"Why did it have to be my best fucking friend Al?" My brother spat angrily as he pulled firmly at my hand.

"I didn't pick him because of that James! In fact it was Scor who chose me! I told him over and over it was a bad idea. I explained taking care of me would be too much for him!"

"I find it seriously convenient that you're suddenly gay and into my best friend."

"Convenient? Suddenly? I've fucking had a crush on Scor for years you ass. I didn't know he was gay too until today! And I still told him I wasn't right for him."

"You did?" James asked surprised, softening at that. He was so protective of Scorpius that I almost felt a pang of jealousy resound in my heart to hear how much he worried over the blond. I felt some of the tension lessen between us as James slowed his frenetic stride.

"Yes! I told him to let someone else deal with me. I told him to find someone better… not just because I'm now blind. I know I'm dangerous Jamie… we both know that... but you have to stop treating me like I don't have feelings. I really love him… I don't want him to get hurt… but you just keep… you're so cruel to me… so much that I can't stand it James." I whispered as we walked through the halls at a more manageable pace.

"You actually love him?" He asked in disbelief. He sounded incredulous over the possibility.

"Yes…" I admitted, starting to cry again softly. The admission made it so much more real. There was a silent pause between us that stung and confused me more than I cared to admit.

"Merlin though. Why did it have to be my best friend!?" James barked more to himself than at me. "Damn it!"

"James… I don't think he's going to stay your best friend after this…"

He scoffed arrogantly as we continued through the stone corridors, not willing to believe that what i'd suggested was even on the table. Something hit me then and I balked as though I'd collided with a stone wall. It had been the way he had cursed out the words 'damn it'".

"Oh my god James… you don't… like him too... do you?" I asked suddenly stopping us in our tracks. The idea plucked a strange chord in me and I felt compelled to ask the thought out loud.

"What? Don't be ridiculous. I like girls Al."

"So? That doesn't mean you can't also like him."

He was silent and, for the first time since being blinded, I really felt lost. I would have given anything in that moment to read my brothers expression. He could lie so easily to me now if he really wanted to.

"I don't know Albus… I've never thought about it like that before." He answered sheepishly. My mouth fell open in catastrophic shock.

"James… you're really really stupid... you know that?"

"I didn't say that I liked him like that… I just said I didn't know." James grumbled. It was as good as a confession as far as I was concerned.

"Do you realize how nothing I am right now? How vulnerable I feel? Can you empathize with me for one second? Im not fucking around with Scor… he's the one who pursued this… now you're telling me you fucking love him too." I almost laughed at the hilarity of it…

"I didn't say that!"

"You might as well have! There's no way from the sound of your voice that you don't."

"Im seeing Melody! She's amazing. The sex is incredible and I like her!"

I squinted in his direction as though he were a fucking moron.

"Oh well then, now that thats all settled, I guess I can obviously just go right ahead and have Scor to myself right?" I asked raising an eyebrow at him. If he'd been fine with it none of this would have happened. His behavior at least made a little more sense to me.

"Why admit this to me now James? I can't even with you. You've had him for ten years… you could have said something... anything... at any point."

"Because of you obviously! Because I knew when this all happened that he'd fall in love with you!" James cursed angrily into the corridor. "You're exactly what he likes… at least before now I always thought I'd be able to tell him someday… when I understood better what i felt… but if he's with you… I just don't think there's going to be an after you Al…"

I was shocked at his words. I don't think there's going to be an after you...

"So not because you think I'm an evil freak like Lily?"

"No! Come off it Al. We don't get along all that well and you do occasionally dabble in shit you have no business experimenting with… but you're still my brother… I don't actually think you dosed Scor."

"You have some serious communication issues James… You've never shared any of this with me." I offered as an afterthought.

"And you don't? You never told me you were gay?!" James argued.

"We're not that close! You never told me you were into—"

"-I'm not! I'm not attracted to anyone but girls… and him." He added softly as an afterthought. My heart twisted in my chest again. "We've been best friends for ten years. We used to go to childhood quidditch classes… camping and sleepovers and stuff. We went to the same concerts, watched the same movies. Most of every day off we've spent together… weekends… festivals… new years and holidays… roller coasters and ferris wheels… broom rides… everything…"

"You do rather sound like a straight moron to me… I take it you're not going to tell him?" I asked carefully.

"I can't now, can i?"

"Thats not how a Slytherin would see it."

