A/N: Hi, sorry it has been so long! I officially now have my new computer! (The last one I couldn't turn on anymore, sadly.) :) I am also now employed and am expecting my first baby! But, alas, I am back! :) Please enjoy!
Chapter Seven: The Hospital Wing
Albus opened his eyes slowly, squinting at the harsh bright light around him. His eyes were like windows to his heart, being very expressive. First they looked dazed, but suddenly they changed to confused and nervous. He sat up quickly in the bed he was in and looked around, his head spinning. He eyes finally settled on a particular blond sitting next to his bed. Scorpius.
"Welcome back." the blond quipped with a smirk. Albus blinked. Welcome back? His confusion showed on his face, so the blond decided to elaborate for him. "You're in the hospital wing. You uh- you weren't awake for a while."
"Wasn't awake? What do you-!" Albus suddenly remembered! Scorpius and he was bringing Louis to the hospital wing when they were stopped by some Slytherins! "Did we get beat to a pulp! You're eye is black!" Albus almost jumped out of bed to check his mate over, but the blond quickly pushed him back down firmly by his shoulders.
"Calm down! And no, besides my black eye, we didn't get beat to a pulp. You... kinda fainted."
Albus looked at his mate for a long while, letting the idea of fainting soak in. "I fainted."
"Yup, went down hard to. Your head must be made of stones."
"I fainted.."
"Um, yea, did you hit your head? You're repeating yourself there, Al." Scorpius teased. Albus began turning red, his blush settling across his cheeks quickly. Here he was sitting in the hospital wing because he had fainted, while his best mate sat across from him fine with a black eye from his fight!
"OH MY MERLIN! I FAINTED! I'M GOING TO BE A LAUGHING STOCK!" Albus covered his face with his hands. "How could I have fainted in front of a bunch of Slytherins! They'll never let me live this down! So.. you took them all on by yourself?" Al looked up at the smirking blond. Scorpius couldn't help but lean back in his chair and enjoy his air of awesomeness.
"Well, I wish I could lie and say yes, but.." Unfortunately, his air of awesomeness could only last a few moments. Scorpius smirked nonetheless. He did make it through the fight with only one black eye.
"That's right, Malfoy. Don't forget to mention my help." Albus looked over to his right to see Teddy sitting up in the bed next to his. He hadn't noticed him earlier during his daze. He blushed again. "Yup, I ran across you bunch when I was rushing to the lavatory. By then, both Louis and you were a puddle on the ground, and Scorpius was trying to verbally attack those Slytherins." Scorpius frowned at that last statement, but remained quiet. "He made it out almost unscathed. I took more of the punches." Teddy said, pointing to his bruised face. "But it was so worth it, kicking Slytherin arse. They ran away like a bunch of girls."
"That's right! We totally owned them!" Scorpius exclaimed, the idea of being the victorious in a fight was elating.
"Oh, thank you." Albus said quietly. He looked down at his hands in his lap. His almost-brother had come to their rescue. And his best mate had stayed to fight even though he was totally out numbered. Wow.
"Oh! You're awake!" Everyone looked up at the old medi-witch as she crossed the room to Albus. She started checking over him without a word. Finally she stepped back and huffed. "I can't understand this. It's the first day of school and you're already getting into trouble. You're too much like your father. He practically lived up in this hospital wing." Madam Pomfrey said, shaking her head. Albus lowered his head in shame. He didn't like being compared to his father, especially when it was used as an excuse for why he always got into trouble. "I was told you fainted in the corridor, but you have two black eyes and some bruises and a split lip. I already have been told about why half of the Gryffindors and Slytherins are covered with freckles, too, if you must know. I'm not pleased in the least." Albus didn't look up at the witch even though he was taken aback. This was the first time for him to meet this witch and she was already treating him like his mother! "So, who gave you the black eyes?"
"Um.."
"I'll need words for an answer."
"It's nothing important. Just a tumble with my brother." Albus tried to not cringe at his admission. He felt like his was ratting out his brother.
"James? Imagine that. Potters, you never learn." With that she turned toward Teddy to look him over. "You can stay here and rest," she told all the boys, "but you'll have to return to the dorms tonight." She clicked her tongue in annoyance at Teddy's bruises before turning to walk away in a huff.
"Wait, do we get something for our bruises?" Teddy asked, sounding hopeful.
"Why should I waste my potions on voluntary tumbles and corridor fights? You all need to learn your lessons. Heal naturally. Besides, I wouldn't want to waste your opportunity at showing off your battle wounds to your other housemates."
