Friday February 24th 2023:

Just like the last time having breakfast in the Great Hall, Albus was tense and did not feel like eating. Once he stepped past the doorway, countless students gawked at him; some whispering to one another; some giggling; and others just simply holding their stares. Albus wanted nothing more than to run and hide from all of those judging eyes. He was uncertain of what to do. Should he walk away and endure all of the insults and laughter on his way out? Or should he walk over to his table and deal with all of the questions people probably had to ask? As well as the laughter and insults? Both of the scenarios had similar outcomes, just with one lasting longer than the other. But he had to suffer through all of his unwanted attention eventually.

He was not given the chance to choose when Hugo ran over to him with the Daily Prophet in hand. "If you want to talk to someone, you can talk to me. I had no idea you had these sorts of feelings."

"Err, thanks," Albus said.

Dominique was next to approach Albus. "So, Lil was right. Hurts, huh?"

"Err --"

"Come now, give him some space," Cora said to the Weasleys.

"Thanks," Albus said.

"No worries, but you do have people who are here for you. Keep that in mind." Cora's soothing voice was nice to hear, but it did not distract from the uncertainty he was experiencing.

Albus was free to join Scorpius at their house's long table, hearing homosexual slurs being thrown at him. What could Rita Skeeter possibly have written about in this new article?

Adding to Al's further distress, two more people sprinted towards him – this time being Rose and Dominic – but unlike the others, they dragged him out of the hall all the way into another room. The room was cramped, dark, and Albus nearly tripped over something from his inability to see through the pitch-black setting. Dominic shut the door and Albus' heart pounded wildly in his chest. Was this a nightmare he was having?

"Lumos," Rose said. A peak of light shined from her wand, which disorientated Albus' eyesight from the intense darkness to the intense light.

"What are you two doing?" Albus finally asked. "Where even are we?" He veered around and saw what he tripped over earlier was a bucket. Adjoining the tipped over bucket were brooms, mops, and other routine cleaning supplies.

"I'm sorry, but this is the most peopleless place I could think of that was close by," Rose said, a tremor in her voice.

"Gingersnap, you're scaring him. You're making him seem like he's being chased by a murderer or something," Dominic said calmly.

"Gingersnap?" Albus asked.

"It's just a nickname he calls me, never mind all that," Rose said hastily. "Albus, did you somehow let it slip to Rita Skeeter your secret? You know, the one concerning Scorpius?"

"Must you bring that up in front of Dominic? He doesn't know," Albus gritted through his teeth.

"You mean you fancying Scorpius? I already know," Dominic said.

Albus glared at his relative.

"Oh for goodness sake, he already knew. I didn't say anything," Rose said.

"It's true," Dominic confirmed.

Albus sighed. "Do you seriously consider me to be idiotic enough to tell someone like Rita Skeeter my feelings?"

"Idiotic enough to not tell Scorpius, yes. But in the way of telling Skeeter, I suppose not," Rose said.

That is when it all became so clear to Albus: the spurs, Dominique remarking how Lily was right, and now Rose asking about his secret. His heart sunk. "Please don't tell me --"

Dominic and Rose communicated trouble expressions towards each other, and Dominic reluctantly handed over the rustled Daily Prophet to Albus.

The cropped circular photograph in the center of the page was enough for Albus to get his heart to plummet further. "This is from the greenhouse in Herbology class! How did she get this?"

"Her Animagus form is not all you should have looked out for," Rose said, "her cameraman finds any means to get a good shot. No doubt he climbed a tree to take it from there."

And judging the quality, it was through one of the open panels of the greenhouse," Dominic said.

Albus watched himself in the moving photo. Of course it was when he was longingly looking at Scorpius, but also when he stopped, looking crushed. It took all of his strength to actually read the headline.

ALBUS POTTER: THE BOY WHO LOVED.

Really? That was the best she could come up with?

Albus Potter, middle child of the infamous Harry Potter has set his eyes on the young Scorpius Malfoy, son of the prior Death Eater, Draco Malfoy.

An unexpected friendship has blossomed between the two in an act of rebellion

against their fathers. With the two families bearing a true distaste of each other, the young, naive boys are hoping to unite their families together in harmony.

"The opinions of our fathers doesn't matter," says Scorpius Malfoy. "My father may have done horrible things, but I am not him."

However, their friendship may yet be in shambles. With the young Malfoy already having his heart set on the simple but attractive foreign exchange student, Erika Yushamor, Albus' blossoming love for his best friend is crushed.

