Scorpius woke from a dead sleep to Pucey rummaging about. He looked around, confused, still in his uniform with his robes tangled around his feet.
"What time is it?" he groaned.
"It's almost 7 o'clock, mate," said Pucey. "We've been trying to be quiet but you need to get up if you're going to go to the ball."
Scorpius groaned and rolled over. He'd finished his last exam in the middle of the afternoon, and had marched right back to the Slytherin dorms without having lunch and collapsed in bed without taking his clothes off.
"I need a shower."
"Flint'll be out in a minute."
"Great," groaned Scorpius. He didn't want to go to the dance, but Ainsley had begged him to come with her and her friends, who he'd actually grown to like. They were no substitute for what he'd lost, but they at least filled the quiet with pleasant enough chatter.
"I'll be fun," said Pucey. Albus stepped out of the bathroom already in his dress robes and threw his shower things into his trunk, pointedly avoiding looking at Scorpius' bed. Even without his glasses on, Scorpius could see that he looked good in his traditional dress garb - black trousers, a pressed white shirt, and a thin tie. Scorpius watched from the edge of his bed as Albus adjusted his sleeves, inserting his cufflinks.
"Where are we meeting the girls?" Albus asked Flint as he walked out of the bathroom, half dressed. Flint hurried to his bed and started pulling on the rest of his suit.
Scorpius grabbed his glasses and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the controlled chaos to abate.
"Down by the main entrance," said Flint. "And we're supposed to be there in five minutes."
"You better hurry, then," said Albus. Behind him, he saw Farley sneer. He was clearly still irritable about Maggie.
"See, Farley and I don't have to deal with that," said Pucey with superiority. "We're going stag so we can dance with everyone."
"You're going stag because you couldn't get dates," said Flint. They started bickering, and Scorpius instead focused on Albus as he pulled on his robes and smoothed his damp hair back with his fingers. It was clear that he'd lost a few pounds in the last few weeks, and it showed in his face and shoulders.
It was difficult being so angry at someone and missing them so much at the same time, and Scorpius was sincerely looking forward to a few weeks away from Albus so he could clear his head.
Scorpius looked down at his hands to avoid making eye contact with Albus as he and Flint swept out to meet Maggie and Anna.
"Everything okay, Scorp?" asked Pucey. Scorpius smiled at him.
"Yeah. I'm just still half asleep."
"Well, get ready. We'll see you down in the hall, okay?"
"Okay."
Farley and Pucey left and Scorpius took a deep breath, trying to find the energy to get moving.
It wasn't until after his shower that Scorpius realized her hadn't shaved for several days - he couldn't go to the dance with Ainsley and her friends looking like a bum - that wasn't the Malfoy way - so he grabbed his kit and laid out all his things, but when he went to dispense some shaving cream into his palm, he found that it was empty.
"Of course it is," muttered Scorpius, tossing the can into the bin and going back into the dorm. He rummaged through Farley's things, then Flint's, then Pucey's, and couldn't find a single canister of shaving cream.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Scorpius to the empty room. He eyed Albus' trunk. If he'd been in the room, Scorpius would never have asked him for anything, but he knew Albus had been clean-shaven earlier.
Cursing, Scorpius threw open Albus' trunk and moved things around carefully, making sure he put everything back right where he'd found it until he located Albus' shaving bag. He opened it and shook the can and was relieved to find that it was at least half full.
"Thank Dumbledore," said Scorpius, and he reached up to close the trunk, but something caught his eye.
His own handwriting.
In the netting under the lid was a neatly tied stack of letters, and facing outward was an envelope that read "Albus Potter" in Scorpius' favorite blue ink.
Scorpius threw the shaving cream down on Albus' bed and pulled the package out. He untied it and fanned the envelopes out on Albus' bed, his breath catching in his chest.
"They're all there," breathed Scorpius. Every single letter he'd sent Albus over the summer was there, neatly preserved. He grabbed the first one from the week after fifth year had ended and pulled it from its envelope.
The creases were worn and the corners were folded, but the letter its self was pressed perfect, like it had been read carefully a hundred times. Scorpius read over his own letter - he'd written it several times, trying to get the words right and keep his handwriting neat and loving - and a sob escaped his throat.
I'm in Cairo, but I wish you were here, Scorpius had written. There's so much I want to tell you.
Scorpius slid the letter back into its envelope carefully and placed it back in the stack, tying it all back up neatly and placing it back in Albus' trunk. All the anger he'd had was gone, and it was replaced with a desperation that he hadn't felt since he'd talked to Severus Snape -
Except this time he knew exactly where Albus Potter was.
Albus walked Anna into the ball with a smile on his face. He was determined to enjoy himself on the last night of the term, even if it had meant avoiding looking at Scorpius all day long.
"Thank you for being my date, Albus," said Anna. She really did look very pretty with her blonde hair in an elaborate plait down her back and her shiny silver robes. "I hope it's not too much trouble."
"None at all," said Albus. He looked to Flint and Maggie behind her. "Come on, let's dance."
