Chapter Text
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Albus let out a groan as he sat down on the seat beside Scorpius, his whole body aching as he let Lily put his luggage up into the holding racks just as she had before Summer. She grinned, as her 'Wingardium Leviosa' spell worked. Rose sat down opposite them, her Prefect badge shining bright in the sunlight and almost blinding Albus.
“You are being incredibly dramatic, Albus.” Rose rolled her eyes, putting her legs up on the other side of the carriage. “Hogwarts really isn’t that bad.”
“That’s really easy for someone as popular as you to say, to be fair.” Lily stated, as if she was unpopular herself. “Besides, I don’t like school either. I think the classes are really dull.”
“I’m not that popular.” Rose barked, but felt secretly proud about having a reputation that matched her parent’s. “Plus, Albus has us to speak to at school now.”
It was at this point that Albus tuned out, wishing that Scorpius and him were in their own usual compartment of the Hogwarts Express without the entirety of his family with them. Sure, they had had a good Summer in the Weasley beach house, and all of the cousins had bonded in a way that they never had before, but Albus found himself longing for things to go back to the way it was before. He longed for it to just be him and Scorpius again. The other Slytherin in the carriage had already pulled out one of his Potions books, telling Albus that he needed to catch up on the work that he had missed over Summer.
“Professor Slughorn might invite you to join the Slug Club again this year.” Rose changed the subject, which made Albus look up from Scorpius’ neat handwritten notes. “You will say yes this time though, won’t you? I think you'd love the balls.”
“Only if he also asks Scorpius to join.”
“But-“
“It’s no use, Rosie.” James said, with a wink and a cheeky grin plastered on his lips. “Albie won’t go anywhere without Scorpy and you know it.”
“The irritating thing is that I can’t even do it back because you’re already known as Jamie, so I’ll just call you a gargoyle instead.” Rose pouted.
Despite knowing the nickname was a play on words because of Rose’s run in with Polly at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, in which Polly - Rose's crush that she had told James about at the holiday home - had referred to Rose as 'Rosie', Albus still felt himself burn internally. Rose threw her book at James’ face, retorting as she pushed herself back into the seat so that he could sit down, moving her feet from the seat. If she could take back mentioning it to him then she would be a lot less worried about seeing Polly again at the Gryffindor table.
“I won’t be asked to join the Slug Club because I’m a Malfoy.” Scorpius muttered, nonchalantly, without looking up from his notes. It still stung that that was true, even after what Draco had told Albus at Malfoy Manor. Professor Slughorn was extremely bigoted in that regard, or haunted by the Wizarding Wars, whichever side you wanted to argue was the case.
“Then perhaps Albus won’t be either.” Jamie sniggered, pointing down at Albus’ pinky where the Malfoy signet ring sat. He pulled his hand back, shoving it down beside Scorpius’ robe and rolling his eyes. “Sorry Al, but it is mildly hilarious that you are going to be a Malfoy with the middle name Severus.”
Albus paid the comment no attention, turning to look out of the window and wishing he could jump off the roof of the train again.
“Speaking of surnames, do you not find it mildly hilarious that five of the twenty-four prefects in the entire school just so happen to be sitting in this carriage?” Lily blinked. “I mean, I find it ironically hilarious.”
“I want to know why both Albus and Scorpius were chosen to represent Slytherin when it’s normally one girl and one boy from each house.”
“Because they got rid of that out-dated gender norm years ago, Jamie.” Rose snarled. “They just choose two of the best students from each house now.”
“Then why was Albus chosen?” It was said in jest, but Albus still felt a twinge in his chest; his grades had always been low, and he had never been one to succeed in classes, so it didn’t make sense to him either. James must have picked up on the hurt that his little brother was trying his best to hide because he spoke again. “Then again, you were the one to save the school from an evil witch, so I guess it makes sense.”
