ScorpiusAlbus

Love-Hate relationship

A/N: Never kiss boys with a cold.

Zzz

Something good…a really, really good prank that would make them wish they were never born.

Scorpius stared up at the ceiling of his room, the beginnings of light filtering through the curtains. He felt another turn of his stomach and raced over to the bathroom.

He'd been up all night because of that damn potion.

There was one spell he remembered reading about once. It made him sick even just thinking about it…if they thought putting slugs in Lily's bag was bad; just wait for this one…

Zzz

James, Seamus, Fred and Albus were behind her, chatting away, while Lily was holding her hand loosely, smiling contently to herself, and Jenny was next to her, chatting about something. Riley and Phil had gone ahead of them with John. For some reason; Albus seemed to be getting up later recently.

They all walked into the great hall together, Jenny waving and heading off to the Hufflepuff table to sit with her friends, and the Gryffindor students walking to the table one over, soon finding the rest of their group.

The first thing she made a note of was how there was a gap between Riley and Phil, the former chatting to John who was in the middle of the rather large gap, the latter calmly eating his food.

Now, she didn't like to over exaggerate things, and one person gap between two people wasn't anything- unless it was these two.

Phil seemed to shift when she came up behind John, giving her a commanding look.

She sat, of course, Lily squeezing in too and dropping into the boy's conversation. Now it was definitely something.

"Hey how are you?" she asked, smiling brightly and picking up some toast.

"Fine, you?"

"Fine, fine…why aren't you sitting next to Riley?"

He smirked. "Straight to the point, aren't you Rose?"

The redheaded girl stuck out her tongue. "No point in beating round the bush."

Her cousin was silent for a few moments, pushing his food round the plate.

"No reason, just didn't feel like it today."

Albus, who was lending an ear, decided to help out. "You don't feel like sitting next to your best friend?"

He glared at his food. "Look, it's nothing, ok? Why don't you bug him about it?"

"This isn't about what happened yesterday before bed, is it?"

The boy sitting next to Rose almost slammed his fists on the table. "That asshole."

She looked panicky at Albus. "What happened?"

The Potter shook his head, sighing. "Nothing…seriously."

Rose raised an eyebrow, looking at the redhead again as he glared at Albus.

"It wasn't nothing- and don't even think of talking about it!"

A stray marauder grin flickered on the other's face. "Oh? Are you embarrassed?"

Phil scoffed. "Just shut up."

Rose decided to divert the subject and engaged Albus in a conversation about the upcoming half term.

Seamus, who had disappeared a few moments before while she was analysing her cousin, sat between James and his brother, holding up his hand. "I have just heard from a disclosed source-" he pointedly looked across the table at a couple of giggling girls. "-That we will be getting a special assignment related to Muggle Studies."

Fred frowned. "We don't take Muggle studies, Seamus. Why does it matter?"

Rose glared. "Well I take Muggle studies."

That shut the boy up.

Seamus cleared his throat and continued. "It does matter; according to my disclosed source it is compulsory! The year groups will be given a different Muggle tradition to look at…or something."

"'Or something', he says," James teased.

The boy pulled a face. "Anyway, that's not all. We'll be paired up with 'people who the teachers think will get us the best grades'...or something."

James sniggered.

"So basically, if we were crappy at Muggle studies, we'll get put with an A-grade student to boost our grade?" Fred questioned. He was confirmed with a nod.

"But they want to mix the houses up."

The three trouble-makers turned slowly and simultaneously to look at the green and silver house.

Rose ripped off a piece of toast and plopped it in her mouth calmly. "You think the teachers will pair any of you with a Slytherin if they want you to get the best grades? That would be foolish."

Albus watched as Riley glanced at Phil, who was still shovelling food into his face, before looking back down at his platter.

When he looked back at Rose, there was a knowing twinkle in her eyes. For some reason, he felt like she knew something he didn't.

Zzz

"Welcome, students," came the airy voice from the front. "Today, rather than doing our normal lesson, I'll be talking to you about your Muggle studies assignment!"

There was a groan from the students who didn't take the subject.

Luna chuckled. "It's compulsory, I'm afraid. And I hope you all have your homework from last lesson, I do believe that's the last we'll be doing on Unicorns."

"Professor," said one Hufflepuff, raising her hand. "Is it true for the assignment we'll be in groups?"

