Music I listened to while writing : The Last of the English Roses de Pete Doherty

London was a noisy and bustling city on Saturday night. The night was cold at the end of August. Summer was ending.

Dorian wrapped his arm around Scorpius' shoulders and pulled the young boy closer as they walked through the misty streets. They had drunk enough not to feel the cold, but not enough to forget that the warmth of the alcohol was an illusion.

It was still early and Big Ben struck eleven, yet they were quite far from the tower, in the more remote parts of Soho. Dorian wanted to drag Scorpius into a pub, but he wanted to go home. After a brief negotiation, they decided to sit on a bench in a small park.

Dorian pulled a flask of scotch from his pocket and handed it to Scorpius.

"You're trying to get me drunk, but even if I get drunk, I won't change my mind, I don't want to go out to a bar or club tonight," said the young boy, accepting the small bottle, taking a sip, and grimacing as the liquid burned his throat.

"It's our last chance to have fun before going to Hogwarts," complained Dorian, leaning back against the bench rails. "After that, we'll be watched from all sides."

"It's already the case," Scorpius said with a smile. "But it doesn't change anything, it's the last day I can spend with my father. I want to reassure him. He's worried, you know, about us. He's afraid we won't be safe at Hogwarts."

"No, we definitely won't be welcomed," Nott said, emptying half the flask in one gulp. "Between the Potters and Weasleys, kids with heads filled with their parents' ideas, and the children of former Death Eaters, we can't expect a warm welcome."

Scorpius sighed, visibly annoyed.

It wasn't the first time Nott and he had this conversation about Hogwarts and what awaited them there. Scorpius said nothing, as he didn't want to talk about it again, and even less to be gripped by fear or anger like Dorian. He thought of Hogwarts with indifference. His goal was to go to this renowned wizarding school, spend the last three years in complete discretion, and be forgotten.

He refused to think he could be in danger simply because his name was Malfoy.

They were told they could go back after all.

Nott's father had called to tell them that the Ministry of Magic's search warrants had ceased and that the situation was calmer.

Scorpius had seen the relief in his father's eyes when he announced they could return.

His father and grandfather had suffered from this exile, despising the Muggle world even though they had begun to appreciate some of its aspects. They had lived in an English castle far from the city's bustle, and they had all suffered from the isolation. They had received visits, of course, from old classmates of his father, like Blaise Zabini and Gregory Goyle, along with their wives and children. Or from Scorpius' maternal family.

This allowed Dorian and Scorpius to meet other wizarding children, not just the Muggle children they occasionally met in the surrounding gardens.

Nott's father also visited from time to time, to see his son grow and become the handsome young man he was today. He also took the letters Dorian wrote for his grandfather in Azkaban every week. Theodore took Dorian to visit the former Death Eater in the wizard prison.

Scorpius had accompanied them a few times, against his father's wishes, who was horrified that his son would go to such a place where he himself had nearly been imprisoned.

But Scorpius wanted to be by Dorian's side, who always returned shocked from that place. A terrifying place, Scorpius had to admit.

But Nott never missed a chance to see his grandfather.

"You were with Potter in the restaurant bathroom, weren't you?"

Scorpius stiffened and looked away. He didn't want to talk about it with Dorian, knowing he had a possessive temperament and didn't like the family of the "hero of the wizarding world."

The young boy tightened his jacket around his body and crossed his arms, determined not to extend a conversation that could lead to a confrontation.

"I didn't see him enter the bathroom, but I saw him leave, shortly after you. I saw him looking at you," Nott insisted dryly.

Scorpius could feel his eyes on him, burning. Dorian spoke as if making an accusation.

"Stop it, Dorian," he said, turning to him. "You sound like a jealous husband who thinks his wife is cheating with someone else. Yes, the youngest Potter was with me. We talked a bit. He wanted to meet me, I think. He was friendly. And I was of course unpleasant. Is that all you wanted to know?"

"I'm not surprised," Dorian said, laughing rather disdainfully. "He wanted to be 'friends' with you, that fool?"

Scorpius didn't take his eyes off him and shook his head slowly, a bit disappointed.

"You shouldn't act like that with the Potters. We might need them," Scorpius said softly.

"Need them..." Dorian spat, shaking his head.

