I hope to get the next chapter up before finals and AP/IB exams come up in May. Ugh, one more month and then I'm graduating. :p Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own not the HP characters, just my OCs
Chapter 11
Albus sat in the Hospital Wing with Andrew and Rose. Ms. Pomfrey was cleaning his cuts and checking to see if any bones were fractured. "You know, I should report this fight to the Headmaster," she said. Albus just shrugged apathetically. He'd rather be expelled so that he wouldn't have to face anymore humiliation.
Rose squeezed Albus' hand and whispered, "Everything will be okay." Tears brimmed his eyes. All he wanted to do was bury his head under the pillow and stay there forever.
The door opened and in walked Scorpius, Dolohov, Goyle, and Olivia. Scorpius was caressing his limp left arm with his right hand while Olivia's arm was around his waist. Albus quickly averted his eyes. Then Goyle loudly exclaimed, "This should be a fag-free school. Go back to St. Mungo's, Potter!" Albus felt as though a million daggers stabbed his heart. As Ms. Pomfrey scolded Goyle and shooed him out of the room, Albus got up from the bed and ran out of the Hospital Wing as fast as he could until he reached his bed. He flopped onto it and silently cried himself to sleep.
How could I have been so stupid? I trusted him and he humiliated me in front of everyone.
---
After Scorpius' broken arm was healed, he was free to go. Olivia had stayed by his side the whole time, rambling about how she was going to get Albus expelled for sexual harassment. Scorpius sighed, feeling dejected and depressed, as he and Olivia walked to the common room. How did I get so messed-up? What'd did I do? He kept repeating in his head. He hated himself for being so selfish, so weak. Scorpius wanted to scream, or at least make things right and tell everyone he was gay. But he knew he couldn't.
As the two Slytherins reached the dungeons, Scorpius put on an aloof and hardened facade, though he was dying a little inside. Some fifth-year girl came up to Scorpius and declared, "Hey, we'll start a petition to kick Potter out. He won't get away this."
Scorpius inhaled deeply so as not to break down and cry. Malfoy's never cry, he told himself. He had to stop this somehow. He inhaled again and then projected, "Look everyone, no petitions, nothing. Just leave Al - er, Potter alone."
"I bet you enjoyed that kiss, Malfoy," sneered seventh-year Marcus Flint II.
Another chimed in, "Don't get all poof on us."
Scorpius felt uneasy. He inhaled again, trying to regain his confidence. "No, it's not that," Scorpius started to say, "it's just that it's my damn business and I'll handle it however and whenever I feel like it. So bug off, all of you." Then, glaring, he turned away and walked to his room. Scorpius flopped onto his bed, unable to control his emotions any longer.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, he willed silently in his his head.
---
The next day after lunch, Tilly, James, Lily, Blake, Rose, and Cody met up with Albus and Andrew near the lake. Albus needed to tell his friends exactly what happened between him and Scorpius.
Naturally, Tilly spoke first. "Please, please tell me you didn't try to attack Malfoy with your tongue." Everyone looked at him expectantly, having thought the same thing.
Albus sighed and inhaled deeply before spilling out his secrets. "I did kiss him, but only because - because," he paused a second and prepared himself for everyone to freak out. "Scorpius and I am - or were - dating for, er, about two months now." Albus stopped momentarily, letting his words sink in. His friends immediately started asking, "Why?" and "Are you off your rocker?" and "Don't you hate him?"
He raised his voice to talk over the sudden commotion. "I thought he was different. And he was. Underneath that jerk facade, Scorpius was actually a charming person. And I thought he genuinely liked me too." Albus got choked up and could only whisper, "But apparently not."
The girls moved closer to Albus and hugged him. Then Tilly absently remarked, "Scorpius Malfoy. Who'd have thought."
James, who had been unusually quiet this whole time, spoke up. "Albus, I don't mean to make you feel stupid or make you mad, but don't you think he only got with you to humiliate you? He's an arse, Al."
Albus sighed, feeling dejected and depressed. "I don't know what to think anymore."
"Want me to beat him up for you?" James offered. Blake chimed in, "Yeah, that bastard's going down!"
"Yeah, he can't get away this, Albus. You need to get revenge," Lily said.
Albus focused on the grass and muttered, "Thanks guys, but I'd rather just forget this ever happened. I can't believe I was so stupid."
"We'll help you through this, Al. It'll blow over soon," Cody remarked, usually the silent listener.
"Yeah," agreed Tilly. "Besides, you're too good for this Malfoy git."
Albus half-heartedly smiled at his friends' support. He only wished he could believe them.
---
Around 7, when everyone was eating dinner in the Great Hall, Albus, not feeling up to eating, sought out the library. He, still mortified and heartbroken, just wanted to be alone. Unfortunately, the fates never favored him because the first person he saw when he walked in was Scorpius Malfoy. The Slytherin was sitting in an oversize, leather armchair, staring off into space.
"Great, just my luck," Albus mumbled. Having heard something, Scorpius looked over towards the entrance and spotted Albus. He gave a disgustingly kind and apologetic smile. "Uh, hey, deja vu, with us meeting in the library," he joked.
Albus' eyes started watering so he quickly turned around, about to leave. Dammit, why do I keep crying all the time? Al silently scolded himself. Scorpius ran over to Albus and turned him around. "Sorry, bad joke. Please don't leave. I need to talk to you."
Albus took in a deep breath and focused hard on the brick wall, trying to rid of his tears. Coldly, he stated, "I think you said enough yesterday." Nonetheless, he followed Scorpius to the Divination aisle if only to get closure.
Scorpius sat on the edge of table, his expression disheartened. "Albus, I screwed up. And I am so sorry. I never wanted this to happen. But you have to know, I'm just not ready yet."
Albus focused on the books, still unable to look at Scorpius. He hated this Slytherin with all of his heart. And he hated himself for letting Scorpius into his life. Slowly, Albus started to say, "You humiliated me. Do you know what people are calling me? I'm the one taking the brunt of this, and it isn't fair."
Scorpius put his head in his hands and sighed. "I know. I'm really sorry. I wish I could take it all back. Look, I'll make it up to you." He stated in one big rush.
Albus slowly turned his head to face Scorpius. "Tell everyone that we're dating," he declared.
Scorpius lifted his head. "Albus, I can't. My parents, even my friends, would kill me. You don't understand."
"Are you kidding me?" Albus shout-whispered. "Scorpius, I've been there, feeling afraid and alone. Hell, I'm still going through it, trying to deal with all the insults and the disgusted looks. But at least we could go brave it together."
Scorpius' face contorted into a look of desperation. He looked broken down. It took a whole minute for him to whisper, "I can't." Albus' heart sank. This is it. We're over. "Then I can't forgive you."
"Albus, please," Scorpius pleaded. "I've never begged before in my life, but I am now. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Albus' heart panged even more with hearbreak and hatred. He inhaled, mustering up some courage to speak. "I find that hard to believe," Albus said curtly, "because if I were that special to you, you wouldn't have thrown me to werewolves. You're a selfish, self-conscious git, Malfoy, and you need to get over yourself." Scorpius opened his mouth to defend himself but Albus cut him off. "Don't ever speak to me again." And with that, Albus briskly walked out of the library and hurried to his room to lay down, cry, and sleep some more. Scorpius, meanwhile, sank down, depressed. And for the first time, he truly despised every fiber of his being.