Unspoken Love

29: ALBUS'S 17TH

MARCH 24th

"How do I look?" shouted a voice behind Rose who was walking the path to the bustling quidditch pitch. Flashes of green and blue zoomed above the stadium walls, players practicing before the big Ravenclaw versus Slytherin match. The whole school would be attending to see which of the two award winning teams would reign this year, of course, this still was not as important and anticipated as the final Gryffindor versus Slytherin game that would likely determine who won the Quidditch cup later on. 

     Rose whipped around and a smile spread across her face at the sight of Albus wearing the sweater she gifted him for his birthday, the Slytherin quidditch jumper with 07, Scorpius's number on it. Albus had also taken the time, like most students do, to adorn his face with green ink to show house pride. He had never been into quidditch before really, but once Scorpius began to play, and after he actually knew the rules of the game, he found it could be quite entertaining. Especially when the seeker cast him a wink and blew him a kiss as he flew by on occasion. 

"Are you reporting?" Rose asked, eyeing the notepad in Albus's hand as they approached the entrance to the stands. It was a cool but clear and sunny day, perfect conditions for a match. Usually quidditch season was in the winter months but it had been much too dreary this year and the staff and students agreed that they'd rather partake in much more pleasant weather conditions this time around. It even provided for much more entertaining games as well because the teams had loads of time to practice. 

"Yes I am, I volunteered. I don't mind. But I'll try not to scribble too much, I want to watch him."

"I have a feeling Slytherin's going beat Ravenclaw today," She said, climbing the stairs to the top of the stands which were gradually filling up, they were some of the last people to make it in the raucous stadium, "I've seen them both practice, Scorpius is way better than Ravenclaw's seeker, the chasers are about the same but boy, can those Slytherin beaters hit a bludger!"

"Great stuff," Albus said, writing down what Rose was saying, "Permission to quote you?"

"Permission granted." Rose nodded with an eye roll, sitting back to observe the teams who were now touching to the ground to take a huddle while Albus turned to nearby students for a few pre-game opinions to put in his article. 

"So, what are you guys doing later?" Rose asked when Albus finally set down his pen again, "You know, for your 17 month anniversary."

"Oh boy," Albus said, shaking his head with a chuckle, "I'm not sure, after a year and five months you start running out of ideas, we probably won't do anything special until next month, you know, for our year and a half anniversary."

"Have you guys..." Rose raised her eyebrows over and over until Albus got the message. The boy shuffled his feet shyly and looked straight ahead to the pitch to look for Scorpius and avoid eye contact with Rose. 

"We've...wanted too...we've done other stuff..I've been putting it off, actually," Albus sighed, "I don't know why, I'm just scared."

"That's normal Albie." Rose nodded, deciding it might be a little weird if they talked about it because they were cousins, but wanting to know because she was also one of his best friends so she liked to stay informed and supportive. 

"Maybe today." Albus mumbled, looking down at his knees when his face turned a shade of crimson. They'd almost done it a few times recently...always ending in one of them pulling away nervously, awkwardness setting in...and that was that. 

"Only if he wins though." Rose teased, trying to make Albus laugh and loosen up, which he did, but now he had this anxious feeling sitting in his stomach, he knew Scorpius wanted to and he knew his boyfriend would be nothing but gentle and understanding, but it's an old stigma, sex is bad, sex is shameful, especially between two boys. He really needed to shake this feeling away.