matching wounds || 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐬

grief

Sunday, 24th October 2021

Albus Severus Potter was surrounded by darkness. He spent so much time hating - hating his family, his life, himself. Sometimes it felt like he was made of hatred.

Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, on the other hand, was the sun. He lit up everything surrounding him. He got hurt a lot, more than a human being could handle. Still, he had a heart of gold. He was selfless, strong, kind, and better than anything Albus deserved. Sometimes he wondered how Scorpius lived with him when he could hardly live with himself.

Scorpius was lying on the bed, his hair tousled. Cleo, nestled by his knees. Cleo entered Scorpius Malfoy's world last summer and has become his biggest obsession since then. Well, perhaps following Rose Granger-Weasley.

For some reason, Cleo preferred Albus's company. That fluffy white ball with black spots spent most of the time on his bed, curled up. Another manifestation of love by Cleo was the fact that she never scratched him, while Scorpius's arms were covered in scrapes. Eventually, Cleo managed to become the bane of his existence.

"Did you feed Cleo?" Scorpius asked, his voice silvery.

Albus theatrically inhaled. "Oh... Sorry, I forgot about that."

"How dare you forget about Cleo?" Scorpius narrowed his eyes, judgment written on his face.

"God, of course, I didn't. You're so dramatic," Albus grinned.

Scorpius waved his hand as if telling Albus not to bother him, his gaze fixed on a Charms textbook. Occasionally, he was distracted by the tea, which should have already cooled down. His soft platinum hair blended with pale skin, and his sharp features gave him a rigorous look. What Albus liked most about Scorpius were his eyes. Grey, under the sun, the iris shimmered blue.

Albus caught himself brazenly staring at his dormmate. That familiar yet annoying pang of guilt engulfed him. Fortunately, Scorpius was too carried away by the book to notice. To keep his mind off his best friend, Albus decided to throw himself into studying.

He started by getting the ingredients for Potions ready. For the next lesson, Professor Slughorn chose the Draught of Living Death.

"Scorpius, do you have Sopophourous beans?"

"In my trunk," he answered, nodding.

"Won't be doing anything for Potions, will you?" Albus raised another question.

"Pretty pointless," Scorpius crossed his arms, meeting Albus's emerald eyes. "You're still gonna get the highest mark, and Slughorn will still be disappointed with me."

"It's literally the only subject I'm better at than you," Albus sounded outraged. "And you know he likes me just 'cause of my dad."

A drop of disgust ran through his voice. Albus hated nothing more than being associated with his family. His last name never brought anything good into his life till now. However, it was the reason Hogwarts became his personal hell. Almost everyone there despised the "squib son of Harry Potter".

Yet, one might even make being born to a famous family their whole personality. James, for example. James Sirius, the quidditch star, the better son of the Potters. Everyone worshiped the ground his brother walked. Little did they know his guts.