Never Leave Part 1
Title: Never Leave
Author: tangledsenses
Pairing: Albus Severus/Scorpius
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,542
Summary: Friendship is difficult and romance is worse. Only the strongest of relationships can withstand the obstacles that both bring.
Author's Note: This is a three part fic. The lyrics at the top are from Brand New Friend by Lloyd Cole.
Am I asking for so much?
I'm not asking to be understood.
Am I asking for so much?
I'm just looking for a brand new friend.
First Year
"What if the rest of the children are horrible and don't like me?" asked Scorpius Malfor, voicing his worries for the first time.
Draco Malfoy only wished he had done so sooner so that he could have had a proper talk with his obviously anxious son. It was Scorpius' first day at Hogwarts and he should have already boarded the train by now.'I'll have yo make this quick, he thought. Placing his hands on Scorpius' shoulders in a firm, reassuring manner, he knelt down so that he was level with the eyes that were so very like his own.
"They won't, Scorpius," he assured. "Just be yourself and they will forget all about your last name."
Scorpius was a sweet, good natured child and Draco's pride in him grew with every breath he took. It pained him to think that people would judge his son cruelly based on the mistakes that he and his father had made during the war. Scorpius did not deserve that kind of treatment. Draco had faith in him though; he was strong and if anyone would be able to redeem the Malfoy name it would be him.
Scorpius nodded at his father, trying to look as though his words had eased his fears. Draco knew this was not the case due to the tell tale way that Scorpius was fiddling with the bottom of his jumper. Before he could offer anymore words of comfort the whistle blew, signalling that any children still on the platform should board the train now.
"You'd best go, Scorpius."
Draco pulled him in for a brief but warm hug. This soothed Scorpius' distress better than any words ever could.
Scorpius' mother, Astoria Malfoy, hugged him tightly against her chest then ushered him onto the train. When her son's head platinum blond head popped out of the train window she began to fret at him.
"Be careful, won't you? Write regularly and let s know which house you are sorted into. If you've forgotten anything, we'll owl it. We love you, darling!"
"Okay mum. Love you both."
Scorpius watched his parents get smaller and smaller until the train rounded a corner and they were out of his sight completely. He sighed and began to look for a compartment to sit in. He knew he should probably try and socialise with the others in his year but he really did not want to. Just the thought of it made him so nervous that he thought he might vomit. By the time he reached the end of the train he was cursing himself for spending so much time on the platform because all of the compartments seemed to be occupied. Panic began to rise within him.
'I'm going to have to sit out in the aisle! Or worse-- Socialise!' he thought frantically. On his way back to the top end of the train he passed a compartment with just one boy inside. The boy was rather scrawny looking with unkempt black hair and he had his nose in a book. Scorpius didn't think he looked too threatning. He knocked on the door and slid it opened. The boy looked up from his book and smiled.
"Hello," Scorpius began politely, thanking Merlin that he hadn't stuttered; he always did that when he was nervous. "Would you mind if I sat in here with you?"
The boy beamed.
"No, not at all! I could do with some company. My brother won't let me sit with him and I have no idea what's happened to my friend Matthew. Who knows where he's gone..."
Scorpius snickered at the boy's seemingly complete lack of concern over his friend's whereabouts.
"I'm Scorpius Malfoy." He held out his hand, half expecting the boy to make a nasty face upon hearing his name. To his surprise the raven haired boy just grinned at him and shook his hand.
"Albus Severus Potter," he said, grimacing slightly as he said it. "But please call me Al. I really have to insist.
Scorpius chuckled."Nice to meet you, Al."
"You too."
"So... You are Harry Potter's son." Stated Scorpius.
"Yeah," Albus replied. "And you're Draco Malfoy's son. Our dads didn't like each other very much."
"No they didn't," Scorpius agreed. "My father respects yours now, though. He saved his life. I should thank him one day." He mused.
