The Great War

The thing about Scorpius and Albus, is that they used to be inseparable. Their parents - despite the work rivalry between Harry and Draco, as they worked in different firms - had had to accept it, even embrace it. When Albus threw a tantrum, the promise to bribe him was “If you do this, we’ll organise you a playdate with Scorpius”, and the same went for Scorpius. Although, of course, he was much more dignified in his tantrum, as he was a Malfoy, or so his father always said. 

Scorpius was there to listen to Albus through his parents’ time of crisis in their marriage, until they started going to therapy together to work things out. And in exchange, Albus was there listening to Scorpius as he talked about how he wished he’d known his mother, even just a little bit, before she’d passed. 

So Albus knew everything about Scorpius and Scorpius knew everything about Albus. Things between them were simple, or so they seemed. 

Now, years later, Albus can confidently say there’s nothing between them. And that’s because Scorpius made sure of it. So, really, after breaking his heart, Scorpius can fuck off. 

That is before Scorpius shows up unannounced at his doorstep. 

“Hello, Miss Potter,” Scorpius tells Ginny, who’s answered the door. “Is Albus home?”

And by God, isn’t this scenery a familiar one? How many times have Albus and Scorpius showed up at each other’s house and asked each other’s parents if the other was home? And how many times were they told “No, but come on in!” because that was just the relationship they had with each other, how close they were? God, Albus could cry. Actually, he really might. His eyes are burning. 

So Albus sniffs, and places himself behind his mother. 

“Are you looking for me?” He asks, to which he already knows the answer.

Scorpius, if possible, is even more beautiful in person than on the magazines covers. He has these lush icy-white hair, the Malfoy’s high cheekbones and his mother’s earnest eyes. But Albus always thought his real beauty was within. Was he wrong in that aspect, too?

Scorpius blushes. He’s wearing mittens and a hat, that pushes his hair into a fringe. “Yes,” he croaks out. “I mean, yes. If you have a minute to talk?” 

Albus nods, and steps over his mother. He ignores Scorpius and Ginny telling each other goodbye, Ginny asking Scorpius to come over for dinner, one of these days. Albus doesn’t want Scorpius over for dinner. He wants to pack Scorpius into a box and hide him from the world, but he also never wants to see the other ever again. 

Albus sits on the swing on the porch, Scorpius making himself small next to him. 

“So, what brings you back?” Albus asks. 

Scorpius takes off his hat, then puts it on again. “I’m shooting a documentary,” he replies, going straight to the point. “I was wondering whether you might want to participate. You’d get paid, of course.”

Albus snorts. Of course. “I don’t need your money, Scorp.”

Scorpius looks down at his shoes. “Sorry.”

Albus might not have as many money as Scorpius does, but he’s well off. He has chosen a degree in Literature, he’s teaching at the town’s high school, but he receives something from his father’s firm each month as a silent associate, the same as Lily.

“I just wanted to give you an incentive,” Scorpius says. “Because I’d really like for you to take part.”

Albus shakes his head. “Why? We haven’t talked in years. I’m sure you have someone else to ask.”

Scorpius shakes his head in returns, but it’s true. They haven’t seen each other in years, spoken in almost as long. They’d tried to keep in contact at first, but then Scorpius had started answering less and less, until six months passed before he replied to Albus’ How are you? And Albus knew he’d lost him. 

“But they’re not you,” Scorpius finally says. “They don’t know me the way you do. You’ve been with me since before I became famous, you can actually tell people what I’m like. Please.”

Albus shakes his head again. “I’m not good in front of a camera. It makes me nervous.”

“I’ll be there with you. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

Albus sighs. But the thing is, he can never say no to Scorpius. So he already knows, even as he nods to say Yes, I’ll think about it, he already knows he’ll say yes. 

A song is playing as Albus enters Scorpius’ childhood home, where they’ll shoot his scenes. 

Time, mystical time

Cuttin' me open, then healin' me fine

Were there clues I didn't see?

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

Ohh

Albus knows it well. He always thought it would fit well into his and Scorpius’ relationship, if they’d ever had one. Wouldn’t it just be so pretty to think there is an invisible string tying Scorpius to Albus, however far Scorpius travels? Something warm blooms in Albus, and he does his best to make it lie down, otherwise he’ll go crazy. 

“Albus, dearest!”

Albus turns, only to see Narcissa Malfoy walking towards him with open arms. He opens his arms in response, and she hugs him, kissing both his cheeks. He hasn’t seen her in a while, the last time was when she’d decided to venture into the supermarket. 

