Chapter 9 - Quidditch
Chapter 9 - Quidditch
For the next few weeks, Albus had nightmares almost every night about dying from the injuries he had sustained. And each time he woke up breathless. Scorpius was the only one who noticed this and they kept it between themselves. Apparently Nott and Zabini slept so well that the two of them never noticed anything. That was good for Albus - he didn't want the two of them to get wind of it. He was embarrassed enough as it was.
Scorpius always told Albus that there was nothing to worry about and that it was only human that he was having these nightmares. Albus tried to believe this.
It still wasn't clear who these older students were. Albus and Scorpius couldn't catch the names, and there were so many different students at Hogwarts that it was quite difficult to keep track.
"You need to eat something, Albus." Scorpius pulled Albus out of his thoughts. Albus flinched slightly, put his fork back on his plate and leaned his elbows on the table.
"I'm not hungry."
"I have one thing to say," Nott began, pointing his fork at Albus and Scorpius, who were sitting across from him. "You would certainly feel better, Potter, if you took revenge."
"Good idea," Zabini interjected, picking up his cup of pumpkin juice.
Scorpius raised his eyebrows and leaned forward a little more so that the four of them could talk more quietly. It would be better for everyone if no one found out what had happened. It wouldn't help anyone and would probably just revive unnecessary old, past and long forgotten rivalries.
"What do you mean by revenge?" Albus looked more closely at the two in front of him, trying to read something into it, but he couldn't see anything.
"Do the same to them, or worse," Zabini replied, shrugging. "Why be nicer?"
Albus quickly shook his head. "I'm not hurting anyone."
Nott leaned forward, a grin spread across his face. "Not yet."
Then he leaned back again. "Potter and Malfoy, do you seriously think that you will ever be left alone? They will keep going until it will probably lead to one of your deaths. You have to start fighting back so that you can protect yourselves. And to do that, you have to scare the others."
Albus and Scorpius let him finish, then exchanged a look.
"Then why are you left alone?" Scorpius asked, crossing his arms. Albus unconsciously moved a little closer to Scorpius.
"Because we proved our point in the first year by threatening a few other students. But we didn't do anything to them - nobody knows that. Besides, we'll probably both become victims soon, too, if we talk to you two in public so often," Nott explained in a monotone voice, took a few sips and then had to cough as he choked on his pumpkin juice.
"Then don't talk to us in public," Albus replied to Nott's statement, but Zabini shook his head.
"We don't care. Let them have the courage to hurt us. They'll only do it once."
"And if not? Let's say it was Rosier and his friends, why would they let you get them down? Rosier would rather kill you than let you have your say in Slytherin," Scorpius said.
"And they're blood racists. And you're hanging out with a supposed 'blood traitor' and a half-blood. That makes you blood traitors. Means you're on their list anyway. Sooner or later they'll attack you too," Albus added to Scorpius' statement.
"We'll see what happens." That was the last statement before the topic was finally closed for the moment and the four of them stood up to go to class.
-
"Hey, you're coming to the Quidditch game anyway, right?" Nott asked as the four walked down the corridor.
"Sure," Scorpius replied, keeping his gaze forward while Albus turned his head to the right. "Is that why you've been training so much lately?" Interest was evident in Albus' tone, and Nott nodded.
"I hope it pays off. I certainly won't train in the morning and evening on the same day again. I'd rather leave the team."
"Your father wouldn't allow it," Zabini interjected, putting his arm around Nott's shoulder. "You can do it today, I'm sure of it. Right, Malfoy and Potter?"
Albus and Scorpius, of course, immediately agreed. Slytherin had trained really hard in the last few weeks and they more than deserved the win.
"Your brother has a girlfriend again. So the James name really does have some appeal." Out of nowhere, this statement came out of Zabini's mouth.
"How do you know that?"
James would have told him if that was the case, right? Albus thought.
"Because they're making out over there," Scorpius explained as he spotted James from a distance and concluded that this must be James' girlfriend. "I just thought that was his girlfriend." Zabini shrugged.
Albus grimaced in disgust. This was one of those things he never wanted to see his siblings involved.
He didn't want to see that.
"We'll take a different route. I'm definitely not going past that place." Albus was laughed at by Scorpius, Nott and Zabini, but the three of them followed him anyway.
-
Quidditch was always a special thing. Most students even took it more seriously and more important than their own grades. The professors didn't like this at all, of course, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Albus didn't like Quidditch that much, but he didn't find it uninteresting either. He just wouldn't play it himself. Even when his family was together and they all played Quidditch at home, he just watched.
