The Secrets of the Blue Sky

Originally by J. K. Rowling
Fanfic-ed by Masked Lover

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ZOMG Deathly Hallows SPOILERS! ENDING SPOILERS!!! ZOMG!

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Chapter Four:

The Sorting Hat

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The Headmaster's room was dustier than he had imagined it to be.

The Headmaster's room that Albus had envisioned in his mind was a completely different place. He imagined it to be a place of dreams, magic blue, purple, and gold with white speckling stars. But seeing the room through his own green eyes, even as a young boy, he could see that it no longer sparkled and gleamed the same as it did once. Perhaps it was a glorious place when the true Albus was alive, but now the place felt awkward and uninviting. Changing times could be the only attribute. The curtains were pulled tight, as if light were an offending medium and white sheets covered every sofa. But besides the general neglect, the room looked lived in, or more like Aberforth spent most of his time sleeping and... mixing potions than actually running the school.

Instead of punishing and disciplining the mischievous pair, the elderly man was tidying up the bottles that smelled like Hagrid after coming back from the pub. There had been a veil of mystery around the subject of potions: Uncle Ron was bitter and didn't want to talk about it, Uncle Neville was scared (which was unusual, as Uncle Neville had always braved the face of danger) and his father just smiled and replied, "Perhaps Hermione will teach you."

Upon thinking of the subject of potions, Albus attention turned to the empty portrait of Severus Snape. It was one of the many empty portraits. It was almost as if those who had been inside of the paintings had been fed up with seeing Aberforth drink potions all day, and abandoned their posts. 'It was very selfish of them,' thought Albus, 'the Headmaster is an old man, who needs his potions.'

As time passed, he stole another glance at Malfoy, who was doing a tremendously fantastic job at ignoring their joint situation.

The rich blonde was far too busy dabbing the blood from his face and robes and primping like a girl.

Despite the many oddities in the room, one being a live goat that took to eating the couch and defecating everywhere (much to a house elf's terror), an emerald curtain covered portrait that sang obscenities to itself and the pile of empty bottles that had once contained potions (Jack Daniels, Courvoisier, and Firewhisky). Albus found himself once again staring at the blonde boy, in fact it was what he chose to indulge in after being dragged (by the ear) into the Headmaster's Room.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense? Because we've been sitting here, waiting for an apology for Mr. Malfoy."

There was a scratch on Scorpius face from where he fell off the table; his nose had begun to stop bleeding. More than concern, he felt something ancient inside him start to awaken. Like a magical clock, creaking to life.

"I'm not even sorry," was Albus's response; there was wasn't even a speck of hesitation in his delivery.

"Excuse me?" Scorpius looked at the boy; Albus was a vision of pure honesty. The middle Potter began to touch his cheeks, quite surprised by his own cattiness.

Aberforth stopped drinking his potion, and gaped. Like a fish.

"It's the truth." The second sentence was far too cheerful for someone who was guilty, and truth be it, Scorpius was one hundred percent sure that Albus was telling the truth.

Albus looked like Harry Potter, Scorpius mused. He had seen a picture of the young Harry Potter, much regaled for his bravery and balderdash... It was in a textbook, and in the Hogwarts, a History as well. Maybe this was all foreseen in the stars, or maybe it was all genetics. Or maybe Albus was just another idiot.

"May I add that he still has my wand, Headmaster?" Albus eyes turned to Malfoy and then instinctively reached for said wand that was intertwined with his own.

"Give it here, boy." The wrinkles that inhabited the palm of Aberforth's old hand transformed into a demanding gesture, there was very little threat in the goat-smelling elder and Albus just turned his head. "I'm warning you, one last time."

"My name is Albus Potter, or Mr. Potter. Not boy!" Albus grit his teeth; the pure white teeth gleamed as if the only light source in the dark and filthy room.

"GIVE IT HERE OR I WILL WRENCH IT FROM YOUR HANDS, ALBUS!" Albus scooted off the couch and ran from the unimposing Headmaster who had fallen forward and was now sprawled on the coach in an awkward position. The great Headmaster was reduced to an upturned turtle, kicking his feet and trying to free himself from a vengeful couch. "GAH! I can do it myself! C'mon! Curse you, ALBUS!"

"Did someone call my name?" Piped the covered portrait, the two boys turned their heads to the sound. "Oh, is that you, Aberforth? It's really dark in here. Are you having problems with your lights, dear brother?"

"Oh nothing... Albus." Aberforth struggled for air and words. "I just really like arguing in the dark, good practice for... for..."

"Improvising." Malfoy saved, with a curved swing of the arm.