"Wow, she's really in a mood today." Teddy said once the witch was out of hearing range (in her office). Scorpius quietly agreed. Albus still looked ashamed. He really had spent his entire first day at Hogwarts getting into trouble. My parents are going to murder me! And here I am dragging Scorpius and Louis into my-
"Oh!" Albus looked up and around quickly. "Where's Louis!" He didn't see the petite boy anywhere in the room. Hadn't he come to the hospital wing with them?
"Oh, that sexy petite thing we were carting here?" Scorpius asked teasingly. Albus glared for Louis' honor. "Right, well, he woke up a bit ago. He's out getting us some food seeing how we will be missing dinner later."
"Oh."
"Yup, the little runt seems to be happy he wasn't the only one who fainted." Teddy said with a deep chuckle. Albus hung his head in shame again. He couldn't believe he fainted either. Fate really was trying to toy with him. "Oy, can't believe I'm almost related to you bunch. Though, your dad," Teddy nodded towards Albus, "told me about the time he fainted twice in one year. He said it was because of dementors, but that's much cooler than freaking out about a fight."
"You're related to me though!" Scorpius beamed, ignoring the stab Teddy had made toward the brunette. Albus raised an eyebrow in question.
"He is?" Albus asked, also choosing to ignore Teddy. He'd find some way to deal with him later. Especially for that comparison comment. How was his favorite almost-brother related to his best mate?
"Yeah, a lot of pure-blooded families are related to one another. His grandmother is my grandmother's sister." Scorpius said, matter-of-factly. "So, I'm like your almost-cousin!"
"Eww, no, that's too weird! I prefer you just as my best mate." Albus said, trying to imagine Scorpius as his cousin. He couldn't. He couldn't possibly imagine Scorpius playing quidditch with his brother and his cousins. Or Scorpius sleeping over at the Burrow during the holidays. Or Scorpius just being around his parents! How would they accept the youngest Malfoy?
"Aww.. that's not nice, Lil Sev." Scorpius said, bringing Albus out of his thoughts.
"Lil Sev?" Teddy asked in the background, but was ignored.
"Well, that's like saying your brother is your best mate? It's uncool." Albus couldn't imagine bragging that James was his best mate. I'd rather die. He shuddered at the thought and looked back at the pouting blond. "Besides, best mate is an awesome title."
"Maybe I could be like your dad.."
"Huh?"
"Your dad. He married his best mate's little sister."
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM LILY!" Albus felt his older brother protectiveness grow instantly. No way in hell his little sister was dating anyone anytime soon! But Scorpius was rolling in laughter. Even Teddy was chuckling quietly to himself. "I'm serious!" Albus tried to look scary, but nothing he did subsided the laughter in the room.
"I'm not! Besides.." Scorpius leaned over toward Albus to whisper into his ear. "I'd take Louis over Lily any day. He's much sexier~" Scorpius couldn't imagine a more crimson Albus if he tried. He was doing the Weasley in him proud by how red his skin glowed.
"!"
"Wow, no objections?" Scorpius asked triumphantly. Teddy looked on curiously, he had no idea what the blond had whispered, but it definitely undid Albus at the seams.
"Y-YES!" Albus spluttered. He couldn't grasp a single coherent thought. "Y-you st-stay away f-from Louis!"
"Did you really? You threatened Louis' chastity?" Teddy asked, totally laughing at this point. "I think I'm starting to like you, Malfoy." The two shook hands and laughed at the mess that was called Albus Severus Potter. It didn't take long for the silvery-blond to return to the hospital wing with an assortment of turkey and ham sandwiches. He trotted along happily, unaware of the small exchange from earlier. Albus couldn't look his cousin in the eyes without turning a dark crimson and thinking awful thoughts. Scorpius looked like the Malfoy he was with the smirk that didn't seem to want to leave his lips. Teddy looked smug, seeing as he knew something interesting that the fourth party did not. Louis sighed to himself, he was always left out of the jokes. He didn't understand why everyone was acting so.. very much like themselves.
"Enjoy." Louis said as he distributed the goods. All the boys dug in with their horrendous appetites. "Boys." Louis muttered and rolled his eyes.
"So, how long til we have to meet up with your father?" Albus asked, he was leaning up against the pillows, patting his full stomach happily after he had finished his turkey sandwich. He had decided to ignore Teddy and Scorpius' rude humor and think about more important things. But Teddy was looking at him oddly now.
"You're going to meet up with Draco Malfoy? Are you nuts, Al?" Teddy asked. "He hates our family's guts."
"He hates my dad. He might not *like* me, but he's not bound to hate me..?" Albus looked unsure towards Scorpius, who was getting uncomfortable in his chair beside the bed. The blond shrugged his shoulders as he squirmed around a bit.
"I don't know. It's not like I've invited a Potter over for tea before. I'm playing a new game of chess here."