"He is my best friend," said the very timid Albus Potter twiddling with his fingers in fear of rejection. "I think about him all the time, but I know I shouldn't. I cry every night, knowing that he'll never feel the same way about me as I do for him."

Albus crumbled up the paper and threw it on the floor, not troubling himself with reading the rest. "I can't believe this is happening."

"What I want to know is how Rita knew Erika by name," Dominic said. "I know they're open about being a couple now, but Scorpius wouldn't tell her something like that."

"Don't look at me. I didn't even say he had a girlfriend," Albus growled.

"She's a journalist, you two. Either she interviewed somebody else in the school or eavesdropped, or both," Rose said. "And in your case, Albus, she eavesdropped on you and found out your secret, or she just so happened to make up an accurate enough story."

Albus fisted his hair, pacing back and forth. A sudden knock on the door caused Albus to literally jump from the wrecked state he was in.

"Guys, can I come in?" That voice belonged to Scorpius.

"Shite," Rose mumbled.

They looked at Albus as if they were waiting for his permission. Albus held his breath. "Come in."

Scorpius entered, making the already cramped space even more cramped. "Clever spot."

"Thanks," Rose said.

Scorpius took notice of the Daily Prophet crumbled on the ground. "So you've read it, huh?" Albus nodded, avoiding any mutual gaze. "Erika ran out of the Great Hall crying, telling me not to follow. Because of her name being in the Prophet and the subject of that piece, she's been bombarded with hate and anonymous owls sending stink pellets."

"That's awful," Albus said.

"She doesn't deserve that," Dominic said.

"No, she doesn't," Scorpius said, his chin trembling. Everybody stood there, low in spirits.

"Do you two mind if I talk to Albus alone for a moment?" Scorpius asked.

For once in Albus' life, more company was favorable, but Rose and Dominic agreed and left.

"Rose? What are you doing?" Dominic whispered, gawking over at the redhead pressing her ear to the cupboard's door. Rose pressed her finger against her lips. "Fine, I'm going to continue breakfasting."

Dominic walked off. After two steps, he said, "Keep me in the know at least." Rose gave a thumbs up.

In the cupboard, Scorpius replaced Rose and Dominic for utilising the wand-lighting charm.

"Does Erika believe the story?" Albus asked.

"I don't think so. She's just upset with all of the hate. She's getting hate for me being " oblivious" to your feelings and being with her instead of you."

"Are things alright between you two?" Albus figured he should not have asked a question like that because he was unsure of which answer he truly wanted to hear. If things were not alright, Scorpius and Erika were going to be heartbroken, but if things were alright, Albus' own heartbreak would endure.

"We're okay. It would take a lot more than that to tear us apart." Albus drew in another heavy breath.

"Albus, I know it's like Rita to make up stories, but… that photo --"

"It's not what it looked like," Albus dismissed. "I was deep in thought, but it was over something else."

"Thinking of what?"

Knowing Scorpius, he would never let an unanswered question really go. "I was thinking about after Hogwarts, thinking we may never be able to hang out as much as we do here."

With that unpleasant scenario in Scorpius' mind, he stared at an empty stare, his jaw dropped. Prior to meeting Albus, he was alone, but most importantly, crestfallen. Even the imaginary friends he would construct ended tragically. "No." He shook his head. "No, no. We will find a way."

Albus nodded, biting his bottom lip.

"Albus, do you --" Scorpius played with his collar. "Do you – I mean – do you really have feelings for me?"

Albus gulped and pinched his lips together. Looking up from his toes up to Scorpius, who strangely enough appeared just as nervous as he was.

"It's alright. You can tell me."

Every fiber of Albus' being wanted to tell him… but at what cost? Scorpius could not possibly feel the same way about him. Even if he did, he would not just leave Erika like that. And if he didn't, it would never be the same. "No, I don't."

From the opposing side of the room's door sat Rose gnawing at her lips to prevent her own shouts of frustration.

For reasons unknown to the young Malfoy, he was slightly disappointed, but he put on a smile. "Alright, well, we have that settled at least. I better get back to my food, or else Erika will get on my case about wasting again."

"Alright."

"Fancy me picking up some food and bringing it to you in here?"

Albus grinned. "Please."

"I shall return," Scorpius said, pulling the handle of the door (which Rose made sure to run away from and hide.)

Albus waited for Scorpius, seated on a cardboard box with his lit wand in hand. He yearned for his awful and unfortunate school year to come to an end.