Hey peeps! Back from Turkey with another chappie for I'll Be There for You! For those interested, I had a great time and I want to go back! :( Now, without further ado, let's continue! Btw, I would love it if y'all review my work and tell me what you think^^

P.S.: I've changed Matt's name to Damon, because it was the same name as a character from another Albius fic. I didn't want to upset anybody or lead them to think I copy other's work, so I changed it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3:

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"About Potter and Malfoy."

"They've been spending a lot of time together I heard."

"Why would he do that voluntarily? I bet Malfoy cursed him."

Those were conversations Albus and Scorpius had been overhearing for a week now. Mostly because the other students didn't even bother to keep their voices low.

Albus wasn't fazed by this. He was used to people talking about him.

Scorpius felt a little less at ease with all the attention, though. He felt very guilty that Albus had to go through this, people starting to look badly at him, because they'd become friends.

Albus was aware of this, so he did everything he could to cheer Scorpius up.

"Hey Scorp?" he asked one Friday afternoon in the library.

"Hm?" his friend responded, not looking up from his Transfiguration homework. Albus still couldn't believe Scorpius could stay focused on his homework on the weekend.

"Why don't we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

Scorpius looked up from his work now, looking a little worried. "I don't know… I've never gone to Hogsmeade…"

"What?! Why?"

"Damon and Ricky always go there…" he replied a little sadly.

"Oh… They even bother you there? Anyway, now you've got me to protect you. They won't hurt you as long as you are with me. I won't let them."

"Why don't you go with Danni? You usually do so."

"I do, but now I wanna go with my new mate," Albus said with a wink.

"Okay… I guess…"

"Brilliant!"

Albus looked very happy.

Scorpius was still worried.

-o-O-o-

So it happened that Scorpius and Albus were walking down the front steps of the castle, on their way to Hogsmeade.

Scorpius was still not convinced whether he should've gone with Albus. Sure, Albus would protect him from physical attacks if he could, but Scorpius was still vulnerable to verbal attacks, something Scorpius was still quite affected by.

November had come and it was getting increasingly colder.

Scorpius had put on a long, woolly coat and black gloves, while Albus only wore a vest, causing him to whine because he was freezing.

"You should've put on a coat," Scorpius grinned at his friend.

"No way! You've seen the coat my mom bought for me! It looks hideous on me!" Albus said grumpily.

"No, it doesn't. It looks quite good on you."

"If you say so…"

"Look, if you want a new coat so badly, why don't we buy a new one? I'm looking for an excuse to go shopping. Since, I usually go shopping during the holidays to avoid coming here, I'd like to take a look around the shops in Hogsmeade."

Albus sighed. "Okay, we can go shopping. Look, right there is a Muggle clothing store. Maybe we can find something there."

"I'm surprised you managed to spot a clothing store," Scorpius laughed.

"And why is that?"

"Because you're a boy. Boys don't usually spot clothing stores."

"You're a boy," Albus remarked.

"I'm gay. That doesn't count," Scorpius grinned.

They entered the store. It looked like the shop was quite famous among the local people and Hogwarts students, as quite a few of the latter walked around the shop, looking at different types of clothing.

Walking over to the boy's section of the store, Scorpius picked three coats and passed them to Albus for him to try on. Albus groaned.

"Do I have to try on all of these?"

"You wanted a new coat, didn't you? Now shoo, I'm looking for a new pair of skinnies."

About an hour later, Scorpius and Albus left the store, Scorpius carrying two bags with two new pairs of jeans and one new sweater. Albus was now wearing his new coat.

"Much better," Albus breathed, relieved at the warmth his coat gave him.

"Look at you being all warm," Scorpius grinned.

Look at you, all smiling," Albus retorted. "I don't recall you ever being so happy."

"I've been happy, just not at school. Now that I have you, I noticed myself becoming more happy. Like how I was when I was still friends with Lizzy."

"Lizzy?" Albus asked confused.

"Long story which I'd rather not talk about," Scorpius replied a little sadly. "The important thing is that I am happy now. Now that I have a friend."

"Awh," Albus cooed. "That's so sweet of you."

Scorpius smiled.

"Say, why don't we go drink a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?" Albus proposed, pointing at the famous little pub.

"Sounds good," Scorpius said, looking through the window. "But I can already see it's very busy inside."

"Hm… I can go inside and order the butterbeers and then we can drink them here."

"That's okay, but hurry up then. I'll be waiting here."

Albus went inside. Scorpius heard the voices of Hogwarts students that were inside when Albus opened the door. They sounded like they were having an amazing time.

So was Scorpius. He hadn't had such a great time in a long time.

"What are you doing here? Albus got enough of you already? Can't blame him, honestly," he heard a mocking voice from behind him. When he turned around he noticed it was Danni's.

She continued, sounding more angered now: "I know what you're trying to do, Malfoy, and I don't like it. Nor will I let you do it." She looked as if she was going to spit fire any second.

"E-Excuse me?" Scorpius stuttered.

"You heard me. I'm not letting you steal my Al away from me. We haven't spoken in a week because he keeps spending time with you. I really don't see what he sees in you, with your blasphemous lust for other men. To get the message a little clearer for you, I hired some guys to beat into you." With a snap of her fingers, Damon and Ricky came walking up to Scorpius, cracking their knuckles threateningly.

-o-O-o-

"S-Stop, p-please…" Scorpius stammered after receiving yet another kick to the stomach. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth and there were bruises everywhere. Everything hurt.

He was dizzy and his head hurt like hell. He begged for death. Hoped they would kick him to death… They didn't, however…

Instead, he felt every punch and kick delivered to him and heard every word they spit out to him.

"Fucking faggot! This'll teach you to mess with our friend," Damon hissed.

"Wh-Why are you… D-Doing this? W-We are… Just tr-trying to b-be friends… I-I don't-" Scorpius was cut off when his face was hit by a foot.

He fell to the ground, feeling paralyzed.

Ricky spit on Scorpius' face, scowling.

Damon and Ricky walked away, while darkness engulfed Scorpius and he slowly lost consciousness.

I was doubting whether I should put the beat-up in this chapter or the next, but I decided to put it here… Idk why… Review pls! I'd appreciate it!

Love!