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APOV
"Scor you're finally awake…" I said drowsily, opening my eyes to witness an already roused and thoroughly enraged Scor. He was looking at me with disgust, disappointment, concern, and anger wrapped together in that way which only a Malfoy could manage.
"Don't speak to me" He shot turning away. He had made to leave the bed when I grabbed his hand to stop him. I didn't understand why he was so angry. We had survived, we were safe now.
"Scor?"
"Fuck off. I'm not interested in your excuses." The blond offered, trying to loosen my grip on his arm. He was never this cross with me. He had never cursed at me before... why... what had happened to make him so upset?
"I don't understand… what-"
"-I remember everything!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, his eyes squeezed shut in a clear expression of his outrage. "You were lying there, crumpled and broken, yet you were still trying to save me!"
"And this is… supposed to be my thanks…?" I asked confused. Black and red waves spread like fiendfyre across my entire field of vision as the full force of his fist smashed into my face.
He had punched me, hard, across the jaw.
"Fuck you" Scor shot ripping himself free from my grip.
I leapt incensed from the bed, feeling pain resonate throughout my body as I managed to tackle him.
We fell like lead through water, our little forms carrying a weighted sadness to them that reminded me of blood stained snow. There was a finality to hitting the ground that sent chills into me.
I was afraid someone would discover us and weep as one might at the discovery of some bandit ravaged village for all those who had been found slaughtered within it.
"What the FUCK?" I asked while I had the upper hand. Why had he hit me?
My advantage lasted only until I saw his eyes, thats when I froze, they were simply wrong. They screamed anger and hate.
He channeled his emotions to overpower me and suddenly it was I who found myself beneath him on the harsh floor. He had already raised his fist again, readying it for a second blow when he stopped himself. It took me a moment to realize why. He was crying… Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy had tears rolling down his face. He was looking at my hands as i raised them to defend myself. He was staring at the bloody fingers that had still not had time to heal. The fingers i had used to drag myself to his dying form. To protect him.
"You had to fucking follow him? You had to open the FUCKING BOOK!" he screamed.
"Wait... That's not fair… You were there too… you agreed that we should follow Mar... " He grabbed my shoulders to shake me violently, interrupting my defense.
"You fucking reckless twit! You tricked me! You never planned to fight. You were going to sacrifice yourself to save me from the beginning." His eyes were so sad…
"Oh…" I whispered, realizing what he had meant. If i had died, he would have been alone… forever. He would have been forced to bear the guilt of my death until the day he followed me into the grave. In his eyes my sacrifice would have been anything but selfless. He'd have had us escape together or not at all. Scorpius could never have left me, and he was devastated that I had tried to make him. I... I... had only thought to save him... I had never imagined the pain that that might cause...
"OH? OH? Is that all you have to say?" He seethed, pushing me furiously into the cold stone. How much sorrow did these old stones hold, having borne witness to all the countless horrors visited upon the students throughout the ages. So many memories.
"But Scor I…"
"Don't speak to me, ever again, or I swear you'll regret it, Potter" He barked as he rose off of me. He had spewed out my last name so viciously that i winced to hear it. "Weak and disgusting." He spat again, ripping the golden band from his finger in a fit of frenzied distaste. Scor cast the emblemed piece furiously at my feet, each metallic click ringing like a dread knell in the deep. A drum echoing in the dark. I watched helplessly as he walked away towards the door.
"Next time Al, light yourself on fire and save the world the trouble of dealing with you, Freak."
"But I…"
*Slam*
That confused incoherent plea was the last thing I remembered mumbling before the door to the hospital wing flew shut behind him. I sat crumpled in the dwindling light for hours, resigned and defeated until the fiery sun had set and the stars had risen. Hours, days, weeks, months... it felt like i had lived an eternity listening to the ring of that horrible word. "Freak!"
When madame Pomfrey had finally come to collect me, the entire room was frozen solid. Ice hung like spears from the ceiling and the chilled air seemed to sap the very warmth from my soul.
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"And that my dear Cyrile was how my second year at Hogwarts came to an end. My best friend-"
"Al, what a ridiculous story! I can't believe-"
"Don't interrupt, i'm not finished."
"But Al-"
"Just let me continue."
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This was how my first year had come to an end? I couldn't help but stare sadly at the blond on the Hogwarts platform as we prepared to leave for the summer. My best friend would have liked nothing better than to see me die… my best friend hated me so much that he had thrown away his most prized possession merely because i had given it to him...
