“Honestly, I'm surprised nobody had bets going on about how long it'd take until they started trying to up each other with something ridiculous.”

“Aunt Daphne and my father hated each other with a burning passion, it was hilarious really how passive aggressive they were”

“Oh my God, the worst was when my mother joined in with her equally as fake laugh- but really, it was more like a cackle than anything.”

“My father and his fake laugh, it was ridiculous”

“Trust me, Scorpius, just about anything is likely more interesting than those were. The only good times about those used to be when it was us hanging around, maybe Viola, too, when we were able to get to her first.”

“It’ll probably be more interesting than the Greengrass and Malfoy get togethers”

“This should definitely be one interesting get together then. I can only imagine how... loud it might become.”

“She’s a sassy one, that girl”

“Ah still single digits. Seb's already twelve this year, but I'm sure it might not be too much of an issue.” Or at least I hope it isn't.

“5 years”

“I hope so. How old is Lily, again?”

“I think Lily and Sebastian will get along wonderfully”

“We should definitely set something up. It'll be nice.”

“Well I know I’ve been longing to meet him, and see you again”

“Why wouldn't he? You're still family.”

“Are you sure he would want to meet me?”

“I can imagine.. we should really visit more, now.. I'm sure Sebastian would like to finally meet you.”

“I’m better…much better…but it’s strange…not seeing your image pass by me everyday”

“I'm glad he did, how is he these days? More importantly, how are you? It feels like ages.”

“Albus sort of talked me into it. Of course it’s great to see you again”

“I'm just glad you came, Scorp..”

“I almost forgot what magic felt like”

Taking the ID from his hand, Emma inspected it with slight suspicion. At least he chose a good picture of her, she supposed. “Just in case.” She repeated quietly as she fiddled with the card in her hand. Her more responsible side was telling her it was a bad idea -- that she shouldn’t go, that she shouldn’t let him go. But the Gryffindor; wild, bold, brave -- all the classic stereotypes of maroon and gold, told her otherwise. Besides, it was only a night, and Scorpius said he’s done it plenty of times prior. And Emma, being herself, did have tendencies to enjoy more... controversial behavior -- even if most was to rebel against her mother. 

Nodding her head, Emma smiled (more-so smirked, because hey sneaking into a bar with her cousin was such a good idea - and to define good idea: terrible, terrible idea). “Let’s go, then.”

“I know this bar we could head to” he takes out two fake IDs. “I got one for you just in case” he says handing it to her. “I went there all the time last year, I almost exploded because of father and mother. They don’t know how to ease the mind, how to lift the spirit”

Rolling her eyes playfully, Emma returned the laugh and shrugged. “It pained me to be so formal, but it’s all good tactics if they work.” 

Of course she could’ve imitated him saying ‘please, father’ but truthfully, she knew ‘aunt Astoria’ and ‘uncle Draco’ took the cake. Gently nudging him to walk with her, farther from the house, Emma grinned. 

“So where do you even want to go?”

Scorpius tries to ignore what Astoria said about him, that’s usually how he survived his life with her and his father. Thanks to Emma, he could actually avoid spending time with his entire family.

He remembers Lucy telling him that Draco is trying to help him, and even if he was it’s too late now. Draco had his whole life and he blew it, so fuck him and his entire family. He just wants to spend time with Emma and nobody else.

When he exits the house he laughs and turns to Emma “Aunt Astoria” he teases.

“Thank you so much, Uncle Draco.”

“You two aught to go before I change my mind. As this is the last time we’ll all completely be the Malfoy-Greengrass family.”

Standing up from her seat (and nodding to Scorpius that he could do the same), Emma gave a small smile. “I’m hyphenating my last name, so I’ll still be a Greengrass. Always.” The sound of the ‘always’ on her tongue tasted bitter, as she could feel Daphne glaring in her direction. Almost as if to say ‘Oh, no you won’t be’, even though they both knew she would, anyway.

“Oh- Em,” Hearing Astoria call her by the shortened name (which she hasn’t heard since childhood, making her feel... odd, in a way), Emma looked at her curiously; as if asking her aunt to proceed. “Keep a good watch over Scorpius. He’s... he tends to slip from sight.”

Watch over Scorpius. He tends to slip from sight. Was she serious? Emma knew she was, maybe, trying... but her wording could’ve definitely been better -- especially since Scorpius had been there in the room, still. But doing her best to not show thought about the word choice, Emma nodded her head, showing she understood. 

“Of course, Aunt Astoria. Scorpius is safe with me, I hope you know.”

“Yeah father, can I go with Emma?” he asks, thankful that Emma is helping him get out of this awkward situation. Draco crosses his arms 

“I was just hoping if we could all do something together, we never get to do things as a family” he says.

“Please, father. Me and Emma need this” he begs to which Draco sighs and nods his head reluctantly. 

When Daphne cried, Emma really held back a more noticeable eye-roll. She was only crying because she would finally get what she wanted, despite it meaning Emma was the one to ‘do the dirty work’ of it. Observing the awkward shifting of her cousin, as Draco inquired if she had been excited, Emma made a face of revulsion. “Um,” Should she lie? Lying was what Daphne (who seemed to have paused her tears to hear this answer) taught her to do. But Emma, being herself, didn’t think lying should’ve been an option. After all, the truth was plain to see for anyone who wasn’t blind. “Not really. I barely even know him, so...” Trailing off with a shrug, the blonde quickly side-glanced towards her mother. Oh, this was proving to be a fun family bonding time already.

“Emma, don’t lie to your uncle--”

Throwing an even quicker glance now towards Scorpius now, hoping he would pick up on her topic change, Emma lifted her hands slightly in defense. “So, I... told Scorpius that I would take him out before everything and I would feel terrible if I couldn’t keep my promise.”

Scorpius looks over to see Draco, Astoria, and Daphne having a conversation and he looks back at Emma. Daphne starts crying randomly which makes Astoria push Draco away to comfort her sister. Draco looks over to Emma and Scorpius and walks over to them. Ever since his suicide attempt Draco has been trying to get closer to Scorpius and mend their relationship but it was too late, Scorpius couldn’t forgive him. “So Emma, are you excited for the wedding?” Draco asks, which makes Scorpius uncomfortable move in his chair.

As she heard the door open and sounds of footsteps looming closer, Emma looked up -- thankfully it was only Scorpius. She was being hounded all day (and all yesterday, and the day before that, and so on) by her mother (and various ‘friends’ of her mothers, some she never seen before in her life) about this stupid wedding. It wasn’t that big of a deal, even if the blonde felt violently ill whenever she had to think or speak too much of it. 

Setting aside some half-attempted read magazine, she gave Scorpius a nod of conformation and an eye-roll (one she hoped her mother was too busy to ignore). “I’m so overjoyed.”

ionheartriot

Scorpius folds his arms as Draco and Astoria wait with him behind the door. They all are silent. Daphne then opens the door, giving Astoria and Draco a hug and then giving Scorpius a disgusted look on her face. He sees Emma sitting at the table and walks up to her “You seem excited” he says sarcastically.

in which your lungs crack,

“this is how it always goes: skin, skin, skin, skin. the promise of salvation. liberation in form of skin against skin, soft in the morning light. but you know that your skin is a prison. you tried to get it off once, leaving only blood stains and the futility of shame. (and your heart pounds, pounds, pounds. make it stop, oh god, make it stop.)”

--  you keep saying that there is a larger force at work and the human skin is where the world both ends and begins.

and your spine bends.