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Set the World on Fire	By : jessebarbieheart Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Albus Severus/Scorpius Views: 3701 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of her delicious characters. Though I wish I could, I will never make proffit from this lovely fic. Nor do I own the rights to Fun's song "We Are Young".

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
A/N: I know it's been awhile since my last update. I was busy with work and I've had some computer torubles. Before that I had sent this to my beta. Two weeks without a reply so...well, this one's not beta'd! If you're interested in becoming my beta, send me a message ;)

The song we are based on this time is "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls.

As always, hope you enjoy.

Albus decided he would never wake again. He was terrified of the thought. So, he forced himself into a dream-like coma. He could sleep deeply without needing to move one bit, but still able to understand the world around him at the same time. This allowed him to remain a part of the horrors, but not have to face them.

From the moment his mind became conscious, he realized that something was terribly off. The air of the room he was in was cold and uninviting. He could tell by the silk under his naked legs that he was most likely in 'his' bedroom. It made him a little uneasy, yet comfortable at the same time. At least the house elves were keeping him warm and fed by magical means.

The only comfort Al had was this room and he was determined never to leave. That was before the bad started to come to him.

"I really wish you'd wake up..."

Albus almost broke cover the moment he heard Scorpius' voice for the first time since passing out. He nearly jumped right out of bed and ran away from the other man. But something told him this was safer. If he ran, Scorpius would surely catch up. And then he'd have to face what he'd help create that night.

"You're missing all the action, you know. A lot... A lot happening here." Scorpius let out a deep sigh and Albus soon felt the pressure of someone sitting beside him on the bed. Following this was a gentle kiss to his forehead that he was so tempted to pull away from. He felt dirty when this man touched him now. That night in the graveyard had tainted everything.

After a few moments of silence, Scorpius shifted his weight on the bed. He gingerly pushed Albus out of the middle, and then snuggled up behind him. Arm draped around his chest and legs tangled together. "Albus you need to know something," he whispered softly into the ear of the sleeping man. "I don't know if you can hear me or...or not. But I want you to know something important. I want you to know that I really do love you."

Scorpius' laugh was breathy and watery, almost like he was crying. "I would probably never admit this to you if you were awake, but I'm serious. I didn't mean to love you. You were just supposed to be this...innocent child that I manipulate. I watched you for years, making sure you were the right one. I just...never expected to fall for you.

"And I know I'm harsh. I'm an abusive ass. That's just me. I learned everything I know from my grandfather, really. My own father didn't even know how to be a father to me. So he pawned me off. He let his father raise me. So let's blame that on parenting. Let's blame it on the stress of having to plan this huge thing I've done. Let's blame it on...the fact that I love the taste of tears and blood. I'm sick. But I feel like you could learn to love that, if you don't already."

As Scorpius spoke, Albus became very aware of the wound on his leg. He remembered the pain the other had caused him that night. The smile he'd had when he was hurting him, it was disgusting. How could he ever love something so monstrous?

"I took the spell off of you. I bet you didn't even know you were under one, hm? No...no, you wouldn't have. It was too clean. Maybe there were moments where you doubted your love for me. But you never would have suspected a spell. I took it off before the ritual. I don't know why, but I thought it was important for you to think for yourself, I guess. I bet that's why you're in this perpetual sleep, huh?"

Albus could feel those pale, thin fingers playing in his hair. Inside he shuddered. He wanted to cry. This was more than just manipulation. It was cruel. He didn't want to be some rich jerk's puppet!

"I know what you're thinking, Albus. You're angry with me. And you'd have every right. Truth is, I was terrified. I felt like if I didn't force your hand a bit, you'd run off. Run back to that awful girlfriend of yours and neglectful family. And I couldn't let that happen!" Scorpius clenched his fingers tight around the dark locks for a few moments before he forced himself to relax. "Sorry...

"Look. I know you're destined for something bigger than what you were doing. A job at the ministry? Working for that damned minister? I couldn't have it. That's why I had grandfather intervene. Again, you'll be angry. But I just had to do it. I couldn't let you rot at his side. You need to be able to bloom. At my side, you can do that. That's why I did it, my love."

There was a red-hot warmth spreading through Albus. He couldn't understand it, though. It felt so much like anger. At the same time, he was semi-happy. These things Scorpius was saying were beautiful. Yet the things he had done were horrible enough to almost mask them.