"Well I'm not a Slytherin." He spat. How he loved to remind me of that fact.

"Well then don't get in the way. He said he loved me today… today for merlin's sake. We just had our first kiss… like an hour ago." I explained as we walked. I felt James grab me protectively as one of the shifting stairs moved to expose me to a huge drop from the fourth floor.

"You kissed…" a stunned James repeated casually as though he hadn't just save my life. A Slytherin might have merely pushed me right over the newly formed edge I thought darkly. He had leapt so automatically to protect me that i was almost moved by it… "Was it hot at least?" My brother added half heartedly.

I nodded shyly in silent acknowledgement. We had never talked so intimately before in our entire lives. There was a closeness between us in this moment. One I had not felt in years.

"So... looks like we have a problem." I offered finally to my older brother. "You can keep this a secret from him and things might get awkward at family get togethers, you know if he and I are there and I happen to know you're also secretly in love with him. Or-"

"-Or you could just break it off." James interrupted quietly. Was this what he really wanted after all?

"And you'll be there to pick up the pieces?" It was a dark retort that had surprised even me.

"No, I'm going to see where this Melody thing goes first."

I rolled my eyes, not knowing if he'd been joking or not. My bet was on not.

"And if I do tell him…" James started, voicing the other option I had actually meant to suggest.

"Oh boy… I can't even see and I know I still wouldn't want to watch that drama unfold. I mean…. there's a chance he might…"

"Leave you for me? I doubt it. Can you imagine?"

"James… this conversation is giving me a headache. Why didn't you just say something sooner?!" I was so angry at my brother's cowardice and warped emotions. How could a Gryffindor lack the courage to act for so long?

"You want to just share him?" James joked suddenly. "Like I get the bottom half and you get the top?"

"He's not a desert." I laughed pushing at what I thought was his shoulder. Of course James wanted the bottom half…

"Listen carefully to me. You're the dashing eldest child of Harry fucking Potter and the star chaser for Gryffindor. Now while I clearly take more after our supermodel mum you're not hard on the eyes either. You quite literally have the entire female wizarding population at your fingertips AND you're not even sure how you feel about Scorpius. I know what I feel for him and he's the only other wizard I know for certain is even interested in guys. I also know what he feels for me… and I'm telling you now… i've decided i'm not giving him up for anything."

A pang in my heart told me I was merely being defensive. 'What if Scor can't heal you? What if this goes wrong? Should you just leave him to James?' a doubting voice in my head whispered. They've been so close for years. You're just intruding...

"You know Al, I actually think this is the most grown up conversation we've ever had together." James offered as we came to a stop, presumably at the medical wing. I turned to hug him all of a sudden. I don't know what compelled me to but i did. I held him tightly as best as i could. "Shall I walk you back to the dungeons Al? Now that you've calmed down?"

"Yeah ok. If you don't mind taking me?"

We turned around and James stopped us again, standing dead still as though confronted by something... or someone.

"Scorpius… what are you doing here?" James asked into the blackness.

Oh great. More drama.

"I came to see if everything was alright." He offered softly. I knew by the bristling hairs along my neck that my Lion was looking at me.

"Perfect timing… You two need to have a talk."

"Al!" James warned darkly.

"You were weighing in on my relationship not five minutes ago? Accused me of dosing him with love potions! I can tell you now that things will never be right if you hide this form him."

Scorpius moved closer to us and I tried not for the first time to form a clear mental image of the space and people around me.

"Al I don't want to talk to James right now. I came to see if you were alright."

"He's my brother and i say you do need to talk about a couple things. The sooner the better." I was annoyed and too tired at this point to argue with either of them.

Scor grabbed me the moment I tried walking away. "Al... If you go that way you're going to fall off the ledge."

"I knew that…" I stated sheepishly. I don't know who I was trying to convince.

"Just stay and lets all talk about this for a minute."

"Absolutely not!" James and I spat at the same time.

"No enough of the silliness. James, you're still my best friend… although i can't say for how much longer that will be. You need to tell me what is so wrong with me seeing your little brother."

"I should really go elsewhere for this..."

"But you can't go anywhere without one of us to guide you, so lets just get this over with alright?"

"What do you want me to say Al? I'm not even sure how I really feel." The idiot began uncertainly.

"Well... You can start by telling Scorpius that when I asked if you were also in love with him you said you didn't know. Lets all start right there i think." I offered as though i were a therapist. "And James… like i said we're not sharing him. He's not a desert." I repeated the joke from earlier.

