Authors' Note: We are so, so, SO sorry that this has taken so long to update, especailly after that cliffhanger we left you with. As usual, it is completley and utterly Al's fault. She was going to edit together the chapter and she just kind of…forgot. Time got away from her. And then it was Finals Week AND she got sick AND she still didn't have her laptop… Just a bad, bad time for Al to be productive on fanfiction. Now it is SUMMER for Al! Which will hopefully mean more time for her to devote to fanfiction, though it will mean less actual contact between Al & Scor, since the time difference between us will now be 9 hours instead of 6. Ah well. We hope you enjoy this longish chapter.

-Al & Scor

Disclaimer: No one thinks we own Harry Potter anyway!

Chapter Six: Friends Hug, Don't They?

Albus pounded up the steps of the bleachers as fast as his legs could take him. He should have known, when they had all left the locker room together and left him behind to put away the equipment; Scorpius had told him they had threatened to do something awful if he told anyone. And then Albus had gone and opened his big mouth. He should have known, he should have followed them!

"Stop, stop, for Merlin's sake you bastards, STOP!"

He barreled through his surprised teammates, most of whom were occupied with holding Garret away from Scorpius, and fell to his knees beside his prone and bleeding friend. Immediately he knew this was worse than last time. A pool of blood was quickly forming underneath Scorpius's unmoving body, and the breath coming from between his parted lips was barely enough to ruffle the strands of pale hair crisscrossing his face.

"Scorpius! Oh God… Scorpius!" He rounded on his teammates. "Don't just stand there, DO SOMETHING! Help me take him to the hospital wing!

Amanda, Slyvester, and Zach were still holding onto an enraged Garret. Trish was standing there with her hands over her mouth. Aidan Flint stepped forward.

"I'll do it." He pointed his wand at the unconscious blonde. "Mobilicorpius!"

Scorpius's body rose into the air. Aidan started forward, steering Scopius's body in front of him. Albus followed. The two of them passed the journey from Quidditch pitch to hospital wing in silence.

At the infirmary Madam Pomfrey was working with something at her desk. Her gazed turned to the door when they entred. "What is going—Oh Merlin! Dear, get him into the bed, slowly, slowly." she turned to face them "How did this happen?"

"Ask HIM!" funed Albus, boilingi n rage

"My team got...out of hand," said Flint.

Madam Pomfrey looked absolutey horrified as she exsamined the bloody form before her. "YOUR team did this to the poor boy?

Flint sighed. "Yes. I am afraid I have to take a certain amount of responsibility. Bole has diagnosed anger management problems; I let him get out of hand. I apologize."

"Your apologies won't help Scorpius!" said Albus furiously. "How could you do this to him, Aidan! You're a prefect!"

"I didn't—"

"YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE!" screamed Albus. "You are the captain!" He glared at Flint for a few more seconds and then burst into tears.

Madam Pomfrey looked at the two boys. "Now, calm down Mr. Potter. I will be able to heal Mr. Malfoy, but I will have to tell the Headmistress about this and you, Mr. Flint and your other teammates are in big trouble."

Flint bowed his head. "I understand." He put his hand on Albus's shoulder. "Al, I truly am sorry. I never should have let it go that far. I hope eventually you can forgive me."

Albus didn't want to, but he couldn't help it, he buried his face in the front of Aidan's robes. The captain had always been a kind of older brother figure to him, to the entire team. Flint patted him on the shoulder. "You said you will be able to heal him?" he asked the nurse.

Pomfey nodded, "Yes, of course, it might takes some time, though; he is injured rather badly, maybe even leathally if he doesn't get treatment. I have noticed several skin wounds and I don't think I am wrong in thinking that he might have several internal bleedings as well."

Flint nodded once more. "If there's nothing else you need from me, I'll take Albus back to the dungeons and put him to bed. He could probably use a calming draught."

Pomfrey nodded. "Yes, do so. I will take care of young Malfoy..."

Aidan Flint took Albus back to his dormitory, forced him to drink the Calming Draught, and put him to bed. Then he left to find the rest of his team.

