Chapter 9: Only Mystery Lies Ahead

ALBUS POV

Rose, Charlotte, and I sat in the Great Hall, eating our breakfast of porridge, quietly and rarely talking.

The talk turned to the Halloween Ball, the latest hot topic in everybody's conversations.

"So who is this mystery man, Rose?" Charlotte prodded.

"It's a secret," Rose taunted in a playful, sing-song tone. "But more importantly is what is going on with Al," she said, trying to change the conversation, direct it towards me.

Too bad she was a sharp shot. She hit me directly. Dammit, Rose!

"Yes. Albus," Charlotte said with an edge of loathing in her voice, motioning for me to say something. I guess she still hadn't gotten over that I was going to the ball with Adele.

They caught me off-guard.

"Uh, well, I guess it will be fun."

"Yeah, you'll have lots of fun with the whore who will shag anyone for anything." Maybe Charlotte was getting jealous. I guess the plan was working after all.

"Hey, it's not like that," I had to defend Adele though. Besides, that would probably make her even more jealous. "And I think most of those rumors are false."

"Yeah right. You can tell they're true by looking at her."

"Have you gotten to know her?"

"I'm just saying, I don't care for your date choice."

"Well don't be too quick to judge." I know I had resulted to defending Adele, who I wasn't the biggest fan of, but she was being a bit harsh.

Rose cleared her throat, realizing she crossed a line, making the conversation awkward, "Well, anyway, Char, since you don't have a date for now, you can hang out with, my date and me."

"Well, I don't know if this date of yours is some big creep, but that doesn't even matter. I have my own date."

Rose's mouth dropped, "What?! Who?!" I was dying to know the same thing. I felt a weird sensation creep through me. Was I jealous? I mean, I did want to go to the ball with Charlotte and it was kind of weird, now knowing she actually had a date.

Part of me wished I had just asked her, because now that she was taken, I knew I couldn't have her. At least before this I knew I could go to her at any moment and she would be free.

"'It's a secret,'" Charlotte used Rose's words against her, but they laughed anyway.

"I'm going to figure this out eventually," Rose replied. I would hate to figure this one out. "So is he tall?"

Oh, God, not this…

"Yes."

"Dark?"

"Yes."

"Handsome?"

"Yes."

"Quidditch player?"

"Yes."

Why did they have to do this?

"Wait! Don't tell me! It's Josh Farroway! Tell me it's him!"

Well, he was a block-headed jock. If she went with him, I would have to do something about that. He would try to do things to her, and she was too… Too pure. I wanted her to stay that way. I wanted to protect her from those blockheads.

"No!" Well that was taken care of.

"Dang it!"

"You'll never guess," Char continued to taunt.

"Oh, yes I will," Rose claimed.

"Oh, Alby!" Adele's voice interrupted their laughs and bantering.

She was walking over to us when I saw Charlotte grimace in disgust.

"Hi, baby," she replied. What? Why did she call me that? We aren't even close.

"Uh, hi." Charlotte practically gaged.

She sat down next to me. A little too close actually.

"So, what are you doing?" she asked.

Charlotte replied before I could, "Oh, nothing, absolutely nothing, or, wait? Do you mean before you so rudely interrupted us?"

Adele shot her a look of disgust and I tried to somehow convey to Charlotte to let her be.

"Well, that doesn't matter because I'm here to see my boyfriend," Adele responded. She faced me and grabbed me in her hands, pressing her lips onto mine.

What the bloody hell is going on?

She continued to kiss me, throwing herself on me, and pressing her lips on mine, changing their position every now and then.

What the hell? I wasn't even expecting this! Or enjoying it for that matter! And since when did she do this to me? We've barely talked.

She continued 'making out' until Charlotte was so grossed out she got up saying, "Merlin save me."

Adele temporarily paused as I caught my breath. She turned around to face Charlotte, "Nice chat, sweetheart."

Charlotte stormed off, scowling, Rose following close behind her. Maybe this wasn't so bad. I mean, I think Charlotte could actually be jealous! And that's the way James said I should play it. He knows everything when it comes to girls, so I went with it anyway.

But after Charlotte and Rose left, the uncomfortable level only rose. I scooted away from Adele and got up from the bench. I mumbled an excuse and started to walk away.

"Wait, Albus. Don't you owe me something?" she said in her 'flirty' way. I looked at her questioningly. She approached me saying, "You owe me a little for back there."

She nodded to the spot of our latest make out session. Wait, scratch that. Our only make out session. And in a way, I hoped there wouldn't be another.

"Um, Adele, I kind of have to go now."

