept. You know, got to keep him warm, give him enough moisture and sunlight."
"I'm not a fucking gecko Lexi."
"Could have fooled me, you were so lanky and clammy the last time i saw you, almost bug eyed. We used to call you chameleon."
"Do I look like the kid you knew back at camp?"
"No comment… I think you know exactly what you look like these days. If not many others do."
"I'm sorry Duchess, did you want to take over giving your old friend his breakdown of the grounds? You know after you two finish catching up and painting each others nails…" I asked impatiently, eager to get my duties finished. No sooner had I offered than Alexa looked down at her exquisite Chopard watch.
"No, i'd rather catch up with him at dinner. I'm guessing if you're showing him around he's sorted green?" She asked my way. I answered with a nod, disappointing the heiress heartily. She sighed and placed a hand on her old friends shoulder, seeing him off as quickly as she had greeted him.
"Friends in very high places eh? Duchess Fawley is from one of the oldest pureblood families in Britain… one of the few that avoided the stain of serving Voldemort…"
He ignored me, putting his hands back into his pockets.
"Not going to ask me about what just happened?"
"I figured that if you wanted to discuss it you would have… Durham. Fawley trusts me after a fashion. Our families are close… I doubt she'd have revealed your secret like that in front of too many others."
A sigh escaped him as it had Alexa just moments earlier.
"I was hoping to go unnoticed since not too many people actually know what I look like these days, even in the states."
"It's got to help that you look nothing at all like your Dad."
"Leave it to the boy genius to catch me out…"
"Your secret is safe with me… although i'd imagine secret service might not take too kindly to me blabbing even if I were inclined to gossip. How did you manage to come to the UK with no security?"
He eyed me as I looked around for shadowy guards, not giving away a fraction of his inner thoughts.
"Could you show me the dorms? I know there's a lot more to the castle to see but i'd like to drop off my guitar before continuing, if that's alright?"
"Sure, we're not too far anyway" I added, giving his arm a nudge to indicate where to turn next.
We ambled awkwardly in silence for the next five minutes until finally arriving in the Slytherin common room. He scanned the decadent surroundings with a few approving nods.
"Seventh year rooms are two doors over that way. I'm just going to stop by my room for a second if you don't mind. I'll be right back."
I meant if he didn't mind waiting but he took that as invitation to stop by my chamber as I decided to look in on Scor.
I opened the door and came up to clasp my hands over my idiots eyes from behind. He had been sitting doing work at his desk.
"Oh no… how ever will I guess who it is now? Except by the smell of your cologne or the softness of your hands… or the fact that literally nobody else dares to touch me?" The little noble asked, unamused over being interrupted.
"You're not fun at all. And here I thought to go buy you some emerald mimis from Hogsmeade this weekend if you were good."
"Well, let's not be hasty now. I can be fun if its for treats."
I fought to suppress a grin, knowing how much he liked the green cream filled cakes. My roommate turned around from his chair to the surprise sight of President Liam Walkers handsome son standing directly behind me, though I could tell Scor hadn't recognized the young man either.
"Rowan Durham, this is—"
"Your boyfriend, Scorpius. He's Blue eyes right?" The man asked, again not extending a hand in greeting.
"What? Ashera no! I mean, yes… this is Scorpius, but we're not… i mean... that is…he's straight."
Rowan chuckled, raising his eyebrows at us. "He's straight? Is that all that's stopping you?" The tease hit me harder than I realized, not to mention the stupid way i'd said 'he's straight.… not 'we're straight'
"I guess you two always looked super close on stage and in media… my mistake… So I take it you're available then? If I wanted to try my luck that is?"
The naked flirtation amused me, though i was still uncertain what to make of this strange American.
"I am… available… though i'll admit I'd never considered anything as ambitious as going for a seventh year before. Is that really how you're going to ask me out? An hour after meeting me? An hour after transferring to a new school?"
"Why not? You could show me around a bit more tomorrow? The headmistress did leave you to look after me didn't she? We could make it a date?"
Something tingled inside of me and for the first time in my life I din't feel afraid of another boy… or of revealing my interest in him. I blushed and instinctively ran my hand through my hair as if I were a timid girl.
"Fine, if you like em a little younger. It's not like you're a troll I guess… so you've got that going for you… even if you are an American."
"Hang on… are you really agreeing to go out with… a guy?" Scor asked, failing for the first time to disguise his surprise. I looked over at him with thinly veiled exhaustion before finally shrugging.
'Scor has to find out sometime…'
"Never thought about it much before. I'd date anyone who thought to ask me. Provided I found they were decent looking and relatively kind."
