Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot.

He Schooled You

Scorpius refused to feel any more guilt or worry about Albus, and for the most part succeeded until they'd all been eating for close to twenty minutes and still no Potter. It was then that he let himself see that he wasn't the only one aware that someone was missing, a few students and some of the other teachers shooting the Gryffindor's empty seat questioning looks. And even though Scorpius knew that there was no way any of them could know he was responsible for Potter's absence, Scorpius couldn't shake the feeling that they did know and were silently accusing him. He wasn't being completely paranoid either, some were sending him suspicious looks. They were probably thinking that perhaps he'd taken his earlier bad mood out on the missing professor, which was actually the truth though they were wrong in imagining Albus dead or severely injured somewhere, the Gryffindor's body waiting to be discovered by some unlucky student who would end up scarred for life. That he might have channeled his rage by fucking the other man's brains out wouldn't occur to them, thankfully. He'd much rather they think he'd bloodied the Gryffindor.

And then Hagrid and Longbottom had to start discussing Albus's absence, and that just made it that much worse as Scorpius found what little appetite he'd had deserting him. The older men didn't seem too worried at the moment, thankfully. They both seemed to be aware of their fellow Gryffindor loved to take naps and were currently hypothesizing that he might have simply slept through his alarm. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

But both sent him suspicious looks too, Scorpius glaring back at them.

It was Longbottom who asked if he'd seen Albus after classes had ended, Scorpius scowling as he jerked his head in the negative since he wasn't about to risk saying more. What if his face gave something away, especially since he was really starting to feel guilty and couldn't help but wonder if maybe he should cut out early and drop by to check on the Gryffindor, just in case.

That he didn't want to care enough to feel obligated just made the Slytherin's emotions that much volatile too, and any outburst on his part would not end well for him. Of that he was certain.

Longbottom and Hagrid discussing whether they should drop in to check on Albus after dinner didn't help his mood either, Scorpius torn between relief that he wouldn't have to do that and horror at the thought of what they would find if they were to let themselves into Albus's rooms. If the Gryffindor was still unconscious, and Scorpius didn't remember if the covers had been covering the other man and there were bound to be some bruises, they'd both been rough and Potter would be naked and -

"Why hello, Yue. Got a message there for me?"

Head moving so fast that it was a wonder he didn't snap his neck, Scorpius saw Hagrid feed Yue a piece of chicken before opening a folded piece of parchment that the kneazle had apparently brought the half giant. From Albus?

A chuckle and shake of his great head, then Hagrid was telling Longbottom that they'd been right, Al had slept in and was just fine. The boy was going to skip supper, he had snacks in his room apparently, but he hadn't wanted them to worry. He'd see them at breakfast.

Shaking his own head Longbottom commented dryly that Al must have been a cat in another life, to love sleeping so much.

Yue made an annoyed sound in response to that, the Herbology teacher apologizing to the kneazle who sniffed disdainfully as he walked across the table, picked up a chicken leg between his teeth, and then nimbly leapt off the table to land off the floor, heading off to eat it in peace no doubt.

Well hell…now what was he supposed to think?

Was it just a case that he'd actually slept in so late that Potter had decided that there was no point in interrupting everyone's meal, or was he actually not capable of getting out of bed and coming to supper? Everyone knew that members of the Gryffindor's family regularly snitched food from the Hogwarts' kitchen, so was Potter intending to just ask an elf to bring him something? Was Potter just too mad at him to want to sit at the same table as him or was he…but surely Yue would have attempted to maim him if the kneazle thought he'd done Albus any harm and missing one bloody meal wouldn't do the Gryffindor any harm. The man ate enough for two people often enough as it was.

Oh fuck a duck…he was going to have to check in on the prat after supper, dammit.

)

Studying the chess board while he used his strawberry twizzler to suck up coca cola, Albus was sad at the sounds coming from the can that indicated he'd almost drank the whole thing. Damn. He was all comfortable at the moment, stretched out on his side in his pajamas, and the thought of leaving the bed to get another can didn't appeal to him overly. But he also wanted more…decisions, decisions.

Biting off a piece of the licorice, he still had half a bag beside him to replace it with, Albus sighed and then ordered his knight to get into position to protect his queen. Not only was he out of coke but he was probably about to lose the match, and few things were more demoralizing than losing a chess game to his kneazle.

Not that Yue wasn't terrible smart and didn't beat him often, he did, but this was just a humiliating defeat, and the way his kneazle kept smirking at him and swinging his tail made Albus think the feline was going to be rubbing this match in his face for days to come.

"You can quit looking so bloody smug, you know. I wouldn't be losing so badly if Scorpius had left me some brains to think with."

The look he got in return made it clear that Yue did not appreciate the fact that Albus had reminded them both that the Gryffindor and Scorpius had been shagging in the bed they were currently occupying a couple of hours ago.

