It wasn't the goading that finally spurred him into action, but rather the threat to the man who had come to his rescue. Scorpius very well couldn't let someone be hurt for his sake, let alone a man who was so clearly his father and yet so clearly not.

To his credit, his hand didn't even shake as he cast an immobilization spell on the man lunging towards his rescuer. Scorpius had always favored less directly harmful spells, even in controlled duels, because even after all he had done, it still felt like if he took one step out of line, he would prove every negative thing anyone had ever thought of him correct.

"It's different in practice." He replied, his voice sounding tight to his ears.