A/N: Written for Hogwarts assignment 7 - Conjuration task 2: Write about getting caught in the rain.

Word count: 2,654

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Working at the Leaky Cauldron was never how Scorpius had expected to spend his adult life. Before getting the job, he hadn't even liked visiting the pub. It was too loud and crowded, and while the food was fine, it wasn't anything he craved.

He still felt a lot of those things to be fair, but he'd also become desensitised to it over the years. That was largely thanks to the spells he'd learned, like the one that muffled the background noise and allowed him to hear customers speaking to him more clearly.

It wasn't what he'd envisioned for his life, and it wasn't perfect, but it was at least fine. That was all he could ask for after his dreams collapsed around him.

The only thing about the Leaky Cauldron that continued to haunt him was the wide clientele. Everyone and their mother came into the Leaky Cauldron from time to time. Sometimes, it was fun seeing his old Charms professor. Other times, it forced him to confront people he was entirely unprepared for.

Like Albus Potter.

Scorpius had known it was only a matter of time before Albus came in during one of his shifts. He'd already seen every other member of Albus' family on at least one occasion, and he strongly suspected that they'd passed on word to Albus that he worked there. After so long without seeing Albus, though, Scorpius had started to wonder if Albus was avoiding the Leaky Cauldron on purpose because he didn't want to see him.

The theory gave him a sense of security that put him at ease.

Until Albus walked in and proved that the sense of security had been false all along.

For a second, all Scorpius could do was stare, rooted in the spot where he'd been cleaning off a table.

Albus looked around the pub, presumably searching for a place to sit, and Scorpius ducked even though there was nothing nearby to block him from sight.

He made a beeline for the bar. It would be easy enough to make a quick excuse about slipping away to use the loo. Even if Hannah suspected he had ulterior motives, she wouldn't stop him from going. He'd just have to deal with her teasing questions later.

But it was too late. He was too far from the bar to disappear behind it before Albus spotted him.

"Scorpius?"

It stood out more than the other conversations in the pub because of Scorpius' spell. He froze, bracing himself as he turned around to face his former best friend with his best customer service smile plastered on his face.

"Hi, Albus."

Albus was staring at him like he'd sprouted horns without noticing it. His eyes went downward, taking in Scorpius' apron and the tray he was holding.

"Do you work here?"

Scorpius had done a lot of work towards getting over the shame he'd used to feel about his job, but being faced with Albus' surprise brought it all rushing back. He really had thought that Albus' family had passed on the information. Under different circumstances, he would have been happy to learn they hadn't.

He did his best to keep his voice even. "Yes."

Albus' frown deepened. "But you always wanted to work at the Ministry."

Scorpius laughed. He hated that they were having this conversation at all, let alone in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron where anyone could hear.

"It turns out that the Ministry didn't like the idea of hiring a Malfoy." He shrugged. "It's fine. I always kind of suspected that might happen."

Albus eyebrows rose. Scorpius stood there, tense. He hated that they were talking about this, but he was also intensely curious about what Albus' reaction would be. Would he chastise Scorpius for not coming to him for help using his connections? Scorpius had considered doing that once or twice, but he hadn't been able to bring himself to do it. His embarrassment over needing to stoop to that level had been too strong.

Albus looked around the pub, like it was a new place for him too. "So you got a job here instead?"

"It was the best option I had," Scorpius said with a shrug.

His hand holding the tray was getting sweaty. He turned to the bar, placing it on the side. It was tempting to run to the back and end the conversation, but Albus had been his best friend once. He couldn't run away from him like that.

And Albus had followed him, so he wasn't eager to end the conversation.

"Is this why you stopped writing to me after school?"

There was a sudden note of accusation in Albus' voice that made Scorpius bristle.

Sure, it was true that he had avoided writing back to one of Albus' letters after he'd been rejected from yet another Ministry department. He'd always planned to write him again once he finally got a job, but then that job had been the Leaky Cauldron, and he'd continued to put it off, telling himself that he'd do it "some day."

Despite that, he didn't think the blame fell squarely on him.

"You didn't write again either."

One letter had failed to get a response, and Albus had never tried again. Scorpius didn't blame him. He couldn't, considering the circumstances, but he did think it was enough to hold them both responsible in their own ways.

