Unexpected Things

KeysCanHurt:The forbidden ones are the best, eh? :)) THE CHICKEN LIBERATION ARMY. It could be reality :P I wanted to have an hp marathon sleepover :(( :((

MalfoyMaiden: Mmminimal chances. He had a vulture for a mom and a ratcat for a dad. Haha, love-hate Lily =)) Filch Jr's a bonehead :P :))

crazy-wee-cat:Haha, yeah Pince and Filch. xD Yes, Flinty's mean. Thank ya :D

yellow 14:Hurray for chickens xD yeah, Filch Jr. isn't the sharpest caretaker Hogwarts has seen.

Lonely Traveler: Oh, it wasn't the room of requirement :) It was just a random classroom, heheh

Crazy Yellow Maiden who Hurts: Hahah :))

SiriuslyDistracted: Haha, thanks :P :)) Yeah, I wish we won at kickball too :)) And I wasn't that good... I barely played :( *sigh* anyway =)) Haha, hurray for the CHICKEN ARMY =))

PotterMalfoy143: Erm... sorry, no :P I'm not into Al-Scorpiuse

Wolfdog Luver: Haha, glad you found it :P Scor's here in this chapter ;)

BlackRaven64, Von de Vohn: Thank you for adding this story to your Favorites list :)

secretlyconfused, parris411: Thanks for adding this to your Story Alert list :D

Ack. School's back tomorrow. Byebye fantasy, hello reality :( Anyway xD The full title has do with the last scene of this chapter

Chapter Thirty-Five

Secrets and Some Things that Never Change

At breakfast, Al finally got to talk to Scorpius.

But before he got to ask the questions he wanted to ask last night, he noted how stiffly Scorpius moved his right arm, and on the right side of his forehead, the skin was darkening into a bruise.

"What's happened to your head?" Tom asked before Al could.

"You look like you headbutted one of the Flints!" Theo tentatively brought up a finger, to prod the bruise.

Scorpius swiped Theo's hand away, then winced, rubbing his shoulder with his left hand. "I'm fine!" he snapped. The three of them looked at him, not believing. "I just tripped. Fell down the stairs last night."

"What stairs?" Al asked.

"To… down to the dungeon, of course!" Scorpius had paused, then hastily answered. Were there more secrets? "That's where our Common Room is, isn't it? Down the stairs to the dungeon!"

"But you went down with us last night after dinner. You didn't trip then." Al narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He didn't normally expect the worst from people. Al usually liked assuming the best in most. But lately, Scorpius's distance and secretiveness had made him seem like such a stranger.

Al wanted to trust his best friend since first year, but Scorpius was making it hard to do so.

Scorpius's grey eyes widened, darting left then right, before returning their focus to the three other Slytherin boys. "I snuck out. Was hungry. Got some food from the kitchen coz it was nearby. I tripped on the way back to the Common Room after my midnight snack."

"You snuck out without us?" Theo looked offended.

"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, the next time you sneak out of the Common Room, ask our permission!" Tom scolded.

"Sneaking out is-"

"-our area-"

"-of expertise."

"So seek our advice next time."

"Got that?"

Scorpius nodded, saluting. "Yes, sirs!"

The twins were pleased with the answer and resumed eating.

"I'm going over to Hagrid's later, with Lily and James. Any of you want to come?" Al asked.

"Sorry, Al, we've got detention." Theo and Tom apologized.

"Can't." Scorpius shook his head. "I've got stuff to do."

"Like what?"

Scorpius opened his mouth, then closed it, looking torn and uneasy. "I—I'll tell you when I can."

"Why can't you tell me?" Al hissed, so the twins wouldn't hear, not that they were paying much attention. At the moment, they were talking to each other about how to make Slughorn run.

"I just… can't."

Al glared at him.

"It's nothing dangerous, I promise." Scorpius sounded sincere.

Al didn't respond right away.

"Trust me. It's nothing harmful."

Sighing, Al decided to believe Scorpius. What else could he do? If Scorpius was promising that he wasn't doing anything harmful, Al thought that he could believe that. After all, Scorpius didn't want to do any of the crazy, evil things his schoolmates often say he will.

