InsaneJournal

Dec 09, Harry Potter, Teddy/Scorpius, Brotherhood
Title: Brotherhood
Author: sansa1970
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Teddy/Scorpius
Rating: PG
Words: 283
A/N: Links to previous parts: 1 ll 2 ll 3 ll 4 ll 5 ll 6 ll 7 ll 8



The moment the door slammed behind Hugo was the moment Teddy understood the term buyer's remorse. The depth of his emotional handicap was quite possibly unrivaled.

For once, Scorpius' angelic smile made things worse. "If you're going to stay, you'll have to work."

"I said I would."

In point of fact, he'd said no such thing. He'd just dripped on Teddy's floor and looked pathetic. "Then let's go."

They Apparated into the dark shop, and Teddy said nothing when Scorpius peeled the Help Wanted sign from the window. He sent him to a corner with a box of Christmas decorations and tackled the month-to-date receipts.

Scorpius gave him exactly five minutes of peace. "You still have it." He held up a red, velvet stocking – crushed, tattered, and looking like a band of drunken Kneazles had stitched it together. Which wasn't far off the mark. They'd been tipsy on butterbeer and laughter that night.

"Of course I still have it."

Scorpius fondled the material. "I remember that year. Christmas at the Potter's." His eyes grew unfocused with reminiscence. "They were so good to me. Like parents. And you lot, you were like my brothers." He fell silent, staring into space for so long that Teddy grew concerned. He cast about for something to say.

Scorpius spoke first. "I'm losing Al."

"He wasn't yours to lose," Teddy said, bitter.

"I meant, as a friend."

"I doubt that would ever happen."

Scorpius nodded, thought some more, then asked, "Do you still think of me that way?"

"What way?"

"Like a brother."

Teddy nearly laughed. The page of numbers in front of him blurred. He sat hunched over his desk, quill crushed in his fist, until he heard Scorpius begin to rifle through the box again.