Taming

The morning of the 23rd of August dawned bright and clear. Scorpius awoke to his fiancé dancing around the bedroom singing, “We’re getting married tomorrow! We’re getting married tomorrow!”

Scorpius clamped the pillow over his head. “Bloody hell, Albus! It’s way too early for this. It’s not too late to call this whole thing off, you know,” Scorpius said with a scowl.

“Yes it is! You’re well and truly trapped now,” Albus grinned at him. “I got my man!”

Scorpius couldn’t help but grin. “You’re a right evil genius.”

“True, true. So are you getting up, or what? We have a lot to do before the rehearsal dinner. You have to help.”

“Get the girls to help you,” Scorpius grumbled.

“I did. They’re already here. They’re with your mother.”

“Well, Merlin help them, then, because she’s worse than you these days.”

“She is not! She’s perfect!” Scorpius shook his head. It never failed to amaze him how much Albus loved Astoria. Albus clearly wanted to be her when he grew up.

“You love my mother more than me,” Scorpius mock-pouted.

“Never! I love you more than food and water and air,” Albus rhapsodized as he resumed his dancing.

“Cut it out, you big queen.” Albus flipped him off. “Go rescue the girls from your darling mummy’s clutches and let me get up when I’m ready.”

“O-kay,” Albus sing-songed warningly.

Scorpius had just rolled over to try to go back to sleep when something heavy landed on him, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

“Alby sent me to wake you up! By the way, are you naked under there? If you don’t get up, I’m going to get under there and find out!”

“Good morning, Lily,” Scorpius groaned. “Your brother doesn’t play fair, does he?”

“Never has.”

***********************

The rehearsal dinner was supposed to be, according to Albus and Astoria’s careful planning, an elegant affair. However, everyone was in high spirits and the mood was more giddy than elegant. Percy and Audrey had begged off coming to the dinner, since Lucy was rather cranky after the actual wedding rehearsal and had a big day the next day. Even so, the Malfoys’ large dining table had still required an engorgement charm to fit everyone.

The food was mostly finished and Draco was sitting at the head of the table, laughing at a story that Ron, Harry, and Teddy were telling him about one of their latest missions that had gotten horribly bungled.

At the other end of the table, Albus and Astoria were holding court, discussing something or another about the cake with Ginny, Hermione, Lily, and Victoire. Scorpius noticed with a private smile that Victoire suddenly seemed much more interested in wedding planning.

Hugo and James were talking about Quiddich, as always, leaving Scorpius and Rose to chat about work and the elusive Brad.
Albus and Scorpius had already handed out gifts to their attendants (peridot earrings for the women, and cufflinks for the men), but Astoria disappeared for a moment and came back with four wrapped packages.

Scorpius noticed that Albus looked confused, and Scorpius wondered what his mother was up to. She smiled at Scorpius and handed him a package, and then gave the others to Albus, Rose, and Lily. “Just a little something for the grooms and their maids of honor,” she said, still smiling.

Scorpius tore off the wrapping and opened the lid. Inside was a silver picture frame containing a picture that he’d never seen before, but recognized well. He shook his head at his mother’s gall even as his eyes welled up. The picture showed himself, Albus, Rose, and Lily all crammed into his bed here at the Manor. He and Albus were cuddled together, face-to-face, in the middle, their dark and light heads together. Lily was on Albus’s other side, sprawled out with her hair everywhere, and Rose was on Scorpius’s other side, her arm around him.

Albus jumped up and began hugging Astoria. “It’s absolutely adorable! Thanks so much, mother! I absolutely love it!”

Lily was giggling, and she stood up to hug Astoria as well. “This is the cutest thing ever!”

Scorpius and Rose looked at each other and Scorpius could see that her eyes were wet as well. Scorpius grabbed Rose and hugged her tight, whispering in her ear, “Always taking care of me, aren’t you, love?”

“Always will,” she vowed.

Belatedly, they got up to thank Astoria as well, passing the pictures around so that the parents could ‘awwww’ and sniffle.

“You’re not angry?” Scorpius’s mother whispered to him.

“Not at all. I expect nothing less from you,” Scorpius teased her.

“I’m so proud of you, darling.”

“Thanks, mother. That means a lot.”

She hugged him tightly.

*********************

Albus insisted on spending the night at his parents’ house after the rehearsal dinner. Scorpius knew it was important to Albus, although considering the fact that they’d slept together every single night up until that point, it was a little silly.
He felt rather pathetic asking, but he didn’t fancy being all by himself the night before his wedding, so he corned Rose as everyone was getting ready to leave.

“Want to have a sleepover?” he asked her.

“Is this some kind of ‘last night as a free man’ pick-up line?” she joked.

“No, it’s an ‘I’m pathetic and I miss my fiancé already and I don’t want to be alone the night before my wedding’ thing.”

She laughed at him. “It’s not pathetic; it’s cute! And of course I’ll stay.”

Albus bid Scorpius a rather tearful good-bye, and Scorpius almost thought that he was going to change his mind about leaving, but Albus still thought it would be more romantic if they didn’t see each other again until they were ready to walk down the aisle.
Scorpius had to admit that it was at least a little romantic.

He and Rose waved good-bye to everyone, said good-night to Draco and Astoria and headed up to bed.

“We haven’t slept together since the infamous break-up,” Rose commented. “Sure this doesn’t bring back bad memories?”

He cuddled close to her. “This part only brings back good memories.”

She pushed his hair back off his forehead and smiled at him. “I think so, too.”

“So, since this is my last night as a free man…”

She whacked his arm. “Honestly!”

He laughed. “I’m kidding! I’m afraid Brad would kick my arse!”

“He would, you know. He’s rather jealous of you already.”

“Oh is he? Why? What have you told him about me?”

“Just that you’re my best friend in the world. And that you’re devastatingly handsome and I have, on occasion, let you see me at least mostly naked.”

“Aha. That’d do it. Can’t say I blame the chap.”

“I also told him that you’re gay. And I know, I know. I don’t need the sexuality lecture again. Just let him have his illusions.”

“My lips are sealed. I’m certainly not going to spend the day when I’m marrying another man trying to convince anyone that I like pussy.”

“Good idea. Albus would kill you.”

“Not to mention my mother.”

“The two of them are a formidable team. I haven’t had the nerve to challenge them on anything.”

“Neither have I, and that’s sad,” Scorpius said wryly.

“Oh, you’ve just been loving this whole thing. Watching Albus get to do this.”

“Yeah, he’s been totally adorable. And often insufferable. But it’s about to be over. I thought I’d be relieved, but I think I’ll almost miss the planning.”

“It’s the anticipation,” she said wisely. “You just need something new to look forward to. Any ideas?”

“Well, I have been giving quite a lot of thought to the honeymoon.”

“Of course you have.”

“Rosie, I’m getting married, not castrated.”

She laughed. “No, I think Albus likes your bits just the way they are.”

“He certainly does. And you know it’s all thanks to you that he and I have gotten here.”

“Nope. I just gave you some advice. You did the rest.”

“But I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“No, probably not,” She agreed, smiling.

“Arrogant,” he muttered, mimicking her quite effectively.

“Shut up and kiss me goodnight, you arse. Then go to sleep. You have a lot to do tomorrow.”

As always, Scorpius took her advice.