In Need Of Some Good Advice

"Ah, up before noon I see.” Draco Malfoy came strolling out onto the patio, dressed for the day, a folded copy of the iDaily Prophet/i under his arm. “Special occasion?”



The only reason Scorpius was awake at this early hour was because he\'d been unable to sleep the night before. Hoping his dad would just read his newspaper and leave him alone, Scorpius grunted, “No.”



“That\'s unfortunate. Lovely weather we\'re having today.”



Not interested in being talked at about the weather or his future or anything else, Scorpius pushed his chair back, about to leave.



“I did want to talk to you about something, however.”



Sighing, Scorpius pulled his chair closer to the table.



“Only if you\'re not busy.”



“I\'m not busy.”



“Have you had breakfast yet?”



“I\'m not hungry.”



His dad was silent for a moment, only making a clucking noise with his tongue. “You look awful. Have you slept?”



“If this is what you wanted to talk about, then I change my mind - I am busy.”



“Mind your tone,” was Draco\'s mild rebuke. “Actually, I wanted your advice on a matter. I\'ve been looking to acquire another team, this one closer to home.”



Deciding that playing along was the only way to make this chat go quicker, Scorpius asked, “Which teams?”



“The Holyhead Harpies and The Chudley Cannons. Not both, only one. I just can\'t decide which.”



“Why would you want to buy the Cannons? They\'re horrible.”



“That\'s why! The challenge of it. And the glory that comes with transforming the \'Lovable Losers\' -” a sneer flitted across his face with that nickname “- into winners.”



“You know they\'re Mr. Weasley\'s favorite team?” At the questioning look in his dad\'s eyes, he clarified, “Rose\'s dad?”



“No! Are they now?” From the smile on his face, Scorpius guessed that little nugget of information was being added to the “pro” column in his dad\'s head.



“The Harpies are a better team,” Scorpius said tiredly. “Nowhere near where they were twenty years ago, but there\'s more to work with unlike the Cannons.”



“Bulstrode\'s really done great work with them these past few years. She was a damn good Beater, too.” Draco leaned back in his chair, a wistful look on his face. “Shame she never made our House team.”



“If the Harpies are a better team, with better coaching but still could use some help, then how is this a question?”



Draco gave a pleased smile. “It\'s not entirely about the challenge.”



“No,” Scorpius deadpanned.



“The owner of the Kununurra Kelpies is interested in trading Amiens and Gadshill for the Dragons\' Chaser and one or two players from the Cannons.”



“Amiens is one of the best Chasers in the game, why would he trade her?”



The quirk of Draco\'s eyebrow told more than his answer. “Personal differences.”



“Oh. Who does he want from the Cannons?”



“Their Chaser – Tressell – and their Seeker – Finnigan.”



“To play on the Kelpies?” Finnigan, all the way off in Australia. Not quite Scorpius\' dream of Finnigan being traded to Antarctica\'s newest expansion team, the South Pole Penguins, but it was close.



“I would imagine so, yes,” his dad drawled.



The idea of Finnigan being sent around the world did have a fleeting appeal. But Scorpius knew it wouldn\'t change anything. They weren\'t Muggles, and Australia would be less than an hour away by Apparation. If anything, the chance to travel could drive Rose further into Finnigan\'s arms.



Besides, Scorpius already knew where he stood with Rose.



“It doesn\'t make any sense for a long-term investment,” Scorpius muttered. “You\'d have to sell the team again, which won\'t be easy judging from the way Woodville\'s been trying to get rid of them. Or you\'d have to work at making them a better team, which brings us back to the Harpies.”



“I suppose you\'re right,” his dad sighed. Quickly abandoning his pet project, Draco asked, “So, what are your plans now that you\'re done with Hogwarts? Can your mother and I look forward to a few more months of you moping around the house?”



Scorpius scowled. “Why do you care?” His frown only deepened as he heard how childish he sounded.



