Chapter Summary: Rose comes to chat. Albus meets someone new and mysterious.

A/N: Apologies for the wait! School had to come first for a little while. This chapter's title is named after 'Dark Days' by Punch Brothers. I also now have a tumblr for anyone interested! nerisella .tumblr .com


The next day goes by slowly - Madame Pomfrey forces Scorpius to go to class, and Al is left to twiddle his thumbs alone in the infirmary all day. She feeds him four potions in the space of one hour, each one more ghastly than the last, and Al thinks he could probably do a better job at whipping up something for himself than her stock-made collection on the shelf. Unfortunately, Al isn't going to be allowed to even look at a cauldron outside of Potions class for the next… well, however long it takes his dad to figure out this whole mess. It could be a day, or it could be longer than Al cares to think about.

The only thing to entertain him is a small bird that keeps trying to break in through the window. It's a freezing day outside, and the hospital wing is cold enough that Madame Pomfrey's refusing to open any of the windows, but this determined little bird is not giving up hope. It picks at the glass with its beak, flapping its wings to try and push its way through. It may be a little dumb, but a quitter it is not. Al grows fond of the little thing after watching it for several hours. The bird's feathers are a bright blue colour with stripes of grey swirled in a strange pattern, but Al finds it pretty. He also finds the bird extremely odd for wanting to be inside when it has the entire world at its claws.

"Go on, then, go utilise your freedom. There's nothing here for you but terrible potions and a sick boy," Al says to it.

The bird cocks its head at him stubbornly, and although he feels more than a little ridiculous, Al is sympathetic to its cause. After all, they both want something they can't have.

"I'd let you in if I could, little bird," Al says sadly. "Looks like we're both stuck inside our own cages."

If Al didn't know any better, he'd say the bird looks disappointed in him.

"Oh, don't give me that look. 'Snot my fault."

The bird ruffles it's feathers, and then actually sits down on the windowsill outside, its body pressed up against the glass defiantly. Al shakes his head at the ridiculous sight. He must be going barking mad if he's resorted to talking to birds. Al sighs and leans back on his pillows, staring up at the off-white ceiling, and starts counting squares on the strange wallpaper pattern. Once he gets into the hundreds, he loses count and drifts off to sleep.


"Albus!" comes a shrill voice from the entrance, and Albus immediately jolts awake. Before he can figure out what's going on, he's engulfed by a warm body and a thick mess of curly red hair.

"Rose," he gasps, the wind knocked out of him. He glances briefly at the windowsill - the bird is gone.

"Oh, Albus, Merlin, I'm so sorry, I had no idea what I was doing! And then it was like I'd woken up from a dream and then I remembered everything - it was awful - oh I'm so, so sorry!" Rose has tears in her eyes, her face is red and puffy like she's been crying all day.

Behind her, Scorpius enters, breathless from running. "Sorry, Al - I tried to stop her-"

"It's okay," Al says sleepily, rubbing at his eyes. "I was just passing the time with a nap."

"Oh, did I wake you? I didn't mean to - only I just… if you need some more time to recover first I can-"

"No, don't be daft. It's good to see you," Albus says, and he means it. He's spent the entire day alone and now any face is a welcomed one, even one as frantic and upset as Roses's. He can only imagine how guilty she must be feeling, and the least he can do is make it clear he doesn't blame her. "Is class for the day over already?"

"Oh - yes," Rose says, and then dives into her book bag to produce a book and some parchment. "History of Magic and Transfiguration. I took notes for you, and got you the homework - you know, so you won't fall too far behind."

Albus and Scorpius share a dubious glance. They both know this is Rose's way of apologising - one of the only ways she knows how - but right now Albus couldn't think of anything worse. Still, he forces a smile, takes the pile of school work, sets it down on the bedside table, and thanks her graciously.

"How are you feeling?" Scorpius asks him, sitting down on the edge of the bed while Rose takes the chair.

"I'm fine," Al insists. "Except for these horrid potions Pomfrey keeps shoving down my throat."

"I hope you're taking them," Rose says disapprovingly, and Al rolls his eyes.

"Of course I'm taking them, I'm not an idiot."

She raises her eyebrow, looks pointedly at Scorpius and back, as if to say 'you are a complete idiot, because you are still lying to your best friend about your very gay, very intense love for him'. Maybe not in so many words, but the intention is definitely there, and Al does not appreciate it one bit. He scowls at his own hands, refusing to validate her nonverbal accusation with a response. Scorpius, miraculously, does not seem to notice their little exchange.

