Chapter 7
The night before the end of 7th year, the Slytherin boys dormitory.
Scorpius lay awake in his bed, consumed by his thoughts. What Albus said about family, had been on Scorpius' mind for days. He never thought about wanting a family. He was afraid of not being what they needed; a real father, something that he never knew. After the war his father went through good and bad phases. Obliviously, Scorpius' mother had brought him into a good phase and then again when Scorpius was born. However, Scorpius had hardly any memories of his father being happy, in his childhood. He was hardly ever around, always choosing to stay cooped up in his office. The worst was when Scorpius came home from his first year, when he had told his parents about being friends with Albus. Scorpius' father had never shown any anger before, he had always looked sad or shameful but when Scorpius mentioned his friendship with a Potter; he saw his father's anger for the first time. He remembered his mother trying to calm his father, and thankfully she always did have that effect on him. The spiteful and hateful father that he left at sixteen was created that night, and only got worse as the years went on. Soon Scorpius found it impossible to go home. By his forth year, his was spending all of his holidays with the Potter's and Weasley's. He saw what a real family was like and didn't think he could live up to it. He meant what he said about being a good 'Uncle' to Albus' children. The Potter's and Weasley's are his family now, in everyway but officially and he was going to do his best to keep it that way.
Family wasn't the only thing on his mind. Many thoughts swirled around in his head. He was leaving Hogwarts tomorrow for the final time, never to return. It hit him as he looked around the room. Scorpius pushed the covers back, sat up and swung his legs around to the side of the bed, with a small thud they landed on the cold floor. He leaned forward, his elbows rested on his knees as he rubbed his eyes. The thoughts that made him suddenly feel so tense, were those of a fiery red flower. Rose. She had been giving him turmoil all year. He was suddenly aware of how he was feeling would change depending on what she was doing. When she was dating Dan, he couldn't stop his jealousy. He took it out on her, was completely horrible to her, not settling for his usual annoying taunts but pushing it further. Once she broke it off with Dan, he felt guilty, confused and, against his better judgment, hopeful. Scorpius still found moments when there was something different in the way she looked at him. It unsettled him, not knowing what they meant or whether he was only imagining it. He got up, grabbing his wand off the bedside table and quietly made his way over to Albus' trunk. He opened it, looking up at Albus' sleeping form to make sure he didn't wake him. It was already packed, like his but he found what he was searching for.
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
The map formed on the parchment in his hands. He found Gryffindor tower but could not see her in her dorm. He searched before finding her name moving through the corridors. Scorpius didn't know what made him do it but he just had to see her, to speak to her. He grabbed his robe and flung it on, not even bothering to do it up and set off out of the dormitories, through the common room and into the corridors, following the map. They had never really been alone before and he saw this as his chance; a chance to sort out what those moments meant or whether it really was all in his head. Scorpius looked down at the map; she was heading for the library.
I know it's only short but it is purely a lead up to the next chapter. I will put up chapter 8 either later today or tomorrow. It is also short but serves the same purpose, leading into the next chapter and I promise chapter 9 will be long and worth the wait :)
