What have You Done?

Chapter Six:

Scorpius walked the grounds with his father, his back twinging in discomfort as he held his wings safely hidden from the prying eyes of his fellow students. He was the talk of the school after the fiasco his inheritance had become, he had no desire to release his wings and give the gossip mongers one more thing to discuss about him.

The air was brisk, exceptionally fresh and calmed his mind, until he finally felt like himself. His thoughts were erratic, pained. It felt almost as though he were split down the middle, one part rejoicing that he had finally been set free, happy to simply exist, whilst the more human half of him verged more towards panic. How in Merlin's name was he meant to be accepted by society now?

He knew little on Veela, only what he had read in books and all had said that they were solitary creatures, leaving alone with their mates or in small packs, away from humans. He couldn't do that, could he? Peel away from society without looking back, throw himself on the mercy of some wandering band of veela.

Would he even be accepted by them? He was male, by all accounts he shouldn't exist. He'd never heard of a male Veela, it was a species Scorpius had assumed were exclusively female. Obviously, that was not the case. His other half thrummed happily, acceptance would begin only with him.

Could he accept himself? Could he accept what he had become?

Scorpius turned eyes the colour of melted silver on his father, his once handsome features now softened to the point of intense beauty, masculine beauty. "Do you still love me, father?"

Draco startled, visibly shaken from his thoughts. When he looked down at his son, it was with a soft smile. "I will always love you, Scorpius. You are my son, regardless of what form you might take. You'll always be my son. The question is, can you love yourself?"

Scorpius shrugged a shoulder as the pair made their way back towards the large doors of Hogwarts. Dinner would no doubt start soon.

"I don't know." Scorpius answered honestly, much to the displeasure of his own mental thoughts, which hissed at his own denial. "I suppose I can, given time. It's alot to take on. What of the public? There'll be uproar when this gets out." When, not if. There would be no keeping this secret now, it was only a matter of time.

Draco frowned as he stopped at the doors, glaring at the younger students who happened to glance their way. "The public is of no concern to me, Scorpius. Even your mother will come round in time. Trust me. Astoria loves you. Your main concern, now, is not what people think, but learning control. I'll have to arrange for a private tutor with veela blood."

With that, Draco shooed Scorpius into the hall and made his own way to the staff table, taking a seat beside his wife. The pair would leave soon, much to Scorpius' dismay. He longed for the scent of his parents in a way he never had before, in a way that made him feel vulnerable and lost.

With a sigh, he sat at the Slytherin table, ignoring the glances his classmates threw in his direction. He smiled softly only when Alistair Brook grinned at him, the boy's presence somehow comforting, reliable. Though he didn't know him, he trusted Brook.

Albus and Rose entered the Great Hall late, as was their usual. The pair toppled over one another to make it to their seats in a flurry of laughter and Scorpius' eyes were drawn up to watch them against his will. Seeing his friends now, after all that had happened, would only cause him grief.

His mind keened as he watched them push each other playfully, Rose's red hair somewhat wilder than usual, and a smudge of dirt staining he cheek. His eyes, however, were drawn more to Albus and the carefree way the man chatted to those around him. When the taller boy reached out a hand to ruffle the hair of a girl beside him, Scorpius felt a snarl leave his lips.

The surrounding Slytherins froze, their eyes going to Scorpius as the blonde continued to watch the Gryffindor table, his silver eyes seeming bigger, brighter.

It was then that Albus chose to glance up, his smile bright. His eyes widened comically as his gaze locked with Scorpius' and his mouth fell open with a soft exclamation of surprise. Scorpius purred as he stared into those green eyes, his lips tugging up in a sensual smirk as he reached out with his magic.

What the blonde had not anticipated was for his classmates to suddenly surround him and all but drown him in exclamations of their achievements.

"Oh, Scorpius, did you know I've just been elected Minister of Magic?"

"Forget that, I've just been nominated for most powerful wizard alive!"

"As if! Scorpius, Scorpius! I've just invented the world's fastest broomstick, care for a ride?"

Was it not for the overwhelming panic, Scorpius would have found the sudden onslaught for his affections amusing. His Allure! He couldn't switch it off! Damn it, how did it work?

A soft keening wail left his lips of its own accord, drawing the attention of everyone in the Great hall. Draco was standing and making his way to the Slytherin table, an anxious McGonegal by his side. He wrapped a protective arm around his son and all but hauled the small boy away from his House and out of the Hall.

"What was that, Scorpius?"

The younger Malfoy felt tears well in his eyes, effectively smothering and burying the Allure even as it began to fade on its own. "I don't know! I couldn't control it! I didn't even know I was using it! I'm sorry."

Draco wiped a hand over his face wearily. "It's quite alright, Scorpius. These things are bound to happen. I'll just have to get you a teacher and..."

"Sir?"

Draco turned around, mouth twisted in a sneer at whoever would dare interrupt a Malfoy. Rose Weasley looked unperturbed as she stared up at the elder Malfoy.

"So sorry for interrupting sir, but I think I know someone who would like to help."

Draco stilled his expression, eyes wary. "Oh?" he sneered, "and who would that be, miss Weasley?"

Rose smiled at Scorpius suddenly. "My aunt Fleur, sir. She's part Veela."

###

Albus watched Rose bolt out after the two Malfoy's, his mouth slack. He wasn't fully sure what had just happened, it had happened far too swiftly to follow. One moment, he had been caught in a staring battle with Scorpius, the next, the blonde had been all but surrounding and Albus had felt something he'd never in his life felt before.

Envy.

He had all but growled at the sight of his friend disappearing behind the hordes of Slytherins, Slytherins who had done nothing to warrant his affections. The wail Scorpius had let loose had pained him in a near physical way and Albus had been winded with the need to follow the boy from the hall, to make sure he was okay, safe.

As he glanced around at the chaos Scorpius had caused Albus was certain of only one thing.

His feelings for Scorpius went beyond the boundaries of friendship.