Luna nodded, walking over to the table next to the game keeper's hut and picking up a piece of paper: a register. "It's a pair assignment, though for certain purposes there will be groups of three in some cases- this is only because not everyone can be paired with someone who takes Muggle studies. You'll either be in a pair, one person taking the class, or in a three where no one takes the class."

Another person raised their hand. This time it was a Gryffindor. "Is it true that we're in mixed-house groups?"

The teacher nodded again. "It is."

Albus' head sunk into his shoulders a little and he glanced at his friend Yuna, who was listening to her mother closely. The two had care of magical creatures together, along with a few others Albus was friends with from his house.

"I won't be paired with you then," he said in a hushed tone. The girl looked at him and blinked a few times, before realizing what he meant and smiling warmly.

"I'm afraid not, we both take Muggle studies, don't we?"

He nodded before turning back to the front.

Luna was about to start reading the list.

"Crabbe," she started. "And…Yuna Thomson."

Albus gave his best friend a sympathetic look, but she just giggled. "At least I'll be able to do it how I want; I doubt 'Crabby' will want to do any of the work."

"Jennifer Bella and…John Longbottom."

Yuna looked at the two. She knew them both, Jenny from Rose, and by the look on John's face knew it was going to be a fun assignment for them.

Albus tuned out for a while, looking into the depths of the forest. He could see a black ink that seemed to absorb the trees that were further back and a fog that fell down like a mystical veil onto the forest. He squinted his eyes as the ink moved. Moved? How can it move?

"…Potter."

He head snapped back to the front and he gave out a noncommittal acknowledgement.

Luna smiled softly. "Please bring your head out of the forest, Mr Potter. You'll be paired with Mr Malfoy."

Yuna's shoulders were vibrating somewhat with the suppressed laughter as Albus let this new piece of information settle in. He felt colour fall from his face as it dawned on him he was paired with a Slytherin. He felt far too much colour rise back to his face when he realized he was paired with Scorpius.

His green eyes clashed against the grey ones and his head thumped with the blood that was rushing there.

"Yuna…" he managed in a squeaky voice. The girl stepped forward a little to break the contact and looked at the boy, mirth dancing in her eyes.

"Yes, Albus?"

He shuffled closer to her, wanting to burry himself in the girl's robe. "Hide me…"

Yuna simply smiled and turned back to the front, however her eyes sort out the pair her friend was hiding from.

Grey eyes glistened silver, half amused half disgusted.

Yuna's smile widened.

Zzz

The task is to write a report and/or review on a traditional Muggle performance from a selected country. It cannot be near you in time or place. There needs to be evidence that both parties have taken part in this study.

The library had just stocked up on Muggle books, and if you looked hard enough you were meant to be able to find something useful.

Albus stared at the long line of books in wonder. He didn't need to look that hard to find them…

"Scorpius!" he called. "Which country do you want to do?"

The Malfoy looked up curiously from a book he had his nose in, before shrugging and burying himself in literature again.

Albus' cheeks puffed out a little as he pouted. "Will you work on this thing with me? There are so many books…"

"How am I meant to know what to pick, you do Muggle studies, not me."

Giving up a little, the brunet picked the first three books he saw and walked over to the other male. "What are you reading anyway?"

The book snapped shut and disappeared out of view. "None of your concern."

"Fine, fine- let's just go and get started, ok? The sooner the better…"

"I don't see why you want to start this early. We have ages until its due."

Albus let the books fall on an empty desk with a thud, turning on the other with a glare. "Because I want to get it out the way, rather than having to prolong knowing I have to work with you, now-read!"

Scorpius muttered something about being a 'teacher's pet', but sat down, picking up the first book on the pile.

"You got out three plays."

The green eyed boy sat opposite his partner and picked up another. "I know; we're going to read all three and then decide which we like best."

Malfoy was about to say something else, but decided against it and looked down at the book.

'Trumpets and Raspberries. Dario Fo.'

It seemed more favourable than the one left that was entitled 'Macbeth'.

"I don't see why we have to do this," Scorpius announced, about half way through his play.

"Oh, stop complaining!" Albus shot back, sick and tired of the other boy, wishing Rose was there.

"We're not muggles though, why can't we write a report and review on something more interesting?"

