Author's Note: Now you get to see Scorpius's reaction! Aren't you excited? ;) I don't really have much to say here, so—read on!

-SQ

Disclaimer: After thirteen chapters I still don't own Harry Potter or anything affiliated.

Chapter Thirteen: Why Did You Tell Me?

"Hun? Are you okay? I caught you before you could hit your head so I don't think you were hurt, just still not strong. I hope you're comfortable. I'm sorry for being so abrupt, really I am. I understand if you're angry."

Sensation came back back to Scorpius in bits and pieces. He could hear a voice. His limbs felt heavy; so did his eyelids. He was lying on something soft; his head was being supported by something. Someone was bathing his face with a cool cloth. The water smelled faintly of peppermint and something else. Albus. Scorpius blinked and moaned groggily.

"Scor honey?"

"Wha—what happened?"

"You fainted."

Albus's concerned face swam into view above him. Scorpius realized his head must be resting in Albus's lap.

"I caught you before you could fall far, though" Albus continued. "How do you feel, love?"

"Love?"

Albus blushed. "I'm sorry, Scor, I shouldn't call you that without your permission. I just—"

He tucked a stray lock of flaxen hair behind Scorpius's ear and bit his lip.

Scorpius's sat up with a groan. Albus must have carried him upstairs, because he was sitting on his own bed.

"So I didn't dream that?"

Albus shook his head mutely.

Scorpius rubbed his pounding temples. He had a monster headache.

Albus pressed a goblet into Scorpius's hands. "Headache potion," he said.

Scorpius accepted the goblet and drained it.

"You don't feel good, do you, Scor?" said Albus.

"Not really, no," said Scorpius.

"I'm sorry if I made it worse," said Albus.

Scorpius didn't say anything.

"You don't feel that way about me, do you?" said Albus.

"No."

"I figured."

"Then why did you even tell me?"

"I couldn't stand you not knowing," said Albus. "I've always been honest with you."

"You didn't tell me you were gay."

Albus nodded his head in acquiescence, even though Scorpius couldn't see. "I wasn't honest with you because I wasn't being honest with myself."

"I always figured you'd tell me when you were ready."

"You knew?"

"Yeah."

The two boys were silent for several minutes; Scorpius sitting with his head in his hands, Albus quietly watching him, heart full and aching.

"Do you want me to go?"

"Go where?" said Scorpius tiredly. "You can't Apparate and we have no Floo power. Besides, I'm still too fucking weak to take care of myself."

"I'll be here are long as you need me," said Albus.

"I don't want you to be my servant, Albus Severus," said Scorpius.

"What do you want?"

"I don't know," said Scorpius, knotting his fingers though his hair. "To be well! For my best friend not to be in love with me! I don't know!"

Albus gently pried Scorpius's fingers from his silky hair.

"Relax, Scor, please relax. You'll hurt yourself."

"Why did you have to tell me that?" said Scorpius, half angry, half pleading. "Why? Why couldn't we just stay friends?"

"We can, Scor, we—"

"No, Albus Severus, we can't!" said Scorpius. "Things will never be the same!"

Albus bowed his head. "I know. I'm sorry."

Scorpius lay down with his back to Albus. "I'm tired," he said. "I'm going to sleep."

"Goodnight, Scor," said Albus softly. "Pleasant dreams."

*****TWAMM*****

For once Albus didn't feel remotely sleepy. He sat by Scorpius, watching the gorgeous blond sleep. When he began to toss and turn Albus laid his hand on Scorpius's damp, feverish brow to quiet him.

When Scorpius slept he dreamed of Albus. Albus's calming presence, his soothing touch, his piercing eyes and laughing voice. He dreamed of all of the great times they'd had together over the years, and of how Albus had been changed by the events of the last two and a half weeks. How they had both been changed.

"Albus...Albus Severus..."

"I'm here, hun, I'm here."

Scorpius opened his eyes. "What?"

"You were saying my name in your sleep."

"Oh."

"How do you feel?"

"Crappy. What time is it?"

"Six am. You want some breakfast?"

"Yeah."

"Downstairs?"

