CHAPTER FOUR: TUMBLING
Struggling against the pressing blackness, Al opened his eyes- then promptly shut them again. Why on Earth was it so bright?
"Albus?"
Someone was calling him; the voice was vaguely familiar. The school nurse? Deciding to brave the sunlight, Al slowly opened his eyes again. He was right- the nurse, Madam Hopford, was leaning over his bed worriedly. But why the hell was he in the hospital wing?
If he thought hard enough, he could vaguely remember being outside with Scorpius. What had happened? Think, Al, think! There was a girl, wasn't there? And... a spell. Yes, a girl had hexed them, hadn't she?
Belatedly, Al looked around for his best friend. Spotting the blonde head on the bed pressed against his and judging that the Malfoy looked rather healthy for someone in the medical wing, he turned his attention to the hovering nurse. "What-" his voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "What happened?"
"You were hexed. How are you feeling?"
"But what did the hex do? Is Scorpius okay?"
She felt his forehead. "No fever..."
"Madam Hopford?"
"Yes, Albus?"
"Would you mind explaining to me what the hell is going on?" The older woman pursed her lips as if debating whether she should tell him or not. Giving into her internal battle after a few moments, she nodded once. "I'll be right back."
Sighing despondently, Al figured he could look around for some clues. There were a few potions on a nearby tray- maybe they could explain what had happened. It wasn't until he moved to stand up that he realized his hand was occupied.
And the thing occupying his hand? Scorpius'.
Did I grab it in my sleep? he wondered. Is that why Madam Hopford was acting so odd? Embarrassed, he unlaced his fingers before his friend could wake up. He went to stand up again-
But he couldn't let go.
"Mr. Potter?"
At the sound of his name, the green-eyed boy turned. "Professor, what's going on? I..." he gestured to his hand still resting on the blonde's. "I can't let go."
"I'm afraid no one is really sure what exactly occurred," the headmistress began. "What we do know is that the hex did not go as planned." Al opened his mouth to interrupt, but she ignored him. "It was aimed at Mr. Malfoy, for starters. It was meant to keep him away from you. Had it gone correctly, he physically wouldn't be able to be near you."
"Then why-?"
"Since the spell didn't get pronounced right, it didn't work." she eyed the boys' hands resting on the crack between their beds. "You grabbed onto Mr. Malfoy when the messed up hex hit, causing the opposite effect."
Sensing the Slytherin's confusion, the headmistress elaborated. "You physically cannot move away from each other- the backfired hex has made it so that you have to remain in constant skin-on-skin contact."
Albus was silent for a moment. He glanced at the still sleeping blonde, dreading how he would react when he found out. Absently, he noticed how warm and soft the other boy's hand felt in his.
Remaining in contact couldn't be that bad, right? He doubted his ability to control his feelings while constantly touching Scor though… And he always got so uncomfortable when Al was near him!
…I'm so screwed.
[-]
Anxiously, Al watched as his best friend woke up. Several expressions flitted across the blonde's face before settling on confusion.
"Al...?"
As he explained their situation, he could tell Scor was getting more and more pissed off. By the end, the Malfoy was positively glowering at the wall across from him.
"Please tell me those girls got thrown out."
Al winced. Of course Scor would ask that first. "Well, the one that hexed us - August something - got expelled. But the other girl only got suspended..."
The taller boy was practically radiating fury. "Are you telling me that that bitch is allowed back here?"
Al tried not to think about how hot the blonde looked when he was angry- but that didn't last long. The cold fire in his friend's eyes was far too intoxicating... Scorpius stood abruptly, pulling Al off the bed unceremoniously. Pausing, the blonde frowned at their still clasped hands and gave a little huff of annoyance. Trying to calm the other boy a little, Al squeezed his hand slightly in reassurance.
But then Scor donned that uncomfortable look again - the one he always got when Al stood too close - and the Potter regretted it immediately.
Al looked away, ashamed. Why was he always so damn stupid around Scorpius? Hormones got in the way and he acted on instinct... If he wasn't careful, he'd drive away his best friend with his awkward, poorly hidden feelings!