"Oh I see, you just want to make it up to me later," she purred, winking and making a kitty claw with her hand in the air.

Okay, that was just weird. I got out of there as quick as I could.

Well, I guess I was satisfied. Charlotte was jealous and things were on track.

The thing I wasn't satisfied with was Adele's kissing. It was so sloppy and, well, gross. Why did guys want to shag her?

I pushed the idea from my mind and chose to look at the positive

CHARLOTTES POV

I stormed out making my way towards the Black Lake. That was absolutely disgusting. They were disgusting.

They were completely different people. They were on completely other sides of the spectrum. Albus was white because of his purity, kindness, and selflessness. Adele was like as black as night because she was a slut, a bitch, and I hated her. Maybe opposites did attract but it doesn't mean they fit together.

I needed to forget about being with Albus because he was obviously very happy with Adele. The way he defended her, ugh, completely sickening.

It was time to move on to bigger and better things. Like James Sirius Potter. I smiled to myself just thinking about him and how he made me feel free, like a bird soaring above the sky.

"Hey Harte!"

I knew that voice and something smelled like a weasel, Fred Weasley to be exact.

"Yes, Fred," I groaned spinning around to roll my eyes at him.

"Don't need to sound so harsh," he accused. "I'm only here to deliver a message."

I stared at him expectantly awaiting his message but he only looked at me blankly.

"Well?"

"Oh right!" God it's amazing he passed 5th year. "James wants to meet up with you. He said it was for a surprise."

"Ok. Where?"

"It's a secret," he replied putting a finger to his lips. "I have to take you there myself. No one else knows about this passageway."

"Ok," I furrowed my brow at Fred following him through the castle until we got to an old secluded Sphinx Statue.

"In there," he said pointing at the statue.

"Fred it's a statue."

"Thank you Captain Obvious. It's not just a statue. It's a secret passageway. James and I came across it in 1st year and have been using it to sneak around since. James is in the tunnel, it leads to-er-Honeydukes."

"Okay?"

"Oh, just move over," Fred pushed past me knocking on the Sphinx's head twice.

Suddenly the statue began to move blinking its eyes and stretching its marble body. It yawned once before looking down at us both.

"We need to get through."

"So you do," said the Sphinx. It had an airy almost dream-like voice. "First, you have to answer a riddle."

"Oh not this again!" Fred complained throwing his hands up in the air.

"At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?"

Fred scowled, "Just let us in!"

The Sphinx frowned down at Fred growling like a lion.

"The stars!" I blurted. Fred looked at me completely shocked.

"How the bloody hell could you figure that out so quickly!"

"It's easy. They only come out at night without being told."

"That can't be it!"

The Sphinx smiled down at me happily, "Correct, you may proceed."

Fred was gaping at me.

She lifted her wing allowing me to crawl through a small opening that I couldn't even imagine James crawling through. Maybe he used a Shrinking charm to get through.

I slid through the small opening landing on my arse as I hit the bottom. Lovely.

Once in the tunnel I noticed the horrible stench of what appeared to be mildew and mold. I gagged trying to hold in my breakfast covering my nose from the rank odor.

I walked down the tunnel for who knows how long and still no sign of James.

I continued down the passageway until I came across a black door on the ceiling.

Where was he? I sat on the dirt floor of the tunnel underneath the door waiting for James. Five minutes passed and I just couldn't stand the smell anymore.

Why would James even meet me in here? He wasn't completely romantic but he wasn't an idiot. Why would he think this awfully disgusting tunnel would be a place to give me a surprise?

Then it hit me. James never wanted to meet me down here. Fred just told me this so I could get out of his way because I had been stealing his "best mate."

Fred did this on purpose. And now I was stuck in a smelly, dirty tunnel all by myself.

I could try the black door. It might be my only chance at freedom.

I unlatched the door and pushed forcefully on it.

Not a budge.

I pushed again.

Nothing.

Oh god I was going to rot to death in this tunnel smelling like shit. Dammit. I swear if I did get out I was going to beat the crap out of Weasel.

I needed to keep trying.

Push.

Push.

Push.

Push.

BOOM!

The door finally flew open with a huge crash when it hit the solid ground. I climbed out of the tunnel and into…into…I don't even know where I was. The room was dimly lit by a candle and I could only make out barrels of wine or brandy or something.

I continued on into the next room where a group of mysterious and terrifying witches and wizards sat cackling and boasting about their lives in slurred speech obviously drunk.

This must be Hogshead.

I searched desperately for a door, an exit to escape but instead I ran into two huge surly, sinister looking Slytherins. I recognized them as 7th years.

