5 times the bro love with Scorpius
It was OWL year. Saturday Night. It was almost curfew, but Rhys has hidden himself away, deep in the library in the hopes that he might avoid being thrown out by the librarian. If he could stay here, fit in a few naps when he was really desperate, and keep studying for that potions exam which sent cold chills into his stomach every time he remembered. There was still time before monday morning, he had to make the most of it now. But his eyes were looking wild, his hair standing up all over the place from the number of times he’d run his hands through it in mounting frustration. They’d been at this all day, and Rhys was starting to lose it. Scorpius, on the other hand, was leaning back against the window, his feet up on the desk and a book in his hands - not one that he was actually paying much attention to. Instead he was watching his friend with an amused smirk. Rhys looked like he was going to lose it any second. Which was convenient. Scorpius looked up, hearing the footsteps, and his smirk widened. Aaaany second now. 5...4...3..2...1
“Rhys John Parry pack your bag right now.” Hands on hips, eyes daring him to challenge her, blonde hair a mess, Sarah appeared. Scorpius let his chair rock down onto all four feet again. Rhys opened his mouth, utterly confused. “Nuh-uh. On your feet Mister. You weren’t at lunch or dinner,” she spoke, her voice trailing off slightly, with concern evident.
“Busted.” Scorpius grinned. Rhys stared at him in disbelief.
Rhys looked up, shaken from his sulking by the side of the door being opened. He’d been staring at his knees for hours now, still sitting in that hospital bed in his misery. Healers kept coming in, every few hours, checking on his condition, all of them offering him gentle smiles and compassionate glances that made him feel like a leper. But this visitor bore nothing but a cheeky grin, and- “I brought grapes! Of the liquefied variety...” Scorpius smiled, making his way into the chair next to Rhys’ bed. Rhys tried to manage a weak smile. After all, he was supposed to be ‘in recovery’ after all, after his ‘sudden illness.’ “Hey Scor. You know I can’t drink that right?” Scorpius waved his hand. “Oh, the wine is for me. I’m pretty much the expert on sneaking things in here by now, but I know the rules. None for patient.” Rhys gave a more genuine smile. “So what brings you here?”
Scorpius shrugged. “Heard some miserable git was depressing all the nurses, and they’re the best bit of hospital.”
3. “You’re still man’s, this man’s, best friend.”
Rhys didn’t even realise his hands were still shaking, even by the time he got home. It felt like a wave of relief crashing over him, but he was utterly exhausted. All of that panicking, all of the fears that had been gnawing at him for weeks, since he’d decided he had to tell his two oldest friends about his true condition, every scenario played through in his head where he’d imagined their rejection, their hatred, all of it had been released now. Scorpius’ words still rang in his ears. He was still his best friend. He collapsed onto the beaten-up leather sofa heavily, flicking his wand at the kettle and setting it on to boil. He smiled, dazedly. Still his best friend. He didn’t care. Of course he didn’t care.
4. Opening Night: Nott Scorpions
Rhys raised his cider to his mouth, taking another sip of the drink. He didn’t want to get drunk, as such, but you could hardly go to the opening of a bar and not have a drink in your hand. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. He chided himself for thinking it - these days that seemed like the perfect way jinx something and bring on a hail of curses and chaos, but here, now, it seemed ok. He scanned the bar again. Colin was talking to, or rather at, a group of people, who were gathered around listening to him. Scorpius was.... where was he? Ah. There. Whispering in his bar tender’s ear, clapping him on the shoulder, sliding over a glass to a patron with a wide grin on his face. He seemed to be in his element. Rhys grinned.
5. “I missed you too Scorp.”
There weren’t words for it.The moment he had his arms wrapped around his old friend again, it was as though he was lighter than air. He could feel him, solid in his arms, after so many months of worry, after looking for every clue he could possibly get his hands on, constantly running the scenarios through his mind. But here he was, in the closest thing to a miracle he could imagine. And he was smiling, hugging him back.