Albus didn't say anything at first. He had, of course, heard the story of how his dad had saved 'that git Malfoy' a thousand times from his Uncle Ron.
"You know, just because our fathers weren't friends doesn't mean we can't be. I mean, if you want to be," Albus offered hesitantly.
Scorpius beamed at him, the expression brightening his entire face. "I'd like that."
They chatted easily about everything from family to Quidditch. They discovered, to their great pleasure, that they both supported the same team; The Falmouth Falcons. They rambled excitedly about games they had been to and their favourite players until the lady with the trolley had knocked on the door.
"So, said Albus round a mouthful of chocolate frog, "what house do you think you'll be in?"
"I don't know. My whole family have been in Slytherin, so I'll probably end up there. I think that's what father's hoping for anyway." He gingerly picked up a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean from the box. "What about you?"
"Well, I was actually really worried about it," Albus confessed. "My brother, James, kept telling me I would end up in Slytherin and that the family would shun me but I spoke to my dad and he says he and my mum will be proud of me wherever I end up. So I don't really mind. Although," he scrunched up his face, "I'd rather not be in Hufflepuff."
"No, me neither," Scorpius agreed. Then he snorted. "The look on my face would be hilarious if, Merlin forbid, I was ever sorted into Hufflepuff though."
"Also, my dad says the Sorting Hat takes what you want into account," Albus informed him.
"Really?" asked Scorpius, seeming intrigued. "How does he know?"
"It wanted to put him in Slytherin and he asked it not to, so it didn't," Albus explained with a shrug.
They talked easily for the rest of the journey, just basking in each other's company until all too soon they were standing in the Great Hall waiting to be sorted.
Albus was fiercely returning the glares that James had been shooting him since he had spotted him with the young Malfoy.
"Malfoy, Scorpius."
Fear gripped Scorpius and seemed to have taken control of his legs, which for the life of him he could not make move. Albus gave him an encouraging shove in the direction of the stool and he began walking towards it shakily. As soon as the hat was on his head, it began speaking in a low voice that made him shiver slightly.
"Hmm, a Malfoy. Different from the rest, I see; more kind hearted. Very intelligent too but there's no denying that cunning streak and thirst to prove yourself. You could do well in Ravenclaw, you know but no. You belong in... SLYTHERIN!"
Scorpius heaved a deep sigh of relief as he stood. Albus was giving him a thumbs up and he smirked back at him before he made his way to join his new housemates, who were all applauding him, at the Slytherin table. Scorpius let his mind wander as he sat and looked around the Great Hall in awe. He had never imagined it to be as grand as it was. He vaguely recalled hearing a "Thomas, Matthew" being sorted into Ravenclaw and wondered idly whether he was the friend that Albus had mentioned. If it was, Albus would probably ask to be sorted into Ravenclaw too. He was surprised when that thought made his stomach clench uncomfortably as jealousy prickled beneath his skin. He had only known Albus for a few hours, he reprimanded himself. He had no right to think that Albus would feel any loyalty towards him and it was ridiculous of him to even crave that. That is why it came as such a shock when the hat bellowed 'SLYTHERIN' when announcing Albus' house.
This outcome did not seem to sit well with his family at the Gryffindor table who were all standing to holler things like, "That's a mistake!" and "Sort him again!" Albus didn't seem to be concerned by their reactions though. He had simply smiled sweetly at them all before dropping into the seat next to Scorpius at the Slytherin table. Their table, now.
Scorpius turned to face his companion, feeling a little wonderstruck.
"Did you ask to be put in Slytherin?" He inquired.
"Yes," Albus replied, lifting his goblet of pumpkin juice to his lips.
Scorpius hesitated then, not sure whether to ask his next question, "Because of me?"
"Yes," Albus repeated instantly, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards into a smile.
Albus turned to face Scorpius and held his goblet out to him. Scorpius returned the small smile as they clinked their goblets in a silent toast to their new alliance, budding friendship and to all of the good times they were going to share.