scorbus // tell me you love me

chapter 4: a lonely christmas

The Weasley/Potter Christmas and New Years parties were the biggest parties thrown in wizarding UK.  Celebrations and parties had gained a lot of popularity after the war and everybody flocked to the burrow, where a massive tent was set up with booze and a dance floor. 

This was the first time Albus was allowed to go, the younger kids under 16 having to stay in the burrow with Grandma and Granddad Weasley. But as much as Albus wanted to be excited, he wasn't. It had been 4 days since Hannah kissed Albus and he had in no way recovered. 11 letters had been owled explaining and pleading for Scorpius to take him back, but there was no reply and his owl Donna refused to make another journey.

The burrow was lively and hectic, everybody busy on decorating and cleaning for Christmas. They were all so happy and excited it made Albus even more downcast, wishing they would wallow with him instead of being excited for a stupid Christmas party. He spent most of his days wandering aimlessly around the muggle village, no one noticing his absence. He would write broody poetry in the cafe, and drink a lot of coffee, or watch muggle movies to get his mind off of Scorpius. He would avoid Rose at all costs, who would tell him to "forget about it, there's nothing you can do!" and anybody else who thought he was still upset about the daily prophet.

On the fifth day of Albus avoiding Rose, she stormed across the yard to where Albus was hanging Christmas decorations on one of the many Christmas trees outside. "It's been 5 days and I am now officially forcing you to be a normal person again and have fun. It's Christmas eve! Time of joy and good cheer! Even the saddest person has to feel a little bit happy on Christmas," 

"Actually, sadness does not stop at Christmas Rose, it actually makes me feel worse thinking how happy I'm supposed to be and how far I am from that. So no. Christmas won't make me feel better," retorted Albus, glaring at her.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Leave me alone."

"Ouch OK, you know none of this is my fault."

"Yeah well, you-", he stopped himself, realizing how much of an asshole he was being. "Shit Rose, I'm sorry."

"It's OK Albus, I know you're hurting."

It's not really OK. I've been so angry and sad lately and you've been so...nice. It's just that... fuck I miss Scorp so much it hurts."

"Oh Al." She opened her arms, beckoning him in for a hug. 

He embraced her and he voiced what he'd been thinking all morning, "I think I just wanna get fucking smashed tomorrow." Rose pulled him out of the hug, and held him at arms length with raised eyebrows

"You wanna...get fucking smashed." Rose had only ever seen Albus tipsy.

"Rose you read my mind." 

"But Albus this is stupid you can't get drunk because you're sad! That's stupid!"

"Yeah I can, why not?"

"Alcohol will not make you feel better, everyone know's that. It's dangerous and you'll drink so much you black out. Seriously Al, don't do it when you're like this!"

"Please stop lecturing me... I think someone's calling me! Gotta fly!"

"No albus you can't-" But Albus had already started walking away, leaving Rose lost for words.

----

Albus took another shot of firewhisky and it burned his throat. 'It's working', he thought as the song changed to Mamma Mia and he let out a whoop and ran to the dance floor, 'I can forget about everything." He danced with Dominique and Molly who were yelling the words so loudly and out of tune, it hurt his ears but he didn't care, he sang even louder. Every time his mind would start thinking about Scorpius again, he went and had another shot until he was the drunkest cousin in the room. 

"I think you need to stop drinking!" Molly yelled over the music after she saw him walk to get yet another shot. She grabbed Albus' hand and led him outside.

"No what are you doing?! September is playing, that's, that's a fucking good song Molly." She ignored him and walked him outside, stumbling slightly as she did so.

"Now I'm drunk, but you're more drunk than me so I'm gonna take care of you my little bro." She started to laugh, saying "my little bro," over and over until her sides were splitting.

Albus didn't feel as cheerful. Now that he was outside and the music wasn't blasting in his ears he could hear his thoughts again. He left Molly to her laughter and made his way over to the nearest seat and sat down but quickly stood again when retched and threw up. 

"I don't feel so good anymore." He said out loud, to no one in particular

"You don't look good." Teddy sat a metre away and Albus jumped, not noticing his presence.

"Teddy."

"Yeah, it's me."

"You look different."

"Is it the green and red hair?"

"Yeah that's it."

Teddy laughed, shaking his head at his brother (they aren't technically brothers but they grew up together). He took a long drag and let out a deep sigh, staring into the stars.

"Have you ever had the person you love hate you?" Albus said after a long silence.

"No, Victoire loves me."

"What about heart break, ever had that?"

"No, not really." Another silence fell between them before Teddy said, "who hurt you Al?"

"More like who did I hurt. Maybe...maybe it was a mistake, he was my friend for years before I told him I loved him. Maybe I should've kept it that way, we would still be friends and we would still be happy."

"Bullshit." Teddy pulled his eyes away from the stars, "you wouldn't have been happy, no fucking way. I see you Albus and you don't do things before thinking about them, the risk of losing him was worth it, cause you had love."

"I feel like I don't know anything anymore."

"Do you love him?"

"So fucking much."

"Then you know that. Have you tried to get him back?"

"I've sent so many letters."

"Maybe you should go see him bro, confess your love to him in person, he'll see how much you mean it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

"But how am I supposed to see him, he's at Hogwarts."

"Shit um, yeah give me one minute." He closed his eyes and tapped his head before replying, "broomsticks will do it!"

"Fuck why didn't I think of that!" He stood up suddenly before a surge of tipsiness came over him and he sat back down again. "Fuck."

"Yeah man, wouldn't recommend drink flying, it's some sketchy shit. Stay with me, I haven't seen you in so long." He yanked his chair closer to Albus and slung his arm around him, resting his head on his shoulder so he could keep looking at the stars. "Do it tomorrow night or something, when you aren't hungover. I'll come with you man, but you'll have to take me on your broom, you know I can't fly for shit."

And yay, there we have it- hope you all liked it! Let me know what you thought, vote and share if you liked it! xo love you all!!!!