Chapter 37: Alone Together

The prosecution of the Death Eaters officially ended four days after the trial. All of them were given the maximum sentence with no chance of parole. The story was released to the Prophet the day after and took up the whole front page. A section in the bottom corner spoke of the two Hogwarts students who bravely stood up to them and it included a small photo of Albus and Scorpius, taken sometime around February. Below the picture there was a paragraph on Albus's past with them along with the transcript of what Al had said at the ministry party. It was the first time that story had made the press. Now everyone knew the whole truth.

The same day the Prophet article came out Albus received a letter from the department of magical law enforcement pardoning him of all discretions. Minutes before the trial Albus had confessed to Harry that he'd used the Cruciatus Curse on one of the men. He'd almost cried forcing himself to say it out loud but he thought it would be worse to send his dad into the trial to defend him without knowing what he'd done. Albus wasn't even sure if Scorpius knew what he'd done.

Harry's face when Albus had told him was blank, completely void of emotion. All he said before entering the courtroom was, "I'll sort it."

In the letter the ministry said his actions had been labeled as self-defense which Albus and them knew was a lie. Albus figured they'd excused him not because of his famous father or for his "heroic actions" but rather because one person can only take so much. Being arrested is not something a mentally tortured boy could handle.

The whole thing ended for Albus the same way he finishes everything- on his own, isolated from the rest of the world. His feet carried him to the balcony. He placed the letter on the ground and with a jab of his wand the parchment went up in flames. He sat down and stared at it for a long time, feeling as if the past itself was going up in smoke.

~O-O~

Several days later on June 11th the twins celebrated their eighteenth birthday. Albus and Rose organized a picnic outside with all the Weasley's and the Potter's and a few choice Slytherins. It was nice. Low key. There were crisps and contraband muggle beer and a special dessert from the twins's hometown. Finn seemed indifferent to not having a giant shit show of a party like the other years. Cale seemed relieved.

"I really appreciate this," he told Albus as the group made their way to Gryffindor Tower for presents. "Big parties are exhausting, you know?"

"Absolutely." Albus winked at Scorpius over his shoulder.

They reached the portrait hole.

"So what did you get me this year, Scor?" Cale asked as they walked into the deserted common room.

"An apology," Scorpius answered.

There was a giant roar of noise as the fifty or so people hiding in the room took off their disillusionment charms. Finn laughed and looked around in awe and disbelief. Cale swore loudly and put Albus in a very aggressive chokehold that no one tried to stop until Albus's face turned red and Rose had to step in. But once the first of many Firewhiskys was thrust into Cale's hand he lightened up.

Music started, the lights were dimmed and Albus lost Scorpius almost instantly. He drank the dregs of a bottle of something from a table and grabbed the nearest person he was related to and dragged them to the dance floor. It was Roxanne.

"Hey Rox, I just wanted to thank you," Albus said over the pounding music.

"For what?" Roxanne said, swaying her hips to the music. "For telling you earlier not to wear that tie dye shirt? It made you look like a scruffy hippie. You're welcome."

"No, not about that. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me these past two years. I know it hasn't been easy but I'm so grateful you stayed with me."

She stopped dancing, her arms falling limply to her sides.

"Albus, we'd never leave you no matter what. We're a family, we stick together. If something happens to one of us it happens to all of us. That's what family means."

She pulled him into a hug and they rocked side to side to the music.

"What about Al?" she whispered into his ear.

"No one's seen him," he replied simply. "I don't know."

After Roxanne had left Albus talked to all of his family individually, thanking them for all they'd done. It was a weird time to do it but it felt necessary. Their reactions were about the same as Roxanne's and all of them asked the same question-

Where is Al.

Albus gave them the same answer.

When Louis had left, the last of his relatives, his spot was taken by Nathan the sixth year Ravenclaw of all people.

"Er, hi," Nathan began tentatively, smiling sheepishly. He looked good, Albus thought.

"I dunno if this is weird," Nathan went on, scratching his head. "Talking to you, I mean."

"No, it's cool," Albus said genuinely. He caught sight of Scorpius over Nathan's shoulder and was momentarily distracted. "Uh, sorry. Er, no I'm glad you're here. I wanted to clear the air between us."

"No need," Nathan rushed. "We're good."

"Just the first time I was kind of an asshole to you and I didn't want anything like that to happen again.

Nathan laughed lightly. "You know, a few months ago I wouldn't have believed you. Looking back now I know that I was a bit of a tosser but you we're-"

He waved his hand, trying to come up with the right word.

"An asshat?" Albus supplied. "Complete and utter wanker? Voldemort reincarnate?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far but yeah, a bit."

Albus chuckled, catching Scorpius's eye across the room.

"I'm truly sorry for what happened," he said, tearing his eyes away from the Slytherin. "I was at a really bad place back then and I used you knowing full well we weren't on the same page. I don't know how I could ever make it up to you."

