Chapter twenty six

Scorpius approached Kris after lunch the next day. It was important, to Scorpius, they talk about Orion Black. Scorpius had a plan, too. He was going to tell Kris a bit about Daniel Black and how he is might have had involvement in the explosion on the train. Then, he is going to give a simple suggestion: Orion Black could be related to Daniel Black and he may be just trying to gain Kris's friendship to only betray him at the last moment.

What could possibly go wrong?

Apparently, all of it.

Kris was infuriated when Scorpius tried to suggest that Orion was doing that. For Kris, Orion was being such a nice person and he actually seemed to want to hang out with him unlike Scorpius who, at any chance he got, ran off to counter scheme the Potter boys because they weren't too pleased that their cousin was hanging out with a Malfoy.

Scorpius stared at Kris in shock, in disbelief. Had Kris always thought like this?

"Why don't you and Rose just hang out anyway," Kris stamped. "It's not like they can physically stop you!"

He ran off leaving Scorpius sitting on the steps and wondering about his friendship with Kris. It was true. He had been busy all last year trying to plan ways to sneak out and enjoy the company of Rose. He barely spent time with Kris unless they had classes or came back to the common room.

Scorpius wasn't even there when Kris met up with Andra who completely crushed him. Scorpius had even neglected to offer consoling advice for his friend. Now, Scorpius felt really bad. Insulting Orion like that probably wasn't the best idea he could come up with. He racked his brain hard to try and figure out something to make it up to Kris.

A tap on his shoulder make him jump and he looked back startled but relaxed when he saw that it was Rose standing there. She had her hair tied in a braid and she wore a concerned expression.

"I saw what just happened with Kris," She said softly and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Rose," Scorpius said softly. "It's my fault."

Rose shook her head. "Don't try and deny it. It is partially my fault as well. I never discouraged you from plotting with Louis and Hugo. I should have but I was angry at my cousin. We both messed up."

"How do we fix it?"

Rose shrugged and sighed sadly. "We apologize and hope for the best, I suppose."

Scorpius nodded slowly and stood up with Rose. They nodded at each other and began to walk off to their separate classes.

…

Albus woke up in the common room behind his curtains and sat up on the bed slowly. He still wore his clothes from yesterday and the letter from Daniel Black had disappeared off of his bed laying now on the floor. His hair was disheveled from sleeping and he clothing wrinkled slightly.

Albus rubbed his eyes. What time was it? He bet that he had already missed his morning classes. He heard a noise from somewhere inside the common room and hastily pulled his curtains open. Kris had just come in and was making his way to his bed where he sat deep in thought.

"Kris?" Albus asked with a yawn.

"Albus?" Kris questioned. "What are you doing here? We have charms. Did you just wake up?"

Albus nearly laughed. "Yeah, I did. Slept all morning it seems. What are you doing here?"

Kris sighed and looked down at his hands. Albus could tell that something was wrong. It was so easy with Kris. He kept eye contact whenever he was talking to someone unless something was wrong. Albus waited knowing that Kris would talk when he was ready and not anytime sooner.

"Scorpius said that Orion was basically evil and that he was only being friends with me because I'm the son of the minister," Kris said softly and then looked up slowly.

Albus pushed himself from his bed and nearly fell over. He stepped over to Kris's bed.

"First, don't listen to Malfoy," Albus said softly. "Second, who the hell is Orion?"

"He's a Ravenclaw that I met on our first day back. He's very nice but doesn't have many friends because he's related to the Black family."

Albus nodded and listened to Kris explain what Scorpius had said to him moments ago about Orion. He paused horrified when he heard Daniel Black's name and then took a deep breath. Kris noticed this and reacted.

"What is it?" He said his voice getting in the defensive tone he had had the day of the train incident. "You don't believe Scorpius do you?"

Albus shook his head. Never in a thousand years would he believe Scorpius. He went over to his bed and picked up the letter on the floor from Daniel Black then walked it over to Kris shaking.

