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Albus Potter never really had an issue with Scorpius Malfoy.
For all his family's hatred of the Malfoys, their hatred had not passed on to the next generation. There was a bit of tension because of it but they were now mostly cordial with each other.
To Albus, it remained that way until he got to Hogwarts. His parents, mostly his dad, would nod when they saw the Malfoys, and they would do the same. The kids always politely said hello, knowing they would go to school together soon.
That changed when Albus got sorted into Slytherin. Although his dad had said some comforting words to him before he left, Albus still held a lot of trepidation. It was Scorpius who found him when he eventually broke down, about a week after the term started.
The boy had been sorted into Gryffindor, which had shocked everyone. Malfoys were never sorted in Gryffindor, just like Potters were never sorted in Slytherin.
They found comfort in one another, two boys who were sorted into the wrong houses. It might’ve ended at that, but it didn’t. They became friends, and before Albus knew it, he was in love with Scorpius Malfoy.
Albus panicked at first. The two boys had been friends since first year and it was only half-way through their fifth year that Albus realized his feelings. He knew his friend would never feel the same.
Nonetheless, he confessed. It wouldn't do to keep all it bottled up inside or risk Scorpius finding out another way. It went worse than expected.
Albus had planned it all out, every word and the exact location as well. Despite knowing it could only end badly, Albus still held onto a bit of hope.
“You’re in love with me?” Scorpius repeated with a sneer.
Albus nodded back, throat too tight to say anything. He watched Scorpius’s face for his reaction and only found disgust.
“Were you only friends with me because of my money? Or did you think I would help you get a job?”
It hurt to hear, though his concerns were valid. Despite being former Death Eaters, the Malfoys still had immense wealth and power, though his accusations felt ridiculous since Albus was Harry Potter’s son.
“No!” Albus exclaimed. “Do you think I need you to do well in life? No matter how much I hate it, I’ll be fine because I’m the great Harry Potter’s son. Maybe you were using me .”
Scorpius looked hurt at that, and Albus wanted to retract his words. He didn’t. He could only watch as Scorpius walked away, feeling like everything had changed.
Indeed, everything did change after that. The two barely spoke and when they did, it would always end in wands being drawn.
Albus stuck close to the Slytherin friends he made, with Scorpius doing the same with the Gryffindors.
Albus never felt worse. Scorpius had been his best friend and now they were enemies.
When the Gryffindors used to sneer at him, Scorpius would tell them off but now all he did was watch. He might’ve had a crush on Scorpius, but more than anything, he missed the friend he had.
It didn’t help that Albus fell more in love with Scorpius as time passed either. Nowadays, he watched Scorpius to make sure he was well and secretly made sure the Slytherins did nothing to him.
By the end of the year, the situation wasn’t any better. Albus avoided his family’s questions about Scorpius for the entire summer, somehow. He thought about writing and apologizing but decided against it.
Seeing Scorpius the following year at Hogwarts was like putting salt on the wound. Time apart had only made Albus’s heart fonder, despite the tensions that remained. The sentiment wasn’t returned.
Scorpius started attacking Albus that year, much like the Gryffindor bullies they faced in the years before. It was then that Albus knew he and Scorpius would never be friends again. He already knew that, deep down, but had tried to ignore it, still holding onto hope for reconciliation.
It never came, and Albus fell apart.