Albus had never seen the Great Hall decked out the way it was tonight. In each corner was an elaborately decorated Christmas tree - one decorated for each house - and at the front of the hall where the teacher's table normally sat was a massive tree that glittered with hundreds of fairy lights and ornaments that glowed with their own internal light. Garland was hung from each of the pillars, and snow fell from the ceiling and dissipated halfway down to the floor.
Other students were already there, and the dance floor was full. Albus took Anna's hand and twirled her around, watching as she laughed, and they began to dance.
"Whoa, what's that face for?" asked Ainsley as Scorpius approached. Her friends turned around to greet him.
"Nothing," said Scorpius. "Just had to rush to get here."
"Well, you're here now!" Ainsley said brightly, and Scorpius smiled - genuinely smiled - for the first time in days. "And you look really good! That's a lovely shade of blue."
Ainsley felt the fabric of his lapel, admiring it.
"Yeah," said Jessie, one of Ainsley's Hufflepuff friends. "You clean up nice, Malfoy."
"I'm a Malfoy," said Scorpius with sarcasm. "Swanky occasions are our forté."
Jessie laughed and Scorpius escorted both girls inside, where he found that the dance was much louder and more boisterous than he'd expected. It seemed the entire school from third year on was there.
As they walked in, Scorpius scanned the crowd for Albus -the first time he'd actively looked for him in weeks - but to no avail. He was clearly lost in the crowd on the dance floor.
They passed one of the tables and Ainsley handed Scorpius a butterbeer, which he drank gratefully. It was a poor substitute for food, but it was better than nothing.
"Everyone just looks so nice," said Ainsley. Jessie agreed and they waved to one of their friends as they passed by.
"You both look lovely," said Scorpius, feeling rude that he hadn't said so upon arriving.
Always complement a lady, his father had told him.
"Thank you, Scorpius," said Ainsley. "Should we dance?"
"That's a great idea," said Scorpius, aware that he sounded over-eager. "Wonderful. Let's go."
They entered the throng of teenagers - some of them still looking like children, and some of them looking entirely grown - all dancing and jumping to some fast song he'd heard once or twice on the Wizarding Wireless Network.
So many colors, thought Scorpius, but he was scanning the crowd for a head of black hair.
The relief among the students was evident in their smiles and laughs, and Scorpius noticed that he was relieved to see the term end too, but not for the reasons he'd expected.
He danced with Ainsley and Jessie for a while, still watching as the crowd shifted, looking for Albus. He didn't know what he would do, or what he would say - his head was still spinning, but he just knew he needed to see Albus.
"I'm sorry," he said finally to Ainsley. "I have to go. I'll see you two in a bit."
"Okay," said Ainsley, concerned, as she stopped dancing. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," said Scorpius. "I really think I am."
And he faded back into the crowd.
"Excuse me... sorry..." Scorpius apologized to every couple he bumped into as one of the slower songs came on. Someone knocked his glasses off of his nose, and Scorpius had to scramble to catch them before they hit the ground.
In the distance, he spotted Anna and her long, platinum hair, but Albus wasn't with her. Scorpius swore under his breath and continued moving through the crowd.
Maybe he left, thought Scorpius as he pushed his way through another cluster of dancers.
And then he saw him, meters away, looking through the crowd as well, towering over a group of third years.
Scorpius stood rooted to the spot as Albus met his eyes across the crowd. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. He watched as Albus took a deep breath and walked through the crowd, pushing people out of his way, until he got to where Scorpius stood.
He smelled like soap and amber.
"Will you come with me?" Albus asked. He looked terrified and determined. It was the face he wore before a Quidditch match.
"Yes," said Scorpius.
Albus led Scorpius back through the crowd, Scorpius apologizing all the way as he stepped through the students. When they reached the edge, Scorpius caught up, and they walked side by side out into the corridor.
But Albus didn't stop. He walked with purpose down one hallway and then another.
"Where are we going?" Scorpius asked.
"Just trust me," said Albus.
Scorpius fell silent, and they turned down another corridor, the clicking of their dress shoes echoing down the cavernous halls. These parts of the castle were deserted - everyone was in the Great Hall.
Finally, they reached a wall, and Albus stood in front of it. Scorpius opened his mouth to ask what he was doing, but Albus reached out and placed his hand on the stone, closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Please work," he whispered.
After a few more breaths, Scorpius gasped and watched as a simple wooden door formed under Albus' hand.
"What is this?"
Albus opened the door to a dark room, and gestured Scorpius in, his brow heavy and his face serious.
Scorpius walked in, and when he did, lanterns around the cavernous, empty room lit, giving it a haunting glow.
"It's the Room of Requirement," said Albus. "They said it was destroyed in the battle, but I went looking for it where my dad told me to. I guess it's found some of its old magic. Dad always said the castle was still healing its self."
Scorpius looked around in awe, for a moment forgetting why he was here.
"Wow."
The door dissolved behind Albus, and he raised his eyebrows.
"It'll come back when you want to leave," he said.
