My first Scorpius/Albus fic! Enjoy :)
Not for the first time in his 6 years at Hogwarts, Albus wishes he hadn't listened to his brother James. He wishes that he hadn't listened to him about the Malfoys, because maybe James wasn't right about them being bad.
Maybe, Albus thinks, he should have talked to Scorpius when they were put in the same group for potions, or maybe he should have apologized when he bumped into Scorpius that one time in the hallway. Maybe they would have talked, maybe even gotten along.
Because seeing Scorpius standing there in the falling snow, grinning up at the sky, makes Albus wish he was friends with the boy. He wishes that he could go up to Scorpius and join him, and find out what he's looking at. It's not the snow, it's something past that. It's past the clouds, and past the grey sky. It's like he's looking at the stars, even though he can't see them. Or maybe he can, because he's seeing right through the swirl of crystal white flakes with shining eyes and a huge grin, and Albus could swear that he's looking at the universe itself.
But, knowing that he can't go up to a person he's never met who probably hates him for his father, Albus reluctantly tears his eyes away from the sight that for some reason is so hypnotizing, and continues on to The Three Broomsticks.
After a day of shopping and laughing with his friends, Albus has let the the thoughts of Scorpius sink into his subconscious. Having forgotten something in Zonkos, Albus sends his friends ahead so that they won't be late for curfew, and walks back by himself.
He almost doesn't see Scorpius, because with his white coat, blond hair, and pale skin he is practically invisible. If the moon didn't reflect off of his face, Albus wouldn't have noticed the small boy at all. He's the exact opposite of how he was in the morning, with his shoulders slumped and his arms wrapped around himself protectively. Despite his better judgement, Albus heads towards him cautiously.
"Scorpius?" He doesn't know what to say to someone who he's never talked to, but for some reason he just has to talk to the person who'd been staring into the sky just a few hours ago. Scorpius looks up slowly, shivering in the cold, where as before he'd seemed immune to the chill.
"Potter? What do you want? You should be back in the castle by now."
"Why aren't you?" Scorpius doesn't reply. Instead, he just looks up at the sky. But the wonder is gone, and his eyes are empty.
"I can't see them." Albus look up into the sky as well, and don't know what he means. The stars are relatively visible tonight.
"The stars?" Scorpius nods, shivering. Albus takes off his jacket and wraps it around Scorpius; he needs it more.
"You know, they're always there, sometimes you just can't see them." Scorpius continues to stare, so Albus keeps talking. "Our sun is a star, you know. Those stars are just a lot farther away."
"He didn't show up." He looks up at Albus for a second, and Albus sees the pain and emptiness in his eyes.
"Oh... I'm sorry." Scorpius shrugs and looks back at the ground. Albus doesn't know what else to say, so he just stays sitting next to Scorpius, hoping that he'll be ready to head back to the castle soon, Albus knows his friends will be worried.
"You're a stargazer, you know." Scorpius comments offhandedly, beginning to fiddle with his hands. "I've seen you before. You never notice me, but I see you. I see you all. And you're the only one who pauses to look at the sky." Albus is shocked that Scorpius has even noticed him before, but at the same time he's flattered. He gently takes the boy's hand and pulls Scorpius to his feet. His hand is like ice, so Albus takes off his gloves and puts them on Scorpius as well.
"Thanks." Scorpius mutters, cheeks slightly pink. Albus starts leading him back towards the castle, hoping that they won't get in trouble for being so late.
"No problem." Albus hesitates before adding, "I saw you before. Looking at the sky. What did you see?"
"Him." They keep walking in silence, with the white crystalline snowflakes falling gently around them, sticking to their hair and melting on their skin. When they reach the castle gates, he smiles a forced sort of smile that doesn't reach his eyes, and turns to leave.
"Wait!" Albus blurts out, then looks away when Scorpius turns back looking confused. "Just... don't stop. Don't stop looking for the stars. They'll come back." Scorpius shakes his head.
"I don't want them to. They're just lies, making people feel less alone than they really are. They're not smiling down on me, no one's watching me. He certainly wasn't."
"Just because he didn't show up doesn't mean someone else wouldn't have. You're not alone, Scorpius." Scorpius gives Albus a long, curious look, then walks away without another word. Albus feels hurt that Scorpius didn't respond, but then consoles himself. Maybe the stargazer will someday see the lights again.
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Review?