If there was a record for how many times one could be hit by a bludger in a single practice, Albus might have broken it. Of course he had specifically told one beater to aim at him every time and the other to block it every time. It ended up being a game of cat and mouse, one beater always following him, the other always following the bludger. It didn't matter how many times he had told them to act like it was an actual game, they clung to their targets, even though the rest of the team was there.

His preoccupation with the beaters however did mean that the other two chasers focused on passing to each other. Albus had seen that they both managed to score a handful of goals each and even their keeper had managed to block a couple.

He had promised his seeker a one on one practice in order to not let the snitch out and for him to pretend to be an opposing chaser. Ideally he would have preferred to share a practice with the Ravenclaw team or the Hufflepuff one, hell he'd even practice with the Gryffindor's they were so bad, so they could get a proper scrimmage going. However he wanted his team to have a bit more communication between them before he did anything like that.

The only thing that got him through this practice was the cushioning charm he had placed on the bludger and the thought of the bath he was going to have. He wouldn't lie to himself, Scorpius Malfoy had always been something that had interested him. In the beginning it was the fact that he was a Malfoy, he was forbidden. When his family talked about their days as kids, which was very seldom and only when there was a large number of them, preferably drunk or buzzed, they always had stories of Draco Malfoy. He was always called Malfoy, the word spat out the same way any of his family would say 'git' or 'dung' or 'bastard', yet the trouble that happened because of Malfoy was always met with rounds of laughter that typically interrupted the story before it was finished.

On his first train ride his uncle Ron had pointed him out. "Malfoy's kid" his uncle had spat in voice that sounded like he meant to say 'the bastard's spawn'. Albus had looked over, expecting to see a stuck up nose or perfect blond hair and a constant sneer. He had seen none of those things though, instead he had seen a mother crouch down to hug the boy, he had seen a smile as the boy wrapped his arms around his father's waist, he has seen hair that stuck up in the back and curled slightly at the ends. He wondered if he would be saying the name 'Malfoy' as if it were synonymous with 'bastard' at the end of the year.

His family had been so entwined with Malfoy over their years Albus almost found it a shock that he wasn't developing anything more but a small anticipation as to what would happen if they met, which they never did. Scorpius Malfoy was always early to classes, always in the front, and hardly ever partnered with him. It wasn't until the end of the year when Scorpius had come in almost five minutes late to Herbology, his hair dripping on to his robes and glasses crooked, that they had any contact with each other.

Albus' usual partner, Davis, was nowhere to be found so Professor Longbottom, almost cringing as he did so, paired the two of them together.

"Potter," Scorpius Malfoy had said with a nod by way of greeting. He didn't say it with a hint of malice, like Albus had been expecting, nor did he say it like so many others did, with a hint of wonder about his family. No, Scorpius Malfoy had said 'Potter' as if it were nothing more than his name.

"Why are you all wet?" Albus had asked, suddenly interested in trying to figure out just who this Scorpius Malfoy was.

"I'd rather focus on Herbology if you don't mind." So they did, Albus knowing better than to ask too many questions about things people didn't want to talk about. He didn't remember what plant they had been working on, but he did remember that Professor Longbottom had asked to speak with Scorpius Malfoy at the end of the class. He remembered finding out Davis had missed class because Tally had found him flushing Scorpius' head down the toilet. He remembered the fight Davis and him had in the commons that day and how he had never partnered with him again.

His interest in Scorpius Malfoy had been just that for a while. Occasionally he would pass the Ravenclaw in the hallway and he would think about what the boy had done that day, how he wouldn't have any stories about a Malfoy the way his family did.

"He's very quiet" Rose had told him once when she caught him looking.

"How would you know?" Albus had shot back. He never denied anything that he was caught doing, he didn't bother asking who she was referring to when it was obvious.

"He sits next to me in Defense, and he's only a table away in potions." Rose was a Gryffindor and typically had classes with Scorpius when he didn't. She had the added bonus of trying to be top of the class and always sitting in the front as well. "All he does is take notes, answers a couple questions. I think Dad was wrong about him."

"I think our parents are wrong about a lot of things." It had been the best and worst thing to say at the moment. Worst, as it had started and argument between the two, which was almost nothing new as the bickered all the time in school. Best, as it had driven the conversation away from Scorpius Malfoy and never came back to ask why Albus was so interested in him.

