AlbusScorpius

On Your Side

Chapter Twenty: Don't let go

A/N: This is a formal apology to all of those who complained about how mean I was to Scorpius. At least, it would be, if I felt guilty. Instead I just feel incredibly pleased with myself. Ohh, I'm such a nice person.

Working with Draco Malfoy was certainly an interesting experience, if that was the right word to use. He wasn't a patient man, nor was he particularly sensitive to crying children. Albus was beginning to wonder where Scorpius got his patience from, with this man as his role model. But thinking of Scorpius just made his heart ache, so Albus was trying to avoid it. It was definitely hard considering he was working with the man's father. He was going to hit something if he didn't stop barking orders left right and centre. It was incredibly frustrating.

Albus sighed as he heard the man snap something, ignoring the blond in favour of helping the Hufflepuff girl to her feet. "You okay to walk?" he asked, checking her leg. The girl nodded her head silently, tears still glossing her eyes and cheeks. "Can you get back to the Headmistresses office?"

"Do you really have to ask that question to every person you help?"

He felt a vein pop in his head, forcing a smile. She nodded however, and Albus wasn't exactly in a position where he could walk her back, so he didn't question it. He simply let her go, watching as she hobbled along with help from the walls. He turned to look at his companion, who was giving him a calculating look.

"Shall we continue?" Albus asked, resisting the urge to snap at him.

"Yes," Draco turned swiftly and continued down the hall. "I believe we still have your classmates to help."

It was like everything he said had to be said with a layer of sarcasm.

The two continued on for a while in mostly silence, stopping only for the injured to help them up. Albus was beginning to wonder if he'd ever been in such an awkward silence, but then when Draco finally did begin speaking in a conversationally way, he decided that the silence was definitely less awkward than forced conversation.

"So, you're a sixth year. That makes you, what? Sixteen?"

"Seventeen, sir," Albus grimaced at the look he was given. "Mr Malfoy."

"Of course," there was that sarcasm again. "Seventeen. And you hope to be an Auror?"

"I do. Very much so."

"My son was even giving you extra lessons in Transfigurations. What about you're other subjects? I assume you're managing to pass those without extra help."

He felt like he was being cross examined by some interrogator. "I am. Transfiguration is the only subject I need help with. The other ones are fine."

Draco nodded to show he approved of that at least. "I suppose we all have something we're bad at."

"What was Scorpius bad at?"

The question tumbled from his lips before he had a chance to stop it. He tried not to look too embarrassed as Draco turned and raised his brow. "I-I was just-!"

"Defence against the Dark Arts, unfortunately. It's probably a good thing he didn't come here today."

Albus had to say, he was surprised that he was answered at all. He couldn't stop the fond smile that was beginning to crack on his face. "Probably."

"Now that we've got that little introductory conversation out of the way," Draco gave him a look that made Albus think he was going to be asked about the weather. "When the Headmistress caught you did he have his cock up your arse or the other way round?"

The sound of complete horror that escaped Albus' lips was indescribable as his head began thumping with all the blood that had rushed there. "What?"

A slightly evil chuckle bubbled in Draco's stomach, eyes turning back to the direction they were walking with a smug glint in them. "Hopefully that'll teach you to call me sir."

Albus thought he might faint.

"If you're quite done being a blushing virgin, I believed I asked you a question."

"You-you expect me to answer that?"

"So you were having sex?"

The younger male spluttered. "What? That's not what I-we weren't-that's not-!"

"Calm down, child. As amusing as watching you flail like a drowning cat, I was more looking for the answer of 'yes, I am seeing your son' or 'no, I don't believe I know what you're talking about'. Though I already know the answer, so it's pointless to lie," he scoffed. "Especially after that embarrassment on your part."

"I-it's complicated."

Draco gave him a look. "Wrong answer."

Albus bit his lip, trying to figure out how to say 'no, because I broke up with your son'.

"Aha," apparently he didn't need to. "You had a falling out?"

