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. Oh and the title of this chapter is William Shakespeare's from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
...
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong.
The lovers that went wrong.
Youth - Daughter
...
Chapter Eight - So Quick Bright Things Come To Confusion
It didn't take long for Violet Parkinson to find out.
And boy, was she angry.
But she was a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor she reminded herself. Storming Scorpius would not be beneficial. She would have to be underhand and sneaky if she was to stop this... whatever it was.
She compiled a list of everything she would need, insuring she would be done just in time for the first event, on October 31st. She may have to cut a few corners to be done in time, but really what would that matter? This was for the greater good.
.-.
As for Scorpius and Albus, things were going swimmingly. Twenty days had passed since their first kiss, and their private relationship was both tentative and (although neither said this) slightly beautiful.
Over the last few days, Scorpius had consciously been trying to distance himself from Albus - he was a tempting distraction and Scorpius needed to focus with all his might on the first task.
Especially as he couldn't become too emotionally invested, when (if the time came) he would betray Albus in a heart beat.
Albus had been doing the same, aware of the Slytherin's tactics. But he still missed Scorpius, and told Louis so the night before the first task.
"I don't know why you're getting so involved in a relationship,"-Albus winced-"based on lies and underhand tactics. Passionate it may be, but you know that it can't possibly last. Don't bother caring for him, please." he pleaded, unleashing his full Veela charm.
Albus scowled into the fire.
"Doesn't mean I can't miss his company."
His moody thoughts were disrupted when Liam Finnigan and a number of other Gryffindors pounced on him, yelling things like, "Good luck champ!" "Here's our champion!" and less comforting things such as
"I've got 10 Galleons riding on you to come first, so you'd better!"
Albus retired to bed fairly quickly after that.
.-.
"Scor!" Scorpius rolled his eyes, not turning around from where he was sitting alone by the fire. Another well wisher.
Well it was nice to know he was appreciated by some. Violet had vanished just when he needed her support before the task.
"Yes, Vance?" he called wearily.
"Potter's at the portrait hole for you!" Vance's incredulous voice floated back.
The Slytherin common room fell quiet, as all eyes turned to Scorpius.
Potter? Scorpius panicked. How foolish of him to come direct to his common room! The fact they no longer hated each other would soon be exposed! Scorpius would be ridiculed, and lose the superiority in Slytherin that the Malfoy name had so readily provided.
"I'll come with you." promised his friend Alfie Goyle in a low voice, drawing out his wand; other Slytherins were doing the same with menacing faces.
"Visiting his rival champion the night before the Tournament? How thick is he!" a voice growled out.
"No." said Scorpius shortly. "I can deal with Potter by myself. I'll go alone."
Without waiting for reply, he stepped out of the common room.
Albus was lounging on the wall outside, his hands thrusted deep within his pockets, and his shirt untucked and hanging out as usual.
"Scorpius." he drawled. Scorpius was slightly taken aback; he was still on last name basis with Potter.
"Potter." he said curtly. He glanced up the green tinged corridor. It was apparently empty, but he was no fool. You don't live in Slytherin for six years, then have a private conversation right outside the portrait hole.
"We should go somewhere else." agreed Albus, and without waiting for consent, he strode off. Scorpius hurried after him.
"Why isn't a good little Gryffindor like you in bed at this time?...- Potter, are you hurt?"
Albus turned around, looking puzzled.
"No. Why?"
"You're walking funny.. with your back all straight and sort of... swaying your hips." Scorpius imitated him.
Albus blushed. "Am I? I never noticed."
Scorpius shook his head wonderingly. He noticed that Albus had easily navigated the dungeon's labyrinth to find an empty classroom. Unusual for a Gryffindor.
"What did you think you were doing, coming to my common room? Are you thick? No one knows about us, and it's too early to tell people-" Scorpius started angrily.
"-Rictumsempra." said Albus calmly, pointing his wand at Scorpius, who was immediately flung up and fell to the floor.
Scorpius dazedly got to his feet. Disbelief hurt washed though him.
"Why did you do that?" he heard himself ask.
