Taming

Scorpius woke up before dawn on his wedding day. He tried to go back to sleep, but he couldn’t. His stomach was fluttery with nervous excitement. So he cuddled up to Rose’s warm body and thought about Albus.

He wondered if Albus had slept at all. He smiled to himself. Probably not. Albus had been in a constant state of excited near-panic for days, and it wasn’t likely to have gotten better. He sighed. He’d been telling the truth when he’d told Rose that he was almost disappointed that the planning stages of this wedding were behind him.

But he wasn’t that disappointed. He thought back to the night that he’d decided to ask Albus to marry him. What he’d wanted most out of life was what his parents had. Partnership, a home, children. And he knew that his husband-to-be felt the same. Albus had put any plans to start a career on hold because of the wedding.

Not that he’d had great aspirations. Not like Scorpius, who, even when he was in his frivolous party-boy phase, had always longed to work in magical law. Albus wasn’t cut out to be an Auror like his father. He’d always said that he wanted to get a job at the Ministry. Probably something in Muggle relations or International Magical Cooperation. Something that would allow him to work with people.

But he’d never been driven. Scorpius wondered if it was because he’d be happier at home with a child or two. Or four or five. He grinned. He and Albus hadn’t really discussed it, but then when had they had time for deep discussions?

First there had been school to get through and then Albus had thrown himself into wedding planning like some sort of society matron. Their precious free time had been reserved for spending time with their friends or shagging.

Although after they got through the wedding, they’d have plenty of time for planning their future. Together. Scorpius had been telling the truth, and hadn’t ever revised his opinion, when he’d said that the thing that he was most looking forward to was being a husband. He was excited to begin his life with Albus.

Rose stirred a bit and he nuzzled her neck affectionately. “Mmmm… Brad,” she murmured.

“Brad?” Scorpius exclaimed, affronted. “Since when have you been waking up with Brad?”

She rolled over, grinning. “I haven’t been. I knew it was you.”

“Brat.”

“I don’t need you to guard my virtue, anyway. Somehow I don’t think you’re the best person for the job.”

He laughed, unrepentant. “You may be right. By the way, I still have…” He looked at the clock. “At least eight hours left as a free man. You still have plenty of time.”

She smacked his arm. “What are you doing awake at this hour anyway?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Too excited. I’ve been awake for an hour already.”

She laughed. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re adorable?”

“Yes. Although they usually go for ‘gorgeous,’ or ‘extremely shaggable,’ or ‘a god among men’ rather than ‘adorable.’”

“I’m sticking with my first assessment,” she said primly.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that.”

“Anyway, ‘a god among men?’ Really?”

He laughed. “Admittedly, I get that most often after I’ve shagged someone.”

“Eight hours, huh? Is it too late to change my mind?”

“Yes. Whatever would Brad say?”

She laughed. “Tease.”

“Look who’s talking.”

She groaned and rolled over, turning her back on him. “I can’t wait until you’re all old and married. Much better for my health.”

He cuddled up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. “When do you think I have to start getting ready?”

She giggled. “It’s six in the morning. I’d say you have plenty of time. Why don’t you go back to sleep?”

“Can’t. Too excited.”

“Well, let me go back to sleep. Do you really want your maid of honor looking like a troll?”

“Considering that my maid of honor is the most beautiful girl in the world, I’m not worried.”

“Are you still going to love me this much when you’re married off to someone else?” she teased.

“Nope. Enjoy it while you can.”

“I do.”

“Isn’t that my line today?”

“Yes. Why don’t you rehearse it while I go back to sleep?”

“Unsupportive,” he complained, even as he gave her a squeeze. “But fine. You’re right. Wouldn’t do for you to look like a troll today.”

“Mmmm…” she murmured, already falling back to sleep. And holding onto her, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest, Scorpius was lulled back to sleep himself.

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

Scorpius and Rose finally got out of bed at nine, after Astoria had called them three times. She was in a dither already. They humored her, and went downstairs to have some breakfast. Scorpius sat, exchanging amused glances with Rose and his father as Astoria picked at her food, consulting several lists and muttering to herself.

“She was like this before our wedding as well,” Draco whispered to Scorpius and Rose.

