Hold Me While You Wait // Scorbus

Four - Ball Invitation

Albus couldn't make eye contact with Scorpius. It had been two weeks and Scorpius was finally wondering what the hell was up with his best friend.

"Hey," Scorpius greeted, bumping shoulders with Albus like normal.

"Hi," Albus merely squeaked, barely flashing a smile before ducking his head.

"You excited for the Yule Ball?" Scorpius asked, trying to start a conversation.

They'd announced last week that they were going to be hosting a Yule Ball, without the Tri-Wizard Tournament part. They'd been doing it for several years now. It'd be Albus' and Scorpius' second year able to attend.

"Yeah, sure," Albus replied curtly, still avoiding eye contact.

"Is there anyone you'd like to take?" Scorpius wondered, still trying to get any real answer from his best friend.

He noticed Albus hesitate for a moment, "No."

"What's up with you recently?" he asked, his voice suddenly turning harsh with impatience. He gripped Al's arm and pulled him to a stop in the corridor. "Why wont you talk to me, or look at me? Did I do something?" he was almost pleading now and Albus' heart wrenched in pain, wanted to tell Scorpius how he did nothing wrong and it was all him getting a stupid crush and feeling guilty. "Please just tell me what I can do to get my best friend back. I miss him. It's been two weeks," The frown on Scorpius' face was too big to bare. "Was it something I did or said about Adylinn? I'm trying so hard to be there for both of you, let me know what I'm doing wrong, please!"

Albus finally willed himself to look up at Scorpius, "You haven't done anything wrong," he reached up and gripped Scorpius' wrist that was holding onto his shoulder, "I promise."

"Then why won't you talk to me?" Albus couldn't help but frown at the sadness in his best friends eyes.

"I'm just dealing with stuff okay? And it'd really help if you just left me alone."

"What stuff? I'm your best friend, why can't you tell me? I want to help you," Scorpius pleaded.

Albus choked on his words, "You can't help me with this."

"I want to try, for you."

Albus heart soared at Scorpius' care for him and he wanted to just get on his tippy-toes and kiss him right then and there, but he refrained.

"Please, just don't. It's not worth loosing your friendship over," Albus finished, pushing Scorpius' hand off him. "I've gotta go, Scorp. I'll see you later." Albus gripped the strap of his bag and took off down the hall, his robes billowing around him.

Soon enough he found himself in front of the Gryffindor Common Room entrance. He only knew this because in Lily's first few years he'd walk her back at night. Now she was thirteen and too cool for her older brothers.

His plan was just to sit and wait until a Gryffindor came in or out and ask for James.

The Fat Lady recognized him and started up conversation, "The Snake who should have been a Lion."

Albus furrowed his eyebrows at her, "Excuse me?!"

"You're not gonna try and sneak in are you?" she barely paused before saying, "Well I won't let you!"

Albus waved her off, "Don't worry I'm not that needy."

She huffed and crossed her arms, "Good. I've had plenty of you boys go through this door. I don't need another plotting Potter begging to let me in from under an invisibility cloak!"

"I'm just here to speak to my brother," he informed. His patience was wearing thin. If she kept her babbling up at this rate he'd just have to owl James.