Hello all. I'm whipping this chapter out late night style because I just got pretty much the best review ever. Now, I usually don't do this but… thanks Pinkfurball! You rock.
Now, hold up. I know the rest of you are like, woah, I've reviewed, why no props for me? Don't get me wrong, I love you too. But so far no one has spoken a word of praise for my budding owl romance side story. I know you are all here for the Al/ Scor drama, but please let us not forget Aurora and Mirzam the star crossed lover-owls. Al/Scor stories are rampant and many are FAR better written then mine but I dare you to find better owl romance then I have created. (I've never actually searched for Hedwig fanfiction, so I cant even be certain about this claim)
Keep reviewing guys. (and girls) (and owls) (leprechauns?)
Naw, for real I'm just updating cuz I'm on summer vacation with a six hour plane ride home.
But the review was very nice regardless.
The few weeks prior to Christmas break were always a very exciting time for the students of Hogwarts. The entryway was always lined with big proud firs decorated with sparkling tinsel, beautiful crystal figurines, large colorful orbs and even a few strands of popped corn. The dinners leading up to vacation became more elaborate and delicious as the house elves practiced the dishes to be served at the Christmas feast for the students who would be staying over the holidays. Christmas carols could be heard in every corridor; whether it was the ghosts loudly proclaiming good tidings, or an enchanted suit of armor humming well-known favorites. To put it simply, anticipation was in the air.
However thoughts of Christmas were not the only thing buzzing through the hallways this particular season. One name was being passed around, whispered during class, and gossiped about during meals. Albus Potter.
It had finally been leaked that the youngest Potter boy had spent a few nights in the Slytherin common room. His roommates would tell anyone who asked about the night the boy had coming home unashamedly high, from what they could only assume was a night with the Slytherins. Even harder to believe than the rumors was the actual evidence. Sullivan Bole sat next to Albus in three of the classes they shared. The two boys seemed rather close, and chatted casually throughout lessons. Wendy Damille invited Albus on two separate occasions to eat lunch at the Slytherin table, both times Albus hesitantly accepted. Stephanie Blanc and Tess Burke had taken Albus to Hogsmeade with them one Saturday morning and forced the poor boy to run around shopping with them all day. Even Andrew Chen nodded at Albus in the hallway. A few times students even swore he said 'hey'. However the strangest rumor of all was the claim that Jaysen Villacrow had been seen with Albus Potter studying in the library. Students who swore to have seen the miracle with their own eyes were promptly escorted by friends to the infirmary to get their heads checked.
Regardless of the validity of the details, the truth remained, Albus Potter, outcast of the Gryffindor house, bookish loner , and alleged queer had weaseled his way into the elite group of Slytherins; Scorpius Malfoy's posse.
"Albus!" Rose yelled down the main hall as she saw her cousin go by. He stopped, as did the people he was walking with who Rose recognized as Tess Burke and Stephanie Blanc.
"Oh hey Rosie!" Albus smiled broadly as she approached.
"I was hoping I could talk to you." Rose responded, "Alone." She added giving a wary glance in the direction of the two Slytherin girls.
Stephanie smirked at the redhead and waved to Tess, "Come on, lets go back to the common room." The two girls walked away.
"What's up?" Albus asked, confused about the secrecy.
"Were you hanging out with Burke and Blanc again?" Rosie asked, clearly frustrated.
"You mean Tess and Steph? Yeah, I was." Albus was confused, "Why is that a problem for you?"
"You went to Hogsmeade with them last weekend." Rosie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at her cousin.
"Yes." Albus deadpanned, having no clue why he was being reprimanded.
"We were supposed to go together!" Rosie finally replied, adding an extra huff at the end.
Albus was silent for a moment, trying to recall any memory of Rose inviting him to Hogsmeade.
"You never asked me to go with you." Albus finally said cautiously.
"Well I was GOING TO! I looked for you that morning in the Great Hall, but you had already left!"
Albus couldn't help but chuckle at how crazy his cousin sounded, almost like an overbearing wife.
"So you are mad at me because I made plans to hang out with friends, when you hadn't even asked me yet?" Albus snorted, "Is that really why you are mad?"