“How are you?” She asks him, then continues before he can reply. “God, how you’ve grown. You’re a handsome, young man now. Nothing like the scrawny kid who ran around with his hand in Scorpius’.”

“Alright, grandma, you’ve greeted him,” Scorpius says. 

Albus hasn’t heard him arrive, but he manages not to jump out of his skin. As grandma and grandson bicker, Albus takes the chance to look around. There are members of a crew coming and going from the living room, while Draco Malfoy himself is waving goodbye to his mother and son, leaving through the front door with an expensive-looking leather bag and the car keys. He nods in Albus’ direction. 

“Do you want something to drink?” Scorpius asks Albus, bringing him back to reality. 

Narcissa is going to the kitchen, leaving them alone. Alone in a house filled with cameras, as Albus is reminded when a picture of them is snapped. 

Albus blinks, spots of light from the flash still in his vision. “No, no, thank you. I’m okay.”

Scorpius nods. “Are you nervous?”

“No, no. I mean, a little bit.”

Scorpius’ face breaks out in a smile, and something in Albus’ chest swells. “You have nothing to worry about. It’s all easy questions.”

Albus nods, but he doesn’t believe Scorpius. Which question about Scorpius has ever had an easy answer? And then, when he’s placed on an uncomfortable stool under the bright lights, it’s an even worse setting. 

He swallows around a dry throat. 

“So, who are you?” Is the first question. 

Easy. Or so he thinks. “I’m Albus Potter. I’m, er, I’ve been mates with Scorpius since childhood.” 

Since childhood, God that’s a really long time, isn’t it? Is everybody going to read Albus’ secret off his face the moment they see him? Scorpius has millions of fans, and most of them will be watching. 

Well, too late to back out. 

“What is your favourite memory of Scorpius?” 

Albus smiles. It comes easily to mind. “Once in middle school. Our parents didn’t like us being friends, because they work in the same field and are work enemies, which makes them sound really childish, and that’s probably the truth. Anyway, I was speaking five-thousand words per-minute as I usually do, I was saying something about how apples are overrated and pears are better, and Scorp just stood and left for a moment. When he came back, he had two pears. And I really found it charming, though he still won’t tell me where he found those pears.”

Albus chuckles, and he can see Scorpius doing the same behind the camera. Seeing Scorpius there relaxes him a bit, he must admit. 

“How would you say Scorpius was as a person when he was younger?”

Albus thinks about all the things he’s read on the magazines, how he cannot quite believe any of those, even without Lily wrinkling her nose at the fake news. 

“I would say he’s always been the same. You can read what he’s thinking on his face, despite him trying to cover up everything. He’s earnest, he’s always been.”

Scorpius is blushing, Albus can see it well beyond the lights and the cameras. If he tries to, will Albus still be able to read him? 

“What does music mean to him?”

Albus thinks about it for a moment. “Everything. Making music matters more than anything else to him.”

He can’t quite keep the accusation out of his tone. Music is the reason he left me, Albus wants to scream. Without music, we would still be together. But he can’t say that, he’s not so pathetic. 

“Good. We’re done.”

Albus stands to leave, and he doesn’t stop until he’s reached the front door. It took less time than he anticipated, but he still needs to get home. He has papers to grade, thank God, or he would be stuck thinking about Scorpius. Scorpius Scorpius Scorpius his brain seems to scream. 

“Albus!”

And there the object of his thoughts appears, running after him like they are in a movie. Scorpius even wrote a song, called just that. If This Was a Movie. What does it say again? Something along the lines of If this was a movie you’d be here by now. God, how pathetic is it that Albus knows each lyric of Scorpius by heart? 

Albus turns, trying to put on a smile. “Yes? I think I’ll get going now. I have a lot of things to do, you know. Grading papers and… and other things. You know how it is.”

Scorpius nods slowly. It’s written all over his face how he doesn’t believe Albus one bit, he lets him off the hook. “Of course. No, I get it. You’re very busy.”

Albus nods. “Right.”

He already has his hand wrapped around the doorknob. 

“I’ll just go then.”

And he does that. 

Harry leans on the doorframe to Albus’ room. Albus takes one look at his father, then away. He can’t look anybody in the eyes at the moment. He feels too humiliated, and he doesn’t even know why. 

“I saved you some pizza,” Harry says. “I don’t know how long it’ll last, I left it in the kitchen unsupervised, and James is, well, James. He’ll eat anything he can get his hands on.”

Albus hums. “Thanks, Dad, but I’m not hungry.”

Harry tuts. He comes into the door, and closes the door behind himself. Albus catches a glimpse of his mother, heading from the bathroom to their bedroom, all the while sending a worried glance towards him. Again, he looks away. 

