A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed, who are following this, who have added it to their favs and to those who are reading and waiting for each chapter.
Chapter Seven
Halloween soon came around and the older students were buzzing with excitement about the scavenger hunt and casual party after in the common room.
Scorpius was getting ready in the dorm room, and Al was in the bathroom dressing so they didn't see each other's costumes until they were done.
Scorpius' costume was minimal and involved some skilful magic, but he knew he would make a statement.
Al adjusted a few bits on his costume and then opened the door to show Scorpius. He had picked the costume because he liked the various film and cartoon depictions of this character. He was unsure if Scorpius or many others would know because it was from muggle culture. He was dressed up as Robin Hood.
He was wearing a dark green hat with a couple of feathers in the side, a white shirt, waistcoat/vest, leather cape- with laces criss-crossing up the front to tie it, a large wide leather belt – with a big buckle, black trousers and knee high black leather boots. He had a fake bow and arrow and a spare set of arrows across his back.
Al exited the bathroom and gawked at Scorpius he looked gorgeous of course. Al was stunned into silence and just stared at Scorpius until he spoke first.
Scorpius smiled at him, "What no tights?" he asked.
Al shook his head, "No I didn't want sweaty junk all night. Besides I wanted to go for a manly looking Robin Hood. So you know the character then?" He tried to sound calm and collected, but his mouth was dry.
"Yes of course. Who doesn't? Stole from the rich to give to the poor. Dad told me he was most likely a Weasley, stealing from Malfoy's to give to their poor family." His lips twitched into a smile.
"Prat, he didn't." Al chuckled.
"No he didn't." Scorpius held out his arms and did a little turn.
"Well can you guess what I am?" he asked stopping facing Al.
You're stunning that's what you are.
"Um a male veela with wings? Or an angel of some sort?" he ventured.
"Correct. Like my wings?" he paraded in front of Al.
"Do you have to be bare chested it's very distracting." Al commented.
Scorpius smirked, "Of course. A veela cannot fit their wings under shirts – I have to stay in character."
"How have you managed to fasten your wings on, without any clothes to attach them to?" he was amazed at how realistic they looked.
"Magic. Fuck Al we are wizards. You do say the silliest things." Scorpius teased.
Al couldn't help it, the way Scorpius looked was messing with his head. He had his hair loose and flowing down around his shoulders, he was naked from the waist up and had scattered some shiny glitter or something on his torso, as all his muscles were defined and gleaming. He had huge white wings. They were feathery, layer upon layer of silky smooth feathers as white as snow. The wings made his hair look paler and bright. The wings rose up above his shoulders, cascading down, the tips stopping at the back of his knees, and they were beautiful. He wore plain black trousers and no shoes, just bare feet.
"Magnificent and stunning" Al blurted.
"The wings?" Scorpius asked as he headed for the door.
Scorpius wasn't sure he heard correctly as it was said so quietly, but he thought he heard Al say, "No not the wings, you".
They headed for the great hall which was the starting place for the Halloween hunt.
"Aren't your feet cold? The floors are gross too." Al commented.
Scorpius smiled over at him, "Magic Al. I won't feel the cold or get germs on my feet don't worry."
Many of the sixth and seventh year students stared at Scorpius when he entered the hall. Al couldn't blame them, Scorpius put everyone else to shame.
Bryony squealed and rushed over to stroke his wings.
"Oh they're so soft." She went to stroke his chest, but Scorpius stopped her by gripping hold of her wrist.
"Sorry you don't get to touch the merchandise" he cooed.
She pouted, "So unfair – that's like dangling food in front of the starved. Tease." She whined.
"Does anyone get the privilege of touching the merchandise?" Jasmine asked.
Scorpius held his head up and his shoulders square, "Yes the veela's mate." He sauntered off to collect the first hunt riddle.
Rose had limited teams to two minimum and four maximum, but you can be in whatever team you wished. Just had to register your teams.
Bryony, Jasmine and Rose were excluded from the hunt as they had made the riddles, hid the props and organised the whole thing. Bryony and Jasmine would parole the halls checking up on teams and Rose was staying in the great hall, to receive the props that the teams bring back and to declare a winning team.
Scorpius was glad that Paige was in the year below and therefore not participating. He noted that Goyle appeared to absent too, that wasn't unusual he wasn't extremely sociable.
Al and Scorpius were a team by themselves, they thought that they would work quicker that way. But Scorpius really wanted Al to himself.
Each team were given the riddles in a different order, so that they were scattered over the school instead all in one area giving the locations of props away.