"Look, I don't particularly want to be your partner, nor do I really want to do this, but I am. So put a sock in it, ok?"

"I don't need to listen to you!"

"Look on the bright side: at least you're not a girl anymore?"

That shut him up.

Although it wasn't too much longer that another distraction came along. A very big distraction when it came down to it. Just as their free period was finishing.

James raised a brow. "Albus…Malfoy," he greeted.

The younger brother looked pleadingly up through thin rimmed glasses. "Hey Jamie…" he said.

Taking this as an 'I really need you to do this for me', James looked around uncomfortably.

"Rosie told me you were here…it's almost third period. You should- hey! That's Macbeth!"

All tension in the air disappeared in an instant as James picked up the book with a grinning face. "I remember this play. I found it on our bookshelf at home once! Brilliant read."

"I never knew you read," Albus replied casually.

James glared a little, sitting at the table between the younger boys. He turned to Scorpius with a mischievous look. "You'd like this, pretty-boy. It's about death and murder."

Scorpius looked like he was trying not to look interested, and failing. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really," the older boy replied in a mocking tone before turning to Albus. "I doubt you would like it. I found it a little hard to understand, because of its old English wording."

James dropped the book and sat back, twiddling his fingers in his lap.

"Shouldn't you be in class?" Albus asked, partly because he was curious, mostly because his brother was interrupting his time with Scorpius.

"Yeah," James said. "I should be."

Sighing, the shortest boy at the table went back to his book. Scorpius followed suit when he was sure that James wasn't going to do anything.

Eventually, Albus put his book down and looked directly at his brother. "What is it, James? I know you're not here to hang out."

James looked a bit nervous before sucking in a breath, holding it, and letting it go slowly. He ran his hands through his hair before he finally said something.

But he said it to Scorpius.

"Look, I know that we don't get along- at all, but I think if you're working with my brother, it would be best if we left each other alone for a while."

Scorpius nodded sceptically. "Okay…"

Albus drifted off a little. This was where he would spend the next few weeks working hard with Scorpius on the assignment, and they would become good friends, and James and Fred and Seamus would realize what a bad idea it was to play pranks on each other, and apologize, and Scorpius would do the same, and then they would-

"…Albus, it was nice having you as a brother. I wish you the best of luck, and please don't fall over to the dark side!"

Albus blinked a few times at his brother's face, before dead-panning. "Ha, ha. So funny, I think I'm about to shit kittens."

James grinned and saluted. "Ciao, mi amigos!"

He left just as the bell rang.

Albus stood and caught the Macbeth book at the same time as Scorpius, hands brushing cutely and his face heating up somewhat and the sappiness of it all. The two teens recoiled as if something burnt them.

Scorpius bit his lip, jutting out his fine pointed jaw a little, looking down at the book. "I'll take it-"

Albus' hand flew out to grab it. "You've got that other book to read. The one you were reading earlier…"

"Yeah…thanks," the other said, turning away and stuffing the Dario Fo book away. "See you around, Potter."

Green eyes trailed after the other, pink cheeks warm. He noticed then how defined the other's shape was; perfectly straight and long shoulders, a long neck, pointed chin and nose…

He couldn't help the love-sick sigh that he emitted.

Zzz

It wasn't like she'd done anything. No, she'd never ever done anything to him except be related to his tormentors, but that wasn't exactly her fault, if anything she was there to lessen the torment. And James said he'd already talked to the other boy, and they'd agreed they'd lay off each other for a while.

Maybe he should've been more specific.

It was absolutely disgusting, and if she wasn't too busy puking slugs she might've said something.

"Rosie!" Jenny exclaimed holding her long silky chestnut hair out the way so she could aid her friend without getting too much slime on herself. "Rosie, are you ok?"

Rose felt herself start to feel faintish; she never really liked the horrid creatures.

Jenny stood, determined look in her dark eyes and tied her hair into a knot before gathering the curly red hair of Rose's and holding it back. The usually coloured freckly face was white and sweaty.

"Come on Rosie…let's get you to the medical wing," she said.

Yuna and Albus watched as Rose was led away, and the girl was about to say something before she saw her friend walking forward briskly towards the Slytherin boy.

A loud slap echoed in the hall.

Shocked grey eyes looked down to furious green.

"How could you do something so…so…stupid? I have to work on a project with you, you moron!" Albus shouted, getting even more attention.