“You haven’t taken Scorpius’ return very well,” Harry says, dragging the chair at the desk to the front of Albus’ bed, where he’s currently laying. 

“It’s not that,” Albus says, in a tone that clearly expresses how much it is. “I mean… it’s just been hard. All these memories, and I thought I was over it.”

Harry hums. “You know, I think you should talk to Scorpius about it. It might help, if you go over the reason he left together.”

Albus shakes his head. He feels too much like a child for a man of twenty-five years old. “I don’t want to.”

Harry sighs. “Sometimes the things we don’t want are the ones that will help us most. Think about it.”

So it’s gonna be forever

Or it’s gonna go down in flames

You can tell me when it’s over

If the high was worth the pain 

Albus shakes his head. Of course, of course, even at the supermarket they’re listening to Scorpius Malfoy. Who wouldn’t? He’s the personification of a perfect singer. Not just for his voice, but his life as well, devoted to his fans in a way not many celebrities manage. If he ever had a boyfriend, where would he fit in the picture? 

Albus shakes his head again. It’s not time to think about it. 

His kart stops, and it takes Albus a moment to realise it’s because it has crashed against someone else’s. When he looks up, it’s Scorpius’ eyes staring back at him. Scorpius stunned face, next to Narcissa’s smiling one. 

“Albus, dearest!” She says, going in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “What a surprise to bump into you here, of all places!”

Albus chuckles. “I’m more surprised to see you here. I thought you said you’d never return.”

“Desperate times,” she replies cryptically. “And with my darling Scorpius here, I want to make sure only the best is picked for him.”

Scorpius’ whole face goes red. “Grandma!”

Narcissa just laughs her grandchild’s desperation off. “And you, darling Albus? What brings you here?”

Albus points to the carrots in his cart. “My brother needs those for his morning shake, otherwise he bit- otherwise I cannot stand him.”

Narcissa shoots him a disapproving glance, while Scorpius chuckles. 

“You should tell more about that,” Narcissa suddenly says, her face lit up by a smile. “And about your life. At dinner, tonight. Seven pm, don’t be late.”

She squeezes Albus’ shoulder, then she moves on, before he can find an excuse to not show up. Scorpius looks after her, resembling a lost child. 

“Sorry about her,” he says. “You don’t have to show up.”

Albus shrugs his shoulder. He thinks about saying he won’t, really finding an excuse, but as much as it pains him to say, it’s something he’s been missing. He misses dinners at the Malfoy’s, Draco’s quiet presence and Narcissa’s chiding. She’s always felt like a grandmother to him, much like Molly is. 

“Scorpius!” Narcissa calls, and Scorpius goes running. 

Albus is left alone at the store. 

Midnight

You come and pick me up, no headlights

Long drive

Could end in burning flames or paradise

Fade into view, oh

It's been a while since I have even heard from you (heard from you)

Scorpius’ song plays on as Albus drives over to the Malfoy Manor. Scorpius is always played on the radio, but lately it seems he’s everywhere all at once, and Albus doesn’t know what to think of it. It pains him, that much he can admit. 

He knocks on the door, then gives Narcissa the flowers he’s brought and the wine to Draco. 

“I always forget you’re old enough to drink,” Draco mutters to himself. 

Albus gives a small smile, looking around at the entrance. Scorpius isn’t here yet. 

“He’s just upstairs,” Narcissa says. “If he doesn’t come down, I’ll go tell him to hurry up.” She winks, which isn’t at all like her, and at the same time it is, then goes to find a vase. 

Albus, without anything better to do, goes to the living room. He knows where it is by heart, he could find his way through the Malfoy Manor blindsided. He takes a look at the photos on the walls, and is surprised to find himself in some of them. 

“Grandma put them on just today,” Scorpius says. 

Albus hasn’t heard him coming in. He hums. When he turns, he finds his breath taken. Scorpius is wearing a black jumper over a light green shirt, and trousers with bits of silver in them. 

“You look good,” Albus says, before thinking better of it. He coughs. “I mean, well. You look well, like you’re doing well.”

Scorpius gives a small smile. “Thanks. I am.”

They stay in silence for a moment, before Scorpius gets closer at points out one of the pictures, depicting Albus and Scorpius as they play outside in the snow. 

“We took that one at your house, I’m not sure how my grandma got her hands on it,” Scorpius says. “Do you remember that day?”

I remember your lips being red because of the cold, your cheeks rosy. And I remember you took my hand to point out where I should put the carrot on the snowman, and I had goosebumps for days. 

“Kind of,” is what Albus says. “Do you?”

“Of course. I remember every day we’ve ever spent together.”

