Things Get Muddled

WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER: SOME BULLYING.

PLEASE ENJOY

DISCLAIMER: SCORPIUS MALFOY AND ALBUS POTTER STILL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF J.K ROWLING.

Scorpius Malfoy strolled slowly away from the Room of Requirement. He felt empty, his whole being wracked with guilt. He knew he owed Albus nothing. Not even an explanation; but the friendship they had somehow garnered made him slow his steps tenfold. He had no idea what Albus would be doing now, whether their friendship still stood was also a question he was too afraid to answer.

What normally would take him ten minutes, took him nearly an hour. By the time he reached the dungeons; it was long after curfew. Feeling martyred he couldn't bring himself to care. Luckily for him, he met no one.

Scorpius slipped into the common room, and surreptitiously looked around. It wasn't packed, but the dark haired boy he sought out was nowhere amongst the crowd. Not sure if this was a blessing or not, he remained rooted to the spot, staring into the flames, knowing without a doubt now, that Albus was in the dorms. His keen eyes quickly looked around the common room. It wasn't long before he recognized one of them, and then another not far from the first. That meant one thing. Albus was himself. If he wanted to avoid interrogation, and most likely a confrontation now would be the absolutely worst possible time for him to enter. Then why were his feet moving ever so slowly towards his rooms?

Scorpius couldn't bring himself to stop and it seemed like only seconds had passed that he was in front of his dorm, the door the only shield between himself and Albus.

He leaned his forehead against the cold wood, reveling in the cool feel on his flushed skin. Scorpius didn't know how long he stood there, only that the sound in the common room was slowly dwindling. He must have been there awhile.

Knowing he had very little time left, he finally plucked up the courage and gently urged the door open. It squeaked nonetheless, and Scorpius cursed Hogwarts for not being more knowledgeable in the how to's of oiling a bloody door.

Albus was sitting on his bed his back to the door. Scorpius eyed him fearfully, and watched as Albus' spine stiffened. Other than that, however, Albus showed no sign he heard someone enter the room. Scorpius hesitated and edged closer to Albus. The latter was holding a book, his grip so tight his knuckles had turned white. Doing a double take, Scorpius noticed the book was upside down, Albus wasn't even reading it.

An unknown feeling rushed through his gut as he eyed what he thought was his best mate. He was second-guessing himself now, as no best mate would ignore him, right? Wrong, it seemed.

He sat down next to Albus and reached out to touch his shoulder, something, that in the past, would have garnered no reaction. Now, however, Albus flinched, and in an unrecognizable voice said, "Don't touch me."

Scorpius felt his heart drop, an immeasurable amount of pain filled him, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. Albus had never spoken to him like that, much less, in that tone of voice, as if he was the scum of earth. Maybe he was. Humiliated, he let his hand drop and moved further away from Albus.

"Err.." he muttered, wondering how he could explain the situation. He came up blank. Either way, it would point him out to be gay. Not that it was a bad thing…or so he had thought…Turns out, he was wrong, as usual..If Albus couldn't accept him..

"Albus!" he tried in a choked voice. He kept his hands to himself this time, but he was feeling out of place. He knew how to touch, and explain, the concept of explaining with just his words was foreign to him. Albus, stubbornly ignored him, redoubling his grip on the book.

"Please, Albus?" he begged, his normally proud and tall gait, slumping over in defeat.

Finally, Albus turned to him, but his sparkling green eyes were void of emotion and his posture stiff. His voice when he spoke, matched his eyes, cold and icy, with a touch of hatred and contempt.

"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" he asked Scorpius, completely serious. Scorpius faltered and edged back, away from Albus' bed, away from the chill filled eyes that were boring unwelcome holes into his soul.

"A-are you …have you gone m-mad?" he stuttered out uncertainly. Albus laughed humorlessly, a harsh sound that made Scorpius' eyes begin to water.

"Mad you ask?" Albus replied, standing up off the bed, and letting the book fall down on the coverlet, forgotten. Like a predator, he moved towards Scorpius, who in turn backed away, even more hesitant then before. He didn't know what had gotten into Albus..but this was crazy.

It was inevitable. The wall that hit his back felt like a death sentence. Panicking, he looked back into Albus' eyes, to see if any of the usual warmth was back in those beautiful green eyes. It wasn't. If anything, the menace he saw in the eyes terrified him even more than he would ever allow himself to feel.

They were less than a foot apart now. Scorpius had dreamt countless times about such a position between Albus and himself, but somehow, this was different, and not in a good way. Here, he was the prey, and Albus the predator. Here Albus wanted to hurt him, he was certain of it, but he couldn't move. He felt like a coward, but he felt something for Albus, and with that small something, he still trusted that Albus wouldn't harm him.

All it took was a second, and Scorpius wasn't ready.