"How's Hugo holding up?" Albus asks, trying to change the subject.

"He's okay," Rose says, frowning slightly. "Shaken up, obviously, as is everyone else. But you know how Hugo is - he'll be okay."

Rose doesn't sound entirely convinced by this, and Al's chest squeezes. He's only just starting to realise how much the attack is going to effect their family.

"I saw Lily this morning," Scorpius pipes up. "Seems like she's taking out her anger in a… healthy way."

"Quidditch pitch?" Al guesses.

"Yep."

"Did she break any bludgers this time?" Rose asks warily.

"I didn't stay long enough to find out," Scorpius says.

"Wise man," Albus says, "I knew I kept you around for a reason."

"What, saving your life isn't enough?" Scorpius retorts.

"Radical terrorists are nothing. Protect me from an angry Lily Potter, then we'll talk."

"Sounds reasonable," Rose says dryly, looking at the two of them like they're from another planet.

"How long's our curfew?" Al asks, turning to Rose.

"Erm… it's not exactly our curfew," Rose says, looking away awkwardly, but Al notices the tinge of a smug smile appear before she can cover it up.

He frowns at her, trying to figure out what on earth that means… until the realisation hits him like a slap in the face.

"You haven't got one, have you?" he demands. "Why not?"

Albus notices that Scorpius immediately becomes more alert at the change of tone, sitting up taller and perching slightly forward, but staying silent and cautious.

"I'm a prefect," she says, like this should explain it.

"I'm a prefect too!" Al exclaims.

"Yes, but I'm a trustworthy prefect. They know I'm not going to run off and create trouble for myself."

"…I resent that," Al says stubbornly, because he doesn't want to admit that she's probably right.

After a moment he realises it also probably has something to do with the fact that Rose is much better at wandwork than Al (which isn't hard, most people are) and they know Rose will have a fighting chance if she has to defend herself against anything. And that hurts more than Al would care to admit. Scorpius's expression turns sympathetic, so he must be thinking the same thing, which only makes Al more self-conscious. So he just sighs, leans back, crosses his arms, and looks away from both of them.

"It won't be long," Rose tries to say reassuringly.

"I appreciate the wishful thinking, but you don't know that," Al replies.

"If it makes you feel any better, they've literally assigned someone to watch James around the clock," Rose says.

"Of course they would," Al mutters. But she's right, it does make him feel a bit better.

"Besides, we're lucky they didn't decide to take us all home," Rose pushes on.

Albus glances over at Scorpius, who's still staring at him. He's not used to Sco watching him so carefully, so thoughtfully, so… worried. A rush of warmth spreads through his body now that he's thinking about how much Scorpius cares, and he realises that maybe Rose is right on this account. If they'd taken everyone home, he'd be apart from Scorpius at least a week, and he never coped very well with that as it is.

"Yeah, I guess so," he says quietly, answering Rose - but looking at Scorpius.

Scorpius's cheeks flush a little, and then they look away awkwardly. When Al looks back at Rose, she raises an eyebrow, and he pretends not to know what she's thinking, though he certainly does. Rose thinks that Scorpius knows Al's flirting and is, in fact, flirting back. But they're not flirting - no, definitely not - this is just how Scorpius is. This is just how their very platonic, infuriatingly bromance-y, friendship is. Ugh.

"As much as I would love to stay and third wheel," Rose says tersely, "I have a lot of homework to catch up on."

She starts to get up, and Al looks at her in shock. His jaw drops faster than ever before. He tries desperately not to look at Scorpius, but he can't help himself - he has to know what the reaction to Rose's comment is. So he glances, just quickly, and Scorpius is staring at Rose with the strangest look on his face, one Al has never seen before and can't figure out at all. Then he sees Al looking at him, and quickly looks away. Oh gods. It's so awkward and Al wants to disappear into the floor and never return.

"Take care, Al," Rose says, then she looks at Scorpius. "Try and keep him out of trouble, will you?"

Scorpius nods stiffly, obviously still affected by her previous comment. Al's chest tightens at how clearly uncomfortable Scorpius is, but he tries not to let it show.

"Bye, Rose," Al says, a new edge in his tone. "Thanks for the… homework."

"Anything for you, Albus," she answers with a sickly sweet smile. Then she turns on her heel and leaves. A silent moment passes.

"Scorpius," Albus says, phrasing it like a question even though he doesn't have anything to ask.

