2 fics, Challenge #65 + #45
Challenge # 65: Rebirth
Title: Spring
Rating/Warnings: G
Characters/Pairing: Albus Severus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Kinsley Shacklebot, Minerva McGonagall
Summary: Spring has come early.
Word Count: 689
Author’s Notes:Part 9 of my Stutter Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, and Part 8
Registered purchases?: Quill only
Spring arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry earlier than expected and the students took advantage of the nice weather. Most days one could find the grounds filled with lounging kids enjoying the mild temperatures while practicing their school work. It was on one of these beautiful days that Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy could be found laying side-by-side under a large pine tree on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Albus turned to his best friend. “What do you want to do today?” Scorpius thought about this for a moment, looking at the sky, before making one simple hand movement. Albus frowned slightly. “But we’re not doing anything.” Scorpius looked over at the brunet and smiled, making more hand gestures. “Ok. You win. We’ll just lay here and watch the clouds.” Scorpius’s smile widened and both the boys looked back up at the sky.
They lay like this for a long time, simply watching the fluffy white clouds move slowly across the sky. Suddenly there was movement behind them in the forest. A moment later a young centaur came running out of the trees, panting and bleeding from his front left leg. Albus and Scorpius sat bolt upright. The centaur was barely a foot away when he yelled, “Help! My herd is under attack!”
Albus jumped up. “Go get a Professor,” he hollered at Scorpius before rushing to be nearer the centaur. Scorpius was up in the same instance and took off at a run towards the school. Albus attempted to calm the frantic half-human half-horse while they waited.
Scorpius ran through the large oak front doors of the castle, frantically searching for an adult. There were none of the ground floor that he could see so he sprinted up the stairs to his right. As he ran up a few flights of stairs he kept a lookout for professors. On the thrid floor he turned left instead of continuing up, hoping that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was in his office.
Scorpius slid to a halt in front of Professor Shacklebot’s office and immediately began pounding frantically on the door while trying to catch his breath. Kingsley Shacklebot opened the door, “What in the name of--” He froze when he saw the out-of-breath first year. “What’s wrong?” he asked, alert.
“C-centaurs,” Scorpius stuttered. “U-under a-attack!”
“Show me,” Kingsley told the blond. Scorpius took off in a run back down the stairs. Kingsley followed closely behind as they made their way out of the castle. Scorpius led him over to the young centaur who was pacing near the edge of the forest. “Potter! Malfoy!” Kinglsey ordered, “Go find the headmistress and tell her what’s happening. I’m going in to help the centaurs.” He looked back at the forest. “Hurry,” he said before dashing into the trees, led by the centaur.
Scorpius looked like he was about to faint so Albus said to him, “You stay here and keep a lookout. I’ll go get McGonagall.” Scorpius nodded and collapsed under a nearby tree as Albus took off towards the school at a run.
A few minutes later Albus returned with the headmistress and several other professors in tow. “Into the castle, now!” Headmistress McGonagall told the two boys before she too ran into the forest. Professor Abbott headed out onto the grounds to shoo the rest of the students inside.
Scorpius frowned at Albus as he stood up. “There’s nothing we can do now. Let’s go back to the common room,” Albus told him.
~~~~
By dinner that night the entire school had heard about the injured centaur and they all wanted to know what had happened. Albus was retelling the story of his and Scorpius’s part in the mystery for the hundredth time when Kingsley Shacklebot entered the Great Hall looking tired and battered. “The centaurs are all fine,” he announced, and the entire school breathed a sigh of relief. “They were attacked by an over-sized forest troll. The other professors and I have relocated the troll and tended to the injured centaurs.”
Challenge # 45: Hurt/Comfort
Title: Fly. Fall.
Rating/Warnings: G
Characters/Pairing: Albus Severus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Madam Pomfrey, Rose Weasley
Summary: The last flying lesson for the first years.
Word Count:
Author’s Notes:Part 10 of my Stutter Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, and Part 9 (or scroll up)
Registered purchases?: Quill only
Ever since the first flying lesson of the year, Albus Severus Potter has been excused from the class. During that first lesson, and barely five minutes into it, the brunet fainted and fell off his broom, discovering a debilitating fear of flying. His best friend, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, on the other hand was a natural in the air. Albus was positive that the blond’s skill rivaled that of his Quidditch Star older brother.