*****UTS*****

Albus woke slept soundly all night, thanks to the powerful Calming Draught Flint had forced on him before bed. When he did finally wake up, he sat up, rubbing his head and trying to remember what had happened the evening before after practice. Everything was very fuzzy...

"Hey, mate," said Alec. "Where were you last night? You left for Quidditch practice and then you just kind of disappeared. I saw Trish and the rest of the team, but Flint just told me to get lost. What gives?"

As Alec spoke, Albus went paler and paler.

"Al?" said Alec in concern. "Is something wrong?"

Albus threw off his covers and grabbed his robes, yanking off his pajamas and pulling them on over his head.

"Whoa! Al, where are you going?" asked Alec, grabbing his friend's arms and trying to halt his progress. "What's going on?"

"Scorpius," said Albus. "He got...the team...he's in the hospital wing and it's all my fault, I have to see him."

"Whoa..." said Alec slowly. "Are you saying Malfoy is in the hospital wing? What for?"

"The team," said Albus shortly. "I tried to make them stop, but apparently I only made it worse. I'll tell you more when I know more." He grabbed his bag and hurried out of the common room. He didn't stop by the Great Hall for breakfast, but went straight up to the hospital wing, sticking his head into the room and saying, "Madam Pomfrey?"

The woman turned away from the blonde boy she had been treating and faced Albus. "Ah, Mr. Potter, I though I might see you." She walked over to the dark-haired boy. "I know what you are going to ask, and no, he isn't doing well. He has been throught too much. I am working on in, but if he doesn't become better by tonight we might have to call and ask if he should be moved to St. Mungo's."

Albus took a shaky breath and nodded. "Sorry I lost my composure yesterday. I'm—I'm okay now. Can I see him?"

"Yes of course, come here," she said, taking Albus with her to the blonde. Scorpius Malfoy looked like the living dead, pale and asleep, with bruises and wounds on his angelic face.

Albus sank into the chair next to Scorpius's bed and touched the other boy's hair. "I can't believe my team did this... Who would do this to another person?"

Pomfrey sighted and looked at the two of them, "I am not sure Potter, one must be pretty messed up to actually harm someone like this. Unfortunately it happens all too often."

Albus rubbed his eyes. "I knew that Garret had anger issues, but I didn't realize they were this bad. Scorpius didn't do anything to them!" he said in frustration. "I should have gone to Professor McGongall as soon as he told me they were picking on him..."

"How long has it been going on? Do you know, Potter?"

Albus hesitated. "I...he said...since near the beginning of our second year..." he mumbled, staring at the floor.

Even after everything that had happened, there was still a part of him that cried out for him not to betray his team.

"Merlin! That long? And he has done nothing to stop it?" The elderly woman looked shocked.

Albus kept his gaze fixed on the floor as he said, "He told me they said they'd do...something to him if he told anyone, wouldn't tell me what. Probably this." He kicked the side of the bed. "This is all my fault! He told me not to talk to them about it, but I just had to go and open my big mouth... I guess I thought he was exaggerating or...or...I don't know! They're my team!"

Madam Pomfrey sighed ."I am sure it will be alright, Mister Potter. In a few days he will recover, the Headmistress will talk with the team and we shall hope this never occurs in this scool ever again," she said has she soaked Scorpius's forehead with a cloth. "He has a fever." she informed Albus.

Albus touched Scorpius's cheek. It was fever-warm. A familiar stinging sensation came to his eyes and he sniffled. "Why am I such a bloody crybaby?" he mumbled in annoyance, dashing the tears away from his rapidly blurring eyes. "Why does he have a fever?" he asked the nurse. "Is he sick?"

"I think his body had a bit too much and he seems to have been carrying a small seed of illness which awoke due to stress. He will be fine, but he might take a couple weeks to recover propely."

Albus bit his lip. "Can I stay here? In case he wakes up? I don't have anything to do today besides homework and Quidditch practice, and I'm sure that'll be cancelled after...this."

"Yes, of course. I must attend a meeting so that is fine."

Albus nodded. "Alright, thank you. I promise I won't touch anything. I'll just sit here and do my homework." He pointed to his schoolbag, which he had tossed on the floor near his chair.

