Summer Before Fourth Year
Albus feels more and more invisible and also too visible, too alien, as James and their cousins and uncles start to tease him more seriously about girlfriends, and James makes a comment or two too many about all the owls to and from "his boyfriend, Scorpius." Albus doesn't know how he feels but James makes it seem so cheap and ugly. He tries again to picture any of the girls he knows but none of them feel right and an image of Scorpius, curled in on himself, alone and fragile, fills his mind each time, and he's starting to understand. He wants to talk to his parents about it but every time Harry laughs with Ron at one of the jokes, Albus' nerve fails him and he knows his father would be ashamed of him. So he hides it and sinks deeper into depression and confusion.
Scorpius feels trapped in his sorrow and fear, unable to talk to his father. School isn't the wonderful place he dreamed it would be and he dreads the jeers and snubs but he misses Albus, misses his warm hand on his back, letting him relax, misses their alcove with two beds crammed together and the pale light of the charmed stars he and Albus added to their ceiling.
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When the Weasley clan throws their annual summer barbecue, Albus notices the buntings are all red and gold. So is the cake. Again. Everything is loud and everyone is chattering about Gryffindor's chances in Quidditch with James as captain, and if Rose will make the team. There's not a speck of green anywhere. Again.
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Then comes Delphi who really seems to SEE Albus, seems to think he was special and important in a way nobody but Scorpius ever had.
Then comes the story of a boy who died and a father whose love is still strong decades later, a story Albus can't quite believe but wants to.
Then comes the fight with Harry, the Thing with the baby blanket and the love potion and words that can't be unsaid, and too many words that were never said.
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When Albus doesn't see Scorpius on the platform the bottom drops out of his world and when he sees him in their compartment the relief washes over him and all he can do is throw himself at his startled friend.
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When Albus enters the compartment suddenly Scorpius can breathe again. They've been owling all summer but he wasn't sure Albus would still be his friend, even though he always is. Scorpius clenches his fists in his robes trying not to bounce in his joy and then Albus' arms are around him and he isn't used to this with anyone but his mother. It feels nice but it's been so very long since Scorpius was wrapped in someone else's arms that he's stiff and awkward with shock. "Okay. Hello. Um. Have we hugged before? Do we hug?"