"Who knew Boy Wonder had such low standards. I'm surprised nobody has asked you out yet… but their loss is my gain" Rowan added, flicking his gaze over to my twit suggestively.
I liked this older boy… so unafraid… of everything.
"I'm going to get settled and try to get some practice in before dinner. If you're inclined to find me sooner than tomorrow i'll be next door" The rakish blond offered as he opened the door to our chamber. "Nice to meet you Scorpius. Albus, i'll think of something for us to do but i'll probably have to rely on you since you know the area" He offered, looking me over a little deviously. The hinges creaked shut behind him and finally I let my face light up.
"Oh. my. goddess! Scor… did I just get asked out?" I demanded, entirely shocked. I was famous and gorgeous in an androgynous way, but somehow i'd managed to go my first sixteen years without a single eligible date. Excitement and trepidation flooded through me as I moved to the mirror that Scor and I shared on our side of the room. I had literal butterflies in my stomach.
"Al…"
"Hmmm?" I asked, looking over to my best friend once i'd fixed my hair.
"So you are gay?" He whispered carefully, looking dangerously suspicious of me all of a sudden.
"I don't know… i mean not really… but i'm not really straight either, so… who knows" I shrugged again, trying desperately to seem nonchalant.
"And you thought to tell me this, when, exactly? After the next sixteen years went by?"
A prickling sensation burned at me as soon as the words registered.
"Wait, are you serious right now? Why are you so concerned about it?"
"Um, maybe, because of the way you've let me carry on with you? We sleep in the same bed, we bathe together, kiss, snog senselessly actually, we've basically already slept—"
"—Oh PLEASE… FOR ONCE… can we not fight… it's not like you and I are dating… So why do i need to put up with this level of conflict from you all the fucking time? It's not like I get anything out of it… clearly…"
"The fuck is wrong with you suddenly? That doesn't sound like the Allie i know at all. What's gotten into you?"
"Maybe because i'm going on my first date… ever… and my best mate… is being a tit about it. You're not excited for me, you're not happy for me at all… you're actually making it about yourself instead" I shook my head, tilting both my hands open to either side as if to say 'are you for real right now.'
"Don't play that card with me! Who even is he? Rando from off the boat? An American? A seventh year? Just like that? When did he even get here? I've never seen the punk before."
"Why the hell do you care? He's hot as fuck… and he's the President of Macusas son, not some derelict punk from off the streets. He's not going to rape or murder me Scor. As if anyone even could harm me now that my magic is back."
"Wait what?! That boy? Was Liam Walkers son?"
"I told Rowan I wouldn't go spreading that information around, so if you wouldn't mind keeping it to yourself?"
"Oh? You promised not to go spreading Rowans secrets did you? Can you stop acting like you know this person? You met him this morning for merlins sake!"
"Yeah and we kind of get on well for mere strangers… I don't know… i kind of like him… I'm an excellent judge of character if you hadn't forgotten. I chose to hang out with you on day one… didn't I?"
I could tell that stung him. He could hardly argue with me there.
"Like I said Scor… we're fighting a lot these days… and I don't really know why i put up with it from someone who's not my SO. I thought you might be… you know… happy for me… but I guess I was wrong."
"I'm just surprised Al. I'm sorry… of course it's not about me… just be careful ok. I worry about you… that much should be obvious."
"Well you needn't. I'm the most powerful warlock alive. Possibly that ever lived."
"Yes… sure… because magic is the only thing that can hurt a person right? Prince of the font of Love? There's no way a broken heart is a threat to our Order or plans?" He shot, shaking his head and returning to his paperwork.
I huffed angrily and decided to leave, not caring about the optics of showing up two minutes later at Rowans door. I knocked and heard the words 'come in' drift from the opposite side.
I opened the heavy metal barrier to the sight of muscles and sinew lines. He was pulling his sweater off to change and had left himself bare chested as he opened his suitcase for a spare hoodie.
"That was fast. Trouble with blue eyes?" He asked cheekily, slipping a black long sleeve top over himself. The sleeves came down past his fingers and the collar fit kind of like a loose turtle neck.
"Don't call him that" I grumbled, moving to prop myself up on a stool. I leant back on my hands as I watched him move his effects physically into their drawers. He could have spelled them away had he wished, but deliberately chose not said something about him right there. 'He isn't lazy…' I thought to myself.
"You mind tuning her for me?" He asked, ignoring my grumpiness. He'd motioned towards his guitar as he continued to fold and organize clothes.