“Other than the fact that you\'re my only child and every time I see you, you\'re miserable about something? I can\'t imagine. You\'ve been home just two days and already you\'re wandering the halls like a ghost and keeping odd hours.” He dropped the chiding tone, now serious. “I\'m worried about you.”



Slouching into his seat, Scorpius mumbled, “It\'s nothing.”



“Yes, that\'s what you said at Easter and Christmas and las--”



“It\'s Rose and you know it.” Before his dad could argue, Scorpius swiftly added, “I\'m sure you\'ve figured out by now that I\'m in love with her, and if you hadn\'t Mum would have told you. But don\'t worry, I won\'t be \'sullying the bloodline\' any time soon.”



“And why is that?”



“She\'s getting engaged to her dim-witted ape of a boyfriend.”



“Again proving true the old adage that girls marry their fathers,” Draco quipped.



“Don\'t start with that.”



“Fair enough. So what do you intend to do now? Your mother said you were interested in an apprenticeship with Hogwarts. Have you spoken to Longbottom?”



“I did. He already offered the position to someone else but said he\'d need help next Spring, and that the job was mine if I wanted.”



His dad only nodded in response and Scorpius assumed he was looking for the perfect pithy put-down about his intended career, his favorite teacher, the Weasleys, or - if he was feeling particularly ambitious – all three.



It never came. Instead, Draco began, “You know, Scorpius, your mother and I are leaving soon for Tahiti--”



“I don\'t want to tag-along on your trip.”



“Good, because I wasn\'t inviting you to join us. Stop interrupting me.” When he was certain Scorpius wasn\'t going to interject, Draco carried on, “Perhaps a holiday of your own would be a good idea. Perfect time for the Grand Tour.”



“Maybe.” Logically, Scorpius knew his dad was right, he just couldn\'t muster the enthusiasm.



“You need to forget about her,” Draco said firmly. Raising his hand to stall any objections from his son, he amended, “If only for a few months. There\'s a whole world beyond this house, plenty to see and do that doesn\'t involve mooning over the Weasley girl.”



Problem was, there was little Scorpius wanted to do other than sulk and brood. His dad was right, however. He couldn\'t spend the rest of his life mourning what could have been. The little bit of his pride that hadn\'t been crushed the other night wouldn\'t stand for it, and he doubted that\'s how Rose would be spending her summer.



“I\'ll go."



_____________________________________________________________________________



Prague was his first stop. Something he didn\'t tell his parents about, as it was a last minute change. Scorpius wasn\'t sure what he thought he\'d do or how he could help. He probably knew only a little bit more about the Dark Arts than Finnigan and he wasn\'t qualified to work as a Healer, having dropped Potions after his fifth year. (How he hated to admit his dad had been right when he said he\'d regret that one day.)



Rumor had it that most or all of Koschei\'s group had been neutralized and with a few rogue followers and a strong propaganda machine left. Some said foreign wizards had been involved in taking down the regime; the name “Potter” came up frequently. Scorpius wasn\'t sure which one they meant and the answers varied from person to person. After a week spent there feeling useless and under-foot, he left.



His next stop was Paris, to spend time with his cousins Priam and Nestor. Despite being just a year younger than them, Scorpius had never really known them that well. The ensuing weeks spent at their penthouse suite in the most exclusive building in wizarding Paris changed that. Apparently, they had decided the best way to cope with their parents\' divorce and the scandal surrounding their father\'s affair was by throwing parties. Many, many, parties where both the liquor and the women were free-flowing. When not having parties they divided their time between bars, clubs, and other people\'s parties. It was fun and novel at the beginning but eventually Scorpius remembered why he never spent much time with them.