Rose had explained that they had to figure out the simple riddle, tap the card that the riddle was on with their wand as they said the answer out loud. Then the card would change to show the location of the prop, then they had to go to that room and find the prop.
"Right Robin get your thieving but over here" Scorpius called.
Al rolled his eyes and joined Scorpius, "Yes my angel?" he replied once he reached him.
"First riddle" he said as he tilted the card so Al could read it stood next to him.
No feathers on my wings, I fly through the sky. My body is furry, red is my eye.
Scorpius read it again and then thought for a moment. Rose had made them as simple as possible so people could locate all the props within the time slot given.
"Well all the answers are Halloween themed" Al murmured out loud.
"No feathers yet a furry body" Scorpius was thinking out loud too.
"Got it." Scorpius declared triumphantly. He leaned in and quietly said, "A bat" he told Al.
Al smiled, "Of course"
They placed their wands on the card and said, "Bat" at the same time.
The words on the card swirled and then the riddle was replaced with:
Correct. Go to the Trophy room and find the prop in the form of a bat, along with the next riddle.
Scorpius tucked the card into his trouser pocked and smiled happily at Al.
"Off to a good start." He moved away, heading for the door.
Al followed. I'm going to be useless in this hunt. Just staring at Scorpius' naked chest, face, hair, wings – fuck just staring constantly.
Scorpius stopped abruptly and Al walked into the back of him, getting a mouthful of feathers.
He spat them out, "Oi I don't need to floss, especially with feathers." Al complained, sulkily.
Scorpius turned around and was now stood very close to Al. Mmm he smells good.
"Sorry I just realised that I have no idea where the trophy room is." Scorpius explained.
He'd been here for a while now, but he had no need to go to the trophy room and had no idea what floor it was on. He knew it existed as he read about it in, Hogwarts: A History.
Al was staring at Scorpius' chest and Scorpius had to take a few steps back and snap his fingers to get Al's attention.
"What floor is the trophy room on?" Scorpius asked amused.
Al smiled, "I told you your costume, or lack of costume would be distracting. It's on the third floor." He finally answered, lifting his eyes to meet Scorpius' gaze.
They headed to the Trophy room. Awards, trophies, cups, plates, shields, statues, and medals were all kept in crystal glass displays in this room. They started searching for a prop shaped like a bat. They tried Accio but it didn't work. After a few more moments of searching they found it inside a large trophy.
Al put the small plush toy bat in his quiver with his spare arrows. Handing the card with the next riddle to Scorpius. Once again both leaning towards each other to read it together.
Al could feel Scorpius' breath and the tension building between them. He focused his attention on the clue:
The next answer that should escape your lips, should be the creature wrapped up in cloth strips.
They both looked at each other and said at the same time, "A mummy" causing them to laugh.
Scorpius tapped the card and repeated the answer. Again the words swirled and proclaimed they were correct and to head to the statue of Boris the Bewildered.
Scorpius sighed in annoyance, "All these places or statues, I have no idea where they are located."
Al touched his hand to Scorpius lower back and kept his palm resting on it.
"So you've only been here for a couple of months. You're not going to know every statute in this huge castle, I don't even know that. Anyway you figured out both clues, so you have your uses." He soothed.
Scorpius grinned at Al to show that he appreciated the attempted to cheer him up.
"Where is this stupid statue?" He sulked. He hated not knowing things.
Al rubbed Scorpius back with his thumb. "It is located on the fifth floor. Come on." He chuckled at Scorpius' sulky face.
"That sulky face needs work" he joked.
Scorpius smoothed his features back out, "I'll work on it." He casually said as they headed to the statue. Al kept his hand on Scorpius' back for as long as possible.
They passed a few other groups of students, but they were busy and rushing around paying them no attention.
The statue was of a lost-looking wizard whose gloves were on the wrong hands. "Scorpius meet Boris the Bewildered." Al gestured to the ridiculous statue.
"How do you do Boris?" he paused, "Not very chatty is he." Scorpius joked.
Al found the small plush toy of the mummy, with the next riddle.
"How many are there? I mean clues." Al whined.
Scorpius nudged him gently, "Why got somewhere you'd rather be? My company not good enough. Don't make me pull out my sulky face again." He warned.
Noting that Al was once again stood really close to him. He always seems to stand closer than seemed normal for friends.
"No, nowhere I'd rather be then with you." He honestly replied.
Scorpius almost jumped on Al after that innocent statement. Al hadn't even realised that he said such a lovely thing. He is so oblivious – it's almost painful.
