It was a week later that, when rounding the corner to head into the second floor corridor to finish off this week's Prefect's rounds, Al came face-to-face with Scorpius, literally.

Malfoy was walking in the direction of the Grand Staircase, presumably heading towards the dungeon, when he and Albus spied each other. They both stopped on a knut at the last second, avoiding the collision that might have occurred had either of them been less coordinated.

Al couldn't prevent his gaze dropping from his love-hate rival's eyes to the man's perfect mouth, noting how close they were. Merely a foot separated their lips…

He quickly glanced back up, not wanting to give his feelings away. Too late, Scorpius noted the glance. His silvery gaze widened in enlightenment, then narrowed in consideration. Mortified that he'd been caught ogling the guy's mouth, Al tried to step around Scor with a murmured, "Excuse me."

His adversary wouldn't let it lie, however. He stepped into Al's path, cutting him off.

When Al attempted to swerve the other way, he was again met with Malfoy's insistent person. "I said, excuse me," Al gruffed. "Step aside, please. I-"

He never got to finish that sentence, as Malfoy grabbed his arms and turning them both, slammed Al into the niche corner between the open hallway arch and the stairs. It was a dark spot as no torch or candlelight touched its shadows, and a bit hidden by the architecture. It was a good spot to ambush someone.

"I knew it, Potter," Malfoy growled in a low, rough voice as his mouth proceeded to ghost above Al's in a sensual caress. "I knew it wasn't Macmillan you wanted."

Shaken by the unexpected encounter, and by the way Scorpius' aura flickered over his with a provocative sensuality, Al could only hold his breath and wait to see what happened next. This couldn't be happening! This couldn't be real… could it? His blood was a loud roar in his ears as his heart pounded like a mad thing under his ribs.

To his enormous shock, Malfoy aligned their bodies and pressed them together. Through his slacks, Al felt his aggressor's steely erection rub against him. To his great mortification, he went instantly hard in response, his body meeting Scor's lust with his own wanton version. Scorpius grinned. His straight, white teeth were as sharp a contrast as his fair hair in the dim recess. "You want me, don't you?"

Albus shut his eyes and turned his head to the side, ashamed at the triumph reflected in Malfoy's expression. Scor would tell the whole school now. He would use this to mock him, maybe even to have his pledge pin pulled. Merlin Almighty, word might even get back to his father!

"Let me go," he demanded, mortified to the soles of his shoes.

Grabbing one of his wrists, his assailant pulled Al's hand up and brought it between them. "I don't think so. I've wanted to do this all week," the Slytherin pronounced. To his utmost surprise, Scorpius brought Albus' previously injured finger to his mouth and licked over it from tip to base with erotic intent.

His gaze shot to his companion's in confusion...

...only to find the other boy's hungry, heated stare locked onto him, his full concentration on giving Al pleasure.

As Scor began sucking the finger in and out between his lips, mimicking oral sex, his tongue swirling around the single digit in this mouth, everything clicked in his head: Hogwarts' Renaissance Man – the fellow every student was envious of and secretly wanted to emulate - was bisexual! "Oh. My. God," Al whispered, understanding what this meant for his unrequited crush. "You… But… You want me," he whispered, understanding at last what all those covert glances had meant over the past few years. He'd thought they were Malfoy's way of trying to intimidate him - to carry on the feud that their fathers had begun back during their own school days. He'd totally misinterpreted them.

His partner gave an "Mmmm" of pleasure and thrust his hips into Albus'. It took everything Al had to clamp his lips closed and to transform the sound of a loud moan into a stifled grunt instead as their cocks rubbed together through their clothing.

With a final lick, Scorpius withdrew Al's finger from his mouth, his greedy attention focused on Al's lips.

"Just a nip. I have to know…"

He closed the distance between them, finally giving them their first kiss.

Gods, it was incredible! Scorpius was desperate to have at him, reckless in his desire, as if this kiss was his only chance and he wasn't going to waste it, not even to breathe. The hold he maintained on Al's upper arms to keep him steady was bruising in its intensity, and his mouth was a ravenous animal, feasting upon Al's taste.