“Aren’t I supposed to be the nervous one?” Scorpius laughed.

“Why? You men don’t even have to do anything besides stand there and look gorgeous. Weddings are so unfair to women,” Rose complained.

“Does Brad know about this progressive attitude of yours?” Scorpius teased.

“You had better not give him a hard time today!” Rose warned.

Draco smiled at her. “Give him another couple of hours. If he’s anything like I was, by the time your young man arrives, Scorpius will be so nervous and distracted that he won’t even notice who else is in the room.”

“Surely not!” Scorpius sniffed. “Malfoys don’t get nervous!” he joked.

“So you woke up at five this morning because you weren’t nervous?” Rose teased.

“I shouldn’t have told you that,” he muttered darkly.

His father laughed. “Mark my words, son. By noon, you’ll be a complete mess. But it’s worth it.” He smiled down the table at his wife as she checked something off one of her lists. “It’s very worth it.”

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

And damned if his father hadn’t been right. By noon, Rose had to snap her fingers in front of his face repeatedly when she needed his attention, and when it was time to start getting ready, she practically had to dress him, like a rag doll, since he didn’t seem to have the full cooperation of his limbs.

She teased him mercilessly about it, but he scarcely heard her.

Once she had him dressed, he helped her with her gown. Luckily she didn’t need any help beyond her zipper, since he seemed to be all thumbs. He sat on the bed numbly and watched her pile her hair up on top of her head, and somehow tame all those curls into a flattering, fluffy style with little curly tendrils.

She applied a bit of make-up and buckled on her sandals. “Well, how do I look?” she asked him.

“Beautiful,” he said absently, barely looking at her.

She waved her hand in front of his face. “Are you going to faint?” she teased.

He laughed a little. “Sorry, love.” He gave her a more critical look. “You look perfect. Brad is going to trip over his tongue.”

“Good. Now get up. It’s after one, and the guests will be arriving any time now, if they aren’t already.”

Scorpius began to well and truly panic. “You have the ring, right? You didn’t lose it?”

“Yes, I have it.”

“What if it starts raining?”

“Have you looked outside? It’s perfectly clear. Sunny and beautiful.”

“What if…”

“No! Nothing is going wrong,” she chided, tugging his arm. “We have to go find the others.”

“Not Albus! I’m not supposed to see him!”

“I know. I’ll go first and make sure he’s closeted away somewhere.”

They ran into Lily in the hallway and she squealed at the sight of them. “Oh, you both look amazing!”

“You do too, Lil!” Rose exclaimed, elbowing Scorpius.

“Oh, ah, yeah. Beautiful,” he said absently, skimming over her dress and upswept hair.

“What’s with him?” Lily asked.

“Jitters. Or he might have had a stroke. I’m not sure yet.”

Lily laughed. “Come on. We’re all waiting in the parlor. Albus is with Astoria somewhere.”

The girls dragged him down to the parlor. Teddy and Victoire stood near the fireplace, talking quietly. James and Hugo were sitting on the sofa, undoubtedly talking about Quiddich. Lucy was twirling around, making her dress spin out in a circle, while Aunt Audrey chided her not to make herself sick.

Dazed, Scorpius allowed Rose to lead him to a chair and sit him down. His stomach was fluttering worse than it ever had before. Lily flitted off to sit near James and Hugo, but when Rose looked like she was going to step away, Scorpius grabbed her arm.
“Don’t leave me, Rosie.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but she smoothed her dress neatly and perched on his knee, reaching up to brush a lock of his hair into place. “Silly. Where would I go?”

He shrugged. “What if Albus isn’t really here? What if he’s not coming?”

“Are you mad? Lily’s already said that he’s here. And I told you that nothing is going wrong today, remember?”

He nodded. “But what if…”

She clamped her palm over his mouth. “Enough! Everyone is here. Everyone is ready. I’ve looked outside and the weather is perfect. At least half of the guests are here already, and more are arriving every minute. The flowers and decorations look perfect. You look perfect. Lily and I have the rings. Everything is ready.” She lowered her hand from his mouth.

“Yes, but what if…” she put her hand back over his mouth, this time with more force.

Scorpius saw his father walk into the room, take note of Rose’s hand and burst into laughter.