Thanks to the lovely Lex for her beta. Here is your promised plot :D Enjoy.

Chapter 9: The Chase

Scorpius couldn't remember a time where he'd felt more wretched than he did now, not even when he had to face Grandfather Malfoy for a verbal lashing, or when he had to confess to his father that he'd failed a surprise Potions test in fourth year. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid as to ruin the only chance he'd ever gotten with Albus Potter. After years of wanting, years of daydreaming about his perfect pink lips, he'd finally gotten his chance to befriend him, to hold him close like he'd always wanted to, and he blew it. He allowed himself to forget that Albus had already been claimed by another and when he'd seen them together it hurt so much more than he'd expected. It hurt him as if Albus had betrayed him when really he was doing no such thing.

Of course, he realized as he'd watched the young Potter sleep that morning that he had been a complete arse to Albus for no good reason and he'd unjustly hurt the Gryffindor. He had tried to apologize to him all day but Albus wouldn't have a bar of him. All he could do was take comfort from the fact that Albus couldn't avoid him forever, they were partnered together for the remainder of this field trip and they were required to spend time together.

Scorpius wriggled on his mattress, trying to find a more comfortable position. He'd retreated to his shared room when it looked like he was going to have to witness another lovers' moment between Albus and the stupid, unworthy Oscar Diver. This whole situation was a complete mess and he knew he was only going to end up hurt, but for the life of him he couldn't seem to stay away from the boy who seemed destined to break his heart. Albus was addictive and Scorpius felt like he would do anything to gain his approval, to see him smile and be welcomed in his presence. He was done for.

Scorpius was snapped from his thoughts of hopelessness by the soft footsteps of someone entering the room and he turned his head to see who it was. His breath caught as he saw it was Albus who'd joined him, his eyes puffy and red from what looked to be a heavy stream of tears; Scorpius sat bolt upright and nearly flung himself off the bed in his rush to comfort the boy.

It seemed though, that as fast as Scorpius moved Albus only moved faster, turning on his heel and fleeing from the room. "Albus!" Scorpius called to him, and immediately gave chase. He felt it deep in his heart that Albus was crying over him, that this was all his fault; he'd been such an idiot and he intended to tell him so.

Albus was a fast runner, but as tears blurred his vision he couldn't keep far ahead of Scorpius for long and soon he was caught and pressed roughly up against the stone wall. "Let me go," he whispered weakly, knowing Scorpius would do no such thing.

"I'm so sorry," Scorpius breathed, hoping Albus could feel how sincere he was in his apology. "I'm a stupid idiot. It's all my fault, you haven't done anything wrong."

Albus tore his gaze from the floor and looked up at Scorpius, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You think I'm crying about you, you arrogant bastard?" Albus snapped. "You've been a git to me all day, but do you really think me so weak as to cry like this just for you?"

Scorpius blinked at the sharpness of Albus' words then dropped his own eyes to the floor as he realized he'd been rather presumptuous. Albus was right; it didn't make sense that he would be this upset about their small argument. "What-?" he asked softly, his own insecurity cutting off his question as he wondered if Albus would be inclined to accept comfort from him now.

"He killed himself," Albus told him, another sob escaping from his throat as he said the words out loud for the first time.

Scorpius would have sworn his heart skipped at the shock of Albus' unexpected words. Someone was dead? Someone had killed themselves? "What?" he breathed, his throat constricting as his brain ran through all the possibilities of who Albus might be referring to; nobody stood out in his mind as a likely candidate. "Who did?"

"Henry," Albus whispered, his eyes filling with fresh tears once more. Scorpius released the breath he had been holding and his shoulders sagged in relief. Henry. Henry was already dead. "Yeah, I knew you wouldn't care," Albus spat at him unexpectedly, and he freed himself from Scorpius' relaxed grip and took off again down the corridor.

Scorpius chased after him, but Albus was determined not to be caught and by the time Scorpius realized where Albus was heading it was too late. The secret door was opened with a whispered word and Albus was through it before Scorpius could do anything but shout his protests.

"Shit," Scorpius panted staring at the now closed sliding panel. He knew he had no choice, he had to follow him in; Scorpius didn't trust those ghosts in the smallest sense and he certainly wasn't going to let them have an opportunity to hurt his love. "Your guiding star," Scorpius whispered and the door snapped open for him and he crawled inside.

