A hufflepuff friendship

Chapter Three

SCORPIUS' POV

  I motioned for Albus to sit down by me at the huge table, passing him a piece of rainbow cake and a sandwich. I hadn't noticed how beautiful he was, his black hair falling over one eye, his tanned skin and piercing sky blue eyes. We were opposites, but it is said that opposites are the best companions. His collar bone protruded invasively from his brand new robe, and I felt his steady hand on my shoulder. My breathing hitched, his presence was striking, and his sudden importance to me was obvious in the way I gazed at him. 

Tears still streaked down my cheeks, the glistening droplets staining my pale skin. Albus' smooth hand came out of his robe and brushed my tears away gently, I could tell he really did care about me. "It's okay Scorpius, everything is going to be okay" his steady warm voice smothering me in comfort and reassurance. But I was so scared. My father was sure to hear about this, and would punish me dreadfully. I didn't want to be a failure, a kink in the chain, a defect. But I knew that this was the only way I could be happy. This boy was good for me. So was my new house. I could start afresh for myself, create a new impression... "Scorpius?" Albus' voice quickly brought me out of my daydream. "Seriously, are you ok?" I nodded and he enveloped me in a suffocating hug which I happily returned. Suddenly I didn't care about what my Father thought, because for once in my life I was happy, and nothing was going to change me. 

All of a sudden the students stepped up from their tables and started walking towards their respective house quarters. I panicked and ran towards the other Hufflepuff students, Albus forgotten in my anxious dash. I suddenly remembered that I had left my best friend in the hall, all alone. My head swirled with unhappy thoughts. Maybe I was better suited to Slytherin, I was a terrible friend and a terrible person. Again, crystal tears dripped from my eyes, splashing onto the stone floor. I had messed up the whole day with my stupidity, and, to make matters worse, I had lost my new best friend. I looked about me. I was completely lost. The great hall was supposedly somewhere behind me but I had no idea how I would get there. All of a sudden footsteps approached from the from the corridor on my left. I hid in the shadows, not wanting to be seen by the approaching teacher, but as she stepped into the light I saw who it was. "Professor Mcgonagall" I breathed. She looked round and immediately saw my tiny cowering figure in the darkest corner of the corridor. More tears dripped down my cheeks as I told her the whole story. 

"How about I take you back to the hall, and you can take your friend back up to the common room with everybody else. I'm sure they'll understand" her soft voice calmed me but I couldn't stop the tears. Wiping my eyes she led me back down the winding corridors into the majestic hall where Albus was sat in the corner by the Hufflepuff table. I ran to greet him, huge glistening droplets falling from my eyes once more as we embraced. 

"I'm so sorry, Albus. I didn't mean to leave you, I'm so very sorry" Apologies streamed from my trembling lips, but all the while Albus held me in his surprisingly strong arms. 

"It's okay, Scorpius, it's going to be okay. I'm sorry for not coming, calm yourself, it's going to be fine I promise" And yet again he'd wipe the tears from my wet cheeks and hold me there.

"Come with me, I'll show you to the Hufflepuff dormitories!" The Professor's shrill voice rang out through the hall. Albus grabbed my hand and we followed together up the stairs at the back of the room.

ALBUS' POV

We stepped hand in hand into the beautifully decorated Hufflepuff common room. "Ah!" Scorpius cried out in delight and gripped my hand tighter. His piercing green eyes were alive with excitement and true happiness for the first time, his flawless ivory skin glowing with pride , his perfect white teeth beaming through soft lips. I realised I was staring and had been for quite some time, but it was easy to become utterly absorbed by his unusual beauty. He tousled his floppy blond hair and I suddenly felt quite odd inside. "Albus..." He was pointing to the Hufflepuff banners about the walls. They were certainly very striking. "I'm finally the proper, real me! I can be myself! Everything is right!" The blond boy whispered excitedly ""I don't care what my father thinks!" This made me smile, and with his hand in mine, he led me around the dormitory, showing me all the details I read about in his favourite book, A History Of Hogwarts. 

I hadn't really given any thought as to what my parents and friends would think at that point, but I knew inside that they'd be disappointed. As we turned in for the night into our cosy four poster beds which were each decorated in the Hufflepuff colours, it was my turn to cry. I could hear Scorpius' steady breathing in the bed next to mine and tried to stifle my sobs. But it was in vain as he promptly appeared at the foot of my bed like a loyal puppy. He clambered clumsily into bed beside me and comforted me with his words of reassurance. The last thing I saw before I fell asleep were his icy green eyes closing and his long, black eyelashes brushing against my pillow.