There you go lovelies, another chapter for you!

Major thanks to Lex for betaing this for me and serious apologises for not thanking her for the last two chapters. Serious and unforgivable oversight. But she knows I'd just keel over a die without her, she is brilliance personified, but you all know that anyways, you guys aren't stupid.

Anyhooo, on with the show.

Chapter 4: Love letters

Albus and Scorpius had managed to rid the large, dusty study of most of the Doxies, but not all, as Scorpius had said, they would have to return the next day to finish clearing the room. For now though, both boys were permitted to relax and enjoy their evening; they were not required to cook or clean up since they had done so the night before, even if they had gotten trouble for their antics.

They joined the other students who were all lounging about on the soft chairs and bean bags in the common area chatting about their day and their various finds. Rose was doing some fact checking about an old mirror she discovered that seemed to show glimpses of an unknown garden and she was occasionally running her various theories by Albus, but he couldn't seem to give her the attention she required. Albus' mind was still back in that study with the secret door; the possibilities of what lay behind it were endless. He imagined some kind of treasure or perhaps a long lost volume of books that held the secrets of wizarding life. He wondered what an old, wealthy and respected wizarding family could have to hide.

"Albus, are you even listening to me?" Rose huffed. She sounded annoyed, but Albus didn't notice.

"Huh?" he replied dumbly.

"What is bothering you?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing," he assured her. "It's nothing really. I think I might go for a walk, just to clear my head."

"Okay, well, don't go too far," she warned him and he nodded before getting up and leaving the others to themselves.

As he walked he thought about all the ways he might be able to decipher that password to get through the wall panel. Was it possible to bypass the password? That would depend on the strength of the magic that held it in place, but surely after two centuries the magic would have significantly weakened. He mused over this as he wandered and he paid little attention to his surroundings, so when Stacey Gilbert came up behind him and roughly pinned him to the wall he was taken completely by surprise.

"I wondered when we'd finally get to be alone together," she purred into his ear.

"What?" he gasped, surprised and frightened of the position he was now in.

"You and me finally alone together, I wondered when you'd finally arrange it," she whispered suggestively leaning into his body, trapping him against the wall.

"I arranged it?" he asked, now thoroughly confused.

"I know," she giggled. "You've been staring at me all evening and when you got up to leave I just knew you meant me to follow."

"Look, Stacey, I think you have the wrong idea," Albus said quickly, suddenly feeling very claustrophobic. "I never meant for you to follow me, I-" But he couldn't continue because he found his mouth unwillingly occupied by Stacey's as she kissed him fiercely.

Scorpius had been returning to the common room from the boys' toilet when he spotted Albus walking towards him. He'd been fighting his attraction to the small ebony haired boy since he'd first set eyes on him when they were eleven and he was the only reason Scorpius had agreed to this ridiculous trip. Scorpius' family was an ancient pureblood line and he didn't need to participate in some scavenging trip through an old manor to learn what life was like back then; his family had kept journals and artefacts for centuries, he knew most things already.

His father had never hidden anything from him, mostly because there was no point and he preferred Scorpius to have heard the truth from him rather than the lies and exaggerations he would hear from others. From when he was about nine years old his bedtime stories became tales about his father, his grandfather, Harry Potter and the Dark Lord. By the time Scorpius reached Hogwarts he was under no misapprehension that his family was innocent of being involved in the war, but he understood better than most the regret his father felt about the decisions he made. He was embarrassed at first at his family's dirty history and dreading his time at the school after his father had told him he may not be welcomed there, but when he spied Albus with his father at King's Cross looking just as anxious, he didn't feel quite so bad.

Once he was old enough to understand it, he started to suspect that Albus Potter – like himself – was gay, and the rumour ripped through Hogwarts like a tornado when James Potter nearly killed Geoffrey Lyons for suggesting it; it was as though that violent act was a confirmation. While the idea thrilled him, Scorpius still doubted very much that he had a chance with Albus; after all, they were still Potter and Malfoy, Gryffindor and Slytherin -Montague and Capulet, born into enemy families. Scorpius saw Albus as the unattainable, not simply because they were worlds apart socially, but because in five years, he had never once been allowed the opportunity to even talk to him. Albus was constantly surrounded by his family like the Royal Guard; they protected him from everything including the nasty, hateful rumours that spread about his sexuality.

