~What Am I Feeling?~
~Chapter 59- Drunken Antics~
NEWTs came far too quickly for the whole of the seventh year's liking. A week before, the panicking started. The note exchanging, the frantic essay practice and testing each other. They were on a study period; there were no lessons anymore, but they were expected to revise instead. Scorpius had been thoroughly enjoying the lie ins.
Albus finally regretted not studying all those times Scorpius offered. He was rushing around the last week, catching up with all the revision he had put off. Scorpius watched him, fairly relaxed compared to everyone else in the year, give and take a few other Ravenclaws.
Scorpius had fallen back into his studying routine and was now feeling quite confident with his upcoming exams. He had prepared thoroughly and in advance, unlike a lot of his classmates who had left it all to last minute. Scorpius was doing a fair four or five hours revision; more when he felt like he didn't know something as well. Others were waking up at the brink of dawn and working all day until the sun went down, including Albus.
He helped Albus as much as he could, but with an odd 'I told you so' here and there. When Scorpius got fed up of his constant panicking, Albus would rush to Rose next. Albus would do fine in the end, it was just a case of unnecessary stress he had brought upon himself.
Scorpius breathed a nervous sigh as he stared at himself in the mirror. He thought of how he had grown since the first year, yet his ambitions were still the same. To do well in his NEWTs and stay with Albus.
He had achieved one, it was now time to achieve the second. He had been working towards his NEWTs since his first day at Hogwarts and he was going to try his hardest, he was going to do the best he could.
"What are you doing up so early?" Albus said tiredly, yawning as he hitched himself up in bed.
"My first exam, Al. History of Magic." Scorpius stated simply, walking over to the bed and sitting down next to Albus.
"Oh yeah… I forgot…" Albus shifted closer to Scorpius, drawing the blonde's hand into his, "How are you feeling?"
Scorpius smiled anxiously, "A bit nervous but confident. Not so bad…"
"You'll do brilliantly, Scorpius. I have all my faith put on you," Albus tapped Scorpius' nose playfully, earning a giggle, "Seriously, Scor. You deserve to do well. You're the cleverest, most hardworking person. If you can't do it, none of us have hope…"
Scorpius bent over Albus, placing a gentle kiss on his lover's lips, "Thank you. It means a lot when you say that… what are you revising today?"
"Defence, tomorrow."
"Argh, yeah… I think I'm ready for Defence…" Scorpius said with a nod.
"Will you go through it all again with me later?" Albus said sweetly.
Scorpius rolled his eyes quickly and planted another kiss, "Sure. After I sleep."
"Good luck, Scor."
Scorpius sat in the Great Hall on his single table, the closed test paper in front of him. He tapped his fresh quill over and over, listening anxiously to one of the Professors going through the rules of the exam.
The voice coming from the front of the hall was dull and sounded muffled inside his head. His heart pounded inside his head.
Pull yourself together, Scorpius thought to himself. He knew he had been through so much. Being disowned, being kidnapped. He got through that and it wasn't easy… So surely he could past a measly exam?
Scorpius faintly heard the words you may begin but he really snapped into action when his classmates starts fidgeting and opening their papers. With a quick glance, Scorpius saw some disappointed looks as their eyes set upon the questions, some surprised and more than a few panicked. Finally, Scorpius opened his own paper, cringing.
Scorpius' only reaction was to grin.
~X~
"Scor! Get up!" Albus jumped on Scorpius' hips excitedly.
Scorpius groaned, pulling the pillow over his head and ears particularly, "Argh… Ger-off!"
"Scor, it's our last exam!" Albus reached forward, trying to pull the covers from Scorpius, "We're going home tomorrow… Party tonight…"
"We've still got a while till the exam starts… can you let me sleep please?" Scorpius tugged the covers back but Albus was winning the battle, "Al! It's still dark outside! You're being such an idiot…"
"Why thank you…" Albus pouted, "I just wanted to talk to you about something…"
"I'm listening…" Scorpius' sleepy voice came in a frustrated growl.
"Well I just found out that I got tickets to Tutshill Festival-"
"Beyond Magic are performing there this year." Scorpius shot up in bed, suddenly very awake.