Al Added, "The sooner we complete this or win, the sooner we can get to the party." He reasoned.
"Good point. Show me the clue." He liked the sound of Al, alcohol and a party.
The third clue read:
There is a pupil inside this, but saying it's a school is not right. When you see this lying around, you'll know someone's lost their sight.
Al rolled his eyes, "These are too easy. I bet Bryony set them."
Scorpius nodded in agreement, "I reckon they are simple so even Hufflepuff's can get it. Make them too difficult and only the Ravenclaw's will figure it out. Besides we only have an hour to get all six. We have only done three, or about to do the third." He knew if Rose had set the riddles they would require looking at a book for an answer – that's not fun.
Al tapped the card with his wand and said, "Eyeball" in an unimpressed tone.
Scorpius glanced at the card that declared they were right and to go to third floor girl's bathroom to retrieve the next clue and prop.
"Argh Moaning Myrtles bathroom. She will wail that boys shouldn't be in the girl bathroom." Al complained.
Scorpius shook his head, "Are you always this whiny? Or are you fed up about something else and just using other things to relieve your frustration?" he said in a superior tone.
Al crossed his arms over his chest, "No. I don't always whine. I just thought tonight would be fun, this is too easy and boring." He tried to leave the whiny tone out of his voice.
Scorpius moved so he was stood directly in front of Al. He put his hands on Al's wrists and pulled his arms so he had to uncross them.
"How about we make this a bit more interesting? I wouldn't want you to die of boredom after all." He silkily offered.
Scorpius held back a snigger at Al's flustered face and spluttering. When Al still hadn't answered, Scorpius took it into his own hands – literally. He slowly ran his hands down Al's arms and then rested them on his hips. He pulled him closer by his hips and kissed him softly, their lips barely touching.
It felt fantastic, all those weeks of wanting to clearly show Al what he felt. No misunderstandings, no flirting and touches that could be explained away. A kiss was a clear message. It felt good, Scorpius had wanted to kiss Al the moment he saw him in the headmistress's office.
Al cursed as he had tried to wrap his arms around him, but his wings had gotten in the way. Instead he settled for wrapping them around his neck. His arm pulling on his hair slightly – but Scorpius didn't complain, he didn't want Al pulling away.
Al had pulled back but he was still close, only a small space was between their lips. "Not as bored now, but I can feel the boredom creeping back up." He provoked.
Scorpius took the bait and kissed him again, this time with more force and for longer. They were panting, breathless and light headed when they finally pulled back.
Scorpius touched Al's temple, caressing it gently.
"What are you thinking? You seem lost to your own world again." He observed.
Al blinked and focused on Scorpius, "I was just comparing that with kissing girls." He answered honestly.
Scorpius admired Al, he never had any hidden agendas, or ever lied. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was easy enough to read. If you couldn't read him, if you asked he would honestly tell you.
"How does it compare?" he was desperate to know.
Al's face broke out into a slow and dreamy smile, "It doesn't compare. You blew the previous kisses out of the water. They seem …um…what's the word…the previous kisses seem sloppy, juvenile and bland." He grinned.
Scorpius didn't have the words for that, instead he kissed Al again, and with such pressure he was sure he bruised his lips.
Out in the corridor Goyle sneered in disgust and stalked away to find Paige. He had to report to her that Potter was now apparently gay and Malfoy was his boyfriend or whatever. He hoped she wouldn't hex the messenger. Goyle shuddered, the memory of those two kissing made him feel sick. It's not natural – two men kissing.
Eventually Scorpius stopped his new favourite hobby, "Right. Let's finish this hunt so I can concentrate on kissing you senseless."
Al grinned, "Right to Myrtles bathroom then" Al directed.
Myrtle seemed to be a bit agitated, moaning that she had loads of students intruding in her bathroom. Al wanted to ask if the ghosts still celebrated Halloween, and how cool it would be. Be he stopped himself, it was probably insensitive.
Scorpius talked softly and gentle to her, charmed her enough she remained quiet. Only saying, "Oh I am so pleased Draco's son is just as friendly as he was." She sighed and drifted off.
Al frowned, "Did your dad have a weird ghost fetish or something? She seemed pretty lovesick."
Scorpius laughed, "Not quite. Maybe I will explain another time. I know because my dad has told me absolutely everything."
Al was close to his dad, but he didn't know everything that happened when he was at school or during the war. He envied Scorpius, he seemed to have a really extraordinary relationship with his dad.