Nevermind that he'd changed the sheets before they'd started the match, Albus thought as he watched Yue prod his king into place, the chess piece dispatching Albus's knight without remorse. You'd think that thoughtfulness would have earned him some points with the kneazle but no, alas, it had not.

"You know, Yue, I'm starting to think that it's the personality traits you and Malfoy share that's making this whole thing so bloody difficult. I've built up too much of a tolerance for stubborn, arrogant, know-it-alls."

Rather than look insulted Yue just smirked at him while he gestured towards the board with one paw, reminding Albus that it was his turn.

"I should have got a dog."

The way Yue stuck his nose in the air made it clear he wasn't even going to dignify that with a response.

Not that his kneazle didn't get his revenge by bloodlessly destroying him on the chess board, thoroughly enough that as soon as the match was over Albus asked for another, knowing that he wouldn't sleep easy if he didn't regain some of his chess cred back. He'd played horribly, and needed to redeem himself.

Thankfully Yue was in the mood to crush him again, the kneazle regally nodding in agreement of another match.

That being the case Albus got up to get himself another coke since the caffeine would only help at this point, settling back on his bed with his treats again once he had his new drink. Letting Yue start, as was the kneazle's preference, Albus gave the board his full attention as he prepared to fight to the bitter end.

Four moves later Yue paused in the middle of studying the board, the kneazle turning his body so that he was looking in the direction of the bedroom door with his ears perked up.

"Do we have a visitor?" Probably Hagrid or Uncle Neville, Albus figured, come to check on him. He'd be scolded for eating nothing but junk for supper, but as long as it wasn't mentioned to his mum or Gran Albus figured…

Huh. Not who he was expecting, at all.

And disbelief was in Scorpius's tone too, as he stepped into the bedroom doorway to survey what was going on on the bed. "You're playing chess with your cat?"

Lips twitching in response to the Slytherin's tone of voice, Albus answered just as dryly that Yue was an excellent chess player, thank you very much.

"Against you, maybe."

Both Albus and Yue sent Scorpius narrow eyed looks for that one.

"You think it's that easy, you go against him. We just started."

"I'm not playing Wizarding Chess with your cat."

"Chicken." Albus made clucking noises. "It won't be a long match, if you're as good as you're implying, Malfoy. So come on, sit your fine arse down here and play him. I dare you. And I have Twizzlers." Albus picked up the bag of licorice and shook it for emphasis.

"Your supper, I'd imagine."

"Good guess. Now come on, I double dog dare you."

Snorting, Scorpius thought but didn't say that he didn't even know what that meant. Instead he opted to point out that unlike idiots like Albus, he had better things to do with his time than play chess with an animal.

Albus just clucked at him some more, while Yue smirked in a way that irritated the Slytherin just as much as Potter was with his stupid insults and insinuations. And while he was certainly intelligent enough to know that he was basically being egged on to make an absolute fool of himself by even agreeing to have a match with the kneazle, Scorpius's pride wouldn't allow him to walk away either. So against his will the Slytherin marched over, took a seat on the bed by Albus's feet, and turning the board said fine, he'd play one game and then Albus would have to eat his words.

"I'll stick with my licorice, thanks. Oh, and may the best badarse win and all that."

Neither bad arse was amused, their eyes on the board.

)

He lost to a fucking cat. A fucking cat! Twice! That he'd also won one game was only a small consolation to Scorpius, as was the fact that he'd lost the first game because he'd started off barely paying attention to the match because he'd thought that a match against a sodding animal wouldn't require much effort on his part. That was still his loss in the long run though; it didn't pay to underestimate an opponent. Basic training 101, that. The whole pride cometh before a fall was also a lesson he'd failed to take into consideration, and Scorpius was paying for it now as Potter's kneazle smirked at him like the bloody thing had just eaten a whole hatchery full of canaries.

"Another match."

The kneazle made a purring sound before shaking its head.

"Why the hell not?"

Holding his gaze Yue gave an exaggerated version of a yawn, and then on silent feet the kneazle padded across the bed before nimbly jumping onto the bedside table, to the clock that rested there.

Getting the message Scorpius pulled out his pocket watch to check the time rather than squint to try and read the hands on the clock, his grey eyes widening when he saw just how late it was. Bloody hell.

Looking over in Albus's direction, with the intention of reaming the Gryffindor out for not pointing out the time sooner, Scorpius had to hold his tongue since there was now no point. Potter was passed out on his side, a half eaten piece of licorice actually still clutched in one hand. How long the other man had been sleeping Scorpius couldn't guess, though come to think of it he didn't recall the idiot saying much of anything after he'd challenged Yue to a tie breaker.

"It's a wonder he could fall asleep between his nap and the caffeine."

