Seventh Year
When they all turn up at the station together, there are reporters all over. Harry and Draco have the same moment of realization - no matter what rumors have or haven't died down, between the Potter, Granger-Weasley, and Malfoy names heading off for their last year of course there will be press. They look nervously at their sons, but find Lily and Rose whispering conspiratorially with them. They barely have time to get nervous about whatever is brewing before the girls set off a flurry of rainbow sparks from their wands, Albus twirls Scorpius out in a flamboyant spin and drops him into a deep dip with a very showy kiss, perfectly centered in front of the Hogwarts Express engine.
"If any of those come out well, see if you can't get me a proper copy through the paper?" Albus grins to his mother, looking more like Harry and James than he ever has. The children exchange hugs and kisses with their variously amused and bemused relatives and board the train.
"Shall we give the papers more fodder? I think we could all use a drink together..." Ginny trails off with a laugh and the five adults head to the Leaky Cauldron.
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Scorpius gives a little sigh as he and Albus settle back into their seats alone, having shared out sweets with Rose and Lily and a few other friends. "Six years ago I would have given anything to have all those friends sitting with us, and now it just feels odd!" Albus laughs and locks the door as Scorpius rummages for the Pepper Imps he's saved for tradition's sake. "Stay for my sweets?" he asks, looking up to find Albus holding out a small, velvet box in return. "Stay forever?" Albus responds. They both pause for just a moment before they both whisper "Always."
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Brian and Aero race through the night again.
"Mum and Dad,
He said yes!
Love,
Albus"
"James,
Whatever the headlines say tomorrow, it's all true.
The Slytherin Squib IS engaged to the Son of Voldemort.
--ASP"
"Dad,
I said yes!
(You and Albus are far too good at secrets.)
Love,
Scorpius"
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They're barely a week into term when Albus and Scorpius are called to a meeting with Professor McGonnagall. They walk into an office already containing Harry and Ginny, Hermione, Draco, and Professor Longbottom along with Professor McGonnagall, and what she has to say is overwhelming. The Ministry of Magic along with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Malfoy Estate would like to offer an opportunity to Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy and Albus Severus Potter: contacts and a living stipend to study with and learn from certain Muggle experts or those living in the Muggle world, as relates to history (Scorpius) and Herbology (Albus). Reports to be made quarterly with a review at the Christmas holidays, optional renewal of contract for up to 5 years, offer dependent on satisfactory scores on their NEWT exams in the spring.
Professor McGonnagall makes sure that the boys know that their offers are separate and not contingent upon the other's acceptance and offers them a week to consider the proposition, but both boys are ready to sign on the spot.
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So they fall into a routine of classes and study groups, jogging for Albus and walking for Scorpius, holding hands by the fire as they study, waking for midnight snacks from the House Elves and going to bed to start over again. They find time for a few Quidditch games and visits to Hogsmeade, and in rare free moments they dream about the future. They do make time on the first Hogsmeade weekend to visit a jeweler, so Scorpius can pick out a ring for Albus - he says it can be Albus' birthday present if he likes, but he doesn't want anyone getting the idea they can poach his fiance, so Albus must have a ring too!
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They start Christmas holidays with the Potters, with the boys and Lily all relieved of studying for exams. They build gingerbread houses and snowmen and laugh, Harry and Ginny joining in everything but staying up late to tell ghost stories, which they allege they're too old for anyway.
Weasley Christmas is home for Scorpius and Draco by now, everyone wearing jumpers and eating and drinking and singing just a little too much, and love filling every corner of the Burrow.
When the boys accompany Draco back to Malfoy Manor, things get more serious if no less joyful. Draco has Wedding Planning on his mind, and if he's mostly turned away from his heritage he is in deadly earnest about doing this right for his son. Scorpius wants the date to be September 1st, to match the date they met and started dating, but Albus worries that Lily will be on the train. Albus wants to ask James to be his best man, but Scorpius doesn't have a sibling to stand with him. A few owls later, and Lily has agreed to return to Hogwarts later with Harry, AND to stand with Scorpius. Aunt Hermione and Draco have a painfully polite exchange on who will perform the ceremony, which Hermione wins - who could resist having the Minister of Magic herself officiate? Draco wins as to where the wedding will be held though - Molly says she's managed as many weddings at the Burrow as she can handle.
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Scorpius makes sure that they find time to celebrate both Valentine's Day and Albus' birthday, and Albus makes sure Scorpius remembers to eat, and the months that seemed endless not long ago race by.
Defence Against the Dark Arts is their most difficult NEWT by far, but both Harry and Draco were set on their sons taking it all the way through. Both Albus and Scorpius achieve high marks by accomplishing a corporeal Patronus, and Harry's proud letters to each of them make it feel worth the work. Scorpius' is a hummingbird, flitting and stabbing with its slender beak, while Albus has a rather cranky looking raven.
Lily does well on her OWLs and Scorpius and Albus surprise themselves by coming second and third in their class in NEWTs, after Rose. And suddenly, one day, it's done - they've packed their trunks for the last time, eaten their last meal at the Slytherin table, and if they return it won't be as students anymore.