A/N: only like... four years later and this chapter is the last of the slow-ish beginning character introductions. Things will speed up next during Teddy's chapter. I'm going to try for one update a month and i PROMISE i will not abandon this again until i'm finished! 3 Leave a review and lemme know what you think :)
Albus felt Scorp's had close around his wrist as they arrived at the Headmistress' door. Was he that scared? Al looked over and no, he realized, Scorpius was not scared. He had a wicked grin on his face, the grin that had become Albus' favourite sight over the years. In his other hand, he held two extendable ears. Bloody amazing best mates.
Scorpius put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion and handed Al an ear. Albus felt Scorpius' hand release his wrist as both boys dropped to their knees and put the end of the ears by the door. The voices were fuzzy at first, but then came into focus.
"Of course I'm aware," said a haughty voice that could belong only to Scorpius' father. "One would be a fool to not understand what this means."
"For once, we agree on things." Albus could hear the surpise in his fathers voice. He saw Scorpius bloody Malfoy smirking at him out of the corner of his eye and gave him a smack on the head for good measure. Bloody best mates.
"…catch a fae," Albus heard as he tuned back in to the voice of his own father. "Mind you, this is strictly confidential. I haven't told you any of this."
"I believe I can be of service and provide you a means to that end," came Draco's smooth voice again.
Catch a fae? Albus mouthed to Scorp. Scorpius' eyes were wide but he merely shrugged at Albus, almost helplessly.
"We'll talk tomorrow, if you could come by headquarters," his father's voice came again. Shuffling and some undiscernable mutterings and gruntings followed and the boys reeled in their ears. Albus passed his to Scorpius who stuffed him into his pocket. He then gave Al a bracing smile before knocking on the headmistress' door.
"Come in," came McGonagall's stern voice from the other side. It was Al who reached forward and turned the knob, the door opening easily under his hand.
He stepped to the side to let Scorpius slide in behind him and then took stalk of the room. His parents were sitting close to the door, his mother closest and his father on the other side. His mother looked practically livid, which was never a good sign. His father looked tired, which was arguable even worse. There were two empty seats, presumably for him and Scorpius, separating the Potters and the Malfoys. Draco Malfoy looked haughty, he lounged in his chair, but still somehow looked aristocratic and graceful while doing it. Scorpius was much the same, Al reflected, although he could never quite manage looking as graceful. Perhaps it was his build – all knees and elbows where his father was strong and lithe. Not that he noticed these things, they were all men for Merlin's sake. Astoria Malfoy looked miffed, and was cooly regarding Albus. She, more than anyone else, made him feel disappointed in himself. Scorp's mum had accepted him warmly and unquestioningly when he and Scorp had become friends. She and Draco understood him in a way his parents never could, what with him being a Slytherin and all.
Albus had the good sense to look abashed, and Astoria's face softed. His mother's face, however, hardened at the exchange. Ginny had never warmed up to Draco's parents, and Albus couldn't blame them. As nice as they were, he knew Draco was still involved in some shady stuff. His father, however, had less problems with them. Al knew they had agreed to live and let live for the sake of the boys, and that included staying out of each others business. Even if Al's dad was an Auror.
McGonagall looked angrier than Albus had ever seen her. He sat gingerly in the chair next to his parents under her seething gaze. The lines on her face cast harsh shadows in the torch-light of her office, making her look more formidable than usual. Scorpius sat on his other side, his leg pressed up against Al's.
"I think," began McGonagall once they were seated, "You boys have some explaining to do about what exactly possessed you to use highly dangerous curses in the middle of a classroom duel."
Albus opened his mouth with the intent to tell the room it was his fault and take the blame. Scorpius had been hit, and that was punishment enough for him.
"Don't," the Headmistress held up a hand towards Ablus, gesturing for him to stop speaking. "Do not even think for a minute I will believe you if you say it was just your fault, Mr Potter. I know you were both casting curses, Ms Granger-Weasley has already told me what she saw."