SPOV

What did Al just say? I heard something akin to glass shattering in the mental halls of my mind.

"Wait... I'm sorry… what? What are you… what the fuck is he saying exactly James?" James couldn't bring himself to look at me. His hands were tucked casually in his pockets but his head was tilted down to avoid my eyes. The longer I stared at him the more my disbelief turned to confusion and anger. "James… what is Albus talking about? You're straight… right?"

"Yes I'm straight…" James parroted weakly. His broad shoulders tensed and rolled as he stretched them absently. A hand came from his pocket to grab the back of his neck as he rolled it to one side. He was still clearly stiff from quiddich practice.

"Except…" Al added for his brother, waiting for James to finish his sentence.

"I'm not good at this sort of thing Al. There's a reason I never said anything to him. Of course I adore him. He's been my best friend since we were like eight. I just… this last year i sort of… started to feel something a little more for you than just... friendship… I..."

"No fucking way is this happening to me right now." I heard myself blurt out, interrupting the older Potter before he was able to finish. I felt like i was suddenly in an American soap opera. Soon the doctor's twin brother would wake from his coma and declare that he had been poisoned by his sister in law as she sought to hide their affair. "And which one of you made the joke about splitting me like a desert?" I asked incredulously, still in complete shock.

James chuckled, giving himself away.

"Scorpius… Its not that serious… Like i said… i'm not even sure how i feel… i wasn't going to confuse you and possibly wreck our friendship by saying anything…"

"Until you realized Albus and I might get together…" I corrected.

"I was afraid I wouldn't ever get a chance to tell you after this." It was a matter of fact sort of explanation. "You've never had the opportunity to get with anyone else before… I honestly thought i had more time."

"Ok… Now Scor. What do we think about what James has just said…" Al inquired trying to facilitate more discussion. I could have strangled him for trying to play couples therapist.

"Why did you of all people think this was necessary?" I asked of Al.

"Because you couldn't remain friends with a secret like this hanging over you and James was obviously not ok with us dating… since you know… he might be in love with you too."

"Thanks no… the second part I got…"

This couldn't actually be happening.

"What do I feel? I'm in love with you Albus. James… I don't know what could have, might have been… but you didn't say anything… for ten years… I can't even deal with this…"

"Great… so now that we've cleared all of this up? Lets all reconvene on christmas and agree to only ever discuss the weather together." Albus shot, clapping his hands together as though that might have simply been the end of it.

"I have a question Scor" James started, finally daring to look at me. "Did you ever think about me and wonder, even once? Did you ever see me after the shower… or in the changing room… did you ever look over at me after we listened to hours of music… laughing together until four in the morning… going on all our adventures… and think even once about reaching out and touching me… about me kissing you… did you ever once hope at the breakfast table that it might always be just the two of us forever…"

"Thats not a fair question at all James…" Al looked over towards me in shock then. He had not liked my answer.

"Answer it anyway…" James pressed tenderly.

I sighed.

"You mean did I even once… over ten years as a closeted gay kid with not one other out wizard my age to confide in or lust after… think to myself how nice it would be if my attractive best friend wrapped me in his arms and took me passionately? Yeah… I mean sure… but its not like what i feel for Al. That was childhood fantasy. At least i mean… I mean James… YOU'RE NOT EVEN GAY For merlins sake!"

"But you did wonder? If you two could have been together…" Al asked softly. I could see the cogs in his head moving and I was not happy about the direction they were churning.

"You're not a cripple and I'm not leaving you for James. James I love you like a brother… and yes at one point I did imagine what it would be like if you and I… you know… but alas… i love your brother... so lets do as Al said and just agree to never talk about this ever agai—"

APOV

I heard james move as his footsteps echoed loudly on the hard floor. There was a brief shuffle as something had cut Scorpius off mid sentence. A few long moments went by in silence before I heard shoving and more loud footsteps.

"James stop!" Scor spat angrily in protest. I felt someones hand slip into mine and realized my boyfriend had come to stand beside me. "Al… we're going now. James… don't do that again… i mean it…" The blond shot as he pulled me away quickly down a side corridor.

"What happened?" I asked helplessly. I hated that If i wanted to go somewhere I had little recourse at the moment but to be dragged along like a little kid.

