AN: Hooray, another chapter! I don't actually have much to say here, other than: enjoy the chapter!
-SQ
Disclaimer: Obviously, since I am writing fanfiction, I am a fan. As only egomaniacs a "fans" of their own work, I am obviously not Jo, meaning that Harry Potter just as obviously does not belong to me.
Chapter Three: Then Again
The news spread through the school like wildfire; the school's most controversial couple had split up, and everyone in the student population had something to say about it.
"I knew they could never last."
"Of course not, they were complete opposites."
"Well, they do say opposites attract..."
"But they never said it works."
"It certainly didn't work for them."
"I'm surprised they lasted this long."
"It was a pity thing I think, Albus just dated Scorpius out of pity."
"Scorpius only dated Albus because he was the first guy there."
"I don't think even they thought it would work out in the end."
"I don't know, they always seemed so determined and optimistic..."
"Pshh, Albus didn't want Scorpius to hang around forever, and Scorpius only wanted Albus as long as he played along with his games."
"That's not very nice; it could just as easily be said that Albus was the one running the games, using Scorpius to stroke his own ego."
"I think you're getting Albus confused with James."
That one got a laugh.
"I really think they did think they could manage it."
"You know, it's weird, but now that they aren't together anymore, it almost seems stranger than when they were."
"Personally, I think they just got bored with each other; no more drama, no more reason to be together."
"No more drama, create some drama by breaking up, you mean."
Scorpius internally scowled behind the blank mask he was projecting. They had broken up and still his name wasn't said unless it was in the same sentence as Albus's. What did he have to do to get some individual recognition around here?
I'm not "Malfoy" he thought furiously and I'm not "Albus's boyfriend" or "Albus's ex-boyfriend" I'm Scorpius, just Scorpius.
*****LA*****
Albus was already having second thoughts about dumping Scorpius. What he had said to the boy was true, but that wasn't to say he hadn't enjoyed and benefited from their relationship. In fact, really, he had sometimes used Scorpius's devotion to him for his benefit, much to his later shame. He had never thought that he would actually voice his frustrations, that the hold Scorpius had over him could ever be broken, but he had, and it was. Well, more or less.
The two of them were Potions partners, a situation which was now exceedingly awkward, seeing as they weren't talking to each other.
Is he okay? thought Albus, glancing sidelong at the blond. He seems awfully quiet...
"Scorpius—"
"Shh, I'm counting my stirs."
Albus shhed. Not your issue, he told himself sternly. Not your boyfriend, not your issue.
*****LA*****
Scorpius was having a hard time not thinking about what Albus had said to him right before he dumped him. The other boy had accused him of being selfish, but all he'd ever wanted was to please Albus. He could barely remember his life without Albus in it, whether it was as his enemy, his friend, or his boyfriend. He had never imagined a life without the other boy, and now that that life was staring him in the face, he still couldn't imagine it. Being with Albus had been like a drug, a drug he had suddenly quit cold turkey.
And that's the reality of it isn't it? He thought wryly. I thought I was in love with him, but was I ever really? Or was I just addicted to him? He saved me, he brought me out of my shell, he pulled back the layers of my cover until everything I had built up around me to protect myself was in smithereens. He completely changed my world. He was my world.
Scorpius rubbed his tired eyes, trying to scrub away the image of Albus that was burned into his retinas.
Well, I'll just have to build myself a new one.
*****LA*****
Rose sat down next the Albus in the Gryffindor common room. "Hey, how are you doing?"
Albus shrugged. "It feels weird, not being with Scorpius anymore. I feel...incomplete."
"It'll pass," said Rose, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know you shared something really strong with him, Al, but there'll be other people. The first break-up is always the hardest."
Albus sighed. He didn't think Rose really understood how deep his connection with Scorpius had been. Still, she was probably right. She usually was.
"Rosie," said Albus. "Did you see this coming?"
"In all honesty, yes," said Rose. "I did."
"Should I have?"
"Not necessarily," said Rose. "You couldn't have possibly looked at your own relationship objectively."