Albus rested his head on Scorpius’ shoulder and watched him work after that, tuning whatever his family were saying out, again, by focusing on Scorpius’ studies. He could watch Scorpius do anything with glee but watching him study felt really special. Especially because he was picking up Potions for him. Of course, that also meant that Albus was taking another O.W.L. that he was going to fail but it also meant he wouldn’t have to spend a moment apart from his boyfriend.
It had been confirmed that they were allowed to take an extra class each by Professor McGonagall herself, who couldn’t exactly say no to Harry and Draco when Hermione – who took twice as many more – was stood beside them.
In the Great Hall, Scorpius and Albus received funny looks because of their hair and people began to whisper about how it makes sense that Albus Potter, the disappointment, would fall in love with a Death Eater and Scorpius had told Albus to ignore them, so he did. Professor McGonagall introduced each of the new Prefects and Rose got more cheers than Albus and Scorpius put together, which made sense logically because nobody ever cheered for Slytherins the way they did with Gryffindors but it still made Albus roll his eyes. And then they were all dismissed from the hall and told to head to their dormitories to unpack.
“I hate this place more and more.” Albus sighed, throwing his luggage down onto his bed and tapping the space beside him. Scorpius complied with the invitation and lay down on top of him, letting out his own deep sigh.
“Are we pushing our beds together again?” Scorpius asked, closing his eyes.
“It’s up to you but does it matter anyway? You always end up on top or me, or vice versa, so there’d be an empty bed either way.”
“Okay. Fair point, Al.”
"Did you see the way Yann was looking at us?" Albus swallowed, staring into the mirror on the wall with a frown. He really didn’t suit Scorpius’ hair colour and he hated his Uncle Ron for doing this to them. He asked the question with his voice hoarse. "Like he wanted to rip our heads off."
"Yann Fredericks always looks at us like he wants to use an Unforgiveable on us, it's not new."
The way Scorpius said it without even batting an eyelid made Albus feel uncomfortable. Scorpius was the one that was tortured with the Cruciatus curse, and he was the one that Yann targeted most in his bullying, how could he be so nonchalant about it? Of course, Albus knew it was because Scorpius was good and kind and wouldn't ever say anything bad about someone like Yann but it still made him shuffle.
“Are you still glad we’re out to everyone?” Albus asked, cautiously. He didn’t want it to sound like he wasn’t but – he wasn’t really. It terrified him. The looks they had both been getting all day were filled with hatred and judgement, and it made Albus feel exactly like he did the moment he was the first Potter sorted into Slytherin.
“I’m glad I can hold your hand whenever I like, or hug you.”
“Or kiss me? Would you kiss me in front of other people?” He tried to act as if he was curiously joking but he was trying to mentally prepare for the stares they would inevitably get.
Scorpius sat up, glancing over to Albus from the bed. His eyebrows were furrowed, and he was curling his toes in his socks.
“Would you prefer if we didn’t because – because we don’t have to kiss anywhere but in private if you-“
“I’m just – I’m worried about what people will say.” He scratched the back of his head, running his hands through the polar blonde curls that lived there temporarily. That blood love potion. “I’m worried about a lot, actually.”
Scorpius scooted off of the bed and skipped up behind Albus, wrapping his arms around him while he stayed sat down, looking into the mirror with him. He rested his chin on Albus’ head and smiled as his familiar scent floated up his nostrils. They looked ridiculous like this, with one another’s hair colours, but Albus still looked adorable.
“Do you want to sit down and talk about what you’re worried about?”
Albus considered saying no, not wanting to drag Scorpius down into his messed up mind, but he didn’t want to keep anything from him either. They had promised the always be honest and open with one another ever since Albus didn’t tell Scorpius about that argument with his dad. He nodded, giving a quick smile before his eyes went doe again. It was Scorpius that sat down on the floor first, crossing his legs and tapping his thigh for Albus to lie down on. The smaller boy complied, hugging his arms around Scorpius’ leg and closing his eyes. He took in a breath and released the deepest sigh.
“Everything.”