But now that had all changed, Scorpius had been granted a rare opportunity to have Albus to himself and he was undeniably and completely fucking it up. The first time they had exchanged words Albus had challenged him and Scorpius had seen a flame in his eyes that he couldn't help but fan. He pushed Albus, watching him burn brighter by the second as he fiercely defended his personal morals and it was a glorious sight to see. He watched him from afar for the rest of the day and he couldn't help but wonder if Albus burned just as brightly when he was in the throws of passion, this thought only made him want the boy more.

Of course, it was only then that Scorpius realised he had already been claimed; Albus was with that good looking Sixth year and why wouldn't he be, that guy was every gay man's wet dream and much more suited to Albus than Scorpius was. Still Scorpius had to wonder how interested Albus really was in this guy, sometimes he got the feeling it was a one-sided attraction; it was only this that kept Scorpius hopeful.

As he walked back to join the rest of the students it was Albus that occupied most of his thoughts and when he saw the boy in the flesh he felt his gratitude at being granted this precious time with him swell in his chest. He smiled and was about to call out to him when he saw that weird Hufflepuff girl come up behind him and roughly pin him to the wall. Scorpius was so shocked he stopped dead in his tracks – was Albus with this girl? And that Sixth year boy?

By the time Scorpius saw the panicked look on Albus' face the girl was already kissing him. "Hey!" Scorpius shouted out. He's mine! he thought as he began to jog over to pull the little leech of his friend, but to his surprise – and slight disappointment – someone else got there first.

Rose Weasley had gripped a large chunk of Miss Hufflepuff's hair and used it to forcefully pull her off Albus and push her away. "I told you to stay away from him you little bitch! What part of he's not interested in you didn't you understand?"

"You're just jealous!" the Hufflepuff protested as she held her hand over where Rose had pulled at her hair. "You want him for yourself, but you can't have him because he's your cousin, you sicko!"

"I'm sick!?" Rose screeched furiously. "He's my best friend! You're the psycho who tried to get into his room naked!"

"Rose! Stop it!" Albus yelled. "Look, Stacey I'm really sorry if I've given you the wrong idea, but Rose is right, I'm not interested in you. I'm gay, I don't like girls, I like boys," he explained calmly.

"What?" Stacey gasped. "You're lying," she accused. "We belong together, I can feel it."

"No, we don't. I'm not interested, I'm sorry," Albus insisted before walking away, leaving the girl standing there stunned.

Scorpius watched the scene in disbelief; this was certainly not something he ever thought he'd see –Albus' protective family in full force. He knew that Hufflepuff girl had a crush on Albus but he thought the rumour about her climbing naked into his dorm room were just that – rumours. Untrue rumours. He was starting to think he was going to have to kill this girl slowly and painfully and soon if he was going to do it before Rose did; Rose Weasley was a little Pocket Rocket.

"Albus!" he called out and started to jog over to him, but he heard someone else call his name from the other direction. Before he'd reached the Gryffindor someone else had enveloped him in a tight hug; Oscar – The boyfriend.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly as he kissed Albus' untamed locks. "I caught the tail end of that, what did she do to you?" he questioned as he pulled away enough to look the Fifth year over. Scorpius felt sick watching this display and he realised they really must be together.

"I'm fine," Albus insisted, pushing himself away from Oscar. "I think I might just go to bed."

"Are you sure?" Oscar asked sounding worried.

"Positive, I'm fine," Albus insisted. "I'll see you tomorrow, I promise," he said before kissing Rose on the cheek and quietly walking away from them. He didn't even acknowledge Scorpius and, although he understood the Gryffindor must be shaken, it still hurt.

It was mid afternoon the next day before Albus and Scorpius had finally cleared all the Doxies from the large abandoned study. Albus had refused to talk about the previous night's encounter with the crazy Hufflepuff, only to say he was fine and he didn't want to think about it anymore. Scorpius was trying to be understanding and supportive so he let the subject drop, he also let Albus lounge around at the dusty desk while he did a final check of the room for hiding Doxies. The Gryffindor had let his curiosity get the better of him and he'd rifled through the chest of drawers to the left of the desk and now he was sifting through piles of aged parchment.

"Are there any left?" he called out to Scorpius from the desk.

"Not that I can see," Scorpius informed him.

"Good," Albus nodded. "You should come over here and see what I've found."

Scorpius packed up the spray bottle of Doxycide and made his way over to where Albus sat. He picked up the top piece of parchment on the pile and scanned over the smaller handwriting; it looked like a letter. "What are they?" he asked casually.