Albus launched at Scorpius, wrapping a strong hand around his neck. Scorpius felt his eyes widen, and then he closed them, gasping for breath.

"Al." he tried to pant, but Albus increased his hold on him, and Scorpius started struggling. Feeling like a wounded dog, he let his feeling show in his eyes, hurt, humiliation, and betrayal. But Albus didn't even look at him. He looked above him. His features were…bored.

When Albus spoke then, Scorpius suddenly wished on all the gods to make him deaf, because what Albus said hurt more than he could handle.

"I don't associate with gay fags." Was what he said; and with that last message to Scorpius, he let go of his neck and gripped his arm dragging him out of the dormitories. Fear laced Scorpius' heart, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get out of Albus' grip. Silent tears streamed down his eyes, whether it was fear, or Albus' betrayal he didn't know, but he didn't try to stop it, he hoped that maybe, Albus had some shred of humanity in him, and would stop with this strange and harsh treatment of him.

As Albus reached the common room door, he motioned to someone to follow him. And then something clicked in his muddled brain. Him and Albus were both prefects. Albus wouldn't hurt him. He couldn't, he would lose his prefects badge. Feeling a little batter, he sagged in relief. "Get up, ponce." Albus ordered, no hint of recognition or familiarity in his voice. He didn't want to comply. He felt that would be giving himself in, agreeing that he was a ponce, and a fag, and gay…even though, in a small part of his brain, he knew he was.

A hard jab to his ribs made him jump up though, and then he was back where he started.

They were in a dark lonely corridor somewhere in the dungeons. Scorpius refused to open his eyes. Stumbling along, he followed Albus like an obedient dog, and hoped for the best. But from the whispers and snickers he heard from the two other boys that had followed them, he knew he was kidding himself.

Finally, all movement stilled, Albus released his grip on Scorpius' arm, and threw him away from him, discarded him, and with a hard thump, Scorpius fell to the floor, bruising his elbow and hand as he tried to stop his fall. It was futile of course, and clinging to his elbow, he slowly opened his eyes and looked only at Albus. This had to be a nightmare. He had never thought Albus to be so homophobic. To throw their friendship like it was worth shit…

A lone tear slipped down his cheek, and he angrily swatted it away, this was no time for cowardice and tears. He needed to man up, and try to defend himself. Defiant, he looked into Albus' eyes once more, before standing up off the floor. And for a second, he saw something shift in Albus' eyes, he tried to grip on that, and he reached his hand out, but then the look was gone, and he dropped his hand in defeat.

"I get first hit," said Albus, whilst rolling up his sleeves, and looking hungrily at the horror in Scorpius' eyes.

The wall got to him again, as the corridor had no way to run, except at violence itself.

There was a distance between Scorpius, Albus and the other boys now, as they waited for the order, and stayed where they were, as Albus closed in with his fist raised.

"Please." Scorpius begged, lifting his hands protectively in front of him. "Please Albus," he murmured in a strangled tone, his voice raw with emotion.

But, Albus, it seemed, only saw red. And then fist met nose, and Scorpius gasped, falling to his knees, holding his nose in pain.

In a muddled part of his brain, he heard Albus chuckle, and say "Get at 'im boys…we don't allow fags at this school."

Line Break (if anyone knows how to make them, please tell me in a review, I'd appreciate it)

Albus stood on the side, observing while the other boys threw punches to Scorpius' midsection, ribs, and face. Why no magic was used, he didn't know, but watching Scorpius bleed, and hurt made him feel better. Scorpius being gay, came to him as a huge shock, he didn't know why he didn't see it before, nor why Scorpius felt he had to hide this fact from him. Now, they definitely weren't friends anymore, and a small part of him felt the loss. Angrily, he moved toward Scorpius who lay at his feet curled into a ball, whimpering like a small child.

Something stirred within him, but he quickly shoved it aside, and to prove he didn't care, kicked Scorpius in the ribs. The tears started a fresh on Scorpius' face, and again he felt a stirring in his heart. He didn't know why he kept hurting Scorpius, but he couldn't stop. He kicked him again in his crotch, and yelled angrily at Scorpius "Fight back you coward!" But it seemed Scorpius had had enough. With one last whimper, Scorpius fell silent, unconsciousness finally hitting him, protecting him from the pain his body was trying to heal.

Albus took this as his signal to leave. He motioned for the others to head out of the corridor, leaving Scorpius lying there, his hands still laying at his crotch, and ribs even as they slowly fell to the side, his lifeless state, unable to clutch at his pain anymore.

The last thing Albus saw as he gave one more glance at his once best friend, were the tears not yet dry on the other boys face. And again, that unfamiliar stirring in his chest as he forced himself to look away, and follow behind his mates back to the common room.

Line Break

Spike stayed in the Room of Requirement far longer than he expected. He felt worn out, and he felt good. He had never expected Malfoy to come through, and what's more, he hadn't expected Scorpius to have the upper hand. He shrugged. He got what he wanted, and it felt great.

