Title: Things Better Left Unsaid

Author: Aima D. Duragon

Rating: This chapter is PG for language.

Warnings: future slash (ASP/SM)

Spoilers: SS, CS, PoA, GoF, Ootp, HBP, DH

Disclaimer: Yeah yeah I own nothing...J. K. Rowling is the genius behind it all.

A/N: So I'm posting this for all the people who are stuck in at home on New Year's Eve like me. Hope everyone enjoys. Happy Holidays everybody!


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Oppose not rage while rage is in its force, but give it way a while and let it waste.

-William Shakespeare-

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Albus Severus Potter stalked heatedly through the narrow halls of the Hogwarts Express. The Prefect meeting hadn't gone as smoothly as he'd originally hoped. Of course, it didn't help that his bigot of a brother—now Head Boy—was bound and determined to thwart all his attempts at actually improving the school. No, all James and his Gryffindor cronies were concerned about was getting new uniforms for the Quidditch teams—that and getting the mandatory skirt hem length shortened.

Albus snorted in frustration, and fashioned on his lips a snarl that did his Slytherin house proud. So much for this year being different.

With a final agitated huff, the brunette threw open the door to his compartment, only to be greeted by four pairs of unwelcomingly familiar eyes. Albus bit his tongue to keep himself from growling. Great, this was just what he needed: more Quidditch fanatics.

"Oi," Albus snapped, "get out of here will you! This compartment is reserved for Prefects."

The four, who had been talking animatedly with mouths stuffed full of trolley candy, turned towards Albus in unison. He knew their faces well enough: Karla Kruz, sixth year Slytherin seeker, Henry and Chad Buffington, seventh year Slytherin beaters, and recently appointed Quidditch captain, sixth year Slytherin chaser, Scorpius Malfoy.

"None of the compartments are reserved, much less for Prefects" Karla sneered, scrunching her small nose as she glared at him.

"See my trunk?" Albus pointed up at it, "That means somebody was sitting here before you." The four all turned to look stupidly at the luggage rack overhead. Albus could feel his face going red with anger—he was in no mood for this. "So are you going to leave or would you prefer a month of detention during Quidditch season? Believe me, either would be quite satisfactory."

Scorpius was the first to turn back, his grey eyes going wide. Albus nearly smiled, proud he'd so easily exploited the other boy's weakness. Seeming to catch his expression, Scorpius' face dropped into a cool mask. The blonde stood and took two short steps towards Albus. Where once the brunette would've backed down from the advance, he now stood steady, determined to hold Scorpius' gaze firmly with his own. Albus' sixteenth summer had treated him well. Scorpius—who had grown tall very young—had towered over him for years, but three months, it seemed, had been just enough for Albus to catch up. They stood at eye level with each other now, so close that Albus could see the flecks of blue that dotted the blonde's silver eyes. Albus knew that if the other boy was going to punch him, he was too close to put up a proper block. But truthfully Albus didn't mind much—he was practically begging for an excuse to wipe the smirk off the blonde's snotty little face.

Scorpius arched a pale brow, looking at Albus as if he could read his very thoughts, "Prefect meeting not go so well, Potter?"

Albus was momentarily rendered speechless. He shook the feeling off, as his temper simmered just beneath the surface of his control. How did he—"That's none of your damn business, Malfoy!"

The blonde smirked, "I'll take that as a yes then."

"Malfoy," it was a struggle for Albus to keep his voice even, "either you and your friends vacate my compartment in the next five seconds, or I'll—"

"Or you'll what?" The blonde's eyes flashed with cunning, "Give us detention?" Scorpius gave a mocking laugh as he ran a long-fingered hand through his hair, "Potter, I don't know if it's escaped your attention, but Slytherin detentions are run by Professor Hughes." Scorpius paused for a moment, allowing his words to take effect in Albus' mind, "the very same Professor Hughes, who is so keen on us keeping our Quidditch Cup title, that he gave the entire team extended deadlines on all of our assignments."

Albus snarled. He knew all too well about his Head of House's avid obsession with the sport, as well as the academic mayhem it caused.

Scorpius, noticing Albus' expression, grinned broadly, "So you see, Potter, I don't see much point in taking the trouble to move in the face of such an empty threat."

"Then how does detention with Headmaster McGonagall sound?" It was Albus' turn to grin.

"You—" Scorpius faltered, and Albus heard a flicker of doubt in the blonde's voice, "Prefects don't have the authority to give out of house detentions."

A taunting sneer pulled at the corners of Albus' lips, "Guess my meeting didn't go so badly after all."

The blonde's eyes narrowed, "You're bluffing."

Albus didn't move a muscle. Of course he was bluffing, but he knew very well that Malfoy would never really call him on it. Slytherin had won the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup three years in a row now, and Albus well knew the expectations Malfoy had gained upon inheriting his new throne. The risk of calling Albus' bluff was too great—and, of course, it didn't hurt that Albus was an exceptional liar. "Try me," Albus challenged, the thrill of triumph already coursing through him.

He saw the moment defeat finally settled in the creases of the blonde's face. Scorpius eyed Albus once, very slowly, up and down, as if he was passing some sort of judgment, though of what Albus couldn't say. With a final defiant snort, the blonde turned back to his friends, "Come on guys. Let's go."

