Next chapter! Told you I'd have it up soon. I'd like to thank everyone who followed, favorited, or reviewed the last chapter. They always inspire and encourage me to write, so, though I hate saying this, - review and the next chapter will be up sooner.
Anyways, as a bit of background: in this story, James and Al have always been quite close and told each other a lot of stuff, and generally when the other finds out they've been keeping something big from the other, they feel kinda betrayed. They've always had a kinda close friendship, though it distanced a little when Al got sorted into Slytherin, but it healed during the next summer, especially since his little sister got placed there too.
I've always pictured Lily as a Slytherin, too, or maybe a Ravenclaw. But I think Slytherin for this story. Albus and Scorpius are sixteen, Slytherin, James is Seventeen, Gryffindor, and Lily is fourteen, Slytherin.
Scorpius' weak voice reaches his ears. "Hey, at least you don't have to tell them now."
Al winces, and then winces even harder when he sees who is at the door. "Hey." Al tries, to no avail.
"Hey?! I walk in on you two kissing and you say hey?!" He cries.
Well, Albus thinks, this could've gone better. Not my original plan, but okay.
"James," Albus tries. "It - it was-"
"It wasn't what it looks like?!" James cut him off angrily. "Oh, yeah, Al, totally."
Al flinched. "No! It's just that-"
"No." James stare is stone cold. "I'm your brother. You could've at least told me. I understand if you didn't want everyone to know."
"James, it's just-"
"Well, yeah! 'It's just" he mocks. "That's what they all say, isn't it? Al, I thought we were close. I thought you could tell me stuff."
"I wa-"
"What's with all the yelling?" Al's sister, Lily, appears around the doorframe and peers in at the mess of his room.
"Al's snogging Scorpius." James says plainly. "And he didn't tell me."
Instead of being shocked like the oldest Potter had expected, Lily squeals.
"I knew it! I knew it!"
"Wait, what?"
"I knew it." The girl repeats. "It was so obvious. But, really, so many of the people in this family are other dense, or just don't just really pay attention to their friendship." She smiles, rolling her eyes. "Oh, and it might have to do with the fact that I walked in on you two snogging last summer." She picks at her nails, smiling sweetly - too sweetly, Al decides, let's make that evilly.
James chokes. "How long has this been going on?"
Al squirms a little. "Fourth year."
"Two years?!" James shouts incredulously. "This has been going on for two years!?"
"Well, yeah." Scorpius interjects, wrapping an arm around his boyfriend as Al leans into his chest. "Problem?"
"Well-I-no-just-"
Lily rolls her eyes once more. "Oh, shut up, Jamie -"
"Don't call me that!"
"You're just embarrassing yourself. What Jamie here means to say," she continues, ignoring the indignant glare sent her way. "Is that, no, he doesn't have a problem with it. Do you, Jamie?" She gives a sickly sweet smile, and her unspoken words hang in the air threateningly; if you do, I will kill you. Send a bat bogey hex first, maybe turn your orange, perhaps a stinging hex, not sure . . . Yet.
James gulps visibly. "Of course not, Al. I was just . . ." He seems to struggle for his words. "Shocked, that's all."
Lily nods.
James grins, as if an idea has struck him inspirationally.
Which didn't go unnoticed by Albus and Scorpius. "James . . . What are you doing?" Albus asks cautiously.
"Oh, nothing." James smiles innocently up at him. Neither of them catch the soft, "Sonorus." Whispered under his breath.
And then, before they could say anything else,
"Al and Scorpius are snogging!" The words are loud, echoing through the house, and hold a scent honest truth to them. The door is open, and James' multiplied voice rings in their ears.
"James!" Al shouts. "What the hell?!"
An innocent smile. "You had to tell them eventually. I was just doing it for you. Makes it easier, doesn't it?" His eyes twinkle mischievously, and he skips out of the dark room. The two Slytherin boys are left staring off after him in exasperation, and a little frustration.
The youngest Potter rolls her eyes. "Well, it is true. And, plus, it could've been worse."
"Yeah?" Al challenges, the sound of faint footsteps reaching his ears.
"Yeah. I mean, you could've been caught by Uncle Ron. You know how he is - prejudiced against the Malfoys, he still hasn't gotten over the grudge."
Albus shudders. "Yeah. I guess."
"And . . ." The girl trails off for a moment, seeming to consider something as the voices got louder. "You two might wanna go hide. Everyone is here, and if they all just found out . . . Well, the Scamanders aren't here anymore, but they hardly count."
"Yeah." Scorpius responds. "We'll do that." He tugs on Al's sleeve.
"Have fun dying, you two!" She sings back at them, skipping through the doorway with a very Slytherin smirk.
"Yeah." Scorpius mutters. "Just make sure you cry at our funeral." No one hears him.
I feel like I might have portrayed James as a little cold in this chapter for a small bit of it, sorry. And, Lily, I always thought would be quite like Ginny, who I think could've actually ended up in Slytherin because of her cunning and ambitious ways.
Review, please!
~Aegis12.