There was nothing more than that. Occasional ponderings that flitted through his mind when he caught the boy doing something in the corner of his eye. Quidditch had taken over his second year and he was pretty horrible, which was what led him to be as patient as he was for the team that he had currently. Then school had taken over his thoughts. His mind flitted from one to the other, occasionally stopping to worry about friends that he had, enemies that he had made, and shameless flirting with boys that were so straight it was a laugh. Fifth year had brought around a real boyfriend that lasted for a solid seven months. He was year older than him and in Slytherin. Jeremy Green had taken up a lot of his thoughts in those seven months. If Albus was going to be honest Jeremy Green had taken up a lot of his thoughts for almost a year, including a couple weeks before they had gotten together, the tease before everything, and many many months after had had found Jeremy in bed with another boy.

It had happened at the worst and best time as well, just a month and a half before the O.W.L.s. Worst because Albus was a mess and couldn't go into the commons without worrying about seeing the boy, best because he spent most of his free time in the library driving the thoughts out of his mind by studying. It also had rekindled his interest in Scorpius Malfoy, who happened to frequent the library.

They were studying for their last O.W.L. of the year. Albus had been subconsciously picking tables that had Scorpius Malfoy in some sort of view. Just something to look at when he needed a break, he had told himself when he noticed what he had been doing. He was in one of those breaks now, knowing that he could not cram another fact about the goblin rebellion of 1876, or was it of 1786, into his mind. He watched as Scorpius Malfoy pulled at his front hairs. Albus had noticed that he did that a lot when he was concentrating. He watched as Scorpius Malfoy had pulled the book so close to his face he disappeared.

How could he still be going? Albus thought, resting his hands over his closed book. How could he still be taking notes? Albus rested his head on his hands. Was that even History in his hands? Albus blinked.

Suddenly Scorpius Malfoy was shaking his shoulder. "Potter, wake up."

"Wha?"

"We've got History of Magic in ten minutes." Scorpius Malfoy shook him again, "Potter, you've got to get up. "

Albus lifted his head and worked his jaw a couple times. He could practically taste his breath. How long had he been asleep?

"Hold on, I've got..." Scorpius Malfoy trailed off and started digging into his bag, "Ah, yes, here you go." He produced two power bars in a shiny purple wrapping, handing one over to Albus and opening on for himself. "Mum sent me some a week ago. They're supposed to help you stay awake and focused. Natural enough not to be cheating, magical enough to actually work."

"Mmm, thanks," Albus barely registered opening the bar and eating the first couple of bites.

"I'll help you put up your books and then we can walk down to the Hall together, yeah?"

Albus was entirely awake by the time all his books were put away.

"You know," Albus had worked himself up to say the moment they had left the Library, "We could have easily been study buddies this whole time."

"I did notice that."

"Seems like a waste now. We didn't capitalize on it."

"Maybe for N.E.W.T.s then. If we end up taking the same subjects that is."

"Right. I'll hold you to that." Albus grinned, sad to see the Great Hall already coming into view. He checked his watch, they'd arrived just in time.

"I'll see you later Potter," Scorpius Malfoy had said before disappearing into the crowd. Albus wondered how he managed to still keep the word 'Potter' sounding like it was only a name, with almost no judgment behind it. As Albus sat down, he wondered what it would take for 'Potter' to become 'Albus' or 'Al' and if there would be any sort of inflection behind the name.

Now in the first half of their seventh year Albus wondered if he was going to figure out. It seemed weird to him, how every other encounter had his last name on Scorpius' lips at least once, yet the past two baths had not.

Perhaps the other boy was trying to figure out where the two stood. Albus had moved on from the last name after the end of the first bath, dubbed a nickname he had heard at the end of the last bath. He'd bring it up today, Albus resolved, if Scorpius indeed showed up.

Whether Scorpius showed up or not wasn't the only thing that was on Albus' mind, though it was the first. The second would be that he really did need a good soak. Trudging up five flights of stairs was doing absolutely nothing for his sore muscles which were already cramping. He would have to take an ice bath sometime this week, but not tonight.

As he got closer, Albus didn't even bother to wait for the Scorpius as he had original planned, hoping to scare the boy again. He thought it was cute how he always grabbed at his chest. Instead he went up to Boris the Bewildered and uttered the password, fully intent upon filling the water with mint and eucalyptus.

"Occupied"

Albus shook his head in surprise and tried the password again.

"I said occupied."

Then he remembered that Scorpius had said about people being able to lock the door. Had Scorpius come here early and then locked Albus out? No, he doubted that the boy would do that. Even if Scorpius didn't like him, Albus doubted that he would be that cruel.