Bloody fucking Rose.
"It was both of us," Scorpius responded, pressing his leg harder against Al's, as if he needed the support. "We do it often, neither of us have gotten hurt before. It was my fault, really. I got distracted. Normally we'd never hurt each other, we're too equally matched."
Albus watched each adult in the room as all their faces tightened at the words. The bloody git had to go and be too bloody honest, of course.
"Curses like this aren't a game, boys," began Albus' dad in his lecture voice. He, James, and Lily all called it that. When Harry Potter, the Chosen One, Vanquisher of the Dark Lord turned his lecture voice on, you knew it was going to be a long, long day. "Especially when you have classmates around. What if one of you had missed and hit someone else?"
"We don't miss," Al responded sullenly. They had been competing similarly since…well, since forever really. Before Albus and Scorpius had become friends in their fifth year they would intentionally throw the worst curses they could think of at each other – the ones that weren't unforgivable, at least. Somehow, this had resulted in a near equal duelling capacity – neither boy had wanted to be bested by the other.
Their friendship as it developed had changed the tone of the courses. No longer was there an intent to injure – merely to keep each other engaged. They hadn't ever talked about it either. The pace of their duels simply changed along with their friendship. Throwing in surprise curses and jinxes kept them on their toes. Whatever anyone else said, Albus was certain they were better duelists for it. Of course bloody Scorpius Malfoy had to stop paying attention and get them both in shite. Bloody best mates.
"You're human. You make mistakes. Clearly, or we wouldn't be here today," Albus' father replied, looking between the two. "This is absolutely unacceptable, and Rose had every right to tell the Headmisstress exactly what transpired, so don't think for a minute that we will tolerate you two harassing her for it."
Albus shifted under his fathers' glare. Sometimes, he wished his father would just bloody yell. Quiet disappointment from the Saviour of the Wizarding World was unbearable at times. It would be so much easier if he would just blow up, like Uncle Ron and Rose did with each other. Anger was something Albus could handle – the aforementioned Weasley cousin had given him plenty of practice. Disappointment, though, that was bloody painful.
McGonagall cleared her throat and Albus' attention snapped to his headmistress. A small knot of anxiety began to curl in his stomach as reality set in. She could expell them – in fact, she had every right to. He leaned in until his arm was brushing Scorp's,taking comfort from his best mate's steady presence beside him. Scorp looked nervous too, Al thought when he sneaked a glance over.
"I spoke with your parents before you arrived," she began, her face set in hard, stern lines. "We agreed that you have both suffered consequences as a result of Scorpius' injuries. I do hope this experience will make you less likely to be utter fools in the future."
Scorpius looked as incredulous as Albus felt. Was the headmistress going to let them off with – a warning? But then she raised her eyebrows. Letting them off free was not bloody likely, Albus realized, but it sounded like they were avoiding explusion at the very least.
"You will serve detention with Hagrid every Saturday night until I decide otherwise. He has a special project he needs help with." She spoke with finality, but Albus couldn't help feeling horrified. Clearly, Scorp was thinking the same.
"But professor-"
"Quidditch is-"
They spoke at the same time, but went silent immediately when Astoria cleared her throat pointedly.
"Maybe you should have thought of that," began Albus' mom, filling in the silence Astoria left seamlessly, "before you went around carelessly tossing curses at each other. You're lucky it's not explusion for you."
She was giving Ablus the look he had long ago termed That Look. Both James and Lily had mastered it, too, but Albus had never been able to look quite as fierce and fiery as any of them could when angry. He had also long ago learned that whenever That Look appeared, the best mode of defence was to bloody shut up and listen or there would be hell to pay.
"And should either of you attempt to pull a stunt that moronic ever again," began Astoria from Al's other side, "we will stand behind whatever form of punishment the headmistress chooses. Even if it goes so far as expulsion."