"Now that I think about it," said Albus, "both of us have been making excuses for a while now, trying to keep from falling apart. It was almost as if...neither of us wanted to be the one that ended it. Oh I don't know!"
Rose pulled her cousin into a hug. "You don't have to know."
"Is it a bad thing that I miss him?"
"Of course not," said Rose, "you'd be pretty hard-hearted if you didn't."
"Maybe I should—"
"No," said James, who had just appeared behind the sofa. "Don't get sucked back into that again Al. For both of your sakes. It's over."
Albus nodded. "You're right, James, it is over."
*****LA*****
And so Albus resisted the impulse to talk to Scorpius, to ask how he was doing, to apologize. He had nothing to apologize for, and they were no longer friends.
Scorpius, for his part, was doing much the same thing. In all honesty he was glad to be free, to have a chance to figure himself out, as scary as the feeling was. But a part of him desperately wanted to make up with Albus, to be friends with him still, even though they weren't dating. But Scorpius was smart enough to know that that would never work. There was too much history between them for them ever to be just friends again, too many confusing emotions, and, really, they had never been just friends to begin with.
*****LA*****
"Hey, Scorpius."
Scorpius looked up and smiled. Xander, the one person who thought of him as simply Scorpius, not as the Malfoy heir or Albus Potter's (ex)boyfriend.
"Xander."
Xander clapped him on the shoulder. "Hogsmeade this weekend," he said.
First Hosmeade weekend without Albus, said Scorpius's brain.
"Me 'n' Damian 'n' his girl're planning on going down to the Hogshead; the bartender there'll serve us alcohol. Want to come?"
"What?" said Scorpius. "Oh, sure. Thanks."
"No problem, little Scorpius," said Xander with a grin. "Someone needs to look after you, now that your big strong Gryffindor is gone."
*****LA*****
Scorpius walked down the main street of Hogsmeade with Xander Montague, Damian Urquhart, and Bryana Pritchard, a sixth year Slytherin and Damian's girlfriend.
"Here we are," said Xander. "The good old Hogshead."
Scorpius looked at the pub skeptically. It looked like it was about to fall down any second.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Xander, putting a hand between Scorpius's shoulder blades and giving him a gentle but firm push toward the door.
Scorpius entered the dark, dingy pub and sat at a table with Xander and Bryana while Damian ordered the drinks. A few minutes later he joined them with a tray of glasses and a bottle of Ogden's Best Firewhiskey.
"Drink up," said Xander, pouring Scorpius a glass.
Scorpius took a small sip. It scorched his throat, but the taste was strangely pleasant.
Xander and Damian knocked theirs back.
"Pigs," said Bryana sniffily, sipping daintily from her glass. She gave Scorpius a conspiratorial wink.
*****LA*****
An hour and several glasses of firewhiskey later, Bryana and Damian were locked together on the other side of the table, snogging as if their lives depended on it.
Xander tapped Scorpius on the shoulder. "It's more fun to do than to watch," he commented with a smirk, fingering the ends of Scorpius's long blond hair with one hand while touching Scorpius's chest with the other.
Scorpius suddenly realized something.
"This is supposed to be a double date, isn't it?" he asked.
"Well yes, that would be the idea," said Xander.
Scorpius shook his head. "I'm sorry Xander, but I'm not ready for another relationship right now. It's too soon. I need some time for myself."
Xander looked disappointed. "I thought you liked kissing me."
"I do," said Scorpius. "But that's not something to base a relationship off of."
"That's what their relationship is based off of," said Xander, indicating Damian and Bryana, who were still clenched together and showed no sign of coming up for air any time soon.
"Well it's not what I want mine based off of," said Scorpius.
Xander shrugged. "That's a shame, you're a good kisser, and I like you. It's not every day you come across another openly gay Slytherin. And closeted guys are such a pain. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. Come on you two," he added, prodding the snogging couple. "Time to pack out of here."
*****LA*****
It was one week after he broke up with Scorpius that the first girl asked Albus out. She was a pretty fifth year with light brown hair, glasses, and a snub nose. She asked him in the common room before breakfast.
"Hey, Albus. Albus Potter."
"Yes?"