He expected Albus to react in anger over the accusation, but instead, he just looked hurt. Scorpius hated how the expression still had such a strong effect on him. The time and space between them had done little to quell his feelings, try as Scorpius did to ignore them.

"I've missed you," Albus said quietly.

All the pain that Scorpius had pushed away years ago came rushing back with such ferocity that it threatened to knock him over with the force of it. He responded before he could think better of it.

"I've missed you too."

Albus smiled as if it was instinctual. He looked nervous in a way he'd never been around Scorpius before, and it highlighted the distance that had grown between them in a painful way.

"Maybe we can put the lack of letters behind us?" Albus tilted his head to the side, peering at him with an eagerness that Scorpius couldn't resist even years later. "Maybe we can try to be friends again?"

"I'd like that." There'd never been any hope that he'd say something else.

They stared at each other for a moment, each in awe that they'd reconnected on such an unexpected day. Scorpius couldn't imagine what having Albus back in his life at this point meant. All he knew was that the idea of it made him queasy, and he couldn't figure out whether that was a good or a bad sign.

He shook himself out of his Albus-induced haze, glancing at the tray beside him still loaded up with dirty glasses.

"I have to get back to work," he said with sudden urgency.

He glanced over at Hannah who was fielding multiple orders at the bar. Albus followed his gaze, his expression turning sympathetic.

"Of course. I shouldn't have kept you so long."

"Don't apologise." Scorpius shook his head. "It's my job, so it's my responsibility not to get distracted."

He picked up the tray and stepped behind the bar before pausing to look back at Albus.

"It really was good to see you again."

Albus' smile threatened to split his face in half. "Yeah, you too. I'll write you. I promise."

Scorpius couldn't help but laugh. "If you do, I promise to respond this time."

He disappeared in the back, leaving Albus behind. By the time he came back to the pub, Albus was gone.

It was expected, but Scorpius couldn't ignore the pang in his chest. He could only hope that Albus had been serious about maintaining contact. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he hadn't.

---

Scorpius had been excited at the prospect of a letter. What he hadn't expected was Albus, who hadn't been seen in the Leaky Cauldron for years, to suddenly start coming a few times a week. Each time he arrived, he'd sit at the bar and talk to Scorpius while Scorpius did his best to continue working.

It slowed Socrpius' day down, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Hannah didn't even scold him, only sent him knowing looks that made his cheeks flush whenever she passed them.

"You're distracting me," Scorpius said half-heartedly one particularly busy day.

"Sorry." Albus didn't turn away though, and he kept talking about the book he'd been reading recently.

And despite Scorpius' words, he kept listening, fascinated with Albus' views on a book he'd never read.

It was incredible how easily they'd fallen back into their old dynamics. By Albus' third visit to the pub, it was like they'd never been apart at all. Scorpius found himself sleeping easier than he had in a long time, smiling into his pillow at thoughts of what he and Albus had talked about that day or how he'd see him soon.

His old feelings had roared back to life, stronger than ever. He did everything he could to dampen them down. Their friendship was still newly renewed, and he couldn't exactly do much while at work anyway.

For the moment, his feelings would stay firmly locked away in his heart.

"You know," Albus said, suddenly sounding nervous, "we could always make plans when you're not working."

Scorpius froze. He'd figured that such an invitation would come eventually, yet he was entirely unprepared for it when it did.

"That would be nice. I'm pretty busy at the moment though."

As soon as he said it, Scorpius wanted to hit himself. He wanted nothing more than to spend more time with Albus, yet his fears had gotten the better of him.

Albus' eyes grew panicked. "Of course. I understand. Maybe later." He cleared his throat. "Er, I guess I should get going. You're pretty busy today. I don't want to cause any trouble."

He gathered his things quickly, refusing to look Scorpius in the eye. Scorpius stomach sank as he watched him. In one panicked moment, he'd ruined everything. The fragile friendship they'd rebuilt was going to be ruined forever. He could sense it.

If he never saw Albus in the Leaky Cauldron again, he wouldn't be surprised.

Tutting from behind him made him turn. Hannah was standing there with her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face.

"Scorpius Malfoy, you've been happier over the past few weeks than I've ever seen you. Are you really going to do that to that boy?"

