Unspoken Love

26: SUMMER BEGINS

JUNE 24th: 

"Hello boys, all packed?" Rose asked as she swung into the boy's dormitories. Trunks were stacked by the door and the room was empty except for Albus and Scorpius who had put off packing until just now. The end of the year feast was already starting and they were scrambling to stuff their belongings away so they could go down and enjoy the Hogwarts food one last time before they boarded the train and headed home for 68 days of summer. 

"What does it look like?" Albus snapped as he stood amidst piles of clothes--both his and Scorpius's that had gotten mixed up over the year-- and other books and knick knacks that had yet to be packed away. 

     The boy looked exhausted with dark rings under his eyes and disheveled hair. Since he had started on the school paper in May after returning from the Easter break, he had been working tirelessly to excel in positions and prove himself on the writing team as well as covering several end of school events. 

     Juggling this along with OWL studying and spending time with Scorpius in every moment of free time caused the boy to be positively exhausted. He decided he would have to learn some balance if he was going to survive next year. Scorpius was always a help though, allowing Albus space so he could study for exams, bringing him food in the newsroom when he was having a late night, not like he always ate it.

"I can't wait for you to relax," Rose said, smacking Albus upside the head on her way to slump down on Scorpius's four poster which was sheetless and ready to be occupied by different 5th year student in the coming year. Queenie was resting upon it and Rose tickled the kitten's chin with her finger while continuing, "Take a breath, Albie. OWLS were over and done with two weeks ago and this is your last night of fifth year. You both just need to stuff your shit away so we can all relax at the feast! I want to know if Gryffindor won the house cup." she said, crossing her arms. Scorpius sniggered at her bossiness but did as he was told, abandoning his carefully organized packing method and starting to throw in his belongings at random. 

"Bet Gryffindor didn't, I heard Slytherins had amazing behavior this year." Albus teased, relaxing by the moment as he finally fit all of his stuff into his trunk and managed to wrench the top closed. 

"I doubt that, and even if they did I'm sure Marcus Pucey and Sylvia Parkinson messed with that streak a bit." Rose said rolling her eyes, those two were a piece of work. She picked up Queenie in her hands gently and coaxed her into a small carrier that they would bring with them on the train. 

"Well let's all go down and see for ourselves, shall we?" Scorpius said in an effort to diffuse the squabble. He pulled Rose to her feet and clapped an arm around her and his boyfriend before leading them down the stairs and down to the Great Hall. 

     The feast was already in full swing when they arrived but there was still plenty of food waiting for them. Rose respectfully said goodbye until they would meet back up again on the train later that evening, saying she had to be with her house when they won the cup. 

     Scorpius and Albus teased her as she went before they rounded to the Slytherin table and sat down amongst the quidditch team. This is where the two sat now, versus the beginning of the year when the two boys would sit at the end of the table away, isolated from the rest. But Scorpius's teammates insisted he and Albus sit with them from now on and the boys didn't mind. It was nice to finally have friends. 

"Albus!" Gillian, one of the chasers, said brightly, "I read your article on the 7th year's prank war, it was brilliant and hilarious!" she laughed. During OWL week every year the 7th years celebrated their exam free last days at Hogwarts with each other by engaging in the most shenanigans they could think of. Albus liked to think that Fred and George had started that tradition and he gave them mention in his article. George, who received the prophet from his daughter Roxanne who was a graduating 7th year this year and won the prank war, had owled him proudly and thanked Albus for continuing his and Fred's legacy. Albus loved writing about Jame's bed getting dung bombed.