So he left for Italy, to Turin and Milan where he spent time wandering through the cathedrals and ruins. Then to Padua and Verona, where he visited the Casa di Giulietta, which was the most overrated stop on his tour. The little bits of graffiti and love notes stuck to the house walls with chewing gum were more interesting than the house itself, which bore no real connection to Shakespeare\'s heroine. Still, there was the location, the balcony, and the bronze statue of Juliet, grimy and dirty save for her right breast that had gleamed in the mid-afternoon sun, rubbed to a shiny gloss by tourists hoping to be lucky in love.



(Scorpius wasn\'t one of them.)



Now, he was in Venice, where he\'d been for the past week. The city was beautiful, like all of Italy. The more time he spent here, the more time he wanted to spend here. Aside from his family, there wasn\'t much tying him to England. Yet there was always that little hope that he\'d see Rose, hear from her, something. The other day he\'d caught glimpse of someone who looked just like her outside a gelato shop. It was only from the side, and maybe for a second before she disappeared into the crowd, but it had hung over him ever since.



Al had written, once, when Scorpius was in France. The letter made no mention of Rose but it was possible he didn\'t have that much to say about his cousin. After finishing Hogwarts, Al had gone straight to Prague where\'d been spending the past several weeks as a Healer/Mediwizard. Since they still didn\'t have enough medical help, Al was kept constantly busy, which was a blessing in disguise since he barely had time to sleep and eat, let alone worry about performing perfectly all the time. Al had mentioned not writing back, since few owls were allowed into Prague at the moment due to security concerns.



Closing his eyes, Scorpius settled back into the couch, wondering what he should do with his day. His parents and grandparents had all suggested people he could visit or stay with, not that he had really listened to this. After his stay with his cousins, Scorpius decided he would stick to inns and hotels for the rest of his tour. He rather liked the novelty of feeling anonymous.



A tapping on the window pulled him out his reverie and he turned to see his dad\'s eagle owl waiting on the ledge. After letting Ladon in, Scorpius threw him a few treats and took the letter he held in his claws. A newspaper clipping slipped out and fell to the floor when he ripped it open.



His heart jumped into his throat as he noticed the familiar bells and doves of the engagement and wedding announcements section. Not believing his dad would be so cruel, Scorpius picked up the slip of paper.



And was soon very confused.



Mr and Mrs Polixenes Puckle



Are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter



Miss Perdita Puckle



To



Mr Thuban Spinks.



He hadn\'t the foggiest who these people were or why his dad would send this. Flipping the paper over, Scorpius found he\'d been looking at the wrong side.



On that side was a picture of his mum and Mrs. Weasley, talking before turning to smile for the camera. The headline below them read: How Two Witches Saved A City.



Scanning the article, it detailed how a joint project between their departments helped convince the Minister for Magic to send a specialized team of Hit Wizards and Unspeakables to Prague to stop Koschei. Morevoer, through the Ministry and their own personal contacts, the pair had also convinced Germany and France to send teams as part of a multi-national effort.



Thinking back to the conversation they\'d had months ago, Scorpius smiled. His mum had been right, but then, so had he.



The note along with the letter was short, advising Scorpius to write his mum and congratulate her and that there would be a dinner for her this Saturday.



Intending to write back immediately, he pulled some parchment from the table and grabbed a quill only to remember he had no ink. He had meant to buy some while out last night and had forgotten. It had also been a few hours since breakfast and he was feeling hungry again. Thinking there was no time like the present, Scorpius grabbed his money and his wand and headed out the door.



And promptly bumped into Rose.



“Sorry,” she mumbled automatically around the plastic spoon in her mouth. That was until she saw who it was she\'d bumped into and her expression darkened. Taking the spoon out of her mouth and putting it into her half-empty cup of gelato, Rose straightened. “Long time no see. Is this where you\'ve been hiding for the past few months?”



“Not that it\'s any of your business,” he drawled, “but no, I\'ve only been in Italy for a few weeks.”



“Not any of my business? It\'s not like we\'ve been friends for several years!”



“I think you proved exactly how much my friendship meant to you the last time we spoke.”