The girl blushed. "I—I know you just broke up with your boyfriend and I was wondering if you only swing that way or maybe you swing both ways. And if you do, swing both ways that is, if you'd like to go out with me." Her face reddened but she stood her ground.
"Sorry, no," said Albus. "That is, I do swing both ways, but it's just way too early for me to have another relationship."
"You're not planning on getting back together with him, are you?" said the girl.
"No," said Albus, "I'm just enjoying being single. Nothing against you, I'm just not ready for that yet."
"Alright," said the girl, not bothering to hide the bitter disappointment in her voice.
Albus watched her walk away, feeling both confused and slightly guilty for hurting her feelings.
*****LA*****
As it turned out, that was only the first of many hopeful offers, from many girls and a few boys, that Albus received over the next few weeks. Albus Potter was now the most eligible bachelor at Hogwarts, and almost the entire straight female and gay male population was eager to claim him.
"Why don't you say yes to any of them?" Asher asked him after yet another girl had cornered him on his way to his dormitory. "What I wouldn't pay to have girls falling over me like that."
"You can have them," said Albus. "I need some Albus time before I jump into another relationship. I haven't had any Albus time for two and half years."
"Well, next time you reject one, send her my way, would you?" said Asher.
Albus laughed. "Will do."
*****LA*****
The general network of Albus's friends stopped being Scorpius's friends when Albus broke up with Scorpius, which was only to be expected, and Asher, Jerry, and Morgan seemed even to resent him some, but the other Potters and Weasleys were still decently friendly with Scorpius. In fact, he noticed that James Potter seemed to be keeping an eye on him.
Scorpius reasoned that their lack of hostility was due to the fact that it had been Albus who had dumped him, and not the other way around. He appreciated this, but he needed to distance himself from Albus completely, and this included his family and friends. Most of them got this message after a week or so, though both Rose and James made it clear that there were no hard feelings and if he needed something he could come to them. Scorpius did not intend to take them up on the offer, and he had the feeling that they would actually rather he didn't either, though he still noticed that James seemed to be keeping an eye on him.
Why does everyone think I need looking after? Thought Scorpius in annoyance.
There was one person, however, who was more persistent.
"Scorp, Scorp, Scorpius!"
Scorpius finally relented and turned around. "Hi, Lily."
Lily smiled and hugged him. "How are you?"
Scorpius shrugged. "I'm fine. What is this about?"
"What is what about?" said Lily.
"You, talking to me right now."
Lily gave him a confused look. "I'm talking to you because we're friends. Duh."
"Lily, Albus and I broke up."
"What does that have to do with the price of flying carpets in Afghanistan?"
Scorpius blinked at her.
"You didn't think I would just stop being friends with you because you and my brother aren't dating anymore did you?" asked Lily incredulously.
"Well..."
"You did! Scorpius," Lily scolded him. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily." She grinned. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
Scorpius smiled in spite of himself. "Alright, Lily, I'm stuck with you. But we'll both be stuck with detention if we don't get to class. I'll see you around."
"'Bye Scorp!" said Lily, waving cheerfully.
Scorpius shook his head. Make that two people who saw him just as Scorpius. What a girl.
*****Song Lyrics*****
She never really ever wanted him to stay
He only really ever wanted her to play
the games he threw her way day after day
She thought she could
but then again
maybe she misunderstood
but then again
but then again
He never really ever thought he could quit
She tried to see what she could get out of it
They weren't at all a perfect fit until they split
He thought he could love her
but then again
she had blown his cover
but then again
but then again
They both had a few tricks up their sleeves
They both reached a stalemate to see
which one of them would be the first to win
or the first one to leave
They thought they could
but then again
maybe they misunderstood
but then again
Now they're both alone
but then again
they just can't stop reaching for the phone
but then again
but then again
but then again
but then again
AN: Yes, yes, I know the song refers to a boy and a girl, but regardless it fits the situation. At least I think so, and I hope you do too. Are you reading the song lyrics? Because I think they fit my story nicely, what do you think? And what do you think about the story in general? To answer these questions, you can review ;)
-SQ