Unspoken Love

16: I PROMISE

    The next morning, on Christmas day, Scorpius woke up alone in Albus's bed. Without opening his eyes, he rolled over and felt beside him for Albus's body but his hand only grazed the empty bed sheets. He sat up groggily and that's when his ears registered the yelling. 

     The voices were muffled, presumably downstairs, but he could tell they belonged to Harry and Albus. He tip-toed out of Albus's room to find Ginny sitting on the staircase, listening in secretly. He sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulder comfortingly, she seemed distraught. She was probably woken up by the ruckus even earlier than he was and he figured it was hard to hear your husband constantly at odds with your own son.

"How long have they been at it?" he whispered. She rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Just ten minutes, Harry came home saying he couldn't wait until we all went back to the burrow today. He needed to talk to Albus now." she muttered back.

"I didn't come home to have a screaming match!" they heard Harry shout. 

"Then why are you yelling at me?" Albus exclaimed. Scorpius smiled slightly at this, Albus loved pointing out the obvious in arguments, or rather, he loved being a smart ass. 

"Because Albus, I'm tired of this! We never get along anymore!" 

"And who's fault is that?" they heard Albus shoot back. 

"Not just mine." Harry bit.

"Lower your voice," Albus hissed, "You'll wake mum and Scorpius."

"Too late." Ginny mumbled. 

"You mean the boyfriend that you kept a secret? For how long?" they heard Harry demand, irritatedly. 

"Three months," Albus muttered, "And clearly I was right to keep it a secret."

"I'm your father, you're supposed to tell me these things!" 

"No," Albus shouted, "I'm not obligated to tell you a damn thing, besides, you never give me a chance. Whenever we talk you're telling me what to do, or what I'm doing wrong, or what you wish I was doing instead. How was I to know you wouldn't tell me to stay away from him like you did last year!" Harry didn't answer for a moment and Scorpius's stomach dropped. That had been torture. 

"I wouldn't do that again." Harry mumbled. For a few moments Ginny and Scorpius only heard a stretch of silence. Then Harry took a deep breath, having to physically swallow his pride, "I'm sorry...that you uh..felt the need to keep it a secret."

     Albus was left slightly speechless. His father had just apologized to him, it was a slightly pissed off, sort of half-assed apology, but nevertheless, it seemed that Harry was trying to rectify something. Albus dug the tip of his sock into the floor and mumbled, "S'alright...I'm glad you know now. It was too much trouble hiding it anyways."

"I can't believe you hid it for three months," Harry said in a low voice. He seemed irritated again, "Three months...is that how bad we've gotten Albus? You know, you never write home. I don't even know you anymore." he said quietly. Albus's face shot up and retorted angrily.

"And you're saying that's my fault?"

"I'm saying it's both." Harry said back, crossing his arms.

"Well do you want to fix it? Because if you do, you have to listen to me, for once." Albus pleaded. Harry closed his mouth forcefully and raised his eyebrows as if to prompt Albus to continue.He was trying so hard to remind himself how it felt last night at the burrow. To be shouted at by his son and his wife, and one-upped by Draco Malfoy in the 'I know your child has a boyfriend' department, and knowing that it was all his fault. Ron was the one who told him to come home early. He'd wanted to talk it out with Albus at the burrow when he returned, but Ron pointed out that arguing on Christmas day in front of the family, again, was an idiotic move.