Rose looked thunderous. “You\'re the one who skipped town just because you couldn\'t get into my pants.”



He felt as if he\'d been struck. “If that\'s what you really think of me, then we clearly never knew each other that well--”



“What am I supposed to think? You say you love me and then when I don\'t immediately jump into your arms, you leave without another word!” Her voice grew louder and louder with each syllable till she was nearly yelling. Certain someone would overhear them, Scorpius looked around nervously.



“Oh, I forgot! Someone doesn\'t like to make public scenes - unless, of course, those scenes involve kissing someone and declaring their love for them in front of the whole school!” Rose said sarcastically



“Is it possible,” Scorpius hissed, “for you not to bellow so everyone can hear you? Or are you just that starved for attention? Isn\'t being one of the princesses of the wizarding world and having a Quidditch-star boyfriend enough for you?”



“You\'re right,” she said in a dangerously low tone. Brushing past him, she pushed his door open. “Let\'s talk.”



He had half a mind to just leave and run his errands as planned. But he knew Rose, and he knew she\'d wait days if she had to. Slamming the door behind him, he followed her inside.



Hands on her hips, Rose glared at him. “So why did you leave without saying anything?”



“Why do you think you\'re owed a response? As we\'ve made it abundantly clear, I am not your boyfriend no matter how much you flirt with me, and I don\'t have to check in with you.”



“So because I\'m not your girlfriend, I\'m not anything to you anymore? Were you planning on never talking to me--”



“I needed to get away from you!” he shouted. Rose stilled. In a lower but no kinder tone, Scorpius added, “And apparently going to a different country wasn\'t far enough.”



For one horrible moment she looked like she was going to cry. He felt awful. Irrationally, he wanted to both apologize and accuse her of trying to manipulate him. That bitter, angry side of him won. “Yes, you\'re going to have to find a new back-up eunuch to stay at heel and shower you with attention while Finnigan\'s away.”



“I never asked you for any of that!” Rose snarled.



“You didn\'t object, either.”



“You are the most self-centered, arrogant prat I\'ve ever known! Do you really think everything is about you? Is the whole world just one big stage for the ongoing drama in your head?” She pointed her index finger at her temple and twirled it. “And before you mention him again, you should know that Duncan and I are no longer seeing each other.”



The elation he felt at this was brief. His ego was still wounded. “I\'m sorry to hear that. Now who will satisfy your exhibitionist desires to snog in public places?”



“You\'re a fine one to talk,” she scoffed, “the way you and Bianca carried on! Corny told everyone about your little rendevous in the Room of Requirement. Pink ruffles? Was that her choice of décor or yours?”



Rolling his eyes, Scorpius clutched his chest in mock-pain. “Stop, you\'re hurting me.”



“You always were a giant ponce.” Rose sniffed, crossing her arms. “I\'m not the only one who thought so - or maybe you\'ve forgotten your first four years at Hogwarts? Makes your desperate need to be seen with Montague\'s hands down your trousers a little more suspicious.”



Rose laughed at his indignant huff. Furious now, Scorpius closed the gap between them. Rose, just as he hoped, refused to budge. “Why, I didn\'t know you\'d been paying so much attention. Did you like the show?” he asked softly, his smile turning to a sneer. “Something to tide you over on those long lonely nights?”



For a split second he was certain she was going to slap him. He\'d likely deserve it. Rose restrained herself however, merely whispering, “Don\'t flatter yourself.”



Being this close to her again, Scorpius felt more alive than he had in weeks, yet utterly defeated. She drove him crazy, making him feel and think a thousand things at once.



Stepping back, he looked around the room, mouth twisting into a grimace. “You know why I left, so why are you still here?”



Rose shook her head, glancing at the door like she might just walk out. “I don\'t know. I really don\'t know.” Then she came closer, watching him avidly. “Amortentia. What did it smell like for you? Sweets and grass and...”