"Improvising," Aberforth nodded, still entrapped in the madness of the sofa. He tried to avoid a spring that had come loose and threatened to poke the old man through the spleen. "Good one, Malfoy."

Albus Dumbledore... Aberforth Dumbledore, it didn't take a rocket scientist for Scorpius Malfoy to figure the two out. Except Albus was still quite confused to as who the person was and why he was hiding behind a curtain. Scorpius attempted to mouth the words to Albus: "It's the Headmaster's deceased brother." But Albus didn't care.

"I'm not your brother."

"Oh shut up, boy." Aberforth bit bitterly.

Albus, the portrait in disguise, seemed concerned and Albus the Potter was quite curious, too curious for Aberforth's liking. "Are you sure? I could give you a painted depiction of my hand. Ah ha ha. Get it, I'm a painting. I can't actually give you a hand. That was a good one, Albus. You've still got it."

"But MY name is Albu—"

Aberforth cut into the younger Albus with a seething glare. "Be silent now."

"Are you sure that you're fine, dearest brother." A lively laughter melted to a warm, inflective sigh. The kind voice once again returned, causing Aberforth to wince quite dreadfully. "Okay, I'm going to the gallery of Potions, the curator's have been so kind and have moved my portrait right across the wall from Severus. He won't say it, but he gets lonely at times. But he does love the attention he gets when a class comes in. Well then, take care."

Scorpius turned his head and found his blue eyes locking with the dazzling green of Albus's and regretted it when the boy smiled charmingly, batting his eyelashes like a girl.

Boys and girls, the lesson of the day, ignore your bullies and do not give in to their torments.

"That's my middle name," the cheeky deviant informed Scorpius with a twirl of his victim's wand.

"But that belongs to—Hey!" The wand flicked the sweat drops off the tip Scorpius's nose danced and wobbled out of his reach. Potter laughed every time Scorpius jumped, raising the bar higher and higher the closer he got. "Give that back!"

"I'm gonna break it." Albus chimed, grasping the magical item at both ends and implied the pressure jokingly with his hands.

Scorpius's pale hand stretched out and begged silently, huffing and puffing from the workout he endured with his tormentor.

"Now I'd prefer to break it into three's (as there are three of us) but because I'm in trouble I'll have to break it in two—Unless Mr. Malfoy can answer a skill testing question."

"Anything—" Feeling quite relieved that he didn't have to beg a Potter, it was bad enough he was at his mercy. "Just don't break my wand."

Albus looked up at the ceiling, which was in desperate need of a paint job. He looked up as the white flecks fell from the shoddily painted blue ceiling. "Hey, do blondes really have more fun, Scorpius?"

"What?" Scorpius lunged, just missing the boy who ballerina twirled away, unharmed and armed.

"Hard of hearing, Malfoy?" Something inside Albus's heart wiggled when he saw the prideful Malfoy's purse his peach lips. He had seen the boy comb his hair all proper and run that chapstick over his lips when they had been lounging in the Headmaster's room, but Malfoy's lips looked really soft. "Do blondes really have more fun, Scorpius?"

"Fine then, break it." Scorpius kept his eye on the approaching Headmaster, who hand a hand on his pained spine and was limping forward with aided stealth. Thunder leapt through the blonde's head and then he forced himself to lock eyes with Albus (despite his own displeasure) to keep his child-like attention. There was a flutter of something in Albus's green eyes and it cause some alarm to go off in Scorpius's chest. He quickly recovered, pointing at the object that Albus held to break the tension. "That's actually YOUR WAND you're breaking, you wank."

"Is it?" Albus turned the wand to a ninety degree angle only to look to see Aberforth's claw like arm, curved with precision and speed. The Headmaster snatched the wand from Albus's fingertips, relishing the moment.

"YES! YES! YES!—I mean... Er... Here you go, Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Scorpius carefully and respectfully accepted his lost item, but as soon as he deemed the wand all right, he pulled away as if it were to be snatched away again and retreated far from Albus. Wand and boy were one, once more. "If there are any problems with my wand, I'll have you lynched, Potter."

"What is going on here?" Shouted Ginny from the doorway, her husband was behind her looking at the goat that had turned on the house elf quite angrily. Teddy pushed the legendary couple further into the room and shut the door quietly behind him, looking meek and quite frightened. Ginny surveyed the scene and immediately frowned; while Albus's father merely seemed a bit taken back seeing the wrong son in trouble.