They searched and located the eyeball, "It's weird seeing a plush toy in the form of an eyeball – creepy." Al summarised as he put it with the other props.
"We are half way through now, let's get a move on so we can go to the party." Scorpius seemed determined to complete this hunt. Al would have suggested giving up and cutting straight to the kissing, but he could tell that Scorpius was set on at least completing the hunt.
The fourth riddle was:
For the aristocracy it's said that theirs is blue. If you were to get cut though then red would be your hue.
Scorpius laughed, "Rose set this one"
Al looked confused, "Hey?"
"The answer is blood Al. Apparently aristocracy have blue blood. I'd like to see what the stupid plush toy of blood will look like." He was pleasantly amused.
"Then you have blue blood? According to that nonsense." Al stared at Scorpius lips as he spoke.
"No it's a myth didn't you hear the second part of that riddle, it is red. There is a long and boring history behind the saying, but I won't bore you with it." He tapped the card said the answer and pulled Al in the direction of the library. He didn't want to waste time.
The prop of blood, was in a vial that looked to be filled with red blood. "Oh, that's unimaginative" Scorpius sighed.
"Only two left then we can shock the school" Scorpius declared.
Al stared, "Oh. I'm not ready to tell the school. I think I'd want to give my family a heads up first." He hadn't thought of the consequences of kissing Scorpius.
Scorpius was silent a moment, then eventually he said, "Sure. I forget that you're still coming to terms with who you are." He didn't elaborate, instead turning to the fifth riddle.
When you put a person in this, you shouldn't hear any knocks. If you do there's been a mistake and you should open this pine box.
Al happily cried, "I know, I know – a coffin." He seemed chuffed with himself.
Scorpius smiled warmly at him, he was acting as if he cracked a difficult riddle that had been unsolved for centuries.
"Pine for a coffin, how common." Scorpius sneered.
Al laughed, "I like your snobby side. I know even when you're joking, there is some truth to it – it was the way you were raised. You can't help it. Spoilt git!" Al teased.
Scorpius turned his face away and held his nose in the air, "I am simply stating fact."
Al wrapped his arms around him and kissed his neck, "Yes simply stating fact, in an arrogant superior way. It's sexy."
Scorpius put his arms around Al's waist and tilted his head so Al could reach the sensitive spot.
"Sexy huh? Well I'll bare that in mind." After a few moments of Al kissing him, Scorpius swatted him away.
"Do I need to restrain you? Down boy." He teased.
Scorpius noted Al's eyes widen and his pupils darken. Well another reaction to bear in mind – restraints. Maybe not immediately considering Al was straight a few weeks ago. Wouldn't want to jump into the world of kinks before he had even began. Walk before you run – he told himself.
Al composed himself, "Only one more then we have finished. Where is the coffin prop and last riddle?"
Scorpius glanced at the card. "By Hagrid's pumpkin patch."
Al groaned, "I'll go. You haven't got any shoes on."
"Okay. I'll wait in the entrance hall." They headed to the front of the castle.
Al kissed him quickly and left to go out into the cold and dark. Prepared to be digging around in the dirt for the bloody coffin and last riddle.
Scorpius wondered if others had completed the hunt yet. Al and he did spent more time talking and kissing, too much time wasted. No way would they have won. But Scorpius had to finish, he hated not finishing what he started.
He was terrible, even if he was reading a book he disliked. He still read it all, he had to finish once he started – it was a compulsion. His dorm mate at his old school said he had OCD but he had no idea what that was and wasn't inclined to ask.
Scorpius was deep in thought, thinking about what OCD could mean he didn't see someone moving in the shadows.
The next thing Scorpius was aware of was pain, and burning. His skin on his face was burning. He cried out, screaming out in agony.
Someone came out the great hall and gasped. They started muttering spells and Scorpius felt a waterfall of cold water splash his face. He was gripped by the elbow and steered he hoped in the direction of the hospital wing.
Scorpius struggled to walk because of the pain. His face was burning, melting and it fucking hurt. The person, Rose Scorpius thought, was muttering soothing words and sounds. However he knew how serious it was from her brisk walk and how she pulled him along.
They entered the hospital wing and the school nurse gasped, "Oh my. A curse? Hex?"
Scorpius managed to take a deep breath and talk through the pain to mutter, "Someone threw something over my face"
The nurse got to work, led him onto a bed and began casting spells and applying creams.
Scorpius blacked out from the pain.
A/N: Sorry for the ending of this chapter - poor Scorpius. TBC