“Al, I don’t know what ‘everything’ could be referring to-“
“I know, I know.” Albus let out a small laugh. “I know you want me to be specific but – but I don’t know how to be.”
Scorpius’ eyes focused on the sadness in Albus’ own, his whole body aching at the idea of his favourite person being so upset and concerned about … everything.
“We had such a good time over Summer and – I didn’t want it to end.” He muttered. “I know everyone just thinks I’m being dramatic about disliking school so much but I’m no good at it – my grades are falling behind everyone else’s and the Professors look at me as if I shouldn’t have any prospects. But I do have prospects – I want to work in Potions but I can’t seem to do well enough in the exam to warrant it.”
“Exams aren’t everyone’s strength.”
“I don’t have any of those.” He sighed. “Plus, everyone will be looking at us and hating us even more. They’re going to say some awful things about you and that hurts me deeply because you don’t deserve it.”
“Wasn’t it you that said it didn’t matter what everyone else thought as long as we had each other?” Scorpius stroked his hand across Albus’ cheek, which made the smaller boy’s body tingle. “We have three more years and then we can do whatever we like.”
Albus grabbed hold of Scorpius’ hand, running his fingers along the signet ring that matched his.
“We had this exact conversation at Malfoy Manor, do you remember?” Albus sat up, turning around, and looking Scorpius in the eyes. He sat cross legged and mirrored him. Scorpius looked at him blankly, tilting his head and raising his eyebrows with a ‘really?’ expression, which made Albus scoff, because he shouldn’t have bothered asking. Scorpius had incredible memory. “Okay, you do.” He grinned, his cheeks aching from the smile. “Well, I wanted to tell you to take Potions but I didn’t want to burden you.”
“You’re not-“
“I know that now. I know that you’re more than happy to take another O.W.L. for me, I do.” He pushed his knee into Scorpius’. “But I didn’t at the time and – and it was sending me into full anxiety mode but I didn’t tell you.”
“Wh-“
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. I was worried.”
Scorpius pulled him into a hug, wrapping himself around Albus and encasing him under his pressure.
“I know you already know this, Al, but I am here to listen whenever you feel like that. I would do anything for you, you know that, don’t you?”
Albus did know that, and that was what was scaring him.
“I know you would. And you have before.”
You jumped off the Hogwarts Express for me. And you broke into the Ministry of Magic and helped me steal a Time-Turner with an evil witch. And you endured the kiss of a Dementor just to get back to me, and you took a Cruciatus curse twice for me. And then you spent a week with my cringe-worthy family for me instead of seeing your dad. And then – on top of that – you took another O.W.L. for me.
Yes, Albus knew that Scorpius would do anything for him. But Albus worried that he would, one day, ask too much of his brilliant best friend and ruin his life.
“I know you don’t want to be here, okay?” Scorpius smiled. “I know you would rather have stayed in Malfoy Manor and wasted away and I know that this year is going to be a challenge but, Albus, you’re strong. You will get through this.”
“We have before.” Albus nodded.
“We have.” He grinned. “Now, I’d really like to wake up without brown hair tomorrow, so do you think we could sleep so this wears off?”
Albus laughed, giving him a nod. He helped Scorpius up from the floor and followed him into the bed, curling up beside him.
“We can go and try out the Prefects Bathroom tomorrow.” Albus said, pulling Scorpius on top of him. The blonde – who was currently the brunette – grinned wide and nodded. “I thought you’d like that idea.”
“Well, I can swim now.”
“Yeah, only just.”
“You’re right – I might need a buoyancy aid.”
“Well, you can always hold onto me like you did in the sea.” Albus grinned, flirting lightly. He wrapped his legs around Scorpius, who was lying in a foetal position. “Like this?”
“I’ll think about it.” Scorpius sniggered, planting a kiss on Albus’ lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Albus replied.
Despite everything he had just said about feeling worried about the upcoming year, he found himself looking forward to tomorrow simply because of Scorpius. So, maybe this year wasn’t going to be that bad after all.
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