"Look what we have here!"

"Oh! We have a little Gryffindor. Looks like she wandered into the wrong shop."

"Look," I interrupted trying to push past them. "I'll just be on my way."

"Oh where are you running off to this time, huh?"

"Yeah," he whispered in my ear sending a shiver through my spine. "Why don't stay here with us baby doll?"

I gulped holding back a scream.

"Hey! Fletcher! Gorgoff! Back off!"

I spun around to see none other than Scorpius Malfoy staring back at me. He had icy blue eyes, a pale complexion, and spiky light blonde hair.

"Follow me."

Follow him? I didn't even know him! He could be a murderer or a werewolf for all I know! I raised an eyebrow unsure of what to do.

"Unless you'd rather stay here of course."

That was all it took.

"No thank you."

I followed Scorpius out of Hogshead hearing a few murmurs and cackles as we passed a group of middle aged wizards. They were drinking fire whiskey and were missing almost all their teeth and had looked as if they hadn't bathed in ages.

I was more than glad I had decided to follow Scorpius out.

Scorpius and I walked down the narrow street littered with the many leaves of autumn. Shades of orange, yellow, and red that reminded me of back home. We walked in silence hearing nothing but the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. This was awkward. I wanted to thank him but didn't know how to without sounding lame.

"Thanks for saving me back there."

"Yup." Really? That was it? Just 'Yup.'

"I'm Charlotte."

"I know."

I waited in silence for him to introduce himself. It was the proper thing to do when you first met someone but I was thoroughly disappointed when he just stared blankly ahead.

"And you're Scorpius," I clarified.

"Last time I checked."

I stared back at him shocked by his lack of manners. He met my gaze smirking down at me like I was absurd. Was he serious?

"You don't have to walk me all the way to the castle. I'm a...big girl." Big girl? Really Charlotte?

He looked down at me scanned my body trying to hide his smirk.

"Doesn't look like it." He held up a hand over my head signifying my small stature.

"I mean I can handle myself." He was getting really irritating.

"That would explain the Hogshead incident," he added sarcastically.

"Hey! I can take care of myself ok? I just wasn't expecting that."

He raised his eyebrows at me shaking his head with a permanent obnoxious smirk plastered on his face. He did think I was absurd.

I decided to explain why I was in Hogshead in the first place.

"Fred tricked me. Damn Weasel. He told me I was going to meet James. Of course he lied. James is my..well I don't really know what he is. I like James I really do but you see I liked this other guy, Albus, his brother, but he doesn't really fancy me anymore."

Why was I telling him this?

"Yeah I know him."

"You do? Right, you're both in Slytherin. Does he ever talk about me?"

Scorpius looked down at me studying me carefully. He looked like he was genuinely trying to remember. Before he could open his mouth I interrupted.

"Don't answer that. You probably think I'm crazy. I'm telling my whole life story to a guy I met in a pub." I tried to ease the tension by laughing only making it more awkward than it already was.

"Do you ever stop talking?" He retorted. When I looked up he didn't have the forever sarcastic grin on his face but a genuine one. A genuine smile. He was only teasing me. Maybe he wasn't that bad.

As we continued on our way towards the castle a group of five 6th year boys I noticed much too well began insulting Scorpius. I recognized some of them as James' friends on the Quidditch team.

"Hey Scorpius! You preying on another innocent mudblood to murder or do you just take them to daddy to kill."

I frowned at the boy and barked, "Shove off!"

"We're only trying to save you, honey. Run! Run for your life!"

Scorpius just stared numbly ahead. The boys eventually barged into Honeydukes like a bunch of blithering idiots.

"Why do you let them talk to you like that?"

"I'm used to it."

"Doesn't it get you angry?"

"Yes but I have to be the bigger person. If they see that I let it get to me, they win." I never thought of it like that.

"Don't your friends say anything?"

"I don't have those."

"Oh."

Suddenly Scorpius was no longer sarcastic and witty the rest of the walk and I made me uncomfortable and sad. Scorpius was nice and he seems like he wouldn't hurt a fly people were just idiots. He needed someone. He needed a friend. And despite me sounding like a child I knew I had to say it.

"Y-You know, maybe...maybe I could be your friend."

"You?" He looked down at me questioningly.

"Yeah I mean you seem nice enough." I smiled up at him trying my best to make him smile too. "You know, if you need anyone to talk to I'm here."

He studied me carefully before the corners of his mouth tugged up into a smile. Another genuine smile.

"Thanks. You're different than people make you out to be."

"Thanks I- wait, what do people make me out to be?"