He nodded.

"Well, that changes things," Draco sniffed. "I'll just have to kill you. There's nobody about, after all. Except vengeful Death Eaters who actually do want your blood."

"Tha-that's a joke, right?"

"Yes, it's a joke."

"Right," Albus' head actually was spinning now, white as a sheet. For a moment he'd actually believed the older man. He'd certainly looked serious enough.

"It changes nothing."

"That wasn't the joke bit, was it?"

"I'm not going to kill you," Draco snapped. "You're under my watch; your father would have your head. Or that little Weasley girl he married."

"You mean my mum?"

"Yes. I do. Now, how serious was this falling out?"

Albus shrugged. "Pretty serious. He didn't tell me what was going on. I-I thought when the Headmistress came in she was busting us for the whole student teacher relationship thing," there were no words to describe how weird this whole situation was. "Not this-whatever he's done."

"My son is a prat."

"Excuse me?"

"My son is a prat," Draco gave him another look. "Don't tell me you disagree."

The dark haired boy shrugged again.

"Exactly. He's always been far too proud to admit to certain things, or ask for help. He's also always been far too soft to get other people involved."

"What he was planning on doing though, what he has done. This is getting people involved."

"I imagine that the intention was to have some control over whatever it is he has done. That way no harm is done to the people involved, and his grandfather is happy," Draco's eyes darkened. "Who I also need to find."

"You have a lot of people you need to find."

"Thank you for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed."

Albus wasn't sure if he was supposed to say 'you're welcome' or not. He glared at the back of the blond head instead.

The man let out a wistful sigh. "At least I never wanted grandchildren."

It was followed by the evil chuckle as Albus felt his face beginning to heat up again, cursing below his breath and glaring at the ground. At least one of them was finding this situation amusing.

All amusement was cut short when a stag appeared in front of them, updates from his father no doubt. The two stopped, listening carefully as Harry Potter's voice poured forth.

"James has found the place where the fire originated. He and Scorpius are there trying to stop it. We're following them. I thought you might want your son, Malfoy," the voice sounded about as fed up as Albus was as it addressed Draco. "Albus, if you're confident enough, continue what you're doing. Otherwise, head back to the Headmistress' office. They could always use an extra hand."

As the stag listed off where they were and vanished, Draco turned to Albus, a strange look on his face. "If it's so complicated, I assume you're going to be doing what your father asked."

"What do you mean?"

"Why would you come with me if you had a falling out with Scorpius, right?" Draco began to stride in the direction where he was told his son was. "No point in me checking what you decide to do."

Albus was about to ask for the man to clarify, until he realised why he was being so strange. He was turning a blind eye if Albus was to follow him. Glancing about, Albus took after Draco, making sure to remain a good few meters behind him, entirely unsure about what the older man would say if he got too close. He wasn't quite sure what to expect with the elder Malfoy. He wasn't as plain and predictable as Albus thought he would've been.

He had no idea where they were going as they headed down the hallways, following blindly, surprised that they didn't run in to anyone. He assumed, seeing as the fire was getting thicker, most people had evacuated this area of the school. He felt his heart skip in his chest as they headed towards an open door, speeding up as they did so, the images and scenery around him beginning to blur. He could barely recognise where they were, he wasn't even sure if he had been here before. But that didn't matter.

What mattered was that Draco was heading into the room that was open, soaking himself head to toe before walking through a wall of fire and disappearing into the darkness. Albus paused, staring for a few moments, before casting the same spell on himself, making sure he was thoroughly wet before darting through the fire much faster than Draco had done, far too scared about burning himself. He stumbled into the darkness without thought, yelping as the ground disappeared and his hands flailed about as he began falling, grasping on to a metal object.

A ladder.

Albus grasped onto the rungs, grimacing as he smacked against the ladder, before getting his balance with his feet, feeling slightly breathless. He glanced down, seeing the ground below. He climbed down, slightly shaken from the fall, pleased when his feet found the ground again.

