~What Am I Feeling?~
~Chapter 58- Destiny and Hardships~
Albus and Scorpius sat closely as Harry's flying car almost crash landed in the Hogwarts grounds. The car rattled along with their trunks and bags, holding onto their owls in their cages to keep them steady. Harry helped the boys to carry their bags up to the castle where Professor Longbottom greeted them.
It was dinnertime so the men had time to settle back in their room. Mr Potter said goodbye to them and went to have a catch up with Professor Longbottom. When Albus stepped inside, his first thought was that it was smaller. Had he grown? Everything was the same; the beds, the covers, the curtains… everything was the same. Yet he felt like a man now; he felt like this was his childhood, his memories with Scorpius. He felt like they were finally at a point where they weren't just children anymore… they weren't just two kids in love and enjoying and exploring what it was like to be with someone. They were now two people who were ready to live their lives out with each other.
Scorpius flopped down on the bed they shared, his arms and legs spread out blissfully, "It's nice to be able to share a bed again… you're parents are really strict about sleeping together…"
"Yeah, but let's face it… we wouldn't have just been sleeping, would we?" Albus grinned while he crept over Scorpius, his knees at either side of the smaller man's slender hips.
Scorpius giggled, tilting his chin upwards, giving a sweet smile which Albus recognised as a request for a kiss. Albus inched closer, slowly and teasingly until their lips were only a breath apart.
"It's weird to think that we've come back but we'll be going in a couple of months… not even that." Albus whispered.
"I know…" Scorpius glanced around the room, a few recollections of his time with Albus sprinting to the front of his mind, "It's been good, hasn't it?"
"Yeah… it's been brilliant." Albus finally gave in and pressed a warm kiss to Scorpius.
"I don't want to leave in a way…"
"Why not?"
"Well… I wish we could have always enjoyed ourselves the way we are now… I wish everyone could have known about us, so we could have always walked around together openly… held hands, kissed in the corridors, what every other young couple does… I wish we didn't get bloody kidnapped- but then again, it wouldn't have happened to anyone else."
"I know… just our luck… we'll probably have more stuff happen to us… but we'll get through it, we always do…" Albus stroked Scorpius' cheek, a small smile gracing his lips, "And as for the hand holding and kissing, we'll have to make the most of it… We'll make a list of all the couple-ly stuff we want to do… what else do you want to do?"
Scorpius quirked his lips to the side, "Hm… I want to go skinny-dipping in the lake."
"Really? Well I'm up for that." The brunette grinned in delight.
"Al… we're not actually going to go skinny-dipping in the lake… in the Prefects Bathroom maybe… if you're lucky…"
"Oh, that's even better!"
~X~
The morning before they started their lessons again, Scorpius and Albus found themselves in the Headmistress' office, after she sent a message saying she would like to check up on them before they settled back in. That's how Albus and Scorpius found themselves sitting, waiting for Professor McGonagall to arrive.
"Do you think this will drag out into our first lesson? I really don't want to go back to Potions…" Albus complained.
"Al, you're so lazy!" Scorpius said, his voice breaking into a laugh.
"I just can't be bothered anymore…" Albus groaned, resting his cheek on his palm.
Just as Scorpius was about to reply, a deep, familiar voice interrupted him; a voice they only usually heard once a year at the most.
"Not very like a Ravenclaw, eh, Mr Potter?"
Both their heads shot up to a large cabinet, where the Sorting Hat sat, grinning down at the two men.
They laughed at the hat, Albus nodding his agreement, "Still don't know why you put in in Ravenclaw, Mr Sorting Hat sir."
"Well, I'll admit, Mr Potter, you're one of the ones I didn't completely base my decision on personality alone." The hat said with a wide grin.
Albus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I could see you two were going to have an interesting future together… I wanted to see how it panned out." The Sorting Hat admitted.
Albus and Scorpius stared at each other momentarily before Scorpius blurted out, "But how? You don't see into the future…"
"No, but sometimes I just get a feeling about these things… yours was one of those occasions I went by that feeling."
Scorpius felt like laughing out loud. To think, if the Sorting Hat hadn't put Albus in Ravenclaw with him, they might not be here today. They might not have stayed friends, they could have drifted away and made friends within their own houses. They might have said hello sometimes when they passed each other in the corridor, or occasionally spoke to each other in class. Maybe Scorpius would have fallen in love with Chris… though it could never have been the way he was with Albus. Albus might have dated Danielle for a while longer… he might have dated some other girls too. And they might not even be going to Rome, certainly not together.
However maybe they would have accidentally bumped into each other in a few years time… maybe ten or twenty years time. Maybe they could be married and then fall in love. They might have fallen in love regardless. Scorpius always did think they were destined to be together… But he was more than satisfied by the way it had turned out. He wouldn't give anything for the time he and Albus had shared. It was more precious than anything. He couldn't imagine a life without Albus… he thinks they might have always ended up together, whether it was sooner or later would be the issue.
"Um thanks…?" Albus said uncertainly.
"Thank you… really…" Scorpius said with a slight laugh.
The Sorting Hat grinned again, understanding how grateful Scorpius was, "You're welcome. I wish you both all the best in life."
McGonagall walked in at that moment, eyeing the boys and the Sorting Hat suspiciously. They stayed silent but all maintained the innocent smiles.
The Headmistress sat down, smirking at the couple in a way they didn't understand, "So, here we are again," Albus and Scorpius chuckled while McGonagall continued, "Will be fine continuing with your studies? I understand you have been through a lot of emotional trauma and I can make an exception by offering you another year here, so you can complete your exams properly."
