Scorpius Malfoy stood in the cold, rain-soaked quidditch pitch, his eyes scanning the shivering first years with a mix of annoyance and pity. The icy rain had turned the tryouts into a soggy mess, and the last thing on his mind was finding the new team members he desperately needed. The only thing that kept him from despair was the sight of Albus Potter, their team's seeker, who looked as if he'd been plucked from the pages of a wizarding fashion magazine despite the dire weather.

The rain had clung to Albus's quidditch robes, making the material cling to his lean body in a way that was utterly distracting. His cheekbones were flushed pink from the cold, and his dark hair was plastered to his forehead, framing his bright green eyes that sparkled even under the grey sky. The way his mouth moved as he spoke to the first years was mesmerizing, and Scorpius had to force his gaze away before anyone noticed the hunger in his eyes.

As the tryouts finally ended, and the students dispersed with relief, Scorpius couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that he hadn't been able to properly assess the talent. He turned to gather his gear, his thoughts lingering on the warmth of the showers and the promise of a hot cup of tea in the common room. The chilly air had left him feeling anything but cozy, and he couldn't wait to shed his soggy clothes and feel the warmth of the water wash over him.

He walked into the locker room, the smell of damp

leather and mud underfoot, and sighed heavily. The showers were just around the corner, and the thought of the hot spray was almost too much to bear. He'd barely gotten his shin guards off before he heard the sound of the changing room door opening, and in walked the one person he hadn't expected to see. Albus Potter, looking as flustered as the day they'd met, his hair sticking up in odd angles, and his robes clinging to his body like a second skin.

"Albus," Scorpius called out, his voice echoing in the nearly empty space. "I didn't know you were still here."

Albus looked up from where he was fumbling with his own gear, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of his friend. "I... I forgot my towel. Did you find any good players today?" His voice was strained, as if he were trying to keep a secret.

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Not with the weather we had. They couldn't even stay on their brooms." He grinned, though his smile faltered when he saw the blush that stained Albus's cheeks. Something was off about the way his best friend was acting, something that made his heart race in his chest. "You okay?"

Albus nodded, his eyes darting to Scorpius's hand that was still resting on his shin guard. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... cold, that's all."

Scorpius studied Albus for a moment before deciding to

let it go. They had more important things to worry about than his friend's sudden bashfulness. "Come on, let's get showered and warmed up. Maybe we'll get lucky, and the kitchens will still have some food out."

They walked into the showers, the sound of their footsteps the only noise in the tiled room. The warmth of the water was a stark contrast to the cold outside, and Scorpius took a moment to let out a deep sigh of relief. It was only when he heard the water start to run in the stall next to his that he realized just how close Albus was. The partition between them was flimsy at best, and the sound of water on skin was almost too much for him to handle.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push the images of Albus's naked body out of his mind. But it was no use; he'd been fighting his attraction to the other boy for too long, and now, in the intimate confines of the shower, he could barely keep his thoughts PG-rated.

"Albus," he murmured, his voice thick with something he couldn't quite identify. "Could you pass me the shampoo?