Getting off the bed, he thought silently about cleaning himself, and a bathroom appeared in the room, he thanked the room silently, not knowing whether the room had feelings or not.

Slowly, he sat down into the deep bathtub and turned on a couple of tabs, filling the bathtub with water and bubbles.

Spike didn't know how long he lay there, submerged in the warm bath water, only that after the water grew cold, he felt a lot more relaxed and clean.

Toweling himself off, he put on his clothes and made his way down to the dungeons. He kept his wand off, and watched out for creaking stairs.

Teachers, Head Boys and Girls, even Prefects, all had duties to fulfill checking the school corridors for stragglers like himself, but somehow, he never managed to bump into any. Not that he tried very hard.

He was already in the dungeons when he heard it. A small, whimpering sound. For a second, he was certain that he was imagining things. It was very late after all. He continued on his way, making only about three steps before hearing the sound again. It sounded like a frail small child that was hurt and calling to its mother.

This time he stopped. Looking around, he couldn't see any possible places where a small child could fit, or even any corridors a crying thing might stay. This almost had him walking again. When a moan followed the whimper, he finally decided to act.

"Lumos" his wand lit with light, and he was able to see a small corridor that had no other side to it. Slowly he made his way inside, wary of any possible people with him in the vicinity. There weren't.

All the way at the end, there was a sight, he never thought he'd see in his life. Scorpius Malfoy, unconscious, dried blood caking his face, and parts of his body angled in funny directions. This couldn't be good.

He put his ear to Malfoy's chest, and a finger to his pulse point, and was relieved to feel the fluttering of the other boys heart, albeit weak.

Spike wasn't sure what made him do it, only that his hand moved of its own accord.

His hand was warm on Malfoy's cheek, and his thumb making circles on the bone, but still, there was no movement from the other boy.

His heart went out to Malfoy, who had only hours prior been happily providing services to him without a care in the world. What could have possibly caused this to happen…This only should've happened if he was cruel enough to follow through with his blackmail material, tell the school he was gay…but he hadn't, and looking at Scorpius now, he knew he never would. There was innocence about the boy that had his heart melting.

Quietly, and efficiently, he flicked his wrist, muttering "Wingardium Leviosa" and Scorpius was trailing, feet off the ground up, and away from the dungeons.

"Don't worry," Spike murmured to Scorpius, "I have you, I'll take care of you…" He felt girly saying it, but he felt a connection he couldn't explain to Scorpius, and he could never leave him there, in pain, until someone else may come across him.

Line Break

Albus had worried all fingernails, and still, Scorpius hadn't come back to the dorms. He was worried, and he felt gross admitting it, but he had gone too far. He had hurt his best friend. Because he was gay. He felt so wrong, and useless he almost cried. But pulling himself together, he knew that either Scorpius was still lying comatose in the small corridor, or he was walking around the castle with brain damage..He doubted the latter was true.

He jumped out of his four-poster, and opened his trunk, grabbing the Marauders Map and scrambled down to the Common Room where all was quiet and he'd have privacy.

"I solemnly swear, that I am up to no good." Hogwarts formed before him, and his eyes immediately drifted to the spot where he left Scorpius. Finding it void of anyone he panicked, and quickly roved his eyes around the map looking for his….he gulped at the thought friend, and this time, a tear fell from his face, falling onto the map. He growled in frustration at the ruined map, but the tear dissolved immediately, and it was then he noticed where Scorpius was. He hadn't noticed originally, because Scorpius' name was atop another's, or almost anyway, almost like Scorpius was trailing in front of him, with this other following him.

He read the name, "Spike Shadow," and found himself growling. He watched with growing anger, as the pair crept up another staircase, and he then realized where they were heading.

The boys were nearing "The Hospital Wing" and when they were right around the bend, Albus threw himself into action. He launched himself off the comfortable couch, and ran back to the Dorms. Once again, his hand went into his trunk, and he sifted around the darkness for the feel of his invisibility cloak.

The slippery fabric finally found his hand, and he grabbed it out of the trunk, looking around his dorm to make sure none was the wiser. Quickly, he donned the rare item, and with his map in one hand, and his wand in the other, he was ready to go.

Albus didn't think he had ever run faster in his life, and within minutes, he was at the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey joining the two boys on the map. The door had remained open, and Albus used this opportunity to slip inside, remaining elusive.

"…all beaten up, and I didn't know what else to do besides bring him here." The Shadow boy spoke quietly to Madam Pomfrey.

"And you don't know who created these injuries?" Pomfrey asked scribbling something down with her quill.

Albus felt his heart stop, feeling fear for the first time that night. He could get suspended, or expelled, or …he didn't know what, but he hoped…

"No, Ma'am, I do not." Shadow boy spoke softly, looking over at Scorpius with sad eyes.