Albus and Scorpius didn't even need to discuss the decision, they just glanced at each other before Albus answered, "I think we're ready to leave now… I'll do alright in NEWTs and Scorpius will do brilliantly… I don't think an extra year is necessary. But thank you."
"Yeah… we're really excited about going to Rome." Scorpius said sweetly.
"Your enthusiasm will never fail to escape me," McGonagall gave a grin, "It will be sad to see you both go. If there is anything we can do for you in your time left at Hogwarts, do not hesitate to ask. I wish you all the best."
~X~
Scorpius lay on a bed in the Hospital Wing, his upper half bare, hissing in pain as Madam Pomfrey dabbed his wounds with a cloth. Rose sat next to him, her face painted with concern.
Scorpius' healing wounds had been irritating him all day and he touched it one too many times while he was in the library with Rose and the scar opened up again. Rose brought him to the Hospital Wing, but he asked her not to tell Albus because Albus would make too much of a fuss and would probably start blaming himself again for Scorpius' injuries. He didn't need Albus blaming himself again, it was the last thing he needed now actually. If Albus wasn't feeling good, then he wouldn't either.
Although Scorpius was trying to block everything that happened from his mind, he was still scared. He was scared of the pain and the way he had been taken and the danger of him and Albus dying…
But he had to be brave for Albus. Because if Albus knew he was feeling like this, it wouldn't keep him motivated through his NEWTs and Scorpius needed Albus to work hard. For Albus. For their future. He knew Albus, he knew Albus would be too concerned with him. It would probably be an excuse for him not to work hard. It would be no good if that happened. He couldn't be the one to distract Albus.
Not only that, for himself to. He had been working towards his NEWTs practically ever since he came to Hogwarts. He wanted the best from them and couldn't let the past effect him. He would do his best in the NEWTs and then move onto his and Albus' new life, just as they had planned. He couldn't let his fears stop him.
"Mr Malfoy, you must not strain yourself so much. These wounds are still far too delicate." Madam Pomfrey said with a sigh, applying the cloth softly.
Scorpius gasped as the cloth pressed against a sensitive point, "But I-I have NEWTs and I need to finish them-"
"Mr Malfoy, you could stay an extra year and finish them. It would guarantee you better results and release some of the pressure."
"No, people keep saying I should do this but I don't want to! I want to finish Hogwarts…" Scorpius said stubbornly.
"Scorpius, maybe Madam Pomfrey's right… Maybe you should give yourself a break." Rose said gently, trying not to cause any offence.
"No, I'm completing NEWTs this year. I'm not waiting any longer."
"Well, you're staying here tonight Mr Malfoy. And all of tomorrow, I want to keep an eye on these cuts and make sure they start healing properly again before you go running off. And then you're going to come at least once a day for me to check them up." Madam Pomfrey said strictly.
Scorpius groaned, lolling his head to the side, "Which means Albus is going to know I'm here…"
Rose stood up, shaking her head, "Albus will be fine, you can't be worrying about everything."
"But he's going to worry about me…"
"Stop being silly boy and just relax!"
Rose had gone in a matter of minutes to go and fetch Albus. Scorpius lay back on the bed, trying to follow Madam Pomfrey's instructions and relax but he couldn't. He felt like crying. He couldn't wait for Summer and for exams and the pressure to be over. As much as he loved Hogwarts, returning recently had been horribly hard. Since he and Albus had been to see McGonagall a few days ago, more teachers had been suggesting he do his NEWTs next year. The pressure was on and Scorpius was battling with that stress.
Soon enough, Albus rushed in with a concerned look. His eyes cast over Scorpius and he shook his head.
"You stupid idiot, Scor," Albus scolded but with affection. He sat down next to Scorpius, holding the blonde's hand in his, "Why didn't you tell me your cuts were hurting?" Scorpius turned his head to side as the tears rolled down his face. Albus stroked Scorpius' face and tried to lure him back, "Scorpius, what's wrong? Please tell me."
"I just can't do it, Al… people keep telling me that I should do my NEWTs next year… do them next year when you have less pressure…" Scorpius cried, wiping his eyes on his sleeve, "But I want to do them… I want to get them finished… but I'm not sure whether I can do it anymore… no one else seems to think I can…"
"I think you can. I know you can Scorpius…" Albus pressed a soft kiss to Scorpius' cheek, "You're the cleverest person I've ever met, most determined too. Whatever you put your mind to, you can do anything. NEWTs are a few weeks away and for you, that's more than enough time to prepare. I believe in you," Scorpius gave a small smile and Albus squeezed his hand, "And you don't always have to be the strong one, Scor. You can have a moan and a cry sometimes and I'll be your shoulder to cry on…"
"B-But I don't want you to worry about me. You have NEWTs to worry about too…"
"Scor, I'm more worried about you when you hold everything in. I would rather you just tell me."
"I'm sorry." Scorpius mumbled, face pressed to Albus' side.
Albus laughed, "It's okay. Just talk to me. It's what I'm here for."
~X~
A/N: Hehe thought I'd give you another chapter! Now, I want to explain here because it relates to this chapter. The 60th chapter is going to be another one off random chapter basically based on what would happen to the boys if they didn't end up in the same house ^^ hence the sorting hat! I'm looking forward to posting it, it should be fun ;D
Thank you to sotroublesome33, athenarox, esinger, Lizzy0308, GreenGirl111, Curly Wurly Me and MiraclesHappen94, for reviewing the last chapter and for still being with me! Much appreciated!
Next chapter:: Exams come and go.