"Working my way towards promotion as opposed to buying it makes me feel honest," Scorpius admitted casually. He had done enough in his life to make himself feel shame. All that bullying through high school was more than enough to make him want to do something honest for a change, even if it did make for monotonous days at the office. He didn't think he would be able to face Lily around the office, or Grayson while off work, if he tried to exert his family influence to trick his way into a promotion. "Besides," he continued, "I work in the department of Magical Law Enforcement. The place is crawling with Potters and Weasleys. I would do best not to test my luck."
His stood next to the grand piano, leaning his hip lightly against the side while he watched Melissa's fingers flit over the keys. "I won't laugh, I promise," he assured her when she insisted he would. Listening to her choice of career, his eyes lit up with surprised interest. Fashion was something Lily was also interested in, and that knowledge brought an unusual energy to his expression when hearing it from his cousin. "I think that is wonderful. Once you marry, your husband can easily overrule your father's control over your career, and should you marry right, you may be able to pursue a career in fashion after all." He even offered a small and rare smile of assurance. "Do you do sketches of designs?" he asked with genuine interest, thinking of how Lily had always carried around that sketch book at Hogwarts that he had once looked into and seen her clothing designs, among other things.