Music I listened to while writing :Quoi - Jane Birkin

The dormitory was filled with snores and breathing. Albus stared at the green curtains of his canopy bed, held open on one side. From there, he could see Scorpius's bed. It was still empty. He had returned over an hour ago, after the Slytherin party had ended, and a few drunk students had collapsed into unconsciousness, either in the common room or even on the stairs, unable to make it to their beds. He had counted four of them. Albus had stepped over them on his way to the dormitory, after visiting the Ravenclaws.

When he had left James, abandoning him in the dorm after striking him on the neck, Albus had run into Finnigan in the common room. He hadn't looked at him, clearly uncomfortable, and had gone straight upstairs to check on his brother. Albus was relieved by this, as he wasn't sure if his brother had recovered from the blow, but he didn't want to see him. He didn't want to help him. Yet, he didn't want him to be alone either. He was still his brother.

On his way out of the tower, he couldn't bring himself to return directly to the Slytherin dungeons. The Ravenclaw tower was closer. He had something to settle before returning to his house.

He climbed the stairs and arrived at the door where the blue eagle asked him a question about the Goblin Wars, which he couldn't answer. He waited for a student from the blue house to arrive and asked if they could find Kate Davies to come meet him at the entrance. The boy obliged.

Albus felt strangely calm. His stomach hurt, and his mind was foggy. He had learned too much, understood too much in such a short time. But oddly, now everything seemed clear to him, as if a thick fog had lifted and he could finally see the path he had been trying to follow all along, without success.

Katie's arrival pulled him from his thoughts, and he smiled at her. She was surprised and raised an eyebrow, hands on her hips, and asked :

"Well, well? What a surprise. Are you here to apologize for telling me to mind my own business when it comes to your Quidditch team and for making a scene in front of the entire Slytherin common room?"

Albus shook his head, smiling even more. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the staircase railing.

"No, I still think you should mind your own business."

Her cheeks flushed, but the anger quickly faded.

"If you're not here to make peace, then why are you here?"

"To not make peace," he said gently. He saw the flicker of apprehension in her eyes and took her hand. "Kate… You and I, it doesn't work."

She pulled her hand away from his, her lower lip trembling.

"How can you say that? It's only been a week, and you haven't even tried!"

"Exactly." He still spoke gently, his voice almost pleading. He ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm not trying. I can't. I can't pretend."

"Pretend!"she repeated.

"Yes, pretend," he insisted. "I can't do it like you can."

"Excuse me?" she hissed.

"Come on, Kate, you don't like me! You're trying to make me into something I'm not. You're trying to make me into someone stronger than I am, with more confidence than I have. I'm not comfortable with public displays, with declarations, with showing off. You want me to be some kind of leader who rallies crowds and shows you off on his arm, you, the beautiful and strong rival captain. But I'm not that kind of guy, I'm not…" He bit his lip and continued, "I'm not James. I'm a strategist, an introvert. I prefer to act in the shadows, and I have my own darkness that I like. I don't want to shine all the time. And I know that's not what you need."

"You don't know what I need," she said, tears shimmering in her eyes but not falling. "I never asked you to become the beloved Quidditch captain. And it's not because your name is Potter that I wanted to make you a hero!"

Albus took a breath, and his voice softened.

"You never asked me, but that's what you want. I'm breaking up with you before you hate me for not becoming that."

A tear rolled down her cheek, and she put a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob. He waited a moment, unsure how to react to her tears.

"If it's a matter of pride, Kate," he said, "you can say it was you who wanted to end it."

"Shut up," she whimpered. And she was really crying.

"Kate…" he murmured, reaching out his hands. She let him take her into his arms. He stayed with her until her tears dried.

When she returned to the tower, no one would have guessed she had cried. She was once again stunning, flawless, ice-cold. And Albus knew he had made the right decision for both of them. Kate needed a strong man by her side, someone who knew how to shine with equal talent.

And Albus… Albus needed Scorpius.