"Nothing… James just… nothing…"

He sounded so agitated that I thought better of asking again. I was struggling to keep up without tripping as he pulled me aggressively along.

"Slow down! I can't keep this pace up Scor. I'm going to fall."

"Your brother is so bloody stupid." I couldn't help but agree with that. "He kissed me… while you were right there… i mean how rude is that? Just because you can't see." I could almost hear my heart cracking in my chest.

"He what? You kissed?" I asked softly stopping us in our tracks. "Thats what that was back there?"

"He kissed me ok. I did not want him to Al. I think that's the end of that anyway…" There came from him a sigh so heavy that i could almost feel it through where our hands were joined. Did he really mean it? Could he end his friendship with James as easily as that?

"What… did it feel like?" I asked curiously… I was terrified by not being able to see. I was so afraid and vulnerable that i could scarcely stand it… I felt him shift me forcefully then… pushing me several paces back and into a stone wall.

"Are all of you Potters this stupid?" He asked as I winced. I could feel a sharp stone sticking awkwardly into my back as I pressed against him for a release. He was holding my arms vice like in place. I could feel his heavy breath crashing against me like waves of mint. He was so very close to me.

"You're hurting me Scor. Let go." I shot before he leaned in closer.

"I'm not his ok? I'm yours if you want me! I didn't want James to do that. I didn't ask for it… I swear!" His words tickled my ear as he spoke. "I want you damn it…" He bit out angrily, a need dripping headily from his voice. I felt him lean in to kiss my neck after a few moments had passed in silence. My mind started to blur at the pleasure of the sensation when the image of my brother and Scorpius flashed in my imagination.

"Stop." I croaked as I felt another kiss and another along my neckline. "Give me a minute please!" I shot, confused by everything that had happened today. I could feel my cock stirring in my pants which only confused and frightened me more. "Please stop… All i can think of is you two… you're hurting me Scor…"

"DAMN IT!" He cursed explosively as he stopped himself. I heard his fist punch the wall and i knew from the force of the blow he could have seriously damaged his hand. He cursed again in a howl of pain, releasing me and backing away. "This isn't fair." He whimpered. "It's so bloody unfair."

Silence bloomed between us as moment after moment elapsed in the heavy darkness.

"Not how you thought tonight would go huh?" He didn't answer, which tempted me to continue. "Are you ok Scor? That sounded like it had to hurt."

"No." I heard him bark from several paces away. "i'm pretty sure I broke my fucking hand."

I moved slowly towards the sound of his breathing, using the wall as a guide to steady myself as I walked. I found him kneeling on the ground cradling his wounded digits.

"Sorry Scor… lets get you back to the medical wing… maybe Poppy can just cast a quick healing charm if its not too bad?"

"Fuck!" He swore, grabbing my arm with his uninjured hand to hoist himself back to a standing position. "No its not how I thought tonight would go." He finished crankily as he began to lead us back the way we'd come.

"Me neither." I admitted with a hint of levity in my tone.

"I'm going to tell you this now Al… I will never forgive you if you let your brother be the reason for this not working. Never. You'll both end up losing me." He whispered angrily in the gloom. Everything seemed so much more dramatic in this perma darkness. I thought about what he had said and felt my cheeks growing red again. I hated how much I blushed around Scor. I knew he would watch me whenever the pink tinge grew across my face. I could feel it in the air somehow.

"You like me that much?"

"I said i loved you didn't i? Did you think i was joking?!"

He was so mad now. I couldn't tell if it was at James, at me, or at the fact that I seemed confused enough to end things right here and now. I really didn't know how to feel about James's confession. I was still reeling from it.

"I wish you hadn't told me he kissed you."

"You're mad at me but not him for doing it?" The blond asked in a huff. It had been a careless statement on my part.

"Im not mad at James for feeling the way he must about you… Since i understand why he feels that way… I've wanted to kiss you for a very long time now so…" I whispered back. James was my brother and Scorpius was well… incredible…

"Thats actually kind of sweet… in a fucked up way. I am just beyond furious with James for risking what I have with you over some childish… i don't even know what."

"It doesn't help that I still need you for almost everything i do."

"And you think I don't need you? I feel sick that you won't let me touch you right now. I feel sick thinking I got so close to you only to know there's a whisper of a chance I might lose you now. I've watched you all the time lately, and my heart aches each time I've had to force my hand to stay put at my side… I've wanted to reach for you… hold you… I've wanted to run my hands through your hair… I've wanted to take you on more broom rides and listen to great songs together and dance after breakfast of blueberry pancakes. Now i feel the fear in your voice. I can feel this whole thing slipping away and I want to strangle James for it. I'm terrified."