"I didn't have anyone to go with Albus! We always go together!" Rosie cried.
"Um, very untrue Rosie. You always went with Jeremy, and you never invited me. So sorry if I don't want to be your last resort!" Albus fired back at her.
Immediately after his outburst, Albus regretted it. He watched tears well up in his cousin's eyes, and heard her stifle a sob.
"Shit… I'm sorry Rosie. I didn't mean it."
"I-I know I can't get back together with him. N-not after what he d-did to you." She choked out. "But every time I s-see him he begs me to come b-back to him, and I just c-cant take it anymore. I m-miss him and I know I shouldn't, but I just can't help it." She sobbed as Albus wrapped his arms around her.
"Shhh," Albus whispered, "It's gonna be okay." Inside he felt awful. He couldn't remember the last time he had talked to his cousin about what she was going through. Her break up was basically his fault. Ok, wait, no, it was definitely Jeremy's fault. But Albus had been a large part of it.
Albus held his cousin until she had calmed down. When she stopped crying they separated. Albus couldn't stop the waves of guilt that cascaded over him with he saw his best friend's tearful expression. Albus had been so busy worrying about his own problems he had completely ignored Rosie.
"Next time I promise I will go to Hogsmeade with you." Albus said. Rose gave a small smile but Albus could tell it wasn't genuine.
"What is it?" Albus prodded.
"Do you even need me anymore?" Rose asked quietly. "You have so many popular new friends now." She said with a slightly venomous tone.
"Rose!" Albus was shocked. "I like hanging out with Tess and Steph fine, but there is no way they are ever going to replace you. You're my best friend!"
"What about Sullivan, and Wendy, and Jaysen, and Andrew and Scorpius!" She spat out the last name with particular malice, and Albus didn't miss it.
"Rose, you come before all of them, I swear it." Albus assured, "I've never had so many friends before. For once in my life I'm not lonely at this school."
Now it was Rosie's turn to look ashamed. "That's not what I meant Albus." She quickly reassured. "I'm happy you made friends. I guess, I just don't know what you see in them."
"Something I often say about your friends as well." Albus reminded her.
"Let's not worry about it right now." He added a moment later, realizing he did not want to start a fight. "Lunch?" He offered, and the two walked off together into the Great Hall.
The fire was burning low in the common room fireplace, it was late and most students had gone to bed, however one boy was still in the common room reading. Albus Potter was having trouble reading his book in the dim lighting of the fire. He was considering adding some more logs, or perhaps casting a lumos charm when the book in his hands was forcibly removed.
"Hello James." Albus sighed, after a quick glance up.
"We need to talk." James said in the voice he used when he was trying to imitate their father.
"Well take a seat, we have all night." Albus responded stretching out his legs. "What do you want to discuss? Are you having girl troubles? Or is it about the crushing defeat the Harpies faced in their match last week. I know they were your favorite team; you bet them to go to the world cup didn't you? That had to have been hard. How many galleons did you lose?"
"I'm here to talk about you apparently being an honorary Slytherin." James ground out, clearly unhappy with saying the words.
"And where on earth did you hear that?" Albus asked, sounding shocked.
"That Trey Graves. He's a prefect for Slytherin. I heard him say it to a few of his friends at the last prefects meeting."
"Ah, Trey." Albus smiled, "Good guy. Did you know his first name is actually Merton?"
"I honestly don't give a shit!" James burst out. "Is it true?"
"James I really don't think a student can be in a house with an honorary position. You're head boy, shouldn't you know that?"
"Albus, I know you think you're being funny, but you're just being an idiot." James finally yelled out. "What the hell do you think you're doing, hanging out with Slytherins like Malfoy? They're all no good wannabe death eaters and everybody knows it."
Albus stiffened at the word death eater, horrified that his brother had thrown it out so casually to describe his friends.
"Are you even listening to me?" James yelled again.
"If I recall correctly," Albus shot back, "When I was a first year I remember someone taunting me that I would be sorted into Slytherin. Then when I was sorted into Gryffindor, spreading rumors that I wanted to be in Slytherin. Probably that's why people think I'm an honorary Slytherin now. Probably that's why I get along with Slytherins so much." Albus shot the words at his brother. "Who was that James, who spread those rumors about me? Can you remember who it was?"
