Halloween
31 October 2017
It was morning and Craig and Albus were waiting for Rose at the door of the Great Dining Hall for breakfast as they had arranged the day before.
- We've been here for half an hour, my God, I'm starving - Craig was starting to get impatient, one of the few negatives he had was that when he didn't eat he started to get very cranky.
- You're exaggerating, we arrived 10 minutes ago. And as far as I remember, the Gryffindor common room is far from the dining room.
- I don’t care. I need to eat now if she doesn't arrive in 3 minutes. I go in to eat without her.
And as if she had heard the threat down the stairs, Rose came running up. Her hair was tied back in two roots braids and his cape was falling off one of his shoulders.
- I’m sorry. I know I'm late but my hair was a mess and I asked Polly to braid my hair to disguise it - He said as he caught his breath and tucked a strand of hair falling from his forehead behind his ear.
- No problem, they are cool - replied Craig who seemed to be starting to get nervous.
Once seated they began to eat breakfast while Rose and Craig discussed what they had been hearing in the corridors and the odd bit of gossip. Then Albus' gaze wandered to the end of the table where he saw Scorpius eating breakfast alone while reading a book.
- Albus do you think is true? - His cousin asked, snapping him out of his reverie.
- What?
- Come on, we've been talking about it for half an hour, people are saying that Prof Neville has suspended Thomas Johnson because he caught him with Alice the other night.
- I do not think it is true… James said at home many times that Thomas is not the smartest person in this castle.
- But he does not usually fail herbology.
- Everyone can have a bad day - Albus shrugged - It would also be unprofessional on Neville's part.
- What were you looking at before? You seemed very focused - Craig pointed out, resting his head on his hand.
- Nothing.
- You are a fucking liar. You lie more than you talk - Craig started to laugh - You were looking for something or someone… Say it now.
- It was no one, just…
- AJA I know I know I am always right - Craig was unable to continue speaking because Rose elbowed him.
- Just? - Rose rested her head on her hand as well, focusing her attention on her cousin.
- It's just that Scorpius seems to be very lonely... - That comment clearly annoyed Rose who rolled her eyes and continued to eat her toast. Craig, on the other hand, seemed more surprised by this comment.
- If he's always alone, I've noticed that too. I've thought about talking to him but I don't know.... People talk - Craig said quietly with a tone of concern.
- If the river has a sound, it has water in it - Rose interrupted in a tone clearly annoyed by the direction of the conversation.
- What does that even mean? We don't all have that brilliant brain of yours - Craig replied, tapping Rose with his elbow.
- Is not my fault you are an idiot - Rose laughed sheepishly as she sipped her orange juice.
- Do you think that everything people say about him is true? - Albus was still thinking about it.
- I don't know him very well, but the way he behaves in the room, it doesn't seem that any of this is true.
- You already know my opinion of him - said Rose curtly.
The conversation about Scorpius had already ended with Rose's last intervention and turned back to the Thomas rumour that had been joined by yet another boy Albus didn't know. It seems that this other boy had told Neville about his daughter and Thomas. Thomas was a third year Gryffindor who was on the Quidditch team, Albus knew him as his brother sometimes talked about him at home. He was a student with a penchant for getting into trouble from what James told him.
After breakfast Albus made an appointment with Rose for the evening to go to the Hogwarts kitchens. He had decided to go to talk to his brother once and for all.
Now on the occasion of Halloween Albus had the whole day off and not really knowing what to do he headed to the library to spend the morning reading. Craig was going to prepare some stuff for that night or something with some other first years and Rose was going to do some stuff with Polly and Yann so he would be on his own all morning. He sat down at a table set back from the central aisle and picked up the first novel he could find without even looking at the title and began to read by the light of the window. The hours were passing and Albus could tell by the light coming through the window, he decided it was time to leave when there was barely enough light coming through the window to read any further. He got up and went to the librarian to take out the book and continue his reading later in the room. Once out of the library he wandered the corridors of Hogwarts in no certain direction, just wandering. He was surprised at how empty the castle seemed to be at times considering the amount of people and creatures that inhabited it. Then he turns a corner and he hears it, a scream. He turned towards the place where the scream seemed to have come from and saw a trio of three students who seemed to be very attentive to whatever was happening on the ground in front of them.
- What's wrong, haven't you been warned? Halloween nights are not safe for werewolves - said one of the boys while the other two laughed.
Then Albus saw it between them, on the ground lay a boy who seemed to be trying to get up. Without really knowing why Albus decided to throw one of the nearby suits of armour that decorated the corridor, creating a great clatter.
- Do you hear it? - said one of the concerned boys.
- Yeah… If it is someone?
- We should go
- And what about him?