"Yeah?" Scorpius replies, finally looking back. It's enough to spur Al into coming up with something on the spot - anything that will help him avoid spilling his guts until he says something he regrets.

"What's it like out there?" Al says quickly.

A new look of worry takes over Scorpius's face, and Al can tell he's deliberating on how much to say.

"It's, er… a little more chaotic than usual."

Al smiles. It's such a careful, diplomatic answer.

"So, rioting in the halls? Gryffindors swinging from chandeliers and Hufflepuffs hiding out in the kitchen? I always knew my near-death would create such mayhem."

Scorpius snorts, rolling his eyes. "Not quite that bad."

"Well then, I am disappointed," Al says dead-pan, a hand on his heart.

"Fair warning, though," Scorpius says carefully, "your 'near-death' triggered a school-wide dorm search. They found recreational Gillyweed in Indra Flint's trunk and he's not exactly thrilled about it."

Al's heart sinks. "Great. Just what we need. Another reason for Flint to hate me."

Scorpius winces a little. "I'm sorry, Al."

"No, nah, it's okay. Nothing I can't handle."

"After everything that's happened, I wouldn't blame you if you couldn't."

"Scorpius. It's fine. I will be fine," he says it a little too forcefully, defensive, but Scorpius chooses not to say anything - and for that, he is grateful. "Right. So. When are we breaking me out of here?"

Scorpius manages a small smile. "Not just yet. Healer's orders. I'm not risking losing you after such a close call."

"And how exactly will you continue to minimise that risk? Track my whereabouts 24/7?"

"That's exactly what I intend on doing."

There's a pause as Albus takes this in and deliberates on which response to go for. Scorpius is bantering, of course, but Al can also tell there's truth to it. Surprisingly, he doesn't feel like skirting around the issue with another joke.

"You know you don't have to do that, right?"

"I know, Al," Scorpius smiles, kind and simple.

And just like that, Al's stomach explodes with butterflies.

How is he supposed to keep his feelings at bay when Scorpius keeps making such sweet and supportive gestures like this? Al has to remind himself that this is just the way Scorpius is - kind-hearted and genuinely wants to help. He doesn't actually want anything more than plain and simple friendship.

Which is a major problem for Albus, because while wants to give Scorpius everything that he could ever want… plain and simple friendship is getting harder and harder to provide as the days go by.


As it turns out, James is not the only person who gets assigned an Auror around-the-clock.

By ten, Scorpius has already been shooed back to their dorm. By eleven, things take a bit of a turn.

Madame Pomfrey enters, and Albus winces in anticipation of whatever disgusting potion she's going to make him take next. But, to his surprise, she's here for a different reason.

Albus is about to open his mouth when he sees the huge older man following her into the private section of the hospital wing.

"Mr. Potter," Madame Pomfrey starts, managing to sound both disinterested and dissatisfied at the same time. "You are free to go. This is Mr. Lenkov. He will be guarding you indefinitely, as per your father's wishes."

The man is literally huge. There is nothing inconspicuous about this guy - he's very obviously a deadly bodyguard, and you could pick him out from a mile away.

Al knows it's rude, but he can't help blurting out: "Why haven't I ever seen you before?"

And yes, while rude, Al thinks it's legitimate question. He's seen all the aurors at one point or another. When they were younger, his family knew James was going to take after their mum and become a Quidditch legend. They were hoping Albus would follow in his dad's Auror footsteps, so Al always got dragged to work and usually sat in on meetings (wherever he was classified to do so, of course). Once Al got into second year and they realised how abysmal his DADA grades turned out to be, the dream died and his dad stopped bringing him along. Still, in that time, he'd become friendly with most of the aurors, and he would absolutely remember if he's seen this guy before. Which he definitely hasn't.

The man barely reacts to his question, just keeps on staring - although his slight and probably-permanent scowl deepens.

"Mr. Lenkov is new to the Auror department. He arrived in England only a few months ago," Madame Pomfrey impatiently explains.

Nothing suspicious about that, Al thinks. But to be fair, his dad isn't stupid. If this guy is being trusted with Al's life, he must be pretty damn good at his job. He certainly looks it, anyway.

"Okay. Great. So now I'm being guarded 24/7, too. Got any other good news for me?"

"Yes. Here are your potions. Take the red ones before breakfast and the black at noon. The black ones will likely induce nausea, so be sure to keep a bucket nearby."

She hands him a sack filled to the brim, with zero compassion. Albus groans. It's going to be a long week.