Unspoken Love

30: THE BIG GAME

EARLY MAY

"You've got a lot of gold in there, mate." commented one of the Slytherin beaters, Jonathan, looking impressed. Scorpius had just deposited that weeks pay from working at Neville's pub into a large box that was usually stowed under his bed. It was full of money he'd been saving up ever since he first started earning wages.

A few of Scorpius's friends from the quidditch team were gathered in the dormitory, either sitting on the floor or on Scorpius's bed. Albus was sat at the foot of it, chatting to Pearl the chaser about Queenie who was loving the visitors attention. The white cat weaved around peoples legs, batting them with her tail in exchange for a few chin rubs.

"Saving up for our own place." Scorpius said proudly, looking up at Albus who nodded in agreement. Albus had also been helping out at Neville's and earned money from the tattoo shop here and there, he wouldn't start getting paid regularly until he was able to be certified and actually have customers. Between the both of them they were on the right track and would be even more set by the end of their seventh year to get their own apartment. Dean Beckett flitted his eyes between Albus and Scorpius, who were staring lovingly into each others eyes...like they often did, with a grimace.

"Oh that's great," Pearl nodded, "I don't know what I'm going to do. Live with my parents I suppose until I find a career...sounds lame..I know." she frowned.

"Don't despair, Pearl!" Dean Beckett said exuberantly, patting her shoulder, "A whole bunch of us will be doing that too! We're only just becoming adults. Don't stress." he said. Dean never seemed stressed about anything, ever, it was kind of annoying sometimes but nevertheless it was an envious quality to have.

"If I don't get scouted I don't know what I'm going to do, you're so lucky Scorp, you've already got that big shot scout looking after you." Jonathan sighed discouragingly.

"Nothings final yet!" Scorpius said in an efforts to reassure his friend, but he was fibbing. He knew he had that scout wrapped around his finger, they were pals! They met up for lunch every weekend in Hogsmeade and talked about quidditch for hours, the man was good company who had good connections, Scorpius was set.

"Yeah, yeah." Dean said seeing right through Scorpius, "Johnny don't worry, you're the best beater in the school!"

"He's right," Albus said, "And if it makes you feel better, everyone i've surveyed for the paper has agreed, you're the best beater in Hogwarts. Say...can I do a feature on you?"

"Me? Really?" Jonathan asked, surprised. He wasn't picked for a lot of things, there was only really one thing he was good at, quidditch. He wasn't academically talented or driven either. His face split into a wide smile.

"I didn't know people thought that!" he said pridefully, "I'd love to be featured, thanks Al!"

Scorpius smiled at Albus with admiration, he always knew how to cheer people up or how to make them feel good about themselves. It was probably one of the qualities Scorpius loved most about him.

"Oi, we should all be getting some rest tonight, we have the big game tomorrow!" Pearl said, glancing at her watch. It was nighttime, after dinner, most people were still congregating in the common rooms but she was right, they needed to get good sleep.

"We're gonna kill it tomorrow." Dean said, getting to his feet with Johnny, "Night Pearl." he said as she made her way to the staircase. She waved sleepily before departing down the stairs. Johnny wandered over to his bed and Scorpius pulled Dean aside.

"Hey, I just wanted to see how you're doing...you know with Savannah breaking up with you....and having to play against her tomorrow and all." Scorpius said in a low voice. Dean's girlfriend had broken up with Dean the week before, they had fought it out in the Slytherin common room and Savannah's voice was so shrill that they could almost hear her every word from upstairs. When Dean had come up later that night he had gotten into bed silently and hardly mentioned it since.