The room became silent.
"I can." Albus spat out.
Snatching his book back the younger Potter climbed the stairs out of the common room, and out of sight.
"ALBUS!"
Moment after hearing the loud outburst Albus felt himself being lifted off of the ground and crushed in a large hug.
"AN A! I GOT AN A!"
Albus recognized the voice as Jaysen's, and once he was put back on the ground, he turned to see the boy sporting the largest smile possible.
"I got an A on the last astronomy exam! I PASSED! My professor said if I keep this up next term then I will be done with astronomy, FOREVER!" Jaysen grabbed Albus and pulled him into another hug.
"Thank you so much Albus! My parents are going to be so happy about this, I wont even have to buy them Christmas gifts!"
"What's going on over here?" Andrew walked over, having heard the commotion Jaysen had made in the middle of the hall.
"Passed an astronomy exam." Jaysen informed his friend proudly.
"You? I cant fucking believe it!" Andrew laughed.
"He's been working really hard!" Albus supplied, " He's studying a lot."
"No shit!" Andrew exclaimed, grabbing his friend by the shoulders. "Well congrats man, we gotta celebrate. I think we left some fire whiskey in the woods a couple days ago."
"Wicked. Albus, you wanna come?" Jaysen asked.
Albus couldn't believe his ears. "Guys, I have class. We all have class!"
Both boys burst out laughing. A few moments later they quieted. "Oh you were serious." Andrew answered.
The two boys jut shrugged and walked off, leaving an appalled Albus Potter behind.
"But-but guys!" He yelled after them, "It's 10 AM! GUYS! IT'S A TUESDAY!"
The last week before vacation Albus was very shocked to see his owl glide down and drop him a letter. Moments later the owl landed softly on his shoulder, nipping Albus lightly until the boy fed him bits of toast.
Unfolding the letter that had been dropped down in front of his Albus immediately recognized the tidy handwriting of his brother Teddy, and ripped open the envelope.
Albus-
I realize it has been a while since I last wrote, and that you will be home in about a week. I'm very excited to see you over the holidays! I will be spending the vacation at your parents house, so I'm sure we will find lots of time to talk, as I am sure we have lots to talk about. The Hogwarts rumor mill doesn't stop at the castle walls you know.
I also have some exciting news. And, well I'm very excited about it. I sound like an idiot, forgive me. I don't want to give anything away though. You'll know soon enough.
I hope you are well, and that you have already bought me a large and expensive gift.
All my love
-Teddy.
At the bottom of the parchment there was another message scribbled.
Letter has been ready all week. Damn owl still won't take it. Not my fault!
Albus chuckled and glanced up at Mirzam, who was happily munching on some buttered toast and looking very, very content.
"Don't look so proud of yourself." Albus whispered to the bird. "You weren't the only one who got some while you were away."
Mirzam, who had finished his toast, turned his head to look at Albus, and started letting out tiny hoots. It took Albus a moment to realize, his owl was laughing at him!
"I'm serious!" Albus said. But Mirzam kept hooting softly as he took flight and soared out of the Great Hall.
Albus glared at the retreating figure, "Damn bird." He muttered.
"It's your move Albus… Albus…ALBUS!"
"What?"
Albus and Drew were currently sitting in the Great Hall playing a rousing game of wizard's chess, at least they were trying. Albus was finding it very hard to pay attention.
"Can you please play? Or at least tell me what's got you so distracted." Drew snapped.
Lily, who had sat down next to them, pulled her head up from her latest issue of Witches Weekly.
"Obviously he's staring at Scorpius and that girl he's all over."
"Shut up Lily!" Albus hissed, glaring at his sister.
"Well you are." She retorted, going back to reading her magazine.
Albus looked nervously back over at Drew.
"Really? Scorpius?" Drew raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Albus asked.
"I saw that big hickey on your neck, when you ran out of the room that morning. I know you've been fooling around with someone. And to be honest I kinda guessed it was Malfoy, but I was really hoping I was wrong."
Albus was speechless. Sure, him and Drew were friends. They hung out often ever since the…incident with Jeremy and Ian. However, they weren't together enough for the boy to have guessed about Scorpius. Was Albus really that obvious?
