A/N:

Rose hasn't read the Cursed Child, so no spoilers!

Rose (Red Roses1000) wrote the first part and Sabine (karanathefirebender) wrote the second part. I, Slytherin Buttercat, am writing the last part.

Albus Potter leaving the next-gen marauders, as seen by Scorpius Malfoy.

Flying #5: Your task is to write about somebody abandoning a group of people in order to follow their own personal goals.

Sorry about formatting, I'm on mobile.

Words: 1443

.-.

Friendless

.-.

The sunlight poured through the window, seeping through his closed eyes. Reluctantly, Scorpius opened his eyes, and squinted against the sudden onslaught of light. He sat up, wiping drool from the side of his mouth. Yawning — which he would deny to everyone, as Malfoy's do not yawn — he turned sleepily to look at the bed where his friend, Albus, should have been. He wasn't there, his bed made already. Scorpius wasn't that worried, Albus did this all the time, but it still stung like a bothersome wasp.

He lay back down, glancing at his other friend, Arctucus, who was spread across his bed in a manner that Scorpius would never dream of doing. His thick, curly sand-brown hair framed his face in a way that made his features more pronounced. He watched as Arctucus slowly blinked open his icy blue eyes, and turned to stare up at the ceiling. At least he still had Arctucus, if Albus did decide to that Scorpius wasn't good enough. But Albus couldn't do that. Not after all they've been through together.

Could he?

Arctucus turned to look at where Albus would be. Scorpius had to act uninterested. Like he didn't already know.

"He went without us again, didn't he?" Scorpius said, sitting up.

Arctucus shrugged.

Maybe he was waiting in the Common Room? Most other people waited for their friends there. Albus wouldn't be out of place at all.

The two friends quickly got dressed, both having realised the same thing. Scorpius hoped that Albus had waited, but he knew that he wouldn't have. Albus wasn't one for waiting around, but usually...

'Stop thinking like that, Scorpius! Albus is fine. He's not going to leave you. You'll be friends forever.'

They made it to the Common Room. Scorpius' grey eyes scanned the room almost hopefully, and he deflated a little when he noticed Albus wasn't there.

"Looks like everyone is waiting for their friends, but him."

Arctucus sounded bitter, like how Scorpius felt. Still, he put on a mask and said, "you know how he is. This isn't the first time he's done that." He tried to sound positive, but he was sure he failed. He changed the topic, like only a Malfoy could. "Now, come on. Let's get some breakfast. I feel like I'm starving."

If Arctucus noticed anything different about Scorpius' tone, he didn't comment on it. They made their way through the school, glares directed their way. People disliked the trio. Between being the only Slytherin Potter, the young, only Slytherin Black brother and the son of Draco Malfoy (although that wasn't all that they called him), they were hated more than any other Slytherin trio. They thought Scorpius had cast some Dark Magic on the other two — after all, only a child of Malfoy could do that. If he was honest, he believed that Arctucus was the most likely to study Dark Magic, probably to prove his brothers wrong. Scorpius didn't mind the hate as much anymore. It had bothered him the first year, but now he was practically immune to it. The only thing he thought could affect him was the new Marauders breaking up, but that could never happen.

Albus hadn't remembered them and stopped in the middle of a corridor (like he had done before, but that was in their first year). Scorpius didn't mind. At least, that was what he told himself. Malfoy's didn't care. The whole world said that, so he had to live up to their expectations.

"Have you done the Care of Magical Creatures assignment?" Scorpius asked, finding a topic to break the silence.

When Arctucus didn't reply, Scorpius glanced at him. He was deep in his own world.

"Arctucus." No answer. "Arctucus, hey Arctucus," finally a look was sent his way, "were you even listening to a word I just said." He was annoyed. Between Albus leaving without them, and Arctucus not listening to him, his temper was fraying. "I asked if you did the Care of Magical Creatures assignment, you know, the one that was due today?"

They had made it to the Great Hall, and Scorpius immediately scanned the Slytherin table. He spotted Albus, who looked a bit dazed. They made their way over to the table, and Scorpius sat down. "Hey, you didn't wait for us."