I unzipped the case to reveal a flawless Thomson, model XP-4, Shadow-hawk. Except that it wasn't. It was Thomson's XLS-1 handmade special edition. It had gone for auction two years ago and sold for around a hundred thousand galleons.
"Meteor metal chords from the Acanthus-9203 rhenium-indium cluster, fossilized fuchsia fae-heart wood body, tahitian pearl scratch plate… signed by Thomson's Master Luthier, Craig Thomson the third."
"Yes… that's all accurate" He chuckled to himself, unperturbed by my awe or nerdiness. "Didn't think you'd be one to get all excited over an instrument. You're rather richer than me. You could probably get yourself a piece like this custom made if you wanted."
I plucked a few chords, knowing the spellwork wouldn't require an amp to produce sound. It had been switched to an acoustic setting and the tone that came from the device sounded incredible. I began to tune the thing as he'd requested, choosing not to answer him as I admired the artistry of the masterpiece in my hands.
"So… Why don't you like when I call him blue eyes?" Rowan asked, sitting himself on the foot of his bed to watch me.
"Some people read more into that song than I intended…"
"Intended to convey or to reveal?" He asked seriously. "I really did think you two were an item. You're always looking at him funny. It's obvious even in the media."
"A lot of the public does. Rather annoyed him when the rumors started."
"But he's straight?"
I nodded silently, playing a bit for him from a piece I was writing.
"Oh and yoouuuuuuu played me for the fool that I am… and time keeps moving steady… moving steady… moving steady… and your melting eyes surround my cage…"
"You wish he weren't though… straight..." Rowan asked, searching my face. My fingers stalled as i took in a deep breath. I nodded again… revealing my deepest secret to this absolute stranger. His lips drew tightly together as though he knew all too well what it felt like to not have one's feelings returned. He reached out to pluck the Thomson from my hands, turning it so he could begin playing something of his own. I listened to his beautiful voice, his creative playing. I took in his features and the lines of his body beneath his clothes.
"Wotcher Al… and company. What are you doing in the seventh year dorms?" James Fitzroy asked, limping a little on his injured leg. Travis Summers entered close behind.
"Seeing to it that our newest serpent gets settled in. Rowan Durham, this is Captain Travis Summers and the crippled lout is James Fitzroy, former lead chaser of the Slytherin quidditch team… who's taking a decidedly long time to heal."
"Not still sour over having to fill in are you Al?"
"I'm not Al to you, and yes i am still rather sour. I had enough on my plate without having to fill in for you."
"Nice to meet you Gentlemen" Rowan offered, only shaking hands to avoid being rude when James had extended his own. Travis merely nodded a quiet greeting.
"An American? That's rather novel. Not too many of your lot think to cross the pond."
"Well, It is a bit… grey… here for us. Though present company has definitely lifted my spirits. Did we decide what we were doing for our date tomorrow, young one?"
James had just taken a swig from a glass of water when he suddenly had difficulty getting it down.
Had I been drinking something I might have choked myself. Or sprayed it everywhere as my Weasley genes had a habit of doing.
"Well, there's loads to do in Hogsmeade, although doubtless our little hamlet will seem dull compared to the bustle of are some tea and sweets shops that are nice."
"Tea shops, how, quaint… I was actually thinking of absconding from the grounds entirely.I have an apparition license and the Headmistress knows i'll occasionally need to leave for family affairs. We could go to Paris? Or London?"
"Lucky that, I'm also allowed to leave the grounds."
"Can you stomach side along apparition?or we could floo to the ministry first to do international—"
"I'm a master apparator actually, i have a special license for underage use.I don't need to side along… though i'm sure you were looking forward to holding me nice and close to you" I teased, shocking the Yank.
"How old are you again?"
"Sixteen. And since we're on the subject I'm also a warlock grade of two weeks ago."
"Yes and I'm Herpo resurrected. That'd make international news if 's one thing to have a junior Apparition License… but a grade one already? You'd be the youngest warlock in… well in the history of our species."
James and Travis smirked to one other houses were still a little wary of me, but my Slytherin comrades had long ago learned to appreciate the prestige I'd restored to their house.
"My family are basically our government. We've kept it quiet for now… but both Scorpius and I passed our quals confirmed and everything" I boasted, clearly impressing the young man. "We took our test less than a week ago."
"Are you as talented in all aspects of your life then?" He asked, looking me up and down, suggesting something lewd.I hadn't gotten it until the other two boys had smirked once more.