Albus held his green Slytherin scarf in his right hand, with his left hand he slowly ran his hand over the comfortable fabric.
Scorpius watched this. "Albus," he began cautiously. "You know you don't have to cheer in public, right? It's enough if you show it later in the common room. I mean, if you don't feel comfortable doing it because of your family,"
This would be the first time that Albus and Scorpius would watch a real Quidditch match at Hogwarts.
After the Second Wizarding War ended and Voldemort was defeated, many changes were made at Hogwarts. In particular, extracurricular activities were made more rigorous.
The Ministry of Magic hoped that this would provide a solution so that the younger students would not be exposed to such a great danger. Sitting in the stands was a little dangerous - even if the professors were nearby with their wands.
That's why the rule was introduced that only third-year and older students were allowed to watch Quidditch matches.
Most people found this rule ridiculous.
"I know," Albus said with a sigh, tightening his grip on his scarf. "But I can't always put my own house aside just because the rest of my family is in another house. Slytherin is my house, and I should be able to show that. Without having to be afraid."
Albus looked up and met Scorpius's gaze. Scorpius nodded slowly. There was something understanding in his eyes.
"Let's go?" Scorpius pointed to the door, his expression questioning, and Albus nodded and quickly put the scarf around his own neck.
"Let's go."
-
They were quick to get to the Quidditch field. They sat next to other Slytherin students who were in the same year as them.
"I want to go to bed," Albus whispered, more to himself than to Scorpius, but the blonde still heard it clearly.
He laughed for a moment. "You always want to go to your bed."
Albus couldn't help but smile and turned his head to the left to look at Scorpius.
They smiled gently at each other, and Albus' heart skipped a beat. Goosebumps covered his body, but he dismissed it, blaming it on the cold weather.
The game began. And as Albus had feared, it was Slytherin against Gryffindor.
He could see James on his broom. He was really good - Albus had to admit that. And yet Rosier was hot on his heels. Rosier was now closest to the Snitch and he tried to catch it, but Gryffindor was faster. Now Gryffindor had the upper hand.
"Woah! It looks like Gryffindor is about to catch the Golden Snitch! That would make it the fastest, shortest game of the last decade!"
And then it happened. Nott emerged from under James, having tricked him. Nott reached out and effortlessly caught the Snitch. The audience held their breath, but Nott managed to keep the snitch in his hands without any problem. He raised his arms in the air and proudly displayed the Golden Snitch.
Training every morning and evening finally paid off.
This allowed the team to apparently invent new, better tricks, and Nott was their main player because, despite his age of thirteen, he was the fastest of the team on the broom.
Everyone from Slytherin stood up and cheered. Albus clapped too, of course. He was proud of his house.
He could feel eyes on him, so he unconsciously searched for the culprit with his eyes. He could see the looks of James, Rose and Fred looking at him. He couldn't interpret their gaze. Rose stood next to James, whose posture screamed tension. He saw James exhale deeply, grip his broom tighter and run his hand through his sweaty hair.
"I'll be right back," Albus said and he made his way back to the ground. He made his way to James as quickly as possible.
"Hey," Albus said when he reached James and Rose. James let out a sigh and met Albus' gaze. "You played well, James. Really," Albus praised his brother, who immediately spread a broad smile on his face.
But somehow his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"You think so? Thanks, little brother. Even if it was a short game, but oh well, next time we'll make it more difficult!" James explained, grinning as he winked at a girl.
Albus could see that it was the girl James had been making out with in the corridors.
The girl came up to James, gave him a quick kiss on the lips and James hugged her. Rose grinned and watched the two of them, after a short while Fred came over and teased James about the girl.
They all laughed together and Albus watched the scenario.
Suddenly feeling completely out of place, he hesitantly took a few steps back and then decided to return to Scorpius.
To his best friend.
"That was the shortest game in a long time," Scorpius remarked when Albus reached him. Then he let his gaze wander to Albus and a look of concern crossed his face. "Is everything okay?"
Albus nodded. "I'm fine."
That was a lie. He desperately wanted to understand why he suddenly didn't feel comfortable around his family anymore. They hadn't done anything to him, and yet he just wanted some distance. When he saw the group laughing together, Albus felt like he didn't belong there.
》♡《
The first Hogsmeade weekend was actually supposed to take place in the second week of January. But Professor McGonagall moved the weekend back, saying there were reasons for it. But she didn't mention them in detail.