"Love letters," Albus answered, giving Scorpius his most beautiful smile. "They're beautiful, listen to this," he said as he picked up the parchment he'd just been looking at. "Like the parting of two grey clouds, you shine upon me. You dry my tears like the end of Winter's rain and your love warms my heart and gives me hope," he spoke the words lovingly and Scorpius found them wrapping around him like a blanket; he could almost imagine him speaking those words to him and meaning it. "You are my summer sunshine," Albus finished.

Had Scorpius been able to look at Albus while he spoke those words, he never would have seen the panel Albus had been so obsessed with shift slightly. Scorpius frowned as he continued to watch it closely to see if it would moved again. "Say that again," he requested, staring intently at the wall panel.

"What?" Albus asked, looking up at him from the letter.

"Say it again, just that last part," Scorpius instructed him as he got down on the floor to watch the panel closely.

"You are my summer sunshine?"

The panel shifted again.

"It moved!" Scorpius exclaimed. "You are my summer sunshine," Scorpius stated speaking directly at the wall. Nothing happened. "Hmm, that's weird, it worked when you said it."

Albus knelt down on the floor directly in front of the secret door and repeated the final words of the letter. To his surprise – and Scorpius' – the wall panel slid right over top of the other. Albus was right; those marks were made by the moving panel.

Albus squealed his excitement at breaking the lock and looked over to Scorpius with bright eyes. "We did it!" he cried and without thinking he flung himself into Scorpius who caught him effortlessly in an easy hug.

Scorpius smiled at Albus as he awkwardly pulled away with a definite blush on his cheeks. He wouldn't push anything since he knew Albus was with that Sixth year, however, he couldn't help but feel encouraged at the Gryffindor's actions. "Let's go find Faulkner shall we?" Scorpius suggested as he moved to get up from the floor where they were both still kneeling.

"Yeah, we will," Albus replied distractedly and Scorpius immediately felt nervous. "I just want to have a quick peek inside."

"Albus, no," Scorpius pleaded.

"Just a quick look, I want to see if I can see anything, then we'll go straight to Faulkner I swear!" Albus promised. The wall panel had, thus far, revealed only a dark passage, it was impossible to see how long it was or what lay at the other end. Albus carefully poked his head inside, but still all he could see was darkness. He pulled out his wand and commanded it to light up, "Lumos!" he said.

Scorpius stayed close behind him, he felt a little better seeing that Albus' feet were still sticking out the small door, but he was still nervous as he thought of all the possibilities of what his partner might find. Albus had been sheltered and protected by his family, but Scorpius had not, he had no problem imagining what someone would hide behind a secret hidden door and none of them were good options. This door was designed to hide something that was never intended to be found by someone else; he was starting to regret helping Albus open the door in the first place.

"Albus, that's enough, we really need to go and fetch Faulkner now," Scorpius insisted.

"I still can't see anything!" Albus called out from inside the passage. "I think its some kind of tunnel!"

"Alright, well, come out now and we'll go and fetch a professor!" Scorpius shouted back to him.

"Okay, I just want to-" Albus replied as he crawled further inside. As soon as his body was all the way in the passage the door snapped shut and locked tight.

"Albus!" Scorpius cried out. "ALBUS!"

"I'm okay!" he heard the Gryffindor answer him.

"Stay there!" Scorpius cried out. "You are my summer sunshine!" he shouted at the door, but it didn't move.

"Really? That's so sweet!" he heard Albus joke from behind the panel.

"Shut up! This is no time for jokes!" Scorpius declared. "You are my summer sunshine!" Nothing. "Summer sunshine! Sunshine!" he stated, trying to make sure he was clear and firm, but still nothing happened.

"Is it working?" Albus cried out from the other side.

"No! What do I do?" Scorpius shouted as he started to panic.

"Just keep trying, I'm going to go up ahead, I think I can see a light coming from the other end!" Albus informed him.

"No! Don't! You don't know what is up there!" Scorpius cried out, but Albus didn't respond. "Albus?" he called again. "Albus? Albus!"

Still, he got no response from the Gryffindor. He began to properly panic now and he slammed his fists repeatedly into the panel as he called Albus' name out, praying he would respond.

He didn't.

Authors Note: Okay the summer sunshine thing is a little bit corny but I couldn't help myself, I've been reading through my old year 12 poetry book and I fell in love with Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 all over again (its just so sweet!) and it was on my mind when I wrote this chapter. 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' sigh … why don't they make men like Shakespeare anymore? Somehow I think that falls among many of life's unanswerable questions along with, why is Mr Darcy only a fictional character and not real with me as his Elizabeth?

Can anybody answer this for me?

PS - I'm working on my cliffies, Lex is giving me lessons. How well are they paying off?