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Thank Merlin for cell phones and the crazy Muggle technology he couldn't begin to understand that kept their messages flowing through the fall and winter months. Surely, things could have gone worse. Scorpius hadn't been kicked out of school; he was merely on probation, so he had to keep his head up and not get into a single ounce of trouble ever again. Mr. Potter had been very understanding, more than he had a right to be after what he'd seen, and the howler Scorpius got his from his parents about the probation only had him humiliated for a week or so.

All in all, things had worked out.

Even though he couldn't see James anymore, he could talk to him through texts and, brief, phone calls. It wasn't as frequent, but it would have to do.

By the time the holidays rolled around, Scorpius convinced his parents to let him stay with the Potters for the week leading up to New Year's. He spent about two hours trying to find the right clothes for his first visit with James in months and to make a good impression on Mr. Potter, although Al found it hilarious when he saw Scorpius on their front porch wearing a checked sweatervest and a button-up.

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"Not really," James answers, because he doesn't get it at all and is, in fact, talking about the game. He does squeeze Scorpius's fingers back, though, as if reflex more than actual measured intent. "It's mostly just a little puzzle thing."

"I mean you, you dolt," he says, giving James's hand another squeeze as he reaches across and tries pressing things on the screen that James had been touching. Really, he couldn't care less. As long as they're laying together, blissfully together, talking, touching - life is good.

"Oh," he answers sort of dumbly, then grins sheepishly to himself as he strokes the pad of his thumb against the back of Scorpius's hand. He angles his phone a little to let him see it better, chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully. "Told Lily, by the way. She thought it was cute."

That's a bit shocking, but then Lily seems like the most rational of the Potters. She's always been nice to Scorpius, so it's good to have another ally either way. Still, he glances at James with both brows quirked.

"That means you're planning on telling Al soon then?" Scorpius can't hide that he's worried. Even more than Harry or Ginny's reaction, he's afraid of what Al will say. Or do.

"... yeah," he says, fingers tightening unconsciously on Scorpius's again when he does. Sure, he pesters his brother a lot, but that's part of being siblings: he loves him more than he can say, too, and he doesn't want to hurt him. "You think he's going to take it hard?"

"Yes," Scorpius says, quietly, pressing a few more things on the screen to distract himself. "I think he's going to be mad. At both of us." And of anyone in the family likely to care if James was gay, it would be Al, who also focused a lot on living up to his parents' legacy and the legacy of his namesakes. "But I also think he'll get over it when he realises we're not just messing around."

"You think he'll recognize that?" James asks, sort of just twisting his phone so that it was as convenient as possible for Scorpius to play with it. His voice is quiet, fingers still drumming against the back of his hand - a continued and silent attempt to soothe him, to reassure him. It's clear that being out to his father, at least, has bolstered his confidence in this quite a lot.

It's good for James, sure, but Scorpius is not quite out to his own family, and he has a bad feeling if Al takes it too personally, this might get out before Scorpius is ready for it. Still, he'll be out of Hogwarts soon. And if his dad kicks him out, he's pretty sure James would let him crash.

"I hope so."

That much doesn't occur to him. Might, later, when he remembers that Scorpius is spending the rest of his vacation at home with his family. Or maybe it will when Al is shooting him dirty looks across the table. But for now, he's just content to half smile -- and he knows it's dangerous, especially with the door open, but that doesn't stop him from leaning in to hastily - and chastely - peck the other boy on the mouth.

"We'll go flying later."

It is, of course, at the moment that directly follows the kiss, that Al walks in, t-shirt and pajama pants on and hair dripping wet. There's so much of it, it's just easier to let it air dry. Although he can't wait to be able to use magic to dry it outside of school.

"What's with you two?" he asks dryly, because his entrance seems to startle both of them, and since when did Scorpius know how to play Muggle phone games?

"What?" James shoots back, and it's clear that he's a little flustered. He releases Scorpius's hand, but makes no movement to actually move away from him. Maybe it'll be easier to swallow if Al sees them just being friendly first. "Scorpius and I are just hanging out."

"Well, I walk in, and you two jump out of your skin, that's all," Al says, laughing a little.

"James was just showing me this weird thing." Scorpius gesture to the phone and the game he's currently losing. Badly. "We were--"

"Talking about a secret birthday surprise for me, I hope."

"Getting a little old for birthday parties, aren't you?" James shoots back, shrugging one shoulder, but there's no bite or bitterness in it. He rolls his shoulders back, comfortable - or at least trying to project that sort of air. "Mind if I hang out with you guys tonight?"

"Didn't say it had to be a party." Al shrugs, glancing to Scorpius as if to see if having James there would cramp their style. The Potters are a close family; they really don't have many secrets, and Al has always - secretly, maybe - idolized his brother. Hanging out with him was always something Al would (reluctantly for show) agree to.