So it was a long, boring weekend for the students. They were all looking forward to Hogsmeade.
The most annoyed was Rose, who intercepted Albus in the corridor and complained loudly.
Albus didn't quite understand why Rose suddenly complained to him. They hadn't had a really good relationship since Albus had come between her and the Slytherin girl.
"Our first Hogsmeade weekend! And we can't go now." Rose angrily nudged Albus on the arm, Albus hid his hands in the pockets of his jacket because the corridors were freezing cold at this time of year.
"Rose, we'll still get the Hogsmeade weekend anyway. Just a little later," said Albus, slightly annoyed, because the upset Rose was currently radiating was really annoying him.
"I know," she said, folding her arms as the two continued walking. "I don't think the relationship between James and the girl will last."
"Why?" Albus asked, visibly confused. Had James said something?
Rose shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Of course they're a cute couple, but they're only in fifth year. The relationship probably won't last that long."
Now Albus was even more confused.
"What? But our parents know each other from Hogwarts?"
"Yes, but they didn't get together until the end of seventh year. They dated other people while they were at school."
Albus wanted to respond, but Rose continued.
"I don't mean that in a bad way or anything. But I just think that you shouldn't put so much hope in a relationship that takes place during school." Rose sighed loudly.
Albus frowned, biting the inside of his cheek. "You mean that romantic feelings disappear one hundred percent during school?"
Rose shook her head before continuing. "No, not hundred percent. But most people lose their feelings, yes. But there are exceptional situations where this is not the case. It's just damn rare."
Albus thought and took a deep breath.
Maybe his feelings for Scorpius will disappear in the future too? - Albus thought and somehow hoped so.
After all, he wasn't completely in love with him yet. It was happening slowly.
"I have to go now," Rose said, looking at Albus, who nodded in response. Rose moved away and Albus decided to spend his time going back to the common room and getting some rest. His head was loud right now and that was the last thing he could stand at the moment.
-
Of course, the Gryffindors would not let the Slytherins get away with winning the Quidditch match. Slytherin wouldn't have either.
Back when Albus was in his first year, the Gryffindors won the game and the Slytherins then enchanted the entire long Gryffindor table so that whenever someone tried to lean on the table, the whole table would slowly rise in the air and fly around for a few seconds.
And with all the students, this of course happened throughout the entire meal.
So the Slytherins stood in front of their common room right now and could not get in because as soon as they entered, birds would be set on the students.
A stupid bird spell was used.
"This rivalry is really starting to get on my nerves," said Scorpius, looking at Albus, an expression of annoyance coming over his face. Albus looked at him unconcernedly - he didn't really care, at least it gave him a distraction from his head.
"I know," Albus noted, thinking for a moment before deciding to hesitantly put an arm around Scorpius' shoulder.
He knew that he had been acting so strangely lately that Scorpius was already becoming skeptical. Scorpius had even mentioned it.
Albus had to slowly introduce physical contact back into their friendship so that Scorpius didn't become even more skeptical.
Otherwise, Scorpius would eventually find out the truth, and Albus wanted to prevent that as much as possible.
Albus could feel Scorpius tensing under his touch and Albus wanted to move away again. But Scorpius' reaction only lasted a few seconds before he slowly relaxed and the touch happened without forcing.
Albus' heart was pounding wildly, but this time he was able to control his breathing well.
Anna and Rosier stood in front of the entrance to the common room - they were visibly angry.
"Well, it'll stop now," said Anna, a hint of arrogance overtaking her otherwise stern tone. Rosier's fingers went to his temple and massaged there for a moment.
"Okay," he began slowly. "The Gryffindors seem to want the old, definitely worse rivalry back. And they will definitely get it. I promise..." Rosier continued speaking, Albus did not understand this statement from Rosier at all.
"The Slytherins are also shit to the Gryffindors? It's both parties' fault if the very old rivalry breaks out again?" Albus whispered so that Scorpius could hear without any problems, but still so that the others didn't hear anything.
"Try explaining that to pureblood supremacists who see anything else as inferior." Scorpius replied to Albus' sensible statement.
Albus bit his lip thoughtfully, then turned his attention back to the two older Slytherin students.
Albus hated Rosier so much.
Rosier looked around the group once - probably to make sure that only Slytherins were present.
"Then let the games begin."
By games he meant rivalry.
Worse rivalry than the last few years.