Scorpius sneered. "Aren't you meant to be with moaning Myrtle, isn't that what you agreed on when you turned me into a girl?"

Albus glared a little. "Sorry, I'm missing something, weren't you always a girl?"

Seamus entered the scene, Riley jogging by his side. The two joined Albus.

"Just you wait, pretty-boy," Seamus snapped. "You'll wish you'd kept to the agreement."

"I believe the agreement was that we wouldn't hurt each other, Rosie was never mention."

Just as Seamus was about to retort, Albus pressed his forefinger against Scorpius' chest. "I'm asking for another partner, and I expect you to ask for another one too, because I don't care if you get left on your own for the bloody thing. And if we can't get a new partner, you are not going to have any part in the assignment. I'll do it all, because I don't want to have to look at your miserable face ever again."

Albus stormed off, Yuna on his tail. She glanced back just before to look at Scorpius, who was left to the horror of Riley and Seamus. The two could be mean when they wanted to be.

However, as soon as he got to the Headmaster's office, he was met with bad news.

"I'm sorry, but you can't change partners," Professor McGonagall said, looking at the Potter. She heard someone sneer behind her. "Please, don't join this conversation Professor Snape."

"Professor, I can't work with him. Seriously, I refuse!"

"Unless you want to fail, you will work with him, Mr Potter," she said. "I'm sure Mr Malfoy wouldn't like failing either."

"I'd rather fail than work with him…" Albus muttered, glaring at the ground.

The head mistress sighed, shaking her head a little. She stood, walking around the table and placing a bony hand on Albus' shoulder. "Let's go for a walk, Mr Potter."

He allowed himself to be lead away from the office and down the halls to an outside hall. This is where they stopped, looking over the edge to observe the landscape below. They stood in silence for what felt forever.

"Your brother and Mr Malfoy remind me a lot of your parent's godfathers," she said. "Mr Black and Professor Snape could never get along, they always fought."

Albus looked up. "What did you do about it?"

She chuckled. "I didn't do anything. No one did. They never made up, they just constantly snapped at each other's throats and wouldn't let go.

"Now, Mr Black's friend Mr Lupin became a professor at the school the same time as Professor Snape," she explained. "And took the job he wanted. However, Mr Lupin may have been just as bad with Professor Snape as Mr Black, but it succeed he knew he had to look passed that."

"So…you're telling me to look passed whatever it is that makes me angry at Scorpius?"

She smirked. "Well, you obviously don't hate him if you use his name in such a tone."

Albus looked down, horrified.

"Don't turn Black on me, Albus. I don't think I could handle two James'."

And with that, she left.

Rose smiled lightly, face still pale and lips a little blue. "Don't worry about it, Al," she said. "I'll be ok. You just get along with Malfoy, ok?"

Albus frowned. "You're like this with everyone."

She giggled. "What can I say? I'm willing to wait for something good," eyelid slipped over her wet eyes. "They say for ever bad thing there's a good thing. And I hope I'm getting something damn good for going through that."

There was a thunderstorm tonight.

Every thunderstorm, someone would have to comfort Phil. Albus didn't know the ins and outs of it all, but it was something to do with a bad memory.

Just as a loud crash thundered through the room and he saw burning white, he heard someone whimper.

He was half prepared to march over to Riley's bed and thump him round the head. They were being stupid.

He then heard someone shuffle and reached for the curtain edge, pulling it a little. He saw a brunet at Phil's bed, looking at a teddy he was holding.

"P-Phil?" the boy whispered.

No answer.

Riley pointed his wand at the bear and muttered a small 'wingardium leviosa', levitating the toy of the side of the bed.

Then let it drop.

Phil ripped open his curtain, growling a little.

"What, Riley? You think dropping the damn thing on my face changes anything?"

Riley, looked at the floor, pulling off his best kicked-puppy look he had, looking up through light coloured eyes.

"I just thought maybe-"

The room seemed to shake when there was another crash.

Phil dropped the bear and flew into his best friend's arms, which were open wide.

"Shush…" Riley muttered, running his hand through red hair. "Calm down…I'm here."

Albus dropped the red curtain and snuggled back into his sheets, falling asleep with the sound of sobbing and cooing in the background against the thunderstorm.

Maybe Rose was right. Maybe all he had to do was wait.

Zzz