Did she enjoy this? Did she get a kick out of him admitting his feelings again and again so she could shoot him down? “You know what it was.”



She nodded, eyes not leaving his. “Mine was bacon, ink, and you. The smell of earth and woods, that was you. Like the last time I saw you in the greenhouse.”



“What?” He couldn\'t help but wonder if she was joking, even though he knew Rose wouldn\'t. Not about this.



Searching his face, she didn\'t say anything. She just rested one hand on his chest and, leaning in close, kissed him. The first was a peck, the second was her lips nudging his apart while he wrapped his arms around and her the third was his tongue sliding against hers as her hand fisted in his shirt.



Placing feather-light kisses along his jaw, Rose whispered, “If you had only written, we could have been doing this weeks ago.”



“Nag.” Scorpius captured her lips again, pulling her tight against him. This kiss was hungrier than the others and soon he found they were pulling at each other\'s clothes. He felt clumsy and awkward, having only done this a few times before and having been completely pissed each time. Some part of his mind was still in shock that this was actually happening, waiting for a dead headmaster to pop out of the woodwork and yell, “Surprise!”



A thrill went through him as her body pressed tightly against his own, his erection brushing against her stomach. Scorpius\' hands slipped underneath the tank top she wore and he marveled at the softness of her skin. His own shirt was completely unbuttoned now, Rose\'s hands sliding down the bare skin to rest at his belt. He hoped they\'d go lower still but instead she pulled away with a frustrated look on her face. “This is awkward.”



Feeling like someone dumped a cold glass of water over him, Scorpius\' hands stilled just below the clasp of her bra.



“Not this, this,” she said quickly, eyes widening. “Standing in the middle of the room.”



“Couch?” he suggested. The bed might have been more practical, but right now it seemed miles away.



“That works.”



Rose nudged him in that direction and he walked backwards, instinctively knowing where it would be. Once or twice, she stepped on his feet and whispered her apologies against his neck in between bites. Then the back of his knee hit the couch and he fell back, Rose laughing as he did. The couch was a shabby old brown thing that was meant to add “rustic charm” to the room. That really meant it was older than him and the cushions sagged. An annoying detail he forgot as soon as Rose straddled him, her skirt hiking up to her hips. She pulled her tank over his head and he slid out of his shirt.



Leaning over him, eyes dark with desire, lips full, and long auburn hair falling over her shoulders, Rose looked more beautiful than he\'d ever remembered. Scorpius felt a tug at his heart and, reaching up to stroke her cheek, he intended to tell her just what she meant to him.



That was until she smirked at him, cheeks turning pink and said, “You\'re not going to tell me how beautiful I am or something equally soppy, are you?”



He snorted. “Not anymore.”



“Good,” she said, settling on top of him as they kissed. Try as he might (which lasted all of seconds) Scorpius couldn\'t resist thrusting against her. From the way her fingers threaded in her hair and she sighed in his ear, he didn\'t think she minded.



Leaving a trail of open-mouth kisses down the curve of her neck to the hollow of her throat, his hands slid up the naked skin of her torso, stopping just beneath her breasts. His right thumb flicked against her hardened nipple, eliciting a whimper. His attention moved to her other breast and he dipped his head down, mouthing over the peak, leaving a wet spot on the fabric. Rose moaned, bucking against him as much as the couch cushions would allow. Knowing he wouldn\'t last much longer if she continued, he grabbed her hips to still her. “I\'m too close.”



Rose nodded, kissing him quickly before she pulled away, standing in front of him. He was left colder for the loss of contact and confused by her actions. That was until he saw her hands disappear beyond her back and watch her shimmy out of her bra, her perfect, pert breasts bouncing as she did. Transfixed by her dusty pink nipples, he licked his lips. Rose then pushed down her skirt, knickers with it, leaving herself nude. His eyes wandered down the smooth plane of her stomach to indent of her waist, to her belly button, then to the copper curls below and those long legs that didn\'t seem to end. Sad as it was, Scorpius was rather proud of himself for not coming right then and there.



