A hufflepuff friendship

Chapter 5

THIRD PERSON

The Great Hall was a dazzling sight that morning, in order to make it a special breakfast for the new First Years. At the Gryffindor table, Albus' fate with Scorpius in The Hufflepuff house was quite the subject of discussion amongst Rose, Lily, James and Hugo.

"I think there's something very odd going on between them" suggested Hugo helpfully, as if the others hadn't already noticed.

"Can't you see he doesn't want us anymore?" Lily sighed and James agreed bitterly.

"He always was an ungrateful little brat" he continued, disgusted. "Tainting the Potter name with scum like a Malfoy, it's unspeakable. How could he show such gross disrespect to our family." The others looked on, stunned, but knew that he was right.

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On the other side of the hall at the Hufflepuff table, Scorpius and Albus were working their way through a full English breakfast whilst Jack Thorne made his way through his twelfth slice of toast. The surprisingly skinny boy picked up another round and buttered it generously, earning raised eyebrows from Scorpius. "What's our first class?" Albus wasn't so good at remembering things, so it was apparent that Scorpius would be helping him a lot over the next few years. Scorpius smiled warmly, he was really very fond of his new friend even though he would be ashamed to admit it to his father.

"It's herbology with Mr Longbottom" he replied. Albus was staring into space across the hall. "Is there something you'd like to tell me? I'm here for you if there is" Scorpius noticed that he was looking towards the Gryffindor table wistfully, where his old friends and siblings were seated. "They hate me, Scorpius" he replied after a long pause. "They think I'm a failure, James keeps looking over at me like he could kill me. I don't blame him, I've ruined-"

Scorpius would never know what Albus had ruined because he interrupted him mid sentence. "Albus, they're family. I'm sure they still love you, and if they don't, which I very much doubt, I'm here for you. You know I am. You mean everything to me Albus, can't you see that you're the only friend I've really ever known? Anyway, if they really don't like me that much, and if it really upsets you, you could always just choose them over me, after all, who wants a Malfoy as a friend?" Scorpius' eyes glazed over and glistening tears ran down his ivory cheeks. Albus looked at his friend, terrified, and put his arms around him. "Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, now you listen to me" Albus stroked Scorpius' soft blonde hair, reassuring his pale friend. "You are my best friend. I have known you for less than a full day, yet I feel that I know you better than I know myself. You are an incredible person, Scorpius. I never thought someone could make me feel so happy, when I'm with you I feel loved, I belong with you, Scorpius."

Scorpius smiled warmly as Albus wiped his tears away with his finger. "You know, Albus, you really are the best" he laughed. "You too, Scorpius". The boys exchanged hugs and were still grinning when James walked over to their table.

"Albus, what the hell is going on with you?" He grabbed Albus by the collar and dragged him into the space between the Hufflepuff table and the Ravenclaw one. He was fuming and Albus tried to pull away, but his older brother was too strong. It seemed that he had taken advantage of the teachers having left the room to discuss timetables. "You're a disgrace, Albus. You...You... You are friends with the evil Malfoy boy, you've ended up with the duffers of Hufflepuff and you've broken poor Lily's heart." Scorpius, looking over at the Gryffindor table didn't think that Lily, laughing with her best friend Rose, looked very heartbroken. "And don't get me started on what Dad's going to do to you once he finds out you're mixing with scum like him" James pointed disgustedly at Scorpius whose face fell and eyes welled up with tears. "Do you think Dad almost died all those years ago just so you could have your little friend Scorpion Retard Malfoy. Do you have any idea who he is, people in his family were DEATH EATERS, Albus. You have no idea how angry we all are at you, how dare you fail the family and taint the perfect Potter name. Do you have any idea who your father even is?" He stopped for breath and held Albus tighter in his grip. "We're so disappointed in you, you're worthless, you're just as bad as Him. Anyway, goodbye." He shoved his brother to the ground and turned on his heel towards the Gryffindor table where he was met with encouragement from Lily and embarrassment from the rest of the room.

Scorpius was at Albus' side immediately, helping him up, reassuring Him, telling Him that everything was going to be Okay. Pulling Him into another hug, they walked calmly from the hall to their first class, Herbology. Scorpius wasn't about to let people bully his best friend. They had better watch out, he thought.