"Did you actually just fall?"

He flustered as he turned to see Draco standing there, wand out with lumos charm on. He nodded slowly.

Draco scoffed and started off down the corridor again, Albus stumbling slightly as he followed. He wasn't sure how long they were walking down the dark corridor before they saw other people. Albus sped up slightly, trying to look round Draco. From the way the older man sagged ever so slightly he could guess that it wasn't Scorpius standing there.

"Malfoy," Albus recognised the voice as his father's. "You got the message."

"I'm not here to chit chat, Potter, where's my son?"

Albus glanced round the blond man, seeing his father gritting his teeth. "Most likely further down this passage, there's-!"

A loud shriek filled the corridor, making Albus jump out of his skin.

"Something down there- have you brought my son?"

Draco turned round and looked over Albus once, disinterest painted on his face. "Oh look, it's your son. He must've followed me. Seeing as, you know, you sent him with me and then sent a message telling me where to go."

"Malfoy-!"

Albus wasn't paying attention to them anymore, as another shriek ripped through the air. He lunged forward, aiming to get past the group of adults, though bony fingers wrapped round his arms and pulled him to a halt.

"Calm down, you fool. You're going to get yourself killed."

"Scorpius-!"

"Has made his decision. No point in rushing in blindly."

Albus looked up to where his father was, giving him and Draco suspicious looks, though more to the older man than himself. The Head Auror turned to the two men he'd brought with him, quickly giving them a couple of orders before sending them ahead and turning back to Draco and Albus.

"We don't know what's down there exactly. We know what your son planted, but his notes eluded that it required something extra that he wasn't providing. Like, a sacrifice or something."

It was Draco who was off like a bullet this time, for once not striding with all the power and grace of an aristocrat, but running as fast as he could down the hallway.

Father and son exchanged a look before they both followed, attempting to keep up with the blond man.

As soon as Albus entered the room, the first thing he wanted to do was leave. There was an overwhelming smell coming from it, as well as a heat that was making him sweat from every pore on his body. But nothing could describe the thing he was looking at. That might've been because he didn't take it in. Something else had his attention. Something far worse.

"Scorpius!" he shouted, rushing over to where his brother was sat with Scorpius' head in his lap, blood rapidly pooling around Scorpius' stomach, his robes becoming darker and darker. "Fuck, Professor Malfoy!"

"He's passed out, Al," James croaked, holding a shield charm up around them.

Albus turned his green eyes to his brother, who looked kind of blurry. "What happened?"

"The-the thing, it went right through him," James looked like he was physically in pain from the memory, eyes not leaving the thing in the centre of the room.

The younger brother didn't even want to think about what was in the centre of the room. "Merlin, Scor, please be okay!"

"Albus, you have to get him out of here."

The two Potter boys looked up to see their father crouching by them, neither really daring to let go of the blond.

"You need to take him to the headmistress' office as quickly as possible."

He didn't want to argue. He just nodded dumbly, pulling out his wand, and trying to remember the levitation spell that would help him take Scorpius out of there. Away from there. He turned, trying to find Draco, wondering why the man wasn't helping him carry his son. Till he saw the man was helping protect the Auror's from the monster, an indescribable look on his face. Like someone had ripped his heart from his chest.

When he took in the appearance of the monster properly, for the first time, he saw that it resembled a real person. Twisted and deformed, but still human. Part of him wanted to ask what it was. But glancing back at Scorpius, he decided there were far more important things to do with his time.

He rushed from the room, Scorpius in front of him, lying flat on his back. Albus found himself begin to whimper as he heard liquid hitting the floor, seeing that the body in front of him was leaving a trail of red drops on the floor. He got to the exit, trying desperately to think of a way out, sucking up all the power he had as he began to push Scorpius up first, gripping the edge of the ladder to steady himself as he walked up, back pressed against the wall of the passage to stop himself falling.