- Nobody cares, if they see him they will probably leave him lying around just like us.
And with that he hears the footsteps of the three boys walking away. Once he was sure that no one was there, he approached seeing at last who the boy on the ground was. It was Scorpius. He had his tunic on wrong, it seemed to have rips and tears in some areas. His hair, always perfectly combed, was in disarray. And his eyes, his eyes looked so lost and those grey eyes looked so dull.
He approached slowly, trying not to scare the boy who was still lying on the ground, and crouched down next to him. Then Scorpius looked up, connecting his eyes with Albus'.
- What are you doing here? - Scorpius' voice sounded in a faint whisper, as if it were about to break.
- Helping you - Albus tried to touch the other boy's shoulder but he instinctively pulled away.
- I’m ok.
- No, you are not. Let me help you, let's go to the infirmary…
- No! Not to the infirmary. I'll let you help me, just don't tell anyone about it - It seemed more like a desperate plea than a request. Scorpius' eyes were glassy and Albus, not wanting to hurt him any more than he already had, nodded and helped him up.
- I won't tell anyone. Promise.
They walked slowly through the corridors of Hogwarts until they reached the entrance to the common room. They said the weekly password and with that the line on the floor rose up as it used to do, snaking out and revealing the entrance door. Once they entered they saw that the common room was full of people. There were people from all classes, some students were in the corners kissing, others were drinking, some were simply talking and others, like the first year students, were looking with admiration and impression at the older ones who were drinking some alcoholic beverage they had obtained in some kind of racket. So it was easy for them to go unnoticed and for no one to notice their entrance and quick escape to the rooms.
Once they reached his room Scorpius let out a sigh of reassurance that they were alone and sat down on his bed, but not before taking off his robe. Albus approached without knowing what to do and stood in front of him.
- I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you before - Scorpius said this as he fiddled with his robe in his hands and kept his eyes fixed on it - I just didn't expect it.
- It's fine. It is understandable. Does it usually happen to you? - Scorpius looked up in surprise and Albus realised what he had just said - I mean I… I don’t want to say that sorry.
- Well, that's fine. And it doesn't usually happen to me. It's just sometimes comments and things like that. I've never really had anything like that happen to me before - Scorpius tried to play down the situation.
- Do you know them?
- Oh no way. Just by sight, through the corridors and stuff. I don't even know which house they belong to.
Albus was confused, not quite sure what to do. He wanted to help Scorpius but he didn't know what to do for him right now, he wanted to find out who the bastards were so he could give them what they deserved even if it was at a disadvantage, he wanted to warn someone about the situation even though Scorpius had asked him not to say anything. He felt helpless that he couldn't do anything meaningful to help him. And then amidst all the ramblings of agreement, he had arranged to meet Rose. He looked at his watch and saw the time. He was an hour late. He looked from Scorpius to the watch and from the watch to Scorpius wondering what to do.
- I just remembered that I have to do one thing, I have to go.
- Go - Scorpius nodded at the door.
- Will you be ok?
- Yeah don’t worry.
- See you later - Albus was left with regrets about leaving Scorpius alone after what had happened, but he was determined to try and talk to his brother and didn't want to miss the opportunity - If you need anything please let me know.
He approached the door and when he had the knob in his hands, he turned to say one last thing to the boy sitting on the bed.
- I don't believe in all the things they say about you.
- I know.
And with that Albus opened the door and stepped out to start running down the stairs. He pushed through the crowd in the common room with difficulty as it seemed to have multiplied since they had entered. He ran through the corridors of Hogwarts knowing that he was in danger of being punished as it would be curfew in no time but he didn't care. His priority was to get to the courtyard where he was meeting Rose. He took the last turn, feeling as if he was running out of air in his lungs, and finally arrived. As expected there was no one there.
He sat on one of the benches with his head in his hands looking down at the ground knowing that he had missed this opportunity and that both Rose and James would probably be angry with him. James angrier if possible than he probably already was.
- You are late - Albus looked up quickly to see Rose standing at the entrance to the courtyard.
- I know, I'm sorry. It's just that something happened.
- We waited for you and you didn't show up. James got desperate and left in a huff.
- It's just that something happened with Scorpius…
- You didn't come because you were with Scorpius? Albus for real? - Rose raised her tone, clearly annoyed - If that's what you want, that's fine. You keep talking about him but I won't hang out with you if you hang out with him.
- It's not that Rose I swear it's just…
- Albus I don't want to know anything to do with him. Decide what you want and when you know you'll talk to me. You should get your priorities in order if you think that whatever is going on with this guy is more important than your family.
And with that Rose turned and walked away leaving Albus alone again in the darkness of the courtyard. Being slightly illuminated by the moon.