"He's with different girls every week Al. I don't know why you're surprised." Drew stated unsympathetically.
"I know." Was all Albus could respond with.
"Well, in that case, can we please finish our game?"
"Sure." Was what Albus replied. What he wanted to do however was walk over to the Slytherin table and rip the hair right off the head of the girl currently cuddling up to Scorpius.
Albus was trying his best to not panic, but the truth was he had no idea where he stood with Scorpius. The last time Scorpius had a conversation with him was in the Slytherin common room before they had all smoked. That night was hazy at best, he remembered bits and pieces. For example he remembered falling asleep on Scorpius' shoulder, and telling the Slytherin he thought he was a good kisser. But, the next morning he woke up in his bed, without any recollection of how he had gotten there.
Albus had pieced together from asking the other Slytherins for details, that Scorpius had walked him back to dorm, and that he had forgotten his password.
Ever since, Scorpius had ben distant and cool as ever. Obviously something happened between them that Albus couldn't remember and he was too afraid to ask Scorpius about it. Ever since that night, Albus had never seen Scorpius without at least one girl attached to him. Albus had stopped going to the Slytherin common room as well, afraid of seeing Scorpius give those girls what he so desperately wanted.
He couldn't deny how jealous he was of the attention that so many girls were getting from Scorpius. At the same time though, he knew this was reality. Scorpius was promiscuous, and Albus had known from the first kiss that he was nothing special to the Slytherin. His head knew it; his heart just hadn't quite gotten the message.
Albus was about to put Drew's king in check when hands suddenly covered his eyes.
"Guess whooooo?" He heard a light voice giggling from behind him.
"Hello Stephanie." He replied. The hands were removed, and Stephanie sat down next to the Gryffindor.
"You're good at that." She laughed.
"No," Albus retorted, "You are just the only girl who still does the 'covering the eyes, guess who it is thing'."
"Oooh, someone's a grumpy Gryffindor today," she smirked.
"Three guesses why." Lily chimed in, pointing a finger over at the Slytherin table.
Stephanie turned and reacted an instant later, "Magdalena Puce? Ugh, he's really scraping the bottom of the barrel now." Stephanie turned to Albus to explain. "She's awful." Was the only description he received. Part of him wanted to prod for more dirty details, but his pride wouldn't allow it. He shrugged as if it didn't bother him at all. Lily rolled her eyes behind her magazine.
"While we are on the topic of Scorpius however, I have an invitation for you."
After hearing her words Albus' ears perked, "An invitation?"
"Yep, to a Christmas party at his house. We have it every year. It's just the seven of us, well eight now." Stephanie smiled, "You've heard the rumors right, your one of us now."
"Well I'm glad everyone else seems so sure. Did Scorpius actually tell you to invite me?" Albus asked.
"Yes of course, why?"
"Oh, I dunno, maybe because he's been giving me the cold shoulder for the past 3 weeks."
"Oh that?" Stephanie laughed, "He's just being an asshole. It comes from being raised as a ridiculously wealthy only child. Tantrums are just a part of his personality."
Albus sighed, but didn't respond. Instead he played a few more turns in his chess game. He already knew how he was going to beat Drew, but was prolonging it for entertainment's sake.
Stephanie finally butted back in.
"Albus, please tell me that you will come. We'll have fun I promise, we always do. I know Scorpius wants you there. Plus, don't you want to see the Malfoy Manor? I'll even show you Scorpius' room." Stephanie laughed when she noticed how red Albus got.
"I'll take that as a yes."
A moment later Albus noticed Scorpius stand up. Magdalena Puce got up with him, and latched her self to his arm so tightly Albus was concerned it might fall off. Albus watched carefully as the two left the Great Hall, but Scorpius never once glance their direction. When they were out of sight Albus let out a sigh.
"Al, if you're not going to take this game seriously, then let's just stop." Drew announced, clearly frustrated.
Albus glanced down at the board and rolled his eyes. He moved his queen two spaces to the left.
"Check mate."
Sorry about the crackish A/N. Air travel does strange things. Hope you all enjoyed!