Coughing awkwardly, Al decided to explain the rest of their situation to his friend.
"The headmistress set up a set of teachers' rooms for us, where we can be in contact easily..."
Scor nodded stiffly and Al's heart plummeted. Was it really that bad having to touch him?
"How are we supposed to... shower and stuff?"
Al's face heated up. "I... I don't know."
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few moments, attached by their hands, until Professor Longbottom walked in. Despite his predicament, Al beamed genuinely at the long-time Potter family friend. Neville smiled at the boys kindly, and led them to their new room. When they arrived, he told them the password to get in and left them alone again.
"Hungarian Horntail."
The door swung open, revealing a rather large, lavishly furnished living area. Upon further inspection, they found that their trunks had been packed up and placed in the bedroom- right in front of the bed.
The large, green, King-sized bed. That they had to share.
Sleeping in the same bed as your crush... What's the worst that could happen?
[-]
Oh, dear Merlin. He had to pee. But how the bloody hell was he supposed to do that while attached to Scorpius freaking Malfoy?
"Scor?"
The boy sitting next to him on the couch looked up from his Potions textbook. "Yeah?"
"I have to pee."
"Then go."
Al shot the blonde an incredulous look. "Have you already forgotten that we're kind of attached here?"
Scorpius rolled his eyes. "It's not like we've tried to test this connection yet; this is the perfect opportunity."
"I guess." Slowly, he moved his fingers, attempting to remove his hand from Scorpius' grasp. It was clear his body didn't want him to let go, but with a herculean effort, he managed to free his hand. Grinning triumphantly, he ran to the bathroom before the hex could pull him in again. The second he reached the wash room, he felt a tugging sensation. Brushing it off as a blooming headache, he did his business and washed his hands. Suddenly bracing his hands on either side of the sink, he stared into the mirror as a wave of pain swept through him. What was going on? The tugging feeling was only getting stronger, bringing the pain with it.
Before evening deciding to, he threw open the door, needing Scorpius- to touch Scorpius. The taller boy was standing outside the bathroom, clutching his sides in pain.
"Al, what-?"
Fuck being careful around Scor- Al reached out for his face roughly. Immediately, the pain ceased. Panting heavily, the two boys stared at each other, emerald eyes meeting silver.
Some experiment.
[-]
Night fell quickly. The two Slytherins, hands clasped again, set off for bed. They showered and brushed their teeth quickly, trying to avoid the agony of separation for too long.
Turning to face the wall, Al hurriedly got dressed in his pajamas. Already, he yearned for Scorpius' touch. A part of him wondered if his own feelings intensified the pain of not touching the other boy. Sighing dejectedly and deciding not to dwell on it, he climbed into bed.
Blushing fiercely, Al realized that Scor hadn't gotten into bed yet for a reason- he was still changing. The shorter of the two knew he should look away, but he couldn't. As he watched, the blonde pulled on a t-shirt, hiding his delicious back muscles from view. What Al wouldn't give to see more...
He averted his eyes quickly when Scorpius turned around and slid into the sheets. Wordlessly, their hands met under the blankets, both boys emitting soft sighs as the pain went away.
Al scooted a little closer to Scor, trying to get comfortable with his arm stretched across the bed. Again, his thoughts drifted to the soft hand in his. Was Scor's skin that smooth all over? The blonde yawned, pulling Al out of his musings. Now is not the time to get hot and bothered over your best friend, he mentally chided himself.
"Night, Scor."
"Night, Al."
Several hours later, the raven haired boy was finally drifting off. His subconscious, craving more of Scorpius' skin, had him moving closer in his sleep. His arms found their way around the other boy's middle, resting gently across the skin exposed there.
Snoring quietly, Al dreamed of doing the same thing, but he imagined both parties very much aware of it. There was quite a bit more kissing, too...
Al nuzzled into Scor's neck, a smile gracing his face. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wished with all his heart that, just like in his dream, Scor would wrap his arms around him too and kiss him until he forgot all his worries... But no. He just slept on, dreaming of stolen kisses and touches he knew would never really happen.