Scorpius knew Arctucus meant for it to be a joke, but Albus' smile was fake, like he didn't find it funny. Usually, his smile would be bright.

What had happened to the Albus he knew?

Maybe he was just tired.

.-.

Albus and Scorpius sat in the library during their free time, days after the incident. Scorpius needed help with his History of Magic assignment, and Albus was the brains of the group.

He scribbled down words which he barely understood, before placing his quill down. "I'm done, Albus." He thought he was, anyway. He had deliberately written his letters large so the two feet of parchment would be used up quicker. He hoped the professor didn't mind... "What do you want to do? Do you want to go hang outside and practice some charms? That's what Arctucus wanted to do earlier."

Albus' face flashed with something unrecognisable. Scorpius didn't like it.

"I'm fine. You go ahead."

Scorpius fought the urge to flinch. Was he trying to shake him off? What about their friendship?

"But we always do everything together!"

He was desperate now. He didn't want to lose his friend. They were too close. He couldn't lose him.

Albus couldn't leave them. Not again.

"I don't feel like it, okay?"

It wasn't okay. When would it ever be okay?

Arctucus... He needed to see his other friend.

"Fine. Be that way."

He only realised the loud way that he stormed out of the library wasn't very Malfoy-like after he did it.

He met with Arctucus outside, who looked rather lost. Scorpius instantly felt better seeing his friend. Whatever happened, he would still have Arctucus.

He hoped.

.-.

Nights were different. Scorpius whispered about anything to Arctucus, whilst Albus ignored them both. It hurt him.

Nowadays, Albus hung around with the fourth member of their dorm: Charles Rowle. That wouldn't hurt as much, if Albus even acknowledged his existence.

His heart ached. He missed his friend.

Scorpius was heading towards the toilet when he was stopped by someone. They put their hands on his shoulders and directed him to an abandoned classroom.

"What have you done to my brother?"

Scorpius blinked his grey eyes at the older boy. "I haven't done anything. Why?"

"Because these days he is all mopey, and I'm want to know why."

Scorpius shook the dark hand from off of his shoulder. "I don't know, Potter. He doesn't want to talk to us anymore. It's not our fault."

"If I know my brother, he would never, and I mean never, leave his friends. Give him another chance. It'll make him happy."

Scorpius turned away. "I don't know about that. Every time he sees me, his face twists in disgust."

"Because he's just realised that our dad doesn't like you that much." Scorpius winced, but James carried on, oblivious to the younger boy's emotions. "He loves his family. He doesn't want to hurt them."

"So he hurts me instead?" Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I have to go, Potter."

"Think about what I've said, Malfoy."

.-.

The next day, he pressed Arctucus harder about talking to Albus. He had been trying for a week, but the other boy was not as forgiving as he was. Surprisingly, Arctucus gave in after a gentle bribing, and they made their way over to where Albus sat on the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. "I'm sorry," Scorpius spoke up first, sounding awkward but genuine.

Arctucus didn't speak up. Scorpius nudged him, which caused Arctucus to sigh. "I'm sure you have your reasons for acting different."

Albus frowned. That was a bad sign. "I do. I mean, I don't have o hang with you all the time, do I? J just want some time to myself, that's all."

'If yourself is Charles Rowle, that is. And I don't think it is,' Scorpius thought to himself bitterly.

"But we're the Marauders. We have to stick together, right? Like brothers."

"I don't think you understand. Just leave me alone."

Scorpius felt their friendship shattering underneath his fingertips. He was exhausted. Tears pricked in his eyes, so he turned away, angry wiping them away. He looked along the Gryffindor table, spotting James near the end. He shook his head at the dark-haired boy, before Scorpius and Arctucus left the hall.

He just wanted to cry. He just wanted to sleep.

Their friendship was gone.

.-.

Teamwork: (location) empty classroom, (emotion) exhausted

.-.

I'm tired. I can blame the quality on that, totally.

~Buttercat