He chuckled at my response shaking his head mockingly at me. Before I knew it I was laughing too. Scorpius was also definitely not what people made him out to be either. He was nice. And he was my new friend.

Our fun and games was interrupted by the booming voice of James. At the sound of James' voice Scorpius went rigid again. The sarcastic, funny boy from before had vanished. He was now back to his mysterious, serious self. I knew that he wasn't really that way. I had discovered that only moments ago so why was he wearing a mask again?

"Charlotte I'm so-" James began but stopped when he saw Scorpius by my side.

He wore a look of hatred on his face that I had never seen before. Beside him were Albus and Rose.

"What is he doing here?!" James barked shoving me behind him defensively having a stare down with Scorp.

I was Scorpius' friend, well, we just met, but we are kind of friends. And friends don't let their other friends mess with their…er-friends.

"He was just saving me because your stupid friend got me involved in the first place!" I shouted, boiling with anger.

"Well, just stay away from him," James warned.

Scorpius clenched his fists into a ball. I noticed Rose looked anxious and tense. She was staring at Scorpius, studying him very very carefully. This was unlike her.

"I'm not three! I can take care of myself! You don't tell me what to do!" I was fuming now.

James opened his mouth again to utter something most likely insulting to Scorp again but Albus stepped in front of him intervening.

"Just leave it alone! We're done here!"

James stormed off probably pissed that I was standing up for Scorpius. I looked over at Rose who was still staring intently at Scorpius. He met her glance and I swear I saw them share a secret moment, an unspoken language.

I gave Scorp one last reassuring smile before heading back to the castle with Rose. Albus followed soon after but I swear I heard him thank Scorpius for keeping me safe.

We began walking back to the castle when suddenly my head felt heavy and my vision was fuzzy. Pain. Pain shooting up my spine and enveloping my body. And then I black out.

JAMES POV

I was particularly displeased with Charlotte as I walked away from the awful scene.

She had been standing with Scorpius! And talking to him! What did she think she was doing? He was even wearing a Slytherin tie! That should have been enough of a warning. Those Slytherins are always rats.

Especially Malfoy. She could have been in danger with him. His whole family is nuts and he could have turned on her at any time.

She shouldn't have been hanging around him. And she shouldn't be thinking that it is okay.

Even so, it was also partly Fred's fault. He would be getting it after this. Maybe a punch or two would do him good.

He put her in actual danger and was not going to get away with messing with my girlfriend.

THUD.

I flipped around to see Charlotte laying on the grounds, surrounded by Rose, and Albus who was brushing her hair out of her face and feeling her cheeks for their temperature. Get your hands off my girlfriend, you rat!

By the time I got there, Rose was beginning to panic.

"Rose, everything is okay," Albus tried to soothe as I reached around Charlotte trying to find a pulse. She looked fine, her chest slowly, but shallowly rising and falling.

"We can take her to the hospital wing," Albus suggested, trying to put his arms around her to lift her.

Even if he could, which I'm sure his muscles are no match for mine, I shoved him out of the way, onto the ground, I started to say "That's my girlfriend, you git" but then realized Albus had no idea about Charlotte and me, and as happy as it would make me crushing him like that, I knew he would figure out what I had done to him.

Instead I said, "Shove off. You couldn't handle her if you wanted to."

I carried her to the hospital wing with Rose trailing behind me. I think Albus stayed behind, probably too hurt by my comment. I didn't care though. I had bigger concerns. Like the one hundred five pound one in my arms.

Thank God I have muscles of steel from Quidditch.

Charlotte was unconscious for quite a while, but the nurse said she would be just fine. She had merely fainted from dehydration or something of the sort.

When she finally came to, she looked confused. I clasped her hand between mine, and once she realized it was me she scowled, quickly pulling her hand away from me.

"Charlotte," I started.

"No, James, you shouldn't have treated him like that. You were a jerk back there."

I soothingly brushed my hand along her cheekbone saying, "I'm sorry, Charlotte. I overreacted. But the fact of the matter is that, I guess I was jealous," was not, who could compete with this? "And maybe I do get a little overprotective, because, well, I'm just afraid of losing you."

Although some of that was just to make her feel better, a lot was actually genuine. I would be crushed if she was taken away. I had come to care for her, and genuinely like the girl that had been around for so long, I was just too stupid to see her.

I did care for Char, but one thing she could not change was my hatred towards Slytherins.

"James," she said softly, reaching up to my jaw bone, pulling me closer to her. "You don't have to worry about a thing."

She pulled me closer until our lips met and we were connected again at last.