He can feel her looking over his shoulder as he works and can't help but tense. Her opinion has never mattered to him before; it shouldn't be different just because she's been the direct inspiration, even subject, of several recent works. This one isn't about her so it should matter even less.

It's a landscape with a sunset over an ocean. But the colors in the sky are evocative of her hair, the water like the blue in her eyes, the waves similar to her curl pattern, and he starts to panic because fuck, she's all over this if you know where to look.

"I like it," she says after a torturously long pause. He grunts in response, trying not to twitch and ruin the whole thing with one messed up stroke.

"It looks so realistic. Almost makes me want to go there." She laughs. Is she nervous? "And I love the couple you have on the boat there. What?" she asks innocently when he turns to stare at her. That only makes him more suspicious; Rose Weasley has never been innocent.

He turns to Albus. "What did you tell her?"

"Nothing!" Albus exclaims at the same time that Rose says "He just said you were painting more, that's all."

Albus wilts under Scorpius's hard glare.

"I did it to defend you," he insists. "She was going off about how we baby you-"

"Al," she hisses, eyeing Scorpius uncomfortably.

"And I just told her you were having a bit of a tough time with your work, that's all."

Scorpius's expression doesn't waver.

"And that maybe she was helping you," Albus finishes weakly.

Scorpius rolls his eyes. They're looking at him with a mix of guilt and fear, but he finds he's only mildly annoyed. Honestly, he'd expected something along these lines when Rose had casually brought up his recent painting and challenged him to show her some of his "oh so great masterpieces." Even though it had been accompanied with an eye roll and mocking tone, she had previously rarely brought up his art unless to point out how useless it was.

"Bloody gossips, both of you. Last time I tell you anything."

"It really was just that," Rose adds. "He didn't give me any details past that."

He isn't sure whether she's telling the truth or protecting her cousin, but as long as Albus didn't embellish to say something embarrassing like her being the love of his life as his muse, it was fine. Except he just knows she's going to be insufferable about this.

"Don't read into this, Weasley," he commands.

Now that he hasn't blown up at them, she begins to smirk. "So since you need me-"

"Never said that," he interrupts tonelessly.

"I'll charge you my regular rate that I charge for my services." She hands over her business card.

"That's what you charge as a cursebreaker? These rates are criminal!" he exclaims. "And you're delusional if you think that you're worth this much in the creative world."

It takes him a minute to not call her his muse, but he finds a way to circumvent the word.

"I'm in high demand." The smirk never leaves her face.

For once, Albus looks at them fondly as they bicker.

"You know," his father says one day, not looking up from the Daily Prophet. "It's been long enough that you might ask her how she feels about the bond."

Scorpius chokes. "Are you insane?" His mother had in her own not-so-subtle way hinted at it, but Scorpius thought his father would be wise enough to see that was an impossibility. Well, actually he thought his father was too disgusted by the notion of having a Weasley around to consider it.

"Oh, don't tell me you haven't thought about it, Scorpius." Scorpius always finds it slightly offensive when his father rolls his eyes at him. That's supposed to be his role as the child in the relationship. But Draco Malfoy always did what he wanted, parental role be damned.

He had thought about it, only to laugh at the absurdity of the notion. Because if they go through with the bonding, she'll go from his muse to his Muse, and there's no way he's going to be stuck with her for life.

"This is just-"

"A phase, I know. You mentioned." Another eye roll. Scorpius clenches his jaw. "It's been several months-"

"I'm not talking about this," Scorpius interrupts, turning back to his book and not taking in a word on the page.

"For Merlin's sake." Draco closes the newspaper, uncrosses his legs, and leans over to pluck Scorpius's book out of his hands and toss it across the room.

"Wha-? What is wrong with you?" Scorpius demands, bewildered.

"My only son is an idiot who is blind to what is in front of him. That is what is wrong with me."

"I take great offense-" Scorpius begins pompously but Draco isn't having it.

"Good, because you should. I'm done coddling you."

"This has been coddling so far?"

"You insist on pursuing this career. Fine." Draco waves the matter aside. Scorpius is proud his pause before 'career' was barely noticeable. He really has come so far in just a matter of months. "You go through a period of difficulty with your work. That's…normal, probably. But then when you find what will make you succeed, instead of embracing it, you shut your eyes to the truth.

"You know why," he snaps back, fighting hard to make his voice steely.

"Regardless of the reason, it's obvious to everyone that you need her to create-"

"I've painted several things that aren't about her-"

"Don't give me that. Even if she isn't your direct inspiration for some things, she's still driving much of your work."

Their voices have raised to the point of yelling, eerie in the silent mansion.

"Not true. And even if it were, this is my business. There's no reason for her to know-"

"Oh please, she already knows she's had some hand in your recent resurgence. She's not stupid; she can put it together that she's your muse."
Scorpius opens his mouth to yell back then pauses. "I never told you she knew anything."

Draco Malfoy is a master liar. Anyone else would have missed it, but Scorpius grew up with the man and thus notices when the corner of his father's mouth twitches slightly as he easily responds "you must have forgotten when you told me."

"The only other person who was there is Albus. Are the two of you talking behind my back?"

"Is that so wrong? Potter reached out to me, he also thinks that you're being purposely obtuse by the way."

"Real mature," Scorpius shoots back, but sighs. He doesn't want to agree but he also doesn't have it in him to fight right now.

Draco's voice softens marginally. "Bond with her. Make her your Muse officially, magically. You've already seen the effects of having a muse, and that's without the magical enhancement. I don't have to tell you how your artistry will be amplified immensely. It doesn't have to be anything more than a professional working relationship. What do you have to lose?"

"My pride," Scorpius mutters.

Draco pauses, considering. Only he would take that comment with the seriousness Scorpius meant it. Had Albus been there, he would have given them both incredulous looks. "Hm. Yes, that is a consideration. But, consider how much pride you actually have to give up? Surely you don't have much left now?"

"Wow. Thanks for the pep talk, Dad."

"I'm simply pointing out the facts, Scorpius. If you don't like the facts, change them." There was a challenge in Draco's voice Scorpius didn't like.

A crack of Apparation sounded in the foyer. "Draco? Scorpius?"

"In the library," Draco calls out to Astoria, eyes meeting Scorpius's, an unspoken acknowledgement that this conversation would remain between them.

"How has your day been, dear?" Astoria bends to kiss Scorpius on the cheek. "Why is that book thrown like that?"

"You know what Scorpius is like when he gets passionate lecturing about his art, my love," Draco sighs. Scorpius gapes at him.

"You really should clean up after yourself," Astoria chides, waving her wand to magically float the book back onto the bookshelf.

"Alright, I'm leaving." Scorpius stands up.

"So soon?" Draco asks innocently.

Scorpius throws him the dirtiest look he can muster as he plucks a book on the History of Magical Art from the Malfoys' vast collection lining the walls and Apparates away with the loudest crack he can muster.