Come April everyone in First Year, aside from Albus, was comfortable on their brooms and they would have their last flying lesson. The class met on the Quidditch Pitch, instead of their usual spot on the front lawns. “Today we’ll play a bit of Quidditch,” the professor announced. The group of students chattered happily as they quickly separated into two groups, largely based on their Houses, and began to play.
Albus sat in the first row of the stands, watching the unofficial game. Scorpius, it turned out, was not just a natural flier, but also an amazing seeker. He managed to catch the small golden practice snitch before the other seeker even noticed he was moving and before the first goal had been scored.
After Scorpius caught the snitch six times in fifteen minutes it was decided by the rest of the class that he would change position with one of the beaters. Albus cheered for his best friend as the other boy skillfully knocked a bludger away from one of his teammates moments after being handed the beater’s club.
The game continued at a leisurely pace for some time, each team scoring points at regular intervals and neither of the seekers spying the snitch. Leisurely, until something horrible happened. Albus watched as, in slow motion, a bludger flew right at the back of his best friend’s head. He shouted, “Scorpius!” but it was too late; the large ball connected with Scorpius’s head and the Gryffindor fell from his broom, unconscious.
Scorpius hit the ground hard and didn’t stir. The class of first years remained in the air for a moment, frozen in shock as Albus screamed, “NO!” The brunet rushed from the stands and over to his best friend. Albus kneeled by the other boy’s head as their professor landed a couple feet away. “Scorpius?” Albus asked, tears in his eyes. “Scorpius, wake up.”
“Right. We have to take him to the hospital wing,” Professor Yemming said. “Class! Put your brooms away and head back to the castle!” she announced before pointing her wand at the unconscious blond. She levitated him in front of her as she hastily headed off the Quidditch pitch, calling out to Albus as she went, “Potter! Come with me.”
Albus followed the professor at a run across the grounds and up the many stairs leading to the hospital wing. Professor Yemming called for the healer and gently placed Scorpius down on a bed. Albus stood next to his friend, silently begging him to be alright. Madam Pomfrey appeared a moment later and shoo’d him out of the room. Albus waited impatiently in the hall outside the room, joined after a short time by his cousin Rose Weasley, as the healer worked on his best friend. Rose attempted to comfort her cousin as they waited, but he wouldn’t stop pacing.
What felt like hours later, but was really only twenty minutes, Professor Yemming opened the door of the hospital wing and stepped outside. “How is he, Professor?” Albus asked the instant the professor was out of the room.
“Mr. Malfoy should be fine,” she smiled. “He had several broken bones, which have been healed, and is suffering from a rather severe concussion.” Albus and Rose nodded. “You may go in and see him, but he is asleep right now so you must be quiet.”
“Thank you,” Rose told the woman as Albus pushed open the door to the wing and entered. Rose followed him and they walked quietly over to the bed occupied by their blond friend. Scorpius was pale, much paler than normal, but looked very peaceful in his sleep. Albus sat on the edge of his bed while Rose stood next to him.
Albus addressed the boy on the bed, “Professor Yemming says you’ll be fine. But I’m still worried about you.” Rose placed a hand on his shoulder as he looked down at his best friend. Albus picked up Scorpius’s hand and entwined their fingers. “Concussions can be bad,” he said to his cousin. “I overheard Dad telling Mom about an Auror who had to quit his job after getting hit in the head because he couldn’t remember things anymore.” Albus sighed and Rose squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. They remained like that for a long time, both watching Scorpius sleep.
Rose yawned, suddenly tired. “Let’s go to the Common Room,” Rose suggested.
“You go. I want to stay with Scorpius.”
Rose nodded and gave her cousin a hug. “He’ll be fine,” she said before leaving the hospital wing.
Albus lay down on the bed with Scorpius. He wrapped the blond’s arm around his waist and rested his head on Scorpius’s chest, closing his eyes. “I just have to think positive.”