It had been years since he'd felt so thoroughly scolded. It was like he was a child again.

"I didn't mean to," he said desperately. He buried his face in his hands. "I don't know why I did that."

Hannah shook her head slowly. "Not all hope is lost. You can still fix the situation."

Holding a dirty rag, she motioned at the door to the pub that led out onto Diagon Alley. Scorpius' eyes widened. The pub was far from the busiest it got, but it wasn't completely dead inside.

"I'm working."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "You think I don't know that?" She brandished the rag again. "Go on."

He didn't need to be told twice. With his heart racing in his chest, he headed straight for the door, not thinking about the apron that was still tied around his waist.

When he opened the door, he was momentarily thrown off by how dim it was outside. It was the middle of the afternoon, but the clouds were thick above him, darkening the sky. He hadn't paid attention to the day's weather forecast.

Diagon Alley wasn't particularly crowded, and Scorpius hurried down the street, eyes scanning everyone he passed. It didn't take long for him to spot Albus in the distance. He was walking with his head hanging low.

"Albus!"

He attracted the attention of more than just Albus with his shouting, but he ignored the onlookers. Albus' shoulders stiffened, and he turned to face Scorpius just as Scorpius came to a stop in front of him. Albus stared at him, a stunned expression on his face.

The skies chose that moment to open up, but Scorpius ignored the falling rain. He'd already taken too big of a leap to back down.

"I'm sorry," Scorpius said.

Albus' eyes widened. "What are you apologising for? If you don't want to spend time together—"

"But I do want to spend time together!"

He stepped closer. The rain had begun to weigh Albus' hair down, making it stick to his forehead.

"I got scared," he admitted, his voice breaking.

"Scared of what?"

He held Albus' gaze. There was something in the way Albus was looking at him that gave him hope, which in turn made him braver. He stepped even closer and reached out for Albus' hand. Albus didn't pull away.

"Scared that you'd learn how I really feel about you and then reject me."

The rain began to fall harder, but they hardly noticed.

Albus swallowed, his throat visibly bobbing. "And how do you feel about me?"

"I like you." Scorpius said the words carefully and deliberately. "As more than a friend. I have for a long time, which makes the way I pulled away from you all those years ago even shittier. I was so grateful when you wanted to be friends again, and I don't want to ruin that if you don't feel the same way."

Albus laughed, his entire face brightening. He could almost counteract the dark skies above them. "Scorpius, I've liked you for a long time. When you didn't respond to my letter, it crushed me."

"I'm so sorry."

Albus shook his head, squeezing Scorpius' hand. "No. We already moved past that. I don't want to talk about it anymore." He laughed again, tilting his head up to the sky and letting the rain hit his face.

Scorpius stared, the sight of it mesmerising. When Albus looked back down at him, he flushed, but Albus' smile morphed into a smirk. He stepped impossibly closer. Scorpius' breath quickened. For years, he'd dreamed of his moment. Time slowed as their faces moved closer together.

Finally, finally, their lips interlocked. Scorpius grasped at Albus' robes, holding him tight against his body. Albus' hands found his waist and dug in. Scorpius shivered, and he couldn't tell if it was chill from the rain or Albus' closeness.

By the time they pulled apart, their robes were thoroughly soaked. Scorpius gave a nervous laugh as he looked around them.

"I guess we should be thankful for the rain." He gestured at the street, which was far emptier than it had been when he'd first emerged from the Leaky Cauldron. "Fewer people around to gossip to the Prophet.

Albus shook his head, a fond smile on his lips. He reached a hand up and traced Scorpius cheek with his finger. "Let them publish it in the paper. I don't care."

Scorpius' breath caught in his throat. He'd never heard Albus take that stance. Ever. He'd always been incredibly prickly about his name appearing in the papers, even for inconsequential things.

"I don't care either if you don't," Scorpius said softly.

"Does this mean you want to make plans now?" Albus asked.

Scorpius laughed. "Yes, I would very much like to make plans with you, Albus."

"Good." He tilted his head up, taking in the clouds. There was no hint that the rain would slow down anytime soon. "But I think we'd better do so inside before we get sick."

As if on cue, shivers travelled down Scorpius' spine. His hands were turning numb as the rain chilled them.

The two of them linked arms as they turned back to the Leaky Cauldron.