Ease My Pain

Chapter-4

Painful Memories

Albus looked at Scorpius warily, his hands resting on dad's. Dad was still unconscious and Albus was waiting for him to wake up.

"How are you?" Scorpius asked and Albus averted his eyes. He had been five when he had told those things to him and now he found himself unable to face him.

"Albus." Whispered Scorpius and Albus replied softly "I don't wish to speak to you."

"Why? It- so many years have elapsed and I have missed you so much. I tried to find you. In fact I was still trying." Scorpius whispered desperately and Albus cleared his throat before asking "Have you told anyone?"

"No. Of course not." Scorpius replied and Albus murmured "I hadn't told everything to you."

He did not know why he said these words but he shouldn't have because Scorpius gasped and replied "What else had happened?"

"I do not want to tell you. Please stay away from me." Albus replied blankly and kept his eyes averted. He did not want to share the truth with anyone, leave alone Scorpius. He closed his eyes and the scenes flashed in his mind. He would never forget how he had been violated, how he had been dragged from his home and thrown in a filthy dark dungeon. There had been no light and he had been so scared. There had only been a bed and that bloody song that they sung before entering his cell... it still haunted and infuriated him.

They had violated him. He despised them. He hated them and he wanted to hunt them down. He wanted to-

"Albus. Albus. Snap out of it." Mr. Malfoy's frantic voice brought him out of his thoughts and his eyes shot wide open. Belatedly, he realized that his cheeks were hot and he was trembling with rage. Magic was sparkling at his fingertips.

This wasn't a surprise. Albus had known that this would happen. That was one of the reasons for not returning to this country.

"Honestly Scorpius do you have no sense? He is already upset and tired. His day has been difficult and he needs to rest and all you can think of are your own wishes." Mr. Malfoy berated Scorpius furiously and Albus wanted to stop him. He wanted to tell him that Scorpius was not responsible but when he opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words only a snarl escaped and he closed his eyes to control his fury .

His snarl caused Mr. Malfoy to turn towards him and whisper "Now, Albus. Take deep breaths. Come on. Look into my eyes and breathe in." Albus looked into Mr. Malfoy's compassionate eyes and tried to breathe deeply, "Out. Breathe out. Repeat this a couple of times and you will be fine. Look into my eyes while doing so."

Albus repeated the exercise a couple of times and tried to lock the memories deep inside his heart like he had done for the past ten years. At least they had not tortured him like this. He had been able to live but now it was becoming impossible. Each and every painful minute that he had spent there was in the forefront of his mind and he wanted to scream. He wanted to hunt them down.

"Can you please ask potions master Severus Snape to floo over. I want to talk to him about something."

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Draco looks cautiously at Albus. The unbridled fury that his eyes contain has not escaped Draco's notice. He nods and murmurs, "Of course. I will ask Winky to summon Severus."

"When do you think dad will wake up? Twenty hours are over and you said -" Albus murmurs and Draco smiles a bit, "He can wake up any time now."

Albus settles down beside his father in the bed and Draco can't help but wonder what will happen once Potter wakes up.

The child doesn't seem afraid now. No in fact, it seems the he is biding his time, that he is waiting for something and it worries Draco.

Scorpius has been trying to talk to Albus but the boy refuses to talk to his son. Draco knows that his son is sulking in his room right now.

"Albus." Draco murmurs when he notices Albus's green eyes gazing furiously at the ceiling. Albus blinks before looking at Draco.

"Don't take rash decisions."

Albus opens his mouth to speak but Potter chooses this very moment to come back to the land of living by coughing and opening his eyes and Draco grits his teeth before pasting a smile on his face.

He is sure that Albus is up to something and he doesn't know how to find it out. He doesn't want Albus to go against the law and land himself in Azkaban. Maybe Potter will be able to help him.

Draco sighs before turning to look at Potter who is gazing at him with bright green eyes.

Albus is pouring water for his father at a bit of distance. Draco only stares into Potter's green eyes seeking forgiveness from him.

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