~What Am I Feeling?~
~Chapter 56- Stained~
Scorpius' eyes slowly blinked open and he saw white. White ceilings, white walls. His first thought was that he was maybe in some type of afterlife… some sort of heaven or limbo or something.
Before this, all he remembered was blood and pain and Albus telling him he loved him and kissing him. It was a strange sensation… the contrast between the unbearable hurt his body was enduring and the soft comfort from Albus. Maybe that was all a dream too…
Maybe the whole thing was a dream. Maybe being taken and locked away was a dream. But if that was a dream, maybe Scorpius' whole life was a dream. Albus and his love for him. His parents, his friends. Were they all a dream? Hogwarts, wand lore, Beyond Magic… Scorpius himself… all of it… was it all a dream?
There was a scary moment when Scorpius actually believed those doubts. It wasn't until he shifted faintly and felt the ache in his body he realised he was still very much alive and his whole life had happened. Moving his head slightly, he caught a glimpse of a Muggle TV and a side table. As his eyes scanned over the room some more, he knew he was in a hospital.
Stretching his fingers, he felt soft fabric beneath his skin. Scorpius had to hitch himself up onto his elbows carefully and then saw Albus, sitting on a chair, his head rested on the end of the bed, snoring quietly as he slept.
He fell back onto the bed, losing strength but allowed a sigh of relief. Albus was okay, that's all he wanted. Though he did look pale and sickly, he was alive and that's what was important.
"Albus…" He forced out croakily, "Al…" He managed to call out a bit louder.
Albus was on full guard and he heard the mumble of his name, even through sleep. He almost jumped up, noticing Scorpius was awake. His heart filled with joy and relief. Four days had gone by with Scorpius unconscious and Albus had been worrying to no end. Everyone kept reassuring him but how could he always believe them? This was his heart and soul that was on the line.
He could still taste the blood on his lips. The blood from when he held Scorpius in his arms helplessly, watching the life leave him. He kissed Scorpius over and over, hoping somehow it would revive him, maybe like in a fairytale. But it didn't work. And Scorpius' blood only stained his lips and stained his memory. His nightmares consisted of him seeing Scorpius like that, night after night. Again and again, he would get that feeling that Scorpius was never coming back. No matter what anyone told him, he couldn't get those images out of his head.
Seeing those silver eyes again were the best reassurance Albus could get.
"Scorpius…" Albus moved his chair rapidly, taking Scorpius cheeks in his hands. Tears dribbled down his cheeks, tears of delight, "Oh Merlin… I-I'm so relieved… I was so worried…"
"W-what happened?" Scorpius whispered, reaching out for his boyfriend.
"You got a nasty curse struck at you… and you lost a lot of blood… you're going to be sore for a while, but you're recovering fine."
"How… how did we get out?"
"Luck… Aurors arrived straight after… it turns out Martino and his dad were told about the plan, just as we were caught. They went straight to the Ministry."
Albus hugged Scorpius tight to his chest, stroking Scorpius' hair comfortingly. Little did they know, Draco was standing at the door, watching them with fascination. His eyes glistened with tears as he watched his son, the son he had so cruelly disowned because of the man who loved him so wholly, the man who saved him. Draco hated himself for it.
The couple sat in silence for a few minutes before Scorpius plucked up the courage to ask a heart-wrenching question.
"Who was it that was trying to kill you…? Was it really my grand-dad?"
Albus sighed, kissing Scorpius' temple, "Y-yeah… it was… he's been organising it since his release from Azkaban… Your parents and grandma didn't know anything about it though…" Draco closed his eyes tight as Albus continued, "And ex-Death Eaters… Some who were released from Azkaban, some who escaped… Where we were, it was Goyle Mansion… abandoned years ago when the Goyles escaped after the war… Some of the Wizards there were actually under the Imperius curse… some of the younger ones were children of Death Eaters and have kinda been brought up to think us Potters are evil and all of that… I think that's why Martino was invited, because he's the son of someone who was on the wrong side of the way… except Mr Zabini didn't support it all… thank Merlin for them…"
"We're going to have to really thank them aren't we?" Scorpius joked weakly, "We're going to have to… cook dinner for them or something."
Albus chuckled, dropping his forehead onto Scorpius', "We'll bake them a cake."
"I only met my grandfather once and he couldn't have liked me much, huh?"
Albus shook his head solemnly, "He didn't like my dad. We just got stuck in the middle. Needless to say, they've all been locked up in Azkaban so we're safe now… Scor?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you…"
"For what?"
"For saving me…"
Albus and Scorpius snuggled up together, their small breaths coming together softly. Draco watched them with a smile.
"I love you so much… I was so bloody scared, Scor…" Albus cried, grasping onto Scorpius even tighter.
"I-I'm okay now… and it's all over… we're both going to be okay…" Scorpius dragged his fingers along Albus' lower back in an attempt to comfort him, "How long was I out?"
"Four days… And even though the Healers and my family kept telling me you were going to be okay… I just couldn't help but think the worse… even though my logic was telling me to think straight, to realise you were fine I just c-"
"I know Al, I know the feeling… I've felt it for you before too… Love erases all rational thought in a time of crisis…"
"I don't know what I would have done without you…"
"A wise man once told me not to think that way," Scorpius laughed throatily, "That lovers only want the best for each other and if one of them… went… then they would want the other to be happy and keep going…"
Albus grinned haughtily, "That was a wise man indeed…"
Scorpius nudged Albus with his elbow and shook his head in mock disapproval, "Shut up you arrogant idiot…" Albus laughed as Scorpius dropped his head on Albus' shoulder with a pout, "Well, there is a positive that came out of this situation…"
"What?"