Albus was lying curled up on his side on the large bed clearly visible under the light drapes hanging over him, and as he approached Scorpius felt his consciousness pushed aside to make way for another's.

Henry thought Catherine looked beautiful, even when she was upset about something; he loved playing the protective lover, able to gather her up in his arms and whisper away her fears. He crawled on to the bed and wrapped himself around her pressing his chest to her back and pulling her flush against him. "I've been thinking about you all day," he whispered to her, "counting the seconds until I could excuse myself away from my family and meet you here."

She sighed and relaxed at his words as she always did. "I've missed you too," she replied just as quietly, as if they might be overheard; he knew that was impossible, he'd made this room for them himself.

He smiled into her hair and breathed her scent deeply. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have captured the heart of a woman so perfect as Catherine. "What is troubling you, my sweet?" he questioned. "Is it Grandfather?"

"No, it's your father," she answered him, twisting in his arms so he could see clearly the worried frown that marred her forehead. "He spoke to me today, asking about my plans for the future."

"What did he say?" he asked her, suddenly feeling as anxious as she at the thought of his father discovering their romance.

"He asked if I would marry and if I wanted children," she replied nervously. He knew she wanted to marry him and have his children, but it was not something they had talked about thoroughly. Truthfully he wished to avoid it, he wanted to be able to tell her it was possible and to give her all she dreamed of, but he wasn't sure he could. "I told him I didn't know, and he said every young lady wants a husband to care for and children to raise. I wasn't sure what to say so I told him that perhaps I would if I met the right person, I hope I said the right thing." She buried her face into his robes and wound her fingers into the fabric, holding him tightly.

"Of course you did, perhaps he was just being curious," he said, feeling that this was most likely true; if his father honestly suspected their affair he wouldn't be subtle about his objections. Henry was relieved that it seemed Catherine's worries were unjustified. "I don't think we have anything to be concerned about."

"He was being rather insistent for somebody who was simply curious," she said, sucking anxiously on her bottom lip.

"Come now, Beloved," he whispered to her, kissing her sweetly to calm her nerves. "Stop worrying your beautiful head about this, he does not suspect anything."

"We cannot hide forever, Henry, we shall have to confront him some day," she reminded him and he hoped she didn't notice him stiffen. She was right of course, they couldn't hide forever, but he was rather happy pretending they could rather than thinking about having to confess to his father.

"One day is not today," he replied evasively the way he always did when she brought up this particular subject. "Now kiss me before I die from my unhappiness at not yet properly tasting your lips."

Her heart sank with disappointment that yet again he refused to talk about their future, but she obliged him anyway. She had found she did not have the strength to deny him anything when she was sure she had been put on this Earth simply to make him happy.

Scorpius found himself waking up in his own body once again in the happy position of kissing Albus Potter, something he was sure he would never have experienced again. It was just as wonderful as he remembered and he was reluctant to let the boy go, as he seemed to fit so well against him. Their mouths moved together for just a moment before Albus pulled away from him again and he cried out at the heartache he felt from the loss.

"Albus," he gasped sitting up as the Gryffindor moved over to the edge of the bed. "Please don't go." Albus didn't say anything, but Scorpius could see him hesitate before hovering on the edge of the mattress with his legs dangling over, as if to prepare himself for a quick getaway if he needed it. "I know it's not fair of me to ask, and I would never expect you to cheat because you are so much better than that, but I need to know – do I have even the slightest hope of being with you one day?"

Albus turned to face him, his eyebrows crossed in a confused, and perhaps slightly angry, frown. "You're such a prat," he growled; Albus was definitely angry. "You're so moody I have no idea what you're thinking, one minute I would have sworn you liked me, the next you hate me, and now what? You like me again?"

"I've always liked you," Scorpius confessed, feeling ashamed of himself, "even before this trip."

"Then what the hell happened today?" he snapped, seemingly not the smallest bit appeased at the confession.

"I was jealous about you and Diver, you're all over each other all the time and I can hardly stand it," he blurted out quickly before he could stop himself.

"You're jealous about Oscar?" Albus scoffed, hardly believing it was true. He looked up into Scorpius' eyes and the vulnerability he saw there sobered him completely. No longer lost in the hurt he felt at Henry's actions, he quickly realized what Scorpius was asking him, and what the Slytherin had been thinking this whole time. He felt suddenly guilty for being so wrapped up in the lives of these ghosts that he didn't see how much he was hurting his friend. "I'm not with him. He likes me but…" He wasn't sure what to say now. Scorpius had practically confessed himself and he supposed now it was his turn, but he didn't find the surety of his feelings being returned the least bit comforting; he was still nervous.