Chad and Karla raised their voices in protest, but Scorpius silenced them with a simple wave of his hand. He turned back towards Albus, his eyes now alive with an unreadable emotion. The brunette felt something heated churn in the pit of his stomach, and for the first time since he'd arrived he felt the vaguest notion of trepidation.

"Well played, Potter," Scorpius whispered, so softly Albus was sure the words were meant only for him, "but don't think this is over."

Then, without another word, the blonde brushed swiftly past him, knocking his shoulder briskly as he did so.

The other three quickly followed in tow, each sending Albus a silent glare laced with an unspoken threat. Albus merely glared back, lifting his chin in abhorrence.

Once they were finally gone, Albus flounced into his compartment, slamming the door shut behind him. The brunette collapsed into his seat, leaning his head heavily against the window. The glass felt cool against his skin and somehow soothed his riled temper. He was alone now, at least—for that much he was thankful.

It was true; he didn't have many friends, if any at all. When he was younger there had been James, Lily, and a few others he had spent his free time with. But over the years, James had become lost in a world of Quidditch and girls, Lily had somehow winded up in a long-term relationship, and Albus had been consumed by his studies. They had all grown apart, somehow. There was nothing for it really.

He didn't blame them of course—it had been bound to happen. He'd always known he was the black sheep in his family—the snake thrown in amongst the lions.

Every year he told himself that things would be different. Every year. Small droplets of rain began to patter against the window. Albus crossed his arms and sunk lower into his seat. Well…so much for this year.

~xXxXxXx~

"Ugh, I really hate Potters," Karla hissed, once the group was comfortably situated in another compartment.

Henry and Chad went on to agree enthusiastically while Scorpius merely stared out the window, his arms crossed. The three had been talking about Albus since they'd left the last compartment, but much to his teammates' dismay, Scorpius hadn't joined in on their bashing rant. Truthfully he had never been interested in that sort of thing, and the last thing he wanted to do on his train ride up to Hogwarts was talk about some arrogant, know-nothing Prefect. He did have to admit though…he was interested. Where had this boy's nerve come from? Up until a few minutes ago Albus Potter hadn't been on his personal radar at all.

Before he'd been appointed Slytherin Prefect last year, the boy had pretty much kept to himself. Of course, everyone knew that Albus Potter was top of their year, and that he took his Prefect duties quite seriously, but beyond that Scorpius couldn't remember ever having said more than five words to the brunet that didn't involve arguing about detention.

Yet, something about what had just transpired had Scorpius' nerves on edge. There had been a certain quality and depth in those emerald eyes such as he had never seen before. There was so much in them, yet Scorpius hadn't been able to read a thing. That…had never happened to him before. He was intrigued, to say the least.

"What do you think, Scorpius?"

The blonde started. He turned back to his friends, blinking, "What do I think about what?"

Chad scoffed, "Scorp, do you ever pay attention?"

Scorpius threw the other boy an impish wink, "Not to you, Buffington."

"Boys this is serious!" Karla snapped, her dark eyes flashing. She leaned forward, "Scorpius," she said imploringly, "you can take care of him, can't you?"

"Who?"

"Albus Potter."

The blonde's lips twitched, and his good humor was abruptly snuffed, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, we should show him how unwise it is to mess with anyone on the Slytherin Quidditch team."

Scorpius chuckled, shaking his head, "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"

Karla shrugged, though her eyes flickered with mischief, "The usual way."

There was a moment where no one spoke and there was only the sound of rain slamming against the window. Scorpius swallowed thickly, and forced a sarcastic smile on his lips, "I don't know about that, Karla. Even with your looks," he eyed the girl up and down appreciatively, secretly enjoying the way she trembled under his gaze, "I'm not sure he would fall for it."

Karla stared at him, her resolve unrelenting, "But he might," she began slowly, "with you."

Scorpius bit the inside of his cheek, hard, "Me?"

"Yeah," Henry added, snickering, "we could play it just like we did Stephen."

The blonde bit back a grimace, "I thought we'd all agreed not to mention him anymore."

Henry waved him off, "Oh relax, Scorp. It's not like it's your fault he transferred. The little fag got what was coming to him."

Scorpius shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but said nothing.

"Come on, Scorpius," Karla pleaded, "aren't you tired of the little prick walking around like he owns the place? Giving us detentions all the time?"

"Of course I am, but I really don't think—"

"It has to be you, Scorpius," Karla continued as if the blonde hadn't spoken, "He'll fall for it if it's you. Everyone falls for you."

Scorpius sighed as his three teammates stared at him expectantly. He already knew he was relenting, though there was no doubting the unsettling feeling that sat bubbling in his stomach. He had so hoped things would be different this year. Each fall term seemed like a new beginning—like his life was a fresh slate just waiting to be written anew. Every year he told himself that he could change things—change himself. Every year he told himself he wouldn't let his ego and his concern for his reputation put him in a hole so deep that, by the time it was all said and done, he wouldn't have a hope of climbing back out again. After Stephen…Scorpius' chest seemed to press in on his lungs.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do."

Well…so much for this year.


I gotta admit, I do like the Next Generation stories that I've read :) So I couldn't really help but join in on the fun. I'll try to update this story regularly, but Obsessions and The Darker Side of Me will probably be taking priority when it comes down to it (mostly b/c I really want to finish a long story for once lol). But do let me know what you think! I don't want to continue at all if nobody likes it :/

Please Review! (for reasons mentioned above) :)