Chapter 17: The Bandage
The group of first-years made their way back to the castle and Jeya was only slightly disappointed by the Hufflepuff loss as the final moments had been so entertaining. Scorpius and Rose looked absolutely amicable as they recounted their favorite plays and even Ida and Anya were enthusiastically adding their own observations. Rose waved happily at another group of Gryffindor First-years, Rudy, Maybelle, and Aldo, "May, your sister did great!"
"I agree! And I hear you aren't a bad flyer yourself? Maybe we'll have two Vances in a few years- siblings make great Beater teams." James had materialized from behind the group with Josie and Anna. Al noticed the older Vance was now holding the snitch and beaming, far from the tears she'd almost been driven to during the match. Maybelle looked beyond pleased at the recognition.
"So the party starts at 6!" James exclaimed and, noting Al, "Anyone who cheered for Gryffindor today is invited! And you too if you don't wear that hat!" he pointed at Jeya jovially, "Password's pick-axe, which incidentally is what Madame Hooch is currently using to get Anna's bludger out of the pitch!" James laughed at his own joke before catching up with some older friends.
Josie rolled her eyes and regarded Al and Scorpius, "Come over around Seven unless you want to hear him and Adrian retelling the entire season so far," adding, "But I hope you come!"
Scorpius looked brightly at Al. It was one of the first friendly interactions he'd had with a Gryffindor outside of Al's acquaintances, especially after the vandalism. But Al wasn't so sure he wanted to go. Truth be told, he had no idea where he stood with his brother at the moment and couldn't tell whether James' invite was an attempt at mending their fallout or simply post-victory euphoria. Then again, Al knew that if he kept avoiding his brother, the rift would almost certainly widen between the two. He doubted going to the party would truly heal his feelings but he'd felt so wounded lately that even a temporary bandage was somewhat appealing. "It sounds fun." Al mustered and Scorpius didn't register his slight trepidation. He turned to Jeya, "And you'll come too?" Jeya smirked and nodded, " I guess I can manage to bruise my ego a bit more."
Later that evening Al and Scorpius waited at the Hufflepuff dormitory entrance for Jeya to emerge. Scorpius had managed to charm an old orb he owned, similar to the gift they'd gotten for Margie, to mimic a light display that looked like a prancing lion, "I want to show Rosie, I think she'll be impressed." He explained. Al was truly happy that his friend was so excited for the night. Jeya appeared shortly after they arrived and the three headed towards the Gryffindor common room.
"Pick Axe!" stated Al to a befuddled Fat Lady, "NO SHARING OF THE COMMON ROOM PASSWORDS" She bellowed into the open gateway to the Gryffindor Tower. James sheepishly winced as he greeted Al and his friends. "It's okay she was going to change it tomorrow anyway…"
Albus gazed around the circular space. The walls were draped in long luxurious red and gold drapes crocheted with the Lion emblem. The lamplight from the chandeliers also cast a gold hue across the space and a crackling fire babbled in the background of raucous celebration. Almost every Gryffindor had made their way into the room and was singing random tunes with glee. Albus spotted a good number of Ravenclaws and even a few Hufflepuffs as well, probably friends of Dominique and Teddy, respectively, who came over as they spotted Al.
The Weasley clan had largely dismantled the old standing tradition of Common Room exclusivity as their student numbers steadily grew and House choices diversified. Dominique had caught Albus staying late at the great hall numerous times at the beginning of the year, trying to avoid Rosier and his thuggish gang of friends. She'd gracefully offered to let him study in the Ravenclaw Common Room and was very impressed when Al correctly answered the riddle that afforded entrance.
"I've heard something like it before- in a Muggle fairy tale."
"Ah that eez so precious," She'd patted Al on the head approvingly, "De Muggles are more thoughtful than us sometimes I think. My Maman, says they make thee most exquisite art even with no magic."
Al adored the spacious Ravenclaw tower and the ceiling proved especially useful in studying for his early astronomy quizzes. But eventually he felt burdensome to his cousin and Scorpius had discovered a relatively secluded nook in the Slytherin dorms that Gregor rarely bothered them from.