"While I'm on a rant of truth...there's more I should tell you. I can't tell you everything, but I suppose I could trust you with a few of my secrets. Chances are you don't even know what I'm saying right now. So what's the harm?"

Though he was angry, Al still waited on bated breath to hear these secrets. He was curious what Scorpius had to say. Though he was unsure if anything would be said at all. It had to have been at least five minutes of silence passing before the other even made a move to speak. Or maybe it just felt like that because his skin was itching from waiting.

"Do you remember when I went on holiday to my grandparents' house? Of course you do...," Scorpius said at last. He pulled his arm away from Albus and seemed to sit up against the headboard. Al hated himself for it, but he missed the touch the moment it was gone. "Well, it really wasn't much of a holiday. I didn't even leave the house. I didn't leave the basement. Truth is...when I was down there, I was working another ritual. You see...for things to work right this time, we have to take precautions. We have to make sure we're a step ahead of the game. So I did this ritual that allows me, over the course of a week, to see visions of how a person will die. A specific person, not just one at random. That's why I had to be away from you for so long. It had to be done. And when it was done, it was dangerous to be out and about. You see, the visions hit quickly. They don't give a warning or time to react. So for my own safety, I locked myself away. And I learned so much..."

This talk of rituals made Albus feel very hollow inside. This was a specific kind of dark magic that was not to be toyed with. But it sounded as if Scorpius had been doing this for years. He knew what he was doing. And it definitely showed that night in the graveyard. He had been so sure of himself.

What had he gotten himself mixed up in?

Silence at this time didn't seem right anymore. Albus was done hiding. He was no longer under whatever devotion spell Scorpius had put him under. He could think freely and wanted to fully exercise this.

Quietly, he opened his eyes and allowed himself a peek up at the other man. There were dark circles under Scorpius' silver eyes and he looked recklessly gaunt. As hard as he tried, he couldn't help but to feel a certain level of sympathy for him. It was something he tried to ignore as his lips formed their first words for days. "Is this the only time you'll talk to me? The only time you'll tell me the truth? When you don't think I'm listening?"

Startled, Scorpius turned to look at Albus with sparks in his eyes. For a moment, his face changed its expression about a hundred different times. In the end, however, he settled on a slightly frustrated look of surprise. "You've been awake...this whole time..."

"You didn't answer my question."

Scorpius must have noticed the resolute tone Albus had taken on, for he sighed deeply. He wasn't willing to play along anymore. He didn't want to be the damn puppy always following the other's orders. Now that he had a choice, he was making the most of it. "Yes," he said quietly, pulling his legs out of the bed and onto the floor. For a long moment he merely stared down at the wood, hands fisted in the sheets. But once they relaxed their angry grip, he stood and crossed towards the door quickly. "You'll have to start learning now that I am not a...touchy-feely kind of person, Albus. Cold Malfoy blood runs through my veins. My family as a whole isn't one for sharing. Chalk it up to nature... Or maybe a lack of nurture." He shook his head, still not looking at the other man. His hand resting on the doorway was the only thing still grounding him to the room. "I would also prefer you not lie to me again. Your condition..."

Slowly, finally, the steely eyes made their way over to the vivid green ones glaring over at him. For what seemed like ages, they only stared at each other. Each man was taking in the one before him, assessing what was really going on in their minds. In their hearts. Both were lost in their own hellish ways. They didn't know what they wanted from this, but they knew something was pulling them to continue it. Even with the evil surrounding them at this moment, they were taking the time to worry about love. For some reason, it seemed to matter even in the darkest of times, even if they still couldn't explain it.

"It terrified me." With that last whisper, Scorpius forced himself to leave. He was afraid of how he might break if he were to stay.

The words he'd left Albus with kept ringing in the silence of the otherwise empty room. It was just three small words, but somehow they held such power. He likened their strength to the earlier proclamation of love. It was something he'd tried not to think on, but the fact was that Scorpius had said it. And since the man thought he wasn't able to listen in, what choice did he have but to believe those words? Even if the very thought of them gave him a massive headache...

Slowly, he pulled his legs up to his chest, forehead coming down to connect with the tops of his knees. The fingers of his right hand absently trailed over the bandage wound tight around his leg. Before the night in the graveyard, all he wanted was to be loved by Scorpius. But that was the love spell, wasn't it? And now that it had been lifted, he was completely chilled to the bone by the thought of that man even touching him. Or was that only because of what happened that night?