"Yes, that is why I got the tickets dear…" Albus bumped his nose into Scorpius', laughing, "I thought it would be great for us to go, we'll be camping and we'll get to see some great music, meet new people. And I know you've always wanted to go… It will be great!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Scorpius exclaimed, throwing his arms around Albus' neck.
Albus nuzzled his nose into Scorpius' temple, "You're welcome… this Summer is going to be extremely eventful. In a good way, I think."
"Yes… well the part I'm looking forward to is you coming for dinner at Malfoy Manor…" Scorpius teased.
"Oh Merlin… me too…" Albus said sarcastically.
"Come back to bed…"
Scorpius tossed the covers open, allowing Albus to creep under with him. He wrapped his arms around Scorpius from behind, both of them curling up together. Scorpius lent his head back so it was tucked between Albus' chin and chest.
"Sleep now…" Scorpius ordered, softly but firmly.
"I just want to say… I'm really excited about the future. Our future. I can't wait to go to Rome with you."
Scorpius smiled, "Me too Al… Now go to sleep."
"Okay, okay… bossy."
~X~
Scorpius sat in the corner of the Slytherin common room, watching the bodies dancing to the pounding music and flashing lights. He sipped on his pumpkin juice carefully.
Every year, on the last day of exams, one of the houses would hold a party for the whole of their year. The rest of that house would have to relocate for the night, either stay in their dorm rooms or find another common room to hang out. It was slightly chaotic, but the teachers allowed it as a leaving gift.
It had fallen to the turn of the Slytherins this year and they were complete party animals. It was completely mad in the common room. Lights, fire whisky, the loudest music Scorpius thought he had ever heard. Everybody was loving it.
Scorpius, not so much. Parties weren't particularly Scorpius' thing… he would much prefer going to a concert any day, whether he knew the act or not. On the other hand, Albus loved to party. He loved concerts too, anything which involved socialising and having a bit of fun. If alcohol was involved, Albus loved it even more.
Rose approached Scorpius with a grin on her face. She took a seat next to him, crossing her legs and resting her bottle of fire whisky on her lap.
"Why are you sulking in the corner, Scorpius?" She nudged the Ravenclaw in the side with a sharp elbow, shouted above the music.
"I'm not sulking!" Scorpius yelled back, "This just isn't my thing sort of thing…"
"Come on, loosen up. Have a drink." Rose offered him her fire-whisky.
"No… no thanks…" Scorpius said nervously, pushing the bottle away.
"Scorpius! I didn't think this would be my sort of thing either, but I went to a party in the Summer, with Karl, and I had a blast. I was such a prude at first, much like you're being at the moment… but when I decided to try something new I actually enjoyed it myself. We don't always enjoy new things… but we might as well try. Then it can be an experience…"
Scorpius gave a reluctant look but he knew Rose was right. She was quite similar to Scorpius in many aspects really. They were both clever and loved learning, they were serious when needed to be. But the main similarity was their open minds. They both liked to listen to others and try new things. And although the idea of getting involved in the party was not his ideal way to spend his last night at Hogwarts, he would try it.
Rose led him over to the drinks table, weaving in and out of dancing bodies. She poured him a fire whisky which looked suddenly extremely scary. Scorpius picked it up the glass and immediately took a sip. It's not that he had never had a drink before, he just never had some on a social occasion. Nor had he ever drank excessively.
"Is that… Danielle?" Rose muttered, nodding her head in the direction of the opposite side of the room.
Scorpius rolled up onto the balls of his feet to glare over the heads of his classmates. There, he saw Albus attempting to chat to one of his friends, obviously slightly drunk, while trying to shake off the girl who was clinging onto his arm.
Scorpius pressed his lips together in annoyed fashion, almost wanting to growl at the girl. Albus and Scorpius had hardly seen Danielle since her and Albus' break up, they definitely hadn't spoken to her anyway. As far as their interaction got was passing each other in the halls. Basically, they had mutually avoided each other. Danielle often had new boyfriends, none of them long term.
Why on their last day of school had she decided to reappear?
"Should I go over there?" Scorpius asked Rose.
Rose nodded, "Maybe. They're obviously a bit drunk."
Scorpius picked up his drink and crept through the crowd, alone this time. So far, he still wasn't having a good time.