689/30 = 22.9
23+5 bonus = 28
878/30 = 29.2
29+5 bonus = 34
28+34 = 62
62 Points for Hufflepuff!
Hanson Phreek // Hufflepuff
Title: Spring
Rating/Warnings: G
Characters/Pairing: Albus Severus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Kinsley Shacklebot, Minerva McGonagall
Summary: Spring has come early.
Word Count: 689
Author’s Notes:Part 9 of my Stutter Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, and Part 8
Registered purchases?: Quill only
Spring arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry earlier than expected and the students took advantage of the nice weather. Most days one could find the grounds filled with lounging kids enjoying the mild temperatures while practicing their school work. It was on one of these beautiful days that Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy could be found laying side-by-side under a large pine tree on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Albus turned to his best friend. “What do you want to do today?” Scorpius thought about this for a moment, looking at the sky, before making one simple hand movement. Albus frowned slightly. “But we’re not doing anything.” Scorpius looked over at the brunet and smiled, making more hand gestures. “Ok. You win. We’ll just lay here and watch the clouds.” Scorpius’s smile widened and both the boys looked back up at the sky.
They lay like this for a long time, simply watching the fluffy white clouds move slowly across the sky. Suddenly there was movement behind them in the forest. A moment later a young centaur came running out of the trees, panting and bleeding from his front left leg. Albus and Scorpius sat bolt upright. The centaur was barely a foot away when he yelled, “Help! My herd is under attack!”
Albus jumped up. “Go get a Professor,” he hollered at Scorpius before rushing to be nearer the centaur. Scorpius was up in the same instance and took off at a run towards the school. Albus attempted to calm the frantic half-human half-horse while they waited.
Scorpius ran through the large oak front doors of the castle, frantically searching for an adult. There were none of the ground floor that he could see so he sprinted up the stairs to his right. As he ran up a few flights of stairs he kept a lookout for professors. On the thrid floor he turned left instead of continuing up, hoping that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was in his office.
Scorpius slid to a halt in front of Professor Shacklebot’s office and immediately began pounding frantically on the door while trying to catch his breath. Kingsley Shacklebot opened the door, “What in the name of--” He froze when he saw the out-of-breath first year. “What’s wrong?” he asked, alert.
“C-centaurs,” Scorpius stuttered. “U-under a-attack!”
“Show me,” Kingsley told the blond. Scorpius took off in a run back down the stairs. Kingsley followed closely behind as they made their way out of the castle. Scorpius led him over to the young centaur who was pacing near the edge of the forest. “Potter! Malfoy!” Kinglsey ordered, “Go find the headmistress and tell her what’s happening. I’m going in to help the centaurs.” He looked back at the forest. “Hurry,” he said before dashing into the trees, led by the centaur.
Scorpius looked like he was about to faint so Albus said to him, “You stay here and keep a lookout. I’ll go get McGonagall.” Scorpius nodded and collapsed under a nearby tree as Albus took off towards the school at a run.
A few minutes later Albus returned with the headmistress and several other professors in tow. “Into the castle, now!” Headmistress McGonagall told the two boys before she too ran into the forest. Professor Abbott headed out onto the grounds to shoo the rest of the students inside.
Scorpius frowned at Albus as he stood up. “There’s nothing we can do now. Let’s go back to the common room,” Albus told him.
~~~~
By dinner that night the entire school had heard about the injured centaur and they all wanted to know what had happened. Albus was retelling the story of his and Scorpius’s part in the mystery for the hundredth time when Kingsley Shacklebot entered the Great Hall looking tired and battered. “The centaurs are all fine,” he announced, and the entire school breathed a sigh of relief. “They were attacked by an over-sized forest troll. The other professors and I have relocated the troll and tended to the injured centaurs.”
Challenge # 45: Hurt/Comfort
Title: Fly. Fall.
Rating/Warnings: G
Characters/Pairing: Albus Severus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Madam Pomfrey, Rose Weasley
Summary: The last flying lesson for the first years.
Word Count:
Author’s Notes:Part 10 of my Stutter Series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, and Part 9 (or scroll up)
Registered purchases?: Quill only
Ever since the first flying lesson of the year, Albus Severus Potter has been excused from the class. During that first lesson, and barely five minutes into it, the brunet fainted and fell off his broom, discovering a debilitating fear of flying. His best friend, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, on the other hand was a natural in the air. Albus was positive that the blond’s skill rivaled that of his Quidditch Star older brother.
