Hi! I have decided that enough is enough! Everyone only ever focuses on Albus being depressed because it's easier to get readers to understand. However Scorpius is basically the only character to have been confirmed for depression. I think it's a load of bullshit that no one acknowledges this because he seems cheerful. Like, that's the whole point! Have you seen the suicide rates for comedians!? They have the highest suicide rate out of any profession! That's partially why I think Fred and George may have had mild depression. But it's time to acknowledge Scorpius' suffering because he deserves all the love in the world! Enjoy!

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Scorpius sat alone in his bedroom. His Dad, Draco, had gotten a job as a healer and had to work late most nights. That left Scorpius, alone, in his house most hours of the day and most days of the week. But he knew how to preoccupy himself. He just read the books in the library. Although, he had read each of them cover to cover multiple times over.

He had sent and owl to his best friend Albus Potter about possibly seeing each other, but Albus' family was large, and always had something going on it seemed. Scorpius didn't want to be bothersome, so he didn't try sending him another letter.

He eventually decided to just go to Diagon Alley, and get his school supplies. He went into the living room, and threw a handful of floo powder into the fire before stepping into it. When he stepped out, he was in Diagon Alley. He walked around people to get to Gringott's Bank, and take out just enough money to buy all of his supplies.

He wandered around, going into each store and buying what he needed. He saw a few people he knew. Which wasn't really a good thing because everyone he saw hated him. He saw all these kids with their parents, which he wished he could say he didn't envy slightly. Don't get it wrong, he and his Dad were close, but he was always at work and exhausted by the time he got home. Sometimes he wished his Dad would work as anything that didn't involve late night hours.

He went into Madam Malkin's to see Connor McClaggan, a boy around a year older than him in Gryffindor that absolutely adored Slytherins. If you count name calling, teasing, mocking and hexing as adoration. He would often be seen hanging out with Jason Spinnet, James Potter, Frank Longbottom, Addison Jordan, and a few other Gryffindors in his year. Even sometimes Polly Chapman, Yann Fredericks and Rose Granger-Weasley. 

If Connor's Dad or Mum had been a famous war hero, he'd be more popular than James. But he was third in line for that title. James being at the top and Frank being second. It had become fairly well known that Fred was in no way single after he was caught snogging Daisy Dursley. The girl was in Ravenclaw and a year older than him. And Louis was very well known for being the first student to openly admit to being asexual and having no interest in a relationship. If that wasn't the case, Scorpius was almost positive Connor would be fifth on the popular list of sixth years.

By every standard there was, Scorpius was the exact opposite. Even first years were respected more than he was. Scorpius had been the victim of many different types of bullies throughout his Hogwarts years. Some grew bored of him, others forgot he existed. But most were still constantly harassing him.

Madam Malkin led Scorpius to the platform next to Connor, and in his peripheral vision, Scorpius could see that Connor was pulling a face of disgust. Scorpius tried to conceal the hurt so that Connor wouldn't know he was affected by anyone's comments or remarks about him. Even Albus didn't really know just how deeply Scorpius was hurt by everything.

"Malfoy," Connor spat.

Scorpius held his tongue and was beginning to regret not wearing an extra baggy jumper. He wanted the correct measurements of course, but lifting his arms wasn't something he'd like to do next to Connor while in a pale blue, tight polo shirt.

When Madam Malkin's instructed Scorpius to lift his arms, he did so reluctantly and slowly, glancing at Connor every so often to make sure he wasn't looking. It wasn't so much that Scorpius was ashamed of what he looked like, more so knew from past experiences that it didn't matter how much he tried to explain, people just didn't understand.

As Madam Malkin wrapped the tape around Scorpius he heard a snort and turned to see Connor trying, and failing to hide a smirk. Scorpius blushed madly at this.

"Since when we're you a girl Malfoy?" Connor smirked.

"I'm not," Scorpius tried not to blush. "I've just got something called Klinefelter syndrome."

Scorpius wasn't lying. It was something that didn't occur often in Wizards, and affected muggles a lot more, but it did occasionally occur in Wizards. Klinefelter syndrome only affected males, and Scorpius was fully aware that technically speaking it made him a mutant. It was a rather simple concept to explain if you knew enough about humans to know males were XY and females were XX. To put it simply, Scorpius had XXY chromosomes instead of XY. 

It was apparently caused by Astoria's blood curse trying to work into his system. It had happened to her Great Uncle Hyperion, who Scorpius coincidentally got his middle name from. Scorpius had only ever tried to explain it a few times. But to do so properly he'd have to go into detail about his Mother, and her death which was something he really didn't want to do. 