"Al? Are you ready to go?" Asked Louis as I stared off towards Rori, Matheus, Melody and…
"He still hasn't told you what they fought about?" Rose queried with a resigned sigh, coming to stand next to us with her luggage in tow. She had seen my vacant expression and guessed at my train of thought. Sometimes I wish I had less perceptive friends.
"Scorpius hasn't spoken to Rori about it either, she hasn't a clue what happened" Lou returned seriously to my insufferably meddlesome cousin. Scratch that... my other insufferably meddlesome cousin.
"Here's an idea, what say we not speak about me as if I weren't right here?" I shot back annoyed. When I turned my head back towards the far side of the platform he was gone. They must have already boarded the train.
"Rose and I wouldn't be your favorite cousins if we didn't try and help."
"Just leave me alone. He's an idiot, and so are the both of you."
"Al there's no reason to snap at Lou and I. We're just trying to figure out how we can help."
People are vile. They use closure as a pretext to justify the violent exposure of your secrets. They don't care about how you heal as long as they satisfiy their morbid curiosity by getting you to divulge the details of your most private and intimate moments.
"Good riddance I say" James spat appearing on the steps to yank me up into the train.
I sat among my family, absently staring out the windows as they chattered on. The good natured humor of their conversation reminded me of how terrible I had felt on my first train ride here. Of course back then he had appeared to cheer me up.
I looked down at the letters in my hand, dreading the messages contained within... Now would be as good a time as any to open them. Given who had sent them I had determined it would be best to read them in private. I quietly left the compartment so my nosy family could not harass me.
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Dear,
Messrs. Harry James Potter: Prince and Lord of House Peverell, and his heir by right of skill, the Marquis Albus Severus Potter,
You are hereby invited, by the Honorable request of His Grace, Agustin DeValois: Heir to the Queen of Light; Arch-Custodian to the Seven Noble Families of Wizarddom; Supreme Founder of the Wizarding Wall of Paris; Councilor General to the Magical Court of France; and Patriarch of the most glorious and ancient House Valois,
to attend the 3012th commemorative Lunar Ball held in honor of the first Carnival of the Moon.
As a Lord of the Seven you are accorded a Prince's apartments within the Louvre in addition to the Peverell wing. I have been instructed to keep these lodgings open for you as long as you may desire, as it is my noble brother's hope that you might also attend the Traditional Hunt on the second day of the Carnival and the Mirage Concert on the third.
~5777 : 1177
-Ambroise Valois; Secretary General to his Grace, the high Lord Augustin de Valois.
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Harry!
It has been too long.
I hope you received our formal invitation, but thought to write personally to you as well. I would be honored to have you, your beautiful wife and young son attend our celebration this summer. Since the Carnival is one of our most revered traditions in the magical world, it would be a shame not to participate.
Additionally my children have requested that Albus be allowed to stay with us at the Louvre several weeks prior to the celebration. I would have felt remiss in not indulging them, given how long it has been since last our heirs met.
My youngest Cyrille has agreed to write personally to Albus and I have instructed the servants to prepare the Marquis's apartments in anticipation of his acceptance.
I must admit I still have hopes that my daughter might prove a worthy match for Albus. Or that perhaps Cyrille might one day find himself worthy of young Lily? You are aware, I hope, of how long I have desired to join my house with the Peverell line. Given your family's achievements I have no doubt that your children would be perfectly suited for the honor. Remember, nobody refuses a Valois long.
I hope this year has treated you well.
I look forward to seeing you at the Carnival of the Moon.
-Augustin
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Dear Al,
J'espère que—
Argggh! I couldn't read the last letter. I felt like I was going to be sick.
Why them?
I hated the Valois beyond all reason.
Only Cyrille was kind… yet somehow seeing him wasn't worth the weeks of torture that would be my exposure to his family. I realized as the drops fell that i was crying. The Valois were like Marvolo—twisted and cruel. How could I now be expected to marry one of them? Why couldn't they just leave us all alon—
"Oomph!—"
"Oomph!—"
"Watch it…"
"Sorry I…" I started getting back up before realizing who it was that I had run into.
For several moments I just stared at him like an idiot, not knowing what to say. That was until I realized I was still crying and he was yet again bearing witness to a moment of weakness.
I hated that he could see the tears in my eyes so I wiped them away quickly without thinking—like a child. It was stupidly obvious of me. An overly telling gesture. He merely rolled his eyes at the movement before bending down to help pick up the… letters!
"I don't need your help." I shot jumping to pull the pieces of parchment away from him.
