Kings Cross
The next day Albus stands beside Rose at platform 9³/⁴, waiting for Scorpius. He’s trying not to seem nervous, or more nervous than usual. He doesn’t want Rose asking questions, even though she already looks like she has a million. She wears a look of concern on her face, making it known she wants answers. She doesn’t get the chance to rattle off her questions when James approaches.
This time James’ appearance seems much more timid than before Albus’ confrontation. He wears dark bags under his eyes as though he hasn’t gotten enough sleep in days. His slow approach and down cast gaze is a far cry from how he usually behaves. Albus thinks this odd behavior is unbefitting of his brother and almost tells him to cut it out; until he realizes James had left early that morning. It suddenly occurs to him that maybe he’d even snuck out of the house in the middle of the night.
“I just…before we parted ways at school. Just know I’m truly sorry and if you ever need anything,I’m always around,” James says, giving Albus’ shoulder a warm squeeze and a concerned half smile before walking off.
Rose shoots him a glare at him from behind.
“Albus, are you sure you’re okay?” She asks.
“I’ll be fine, James didn’t mean it,” he shrugs.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Rose says, annoyed, in a sharp tone, making Albus back down in fear of making her mad.
“I’m sure it's fine,” he says but Rose shoots it down with a raised eyebrow, “we’ve been sending owls. It’s just he really likes you, not me,” he says hand gesturing frustration begging Rose to believe him.
“You’re ridiculous, he went back in time to save you ya know,” she says not letting up.
“We saved you too Rose! Seemed to be way more important in the owls he sent,” he says starting to lose his temper, “read them if you don’t believe me” he crosses his arms over his chest.
“That boy jumped through hoop-”
“Oh please Rose!” Albus finds himself shouting, “Just admit you’re wrong this time. Don’t act like you know, it hurts too much to hope he’d ever feel the same.”
Rose blinks up at him for a moment processing her cousin’s sudden outburst.
“Okay, look, I’m sorry. I’m just not sure how to deal with these feelings and I’d rather not be heartbroken,” Albus says feeling guilty.
“I still think it might be good to tell him. At least to get it off your chest so you don’t feel you’re hiding something? He is your best friend, I doubt he’ll judge you.”
Albus sighs, “Okay, I’ll think it over,” he says mostly just to satisfy her.
…
Two blonde heads appear in the busy crowd moments later headed towards them. Scorp hugs his dad before rushing off to meet his friends.
“Hey Albus,” Scorpius greets him before noticing Rose, “Hello Rose, were you waiting long?” He asks seemingly more excited to speak to Rose.
“Um, not really,” Albus says awkwardly as Scorpius was clearly wanting an answer from Rose as she gathers her things.
“I was just leaving,” Rose tells him, “see you later Albus.”
“I love it when she does that,” Scorpius says watching her leave.
“Seriously? You’re still trying?”
“I think it’s cute when she pretends I don’t exist. Also, didn’t you write to me saying I should ask her out?”
“I take it back, you and my cousin would be gross,” he says fake gagging as Scopius playfully punches him. They both laugh as they board the train finding their usual compartment.
…
“So, about the last owl I sent you, you got it, right?” Scorpius asks, getting comfortable as Albus fidgets nervously.
“Yes, it arrived just fine…You haven’t done anything wrong to upset me or anything, it’s really not your fault,” Albus says struggling to find words to explain, “I just don’t know how to explain what happened without you being upset too.”
“Oh…wait what?”
“Okay so before you arrived at the burrow Teddy used your face to talk to me,” Albus starts, he’s watching Scorpius’ posture for any tell of discomfort. He only moves towards Albus in interest, “I mean that’s just the gist of what happened, I guess James thought it’d be funny to play with our friendship or something,” he explains watching Scorpius’ face mold into sadness and confusion.
Scorpius’ body is suddenly on top of him embracing him in a comically large hug as he has launched himself into Albus’ lap, “Why would they do that to you? After everything with Delphi?”
“Scorp, you don’t have to hug me, I’m okay,” Albus says, wrapping his arms around Scorpius anyways.
“I want to, it feels right to hug someone when something terrible happens to them and they’ve been selfishly dealing with it on their own,” Scorpius squeezes him tighter.
“Alright, I’m sorry?” Albus says as a smile creeps across his face.