At the center of the room, near one of the grand columns, was a small table, and a pallet of blankets on the floor. Nearby was a small Christmas tree with simple, colored lights.
"The tree is new," said Albus.
"This is where you've been going," whispered Scorpius. He looked back to Albus, who nodded solemnly. For a long moment, one of the longest of both their lives, they stared at one another, weeks of anger and irritation peeling away.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm so sorry,"
They spoke at the same time, and a tearful smile broke across Albus' face as he took a few tentative steps towards Scorpius.
"I should have understood why you wanted to wait," he said slowly. "And I shouldn't have done anything to hurt you while you did."
"But I shouldn't have -"
Albus held up his hand. "Please let me get this out."
Scorpius nodded.
"I should have come to you days ago, I just didn't know what to say, and then I got to the dance tonight and I saw you... It was stupid to fight over some school ball."
Scorpius took a single, small step toward Albus.
"I don't care if everyone back there knows about us. Yes, it would be easier if I could hug you and hold your hand whenever - if that could just be normal - but that doesn't matter. It doesn't. You asked me before if I wanted to explore my options, and I know you were angry and you probably didn't mean it, but the truth is that I don't want to. Ever. I've been so lonely without you. I've never had to learn how to love anyone except for you, and I don't ever want to."
Albus took a deep, shuddering breath.
"I love you."
Scorpius stared at him. He could hear his own heartbeat. This fingers twitched.
"Please say something," whispered Albus, shaky, his eyes wide.
But Scorpius didn't. He closed the gap between them with just a few strides and wrapped his arms around Albus holding him tight.
"I love you too," said Scorpius quietly when he found his voice. He closed his eyes tight, burying his face in Albus' shaking shoulders, and he knew Albus was fighting back tears. He held him, feeling all the knots in his body untie themselves, until Albus caught his breath.
"I'm so sorry," said Scorpius. "I should have never put you through this. I shouldn't have been angry - you had ever right to be frustrated, keeping secrets."
"No, it's okay. Your father is your only family and I should have respected that," said Albus, releasing Scorpius just enough to look at him. There were still tears on his face, and that made Scorpius realize that he was crying too.
"Let's never do this again," said Scorpius with a small, choked laugh.
"Never," agreed Albus. He leaned in tentatively and kissed Scorpius, his hands shaking as he ran them over Scorpius's shoulders. He wasn't sure whose tears were whose, and for several minutes they stood in the middle of the room, swaying and kissing and being.
"Did we just get back together at a school dance?" asked Albus.
"God, that's so trite," said Scorpius, laughing.
He wiped away the moisture from under Albus' eyes. "You didn't even cry when you were in the hospital wing."
"This was worse."
Scorpius nodded and just looked at him, twisting Albus' hair between his fingers and marveling at how green his eyes looked in contrast with his dark robes.
"You look great, by the way," said Albus. "Sometimes I get so caught up in how smart and kind you are that I forget to see just how handsome you are too."
"I already said I'm not mad at you," teased Scorpius. Albus laughed, blushing.
"Right. But I'm not exaggerating."
"Well, thank you," said Scorpius. "You don't look so bad yourself."
Albus smiled and realized he hadn't yet let go of Scorpius. He wrapped his arms tighter around his waist, and Scorpius kissed him again, slowly and confidently.
Albus kissed him back slowly at first, but then Scorpius felt his hands tighten around the back of his robes, and he relaxed into Albus' arms.
They kissed and Scorpius felt a kind of hunger that had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn't eaten.
Albus pulled away, out of breath, and smiled.
"I missed this."
Scorpius smiled and took his hand, leading him over to the meager pallet and sat down.
"Then let's make up for lost time," he said. Albus smiled and joined him, shedding the outer layer of his robes and tossing them on the table.
"You'll get cold," Scorpius said.
"Keep me warm," challenged Albus, sitting down facing Scorpius. His grin didn't match his bloodshot eyes, and Scorpius had the overwhelming need to take the last few weeks back and make everything better.
He didn't smile back, and instead pushed Albus back into the blankets and kissed him ardently. Albus responded in kind, his hands finding the inside of Scorpius' robes and pushing them back from his shoulders. Scorpius took them off and threw them aside before taking off his tie and unbuttoning Albus' shirt. In the flickering lantern light and the faltering glow of the Christmas tree a few meters away, Albus lost the paleness that had settled in since their fight, and Scorpius forgot about everything else.
Albus looked down at Scorpius' hands on his chest and looked up, somewhere between confused and excited, breathing hard.
"I don't know what I'm doing," admitted Scorpius, leaning over him.
"I don't either," breathed Albus.
Scorpius took a deep breath. "Do you want to figure it out together?"
Albus grinned and nodded, and Scorpius kissed him again. That was all he needed.
AN: Considering this entire fanfiction is build around the line "I've never had to learn to love anyone except for you," this chapter was very hard for me to let go of, because there is no way I could spend enough time or do enough to make it perfect.
Let me know what you think! Reviews make me happy. Like really happy. I read all of them.