Having basically two sets of parents, reflected Ablus, was bloody annoying. He merely mutely nodded in response. And, he supposed, they had a point. Even he wasn't cocky enough to fail to recognzie the danger he had put Scorpius in. And Merlin, he felt bloody awful.
"Well," said McGonagall, "Thank you for that, Mrs Malfoy. I'm sure both boys are smarter than that." She placed a pointed look in the direction of Albus and Scorpius. "You boys are to report to the Entrance Hall at seven o'clock this Saturday. Hagrid will be there to meet you. You are both free to go – might I suggest going straight back to your common room to catch up on the class work you've missed today. Scorpius, be sure you see Madame Pomfrey in the morning. She'll need to apply more dittany to reduce scarring."
"Yes, Professor," said Scorpius meekly. He stood up and Albus followed, aware of the five sets of eyes following them as they crosseed the room to the door.
"Perhaps I will escort you down," came the voice of Draco Malfoy for the first time all meeting. "And make sure you two get to where you're supposed to be with as few detours as possible."
Albus didn't turn around, but he felt Scorpius shrug in defeat at his side. He slipped out of the door and waited for Scorpius and Mr Malfoy to follow. Behind him, he could hear Astoria and his mother chatting to each other. Those two were too bloody close, it made life difficult for himself and Scorpius. Although, at the same time, he was glad at least their mothers were friends. Their fathers were always on guard with each other. Al and Scorp both knew what had happened in the war, and how tense their fathers' relationship had been as classmates, but it was still bloody annoying, having fathers who constantly had to one-up each other. Some people never grew up.
The three of them descended the spiral staircase in silence. Mr Malfoy stepped out ahead of both boys and promptly headed in the wrong direction.
"Uh..dad?" Scorpius piped up tentatively. His face was scrunched up in a confused expression that normally made Albus laugh, but today his nerves hadn't settled enough. He still felt anxious and uncomfortable – and even a little bit guilty.
"We're taking the scenic route," Draco said, glancing back. "Come on, then."
"I thought you were making sure we wouldn't be taking any detours," said Albus. He couldn't help the small smirk that pushed its way onto his face as he and Scorp followed Mr Malfoy's broad, purposeful steps through the corridor.
"I wanted to speak with you both, Albus, and I'm not sure your father would approve of what I have to say." The boys sped up until they were walking in pace with Draco, Scorpius on his left and Albus on his right.
"When Al's father and I were in our sixth year, that very same curse was used on me. And by your father, no less, Albus."
Albus felt his mouth for into a round, shocked O, but it was Scorpius who responded, aghast. "He did what?"
"You must understand, Scorpius, I would have cast something worse. But yes, he did." The look on Mr Malfoy's face was grim and set, and Ablus immediately felt his stomach drop. He tried not to think about what their parents were like in their school days as much as possible. He knew Scorp's dad was downright awful – his own father was quite the wanker too if Aunt Hermione was to be believed. But hearing stories like this still hurt, even if he was old enough to understand that not even adults are infallible.
"I still have the scars. My point is," he sighed and looked at both boys in turn. "You are both so much better than us. Yes, Albus," Draco added, catching Albus' incredulous look, "better than your father too. He was a right git, I promise you that."
They had begun descending the stairs to the dungeons, Mr Malfoy moving with practiced ease as he dodged the trick stair on the second flight down.
"A curse like that is dark. I don't mean it uses dark magic, but its purpose is inherently dark. There are better curses – ones that will keep you on your toes, ones that have negative side effects, but that won't result in death. Or dismemberment," he added wryly. "Proving yourselves better or best in a school boy duel isn't worth your life. Neither is making mockery of things that are dark."
"We weren't mocking, dad. We really didn't mean to hurt each other. We just like duels to be exciting," Scorpius was whinging and they both knew it. Normally, it drove Albus up the wall – but somehow, when he was winging for Al's sake, Al minded a hell of a lot less.
"Defence is so bloody boring," intoned Al. "And this new professor doesn't know anything. What else are we supposed to do?"