He reached Albus and the older man beamed as soon as he saw Scorpius. He stopped his conversation with his friend and finally shook Danielle off, pulling Scorpius by the back of his neck into a kiss.
Scorpius could taste the alcohol on Albus' breath and at first he wanted to push away, but he was already slightly buzzed himself and found he gave into the kiss.
Danielle stood there gaping, her mouth open dramatically while Albus' friend just walked away, laughing. Danielle stomped her foot and scurried away, probably onto another one of her ex-boyfriends.
When Albus finished, he left Scorpius flushed and slightly embarrassed. He didn't recognise this though and simply grinned again.
"Scor, I don't think I've ever seen you with a drink," Albus bumped his nose into Scorpius' clumsily, "I think I would like to see drunk Scorpius."
"I've only had one drink, Al…" Scorpius said, swaying to the music as Albus started.
"Well, I better get you another then."
"Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"I did say I wanted to see drunk Scorpius," Albus winked mischievously, "Come on…"
~X~
An hour later, it seemed that Scorpius was a little bit of a light-weight. He was already far drunker than Albus and probably most of the people there. But Albus was right to be curious about drunk Scorpius. Drunk Scorpius was great. Drunk Scorpius was practically the polar opposite to sober Scorpius. And although he loved sober Scorpius more than anything, drunk Scorpius was going to be fun once in a while… it was very refreshing.
Albus and Scorpius sat on the floor in a circle with about five other people, a few they had hardly ever talked to before. Scorpius was practically sitting on Albus' lap as they were in absolute stitches as one of the group did forward rolls across the circle.
"Okay, another round! Another round!" Scorpius yelled, a bottle of some drink in his hand. Everyone offered him their small cups and he poured the liquid into them, spilling a lot along the way.
"Scorpius, Scorpius! I daaaare you to pour some salt onto Albus' stomach and lick it off, then dooown the shot! Down it!" One of the girls said excitedly, bouncing in her seat.
"Easy!" Scorpius raised his eyebrows, one of the boys scrambled for the salt they had already been using.
Albus, who had sobered up slightly and was trying to keep an eye on his boyfriend, tried to be the voice of reason, "Scor, I'm not sure…"
Scorpius had already crawled between Albus legs with a playful look on his face, "Sssssh…"
Albus was too entranced with Scorpius looking so seductive. Scorpius slowly pulled up Albus' t-shirt, revealing his stomach. Albus' eyes were wide as Scorpius poured the salt just above his bellybutton.
Everyone watched with anticipation when Scorpius picked up the shot, downed it in one. With a quick glance upwards, Scorpius lowered his head and ran his tongue over Albus' skin.
Albus smothered a moan. Scorpius was never this confident in bed. He was always slightly hesitant, it was just his personality. But Scorpius being so bold… really turned him on.
Scorpius had licked up all the salt and wasn't even cringing at the bitterness. But his mouth lingered a bit longer upon Albus, his eyes finally catching his boyfriend's. Albus' lips were parted in pleasure as Scorpius rolled his tongue over his bellybutton.
There were cheers of encouragement from the background and laughter which brought Albus crashing back to reality. He lifted Scorpius' chin away from him hastily, only to have Scorpius push his lips against Albus' hungrily.
As much as Albus wanted to continue, he pushed Scorpius away, giving the blonde a disapproving look. Scorpius still grinned and leaned forward so his lips brushed up against Albus' ear, "Do you want to move this somewhere else…?"
The heat rushed to Albus' groin and he groaned loudly, finding himself nodding. Scorpius pulled him up and off the floor. There were a few wolf whistles as Scorpius dragged Albus out of the Slytherin common room in a haze. Albus followed like a little puppy, admiring Scorpius from behind.
They wordlessly and aimlessly made their way around the corridors deep in Hogwarts. Suddenly, Scorpius pushed Albus against a wall, crushing their lips together.
Albus kissed back with fervour and groped Scorpius' buttocks then firmly picked Scorpius off the floor and switched their places, roughly pressing Scorpius' back against the wall, causing them both to gasp loudly.
The hormones, the alcohol was just heightening everything. Any resistance Albus thought he should be putting up, was not strong enough to ignore Scorpius' wandering hands and eager behaviour. The only thing driving the two boys was lust.
