Chapter 4: Forbidden Mystery, Part 1; Something Lurking

Albus

Albus sat up and looked at the clock. It was nearly eleven, so why did he wake up? Then he noticed an empty bed, but he couldn't think of whose it could be. Then he heard something coming from the common room; a quiet sobbing of sorts. In a flash, Albus was down the stairs to investigate. His jaw dropped at the scene that met his eye.

Scorpius Malfoy was hunched on the floor beside the glowing embers of the fire. His face was red and blotchy, stained with the tears that were dripping steadily from his eyes. Something was clenched tight in his fist, while the other pulled at his blond locks.

Albus cautiously stepped forward and sat next to the distraught boy. Scorpius didn't notice Albus sitting next to him, and Albus did his best to keep silent. It worked until Albus inhaled some ash from the hearth.

Oh, no, he thought to himself. I can't sne- The resulting sneeze shook the walls and started to echo around the room. Albus opened his eyes swiftly. His nose was directly pointing at Scorpius, who had a strange look on his face.

Albus bolted to the box of Magi-Kleenex on a table and snorted loudly into one. Then he sprinted over and started wiping off Scorpius' face with a clean sheet. Then another surprising thing happened.

Scorpius opened his mouth and began to laugh. Albus jerked back, looking bewildered. "What did I do?" Ha asked, concerned and confused at the same time. "Your face!" gasped Scorpius. "The look on your face!"

Something about Scorpius' hearty laugh sparked something inside Albus as well. Soon both boys were rolling on the floor, tears of mirth streaming down their faces, revelling in the comedy that had just taken place.

Minutes later, as they were gasping for air, Albus remembered why he had come down in the first place. "Why were you crying before?" He inquired, trying not to break the cheeriness.

His efforts did nothing, for Scorpius' face immediately hardened. "Well, if you promise not to tell," Scorpius pleaded, "Then I suppose I can tell you." At Albus' reverent nod, Scorpius thrust the now battered note at him. "It explains itself," Scorpius said sullenly. So Albus read the cruel letter.

Scorpius Malfoy

How dare you call yourself my son! You have dishonoured the family in going to that house. You were supposed to be in noble Slytherin, house of the Malfoys for centuries. But you had to be in Gryffindor, didn't you? I won't try to understand the good bits- there are none! Why should I give mother love from you, if you don't care enough to carry on tradition? And don't even think about coming for holidays. You are never coming back here, nor are you to call my home yours! You are a no good, dishonourable youth, and I never want to see you again.

-Mr. Draco Malfoy

Albus' jaw dropped about ten feet. How could someone write a thing like that? Much less to their own child.

"Now do you understand?" Scorpius' face had dropped considerably since Albus had read the letter. Albus nodded glumly. "I won't tell anyone though, I promise."

It was at that moment that a new friendship was formed; a special bond between the two boys. Over that one evening, Scorpius and Albus became pals, determined that not even their rivalling parents could keep them apart.

*

When they came down for breakfast the next morning, Rose was already there. She glanced nonchalantly at the boys, then her head shot back up. "What are you thinking?" she shrieked at Albus, who hadn't thought of what Rose would think. Albus knew how prejudiced she was against Malfoys and how stubborn she could be.

Albus shuffled uncomfortably, trying to buy time to compose a speech. Scorpius gave him a small pat on the back and moved a ways down the row. Albus grimaced. "Lovely weather today, Rose." She glared at him. "Explain," she growled dangerously.

"He just isn't as bad as you think, Rose Weasley. Scorpius is my friend now, and there is nothing you can do about it." With that, Albus walked off to sit with Scorpius, leaving his cousin sitting in shock.

*

Over the next few days, Albus and Scorpius became inseparable. They spent all of their time talking and laughing as if they had known each other for their whole lives. They did their homework together, and Albus had switched his seating arrangement so that the two boys could sit together. Rose was left out and, in Albus' mind, forgotten. He didn't think of Rose's feelings for a while. Not until afeter that particular Charms class.

Old Professor Flitwick had been working hard trying to teach them proper levitation charms, Today they were working in pairs, and Flitwick, not yet aware of the boys' friendship, paired Albus with Rose.

Rose glared frostily at Albus as she crossed the room to sit with him Albus felt a flush creep up his face. He hadn't given a thought about how Rose felt. They had once been closer than close, but he had abandoned that for a new person. Rose had been flicked away without a second thought. No wonder she was steaming. He rubbed his head, trying yet again to find the right words to reason with the temperamental Rose.

"Rose," he implored softly. "I'm sorry." She turned, daggers in her eyes. "Why would you be?" she whispered evilly. "You're my cousin and you always will be. I still care about you."

"What about Junior Malfoy? What about me?" All that time you never cared a dust speck for me. Waltzing off with that Malfoy, leaving me to fend for myself. How could you be so selfish? You never cared then; why should you care now?"

"I was just so glad to be able to make a friend on my own. I wanted to get to know someone else. That was my biggest fear: that I wouldn't be able to make new friends. I thought you would understand. Besides, it's a little hard to share things with a girl, even if you are my cousin.

Rose's face broke into a smile, and Albus knew he was forgiven. There was just one more thing. "So you don't mind Scorpius hanging out with us?"

"I mind," Rose muttered. "But, for you, I can live with it." So Rose became the newest person in their twosome, making a trio.

*

Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Soon it was late October and the students were eagerly awaiting the Halloween feast. Albus, Rose and Scorpius were no different. All three had heard magnificent discriptions of the event and couldn't wait.

It was a cool, crisp evening and the three were doing their homework from a bed of crunchy leaves. Albus yawned and stretched, crackling the leaves below him. Suddenly something darted past the corner of his eye. His head spun around to see what it was.

Not a thing was near them, nor in the direction of the movement. In fact, they seemed to be the only ones outside. Albus shook his head, wondering if maybe all the work had finally gotten to him.

When Scorpius noticed Albus looking puzzled, Albus said he was just imagning things. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. And when the three trooped back to the castle, he didn't notice the other movement. The movement of branches shaking as an invisible something brushed into the Forbidden Forest.

Finally, the long awaited chapter 4! Hope you enjoyed it- and remember, the more feedback I get, the sooner I will post the next chapter.