I grew red, realizing not only did i have very little sexual experience outside of aging or transmog potions, but that now, news of my date with the handsome, older, BOY, would likely spread throughout the entire castle. It might even make the news…
An idea hit me just then and I walked straight up to Rowan, grabbing his face so I could lean in to french kiss heart beat wildly as he wrapped me tighter, his hands bracing me right in the small of my back. Finally i pulled back for air, giving his face a gentle push with my delicate fingers.
"You tell me you tomorrow Ro."
With that I turned on my heels to walk dramatically away. 'I'm so cool' i thought to myself before a force gripped my arm. I was pulled back to that sweet mouth without mercy, barely suppressing the 'eeep-ing' sound that i sometimes made when startled. His guitar had been set aside, leaving the space in front of him unoccupied. The first kiss had been meant to shock all of those present, yet this time i grew embarrassed, realizing that the other two seventh years were awkwardly being subjected to my I knew it they had both vanished and I was left to the devices of the taller leaned back against one arm, pulling me up into his lap.
"You taste nice" I heard dumbly when he pulled away, listening to the sound of my gulping, my heart pounding, my heavy breathing clouding the air…
I realized my magic had inadvertently sent an indigo colored steam into the room.
SPOV
My twit returned around eleven, missing dinner and our informal end of day Order review session. He came over to my bed and stood in front of me before daring to sit down.
"You don't… mind me staying with you still… do you? Now that you know I'm…" He asked nervously, clearly worried over what had happened earlier.
"No… of course I don't mind. You've stayed in my bed since we were eleven" I answered without looking up from my book. I moved over to make room for him, patting the mattress absently. He lay himself down next to me and my nose wrinkled on reflex.
"You smell like Chanel Allure… it's a nice scent… but not something you currently own, I believe."
My fingers turned the page as i scanned the last line printed there.
"Oh… sorry…"
"Why are you sorry? I said it smelled nice" I offered, looking finally up from my book at him. I slid my phoenix feather placeholder in between the folds of parchment and set the leather bound tome to rest in my lap.
His lips were a little bruised from kissing, puffy and slightly discolored. It surprised me to realize what Al had been up to for the last two hours.
For some reason, Irritation bristled along my spine, though I couldn't tell why.
He was staring at me.
"Was he any good?"
"What? No! We didn't get that far… i mean… we only just met!"
"Kissing Al…" I corrected, a little amused by his shyness.
He suddenly got very red. He didn't answer so i merely continued.
"I really thought that when you turned Raven down that you weren't… you know… gay. I guess I'm just a little shocked."
"By the time I realized i'd have liked to go out with Raven… he and Lou were already an item" His eyes glimmered the way they did sometimes when he was lying to me. i chose to ignore it.
"You're not going to… you don't… hate me right?"
"For being gay? Are you absolutely crazy?"
I watched him shake his head at me like I was a silly little boy.
"For lying again… omitting things I shouldn't have… I thought you'd misunderstand if I ever came out to you. You've been afraid of it for a long while…"
"Al… i just… us kissing… sleeping together the night of the carnival… all of the things between us… our closeness… I feel like I might have misled you… or… that you've felt… more for me…"
He sighed and closed his eyes.
"If I was a girl you'd marry me… " He whispered, reminding me of my words on dragon back the year before. "That's what you said to me… I guess i can tell you now, that if you were gay… I'd marry you. But you're not gay and i'm not a girl… so that's that. Right?"
The words rang into my brain like a gong. It was the loudest sound I'd ever heard.
I lay my book down on my nightstand, turning to take a long look at the confused idiot. An image of him in Rowan's arms flashed in my mind and I realized all of a sudden that my irritation was actually jealousy.
'How can I be jealous?' I asked myself, terrified. The emotion was ugly and self important.
"You're the one that's staring this time" He whispered nervously, his fingers fidgeting with one another. "What are you… thinking about? If you don't hate me i mean…"
Is he really so worried I might leave him over this? A tightness gripped my chest and with it a chaos of unwanted thoughts.
A flash of a very different set of images flooded through my minds eye. Images of me and him… bodies naked and sweat slicked. Images of him pinned beneath Rowan's body, moaning with pleasure.
"A new song" I lied, searching his eyes. Though as I spoke I realized lyrics did actually sprang to mind.
He smiled, forgetting the heaviness of our conversation.
"We'll always have that right? It was one thing writing on my own… but ever since we formed our band…"
"I know…" I offered, cutting the git short before sentimentality got the better of him.
We spent what was left of the night listening to music and working on the single Max had suggested. When it was time for sleep I wrapped him in my embrace, no different than any of the other times of our years together.
Before we drifted off, he whispered one satisfying line to me as I held him. Hearing it tugged a smile from my drowsy mind.
"You're a way better kisser Scor…"