Sober Scorpius would say that it was definitely something new.
~X~
"Uuuuuh…" Scorpius made a sound which sounded like a cross between a groan and a gargle.
"Hangovers are a bitch." Albus agreed, adjusting the sunglasses covering his eyes.
Albus and Scorpius were sitting on the Hogwarts Express, on the way back to London. That morning they woke up in their room, in their bed for the last time, with pounding headaches and the urge to throw up. Scorpius had rushed to the toilet, Albus in tow to make sure he was okay. He held Scorpius' hair back as he vomited. Overall, it wasn't a very nice parting from Hogwarts.
They were leaving the room they had lived in and they had developed as young adults. It was where they first made love. But on a grander scale, they were leaving Hogwarts, the place where they met and fell in love, where they shared their first kiss. Where they were safe and happy.
They had their best years, their best memories at Hogwarts and they regretted already that it wasn't the best way to say goodbye to their beloved school.
"I can't believe you let me get that drunk." Scorpius dropped his head on Albus', pouting his lower lip.
"I said I wanted to see drunk Scorpius. And drunk Scorpius was rather fun." Albus teased, his arm sliding around Scorpius to pull him closer.
"Well, sober Scorpius kinda hates drunk Scorpius right now."
The whole journey was spent drifting in and out of sleep, muttering few words to each other. When they stepped off the train, for the last time, they dragged their bags behind them. Their hands were linked tightly, sunglasses still protecting their eyes.
Scorpius spotted his parents first, wincing when he thought what they would say when they found out he was hungover. Albus almost read his mind, not knowing whether to laugh or share in his boyfriend's worries.
"Oh Scorpius!" Astoria wrapped her arms Scorpius' frame, "Why have you got those sunglasses on? Don't cover your lovely eyes…"
Astoria tried to take the glasses off her son who moved away, a panicked look on his face, "Mum! Stop…"
"Albus! You have them too! Why are you both covering your eyes…?"
Draco clocked on immediately and pulled Astoria back by the wrist, "Astoria, leave them… I'm sure it's just the latest Muggle fashion."
Scorpius smiled up at his father, who smiled back. He hugged Draco, who happily took his son in his arms, "Hi dad…"
"Hi, Scorpius… good term?"
"It actually wasn't too bad at all."
When they separated, Draco clapped a hand onto Albus' shoulder, trying to be friendly and accepting towards Albus, "How did exams go?"
"Well, they certainly weren't fun, that's all I'll say," Albus noticed his parents approaching and he grinned, charging towards them. He hugged his dad first, a manly, rough hug before embracing his mum warmly.
"Hangover, Albus?" Harry laughed casually, quickly picking the glasses from Albus' head.
"Dad!" Albus hissed, trying to snatch the glasses back.
Harry still chuckled, handing the glasses back to Albus. Albus avoided his mum's disapproving look. Greetings and pleasantries were exchanged between the Potters and Malfoys, still an element of awkwardness there, but considerably more relaxed than before.
"We should go to dinner," Draco proposed, holding out a hand for Harry, "Before the boys go off to Rome. How about it?"
Harry looked at Draco's hand for a moment of playfulness, then grabbed Draco's hand and shook it, "Sounds great. Should we get going, Albus?"
"Yeah sure," Albus drew Scorpius into his arms, ignoring his parents (who had seen it all before really) and Scorpius' (who were still probably getting used to it). He placed a long lingering kiss onto Scorpius' lips. He felt Scorpius' smile against his lips and couldn't help but do the same, "I love you. See you soon."
"Love you too. See you soon."
Whenever they parted for holidays before, the two men had been devastated and couldn't wait to see each other again. However now, even though they were close than ever, they weren't devastated at all. They knew they would see each other in a few days for the festival then they had Rome. Their whole lives were ahead of them and there was no point of being sad.
~X~
A/N: So, it's been a long time again! These chapters have been done, just getting around to posting them have been done seeing as my laptop is still broken (I'm lazy and keep forgetting to get it fixed!). Wanted to post one before Christmas though!
The next chapter (when I get around to posting it) is an extra, just for fun chapter! Remember so you don't read it feeling thoroughly confused!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and have a great christmas!