"At least you got out of doing that essay…"
"That's true. I had nearly finished it though, damn. Scorpius, you should have been kidnapped earlier in the day."
Scorpius giggled, kissing Albus' cheek warmly, "Sorry, my timing was a bit off… Who else is here?"
"Your parents. Your grandma was here… And Teddy and George were here before, I don't know if they have left."
"My parents?"
Draco chose that moment to make himself known to his son and Albus. He coughed lightly, getting the two men's attention. Scorpius stared at his father in almost confusion, maybe wondering why he was here, what this meant. Draco was happy to see there was no resentment in those eyes. Scorpius looked like he wanted his father back, he looked like he wanted his dad's reassurance.
Albus glanced awkwardly between Draco and Scorpius. Over the past few days, Albus and Draco had exchanged few words, though more than they ever had before. Draco asked how Albus was feeling and things like that which was nice, because it made Albus think, to a certain degree, that maybe Draco was trying to accept him. What was clear to Albus was that Draco definitely wanted to make emends with Scorpius and despite the way Draco had treated them both, Albus wanted that for Scorpius. He wanted Scorpius to be completely happy and he wanted Scorpius to have his parents back.
"Could I speak with Scorpius alone?" Draco requested politely, still standing awkwardly in the doorway.
Albus nodded nervously, pulling away from Scorpius despite the younger man hanging onto him desperately, "I'll be back soon, I love you."
With all the strength Scorpius had, he dragged Albus down for a quick kiss, "I love you too."
Albus left Scorpius and his father in silence.
Draco slowly moved towards the chair next to Scorpius' bed. He took a seat, not once taking his eyes off the vulnerable look in Scorpius' pale face.
"Scorpius- I-" Draco stopped then started, trying to arrange the words which were to pour from his mouth, "Um, I don't know what to say really…" Scorpius just continued to stare at his father. He didn't know what to say himself. Though, he knew he didn't really have to say anything. It was his father's responsibility to make it up to him now, "I guess I'll start by reassuring you that I didn't know a thing about my father's plot… I'm sorry that he did that to you and Albus… If I had known, I would have put a stop to it immediately…"
Scorpius graced his dad with a small smile, "I know… and it wasn't your fault. Thank you."
A moment's awkward pause before Draco just decided to admit something important, "Over the last few days I've seen how much Albus loves and cares for you… I was just watching you both now and I've never seen you so comfortable and happy with anyone… It's made me think…" Draco shifted guiltily, "Honestly, I never had the heart to sign those paper to disown you…" Scorpius' eyes widened, but not with shock or distaste… with a strong heart beat and tears of joy threatening to leak, "They've been sitting on my desk for Merlin knows how long but I never did anything about it…
"What I did… throwing Albus out of the house, trying to separate you both… I know you will never understand it but I was convinced of my reasons… I really did think that the Potters were horrible, awful people! Though, that's been proved wrong with my father's actions… Shows the Malfoys have been much worse… I was worried about what my father's reaction would be… I knew he and my mother were going to be released from Azkaban; I was going to tell you, but with everything that happened I just didn't get around to it…
Draco sighed, threading his long fingers through his white blond hair, "And mostly… for some odd reason, that you won't understand, and I'm not sure I even understand it, I was convinced that the Potters were going to take you away from me… because I thought they had already taken everything away from me. And you were one of the only things I had left and I wasn't going to let them take you as well.
"I know it's completely irrational and just plain stupid but that's what I had convinced myself of… And I guess I was just too stubborn to listen to anyone or try and accept Albus… it takes you nearly dying to make be realise what an idiot I've been…
Draco took Scorpius' hand in his, finally looking Scorpius in the eye instead of bowing his head like he had been doing through his whole speech, "I understand if you never want to see me again after this, let alone call me your father. I've caused you and Albus so much pain… But I do want you to consider your father again… I want us to go back to the way we were before this whole thing because I want my son back and I love you."
Scorpius squeezed his father's hand, seeking only one thing now, "Does that mean you accept me and Albus?"
"Although he's not my favourite person in the world… he makes you happy. And he loves you. And I couldn't want anything more for my son."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes… I will try to accept you and Albus."
It seemed that was enough of a resolution for Scorpius and he broke into a beam, launching himself forward and hugging his father closely. Draco found a sob trying to itch itself up his throat but he stopped himself and remained strong for his son. Secretly, he had never been happier than in that moment, getting Scorpius back.
"I've missed you dad…" Scorpius blubbered.
"I've missed you too, Scorpius… I've missed you so much… I'm sorry."
"I forgive you… you're my dad and I just want us things to go back to normal too… it's okay…"
"Will you move back in with us this Summer? Before you go to Rome…"
"Will you let me go to Rome with Al?"
Draco nodded, letting his excitement for his son show, "It's such a great opportunity, Scorpius… Of course I'll let you go… and you'll have an incredible time."
Scorpius thought again this might very well still be a dream. The only thing convincing himself that it was real was that he could never be this happy in just a dream.
~X~
A/N: Sorry to have kept you all hanging for so long... I feel even more evil... I'm sure you're all happy with this chapter! Trust me, we're still in for a very, very long story and I could never have the heart to kill off Albie or Scorpie!
Thank you for your (angry) reviews Satary, Curly Wurly Me, Full-Empty-Spirit, AlbusPercivalWulfricDumbledo re, esinger, xXBandersnatchxX, Blue you, Stereotypical Emo and two anonymous guests! I'm nearly at 300 reviews so please push me over the mark!
Next chapter:: Scorpius and Albus get back to reality.