Come April everyone in First Year, aside from Albus, was comfortable on their brooms and they would have their last flying lesson. The class met on the Quidditch Pitch, instead of their usual spot on the front lawns. “Today we’ll play a bit of Quidditch,” the professor announced. The group of students chattered happily as they quickly separated into two groups, largely based on their Houses, and began to play.
Albus sat in the first row of the stands, watching the unofficial game. Scorpius, it turned out, was not just a natural flier, but also an amazing seeker. He managed to catch the small golden practice snitch before the other seeker even noticed he was moving and before the first goal had been scored.
After Scorpius caught the snitch six times in fifteen minutes it was decided by the rest of the class that he would change position with one of the beaters. Albus cheered for his best friend as the other boy skillfully knocked a bludger away from one of his teammates moments after being handed the beater’s club.
The game continued at a leisurely pace for some time, each team scoring points at regular intervals and neither of the seekers spying the snitch. Leisurely, until something horrible happened. Albus watched as, in slow motion, a bludger flew right at the back of his best friend’s head. He shouted, “Scorpius!” but it was too late; the large ball connected with Scorpius’s head and the Gryffindor fell from his broom, unconscious.
Scorpius hit the ground hard and didn’t stir. The class of first years remained in the air for a moment, frozen in shock as Albus screamed, “NO!” The brunet rushed from the stands and over to his best friend. Albus kneeled by the other boy’s head as their professor landed a couple feet away. “Scorpius?” Albus asked, tears in his eyes. “Scorpius, wake up.”
“Right. We have to take him to the hospital wing,” Professor Yemming said. “Class! Put your brooms away and head back to the castle!” she announced before pointing her wand at the unconscious blond. She levitated him in front of her as she hastily headed off the Quidditch pitch, calling out to Albus as she went, “Potter! Come with me.”
Albus followed the professor at a run across the grounds and up the many stairs leading to the hospital wing. Professor Yemming called for the healer and gently placed Scorpius down on a bed. Albus stood next to his friend, silently begging him to be alright. Madam Pomfrey appeared a moment later and shoo’d him out of the room. Albus waited impatiently in the hall outside the room, joined after a short time by his cousin Rose Weasley, as the healer worked on his best friend. Rose attempted to comfort her cousin as they waited, but he wouldn’t stop pacing.
What felt like hours later, but was really only twenty minutes, Professor Yemming opened the door of the hospital wing and stepped outside. “How is he, Professor?” Albus asked the instant the professor was out of the room.
“Mr. Malfoy should be fine,” she smiled. “He had several broken bones, which have been healed, and is suffering from a rather severe concussion.” Albus and Rose nodded. “You may go in and see him, but he is asleep right now so you must be quiet.”
“Thank you,” Rose told the woman as Albus pushed open the door to the wing and entered. Rose followed him and they walked quietly over to the bed occupied by their blond friend. Scorpius was pale, much paler than normal, but looked very peaceful in his sleep. Albus sat on the edge of his bed while Rose stood next to him.
Albus addressed the boy on the bed, “Professor Yemming says you’ll be fine. But I’m still worried about you.” Rose placed a hand on his shoulder as he looked down at his best friend. Albus picked up Scorpius’s hand and entwined their fingers. “Concussions can be bad,” he said to his cousin. “I overheard Dad telling Mom about an Auror who had to quit his job after getting hit in the head because he couldn’t remember things anymore.” Albus sighed and Rose squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. They remained like that for a long time, both watching Scorpius sleep.
Rose yawned, suddenly tired. “Let’s go to the Common Room,” Rose suggested.
“You go. I want to stay with Scorpius.”
Rose nodded and gave her cousin a hug. “He’ll be fine,” she said before leaving the hospital wing.
Albus lay down on the bed with Scorpius. He wrapped the blond’s arm around his waist and rested his head on Scorpius’s chest, closing his eyes. “I just have to think positive.”
689/30 = 22.9
23+5 bonus = 28
878/30 = 29.2
29+5 bonus = 34
28+34 = 62
62 Points for Hufflepuff!
Hanson Phreek // Hufflepuff