Scorpius was a good person.

And if he was part of some sort of club with Dirk… that club had good intentions, didn't it?

"Scorpius!" Scorpius spun around to face Al, who caught him as he was leaving the Common Room. It was the end of the school day. Al was supposed to be going to Hagrid's! Scorpius cursed himself for not having thought of waiting for Al to leave first.

"What?"

"What's going on with you?"

"Nothing." Scorpius answered instinctively. He avoided Al's piercing, searching green gaze.

"That's the lie. Where's the truth?" Al demanded.

"I…" What should he say? Scorpius searched for the right excuse and the right way to phrase it.

"Scorpius. Please don't give me any lies or excuses. I'm tired of the secrets people keep hiding, okay?" Al's frustration was obvious. Scorpius realized he may not be the only one hiding things from his friend. Rose, too, had been quite distant lately. Maybe she had not been updating Al either.

"I… Al…" It was frustrating! Scorpius felt like he was being ripped apart. Kron had uncovered some really… big things. And Scorpius had found himself growing steadily more dedicated to Imperium the more meetings they have.

But lately, his loyalty to Imperium and his loyalty to his friends have been clashing… heck, even his loyalty to Jacqui. It was getting complicated, having to hide things from her and his friends all Christmas break.

Now that they were back in school, even if it was just their first day having regular classes again, Scorpius was beginning to feel drained. How much longer would he be able to avoid Al and the twins? The twins were easy enough, since they were usually off planning one prank or another.

Al wasn't so simple.

He still had a full semester of this kind of secrecy to go. Then summer break… but even then, he'd still have to continue keeping things from his friends and girlfriend.

Was this one day of school an example of what the rest of his school life would be like if he stayed loyal to Imperium? Scorpius was having doubts if it was worth it.

But… the powerful secrets Kron was revealing to them… those were worth keeping secret.

But were they worth messing up friendships and relationships?

"Scorpius?"

"Al… I just… I really really can't tell you." Scorpius said truthfully.

"Is this about that group… gang… club… whatever of Dirk?" Al asked.

Scorpius's jaw dropped. How did Al know?

Then he remembered Dirk had invited Al to join before, but Al had rejected the invitation.

Oh, why the hell did Al do that? Things would be so much simpler if Al just joined. No more complications, hiding secrets and telling half-truths or even lies. Dammit Al, you should have joined! You'd learn impressive things!

Those impressive things would help Al be a great wizard!

Though Al didn't talk much about it, Scorpius remembered that Al had once admitted he sometimes wished he could do something to erase the "Chosen One's Son" label, to make a name for himself as Al Potter, not just Harry's Son.

"Er… y…yes." Scorpius decided it was safe to answer with a yes. Al already knew the group existed… so saying that what Scorpius was hiding had do with Imperium was okay.

"Scorpius, are you sure what you're doing won't cause any harm?"

"Of course I'm sure!" Scorpius reminded him. "I swore it's nothing dangerous, remember?"

Al reluctantly nodded.

"Now I gotta go. Bye."

"But-"

"See ya!" Scorpius walked away without looking back.

As he headed for the Entrance Hall, Scorpius listened for the sound of Al chasing after him and calling his name. Only the voices of other students down in the Great Hall were what reached his ears.

Al wasn't going after him.

Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief, but it caught in his throat when he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Jacqui!"

"Scorpius, where are you going?" she asked, curiously, but suspiciously.

"Out. To take a walk." Scorpius answered, walking until he was between her and the exit.

"Can't I come with you?" She walked forward. Now she was between him and the exit.

"Er… I… I wanna be alone… to… y'know… think… about… stuff." What a pathetic excuse.

Jacqui regarded him with doubt.

Scorpius didn't want to have to deal with another confrontation.

"I saw you this morning, during the break." She told him. "You were with a group of other students. Does this have do with it?"

Since when was she as observant as Al? "Mmmmaybe." Scorpius looked away.

"Scorpius… what's going on?"