It was too late though. He had already seen the crest on the envelopes and was refusing to let go of the second one. I don't know how much of the letter Scorpius had glanced through since he had ceased looking at the script. He had shifted to staring at me… almost as if he were concerned.
His eyes then darted to my hand. I was wearing his family ring over the Nightfyre crystal. That and my fingers were still a mess.
"Give it back." I whined, determined to end our strange exchange.
I don't imagine I sounded nearly as confident as I had wanted to. I still had tears on my cheeks and couldn't even bring myself to look directly at him. I was like a whining little child.
"Now Malfoy!" I added, yanking harder on the parchment. The word came out like ice and steel—cold, impersonal and completely alien. It caused him to release the paper which in turn sent me flying backwards onto the floor like an imbecile. He just stood there continuing to watch me with that miserable mask. This time I took solace in the cracks, they were carved everywhere like trails of glowing fire. He was awash with emotions… so very unlike the Scorpius i knew.
'Wretch' I tossed maliciously in my head. I stood up again schooling my expressions into an unreadable mask of my own. Two could play at this! I am a Slytherin I thought suddenly. I had no choice but to be what I was meant to be. 'A Slytherin's venom is his strength' he had once told me. It would be best to learn how to cultivate mine as soon as possible. What better time than now to start.
"You're in my way Malfoy. Don't let it happen again." I spat shoving past him.
"Al... I'm really sor—" he whispered grabbing for my arm. I smirked, spinning around with my wand in hand.
"You made yourself clear yesterday! Now so will I! Leave me alone Hrajis (Snake) or I'll light you a real fire, a green fire!" I hissed darkly, my wand pointed at his throat for good measure. His face looked so…
For just a split second it made me forget the cruel things he had said to me.
There was a strange pull in my chest that made me want to cry again. All I could think of was flinging my arms around the stupid git. I summoned forth every ounce of my strength and fled before my doubts eroded my resolve. When I got back to the compartment everyone had—"
"—What a stupid reason to fight!" Cyrille shot at me before I managed to finish. "To destroy a friendship because you both were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for each other. Vous etes tous les deux Imbeciles. (You are the both of you, idiots)"
"I'm not finished with the story Cyr."
"Who cares! The story is stupid and its ending will change tomorrow when Scorpius arrives for the ball. Don't be so…"
"Leave this alone… I don't want to talk about it Cyr…not if you're going to push."
"You realize I don't even have family that cares as much for me as that. I will not allow you to ruin a friendship as profound as yours for so ridiculous a reason."
"Oh really? Obviously not as profound as you think."
"Ahhh but my silly little lordling, you both are quite obviously in love. Friends would not so easily throw their lives away. "
"Don't be stupid. Besides wouldn't that ruin any designs you may have for me." I lashed venomously interrupting his idiotic assessment with recklessly constructed cruelty.
I watched his angelic face distort wholly before me into a veil of hurt, fear and confusion. This boy loved me too, in his own way. He had made that clear earlier this summer. In fact he quite possibly might have been the only Valois ever capable of the emotion. I should not have rounded on him so harshly for what was his genuine concern.
"I am not so selfish, Albus Potter. Maybe foolish for thinking that you were kind… but never so selfish." Cyrille sounded wounded. "Imbeciles." At that he turned away from me.
"I'm sorry Cyr… I didn't mean it."
"You are both damaged. Your malice is neither real nor your fault. I suggest, however, for the sake of your friendships, that you learn to keep it in check. Others will not likely be so understanding."
Heavy silence hung there like a cloud of moths about a witchwood flame, until finally he turned back towards me with a wan smile. Somehow, despite its fragility, the simple motion managed to present all the love and understanding that was Cyrille himself.
"You know you are too smart for a twelve year old."
"And you Al, are definitely too smart for a thirteen year old."
"I'll be fourteen sooon"
"And I will be thirteen."
"Old enough to start real school."
"Old enough to escape this horrible place."
"Louis gets here tomorrow too you know." I said to the little angel. "He's almost as exquisite as your Sister." I added softly. He was too young to fully grasp my joke but he got red regardless.
"I will let you finish the story if you stop teasing me." Cyrille said embarrassed. "Just admit that you are being stupid first."
"Cyr…"
"D'accord d'accord vas-y, continue deja!" He yelled. "But then I'm telling you my own story when you're done. The story of my summer."
Sorry for the late update. Was in the Hamptons.
Anyway. The summer will bring a whole mess of new characters, mainly the valois. Also expect to see some more from Sylph, Marvolo, and Vivian.