That's why he was waiting for his return, in the Slytherin dormitory, unable to close his eyes and wait until morning. He saw a wand and the spark of a "lumos." He laid his head on the pillow and pretended to sleep, keeping one eye discreetly open. Scorpius had entered, followed by Dorian, who was holding the wand to light the room. Albus saw Scorpius grab the empty flask of headache potion on his bedside table.

"Are you sure?" he whispered to Dorian, his voice trembling.

Nott nodded silently, and Scorpius pointed his wand at his temple, pulling out a fluid, blue filament that came from his head, drawn by the wand. He tapped the neck of the flask, and the filament fell into the small vial. He closed it, his hands shaking.

"I think there's a Pensieve in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts," Nott said, taking the flask the boy handed him. "I'll ask McGonagall to use it."

"I'd rather not know. Just give me back the flask and the memory when you're done."

Dorian sat on the bed and hugged him tightly, pressing his lips to his forehead and hair. He released him, whispering "Sleep" softly, and Scorpius nodded with a weary smile as he lay down on the bed. Nott left the room, taking the only source of light with him.

Darkness returned. Albus heard Scorpius undo the curtains of the canopy in the dark, a sign that he would soon fall asleep.

He fumbled for the wand on his bed and whispered "lumos," lighting the room again. He heard a faint protest from one of the dormitory occupants, but he paid no attention. He dimmed the light and got out of bed, approaching.

He pulled back the curtains, revealing Scorpius, lying on his side, surprised to see him.

"Albus? What are you doing?" the boy started, sitting up.

Potter put a finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet. He climbed onto the bed, closing the curtains behind him, before casting a sealing spell. The curtains stiffened and closed like doors. A muffling charm isolated them from the outside world: no sound could escape.

Albus realized he was trembling. Malfoy had sat up and was watching him, perplexed. He was still wearing his t-shirt and black pants, not having had time to change for bed. He waited for Potter to speak, but the latter simply stared at him.

"Why are you here?" he asked, bitterly, resigned to yet another confrontation about James, convinced that Potter was about to finish him off. The look of disappointment in his eyes had said more than enough when he had found them in the dormitory. He laid his head back on the pillow, waiting for him to speak.

"I..." Albus swallowed painfully, feverish. Scorpius looked away.

"You want to talk about what you saw earlier?" Malfoy began, feeling his heart tighten and his voice break.

"No!"

Surprised by the harshness of the reply, Malfoy stared at him, confused. Albus was looking at him intensely, and he couldn't identify the dark glint in his eyes. He didn't move, pierced by that gaze, panting.

Slowly, the boy's eyes drifted down from his gaze and lingered on his lips. Scorpius stopped breathing as Albus leaned over him, placing one hand beside his head to support his weight. He didn't move, paralyzed. Gently, Potter moved closer, giving the boy all the time in the world to push him away if he wanted to. But finding no resistance, he captured his lips. His whole body trembled at the touch of his mouth, soft and cool against his own, trembling in the kiss.

Tensed just moments ago, Scorpius's body relaxed under his embrace, and he returned the kiss, his fingers sinking into his hair. Deepening the kiss, Albus parted his lips, and Scorpius followed suit. Their tongues intertwined lovingly and without restraint. Albus stretched out his body on top of Scorpius's, supporting himself slightly so as not to crush him. The boy moaned, and Albus's body trembled with pleasure.

Out of breath, he pulled away from his lips, sitting up and locking eyes with Scorpius. The boy's cheeks were flushed, his lips swollen from the kiss, and his blue eyes were dark and feverish.

He was so beautiful, so perfect. Albus, breathless, wanted to whisper so many things to him, but the words choked in his throat. He cupped Scorpius's cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb over his lips before kissing him again. He broke the kiss again, trembling.

"If you don't want me," he sighed, resting his forehead against the boy's, his breath soft against him, "tell me now, and I'll walk out of your life. But if you want me to stay..."

Scorpius shook his head frantically, tears streaming from his eyes, slipping into his hair.