"Mr. and Mrs. Potter, please have a seat!" An arm shot out to the escaping Albus, but then the boy ducked and took the seat he had been sitting in since he had entered the room. Aberforth felt his heart had become a pot of bubbling blood and fought the urge to wrench the boy from the school and expel him. "Not you, you—I mean, please have a seat."

"What has gone wrong with James this time? Albus what has James made you do?" Ginny rushed forward, but when her son met her eyes she could see that something had changed. "Headmaster, why is Albus here? Are you sure James is not involved?"

Harry opened the door and gently guided the goat of the room.

"I know James's mind! There are many reasons Albus is in trouble! ONE! Because your SON is A THIEF, TWO, that your son, Albus," a searing glare was pointed in the direction of the boy, "—is doing Hogwarts is perpetuating a long standing Weasley-Malfoy-Potter feud."

Albus was playing with a piece of lint and sitting on the arm of the couch quietly. He suddenly didn't look mischievous, but withdrawn and anti-social. Ginny blinked in disbelief, "but Albus is such a quiet boy!"

"QUIET?!" Scorpius mouthed silently.

"So then tell us the truth, how did you come across Mr. Malfoy's wand?"

"I found it." Albus made his way to the coach where the Headmaster had most pitifully fallen and sat quite comfortably.

"Albus," Ginny warned and shook her finger. She looked at Harry, and it became quite clear that both parents weren't on the same page. Apparently her husband Harry found something amusing that he would not like to share with the class. She turned her attention to her second and middle child. Perhaps he felt neglected or alone or needed to prove himself as a Potter by attacking a Malfoy and, even though she had abhorred Lucius, his grandson looked so innocent and taint-free. "Tell us the truth, Albus. Tell the Headmaster what you truly did... For mummy."

Scorpius stifled a laugh, but stopped when he saw the seriousness return to the boy who had, just previously, been acting like a monkey with a knife.

"Well... To tell you the truth, Headmaster," Albus straightened his back, and spoke respectfully to Aberforth, probably the first time all day, "the second I met him—" Albus turned his head to his mother, who coaxed him on. His father that tried not to laugh and Teddy, who was nervous and worried, bit his lip. Scorpius sneezed then and Albus, who had been trying to ignore his new found distraction, stared at the blonde who absentmindedly rubbed his nose, most un-Malfoy-like. "—I wanted to pick on him."

"Albus, you're making it worse!" Ginny looked at her husband who continued to be amused, she tore her attention from him to Aberforth who was struggling so much with the rage within, appeared as if he were trying to become a goat from sheer will. "Do please understand it's his first year at Hogwarts—and pay attention. ALBUS!"

"Yes, mother."

"He may be... ECCENTRIC! But... You know he is your Headmaster. You must obey and respect him as much as you would any baby-sitter or guardian." Ginny nodded to herself, well-said.

"I may not be a Headmaster," Albus struggled with his words and anger, but being only eleven he exploded. "But—" Scorpius— "At least I'm not a Cock Master."

There was a collective gasp. (And a riotous laughter from Albus's father.)

"Where did you learn that language, son?" Albus was such an easy going boy, he had never stepped out of line until today and even when his mother, Ginny, threatened him with her most imposing glare, he just took it as a joke. "Tell me the truth, Albus; was it Dad, Uncle Ron or Uncle Dursley?"

Albus looked at his nervous father assessing how well he could take the heat.

"From dad." Albus spoke quite audibly.

Teddy took a step back as his surrogate mother, rolled up her long sleeves. "Is this true, Harry?"

Harry found himself in "sudden peril" on the Weasley's clock and he was probably worrying poor Molly right now. "It might have slipped during a row, I mean-"

"Rowing accident." Malfoy insisted, but oddly and in conjuncture with his arch nemesis, Albus Potter.

Scorpius felt his pale face turn red. Albus, who was the one of the people in the room who noticed at the time, watched Malfoy turn away into a shy bow.

"While we were fishing, Dudley hit my hand with an oar and I accidentally swore." The smile on Albus's father's face began to tremble as Harry fought back the laughter. "But I think we're here to discipline my son, I see he may get it from me but seeing as... as YOU are SUCH a great role model, who better to correct my wayward son's behaviour but you. It's your call are you not a great Headmaster?"

"Me?" Aberforth pointed to himself.

"Yes, you," Harry replied, without a heartbeat.

Harry looked at his wife who nodded out of reflex.

"Well honey, between Dudley, Ron, and I, wouldn't you trust that Aberforth could handle our son better than the three of us combined?" Harry made a motion with his hand. "He's a decorated hero, too. Aren't you Aberforth? My son is troubled and weren't you also a troubled youth? He needs guidance from an old sage such as yourself, Aberforth."

