Chapter 22
“I‘m assuming you‘re aware of the rules of the game“ Lura asked Albus as they walked on the Quidditch field in the beginning of October
„Very much“ he answers. „Used to play a lot with my siblings…and you know, my parents are pretty good“
„Yes I know, I know everything about Ginny Potter, I know how many games she won when she played in the English wizard team and I know all her strategies that she made herself…I’m a big fan“
„I noticed“ Albus was showing how uninterested he was in that conversation—he just wanted to get over his first practice and go back to his boyfriend
„Alright team“ she shouted to the people who were already waiting on the fiel. „We have a potter in our team now, so I expect for us to win this year!“
the others started cheering—while Albus feels kind of uncomfortable. People expect him to be good which is a lot of pressure for him
The practice went—okay? First, Albus needed to remember how this game actually works, it’s been a while since the last time he actually played it. But after a few rounds it went well and everyone was happy that he joined the team—the last few years the Slytherin team was horrible—this year they might have a chance to actually win
„You‘re awesome, potter“ Lura came up to him after the practice. „I‘m so glad I got you to join the team“
Albus went to change—he was exhausted and felt weak. With a dizzy head he opened the door to the locker room and all the heads turned around to him. He ignored them and turned to his back to change into his normal clothes But the locker room went weirdly quiet when all of the sudden Brady Bowel started talking.
„hey, mate, that was a good practice today, you‘re great“ he said Brady was a tall dark skinned guy—who was actually always nice to Albus.
„Thanks“ he said
„But, we need to talk“ he said. They went to a corner of the locker room where they were alone. „Listen mate, I think it’s really brave of you that you‘re out and stuff, and it’s great that you‘re not hiding your relationship with Malfoy“ he said
„Thanks?“ Albus said confused. „What’s this about?“
He exhaled. „When Lura made that announcement that you‘re gonna join the team—there were some complains“
„About me joining the team?“
„No. we were all happy you‘re joining“ he said. „complains about you changing in the locker room with us“ he said quietly
Albus cringed. „But why would anyone—oh“ and then he realised. „Because I’m gay?“ Brady nodded. This was the first time Albus felt real homophobia—and it hurts. „Do they really think i‘m getting turned on by some greasy, nasty, sweating arseholes?“
„They asked Lura so many times if you get your own changing place, but she refused“
„I don’t understand“ he said. „just beschaue I’m gay doesn’t mean I starring at even guy I look at, I mean what the fuck is wrong with them?“ he said a little too loud—every guy in the locker room turned around to them and started whispering. „You know what, I’m not doing this shit“ Albus said He took his bag without even changing and left the locker room with his quidditch uniform.
He never felt that kind of homophobia since he came out—the homophobia he was always scared about—and he’s mad He went back to his dorm were Scorpius was studying.
„Hey there“ he said and smiled at Albus
„You‘re busy?“ Albus asked and throws his bag on his bed Scorpius starred at him—Albus was sweating from the practice and the anger he saw in his gaze made Scorpius eyes open.
„Not really, you okay?“
Albus didn’t answer, he just walked up to him, grabbed his head and kissed Scorpius intense—that took him by surprise. Even tho Scorpius got turned on the second he saw his boyfriend like that—somethings wrong
„Did something happened?“ Scorpius asked when he stopped stoped the kiss—but Albus was running his hands over his back up to his head and grabbed his hair. „You seem stressed“ he says—he felt his hand in his hair and closed his eyes in satisfaction while Albus kissed his neck
„Can you just—shut up“ and he kissed him again
Ripping of the quidditch uniform from his boyfriends body was the hottest thing Scorpius has ever done
„Wow“ Scorpius said out of breath when they finished. That was the best sex they ever had
Albus sat at the edge of the bed. „I‘m sorry for that“ he said. „I‘ll quit the team“
Scorpius placed a hand on Albus‘ shoulder. „What happened?“
„The guys in the locker room think I should change somewhere else because I’m gay“ he said. „And that made me—so unbelievably mad. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately“
„You’re allowed to be mad, I’m mean, if they‘re uncomfortable with you being in there with them, then they‘re the jackasses and it’s their fault if they loose this year“ he kissed his shoulder. „And, honestly, they should make you more often that mad“
Albus laughed. „Was that not too hard?“
„Absolutely not, we should do that all the time“ he said. „I had know idea I’m into that stuff, but wow!“
„You seem really horny for someone who waited a whole year to do it“ Albus didn’t planed to sound it harsh—but he noticed that Scorpius tensed a little by this
„What’s that suppose to mean?“
„You know, the year we‘ve been together made me feel like—shit“ and suddenly all the emotions came out at once. „I thought there’s something wrong with me, why you don’t wanted to have sex“
„I was scared, Albus—and not ready, I told you that“
„I‘m already so insecure with my body, you made that ten times worse“ he slipped out. „I mean—I-„
„You‘re insecure about your body? Albus you never told me that“ he said. „You sure you‘re alright?“
Just tell him… „No“ Albus said and felt his eyes burning. „I—can’t eat“ this was the first time he said it out loud. „I‘ve been struggling with eating lately and—I might have a problem“ the first tear dropped down his cheek He felt Scorpius arms wrapped around him and suddenly starts sobbing.