"Stay," he whispered, clutching the boy's t-shirt in his fingers, pulling him back onto him. "Please, stay."

Albus nodded and kissed him more feverishly than before. It was the first time he kissed him like this, as a lover, showing him just how much he desired him, without innocence.

The time of their childhood was over.

His lips trailed down his cheek, along his jaw, and to his neck. He felt Scorpius shudder at the touch of his mouth, kissing and nibbling the flesh at the junction of his shoulder. A soft, plaintive moan escaped the boy's lips as Albus ran his tongue over the skin he had just nibbled, and instinctively, Scorpius spread his legs, throwing his head back.

Albus felt himself swell against Malfoy's stomach, equally aroused, his pants becoming too tight. Trembling, hesitating, Albus sat up and placed his hand on the button and zipper of the boy's pants, waiting for his consent. Scorpius nodded, panting. Potter opened his pants and pulled them down by the waistband, past his hips and pale legs, leaving his underwear on.

For a moment, Albus was gripped by fear, feverish at the sight of Scorpius's exposed skin, innocent and unsure.

Scorpius rose toward him, wrapping his thin arms around his neck, kissing him again, their bodies pressed together. Albus felt him slip his fingers into the waistband of his pants, pushing them down to his hips, and then fingers wrapped around his member. A wave of heat enveloped him, and Albus tensed, letting out a moan into the kiss. Feverish, he pushed Scorpius back onto the mattress. He pressed his body against his warm one, the fabric of their underwear separating their skin, but neither seemed to care.

Albus positioned himself between the boy's legs, his pale knees brushing the sides of his body. He placed his hands on either side of the boy's shoulders for support, aligning himself with his groin, hardness against hardness, then rested his forehead against his and began to move his hips.

At the first thrust, Scorpius gasped with pleasure. He wrapped his thin arms around Albus's neck as Albus intensified the rhythm and friction of their bodies.

Soon, Potter couldn't bear the barrier of their clothes, and he slid a hand between their bodies, pulling down the boy's underwear to his thighs, snapping the elastic in his clumsy, frantic movement.

Skin against skin, numb with ecstasy, Albus let out a groan of pleasure, while Scorpius, his head thrown back on the pillow, let out strangled moans through clenched teeth, his hair sticking to his forehead. He spread his legs wider as the wetness of their excitement made the sliding easier, more delicious.

Pleasure built higher, and Albus's arms gave out under the intensity. He collapsed onto Scorpius's body, supporting himself on one elbow, and placed an arm under Scorpius's leg, forcing him to raise his knee to increase the friction, resuming a frantic rhythm against his body. Scorpius's breathing became irregular, punctuated by cries of pleasure.

The rhythm became ecstatic as their pleasure reached its peak. Albus thought he was going to pass out as his thrusts grew violent and uncontrolled. He heard Scorpius's cries growing louder as he reached his breaking point. Albus felt the boy's body stiffen suddenly, nails digging into his hair, and thin legs wrapping around his hips. The cry of pleasure that escaped the boy's lips triggered Albus's own climax, and after a few more thrusts, he sought Scorpius's lips to muffle his passionate cry as he released between their bodies.

Someone was shaking him, Scorpius's voice calling him. When he opened his eyes, he realized he hadn't moved, lying on top of Malfoy, his face buried in his neck, the boy's legs still wrapped around his hips. The boy was shifting beneath him.

"You're crushing me," Scorpius murmured, and the smile was audible in his voice.

"Oh," Albus grumbled, pushing himself up with both arms to slide to the side, lying on the mattress. He kept one arm around Scorpius's torso and closed his eyes. He wished he could sleep for a century. He felt at peace, no thoughts crossing his mind.

But he was being shaken again.

"Albus, don't fall asleep. You need to go back to your bed."

Potter opened his eyes, confused.

"Why?" he asked, not understanding the boy's request.

Scorpius shrugged and looked at him, lying on his side as well, his hair tangled, his lips red and slightly parted. A scandalous sight, and Albus felt desire rising in him again.