"Now wait one second—"

"EXCELLENT!" Harry clapped and ushered his wife out the door, despite her protests. "There's not a better man for my son to emulate. You could treat him like your little brother... Er... Like a little Albus!"

"Quite excellent, I do agree, Harry, my boy!" Albus, the emerald curtain chimed in full agreement.

"You are skillfully manipulative, honey." Ginny whispered, peeking her head through the crack of the door. She caught Harry's wink and shook her head. "I'll wait for you."

Harry looked at Scorpius, who was completely oblivious to what was going on. He smiled at the boy, whose eyes darted to meet Harry's, which were sparkling much like Albus's while he was tormenting him. "Oh and, Scorpius, since you are such a role model, I bet you could teach my son some proper manners, right?"

"Oh," Scorpius agreed numbly, in the presence of such a hero. He gulped. "Right?"

"Great! Malfoy! Mr. Dumbledore! You two are giants among men, thank you so much. I am so tired and this sudden visit has exhausted me more, so if you please, I'll be taking my leave."

"But Mister Harry Potter!" Aberforth shouted, but Harry was already blocking his pleas of help out and heading for the door.

And like most super heroes, Harry then made a most heroic exit by leaping over two bottles of rum and closing the door behind him.

"Oh crap, I was going to get him to punish you, but I guess I'll have to do it myself," Aberforth cleared his throat and nodded at Lupin, who soon understood his position as a witness. "From now until I see fit, you, Albus, will be my student assistant and since you are a model of excellence, Scorpius, you will be keeping Albus in line. I will be relying—er... expecting great things from you, Malfoy."

"But sir," Teddy mumbled complaints under his breath, rubbing his pinched red cheeks. Ginny had been teasing him about his romance with Victoire and began to pinch his cheeks in happiness until Harry had diverted her attention. Far too late for Teddy Lupin's cheeks. "The sorting!"

"Oh, do you have the hat?"

"Right here, sir." Aberforth reached out absentmindedly, the hat was placed on his hand.

Aberforth avoided looking at the boy who projected his brother. Even though there was a mix of Harry somewhere, the boy obviously had a mind set of Sirius Black.

"Albus, take a step outside. Scorpius will be sorted before you."

Teddy looked at Albus who seemed his usual silent self, absorbing the details. There was a bit of injury reflected in his green eyes, something Teddy had never seen before.

"I'm staying." Albus protested, swallowing his anger. "I'm staying."

"Do you want to be punished more?" Albus stood firmly, rebelling with his defiant eyes. Aberforth slapped his forehead. "Why must you test me, Albus?" Moaned the Headmaster, exasperated and searching for another "potion." He found none and became even more aggravated. He tapped his fingers on the wooden table that shifted towards him, as it had become uneven. "Just stand outside and do not return until Scorpius leaves."

Albus watched as the hat was fatefully lowered onto Scorpius's crown. Scorpius seemed pleased and shot a dirty look at his natural enemy as if he had become the king of a magical new world.

"You're a coward, Scorpius." Scorpius felt his heart leap at harshness of the bitter words, confused at the tears that were rolling down Albus's face. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on what the sorting hat was telling him, but the words cut through his wall and penetrated his mind. "You're a damned coward."

With that last outburst, Albus turned on his heel and ran for the door.

"Albus!" Teddy Lupin shouted at the retreating boy.

"Leave him, Mr. Lupin." Aberforth turned towards the sorting hat that seemed to be mimicking a silent conversation between himself and the conflicted Scorpius Malfoy.

But the sorting took longer than anyone had ever anticipated and Albus found himself wandering the school with the sleepless ghosts and the cleaning house elves.

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TBC

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Author's Commentary:

First and foremost, thank you Herr Morgoth for beta-ing. The reason this is comprehensible, is because is was beta-ed by her and she is a fantastic lady. At least I'm assuming she is a girl, because I'd think girls... Would like slash fanfiction... A lot. ;;

So the lateness is TOTALLY my fault. I've had an action packed five days, I'm gonna ommit this now. It'll be my secret, PSHAW.

Please review, oh give me a bit to catch my breath, but I'll respond to your previous reviews.

Again, thank you Herr Morgoth.

The more I write, the farther this gets from what the summary says this story is about. I'd like this to be considered to be the introduction to the cast before we get down to the sexy story.

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Next Chapter:

"Scorpius Malfoy may be in the same position as you are, but he's not you. And what is good for you is necessarily good for him," drawled the Potions Master.

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Chapter Five: Severus Snape