"Albus Potter is a Slytherin and he's popular. He's the captain of the Quidditch team. He's a bit like the Prince of Slytherin. He succeeded my father," Scorpius said with a smile.

Dorian smiled despite himself. He had great affection for Draco, who had healed his face and cared for him all these years.

"I don't have any illusions," Scorpius added sadly. "We'll surely be in Slytherin. I know the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff houses wouldn't want to welcome a Malfoy, but in Slytherin, there are people who think my family members are traitors and cowards. Potter could help keep them quiet if he's on our side."

"Do you trust him?" Nott asked, moving closer and putting his arm around Scorpius.

"No, of course not," Scorpius said with a smile, snuggling a bit closer to the young man.

Is that what you want to hear, Dorian?

He rested his head on Dorian's shoulder and closed his eyes, comforted by the warmth of their two bodies. He was used to this closeness. Nott had his own room in the castle and the manor now, but he often fell asleep in Malfoy's bed, a leg and arm draped over his body and his face in the crook of Scorpius' neck. They slept like that, one against the other. At first, it hadn't been a problem for Scorpius, the innocence of their age not allowing him to think their gestures might be inappropriate. But Dorian was becoming more "expressive" and affectionate. Adolescence and its discoveries, no doubt... Scorpius always gently pushed him away, but Dorian smiled and said it was nothing, that he found him beautiful, and that was all.

But everything had changed last year when it happened... when one of the professors teaching them magic at the castle did that.

Scorpius hadn't said anything, but Nott had guessed when, that very evening in the room, Scorpius trembled when Dorian lay down next to him and pushed him away violently. Nott stayed by his side as he cried, until he fell asleep.

The professor never returned. And Dorian and Scorpius never talked about what had happened. But Dorian's caresses were never "innocent" for Scorpius again.

"We don't necessarily need Potter to help us; I'll stay with you to protect you, you know?" Dorian suddenly said, resting his head against Scorpius'.

He took the boy's hand and examined the silver ring, kissing it.

Embarrassed, Scorpius pulled his hand away and freed himself from Dorian's embrace.

"All you know how to do is fight, you don't know how to negotiate, you're not good at that," Scorpius said, standing up and dusting off his jacket. "I don't need you to protect me, Dorian. Stop thinking you're my savior. You know it annoys me."

He motioned for Dorian to follow him as he left the park. It was getting late, and he wanted to go home.

Dorian laughed and stood up to join Scorpius.

"Negotiate? Do you think Potter can do that?" he asked when he caught up to the young boy. "Did you see the looks of the restaurant customers, their hateful gazes toward us? Do you really think your hero without a scar on his forehead will be able to calm all those people?"

Scorpius said nothing and quickened his pace to distance himself from Nott. He hated when Dorian was sarcastic. But the boy grabbed him by the arm and pushed him roughly against a Muggle car parked along the sidewalk where he was walking. Scorpius gasped in shock, and a slight pain appeared in his back. Nott approached and held Scorpius against the car to force him to listen.

"They told us we could go back, that it was safe for us," he said slowly, in a threatening tone. "But nothing has changed, Scorpius. They're the same!"

He lifted his long black hair to reveal the scar that disfigured his left eye. Scorpius' eyes filled with tears, and he looked away. Nott gently stepped back and released Scorpius.

"They're the same," he repeated sadly, staring at the ground. "They just grew up, that's all."

Scorpius approached him and took his face in his hands to make him look at him.

"It's over, Dorian," he said tenderly. "You need to move on."

"You're the one saying that?" Dorian asked, grabbing Scorpius' arm abruptly. "Have you healed?"

"Stop it, Dorian!" Scorpius snarled, pushing him away.

Nott let go and stepped back. Malfoy was trembling. He wrapped his arms around himself as if to protect himself.

"I'm sorry... but don't ask me to do something you can't do yourself," Dorian said.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, lost in their memories and doubts.

"We're a mess," Scorpius said with a sad smile.

Dorian returned his smile. Scorpius took his hand and began to walk, pulling him along in a cheerful stride.

"You're right," he said to Dorian. "Let's go dance and drink, I think we need it. But not for more than an hour."

End of Chapter 3

Don't forget to write comments - it's always a great joy to read your reactions !