„I noticed“ Scorpius said. After a few long seconds, Scorpius loosed his arms a little to look at him. „You know, Eda is still here“ he said. „Maybe you should talk to her“
„Yea right, because it went so well the last time“ he said. „Do you feel any better about sam‘s death? Because I don’t“ he said. „I still miss her so fucking much, and I think about her every day“
„Me too…but—two years ago, when I thought about her I got mad, I never understood why she did it—why she killed herself. And we‘ll probably never know“ he said. „But when I think about her now—I feel sad of course, but I try to Unterstand and missing her is a complete normal feeling—that’s what Eda tried to show us, that we can miss her without the pain“
Albus knows he’s right—he’s always right. „Do you really think I should talk to her?“
„Absolutely“ he said. „It hurts me too, seeing you like that—I noticed it a while ago, I’m so glad you finally told me“
„It also started after Sam died“ his voice went quiet. „it did something to me I can’t really explain“ he said. „It’s so dumb, I know“
„No, it’s no“ he placed his hand on Albus‘ shoulder again. „After she died, I had a lot of panic attacks, as you remember—thats not dumb, of course something big like that would cause us some trauma. The others probably feel the same“ Scorpius gave him a deep kiss and placed his hand on Albus‘ cheek. „You’re not alone“
„I love you“
„a horrible decision“ Scorpius said and chuckled
</3
The practice already started, but Albus just walked to the field to talk to Lura
„What the hell, Potter!“ she shouted and walked towards him. „You‘re late, and you didn’t change!“
„I want to quit“ he said straight up which made Lura silence for a while
„Quit? Why?“
„Well, you didn’t told me the guys had a problem with me changing in the locker room with them“ he said. „And I have some pride, I’m not doing this shit“
„Oh my god—did they said something to you? I told them to suck it up, those idiots“ she said. „Look, I’m sorry, I told them it’s really homophobic of them if they have a problem with you changing with them, but they really are idiots“ she said. „What if I talk to them and—„
„Doesn’t matter, it won’t change“ he said. „And I don’t wanna be in a team with those arsehole ether, so, I‘m sorry to disappoint you“
„I completely understand, i‘m a lesbian myself“ she said. „so I don’t blame you“
„Hey“ Brady said as he walked right towards them. „look, I’m very sorry about yesterday, Albus, I didn’t wanted to be rude“ he said. „I talked to the guys and, it’s honestly just two of them who really really have a problem with you, and they‘re not good anyways so, how about we get rid of them?“ he asked
„We can’t, then we‘ll need to find two others again and If we don’t get them in time, we can’t play for the house cup“ she said. „So who are they anyway?“
„Loise smith and Steven brooks“ he said. „What if we find two others for you?“ he asked
„Who‘s we?“
„Me and Albus“
„Wait, never agreed to that!“ Albus said loudly
„If you get me two new chasers in at least two weeks, then okay“ she said. „glad we agreed to that“ she left the two Slytherin boys alone and went back to her team
„What the hell?“ Albus asked mad
„Listen, we really need you as a beater“ he said. „And these two bitches are terrible at this game anyways, with them in the team there’s no way we win this year“
„You can’t just assume that I help you to find new people for the team when I just quit!“
Brady was a few inches taller then him—so he looked down with a smirk. „we all know you secretly love this game but won’t admit it because your parents are masters and you don’t want to be like them“ he said. „You already don’t fit in the stereotype, you‘re a potter and in Slytherin, you‘re gay and you‘re in a relationship with you fathers enemies son“
It’s funny, because it’s true. „Fine“ he said
</3
„And if you‘re done with your potion, don’t smell it directly, because the sense itself would make you say the truth for maybe a few minutes“ Professor Malfoy said to the class.