"You actually presumed I liked you?" scoffed Albus in a strange, strangled voice. "Aw you did, didn't you? Please. Weasley and the other Gryffindors have been extremely entertained by our relationship, when I give them a daily, detailed update, but as for me? No. You see, you weren't even that good a kisser." he sneered maliciously, and left the room.
Scorpius sat down on the edge of a desk, shocked. He'd actually began to like that boy. Enjoy his company when he was with and miss it when he wasn't. All the time Albus had been up to his old tricks, humiliating Scorpius in the most cunning way possible. He had manipulated Scorpius's feelings.
He should have known not to trust bloody Potter. Well he wouldn't make that mistake ever again he thought, fingering his wand in his robe pocket.
.-.
Horace Slughorn had just packed up and left his Potions classroom when he spotted a raven haired student leaving a neighbouring room and quickly trotting down the corridor ahead of him. Instantly recognising him, he pursued at a fast pace, puffing slightly.
.-.
Violet Parkinson could hear footsteps behind her, and increased her pace slightly, biting her lips nervously. There it was, just ahead, the Slytherin common room, she was so close, nearly there-
"Mr Potter? Mr Potter!" she heard a panting voice call. Feigning deafness, she sped up desperately.
"Mr Potter!" the voice bellowed, and she stopped reluctantly, and turned around to see Professor Slughorn hurrying towards her, red faces and puffing.
"Goodness!" he huffed, " I thought I was going to lose you!"
So did I, thought Violent irritably.
"What do you want, Professor?" she asked politely.
"Ah well, it's actually Professor McGonagall who would like to see you in her office. Nothing to worry about!" he added, seeing Violet's horror struck face.
"It's to do with the Tournament tomorrow. She wants you and the other champions to spend the night in a prepared location, not your tower. We can't take any risks when it comes to safety can we?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"No, no, no. I just need to do something first-" she stammered desperately, backing away. She was aware her voice was far too high pitched, but carried on anyway.
"Return to-to the Gryffindor common room. Urgent. My stuff..." She panicked as she saw Slughorn shake his head kindly, clapping a large hand on her back, and gently pushing her along with him.
"Ah, don't worry we'll take care of all your things Mr Potter. We are experienced, you know, now come on Potter, Headmistress McGonagall's office for some much needed sleep... Now really! There's no need for that..!"
For Violet Parkinson had fainted clean away on the floor.
.-.
Albus Potter woke up extremely early, in a state of feverish excitement. Feverish was a good word for it in fact; he was far too hot.
He hurried off to have a cold shower, letting his nerves wash away as he sat under the relaxing fresh water on the cubicle floor. Leaning back on the cool water, he closed his eyes. He tried out the meditation Lorcan and Lysander's mother had taught him one summer day. He slipped into a state of bliss and peace, completely unaware of passing time.
.-.
"Ah, Horace!" Professor McGonagall called to Slughorn as she spotted him in the corridor, which was steadily filling up with streams of excited students, fresh from breakfast.
"Did you send all the champions off on the Portkey?" Professor McGonagall asked Slughorn. He nodded proudly.
"And they were fully under the enchanted sleep?" McGonagall confirmed.
"Cast it myself last night," he nodded. "They were positioned ready in the Forest a few hours ago, ready when you are."
"Good," Professor McGonagall blew out a sigh of relief. The champions were safe and ready, that was the hardest part over.
"Get all the students into the Quidditch stands, ready for the task to begin at 11am. Set up the big screens to watch as well," she instructed. "I'll be there just before 11."
Horace nodded once to show he understood, and ambled off, shepherding students towards the Quidditch stands as he went.
.-.
Albus woke up with a start.
He was freezing cold, he noted immediately. No wonder, as cold water was beating down on his legs.
He'd fallen asleep in the shower.
The Tournament began at 11.
It was currently... 10:48.
Albus swore with a variety of curse words Liam Finnigan would have been proud of, and tore out of the bathroom, blaming the privacy spells set up which had prevented anyone from seeing he'd still been in the shower.
He pulled his specially made Gryffindor 'Athletic kit' on and sprinted through the common room, roughly yanked open the portrait hole (to Dumbledore's reprimands) and ran as fast as he dared down the stone steps, feeling giddy as he descended flight after flight.