"Yes, you do that, I'll inform Proffessor Darin that you'll stay here," she said before leaving the two boys alone.

Albus nodded and settled himself back in the chair with his homework, trying not to look over at Scorpius's unconscious, bruised, and feverish form on the bed beside him too often.

Albus was reading about the most prominent figures in Transfiguration during the ninteenth centurey when Scorpius groaned weakly and moved a bit under the sheets.

Albus started, dropping his Transfiguration textbook. "Scor?"

Scorpius slowly opened his grey eyes; it took them some seconds to focus, but the first thing that he saw clearly was Albus Severus Potter. Which in truth was a nice sight to wake up to.

"Scor!" Albus grabbed his hand, grinning. "You're awake! How do you feel?"

Scorpius managed a short laugh, which sounded more like a cough. "Dreadful" he replied. "But better than dead..."

Albus opened his mouth, and once he did he found he couldn't stop the flow of words that came. "Scor, I am so, so sorry, this is all my fault, you told me not to say anything to them, but I did, and then this happened, and I wasn't there to stop it, I never thought they'd do something like this, I thought I knew them, I should have listened to you, I should never have opened my big mouth, I should have been there—"

"Al... Albus, it's fine, really." Scorpius gave him a weak smile. "How were you to know…? I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself." The blonde sighed deeply.

"It isn't fine," said Albus vehemently. "What they did to you was awful,Scor." He fidgeted in his chair for a moment, as though unsure of something. Finally he blurted out, "Would it be really weird if I hugged you?"

"I…I think not. Friends hug don't they? Not that I'd know too much about that spesific area, but… No, Albus it wouldn't be weird." In truth, he waned Al to hug him; he waned to have the other boy close to him…

Albus smiled lopsidedly and bent down to hug his friend, carefully, so as not to aggravate his injuries. "You're gonna be okay, you know," he said, after he had released him. "Madam Pomfrey says you might be in here for a couple weeks, but you'll be fine. You're pretty banged up now, though. And you've got a fever."

Scorpius nodded solemly. "I know…but that means I can't go to the Halloween Ball…" The blonde tried to not think too much about the other boy, it would only make his head even more dizzy.

Albus hadn't thought about this. In fact, all thoughts of the ball had completely flown his mind after yesterday's events. "You don't know that for sure," he said. "You could be better by then. Besides," he added. "I'm not even sure I'm going anymore."

"Why not?" Scoripus gave him a shocked look. "I thought you were looking forward to it?"

Albus let out a kind of half laugh and ran his hand through his messy black hair. "Well, I don't exactly have anyone to go with now, do I?"

"What about... Trish?" Scorpius asked. He briefly remembered the girl trying to make Bole stop yesterday. Though he still wasn't too fond of her.

Albus looked at Scorpius as if he had grown an extra head. "You think I'm going to go to the ball with her after what happened yesterday? Did Bole rattle your brains?"

"Qute possible…" the blonde said. "But Al, you have to go; since I might not I want you to at least enjoy the event."

Albus shook his head. "We don't know if you're going to be able to go or not. We'll talk about it next week, okay? Closer to the date." He cocked his head, looking rather like an inquisitive bird. "Are you hungry or thirsty or anything? Madam Pomfrey's in a meeting, but she should be back soon I think."

"No I am fine…considering my condition…" the slim boy said, closing his eyes and leaning back in the bed.

Albus bit his lip and touched the other boy's shoulder. "You're in a lot of pain, aren't you?"

"I am a horrible liar, so yes…I am," the blonde nodded, eyes still closed. His fair blonde hair covered his pale, slim face.

Albus bit his lip harder, willing himself not to cry. It didn't work. A couple tears escaped his eyes and ran down his cheeks. He sniffled, hoping the boy on the bed wouldn't notice. "I—er—could go and try to find Madam Pomfrey if you like," he said in a thick voice.

"No, just…stay here a bit longer," the blonde said slowly, "Unless you have something else you'd rather do, of course."

