Time After Everything || a Sequel to Saving Myself

XI

Holding his wand with both hands, Scorpius walked behind Erick. To his left, the Black Lake was still, but Scorpius thought he saw the shimmering green tail of a mermaid. To his right was the dark forest.

There was a howl from some sort of animal deep within. Scorpius had to put a hand over his mouth to not make a sound.

Erick was so quiet. Even with the twigs and rocks, he seemed to know exactly where to put his feet to not make any noise. Scorpius watched his legs, trying to copy his movements. They were long but definitely not spindly, but muscular.

His arms were long as well, with just enough muscle definition on his biceps. With one hand stuffed casually in his pocket, he looked confident and carefree.

Scorpius was so busy looking at him that he didn't notice Erick had stopped. The blonde ran into him with a soft grunt and said, "Sorry, I didn't---"

Erick made a quick shushing sound as he peered into a particularly thick set of trees. "Do you see it too?" he whispered.

"See what?"

Erick pointed with his unoccupied hand and moved his wand a bit. There---in the middle of the trees---was a horse. But it wasn't a horse. No, instead it was leathery and black, with pure white eyes and large canine teeth.

"What the hell is that?" Scorpius whispered in a panicky tone.

Erick thought for a moment. "A---A thestral, I think. They don't harm humans, though."

"I---I thought they were invisible. In a sense. How come. . ." he swallowed. "How come I can see it? I haven't seen anyone die."

Erick shrugged. "Didn't your mum die during labour?"

Scorpius felt a pang in his chest. "Yeah, but. . .I didn't see it."

Erick continued walking, keeping the thestral in his peripheral vision. "Maybe it contributed to it."

They continued, with Scorpius looking at Erick's back as they did. He was silent as he thought about his mother. Scorpius had the picture at the bottom of his trunk, but he hadn't looked at it in two years.

Vaguely, he remembered the white-blonde hair, the jewel blue eyes, and the long, beautiful eyelashes. Scorpius shook the image from his head and tried not to focus on the sounds around him; the howls, the growling and baying, the odd pattern at which the water lapped the shore of the lake.

Directly to his left, there was a strange hissing sound and a voice saying, "Ah, young ones. . .prey better than anything."

"Tear their flesh. Eat their minds." another voice said. Scorpius looked at Erick, who didn't seem to notice.

Scorpius looked around, licking his lips and blinking rapidly.

The first voice he heard returned, laughing with malice. "The little one seems to be losing his mind. . .a fine meal he will make. . ."

"Make him tear out his hair and his eyes. . ."

"Make him lose his mind and---"

Scorpius put his hands over his ears, saying loudly, "Erick, where are we going?"

The redhead looked at him and the voices stopped. But Scorpius kept his hands over his ears. "We're almost there. Here, hold my hand."

Scorpius hesitated before removing his hands and clinging to Erick with a sort of desperation. They continued to walk for another few minutes until Erick stopped, grinning. "Look at the view!"

Scorpius looked where he was pointing; it really was wonderful. The moon was a bright crescent and the stars were giving off so much light that Scorpius could see Erick just fine without his wand. The lake didn't seem so menacing with it reflecting the beautiful sky above them.

Erick led him to a little rock ledge and waves his wand, making two cushions appear that they sat on. Scorpius tried not to focus on how Erick's hand was still intertwined with his own.

"I thought you would like it. Since you're into astronomy and all."

Scorpius smiled shyly. "I do. How did you even---?"

Erick shook his head. "Doesn't matter. But. . ." he glanced briefly at Scorpius' lips. ". . .I couldn't help but bring you here."

Scorpius hoped Erick couldn't see his blush. "And don't you think that we're going to get in trouble?"

"Tomorrow is Saturday. Nobody expects us."

Scorpius said seriously, "I want to kiss you very badly, but I don't know what to do."

Erick grinned down at him. "Follow my lead, " he whispered. He dipped his head, catching Scorpius' breath as he kissed him. Erick's hand found itself in Scorpius' white-blond hair while the other rubbed a bit of his grey shirt between his forefinger and thumb.

Scorpius was hungry for Erick's touch. He could physically feel Erick holding back and he didn't want that. He wanted Erick's skin on his own.

Scorpius pressed against Erick, shivering when Erick parted his lips with his tongue. Erick's hand shifted as Scorpius wrapped his arms around him, pressing so closely against him that it was impossible to tell whose breath was who's.

The blonde boy made a sound between a groan and a whimper when Erick's hand brushed the skin on his side. Erick couldn't help but grin as Scorpius broke away for a moment just to swing his leg over the redhead's hip.

The pale boy's cheeks we're a delicate pink, only to turn bright red when Erick's hand brushed his cheek. "Sorry---"

"Merlin, Scorpius, " Erick laughed, "don't apologize if you're the one sitting on my lap." Scorpius was about to protest when Erick added, "For someone who doesn't have much experience, you sure know how to make someone beg."

"Well, it's not my fault, " grumbled Scorpius, biting his bottom lip sulkily. He started when Erick ran his hands down Scorpius' spine. "You're going to make me hit you, Erick."

Scorpius felt something deep in his gut warm up as Erick's hands slid up his shirt, running up his spine. "Did you happen to imagine something like this?"

Scorpius made a squeaking sound as Erick tried to pull his shirt up, but Scorpius squeaked, "Can---can we keep my shirt on?"

Erick furrowed his eyebrows. "I didn't mean to---"

Scorpius shook his head forcefully. "No, no, I---"

"Scorpius, if I'm pressuring you to---"

"No, it's not---I'm sorry. . ." The blonde stood, wiping his trembling hands on his jeans. He picked up his wand, muttering, "Lumos!"

"Wait, Scor---"

"Can we just go back? Please?"

Erick wanted to apologize or say anything to try and make this better, but he couldn't. Scorpius looked so embarrassed and hurt. When he tried to touch Scorpius' arm, the blonde turned his head and wiped at his face. "Please, let's just go back. . ."

Erick nodded wordlessly, though he knew Scorpius wasn't looking at him. When they made it back up the Astronomy Tower, Scorpius left quickly. No, he didn't want to tell Erick anything about the fact that he certainly would get a kick out of making fun of his lack of experience.

Certainly, Erick wouldn't want to put up with him anymore after this.

Of course Erick wouldn't want anything to do with him.

Erick Weasley wouldn't care if the voices he heard in the forest weren't real. He would only call Scorpius mad.

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