Let Me Tell You a Story

Albus was just about to extinguish the light of his wand when he heard quiet sobbing from the bed beside him. Had it been any other bed and any other boy, he most likely would have hoped for them to feel better, then rolled over into a deep sleep. This boy and his bed, however, were extremely important.

His best friend and boyfriend, Scorpius Malfoy, was crying in the bed next to him.

Without a second thought he leapt from the covers and poked his head through the curtains of his best mate's hideaway. Inside, the boy in question had his knees to his chest and tears were running down his face. He looked up at Albus with shock and pain, two things Al had never wanted to see in his eyes again.

"Scorpius! What's wrong?" Albus jumped in the bed and put his arms around his boyfriend who continued to heave. Al muttered a silencing charm over the bed just as Scorpius began to speak,

"Al- Al, I had another dream that you were gone, not alive, and I was- alone-"

Al soothed Scorpius and kissed his forehead, "Shhhh, I'm here. I'll always be here."

Scorpius tensed under his grip, leaving Al in one-sided confusion.

"Don't say things like that, Albus." Scorpius pulled away, and though his eyes were red and puffy, Al could both see the seriousness in them and hear the edge in his tone.

"What?" was all Al could muster.

"Don't say things you have no control over. You don't know where you'll be in a few months, I mean for heaven's sake we're leaving Hogwarts! You have no idea where you will be-"

"I do know. I'll be in a flat with you." Al stated this plainly. He was still confused as to why Scorpius was tense.

"But you don't know that. You could find someone else, or a new place to live with a new job. Things change, relationships change. Things are easier at Hogwarts, but in the outside world? I just- don't give me false hope. You won't always be around." Scorpius choked up at the end, and turned his face away so Albus wouldn't see him softly crying.

Al was still shocked, but no longer confused.

Does Scorpius really think I won't be there? This boy who has been my best friend for seven years and boyfriend for two?

Scorpius sniffled.

How can I show him I want this and it will last?

"Scor, can I tell you a story?" Albus took Scorpius's hand and spoke so gently, Scorpius's ears willed him to turn his head.

"A-A story?" Scor looked to his boyfriend through blonde bangs, the misery still stuck in his eyes.

"Yes, it's the story of my parents and me."

"You've never wanted to tell me this before."

"I never thought I would need to until right now."

Scorpius broke eye contact, and if Albus hadn't clutched his hand a little tighter, he would have broken that too.

"Just listen to the story," Al softly pleaded, "I think it will help."

Scorpius let out a breath, "Alright."

The corners of Al's mouth twitched into a smile.

He had a convinced listener, now let's just hope he tells it right.

Harry was pacing; quite quickly, he might add, even for a Seeker. He was going so quickly he was making indentions in the carpet, of the flat he shared with Ginny, that looked like the lanes on a road.