A/N This is a rewrite of the penultimate scene in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I watched the play during previews, so the characterizations are heavily inspired by the actors themselves; you could cut a knife through the chemistry. I liked the play but this is on the top of my list of scenes that I wished went differently, and so here I am, Sunday night with a bottle of alcohol, writing Scorbus.

For better screenplay formatting, read on archiveofourown or tumblr.

HOGWARTS, CLASSROOM

SCORPIUS and ALBUS sit on opposite desks. ALBUS is chatting animatedly while SCORPIUS looks thoughtful.

ALBUS: You should ask Rose out. It's now or never. The other day, she was looking for you and used your real name! Here I thought she forgot it. Here I thought she hated you!

SCORPIUS: Bread Head was not her most clever invention. Actually, Albus—

ALBUS: Professor McGonagall is still set on giving us detention for the rest of our years here, so after Rose says yes, I don't know how we'll sneak you into Hogsmeade, but we'll manage something. Maybe Uncle Ron has something in his joke shop—

SCORPIUS: You're not listening again. Besides, you remember what happened the last time we followed one of your fanciful plans.

ALBUS: We fixed it all.

SCORPIUS: Yes, we nearly brought about the second coming of the Dark Lord, I should hope we did.

He pauses. Clears his throat and scoots to the other side of the desk to face ALBUS.

Have you ever thought that maybe…

He smiles a little too forcefully and turns away to hide his grimace.

Never mind.

Silence lingers. ALBUS, finally sensing the gravity of the moment, searches for his friend's face.

ALBUS: What were you going to say?

SCORPIUS: You're my best friend. You know that, right?

ALBUS: And you're mine.

ALBUS punches him on the arm, unsure of what SCORPIUS is nervous about.

SCORPIUS: I meant it when I said there's no one else I would want to face the return of eternal darkness with. I thought about it a lot. When we changed time and Rose vanished, I was horrified—but when I surfaced from the lake and you weren't there with me—when you vanished—

He looks at ALBUS.

What I'm trying to say is, I don't think it's Rose I'd like to spend Hogsmeade weekend with, or any weekend with. Not that she's awful.

He runs a hand through his hair.

What I'm trying to say is, Rose isn't who I'd miss most if I wasn't able to spend time with them.

ALBUS: I don't understand. You really fancy Rose.

SCORPIUS: And I really fancy you.

ALBUS draws back in slight surprise. SCORPIUS immediately plays off his words like a joke or exaggeration.

SCORPIUS: Don't get the wrong idea. I'm thankful that you're my friend. My best friend.

ALBUS: And you're happy with being… best friends?

SCORPIUS: I am! But—

SCORPIUS extends a hand toward ALBUS to stop him.

We don't have to talk about this—

ALBUS pulls him off the desk and into a hug. SCORPIUS is frozen in shock. Slowly, they both relax into the embrace.

ALBUS: No one matters to me as much as you.

ALBUS draws back. He is holding tightly onto SCORPIUS's hands.

Do you… want to sneak into Hogsmeade with me?

SCORPIUS breaks out in a grin, giddy at the sight of their joined hands.

SCORPIUS: Is it just because Delphi's in Azkaban now?

ALBUS: And that new smoky-eyed Potions professor will probably turn me down.

They laugh, nervous, marveling.

SCORPIUS: I'd love to.