"Albus!" Teddy roared as he approached the newcomers," What a game right? I mean they would've lost had I played this year of course…" He winked and tousled James' hair, "I need to pass my N.E.W.T.s though so I get on with the finer things in life. Ah I know you!" He laid eyes on Jeya and finally noticed Scorpius, "Ah well, hello."
"Hi," Scorpius was struck by shyness as several students began to recognize who had entered. But the party was too merry for anyone to say much. Teddy smiled and nodded politely.
"Rosie they're done! Come over!" Aldo Creevey piped up from a large cushiony sofa near the fire. Al saw his cousin cross the room and pulled his friends over. Aldo had laid out several polaroid photos on a coffee table of the earlier game. "Oh bring James here! Look what I got!" He'd managed to capture the moment James caught the snitch, with Anna jumping below.
"Wow you could send these to the Daily Prophet." Scorpius admired the image.
"You think?" Aldo blushed, "Oh I got this too!" He handed Scorpius an image of the crowd. Though it was rather far away, Albus could make out he, Jeya, and Scorpius in the stands, with Scorpius making a face at Jeya's celebrating hat after a Hufflepuff goal. She swatted Scorpius, "One of these days he's going to bite you."
James made a round to the fireplace with his hands full of mugs of peppermint hot chocolate, which he handed to the group. "Oh wow Aldo that's amazing." He entertained the younger student as he showed him a few other photos. "Oh I'm definitely giving Adrian this one," He plucked a photo of Adrian's horrible pass to Josie, "For when he denies that he has anything to improve on…"
The victory had evaporated Adrian's temper entirely as he was currently joking with Anna and Max at a table across the room. The others seemed perfectly content to forget the fiasco as well. He suddenly stood with his large mug and bellowed, "To Gryffindor! Yet another game closer to a third House Cup!" Everyone raised their mugs and settled back again to chattering.
"Hey thanks for coming," James squeezed Al's shoulder and smiled, "I really hoped you would." Al nodded, "Of course." James gazed a bit more at Al's red and gold sweater, which he'd taken from some of James' older clothes during the summer and Al thought he looked sad for just a moment, before turning to greet a few classmates. For the next hour Al was perfectly content to sit next Rosie and recount to their friends how Teddy used to charm random objects for a young James to catch, often with hilarious results. "No I think my favorite was the time he broke almost every egg in the chicken coop, Grandma was so mad and he smelled horrible…"
"Oh Rose I forgot, but look!" Scorpius had produced his charmed orb, with the starlight lion still prancing about, "I used the motor charm we learned last week… made a few adjustments."
"Oh wow Scoripus that's so good," Rosie beamed. Ida and Anya also looked awed, "I have a similar ball! Can… do you think you could make mine do that?" Ida sprang to her feet and went to her dormitory to fetch her Cele-orb when Scorpius nodded.
"What's that we got here?" The meaty hand of Callum plucked the orb out of Scorpius' hand, "Oh? Are we trying to impress these ladies?" He waggled his eyebrows but Al caught a vicious gleam in his eye, "Aye Adrian come here! Look at this! Our big fan from Slytherin!"
The room became uncomfortably silent as Adrian crossed the room. James, tried half-heartedly to pull Adrian back to the table, "C'mon mate its going to be your draw soon," Gesturing to the cards laid out. Adrian had found a more fun game to play at the moment. He stared mockingly at Scorpius, who did all he could to break the eye contact.
"Cute charm, Malfoy," He drawled, tossing the orb dangerously high in the air. Al saw Ida frozen on the steps to the girls dormitory, clutching her orb and scanning the room uncertainly. "And who's the girl? Oh a Weasley! Tell me Malfoy are you sure your father would approve of that? "
That elicited a few giggles from around the circle. Fed by the response Adrian continued, "And here I thought you and Parkinson would make a natural couple… or are your family's too inbred for your comfort?"