He had been there when she died, although he had never told anyone that. He went to replace the cloth on her forehead with one soaked in warm water, and when he returned she had been coughing like crazy. Scorpius had frozen and dropped the soaked cloth on the floor, completely paralysed by the sight. Astoria's death was long and gruesome. Spewing up blood until there was no more blood to spew. And Scorpius watched the entire thing, unable to help, move or even shout.

It was only after a few minutes off shaking there that Scorpius did anything. He dropped to the ground and started to sob. Muttering to himself. Eventually Draco had come in and saw what had happened. Scorpius didn't do anything but apologise when Draco tried to comfort him, even though he himself was on the verge of tears.

"Shh," Draco had cooed. "You couldn't've done anything Scorp."

Scorpius never told Draco about what he'd witnessed, or that he even witnessed it. As far as everyone knew, Scorpius went to change the cloth and came back to find her already dead. And he refused to go into any further detail about her blood curse because he was already a monster in the wizarding worlds eyes. Why solidify that?

Madam Malkin continued to measure Scorpius as scissors cut the right size out of fabrics floating above her head.

"What even is Klinefelter syndrome than, Scarlette?" Connor sneered.

Scorpius flushed at the name. Surely that wasn't going to stick? He was Scorpius, and Scarlette was a girls name. And he most certainly was not a girl.

"Genetic mutation," Scorpius tried not to say too much. "Gives males an extra X chromosome."

Connor rolled his eyes, "And that's why you look like a girl?" Connor chuckled. "Are you sure you weren't just supposed to be a girl?"

Scorpius had thought about that before, admittedly. Thought about how if he had been female the curse that killed his Mum would've been passed down to him. He didn't think his Dad would be able to handle it if that had been the case. Although he was absolutely positive that the blood curse tried its dang hardest to mess up Scorpius' biology enough to be passed down.

"No," Scorpius explained. "It just has some weird side affects," Scorpius blushed at the thought. He was lucky enough that it didn't have many mental symptoms, but the physical ones weren't so great.

"Yeah?" Connor seemed to still be in disbelief. Scorpius didn't blame him. It really wasn't common in wizards, "Like what?"

This was the question Scorpius was hoping not to get. He'd much rather not to have to admit to some of the symptoms he'd developed. Some of them weren't so bad, but there were ones that just thinking about them made Scorpius want to hide in his oversized clothes forever. Heat stroke be damned.

"Um...," Scorpius searched for which ones he would say first. "Trouble developing motor skills, infertility, less of a sex drive, starting puberty late and...," Scorpius' face turned crimson and Madam Malkin left the room to get something. Scorpius sucked in a breath and braced himself for what he about to say. "Um, broader hips as well as uh - gynecomastia."

"I'm sorry?" Connor raised an eyebrow. "What the Hell, is gynecosmia?"

"Gynecomastia," Scorpius corrected with a pink face. He but the inside of his cheek. "It's uh, breast development in males..."

Connor snorted making Scorpius flush redder than the Gryffindor flag.

"You got a vagina to go with all of that?" Connor chuckled.

Scorpius narrowed his eyes, "No!" Scorpius tried his hardest to think of a come back. "Why does my downstairs region concern you anyway!?"

"Hah! That the best you got?" Connor shook his head before jumping down from the platform and paying for his new robes. "That was really quite lame Scarlette."

Scorpius clenched his fists until his nails began to stab into his palms. After a few seconds, he unclenched his fists to see grooves in the shape of his nails, one of them even having a thin line of red, making it clear that Scorpius had pierced the skin. Calm down, Scorpius told himself. If you fly off the handles everyone will know you're a monster. 

Scorpius took a deep breath before taking his robes and going to leave. He stepped out of the shop and watched as large families passed by, laughing and smiling. He was particularly drawn to a family of four. A little girl, looking no older than twelve was hopping around excitedly as her Father tried to chase her down. The girls Mother being preoccupied with stopping a toddler from crying. The poor boy was screaming loudly, and the poor woman couldn't do anything to calm him down. 

The family all gathered back together and once the boy stopped crying, they were just as cheerful as every other family. They laughed and the girl played with her brothers hands to keep him from screaming again. The Father looked at a piece of paper that Scorpius assumed to be a list, and most likely used the quill to tick things off. They were all happy and didn't have a care in the world about what people thought of them. In fact, most people walking by smiled at them. The family of four soon went into a bookshop, and disappeared into the crowd of happy kids ready for school.