I continued in silence, following his lead as we rounded our way back the way we'd come.

"You wouldn't let this just slip away… If you could see the way I feel for you… in my eyes. You wouldn't risk this vanishing if you saw the way i looked at you…"

My head made a phantom movement in the direction of his face. It was as though I was willing myself to try and see him. I believed it though… It was the only thing that really made me pause.

"You mean that don't you?" I asked softly. I felt so meek these days. So helpless. All the fire and dark energy that normally filled me with courage and self assuredness was waning.

"Merlin's great white beard! Mr Malfoy! What have you done to your hand? My my my…"

"Oh! Hello Madame Pomfrey. I hadn't realized we were at the medical wing yet."

"MEDEOR MAXIMA!" I heard as Poppy cast a spell mere moments after she'd examined the blond Gryffindor.

SPOV

I could feel my fractured bones itching as they healed themselves. Within moments i was as good as new.

"Sit here for a moment boys, i'm going to mix a bit of potion for you to take before you go to bed. You should be fine by tomorrow morning." The witch added walking to her back office.

Albus sat down beside me when I moved to one of the beds. His hand had found a rest softly on top of mine. Without warning he turned to kiss me on the cheek. To his credit he hadn't missed.

"What was that for?" I asked. I was surprised by the act.

"For making me feel it. I can't see… so you've done your best to convince me in other ways… The way you touch me… the way you shared your aura's scent with me… That you even thought to make that potion for me still makes me swoon a little. You really do know the right things to say…" His head fell to rest on my shoulder as his hand caressed the top of my uninjured one. "If i could see the way you look at me… I'd know huh" I could feel his cheeks growing warm as he repeated my words.

"I meant it."

"I believe you."

"But?"

"But nothing… I am still thinking about everything that happened today. I'm not going to promise anything… but i won't stop you from pursuing me. I just hope that if this is what you really want that you can pull off the impossible."

"Because?"

"Because i do know that the way I feel about you… means i won't ever let myself become a burden…"

"So if i can't fix your eyes you're just going to up and leave me… out of some weird very unslytherin like sense of altruism?"

"How do you even know you'll still want to be with me when i'm not still vulnerable and in need of a valiant Gryffindor protector?" He joked. If i hadn't detected levity in his tone i might have been supremely insulted at the suggestion that what I felt was just for his weakness and need for me. I didn't care two figs about being anyones savior.

I gently pushed him backwards then… laying him down against the infirmary bed. I could feel him so acutely beneath me as I hovered above this perfect boy. My weight was now distributed mostly onto my working hand. His empty eyes gazed upwards at me shyly as my mostly healed appendage brushed the hair softly from his face.

"Just think about this… nothing else…" I whispered leaning in to gently capture his lips. I could feel his mouth open for me as I continued to longingly explore the kiss. He met each movement with a gentle eagerness that emboldened my drive to continue. It was sweet like honey to know how much he wanted what I was doing.

"You're incredible Al." I whispered after a few minutes of soft snogging.

"That's my line." He returned shyly, his face getting red again beneath my stare. I knew he had grown a sixth sense to alert him to when i was observing him.

"No, actually boys that's my line! This isn't a hotel you two. I'll kindly ask you both to get your own room." Madame Pomfrey shot opening the half drawn curtains to our bedside and extending a potion in her hand towards me.

"Sorry Madame Pomfrey." We both whispered shyly as I rose to extricate myself from the brunette.

"I'll forgive you this once since you both look impossibly sweet together." She offered when i'd retrieved the potion from her. "But I will have to ask that you return to your chambers at once. The castle has just issued an early curfew."

My curiosity flamed at the shocking announcement.

"What? What for?"

"Hundreds of dementors have been sighted pouring into the forbidden forest. Headmistress Mcgonagall thinks there might be another Reaper in the area. We don't yet know what they want or what could have caused this suspicious behavior."

I felt a pang of fear as Albus lay a hand on my shoulder upon registering the news.

"Lilith will be alright won't she?" I asked as we rose to depart. I could tell thoughts were rumbling angrily in Al's head as he strove to make sense of the gathering.

"She should be but we can speak to her tomorrow to see what she knows about events in the forest."