Scorpius hesitated. Though he could now stand on his own he would still need Albus's help to get down the stairs, and that meant getting much closer to the other boy.

Albus seemed to read his thoughts. "I'm not going to try a move on you. I wouldn't do that."

Scorpius nodded. "Downstairs."

Scorpius stood and Albus put a supporting arm around his waist. Scorpius swallowed. Why couldn't he just enjoy the nearness of his friend without the knowledge that said friend was in love with him? Because he did enjoy it. Albus's arm was delightfully sure and firm, his muscular shoulders solid under Scorpius's own arm. He found himself regretting it when Albus let him go so he could sit down on the grass outside.

Scorpius shivered in the early morning chill and Albus immediately pulled off his own sweatshirt and handed it to him.

"Aren't you cold?" said Scorpius, offering the sweatshirt back to him.

Albus shrugged. "Keep it. I'm not the one with a fever."

Scorpius pulled it on, noticing that it smelled like Albus.

Albus went inside and came back out a few minutes later with two bowls of cereal and fruit and two steaming mugs of tea. He put their breakfasts on the ground and then knelt down beside Scorpius, pressing a hand to his forehead.

"I'd say it's the same as yesterday."

The boys' eyes met and they both drew in a sharp breath, momentarily transfixed. Albus looked away first, mumbling "Sorry". Scorpius turned to his bowl and picked up the spoon.

When they had both finished their breakfasts, eaten in tense, uncomfortable silence, and Albus was gathering the empty dishes and silverware, an owl came swooping out of the sky to land at his feet. He took the letter it bore and read the address on the front.

"It's from Rose."

Scorpius looked up with interest. "Open it."

Laying the dishes aside on the ground, Albus tore open the letter and Scorpius leaned over his shoulder to read it.

Albus and Scorpius,

Scorpius is ill? Ill enough to tell me not to worry? That automatically makes me worry. Are you sure you're okay? I can Apparate down there right now if you'd like. What do you have Scorpius? Do you know? Maybe I can help if you tell me the symptoms; sometimes seemingly innocent things can be very serious. Have you owled St. Mungo's? What about Aunt Audrey? She's a healer. You've checked in the Manor library for useful books, right? Send a reply right away.

Love, Rose

Both boys looked at each other and shook their heads. Rose, always recommending resources and offering information.

Albus took the breakfast dishes inside and returned with parchment and a pen.

"I could tell her to come down," said Albus. "Then it won't be just the two of us."

"Don't bother," said Scorpius, though the offer was tempting. "I don't need her fussing over me too."

"Okay," said Albus.

Rose,

We swear to you, Scorpius is fine now. Well, not completely fine, but he's getting better. There is absolutely no need for you to come down here. No, we don't know what the illness is; the symptoms seem to be weakness, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and a high fever. You don't have to tell us seemingly innocent things can turn deadly; we've seen. The worst is past though. Scorpius is doing much better, promise. No, we didn't contact St. Mungo's or Aunt Audrey, as we didn't have any owls or any Floo Powder, but Albus did look at some of the books in the library.

Again, we'll see you when you get back.

Love, Albus and Scorpius

Albus handed the letter to Scorpius to read over.

Scorpius nodded. "Looks good."

"Alright, alright!" said Albus to Liliba, Rose's owl, who had been pecking him incessantly as she awaited his reply. "Here it is! Go on, take it to her!"

He watched her fly away with the letter, shaking his head. "Obnoxious thing."

Scorpius laughed.

Albus sat back down beside him. "What now?"

Scorpius shrugged. "I'm thinking Quidditch is a bad idea," he said, attempting a joke.

"Definitely," said Albus vehemently. "That's half of what got us into this mess."

Scorpius leaned back until his head was resting against Albus's shoulder. Albus's heart skipped a beat, but he gently moved to put space between the two of them.

"Are you tired?"

"No," said Scorpius, feeling very awkward and slightly deflated. He couldn't wait until he was well enough for Albus to leave, and yet that thought filled him with sadness. "I think I'll get caught up on my summer homework..."

AN: That would be an uncomfortable situation, now wouldn't it?

If you're a fellow author you know how nice it is to get reviews, if you're not, just trust me, it's really nice :)

-SQ