Scorpius sits back in his seat moments later letting go of Albus. Scorpius senses a change in the atmosphere when he looks back at Albus. There’s tension and he starts to fall back into feeling insecure. He’s already been made aware through Delphi that he’s Albus’ biggest weakness, and that this is probably really sore for him right now.
“Are we okay?” Scorpius asks his friend in a weaker tone than is usual for him.
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Albus asks and Scorpius wonders if he’s read the situation completely wrong.
“Well you know I’m the real me, right?” Scorpius asks and Albus feels his heart twinge at the question.
“Yeah, we’re good. Don’t worry, it was a pretty terrible impersonation,” Albus hear’s himself says in a defensive manner. It just hurts him that the real reason he can always tell that his Scorpius is really him, is because only the fake one would fancy him. It’s not as if fake Scorp even actually liked him either.
“Oh yeah? What made it so bad?” Scorpius asks amused by this statement, “Did Teddy mess up how charming I am?” He jokes, lightening Albus’ salty mood.
“No, it wasn't that, although he definitely didn’t have your wardrobe,” Albus laughs, “what really did it was you never shut up about Rose, but fake Scorpius wanted to talk about me,” Albus says continuing Scorps joking, light energy, while carrying out a forced laugh. It doesn’t seem to land with Scorpius though. His friend isn’t smiling anymore. Instead, his eyebrows arch into confusion as Albus catches his gaze.
Albus’ heart leaps into his throat thinking he gave himself away and said too much. That maybe he’s being extremely obvious and now Scorpius hates him.
“Do I really talk about her that much?” Scorpius asks, breaking Albus out of his thoughts.
“What? No, not really,” Albus answers hoping his voice doesn’t break apart or sound too shaky.
“You’d tell me if I did right?”
“Course,” he wouldn’t dare.
“Is there more to what happened?”
“Um,” Albus hesitates, looking at his feet.
“It’s okay to tell me Albus,” Scorpius says, moving to sit closer to Albus. Albus glances up at Scorpius’ concerned yet curious gaze examining his face. He thinks about what Rose said. That letting Scorpius in is an option, they’re friends before anything else.
“It’s a bit awkward to say out loud,” Albus admits.
“I’m sure I’ve heard worse,” Scorpius shrugs with a smile that melts Albus’ resolve.
“Alright then,” Albus took a breath before continuing to speak, “They thought we were dating. When Teddy approached me as you, he flirted with me. He hit on me using your face,” Albus confesses without actually confessing. His heart is beating as if he did and he can feel himself sweating through his clothes.
“Oh Merlin!” Scorpius gasps, shuffling himself against Albus still taking it in while staring at the ceiling, “Well,” He starts again, “...couldn’t they have thought of anyone else to couple you with? Why me?” Scorpius asks before looking back at Albus who wears a hurt expression and quickly turns away, “Shite Albus, I didn’t mean it like that, just…couldn’t they have imagined someone more fit? Less…bookish?” Scorpius says gesturing to his lanky limbs that Albus sees nothing wrong with.
“Don’t you feel crap for having your identity used for something you’d never actually do?” Albus asks knowing he’ll have his answer and have to get over Scorpius after they leave this compartment.
“I guess?” Scorpius shrugs, “I feel more offended and guilty that my face was used and it ended up hurting you,” he adds looking back at the ceiling. He misses the way Albus tightens his fits, willing himself not to cry.
Instead he’s too busy thinking about how the fake Scorpius flirted with Albus and what Albus’ reaction would have been. Would his ears turn red? Would he hide his face? He finds himself smiling at the daydream. Bringing his attention back to the Albus currently right next to him he asks, “Is there more to this you’re not sharing?”
“Yes,” Albus says quietly, staring at his feet.
“Not ready then?”
“Right.”
“I won’t be pushing my luck then,” Scorpius smiles.
“Thanks,” Albus says back but doesn’t return a glance.
“Well now that that’s out of the way, how about some candy to get you through a book rant?” Scorpius asks hoping the change of mood will get Albus out of his shell again.
“Sounds good,” Albus shrugs, “Always down to listen to you talk. Oh, tell me about Greece and all the stuff you bought or read while you were there,” Albus says, glad to be off the topic of himself.
“Sure thing!” Scorpius says happily, “You know you I’m shocked you never mentioned my tan,” he jokes and the both of them burst into a fit of laughter as they fall into pleasant conversation until they reach Hogwarts.