"But?"

"But I told him no because I like someone else," Albus said finally, a deep blush creeping up his cheeks.

"So, you're not with Diver?" Scorpius asked just to be sure and Albus shook his head. "And you never were?"

"Well, we fooled around a little last year, but I had my heart set on you and I just couldn't…" Albus was breathing heavily and his pulse was racing as he openly confessed his feelings for Scorpius.

Scorpius' heart leapt and crashed against his rib cage; Albus Potter wanted him, had his heart set on him, in fact, and it felt brilliant. He wanted to kiss him and run his fingers through his hair, but he wanted to be sure Albus wanted it too. He moved over to him, crawling on his hands and knees to where the Gryffindor sat. He leaned in slowly to give Albus plenty of time to refuse him, but he hoped with all that he was that he wouldn't be denied again, he wasn't sure he would cope with another rejection.

Scorpius hadn't had much experience with kissing, but he was sure this was the best he would ever have in his life. It was he and Albus and no one else, no ghosts getting in the way, and no Oscar Diver either, they were both there because they chose to be. Albus was careful with this kiss; they were in no hurry because both knew it would be the first of many more to come.

As soon as their lips touched, Albus took control, he pecked Scorpius tenderly conveying the sincerity of his emotions and then his kisses lingered as his lips moved over the Slytherin's thin, pale ones. They breathed into each other and Albus began to climb back on to the bed, leaning into Scorpius and pushing him on his back. He straddled Scorpius' hips with a confidence the Slytherin had not been expecting, and leaned over him, their lips never straying far from each other.

Scorpius could feel Albus' erection straining against his own and as much as he wanted to keep going, he wondered whether he should be the sensible one and stop this before Albus got spooked. He wasn't sure what Albus meant by 'fooling around' with Diver, and while he was confident he never wanted to know, he also didn't want to push him too far.

"Albus, are you sure?" he panted, pulling away from him just far enough to speak, but Albus leaned in and silenced him with his mouth.

"Shut up, I've been wanting this for so long, so just shut up," Albus replied firmly, and with another fierce kiss he ground his hips into Scorpius'; pleasure shot up his spine and he swallowed Scorpius' gasp of surprise with his lips.

"Okay, shutting up now," Scorpius laughed shakily, and he willingly matched Albus' thrusts lifting his pelvis to him until they were both panting, moaning, and the other not to stop.

Scorpius came first, releasing his pleasure with a sharp cry as Albus clung to him tightly and thrust only twice more before climaxing himself. They both trembled in the after effects of their first shared orgasm with Albus weighing heavily on Scorpius' chest for a moment before the blond rolled him off and on to his side so that they were able to comfortably snuggle in together.

"That was not disappointing," Albus commented with a shy laugh.

"No, it was not," Scorpius agreed. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"I've been told once or twice," he quipped cheekily.

They settled into a comfortable, post-orgasmic silence for a while before Scorpius spoke again. "If Diver touches you again I will punch him in his pretty-boy face."

"I'll tell him to back off," Albus promised sincerely, he never liked Oscar touching him so much anyway. "Only your hands, and your lips, and your cock, I swear."

"You're damn right about that," Scorpius growled, purring his pleasure into Albus' midnight coloured hair. "I love that you just said cock," he said as an afterthought with a carefree laugh.

Albus laughed with him. "So you like dirty talk, do you?" he asked, teasing him slightly while also seriously jotting the fact down in his mind.

"And kisses."

"Scorpius likes dirty talk and kisses. Right, got it," he nodded, and he could see Scorpius grinning at the embarrassed pink blush on his cheeks. Albus just wriggled down further into the comfortable bed, settling into Scorpius' embrace.

"Hmm, we probably shouldn't fall asleep here," Scorpius commented with a yawn.

"Hmm."

"Albus?"

"Mmm."

"We should go," Scorpius repeated.

"Yeah, prolly," Albus yawned, but he only wrapped himself tighter around his long-awaited boyfriend as they both drifted off to sleep in the haunted room.

Aw, so they're finally together! I'm so happy for them, they really should be together. So cute. Can't get too caught up in the romance of it though, there is a mystery to solve after all.

What did you all think? Intriguing?