Albus' head was starting to throb now, running in circles after his heart. He got out of the bed resolutely, blocking those thoughts out for now. As best he could, anyway.

Having not stood in what he assumed must have been at least a week, Al was a little shaky on his feet. Getting dressed took nearly five minutes as he had to lean against the wardrobe for support until he could actually force himself to stand on his own.

As soon as he was out of the room, hand on the wall just in case his legs gave out, he knew exactly where he wanted to go. As nice as it sounded to have a breath of fresh air after being shut away in the manor this long, the thought of it sort of terrified him. The graveyard was outside. The graveyard was the stem of his horror. And if he forced himself to face that horror, he would have to think about it. He would have to think about what the consequences of that night may have been. He would have to try and understand what happened that night.

No, he couldn't do that. Not yet. For now, his feet directed him automatically towards his study. The door looked so welcoming that he could not help but to rush towards it. For a moment, he rested against the solid wood, taking in a deep steadying breath. Then he turned the handle and his solitude came crashing down.

There by the fireplace, in his chair, sat a man. A man he had never seen, though his whole being felt strange recognition. He frowned, clearing his throat and taking a step inside. Their eyes met for a moment, causing Albus' stomach to turn. Those deep pools of dark brown, nearly black, consumed him. He tried hard to look away, but it was like he was glued to this being.

The other man looked away first after a few seconds, back down to the letter he was reading. "You're awake," he said, his voice ringing with power. There was almost a hint of laughter behind the words that made Al's blood boil.

Albus found it hard to respond, only able to take in what was before him. This man was rather tall, that much he could tell even with him sitting there. He had the perfect, learned posture of someone who knew they were elite. His face was handsome and etched with undeniable knowledge. Skin pale, paler than Scorpius' even, and hair a beautiful, rich black; he was attractive. That was what Albus thought above all.

It took a good amount of Al's willpower to look away from the man. Though they must have been near the same age, he felt like a child in a great elder's presence. He almost felt abashed at his lowly self.

"Uh..." Albus sighed, running his fingers through his careless locks before taking a step further into the room. "I don't mean to be rude, but this is my study. I was hoping for a bit of... privacy, if you don't mind." His voice was strangely resolute, as within himself he was shaking from sheer nerves.

"Your study?" Again, Albus was drawn to that beautiful, pastel face. His voice was mystical. He wanted more of it and so waited on bated breath as the man stood and crossed towards him with arms folded over his chest. "What exactly makes this yours?"

They were less than a foot from each other now. Radiating into him was the dominance this sheer god gave off in solid waves. "Scorpius gave it to me when...when I moved in," Al whispered softly, his own resolution being choked off.

The tension in the room melted as the taller man laughed heartily. Albus took a step back, caught off guard. It wasn't a happy laugh, more like one of sheer amusement. He didn't know what to make of it and so remained quiet, wishing to curl up in that jade-green chair and forget this whole world existed.

That longing fueled the words he spoke next, making him seem stronger than he could ever really be. "Look, I don't know who you are or why you're in our house, but I would really like it if you could just leave me alone. Okay? All I want is to sit in my damn chair and escape everything. So why don't you just leave?"

It was the other man's turn to be caught off guard. His dark orbs narrowed and jaw squared as amusement drained from his face. He stared down at Albus for a long, hard moment, then nodded and let the letter in his hand fall to the floor. "So sorry to interrupt your solitude, Mr. Potter..." His lips curled into a slight sneer at the name. "However, I do not think you have the luxury of time away from your...lover." His voice was like acid on the word, instantly making Al feel shame for what he may have been feeling for Scorpius. "There is a mandatory meeting happening downstairs. I believe you are supposed to be in attendance, since it is, as I said, mandatory."

Albus sighed, pushing past the man. He had lost his patience for today. Softly, he sat in his chair and rested his head against its plush back as he said, "I don't see why my attendance would be necessary. For one, I don't even know what this damn meeting is for. For another, whatever it is, I'm sure it's something I have no interest in." Or more like – something he was afraid to know.

The man's footsteps were so soft as he came towards Al that he did not even notice at first. Not until a strong, yet gentle, hand closed around his shoulder. "Has Scorpius not yet filled you in?" His words could have been misconstrued as demeaning if there was not that subtle, pitying tone to them. Albus swallowed hard, keeping his mouth shut. He was afraid he'd burst into either tears or a rant if he were to say a word. A simple shake of his head would suffice. "Preposterous..."