He finally arrived in the Entrance Hall and found it ominously deserted. He ran flat out across the grass, towards the Quidditch pitch where the school seemed to be assembled. He prayed this meant the Champions were supposed to be there too.
He skidded to a halt at the edge of the pitch, where Professor McGonagall spotted him and almost fainted.
"P-P-Potter?!" she gaped, aghast. "You- you woke up?!"
Albus found this a very strange question to ask. How had she know he had been asleep in the shower?
"Well, yeah..?" he ventured uncertainly.
"I am so sorry, I fell asleep in the shower and I only woke up five minutes ago, I've sprinted all the way here-"
"Potter, what do you mean, you woke up five minutes ago? You were meant to be in an enchanted sleep until the Tournament began! I can't even begin to.. I mean, Horace said he'd personally put you to sleep last night, and transferred you into the forest this morning, fast asleep! How in Merlin's name did you come to be in your shower?!" she demanded, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"Professor, no one put me to sleep last night, I went to sleep myself.." Albus said slowly, wondering if he was having a weird dream he would soon wake up from. He hoped so.
"I haven't been to the Forest either, I've been in bed all night, and then I got up and now...I'm here." he added helpfully.
Glancing at the giant clock above their heads, Professor McGonagall gave a start. "We'll discuss this afterwards Potter, the main thing is, you're here now. I'll just have to transfer you to the Forbidden Forest myself."
"Wha-" Albus began to ask, but found himself getting drowsy. He tried to speak, but he couldn't work his mouth. Or his eyes. Or...
He fell asleep.
.-.
As all the students watched the three giant screens expectantly, Professor McGonagall who was stood on the stage, turned to Horace Slughorn, irate.
"That's a petty, petty trick to play Horace, and honestly, I expected better from you!" she said furiously. "Deliberately not transferring a member of another house, to try and help your own to win!"
"I- what?" asked Slughorn, genuinely confused.
"Potter!" McGonagall practically shrieked. "He nearly wasn't here! You said you'd transferred Malfoy and Potter but no, you'd left out the Gryffindor! How handy!" she exclaimed sarcastically, her nostrils flaring. "I suppose Flitwick should be grateful he transferred Baddock himself!"
"Minerva, I swear I transferred Potter, I-"
He was interrupted by the ringing of a bell. It was eleven o'clock.
"Later." hissed McGonagall, and turned to the stands. She pointed her wand to her throat and murmured "Sonorus."
"Welcome, boys and girls to the first Hogwarts Inter-School Triwizard Tournament!" she announced, to enthusiastic roars and cheers.
"Our three champions are in place in the Forbidden Forest, asleep. When I say the spell, they will awaken, and will have one hour in the forest to escape. However, we have enchanted it to be boundless - there is no edge to the forest for them."
Gasps and murmurs filled the stadium.
"There is only one way out, and the champions have been given a riddle to work their way out.
If they succeed in leaving the forest in the first 15 minutes, they receive a maximum of 100 points. If they leave in the first half hour, they receive 90 points. If they leave in the third quarter, they will be awarded 80 points. If they leave in the last quarter, they will only get the minimum of 75 points.
Failure to leave in the allotted time will result in immediate failure." she added.
"Without much further ado, I will now cast the Awakening spell..." She cleared her throat, and pointed her wand in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
"Expergiscero!"
A cannon boomed. The first task had begun.
Only something was wrong. The three screens had flickered on to show each champion in their three separate locations, but something was clearly amiss.
The first screen showed Jennifer Baddock.
The second showed Albus Potter.
And the third showed Scorpius Malfoy. And Albus Potter lying right next to him.
There were two Albus Potters in the Forbidden Forest.
Wow that was a long chapter to write. But hey, the Tournament's finally underway, I hope you enjoyed. :) reviews would be great as well lol
I also thought should mention the lovely people who've reviewed so far and genuinely are the reason I keep writing - thank you to krikanalo, hollyh8sU, B, ladybug28, Maraki, Jasmine, Diddleymaz and Eternally Seventeen.
Finally - if anyone was wondering what Scorpius might look like, a fairly good representation of my version of him is the gorgeous Alex Pettyfer in his younger years. There are plenty of lovely images of him on a certain search engine...