This time the laugher was more sparse but distinctly meaner. Scorpius looked diminutive, fixing Al with a desperate stare. Even Rosie and Jeya were aware of how many older students were about and his cousin could only muster, "Well I think it's nice…" not really glancing in Scorpius' direction. Al looked around for James and suddenly felt unbearably angry. His brother had collected the cards and was concentrating desperately hard on bridging the pile, not acknowledging the room.
"Why don't you give it back now." Al squeaked, looking mortified as his voice failed to command any respectable tone. Still he looked at the broadfaced boy and tried not to blink. Adrian just sneered, "James there's at least one more chance for another good Potter right? This one's a lost cause." James gave no indication that he heard the taunt at all.
Adrian lobbed the ball once more, high into the air. "You want to see and even better charm?" Brandishing his wand he silently twisted the point and made a swooping motion. The orb lunged unnaturally in mid-air before hurtling to the ground. A cloud of smoke erupted and a hulking lion swirled around the mist menacingly roaring. It was impressive and a few Gryffindors clapped excitedly but Al saw as the creature rose into the tower that Scorpius' orb lay as a fine powder on the floor of the Common Room.
"Ah well it is a one-time trick of course," Adrian finished and strolled away into the approving eyes of a few older Gryffindor girls surrounding Patricia Beauton. Not many other students had heard the final comment but everyone's eyes riveted once again as Scorpius gave out a cry, "That's… it was…"
"What is your Father missing his family heirloom?" Callum mocked, "Are we going to feel the wrath of Malfoy from, where does he work again, magical zoning?"
To Al's dismay, Scorpius was obviously crying. He sprang up and grabbed his friend, pulling him towards the Portrait hole. Jeya and Rosie followed meekly. As they exited the Common Room, the Fat Lady shouted, "Excuse me but it's after student hours! You should have left for your dorms ages ago!"
"Shut up!" Albus finally found the deeper tones of his voice and bellowed at the bewildered portrait in misplaced frustration.
He forcefully guided Scorpius down the floors of the castle, huffing from exercise and anger, while his friend let out a few more sobbing moans. But on the second floor just above the dungeon entrance, Scorpius just slouched in total despair and Al decided to usher him into an empty classroom until he calmed down. Sitting in a chair Scorpius unsuccessfully tried to verbalize his thoughts, but everything came out rather blubbery, "Al my…. It was my… it was hers.. she gave it to me.."
"Who's her?" Jeya kindly asked, pattng his shoulder lightly. Scorpius didn't reply for a few moments, his face contorted as he cried.
"My mum, she gave it to me." He choked, "She got it was she was accepted here."
Oh. Al felt another wave of anger as he realized that Scorpius' pain was far deeper than simple humiliation. He couldn't say a word and simply breathed deeply to calm himself down.
From the entrance of the classroom James suddenly appeared, looking forlorn. "He—ey, Scorpius."
He walked cautiously into the room and avoided Al's gaze once he saw his brother's fury. Al saw that he cupped a Cele-orb in his right hand, charmed into a glittering Quidditch Pitch with a cheering crowd, "Hey, this one's mine but I really don't do much with it but I'd like you to have it." He dropped the ball into Scorpius' palm and slid his hands into his pockets, unsure of what else to say.
"It wasn't a Cele-orb James." Al coldly muttered, his eyes piercing
"Oh well it must have been similar… I can buy you a new one if you tell me the brand." James offered apologetically.
"I was his Mum's. From when she was little. I doubt you'll find it."
"Oh erm, I see," He glanced annoyedly at Al, "I'm sorry mate, that's rough."
"His Mum, in the hospital, James," Al bite back more as Scorpius glanced weakly at him, "No it's fine Al really, this is fine."
"Sorry I really didn't know," James muttered defeatedly, "It's the best I can do."
With that Al snorted loudly and James finally turned to fully face him, "What!"
"You're delusional if you think you're doing your best," He spat, finally letting frustration bubble freely at his brother. James looked dumbfounded and Al erupted.
"You. Are. Absolutely. Daft. If you think you're being a hero here! Why'd you even come James? To make sure you mended relations with everyone? So you still have enough fans for the next Quidditch match?"