"He...he doesn't speak much, Scorpius... Not about things he should be speaking of." Albus attempted to hold back the bite to his words, but they were hard to quell.

"He is a stupid, foolish boy, really." Al looked up, catching the devious hint of a grin and responding with one of his own. "Why don't you and I go down to the meeting together? We can chastise Mr. Malfoy, and I can fill you in on what is going on here. The plans we have."

Albus gave his first, real smile since the night in the graveyard. Someone was taking an interest in him. In what he wanted. A tall, dark, sexy someone that he had no trouble smiling at. "That sounds...rather nice." Slowly, he raised himself up from the safety of the chair and towards an unknown path that included this man. Strangely, he was starting not to fear what was to come. Not now that this man was offering to help. "Albus Potter," he said, offering his hand to the man. "But you already know that."

He nodded and accepted the shake. "I do." After letting go of Al's hand, he joined them at the elbow and led them out the door. "Tom Riddle."

Recognition pounded through Albus' mind. He ran the name like water through every vessel he could think of. Somehow he knew that name. "Nice to meet you," he said absently, focusing on his thoughts over their journey downstairs. "You're the one who used to own this house, right?" But somehow he knew that wasn't the right connection.

"You could say that."

Al nodded and frowned down at his feet. But he didn't have much more time to ponder his recognition of the name. They were now at the door to the dining room. He could hear dull chatter inside, which subsided the moment Tom turned the handle.

With a small, wicked smile, Tom pushed open the door. He gently guided Albus in behind him and immediately he could feel about a million eyes upon him.

The room held only a few, choice people. Scorpius and his grandfather, he recognized. There was also a pale woman beside Lucius who was avoiding making eye-contact with anyone. He assumed from the similarities that this was Scorpius' grandmother. The other three men, he did not recognize, but that did not stop them from eyeing him in something like shock.

"My Lord, whatever he has done, I assure you he did not know any better." Scorpius had stood to his feet with shaky resolution. His statement brought a frown to Albus' otherwise serene face.

"Albus Potter is not the one who has made a mistake," Tom hissed, closing the door with a sharp snap. "It is you who deserves punishment, young Malfoy."

The frown was replaced with utter confusion. Albus' arm was still in Tom's grip, but when he took a step away, the movement was allowed.

"F-for what, my Lord...?" Scorpius struggled to remain composed under Tom's gaze. However, he found it difficult to keep eye-contact and so ended up taking his seat. His rightful place.

At the head of the table was an empty chair. The Malfoys sat to the right, Scorpius having the first seat, and the unnamed men were to the left. It was to this spot of power that Tom was drawn. He took slow, deliberate strides, savoring the cowardice written into Scorpius' face. "Stand, young Malfoy. That spot does not belong to you any longer." Tom sat, his dark eyes cold as they stared straight ahead. Straight at Albus.

Too scared to protest, Scorpius stood again obediently. He, too, snuck a look over at Albus, as if questioning what was happening.

"Albus Potter, come take your chair."

Though he feared what would happen, Albus remained where he was. He kept dodging glances around the room, more confused than he could ever remember having been. His voice was weak when he spoke, but his words were daring enough to make up for it. "What is this...some 'devil'-worshiping cult?"

Tom's laugh was slow and dark at first. But the more it bellowed out, the louder and more delighted it became. When it died off, a grin sat firmly in his place. "This is what for, Scorpius."

Ashamed, Scorpius took steps back towards the wall. He wasn't worthy of such proximity to this man. "My Lord, I was unsure of how much to tell him. His father being who he is, I feared the consequences. I did not know how he would react to your...resurrection."

"Then you will tell him now. I think the seven of us could handle any reaction, yes?"

Albus crossed his arms as Scorpius nodded. It took him an eternity to reach Al, softly reaching for his hands. Albus flinched away, pure disgust written in his features. His eyes narrowed, the blonde began to explain. "Remember how I said we had big plans? Remember the ritual in the graveyard? This is their result. I have brought back the greatest wizard, the greatest ruler, of all time. Because of me – because of us – Lord Voldemort once again walks this earth. And this time, he will not lose." Sheer mirth played in those silver eyes as he watched Albus' tenacity falter completely.

A/N: Guess what? I'd really like to know what you think, good or bad! Leave me a review!

I am also offering email updates for this fic. If you are interested, leave your email address in your review and I will email you when I get another chapter up.
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Set the World on Fire