"You should probably avoid him." Teddy wasn't convinced in the least. Harry had told him about the stories of Draco Malfoy as a boy at Hogwarts. The man was bad news. Even if he's son was an oddball for a Malfoy.
"He'll be okay. Everyone likes Albus, except for James and probably all of Slytherin." Louis piped up, he was lounging across the end of Teddy's bed, happily teasing Teddy's toes under the blanket. (Teddy had long ago stopped trying to correct Louis' odd behaviors). Albus groaned, thinking again about how he'd have to live with the knowledge that he, a Potter, fainted in front of three Slytherins. Scorpius looked over at the silvery-blond boy.
"What the hell are you doing?" Okay, so Teddy and Albus were used to the odd boy, but Scorpius was not. Seeing a boy play with another boy's toes was just down-right weird.
"What does it look like? I'm checking his pedicure." Louis said innocently.
"His... pedicure?"
"It's a muggle thing, Scorp." Albus said, "Muggles sometimes paint their nails. Louis likes to paint everyone's nails."
"I do indeed. I don't see why you shouldn't take care of them." Louis nodded. Teddy rolled his eyes, and Scorpius looked disgusted.
"Well, he's been forbidden to paint my fingernails. So, he has compromised full reign over my toes." Teddy said. "I don't want to advertise that my weird almost-cousin has been doing my nails."
"Come on, you love it when I paint your nails. I especially like trying to keep up with your many hair colors." Louis said, beaming with happiness. Scorpius turned back to his best mate. He decided that the little one was just a little too weird for him at the moment. He shifted a little more before decided that his chair was too much for him as well. The next best thing was to invite himself to Al's comfy looking bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Move over. My arse is killing me." Scorpius pushed the brunette over, giving him room to settle in next to him at the headboard. "So..." Scorpius looked over at the glaring brunette and smirked. "Do you let Louis paint your toes, too?"
"I - uh, seriously? That's what you want to know? And you never answered my question from earlier!" Albus was blushing again, (he swore he needed to discover a glamour that covered up overactive face pigmentation).
"All in good time, so, let's see 'em."
"See who?"
"Your toes."
"Oo, let's! I need to see if I need to redo them!" Louis said, he happily bounced over and reached for Albus' feet, who quickly hugged his legs to his chest protectively.
"No! Go away! You just did them four nights ago!" He even tried to curl his toes to protect their dignity, but with both Scorpius and Louis pulling on him and his socks, he didn't have much choice but to let them see his shining midnight blue nails. Louis excitedly looked over his handy work and approved before hopping back to Teddy's bed. But Scorpius stayed quiet as he examined Albus' toes. "Don't say a word." Albus growled under his breath, he quickly put on his stolen socks again.
"I wasn't.. they .. uh, they look nice like that." It was barely a whisper.
"Don't let Louis hear that, you'll be his next vic-"
"Really? You think so? Oh! I know just the color for you, too!" Louis exclaimed, he jumped up quickly. trying to invade Scorpius' personal space. Scorpius tried to hide himself behind Albus, but that would never stop the hurricane known as Louis from approaching. He grabbed the boy's hand and looked over his empty canvases. "I'll definitely do you in Mermaid's Tears! Oh! Tonight!"
"What?" Scorpius sounded weak as he tried to free himself.
"I'll do your nails tonight at eight. And no, you can't back out of it!"
"But-"
"No, I won't take no for an answer. You like Al's, and I know you'll love what I'll do to you."
"Whoa, Louis, that sounds wrong." Teddy said as he tried to calm the growing storm by leading the boy away from the frightened teen. "Take it easier, he's still a virgin at this." Scorpius wanted to die! No way was Louis painting his nails like a muggle! Even if they looked nice on Al! No way! He was still a Malfoy, and he still had his pride! Albus couldn't help but laugh and feel sorry for his mate. There really was no force able to stop Louis from painting his toes now. Not after his ultra amazing hearing heard that compliment.
A/N: Yes, I didn't reach Draco yet.. somehow I got caught up into this little hospital scene. (but next chapter is Draco's for sure). ^_^ I had too much fun thinking about Louis this past go. Draco is my also on my mind (and his wife). Don't worry, I won't let y'all down, I have something extra sneaky up my sleeves. ;)
Also, thanks to the following: JuicyPumpkin, Lizzy0308, MaxisCraZ, HPfan4ever (), thewateryfiredrummer, Hollibell, and Sunny Book Lover! :D I enjoy seeing the adds and comments! Thank y'all so much!
:) I know y'all are waiting for Snape and Draco and Harry's reactions to some stuff, I promise you'll love what's coming. I also see James as being the spoiled son, as he is Harry's first biological child. Lily will also be spoiled because she's the first girl and the youngest. Middle children just don't get spoil (I should know!) :) But that's why Teddy and Albus like each other so much.