His heart pounding out a wild beat in his chest, Albus moved on pure instinct. He'd never kissed anyone before, so his untried technique was certainly inelegant, but he gave of himself honestly, without pretence. His fingers dug into Scorpius' hips as he held tight for purchase to the only solid thing in his world just then. Malfoy rocked his pelvis against him again, sliding upwards, his solid length stimulating every inch of Albus' straining, throbbing shaft. They both groaned at the exquisite pleasure.

Abruptly, Scorpius broke the kiss. "Turn around," he growled, reaching to undo Al's belt.

His imperious command, given in a tone that would brook no argument, shook Albus out of his haze. "Wha-?" he asked, shocked at the implication of what his partner was expecting them to do out in the open and exposed as they were. "No!" They couldn't do it here, where anyone could see! If they were caught by a wandering ghost or a passing teacher it would mean some serious disciplinary action against both of them. With only a few months left before graduation, and a Quidditch House cup on the line for Slytherin, neither of them could afford the consequences. Besides, he didn't want to have sex for the first time standing up, facing a wall in some rushed coupling, but in a bed, lying down, and with his eyes on his lover's face.

As if he'd been doused in ice water, Scorpius' aura went instantly cold again, shutting down. He shoved Al away and stepped back, his emotions once more tightly disciplined. How the man managed to turn on and off his feelings so quickly was a complete mystery, but he had incredible self-restraint.

"You've never done this before."

For some reason, Al felt the need to defend his choice. "No. So?"

"A virgin. Figures," Malfoy denounced in a low, disappointed tone. With a sigh and an annoyed tsk, he straightened his tie and walked away, continuing on his original path down the stairs at the end of the corridor to head towards the dungeon. He didn't look back once, nor call out a parting shot.

It took Al several moments to figure out what had just happened. When he did, he was seriously miffed. He'd been thoroughly enjoying that snog! Just because he hadn't wanted to take it further yet, especially under the circumstances, didn't mean they'd had to stop kissing. Being a virgin didn't mean he was untouchable or defective, for Helga's sake!

Boner throbbing and bollocks aching, he had half a mind to go chasing after the object of his lust for more, but held himself back, worried he'd be seen as some kind of desperate dog in need of his master's leg. Besides, he was feeling rather shy about what had just happened.

His first kiss… and it had been with Scorpius!

After adjusting himself so he could actually walk, Al finished off his rounds. He tried to focus on the positive parts of the encounter he'd just had, rather than how things had been abruptly cut off and left, reliving in his mind the fact that his greatest crush had a thing for him, too!

X~~~~~X

"You're not man enough for me," dream-Scorpius stated, lounging back into the plush cushions of his throne with a lazy stretch. He gave Al a snarky smile. "Shy, boyish Albus Severus can't give me what I want… what I need."

As he stood before the man, fully naked, his member deflated and limp against his thigh, Al felt flayed alive by such words.

He opened his mouth to refute, but nothing came out. Again and again, he tried to vocalize his feelings, but no sound was forthcoming.

"Too much a coward," the object of his obsession sneered at him, his sultry amusement gone. "You'll never measure up to your family's expectations."

His scornful expression slipped then, and he frowned.

"Just like me."

When Al regained full consciousness this time, Mac was sitting on the edge of his bed, shoving at his shoulder. "Idiot," his best friend scolded him as Al was jolted awake. "You forgot to Silence your bed again. That's twice this month." His friend pushed on his chest to get him to lie back to sleep. "I've taken care of it this time, but try not to forget again. You know why."

That he often dreamt of the future was another secret that Al had shared with his best friend over the years. It had been impossible to hide such a thing from him as Mac was a light sleeper, and Al's thrashing about and moaning always woke the guy up.

Albus could feel his cheeks burn hot with embarrassment. Wiping sweat from his brow with the back of a hand, he turned onto his side and closed his eyes, exhausted. "Thanks," he mumbled to his friend as sleep began to take him back into the cradle of its arms.

"Welcome," Mac whispered.

He didn't dream again that night.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Notes:

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