Having returned to the bed the kneazle just shrugged his shoulders and settled in to sleep on the pillow Albus wasn't currently using, obviously content to turn in for the night now that he'd proved his mental acuity.

"We're going to have another match tomorrow night, just so we're clear."

An amused sound was Yue's response to that, the feline's eyes closing and body relaxing in obvious dismissal.

Feeling perturbed all over again, big surprise, Scorpius didn't bother to argue the point given the time and his own realization of how tired he was. He'd deal with the kneazle tomorrow. So instead of arguing Scorpius picked up the chess board and moved it and the pieces to the bedside table, making sure that it was out of the way before turning his attention back to Albus.

The Gryffindor looked ridiculous, Scorpius mused as he snatched the piece of licorice from the idiot's hand, sticking the end in his own mouth before reaching out to grab the other sides of the blankets to bring them around to very awkwardly cover the man up properly. It wasn't that cool in the room, the fire was still giving off more than enough heat, but just in case Scorpius adjusted the quilt and sheets as best he could around Albus before heading out, quietly shutting the door behind him.

And since the licorice was still in his mouth Scorpius opted to finish it off, now a little sorry that he'd refused Albus's offers of some earlier as it was a lot better than the regular licorice he was used to. A Muggle candy, perhaps? Either way he'd get some another time, the Gryffindor the man probably had a whole bunch of it stockpiled in his room.

Amused by the thought Scorpius let himself out of Potter's rooms and then crossed over to open his own door, barely missing stepping on his own idiot pet as Snow had apparently passed out in front of the door while waiting for him to come back.

Feeling a bit bad about that, which annoyed him, Scorpius sighed at the way his day was going and then stooped down to scoop the little bundle of fur up, cradling his pet against his chest as he headed for his own bedroom to change and then get to sleep himself.

Depositing Snow on the pillow beside the one he'd use, he was too tired to backtrack and put the animal it its proper bed, Scorpius left Snow there and then quickly stripped out of his clothes before tossing them in the hamper. That done he headed for his dresser, said to hell with that, and changing course went back over to his bed and climbed under the covers, too tired to care about pajamas. It wasn't like he hadn't been spending plenty of time sleeping in the nude lately, anyway.

And it was that thought that reminded Scorpius that he hadn't broken up with Albus like planned.

Oh well, it was probably for the best, Scorpius decided as he drifted off. He'd wait until after he'd schooled Yue completely at chess first.

)

Waking up unusually early the next morning, no real surprise given how much sleep he'd gotten the day before, Albus was a little confused by his blanket situation at first, his mind marveling over the fact that he'd been so tired that he'd messed his sheets up this badly. Then the events of the night before filtered in enough that Albus realized that it must have been Scorpius who'd covered him up, the idea one that made him smile rather stupidly. Of course he'd already established that he was being pretty damn stupid when it came to the Slytherin so no surprise there, really.

Looking around Albus saw that Yue was sprawled out on a pillow, the kneazle looking at him in a way that reminded him of his mum after he'd done something stupid, yet endearing or adorable enough that she wasn't really mad at him.

Lips twitching, Albus opted not to make that comparison, instead asking his kneazle if he'd totally schooled Scorpius at chess while he was sleep.

The pleased look on the kneazle's face said it all even before the nod of confirmation.

"Atta boy." Stretching out his arm and making a fist, Albus grinned as Yue came over to head butt it, which was their version of a first bump. "Shall we celebrate by going outside? It doesn't sound like it's raining, and the walk would do me good."

Nodding his head Yue agreed that that was a great plan indeed.

"Alright then, just give me ten minutes or so to shower and dress, and then we'll head out."

Heading out of the bedroom Albus was true to his word, showering and dressing quickly so that he was ready to go in just under ten minutes. Normally he wasn't clearheaded or coordinated enough to move this quickly in the morning, but today was a rare day indeed.

Picking Yue up to cuddle, something Yue rarely allowed, Albus headed for the nearest exit outside once they'd left their rooms, putting Yue down once when were outside so that the kneazle could take off running wherever the feline's nose directed him.

"No Snow around to lose you your breakfast today, hmm?"

Purring happily over that fact Yue nodded and then began to slink across the grass, prey targeted.

And since he didn't want to watch his pet catch and devour some helpless creature, the circle of life or not, Albus announced that he was going to go for a little jog, and that Yue could catch up to him once he was done eating.

Since odds were high that Albus would scare away his prey if he did stick around, Yue turned his head to give the slightest of nods before returning all his attention to the unsuspecting mouse that was going to be his breakfast very, very shortly.

Making a face, he was only human after all, Albus took off at a light jog, thinking to himself that sex was way better exercise than this, and why the bloody hell hadn't he just slipped into Malfoy's room instead of using up this valuable time outside?

Oh right, the Slytherin was probably still smarting from having his fine arse handed to him by Yue at chess. That was why.

Heh.