"Behave like responsible, upstanding citizens?" Scorpius scoffed in response. "As if."
Albus could tell Draco was hiding a smile. Honestly, the man was just soft sometimes. But when he spoke again, his voice was hard. "Neither of you are able to fathom the evils that myself and your parents were facing at your age. You shouldn't have to. But you need to respect that there are times in history that bare evils so unspeakable that you are privilaged to have never experienced them. Life is not a game, boys, and dark curses aren't a joke."
"No one comes out unscarred," toned Scorpius. "We know, dad. I'm sorry."
"Me too," Albus added. "We didn't really think."
"I know," said Draco. He sighed, almost in defeat. "You're teenage boys – you shouldn't have to think, and if the world were different, you wouldn't have to. There's always darkenss that hides at the edges."
Draco paused as they reached the common room and turned to face both boys, his back against the wall. He looked tired, Albus thought. More tired than he should. He seemed to be choosing his next words carefully. Al glanced at Scorpius, who offered him a bracing smile and shifted a bit closer. For as long as they had been friends, they had always drawn on each others strength.
"I can't tell you much, but I want you to know that there is some serious danger out there right now."
"We know," Ablus interrupted. "My dad told me, and I told Scorp," he added sheepishly at Draco's raised eyebrow. "But it's not supposed to be that bad. That's what everyone's saying. It's not even that serious."
"Well," said Draco evenly, "Everyone isn't always right. You two are safe here in Hogwarts, but don't go doing stupid things to put yourselves in extra danger anymore."
"You're right," Scorp responded, much to Al's chagrin. He wanted to know more. What was happening in the world outside Hogwarts? And what were the fae doing that everyone was trying so bloody hard to ignore – apparently even his own father, if Mr Malfoy was to believe.
Draco suddenly enfolded them both in a hug. It was strange. Mr Malfoy was never the huggy sort. He loathed physical affection, Albus knew, unless it was with Astoria. Bloody disgusting adults.
"Just be safe. I know you boys didn't mean any harm. Now go get some rest. And," he added, looking about as sheepish as Draco Malfoy could possibly look, "Don't tell your parents what I told you, Al. Much of the business with the fae I'm not even supposed to know about."
Albus grinned sardonically at Mr Malfoy. He wouldn't have told anyways, he and Scorp knew that at least. For all his talk, they both knew Draco still dabbled in some Dark Arts clientel when managing the Malfoy family business. It had diminished since Scorp's Grandad Malfoy had died but they all knew it still happened. It was unspoken knowledge in the Potter house, too. They didn't ever talk about Scorp's father, since Al's dad was an Auror and all. Best not to let anyone know they knew anything. Pretend it didn't exist and all that.
"Course not," responded Al easily. "I'm not that thick, Mr Malfoy."
Draco gave him a small grin back. "Course not. Now get out of here."
Al watched as Scorp gave his dad one last awkard hug before he gave the password to the Slytherin common room. It was abandoned, with the rest of the school in class or at lunch – Al wasn't sure what time it was.
He glanced at Scorp, who looked pale as a ghost. "Let's skive off the rest of lessons. You need rest, and I don't bloody feel like going anyways."
They settled onto the plush green couch. The common room fire was warm, and the eerie green light coming form the Black Lake was almost relaxing. Al settled his head against Scorp's shouler. "I'm sorry, yeah? It was stupid of us to ever fight like that. I couldn't bare seeing you get hurt like that ever again."
Scorp reached out and squeezed his hand, interlocking their fingers. It felt like forgiveness. Albus didn't pull away.
"Could've just as easily have been you, mate," came Scorp's soft reply. "I can't imagine what I would have done if it had been."
"Let's not imagine it then."
Albus felt his body relax as Scorp's head leaned back against his own. His whole body felt warm and fuzzy and peaceful. They stayed like that as Scorpius fell asleep, thoughts of fae and danger far from Al's mind.