Albus was about to start with his verita serum when Brady gave him a note.
Is your boyfriend any good in quidditch?
Albus showed Scorpius the note. „No!“ he said
Definitely not
Albus passed Brady the note back
What about Sinclair?
Albus thought about it for a second. He never really asked Timothy if he ever played quidditch
I‘ll ask him
He gave the note back to Brady and went straight to Timothy. „Are you interested in Quidditch?“ he asked
„You‘re looking for a new chaser I heard?“ he said. „i‘m disappointed you asked me just now“
„answer my question…please“
Timothy raised one eyebrow. „I could try“
Albus showed Brady both thumps up. So Timothy is in, there’s one left. Albus doesn’t even know why he’s doing it—maybe because that would be the first time he’s doing something by himself.
The last seven years in this goddamn school, Albus never felt welcome, he was always left out and the only one who was always by his side was Scorpius…but he‘ll be gone in a few months, and Albus is going to be Alone again. Thinking about it is killing him—but he shuts his mouth because he doesn’t want to upset Scorpius.
He‘s so happy right now with everything that’s happening and that his dream is finally getting true.
</3
Days go by and before you even know, they‘re playing their first Quidditch game for the year. Their new chasers are Timothy Sinclair and Beatrice Vandell. Albus never really imagined Timothy as a Quidditch player—but he’s awesome And he hates to admit it, but he actually enjoys it.
They‘re winning when the seeker finds the golden snitch and the whole Slytherin house was cheering for them while the Ravenclaws go off the field.
It’s October, but the heat got through Albus head and he suddenly feels all dizzy and his vision is blurry. He tried to calm himself but nothings working when suddenly he’s laying on the floor with heads starring down and it…
</3
He wakes up in the hospital wing with Scorpius right besides him. „You‘re okay?“ he asked. „How‘re you feeling? Are you dizzy? Should I get Pomfrey?“
„What happened?“ he asked
„You fainted“ he said. „Have you eaten today?“. Albus shakes his head. „I told you, you should talk to Eda“ he exhaled. „you can’t keep going like this, you‘re gonna starve yourself to death“
„Don’t you think I don’t know that?“ Albus asked with a range in his voice. „Do you think I like this? You have no idea how many times I tried to change, but nothings working!“ Scorpius was about to say something when the door to the hospital wing opened and Mr and Mrs potter walked in.
„are you okay?“ Mrs potter asked his son
„Fine“ he mumbled
„You fainted?“ Mr potter asked. „Why?“
Albus gazed at Scorpius so he‘ll shut up.
„I better go“ he said and was about to walk off
„As usual“ Albus mumbled to himself—but everyone in the room heard it and it went quiet Scorpius turned around.
„What do you mean?“ he asked but Albus just shook his head. „Are you pissed at me or something?“
„No“ he said quietly. „Just go“ Albus‘ parents looked as much confused as Scorpius was, but he still left—its not necessary to make a big scene with his parents in the same room.
„Are you guys okay?“ Ginny asked and sat down at the edge of his bed. „Do you have problems?“
Albus exhaled. „We‘re breaking up“ he said. „Not important“
„Why do you think you‘re breaking up?“ Ginny placed her hand on his arm for comfort
„I don’t think that, I know it“ he said. „Scorpius is leaving England at the end of the year to go to Healer school in New York“ Ginny was just about to say something when Albus interrupted her to finish his sentence. „So we agreed that we‘re breaking up when he’s leaving“
Ginny looked really sad after he said that—like, really, really sad. Like she is about to cry. „That’s a terrible idea“ she said
„I know that—but it’s the only way“ Albus explained. He didn’t even dare to look at his father. „But it’s fine, I guess. We still have a few months“
Albus didn’t even noticed that his father sat down at the other edge of the bed and pulled him closer into a hug—a real hug—arms wrapped around him.
They haven’t done that in a long time.