Albus forced himself to look at the damage that he had caused. Scorpius' eyes were black, his lip split in two places, his leg out of place, and the way Scorpius was subconsciously holding his ribs, a rib or two broken. Must've been the kicks the others had administered. He exhaled a sharp breath. This was bad, very bad.

"You can go to bed now," Madam Pomfrey spoke in a low tone, scribbling something else, and handing it to Shadow boy. "This should keep you out of trouble if you are caught..Thank you for bringing him in."

Shadow boy nodded, and left the room with one last glance at Scorpius. Albus glared at the affection that had appeared on the other boys face and edged closer to Scorpius as if claiming him. When he realized what he was doing, he moved away again, feeling even more uncertain.

He had to do something, and he had to do it fast. But what it was, he didn't know.

Line Break

A/N:

HEY GUYS! I KNOW I KNOW, I SHAME, I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A MONTH, AND I REALIZE NOW, I DON'T WANT THIS BECOMING A HABIT, I LOVE WRITING, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING AS AN EVERYDAY THING, VERSUS, ONCE A WEEK HERE AND THERE..

SO, YE, YOU GUYS WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT, WERE YOU? I KNOW I WASN'T…BUT AS ALL YOU WRITERS KNOW, YOU DON'T STOP YOUR FINGERS ONCE THEY START WRITING, YOU JUST WRITE, ASK QUESTIONS LATER, AND THIS IS THE RESULT…I'VE NEVER WRITTEN BULLYING BEFORE, AND THUS HAVE ONLY THE EXPERIENCE OF MOVIES AND OTHER FICS. HOPEFULLY, I MADE YOU PROUD ENOUGH TO REVIEW, AS I REALLY DID WORK HARD TO BRING YOU THIS CHAPTER TODAY. EVEN THOUGH I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH, HAVE A COLD, AND COUGH EVERY OTHER SECOND….BUT I LOVE MY FANS, AND I LOVE WRITING, SO I PUSHED MYSELF

NOW, I HAVE TO THINGS TO SAY, NUMBER ONE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD READ "The Meddlesome Nuisance's of Hogwarts" I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT, ONLY THAT I'VE BEEN MORE INTO SLASH, THEN A REGUALR STRAIGHT STORY, SAYING AS SOME OF YOU DO IN FACT NOT LIKE SLASH, (OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT READING THIS, BUT HEY WHATEVER) I WILL TRY AND UPDATE THAT ONCE A MONTH, AND THIS STORY AT LEAST ONCE EVERY WEEK. NO GUARANTEES THOUGH, I WILL TRY MY BEST.

NUMBER TWO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T ONLY READ IN THE HARRY POTTER FANDOM, AND HAVE HEARD OF MERLIN, (AND DON'T READ MY PROFILE, SO DON'T KNOW OF MY NEW OBSESSION) I INTENED TO WRITE A MERLIN SLASH STORY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE FANS OF MERLIN, BUT KNOW THAT ITS WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT IF YOU HAVE THE TIME. IF YOU WANT A BASIC LOOK, YOU CAN WATCH THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF MERLIN ON HULU (DOT) COM BUT THAT'S WHAT GOT ME OBSESSED, THE BOYS ARE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUSS…..

ANYWAY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE, (EVEN IF YOU HADN'T) HEARD OF MERLIN, I PUT A POLL ON MY PROFILE FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE ON THE KIND OF MERLIN STORY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN READING.

I KNOW I GET AT LEAST 100 HITS A DAY WHEN I POST A NEW CHAPTER, SO TWO THINGS.

PLEASE REVIEW, I DON'T LIKE BEGGING, BUT I DO WORK HARD, AND I WOULD LOVE FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS ON HOW YOU LIKED OR DISLIKED THE CHAPTER, OR EVEN A SMALL PART. NOW, FROM A DIFFERENT AUTHOR, I GOT THIS IDEA, SHE / HE WAS DESPARATE FOR REVIEWS, AND STARTED THIS THING WHERE YOU ONLY HAD TO SAY BLERGH OR SOMETHING, TO SAY YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER…DON'T ASK, I THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT, LOL BUT I DON'T EVEN ASK YOU GUYS TO LOGIN- YOU CAN SEND ANNONOYMOUS REVIEWS, SO WHY DON'T YOU?

PLEASE GO VOTE FOR THE MERLIN STORY I WANT TO BEGIN WRITING IT, BUT WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT..

NOW, ENOUGH OF MY RAMBLINGS, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY HOPE TO SEE YOU IN A WEEK…(LESS IF I GET ENOUGH REVIEWS…

NEXT CHAPTER: ALBUS IS TORN TO TWO DIFFERENT SIDES, WHEN THINGS START TO GET OUT OF HAND.