๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ (๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ญ) : ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฒ ๐ฑ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ
๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต: chaotic, clumsy slytherin muggle, meets scorpius, who helps them? i think it'd be so cute โบ๏ธโบ๏ธ hope you are well!
๐ข/๐ฏ: ok hear me out โฆ scorpius coffee shop auย
๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ต: when you spill the coffee order all over the attractive customer, you expect him to scream at you.ย what youโre not expecting is for him to profusely apologize.ย he even asks if youโre alright.ย um, what?
โDouble-shot espresso,โ you call, raising an eyebrow at the name written on the receipt, โfor Scorpius?โ
Itโs a strange name, thatโs for sure.ย Youโve seen your share of strange names, even though you go through the entire ordeal of trying to repress the last five years of your life.ย You shake your head, trying to clear things out of your mind.ย Itโs near closing hours, and thereโs only a few more minutes until youโll get to leave.ย Yet to your dismay, there are still people inside the coffee shop: students loitering around the dim lamplight and listening to music through tangled headphones, couples quietly holding their loverโs hand, little kids opening and closing the door to hear the whoosh of wind and soft bell clink.ย
You let your eyes roam around the coffee shop, trying to guess who this ever elusive Scorpius is.ย Maybe it's the older man leaning on his cane, doing his best to regard the different porcelain mugs despite failing eyesight.ย It would make sense, considering this Scorpius hasnโt come to get his coffee yet.ย Or maybe, even, the little kid yawning and tugging at his momโs sleeve.ย Little kids get all sorts of strange names these days, because apparently the more unique the better.ย
But before you can contemplate any longer, thereโs a screech of metal to your right, and you watch in amusement as an older boy your age comes running up to the counter, hopping on one foot in an attempt to regain the balance lost from his rush.ย Thereโs another loud clatter as his chair leg regains its balance against the floor.ย โHere, here, hi Scorpius --โ he frowns, out of breath.ย โWait โฆ youโre not โฆ Iโm Scorpius.โย His cheeks flood pink, and he runs a hand through his disheveled hair.ย His eyes sheepishly meet yours.ย โSorry, I promise I havenโt done that in years.ย Todayโs just been a mess.โ
Well.ย You never thought this Scorpius would be cute.
But you end up laughing softly at him, shaking your head in amusement.ย โI gathered.ย Youโre drinking a double-shot espresso at closing hours, and I think itโs safe to say Iโm just a little concerned.โ
โPssh,โ Scorpius says, shrugging bashfully.ย โI just needed a jump after the apparating.ย Iโm exhausted.โย
You let out a screech.ย Is he insane?ย Your hands drop forward, and you watch in horror as the recycled paper cup youโre holding teeters forward and sloshes all over Scorpius and his nice coat.ย The cup rolls against the floor, and you freeze, terrified.ย Shit.
โOh my god.ย Oh my god I--โ
โAgh,โ Scorpius yelps, stepping backward to mournfully look at the coffee staining his wool sweater.ย Then he bites back a hiss as he wrings out his hand, his bottom lip clenched in-between his teeth.ย โOuch.โ
Youโre suddenly all too aware of the other customers watching you with blank, unimpressed stares, some even going to the extent of ignoring you completely due to second-hand embarrassment.ย The little kid with his mom finally manages to convince her to walk out the door, and the little bells jangle twice as they exit.ย
You turn your attention back to Scorpius.ย โIโm so, so sorry --โ
Scorpiusโs eyes quickly dart back to yours, and you wince, expecting him to yell.ย Or at least hit you with a disgusted gaze and demand a refund.ย But instead, he panics?ย He steps forward again, clearly forgetting about the mess on the floor and the coffee sloshing against his shoes, and he reaches a tentative hand out toward you.ย โAre you alright?ย Iโm so sorry!ย I didnโt mean to make a mess, can I, can I help?ย Fix it, I mean.โ
Youโre speechless, all your words disappearing.ย All you can do is stare in stupored awe, wide-eyed and speechless at the boy who stands across from you.ย Here he is, this strange, strange boy, who talks about apparating out loud and apologizes to you for something that was entirely your own fault.ย
โWhat?โ Is all you can manage.ย โWh--โ
โAre you okay?โ Scorpius repeats, gently and clearly concerned.ย โIt was hot.ย I, erm, really hope you didnโt burn yourself.โ
โBut I spilled it on you?โย
Scorpius shrugs.ย โWell, mustโve been a reason, no?โ He laughs bemusedly, shrugging good-naturedly.ย โAnd besides, itโll dry out in seconds.ย Itโs no big deal.โย
โBut your sweater โฆโย
โIโll just magic it out.โย ย
Your mouth drops open.ย He didnโt seriously just say that, did he?