"Fine with me," Scorpius says, trying not to sound overly enthusiastic. Normal. Cool. Even.

"All right then." Al moved further in, still toweling off his hair as he plopped down on the bed in front of them. No use trying to sneak hand holding in now.

"Thanks," James says neutrally, casting a sideways glance Scorpius's way - it's meant to be a hidden, quick little thing, but James has never been great at hiding things. The fleeting look on his face is almost shy, like a schoolkid stealing a glance at his crush in class, before he abruptly looks back to Al. "So I thought maybe we should find a way out of board games tonight."

"There's a way out of board games??" Scorpius scoffed. "Yes. Please. Take us there."

With a laugh, Al rolled his eyes. He didn't seem to be particularly focused on either of them, so the look went unnoticed. At least, for now. "Skipping board games, James? You'll break Da's heart." Still, he fixed James with a look, one brow quirked. "Not that I'm opposed."

"Well, I wouldn't want us to break da's heart," James says with a little smirk, flashing his eyebrows up as he sort of slides his phone back. He messes with it, though, tapping through some text messages (and idly thinking that he should probably set a password on it before Al or someone else decides to be nosy). "Maybe we can bargain with him."

"You think?" Al looks intrigued as he watches James fiddle with his phone. It's only really then he notices how close James and Scorpius are laying. Not that it's really a weird thing, but... James sort of keeps his distance on his best days. Maybe Scorpius cornered him there? Either way. A little bizarre. "I'd offer my services as cook, but I'd be worse than Mum."

"Maybe they'd like to be alone for a little while," Scorpius offers.

Al makes a face. "Gross, Scor."

"Yeah, Scor, gross," James says, wrinkling his nose like Al's and nudging the Slytherin boy with his shoulder. "Not like mum and da aren't together by themselves all the time when we're not home or anything." He pauses, though, the mocking expression giving way to something more thoughtful. "I can cook alright. If I'm not doing it the muggle way, I mean, I'm rubbish at muggle cooking. I can do that and you two can clean up and maybe we could beg off board games with that?"

There. There it is again. Al can't help scrunching his face up a little. Since when did James rub shoulders with Scorpius? Last Al remembered, he nearly drowned his friend in the lake.

"Erm, sure," he says, a little distractedly. "I guess so."

"Where'll we go instead?" Scorpius asks, glancing to James and holding his gaze. It really was maddening to keep his hands to himself when they were so close to one another.

"Dunno," he answers, quirking a quick little grin at Scorpius before looking away. He rolls onto his back, then, putting a little more distance between himself and the other boy, head lolling slightly off of the bed. "I could take you guys out for a muggle movie or something. Big one in theaters. They're brilliant, really."

"Brilliant!" Scorpius says. Maybe he's a little too enthused about sitting in a dark theater with James (and Al), because Al shoots him a withered look.

"Since when do you like Miuggle cinema?"

"I...don't," Scorpius admitted. "But if word gets back to my father, he'll be so mad."

Al considered his excuse and then a slow grin spread over his face. "Right. In that case, I'll go ask Mum and Da." He slipped off the bed in a rush to go talk them into it.

"You're going to have to let him sit between you two, you realize," Lily drawls as she leans into the doorway, and James jumps a little bit. He'd always fancied himself a sneak, good with picking up on gossip, but his little sister put him to shame. She was small, quick, and most dangerously to him: clever. It was a good thing she loved him so much. "Or he's going to figure out something's up. Hi, Scorpius, it's nice to see you."

James makes a little whining sound, rubbing the tip of his nose with his palm. "We can figure something out."

Scorpius sits up, slowly. He was about to lean over and steal a kiss when Lily interrupted. Glancing to her, he smiled and gave her a slow wave. "Hello, Lily." He glanced at James, frowning a little. He didn't want to be in a dark movie theater with Al. Maybe he had, once upon a time, but certainly not now that he was dating his brother.

"What if we wait until the last minute so there's a crowd and I just squeeze in next to you by 'accident'?"

"It's a Tuesday night, there's not going to be a crowd at the cinema no matter when you go," Lily points out, but she doesn't seem to take any pleasure in it. In fact, her tone if sympathetic if it's anything at all.

James sighs, noting the way that Scorpius is sitting up next to him. He cuts his eyes over to his sister, before glancing back up at the blond boy, reaching up to gently grab his collar to tug him down for a very quick kiss. His face is red - it's the first time he's ever done that in front of someone - but it's vaguely stubborn, too. "It'll be fun to get out of the house, right?"

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sorry this took forever. Liiiiife.

never apologize for that.. :U i feel you, i was gone all weekend

<3

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i think i'll make a lily :T

yesssss~ collect 'em like pokemon

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