Scorpius held all of his bags close as he left the crowd of smiling faces. He frowned as he passed a few of his schoolmates that snickered when they saw him. He left the populous streets, and the laughter around him seemed to be getting louder. Every time he looked up he'd see someone pointing and whispering. He started to walk faster and the laughter became more difficult to tune out. Soon whispers turned to full on talking, loud and clear.

"Isn't that the Malfoy kid?"

"Didn't he try to bring Voldemort back?"

"There goes the Death-Eater-Spawn."

"Shouldn't he be in Azkaban for conspiring with Delphi?"

"I bet he's plotting to free his sister from Azkaban."

"It's a good thing the Potter kid saved the day huh?"

Scorpius couldn't tune out any of it. These people didn't even know him. Yet they felt they had the right to make such remarks. Laughter, whispers and the mumbling of rumours. That's all Scorpius could hear. His vision blurred with tears. He couldn't breathe. His throat was tight and he began to stumble slightly.

He all but ran into The Leaky Cauldron and flooed home. Coughing as he inhaled some of the floo powder. He fell out of the fireplace. His knuckles crashed into the coffee table with a loud sound. Scorpius curled up on himself. He was taking in quick and shallow breaths as he tried to force air passed his throat. His heart felt like it was going to burst through his chest. This is the end, Scorpius thought. Dads gonna come home to find me dead. Scorpius let out a strangled sound as his lungs refused to function.

Scorpius heard the faded voice of someone familiar. But he couldn't put his finger on who. Everything was wavering. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. His mouth felt dry. His lungs felt like they were twisting to prevent air from coming in.

"Scorpius!?" The voice wasn't as muffled as before, and Scorpius knew who it was. His Dad, Draco. 

Fingers clicked in front of his eyes. Scorpius blinked at the motion.

"Hey!" His Dad lifted him so that Scorpius' head was resting on his lap. "Name five things you can feel."

"Rug...," Scorpius croaked out. "Fabric -" breathing was difficult enough without having to talk.

"Hey, stay with me," Draco's voice held a hint of urgency. "Three more things Scorpius. Can you do that for me?"

Scorpius tried to nod, "Trousers...," his tongue felt like sandpaper against his mouth. "Your hand... and wood."

Scorpius' vision cleared slightly and it became increasingly easier to breathe. But only slightly.

"Good," Draco smiled. "Now four things you can see."

Scorpius tried to squint through his tears and saw the blurry shape of his Dad's head, "You...," the dryness of Scorpius' mouth caused him to cough. "The ceiling. The fireplace... And chandelier."

Scorpius felt his heart rate slow and mentally sighed in relief. His heart might not rip his chest open after all.

"Now give me three things you can hear," his Dad encouraged.

Scorpius tried to lick the roof of his mouth, but it felt like jagged rocks scraping card stock.

"Come on Scorp," Draco shook him slightly. "Just three things you can hear."

Scorpius hummed in response, although he regretted it afterwards, "You...," Scorpius cringed at his voice crack, "the birds... And my heart."

Draco hugged Scorpius tightly as the younger blonde felt his throat loosen to allow some air through. But Scorpius still felt some air refusing to go down.

"Now give me two things you can smell," Draco rested his chin on Scorpius' head.

"Detergent and plastic," Scorpius inhaled the scent. Draco had quite clearly not had time to get changed before he saw Scorpius.

"Now one thing you can taste," Draco squeezed Scorpius to reassure him.

Scorpius let out a content sigh now that his heart and lungs seemed to be functioning properly. But his mouth was still dry as a bone. "Cardboard?" It was the only word Scorpius could think of to describe the taste of a dry mouth.

Draco rubbed Scorpius' arm and let out a sigh of relief, "Are you okay?"

Scorpius didn't speak for a moment, his voice still raspy from his dry mouth, "Yes," Scorpius croaked. "But it felt like I was dying." Scorpius coughed as the dryness of his mouth persisted.

"You weren't dying," Draco explained. "I'll get you some water."

Draco helped Scorpius to the kitchen and filled a glass, giving it to Scorpius. As soon as he took one small sip, his mouth felt like heaven. He drank the liquid greedily and left it half empty. He panted slightly as he put the glass down and locked eyes with his Dad.

"I felt like I was dying," Scorpius repeated. Didn't his Dad understand? If he hadn't been there Scorpius would be gone. Crossing over to the other side. Chatting up a bunch of old dead people.

