Disclaimer: Fanfiction, definition: Unofficial, unlicensed fictional stories about celebrities or fictional characters, written by fans. I think that really says it all. (Did I look that up on the internet just for this disclaimer? Yes, yes I did ;) )

Chapter Ten: Still Awful Weak

It was the middle of the day when Scorpius next woke. His head, while still heavy and achy, felt clearer. Weakly he sat up and started violently when he suddenly felt hands on his bare back.

"H-hey there," said Albus as Scorpius jumped. "I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't mean to st-tartle you. I b-brought you some c-clothes."

Albus handed him a shirt, trousers, and a new pair of boxers.

"Thanks," said Scorpius, taking the proffered items of clothing.

With shaking hands he pulled off his boxers and began slowly and painfully to dress himself. Albus, blushing furiously, forced himself to look at the floor instead of at the full glory of Scorpius in front of him. Not that he hadn't seen it before, but it was different now that—

"Albus Severus?"

Albus looked up; thankfully, Scorpius was clothed. "Y-yes? Wh-what is it? H-how are y-you f-feeling, Sc-cor?"

Scorpius gave a weak shrug. "Pretty shaky," he said hoarsely. "And my head hurts. My limbs feel like noodles."

"You s-sound pretty sh-shaky," said Albus. "And you're t-trembling." It was true. Scorpius's muscles, unused to activity after so many days of lying still, visibly shook.

Albus pressed his palm to Scorpius's forehead. "You're s-still running a t-temperature as w-well," He said.

"I figured as much," said Scorpius.

Albus resisted the urge to stroke his cheek and tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear, settling for resting a hand on Scorpius's trembling shoulder. "D-do you n-need anything? Y-you should eat. It'll h-help you g-get your st-trength back."

"I am a little hungry," said Scorpius. He coughed and Albus rubbed his back.

"Sc-cor? I'll g-get you some w-water, too, ok-kay?"

Scorpius nodded and opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was more coughing.

"Easy, Sc-cor, easy," said Albus. "C-come on, b-breathe." He conjured a glass of water and tipped it to Scorpius's lips. The blond drank gratefully.

"Thanks."

"You ok-kay now?" asked Albus, still rubbing Scorpius's back.

"Yeah." Scorpius gripped Albus's hand weakly in his own trembling fingers. "Can you get me something to eat? I'm feeling a little light-headed."

"Of c-course," said Albus. He squeezed Scorpius's fingers back and then gently released them. "I'll be b-back as s-soon as I c-can."

"Albus Severus," said Scorpius with a small smile, "I'm not going to die while you're getting me lunch."

"Scor, p-lease don't j-joke about th-that..."

"Shhh," said Scorpius. "Come here." Albus came and Scorpius gave him a brief, weak hug. "I'm okay, really."

"Scor, the l-last time you t-told me that..."

"I know, Albus Severus, I acted like a right prat. You know I didn't mean to scare you like that. But I swear I'll be fine now."

"You're n-not a p-prat, Scor."

"I'm a prat plenty and you know it, Albus Severus," said Scorpius. "But right now I'm hungry, so could you go me some food?"

Albus hugged him back tightly and nodded. "Anyth-thing in p-particular?"

"Something easy on the stomach."

Albus released his friend and stood up. "I'll b-be right b-back."

"Go."

*****TWAMM*****

It took only a few bites for Scorpius to feel full.

"Are you s-sure you d-don't want any m-more, Scor?" asked Albus, looking at the hardly touched bowl of oatmeal.

Scorpius shook his head. "Al, I don't think I could eat anymore. I don't think I should eat any more, I really don't feel so good..." He closed his eyes and bit his lip, swallowing hard.

"M-Merlin Scor, p-please don't th-throw-up. You've l-lost so much w-weight already."

Scorpius leaned his forehead against Albus's shoulder and took deep, steadying breaths as Albus stroked his hair and back. After a couple minutes he looked up again.

"I think I'm okay now," he said, wincing as he spoke.

"Oh S-Scor, your l-lips," said Albus, noticing that they were cracked and bloody. "Oh th-that must h-hurt."

"A bit," said Scorpius, trying to act nonchalant.

"A b-bit my ass," said Albus. "H-hold on a m-moment."

He got up and went across the hall to the medicine cabinet. After rifling through it for a minute he found a tub of medicated chap and burn gel, which he brought back to Scorpius.

"I th-think this m-might sting some S-Scor," said Albus. "P-please try to h-hold still."

Scorpius flinched as Albus gently rubbed some of the balm onto his cracked lips. Albus tried to control his breathing, which was threatening to go haywire as he softly rubbed his fingertips over Scorpius's lips.

"Th-there," he said when he was done, reluctantly pulling his hand away.

"I hate this," said Scorpius angrily. "I hate being so weak and helpless!" He pounded his fist on the comforter.

"I kn-now, Scor," said Albus. "I w-wish I could d-do something."

"It's not your fault, Albus Severus," said Scorpius. "You're wonderful. It's just so infuriating! I'm bored and I feel like shit." He leaned back against the headboard, breathing heavily.

Albus squeezed Scorpius's hand. "M-maybe if you r-rest now then y-you'll be up to g-getting up for a wh-while tomorrow m-morning. We could s-s-ti outside f-or a bit before it g-gets too h-hot."

Scorpius opened his eyes. "Really? I'm still awful weak..."

"I can h-help you," said Albus. "You n-need some s-sun, Scor. I c-can almost s-see through you."

Scorpius chuckled weakly. "I'd like that."

Albus stood. "I sh-should let you r-rest then."

"Where are you going?"

"I kn-now how you l-like your sp-pace..."

"If you leave you'll just drive yourself crazy with worrying," Scorpius pointed out.

Albus smiled and sat back down. "You kn-now me too w-well."

"We haven't been best friends for six years for nothing, Albus Severus," said Scorpius.

"S-Sleep, Scorpius," Albus commanded.

Scorpius shut his eyes. When Albus thought he had fallen asleep, he reached over and gently smoothed the other boy's hair out of his face.

Scorpius, still in the last stages of wakefulness, felt the touch. Normally he would have rejected the physical affection, which usually made him uncomfortable; it wasn't very prevalent in the Malfoy household. But for once, perhaps the because he had just spent a week unaware of any sensations at all, or maybe because he just felt so damn ill, he appreciated the feeling as he sunk into slumber.

AN: Remember, I always welcome your comments, whenever they come and whatever they say.

-SQ