Scorpius is incapable of lying. Whatever he feels is always on his face, and even if that wasn’t true, he has no qualms over speaking his mind. It makes Albus shrink on himself, feeling as little as an ant. 

“That’s a lot of days to remember, then,” Albus says. 

Scorpius laughs, putting his hands in his pockets. He has nice teeth, despite the front one being a little crooked, and Albus should really stop staring at his mouth. 

“They are,” Scorpius says. “But-”

“Dinner is ready!” Narcissa announces, coming in the living room. 

Albus turns with a smile. Every nerve has eased. He has nothing to fear, he feels just as home in the Malfoy Manor as he does in his own house. 

Scorpius takes Albus’ wrist. “We should talk. Later.”

And with that, Scorpius leaves to the dining room. Without a choice, Albus follows helplessly. 

Dinner goes by slowly. Draco talks a bit about his job, without saying anything too specific, because he knows Harry will ask every detail later on to Albus. Narcissa talks about the ladies she takes her tea with, and how she’s seen a piece of jewellery that is just too pretty, and wouldn’t it be fun if my grandson gifted it to me? But she also tells Scorpius to save, because one never knows what will happen in the future. Then, she asks a fateful question to Albus. 

“Albus, dearest,” she says, in a voice that’s dripping honey. “Are you still dating that girl? What was her name… Laurel?”

“Laura,” Scorpius corrects her, but he’s grown stiff in his movements. 

Draco sends Scorpius a worried glance, then an hateful one to Albus. 

Albus shrinks on himself. “No, we… uh, we broke up. Just a little after Scorpius left, actually.”

“You didn’t tell me,” Scorpius says, regaining some power over himself, some composure. 

Albus shrugs. “You didn’t ask.”

Scorpius snorts. “Right. Because I needed to ask you.”

Albus tightens his hold on the fork, until his knuckles turn white. “Can we talk about this later?”

Scorpius huffs, but he doesn’t bother going on with the subject. He turns back to his food, and Albus tries to do the same, despite the eyes of the two older Malfoys on him. 

“What about work, dear?” Narcissa asks, going for a safer subject. 

Albus takes a breath of relief. 

The rest of the dinner goes smoothly, and Albus almost forgets about his small argument with Scorpius, at least until it’s midnight, and Albus is about to go home. 

“Can we talk now?” Scorpius asks, when they are alone in the entrance. He has already retrieved his coat, so Albus knows he won’t take no for an answer. 

“Of course,” Albus replies, leading the way to his car. 

They sit alone for a moment. Albus turns on the engine, and starts driving around. He doesn’t have a place to go, he just doesn’t want to do whatever they are about to do in front of Scorpius’ house. 

“Have you had any girl after Laura?” Scorpius asks, stubbornly watching the road. 

Albus exhales through his teeth. “Does it matter?”

“I don’t know. Did they matter?”

Albus thinks about it for a moment. “One of them did. She meant a lot to me.”

And I can go anywhere I want

Anywhere I want, just not home

“What did you write My Tears Ricochet about?” Albus asks. 

Scorpius sighs. “I’ve felt for a long time that there were too many memories here. So I could go anywhere I want, just not home. I’ve been everywhere in the world in the last few years, but I missed being here. I missed you, Albus Severus.”

Albus Severus. Never just Albus, never just Al. Once, Albus asked him why. “Because I see all of you, not just a side,” Scorpius had replied. 

“So why did you stop replying to my messages?” Albus asks, then pulls over to an empty parking lot. He leaves the car turned on, otherwise they’d freeze to death in there. 

“Because it hurt too much,” Scorpius replies. “It hurt knowing I’d left you here with Laura.”

Albus swallows. “I never understood why you hate her so much.”

“Don’t be a liar. You know.”

“Then why did you leave?”

Scorpius’ voice breaks as he replies. “Because I couldn’t stay and watch you with her knowing I loved you, Albus Severus. Still do, never stopped.”

“Then why didn’t you come back, in all this time?”

“Because I love you, and you see me as your best friend.”

Albus’ heart breaks a little. He puts his hand over Scorpius. 

“I don’t know when, so don’t ask me, because I won’t have an answer. And I don’t know how to string pretty words together to sound romantic and passionate. I just know that, somewhere along the way, I’ve fallen for you, Scorp. And if you’d asked my opinion once over the last five years, I would have gladly told you.”

To that bloodshed, crimson clover

Uh-huh, the worst was over

My hand was the one you reached for

All throughout the Great War

Always remember

Uh-huh, we're burned for better

I vowed I would always be yours

'Cause we survived the Great War