Heey! I'm so sorry for not updating! I feel like I've let you all down! I'm so sorry! If anybody is still reading this, I love you! I've been suffering from writer's block so bad, lately, so I'm sorry if this sucks, but I tried! Where did we leave off? Oh, right, Scorp and Al were caught by Prof Kellington while looking for Ricky.

Enjoy!

Chapter 15

"You have what?!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Al, how could you be so stupid? You know how much trouble you're going to get for this?"

"Rose, please, you sound like Aunt Hermione…"

During breakfast, they were told by Professor Kellington that they would be going to clean all the trophies in the trophy room with their bare hands, under close surveillance of Filch. It would take weeks, but Scorpius didn't really mind. It meant he had more time with Albus alone. Not that he didn't like hanging out with his new friends, but he hadn't done anything fun with Albus alone since that day in Hogsmeade.

Christmas was also approaching. Even though Scorpius believed Albus when he said Mr. and Mrs. Potter wouldn't judge someone by his last name, he was still worried about Albus' other relatives. He knew Ron Weasley didn't like the Malfoy family and judging by the things Scorpius' grandpa and his own father said to the Weasley family, Scorpius couldn't blame him.

He had written a letter to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

How have you been? I realized I haven't written a letter to you in a while, so I figured it was time I wrote one.

Things have been going great here (his parents didn't know about the bullying and depression) and I have even made a new friend! His name is Albus and, you guessed it, he's the son of Harry Potter. I really do hope you won't mind me being friends with him. He is incredibly nice to me!

Albus is actually the reason I wrote this letter. See, I have a question: would it be okay if I spend Christmas with Albus' family? Albus really wants me to come, but I said I would have to ask you first, naturally. I think Grandma wouldn't mind and, to be frank, I don't feel like listening to Grandpa's demented muttering of things that happened during "those times". I'm really sorry.

I hope you are all doing well!

Give Grandma and Grandpa my love!

Love,
Scorpius

He hadn't received an answer yet, though.

Teachers had started preparations for the O.W.L.s, which included them giving their students tons of homework. Scorpius didn't mind as much as Albus, who was drowning in the pile of unfinished homework and the essays he had to write. Rose and Scorpius knew how to plan, so they didn't have to do everything last minute.

"Yes, but I do have more free time," Albus huffed in annoyance one night when Scorpius pointed out to him that he better start planning and doing things in advance.

Classes became much more fun, now that he had some friends. Every class (except for Potions, due to assigned seats) Slytherin had with Gryffindor, Rose, Ricky, Albus and Scorpius would sit together in the back of the class. They all still paid attention, except for Albus - who never paid attention in class -, but they talked a lot during free time and just the presence of friends around him made Scorpius feel happy.

Ricky and Albus had now officially become misfits, falling victims to hateful remarks thrown their way by mean students, Damon in particular. Albus shook all these insults off, but Scorpius noticed how Ricky started scratching his arm whenever someone made fun of him. All three of them protected Ricky as much as possible. They didn't want Ricky to start cutting again.

Meanwhile, Albus kept a close eye on Scorpius. He forced him to eat whenever he noticed Scorpius wasn't touching his food and every once in a while checked his arms to see if he had cut. Scorpius stopped cutting. He really had. He hadn't stopped vomiting on purpose, though, but Albus didn't know that.

He had come to terms with being in love with Albus, but that didn't make him any happier. It killed him whenever Albus checked out a girl's arse or when Albus called him his "best friend".

He frequently caught himself daydreaming different scenarios in which Albus and he were together.

This is getting out of hand, Scorpius thought. This isn't an ordinary crush, this is love…

His love for the other boy was, unbeknownst to Albus, slowly killing Scorpius. And he knew that he would reach his breaking point soon. Maybe sooner than he expected.

-o-O-o-

Scorpius was coming back from the library after a late-night studying session. The others had already left (albeit reluctantly in Albus' case – he had a bad feeling about leaving Scorpius alone today) and so Scorpius was all alone.

"What's up fag?" someone behind him sneered.

Scorpius turned around, already knowing who it was.

"What do you want, Damon?" he said. He had noticed himself becoming braver when talking to his bully, although this usually resulted in a heavier beating (yes, he still received those almost daily).

"I don't like your tone, Malfoy."

"I'm sorry…" Scorpius muttered.

"I already thought so. Look at me when I'm talking to you!" he yelled.

Scorpius clenched his books so tight his knuckles were turning white. He already knew what was going to come.

"The most amazing thing happened to me the other day. I've found someone who really shares my thoughts. You see, Ricky only did what he did because I told him to. This guy really wants to hurt you because he hates you and people like you. Dave, lend me a hand, please," Damon said.

A tall, brown-haired boy with grayish-green eyes walked up from behind Scorpius and grabbed him. Scorpius tried to get out of the boy's grip, but he was too strong.

Where were the fucking teachers when you needed them?!

"I've come to the conclusion that you are the reason for everything that has happened to me this year. I blame you and only you. I need to release my anger on something, so, naturally, you'll be my punching bag. You know how bullying works, right? I don't have to explain it, do I?

Damon raised his fist in the air and then punched Scorpius square in the face.

"God, how I love doing this…" Damon said.

He punched Scorpius again and again. Then he kicked him in the "private parts", muttering "you won't need those anyway."

Scorpius was starting to see stars, but focused on staying conscious.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Dave let Scorpius fell to the ground and after a final kick to the stomach, they both walked away. Scorpius barely noticed a yellow-black-striped tie hanging loosely around Dave's neck.

So much for Hufflepuffs always being nice…

He unlocked a door with his wand, limping inside an empty classroom and sitting on a desk.

He started to cry in his hands.

He suddenly remembered something: Albus and I met like this. He found me in an empty classroom after I had been beaten up. He smiled.

Albus is the best thing that has ever happened to me… I love him so much.

He then remembered something Madam Valderrama had said to him: Albus is your beacon of light your world of darkness.

Sooooo I'm sorry this sucked-,- I kinda made this a filler to sort out a few things and to indicate the passing of time or something idk I'm actually trying out different things in my writing so it probably didn't go the way I planned. I added the last part to let y'all know Scorpius' life still ain't sunshine and roses and that he is still really depressed, but that Albus is the reason he is still hanging tight.

Next time it will be a lot more exciting, I expect.

Btw I'm back to my old updating schedule: one update every weekend and maybe more if I feel like it.

I love you ppl!

Byex ('-')/