He didn't know how he managed to make it to the top with them both safe. But he wasn't about to question it. Albus hesitated as he saw the fire, lowering Scorpius and making sure he was safe on the ground before lifting the levitation charm. He sucked in a breath as he showered himself in water, before turning to Scorpius and doing the same to the unconscious man.

Albus cast the levitation charm again, moving through the fire as quickly as possible. The smoke in the hallways was beginning to get very low.

He was moving again, heading to the Headmistress' office as quickly as he could, half his attention focused on the ground so that he wouldn't fall over. He was amazed he didn't run into any Death Eater Revenge Seekers on the way. But again, he wasn't questioning it.

He just had to get there. He had to. And Scorpius had to be okay.

He nearly jumped out his skin when the blond man coughed, rolling in his suspended position.

Albus lowered him as quickly as he could without hurting him, propping him up against the wall, hands on the paler than usual face, running in the dampened hair. "Scor? Are you okay? Scorpius, please-!"

"Albus?"

The voice was so weak and barely there that it had Albus close to tears. "Yeah, it's me."

The man coughed again, a splatter of blood escaping his mouth and decorating Albus' shirt. "Where are we?"

"Still in the school. I'm taking you to the headmistress' office. Do you need anything?"

Scorpius shook his head, though the action made him grimace. "Where's-!" he paused to cough once again. "-James?"

"He's still down there. So is my dad, and two Aurors, and your dad."

"M-mother-!"

Albus frowned, not quite understanding, but he didn't care to when the man couldn't stop choking up his lungs. "Don't, Scor, tell me when we get to the Headmistress' office. You're not well enough."

"Water."

Albus held his wand up, pressing it to the tip of Scorpius' mouth. The Professor opened his lips, letting out a tiny sigh as Albus conjured water, grey eyes fluttering shut.

"We have to keep going now," Albus choked out, forcing himself to let go of Scorpius and stand up. "Can you-!"

He couldn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to however, seeing as Scorpius simply nodded. Albus lifted his wand and cast a levitation charm once again, moving down the corridors, trying not to be worried about the fact that Scorpius had slowly become still and unconscious again. He tried to ignore it. He tried to focus.

Focusing was very hard when the man you loved was passed out and leaving a trail of blood for you to follow.

Never before had that long corridor towards the office been so painful.

"Al?" called a voice. He looked up to see two familiar girls standing on the stairway. He recognised the voice as Lucy's. "Al? Who's that?"

"It's Scorpius!" he called, grimacing and shaking his head. "Professor Malfoy!"

Rose said something to her cousin before they parted, Lucy rushing up the stairs and Rose rushing towards him, pulling out her wand to help carry him.

"What happened?"

Albus shook his head, finding himself unable to actually bring any words to describe what had happened. He didn't even know. "Ask James."

Rose nodded, knowing not to press further, helping carry Scorpius a little further before more people began flooding from the office. Professor Zabini was one of them.

Before he knew what was happening Scorpius was out of his grasp, Rose and Lucy in front of him, helping him stay steady as his knees began to give out beneath him, his eyes beginning to water. Why were they taking Scorpius?

What was happening?

"Al, stay calm," Rose's voice called, steady and calm as always. "It's going to be okay. They're going to make him better."

Lucy's smell engulfed him as she wrapped her arms round him, holding him so close he could hear her heartbeat. His knees hit cold floor. He barely noticed he'd been sinking.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay."

He shut his eyes and allowed Rose's voice and Lucy's smell to take over his brain. His best friends. They wouldn't lie to him. It was going to be okay.

Right?

I promise, next chapter won't have a cliff hanger of any kind. Because it's the last chapter. Next chapter. Last chapter. OMG IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE I'M GOING TO CRY.

But yeah. I'm in Iceland. On holiday. Having muchos fun.

Seeing as the next chapter is the last chapter, I'm not going to include a preview, instead the first five people who review get a segment of the next chapter.

R+R

Thanks ~

Kivea R.