"If they find you in my bed," Scorpius explained, as if stating the obvious, "there will be rumors."

"So what?" Albus insisted.

Scorpius frowned and blinked. Potter felt his heart tighten, sleep evaporating completely as he sat up, staring at the boy.

"This wasn't just a one-time thing, Scorpius. I want to be with you."

Malfoy sat up too, blinking, staring at Albus, almost stunned.

"With me?" he repeated in a flat tone.

"Yes, with you!" Albus insisted, astonished by the boy's surprised expression. "Like, holding your hand, kissing you in the hallways, writing to you during the holidays. You know, a couple!" He nearly threw his hands up at the absurdity of the situation. His voice softened. "But what did you think this was?"

Scorpius stayed alert for a moment. He scratched the sheet with a nervous fingernail.

"I don't know. The best part of a deeply shitty day," he finally said with a shrug. A soft smile appeared on his lips. "And I wanted you."

Albus smiled at that, but then became serious. He knelt in front of Malfoy, on the mattress, and took Scorpius's hand. The boy tensed at the touch, and Albus waited for him to accept it and relax before continuing.

"We're going to talk now, okay?" He waited for Scorpius to nod, then went on. "I want to be with you, I've never hidden that. Ever since we met, I've been asking you to let me be part of your life. I'm clear about what I want, I want you. I just need to know if you're ready for us."

He saw Scorpius take a deep, almost panicked breath, and he tried to pull his hand away from Albus's, but he didn't let him.

"No, you're not running away this time," said Albus. He hesitated, lowered his eyes, then raised his head before saying, "There's no one else between us, right?"

Scorpius shook his head, keeping his gaze locked with Albus's. The boy smiled.

"Then why are you hesitating? If you want to be with me, just say it..."

"Of course I want to be with you!" Scorpius said, almost desperate. He was trembling now. "But tonight, there was still James..."

"I have nothing to do with James!" Albus protested, gripping Scorpius's hand tightly enough to hurt.

"I know!" Scorpius shouted, relieved that a spell was silencing their words from the rest of the world. "Believe me, I know, no one knows that better than I do!" He hesitated, wondering what barrier was holding him back today. He felt like he was losing his footing. "It's all happening so fast..." he murmured.

"Kate and I broke up."

"What?"

"I broke up with Kate tonight, right after I left the Gryffindor tower." He smiled at Scorpius's bewildered surprise. "I told you, I'm clear with myself. You're the one I want."

"Ah? So it's that simple?" Scorpius thought, his heart in his throat.
It was all just a matter of courage, a courage he had been terribly lacking his entire life. He looked at the boy kneeling before him on the mattress, holding his hand, his heart open, and the words flowing so easily from his lips. Once again, Malfoy both envied and desired him. Yes, he desired him. He had missed his gaze, had suffered in his absence, pierced to the core, reduced to facing the days like a walking dead, animated solely by the pain of his absence. And now, this boy was pleading for him to open his heart, and he didn't have the courage to accept?

"More than anyone else, I have a talent for spitting in the face of happiness..."he thought, troubled by the green eyes that were still looking at him with such gentleness. He shook his head. Now was the time for an act of faith.

"Okay," he murmured.

"Okay?" Albus repeated, and his smile could have lit up the world.

Scorpius was left feeling embarrassed.

"Yes," he sighed, biting his lip.

A strange excitement filled his chest as he looked at Albus. And the boy returned his smile and kissed him, with such tenderness that Scorpius felt like crying. He wrapped his arms around his neck again, holding him close as he kissed and nibbled on his lower lip. His heart swelled and contracted in his chest, sending almost painful shivers through his whole body. He loved his scent, his softness mixed with a strength he hadn't even realized, but that Scorpius could feel in the arms that held his body so tightly against his own.

"Can you let me sleep here now?" Albus asked, breaking the kiss and lying back down, pulling Scorpius with him.

And the boy nodded.

End of Chapter 24

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