Draco shook his head, "It does feel that way sometimes," Draco smiled empathetically. "But you weren't."

Scorpius shook his head, "Never mind..."

Draco sighed, "Scorpius, my diagnosis, as a professional, is a severe anxiety attack. Not death."

Scorpius looked at his Dad with wide eyes, "But - How can that be?"

"Scorpius, you've gone through a lot," Draco held his sons hand. "As much as I try to protect you a fear I may have made things worse. The bullies, the rumours, your Mum, and that whole thing with Delphi. It leaves scars."

Scorpius raised an eyebrow, "But I don't have any scars from that?"

Draco shook his head, "Scars on the soul Scorpius," he squeezed his sons hand, "not the body."

Scorpius knitted his eyebrows together. His Dad was a healer, and he should therefore trust his judgement. And logically he did. He still felt like he wasn't listening. Scorpius felt like he was dying, not panicking. Logically, he was sure his Dad was right, but it didn't feel that way. It felt like a kick to the gut when he said that Scorpius wasn't in fact dying. He wasn't listening to what Scorpius had to say. 

Scorpius hissed when Draco's thumb brushed passed his knuckles. He looked down to see two of them had turned very bright red and were already starting to bruise. Scorpius tried to move his fingers but it felt like his joint was on fire when he did. Scorpius looked up at his Dad and Draco sighed with a pitiful smile on his face. 

"Guess it's a good thing I'm a healer," Draco tried to joke and Scorpius smiled. "I'll be right back."

Scorpius held his breath and poked at the bruised knuckles. He felt something small and solid move around in one - the redder one - and in the other he felt a small, thin line dip in the joint. Fractured.

Scorpius had fractured his bones before, but usually he felt the shock of it straight away. Although he may have been too distracted by the thought of dying to notice. His fingers were sore and every time he moved his arm he would feel sharp pain shoot through his fingers and knuckles.

Draco came back with a few things on hand. A small vial, a small container, and some bandages. Draco told Scorpius to drink the liquid in the vial first, and Scorpius knew what it was. The smell wasn't quite as potent as the Skely Grow Scorpius had seen his Dad making a few times, but it was bad enough to put anyone off. He quickly downed the disgusting liquid and thought it tasted a bit like dirt and slime. 

Scorpius pulled a face and watched as his Dad opened the container, taking some balm onto his fingers and spreading it over the bruised knuckles. Scorpius had braced himself for pain, although it seemed the disgusting potion was more useful than he gave it credit for. The balm was a cloudy off white colour and Draco only applied a small amount to the knuckles. Too much of any medicinal potion or concoction was a recipe for disaster. 

Draco lightly wrapped two small sticky bandages around the knuckles to hold them in place before wrapping a larger non-sticky bandage around the hand. Scorpius inspected his mummified hand and was surprised by how little he could move his fingers.

"That'll be healed by tomorrow," Draco smiled at his son.

There was a hint of recognition in Scorpius' chocolaty silver eyes at the look on his Dad's face. He'd remembered seeing it many times. But not since the death of Astoria. He'd missed that smile so much, and Scorpius hoped he'd see it more often.

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Did I really spend 3140 words worth of writing on Scorpius buying robes, having a panic attack and Draco helping him? Yes I did. Am I bloody proud of the skill that requires? Yes I am. Anyway, Klinefelter syndrome is an actual thing, if you want to learn more about it you can do some research. I'm not really the right person to ask about that kind of thing. But I felt like Scorpius should've some way or another been biologically affected by the blood curse and then I learnt about this in human bio and I was like 'Guess we've discovered what the curse did to Scorpius'. 

I feel like there isn't enough representation of genetic mutations within media. You'll never read anything with mutations in it unless it's to give people superpowers. Except for red heads. Red hair is actually a genetic mutation. We've started to talk more about woman in power, black people, and LGBTQ+ people, but people with genetic mutations like Klinefelter syndrome, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, albinism and other things like that are rarely seen in media. I don't know if it's just me that thinks that's a bit unfair, but I do. That's not to say that there shouldn't be representation for woman in power, black people, and LGBTQ+ people, I just think we can now start to get more recognition for others as well now that those are a lot more excepted than they used to be.

Anyway, that was a bit of a rant, but I hope you enjoyed. Please vote, comment and suggest. (I've also got a few followers so that would be nice to.) Thank you!

      - Turtlefreakakw2 <3