A Match Made In Hell
Disclaimer: All but the original characters and scenarios are JK. Rowling's , although I do dearly wish Malfoy was mine.
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These days of darkness,
Which we've known,
Will blow away with this new sun.
I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
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Chapter 4- Considering Potter
That evening, there was a definite tension in the air, as people anxiously awaited the evening meal. Scorpius Malfoy was one of those people, not that one could tell.
If one chose to observe him, they would see the boy strut arrogantly around the castle, occasionally shouting insults and slyly shooting spells at attractive girls. Pretty much his normal routine, in other words.
But internally, Scorpius Malfoy was a mess. Apart from being awash with nerves every time he remembered the Triwizard Tournament, he was also confused by something, and spent a large portion of the day puzzling over it.
Albus Potter and he had hated each other for 11 years. Fact.
After his father had bumped into Harry Potter in Diagonal Alley after 13 years of separation, Draco had extended the hand of friendship. In turn, five year old Scorpius was forced to attend the younger Potter boy's fifth birthday party.
He could clearly recall being timid and not knowing anyone. So he decided to draw attention to himself, by riding a toy broomstick right into young Albus Potter.
The two had descended into their first brawl of many, and had wrenched away by their equally apologetic fathers. Both were disgraced. But ever since they had hated the other's despicable guts.
-.-
Scorpius had been perfectly content with ignoring Potter for a few blissful weeks. Potter had crossed a line and put him in unimaginable pain. Scorpius did not wish to dirty himself by associating himself with that kind of person, and had put their rivalry on hold, much to the other boy's obvious bewilderment.
But after a few weeks, he began to miss the easy distractions Potter had provided him with. Duels between classes. Glares during them. Life had been more fun.
Today, Scorpius had permitted himself to look fully at the boy for the first time in weeks, and was more than a little shocked when Potter had stripped off his jumper at breakfast. His muscles were clear through the thin shirt underneath, and it gave Scorpius a peculiar feeling he couldn't put a name to.
Meeting Potter's eyes, he couldn't resist smirking at his shocked, open-mouthed expression. But it has puzzled him, particularly as Potter turned away looking exhilarated. Scorpius would rather die than admit it, but it intrigued him to end, and he had been pondering the meaning of the look all day.
-.-
The Great Hall was filled with a low buzz of voices. There was no apparent need to whisper, the Headmistress had not even arrived yet, but it seemed appropriate to the students.
Albus and Louis were discussing what they thought the first task might be. Albus felt physically sick, and his palms were clammy. He kept glancing every few seconds at the Great Hall doors, when at last they burst open, and a silence immediately fell.
Fred and James were laughing loudly, seemingly unaware of the entrance, deserving a loud "shush!" from Rose Weasley.
Every eye in the hall was on Professor McGonagall as she strode purposefully down the hall, carrying the Sorting Hat. She set it down on the stool, and turned to face the students.
"I am sure you do not need me to tell you what will happen now. Please remain quiet until a champion is announced. The champions could immediately proceed to the trophy room after shaking hands with me."
Minerva McGonagall resisted the urge to laugh at the students' wide eyes looks. Her lips twitched.
"And the first champion will be..." she announced, staring at the hat.
After a few seconds, the hat bristled, and the student body drew in a collective breath.
"Baddock, Jennifer!"
An extremely pretty seventh year Ravenclaw girl stood up, to tumultuous applause. She strode down the hall, beaming and retreated to the trophy room.
"It won't choose another one from Ravenclaw will it?" Albus heard Liam Finnigan question. He shook his head uncertainly, not daring to open his mouth, for fear of being sick.
Once the noise had died down, the hat opened its mouth ("Was that the right word?" Albus wondered) to speak again.
"Malfoy, Scorpius!"
Albus felt like a brick wall had hit him. Scorpius?! Hogwarts champion? He performed the familiar flick of his eyes to the boy's seat. He looked triumphant, but not surprised, his grey eyes sparkling.
Albus remembered his sister telling him Scorpius was the Slytherin's favourite to be a champion. The hall burst into applause, and cheers from the Slytherin table.
He couldn't look away from the tall, slender boy, as he strutted down the hall, looking every bit like he owned the place. His strut would have been comical on anyone else, but it suited his haughty manner.
Scorpius' head was held up high, as he looked straight ahead, not even turning to look at his friends. He only broke his stare as he approached the end of the hall.
His head whipped round to look at Albus, who's heart had gone into overdrive. He narrowed his eyes to give his usual look of "I-wish-I-could-feed-you-to-a-live-hippogriff" but was as surprised as the rest of the school when Scorpius WINKED at him, and left.
Albus blushed a deep crimson, to his utmost horror. Whispered conversation broke out everywhere.
"Did he wink?..." "..Albus Potter.."
"...thought they were enemies.." "Maybe they're going out?..."
"Al?" whispered Louis frantically "What's going on? Why did he wink? Why are you blushing? Are you two...?"
Albus' head snapped up. "No we are not. We hate each other's guts. He's trying to mess with me, taunt me that he's a champion and I'm not. "
His friends nodded, as if in understanding. Fred Weasley nudged James.
"One person left! One Ravenclaw, one Slytherin, must be a Gryffindor left.. Not going to be a Hufflepuff is it?" The surrounding people laughed at the idea. "Nah, this one's you Jamesy!"
James shrugged modestly. Albus agreed, this competition was practically made for his brother. He watched the hat for the final time, unaware that he was shaking, or that a lone figure stood watching him with fingers crossed, from the door to the Great Hall.
The hat opened up near the brim, and hollered-
"Potter-"
"It'll be James." Was the simultaneous thought the school had.
"-Albus!"
Albus' heart stopped. No exaggeration. There was a moment of dead silence, before the hall erupted into cheers. He sat, frozen and mute, staring at an equally shocked James. He was aware of Louis thumping in on the back, cheering.
"Well, off you go then, champ!" He yelled , pulling Albus to his feet. Albus dazedly walked to shake Professor McGonagall's hand, not noticing the cheers and claps as he went. He stumbled blindly out into the Entrance Hall, and walked straight into someone.
"Congratulations, Potter." said a quietly gleeful voice.
Scorpius Malfoy finally uncrossed his fingers behind his back, and grinned at Albus like a cat who'd got the cream.
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