Chapter 29 – The heartbreaker snitch

On top of the stands, not far from the Slytherins, sat a motionless crow. Nothing beside its eyes moved, while it ignored the game that was taking place in the air. There were two Slytherin boys huddled together in stands talking between them, and the crow was rather focused on them. Had anyone paid the crow any attention they would have found it odd, but while the game was on, everyone had their backs to it.

"Looks like Rosier saw something. He's on the move. Wood? You better get your ass moving Capt'n or else. Ahh never mind, our blond Weasley was faster. That must have hurt. Girl, you can't hit a boy there! Poor guy." came the voice of the commenter from other stands, but the crow tried to listen to what the light blond hair boy below him told his friend.

Had it focused on the game it might have tried to smile, if crows were able to. Takagi was taunting Potter to throw the Quaffle while he circled her, just to knock it back into his face with her broom when he finally threw it.

"That woman, if I was just a bit older...", the skinny boy commenting the game sighed and for a short moment a female voice rang out. "Focus on the game please Smith."

The crow recognized the voice, even if the tone was very different from the one she used when she talked to it at night. For a moment it was distracted remembering the lovely singing voice it had witnessed her using last night, but it kept his gaze on the tuff of black and white blond hair below it.

The Malfoy boy was focused on the game completely, but the same couldn't be said about his friend. It was obvious that Albus Potter would rather be at many other places than the cold, windy Quidditch stands.

"She's brilliant on a broom!" Scorpius said with a smile, while he focused on a red headed girl in Gryffindor attire.

"Wrong house!" Albus drawled, good natured and rolled his eyes.

Most of the stuff they talked about was irrelevant for the crow. It had been like this for anything it was able to listen to up to now. There was no indication that they worked on changing time like they were supposed to.

"Doesn't matter. I saw her looking my way just now. She knows I'm here. That's true love!"

"Be happy she isn't a beater. Or else she might whack the Bludger towards you, just to show you how much she likes you."

Like any and all of Albus' jaded remarks this one missed the mark completely for Scorpius. He looked at his friend with a big smile and stars in his eyes.

"You think?" and Albus had no idea how his friend saw anything positive in that statement but for some reason Scorpius did.

"You know it would hurt, right?" Albus asked him like he would a little kid.

"Yeh, but she would visit me at the Hospital wing all the time, because she felt guilty."

"You are nuts!"

The crow would have agreed if it had a voice, but it only kept observing from above.

"And you are not? I didn't kill myself to try proving my love."

"No, you just brought back my aunt in a crazy version that creeps around the school now. We agreed not to talk about it since we lost the time turner. " Albus hushed Scorpius and glared at him. Any friendly bickering was gone from his voice now. Scorpius turned back towards the game and they both kept silent while listening to the comments.

"Another goal for Slytherin. Burk is in top form today, getting them all in on big Weasley. Maybe he's as smitten with Burk as I am with Takagi and dizzy with lovesickness? Potter is for sure, he always throws them right at her. 40 – 10 for Slytherin!"

XxX

Scorpius and Albus were on their way to congratulate the Gryffindor team on catching the Snitch, but losing the game, when Scorp drew up short. He had bugged his friend into this because he wanted to see Rose, and Alb had followed, shaking his head.

What both of them hadn't anticipated was meeting Rose just outside the lockers, giving Ian Wood a soaring hot kiss, while everyone around them whistled. In her hand she held the Snitch Wood had caught a few minutes ago and the boy looked rather smitten with his lady. Albus grabbed Scorpius' arm when he tried to move forward. He saw the hurt and the anger on his best friend's face and didn't want him to get into trouble over his thoughtless cousin. She wasn't worth it in Albus eyes, none of his worthless family was.

Feeling the anger over his oh so heroic family bubble, Albus dragged Scorpius away from the spectacle Rose made of herself, towards another entrance.

When they were hidden in an alcove, where no one could see them, Albus finally let go of Scorpius' arm and turned towards his friend.

"Why?" Scorpius asked him with tears in his eyes. "I only wanted her to notice me. Just once. Why couldn't it be me?" the words were barely audible, but Albus hugged his best friend hard to let him know he wasn't alone. It was only for a few seconds, they were boys after all, but they both knew they were best friends who could always depend on each other.

"I always told you Rose can be a bitch. She isn't worth your time." Albus told his friend like he had many times before, and swore to himself he would make Rose hurt like she hurt his best friend. Even if he quarrelled with Scorpius and they didn't talk afterwards, they were best friends.

"She's better off with Woods. Maybe I am the son of the devil himself. Not even you should spend time with me."

"Shut up Scorp." Albus told him when he went down that road again and hit him. "I told you a bunch of times already; you sadly look just like your dad. I once heard Mom tell Dad that Voldemort was a good looking dude with dark hair and that everyone just thinking you could be his son had to have hit his head really hard. And let's totally forget you are born eight years after his defeat. Rather long pregnancy your mother had with you." Alb's tone was rather sarcastic but he couldn't take Scorp's whining. Sometimes he thought his friend rather stupid when he brought up all the dumb rumours others spread about him.

"How does your mother know how Voldemort looked before he turned ugly?" Scorpius asked and forgot his problems for a second.

"No idea mate. Ask her yourself. I'd rather not bring up any nightmares." Albus shut up afterwards. He never liked to share personal things, but Scorp was his best friend. It wasn't like he hadn't asked himself the same question after overhearing his parents talk.

"Now get your shit together Scorp, you are a freaking Slytherin not a Hufflepuff." Albus said with a smirk.

My beta Eva was really intrested why I introduced Ian Wood into the story some chapters ago and asked, but I woulnd't tell her because I knew this heartbreak was coming. Since it's Christmas in just over a weeks time I wanted to give you the winter breake chapters just in time, but like any and all of my plots, Christmas, too, will be late this year. There is so much going on and I didn't want to hurry just get there.