“This tends to work better if you\'re naked too,” she teased, hands on her hips.



“Right!” Lifting his arse off the couch, he pushed down his trousers and pants, kicking them off along with his socks and shoes. For one panicky second it looked like one of his shoes was stuck in his trouser leg, but he managed to free it without much fuss. He already felt self-conscious enough as it was with his cock bobbing against his stomach.



As soon as he was naked, Rose returned to the couch, straddling his legs but not yet leaning on him. Biting her lower lip, she reached for him, a loose fist sliding over his cock in one gentle, dry stroke. Scorpius fought the urge to thrust into her hand, trying not to imagine how her mouth would look around him.



Grabbing her wrist, Scorpius pulled her in for a kiss. He broke it off abruptly, gasping, “Potion?”



“What?”



“Are you on the Potion?” He could summon his wand for a Contraceptive Charm, if need be, but it just seemed like too much work.



“Yes, yes. You really think we would have got this far if I weren\'t?”



He gave a relieved smile. “Just checking.”



Looking ready to shoot off another cheeky remark, whatever Rose was going to say next was swallowed up by a low moan. His fingers had brushed up the silky skin of her inner thighs, slipping into the wet curls between. Scorpius\' free hand was pressed to the small of her back to steady Rose, allowing him to suck first on one breast and then the other.



(For that crazy moment, Scorpius wished he had more hands. Two just weren\'t sufficient for everything he wanted to do.)



He earned a keening cry when he gently pulled one nipple with his teeth. Before he could repeat it, Rose pushed him back against the couch. Settling against him, her thighs spread further apart, Scorpius\' hands flew to her hips to steady her as she sunk down onto his cock.



They stayed like that for a few seconds, his hands resting on her hips and Rose\'s arms around his neck as she held him close. The feeling of her tight, wet heat surrounding him was overwhelming. All of it was. He was eye to eye with her, Rose\'s forehead resting against his. And when she nodded, he moved against her, slowly at first. Then faster, fingers digging into her hips as he watched her hand slip between her thighs. Scorpius was briefly tempted to push her hand aside and take over for her, wanting it to be his mouth, his hands and his cock that took her over the edge. But every thrust and movement made the cushions sink deeper, the couch groaning almost as loudly as they were.



Scorpius kissed and sucked his way up from her breasts to her neck and Rose\'s free hand twined in his hair, pulling him to her in a fierce kiss. Her tongue thrust into his mouth, mimicking the movements of his body. He was so close now, hips bucking even as he tried to hold back, wanting her to come first.



She did, crying his name over and over again against his mouth, and when Scorpius felt her tighten around him, he lost control.



___________________________________________________________________________



"I think we killed the couch.”



They hadn\'t moved yet. Rose curled in his arms, their sweat still warm and the smell of sex in the air. The cushion they were on was nearly half a meter lower than the others and Scorpius knew he was going to lose a layer of skin when he finally stood up. “At least it died happy.”



Rose giggled, her breath tickling his neck. “That reminds me,” she said, pulling away to land a light punch on his arm, “nice work on getting your Quaffle in my hoop, Malfoy.”



Grinning rakishly, Scorpius replied, “Why, thank you, Weasley. Excellent broom-riding skills there.”



“I\'m going to start calling it your \'love wand\'.”



“Go ahead.” He kissed her. “I have a lot of obnoxious jokes about \'finding the Snitch\' that I\'m waiting to try out.”



Laughing, Rose leaned her head against his shoulder. Scorpius hugged her close, feeling a rush of tenderness and protectiveness stronger than any he ever had before. And because of that and because he was generally a soppy sort of person, he whispered into her hair, “I love you.”



Rose tilted her head, a wide smile on her face. “I love you too.”



FIN