Author's Note: I hope you're still enjoying the story, I assume so if you're about to read chapter 8. Happy reading!

-SQ

Disclaimer: Obviously, Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. If you didn't know that already you've got bigger problems.

Chapter Eight: I Don't Know What to Do

It was sometime in the middle of the night, at least that was what Albus judged by the appearance of the sky outside. Not that it mattered; Albus's sense of time now revolved around the odd snatches of sleep that he had while caring for Scorpius. Albus had just been downstairs to get something to eat—what meal it was was irrelevant—and now he was sitting beside Scorpius on the bed, bathing his forehead in cool water. Scorpius temperature continued to rise no matter what Albus did, and Albus was becoming seriously worried.

Checking Scorpius's temperature again, Albus swore. 40.9 (105.6).

"S-Scor, S-Scor," said Albus, gently shaking his friend's shoulder. "Scor, c-come on Scor, w-wake up." He was almost pleading. "C-can't you h-hear me?"

But Scorpius didn't respond. He just lay there, perfectly pale and still. Albus felt like crying. Seeing Scorpius like this, so weak and helpless, it was terrifying. Scorpius had always been the strong one, the confident one, the leader; he and Rose walking in front, Albus following half a step behind. He had never minded, that was how it was supposed to be. And now this—this was all wrong.

Albus stood up. He couldn't do this on his own. Scorpius wasn't just sick; he might very well be deathly ill. He needed trained healers, not some stupid, second-rate, scared-shitless teenager.

Albus jogged up to the house owlry. It was empty. Cursing, he called the owls' names, but it was no use, none of them were there.

Nor could he find any Floo Powder in the house. He recalled Scorpius saying that they needed to restock. Trying not to panic, Albus explored his options. It didn't take long. No owls, no Floo powder, no nearby neighbors. He couldn't Apparate, he could barely produce a real Patronus, let alone send a message with one. They were stuck.

Albus went back to Scorpius and lay down beside him, gazing at his best friend's face. Even as sick as he was, he was still breathtakingly beautiful, like a porcelain doll, or an angel. Albus reached out and touched Scorpius's flushed cheek with his fingertips. It was dangerously hot. Tears pricked Albus's eyes.

"I d-don't know w-what else to d-do, Scor." He laid a cool cloth on Scorpius's forehead. "I really d-don't."

Exhausted, Albus let his eyes close, one arm falling over Scorpius's bare chest and the other hand resting lightly against his fevered cheek

*****TWAMM*****

That day Scorpius's fever rose to 41.1 (106). Albus, close to having a nervous breakdown, refused to leave his side, even to get himself something to eat. He anxiously awaited the return of the owls, but they never appeared

Albus went to the Malfoy Manor library, brought back as many books on illness and healing as he could find, and poured over them until his eyes ached. There was nothing there he could do that he hadn't already tried. Nothing he hadn't thought of that didn't require materials or skills he didn't have.

Albus buried his head in his hands. He couldn't do this. He had never been a leader, never been good under pressure. Scorpius would be much better off with Rose or somebody. Not stupid, useless Albus.

Stop, Albus ordered himself sternly. Stop that. It isn't helping. Rose isn't here. You are. Do something!

Wiping his eyes, Albus went downstairs and warmed some milk and honey on the stove. Realizing that he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten, he grabbed a couple of granola bars from the cupboard as well, thanking the powers that be for Scorpius's strange taste for Muggle snacks.

Swallowing the granola bars quickly, Albus sat cross-legged on Scorpius's bed and supported his head while slowly tilting the milk and honey to his dry, cracked lips. It was painstakingly slow work, but Albus finally got his friend to drink most of the liquid, massaging his throat to make his swallow. Albus had hoped that this might revive the unconscious boy, but he lay as still as ever, deathly pale and breathing shallowly. It made Albus's heart ache.

*****TWAMM*****

Albus had long since removed Scorpius's sweat-drenched shirt and trousers and he lay there in his boxers, a fresh pair that Albus had put on him after he had soiled his last ones. Scorpius's naked body looked like it was sculpted out of marble; breathtakingly perfect, even in his emaciated state. Albus had always secretly envied Scorpius's looks. He had envied nearly everything about Scorpius. His sleek, smooth, pale hair, his lithe, supple limbs, his ivory skin, his easy charisma, his natural charm, his confidence. Albus should have hated him for it, but he didn't. Just being around Scorpius made Albus feel better about himself.

Now, with Scorpius laid out before him, he couldn't help but admire the other boy's body. Not that they hadn't seen each other naked, they had, many times, but Albus had never really been able to look before.

Gently, Albus lifted his hands and touched them to Scorpius's chest. His skin was soft, like a baby's, and a soft down of white-blond hair was sprinkled over the skin of his chest. As Albus's hands trailed further down he found that he could feel each individual rib under Scorpius pale skin.

When his fingertips brushed the tops of Scorpius's hips he stopped, breath catching in his throat. What was he doing?

Albus pulled the blankets back over Scorpius, feeling unnerved. He wasn't sure why he was feeling that way, and that unnerved him even more.

Telling himself his was simply overtired, Albus lay down beside Scorpius, keeping the blankets firmly tucked between them.

*****TWAMM*****

The sun was bright in the sky the next time Albus woke. He knew before he even looked at Scorpius that nothing had changed. He still lay, perfect and still as a statue, in the same position Albus had laid him in the night before. With his pale skin, cracked and bloodied lips, and barely fluttering chest he already looked like a corpse.

Albus took Scorpius's temperature. His fever hadn't risen—for the first time in nearly two weeks—but it hadn't gone down either.

Albus summoned a bucket of cool water to him and picked up the cloth he had set on the bedside table. There was nothing else to do, no new tricks to try, Albus thought hopelessly as he bathed Scorpius with the cool water. The tears came and this time Albus did nothing to try and hold them back or even dash them away. What was the point? There was no one there to see.

*****TWAMM*****

The hours stretched on, the sun slowly traveled across the sky, reaching its zenith and then continuing on its way until it finally sunk beneath the horizon. And still Scorpius lay there, not moving, no sign that he was alive except for the whispers of breath which were barely strong enough to move his chest up and down.

"I'm f-frightened S-corpius," he said, though at this point he did not expect any answer from the blond. "I'm f-frightened and I d-don't know what t-to d-do. W-what—w-what will I d-do without you if...?

He couldn't finish the sentence; the thought was too terrible to voice, as if somehow saying it out loud would make it more likely to come true.

Albus lay his head down on Scorpius's thin chest, the awkwardness of the previous day forgotten. Scorpius's heartbeat pounded weakly in his ear. He inhaled. Beneath the reek of sweat and sickness, Scorpius's unique scent still lingered. If only he could keep it with him forever.

Albus lay there, his tears and sweat mingling with Scorpius sweat, until, drained, mentally, physically, and emotionally to the point of collapse, he fell asleep begging anyone who would listen to spare the life of the boy who, he was just beginning to realize, meant more to him than anyone else in the world.

AN: At this point a lot of reviewers were asking me to 'please make Scor better soon!' I promise I do, just...not quite yet...obviously. And I know this chapter seems really short, and it is kinda short 'cause they all are, but it seems shorter because there are more longer paragraphs so it takes up less space for more words, if that makes sense. Thanks for reading! And reviewing? ;)

-SQ