"Well then," Albus sighed and sat on the opposite wall of Boris. He was going to get his bath today no matter how long he had to wait. He sighed and crossed his arms leaning his head back against the stone. He really hoped that he didn't have to wait that long.

Luckily he didn't as Rodger Davidson came strolling out of the bathroom minutes later.

"Oh good , Potter!" He said, a grin forming on his face. He didn't know why another quidditch captain would look at him and be happy at this moment, well unless it was the Gryffindor Captain. "I was hoping that I wouldn't be waiting long, didn't mean to make you wait though."

Davidson reached out a hand to help Albus up, "Scorpius told me that he was supposed to meet you here tonight and he sent me since I was meaning to talk to you anyway."

"What?" The words just made Albus even more confused. He hadn't pegged Scorpius as the kind of person who would send others to break hearts, yet Davidson was too cheerful to be someone here to tell him to sod off. Why would Scorpius send Davidson then? And why did Davidson want to talk to him?

"Took to many bludgers to the head today did ya?" Davidson reached over and lightly knocked him on the head. It was only years of knowing Davidson's lack of personal space and over enthusiasm, and Albus' lack of energy, that kept him from ducking away or knocking the hand to the side. "Scorpius said you needed his Creatures notes. I've got em' here somewhere." The boy went about digging in his bad.

"Huh? Oh, right, yeah." Albus didn't need Care of Magical Creatures notes as it were one of his best subjects. However it was one that they two of them shared that Davidson wasn't a part of. If that was the story that Scorpius had told Davidson, then Albus would go along with it.

"Ah got it!" Davidson pulled out an envelope that was sealed shut and handed it over to Albus. "And what I wanted to talk about. Your team needs work, it does. I'd be willing to have a shared practice if you'd like. A scrimmage of sorts, to warm us up for Hufflepuff. Not that it'd be any comparison really, but it would at least get a better practice in instead of just drills and shooting against me. "

"I was just thinking about that!" Albus grinned, glad that he wouldn't actually have to beg one of the other teams to practice with him. "It'd be great to have a couple joint practices, especially for my team.

"Glad to here it!" Davidson patted him on the shoulder rather roughly, causing Albus to groan. "You didn't just come from practice did you!?"

"Yeah, worked with the beaters mostly."

"Merlin's beard you do need a nice long soak then! No wonder you chose the bath as a meeting place!" Davidson laughed and shook his head. "I'll let you go then, and we can set up something for next week?"

"Sounds good."

"Right, have a good night Potter!" and Davidson left him, disappearing down the corridor. Albus just shook his head at the man and made his way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him as he opened the letter.

Albus,

I regret to inform you that an unexpected opportunity came up that I simply could not pass up. I'll be leaving shortly after lunch and have informed Rodger to give you my CoMC notes, which I've enclosed. Rodger knows my notes well enough to know I would be lying if I gave you one sheet of paper. You could probably use them anyway, as I noticed you don't seem to take as much as I do.

I'll be back late Sunday. Perhaps we can reschedule for then?

I must also say that my invitation does not mean anything about the words we last parted with. I do still think you are lying. I, however, find myself in such a position that I don't care that you are and would also like to be proven wrong for a change. Also, I've recently found long baths with company an enjoyment.

I do hope to see you Sunday,

Scor

Albus laughed as he read the letter again, laughed even more at just how Scorpius the entire thing read. It was so formal and defensive, Albus wondered if this was even the first draft of the letter.

After reading the letter for a third time, he flipped it over, looking at the notes Scorpius provided. No, notes weren't a good enough word for what Scorpius had given him. There were notes on the lecture that was given, main points written in a different ink and underlined, banners made to signify a change in topic. The entire second page was a detailed and labeled drawing of the creature they had studied.

Class notes weren't the only things he had written down however. In the margins were other things that had happened. There was a joke that Rose had made about the feathers. There were many written complaints of how hot it was for October. There were quotes from classmates that Scorpius had found interesting enough to write down. Every so often there were blotches of scratched out notes, leaving only the tips and loops of the words visible, an entire 'e' at the end of one was missed.

This must be how Scorpius got through classes and studying, Albus thought. He flipped through the pages, finding the corners numbered, finding doodles of pumpkins and leaves where there was space. Scorpius, it looked like, never stopped writing once he had a pen in his hand. Albus thought back to all the classes he had with Scorpius, laughing some more as every image he had of Scorpius in class had a quill in his hand.

With a final chuckle, Albus folded up the notes and put them in his bag. He would read over them more before he went to bed and perhaps over the weekend. Right now he needed a bath.