"N-no," croaked Albus, still trying valiantly not to cry; he knew once he started it would be almost impossible for him to stop. "I don't have—have anything else to do." He felt the tears coming hard and fast and turned his face away from the bed.

"Why are you crying, Al?" Scorpius had opened his grey eyes and was now looking at the black haired boy.

"I-I'm not c-crying," sniffled Albus, completely unconvincingly.

Scorpius sat up in the bed and put a slim hand on Al's cheek. "I can see the tears, Albus," he said, gently "What made you cry?"

At Scorpius's touch, Albus broke down completely, burying his face in his hands. "I'm s-sorry, I shouldn't be c-c-crying, it's you who's h-h-hurt, n-not me. I'm such a c-c-cryb-baby…"

"No you're not, Al, you're just not…used to see people having it this way." Scorpius said, feeling his heartbeat increase when Al's face came in better contact with his hand.

"No," said Al, still sniffling. "I really am a crybaby. James's been telling me so for years. Even Lily cries less than me."

"No shame in that though…I used to cry to after…you've seen it…" Scorpius said. "The only reason I don't anymore is because I am too used to it."

"Scor," said Albus, "who wouldn't cry having that stuff done to them? I certainly know I would. I'm crying just seeing it done to you!" He made a face. "I'm a rotten Slytherin."

"All Slytherin's are, it's a fact," he said, giving him another smile. "Don't worry about me Al, I'll be fine."

Albus wiped his eyes and smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Of course you will. Sorry for crying all over you." He slung an arm around Scorpius's shoulders. "If Madam Pomfrey comes in and finds you sitting up and talking to me she's liable to throw me out. She can be kind of…touchy," said Albus, rolling his eyes.

Scorpius nodded. "Yes she is." He leaned back into the bed. "So Saturday…and I have nothing to do. Al, could you do me a favour?"

"Of course," said Albus quickly. "Anything."

"Can you get my bag? I need to write that Artimancy essay…"

"You want to do your Arithmancy essay now?"

"Of course, what else can I do? I am stuck here and—" Scorpius groaned weakly.

"Scor?" said Albus in alarm. "Scor, what is it? What's wrong?"

"My chest hurts…" the blond managed to say, "Bole kicked me…rather hard…"

Albus bit his lip. "Can I, erm, can I see?"

"I...I guess..." For some reason the idea of Albus seeing him without his shirt on made his heart beat faster, much faster.

Carefully, Albus reached out and unbuttoned the top few buttons of Scorpius's shirt. "Oh-oh Scor…" Albus swallowed. Scorpius's chest was one great, mottled bruise. Some of the flesh was actually caved in, as though the bones underneath had been broken. Albus reached out and gently touched his fingers to the injured flesh, his vision blurring once more.

Scorpis hissed weakly, as Albus touched his wounded chest. "Ngh… Al, it hurts… " The boy closed his eyes halfway in agony.

Albus snatched his hand back, looking distressed. "Sorry, sorry Scor, I'm sorry!"

"It's…fine," Scorpius hissed, bitting his teeth together.

"No, no, no," said Albus, shaking his head. "It's not fine. How can you even breathe like that?" He stood up. "Just…just wait there, okay?" He ran over to Madam Pomfrey's medical freezer and pulled out an ice-pack. He wrapped it in a towel and hurried back to the bed. "I'm not working totally in the dark here, Scor, just so you know," he said, sitting back in his chair. "I have an aunt who's a healer at St. Mungo's. Now," he added, "this is going to hurt more before it hurts less, so you can squeeze my hand if you want." He held out his left hand to Scorpius and used his right to press the ice-pack to Scorpius's battered chest, making sure to avoide putting pressure on the worst of the injury.

The blonde hissed as the cold ice met his skin, squeezing hard around Albus' hand.

Albus squeezed back. "I'm sorry Scor, really I am. Focus on my hand, the pain should be less soon."

The blonde's hand trembeled a bit, and held tighter. "S—sorry if I hurt you, Albus…" he said, trying to ignore the cold, stining pain

Albus bit his lip. It did hurt, but it was nothing to what Scorpius had to be experiencing right now. "No, it's fine, you're not hurting me. Is it any better now?"