James looked speechless. So Al continued.
"YOU DON'T MAKE ANYTHING BETTER- you just make sure that, at the end of the day, everyone likes James Potter. Even if his friends are horrible, stupid gits and bully their friends and teammates. Even if he doesn't do anything to stop them…"
"I try Albus it's more complicated than that!" James retorted defensibly but shrunk slightly as Al bellowed back.
"OH IT'S COMPLICATED. Then why do you think that handing out gifts is the simple answer to everything! Oh did Adrian hurt your feelings Annabelle? Here have my snitch! Did he break your toy? Here have mine! It's only complicated James because you're too scared to do the one thing that would make this all stop because heaven forbid you make a dumb ogre like Adrian Haverford not want to be your friend!"
Albus had leapt from his spot and, ending his rant, now finally felt like he could cry from every little interaction he'd had since the beginning of the school year. He whimpered once and quieted down. Again, James suddenly looked a lot like their father after a long day at the Ministry.
Scorpius tried again to break the tension, "I really like it James," He swirled his finger around the orb and watched as a team of players followed, "It's a nice gesture anyway…"
James half-smiled but looked ready to leave, "Yeah it's no problem mate, I … oh" He'd turned to go and spotted Headmaster McGonagall at the doorway, looking incredibly worn and sad. She was clutching half-emptied vials of a milky substance and had wandered to the classroom after hearing the yelling.
Al's feelings plummeted further. He'd been certain James would have kept their current quarrel secret from their parents but now his father would definitely hear how Al was actually handling school.
"Lets get you all back to your dorms," McGonagall gently glided into the situation, "James why don't you take Ms. Rose back to the Common Room- I've already put an end to the night's festivities."
She appraised Scorpius, "Mr. Malfoy I think a good night's sleep will do you well. I can contact you father about the inci.." But Scorpius shook his head, "I'd prefer if you wouldn't Headmaster…."
"Alright I won't but be assured Mr. Amery will be receiving detention and Mr. Haverford will not be playing Quidditch for the rest of the season."
James looked relieved at this news but said nothing as he left with Rose.
"Ms. Siva I'll escort you to your dormitory if Albus is fine with helping his friend back to Slytherin."
Al nodded numbly. McGonagall fixed him with a stern stare, " And Al, I'd like to talk with you tomorrow during lunch- I'll expect you at noon at my office." Again Al nodded curtly.
"I think he's right though, Headmaster." Jeya looked at Al.
"Oh he's not in trouble, " McGonagall reassured her, "But we need to speak before this all gets out of control."
Al pondered what those parting words might have meant as he entered the Slytherin Common Room, lit serenely by the moon and lake and green lamplight. Everyone had gone to bed and the room looked cavernous. Sinking deeper into another moody spell Al recalled how, although he'd now been invited into every House Common Room since the start of the semester, not a single friend had asked to see his. What a waste Al thought as he gazed into the depths of the lake, which sloshed relaxingly at the windows on the far side of the room. The space was quite beautiful and stimulating, with moving geographical maps of the Lake and Forbidden forests on its walls and cozy desks of glassy landscapes that levitated around the room. But Albus knew that the room itself wasn't why the other students avoided coming here. As he stepped down the corridor toward his and Scorpius' dormitory, he could hear Rosier snoring freakishly loud and resisted the urge to open his door and Hex him quiet.
When they arrived at their beds Scorpius gave a small sniffle. Al eyed him sympathetically. Just as he was about to fall into a tumultuous sleep, he heard his friend mumble softly, "Al you're… you're really brave… I don't know how you ended up here."
"Let's go to sleep Scorpius," Al muttered wearily.
"I just… I'm really glad we're friends Al but I don't want to take you away from your brother."
Al turned to Scorpius, who looked truly guilty, "I'm glad I don't look up to my brother. I'm glad I figured out who's worth being friends with myself." He said fiercely
Scorpius gave him a watery smile, "Thanks mate, I… thanks."