"Water under the bridge," Nathan said easily. "I knew you didn't want to date me but I still tried. I knew you were going through some stuff back then and I'm truly happy you've gotten better. Does he have anything to do with it?"

He grinned and nodded towards Scorpius. Albus paled.

"Ah, don't feel bad, Al. Clearly we just weren't meant to be. I'm glad somebody makes you happy though."

He clapped Albus reassuringly on the shoulder and moved past, making his way towards the drinks table. Feeling much better than before Albus traipsed his way over to Scorpius. He froze realizing that Scorpius was in mid conversation with Brennan.

Brennan noticed him and called him over. Albus walked slowly, a funeral march. This was a conversation he definitely didn't want to have.

"Hey, Albus," Brennan said cheerily, beaming at him. "We were just talking about you."

Albus looked quickly from Brennan to Scorpius. Scorpius looked sheepish and mildly uncomfortable.

"I really hope I didn't cause any trouble," Brennan said casually as if they were talking about traffic delays. "The last thing I wanted to do was come between you two."

Albus blinked having completely misjudged the situation. Brennan was actually pretty cool. Albus told him that.

Brennan laughed. "You're pretty cool too, mate. Scorpius is a great guy and if it can't be me I'm glad it's you. I mean that."

Albus was touched. Scorpius was looking at Brennan in awe.

"I'm really sorry you got caught in the crossfire of all this, Brennan," Albus said almost breathlessly. "You're awesome and I basically fucked everything up."

"Well, three's an odd number!" Brennan said good-naturedly. Albus was struck with sudden inspiration and was appalled at himself for having taken so long to think of it.

"You know, Brennan," he mused, "if you make your way over to the drinks table right now you may find something you like."

Scorpius whipped his head around to look at the table and realized in a second what was going on. Brennan smiled curiously, said goodbye to Scorpius and wandered off in the direction Albus had suggested.

"You're playing Cupid now?" Scorpius said.

"Hey, they can bond over how we screwed them both. In all senses of the word."

Scorpius glared at him disapprovingly but not for long because Albus grabbed his arm and dragged him into the very middle of the group of people dancing. He took both of his hands in his and they danced off time to the music.

"This is absolutely not the right song to slow dance to," Scorpius said, smirking.

"I thought everyone slow danced to techno."

"Just us babe. We are unique."

"Yes. We really are, aren't we?"

There was a moment where nothing was said and they simply stared at each other like loud music wasn't playing and they weren't surrounded by people. A girl walked by them and whispered something that Albus immediately thought was negative. He bristled and was ready to explode at her but Scorpius just snickered.

"She called us Scorbus," he supplied.

"What is that, a new insult?"

"It's our couple name. Scorpius and Albus. Scorbus. I've also heard Albius."

"Oh."

For a second Scorpius thought he was going to withdraw again but he just laughed lightly.

"Now everyone knows the Chosen One's son has fallen for the Slytherin. My family, most of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy-"

"WHAT!"

Albus burst out laughing.

"At the charity-St. Mungo's thing. I got drunk and sad and told him everything because he was there beside me and I was feeling mopey and I just wanted to rant I suppose."

"What did he say back to you?!"

"Didn't have time. That's about when I almost had an Al attack and Lily had to whisk me out into the hall."

Scorpius looked a bit floored by all of this so Albus suggested they go get some air. They snuck out of the party and ended up on their balcony like they always do. Scorpius leaned against the rail, looking at the inky black sky. No stars tonight. He turned back. Albus was watching him from the other side of the small landing.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his eyes dark and piercing.

"For what?"

"Well, for everything first of all. But... more for being patient with me. I'm really grateful you didn't assume we were dating and just jump into it. You let me figure it out and didn't pressure me to hurry up. I- thanks. Scor, thank you."

Scorpius took a step closer.

"Everything in your life," he said, "has been going so fast for so long. I just didn't want to be another thing that ran by you."

Albus started wringing his hands together which was always a bad sign.

"I said before that we needed to talk. I'm just not very good with words." He looked down.

"There it is again," Scorpius said sadly.

"There what is?"

"That look on your face whenever we get close like this. We try to talk about important things and you freeze. It's like you're ashamed."

"Ashamed of you?"

"Ashamed of yourself. Like letting yourself love me is a bad thing."

Albus trapped his lip between his teeth to stop it from trembling. You will not cry.

"It is a bad thing though. Scorpius, I can- I can only hurt you. Don't you see that?"

Scorpius took a step backwards this time.

"Do you really think so little of yourself?"

Albus looked down again, unable to meet Scorpius's gaze.

"Don't do that," Scorpius murmured. "Don't push me away. You keep trying to do it but it's too late now. It would only hurt both of us. I'm here, Albus. I'm not going to leave."

Albus retreated in on himself, arms wrapping around his middle to keep himself from falling apart.

"You should."

Albus wanted to walk away but his legs wouldn't move. Scorpius stared at him, feet rooted to the floor.

Neither of them had any more words to say.