Scorpius stuffs his hand over his mouth, and then stammers, โI mean, the washing machine will do wonders.ย Like magic.โย He turns, grabbing a handful of napkins from the counter and immediately starts dropping them to the floor, using his foot to seep up the coffee.ย
You watch him with wide eyes.ย โIโll do it, you just sit --โ
โNo, itโs the least I can do --โ
โOh my god, Iโll get a mop.โ
You run into the back room, the double doors swinging behind you as you let your face fall into your hands.ย After taking in a few breaths, you let your eyes scan around the cabinets and extra bags of coffee grounds, and you shakily reach for the mop in the corner, nearly knocking over a box of glass supplies.ย
When you re-emerge from the back room, you watch with bewilderment as Scorpius reaches for something in his jacket pocket, freezing when he sees you.ย โOh, perfect!โย
He cheerfully takes the mop from you, all too eager to help clean up.ย
โHey, wait a minute.ย You want anything to eat?โย
Scorpiusโ eyes widen, and he sneaks a look at the pastry shelf.ย โNo, I โฆ I shouldnโt.ย Albus didnโt give me that much muggle money,โ he sneaks a look at the coins held in his hand, โhe only gave me these.ย Said it was enough for the espresso?โ
Albus?ย This Scorpius really ainโt sly.ย
But you nod, busying yourself with fixing him another espresso, this time making sure to create it as perfectly as you can and to fill it to the brim.ย As soon as you slip the lid atop the cup, you wander over to the patisserie display, reaching for the metal tongs to sneak in two iced gingerbread men and a loaf of banana bread.
He perks up, leaning against the mop and then stumbling, flushing a bright red.ย He quickly places the mop against the side of the wall, and then turns to you as he sees the drink in your hands, pleased.ย โIs that my espresso?โ
You nod, handing him the cup (carefully this time), and then the parcel of baked goods.ย โHere.ย Itโs the least I can do.ย Itโs on the house.โย
Scorpius blinks.ย He tilts his head slightly to the side, his eyes filling with awe.ย โWow,โ he whispers, his lips parting.ย Then he gingerly reaches out to take the parcel, his face lighting up as he looks inside.ย โYou gave me three?โ
You smile sheepishly.ย โYeah.โย
Scorpius attempts to slide over the coins he has, but you stop him, placing your hand over his and pushing the coins back to him.ย โItโs on the house.โ
Scorpiusโs mouth drops open.ย โBut --โ
โBut I canโt accept this.โ
โWell, youโre going to.โย You laugh, shrugging.ย โTell Albus Potter to teach you more about muggle etiquette.โ
Scorpius grins.ย And then he frowns, eyebrows scrunching up.ย โWait, what? Muggle?ย Whatโs that?ย I mean, what?ย Erm, how do you know that?โย
You laugh, lips twisting up into an easy smirk.ย โIโm a Hogwarts drop-out.ย Magic wasnโt really my thing, so I decided to come back.ย Finish up school and work here on the side.โ
โBut howโd you know --โ
You hold up a finger, โyou mentioned apparating,โ you hold up another finger, โliterally said โmuggle moneyโ,โ and then a third finger, โand then you said Albus.ย The Potterโs are practically famous, you know.โ
โAnd the phrase, โon the houseโ.โ
Scorpius looks at his shoes, obviously flustered.ย โOh, I, uh --โ
โItโs cute, though.ย You should come back, one day.ย Iโd give you my number, but I donโt think you have a phone.โ
Scorpius frowns, then smiles shyly.ย โDo you have an owl?โย
You quickly write your address down on a napkin.ย โHere.ย Owl me one day.โ
Scorpiusโs fingers fumble as he reaches for it, and the smile that spreads across his face lights up the room.ย โOkay.ย Iโll come back.ย And Iโll write you.ย Every day!โ
You laugh.ย โIโm counting on it.โ