"Oooohhh. Look at the time." Scorpius pointed at his watch. "It's getting late. I gotta get going, enjoy my walk before it gets too late and I'll have to get back inside."

"But—Scorpius!"

"Byyyyeeee!" Scorpius turned his back on her and jogged off.

"It's barely past three in the afternoon!" He winced, but didn't stop, and resisted the urge to look over his shoulder.

"So's jus' you three comin' ter visit, eh?" Hagrid poured tea into each of their cups. "Wha' 'appened 'ter Scorpius, 'n'Rose? Hugo, too. I know Dominique's always busy wi' some boy or another, an' Luis don' come often either. Bu' Scorpius an' Rose used ter come wi' ye."

"Rose has relationship issues to deal with." Lily answred.

"Hugo and Scorpius have homework… and stuff." Al was telling half-truths. It was better than lying, yes… but still didn't feel very right.

"Since when were Hugo and Scorpius such bookworms?" James asked.

Al merely shrugged, unable to answer the question.

"So." Hagrid heavily sat down. His weight thudding against the chair caused the table to bounce and their cups and saucers to rattle. "What's on yer minds?"

"Have you talked to dad recently?" James asked.

"Wot abou'?" A guarded expression crossed Hagrid's face as he watched them with one bushy eyebrow raised.

Al glanced at his siblings. James was frowning, Lily looked disappointed. They'd have to tread carefully to uncover the secret the adults were keeping.

Secrets.

Al was getting sick and tired of them.

"Dad's been working really hard lately." Lily had replaced her crestfallen look with one that resembled concern. "Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione too. I'm getting worried about them."

Hagrid relaxed slightly, but he still seemed to be keeping his guard up.

"What's up with you, Hagrid? You look like you ate a frog!" James stood up. "Have some of that whiskey you love so much! I know it always calms you." Striding over to Hagrid's shelf, he took a bottle from the shelf and put it in front of a bewildered Hagrid.

"Er… I guess I'm jus' worried abou' yer dad'n' Ron an' Hermione too." Hagrid chuckled. "But don' ye kids worry. Yer dad's a real tough one. He kin handle wha'ever comes."

"But still, Hagrid… it scares us, not knowing what's going on." Lily continued.

"Ah, if not knowin' what yer dad's up to is scary fer the three o' ye," Hagrid took a swig from the bottle. "Lemme tell ye 'bou' the war! Back then, we was scared. With the Death Eaters all over the place an' in control, an' the three out there, no one knows where… it was terrifyin'! Bu' we didn' have much free time ter worry abou' 'em, we 'ad t' worry abou' the Wizzarding World an' the Muggle world too."

"I bet you fought off lots of Dark Wizards, just like dad must be." Al commented.

"Yeah, those evil wizards must've been no match for you Hagrid!" Lily said admiringly.

"And they're no match for dad either!" James added.

Hagrid chuckled and took another sip before answering. "Oh, I did wot I could. Wasn't much, since I don' got much magic skills…" Hagrid frowned. "Bu' I want ye ter un'erstand some'at."

"Yes, Hagrid?" Al prompted.

"These wizards yer dad an' Aunt'n'Uncle are facin'… they ain' Death Eaters, that's fer sure. I'm thinkin' they jus' don't understand the Deathly Hallows."

"Deathly Hallows? I remember dad's story about that!" Lily's face lit up as he recalled the bedtime stories their Dad used to tell them when they were much younger. "It's a fairy tale that's actually true! But that's a secret we're not supposed to tell people." Lily's voice softened into a whisper.

"Righ'! But there used ter be a bad wizard who used the symbol o' the Deathly Hallows." Hagrid took another long sip. "Which is why a lot o' wizards associate the symbol wi' evil."

"The Deathly Hallows symbol was on the medallion Uncle Ron found!" James exclaimed.

"Exac-" Hagrid froze, eyes wide. Then he blinked several times. Shaking his head, his black mane of beard and hair swaying, Hagrid muttered to himself. "Shouldn've told ye tha'…"

"Uh-oh…" Lily whimpered.

"I shouldn've told ye tha'!"