"A bit, and you're not such a good liar yourself, Al." Scorpius let go of his hand slowly, revealing the red cresent marks left by his fingernails.

Albus smiled sheepishly. "Well…maybe it hurt just a little. Tell you what I'm not lying about though," he said, flexing his recently freed hand, "you are not working on your essay right now."

Scorpius smirked. "How clever you are… Yes you're right, I am not..."

Albus rolled his eyes. "I meant you're not going to be working on your essay any time soon either." He reached up and felt Scorpius's forehead. "Ouch, Scor, you've got some fever."

Scorpius nodded weakly, shivering a bit under his touch. "I know." he said "But what can be done about it? I just hope it won't get worse so they call Father."

Albus looked at him curiously, hand still resting on his forehead. "Scor, they're going to have to call your father, you got attacked!"

"I know, Al. but…" The blonde sighed. "Then he'll know how bad I have it here and transfer me to Dumstrang."

"But—but I don't want you to go to Durmstrang!" said Albus. Then he realized how selfish that sounded. "I-I mean, of course, if it's better for you..."

"No, you are right, and I don't want to go there either, but after this, if he get's to know that I have been beathen..." the blonde's eyes darkened. He let out a weak sigh.

"Don't worry about it now," said Albus decisively. "You're not going anywhere until you're feeling a good deal better."

Scorpius nodded. "I guess not…" The blonde closed his eyes, gripping Albus' hand again; he clearly was in pain from the harsh treatment he had received.

"Scor?" said Albus in alarm. "What is it? What hurts?"

"Still…my chest…" gasped the blonde boy. "Mostly my lungs. Merlin, Bole must have kicked me hard…" He tried to smile but it wasn't very successful.

"Bastard," muttered Albus. "Garret, not you. Don't talk, okay?" He raised his voice. "Hey! Can someone help us? We need help! Is anyone around here? Madam Pomfrey?"

A Rawenclaw prefect, a girl named Alta Jaydon came in. "Is there a problem?" she asked Albus before she noticed Scorpius. Then, "Oh, I'll go inform Madam Pomfrey."

"Please do," said Albus without taking his eyes from Scorpius.

The girl ran down the corriodor. "Al?"

"Yes, Scor?"

"Doesn't it hurt?" He asked nodding at their hands; he was still holding Albus's, his nails into the other boy's palm, making more red marks

"Oh," said Albus, who had honestly forgotten about Scorpius's hand gripping his own. "Yeah, I guess. I don't mind though, really."

"If you're sure." Scorpius said.

Shortly afterward Madam Pomfrey came in. She gave both boys a look. "What is wrong?"

Albus looked up at the nurse. "He woke up," he said. "But he's in a lot of pain. His chest…" He lifted the ice off of Scorpius's skin.

The skin was still red and bruised. "I see, let me see which of the painkilling charms I know will do best, dear boy," said the nurse. Scorpius smiled weakly, looking at Albus. Why in Merlin's name did this boy have to be so…so pretty?

Albus smiled back, squeezing Scorpiuis's hand before retreating to allow Madam Pomfrey to do her job. When he thought Scorpius's attention was occupied by the nurse he shook out his hand, wincing.

Madam Pomfrey looked up, taking notice of Albus's hand. "Dear boy, what happened to your hand?"

"Erm..." said Albus, glancing involuntarily at Scorpius.

Madam Pomfrey followed his gaze. "Hmm... I guess it must have hurt quite a bit for you to make such marks Mister Malfoy, they will heal though. But you'll have to stay in bed for the rest of October."

"It's not his fault," said Albus quickly. "I told him to do it. You should probably give him a potion to help him sleep," he added. "He's been awake since pretty soon after you left."

"I will, now you should go outside in this fine autumn weather."

Albus bit his lip, hesitating. "I…I guess… I'll be back later, okay, Scor? Sleep well." He smiled his lopsided smile.

"Yes, see you around, Albus."

Thanks for reading! We appreciate and reply to all your reviews. Well, we appreciate all of them, we reply to the signed ones when the user hasn't deactivated PMs :P

Until next time :)

-Al & Scor