"I should have told you this, Kris," Albus said softly. "I'm afraid of telling you. I'm afraid he's watching. I'm so afraid, Kris. I have never been this way before. I want to tell you. I don't know what to say first."

Kris stared at the letter that Albus held in his hands. "Al, what is that? What's wrong?"

Albus was trembling as he handed over the letter to Kris who read it over slowly. Albus looked around the room nervously and then gulped.

"Al!" Kris said with a startled tone. "D.B.? That's Daniel Black, isn't it?"

Albus nodded hesitantly. "The friend he speaks of in the letter it you, Kris. He's threatening me because I saw him on the train. I saw him watching the train expectantly on the platform right before the explosion happened. He knows I saw everything."

Kris grabbed Albus's arm and pulled him down to sit on the bed beside him. Albus was shaking and tears were forming in his eyes.

"Stop, Al!" Kris said shaking his head. "Don't worry about anything!"

Albus sniffed and looked down at his hands as a tear fell into his lap. "I've done awful things because of my selfishness but, Kris, I don't want anything to happen to you! You're basically the only friend that I have!"

Kris shook his head and hugged Albus. "It's okay. We'll figure something out. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone else about the letter."

Albus nodded slowly and shuddered. He hugged Kris back and sighed softly. He had never known that openening up to someone helped relived the tension that he had felt. He felt better. A lot better.

…

Rose, when she had a chance, found her Uncle Harry visiting Hagrid's hut. She heard laughter coming from inside and knocked slowly on the door. Hagrid answered it. Hagrid, who was an old (emphasis on old) friend of Uncle Harry's and he looked quite happy as he answered the door.

"Yes?" He asked and then saw Rose. "'Arry, you're niece is here! It felt really odd saying that."

Rose entered the hut and saw Uncle Harry sitting at the large table drinking whiskey from a giant mug. He smiled at Rose.

"Hey, Rosie!" He said. "Hagrid and I were just catching up. It's been a while since he and I talked. What's up?"

Rose hesitated for a second. "Uncle Harry? There is something I need to talk to you about and I don't know how you're going to react."

…

Father,

I made my first friend ever at Hogwarts. He's a Slytherin named Krisopher. He's really nice and I know that we're going to be great friends. He's introduced me to a few of his own friends and they seem to be very nice except for Scorpius Malfoy. Are we related to him? He seems awfully rude.

Anyway, Kris and I hang out a lot during lunch. He's a third year and I'm a fourth year so we don't really have classes together. At lunch, we tell each other stories about our lives. Yesterday, he told me how his brother (the son of his adoptive parents) once convinced him to let a snake bite him. It's a very gruesome story but Kris is fine now besides the injuries he got in that explosion on the train.

Anyway I think I'm going to have a really good year at Hogwarts this upcoming. I know you and I don't get along very well because of our political views but I wanted to write to you because of our last conversation. Father, I hope that you'll reconsider all that you've said. I'll write to you soon.

Sincerely, Orion

AN: I was going to update last night but I found myself watching The Lost Boys all night with my New Jersey boy, Vinnie. I hope that you liked this chapter. I really like the ideas I have strung together.

Reviews from my lovely reviewing fans:

Tweakerwolf:

the plot thickens! How can Albus be so...infuriating? I mean... he obviously needs help, and he has learned nothing from his parents about talking to people instead of trying to stand on your own. I get he's young but I mean, Harry was young once too, and he let his friends know things. I'm wondering about Orion cuz, I mean, he's a 4th year and has NO friends? Is that a ploy to get close to the families that are to be taken out? Or is he really lonely because of his family and he doesn't fit it? Ravenclaws seem pretty close with their housemates, it just seems weird. Hmmmmm

The next chapter should be up soon. Please leave a review to tell me what you think of the recent events at Hogwarts. I promise chapters with Hugo, Louis, and Lily! I promise!

Also, Orion has been developing in my mind. I had to include the letter at the end to his father.

SO, please review.

~ Ted Theodore Logan (Rahxas)